#valveplugish?

• “Of course,” Prowl mutters, door wings lifting. Where else? It’s the most prestigious bit of real estate to be had. Ignoring Barricade, he carries you inside and heads for the fountain at the center of the lobby so you can see the deep energon pool there. And your neck cranes upward. Following your stare, he rumbles as he notices the skylight high overhead. “The floors ring the empty central space, but the suites are spacious,” he assures you as you bite your bottom lip. Why are you making that face? Like you’re about to lose it? ‘And the big guy doesn’t mind that we’re in here?’ You ask, voice strained.

• “It’s his purpose,” Barricade growls, venting as he watches the energon bubble and fountain up into the air before settling again. And you’ve got your hands over your mouth, shoulders shaking. Being weird, but then you’re human so he doesn’t really expect anything less. “Titans shelter and protect.” Striding over to the elevators, he turns and frowns at Prowl. “What floor?” The other mech joining him and shouldering past with a growl to jab a button instead of just telling him. Still irritated that he has to share you.

• You’re wrong. Have to be. So what if the tower is a little suggestively shaped? Lots of things are. Like eggplants. If you say something about it, Prowl’s just going to give you that long-suffering, disappointed look of his. Barricade will probably laugh. But they’ll both decide you’re just immature and you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of them. Shifting in Prowl’s hand as he steps out of the elevator and walks along the ring-shaped balcony edging that dizzying drop to the fountain below, your head lifts to squint at the narrow slit of a skylight. Sliding out of his hand when he lowers you to the ground, you wait for him to open the door and then you dart into your new home. And he wasn’t wrong. It is spacious. Two big rooms on opposite sides of a big main area, a closed door that’s probably the wash rack tucked in a corner. Drawn to the big windows on the far side of the living space, you walk over to look out.

• Turning as you start wheezing and cackling, Prowl frowns. Exchanging a look with Barricade before the other mech shoves past him. “You broken, human?” Barricade asks and you point out at the vista of the city sprawling below. And you’re laughing so hard you’re crying and coughing, slapping a hand against the window as Barricade looks out and his door wings stiffly lift. What? Moving closer to look, he stills. Realizing the Titan is partially in his bot mode now. ‘We’re living in Metroplex’s thang,’ you wheeze, sitting in the floor and laughing hysterically. “It’s a spike,” Barricade growls and Prowl’s lips press into a thin line as he slowly nods. ‘It is. I think he has a caretaker.’