TF: Unexpected Discovery

[wildernesstales]

Rating: PG-13
Series: G1
Pairings: Sideswipe/Ratchet/Sunstreaker
Summary: Sideswipe finds out something unexpected.  But it doesn’t change things.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Notes: Written for the twins_x_ratch October Challenge, Week 2.  Prompt was Sparklings.  Yeah, I went for the singular rather than the plural, hope that’s okay!  Not finished finished perse, but ends at an appropriate enough point so I can post this without being drastically over the deadline for Week 2.
Feedback makes friends.  Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.

"Frag.” Sideswipe didn’t even realised he’d cursed out loud until Ironhide was at his shoulder.
“Got somethin’ there Sideswipe?” He asked, looking at Sideswipe’s monitor.
“No, no.” Sideswipe changed the view on the monitor, cycling it through various human news channels.  “Sorry, just remembered something I said I’d do for Sunstreaker.”
“Right…” Ironhide didn’t sound as though he believed Sideswipe, but he walked away, resuming his position at his own station.  Sideswipe stared at his screen, not quite able to believe what he’d read.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“He’s practically a sparkling!” Sideswipe hissed at Sunstreaker.  He was pacing their quarters, having just told his twin what he’d found out.
“I can’t believe it.” Sunstreaker shook his head.  It was impossible, and he said as much.
“Well, I can see some of the signs now.” Sideswipe shrugged.  It was easier to explain things now that he knew.
“Like what?
“How he gets so emotional when any of us get injured?”
“That’s just because he’s our medic and hates us getting injured needlessly.” Sunstreaker defended him.
“Sunstreaker, Ratchet is younger than us.  He’s barely old enough to be in the army.”
“Because you saw it on his records.”
“Well, not exactly.” Sideswipe admitted.  “His records have been hacked, expertly hacked.  Took me a while to work out what had been changed, but it was his age that had been changed.” Sunstreaker just stared at his brother.
“Why would someone change his records?”
“I’ve got no clue.” Sideswipe shrugged.  “Only thing I can think of is that someone didn’t want anyone knowing his true age.”
“I can see that.” Sunstreaker nodded slowly.  “This changes things, doesn’t it?”
“If you mean we can’t go after him the way we were intending, then yes.” Sideswipe stopped pacing.  “Frag, I wonder if he’s ever interfaced.”

They’d wanted Ratchet for a long time, and it was only since they’d crashed on Earth that they decided to do something about it.  The way the war had seemed to slow down only made things easier.  They’d watched as other mechs had made their friendships into something more.  It had been Sunstreaker that had suggested they start showing Ratchet they were interested.  Sideswipe had decided to look at Ratchet’s records to see if he could get a clue what the mech liked.  That had been how he’d found out how old Ratchet was.  And it certainly changed things.  Not how they felt, just how they were going to have to approach him.  Anything too strong and it might scare him off.  Especially if it was his first relationship.  Which they thought it might be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, what are you doing after your shift tonight?” Sideswipe sat down opposite Ratchet.  The medic was taking a short break (at the insistence of Wheeljack and Perceptor who had practically thrown him out of the medbay) for some energon.
“Recharging probably.” Ratchet paused, his cube of energon raised halfway to his lips.
“We were wondering if you wanted to watch a movie with us.”
“We?”
“Me and Sunstreaker.  In the rec room, not like we’re gonna drag you back to our quarters.” Sideswipe couldn’t help add on the word ‘yet’ mentally.
“I don’t know.” Ratchet hesitated, torn between wanting to do something fun or to actually rest.  His systems hadn’t quite recovered properly from the battle a few days ago.  He’d spent far too online fixing and repairing all the mechs damaged in the battle.  And his recharge since hadn’t been complete; memories coming back to haunt him while he powered down.
“Well, think about it.” Sideswipe shot him a smile and patted his arm.  “It could be fun.” He stood up and walked away, leaving Ratchet sitting at the table.  Slowly, the medic put his energon cube back down, plating tingling where Sideswipe had touched him.

Ratchet wasn’t entirely sure what to do.  He’d tried not to get too close to anyone because he was worried what might happen if they found out the truth.  And he didn’t want anyone to find out the truth.  Yet… the twins had always drawn his attention.  They fascinated him, and not because they were twins.  He found himself attracted to them, as much as he tried to deny it.  And recently, they been trying to spend more and more time with him.  Shaking his head, he finished off his energon and headed back to the medbay.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sunstreaker was waiting for Ratchet when his shift ended.  He stepped out of the medbay and stretched.  The corridors were empty, except for the golden mech leaning against the corridor.
“Thought I might walk you to the rec room.” He pushed away from the wall.  “You are still coming to watch a film with us, right?”
“I…”
“Good.” Sunstreaker smiled at him, and slung his arm around Ratchet’s shoulder.  Ratchet had no choice but to let the larger mech lead him towards the rec room.  Not that he was particularly adverse to spending time with them.  He just wasn’t sure what to do.

When they reached the rec room, Sideswipe had everything already set up.  To Ratchet’s relief (and disappointment) there were more mechs than he thought would be there.
“Hey Ratchet.” Bumblebee waved at the medic.  “Glad you could make it.”
“Yeah…” Ratchet shifted a little uncomfortably, unused to being around so many mechs.  Plus, Bumblebee made him feel his age, as the Minibot was only a little older than him.
“Saved you a seat!” Sideswipe saved him from saying anymore.  Sunstreaker gently guided him towards the couch.  Ratchet sat down next to Sideswipe, somehow not surprised when Sunstreaker sat down on his other side.

After the evening, Ratchet couldn’t remember much of the movie.  All he could remember was the feeling of Sunstreaker’s and Sideswipe’s plating against his own.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What’re ya playin’ at?” Sideswipe stared up at Ironhide.  The look in the older mech’s optics was something he never hoped he would see again.
“What do you mean?”
“The pair a you an’ Ratchet.”
“Ah…” Sideswipe wasn’t surprised when Sunstreaker strode into the room.  Evidently Ironhide had commed him to join them.
“I’ll ask again.  What are the pair a ya playin’ at?”
“With Ratchet?” Sideswipe clarified.
“Yeah, wit’ Ratchet.” Ironhide practically growled.
“Why do you care so much?” Sunstreaker wasn’t on duty, and didn’t take too kindly to be called to be interrogated by Ironhide.
“Because I do.”
“We’re trying to court him.” Sideswipe’s answer was frank, but Ironhide’s reaction was not what he was expecting him.
“Court him?”
“Yes.” Sunstreaker agreed.
“Why?”
“Because we like him?” Sunstreaker was quickly getting frustrated with the situation.
“I don’t like the thought of ya doin’ that.”
“Why not?” Sideswipe asked again.
“Because I don’t.  He ain’t right fer ya.  He ain’t old enough.”
“Hah!” Sunstreaker crowed.  “So you know.”
“Yeah, ‘course I know.  He’s mah sparkling.” That shocked both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe into silence.  They certainly hadn’t been expecting that.
“We know he’s barely old enough to be in the army.” Sideswipe tried to placate him.  “Which is why we’re taking things slow.”
“We don’t want to rush him into anything he’s not ready for.” Sunstreaker agreed.  Ironhide wasn’t happy, but there wasn’t much he could do.
“You hurt him, you’ll regret it, I can promise ya that.”
“We’re not going to hurt him.” Sideswipe protested.
“All we want to do is love him.”
“Ya ain’t just gonna ‘face him and leave?”
“Of course not!” Sunstreaker sounded horrified.  “We’re serious about him.”
“Have been for a while.” Sideswipe added.  “Since before we left Cybertron.”
“I ain’t gonna give ya my blessing, but I ain’t gonna stand in yer way.  Just don’t hurt him.”
“We don’t intend to.” They promised as one.