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Sunstreaker didn’t know what he was expecting when he walked out of the Ground Bridge around eleven o’clock at night on board the Ark. Having to sneak out and punch in the coordinates that had been sent to him in an encrypted message provided by Bitstream. To bring with him some caution was a good idea as he crept forward into the lush undergrowth that greeted him. The coordinates were designed for somewhere in Europe, specifically, Germany. The Earth’s sun was just beginning to sink in the sky, casting the forest’s shadows across his golden frame with ease.
“Wow!” He twitched as he heard that voice from somewhere behind him as the Bridge swirled to a close and inevitably vanished. He turned to stare up at the Seeker. “You almost look like a tiger with that level of camouflage!”
The golden Lamborghini huffed as he took some offence to that. In his optics, he was far more stunning than some lowly Earth creature. “Thanks.”
“Awh,” Bitstream grinned and hovered down to land neatly on the fallen, autumn leaves. Most of the trees were still intact, aside from the ones outlining the forest as a whole. Bitstream must’ve scouted the area for days to find a nice private area where they could meet undisturbed. “I thought it was a compliment! Bet, you don’t even know what a tiger is, do you?”
Bitstream smirked, servos on his hipstruts as he kept one cheeky optic on the Autobot.
“I know it jumps through hoops when someone cracks a whip at it,” Sunstreaker grumbled as he turned to survey his surroundings. This wasn’t the first time that they had snuck out to meet up with each other; however, this location was relatively far from any nearby Autobot bases that Sunstreaker knew of. Bitstream had chosen the location, where formerly he’d been fine with the other choosing. So Sunstreaker was on edge when the other advanced a few more steps and flicked his blue wingtips out with curious intent.
“Tigers are gorgeous, natural hunters in the South Asian region, and probably most of Asia as well. They’re like really fluffy versions of Ravage!.. You know who Ravage is, right?” With a flat look thrown in his direction, Bitstream dropped the subject. “Heh, well… Anyway, I’ve got something awesome planned for you this evening! Hope you’re not too tired~!”
Sunstreaker rolled his optics and eventually followed the other mech through the shrubs. “It better not be a firing squad, Bit, I swear.”
The sky-blue Seeker giggled as he led them on. “No, don’t be silly! This’ll be fun!”
Sunstreaker thought it best to shut up and just let the other have his fun for the evening. It wasn’t very often that they did sneak out to meet up. Whatever contraption Hotlink had made or trend that Bitstream had found, he just hoped that the night would be over soon so he could go back to recharging in his stasis pod. He’d had a long patrol that day and was already hating how cold the Earth was beginning to feel coming into the Winter season. Though, his only problem was the black ice and inevitable snowstorms. He was rather thankful that the sunlight wouldn’t peel or chip away at his paint job anymore.
When they teetered on the edge of the treeline, Bitstream crouched and flattened his wings out. This prompted Sunstreaker to crouch beside him despite their noticeable height difference.
“D’you see it?” The Dassault grinned as he lifted a thin, black talon in the direction of what appeared to be a town.
Sunstreaker nodded. His HUD was informing him that they had stumbled across the province of Munich and that this town was Reutberg.
“So during this time of year,” Bitstream craned his helm as he explained, so he could watch Sunstreaker’s face-plates. “There’s this cultural thing called ‘Oktoberfest’ and initially it’s like a German thing. People gather around to see who can drink the most beer, and there’s a whole food area where we can experience German food and culture; it’s very history-oriented, too! Going back to 1810, when the Monarchs, or something, first held it for one of their weddings, isn’t that neat!?”
Sunstreaker couldn’t help but smirk at how ecstatic Bitstream was becoming just by merely telling him what the festival was about. He soon straightened up and squinted down at the other with his servos on his hipstruts. “Didn’t take you for being so interested in others’ cultures.”
Bitstream shrugged and flicked a wing as he too straightened back up to his full height. He gazed down at the quaint town longingly. “In Vos, we’d usually hold festivals similar to these. Experience and embrace other cultures outside of our daily military function. It reminds me of home, a little.”
The smirk was soon wiped off Sunstreaker’s face-plates when he heard that. His blue optics searched the ground for anything appropriate to say before he scoffed and quipped. “So you brought me here to get scrap-faced?”
Bitstream grinned down at him. “Maybe. There’s music we can listen to?”
Sunstreaker gestured with a roll of his helm down at the town. “Yeah, but suppose you have some sort of disguise to simultaneously blend in with the humans and enjoy the festival?”
Bitstream shook his helm. “Nah… At least, not like that. I was thinkin’ we could just chill up here and drink some high-grade. Or, if you really wanna risk getting our cover blown, I guess we could just stroll right on into town and ask if we can join.”
Sunstreaker hummed as he raised a brow-ridge down at the town. “Well, you wanna do this, so really it's your call.”
Mischief glinted behind Bitstream’s raspberry-coloured optics.
About half an hour later, Sunstreaker found himself seated on one side of a shipping container while Bitstream sat across from him, using it as a makeshift table. The humans had been kind enough to bring a tarp to act as a tablecloth.
They were strangely welcoming of the giant, alien robots. In fact, some of them just chalked it up to cosplayers or tech enthusiasts having a blast.
Sunstreaker was giggling as the high-grade began to circulate throughout his system. All around them, pretty fairy lights swayed in the gentle breeze as the sun set and German, preppy music danced around their audials.
This was surprisingly chill and very friendly, despite what Sunstreaker had initially feared when they waltzed out of the woodline and introduced themselves. After getting some photos with the humans who gawked and shrieked in awe, they were left alone to drink at the makeshift table at one end of the festival, nearest the woods where they had come from.
“Oh, look at this!” Bitstream beamed as he flailed a servo at one, burly woman.
Sunstreaker watched as she twisted her face in determination, wearing a seasonal dirdnl that held her robust figure nicely. In her strong, thick arms were gathered at least twelve or so human-sized jugs filled to the brim with nothing but beer.
“No way!” Sunstreaker watched in awe as she effortlessly weaved her way through the tables and set down the beers. Not a single drop was spilled as the table cheered and congratulated her. She couldn’t help but smile as she passed each schooner out.
Bitstream nodded. “They’re very talented here. I wish we had stuff like this on the Nemesis.”
“Pfft,” Sunstreaker rolled his optics and smirked at the Seeker. “Could you imagine?”
With a happy flutter of his wings, Bitstream giggled. “Oh, I could! All the glasses would be smashed, and I know for a fact that some ‘cons would purposefully trip or run into each other.”
“Same deal back at the Ark.” Sunstreaker breathlessly laughed as he reached for his cube and took another swig of the Cybertronian alcohol.
“I wish we could eat some of the Earth food.” Bitstream pouted as he watched another German waitress bring out a few dishes. “It smells really good.”
“Yeah, eat that,” Sunstreaker smirked with a dark look. “And choke on something like prawns. Explain that one to Knock Out and Soundwave.”
Bitstream snickered into another giggle. It was clear that whatever substance it was that they were consuming was already beginning to take effect. Not too much for them to become reckless yet, but enough to loosen the woes of war. Sunstreaker basked in the fluidity of moving his joints and relaxed when they didn’t feel as tight. He really did need to loosen up more.
“You look happy,” Bitstream trilled as he rested his chin on one servo and gazed at the golden Lamborghini.
Sunstreaker scoffed and waved him off. “Don’t… Don’t look at me like that.” He shook his helm.
With a chuckle, Bitstream broke his gaze to take another sip of his own cube. “This place is nice. There’s a hiking trail nearby and even a lake. I bet it looks beautiful with all the stars out tonight…”
He trailed off as he began to draw circles on the tarp. Sunstreaker hummed and leaned back in thought. “We could go there.”
Bitstream shook his helm. “You can’t fly.”
Sunstreaker scoffed, brow-ridges snapping downward in hostility as he leaned forward and jabbed a digit at the Dassault. “Yes, I can!”
Bitstream raised a non-judgmental brow-ridge, which prompted Sunstreaker to explain.
“I and my brother are trained in aerial combat; we have jetpacks.”
“You have a brother?” Life seemed to shine on Bitstream’s face-plates as he brightened a little.
Sunstreaker nodded. “Yeah,” he took a sip before he hesitantly went on. “His name is Sideswipe. We’re twins.”
“That’s cool!” Bitstream beamed.
The Lamborghini nodded. “You should meet him… Sometime… I think you two would get along well, if I’m being honest.” He mumbled as he smudged a digit against the tarp.
Bitstream trilled as he tilted his helm in his servo. “What’s he like?”
“Annoying,” Sunstreaker huffed. “A lot like you, actually. He won’t leave me alone.”
Bitstream giggled before he stated. “I have a brother, too.”
“Oh, really?” That caught Sunstreaker’s attention as he lifted his helm to squint thoughtfully at the other. “What’s his name?”
“Sunstorm,” Bitstream smirked. “And you remind me a lot of him, actually.”
“How so?” Sunstreaker huffed.
“Well,” Bitstream gripped the edge of the shipping container and leaned back to flex his wings out. “He’s very judgy, like you. Doesn’t like change and hates having to do things outside of his comfort zone.”
Sunstreaker stared down into his cube. “Yeah, he does sound a lot like me.”
Bitstream fluttered his wings as he smiled. “I used to have another one, too.”
Sunstreaker frowned as he felt his fuel tanks drop at the sudden sombre tone. Slowly, he lifted his gaze and stared at Bitsteam’s face-plates. “Did something happen?”
“Something’s always happening.” Bitstream brushed it off with a mere flick of his free servo. “‘Did something happen to him?’ Yes.”
Sunstreaker watched uncomfortably as the other hesitated. Eventually, Bitstream found his voice again. “He was… The Sub-Communications Officer before I was. His name was Wingstun. He… Was killed in the line of duty.”
“I’m sorry,” Bitstream could tell by the hurt look shadowing the Autobot’s face-plates that he genuinely meant that.
The blue Seeker smiled and waved him off. “It's ok, I know he’s with Primus now, and he’s safe. He perished before we arrived on Earth… So I’m taking it upon myself to discover all these new things in my downtime and learn stuff. Like he would’ve wanted to. We were pretty close, closer than I am with Sunstorm, anyway.”
“Hmm,” Sunstreaker hummed and watched Bitstream take another sip. “You should meet Sideswipe, though.”
Bitstream paused to raise his brow-ridges at him.
Sunstreaker nodded as he swirled his cube. “You two could do some stuff like this. I think it would be fun.”
Deep down, Sunstreaker knew that he wasn’t a good brother. His cold and shrewd personality only served to keep his twin brother at bay. He was terrified of getting close to somebot he could potentially lose, and perhaps that was the same reason he kept meeting Bitstream with such disdain, even when the other was constantly making sure that he was comfortable during their meets.
What did I ever do to deserve this? He thought sadly to himself. In some twisted sense of guilt, he wished that Wingstun was alive and that Bitstream and Sideswipe had met instead of him. Maybe then Bitstream could’ve had an equally adventurous partner who was willing to sneak out and do mundane things like the Oktoberfest.
“Sunspark?” Bitstream cooed as he gently reached forward so the tips of his talons brushed against the back of Sunstreaker’s servo. “Please don’t get all depressing on me. We’re out here enjoying this lovely night. Let’s leave the trauma stuff for later. Ok?”
Sunstreaker chuckled a bitter sob back into his voicebox and nodded. After a grunt, he felt brave enough to meet the Seeker’s gaze. “Sorry.”
Bitstream stuck his glossa out at him, though his talons were resting comfortably on Sunstreaker’s servo. In any other situation, the Autobot warrior would’ve found it terrifying to be so close to something so quick and sharp. He’d seen those talons snuff out a spark faster than he could blink.
But in the quaint lighting and humble town of Reutberg, Sunstreaker felt at ease when he smiled at the other. Here they were enjoying a quiet evening out, drinking and admiring the culture around them.
Sunstreaker nodded. “We have to do this again.”
Bitstream’s wingtips shot up happily as he heard that. “Really?”
Sunstreaker grinned at him after surveying their surroundings. “Definitely, let’s do it. Let’s just… Go somewhere, who cares where? Let’s just go do all these things.”
“Well, you have to pick the next location. I’ve already picked three dates.” Bitstream cooed with a mischievous look.
Sunstreaker vented as he realised that he had, in fact, been dragging the ball lately. “Ok, uh… What about Japan? I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Yes!” Bitstream seemed to gleam as he straightened up, excitement cracking wildly across his EMF. “Japan is awesome! I wanna go too!”
Sunstreaker watched in confusion as the Seeker hunched back over the shipping container, his visor coming down and wings pinned out behind him. Worried that there was perhaps a summon from the Decepticons, Sunstreaker leaned forward to whisper. “What? Big Guy callin’ you back already?”
The Lamborghini’s spark quickened at the idea of a fight breaking out between the factions while he was off drinking with the enemy. His guilt continued to plague him as he pictured his friends getting gunned down and screaming out for help. What am I doing here?!
“No,” Bitstream waved him off as his wings lifted a little. “I’m checking to see what time festivals take place in Japan… It looks like we’ll have to go in August, or before. That’s when most of their festivals are taking place.”
Sunstreaker nodded, easing his frame back once he saw Bitstream’s visor slide away. “Ok.”
He had to remind himself to constantly stay on edge but present himself to be relaxed. If Bitstream detected even the slightest motion of hostility, he could very well endanger the humans or take even Sunstreaker as hostage. The Seeker was nearly twice his size, and despite his youthfulness, the Autobot dared not underestimate his combat skills. He was Starscream’s kin after all, and that meant unpredictability at its worst.
“Should we bring Sideswipe with us?” Bitstream asked, completely neutral despite the rampaging thoughts swimming around inside Sunstreaker’s helm.
“Uh,” the Autobot glanced between their cubes of high-grade and the tarp.
“We don’t have to; it could just be us. But I have to meet him!” Bitstream beamed.
“Ok, well.” Sunstreaker struggled to come up with an appropriate idea. “How about after Halloween? Or during? There’s this nearby beach that I know for a fact is a fun place,” regularly patrolled by Autobots, so it should be fine. “There’s fun sand dunes to launch off of, big bonfires. Clean, crisp ocean skies.”
With every detail, Bitstream’s optics seemed to get wider and wider. “Oh, wow!”
It seemed like the Seeker was taking the bait, and yes, Sunstreaker felt bad for it. But he truly believed that, should they meet again, there had to be somewhere safe for both of them. The Autobots had a right to know who and where Sunstreaker was sneaking off to meet. And Sunstreaker knew that should the worst happen, they’d be nearby to Autobot forces. He couldn’t risk a confrontation between Sideswipe and Bitstream breaking out somewhere that was too far away. But he didn’t want to trick and spook Bitstream off, either.
He flicked a wary glance back over at the Vosian and stilled when he saw the other smirking at him.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Bitstream butchered the German accent that he was trying to go for. But it never faltered his devious look.
“Uh,” Sunstreaker began to squirm a little under his gaze. I forgot he can read minds… Surely, as the backup Communications Officer, Soundwave must’ve trained Bitstream how to hack into Cybertronian frequencies totally undetected. And with so much happening inside Sunstreaker’s helm, the Autobot wasn’t surprised that the Decepticon had maybe caught a glimpse or two without being noticed.
“I’m,” Sunstreaker boldly raised his helm, but kept his gaze averted. “Thinking about that dance you owe me at the lake.”
“Really?” Bitstream raised a challenging brow-ridge.
Sunstreaker nodded and reached for his cube again. “Yeah. Obviously, you’re too… Intoxicated to fly back home now, so it’ll have to wait until we’re at the beach!” Please say ‘yes’.
“Mmm,” Bitstream hummed, tightening his face-plates to portray him thinking really hard on the matter.
Sunstreaker watched with nervous sips as the other pondered the idea. Eventually, when Sunstreaker finished his cube and set it down on the container, Bitstream spoke.
“Ok,” he leaned back and clasped his servos together. “But you owe me. That lake out here is really pretty. If the beach doesn’t live up to the hype, we’re coming back here.”
“Absolutely.” Sunstreaker nodded. He gazed between the cubes and frowned in worry at the Seeker. “You sure you’re right to get home? I don’t think I can trust you flying with like… Four cubes in your system.”
“Psh,” Bitstream waved him off. “I’m not flying home. I’m getting Soundwave to Bridge me back.”
“Oh, nice.”
“Space Bridge.”
Sunstreaker looked at him flatly as he sipped another cube. “Ok, there’s no need to flex like that.”
Bitstream chuckled.