When he could finally compose himself, Mirage explained everything to Hound and to Trailbreaker, all about his betrothal to Prowl, about the expectations of their respective families, and about Prowl's carrier, Lady Lyric, and her recent change of spark.

"She would very much like to meet you," Mirage explained, "and I think it would help us with my creator's creator and my carrier's creator."

"Why not your creator and carrier?" asked Trailbreaker, confused. He was holding both Mirage and Hound in his lap, with hound behind Mirage and mirage facing Trailbreaker. Hounds chin rested on Mirage's shoulder, and his arms were wrapped around Mirage. Trailbreaker held them both, his reach long enough to go around both mechs and hold them close to him. For all the privilege in his life, Mirage had never before felt so cherished as he did right now.

Shaking his head slightly to get his processor back on track, Mirage answered Trailbreaker's question.

"They are both in the Well of Allsparks. My creator was murdered by someone he was in business with, and who was upset with him. My carrier was assassinated as a warning to her creator.

"Whew," Hound said, "sounds like a rough start to life."

Mirage shrugged slightly. "It's all I ever knew."

"Yeah, we understand that. But we can still sympathise and wish you'd had more time with your creator and carrier." Trailbreaker said softly. "So, how do we make this meeting happen?"

"Let me comm Lady Lyric and ask her." Mirage replied. They gave him a modicum of privacy and he proceeded to get in touch with her, getting the reply that the lady would be more than happy to meet them at a restaurant on a klik away.

The three untangled themselves and prepared to leave to meet Lady Lyric.

The timing was fortuitous. Hound was on a short leave from his duty rotation, and Trailbreaker was awaiting parts for his custom shop, so this was one of the few times in the solar cycle they'd be together and Mirage had been very lucky to come to their apartment at this time. He wanted to take advantage of it and have the two mechs meet the important people in his life.

The place Lady Lyric had chosen was quiet, elegant and discreet. They didn't blink an optic at Mirage's companions, merely escorting them back to a private room.

Lady Lyric greeted Mirage quietly, then waited to be introduced.

Mirage did the honors, introducing her to hound with a "…and he's in the military," then motioned to Trailbreaker, with, "…but I don't know yet what he does."

Lady Lyric laughed. "I do. Hello, Trailbreaker, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Lyric. Almost done with your order, just waiting on that final sheet of customized titanium to finish up."

"Excellent!" Lady Lyric responded. Looking at the identical expressions of surprise on Mirage and Hound's faces, she burst into merry gales of laughter. "Trailbreaker is my customizer for my speeders. He does a lot of that work, and he's becoming more well know in my circle because his speeders are excellent and look amazing."

"Oh, wow." Was all Mirage could say.

Hound just chuckled and shook his head fondly at Trailbreaker. "Now I know your big secret."

Trailbreaker looked bashful and replied, "I didn't want to tell you and then have a spanner thrown in the cogs and disappoint you."

Hound nodded, "I know. You hate tempting Unicron." Trailbreaker nodded in agreement with his statement.

They returned their attention to Mirage and Lyric. Mirage could feel his spark liquefy at this glimpse of his two beloveds as they must be in private, while Lyric had a smile on her face.

They all turned their attention to the light repast Lyric had ordered, enjoying the warmed energon with oilcakes and gelled energon treats. Lyric asked a few questions, then sat back and watched the three of them as they hashed out answers amoung themselves.

At the end of the meal, Lyric addressed Mirage, "My dear, I think you should introduce Trailbreaker and Hound to the lords Shadow and Whisper. We'll start the procedure of breaking the bethothal."

"No!" Mirage said quickly. "No, because if I break it off, there is no blame attached to Prowl, whereas if he breaks it off…"

"Ah. Yes. Of course. Thank you, Mirage."

"Please pass on to Prowl that he should wait until a couple of orns have passed; it will help with the illusion."

"I'll tell him." Lyric promised, rising. "Thank you, Mirage." She took her leave quickly.

Mirage looked at Hound and Trailbreaker, then grinned. "Well, shall we?"

They nodded. At this point, they might as well. They followed Mirage out of the restaurant, then walked to a roadway where they shifted to their alt modes and followed Mirage.

Arriving at the Towers, they all transformed. Trailbreaker reached out and clasped Hound's hand, his face inscrutable as he looked up at the gleaming spires and glinting windows of this enclave of the rich. Mirage covered their hands with his own.

They entered the building and made their way to the doorman.

"Lord Mirage and two guests to see the lords Shadow and Whisper." Mirage said.

"Yes, my lord. You are expected." The doorman replied, leading them over to the elevator. He pressed the button to call a car, then waved them in when it replied.

Mirage told the elevator which floor he wanted, and the doors slid shut. As they rose higher and higher, they all moved closer to each other until they were huddled together, pulling strength from each other.

When the car finally arrived and the doors opened, an imposing black mech was waiting for them. Mirage forced himself to step forward, while Hound and Trailbreaker followed behind.

"My lord, your grandsires are eager to see you. May I inquire as to the designations of your guests?"

Of course, Downfall. This is Dom Hound and this is Dom Trailbreaker."

"Thank you, my lord. I'll announce you now."

They followed the butler down the hallway, stopping when he reached a door and paused to say, "My lords, Lord Mirage, Dom Trailbreaker and Dom Hound. He then stepped aside and bowed them in.

Mirage swept into the room and bent over the hands of two very elderly Cybertronians, giving each of them a kiss on their cheekplates. He then went and grasped Trailbreaker and Hound by the hands and pulled them over to stand in front of the two.

"My lord Whisper," He bowed to the silver and white mech, "my lord Shadow," as he bowed to the blue and black mech, "may I introduce to you Trailbreaker and Hound?"

"Very pleased to meet you." The two mechs murmured.

"Nice to meet you," Hound said just as Trailbreaker murmured, "It's an honour, my lords."

Mirage then ushered them to a long seat facing his grandsires and seated himself between them, holding their hands.

Shadow and Whisper looked at Mirage, then at each other, before Shadow spoke.

"What is this, my boy?"

Mirage visibly gathered his courage. "Grandsire, I have met my spark's desire."

Shadow gestured at the two mechs flanking Mirage. "These two commoners?"

"Yes, Grandsire, these two commoners." Mirage affirmed.

"What about Lord Prowl?" Whisper asked.

Mirage answered carefully "Lord Prowl is willing to step aside to grant me my spark's dearest wish."

Shadow spoke again, "What, exactly, do you wish to do, and what do you want from us?"

"I wish to bond my spark to Trailbreaker and to Hound. I would like your support and understanding in breaking off my betrothal to Lord Prowl and in announcing my new bond."

Lord Shadow and Lord Whisper murmured quietly between themselves for a short time before Whisper said. "We must discuss this with Lord Skirl and Lady Lyric."

"Of course, Grandsires, I understand." Mirage answered.

"I want you to have an engagement of at least twelve orns before bonding." Lord Whisper said.

"Six orns," offered Mirage.

"Ten," returned Whisper.

"Eight and no more," Mirage replied.

"Deal," Whisper said, "go now. We have much to do."

Mirage rose as did Hound and Trailbreaker. Hound stepped forward and offered a datachip to Lord Shadow.

"What is this?" Lord Shadow said, taking the chip.

"Our information, our employment records, our accounts and some references." Hound replied.

"Hound!" Mirage cried out just as Lord Shadow said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Hound replied.

"But, why?" Mirage asked.

Hound chuckled. "Because they are going to investigate us, Mirage. Might as well make it easy."

Mirage sputtered denials as they moved to leave, but Trailbreaker only laughed and scooped him up, nuzzling his nasal ridge with his own. "It's fine, Mirage. It's their job, to be sure you'll be safe with us. We don't take it personally and neither should you. Now, let's go. My stock just came in and I want to finish that speeder."

Hound grinned. "Yeah, Mirage, take us downstairs and we'll get out of your vents for the cycle."

Mirage was still sputtering as they left the room, so he didn't hear Lord Whisper tell Lord Shadow, "I do believe they will be good for him, don't you?" or Lord Shadow's reply of "Yes, because I've never seen him so relaxed or happy."

Trailbreaker let Mirage down once they reached the hallway. They left via the elevator, Mirage taking them all the way down before taking his reluctant leave of them.

The announcement of Mirage and Prowl's broken engagement was startling. Prowl found himself invited everywhere, titillated matrons wanting to know what happened 'in strictest confidence, of course!' and offering to pair him up with mechs and femmes galore. Prowl politely refused all such offers.

His creator units were also invited to many places, some sincere, while others were simply prurient. Lyric and Skirl replied to all inquiries with, 'it seemed more a mutual break-up than anything else' and ignored the inappropriate comments directed toward Mirage or Prowl.

Then Mirage's engagement to two commoners was announced, and Mirage and his family weathered a period of intense shunning. At the engagement party, Mirage's close friends came, as did Prowl. When that fact was reported, many who had shunned Mirage started to rethink their position, especially after business opportunities started to go to families that supported Mirage.

The lords Shadow and Whisper did not hide what they were doing; they were very honest about it when confronted. Anyone that supported Mirage would find business coming their way, while those that did not would find business falling away. They had not become and rich and as powerful as they were by being nice in the business world. Most families came around and, in public, supported Mirage's choices.

Prowl acted as Mirage's witness at the private ceremony affirming the bond between Mirage, Hound and Trailbreaker, eight orns after their engagement was announced. A more public ceremony was held after their bonding period and it was very well attended.

After the private ceremony, Mirage went home with Hound and Trailbreaker to their apartment. Lyric and Skirl had given them a gift of Vosnian energon, a traditional drink for bonding, as it gave lots of energy which was necessary for the prolonged time trines spent in forming three-way bonds. They shared the energon, each sipping at a container of it as they sat uncomfortably in the extremely clean apartment.

Everyone was nervous. Trailbreaker fussed in the tiny cooking area, while Hound paced from the living area down the hallway to the berth room, then back again when he reminded himself that he was not to draw attention to the more amorous possibilities open to them.

Mirage finally lost patience with them. Finishing his energon, he went into the kitchen area. He imperiously beckoned Trailbreaker down to his level, then kissed him when the black mech bent down to him. Trailbreaker hummed into the kiss, which got Hound's attention. He came over and wormed his way into the embrace, first stealing a kiss from Trailbreaker, then from Mirage, before letting them return to each other. Hound guided them toward the berth, extra large due to Trailbreaker's size, and eased them both down before seeking more attention from them.

Mirage, meanwhile, was quite distracted. While not entirely innocent of interfacing, he'd never had a long term lover, and was revealing in the feeling of being with someone to whom he was so profoundly attracted. When Hound demanded a kiss from Trailbreaker the second time, Mirage sat back on his heels and watched.

It was obvious that Trailbreaker and Hound were lovers of long standing. A few strokes of the other's frame, a whisper from Hound, a few more kisses and they were both revved up and ready. They turned to Mirage and pulled him between them, both sets of hands beginning to find and map his hot spots.

Hound found a spot on Mirage's spoiler; Trailbreaker echoed the movement and got another rev of Mirage's engine. Then Trailbreaker found a spot under the nosecone of Mirage's alt mode, which caused Hound to shift around and explore that spot with his glossa.

Mirage felt tossed between the two as they worked to get him as hot as they were. He managed to get some strokes on their frames, but was overwhelmed by the attentions paid to him by his two mates.

Trailbreaker fumbled his panel open, pulling out a cord. Hound broke off kissing Mirage to do the same. Mirage, lost in a haze of desire and physical sensation, didn't understand what was happening at first, only catching on when Hound began to paw at his chest, trying to find the panel covering his interface cords. Mirage finally sent the command to open the panel, and Hound pounced on it, pulling the cord free gently and plugging it into his own panel. Trailbreaker plugged into Mirage, and Hound plugging into Trailbreaker. Connected to each other, the sensations trebled and grew, each stroke of a frame sending the pleasure through the connection, growing as it moved from mech to mech, until Mirage went rigid and toppled over the edge of pleasure in a processor-blowing overload that cascaded through the cabling to drag Hound and Trailbreaker with him.

They collapsed in a heap, wisps of smoke from fried connectors wafting from their joints and seams. Trailbreaker pulled Hound to the side of Mirage so the smallest mech wasn't crushed beneath the larger two, and they dropped into a short recharge.

When Mirage came out of his two joor nap, he was being gently caressed by the other two, who had disconnected their cables and neatly coiled everything away. They were on either side of him, exploring his entire body. Hound seemed fascinated by his legs and feet, while Trailbreaker kept running his hands over his chest, shoulders and head, each touching lightly and moving on, trying to touch everything. Mirage delved in, doing his own explorations. Hound's chest, Trailbreaker's face, his fingers danced lightly over their plating, drawing gasps and moans from them. They didn't make any other moves to deepen the touches, though.

Finally, Mirage couldn't wait anymore. His chest plates moved to the sides as his spark chamber irised open. Trailbreaker lay back, opening his chest plates and pulling Mirage to one side of him, Hound to the other. Hound opened his chest plates and together, he and Trailbreaker opened their spark chambers.

The three sparks leapt toward each other, colliding in the middle and twinning tendrils into the other two until they were a mass of writhing energy.

As their sparks merged, each felt emanother/em inside their processor. As the merge deepened, the other became two others. Emotions were the first thing over the tentative bond; joy, appreciation, thankfulness, a sense of utter rightness, followed by memories as the bond deepened and grew.

Physically, they all got hotter and hotter as the bond between them deepened. In their processors, pathways unique to them formed and were hardwired in, searing new circuits and adding to the heat.

When they all overloaded, the final ties between them, physically and mentally, were forged.

They fell off-line, smoke rising from their bodies, all collapsed in a tangled heap with each other.

The next on-cycle, Hound tottered to his feet and gathered the last of the Vosnian energon and their cups, bringing it all over to the berth. He poured half of what remained for Trailbreaker, then split the other half equally between him and Mirage. He then shook Trailbreaker from recharge and handed him his cup, then woke Mirage and gave him his share before downing his own portion.

"Wow," was Mirage's thought, echoed by both his mates.

"Yes. This is amazing," Trailbreaker said.

"It's perfect. You're perfect," was Hound's answer to both of them.

None of them, however, actually spoke. Their bond was strong and resilient, supporting and loving of each other, forever more, and allowing them to communicate at a much deeper level than voices could ever achieve.

Prowl knocked on the door before him. He'd snuck into the apartment building on the heels of another mech, then made his way to this door.

The door opened and Jazz peered out. His mouth opened slightly in surprise before snapping shut. He stepped back in silent invitation.

Prowl entered, only to stop short at the sight of Hound, Trailbreaker and Mirage. With an exclamation of pleasure, he moved forward and greeted Mirage with the traditional Towers greeting, only to be enveloped in turn by Trailbreaker and Hound in exuberant hugs.

"How are you? You're looking wonderful and it's so good to see you. I didn't think I would for another orn or so!" Prowl said, returning his attention to Mirage.

"I'm doing very well, thank you. I love being bonded. Thanks for being my witness, by the way," Mirage answered, "and are you coming to the party in an orn and a half?"

"I wouldn't miss it, Mirage. I only received the invitation this cycle; I'll reply next cycle." Prowl told him.

"Well, we've just about worn out our welcome, so we'd best be going." Hound said.

As one (which they were, now) the three newly bonded mechs collected their cups, deposited them in the kitchen, and said their farewells, leaving Prowl and Jazz alone.

Jazz turned from closing the door to see Prowl looking out his big window. He came up beside Prowl and also looked out, not saying anything.

Prowl finally spoke. "I owe you an apology. I spent time with you under false pretences, and I apologise. It was quite wrong of me, and I am sincerely sorry."

"Apology noted and accepted." Jazz replied promptly.

Prowl fidgeted, then said, "Now that Mirage is out of my life, I wanted to know…I mean, ask, if there was…" he trailed off miserably. "Never mind. Thank you for your time, Jazz."

Jazz caught his arm and pulled him around so they were facing each other. He searched Prowl's face before leaning forward and brushing a kiss of Prowl's lip plates.

A snap of electricity popped between the two. Prowl clutched Jazz to him, turning his head slightly to seal their lips together even more. Jazz's glossa limned Prowl's lips and he opened, allowing Jazz entry to his mouth.

It was indescribably fulfilling, to taste Jazz and be tasted in return. Prowl finally pulled away when his processor insisted he find a place to lay Jazz down and claim him.

"I'm sorry!" He gasped out. "I didn't mean to take advantage!"

"Really?" purred Jazz. "'Cause I sure did."

"Jazz!" exclaimed Prowl. "I'm trying to be proper."

Jazz responded, "Yeah, but I'm not," before stepping back to give Prowl space.

Prowl vented hot air for a breem before moving to seat himself. Jazz followed suit, sitting so he was looking straight at Prowl.

"I wanted to know if you were open to the possibility of pursuing a relationship with me," Prowl said.

"We're already in a relationship," Jazz pointed out, "we're friends."

Jazz grinned as Prowl emgrowled/em and said, "I meant a romantic relationship, Jazz, and you know it."

"Sure I do, but it's fun to tease you, Prowl," Jazz answered.

"So…are you?" Prowl asked after a long pause.

Jazz became serious. "Do you have any other entanglement, obligations or ties I should know about?"

"Other than my creators and my job, no, I do not," Prowl answered.

"Then yes, Prowl, I'm all yours," Jazz answered.

Prowl stood and walked over to Jazz, kneeling in front of him and reaching out to cup his cheek. "We'll be taking it slowly."

"Um hm, sure, whatever you'd like," Jazz answered, nuzzling the hand on his face.

"Jazz, I'm serious."

"And I'm not. Life's too important to be taken so seriously. Enjoy yourself! Live in the moment!" Jazz then winked an optic at him.

Prowl kissed him.

They ended up going for a walk in the marketplace below Jazz's apartment, strolling hand in hand and enjoying each other's company.

It took Prowl a long time to overcome Jazz's fears and to see behind the mask Jazz presented to almost everyone, but finally, fifty orns after Mirage's bonding ceremony, Prowl and Jazz had their own ceremony.

Mirage, Hound and Trailbreaker were there, as were Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Hammer and Baffle and Lure also came. The atmosphere was festive, especially when it became apparent that both Trailbreaker and Mirage were carrying sparklings. Delighted, Jazz made the celebration into a dual purpose party, feting the carrying mechs as well as the new bond between himself and Prowl.

Jazz was extremely nervous. As Prowl had told him, they'd taken things slowly and they had yet to interface. He hoped that they were compatible. He covered his nervousness by interacting with every bot there, frequently stopping next to Prowl for a kiss or touch of hands, then moving away.

Finally, Prowl corralled him and started making their farewells. Jazz was so nervous now that his plating trembled. Prowl led him out from the party and to the suite that had been prepared for their first off cycle together.

It was beautifully decorated, but Jazz was shaking too hard to notice more than that. Prowl pulled him into a gentle hug, holding him close until the trembling stopped. Jazz clung to him.

Slowly, Prowl began to run his hands over Jazz's back, stroking the larger plates there. Jazz began to respond, his hands starting to move over Prowl's body.

It didn't take long before they were frantically fumbling for cords and plugging into each other, still caressing each other. A connection was established and Jazz rushed headlong into sensation. He shared his fear of incompatibility with Prowl and received a warmth, followed by a pulse of amusement and the thought ihow's this for compatibility?/i as Prowl tweaked something on Jazz's hip and sent him tumbling into overload.

Prowl didn't overload, and Jazz came out of his daze to find a very aroused mech over him. Prowl was watching him intently, his body shivering with tremors from holding himself back. Prowl emwanted/em him, and that desire was coming through the connection very clearly.

Jazz responded on a very basic level. His chest plates slid aside and his spark chamber opened, releasing his spark to leap out and reach for Prowl, who was not slow to respond to Jazz's invitation. Prowl's spark joined to Jazz's and Prowl released his hold on everything.

Jazz screamed as pleasure/love/desire/adoration/liking/appreciation flooded his mind and body. Still connected through cables, the joining of their sparks was deeper. Jazz felt complete for the first time in his life, intimately entwined with Prowl, the gaps of his life filled by Prowl's very being.

Jazz's second overload was all encompassing and shoved him right into recharge, still connected by spark and cable to Prowl.

When he groggily came out of recharge joors later, Prowl was still next to him. Jazz disconnected their cables and spooled them away. Their sparks had retreated to their chambers but their chest plates were still open. Jazz closed his and tottered to his feet. Spying some energon on a low table, he wobbled his way over and clutched the flagon and cups before making his way back to Prowl.

He shook Prowl's shoulder and smiled as he not only saw Prowl come out of recharge, but felt him too. Love flooded his mind from the pathway that he identified with Prowl, and they smiled at each other.

Drinking their energon, they toasted each other. From here on, life was only going to get better.

The End!