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Skyfire was standing back, taking in the scene. Starscream was explaining to their creations how they'd fly in formation. Skyfire would be in the back completing the diamond, Starscream taking point to lead them once they all got in the air. Silverbolt would stay with the shuttle in his cockpit unless the youngling decided to join them.
Skyfire looked at their 5 creations, all standing so distinctly from each other. There were tells that they were Starscream's and his, the colors for one. Red, white, and hints of blue. Skyfire’s wide nose and droopy optics. They had Starscream’s helm shape and smile, Air Raid and Slingshot even having their digits end in smaller claws. He felt so much love for their sparklings, though they had well grown past the label, they were no longer at a stage where he could carry them all at once.
His intake clogged as he thought back to when him and Starscream were recently conjunxed.
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Starscream had looked… annoyed on the rare occasion they had seen sparklings. Skyfire knew going into their rites that there was a high chance they wouldn't have any of their own.
It wasn’t until Skyfire had taken cycles off to take care of another shuttle's sparkling that the idea seemed to take root. Starscream had come to his habsuite, demanding to know why he was unable to see him for orns and froze at the sight of a sparkling in his arms.
“I didn’t know you were…” he struggled to say the words. Face conflicted on what emotion to settle on, whether to be elated or scared.
“What? No, I’ve just been entrusted with her care while her carrier recuperates.” Skyfire looked bewildered at the thought.
“...” Starscream tried to look indifferent but his wings betrayed him, slightly drooping in disappointment.
Skyfire tried to get him to leave but the seeker was adamant on staying. Though the shuttle wasn’t sure what he would even be helping with. Starscream stayed away from the sparkling, keeping a wary optic on the small bot. Skyfire continued to take care of her, shooing away Starscream the few times he tried to help. He would rather prevent a disaster if he could and avoid the helmache. And so he had a second shadow the following days as he took on the role of pseudo creator.
It was rather exhausting, caring for someone so small and dependent on him. The sparkling wasn’t fussy, surprisingly so. She liked to latch on above his vents while he moved around, moving to tuck herself in the crook of his helm and red pack when he sat to complete his lab work. But still, she needed to be fed and laid to recharge. Needed to have someone keep her entertained and keep her processor active with games and dialogue.
He recharged often, along with the sparkling, both tired for different reasons. Skyfire had woken from a short rest, sparkling hidden underneath his servo atop his chassis, and was surprised by a warm frame next to him.
Starscream was as still as a statue. He was alert, frame tense as he kept an optic on the entryway. His sparkmate brushed off the strange behavior, saying "I thought I heard something.” But Skyfire would feel the dipping of a cushion or berth as Starscream settled in next to him. Repeating the odd gesture whenever he and the sparkling laid down to rest.
The seeker would watch the sparkling when Skyfire prepared their energon, sparkling chirping at Starscream from the hammock. If Skyfire strained to listen, he’d hear his sparkmates voice quietly reply to whatever babble was being said by her. Skyfire would see from the corner of his optic as Starscream tentatively held the sparkling’s servo. Turning it carefully and optics deep in thought. Starscream had been strange after the sparkling went back to her creators, studying the areas that had taken up toys and essentials, now back to normal.
Skyfire thought nothing of it until they had watched a sparkling walk by on their visit to a planetarium, small helm turning to them and smiling as they were magnetized to their creators chassis.
“Would you be open to discussing creations Sky?”
Skyfire had been overjoyed at the possibility, until the day he was lost in the cold. He certainly didn’t think that vorns later he’d have 5 newsparks circling his own.
When the newsparks had safely formed a protective shell, Ratchet giving the creators the all clear, Skyfire moved them from his forge and took them into his arms. He stayed on the berth for close to seven cycles, spark warming their casing as they magnetized to him. It was a matter of time before they released their shell.
Starscream had been restless. Optic critical as he moved the pillows and sheets to make it comfortable for Skyfire. He’d leave only when Skyfire would close his optics, rushing energon to bring it back for the shuttle. When Skyfire would get him to lay on the berth with him, Starscream would keep a servo on his arm. Bringing his chassis close to where the metal shells were latched on to skyfire. Their sparklings had liked that. Skyfire could feel the slight movement as they would awaken within their shell, overjoyed that they could sense both creators nearby.
Silverbolt had been the first to awaken. Starscream was nearby, searching for extra padding when Skyfire felt the bond bloom. Silverbolt sent waves of curiosity as the outer shell started to unlock.
“Star come quickly” Skyfire whispered in a rush.
The shuttle looked as the metal ball turned and turned, stilling as plating released.
Starscream looked on in awe, the protoform so small against Skyfire's servo. Wide blue optics turned to look at him, almost taking up the entire space of the sparkling’s smooth helm. He could see small bumps on his oldest’s back, right where his wings would be once they came in. Faint colors would saturate once they began to consume energon and metals on their own. Starscream leaned down, helm hooking over Skyfire’s shoulder to watch the others.
Air Raid emerged quickly, the shell almost breaking under his kicks. Starscream placed a servo on the casing to slow him down, their sparkling chirped as he stopped to look at his creators. Skyfire had to carefully nudge casing that still stuck to Air Raid, much to the sparklings’ annoyance.
Fireflight’s emergence was slow, casing cracking on its own and the sparkling was curled in recharge. Air Raid reached out, trying to shake Fireflight but got a large servo between them. Skyfire sent a wave of patience, telling him his brother would play later. Air Raid settled, turning to Silverbolt and leaping at him. Silverbolt’s shrieks had startled Skyfire, worry creeping in.
“It’s okay, keep looking Sky.”
The two sparklings were playing, Air Raid grabbing Silverbolt and biting his helm. Silverbolt looked annoyed, a funny look to see on a sparkling, they both stopped as they felt their next brother start.
Skydive's casing quickly popped open. He saw the faces looking at him and crawled to their pile. The brothers looked at each other, Skydive chirping and waving servos as he compared them.
He turned to his creators, nudging Starscream's servo with his smaller one. He sat up to hold him, careful to latch Skydive to his plating.
“He looks so small against you. Primus, I can only imagine how tiny they'll look when I carry them.” Skyfire’s voice was thick with emotion.
“You’ll be able to hold them all at least. They’re a bit heavy aren’t they?” He moved Fireflight closer to Skyfire, the sparkling in question only moving to turn his helm towards the shuttle's chassis.
“Do you think you slept this much as a sparkling? He’s so still compared to the others.”
“I’m not sure. Though we can always ask Ratchet to look him over if it becomes a problem.”
Both creators turned to the final one.
Skyfire grew concerned the longer the ball stayed still. He could feel through their thin bond, more distant since they left his frame, that the sparkling was still online. His brothers grew curious, circling the lone ball as they chirped.
Even Fireflight awakened, sleepily joining his brothers as they attempted to shake the last one to join them. Skyfire brought them back into his arms, giving the last sparkling space.
The case wobbled and rolled on its side, shell cracking as the youngest finally emerged. Slingshot had taken one look at them before he started to wail. This time Skyfire knew the crying wasn't out of surprise.
The brothers watched, Air Raid gearing up to cry too. Skyfire scooped up Slingshot, getting him close to his spark and rumbling his engine. He remembered feeling safe when his own creators would do the same.
Slingshot tried to resist, almost fighting him to keep crying, small servos curling and pushing against his plating. Skyfire laid a gentle servo against him, speaking quietly. Starscream picked up Air Raid, doing the same. Skydive looked at his brother, small beeps asking his sire why his brother was crying too.
Slingshot eventually grew tired, helm against Skyfire’s plating to hear his sparkbeat. Silverbolt watched, hugging Fireflight and patting him just like Skyfire was doing. Fireflight’s focus was elsewhere, grumbling as his tanks grew hungry.
Skyfire brought Fireflight closer to feed him, sparkling grade energon prepared for smaller intakes. Slingshot chirped in complaints as Skyfire moved him to settle Fireflight in his hold.
Starscream scooped up Silverbolt, settling against the berth. The seeker held the three sparklings against him, servos absently patting their helms.
“Looks like watching over the Prime’s sparkling really helped, didn't it?” Starscream looked smug.
“To an extent. You only had Roller to look after, now we’ve got a gestalt.” Skyfire laid down next to him. Fireflight had fallen back into recharge, Slingshot calling for his carrier’s attention.
The sparkling bumped his helm to Skyfire’s once he was lifted, settling near his intake.
Skyfire laughed as he looked over and Skydive was reaching for him. The brother was passed between servos, face lighting up as he fed. “You’ll have to grab more of their energon Star. His colors will come in soon if he keeps eating like he does.”
After peacefully feeding Silverbolt, unlike Air Raid who put up a fight as he refused to eat, they laid down with their creations between them.
“They’ve only been here for a cycle and I’m already thinking of what we’ll have to do.” Starscream looked at their creations and then at his conjunx. “We’ll have to ask TC and Skywarp for additional servos when they start getting their wings.”
“It’s still a long way until then... But it is nice to think of what it’ll be like when we take them on their first flight.”
“It’ll be a flight Vos has never seen before Skyfire. They’re our creations after all”
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Slingshot kept looking back at Skyfire while Starscream spoke, face in a pout. Skyfire would normally let him latch onto him but his chassis was sore, their weakening magnets meant he took the brunt of their weight now. Starscream had told him to just let their youngest walk or float using his heel thrusters but Slingshot’s optics would go so wide that Skyfire just didn't have the spark to say no.
Skyfire smiled, lifting his helm towards his conjunx. Slingshot crossed his arms, pouting as he turned to listen. Starscream looked amused, trying not to laugh at an expression that was too close to his own.
Silverbolt, growing taller than his brothers, looked as if he was trying hard to listen. Servos wringing and wings slightly trembled. He eventually looked towards Skyfire, optics lowering in shame as he jumped from being caught. Skyfire felt their bond being muffled from the sparkling’s end but he nudged Silverbolt to look at him. Silverbolt finally looked up, running to Skyfire as he opened his arms.
Slingshot gave a look of betrayal, mouth opening to complaint. He was gearing up to start bawling but Starscream turned his attention elsewhere. Servo lifted Slingshot into his arms to hold him there. Slingshot still looked upset but quieted, Skyfire and Starscream sharing a smile between them.
Silverbolt was hugging him tightly, Skyfire patting his helm. “Carri, what if I don't want to go up? Not even if you carry me.”
“It’s said the first winds of the stellar cycle are the highest they'll ever be but it doesn't mean we can't try again the next cycle.”
Silverbolt had started crying, “but what if I don't ever want to. Sire and you will be mad and my brothers won't like me anymore.”
At this Skyfire paused.
“That's not true Silverbolt. We all love you and that won’t change. Your sire and I won’t be mad at you and neither will your brothers.” Skyfire leaned down, holding Silverbolt’s shoulders.
“Do you remember how I told you I was in recharge for a long time?” A quick nod against him. “Your sire doesn't like to talk about it but it happened because I got lost in terrible weather. After I woke up, I didn't want to fly anymore unless the weather was optimal, it had to be perfect.” Wide optics looked up at him.
“But sire says you could fly through anything! You can even go to space and see the stars up close.”
“He's right, I can. But after I woke up, I didn't want to go to recharge for so long again, I avoided the bad weather. My friends, they stayed with me when I wanted to try flying and didn’t get angry when I returned just as quickly to base. They would fly with me here so that I wasn't alone.” Skyfire gave a quick pat to where his cockpit lay. “One day, I had stayed behind on base. There were storms where my friends had gone off to so I stayed behind. The base received a signal that they were in danger and were calling anyone for help. I waited but everyone else that was available was far away and wouldn’t make it in time.”
Skyfire looked down, seeing Silverbolt still listening to him. His optics worried.
“I was afraid. I didn't want to go outside but I couldn't leave my friends alone. I thought of them as I made my way to them. They trusted me to bring them back home and I did. After that it wasn't as scary. Sometimes I'm afraid but your sire is there to support me and you and your brothers help too just by being there too.”
“I didn't know that carri. Were we in here when that happened?” Patting Skyfire’s chassis as if he could see where they had circled his spark.
Skyfire let out a laugh. “No, not yet. But when you were, I still went out. I knew that I had to be careful but I thought, ‘one day they'll be here and I might have to fly with conditions I don’t like.’ Your sire stayed by me, this time making sure he could keep an eye on me. I had to still try Silverbolt, the weather can change so suddenly. I had to still fly even when everything changed.”
Silverbolt hugged him tighter, helm turned to his brothers. “Carri, you’re the bravest flier I know. I’m happy you’re my Carri.” He had said it so factually, as if he made an observation of the suns rising and setting over Vos.
Skyfire patted his helm. The conviction and tone moving him. His optics misty, intake suddenly tight. “Thank you Silverbolt, that’s very kind of you to say. So understand that we’ll never be mad at you.”
Starscream had looked disappointed as Silverbolt clung to Skyfire when they prepared to take off. But Silverbolt’s scared optics softened him, a pat on his helm saying they'd have another chance in the future.
Starscream switched Air Raid to his right side, Skydive taking his previous place on the left. Though he looked like he was reconsidering it as Air Raid and Slingshot started to push each other to be near their sire.
Silverbolt had looked at Skyfire and tentatively moved away to stand in front of him. Skyfire sent a wave of reassurance as his oldest decided to join them. Silverbolt’s small smile turned wonky as they moved closer to the edge of the platform.
Silverbolt was silent as his brothers cheered when they began to jump off. They had all done well, setting off almost in sync. Starscream sent them a comm, praising them as they settled into the formation he had spoken of. They were fine the first few kliks until they slightly turned, angled downwards. Skyfire noticed the slight wobble Silverbolt’s wings gave, picking up speed to reach him.
“Sky-”
“I’ve got it, I’m almost under him”
Skyfire had reached him just as Silverbolt’s engines cut off, both transforming in the nano klik before he reached Skyfire’s servos. Skyfire hugged him as he flew, patting his back. “You did well Silverbolt. Let’s go join your brothers.”
Starscream yelled as Air Raid and Slingshot careened right, starting to chase each other.
“Star, be careful with Fireflight.”
Fireflight was flying on Starscream’s left, going up and down the currents as he gently spun around, spatial awareness nonexistent. Skydive was the only one who flew along with Starscream, copying his maneuvers as his sire rounded up the brothers. Or Skydive tried to, Skyfire seeing how he couldn’t fully roll or turn smoothly as his conjunx just yet.
“Perhaps the seeker formations were asking for too much, huh sweetspark.”
Skyfire felt joy as Silverbolt giggled from his chair as he watched his brothers.
“They’ll get there eventually, Star.”
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As they all piled onto the berth, small frames seeking warmth from their creators, Starscream grumbling as another pede got close to his helm, Skyfire was grateful to primus that he was able to have a second chance. That he was able to wake up from his frozen grave. Although the war had taken its toll, spark case aching when it got cold and he’d have to vent before flying out in a storm, he was still thankful for his conjunx and sparklings. Servos wrapping around his sparkmates as he fell into recharge, looking forward to greeting the next cycle.