Work Text:
It wasn't exactly the usual structure for this kinda thing, but hey, if it worked...
Wheeljack sighed contentedly, gently venting heat as his fans whirred in lazy time alongside Ratchet's. They'd flopped forward together as their overload ebbed, partly 'cause they wanted something lazy and comfortable rather than getting too inventive this time around, partly 'cause Deadlock was stretched out on the berth beside them with his back to the wall and a hand stroking over Ratchet's helm, his current fidget game on pause now Ratchet had some processor space spare, heh. He'd gotten more relaxed about being in the room while they 'faced after a few rounds of jittering like a prickly bodyguard in the corner, and Percy'd made some worried noises about re-traumatising yourself by accident, but whatever he'd been working through seeing Ratchet blow fuses like the hedonist he was apparently did it for him if he got to enjoy Ratchet going all cuddle-bug after, heh.
Ratchet huffed, warm and smug and sated, and slung his arm over Deadlock's hips as he nuzzled closer; Deadlock lifted his hand until Ratchet'd got comfy, then carefully angled his arm around Ratchet's shoulders and started petting his helm again, his sharp face gone all soft and melty. Awww.
"Comfortable?" Percy asked, amused, as Wheeljack deliberately followed Ratchet over, half on his front and with his arm wrapping around Ratchet's waist, face tucked against his back.
"Y'know, you can read and cuddle," Wheeljack said hopefully, but wasn't all that surprised when he felt fond negation in Percy's field.
"I am aware, but I have some complex equations to focus on that I would enjoy finishing, and you make a very tempting pile," Percy said apologetically, and - well, that was fair. "The command cadre may stop in at some point, when the duty shifts change, and it would be pleasant to discuss the mathematics with Prowl."
Granted they kinda only called the command cadre that and meant 'whichever old guard officers aren't here right now', but it worked; made life a little less confusing, anyway. "Sounds good to me," Wheeljack agreed. "You okay with a few more in the berth, 'Lock?"
"Sure," Deadlock said easily - they'd worked out by now that he needed to be between Ratchet and the door, and not have Optimus between him and the door, but that wasn't much to ask when Jazz and Ironhide still sometimes rolled out of recharge with threat displays running full-belt. Sometimes Deadlock and Optimus couldn't 'charge at all, even with the sleepy weight of fields and frames around them, and more than once Wheeljack had blinked up to light-level recharge to see amber optics and blue keeping a quiet mutual watch over his head.
It wasn't exactly usual, this extended equation they'd settled around after the war, but hey. Somehow, they managed to make it work.