Spark Deep -- Chapter 6: Admissions
Title: Chapter 6: Admissions
Rating: K+
Continuity: AU G1
Notes: This bunny likes me. A lot.
Chapter 6: Admissions
He woke to a dim room. The curtains were pulled back from the windows, and there was a fire burning low in the grate. The now familiar pounding of music echoed through the manor.
And the Twins were gone.
He stood slowly, twitching his doorwings to work out the kinks, and looked around.
They were gone, but there was a datapad sitting on the chair. He stepped over to it, picked it up, and turned it on.
There was only one file on it, and it opened automatically.
A letter.
Blue,
You fell asleep around midday, and we could both tell you were very tired, so we decided it would be best not to wake you.
We both appreciate you coming, and reading to us. We understand that our daylight forms are... well, rather frightening, and are grateful that you are willing to still face us.
-Sunstreaker and Sideswipe
Bluestreak smiled. It was nice of them to write the letter. Making up his mind, he set the datapad down on the chair and headed for the door. The walk to the kitchen was fast.
Once he got there, however, he was practically mobbed by Mirage and Hound.
“Master Bluestreak!” the former noble cried when he saw the gray mech, rushing forward, hands fluttering inches above the gray plating.
“Mirage, I’m fine,” Bluestreak chuckled, smiling at Hound, who was hovering just inside EM range. “Better than fine, actually. I’ve...”
The blue and white mech backed off a bit, smiling. “I know... The Lords were smiling this evening, when they came downstairs. I was just worried, when you weren't in your room.”
Bluestreak nodded, still smiling. “Where are the Twins?”
“Where else?” Hound said, optics bright. “The Lords are in the party room, taking hapless bots' money.”
A laugh, a real one, left his vocalizer. “That is what they do best, isn't it?” Bluestreak said, grin widening.
Mirage and Hound exchanged a glance.
“What?”
“It's just... you're here be- because of that.”
Bluestreak shrugged, doorwings twitching. “I... you were right, Hound. It's not so bad here. I miss my cousin, but... I’m... getting used to it here. I think... I think I could learn to be happy.”
There was a moment of silence, which Hound broke. “Well, I’m glad of that.”
“Good. Um, could I have some energon? I don’t want high-grade, and...”
“Oh, yes. I’ll get you some, Master Bluestreak. Just wait a moment...” Mirage hurried off, leaving the gray mech staring after him, amused.
“Is he always like this?” Bluestreak asked Hound, who was also staring fondly after the former noble.
“Sometimes,” the green mech said with a grin. “To be quite honest, he was raised as a younger noble, someone to be bonded off and to produce heirs. I thing you've activated his carrier coding.”
“What?” Bluestreak yelped, blinking rapidly. “But, but, I’m a grown mech! I have been for - for vorns! How-? Why-?”
Hound chuckled. “I don't know. I will admit, there is something... endearing... about you.”
Bluestreak continued blinking until Mirage came back, a cube of energon in hand.
“Here, Master Bluestreak. Your energon.”
Still silent, the gray mech took the energon and drank it in one gulp. “Thank you, Mirage. I’m going to go find Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, now, thank you, talk to you later, bye!”
He whirled around and hurried out of the room, following the throbbing beat of the music to the party room.
Finding the Twins was easy. Sunstreaker was where he had been the last two times Bluestreak had been here; behind the bar, where he was handing out energon cubes, knocking back one of his own every now and then. Sideswipe was also where he seemed to be most often; at the gambling tables.
Deciding that he would much rather sit somewhere less crowded, Bluestreak edged around the crowd, aiming for the bar and Sunstreaker.
The yellow mech saw him coming, and his usual frown softened into an almost-smile. Bluestreak smiled back.
A moment later, the gray mech was sitting on a barstool, doorwings flicking in time with the beat of the music. There was a ping on his comm, and he answered it.
::You want anything, Blue?:: a familiar voice asked as Sunstreaker quirked a half-smile at him.
::Um... Anything not high-grade?::
::What, you don't like getting over-charged?::
Bluestreak shook his helm, letting his hand rest on the counter. A moment late, he was tapping his fingers. ::No, I hate it, actually. I... just no high-grade?::
::Alright,:: the yellow Twin said with a nod. A moment later, a fancy cube full of shimmering energon was set in front of him. ::Drink up. It's one of my favorites. If you want anything else, or don't like it, give me a ping.::
Bluestreak smiled his thanks and picked up the cube. He sat and sipped it, letting the EM fields and noise of the room wash around him, through him. He let his mind slip, and spent the night sitting there, watching everything pass by in an unfocused blur.
He jumped when someone touched his shoulder.
Sideswipe.
“Hey, Blue,” he greeted, smirking. “You been here all night?”
“Yeah,” Bluestreak said, fluttering his doorwings in a stretch.
Sideswipe's optics tracked their movement for a moment, before the red Twin glanced across the room. Sunstreaker was waiting by the door. “Well,” he said, taking a step back. “It's almost sunrise. We'll... see you soon?” the mech asked as he backed across the dance floor.
“Yes, of course. Oh! Sideswipe, Sunstreaker!” Bluestreak called as he jumped off his stool and hurried over to them. “I almost forgot. Thanks for leaving the letter.”
They both smiled. “Thank you for coming,” Sunstreaker returned, and they both turned again.
“Wait!”
Amused, they glanced over their shoulders, indulgent smiles on their faces, identical save for the fact that Sunstreaker's was smaller and Sideswipe's was filled with mischief.
“I... would it be okay if I came over again?”
The smiles faded into surprised expressions, and the two exchanged a glance.
“You're... sure?”
“Yeah. I mean, like I said last night, I’m going to be here for a long time, so I should probably get used to you, and it wouldn't hurt to do it as soon as possible...”
Sideswipe chuckled faintly. “Blue... We stay in our wing all day. You can just avoid us then if you want to.”
“But-”
“No. Did you know why we accepted your contract?”
“I... no, I don't.”
“We-” Sideswipe started, then groaned. “Tell you after sunset,” he ground out, and the red and yellow forms raced to, and disappeared up, the stairs.
Bluestreak stared for a moment, then hurried after them.
Their door was locked when he came to it. He knocked, loudly. “Come on, guys! Let me in!”
A moment later, the door clicked, and he pushed it open. Sunstreaker was leaning against the wall just inside the frame, panting. All Bluestreak could see of Sideswipe was the tip of his tail dangling over the edge of the couch.
Determined, Bluestreak activated his comm system and pinged the yellow Twin. Sunstreaker jerked slightly, then cast the gray mech a thoughtful look. After a long moment, he accepted the link.
::Sunstreaker?::
::Bl-l-luest-t-treak-k?:: the response came back, stuttered and full of static.
::Is... is this how it... always is?::
::Ye-es,:: another voice answered, and when he looked over, Bluestreak could see Sideswipe sitting on the couch, chin resting on the back, optics focused on him.
::I... see. Is it hard for you to talk?::
::No. I-it's-s jus-st hard-d for pe-e-eople to understa-a-n-nd us. An-nd we hat-te the wa-a-ay we sound-d-d.::
Bluestreak frowned. “No, it's not. It just sounds like a long-distance comm.”
Sideswipe blinked curiously. ::Oh-h?::
“Yeah, I do them all the time with my brother. He's... on a trip. And it always sounds kinda like that. It's not hard to understand. For me, at least. But... if you don't like it, I can wait until nighttime.”
Sunstreaker nodded, and they terminated the connection. Bluestreak vented, then stepped forward. Immediately, he backed up again, cycling air rapidly.
Sunstreaker cocked his helm to the side, and Sideswipe gave a confused whine. Bluestreak shook his helm and laughed gently.
“I... we automatically merged EM fields when I came in,” he told the yellow Twin. “I didn't even think about it...”
Nodding in understanding, Sunstreaker stepped forward and tilted his helm to the couch and chair. Bluestreak nodded, and walked over, sitting comfortably on the chair, watching as Sunstreaker leapt onto the couch and curled up with his brother.
“I... I guess I’ll just read again, if... if that's alright?”
Sideswipe gave a cheerful yip, glossa once again dangling from the side of his mouth. Bluestreak smiled as he pulled the datapad from his subspace, where it had been sitting since the night before.
“Once upon a time, as a merchant set off for market, he asked each of his three creations what they would like as a present upon his return...”
Once again, Bluestreak read until he fell asleep. When he woke, however, the Twins were still there, curled around each other in mech form on the couch. They were awake, watching him, but it looked like they hadn't yet moved.
The gray mech smiled. “Morning. Or, well, night, I guess.”
“Indeed,” Sideswipe said, slowly pushing himself up. Sunstreaker did the same, and they both sat, staring at Bluestreak.
It was then that the gray mech realized he could hear the faint beat of music. His optics widened. “You aren't at your party.”
“No. We need to talk... I never got to tell you why-”
“Why you accepted my contract. Right,” Bluestreak interrupted, then slapped his hands over his mouth.
Sideswipe just chuckled. “Yes. I... We took it because... well... company?”
“Huh?” Bluestreak said eloquently, blinking a couple times.
Sunstreaker shook his helm. “Bluestreak... the only mechs in this manor before you came were us, the servants, and the guests, half of which are just... fabrications to give the image of a party. Made by the curse when people... forgot about us. And the others aren't any better, really. Stupid mechs looking for a night of fun, or travelers like your cousin.”
“We've won people before... Mirage, you already know, but there are others. But... the contract. We've never... Not like that. It's always been their servitude, themselves... Never was it...”
“We've never won someone like we have you,” Sunstreaker said. “Sideswipe was going to give the datapad back at first. We have enough servants here... but then he saw... and I saw...”
“That I was only an apprentice, right?” Bluestreak asked, quiet. “That I wouldn't be like... everyone else.”
“Yeah. We only hoped for some sort of interaction other than what we had. Something a little more... equal. We never would have guessed we would get what we did... what you're giving us,” Sideswipe said, smiling sadly.
“And what... what is that?”
“I... You can't guess?”
“Uh... sorry?”
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe shared a glance, and Sunstreaker spoke. “You... You've been... actively giving us a chance.”
“A... chance?”
“To care. To be cared for. We've never really had that before,” Sideswipe said quietly, looking down at the floor.
Bluestreak stared for a long moment. A chance? Why wouldn't he give them a chance? Everyone deserved at least that, didn't they? “I...”
The Twins gave him slow, rather bittersweet smiles. “Yeah,” Sideswipe said, then stood. “We should get downstairs.”
With that, the Lords of the manor left, leaving a thoughtful Bluestreak behind them.
Rating: K+
Continuity: AU G1
Notes: This bunny likes me. A lot.
Chapter 6: Admissions
He woke to a dim room. The curtains were pulled back from the windows, and there was a fire burning low in the grate. The now familiar pounding of music echoed through the manor.
And the Twins were gone.
He stood slowly, twitching his doorwings to work out the kinks, and looked around.
They were gone, but there was a datapad sitting on the chair. He stepped over to it, picked it up, and turned it on.
There was only one file on it, and it opened automatically.
A letter.
Blue,
You fell asleep around midday, and we could both tell you were very tired, so we decided it would be best not to wake you.
We both appreciate you coming, and reading to us. We understand that our daylight forms are... well, rather frightening, and are grateful that you are willing to still face us.
-Sunstreaker and Sideswipe
Bluestreak smiled. It was nice of them to write the letter. Making up his mind, he set the datapad down on the chair and headed for the door. The walk to the kitchen was fast.
Once he got there, however, he was practically mobbed by Mirage and Hound.
“Master Bluestreak!” the former noble cried when he saw the gray mech, rushing forward, hands fluttering inches above the gray plating.
“Mirage, I’m fine,” Bluestreak chuckled, smiling at Hound, who was hovering just inside EM range. “Better than fine, actually. I’ve...”
The blue and white mech backed off a bit, smiling. “I know... The Lords were smiling this evening, when they came downstairs. I was just worried, when you weren't in your room.”
Bluestreak nodded, still smiling. “Where are the Twins?”
“Where else?” Hound said, optics bright. “The Lords are in the party room, taking hapless bots' money.”
A laugh, a real one, left his vocalizer. “That is what they do best, isn't it?” Bluestreak said, grin widening.
Mirage and Hound exchanged a glance.
“What?”
“It's just... you're here be- because of that.”
Bluestreak shrugged, doorwings twitching. “I... you were right, Hound. It's not so bad here. I miss my cousin, but... I’m... getting used to it here. I think... I think I could learn to be happy.”
There was a moment of silence, which Hound broke. “Well, I’m glad of that.”
“Good. Um, could I have some energon? I don’t want high-grade, and...”
“Oh, yes. I’ll get you some, Master Bluestreak. Just wait a moment...” Mirage hurried off, leaving the gray mech staring after him, amused.
“Is he always like this?” Bluestreak asked Hound, who was also staring fondly after the former noble.
“Sometimes,” the green mech said with a grin. “To be quite honest, he was raised as a younger noble, someone to be bonded off and to produce heirs. I thing you've activated his carrier coding.”
“What?” Bluestreak yelped, blinking rapidly. “But, but, I’m a grown mech! I have been for - for vorns! How-? Why-?”
Hound chuckled. “I don't know. I will admit, there is something... endearing... about you.”
Bluestreak continued blinking until Mirage came back, a cube of energon in hand.
“Here, Master Bluestreak. Your energon.”
Still silent, the gray mech took the energon and drank it in one gulp. “Thank you, Mirage. I’m going to go find Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, now, thank you, talk to you later, bye!”
He whirled around and hurried out of the room, following the throbbing beat of the music to the party room.
Finding the Twins was easy. Sunstreaker was where he had been the last two times Bluestreak had been here; behind the bar, where he was handing out energon cubes, knocking back one of his own every now and then. Sideswipe was also where he seemed to be most often; at the gambling tables.
Deciding that he would much rather sit somewhere less crowded, Bluestreak edged around the crowd, aiming for the bar and Sunstreaker.
The yellow mech saw him coming, and his usual frown softened into an almost-smile. Bluestreak smiled back.
A moment later, the gray mech was sitting on a barstool, doorwings flicking in time with the beat of the music. There was a ping on his comm, and he answered it.
::You want anything, Blue?:: a familiar voice asked as Sunstreaker quirked a half-smile at him.
::Um... Anything not high-grade?::
::What, you don't like getting over-charged?::
Bluestreak shook his helm, letting his hand rest on the counter. A moment late, he was tapping his fingers. ::No, I hate it, actually. I... just no high-grade?::
::Alright,:: the yellow Twin said with a nod. A moment later, a fancy cube full of shimmering energon was set in front of him. ::Drink up. It's one of my favorites. If you want anything else, or don't like it, give me a ping.::
Bluestreak smiled his thanks and picked up the cube. He sat and sipped it, letting the EM fields and noise of the room wash around him, through him. He let his mind slip, and spent the night sitting there, watching everything pass by in an unfocused blur.
He jumped when someone touched his shoulder.
Sideswipe.
“Hey, Blue,” he greeted, smirking. “You been here all night?”
“Yeah,” Bluestreak said, fluttering his doorwings in a stretch.
Sideswipe's optics tracked their movement for a moment, before the red Twin glanced across the room. Sunstreaker was waiting by the door. “Well,” he said, taking a step back. “It's almost sunrise. We'll... see you soon?” the mech asked as he backed across the dance floor.
“Yes, of course. Oh! Sideswipe, Sunstreaker!” Bluestreak called as he jumped off his stool and hurried over to them. “I almost forgot. Thanks for leaving the letter.”
They both smiled. “Thank you for coming,” Sunstreaker returned, and they both turned again.
“Wait!”
Amused, they glanced over their shoulders, indulgent smiles on their faces, identical save for the fact that Sunstreaker's was smaller and Sideswipe's was filled with mischief.
“I... would it be okay if I came over again?”
The smiles faded into surprised expressions, and the two exchanged a glance.
“You're... sure?”
“Yeah. I mean, like I said last night, I’m going to be here for a long time, so I should probably get used to you, and it wouldn't hurt to do it as soon as possible...”
Sideswipe chuckled faintly. “Blue... We stay in our wing all day. You can just avoid us then if you want to.”
“But-”
“No. Did you know why we accepted your contract?”
“I... no, I don't.”
“We-” Sideswipe started, then groaned. “Tell you after sunset,” he ground out, and the red and yellow forms raced to, and disappeared up, the stairs.
Bluestreak stared for a moment, then hurried after them.
Their door was locked when he came to it. He knocked, loudly. “Come on, guys! Let me in!”
A moment later, the door clicked, and he pushed it open. Sunstreaker was leaning against the wall just inside the frame, panting. All Bluestreak could see of Sideswipe was the tip of his tail dangling over the edge of the couch.
Determined, Bluestreak activated his comm system and pinged the yellow Twin. Sunstreaker jerked slightly, then cast the gray mech a thoughtful look. After a long moment, he accepted the link.
::Sunstreaker?::
::Bl-l-luest-t-treak-k?:: the response came back, stuttered and full of static.
::Is... is this how it... always is?::
::Ye-es,:: another voice answered, and when he looked over, Bluestreak could see Sideswipe sitting on the couch, chin resting on the back, optics focused on him.
::I... see. Is it hard for you to talk?::
::No. I-it's-s jus-st hard-d for pe-e-eople to understa-a-n-nd us. An-nd we hat-te the wa-a-ay we sound-d-d.::
Bluestreak frowned. “No, it's not. It just sounds like a long-distance comm.”
Sideswipe blinked curiously. ::Oh-h?::
“Yeah, I do them all the time with my brother. He's... on a trip. And it always sounds kinda like that. It's not hard to understand. For me, at least. But... if you don't like it, I can wait until nighttime.”
Sunstreaker nodded, and they terminated the connection. Bluestreak vented, then stepped forward. Immediately, he backed up again, cycling air rapidly.
Sunstreaker cocked his helm to the side, and Sideswipe gave a confused whine. Bluestreak shook his helm and laughed gently.
“I... we automatically merged EM fields when I came in,” he told the yellow Twin. “I didn't even think about it...”
Nodding in understanding, Sunstreaker stepped forward and tilted his helm to the couch and chair. Bluestreak nodded, and walked over, sitting comfortably on the chair, watching as Sunstreaker leapt onto the couch and curled up with his brother.
“I... I guess I’ll just read again, if... if that's alright?”
Sideswipe gave a cheerful yip, glossa once again dangling from the side of his mouth. Bluestreak smiled as he pulled the datapad from his subspace, where it had been sitting since the night before.
“Once upon a time, as a merchant set off for market, he asked each of his three creations what they would like as a present upon his return...”
Once again, Bluestreak read until he fell asleep. When he woke, however, the Twins were still there, curled around each other in mech form on the couch. They were awake, watching him, but it looked like they hadn't yet moved.
The gray mech smiled. “Morning. Or, well, night, I guess.”
“Indeed,” Sideswipe said, slowly pushing himself up. Sunstreaker did the same, and they both sat, staring at Bluestreak.
It was then that the gray mech realized he could hear the faint beat of music. His optics widened. “You aren't at your party.”
“No. We need to talk... I never got to tell you why-”
“Why you accepted my contract. Right,” Bluestreak interrupted, then slapped his hands over his mouth.
Sideswipe just chuckled. “Yes. I... We took it because... well... company?”
“Huh?” Bluestreak said eloquently, blinking a couple times.
Sunstreaker shook his helm. “Bluestreak... the only mechs in this manor before you came were us, the servants, and the guests, half of which are just... fabrications to give the image of a party. Made by the curse when people... forgot about us. And the others aren't any better, really. Stupid mechs looking for a night of fun, or travelers like your cousin.”
“We've won people before... Mirage, you already know, but there are others. But... the contract. We've never... Not like that. It's always been their servitude, themselves... Never was it...”
“We've never won someone like we have you,” Sunstreaker said. “Sideswipe was going to give the datapad back at first. We have enough servants here... but then he saw... and I saw...”
“That I was only an apprentice, right?” Bluestreak asked, quiet. “That I wouldn't be like... everyone else.”
“Yeah. We only hoped for some sort of interaction other than what we had. Something a little more... equal. We never would have guessed we would get what we did... what you're giving us,” Sideswipe said, smiling sadly.
“And what... what is that?”
“I... You can't guess?”
“Uh... sorry?”
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe shared a glance, and Sunstreaker spoke. “You... You've been... actively giving us a chance.”
“A... chance?”
“To care. To be cared for. We've never really had that before,” Sideswipe said quietly, looking down at the floor.
Bluestreak stared for a long moment. A chance? Why wouldn't he give them a chance? Everyone deserved at least that, didn't they? “I...”
The Twins gave him slow, rather bittersweet smiles. “Yeah,” Sideswipe said, then stood. “We should get downstairs.”
With that, the Lords of the manor left, leaving a thoughtful Bluestreak behind them.