Chapter 1: Role
Chapter Text
Transformers swarmed the city’s roads, and despite the late hour, the bustle was far from dwindling; it was one of the few good things Kaon had in common with the other cybertronian cities.
Some transfomers, done with the daily work, were headed to their homes or to some night clubs; the most estemeed were the ones situated in the upper and median districts, but who couldn’t afford those, flocked into the lower districts, even though most transformers avoided going there.
In most of the buildings the lights were out, but the roads were illuminated by several street lights and grounders’s alt-modes.
From the outside it almost looked like a cozy scene.
In an apartment of one median districts, all the lights were out, but not all of its inhabitant were asleep: in one of the two bedrooms, a young transformer was wide awake. He looked on his side, towards the sleeping figure on the berth next his. After some minutes, checking if the younger one was sleeping, the mechling sat up and wiggled close the wall that divided his room from his brothers’s. Hearing only the soft snore of one of them, the mechling smirked and put his feet out the berth. He checked his subspace and, pleased with what was there, stood up. He started to move a foot when he jumped at an high-pitched voice.
-Swindle, where are you going?-
Straightening, Swindle tried to hide his surprise and answered in a whisper:
-V Vortex! You’re awake?!-
Vortes sat up on the berth’s edge, dangling his feet, his rotor’s blades swaying at the same time, and looked up his brother.
-Umm, yeah…So, where are you going?-
Swindle narrowed his eyes, well knowing that, if he wouldn’t answer, the other would have gone to wake, if not one, all of their brothers. Thus he watched Vortex for a few seconds, then rose his head and resumed to walk.
-‘m going out.-
-Yeah, I got that. But where?-
Vortex layed his hands on the berth and lean forward with his whole body, smirking when his brother halted at the question and turned to look at him annoyed.
-It’s not your business.-
-No, but Onslaught said to not go out alone. And you know what he’ll do if we disobey.-
-That if he finds out.-
Swindle hoped that, at least once, Vortex could listen to him. But the mechling smirked again.
-Oh, I know how not let him know!-
-Vortex, no.-
Vortex jumped on his knees, the blades moving up and down, and spread out his arms happily.
-I’m coming with you!-
Swindle slapped an hand on his face: he should have expected a request like that. But he didn’t want to bring Vortex with him. What would his clients think, seeing him with his little brother? Buti f he refused, Vortex would snitch him out to Onslaught, and Swindle couldn’t allowed that. Otherwise, all the work of those nights would fall apart. At that moment Swindle wondered when and how Vortex found out him sneaking out: he had always tried to make as little noise as possible, and judging that none of their brothers noticed something strange, he succeded. Resigned in finding an answer, Swindle raised his hand from the face and looked into Vortex’s yellow eyes.
-Fine. You can come.-
Hearing that simple miffed four words, Vortex’s face lit up with a smile, puzzling Swindle. The flier mechling started climbing down the berth, but was stopped by a yellow hand in front of his face. His rotor’s blades stilled in surpise.
-But I have conditions.-
Vortex crossed his arms, the blades dropped in annoyance not unnoticed by the yellow mechling, and watched Swindle rose his fingers, listing each rules.
-Don’t embarrass me. No comment about how I do my business. Absolutely no mention of my methods with the customers. Best if you don’t talk with them.-
He put an hand under his chin, the other under the elbow, a thoughtful frown on his face. Vortex took that time to restart climbing down, but before he could set a foot on the floor, Swindle put a finger before his eyes.
-And don’t wander off on your own! Is that clear?-
Vortex nodded, but let out an amused snort at Swindle’s tone: it reminded him of Onsluaght when he said to the younger to not do something; Vortex wondered if the yellow mechling chose deliberately that tone. Then he recalled what the other said and Vortex mimicked his brother’s gesture, putting an hand under his chin.
-But you were doing the same thing only a breem ago?-
-That was different! I know what I’m doing.-
-Mmh, nope.-
Swindle watched the growing, mischievous smile of the younger and restrained himself from yelling. He was annoyed by his brother’s antics, but yelling wouldn’t help him; it would only make Vortex pleased, and Swindle utterly wanted to avoid that. He was already late with his schedule.
-Ugh…Listen, just, shut up and let’s go.-
Said that, he turned towards the door and, when it slid open, observed the main room. The kitchen was dark, illuminated now and then by headlights, filtered by the windows, from some transformers outside. Swindle looked then over the door of the next room. It was closed and, from the inside, only soft hums of a snoring mech were heard. Swindle smiled satisfied, but a voice behind him made him still, rising on his feet.
-We’re going or what?-
Swindle saw out of the corner of his eye Vortex walking past him, headed to the front door; growling slightly, he followed the younger one.
Swindle smiled watching another customer leave satisfied. He put his hands on his hips and checked the box with the shanixs.
“Perfect, business is going very well tonight!”
-Mmh, no one is coming at the moment, eh. Guess it’s time for a break.-
He sat on one of the three metal boxes: he found them some nights before, one big which he used as a counter, and two smaller as chairs. Swindle looked down on Vortex, seated next to him. The mechling was watching, with a curious look, the crowd of transformers. Swindle thought he would had lost interest in the first breem of their job, but instead Vortex baffled him, and after two groons, the mechling was still awake; he didn’t disturb how thought he would, but remained quiet, observing the crowd and Swindle working. He surely didn’t expected that Vortex would have listened him.
Swindle thought of the sales of the night and put a hand under his chin.
“Now I think about it, with Vortex here, business is going better than I expected. And the customers aren’t like the others times.” He shivered at the thought and glanced at Vortex, still watching the passersby. “Thank goodness. I don’t want Vortex to see or listen that kind of transformers…”
Swindle didn’t know what his brothers thought of him, but had the feeling that they didn’t think him very liable. Maybe for his age, or maybe for his past before their meeting. But Swindle knew how to move in those places, and he wasn’t neither crazy nor stupid to let Vortex have something to do with them. Swindle wouldn’t allowed that.
That night he let him come, and even if he was busy with his business, he kept glancing at his little brother, aware that, if Onslaught, Blast Off and Brawl would found what they were doing, the three would get angry as never before.
“Eh, many even commented of how Vortex is adorable…And left a tip.”
Swindle looked down at the box with the shanixs.
“What if…”
He looked down on Vortex, meeting the younger’s yellow visor.
-Ehi, Vortex?-
-Uh?- Vortex tilted his head, the blades behind him shifting in a similar way and Swindle had to admit that that way Vortex was adorable.
“Yeah, sure…Little but can take advantage of the situations, eh. Ah! Just like me.” He thought amused.
-…Wanna come with me, for the next few nights?-
At those words Vortex’s visor started glowing and the mechling sat upright. When he spoke, his voice was unsteady.
-Are you serious?!-
Swindle was pulled back by the younger’s voice, so astonished and with a happy note. Not the reaction he expected. A smile, maybe. Or a aloof -Okay-, à la Blast Off. Not that.
It was like Vortex couldn’t wait to hear those words and spend time with him. Swindle lowered his eyes, unable to keep Vortex’s gaze. He took, without looking, the only thing on the counter: that night he decided to sell miscellaneous beauty products, like mirrors, paints and wax. He turned around the little mirror in his hands and spoke:
-Yes, why not. I don’t know how you did it, but the transformers that you pointed were the most profitable customers of the night. Look at all the shanixs we earned in only two joor!-
He showed with his hand the shanix’s box. With a pleased smile Swindle turned to his brother and he could see, even concealed by the visor, the brighteness of that two yellow eyes. He opened his mouth, but the unexpected weight round his chest froze anything he wanted to say: Vortex had flung himself forward and hugged the other with his little arms.
-Huh, Vortex?-
It was strange seeing the flier so affectionate in public. Usually he acted like that when he was extremely embarrassed, was feeling uneasy, or was afraid. In those cases, any brother was with him found his hands full of a shivering mechling. Swindle rose his head, and searched for what would had caused that reaction. Vortex wasn’t trembling and Swindle was even more perplexed. He put an hand on the younger’s right shoulder, the other on the left arm, but before he could say something, Vortex moved away from him, and returned to sit on his box.
-Do you have more things to sell?-
Swindle looked down on Vortex, puzzled to see him talking so calmly, then he sighed. He imagined that he would have been dumfounded by Vortex’s behavior, but actually didn’t know what to think. He vaguely wondered if Vortex behaved that way even with their older brothers: that was the first time he acted like that with Swindle. At the question, the yellow mechling sighed again and stood up.
-No, this is the last mirror. And it’s late. Time go home.-
-Oh. Okay.-
Vortex stood up and took the shanix’s box Swindle had passed him. The older of the two, after putting the little mirror in his subspace, turned the counter box upside down, put inside the smaller boxes, and picked it up. He went to a nearby alley and, signalling to Vortex to wait at the entrance, ventured into the dark alley. Swindle hid the boxes behind a disused signal, placed near a club’s door: he knew that nobody would watch behind it, especially for the semi-absent club’s customers. He carefully set the boxes and then joined Vortex at the entrance.
Despite the late hour, the street were still crowded and it was hard, for two little transformers like them, walking and at the same time avoiding the many passersby. Swindle pushed Vortex to walk ahead of him.
-What time tomorrow? The same?-
Swindle moved, for the umpteenth time, his gaze from the road to Vortex.
-No, I run out of goods. I got to go to my supplier tomorrow.-
-Okay. So, when we go?-
-I go. You ‘re not.-
-What?! Why?-
Vortex turned his head towards Swindle, but kept walking. The yellow mechling tried to not laugh, seeing the yelllow visor light up with outrage and the rotor’s blades raising behind his back.
-I said you can help me with the sales, not that you can come buying the goods.-
-But!-
Swindle smirked, whatching Vortex trying, with difficulty, to retort. Vortex crossed his arms and turned again towards the street ahead. The two walked for a few minutes in silence, and Swindle didn’t notice that his brother had started to slow down. Then Vortex raised a rotor’s blade and hit, with its end, the other mechling’s shoulder.
-Ah! What the, Vortex!-
In response to that angry tone, Vortex laughed and started to run, avoiding carelessly the startled and annoyed passersby. Swindle looked him dumbfounded, then an amused smirk grew on his face.
-Come here!-
He followed his brother in the crowd and reached him immediately. In no time the two, laughing and pushing each other, started an improvised race.
Several minutes after they arrived at their building; from the street they could see their apartment at second to last floor was still in the dark, and rushed inside. Once the elevator’s doors closed, Swindle leaned wearily on the wall. He watched an equally, if not more, tired Vortex trying vainly to not stagger, but, in the end, he fell on his behind. The mechling didn’t immediately get up, but looked around him disoriented; Swindle, watching his face tried not to, but failed, and burst out laughing. Hearing him Vortex stood up, blades rose in a tremble.
-Shut up!-
When Vortex started hitting his leg with little fists, Swindle brought an hand on his own face, the other on the younger’s shoulder, and, still laughing, slided down onto the floor.
-Swindle!-
-Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Pfft.-
At that moment the elevator’s door opened and Vortex get off, sullen, followed by Swindle. Slowly the two walked to their apartment and opened the door.
Once inside, while Swindle was putting the closing code on the door, Vortex, hearing no sound and thinking that they were up, started to their brother’s room; Swindle turned right when the younger was near the door and swiftly took his arm. With a scolding face from the older, and a pout from the younger, the two entered their room.
Vortex laid down on his berth and curled up, his eyes fixed on the other mechiling sitting on his own berth.
-Swindle.-
-What?-
-Can you bring me?-
-I told you, not tomorrow.-
-But the next times?-
Swindle laid down and turned his head towards Vortex.
-I said it before, didn’t I? I you want, you can come. But the same rules as tonight apply. Understood?-
Vortex raised his visor and smiled, nodding.
-Yes, thanks! Goodnight, Swindle!-
After that, it didn’t take very long before Vortex fell asleep. For a while Swindle just watched him; he still felt bewildered and dumfounded by how went the night, but he couldn’t complain. He’d never say that he would had fun working with Vortex.
Before he ever relized, he fell asleep.
In the following nights the two young mechlings continued working with the most disparate goods. Seeing how, sale after sale, the shanixs kept coming, Swindle decided that was the time to make a change of plan: why sell only in the closest district, when there were potential customers in the rest of Kaon? When he proposed the idea, Vortex didn’t seem opposed, on the contrary.
After the first two nights they moved to the closer district where, with Swindle’s great satisfaction, business were going smootly. The only flaw was moving the boxes around, but with a little expedient in extractable wheels on the bigger one, they found a way to move more items.
-More things to sell, more profit.- Said Swindle at his brother, when he showed a certain uncertainty about the older’s expedient.
That night Swindle decided to sell a batch of maintenance items, like bolts and screwdrivers. Beside him Vortex sat on his box swinging his leg, his eyes fixed on the crowd of transformers, searching potential clients for his brother. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a mech moving and a femme replacing his spot in front of the booth. He returned to the crowd, yellow eyes moving under the visor in search of the last clients of the night; then he saw it: something brown and quick. Vortex slid to the edge of the box and put his hands on the booth. He searched the crowd, but the brown thing was nowhere to be find.
Till he saw a purple visor. Followed by a very familiar shape.
The mechling flinched and scurried back, bringing his knees to his chest, trying to stay out of the mech’s sight. He stayed in that position in wait, till the mech was hidden by some passersby transformers. Keeping his eyes on that point, Vortex stretched his legs out and slid closer to Swindle, whispering:
-Blast Off is here.-
-What? Was probably another brown mech.-
-Mh. You’re right.-
Vortex nodded and returned to watch the crowd.
-Yes, ma’am, for this two complete sets the price is only fifteen shanixs. Only here you can find this prices!-
Swindle put the shanixs given by the femme in their box and thanked her. When she left the booth, the yellowe mechling, after a little stretch for his stiff shoulders, put his hands on his hips and observed the crowd. Vortex wasn’t indicating him more transformers, but that wasn’t a problem: since Swindle was running out of goods, he knew that, in the following days, he would have to contact again his supplier. It was a further proof that his business there were going good.
“Next time I have to bring more things…Ah, a client. Excellent!”
-Huh?-
Swindle shifted his gaze from the approaching femme on the crowd.
“But that was…”
-Vortex?-
At his whisper Vortex turned, tilting his head and rotor’s blades.
-Yes?-
-I just saw Brawl…-
The two mechling looked at each other for a few seconds. In a swift jump Vortex stood up on the box and searched with uneasy eyes the shapes of his brothers, while Swindle returned to assist the client. If there were really Blast Off and Brawl, she was the last client of the night.
While the femme was observing some screwdrivers, Swindle shoved discreetly the shanix’s box towards Vortex and taped it twice, whispering:
-Take it. We’ll leave soon.-
Vortex took the box and pulled it close his chest, struggling to not drop it: it was almost as big as him, and much heavier.
-You see them?-
Vortex lift his eyes from the little box and turned to watch the crowd.
-No, I ca Swin Swin.-
Vortex’s voice got higher of a note and Swindle whirled towards him startled.
-Vortex?-
Vortex moved closer to his brother till he touched his arm with an hand. He lifted a finger and pointed an unspecified spot in the crowd of transformers. Swindle followed the finger’s direction and froze seeing two very furious faces. Several seconds after and Swindle realised that that were Blast Off and Brawl’s faces. The two were livid and Swindle gnashed, trying to not yell a swear: the client was still there and was watching them perplexed.
His brothers were moving closer and Vortex was clinging on his arm, but that femme had the shanixs in hand and Swindle couldn’t interrupt a sale running away. He was already struggling to get a certain reputation.
So, he returned to the femme with a smile.
-I’m really sorry. You see, he’s really curious and every time he sees something new he have to tell me right away. And all the questions…This set of screwdrivers?-
-Oh, do not worry. Transformers of his age want to learn everything! Yes, only this please.-
-Tell me about it.- He chuckled. -You know what? For the inconvenience I give you a discount!-
Vortex looked away and Swindle noticed his blades lowering. He would apologize for embarassing him, but in that moment Swindle only wanted to close that sell and go home.
He tentatively looked the crowd and caught a glimpse of Brawl’s orange visor. When said mech yelled his name, Swindle swore. The client had left the boothe and Swindle wasted no time: he took the shanix’s box from Vortex and, not bothering to take the three largest boxes, started to run in the opposite direction. He slowed just enough so Vortex could join him and looked behind him, seeing how Blast Off and Brawl pushed through the crowd.
-Oh, what the frag?!-
Swindle knew that Blast Off wouldn’t fly, so to avoid certain complaints from the passersby, but both him and Brawl had longer legs than him and Vortex.
Seeing Brawl pushing away the three boxes, Swindle whimpered nervously.
-Come on! Stupid short legs, can’t you go any faster?!-
He was ready to transform, but then saw out the corner of his eye Vortex trying to keep up with him and mentally swore.
“Tex still can’t transform! What I do, what I do?”
-Aaah…-
His purple eyes hidden by the visor of the same colour darted in every directions, while he kept running beetween the passersby.
-There it is! Tex, this way!-
-WherAH!-
Swindle grabbed without watching Vortex’s wrist and abruptly turned a corner. He didn’t stop to check if their brothers were still following them. Absentmindedly he heard Vortex stumble trying to keep up, and Swindle moved his hand from the younger’s wrist to grab his hand instead.
The two of them ventured into several alleys, and Swindle’s eyes darted under his visor from searching the paths he used when was younger to looking if Vortex was getting tired. If he had to carry him, he had to stop and Swindle didn’t want to. The mechling wasn’t complaining any tiredness though, just kept clinging on to the other’s hand.
After several minutes they arrived in front of their building, and Swindle sprinted inside, straight to the elevator. After the small break, the two ran to their apartment and Swindle put the enter code, giving the shanix’s box to Vortex. Once inside, the older of the two sprinted to their room.
-Tex, can you hand me the box?-
Vortex clutched the box at his chest and flied towards his brother. Swindle took the box and knelt beside his berth, moving something under it.
Vortex watched him for a few seconds, then let out a litlle shrill, making slightly jump his brother.
-What is it now?!-
-I’m gonna see if they’re coming!-
Before Swindle could open his mouth, Vortex had already left the room. The yellow mechling turned to look under the berth and, stretching his arms, uncovered a loose panel in the wall; he put inside the box with the shanixs and slided back the panel, meanwhile, in the background, he heard Vortex’s light and quick steps.
-Swin Swin, they’re here!-
Swindle jumped on his knees and looked around. When he heard the familiar swish of the front door opening, he crouched and crawled under the berth. Vortex hurried after him and the two huddled toghter, watching nervously the door.
-Swindle, Vortex! Come here, now!-
Hearing the deep and furious voice of Onslaught, Swindle whimpered and moved closer to Vortex. A little rotor’s balde slided on him and Swindle felt how much Vortex was shivering.
Shortly after, the door of their room was slided open and, from under the berth, the two mechling saw a pair of giant feet walking towards their hiding.
-I have to force you out?-
Swindle and Vortex jumped at the tone. The growl was enough to make Vortex crawl out their hiding, but Swindle refused and instead watched Blast Off and Brawl enter the room.
-Swindle, get out. Now.-
Four simple words. The Onsluaght’s firm tone that doesn’t allowed disobedience.
Swindle get out reluctantly and stood beside Vortex. Unlike his brother, who kept his eyes on the floor and was wriggling his hands, Swindle kept moving his eyes from one place to another in the room. When he met the yellow visor of Onslaught and the anger coming from the oldest of the brothers, Swindle startled and lowered his eyes.
-What the scrap were you thinking?-
Swindle and Vortex didn’t answer and Onslaught shook his head.
-I come home from work and find Blast Off and Brawl panicking because you two weren’t in your room. Because you were out in the middle of the night. And where were you? TWO DISTRICTS FROM HERE!-
Again either of the two mechling answered.
-WELL?-
-I don’t see the problem.-
Four pair of eyes shifted on the youngest. Brawl put a fist to his mouth, holding back a laugh for Vortex’s insolence and gave a wary glance at Onslaught. Both Blast Off and Swindle kept looking from the oldest to the youngest and viceversa. Blast Off then left his eyes on Onslaught, a foot moved forward, while Swindle put his hands on his face, restraining to yell at Vortex.
Then Onslaught moved, approaching the two mechling, and spoke. His voice calm.
-You don’t see it, Vortex?-
Vortex winched, visibly wondering if he had said something wrong.
-Answer me, Vortex.-
Vortex looked instead his hands, keeping wriggling them.
-Yes…Kinda!-
He said the last word hurriedly. Onslaught looked down at him and spoke, his voice still firm.
-Kinda. The problem is your actions. Do you think I’m exaggerating?-
Vortex lowered his eyes but nodded silently.
-Don’t you think I’m justified to do so? After all, you went out without telling us, when I have clearly said many times to never go out alone. Especially at night. And I even know that this isn’t the first time. We searched for you two everywhere, and we found you in two districts from here. You have blatantly disobeyed me. This is the problem, Vortex!-
He was rising his voice gradually while speaking and stopped only when he felt an hand on his shoulder and Blast Off’s voice. Out the corner of the eye, Onslaught saw Brawl surpassing him, striding to the two mechling.
-Onslaught!-
Onslaught turned abruptly towards Blast Off and the flier, even though pulled back slightly, tightened his grip on the older’s shoulder.
-I think they get it. Look at them.-
Onslaught grunted, but turned at the gesture of his brother. Brawl was kneeling before the two mechling, an arm around Vortex, keeping him close to his chest, while was trying to make eye contact with Swindle and getting him to talk.
-Come on, Swindle, look at me! Sooner or later, you’ll have to talk.-
Onslaught heard a soft sobbing and froze seeing Vortex trembling. Istinctively he crouched by Brawl’s side.
-Swindle, Vortex.-
His tone was softer than before, and Brwal turned to look at him; his uncovered yellow eyes were tired.
Onslught sighed and continued:
-I’m sorry. Wasn’t my intention to scare you.-
Those words caught the attention of all four brothers. It was unusual that Onslaught would apologize to them, it was always the contrary. Actually, he also never had yelled at them before. Hearing those words from him was strange, surreal almost.
Onslaught petted Vortex’s head in a comforting way, and Swindle finally raised his eyes. The mechling had raised his visor and was watching the oldest brother like he wanted to say something. Instead, he lowered again his head.
Leaning slightly forward, Onslaught put a finger under Swindle’s chin and raised it up, so the mechling could look at him. Brawl growled at the gesture, but said nothing and merely chose to watch.
-We didn’t want to anger you guys.-
Swindle’s voice was a low wishper and Onslaught sighed, meanwhile Blast Off sat on the floor, close the four. Brawl snorted in an almost amused laugh:
-You really think we’re only angry?!-
-Huh?-
Onslaughr put again a finger under Swindle’s chin, making him turn and look at him.
-We were worried. What do you think we thought, not seeing you in your room?-
His voice had a semi-scolding tone. Swindle looked at the oldest and, in that moment, like in a puzzle, something in his thoughts connected and Swindle let out a tiny -Oh.-. He had thought that, if his brothers would ever had found about their secret, then they certainly would have got angry. But he didn’t thought at the other certain reaction: he was so busy with his business to think that the others would have worried. A feeling of shame overwhelmed him and he lowered his head, embarrassed.
-So you don’t hate us?-
Vortex had raised his head and was watching, visor raised, his brothers. The big yellow eyes darted from one brother to the other, stopping eventually on Onslaught. The mechling tilted his head, and blue tears were rolling down his cheeks; his rotor’s blades lowered, almost on each other.
Seeing that no one was answering, he opened his mouth, but in that moment all his brothers started to speak. Their voices a mix of indignation, bafflement and stupor.
-HATE?!-
-NO! Who the frag give you this idea?!-
-NO, NO, no, no, Vortex, they don’t hate us. I think…-
-Of course we don’t hate you! Vortex, come here.-
Onslaught sat cross-legged and lift Vortex by the underarms, sitting him on his knees. He left an hand on the younger’s rotor and started rubing it in comforting circles. Blast Off and Brawl slided close the two, and Swindle sat on their touching knees.
-Vortex, Swindle, I want this to be clear. We are angry for what you have done, but we don’t hate you for this. I can say without doubt, I can’t hate you. And I know that also Blast Off and Brawl can’t.-
-Of fragging course! Hate you. Ridiculous.-
Onslaught nodded with a little tilt towards Brawl and Blast Off put an hand on Swindle’s shoulder.
-We were only worried. We- He sighed. - We love you. We can get angry, but only that.-
Vortex nodded, but lowered his head. He felt an hand on his head and when he raised his eyes, he met Onslaught’s yellow ones. The green and blue mech, beside rising the visor, had withdrawn his mask and was now smiling down at Vortex. It was a gentle, warm smile, rare to see on his face but one that the mechiling recognized as the one smile the oldest wore when whatching his brothers from afar.
Onslaught pointed with a nod his open hand and Vortex gave him a little smile. The mechling sat on the hand and Onslaught effortlessly lifted him, bringing him close; Vortex settled in his arm and rubed his head against the older’s chest. Onslaught started to slowly rocking him, and saw out the corner of his eye Swindle moving and settling on his brother’s lap, head on his crossed arms laid on the oldest’s knees. Even Brawl and Blast Off were finally relaxing, and Onslaught istincitvely started an calm hum. Swindle closed his eyes and smiled a little: Onslaught, right after meeting Vortex, made an habit of humming for comfort and soothe the little mechling, and he soon noticed that it had the same effect on the other three brothers.
Swindle couldn’t explain it to himself but every time he heard that hum he felt relaxed, safe.
A little noise brought the attention of all back on Vortex: the mechling had closed his eyes, an happy smile on his face, and had brought his hands close to his brother’s chest. Onslaught didn’t want to disturb him, not when the youngest had finally calmed and was falling asleep. But the mech had a thing to clarify with his brother, and he couldn’t wait.
He moved his arm up and down, and Vortex chirped annoyed.
-Vortex.-
Hearing his name, Vortex opened his sleepy eyes and looked into Onslaught’s; he rested his head on the other’s chest.
-Yeah?-
-Why did you ask that?-
Vortex didn’t answer immediately. He began pinching his hands with the nails, and Blast Off promptly took a little arm, stopping the mechling. Vortex looked the other flier, who began to rub the arm, trying to stop the shivers. After a few minutes Vortex spoke:
-I don’t want you to hate me…-
The words, said by a low and little voice, echoed in the room like a lone bolt in a ravine with a strong echo. Quiet but at the same time powerful words so that the four transformers lightly wobbled.
Noticing the awkward silence, Vortex hid his face in Onslaught’s chest, and spoke again, his voice a whisper; even his rotor’s blades began to clink for the shivers that traveled down his body.
-Sorry.-
His voice shook the oldest brother. Onslaught straigtened and moved Vortex enough to lift his head with a finger under the chin. Those yellow eyes, glistening and full of tears, were another jab; as far as the little space allowed them, Blast Off and Brawl crawled closer, till they could touch Onslaught’s shoulders with theirs. Swindle didn’t move but, with clenched fists, kept his eyes on the youngest brother.
-You don’t have to apologize. Shh, shh. It’s okay, don’t cry.-
Onslaught rocked him, an hand rubing the youngest’s head in circles.
-But-
-Shh, no buts. We’re not angry, you only startled us.-
-I, I’m scared you h hate me. I d don’t wan na.- He sniffled, voice muffled.
-I know, I know. But there no reason to be scared. We can’t hate you, in any way. Okay?-
-Uuhh…-
-There, there, more tears? My mechling, you’re really so scared…-
Onslaught meet the worried and tired look of Blast Off and Brawl, and sighed. None of them would ever have imagined something like that.
Still crying, Vortex rubed again his head on his brother’s chest. For some minutes the only noise in the room were his sobbing. Then, Swindle suddenly straightened up.
-We only wanted to help!-
His face was twisted in a grimace, and he was biting his lower lip; he felt tears burning his eyes, but he refused to let them drop. To see Vortex sobbing in that way, and for that reason, had stirred something in him. An istinctive thought was pushing him to comfort the little mechling. Vortex talked too much, and always snooped in Swindle’s things. But he was his little brother. When they met him the first time, Vortex rarely spoke and with difficulty had opened up to them.
Swindle still remembered that little face when they brought him in their home: Vortex had kept smiling, laughing and running around the apartment for days. And every time Swindle was feeling down, or was upset for something, Vortex would run to him and, without a word, hug him.
He acted that way with all the four brothers.
“How can he aven think that we hate him?!”
Swindle leaned forward and took in his hand Vortex’s. The mechling was shivering and Swindle lowered his eyes.
“He really is scared…Tex…”
In that moment a thought made its way in his mind: and if it was him who made Vortex cry? It was his own idea to go out at night, and he didn’t stop Vortex to follow him. Actually, it was Vortex that often woke up Swindle; like he couldn’t wait to spend most of the night watching his brother work.
But Swindle hadn’t thought how their brothers would had react, once found their secret. If he would have done that, he would have thinked something to prevent three angry older brothers and a crying little brother. Seeing that look on Vortex was wrong. It was a personal affront for Swindle, and it irked him.
Swindle raised his head and looked straight into Vortex’s eyes. The mechling was watching him confused, but tears were still rolling down his cheeks.
-Help?-
Swindle didn’t hear Brawl: he was busy thinking what to say to Vortex.
-Tex, we were helping, you know that, right? So there’s no reason to fear that they hate us. Or that I hate you. Don’t even think about it.-
Swindle kept his eyes on Vortex’s, who, at his words, nodded slowly. The yellow mechling gave him a little smile and a squeeze his hand, seeing that the other had stopped crying.
-Care to explain yourself, Swindle?-
Swindle turned quickly towards Blast Off: the flier had moved slightly forward and was watching him with a stern look. Judging by Onslaught’s reaction, Blast Off had anticipated him the question. Swindle hesitated for a few seconds. But then, the words forced themself out.
-There’s a fragging motive why we sneaked out at night. I knew that you’d be mad if you found out, but I wanted, I had to do it. What you think, it’s easy to find what the clients want, haggle with the supplers for the best goods and resell it at the right prices? It is not! But what else was I supposed to do?-
In unison the three mech opened their mouth to reply, but Swindle didn’t give them a chance do to so, and continued regardless.
-I heard you, some solar cycles ago. And, frankly? It doesn’t take a genius to find it out. We need shanixs. Yes, Onslaught have his job at the station, Blast Off go to the academy and work at that slagged office, and Brawl the same, school and then that warehouse. You’re struggling, and it’s not enough! This the only solution I could find, okay?-
Swindle’s voice broke on the last part and lowered his head. Vortex chirped, confused and sad, and leaned foward with his arm, the same whose hand Swindle let go during his vent, to reach his brother, only to be pulled back by Onslaught. Vortex began to complain and struggle, but the incomprehesible look on the older’s face stopped him. The mechling couldn’t understand that reaction at Swindle’s words, but he understood that that was something serious.
He shifted his gaze, eyes still full of tears, from a brother to another: Brawl had raised an arm, outstretched towards Swindle but on his unmasked face was the uncertainity of what to do. Onslaught was silent, that strange look on his face while looking the yellow mechling; Vortex saw however a strange gleam in those yellow eyes. When he shifted his gaze on Blast Off, Vortex grimaced perplexed, noticing that the other flier had replaced the visor on his eyes.
Several minutes passed before someone spoke.
-This is perhaps the most absurd thing that you’ve ever said.-
Blast Off’s voice broke the silence with all its sharpness.
-Absurd?!-
Swindle raised his head abruptly, looking straight to Blast Off. The flier didn’t paid attention to the fury nor to the stupor in the purple eyes, and continued:
-This is the only solution you could find? Be a seller on the streets of Kaon? At night no less. There’s a reason- Using the same words of his brother he let out a mocking half-grin. -If we said to you to not wander alone in the city. After all those vorns out there, you should know very well the reasons, Swindle. But not only you disobeyed us, YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU VORTEX!-
Those words froze Swindle. Hearing Blast Off yelling was always weird, and scaring, but those words of his kept dancing in Swindle’s head, and the yellow mechling couldn’t stop himself. He didn’t want to. That tone, that accusations, the same fact that was Blast Off of all of them to say those things, increased the anger and bitterness in him.
-He chose to follow me! And I knew what I was doing. It’s so wrong wanting to help?-
Brawl looked away from the argument. It was already hard when the two dicussed normally. This time Brawl couldn’t pat with powerful slaps their backs, nor talk with each of them and make them reconcile. He turned towards his others two brothers: Vortex was keeping his eyes on Blast Off and Swindle and Brawl could see how the little mechling held himself against Onslaught’s chest. Like he wanted to blend with the metal; and his grip on the oldest’s hand, with the shivering rotor’s blades, were all a clue of his thoughts on the whole situation. A greenish hand covered the yellow eyes and Brawl moved his on Onslaught. The blue and green mech was silently watching the argument, and, to Brawl’s dismay, didn’t seemed ready to intervene.
-Onslaught, you have to do something.-
More insults. Vortex fidgeted in his brother’s hand and hid his face in the other’s chest. Brawl glanced at Blast Off and Swindle and rubed an arm, uneasy.
-Ons?-
-I said it’s not your job!-
-And what, I do nothing? Instead of being happy…You’re the one being absurd!-
-I thought you were smarter than this, Swindle.-
-Oh, so it is? Then enlighten me, Mr Blast Off.-
It was easier now feeling from the two the annoyance, anger and other emotions. But the one that most hit Brawl was the disappointment in both.
The two were now face to face and Brawl was about to lean foward and take Swindle, the closest, and putting himself between the two, when Onslaught’s voice thundered in the room, stopping definitelt the argumentl.
-Blast Off. Swindle.-
Firm and strong voice. Authoritative. It was the tone that long ago, before they met Vortex, before buying their small apartment, Onslaught used to do. To hear that voice, in that moment, was disorientating.
Brawl hurried to sit, away from the trajectory of the likely lecture. Onslaught had straightened, his hard eyes fixed on Blast Off and Swindle, the left hand in a tight fist on his knee, while with the other held thigtly Vortex.
-If you’re finished with this useless argument.-
He waited a retort from the two. Not that they could do one: not only his tone didn’t allow it, he maneged, with only that sentence, to admonish both of them.
Seeing that he had their complete attention, he continued:
-You are both right. Blast Off, you know what I think about this.- He looked intently the flier, a silent conversation between the two. Blast Off raised his visor and after some seconds his eyes widened. -There’s no need to get even more angry. They get it.- Blast Off lowered his eyes, hearing the almost exact words that he used some minutes ago. Onslaught turned to Swindle, and with a finger rubed Vortex, who still was hiding his head in the mech’s chest,on a shoulder,.
-Swindle, I know you wanted to help. And I’m proud you want to.- Swindle crossed his arms, refusing to look him. -But like Blast Off said, it’s not your job.-
At those words Swindle turned abruptly towards Onslaught, his eyes wide open and his arms slightly raised. Onslaught raised his free hand, stopping him before he could speak.
-Listen to me. When we bought this apartment, and Vortex joined our family, we decided that everyone has their part. I know you remember that talk we had. You’re still too young to work. What you should do now is thinking about your studies.-
-But I can do both!-
-No. Your studies are more important.-
Onslaught watched Swindle biting his lip and lowering his eyes.
-I know what you’re capable of. You do not need to prove anything.-
Seeing that Swindle still avoided to look at him, Onslaught shook his head. Sometimes he wondered if his brothers behaved that way on purpose. Each of them had his strenghts and weakness. Swindle was smart, had strong communication skills, and knew how to read people. And he had a good business sense. Hovewer, there was something that Swindle did a lot: withdrawing into himself. Not that he didn’t trust them. Onslaught knew them well, and he knew that Swindle was protective as him of their family. But that habit of withdrawing, a memory of all the vorns before they met, was leaving a gap from him and his brothers. Onslaught had once thought that that was a weird irony: it was a thing they had in common. And since they were similar, Onslaught knew that getting out of his comfort zone wouldn’t damage their relationship, but could help Swindle, even if he feared the contrary.
In the current case, however, when Swindle was overwhelmed by strong emotions, Onslaught couldn’t use a direct approach, or else, the other would withdraw further into himself; Onslaught had already faced the same problem, and sometimes he still had to, with Blast Off.
He felt absdentmindedly Vortex moving uncomfortably in his hand, and Onslaught adjusted his grip. Hearing the satisfied chirp from the mechling, an idea came into his mind and turned back to Swindle. While he was thinking to what to do, Swindle had leaned over Blast Off and the flier, though still visibly angry for their argument, had put an arm around the mechling. Typical of Blast Off: getting angry with his brothers, arguing with them, usually for one of their disobedience, then rationalize it all and comforting his brothers. Swindle wasn’t looking bothered and Onslaught thought that at least that problem had been resolved. Now remained the other problem, the one almost as big as Swindle’s pride. But Onslaught knew to push the right buttons.
-Vortex, can I ask you a question?-
At his name, Vortex raised his head and met his brother’s look.
-Yes?-
Onslaught smiled and rubed the mechling’s head, humming lowly.
-Why did you followed Swindle?-
Once finished, Onslaught felt his brothers’s eyes on him. Especially Brawl, relaxed after the argument, glared vehemently at the oldest. Onslaught didn’t mind it: his question probably sounded out of place, especially when Vortex had finally calmed down. It was far from his intetion to upset again the mechling. And seeing how the said mechling was reacting, the question didn’t bother him. Sure enough, after a few seconds, he answered:
-…I wanted to be with him. And watching all those transformers was funny!-
Onslaught rocked him and Vortex let out an happy laugh, his rotor’s blades raising slightly at the motion. The mech glanced at Swindle, watching the wide opened eyes, now fixed on Vortex; he kept opening and closing his mouth, like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. That was all Onslaught needed to confirm that he was right.
-Funny?-
Vortex turned towards Brawl, unaware of the other’s amused tone.
-Yeah! A mech had a weird thing on his wrist. Swindle said that probabi uh proba-
-Probably.-
-Yes, that! That is for, oh. Thank you, Blast Off!-
Vortex gave Blast Off a bright smile, then turned again towards Brawl. Blast Off looked between the two and Swindle, still stunned and with eyes fixed on Vortex. The flier leaned slighlt towards Onslaught and whispered:
-I dont’ think your idea is having a good result.-
-Sorry, what idea?-
Blast Off looked him with an unsurprised face and Onslaught smirked: he knew that Blast Off would have get what he wanted to do.
-You really think this isn’t a part of my idea?-
Blast Off shifted his eyes on Brawl and Vortex. The mechling, still seated on the blue and green mech’s hand, was talking animatedly of the nights spent whit his brother, and Blast Off noticed that he was mentioning him almost in every sentence. In that moment he understood and turned back to Onslaught.
-You, you’re a piston head.-
Onslauth just tilted his head, a slight grin on his face, and Blast Off huffed, both amused and exasperated. Was in those moments the he was happy that the others weren’t aware of that side of Onslaught: to make understand something to one of his brothers, Onslaught was capable of anything. Blast Off had a personal experience with that side. And judging by Swindle’s reaction, even in that case Onslaught was right.
He looked Onslaught with a silent request and his brother nodded.
-I see that you had a great time with Swindle.-
Vortex tilted his head back, looking his brother upside-down.
-Uh, yeah?-
-Ah!-
Hearing the answer, Blast Off couldn’t help an amused snort: a so outraged voice and with a note of obviousness. Maybe he was influencing him too much, he was already reaching his level of sarcasm.
-But Swindle didn’t let me talk with the clients!-
Vortex raised an hand and pointed at the yellow mechling, who, at those words, had crossed his arms.
-I told you why!-
-Why?!-
Swindle sighed and answered weary. It seemed like they had the same discussion over and over.
-Because that was one of the rules!-
-Rules?-
The three older brothers looked at each other, having spoken in unison with different tones. That was a surprise.
Vortex imitated the yellow mechling and crossed his arms, a little pout on his face.
-Yeah! Don’t talk with ‘formers, don’t ember. Uh-
-Embarrass.-
-Yeah! Thank you Blast Off. To don’t do that to Swindle, and to don’t wander alone. All boring!-
-You, little-
-Didn’t you just said that you had fun?-
Vortex looked down and crossed his hands, moving the interlaced fingers back and forth, embarrassed.
-Yes…-
-He gave those rules not to spite you. He gave them because he love you and cares for you. Do you understand?-
Vortex nodded and hid his face on the mech’s chest, the rotor’s blades lowered in embarrassment.
-Do you umderstand?-
-Yes…-
-Good. And what you should say now?-
Vortex looked his brother and, at his nod, he turned towards Swindle.
-Sorry Swindle.-
-Oh. It’s okay, Tex.-
Swindle shrugged and gently hit a rotor’s blade where he knew was ticklish, making Vortex chirp amused and annoyed. When Onslaught lowered his hand to bring him down, the chirp turned in a nonverbal protest, followed by spread out blades. With a pat on the head, Onslaught made him sit on his leg, and then looked at the yellow mechling.
-Swindle, come here.-
Swindle looked at him surprised. He lowered his head, his body tense like he was ready to run. Then he sighed and moved closer to the mech. With an hand on his shoulder, Onslaught brought Swindle near his chest and, touching his chin with a finger, made him looking straight at him. Satisfied he saw that Swindle had, visually and finally, relaxed. As he had thought, listening to Vortex’s point of view was helping.
Now Onslaught needed to give him a last push.
-I want to make a promise with you.-
-What?-
-Until you’re old enough, I want you to keep your business to a minimum.-
-What, but I Wait. Are you serious?!-
Onslaught nodded and rubed his head.
-Yes. In the meantime you can also help in another way. Actually, you’re already doing it.-
-Uh? How so, I’m not doing anything special.-
-Hmpf. Trust me, you’re doing it, you just didn’t notice it yet.-
Swindle crossed his arms but kept his eyes on his brother.
-Instead of talking in riddles, why don’t you just tell me?-
Onslaught opened his mouth, but Brawl interrupted him.
-Hey, not to interrupt you two, but can you talk later?-
The two turned towards the green mech, who pointed with a thumb Vortex: the mechling was sitting on one of Blast Off’s knees and was rocking himself back and forth, his eyes barely open.
-The little one here is falling asleep.-
-I’m not sleepy!-
Vortex spoke in a indignant voice, but his mouth was thick with sleep. Blast Off snorted and, shaking his head, took Vortex by the rotor, taking him in his arms.
-Really? Seems like you are, to me.-
Vortex tried struggling in his brother’s grip, but the continuous pats on his head and rotor, mixed with the flier’s heat, made it hard to focus.
-Nooo…-
Onslaught shaked his head and motioned Swindle to get up, before doing it himself.
-It’s not a surprise, this is past his berthtime. And we should all get some sleep.-
Swindle looked at his brothers disoriented, and when Brawl put an hand on his shoulder he raised his head. Seeing his face Brawl burst out laughing.
-Swin, what the frag is that face?!-
-Wha?-
Swindle turned to face him, swaying doing so. He almost fell, but was stopped by a finger of his brother on his shoulder.
-I’d laugh, if only I didn’t know why you’re so tired.-
-You already laughed, you fragger.-
-Shut up or I let you fall on the floor.-
Swindle didn’t answered, not because the harmless jab, but because only then he realized how tired he was. He wasn’t surprised. Without really giving him time to protest, Brawl crouched and lifted him in one arm. The mechling, after initial struggling, sighed: even without Brawl’s strong grip, Swindle was too tired even to lift a finger.
Resigned to be carried, Swindle laid his head on his brother’s shoulder and, before realizing it, he fell asleep.
Swinlde opened his eyes in a dark room and sat up; at his side Brawl turned to face him, but didn’t wake up. On his right Onslaught was sleeping and Swindle could see, even in the semi darkness, Vortex on Blast Off’s chest, both asleep.
He didn’t remember entering his brothers’s room and, even if he just had woken up, he still felt drowsy; however, for an unknown reason he couldn’t sleep; he laid his forehead on Onslaught’s chest and started wandering with his eyes. He could see near to nothing in that darkness, but it was an habit he had since he was younger, before he met his brothers: observing everything, at any moment, and searching something useful. Now he no longer needed to do that but, sometimes, especially regarding his business, he found himself doing it. Other times, thinking was easier that way.
His thoughts traveled back some hours before and for the second time in the night he felt an overwhelming sense of shame: he had it all planned, but didn’t thought that his brothers would been worrying.
He recalled his argument with Blast Off and closed his eyes, sighing.
“He’s right…What was I thinking, bringing Vortex with me…yes, he was so happy, and I’d never seen him like that, but…”
He reopened his eyes and shifted, laying a cheek on the chest under him, glancing up at Onsluaght.
“Beside that…How can I help?”
Swindle touched his chin with a knuckle, raising slightly his head.
“Onslaught said I’m alredy helping. But how, what I’m even doing?”
He sighed again and lowered his head against Onslaught.
-Can’t sleep?-
Feeling the chest under him quivering with the voice, Swindle looked up an met his brother’s yellow eyes.
-Not exactly…-
Onslaught didn’t said anything, but raised his arm and rubed with the hand Swindle’s head. Near them Brawl moved, and Onslaught lowered his arm, half-hugging both the green mech and Swindle. For a few moments no one spoke, then Swindle laid again his cheek on the oldest’s chest. When he spoke his voice was lower than a whisper.
-What’d you mean, earlier?-
-Mh?-
Swindle thought that the other falled back asleep and didn’t expect that he would hear him. He didn’t really wanted to reopen that discussion, but in the end his curiosity won.
-…When you said I’m already helping.-
Onslaught shifted his head just enough to look into the purple eyes.
-With Vortex.-
Swindle blinked a few times and raised his head confused by that knowing tone.
-What do you mean?-
Onslaught strained to not sigh: he was tired, and he had to go to work early that morning, but if Swindle needed to understand why he was helping so he could go back asleep, he couldn’t refuse to answering him.
-In these last nights, didn’t you take care of him?-
-Of course I did.-
-And didn’t you heard how he was talking about the joors you two spent together?-
-Yes…-
-Swindle, really didn’t you notice what are you doing?- While he was speaking he turned his head towards Vortex, still asleep on Blast Off’s chest, watching the little rotor’s blades silently quivering, then turned back to Swindle. -I cant’ bring him too often at work, and he is still very young to attend school. Sometimes Blast Off and Brawl bring him to their schools, and I know that you, once out of yours, go get him. Since we meet him you wanted to look after him. You play with him, you help him when we’re not home. Like in those nights, in your sneaks out.- He watched Swindle flinching at the hard tone on the last part. -It’s no surprise that he wants to be with you. Vortex is still very young, and he needs someone to look after him. And that is what you’re already doing.-
-Oh.-
Onslaught snorted a silent laugh.
-Just oh?-
Swindle looked away and put his crossed hands on his head, hiding his embarassed face.
-I guess I never thought of it that way. I suppose I was doing it all without realizing.-
And it was true. It seemed obvious to him that, since his brothers were busy with their jobs and studies, and that, with his anger, were overbundening themself to earn more shanixs, he was the one who had to look after Vortex. And it was with his very surprise that the younger mechling had grown fond of him.
Onslaught pat his head and Swindle refocused on him.
-Do you understand now?-
-Yeah…Ons?-
-Mh?-
-The shanixs from the sales…-
-Keep them.-
-But-
-No buts. Even if I don’t like how, you earned it. They’re yours. But no more working at night. Is that clear?-
-Yes! Thank you.-
-You’re welcome. Now, go back to sleep, you’ve school later.-
Swindle nodded and settled near his brother, relaxing listening to his hum. He heard in the background Brawl saying something, Blast Off answering him in an half whisper and Onslaught scolding both.
Despite the noise, Swindle let out a little content smile: his original plan had failed, but he felt anyway satisfied. After all, Onslaught said to not work at night, it wasn’t Swindle fault if he didn’t generalize.
Swindle closed his eyes, a new resolve in mind: one way or another, he would help his brothers.
Chapter Text
Night was falling. Almost a dance, in the rhythm of each districts, the street lights lit up one by one as the sky was getting dark, all following an unvarying musical score. But there was a dissonance, in the many districts bordering the lowest ones and those, completaly plunged in the dark, illuminated only thanks for the few spots where the light from the upper levels filtered.
Like every night, the majority of the transformers, if not everyone, who finished with their daily routine, was ready to go to the nearest bar, or club. Brawl was one of them. And was ready to follow his work’s colleagues, if wasn’t for the message he received earlier that day. He stopped right in front of th bar’s door, and, venting in frustration, turned. He brought an hand at his hip side, right at the opening of the subspace: he really couldn’t understand, nor explain, why they sent him that message. He know he provided all the requested data.
“It’s for my job?”
-Move the frag out!-
Brawl moved aside, watching with hidden, wide opened eyes as an angry mech walked off past him. Grunting, with his thoughts occupied on deciphering the message’s mystery, Brawl resumed walking.
“It can’t be the job, I know very well what I should do…So why the frag they sent me that?! Dosen’t make any sense…”
His right hand closed in a fist and Brawl struggled to not yell; even more when he noticed that he had passed the right turn. Clenching both of his hands, and trying to count mentally to ten, like Onslaught taught him, Brawl turned back, stomping his feet all the way, ignoring the annoyed glances and voices of the others transformers.
“…My enrollment wasn’t accepted?”
His furious walk started to slow down, till he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.
“And what should I say to the others?”
Even with his brothers’s supports to find an academy that reflected his interests, he was happy to see that they accepted his choice. Even though he suspected that Blast Off was a little disappointed, though of course he wouldn’t let it show, that he didn’t choose the Art Academy of Kaon. Sure, Brawl liked writing, a secret between him and Blast Off and one that the grounder prefered that will remain as such. But he preferred by far fighting, and he wanted to avoid problems with his ability and alt mode, so he decided to enroll at the same academy Onslaught attended. Though, Blast Off offered to go with him and get more informations of the classes, so probably he wasn’t so disappointed.
The street was full of transformers, and even if he wanted, he couldn’t transform. He was anyway used to walk back to his apartmanent, and deep in tought like he was, he didn’t even notice that he was arrived at his block. Usually he and Swindle walked home together, but since the two younger mechling had been caught sneaking out, Blast Off started leaving earlier his classes, taking Swindle from school with Vortex in tow, to watch over them. It was strange, after vorns, walking alone, but on one side, Brawl didn’t want to talk to Swindle, nor listening to his prattle.
But once in front of his appartment’s door, Brawl hesitated. It wasn’t like him, wavering with uncertainty; he went over that once starting living with the others. He vented, snorting irritated at the memory of his self when he met Blast Off: he hardly recognised his past self. So much time passed since he felt that way, like a scared, shy mechling who…No, he wasn’t going to think about that. He felt the familiar anger bubbling inside, mostly towards that message. He restrained himself from yelling, only because he didn’t want his brothers to questioning him.
Brawl counted to five and punched the code on the door scanner pad.
Unsurprisingly, inside the main room there were his brothers: Blast Off was at the table with Vortex sitting on his lap, reading a datapad to the mechling. It was something that the flier started to do when they adopted Vortex, reading to him; and with Blast Off’s delight, the mechling had immediately shown interest in those stories. Maybe too much, since he kept pestering them to read him something…
Swindle was sitting on the seat in front of them, bent over two datapads, his gaze swifting from one’s screen to the one he was writing on. The moment the door slided open and close, Vortex looked up and Brawl grinned seeing the mechling’s bright smile.
-Brawl!-
The green grounder approached the table and stroked the mechling’s head, nodding his head towards Blast Off.
-Hey, Tex. Swindle.-
Blast Off answered him with one nod and got up, letting Vortex sit on the chair and taking the datapad. While the mechling started typing on the datapad with a focused look, Blast Off started to the kitchen, sending on the way an irritated look at Swindle.
-Onslaught will be here soon. Swindle, Brawl was talking to you, and put away those datapads.-
Swindle stopped in mid writing and rose his head, meeting the flier’s eyes.
-I was checking if there were any mistakes…-
-Yes, and fliers love closed spaces.-
-Ha ha. I was checking, so what?-
Blast Off looked at him unamused, even though one of his legs’s wings jerked in annoyance. The two kept each other’s stare for a few seconds, then Swindle turned his head, altough grumbling something. Blast Off snorted irritated (but one can easily see the grin when he turned) and went to open the cabinet where they kept their energon cubes. He took one, half full, put it on the counter, and opened another cabinet, taking five smaller empty glass cubes and a pack of minerals. While Blast Off was preparing their dinner, Brawl stretched his shoulders and sat besides Swindle who, after putting in his subspace the two datapads, had turned on the holovisor. He glanced at the other grounder.
-So, how was work?-
Brawl shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in his chair.
-As always, nothing to add. School?-
Swindle grunted and stretched over the table.
-I have a calculus’s test in a few cycles. Full of complicated formulas…-
-You found them complicated.-
-Hey, don’t look at me like that!-
Blast Off reached the table at that moment, putting down five cubes of energon, and met Brawl’s eyes.
-Yes, I thought so too.-
Brawl moved his eyes towards Swindle and smirked when he saw the flier doing the same. The two kept doing this, mimicing with their eyes and face’s expressions a dialogue. Swindle watched them irritated and after a few seconds he grumbled, laying his head on the table, face first.
-I hate when you do that.-
Brawl opened his mouth to answer him, but right in that moment the main door slided open and closed, followed by a familiar voice.
-Mechs.-
-Ons!.-
Vortex, who till that moment was ignoring the bickering of his brothers, stood up with a jump on the chair, ready to fly towards the oldest brother, only to be stopped by Onslaught when the eldest patted his head. The mech smiled at him, then looked around, noticing the full cubes on the table.
-Haven’t you dined?-
Blast Off handed him a cube, putting one in front of Vortex, motioning the mechling to sit.
-Were waiting for you. Swindle, don’t you dare!-
Swindle yelped surprised and rose his head from something in his lap.
-I wasn’t doing anything.-
-Right, like earlier.-
The brown flier vented a snort and, after putting the datapad that Vortex left on the table in its place on the bookcase, put two cubes in front of Brawl and Swindle and sat beside Vortex with another one in his hand.
Onslaught sat and looked at the two, taking a sip of energon.
-What has he done now?-
-Nothing!-
Brawl rested his head on an hand, looking at Swindle with a amused smirk.
-Wonder why I have the feeling you’re lying.-
Swindle moved an hand in a vague gesture, without turning, towards him.
-I told you, I have a difficult exam in few cycles. Can I review the chapters or you guys gonna disturb me again?-
-Watch your intake.-
Swindle met Onslaught’s stern eyes and flinched, lowering his eyes.
-…Sorry…But really, I just want a good grade!-
-Then you wouldn’t mind if I want to see that pad.-
-Eh? Which one?-
-The one you were writing on. And don’t you dare say you’re only making your homeworks. I know you finished them a groon ago.-
Swindle watched Blast Off’s hand stretched out in front of him, moving in a swift gesture to hurry with his request, then the flier’s face.
-…And why you want it?-
-I just want see what else you canceled.-
Onslaught put down his cube and looked right into Swindle’s eyes. Watching the two, Brawl hid a smirk behind his cube: it was always amusing to see Swindle or Blast Off as the subject of Onslaught’s lectures. Especially when the oldest made the ‘don’t you dare lying to me’ look.
Still, neither of the brothers relented at those looks…Not that angering Onslaught was funny, especially since the mech was doing a lot for them, but sometimes they wanted to act like they prefered. But it was still funny watching the others receive a stern earful by Onslaugth. Beside, it was really hard lying when the mech gave them that look.
- You erased something from yours homeworks?-
-Not the homeworks.-
Swindle snarled something in a low voice, directed at Blast Off when the flier answered, and, still watching the other with annoyance, grimaced.
-An error, that’s all.-
-Ugh. Meh.-
The four’s attention swifted to the youngest, who till that moment was drinking quietly and with taste his energon. Some drops, however, had slipped out and had formed a sticky trail on his chin. Onslaught took the tissues Blast Off passed him and started cleaning the mechling, ignoring his squirming; when he spoke, though, he was adressing Swindle.
-Uh uh. And how much you erased?-
Swindle muttered something and Blast Off murmured through gritted teeth, apparently the only one who understood what the yellow mechling had said. Onslaught was, instead, the one who understood what the flier had said and at his warning look Blast Off flinched slightly, shrugged his shoulders and went back drinking his energon.
-Speak loudly, Swindle.-
Swindle started drumming his fingers on a side of his cube, then on the table. Huge mistake, stalling when Onslaught wanted to know something they did.
-Swinlde, don’t make me repeat.-
-Aaah! Alright, alright, I talk!-
Brawl stiffled a laugh. And there was Swindle’s second mistake. Answering Onslaught with a pissed off tone? It was like playing with a nitrotiger. Indeed, finished cleaning Vortex, Onslaught turned completaly towards Swindle, both optical ridges raised in a retorical request. Swindle made a face and turned his eyes when he started spoking.
-The text the teacher given us explains wrong methods to resolves a certain type of problems. And since she refused to gives us the right ones, I searched them on the datanet.-
-How do you know they’re wrong?-
-Because they don’t solve the problems.-
-Oh…Wait, you little piece of-
-Brawl. This doesn’t answer my question, Swindle.-
-Yes, it does.-
-No. You told me ‘why’. I asked ‘how much’-
- If you don’t say it, I’ll do.-
Swindle glanced annoyed at Blast Off, but spoke again.
-A page at most…-
-Let me see.-
Swindle hesitated for a few moments, then gave the datapad to Onslaught. The mech read in silence, his face displaying no reaction to what he was seeing. When he rose his head, his eyes meet the anxious and purple eyes of the other.
-You canceled two entire chapters and then rewrited them.-
-Okay, how you get that?! Besides, were the ones with the wrong methods. At first I thought I had to correct only few paragraphs, then I saw that it was all wrong.-
-And why didn’t you took notes?-
-For convenience? Don’t look at me like that, my notes are a mess…-
-Right…Did you told your teacher that two entire chapters are wrong?-
-Of course I did, and she insisted that they were right, even when I showed her the formulas and the exercises.-
Onslaught vented and gave Swindle one of his warning stare. The mechling grunted and crossed his arms.
-You were right to search the right methods.- He stopped, giving back the datapad to Swindle.- But erasing two whole chapters is exaggerating. And I’ll not ask how you came up with this idea, but at least tell me this. What did the teacher told you when you mentioned this to her?-
-…That I was making it up and I have to comply with what the text say.-
-She didn’t listen to you, the first of the class?-
-Evidently I’m good only when I don’t point out mistakes, Brawl, didn’t you know?-
Brawl pushed Swindle on an shoulder’s wheel; he was about to reply when Onslaught stopped him with his hand.
-Why didn’t you used a new pad? And don’t say that’s because your notes are a mess.-
-Don’t have an empty one, nor that have enough space.-
- And didn’t you bought a new one, or asked me, or Blast Off or Brawl to buy it?-
-They cost a little too much, and I didn’t want to disturb you.-
-…-
-…-
-You want me to answer that or you realise that what you just said its a complete nonsense? Blast Off, do you have an empty datapad that you don’t need?-
Onslaught kept his eyes on Swindle as he spoke, noticing the right shoulder’s wheel turning slightly backwards; besides of that, the mechling didn’t show any reaction, but turned to watch the holovisor.
-More than one and in various formats. Any preferences, Swindle?-
Both shoulders’s wheels moved backwards, and before Swindle could answer, Onslaught gave him another of his looks.
-Recover the files and write the right methods on the empty pad.-
-Ugh, all right.-
-You’re making a scene. It’s not like you.-
-Oh, I’m so sorry, Blast Off, that it bothers me that my teacher refuses to admit that the text she wrote and then gave us its full of errors and she insists on making us study it! Some parts just don’t have any sense!-
Onslaught vented, shaking his head, but didn’t reprimand the mechling, leaving Blast Off to do it; he raised his cube and took a sip of energon.
-Have you tried talking to the principal?-
-…Oh.-
-It’s the most logical thing to do and he say “oh”.-
-Blast Off…-
-Come on, you know I’m right.-
- I, I didn’t think about it, ok?!-
-Of course. And it wasn’t bacause otherwhise you feared that, if you would have done that, your classmates would have made fun of you.-
-Uh, correction, they wouldn’t have. Because unlike yours, they like me.-
-Watch it. And besides, what do you expect? When they’re envious of someone better than them, they act that way.-
-And he know what he’s talking about.-
-Shut up Brawl.-
-Right…-
The green grounder gasped at the other’s tone.
-Swin, I’m surprised that you don’t know what Blast Off did when he was younger.-
Swindle turned completaly towards Brawl, a mischievous glint in his eyes that didn’t go unnoticed to his brothers.
-Oh, I know that voice. Tell me all the details!-
Brawl brought the cube to his mouth, not even minding to hide his smirk.
-With pleasure! He had more or less my vorns, and in his class there was a mech that kept getting on his bolts…-
-Ugh, Brawl, are you seriously telling that story?-
Brawl ignored Blast Off, an amused look on his face; it was hard to find something Blast Off was ashamed of, and Brawl couldn’t not smirk at him. But before he could continue his story, Brawl saw Onslaught crossing his arms. He didn’t know if it was because the other knew what he was going to say or if it was because he was curious about the story.
“Oh well.”
-This mech kept being a piston. He modified his homeworks. He kept accusing Blast Off of disturbing the lessons. Even during class assignments. Not to mention the outside lessons. And everytime that Blast Off said something to the teachers, they kept telling him that the other was only joking around.-
-Of course they said so…All thanks of his family…-
Swindle didn’t turned towards the flier, ignoring and pointing at him, instead, a sarcastic note in his voice.
-We’re talking about Blast Off. That mech probably commented on his finish.-
-Yeah, that’s what you think. Blast Off act haughty, but among us he is the most af- Brawl stopped at the quick and low growl. He looked at the eldest, watching him nodding towards Vortex and promptly Brawl stilled. In the vorns they knew each others, he had to learn to translate the different types of Onslaught’s growls and that was one well recognizable growl: “Finish that word and if he repeat it you’ll see what I’ll do to you.”.
-What’s Blast Off?-
Brawl flinched. Of course Vortex had to ask, from all that he said, that.
-A…An af…absolutely arrogant!-
-What does mean?-
-Uh, that he-
-You almost surprised me with the use of that word, but I see you’re not disappointing: you don’t even know the meaning.-
Brawl slitted his eyes and pointed the brown flier at Vortex.
-See Blast Off? Well, he is the perfect example.-
The said mech gave him a cold look, and with a click of his tongue he turned to Vortex, though his eyes kept watching Brawl’s.
-Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t even know what that word means, that’s why he said that.-
-EHI! It’s not true!-
-Then tell him what arrogant means.-
Brawl growled slightly and shifted his gaze to Vortex.
-Arrogant is someone who think they’re the best and superior than others, when it’s not true.-
-Impressive.-
-Continue and you get a punch.-
Blast Off shook his head annoyed and looked at Brawl.
-You have to do this every time?-
-Yes, if you keep insulting me!-
-Say it right. You started it by telling that story.-
-Oh, come on! It’s funny!-
-No.-
-Don’t understand why you’re making a fuss. We already know you’re not that serious.-
-Then it’s not a problem if I tell of that time you-
-NO!-
-…You’re so sharp that it’s astonishing.-
-Really…Tell me everything, Blast Off!-
-With pleasure, Swindle. You could take it as an example.-
-Since is something that Brawl has done, I don’t know you’re being sarcastic or not.-
-And here I am, still wondering why you three always do this. Having a cycle where we calmly drink energon it’s evidently too much to ask.-
Onslaught vented, seeing that he was ignored by the three, and patted Vortex on the head when the mechling chirped perplexed.
-I’m being both, Swindle.-
-Eh. Anyway, tell me.-
-It’s a simple thing. You have to humil-
A loud metallic sound resounded in the room and Blast Off flinched, clutching the cube in his hand. He glanced at Onslaught, sitting two seat from him, and spoke with clenched teeth.
-And what that was for?-
Onsalught took a sip of his energon and, accentuating every word with his typical voice that didn’t allow retorts, answered him.
-You know very well why.-
-And you have to-
-Oh. I get it. It’s not a bad idea.-
-Yeah, you can do th-
Brawl stopped himself, feeling a movement under the table, followed by a surprised yelp from Swindle.
-Ow! Why you kicked me?!-
Brawl started laughing, seeing the outraged face of the mechling; but his laughter quickly subsided when he shifted his gaze and saw the look Onslaught was giving him. Brawl refrained himself from grumbling, choosing instead to see what the older transformer was going to say.
-Don’t do what he said.-
-Technically, I didn’t say anything.-
At the low growl Blast Off raised an hand and turned to watch the holovisor.
-I wouldn’t have done that anyway.-
A simple look made Swindle lower his head, and this time Brawl smirked.
-Before going to recharge, recover those files. And mention this at the principal.-
-Yes…-
After dinner Onslaught put the cubes under the cleanser tap. Put them on the draining track, the mech joined his brothers on the sofa.
-What we’re watching?-
Vortex, who was sitting on Brawl’s lap, looked away from the holovisor and turned towards Onslaught.
-We four a movie. You go to recharge.-
With a pout Vortex turned to face the other flier.
-But Blast Off!-
-No buts, Vortex.-
-Why I have to recharge while you guys’ll watch a movie?!-
Onslaught vented and sat next to Brawl.
-Just a few kliks, then you go to recharge.-
Vortex nodded, his blades doing the same. The four older transformers exchanged a knowing look: it wasn’t new that Vortex wanted to stay up late with them. Even when they get to put him to berth, the little mechling find a way to sneak in the main room and watch the movie they put on. And they were more than glad that most of the nights they chose to watch comedies or adventure movies. And predictably, like all those other nights, Vortex fell asleep on one of his brothers’s lap.
Brawl moved Vortex, so he was cradling him, and got up silently, heading to the mechling’s room. He gently put Vortex on his berth, moving a blade when it scrapped against the thin mattress, then shuffled silently towards the door and stopped right after it closed behind him. Before him was a baffling view, one that he saw a few times. In fact, he could count on one hand how many times he saw that: Swindle sleeping contentedly semi laying on Blast Off’s lap. Really, it wasn’t that much of a strange view, falling asleep one over the other: after all, when they were still in the lower level, it was the only way they had to sleep in the one room flat, the space too cramped for four mechling, especially when three of them were of large class. So now on an upper level, in a larger apartment with two bedrooms and no more with only a bed available, they slept literally curled up around each other only now and then, like the night they caught Swindle and Vortex sneaking out. Speaking of that night, Brawl was sure that Onslaught and Blast Off decided to be more strict and colder with the two on purpose. Which wasn’t surprising: Onslaugth had always been like that when one of them was a little unruly; if anything, the surprise was Blast Off, colder than usual. Not with Vortex, though.
They just couldn’t be cold with the mechling, it was too much to him and to them.
And Brawl understood why Blast Off was like that (Brawl had been on the receiving end of that mood of his far too many times than he liked) but at least he himself wasn’t so harsh with Swindle. In fact, he was rather impressed for how Swindle kept sneaking out for two weeks without that no one would find out.
Expect for Onsalught.
Their eldest brother had the uncanny ability to always find if they were hiding something from him. But really, letting Vortex go with him wasn’t one of Swindle’s best ideas. Brawl couldn’t really talk, though, he would had done the same thing.
Probably.
So, it was really strange seeing the two like that, almost asking for a snarky comment that Brawl was ready to give, if Blast Off didn’t just glanced at him and promptly spoke.
-Don’t say anything.-
-I wasn’t going to.-
Brawl didn’t care to hide his smirk, especially not after hearing the resigned voice of the other. And just to irk him more, he moved playfully his tracks, before sitting back down next Onslaught. The mech shook his head, turning it towards Swindle.
-If he was tired he should have gone to berth.-
-And not falling asleep over me.-
-I don’t know, Blast Off. Seeing Vortex and Swindle, and from personal exprerience, you make a good pillow.-
Blast Off looked at Brawl with a blank face. For a while no one spoke, their eyes back on the movie. The two protagonists had just reunited in the basement of the strange palace. The reunion was too sweet for Brawl’s taste, but at least the two started talking about the monsters they had met on their way. He opened his mouth, but instead of the comment he intended to say, a yelp came out. He turned his head, just to see the smirk on Blast Off’s face.
No way he would overlook the slap the flier had just given to his shoulder. Half laying on Onslaught, Brawl slapped him back on the forearm. Blast Off raised that same arm, ready to counter and Brawl mirrored him, hand flexing to catch the other’s wrist. They were on an impasse, both waiting the other to do the first move. Both of them didn’t hear the annoyed vent, nor didn’t count a third contender.
Big mistake from the two.
A firm grip on their shoulder, by two familiar and strong hands, made both of them squeak, startled. Did that stop them? No, but when the grip increased in strenght, wings and tracks flustered and rolled with annoyance. Only when they heard a well familiar growl the two moved away, with some grumbling.
-Knock it off, both of you.-
A growl plus words spoken in a low tone. The combo that the four younger brothers, or rather, everyone but Vortex, knew very well. It was a little belittling, if Brawl wanted to be honest).
Over the vorns they learned to recognize the ranges of Onslaught’s growls and tones. The mech usually used a low growl when they were disobeying, but sometimes he referred to standard phrases. They weren’t such when he started using them, but since Blast Off, Brawl and Swindle were “reluctant” to listen to him, those phrases soon become an Onslaught’s trademark. Still, he didn’t use them as much as the growls. Even the combo of those with tones was rare, and usually Onslaught used it only when he was tired of his brothers’s squabbles. And was for that reason that Blast Off and Brawl sat back on their seats; though not without exchanging another dirty look, knowing full well that that would earn them a warning smack from Onslaught. And promptly they both yelped when the oldest slapped both of them on their backs’s.
-Uh, wha’?-
The attention of the three shifted on Swindle. The yellow mechling, semi raised from Blast Off’s lap, was watching the three with a disoriented look on his face.
-Good, you’re awake. Now stop using me as a berth and go to the real one.-
Blast Off pushed with a finger a wheeled shoulder, and though Swindle didn’t protest, he grunted and sat up beside the other transformer.
-Yes, yes, stop complaining. It was comfy.-
-AH! See?! I was right!-
Swindle opened his mouth, then closed it when he saw Onslaught murmuring a low -Why they’re always so obnoxious at night…- , before facepalming himself.
-What?-
-Brawl, if you don’t shut up…-
-What you’re gonna do, uh?-
-Want to find out, you little-
-If you two don’t stop, I’ll shut you up.-
Blast Off and Brawl looked away. The combo of growl and tone used twice in a row was even more rarer than the standard phrases, and though both of them were too stubborn to give up on winning over the other, they weren’t looking foward to find what would be the next move of their brother if they kept up with their antics. Still, this didn’t stop them to give each other another last growl.
Swindle got off the couch and started walking backwards to his room, still watching the three.
-I…don’t wanna know. I’m going to recharge. Goodnight.-
-Remember to retrieve those files.-
Swindle froze in his steps and turned his head towards Onslaught.
-…You’re right. I’ll do it now.-
-Do it first thing tommorow morning, full restered.-
-…Right. Well, goodnight, then.-
-Goodnight.-
-‘Night.-
Blast Off replied with a nod and Swindle entered his room, the door sliding back behind him. After that, the three transformers still in the room went back to watch the movie. Though it was one of his favorite genres, Brawl coulnd’t find himself relaxing and watching it. How he could, if his mind was all concentrated on understanding that message? It wasn’t for his job, that he was sure of. Then why had the office sent him that text? Maybe they have made a mistake and it wasn’t addressed to him. Then again, he knew very well how they were fussy at the registration office. An hand on his right shoulder shook him out of his thoughts and when Brawl turned, he followed the hand, up to the arm connected to it and to the face of the owner, meeting two serious yellow eyes.
-Sorry, Ons. Did you say something?-
-I asked you a question, but I just got the answer. Still. What’s wrong?-
-What’s wrong where?-
-With you.-
Brawl turned to face Blast Off, feeling that the two were starting one of their “big brothers combo” on him.
-Nothing? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.-
-And that confirm you’re lying. You were oddly quiet at dinner.-
Hearing Onslaugh’t words, Brawl crossed his arms with an annoyed vent.
-What, a mech can’t drink his energon in silence?-
-When you do that it’s just unnerving.-
-Oh, right. Only you can do that. I’m right, Blast Off?!-
-Brawl.-
Brawl grumbled something and lowered his gaze, defiant. He knew he was right; and he really hated when Onslaught and Blast Off teamed up like that. He just couldn’t hide anything from them. Sometimes Brawl seriously thought that the two had some type of power so that they can know when he or the two youngest brothers were hiding something. It was at the same time annoying and considerate of them. Plus (of course) Onslaught had just used his ‘We both know you’re lying to me.’ tone. Brawl grunted again.
-What? He started it!-
-Only because you aren’t telling us why you’re so upset.-
And here Blast Off with his ‘I do not, but absoulutely care about you, so tell me who upset you so I can unleash my big brother instinct.’ attitude.
“We should change that, it’s too long. Gotta tell Swindle”
He was aware that the two were observing him, still Brawl hesitated. To say or not to say it. Either way, he didn’t know what to do with that message.
“Maybe I should tell BC, I’m sure he know what to do…And he wouldn’t tell anything to Ons and Blast Off..”
Though he wanted to keep that message a secret, and settle the matter by himelf, he knew very well that both Onslaught and Blast Off wouldn’t relent on finding out what he was hiding. And the second option wasn’t really fair to them, since he knew they wanted to help him. Brawl grunted and rose his head, though his gaze was defiantly on the olovisor.
-It’s just…This morning the office sent me a message…I thought it was from the academia, but it was from the district…-
-What they want?-
-Well, I, didn’t…I didnt’t really get it…-
Blast Off shook his head, but to Brawl’s relief he didn’t comment. Onslaught, instead, reached out for the green transformer’s datapad, which Brawl promptly pulled out from his subspace, searched the message, and gave it to the mech. Blast Off leaned over to read, and when he finished he turned his gaze on Brawl. A gaze that Brawl knew very well.
-Did you call them to ask for explanations?-
Brawl straighten up, mentally counting, sure of the flier’s next words at his answer.
-I…Didn’t thought to do that.-
-…Of course you didn’t.-
Brawl opened his mouth to retort to that knew-it-all tone but Onslaught stopped him, giving him back the datapad.
-Tommorow we’re going to the office. Blast Off, I suppose you want to come.-
Blast Off turned towards the other mech.
-Naturally.-
He got up and moved towards their room.
-I’m going to recharge. Goodnight.-
Before Brawl could say anything, the door of their room had already closed behind the flier. Turning back to the olovisor, Brawl grumbled annoyed: even if Blast Off hadn’t said anything offensive, his words irked Brawl. It wasn’t his fault if he didn’t thought to contact the office. He just kept, and he still was, thinking that maybe his registration form had been nullified. Or lost somewhere. Or probably he forgot to fill some papers he didn’t know about.
-Don’t fret.-
Brawl turned and when his eyes meet Onslaught’s, the mech put an hand on his shoulder.
-We will found what this is about. Leave it to me.-
Brawl said nothing, he just nodded and turned back to the olovisor. It wasn’t like him, being all mushy with his feelings, but still, he felt relieved, hearing those words.
-Yeah.-
Onslaught watched him for a few moments, then grunted and gave two strong pats on Brawl’s back.
-Stop pretending you’re not tired and go to recharge.-
Brawl laughed, stopping himself when he saw the annoyed glance his brother was giving him. He got up, and after Onslaught turned off the olovisor, the two went to their room.
Someone said that the night brings advice. They said that with the quietness and the darkness around you, it’s easier organizing your thoughts.
True for them, but that sure wasn’t his case, at all.
Thinking and thinking again wasn’t helping him. How was he supposed to find an answer to his problems that way? Not only that, but thinking over the motive why the office sent him that message made him restless. Thus, even if he wanted to sleep, he couldn’t. For the umpteenth time he tossed away the thin berthcover and turned on his back. The soft pad under him sinked with the weight of his turret, but when usually it was relaxing, in that moment its softness irked him; consequently it was hard to find a comfy postion, and this was making him feeling like to yell. He put on his mask, just because he didn’t want to wake neither Onslaught or Blast Off when he would yell.
“Frag this…”
He turned his head and saw, with a fleck of envy, his two older brothers sleeping placidly, snoring every now and then. Of course he was the only one with the sleeping problems. And then they said he was the one who snored like a nosoron.
After turning and tossing six more times, Brawl springed out of the berth and marched out the room. Without turning on the lights, with mastered light steps, he shuffled towards the sofa. He gave a vocal comand to the olovisor, lowering the volume to a minimum, and sat, switching from a chanel to another. He slided off his mask, and let a growl when he run through the chanels’s list for two times, finding nothing that piqued his interest. The growl was louder than he intended to, and Brawl gave a wary glance to his room’s door, wating for Onslaught to come out. Instead, with his relief, the door remained closed. Hearing one of the mech’s rebuke because he was too loud was the last thing he wanted in that moment. After turning off the olovisor, Brawl give a comand to the light, setting them on a low brightness. Then he leaned to the side, towards the set of shelves that they used for datapads’s storage. Having no preference, he choose a random one and turned it on. He was past half of the first chapter when he heard a door sliding open, then close. Brawl let out a frustrated growl, slapping his face on the datapad screen. He really didn’t want to be scolded. Maybe neither Onslaught wanted to give one, so both of them could go back to sleep. Or, in Brawl’s case, to his quest to find sleep and not a stupid advice that someone had said would come with night.
-Brawl?-
The mech rose his head. That voice was too soft and small to be Onslaught’s. In fact, the sleepy mechling owner of that voice was watching him from the doorstep.
-Vortex? What is it?-
Vortex didn’t answer, but shuffled towards the other. Watching him coming closer, Brawl frowned: since Vortex had learned to fly, the little mechling would always cover the short distances that way. And, when they reprimand him, he would run. Once he was close, Brawl lifted him from under the armpits and sat him on his legs, smiling softly when the mechling snuggled against him.
-So, why are you up?-
-Beacause. Why are you up?-
-Hey, I asked you that first!-
Vortex vented a snort and crossed his arms, turning his head slightly upward.
-I answer it. Because. You’re awake too. And why you can ask me that and I can’t?!-
Even thought he was surprised that the mechling was talking in a low tone, his impertinence was starting to irk him. He was ready to, for once, scold him, when he find in front of his face the datapad that he had put on the sofa and the mechling smiling up to him.
-Can you read me something?-
-Ugh, Tex…-
-Pretty please?-
The two held each other’s stare for a few moments, Brawl feeling more and more of his initial annoyance quickly melting away. He grunted and took the datapad from the mechling’s hands.
-All right, just two pages. Then you’ll answer me!-
He leaned on the side, putting back the datapad on its shelf, all while balancing with the other hand Vortex on his legs.
-What are you doing?-
-‘m searching the right pad. Not this. Nope. Neither this…Why the frag this is here?!- He glanced back towards his room’s door, then he meet the confused face of the mechling.
-What that’s?-
-Uh, a…Boring pad.-
-There images!-
-Yeah. But it’s not mine, it’s…Blast Off. You know he will get angry if we take his things without asking him.-
-He’s no fun.-
Brawl nodded and vented relieved. He put the indecent datapad back on the shelf, pushing it till it hit the bottom.
-So…No, no. Oh, here’s one!-
He took the datapad and pressed the power button, bringing Vortex closer to him. After about half an hour, halfway in the story, Brawl noticed that the mechling was rocking, trying to not fall asleep. Venting amused, Brawl turned off the datapad and put it somewhere on the sofa. A second after he did that, Vortex spring upright, pressing both his hands on the arm, which was hugging him, when he felt himself starting to slide down from his brother’s legs.
-AH! Vortex!-
Taken aback from the mechling’s reaction, Brawl almost didn’t noticed that he had just yelled, and glanced briefly toward his room’s door, expecting Onslaught, or Blast Off, or even both of them, to come out. When he was sure that the door would remain closed (at least for the moment), he lifted Vortex by the leg which he was holding him with, and sit him back on his lap. He glanced down at the mechling, a question of what was that about on the tip of his tongue, when he noticed the lowered blades. Like the mechling was afraid. And only then he relized that they were so low for the whole time. They were also trembling, clinking together with small ‘clinks’. No wonder he was up at that time of the night. Brawl almost slapped himself, but he restrained himself, choosing instead to turn his attention back on the mechling.
-Tex, did you have a nightmare?-
-No.-
Brawl took Vortex from the underarms and turned him, so to look him right into the eyes.
-You had a nightmare.-
Brawl saw out of the corner of an eye the four little blades clinking one over the other, but still Vortex did not look away from Brawl’s gaze.
-It was a bad one?-
-I don’t know.-
-What do you mean you don’t know?!-
-It’s foggy…-
-Okay…Wanna go back to berth?-
-Can I recharge with you?-
Brawl squirmed under that shiny eyes. Onslaught said they shouldn’t spoil him, and to be instead more firm. But how could he say no to those eyes? He couldn’t, and even if he wanted, he wouldn’t. He stood up, holding Vortex in his arm, and walked toward his brothers’s room. He shuffled in, beware to not waking Swindle, and lied on Vortex’s berth. The mechling was visibly happy, and for a moment Brawl felt like he had been fooled: it wasn’t the first time that Vortex came up with something to sleep with them or to not be scolded. But then he glanced down, seeing the tiny blades still one over the other and all trembling. He put Vortex on his chest, but the mechling wriggled out from his arms and set himself on the other’s shoulder.
-You gonna sleep like that?-
-Mh mh.-
-Whatever make you happy, I guess…-
He started petting his head, waiting till he started to nod off. Brawl glanced to his left, to where Swindle was snoring, an arm dangling out of the berth, a datapad in his hand, while the other arm was on his chest. Hearing Vortex rubbing his head on his neck with a soft rumbling, Brawl turned his head towards him.
-Goodnight, Tex.-
-‘Night.-
In a few seconds the mechling fall asleep. Brawl felt himself loosening up, hearing the soft humming of the two little transformers.
If that hand wouldn’t stop poking him, he was more than ready to chop it off.
One poke, followed by a second. After a few moments it gave another poke, then the hand stopped its prodding, with Brawl’s relief. He could finally turn back to sleep. Just that “could” was the key word. That same hand jabbed him for the umpteenth time and Brawl turned his head, letting out a low growl. He heard a snort, then the hand come back poking at his other cheek. Brawl growled again and moved an hand behind him. He opened his eyes and glanced annoyed at the other transformer. And it was with satisfaction that he saw the other lapping back a few steps.
-Do you wanna fragging stop?!-
-Good morning to you too.-
Brawl sat up, watching annoyed Swindle, who glanced back at him with the same look before turning towards the door.
-Hey, stop looking at me like that. It was Onslaught who told me to wake you up. Take it up with him, not me.-
-Ugh, it’s already morning? Uh? Where’s Vortex?-
-Having breakfast, where else?-
-Stop being a smartaft, it’s too early for all this slag.-
-Enjoying that Ons can’t hear you here?-
-Shut up. Like you are any better than me.-
-Well-
-Nope. You’re not.-
-Oh, sure. Let’s talk then of the real foul mouth in the house.-
Brawl smirked at that and any other time he would gladly talk behind Blast Off’s back, especially since their brother often scold them for their foul mouth with Vortex in the same room, but his fuel tank requested again to be filled with some energon.
The two entered the main room, where their brothers were having their morning fuel. Blast Off and Vortex sat at the table, the mechling chirping in a greeting when the two entered, while Blast Off just nodded to the two transformers. As Swindle sat at his usual chair, a cube of energon already placed on the table in front of him, he started switching the olovisor’s channels.
-Just choose one and stop.-
-What? I’m searching.-
-It’s still early for the daily buisness news, you know.-
Brawl saw, out the corner of an eye, as he was approaching the kitchen cabinets, Swindle move his left shoulder’s wheel at Blast Off’s words. The green grounder snorted: it was no news a morning talk like that, as it wasn’t uncommon that, after they didn’t find an agreement, they would watch the same local news, by Onslaught’s choice. Brawl nodded a greeting at said mech, who was drinking his morning energon leaning against the counter. Brawl opened the faucet of the little energon dispenser they had and filled a cube. Just the aroma was enough to light up his taste’s receptors.
The only noise in the room was from the olovisor. It was a different pace of their routine, with all the bustle of the working and school’s mornings. Even to him, who wasn’t a fan of the quietness, it was relaxing having few days off.
Brawl looked towards Vortex. Seeing that the mechling was drinking happily his energon, Brawl hummed pleased. He took another sip from his cube, letting the familiar taste of gold flavoured energon (which he wasn’t really a fan of) to melt away the recharge’s buzz, and turned his head towards Onslaught.
-When we go?-
-As soon we have done refueling. I want to get there before we find a queue.-
-Uh? Where are you going?-
Brawl groaned lowly. Couldn’t Swindle watch like every morning the news and not pay instead attention to what they were saying? And maybe he was imagine it, but he thought he saw in those purple eyes that the mechling know. Brawl don’t know how much, but he know. Reading Swindle’s emotion was still a mystrery to him, but he was getting there. Feeling that stare, Brawl shift his gaze on the littlest transformer. If Swindle suspected that he was hiding something, Vortex wouldn’t be too behind, but, unlike Swindle, he would start making questions with no hesitation.
Still with the cube at his mouth, Brawl pondered what to answer the yellow grounder; he heard Blast Off grumble something, and he was sure it was about him. Brawl growled at that and was ready to retort, if Onslaught didn’t put his cube on the counter behind them with a loud clank, obtaining the attention of all the other four.
-We have to go to the enrolment’s office.-
Swindle sat upright. His eyes glanced swiftly from Brawl, Onslaught, Blast Off, and again back to Brawl.
-Why? I thought you sent all the documents.-
Brawl moved his free hand in a vague motion.
-I did. They just, sent me a text…They said that there’s a problem with my enrollement’s request, but not what it is.-
Swindle’eyes narrowed, but he didn’t said anything, turning back, instead, to watch the olovisor.
-Okay. Blast Off, you go with them?-
-Yes.-
-We don’t know how much it will take. We’ll call you when we’re done.-
Swindle nodded and glanced at Vortex.
-Noted. Hey, Tex, what wanna do today?-
Hearing his name Vortex looked away from the olovisor and the cartoon that it was broadcasting, turning towards Swindle.
-Out?-
-Yeah, but where to?-
-The garden.-
-There a crystal’s garden near the offices. You could go there.-
-Really? They weren’t reserved only for the upper districts?-
-Technically, yes. But apparently the district’s council decided to decorate the common areas with some crystals, all imported directly from Praxus.-
-Good example of wasted shanix…-
-I don’t think so, Ons. They are pretty to see, and many buy them just to feel important. Eh, it wouldn’t be bad having one at home.-
-…And where you would put it?-
Swindle turned his head towards Onslaught and rose a finger, pointing at the ceiling.
-Simple. The terrace.-
Brawl shook his head, laughing while he sat at the table.
-I really want to see how you would bring it upstairs.-
-Why, you want to pass up an oppurtunity to exercise?-
-You should start doing it.-
-You’re the one obsessed with weightlifting.-
Brawl growled and Swindle sent him back a cheeky grin.
-Swin Swin, can we go there?-
The four turned towards the littlest transformer.
-Why not. I think you would like them.-
The offices were not far away from theirs block. Just after two train stops, they arrived at destination. Outside the train station was a big plaza, though, with all the transformers that were strolling around, it felt a little stuffy. The plaza was surrounded by tall buildings, connected with each other by a gray labyrinth of bridges; some bridges met halfway, in other plazas similar to the one they were in, connecting the district’s blocks.
The building that housed the offices wasn’t too far from the station. After fifteen minutes of walk, they arrived in front of the bridge that led to the building’s entrance.
Onslaught turned towards Swindle and Vortex, sat on Blast Off’s shoulders.
-The garden is right behind those stands. When we are done we’ll call you. Don’t go wandering off, understood?-
Swindle crossed his arms and met his visor with a defiant glare of his.
-What, you’re saying we’re confined in that garden?-
-That’s one way of putting it, but. Yes.-
-Come on, Onslaught! We can’t stay there for groons!-
-I didn’t said it will be for groons. Just for the time we will take.-
-Which means: groons.-
Brawl, seeing that the two were fully immersed in their quarrel, changed a look with Blast Off and whispered to him.
-You know, he’s not wrong.-
Blast Off subtly snorted and it seemed he was going to retort, but then stopped himself; when he spoke after a few seconds, there was a subtle and familiar, sarcastic note in his voice.
-It’s amazing how Swindle kept acting this way with Onslaught.-
-Eh, I think he find it fun.-
-Probably you’re right. I doubt that, after all this vorns, he didn’t learnt anything.-
Their attention was bringed back to the their brothers, having seen Onslaught crossing his arms, clearly to put an end to the discussion.
-Don’t even try,Swindle, I know it’s a part of the district that you don’t know. You two will wait us in the garden. If really you don’t want to stay there, you could always come inside with us.-
-As if-
-Swindle, let’s go!!-
The shrill, little voice interrupted Swindle from anything he wanted to say, followed by its owner litteraly jumping in front of him.
-Ehm ehm.-
Swindle glanced at Blast Off and followed the gaze of the other, groaning slightly when he saw what the other was pointing at. The yellow mechling half-grimaced exasperated, but complied and took Vortex’s hand in his own. The little flier looked up at him, confused, then turned towards the others three transformers.
-Bye!-
-Bye! Have fun for us, too!-
Brawl kept watching as the two mechling turned and started towards some secondary stairs on the side of the plaza. Only when he couldn’t see them, hidden by the other passersby, he turned towards his older brothers. While walking on the bridge Brawl find himself, and he was a little frustrated by this, watching in uneasiness the building getting, as they walk, more and more tall and imponent before them. He couldn’t understand himself why he felt that way. It was just, too big. Before Kaon, he’d never saw a building of such size so close. Some say that the size of buildings often mirrored the importance of what they embodied and their owner’s. It was true, according to Onslaught and Blast Off, whom unlike him were used to places like the one in front of them, from when they were just two young mechling. And by their tales, the building in front of them wasn’t so big. Brawl wasn’t going to doubt them, he could easily see glimpses of the buildings on the upper districts, between the maze of bridges. Those buildings, looming over the unworthy passerby of the lower levels, making sure that that sense of power they emanated would make you feel little, so insignificant that you almost felt sorry that they had to look down at you. Once again, Brawl felt that surge of hate inside of him.
The reminder of that city.
Feeling something touching his right arm, Brawl turned his head and met Blast Off’s visor.
-Stop thinking about it and walk.-
He didn’t add nothing else, he just walked ahead of Brawl, joining Onslaught, some meters ahead. Brawl looked at his back confused for a few seconds, then he growled through clenched teeth. It always irked him when Blast Off acted like that: as if he knew every thoughts of his brothers. Sure, even he could, sometimes, understand what the others were probably thinking, but Blast Off acted like he had some sorta of telepathic power. But that was just the typical aloof Blast Off.
Brawl shook his head and reached the other two mechs.
Some meters ahead, after having climbed down a few steps, the three of them arrived in front of the building’s entrance.
The inside was a complete cacophony.
Transformers of all sizes crowed the hall, making it difficult to see all the room. On the opposite side of the main door were many elevators, some of them out of order. Which wasn’t really a problem for them, since the enrolment’s office was on the ground floor.
They headed to the second corridor on the right; it was long, circa half of the atrium. Many doors run along the walls, all the same. There wasn’t nothing to distinguish them, not even a plate with a number beside the frame. Just metal after metal doors.
Following Onslaught, they surpassed thirteen doors, stopping in front of the fourteenth.
The room was ridiculously small: it was hardly eight smq, with a tall ceiling. Everything was a plain steel, the only furniture a metal counter that served as a half-wall, inside some kind of recess of the wall. The femme behind the counter vented a light huff when the three entered, putting away and on the side something. Brawl felt Blast Off stiffen at his side and the green mech smirked behind his mask. He had a quip ready on the tip of his toungue, (because really, how could he pass up that opportuinity), just to have his mouth closing on its own when Onslaught strode towards the counter.
-What do you want?-
-Good mornig.- The emphasis on the two word was palpable, but the femme didn’t blink. Brawl saw out the corner of his eye Blast Off starting tapping the fingers of an hand on his leg. The younger mech smirked behind his mask and turned again his attention to the counter.
-Yesterday was sent to my brother a communication, regarding his enrollment into the military academia. It’s worded that it can’t be completed, but it has not been specified the reason.-
The femme turned towards her computer.
-Designation?-
-Brawl of Kalis.-
For a few moments nobody spoke, the only noise the light tap-tap on a touch-screen. Few minutes later, the femme shifted her gaze back to met Onslaught’s.
-Found it. You know, you should lodge a complaint to the academy’s office, not here. Evidently they forgot to send you all the requirements. Not a surprise… In short, because you didn’t sent all the documents, the enrolement is currently not valid.-
Brawl grumbled lowly and stepped fowards, only to be stopped by a brown arm; he glanced at his brother, but instead at him, Blast Off was staring at the other two transformers.
-There must have been a mistake, we sent all the required documents.-
-Are you certain of that?-
Onslaught stilled, and while the femme was impassible at that, the two younger mechs were well aware of what that means.
-Of course.-
The guttural and low growl reverberated in the room, and with amusement Blast Off and Brawl found that the femme wasn’t shcoked at all by it. She simply looked at Onslaught with an unimpressed look. Then she vented out a sigh and turned back to the monitor. For a few minutes nobody spoke and Brawl started feeling the familiar annoyance growing. Glancing at his brothers, he found both of them still, their frame buzzing with annoyance at that attitude. It was slighlty comforting that at least he wasn’t the only one annoyed by the femme. Said femme, once finished reading something, turned back towards Onslaught.
-Actually, it’s just a document that is missing. A certificate from his spark,or built, city.-
-WHAT?!-
The word echoed into the room, and even the volume with wich was spoken couldn’t brech the suddenly static atmosphere. The femme granted him a cold glare, before returning her attention back to the mech in front of her, just when he started tipping a single finger on the counter, the tap-tap getting louder and louder till the femme looked properly at him.
-Can you tell me which one is and how I can get it?-
-Mh…Usually, in this case, at the moment of a sparkling’s adoption in another city, the spark or build city’s office would have sent it to its homonym. It’s not an important certificate, but you need it if you want to enroll into the military academy. It’s nothing but a formality, really, but -
-It’s a joke.-
Three pairs of eyes turned towards Brawl.
In a blurr fastest that one could ever think possible from the flier when he wasn’t in his alt form, Blast Off took him by a wrist and literally dragged him out the door. Not the first time (and nor the last, knowing himself and the other) he was in that position and the familiar blurred lines in his peripheral were annoying as always. His raged bellows stopped the moment sunrays hit his armor and only then he realized that they were outside. But only when they reached the first steps of the bridge that Blast Off decided to release him. Not before giving him a diassaproving look, obviously. Brawl growled in response, because, seriously, he didn’t give a damn if he was making a scene.
-WHAT THE FRAG IS YOUR MALFUNCTION?!-
-Stop it.-
-What.-
-You really want to keep up this tantrum even outside?-
That.
That was it.
Like he was giving any fucking shit if transformers were looking at him, murmuring and looking like they never got angry after a visit to the offices.
But no, in that moment what was making him see red was that infuriating paternalistic tone in the other’s voice. Even the flier’s superiority complex wasn’t so strangling-inducing; neither was the might-than-you tone that tinged the other’s words seventy-five percent of the time (Brawl still didn’t know how Swindle came up with that. Not that he really wanted to know all the calculations his little brother did, it was just that the curiosity was hard to quell when one of your brothers throw at you the percentage of your other brother’s assholeness in the middle of the night...Nor Brawl wanted to wonder why that wasn’t even a every-once-in-a-while sort of thing.). But that tone, that criticizing tone was always the last drop. Brawl had lost count of the numbers of times he wondered if the flier had some sort of power that he didn’t tell them, like that way of his to rile them up.
And really, a tantrum. If it was that, his cannons would have already been warming up (which wasn’t an answer he had for many things, not at all) and it was a wonder if they weren’t already red.
-What? Don’t treat me like I’m a mechiling!-
-Tecnically and legally, you are a mechiling.-
-The frag are you, then.-
-I don’t think we have the time to go over the biomechanical upgrade’s cycles of our species. Again. Though I really shouldn’t be surprised, seeing how you behaved there.-
No, really.
What Blast Off expected? And thanks to have reminded him why he was even angry for from the start.
- What the frag do you mean?! -
-You were making a scene, you knucklehead.-
Freaking Blast Off and his stupid, aristocratic insults.
-I was making a scene?! THAT SORT OF-
A clanking sting blocked his words. Two black fingers retreated from his forehead and, stunned, he followed the appendages retreating in a fist and siding a brown flank.
He did not.
He wouldn’t.
…
His fronthead was still clinging.
- What the frag was that for?!-
- Can’t you say anything else, other than “frag”?-
… Who would even say “frag” like that? It was even easy imagine the bored expression matching that tone.
The next words spoken from the brown mech were full of sheer annoyance.
-You should know when to be quiet. That isn’t a place where you can say whatever you want.-
And that was another thing that he really, really hated.
Why it was always, and just, disappointment?
-And really, if you want to go to the military academia, you should know that you can’t yell all the time…- Then Blast Off glanced at him, actually looking at him like only then he saw the tensed tracks.-…Let Onslaught take care of it, okay?-
-…Right. So what, I’ll just wait here and do nothing.-
-Yes. What else should you do? … Don’t answer.-
Brawl turned, huffing. It wasn’t like he would went all Swindle-mode. In that moment a familiar green and teal mech came out of the building’s doors and Brawl immediately barreled towards him.
-Onslaught!-
Hearing his name, said mech looked around and when his visor found Brawl’s, he walked towards the younger.
-So? What’s the problem?-
Vaguely he heard Blast Off stopping beside him, his full attention on their oldest brother.
-Lack of documents that the office in Kalis should have given me vorns ago.-
The serious tone of the other wasn’t new, but there was something unspoken easy to catch. And that easily put Brawl in a dread grip. His cannons started to hum, ready to blast a cannonball of noise.
He kept his eyes on Onslaught. He couldn’t understand the reason of that seriousness: after all, they got what they came for, right? Not that Onslaught was anything but serious all the time; it was just that, in that moment, something deep, if that was the right definition, lurked behind that seriousness. Something that Brawl didn’t know what was and, somehow, he didn’t want to.
-So, where’s the problem? We’ll call and make them give us the documents, no? It’s their fault, anyway.-
-…Frag.-
-What?-
Hearing Blast Off curse was still a little bit strange; you would never think that someone like him would say some of the best impreactions in all of Kaon. Though he would unleash himself only in two scenarios: the most common was when one of the younger brothers would poke all his wires (and really, it wasn’t a surprise if they made a game out of it. Poke the luponoid was fun. Didn’t leave you unscathed. But it was fun.) and you would see a wild, rare, oafish Blast Off; the second scenario would happen only in rarest moments and no one would understand the why of the outburst. That was probably one of those scenarios.
Onslaugth let out an annoyed vent and put an hand on Brawl’s helm, forcing the younger to look into his visor.
-If it was so simple, I would’ve done it by now, don’t you think?- Another vent, one less annoyed than the first.- ....They should have given me that document when they changed the laws regarding adoptions… Fifty vorns ago, the council emanated a new law on one’s stats and powers, thus making those informations necessary for adoptions and registrations…Meaning that any adoption done before that law, is now considered null.-
Word after word said in that tone, matching the hums from his cannons growing with a strident crescendo.
-What the frag does that even mean?! THAT I’M NOT YOUR BROTHER?! JUST BECAUSE SOME SCRAPS NOT EVEN GOOD to be melted forgot a fragging certificate?!-
-Brawl, shut you intake and fragging listen!-
It wasn’t that words, it was that still clipped tone so strange to be heard coming from Onslaught, than made him comply.
-I’ve already contacted the office in Kalis. And don’t you dare put in your helm the idea that that decide if your our brother or not.-
Brawl scoffed, but after a few seconds he nodded, with a little difficulty with that tight grip on his head. His cannons were still ringing, and so was his head.
Maybe.
There were so many thoughts that were fighting for the front-row seat of his mind, so, even if he heard him, the words said by Onslaught just echoed. Was he sad? Yes. Frustrated? Also yes. But most of all, he was furious. All this mess, for what? Beacause some idiot in his hometown forgot a document. He recalled, absent-mindedly, some comments made by Blast Off when they were younger. He didn’t ever have a real opinion, so he never added anything to what Blast Off said, setting to simply listening, just wondering, sometimes, why an aristocrat like the flier had such extreme opinions. But now, right in that moment, he understood. He understood and he didn’t know what to do. Instead, there he was, trying to at least cool down his cannons and barely listening to what his brothers were saying.
And then two high and familiar voices catched his attention and with that the anger dimmed.
How explain them all that mess?
The two mechling were in the middle of the bridge and, once the three oldest set their eyes on them, the little flier sprinted forward, four tiny blades bouncing on tempo with his steps, followed, at a slower pace, by a slightly grinning Swindle. They met halfway, or rather, Blast Off reached up, in two strides, to take Vortex by the rotor when the former started a now well-known jump, and Onslaught, tailed by Brawl, followed him.
Immediately Brawl found two visors focusing on him.
Damn it.
It was possible that even with those visors he knew exactly what kind of look they were giving him?
The look that means they knew more that they should.
…
It was in moments like that that Brawl feared what the two would grow into.
…
Fuck it all, was he really letting two mechling, that hardly together could pass his vorns, intimidate him?!
A smirk split his face. The mask was useful, sometimes.
One had to maintain a reputation, after all.
But of course Onslaught beat him.
-You’re already got tired?-
-Ahah. Not me. He got tired.-
The inflection on the “he” and a shove on the back got the full attention of the mechling, visor twinkling in an annoyed yellow.
-I’m not tired. I wanted to see if they’re done.-
-Uh uh. Right. So. You’ve done?-
-Got some answers. If you can call that that.-
At that Swindle slightly tilted his head to the side, in a sort of question or judgement. But before he could say anything, Onslaught spoke.
-It’s nothing I can’t resolve. Now, if you are not tired…Blast Off, you said that that place is not far from here.-
-…Yes. I take you want to go now.-
-We’re going somewhere?-
-Blast Off told me about this place, that I’m certain you’ll love it. I’ve planned cycles ago to take you there, but I’m not sure you two deserve it, with your latest stunt. -
-…We will be good.-
-Mh. You sure? I sure hope this is not a poor attempt to appease me. You two are still grounded, Vortex.-
- Not at all. It wouldn’t be a smart move on our part, no? We’ve learned our lesson. Also, what can we ever do, with three sets of opics watching our every moves?-
-I have a suggestion. Start stopping being sassy, Swindle.-
-Who said I was being sassy.-
-Don’t y-
-I have some advice, too. Both of you stop, or you’re scrubing the kitchen’s tiles.-
Oh, it was always fun to watch an Onslaught’s lecture instead to be on the receive end.
-So, are we going or what?!-
And just like that, Vortex started his little rotor. And if wasn’t for Blast Off that grabbed him, again, by the rotor, they would have lost a tiny Vortex in all that crowd. Or Vortex would have lost them. That mechling had a terrifically good sense of orientation, even for a flier. Blast Off raised the hand, thight hold on the mechling, to his visor’s level, and Vortex (and Brawl couldn’t stop the flare of pride watching him) waved an hand, a smile on his face.
-Hi. We go, now?-
And really, Vortex was lucky that he was so little and that everyone had a soft spot for him. And sure enough, Blast Off vented exasperated, but all he did was putting the mechling on his shoulders.
-You know, next time, I should use that method too.-
Brawl turned towards Swindle, beside him.
-No, you can’t. You’re too short.-
Swindle slightly raised his head, both of them following the other three on a side platform, on the right side of the bridge.
-I’m not too short to trip you. Wanna see if this is the right height to that?-
-Mph. Let’s see instead if you can go for it.-
-Wanna bet?-
-I have a better bet. Wanna see how far you can push my patience? -
They both looked at Onslaught’s back.
-Brawls started it!-
-ME?! I was just pointing out a small flaw.-
-Say it again, you af-
-Swindle!-
-Ah, busted!-
-Brawl.-
-Ah!-
-Listen here you little piece of-
-Why. Just why.-
Brawl shift his attention from Swindle back to the oldest, noticing that he spoke still keeping his back to them, but his voice firm enough to shut up both brothers. Even Blast Off turned to look at him.
-They can’t stop provoking each other for five klik. Did you really expected the contrary?-
-Blast Off, don’t. Just. Don’t.-
Blast Off shrugged one shoulder, careful to not let Vortex fall from his perch.
-I’m just saying, that you should have got used to it, by now.-
-Do you want to join Brawl and Swindle in their cleaning?-
Blast Off just huffed.
-No, thank you.-
-What cleaning?!-
-It was a joke. But keep that up and I will make it a reality.-
This time Onslught turned, freezing both Brawl and Swindle with a flaring visor. The two glanced at each other, one trying to prompt the other to take the bait and say something. Then, with a practiced smile, Swindle looked back to Onslaught.
-So, where are we going?-
-Blast Off?-
- It’s right behind that building.-
-So eloquent.-
Brawl leaned down and to the side, sharing a more boisterous, laugh with Swindle’s chuckle.
-You expected something else?-
-Eh. True, true.-
-You know, some mech want to use words in a not manipulative way.-
Both of them turned their head so fast that some crick could be heard. But that wasn’t important and Brawl didn’t even registered it. He knew that the stunt the two youngest pulled off was hard to digest (Brawl was angry that they didn’t say anything, not even to him. Though Swindle still had his full trust), but still, Blast Off was being too harsh.
-And you don’t know anything about manipulation, right, Blast Off?-
Damn it.
Brawl raised an hand, ready to took Swindle by the bumper if needed. But then he noticed Onslaught, looking right at him. The two exchanged a look and the black hand retreated from the yellow behind. An annoyed yelp from mentioned mechling and an outraged snarl from the brown flier later, the five brothers found themselves at the end of the platform. And just a few meters, between two building (ones of the tallest, with floors even in the highest districts of Kaon), there was a little shop. They stopped in front of the door, and both Brawl and Swindle watched in mild curiosity (more of puzzlement than that, for one of them) the featureless little neon sign, with a simple “SWEETS” in a dull green.
-An unlikely place for a sweets’s shop…-
-I didn’t even know there was one there...-
-Of course you didn’t. There isn’t even a window! Who even runs this mess?!-
-A little fired up, aren’t we?-
-I wouldn’t, Blast Off, if someone actually know how to run a business!.-
-…Swindle, you’re 168. How would you know?-
-Trust me, I know more than whoever is this hazard’s owner.-
Blast Off vented, holding with an hand Vortex still ( the mechling had literally squealed when Swindle said “sweet’s shop”) and started to the door.
-Thank you for you expert opinion, Swindle. I’m a little curious of what you will say once inside…Anyway, just for information, they opened recently. They make delicious sweet, so give them time and once famous they’ll be the epitome of business like you want.-
-Ugh, always so- -Then let me down! Blast Off!-
Vortex leaned down with his head, glaring into the eyes of the other transformer. Who, with a swift move, pushed his head back with a finger under his chin, earning a grunt from the mechling.
-You think you earned them?-
-…-
-Think carefully, then answer, Vortex.-
Vortex wilted slightly, chin softly bumping on the other flier’s head, when Onslaught spoke.
-…Yes…-
-…Okay, then.-
Despite the wry tone, Blast Off headed inside the shop and Swindle followed them not even a second later, leaving Brawl and Onslaught alone.
Even with the visor and mask on, Brawl was sure that the other knew what was on his face. He always did. So the light shove on one of his tracks was expected but still he shoved, hard, that hand off.
Did he knew that that would irk the older? Yes. Did he care? Absolutely no. And of course Onslaught would have done what he did after, alas grabbing that same tracks (thankfully not so hard, they were still in motion. And then Onslaught would have to blame no ones but himself.) and fully shoved him inside the shop.
At least Onslaught didn’t use words.
He didn’t know what to expect once inside, but seeing that it was exactly like the outside was, literally, disappointing. In was just a room, clearly little even with just a glance, but with the many shelves and display cabinets, all full of glass and metal boxes that even to a grounder like him it felt suffocating. But at the same time it had also gave a pinch of, comfort? And it was really strange because the space was so limited that it would have been a wonder if he didn’t break all that fragile-looking boxes. Swindle was right. Who even would have had the idea to put those so close to the edges?! Still, he walked in that maze smoothly, following his brothers’s voices because the cabinets were so full and tall that, even if made of glass (or he thought it was glass. He really hoped it wasn’t, he didn’t have the mind to pick the shards from the floor), that it was hard to see nothing if back and forth. So, he easily found Blast Off and Vortex, not so far from the door, the mechling, thankfully, still on the other’s shoulders. He was so engrossed on the sweets in front of him that he didn’t even move a blade at Brawl walking behind them. Blast Off, though, shoot him a knowing glance. That he answered with ones of his. Really, whose fault it was, Blast Off?
He had to admit, some of those sweets caught his eyes. Especially those ruststicks. He wasn’t an expert, nor a fan of sweets, really, but they were clearly handmade, tempting even with the little imperfections, and with vibrant colours.
Something yellow entered in his peripheral. He leaned to his left side, arms crossed, and bumped his elbow on the black helm, forcing it jerk forwards with the sudden weight.
-Find anything tasty?-
-Get off…Those puffs looks good.-
Putting more weight on his elbow, Brawl leaned forward with his head, reading the tag under a dark brown box with the carved image of a stylized, shell shaped pastry.
-Zinc flavoured…Never had one.-
-Neither have I…Well, guess now we can tastAH!-
-What, did you find something else?-
When the other grunted and raised an hand to shove off something seemingly below him, Brawl shifted his eyes down, finding Vortex, literally clutching Swindle’s left leg, on tiptoe and face squased on the cabinet’s glass.
-What’s there?-
-Nothing for you. And give my leg back.-
-No. And what are this?-
The little flier pointed at the same box they were looking at just few moments before. Swindle jerked his leg back and forth and let out a yelp when Vortex scrateched the metal so to not be thrown off.
-I’m not leaving if you don’t tell me what they are.-
-What the frag, you little…Get off, both of you!-
Brawl let out a boisterous laugh and leaned more on the side, putting more of his weight on his left elbow.
-Nope.-
-Nope?!-
-You’re funny, SwinSwin.-
-What he said.-
-…Again, what the frag.-
The hard push he gave with his head didn’t had the effect he wanted, colliding instead with a metal wall and earning himself another yelp.
-…You’re worse than scraplets.-
-And still Blast Off’s not saying anything.-
-That because I don’t know you…In fact, how you know my name?-
The trio turned their head to the voice, finding the brown flier some steps from them, looking
into a cabinet.
-Wow, that’s harsh.-
Brawl snorted at his own words.
-…Swindle, he hit his head?-
-…Sadly, no, Tex. He’s always like that.-
-… And this is why I don’t take you anywhere.-
-And still, there we are.-
-…-
Blast Off glanced at them, visor pointed directly to the middle where Swindle was. And then, without utter another word, he walked off. The three other brothers watched him till he disappeared behind some cabinets; after a few moments Swindle let out a huff, mouth pulled in a grimace.
-He’s doing it on purpose…-
Brawl glanced at him, confused by his mutter. But before he could even think to open his mouth, the yellow mechling huffed again and, plastering on a grin, turned to the glass in front of them.
- If I’m not wrong, he didn’t mention a budget.-
-Uh, right?-
At that answer the grin, if possible, stretched more on his face, purple visor glinting.
-Oh, well. Tex?-
-Yes?-
-Take what you want.-
At the happy squeal Vortex made, Brawl istinctively put an hand on the mechling’s head, stopping the little grabbing hands going straight inside the cabinet.
-What are you doing, Swindle?! You know that he’ll take everything!-
-I know what I’m doing and even Vortex knows what I meant with that. Right, Tex?-
-Right. Brawl, let me go!!-
Swindle grinned again and swift his eyes from Vortex to Brawl.
-It’s not my fault, nor yours nor Vortex’s if Blast Odd didn’t specify how many sweets we can buy, nor he said a thing about the price. Silence is consent, no?-
-… There’s a motive if you’re my favourite brother.-
-He’s your favourite?!-
-Shush, Tex. Who said that you can take all you want?-
-...-
Vortex’s grin matched Swindle’s, and Brawl couldn’t restrain an annoyed snort.
-Oh, come on Swin! It’s not fair, he’s already like you!-
-Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?-
-You tell me. You’re rasing a little con-artist.-
-Hey, what do you mean. I’m starting a family’s business.-
-As if they’ll let you.-
-You could be our bodyguard.-
-…You’ll pay me?-
-Of course.-
Brawl hummed. Knowing Swindle, that was probably his plan for the future.
And it wasn’t a bad prospect, a family’s business. With his brother’s cunning mind, he was sure that it would have a planetary success. And it was true that that same cunning mind had often brought, in the past, trouble to the yellow grounder. Being a bodyguard was looking more and more as a perfect job: having free rein to use his fists while keeping his little brothers out of trouble.
It was a win-win.
Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn’t notice Vortex propelling his trusters to reach an upper shelf. With the hand still on the mechling’s head, Brawl pushed him down, laughing at the shocked chirp, and reached his free hand to take the box that he guessed Vortex was trying to snatch. A suddenly pitch squeal below him and then he found catching himself from stumbling forward, sudden void under his hand.
His visor slowly flickered in a blink-like way, watching the spot where just seconds before was Vortex. He glanced at Swindle, who was as baffled as him. The other grounder opened his mouth, letting a low -Tex, no flying inside!- a second before he followed him. At least one of them had the mind to catch their littlest, because Brawl’s was still debating whether he should feel proud or not that Vortex was able to free himself from his grip. He was leaning over the former, but in the end the responsible-older-brother part took over and, with moves so swift that he himself didn’t know he was able to, followed after them.
He found th two just around a corner, where the cabinets made up an intersection: Swindle was holding Vortex, who was thrashing his legs and blades not unlike a misbehaved cyberkitten, by the armpits. The grounder above him was snarling something but the moment Brawl turned the corner, both of them stopped and raised their heads in his direction. In that fraction of distraction, Vortex shoved his uppers blades up, hitting Swindle right under the chin, releasing himself with a strangled vent of the yellow grounder, and activated his thrusters, jumping to the side. Still in midair the mechling reached up with both hands, grabbing a little cube-shaped box from one of the lower shelves. Once with the box secured in his hands, he planted once again his feet on the floor and turned with a big smile to face his brothers, showing them the light orange package; from the little transparent window on the frontside, there were several, colorful, cube-shaped jellies inside.
-They’ve the cubotts!-
-…You know, you could have waited a klik.-
-You two ‘re too slow.-
-We were literaly five steps away.-
-…So?-
-…I give up… Guess you really like them. Want more?-
Not too much later and the three had in their hands what was probably half of the shop. In their way to the check-out, they met the eyes of Onslaught. The eldest didn’t say anything on their loot, but merely followed them. Brawl frowned under his mask confused, to say the least. But once they were a few meters from the cashier’s desk, he found the reason of that silence and consequently grinned. Looking down, beside him, he found a mirrored grin on Swindle’s face, who swiftly dimmed it till his mouth’s angles were completely flat.
-Ehi, Blast Off, we’ve done.-
-Good, I’ll pay. What have yo-
That was probably the moment when Blast Off decided that maybe his brothers have really been sparked only to annoy him and he himself was the idiot that let them do it again and again and again. All of his posture was screaming “WHY” and it was only for pure stubborness if he wasn’t yelling. Joke on them: the instilled good manners were preventing him to make a scene (or strangling Swindle, since of course it was always him the culprit).
-Care to explain why you’re carrying all those boxes? I sure hope is because the owner asked you to help them put away those and nor because you want all of them.-
-Don’t see what’s the problem. They’re on sale.-
-Really, now.-
-Yes. You think that I would really choose all of them if they’re not on sale?-
-You would do that, just to annoy me.-
-…Blast Off, I thought you knew me better than that.-
-…You don’t trust us…-
Have Brawl ever said that it was unfair? Just then Vortex really sounded as a mix between Blast Off and Swindle. He really didn’t want to imagine who the mechling will be once grown up. Snarky and insufferable like those two. And surely Onslaught feared the same thing, if the look he was giving them was a hint.
-It’s not that he don’t trust you. He just find out how foolish he really his.-
-You really are one to talk, Onslaught.-
-Yes, I can talk. Because it wasn’t me who let them choose freely.-
-…So you’re telling me to buy all of this.-
-It was by your own doing if you got in this predicament-
Blast Off vented out a low groan, one that the three in front of him clearly heard despite his tentative to stifle it. Instead to spare a single glance to his younger brothers, hearing their barely muffled laughs, in a smooth move that recalled his noble origin, the flier took all the boxes the three were holding, so tiny, in comparison, cradled now in the nook of his right arm and turned, walking in a straight line and with pompous steps towards the check-out.
That part of the district wasn’t, usually, typically prone to crowd, even in the rush hours, so it took them by surprise that, once left the shop, there was a multitude of transformers, chatting in loud rumbles, filling both the road and sidewalks full, merging in a multicolour wave converging in one direction.
The instant he saw that strident mass, Onslaught wasted no time to took Vortex in the crook of one arm, placing a hand on the little one’s blades in a sorta attempt to protect the still tender sensors on them from the overflow of noises. Though, with all that clamour it was hard, even for a grounder, to not flinch at every shrills and barks of protest.
Protests that were blooming in all of Kaon, a spreading oil spot, flowing out the arena’s rings not even a week before. It was unsurprising if the calls of revolt were spreading so fast, especially with someone who knew how to work with words: such a hard learning skill, one that even the so-called senators in the planet’s capital were lacking. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ and there was the example that together the two were mightiest: after all, it was hard to squash down who know how to use both. Such flaw in the system was a clear wake-up call to the senate, and though the enforcers had been mobilized to suppress the rebels, once the oil of riot leaked from the lowest district into the upper levels, nothing could stop it. “You watch and wait, or you join and suffer” was what Onslaught said them, when they were sure that Swindle and Vortex were both recharging, once they found out about the protests (they were clearly nothing new, but unknown were the exact moments of their beginning). The elder mech explained that such a revolt was inevitable, something that was boiling for years and was just waiting for it’s fuse to be lit; but such things, Onslaught continued, were destined to be squashed to blood, if they were continually fueled by rage and nothing else.
So, they decided to watch the course of events, but none of them would have expected that the riots would reach their district. And in that moment, glancing at his eldest brother, Brawl understood that once again they were choosing the role of spectators. He wasn’t totally against the idea, but he couldn’t deny the resentment to that choice, even though he couldn’t understand the why of his own discontent.
Overthinking was just a waste of time, he learned that long ago, so he kept following Onslaught. Making their way in that chaos turned out to be surprisingly easy, earning just a few annoyed glances as they went and they reached the other sidewalk with no problems. Neither they met any trouble reaching and crossing the bridge, the transformers there much fewer than on the side street. Same when they took the train back to their district.
Their usual banter was fresh and kept his thoughts away, but the moment they arrived in front of their apartment’s door, there it was again, that unknown thing. Brawl wasn’t fast to hid it, neither he wanted to, but the low growl was enough to steer him from any obnoxious questions (and knowing his brothers, they’ll be surely too many for his patience) and as he planted himself on the couch, he was finally left alone. At least Vortex understood that no, that wasn’t the time to bug him; though, by his more and more irking gaze, Swindle wasn’t relenting so easily, but both of them knew who would won. In fact, the yellow mechling simply started to his bedroom, with only his shoulders’s wheels slightly rolling backwards. Brawl bonked his head on the backrest, ignoring the bench dip with a sudden weight beside him.
Of course it wouldn’t be so simple. With all that pompous and mightier-than-you air, Blast Off had no patience (Brawl wasn’t one to talk), especially when he really wanted to know something. Pity that both of them were stubborn and Brawl absolutely had no intention to let him win their game. So watching Onsalught scold Swindle it was.
Really, his brother should know by now to not test the eldest. But hey, more fun to him. Though, after that Swindle relented and put all what they bought into the cupboard and after he and Vortex went into their room, that unknown thing remarked its weight.
Brawl let out a frustrated growl and rolled on his back; at Blast Off’s annoyed grumbling he let his mouth spread in a smirk.
-Mech, I really need a high grade…-
-It better be an expression and not you implying you already had a high grade.-
Brawl turned towards Onslaught.
-Uh, I wasn’t alone.-
-Primus, would you ever stop putting your pede on your intake.-
Brawl kicked the flier’s leg, getting a grunt out the other, then settled both of his legs on the flier’s. But before Blast Off could answer alike, a low and warning growl stopped both of them.
Blast Off patted Brawl’s knee in a good-luck manner and Brawl scoffed at him. Still, when he felt a hand on his head he couldn’t say anything before, with a strong grip, his head was forcefully turned to the right.
Just to meet the glare.
-Then we two would have a talk, later.-
-Oh, come on, Ons!-
An another slap on his knee and this time Brawl fully shoved the flier’s legs. Which earned him a light shove from the hand on his head.
What was this, the bully-your-little-brother time? Fine by him, a little of roughhousing would be good for him. Exepect that he couldn’t even rose his leg, since Blast Off put his elbow on the knee beneath, blocking his moves putting all of his shuttle-form weight. With no chance to move, thanks to a prick brorher that liked to win easy, Brawl growled under his vent, and crossed his arms on his chest. Now he had nothing to occupy his mind with, and inevitably he turned back to all that mess.
Nobody could say his rage wasn’t justified, because how else would he react, learning that his life was depending on a document? Learning that what he managed to make his own was so futile? Because he knew very well he wasn’t a smart mech, but even he knew that the chances that he could stay with the others were extremely slim.
And a return to Kalis would mean only a complete downfall. The first time was only pure luck, he couldn’t hope in a second escape from those hands. And even when he come to Kaon, the shackles had been loosened, but were still tight. Sure a bit of his luck followed him there, with Blast Off literally dragging him away.
But now, what?
Now he was losing it all. Another thought joined the mess, a bland resignation.
-I had to tell the others.-
Brawl lowered his gaze, feeling a light pat on his knees; Blast Off wasn’t looking at him, watching something on the holovision (when did he turned it on?). The flier spoke with a soft voice and if Brawl didn’t know him so well he could say Blast Off was, a little insecure.
-You know that Swindle’s already getting suspicious. At least tell him, we need him if we want that Vortex never finds out about this.-
-Not that I like the idea of Swindle knowing…-
Blast Off tapped two fingers on the younger’s knee and opened his mouth, but before he could say something, their brother’s voice beat him.
-I agree. I’d rather you talk with him now than risk him finding it out on his own.-
-…’kay…Though, now?-
-Sooner, the better.-
-Easy for you.-
Brawl sat, only to turning on his chest and shoving his pedes up Blast Off’s lap, smirking at the flier’s outraged yelp. Resting his chin on his crossed arms, Brawl mulled over Onslaught’s words: talking to Swindle would only bring up more and more frustration and memories, both of which he could do well without. Not that he was one to run away from problems, but he knew too well how those things made him and he had no intention to subject Vortex to his lowest points, he would rather keep him, at least him, away from his nastiness. Swindle would surely agree on keeping the secret, but knowing Vortex it would only be a matter of days till the youngest’s curious nature would screw up all their efforts to keep him in the dark.
And that was an outcome Brawl absolutely wanted to avert.
He growled, crossing his fingers behind the helm and slapped his face with a light clank on the couch’s surface. That was the reason he hated pondering: no solution could be found by only thinking, but unfortunately for him that was all he could do.
He really was between a rock and a hard place.
There was a shuffle sound somewhere in the room, glass cubes rearranged inside the cupboard to make more space, but Brawl kept his face planted on the couch. He didn’t want to think at anything, just at nothing.
But obviously Blast Off had other ideas; and he kept saying that Brawl was the one narrow-minded.
Brawl’s patience was about to be flooded by that no-stopping tap tap on his underknee and it would be a pity if his leg accidentally sprung up and the heel hit that prissy face. Blast Off surprisingly grunted when his heel did hit him and shoved the younger’s legs off his lap, though with little success. They could have continued with their little rough-housing, if the crystal-clear growl from the other side of the room, in the kitchen, wouldn’t alerted them of the near threat. Brawl would rather continue, but nothing was better than let the gaze drift away from him.
He wasn’t that stupid.
That dome that have fallen over him slowly dissipated, even though the looks that Swindle was giving him during their dinner were quickly testing him. Unfortunaly he couldn’t give one of his powerful pats on a wheeled shoulder, with the glares Onslaught was giving him everytime he raised an hand not intented to grasp the energon’s cube in front of him. After the umpteenth time, Brawl relented with a loud huff and took a sip from his cube. The pungent flavor that hit his taste receptors surprised him. He gulped another big sip of his fave, barely swallowing when his eyes stopped on the youngest mechling, sat in front of him, and his growing frown.
He kept watching how Vortex put down his little cube with both hands. The two yellow eyes were glaring at the green-like liquid inside and after some moments when his little face morphed in a perplexed and revolted expression, Vortex slowly turned his head towards Onslaught.
A low and baffled -Why.- came out from the little mech and Brawl ( and from his reaction, neither couldn’t Swindle) couldn’t resist. Even Blast Off had an amused smirk on his face and the offended face Vortex made at them just make the others laugh harder. On the other side of Vortex, Onsluaght vented a huff and took the cube still in the little mech’s hands, bringing it to his mouth. The reaction was immediate and some of the liquid fell from the cube, landing on a reddish arm when Vortex jerked backwards, all to put distance from him and that abomination.
-I know, it tastes weird, but you have to drink it.-
-Ugh, no. What it is?!-
-Yes, you do. Sulphur. Small sips and don’t mind the sour taste.-
-No.-
-Vortex.-
-I don’t wanna it. You can have it.-
-How do you…Vortex drink your energon.-
-No.-
-Vortex, if you drink it you can have those idiots’s sweets.-
-Don’t put me at their same level, please and thank you.-
-You’re smirking.-
-But I’m not laughing my af…not bursting with laugh at my little brother, Brawl.-
Ignoring the two, Swindle sat straight on his seat, leaning over the table with his elbows.
-Tex, once you got used to it, it’s not so bad. In fact, you know what? If you take another two smalls sips,- and he actually took two big sips, his mouth twitching lightly when he swallowed - like a big mech like me, I’ll gladly give you my part of sweets. And you can play with my datapad.-
-…Which ones and, for a breem?-
Swindle grinned and opened his mouth, but the glare from Onslaught stopped him.
-Swindle, don’t act like your namesake with your brother.-
- I’m not. I’m only telling him that this- he raised his own cube- it’s bad, but not so much.-
-Even you don’t like it?-
-Yeah.-
-But you’re drinking it.-
-Like Ons said, I have to. Unfortunately, is good for our health.-
-…When the frag did you become so responsible.-
-Shut up, weren’t you having a discussion with Blast Off.-
Said mech took a sip from his cube, speaking without looking in their direction.
-We stopped when we heard your blabbering.-
-…Ons, they’re bullying me!-
-…-
Onslaught vented again, not sparing them a glance. Still, when he spoke to Vortex, he was clearly addressing them.
-See? They’re idiots. You want to be like them?-
-…No.-
And with a frown, Vortex brought his hands around the cube; Onslaught helped him with a small smile, which fell when the other three brothers made themselves heard.
-Can you stop including me?-
-What even you mean with that?!-
-Explain to me why I’m an idiot? You’re the one who said we shouldn’t spoil him.-
They spoke at the same time and the tired look Onslaught gave them probably wasn’t intented to make Brawl laugh, but hey, they all were a player to their game.
- Mechlings, then. Which is why I’d be ashamed, if I were you, since the actual mechling in this room is more mature than you three combined.-
A little clank got all their attention back to said mechling. Vortex had put down on the table the cube, his face still in a perplexed frown.
-So, how it is?-
-…Bad.-
-But you drink it! Like I said, I’ll give you my part-
-Swindle.-
-What.-
Onslaught just looked at him, a single eyesridge raised in a dare; which no one of them actually would take, but at the same time they weren’t ones to relent easily.
But a flick with two fingers on a yellow arm made the job and Swindle sat himself back on his chair, grunting something.
Brawl observed the scene, then shift his gaze on the center of the table. He was certain that Onslaught was going to follow what he said to Vortex and Brawl, despite his growling in the shop, had been looking forward to taste those ruststicks. Making sure that the eldest wasn’t looking in his direction, Brawl leaned slightly forward, an arm stretched to his prey. Just a few centimeters and those energon goodies would be his, if it wasn’t for a black hand that grabbed the back of his. He raised his head and his eyes met two purple ones. Brawl smirked when he saw the challenge, more so when from his peripheral he saw Swindle swiftly moving his right arm towards the centre. Swindle mouthed a countdown and on three they bounced. Just for a second later for them to let out an unanimous yelp when their arms collided, sliding up with a smack of their wrists, where just a moments before was the box. Said box was, as they found out once the pain subsided, held tightly in a dark bluish hand.
The glare would probably have been more menacing if it wasn’t for the giggling mechling sat next to him.
-If you must act as mechlings, then I guess I’ve to treat you like ones.-
-Really, Onslaught, “no sweets to you”. That’s your idea. Remind me, who were you calling immature?-
-Clearly not me.-
- I’ve wor-
-Finish that sentence, Swindle, please. I don’t think that we need a replay of our last conversation, do we?-
-…-
-As I thought. And Blast Off?-
Blast Off, who in the meantime had turned his attention to the holovision, glanced back at Onslaught.
-Don’t think that this doesn’t apply to you.-
-I really have to tell you that if you didn’t act before me, I would have prevented myself that these two wouldn’t eat all the ruststicks?-
-Those seems mechling’s excuses, to me.-
-…Onslaught, we’re nineteen vorns apart, you’re not much older than me.-
-Sorry Blast Off, but nineteen vorns are a big gap.-
-Somebot asked you, Brawl?-
-We two have twenty-one vorns apart and you keep treating me like a mechling!-
-…You are a mechling.-
-Well, so are you!-
-…That’s not what I meant.-
-Blast Off, Brawl, you’re both reprimanded.-
-HE STARTED IT!- -Me too?!-
-Shush, you’re both acting like the bratty sparklings you are.-
Both Blast Off and Brawl fell silent at that, too dumbfounded to reply. And the way Swindle was laughing, face first on the table and hitting with a fist the surface wasn’t helping their suddenly wounded ego.
What followed their typical banter were several attempts made by Brawl to lighten his punishment, which he soon found himself to vouch for both him and Blast Off, when the flier made his annoyance heard with a couple of aimed kicks under the table. At the fifth attempt Onslaught glared both at them, just a simple glare with no words attached and they had to cede. At least he wasn’t alone, Brawl thought, at least he would have some sort of entertainment in bugging Blast Off.
All in all, that was a day like any other for the brothers.
Just, with an impending doubt inside.
Notes:
...
Uh, surprise?
I'm so sorry for the HUGE pause. I wanted to update all my fics on january 2020, but, well, we all know.
Then other things came up, personal and not. So, here I am, three years later, updating what I have here. Honestly, I have many projects open, fanfics and not, maybe too many, but it seems that I can't not write something down, and I'm actually restraining myself to not write more...
I don't know when I'll post the third chapter, both versions. I have to write on pc the sequel, still a work in progress on paper...
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this long chapter ( the longest, for the moment...)!
Chapter 3: Instinct
Chapter Text
Transformers were a hectic species.
You couldn’t find a transformer that wasn’t doing something at any moment.
There were, of course, moments of calm and rest, but to a society like the cybertronian one (since the space bridges have been closed, it was impossible doing a comparison with the colonies), it was no surprise that groups of transformers, or solitary mechs and femmes, once out their working places rushed to the countless clubs on all cities’s districts.
So, transformers were very hectic, but even them wanted moments of absolutely nothing, moments in which they could just relax watching the holovisor, a cube of high grade in hand. A want common in all transformers.
But those who had sparklings?
Oh, Onslaught was really starting to understand, in that moment, his colleagues. He had always brushed off their comments on how their sparklings threw a tantrum every time they needed to go to recharge, deeming them as an exaggeration.
He still considered those as such, given Vortex’s personality. The mechling was calm, not too much mischievous and hardly was he the kind to disobey his older brothers. And lately Vortex was even more calm than his usual.
(Onslaught had a hunch of the reason and had to muffle the linked guilt. He was the first to demand more strictness with Vortex, both from the others and himself, so there wasn’t a real reason to feel like that. Though, even him found some difficulties saying no to that eyes.)
So, seeing Vortex throwing a tantrum but just in a docile way, it was strange.
An experience.
Onslaught rubbed his temples, something that it was by now a habit, and pointed his yellow eyes on Vortex’s ones. - Vortex, for the umpteenth time, go to recharge. -
- …But I want to watch the movie with you. -
Onslaught stopped himself from letting out the frustrated growl he felt just at the start of his throat and, fully ignoring the sneers from the other three (they knew each other by vorns now, and they were still naïve. If he was another mech, Onslaught could have laughed), he took Vortex in his arms and started to the mechling’s room. Vortex growled, though it was more like the growl of a cyberkitten.
Someone might think that a calm tantrum was one hundred times better than a normal sparkling’s tantrum, but Onslaught would gladly disagree; he very much preferred a normal tantrum to anything was the thing Vortex was doing.
Because, how could he even scold him if his blades were always down and grumbled his defiance in a soft voice? In the rare times in which Vortex threw a tantrum, the mechling was apt to use his little talons. They never left scratches, but it was still irritating to deal with. But with that kind of tantrum Onslaught knew what to do, and usually a low growl was enough.
But that tantrum? If he were to scold him, he would feel like he was in the wrong; same thing if he decided to chastise him.
It was the very first time he had to deal with something like that, and he doubted that the other sparklings of the same vorns as Vortex did the same.
It was a new, experience.
One that Onslaught would gladly done without, given how his patience was ready to overflow. He was still satisfied that he met no problems in putting Vortex to berth, though the mechling just laid down, giving him the shoulder in clear defiance.
(…)
Onslaught stopped himself for the umpteenth time from growling and headed to the door, letting it sliding closed behind him.
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As usual, it was close to impossible to watch a movie. With the combined comments on the ‘absurdly too high salaries for such mediocre actors’ from Swindle, Blast Off’s own comments with agreement on Swindle’s opinion about the acting performance and the comments on the stupid plot from Brawl (all comments on a movie chose by the three of them), Onslaught was surprised at himself. He had simply turned off the holovisor and with a single glance his brothers scurried to their rooms.
Seems they weren’t so naïve anymore.
Onslaught took that as a chance to relax.
(…)
He was fooling himself. He got so used to the chaos that the four of his brothers were together, that Onslaught couldn’t relax with all that quietness.
It was unusual, in their apartment. But ultimately…
Between Swindle’s stunt, Vortex’s behavior change and all that mess with Brawl’s registration form, Onslaught found himself with more hassle than he imagined. He was already busy with his job, with all those protests that were starting to overflow outside the arena. It was close to two orbital cycles that he was working on that case, and with his own disdain he was in an impasse.
Grunting, Onslaught got up from the sofa and, turned off the lights, went to his room. It was completely submerged in the darkness and from Brawl’s side he could already hear some snoring. Onslaught laid down on his berth and closed his eyes. For a while in the room the only noise was Brawls’ snoring, but after a few seconds Onslaught detected a tenuous light. He opened his eyes and slightly turned his head towards the side were that light was coming from.
Just to see Blast Off turning. Onslaught stopped himself from groaning.
He had an hunch on what Blast Off wanted to ask, and he was sincerely surprised that was even something the other wanted to talk about. Still, the flier’s attitude was a nuisance to deal with when he was tired.
Onslaught rolled on his back.
Knowing him as well as he did, Blast Off wouldn’t speak if pressed to do so. As he thought, he had to wait few seconds before hearing Blast Off sighing.
- Have you checked if there’s the same problem with Swindle and Vortex? -
Blast Off was probably the most outspoken of the brothers. Brawl was always the first to say what he thought, but unlike him Blast Off was almost too straight to the point.
- No, theirs are okay. As yours. -
- Good. This your presumption, though, is -
- Blast Off. Don’t make a fool out of yourself. -
- … -
Blast Off didn’t say anything at that and Onslaught sighed. Lately that was the only reaction he was having as an answer to his brothers’s shenanigans.
He shifted, sitting up and putting both feet on the ground, and leaned towards the flier’s berth.
Onslaught knew there was more Blast Off wanted to ask. But the other wasn’t used to openly show his emotions, especially when he had doubts about something. The problem was understanding what was that something.
Because Blast Off wasn’t one to ask others an answer to his questions.
Onslaught turned his head towards the other side of the room. From the unmistakable snores, Brawl was still recharging.
He turned back to look at the berth beside his own and, without saying a word, put a hand on Blast Off’s head.
And snapped two fingers.
The immediate growl that he had in answer was more than satisfying. Onslaught grinned seeing his brother moving a hand behind his back, as he was shooing him away. The eldest then lied back down on his berth, pleased, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Beside him Blast Off fell in recharge and Onslaught found himself back to his thoughts. Most of them were on that message that Brawl had received. It seemed strange at his eyes the moment he read it, especially the motive for which it was sent.
And he still thought it was, strange.
A specific document on a transformer’s data was necessary for an adoption? He had heard nothing of the sort from the daily news on the new laws issued by the council. But above all, what was the real motive for such decision? It didn’t make any sense, such certificate, unless…
Unless it was a way to verify who would be adopted. Because there was only one thing that make Brawl’s data differ from Blast Off, Swindle and Vortex’s ones. And the fact was that was something that wasn’t never included into the official data released by the offices.
(…)
Onslaught rubbed a hand on his face. It was pointless to think about the motive of that message.
() () () () ()
It was not unusual for him waking up when outside was still dark. It was a habit he got since he was a mechling, when he and BC had to run from a side of the level to another searching for a job. Blast Off and Brawl were still recharging and, with experience gained from vorns together with four young transformers, walked out the room without making a noise.
Like every morning, since Swindle’s stunt, the first thing he did was going in his other two brothers’s room. Vortex, whose berth was the closest to the door, was recharging on his stomach, his rotor’s blades moving slightly to the right then back to their original position.
Onslaught glanced at the other berth and let out a huff of laughter when he saw Swindle. Like Vortex, Swindle too was recharging on his stomach, with the right arm under the pillow, the left hand over, the right leg dangling from the berth and the left… Okay, how was he even comfortable with the left leg bent by the knee and leaning against the wall like that, was a complete mystery to him; though, it wasn’t so strange for the mechling to move in his recharge and then finding himself in the weirdest positions. The complete opposite of Vortex.
Pleased to see the two recharging, Onslaught walked out the room and, without turning on the light, he went to the kitchen. He put a cube under the dispenser, and meanwhile energon was starting to fill the cube, Onslaught took from the cabinet a jar of additives; he wasn’t picky, in fact he preferred the taste of pure energon but even he sometimes wanted something strong in the morning.
He sat down at the table, cube in hand and eyes fixed on the window. Outside the first light of dawn were slowly starting to illuminate the level. Few minutes went by like that, him sipping his energon, when he heard a door sliding open. Out the corner of his eye he saw Swindle leaning against the door, an elbow against the doorframe and rubbing his eyes with his other hand.
- Good morning, Swindle. -
Only to those three words by Onslaught did the mechling shifted his still sleepy gaze on the other transformer. - ‘morning… -
Swindle started to the table and at Onslaught’s - Don’t shuffle your feet. -, he grumbled something and sat at his usual seat, head on his crossed arms.
Onslaught stared at him, then shook his head and got up. He took an empty cube, filled it up with energon, put in some additives, and back at the table he put the cube in front of his brother. Swindle reached out an arm, the head hidden in the crook of the elbow, and moved side to side the hand, searching for the cube. When he grabbed it, the mechling straightened, leaning back on the chair. After he took a sip, he pointed his eyes, now slightly clearer, on Onslaught.
- So… -
Onslaught looked him up and down from behind the rim of the cube. - So? -
- …What was the real reason you went to the office? -
Onslaught sighed. If Blast Off was, out of them all, the most outspoken, Swindle was easily the second.
- I would tell you, but I doubt you’d listen. -
- Uh? -
Swindle shook his head and stared at his brother. Onslaught sighed again. He leaned forward and with a finger pushed Swindle from the forehead.
- You’re still starting up. Brawl will talk to you. -
Swindle grumbled out an answer and returned to his energon, turning on the holovision. The two drank their energon in silence, broken only by the holovision and femme announcing the morning news. Blast Off entered into the room shortly after, and, filled a cube, he too sat at the table.
It wasn’t unusual that they were the first to wake up, and neither it was that they didn’t start chatting. Finished drinking, Onslaught got up and went into his brothers’s room. The moment he came in, he saw Vortex snuggling in his blanket and the mech sighed. He walked to the berth, leaning over the little transformer.
- Vortex, I know you’re awake. -
Vortex didn’t say anything, but Onslaught could see very well the blades, under the cover, vibrate. He waited a few minutes, then put a hand on the mechling’s rotor.
- Vortex. -
Vortex mumbled an answer and turned his head. Onslaught shook his head and, lifting him from under the armpits, picked up the mechling, grumbling half-amused when Vortex rubbed his head on his chest, chirping.
In the main room Swindle was watching the holovisor with a bored face; in front of him Blast Off was sipping his energon and glanced at Onslaught when the mech put the little flier beside him. He started to his shared room, when the next door (the one for the bathroom), slid open and Brawl exited.
The two exchanged a glance.
Onslaught nodded towards the table and Brawl scowled. But then, he took a cube of energon and sat at Swindle’s right.
Onslaught, after putting a cube filled with energon in front of the mechling, sat at the head of the table.
It did not go unnoticed by the mech the way the youngest was looking around, a clearly confused look on his face. Since he was much, much younger, Vortex had shown precise and high observational skills. It was not unusual then if the mechling had already understood that there was something strange in his brothers’s behaviors, though he didn’t know neither the motive nor what exactly that something was. Any other sparkling, with an observational skill likes Vortex’s (and Onslaught doubted there was even one like him, and not because Vortex was his mechling) would have already asked why they were acting that way.
But not Vortex. Those yellow eyes were shifting from a brother to another, curious and at the same time hesitant. Eyes that were trying to understand.
Onslaught turned back to the holovisor. He felt something touch his arm and lowered his eyes, watching the little mechling and the empty cube he was holding out.
- Ons! -
- What do you say, Vortex? -
- Please? -
- Please what? -
Vortex pouted, moved his blades slightly back and forth, and turned his head so he was looking upside-down Blast Off. The other flier met his gaze and pointed with his hand at Onslaught.
- …Can I have more energon, please? -
Onslaught haven’t thought that his scold could have had such effect on Vortex. It was another problem he had to solve.
The mech nodded and rubbed the youngest’s head, before standing up with the empty cube in hand. When he gave back the now filled cube to the mechling, Vortex chirped a - Thank you! - and snuggled up to Blast Off, leaning against the other’s right arm.
Blast Off shift his eyes from the mechling, meeting Onslaught’s. The eldest noticed the worried note in those purple eyes, as well the movement of the flier legs’s wings. Vortex was affectionate and that wasn’t a mystery. But in those days the mechling was literally glued to the others. Onslaught really couldn’t imagine that any of his outbursts would have made Vortex react that way. He already had some difficulties with Brawl, and knew very well he had do to something.
The mech glanced then at his others two brothers, at his right. Energon finished, Swindle was watching the holovisor, occasionally throwing a curious glance at Brawl. And it wasn’t hard understanding the motive: Brawl, sitting in his usual seat, was drinking his energon quietly, avoiding to look at the others. The fact that he didn’t lowered his visor was something.
(…)
He had many things that needed a work through, but it wasn’t his habit to shy away from a challenge.
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On working days, the five of them followed a precise routine. Routine that to Swindle’s words was more like a scheme. One that, after Swindle’s stunt, Onslaught forced them to follow to the letter. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, but there was that thing that Swindle needed to learn.
If Blast Off couldn’t bring Vortex with him in academy, Onslaught found someone who could look after the mechling while he was working. This someone was a femme he knew for vorns, owner of an energon supplying station; her shop was right in front of the station where he was stationed. Blast Off would pick him up once his classes were over, with Swindle.
The behavior of both of them was another thing that didn’t go unnoticed by the eldest. In those days the two were constantly throwing jibe back and forth, which was starting to really irk him. From Blast Off was normal, probably because, expect for that conversation that Onslaught was sure Blast Off had eavesdropped, the yellow mechling didn’t show a different behavior from his usual and that clearly annoyed the flier. Though, Blast Off knew very well that that wasn’t nothing new, being that not the first time (and surely it wasn’t the last) that Swindle get chewed out.
Nothing strange on that.
On the contrary, Vortex, expect some minor reprimand, never had been scolded like that. His reaction however, was unexpected, especially finding out his fear. Onslaught felt something boiling inside, thinking back on the mechling’s voice.
It took vorns for the others to start fully trusting him. Not that he blamed them, he himself take long to do the same.
The four of them had their reasons to hesitate.
But Vortex was too young when they met him, and experiences like his brothers he sure didn’t have. For that reason, his words… Onslaught wasn’t an expert of mechling so young, and he feared that his outburst had shocked the flier.
The mech gritted his denta. No. He was sure that that was the reason for why Vortex was so compliant. Onslaught didn’t want to think to how he could react once found out Brawl’s problem. And at the same time, he understood very well why Blast Off was acting that way, especially with Swindle. But if there was a thing the five of them had in common, it was that they were all extremely stubborn.
Onslaught vented and looked at the screen in front of him. He had too many things to work on. And that in front of his eyes it was one he couldn’t complain about, since it was him who proposed to his superior to personally handle the case. A way to show his abilities and to see in person what was behind those assemblies.
It was easy to grasp the reason behind; after all, the fighters’s conditions were no secret to anyone. And those assemblies, beside luring large groups of transformers, were not a bother. Still, there was something else that Onslaught knew was behind. Assemblies of that sort weren’t a problem, nor were a news.
But there were some implications in those speeches that led him to many questions. Especially about how the assemblies, in some cases actual protests, were crossing the control gates of the middle levels with an alarming ease.
That was the reason why it was sent to the station an unofficial request for an investigation. The one he was serving was the central station of the level, and also the one closest to the lowest levels of Kaon, as well as the station that oversaw these. For this reason, in the station there was always a multitude of work. And Onslaught wasn’t a foolish mech who would ignore an investigation like that.
He tapped three fingers on the desk surface. On the screen of his computer were opened various documents, all researches made by him from the beginning of the investigation.
And with his own annoyance he didn’t have many information. On one side, talking to the various mech and femme whom had participated, and participated, in the assemblies, didn’t provide anything new to the investigation; on the other side, from the districts closest to the council (and so they, theoretically, should have more information) no documents was sent that %$!”%$$&/(/&/&%$”!”$&%
- What the frag is this mess now?! -
The screen in front of him showed the same image of a mech typing something on a computer, but it was hard discerning any details beside the colors (blue and green) of the transformer. With a growl, the transformer in front of the screen rewound the video.
…
He tapped three fingers on the desk surface. On the screen of his computer were opened various documents. All researches made by him from the beginning of the investigation. And with his own annoyance he didn’t have many information. On one side, talking to the various mech and femme whom had participated and participated in the assemblies, didn’t provide anything new to the investigation; on the other side, from the districts closest to the council (and so they, theoretically, should have more information) no documents was sent that %$!”%$$&/(/&/&%$”!”$&%%&/£&$%&/=)(/&%$£”£$%&/()=(/&%$£”£$%&/()=?)(/&%”&/%$£”!”^*^)|!”£$%&/(?=)(/&%$£|!”£$%&^*^?=)(/&%$£”!||!”£$%&/()=?=)(/&!||!”£$%&/()=?*^?=)(/&%$£”!|”£$%(/%$”£/)(/%
Another growl filled the room and he pressed with more force the key, stopping the video.
The transformer stilled immediately, and quickly turned his head towards the door. He stared at it, but the other transformer didn’t come through.
Didn’t He hear at all that noise?
Turning back to the screen, the transformer scowled. He didn’t know that the volume would turn itself up so much.
Both eyes were again fixed on the video. He had watched the previous two recordings with no problem at all, so why was that one so ruined?! And right at the most interesting part?! He would had never thought he could find such things, when he accepted the dare (theoretically it was a mission, but he would never give any satisfaction of winning another round of their “game” to the other transformer), but he also would had never thought to find a place such like that.
He tapped a finger on his chin, thinking. He didn’t want to watch the video from the beginning. He didn’t even know if in the ruined parts was something useful. But on the other side, there were still many recordings he wanted to watch before the other transformer found that room. He didn’t consider himself a nosy mech, but how could he not use something like that?
Finding secrets about Vortex? Oh, how he wanted to watch all those recordings. He grinned, and with few taps he fast-forwarded the video till he found a point with both sound and image good enough.
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Onslaught watched the two continue talking, and Vortex’s answers were confirming that the mechling’s behavior was connected to what they said that night.
Back in his office, he sat again behind his desk, thinking back to what the mechling had said. He was sure that Blast Off would find a way to reassure Vortex. That was something that for the moment Onslaught could let the other do. Many would find hard to see it, but the flier was really protective of his brothers.
He went again to check the documents. There was still something that didn’t fit. The mech got up, walking towards the cabinet in the corner of the room. Inside there was a multitude of datapads, perhaps too many for a such small, office cabinet.
Still, with no problems, he found the ones he needed and sat again at his desk. They were all reports of questioned mechs and femmes that had participated fully or in part at the assemblies. The common factor in all was the name Megatronus, a fighter in the arena. It was well known that he was the first to talk !”&/%&/(/&$£”£%$£%&/()(/&% about the problem of their society. At the beginning he was used talking right after the end of his matches, then he started to go in the squares of the lowest level, drawing large crowds.
/&$£”!”£$%&/()=?)/&%*^?=)£”!|”£*^&=)(£”$%&/()|!”£$%&/!”£$%&/()=?!”&/=?()/&?&%£!|!”£$%&/()=?*^?=)(/&%$£”!|(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/()=)$%&
…
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Onslaught grumbled and shook his head, half of a smirk behind the mask. He too agreed with some of the things Megatronus was saying, as many transformers.
Not that Sentinel Zeta Prime was even doing anything to let think differently.
Even when he was a mechling, Onslaught had never found improvements with the Prime’s policy, and since the space bridges had been closed, it was all even more evident.
Onslaught spent several hours like that, reading those reports to try and find some more information, even the smallest, to find that $£&”£$%&/(/&%$%£$/%&/()/&%$£$
… It was a joke. That was what he was thinking, watching the recording.
The more the video went on, the more it was ruined. The transformer growled again. And there were other twenty-two recordings?! He turned again to stare at the door.
(…)
The other transformer was still searching in the other rooms, but knowing him… The mech shook his head and turned back to the screen. It was kind of annoying, continuously fast-forwarding the recording, but he was sure he could find a lot of interesting information in those videos.
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Swindle, sat at the table with some datapads spread in front of him, greeted him back. Onslaught watched him writing something, though it didn’t look like he was re-writing another entire chapter. Now, that was something the mech didn’t expected from him. Onslaught shook his head and sat on the sofa.
- How did it go? -
- As usual. -
- Mh. Have you put back the original chapters? -
- Yes, this morning. -
- … -
Onslaught stared at Swindle, specifically his shoulders’s wheels, but they didn’t turn even an inch. So, he understood.
in that moment the mech heard some noises coming from the bathroom. Swindle snickered and Onslaught threw him a questioning look, sighing.
- Should I ask? -
At that tone, Swindle’s snickers grow in volume.
- It depends. Blast Off and Vortex have been in there for a while, now. -
- …Why. -
- When they came back, Tex was a mess, didn’t even have a spot clean. I can only guess why, but Blast Off was scolding him from some game he played. -
- I infer that he too was a mess. -
- Eh, only in a few spots. But you know Blast Offy. Tex will tell us everything at dinner. -
- If Blast Off will let him. Where’s Brawl? -
- I think he’s upstairs. -
Onslaught nodded and got up, heading towards the utility room. In that exact moment, the door right next the kitchen opened, letting the other two of his brothers entering the room.
- Next time that some younglings ask you to join their game to become a color palette, you say no!
-
- But it was funny… -
- Not for me, trying to wash all those stains! -
- …You don’t know how to have fun. -
- He’s right! -
- No one asked your opinion, Swindle. And we have different definitions of fun, and clean paint off the armor sure isn’t something I call “fun”… Oh. Welcome back, Onslaught. -
Onslaught observed the two flier and greeted them with a nod.
- Paint, eh? -
- Ugh, not that tone. Do you have any idea of how long it took me to scrape it all off?! -
- But they really weren’t too many stains… And it was really fun! -
- Excuse me? It was? -
- Uh… -
The mechling stared into the purple eyes of the other and his blades, mimed by his eyes, drooped. - Sorry… -
Blast Off sighed and patted his head, meeting the eldest’s eyes.
- …But it’s still true, it was fun! -
Blast Off looked again down at the mechling, who was still keeping his stare at the floor. How was he able to keep a meek voice and at the same time throwing a tantrum was still a mystery to Onslaugh; and judging from the grimace on his face, it was the same for Blast Off. Meanwhile, Swindle wasn’t even trying to hide the grin on his face.
- …Vortex, you and I need to have a little chat. -
- Why?! -
- Ah! Insolence do this to you, Tex! -
- Swindle, same thing goes for you. -
- … -
Swindle hmphed and turned in his seat, facing the holovisor, mouth still spread in a grin. Onslaught shook his head and turned to Blast Off.
- I need to have a word with Brawl. Can you start dinner? -
- …Okay. -
Ignoring the inquiring gaze of the brown flier, Onslaught went into the utility room. It was cramped for a mech of his size, but there was the only access to their part of the terrace.
The building where they lived wasn’t tall, more or less about twenty floors, but at least every apartment had a private entrance and a private side of the terrace. They used theirs as a training area or a place where drink energon under the patio on warm days.
Once out the trapdoor, Onslaught found Brawl sitting on one of the two benches around the table. The green mechling had his back turned, and was playing with something in his hands. When he sat beside him, he saw that it was the mechling’s personal datapad.
- Brawl. -
- Ugh. yeah, I knew, I knew! I have to tell Swindle, but I don’t want to, okay? -
- Okay. Then he will find out on his own. -
- … -
Brawl growled, sitting with his legs crossed and turning his back on the mech.
- And Vortex will start asking you many questions. But go ahead, you -
- Ugh, I get it! -
- … -
Brawl looked away, muttering something in answer and withering under the eldest’s scolding stare.
- I bought the tickets. -
- Ah… -
Onslaught sighed and tapped two fingers on the other’s turret. - We have to take just the document we need. Then we’ll come right back home. -
- I know… So, I have to tell Swindle… -
- Yes. You know that he has already noticed something. -
- Ugh. Why he is so -
- Intuitive? He is. And Vortex is right behind him. -
- That mechling is a mix of Blast Off and Swindle… And then he asks questions about everything! -
- Weren’t you the one saying that he is cute when he’s doing that? -
- Uh… Yeah. But not ten in a row, come on! Plus, he looks at you with that face and use that voice! How I’m supposed to tell him no?! -
Onslaught grunted and crossed his arms. - If you don’t, you’ll only kept spoiling him. -
- Seriously, Ons, how can you even do that?! -
- …I suppose I’m used to by now. You have to be stricter with him. -
- Easy for you. You know that I can’t. Every time I try, he looks at me all sad or he hugs me and -
- We have to teach him to accept “no” as an answer. He doesn’t need us to keep spoiling him. -
- I know… -
- With that clear, dinner’s ready. -
- Oh. Already? -
- …How long have you been up there? -
Brawl tilted his head to the side and stared at his brother. - I don’t know… Let’s go? -
Onslaught stared at Brawl. In those vorns he had come to know well his brothers. And in that moment Brawl was acting in a way not like him. He was, insecure. The mech was sure that that wasn’t just for having to tell Swindle about the document. The most obvious answer was Kalis. And Onslaught knew that %$&”%&%$££”£%%&*^?=)(/|!”£$%&/(=(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/(?*^?=)(/&%$£”!|”£$
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Back inside, they found Swindle and Vortex already at the table, both with a cube of energon in hand. Without utter a word, Blast Off gave Onslaught and Brawl their fill, before sitting at the right of the little flier.
There was something about the brown mech that was clearly irking Brawl, as his humming cannon was giving away; he took another sip of his energon, keeping his eyes still on the other. A few seconds later and Blast Off vented, putting his cube on the table with a light clank.
- It’s rude to stare. You got something to say? -
- Nah, nothing. - Brawl grinned and with a finger he tapped his own right shoulder. - It’s just that you forgot a spot, right here. -
Blast Off just stared at Brawl, expression unreadable. One could think that the one of the younger was a poor excuse to rile up the other, but then some creaking noises started coming off from the cube, still in the hand of the flier. Blast Off loosened his grip only at Onslaught’s low growl of words, - If you broke it, you’ll pay out of your subspace. -, but Blast Off didn’t change his expression. And Brawl couldn’t stop the grin to grow into a snicker.
- I’m serious. And it’s a big one, too. It goes from the shoulder right under the neck! - He rose the finger, with which was pointing at his shoulder, and tapped his own neck.
- Uh. You have one even on your arm. -
Brawl turned towards Swindle, slapped his hands once and nodded. - Ohh! You’re right; but that one is small. -
- Mh, maybe… I must say, Blast Off, pink really suits you. -
Hearing the short exchange of words, Onslaught vented and shook his head. Being annoying as it was, Brawl and Swindle’s combo to tease the flier was always a show. No one could accuse the two to not be inventive. The problem he had with that, was that they tended to show their clever mind only with pranks.
After a few moments of silent contemplating, on his eyes, the pro and cons to kick the two in front of him, Blast Off put his cube on the table. The exact moment the flier did that, Onslaught swiftly hid a grin behind the rim of the cube: he had no doubt that the flier was concocting his revenge.
The mech glanced at Swindle, at his right, and saw the purple eyes sparkling with playfulness. That wouldn’t do it: maybe he had been too lenient, if the mechling was already acting like that.
- I think that only brown it’s perfect for Blast Off. -
The four turned as one towards the youngest, who till that moment was silently sipping at his energon. Vortex then put the cube back on the table and stared at Swindle with a thoughtful expression.
- Uhm… With your yellow, instead, some magenta. -
Swindle sputtered. He stared at his brother flabbergasted; with the back of an hand he wiped off the mouthful of energon dripping from his chin, and opened his mouth to retort; Vortex, though, spoke before him.
- For Brawl some orange here and there. -
- Braw already has orange on himself. -
- Exactly. -
Swindle tilted his head to the side, confusion on all over his face, with also a note of irritation.
- Why magenta for me and instead no hideous makeover for -
- Pfffft AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH -
Swindle growled at that laugh and turned to face Brawl, who met his burning eyes and snickered again.
- What? Tex got a good taste. -
- No, he’s wrong. - Swindle grumbled, crossing his arms. Then, with a more mischievous glint in his eyes, he continued: - With your green it will be perfect a nice touch of blue. -
- Or bright red. -
Brawl and Swindle turned towards Blast Off; at the other’s words, Brawl’s face fluished an heavy hue of blue, clear sign of his growing anger.
- No. Just. No. -
Swindle snickered and jabbed a finger into the other’s bicep. - Pfft. Why not. I think it’ll suits you. -
- I think, instead, that a neon magenta will mash up perfectly with your yellow. -
- Aww, come on, don’t be envious. I think it’ll look good even on you. -
- … What do you mean with “even”?! -
Swindle shrugged: - Take it as you want. -
- …Magenta and orange fluo. -
- …Why don’t you try something outlandish? Striped, for example. -
Brawl turned slowly to throw a scorching look at Blast Off. - Ah ah. Ah. Since when you’re a fashion expert? -
- You started it. -
Brawl glared in response. He turned back to Swindle, looking at Blast off by the corner of the eye.
- But most of all, why no shiny paint for Blast Off? -
And Swindle, with a growing grin, caught up immediately and opened his mouth, just to be, once again, beaten by their youngest:
- I already saw how other colors will suits him. It’s a total mess. Though, that pink was okay… -
- … -
- … -
- … -
Brawl and Swindle both stared at the little flier, surprised, then shared a glance. A few moments passed in silence, and them they couldn’t stop themselves anymore, bursting out laughing.
From behind his cube, Onslaught snickered, trying, with success, to not be heard by the older flier.
Though it wasn’t hard, since the room was ringing with the other two’s laughs.
But his amusement was only half caused to Vortex’s words; the other half was due the expression on Blast Off’s face, a telling tale of what he was coming up to satisfy his spite.
Since he had known him, Blast Off had been a very patient mech, one that know how to use irony and sarcasm as he wanted, and more than once Onslaught had asked himself how much and where the other had used them to the point that, when he spoke, it was like he did that only with those in his tone. He used them so often that Vortex was learning to speak like him, especially while talking with Swindle.
Still, every now and then Blast Off could stoop at Brawl and Swindle’s level to prank them in retaliation.
Onslaught glanced then at the little mechling, at his side. Vortex was in the middle of naming every color that had prior painted Blast Off’s armor, giving for each of them a critic view, negative or positive, and trying to decide which one was the best combination with the natural brown of the mech. The grounder looked then at said transformer, knowing that, with Vortex, Blast Off would settle for a simple scold; but Brawl and Swindle…
The initial suspects were now a certainty, between the three of them was a sorta of prank war. At least they weren’t involving him.
Seeing how the flier wasn’t responding in kind to the teasing, Onslaught was sure he was preparing something humiliating. The mech vented: hopefully his brother would choose something not sticky, like last time.
At his left, the youngest mechling was still immersed in his vocal painting game, apparently back in his sarcastic and cheeky self. For that Onslaught could say he was satisfied. He much preferred a cheeky Vortex to a compliant one. But the main problem of those days was another. %/£/”£!”!&%&&()=?(%$$£%&()(=?(/&%$£”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/&%$£”!£$%&/()^?=)(/&%$£”!”!”£$%&/()=(/&%$£”£$%&/()=/&
…
…
..
..
.
.
- I don’t have a fragging document for the registration. And it’s important for any adoption. In short, no document, I go back to Kalis. -
Done speaking, Brawl stared at Swindle, searching for his reaction. The yellow mechling just stared at him perplexed, looking between Blast Off, Onslaught and again at Brawl.
- …What? -
Brawl grunted and turned back to Onslaught. - Done. -
- Done what?! I didn’t understand a thing of what you said! -
The green mechling glared at his brother. - What’s don’t you get?! -
Swindle vented and leaned over him to look at Onslaught. - It’s true, what he said? -
The eldest glared at Brawl, who in answer grunted and turned to watch the holovisor. Growling in a low tone, Onslaught met Swindle’s eyes.
- Yes, it is. In a few days we’ll leave for Kalis. -
- Ah. -
!&$%&/()=?^=)(/&%$£”!”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/£”!|!”£$%&/()?^=?)(/&%$£”!|!$)=%$£”!”£$%&/()=?)(/&%$£”!”£$%&/()=?)(/&%$£”!£&/()=éP(/&%$£”!|!”£$%&/()=?^=)(&%$£”!|!”£$%&/()=^?=)(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/()=?=)(/&%$£”!£$%&/()=(/&%/()=?=?)(/&%$£”$!£$%&/()&%$£”! “!”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/()=?^=)(/&%$£”!|”£$W%&/()=?)(/&%$£”!|”£(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/()(/&%$£”!|
…
..
.
- Aw, come on! There at least is something interesting in there, or it’s just useless scrap?! -
The transformer grumbled some more to himself, glancing now and then at the broken door.
The other was still searching the near rooms.
Good for him, more time to search. If only there was something interesting in those records instead of a bunch of useless… He stopped himself. No, he could find something interesting, especially about that transformer. He just needed to search more.
…
..
.
Chapter 4: Interference
Chapter Text
The Academia was bustling as any other day. Lectures were held, internships were given and all in all it was the same as always.
A little bubble, isolated from the rest of the planet.
It was really another world, a little place where one could lead their life as they pleased; the same world he was once part of and one which, most of the time, he felt apathy towards. There was no way he repudiated his own roots, but he would have been a fool to not understand what was happening: even who wasn’t close to the borders like him, could see that there was a new era approaching.
Truthy speaking, he had never given much thought to roles in society and self-determination; and that was a common thought, but since the start of the protests, day after day ever more numerous and violent, when that gladiator dared to speak at his spectators... feigning ignorance was idiotic.
But still, even if a part of him could understand the motives, there was a question nobody dared to answer, nor to ask.
Why now?
Why not vorns ago, after the victory of the Quintessons, when the society was forming? It was so imaginable for their ancestors to think what their doing would lead to? That was unreasonable, who wanted to start a civilization could not thought to the consequences of their actions. The only plausible answer was that they thought their doings were the most favorable for their race.
But it was clear that they had miscalculated.
Blast Off could see every day the consequences of that decisions every day. Living in one of the middle levels of Kaon was not easy, the opposite of what he was used to in Altihex, but was not terrible either.
“You have to do with what you have”.
That was the first lesson he learned when he was stripped of his status.
Or, that was till the Brawl Problem. A simple certificate was going to rip them of their brother. It had been the ring that shook his helm to the processor.
Disorienting, but eye-opening.
Because, if for something as simple as the enrolling to the military Academia for a transformer with a military alt-mode was nothing but simple…
Because, if for something like a sparkling’s adoption needed so many steps, so many laws about what make them themselves, digging into their capability to transform…
Because, if there was a gripping control on the transformer that have a sort of outlier ability, then.
What direction have taken their society?
Megatronus’s speech never had an appeal to him, but after their problem with Kalis and that certificate, Blast Off found himself to listen. And, even though he still thought of that mech as extremely loutish, Blast Off had to admit he had his way with words.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one to have that opinion: both Brawl and Swindle had showed a certain interest to those speeches, despite Onslaught’s harsh reprimands. Blast Off knew the reason of the eldest behavior: more protests were made, and more violence was seen in all the cities. It was become hard and harder placate the protesters without the use of force. And that was taking a toll on Onslaught: nowadays, he was always tense and ready to outburst, mostly lashing on them verbally. Something Onslaught wasn’t used to do. He always had had that calm presence and if it wasn’t for him, both Blast Off and Brawl would have still be in that fabric. The flier himself still have nightmare of that time and he was sure was the same for Brawl. And Blast Off could never admit it out loud, let alone his brothers, but he saw Onslaught as a role model. Seeing Onslaught reaching a breaking point, was destabilizing.
The sudden change in the star map in front of him interrupted his musing. Blast Off mentally swore, remembering that one was the last decacycle before his graduation ceremony and there was no reason to undo vorns of studies only for his stupid musing.
He was finally taking the first step to his objective and he wouldn’t allowed to a !”£$%&/()(/&%$£”!|”£$%&/()=)(/&%$£”!"£$%&/()=)(/&%$£"!|"£$%&/()=?^?!"£$()*^?=)(/&%$£"!"£$%&/
«Oh, c’mon! Again?!»
He clicked some random keys, but nothing changed on the screen. The static was grating his vision and with a guttural growl he pressed the flash-forward button. With zero success because, apparently, all the video was damaged. He was starting to think that that wasn’t a problem in the system due the time, but whoever had taken those memories (because there was no doubt, now, of what were those video) had intentionally damaged them. He didn’t knew the reason, but there was no way he would give up his research.
Every little thing was useful, against the Decepticreeps. And those videos, there were memories of the Combaticons. That was one more reason to keep smashing the stupid keys that weren’t doing their job to help him saw those memories.
Still, there was a nagging thought that had find his way in his processor: sure, the video were damaged, but why there were so few memories of Vortex? And the few that he did find, were all from his childhood and, surprisingly, the only one not damaged. One could think that, given the decepticon role as an interrogator, there would be too many videos of his memories. But no, Vortex’s memories were the most useless of the bunch. The only interesting thing about them, was that Vortex had kept secret his ability. But, beside that, it was garbage.
(It still was a source of blackmail material to use against the Combaticon and even though he knew the others would never approve, who else would let pass that opportunity? Not him for sure.)
Blast Off’s archive was damaged exactly like Onslaught’s and it was frustrating that the more video he clicked, he found out that the memories didn’t follow a linear timeline but covered random events in random vorns. Finding something useful was proving to be a hard mission.
He was almost on the verge of giving up the research when the system finally find an uncorrupted video. Strangely enough, it’s date was relatively recent, dating just eight vorns in the past.
«Uh, strange,,,»
He didn’t dwell too much into that, but the sound of his sound voice was unexpected. He forgot he was not alone. He waited, expecting the voice of the other making fun of him and humiliating his behavior. But from the other side of the door came no sound; just in the background, he could hear some movements in the floor below. So, the other was still searching that area. Meaning, he had still time to complete his own research.
If he even would find anything…
…………………
…………
…
The chaos inside the office was almost a mirror of the city’s streets. When he was called for a job in Iacon, he could have never imagined that he would be do such a essential task. Both Onslaught and Brawl were in the city for more vorns than him, but what they told them was nothing close to the truth. At least, Swindle and Vortex spent most of their time in the Capital inside the little loft the senate had given him. Blast Off was sure that neither of his two youngest brothers was fine with the settling, but he would gladly take cycle of their sulking than letting them alone in the levels of Iacon. Vortex was, with no surprise, the most vocal of the two, crying out about the injustice of their pseudo time-out. Honestly, Blast Off was too lenient with him, letting him out the loft for more than one groon. And that alone was hard; even Swindle was having troubles in inventing the most random reason why Vortex couldn’t stay out too long.
Vortex, as he kindly reminded them every day, was not a sparkling anymore, but still. He was still too young and they and made a promise one-hundred-seventy vorns ago.
They would try anything to protect his childhood.
Because Blast Off was no fool, sooner or later Vortex would say what the real situation on their planet. The youngest was too intelligent for his age and it was clear he understood what was happening vorns before. But, he still had that ingenuity of the young mechling he was.
The civil war had spread in all of Cyberton, Iacon included. Only the two city-states on Vox and Praxus had maintained a sort of peace and was probably only thanks to the history on neutrality the two had. Praxus even started to welcome refugees from the closest cities fallen in the hands of the rebels. There were voices saying that the queen of Vos was working to act as a mediator, but nobody really knew what was happening there.
Blast Off massaged his helm and turned back observing the maps in front of him. The soft blue of the hologram was starting to hurt to see, but he had to kept going: that was the job the council gave him.
An important job that requested all his attention. Finding all the space bridges, choose which to them to reactivate with the few reserves of energon they had, preparing safe itineraries for the ships that would take the civilians to the colonies, far away from the war; beside consulting to the various volunteer pilots and teach them how the navigate and use a star map. It was not a job for someone like him: he was an astrophysics, not an aerospace engineer. But Sentinel Zeta Prime’s orders were clear: they needed the most possible space-bridge operative to permit successful evacuations and permit possible counterattacks.
It was easier to say than to do. It had been vorns since he started cataloguing all the space-bridges in the galaxy and he was still at a 5% of them founded: everyone knew that once a space-bridge was deactivated the amount of energon necessary to make it operative again was immense; and, for that reason the council commanded the closing of all “useless” space-bridges.
With a swift move the map changed, the hologram showing now another area of the fourth colony closest to Cybertron. An unexpected ring from the door sounded in the silent office and Blast Off turned miffed towards it.
“If it’s another change, I swear I’ll”
His thought stopped when his visor met an orange one. Him being busy had never stopped his younger brothers to disturb him; so, the way Brawl was stalling instead to enter, was undoubtedly suspicious.
«What have you done.»
It was not a question but a recurring annoyed fact. Vorns in the military and Brawl was still-
No, in that moment that was not the case. Because, even though Brawl was inclined to make mistakes, it was true that his job made him more diligent. But before he could take back his first assumption, Brawl growled and marched inside, letting the door swift closed behind him.
«I did nothing!»
Blast Off sighed. He could feel another helmache coming. «Sorry. But, you really blame me? You are only hesitant when you have done something stupid and don’t want me or Onslaught to find out and have to fix whatever it is you’ve done.»
«Well, this time wasn’t me.» grumbled Brawl like a mechling. Still, he was keeping throwing a look back at the door, as if he expected someone to barge in.
Blast Off turned off the hologram, catching the attention of the younger.
«What it is, then?»
«…Onslaught doesn’t know.»
And that phrase alone explained all. Blast Off refrained to fall in his seat, exhausted. Of course it would have been those two.
«Which one?»
«…Swindle enrolled in the logistic.»
«…That is a poor excuse for a joke.»
«Do I seem like I’m fragging joking?!»
«Well, I wish it was. Because that bolt think he is so good at being secretive, but I bet Onslaught already know.» The flier snapped. Then, he straightens up and throw Brawl a glare from behind his visor. «How did you find out?»
«He told me.»
«…»
In that moment, inside an crumpled office owned by the Cybertronian council, Blast Off wondered if, for the first time, he could lose his temper. Of course Swindle would have told Brawl, after things done: it was a safe excuse to his and Onslaught’s reprimand. He could already hear him: “You said I have to tell one of you when I want do something important, and I did.”. But the question was, why would Swindle ever enroll to the defense? Even if the area of logistic would offer some opportunity of affairs, it was too small for someone like Swindle. He was more a mech who worked behind the scenes, building any type of business relations…
«The nerve of that frag of a diode!»
Brawl jumped at the burst of the older. But he was shut up before could ask what he was all about, when Blast Off slammed a fist on the desk. The older ignored him, and kept going with a vitriolic voice.
«Of course he would enroll. He and his idiotic obsession with making shanix…»
«I don’t follow…»
The flier glared at the younger, making Brawl shrink into himself. «Even you can get that. What is Swindle’s job?»
«…A dealer for the energon distribution company?»
«And how many request of his expertise have he received?»
«Uh, many?»
«Too many. And a large number of mech and femme requesting a meeting with a single mech would never go unnoticed. Especially at times like this.»
«…And that means?»
«That means, Brawl, that Swindle didn’t decide to enroll into the logistic only for his own interest.»
«You’re saying somebody coerced him to enroll?!»
«…I’m delighted you know that word, but no. I’m saying that someone have had done him an offers he esteemed being convenient. And you know him: Swindle may even be full of his head and only think about making shanix, but he is not a fool. Nor he has no spark. He would never enroll without having something back.»
Something like realization lightened Brawl’s visor. «Frag, he really didn’t learn in all this vorn, did he? But, wait… Who would you think told him to enroll?»
«Brawl. Where are we now?»
«In Iacon.»
«Good. And where, exactly?»
«Inside the senate’s offices…ThOSE FRA»
«You are a soldier Brawl. Avoid saying such things out loud.»
Brawl closed his mouthplate his a snap. Then, in a lower voice than before, mumbled: «But you really think Ons knows? Because…»
«I know, Brawl. And I want know from you two where that bolt of our brother is.»
Both Blast Off and Brawl jumped, turning their heads towards Onslaught. Neither of them saw the eldest enter. But he had clearly heard what they said, since all his body was tensing with concealed rage.
«It’s not at Blast Off’s loft?»
«No and Vortex doesn’t know where he is.»
«Tex doesn’t know? And you believe him?»
«In fact, it’s impossible he doesn’t know. Even if Swindle haven’t told him. We are talking about Vortex, here.»
«Yes, I know Blast Off. But Vortex and I had a little chat regard that and I can say he for sure he doesn’t know.»
«But, Ons. If you think about it, it’s not really a problem. No?»
«If you have forget, Brawl, Swindle is a civilian.»
«Blast Off is a civilian too, but he work for the Cybertronian Defense.»
«Yes, but I have orders to stay away from the battlefields.»
«…So does Swindle.»
«No, he does not.»
«…»
Onslaughr and Blast Off exchange a look. To tell himself the truth, the flier wasn’t so surprised that Swindle accepted that kind of offer: it was obvious he knew about the pros and cons of the task given to him. Still, he still have to bargain with the likes of the Decepticons.
«You think you could convince him to quit?»
«Obviously I do.»
The hidden answer in those three words made Blast Off vent with tiredness: Swindle was stubborn and he would probably never listen to what Onslaught have to say.
!”£$%&()(/&%$£”!”£$£$%&/()=?=)(/&%$£”!”£”!|!”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/&%$£”|!”£$%&/?=)(/&£”|!”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/&%$£”!|!”£$%&/()=?)(/&£”!|!”£$%&/()=?^?=)(/&%$£”!||!”£$%&%$”!|!”£$%&/()=??????)(/&%$£”!||!”£$%&
The mech massaged his forehelm. He was tired of all those interferences, at the point he was on the verge to break the keyboard.
He chose another video; one clear.
If he would ever find one, it is.
There were too many videos, in that system. And most of them were ruined.
He mumbled something, while scrolling the files.
The other mech had still to came in that room; probably he had found something interesting in one of the other rooms…Or maybe, which was probably the truth, the other was messing something up that he would have, eventually, to fix.
He asked himself, for the umpteenth time, why he accepted the dare.
…
No, he perfectly knew why. He may even be too proud, as his brother kept reminding him, but he would never allow a Decepticon win something, even a stupid dare.
Deep in thought as he was, the mech almost didn’t notice that the screen hadn’t changed, still with the frozen image of the last ruined video. It seemed that was all there were of Blast Off’s memories.
A eerily feels of uneasiness overwhelm him. He hadn’t noticed before, but even all the previous files, they all ended in a similar way: a memory from eight vorn before, interrupted with no explanation.
Who and why had taken those memories? Sure, it was an important source for information for them, but all the memories… were from before the war between Autobots and Decepticons.
SneekyKelepir on Chapter 1 Thu 28 Mar 2019 03:34PM UTC
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AriBluArt on Chapter 1 Thu 28 Mar 2019 08:14PM UTC
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SneekyKelepir on Chapter 1 Sat 30 Mar 2019 05:42AM UTC
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AriBluArt on Chapter 1 Sat 30 Mar 2019 10:13AM UTC
Last Edited Mon 01 Apr 2019 09:44AM UTC
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BrookPrism (Guest) on Chapter 3 Sun 26 Jan 2025 02:42AM UTC
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AriBluArt on Chapter 3 Sun 26 Jan 2025 11:05AM UTC
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