AN: Hello all. I'm back after...jeez it's been over a year. Good news is the story is finished so all I have to do is revise the final chapters and post. Yay!
Thanks to all who have read these stories and will continue to read them. You guys are awesome.
Disclaimer: Still own nothing.
Warnings: A lot of fluffy filler qualify?
"That sounds serious, 'Bolt," was all Fireflight could think to say. "Is it about what happened? With Starscream I mean?"
"Partially," Silverbolt sat down as well.
Fireflight swore he felt his pump stutter at that. "I don't understand. It's not like we could have predicted the attack. Red thinks Skywarp just…"
Silverbolt held up his hand to stop Fireflight in mid-sentence. "I said partially, 'Flight. That's not the only thing Optimus and Prowl talked to me about. Although, you could say the attack was the catalyst."
Fireflight was definitely confused now. "A catalyst for what?" Breaking up the team? Shipping them to Cybertron under Elita-1's command? Would they all get shipped out or only two or three? Fireflight's thoughts and imagination was running wild.
:'Flight, settle down and let me talk. Please?: Silverbolt sent a calming pulse through the bond. He waited until Fireflight did just that before continuing. "Optimus and Prowl feel that the five of us have become too insular lately. They think, and I reluctantly agree, that we should all make more of an effort to interact with our fellow Autobots."
"Why?" So far nothing Silverbolt was saying made any sense. What did being too insular have to do with getting jumped by 'Cons?
"It would help foster a sense of comradely," Silverbolt quoted Prowl's very words. His tone also reflected that he had his doubts about the SIC's reasoning. He had a suspicion his team would always be regarded as just a little too…..different by the others.
"Comradely?" Fireflight remained puzzled. It wasn't like the other Autobots were making an effort. Except for Red Alert, he thought warmly.
"It would also help us work on our 'social skills'," Silverbolt added. Okay, maybe Slingshot needed a lot of help in this particular area. "Think about it. We were formatted into adult bodies. We never had the experiences that sparklings and younglings got to have."
"They want us to grow up?" Fireflight asked even as he realized it probably wasn't what Silverbolt meant. They were already adults and there was no going back to a youngling body.
"Not physically. They want us to grow emotionally," Silverbolt clarified. "Learn and sharpen the skills we will need to function in the world as a whole."
Well that cleared that up. "What does this have to do with what happened?"
"Optimus and Prowl saw how nicely you got along with Red Alert when we were waiting in the Med Bay. I think that's what gave them this idea. They're going to find other Autobots to mentor and help us."
"Like Spike?" Fireflight asked after a moment.
Silverbolt tilted his helm at the seemingly non-sequitur. "Pardon?"
"Spike. You know he's in that program where he hangs out with smaller kids and pretends to be a sibling," Fireflight tried to clarify. "
"Pretends to be….oh, you mean the 'Big Brother' program?" Silverbolt asked. He remembered a conversation he heard Spike and Carly have on the subject. Something about having to cancel a date because of it. "Yes, something like that. Do you have any questions or concerns right now?"
Fireflight thought for a minute. "Just one question."
"They'll probably leave you partnered with Red Alert," Silverbolt had anticipated this question.
"Good, but that wasn't my question." Fireflight fought the urge to smile at Silverbolt's confused look. "Who gets to tell Slings that he has to hang out with a grounder?"
"We'll leave that up to Prowl," Silverbolt chuckled.
Red Alert, true to his word, found himself standing outside his brothers' quarters after his shift. The door indicator hadn't even finished chiming before he found himself face-to-face with a smiling Sideswipe.
"I knew you'd come," the red frontliner beamed as he pulled his younger brother across the threshold.
"Was there ever a doubt?" Red Alert asked.
"Sometimes things go bad when Sunny's the one doing the inviting," Sideswipe shrugged before forcing his brother down into the nearest chair. "Some 'Bots feel intimidated."
"Can't imagine why," Red Alert deadpanned. "Where is Sunny?"
"He's gonna be here in a few minutes," Sideswipe said in an off-hand manner. Too off-hand in Red Alert's opinion. His brothers were up to something and chances were it wasn't anything good.
"What are you two up to?" Red Alert decided to cut to the chase. "If you invited me here to distract me from a prank…"
"What?" Sideswipe sounded offended. "You know we would never do that. It's just as easy to sneak around when you're not on duty and hanging out with Prowl."
Red Alert felt a pang of guilt when he saw Sideswipe's expression. "I'm sorry, 'Sides. It's been a long day."
"No problem, bro. Stress can get to anybot." And just like that the hurt expression melted away.
"That it can. Now, what are you two up to?"
"Nothing," Sideswipe protested. "Nothing much," he amended when he saw the look on Red Alert's faceplate.
"Sideswipe."
"Sunny just wanted me to talk to you. Being subtly is not a strong point of his," Sideswipe sat on the berth opposite of Red's chair. "We're kinda worried about you."
Red Alert fought back a sigh. 'Kinda worried' was twin-speak for 'all threats to Red Alert must be dealt with in a painful and horrific manner. Preferably with fire and/or large amounts of explosives'.
"It's just that after what happened with him we don't want you to rush into a situation," Sideswipe said with all sincerity. "We can't stand to see you hurt."
"Really? Why does spending time with Flight mean that we're in a situation?" Red Alert refused to think back to the washracks. "And, do you honestly think that Flight could hurt me? He's so kind and gentle. I believe he's actually incapable of deceit of any kind. If anything I'd be the one in danger of hurting him." Red Alert was outraged at the suggestion that Fireflight would inflict any kind of distress on him.
"That's what concerns us," Sideswipe cut in.
"Wait. What?" The twins were concerned with Fireflight's feelings? The twins were actually concerned about someone not related to them?
"We're afraid of you hurting him," Sideswipe rubbed the back of his helm. A sure sign he was nervous. "You wouldn't be able to stand it if you inadvertently caused him pain."
Red Alert didn't say anything for a long moment. That was an amazingly astute observation from his brother. "I would never bring any harm, emotional or physical, to him. Not if it was within my power to control it."
Sideswipe smiled at the honesty in Red Alert's voice. "Good, 'cause I don't think Sunny and I could stop 'Bolt and the others if they decided to come after you. We could probably handle two or three, but 'Dive seems kind of wily. Now, why don't I tell Sunny to get his aft in here and we can have our bro time."
"Sounds like a plan. But, never call it 'brow time' again," Red Alert smiled at the change in tone. "I mean it. Never again."
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