Chapter Text
For the first time in over two vorns, Bluestreak was back in his home city. Coming home was painful and bittersweet, but he just couldn't stay in Crystal City after being rejected by them. As promised, he had picked up the credit sticks containing his payment and the pad with the confirmation of the completed contract, and was gone. It had taken a surprisingly short time to reach the border between cities, and pay for the fee for his stay. As large as that fee had been... There was still enough credits left on the credit sticks to last him for several metacycles, hopefully enough until he was accepted for a proper job.
But for now... He was finally back in Praxus. His first stop was to his uncle's apartment. He didn't think he could face anyone else in the family right now. But Shatterlight knew what he had done, had accepted it, and Bluestreak needed that comfort badly. Reaching out, he pressed the signal button to announce his presence. His uncle opened the door, took one look at him and all but pulled him inside.
A cube of cheap high grade was pressed into Bluestreak's hands and he was sat down.
"I'm sorry," Shatterlight said quietly once Bluestreak had taken a sip.
"I know you warned me," Bluestreak whispered, beginning to tremble. He took a larger drink, then leaned in close. "I thought I was being careful, but I was wrong." A sob caught in his throat as his uncle held him close, silent but supporting. They held there, Bluestreak trembling, Shatterlight holding his vocalizer, until Bluestreak set the cube aside so that he could latch onto his elder's frame, breaking into sobs. His field spoke the pure emotional pain of loss as he did.
Eventually Bluestreak calmed enough to begin talking. "I tried not to fall for them, but it was so hard... So I asked to stay a bit longer with them, to see..."
"They let you stay," Shatterlight murmured gently, well aware that Bluestreak wasn't back as early as he should have been.
"As a housekeeper, once the recovery time was over," Bluestreak agreed. "I thought I'd see how they acted around me without me carrying, before trying to say anything..." His vents hitched at that.
"And they seemed to still want you?" Shatterlight said gently.
"I thought they did," Bluestreak replied with a choked voice. "I was wrong. I was just convenient."
Shatterlight hummed soothingly and held his nephew until Bluestreak began to calm again. "You have a good spark. You wanted to be with the sparkling you helped bring into the world. I'm sorry you had to learn this lesson so young."
"I saw him a few times," Bluestreak admitted. "When he'd sneak off, looking for treats. He's beautiful, so bright..."
"He came from your frame, and his sires are far from shabby looking," Shatterlight reminded him. "I have no doubt he'll grow up fast and attractive."
"He asked if I was his creator, the first time." Bluestreak's field pulsed with pleasure-pain at the memory. "Said my field felt like his sires. Every time I saw him, he was laughing and cheerful, willing to play. Loves his sweets..."
"Every sparkling does. It's good he's happy with his sires. They wanted him badly. They will raise him well. He'll have far more than any of us could hope to give him," Shatterlight said gently.
"I know," Bluestreak whispered quietly. "It's still hard to accept. Especially when I wanted them too."
"I know," Shatterlight whispered. "Being rejected is horrible. It happens to most though, sooner or later."
"It didn't hurt so much with my previous lovers," Bluestreak admitted quietly.
"In time it will hurt less," Shatterlight held him tightly. "Give it time."
"I hope so," Bluestreak whispered, pressing in close to his uncle. He trembled again, this time in exhaustion from the emotional toll from the past orn.
Shatterlight simply held him, cooing and trilling softly in sympathy until Bluestreak settled a bit more. "Let's get you in a berth."
"Thank you," Bluestreak replied, sounding like a lost youngling once more. He slowly stood up and followed his uncle further in.
In a metacycle of renting from his uncle Bluestreak had recovered enough to reconnect with his family and began to put in applications for first responder and paramedic positions around the city. While he'd been interviewed, no one had hired him yet. The younger mech had reassured Shatterlight that credits weren't becoming an issue yet, and he seemed to remain optimistic about the job hunt.
That was until he started to notice a drain on his energy levels. Bluestreak had been needing more energon and recharge, and while the amount currently wasn't much both were worried about it getting worse. Bluestreak had made an urgent appointment with the medical center, and Shatterlight knew that he should have already returned home. He would have commed if the medics had wanted to admit him to keep him under observation, so at least the issue wasn't spark threatening or confusing to the medics.
Shatterlight opened the door and stepped inside his apartment to look around for Bluestreak. His nephew was sitting on the couch, trembling. He looked up as he heard Shatterlight enter, optics wide. Every line of his frame spoke of a mech still trying to process something he had learned and not having a lot of success. The racer immediately sat next to him and gathered the young adult in his arms, holding him and trying to allow the contact and his supporting field to calm and steady the shocked mech.
"Talk when you're ready," Shatterlight told him.
Bluestreak shivered, pressing his helm against his uncle's shoulder. "I'm... I'm carrying again," he managed in a hoarse whisper.
Shock rippled through the racer. "How ... no, I know how, and I've got a good idea of who. But I've never heard of carrying again so soon."
"I thought it wasn't possible so soon," Bluestreak agreed. "But it's confirmed and the timing is right and oh Primus I don't know what I'm going to do."
"You're young and alone, without a secure job yet. It's a bad time to start a family," Shatterlight said reasonably. "You could contact the twins and see if they want a second creation."
"Nononono," the younger mech's sensor wings shook their denial. "I can't do that. They'd think I did it on purpose, and I can't give another up!"
"As much as it will hurt, dissipating it is the best option," Shatterlight said gently. "You aren't in a position to raise a sparkling."
"I can't do that, Uncle. I can't. I'll find something, even if I have to start looking at other fields," Bluestreak replied, his tone pleading for the elder to understand. "I've already lost so much... I can't lose this one too."
"You are young, Blue," Shatterlight reminded him gently. "You will have plenty of opportunities to have a sparkling when you and your mate are ready."
"But it wouldn't be this one," Bluestreak said. "Primus wouldn't have sent this one if there wasn't a reason for it," he added with all the conviction of youth.
"It is your choice in the end," Shatterlight x-vented sadly. "I can not recommend you have a sparkling now. Just don't mention you're carrying in any interviews."
"Why not?" Bluestreak asked quietly.
Shatterlight sighed. "It will soon reduce the joors you can work. The law requires they allow you the time off to recharge more, and the first vorn after separation off with pay to spend with your sparkling. The time you can devote to your job will be limited and your focus will not be on your duties for at least a couple centuries. Blue, sparklings are the future, but your needs while raising them will be expensive for a company that is trying to make a profit."
"I know that they're expensive and time-consuming, but I can't even process choosing anything different," Bluestreak replied, sensor wings drooping.
"I hope this doesn't destroy the future you gave up your first sparkling to obtain a chance at," Shatterlight said quietly. "You know we'll help where we can."
"I won't let it," Bluestreak replied, determined. "There are plenty of mechs who raise creations solo, and that's without knowing how to stretch a credit the way our class can. It might not have as many credits and vacations as its friends, but it'll know its carrier's love and its family."
"That it will," Shatterlight promised. "We will not shun you or our new kin simply because you don't have a mate. I can't say I agree with your choice, but I will not turn on you for it."
"That's all I need to make this work," Bluestreak replied quietly, his field full of gratitude towards his uncle. "I'll start expanding the positions I'm applying for, maybe something related where I'd be able to spend time sitting. Then carrying wouldn't be as big of a deal until it's time for me to go on leave."
Shatterlight smiled. "That's a very good idea. A transcriber, dispatcher, receptionist or clerk for law enforcement or any hospital system would give you an in, and you could get to know mecha there. Some of those also have relatively flexible joors. So long as the work gets done on time, it doesn't matter what joors you work."
"And it'll give me a chance to learn all the shorthand and codes," Bluestreak said, wings waving as he got into the idea.
"That too," Shatterlight smiled as Bluestreak perked up. "Do you want to tell the family a few at a time, or at the next family meal?"
"I'd rather tell my creators first, but then everyone else at the meal," Bluestreak said, smiling for the first time since Shatterlight got home. "They'll be excited to have a grandcreation."
"And it will allow the rest of the family to take a cue from them as well as you," Shatterlight said as he continued to gently stroke Bluestreak's plating. "It's a good plan."
"I'm sure Boldstreak and Silverwind would be happy to have a cousin-playmate for Airstream," Bluestreak said, wings beginning to flutter.
"No doubt," Shatterlight smiled softly. "Your creation won't lack for playmates or a supportive family."
"Which I'm glad for," Bluestreak replied, smiling, finally able to be happy for the future.
"Creators!" Bluestreak trilled as he entered his creators' home, followed by Shatterlight.
"Bluestreak," his sire, Bluelight, moved quickly to embrace her creation. "It's good to see you more often than the family dinner."
"You're looking good," his carrier, Stillvoice, added before his turn to hug came.
"Thank you Sire, Carrier," Bluestreak replied, smiling as he returned their affections and smiled as Shatterlight was greeted warmly as well. "How are things going with Sledgehammer?"
"Quite well," Bluelight beamed. "He's moved in and we all believe this will work out. Come on, there's some warm spiced energon and we can talk about these jobs and your future," she guided everyone to the compacted table that the immediate family used.
"I'm glad to hear that," Shatterlight said to Bluelight with a smile.
"I have three really to discuss," Bluestreak admitted as he sat down at the table, his uncle sitting in the next chair. A cube of spiced high grade was put in front of him as the others sat around the table. Bluestreak canted his sensor wings in thanks to his carrier, and hummed in pleasure at the first sip.
"What are they?" Bluelight prompted.
"One's a receptionist at the low-security prison in Crystal Heights. The second one is being an emergency dispatcher for the Enforcers. The third is receptionist at the Enforcer Precinct on 34-B Street," Bluestreak said, tone going serious far faster than his family was used to. This new more business-like Bluestreak was something they were all still adjusting to after the young mech's return from his trip. "I have confirmed, written offers from the first two. I've been given a verbal offer for the last, but we all know it doesn't count until it's in writing."
"They are all very good jobs," Bluelight trilled, her sensor wings flaring in excitement over the prospects her youngest creation was giving and knowing that they could get better in time. "How are they ranked for pay, benefits and risks?"
"The prison receptionist has the best credits and benefits. After that is the precinct receptionist, with the dispatcher coming in last. And the dispatcher has the most irregular work joors, with the newest hires generally getting the worst shifts. However, you don't deal with anyone other than the other dispatchers and mecha over the comms. The two receptionist positions... You're seeing criminals and their families face to face, every orn," Bluestreak's wings trembled at it. "That makes it so much riskier, which is why they pay more."
"Also, the dispatcher job would be best for setting you up for later becoming a medical responder," Shatterlight added.
"True, it would allow you to become familiar with all the quirks of their dialect and code language," Bluelight added, drawn to any job that didn't put her creation at risk, especially not risk that made him so uneasy. "Honestly, if this was something you would stop at, I'd suggest the precinct receptionist. It has the best ratio for pay to risk. But since you're carrying and this isn't where you stop, the one that sets you up for your real long-term job is the best choice in my opinion. It may not pay as well, but you can gain contacts, inside knowledge and practical knowledge while you have limited mobility."
"And it's not like I'd be the first dispatcher in the family," Bluestreak grinned at his carrier. "I'm... thinking of waiting until just before construction starts to tell them I'm carrying," the younger mech added, turning serious again.
"Why?" Bluelight frowned slightly. "It's important to take care of yourself right now."
"I also need to show them my willingness to work, and I could use the extra credits for when I have to go on leave," Bluestreak replied. "It's not like I'd be doing much more than sitting around while talking on comms."
"Bluestreak, just what does that dispatcher job pay?" Stillvoice asked.
"240 thousand a vorn," Bluestreak admitted.
"With benefits," Bluelight scowled.
"Bluestreak, that's almost double what both of us bring in together, and I earn far more than I should with only a First Diploma," Stillvoice pointed out levelly. "Why are you worried about finances?"
"I'm trying to think long-term," Bluestreak said quietly, a hand coming up to touch his chest plates, just above his spark. "I want to be able to give it everything... Including higher schooling, and the chance at maybe even a Third Diploma if it wanted it. When I got the results back from my tests, it was suggested that I would do well the schooling needed, and while I wouldn't be able to afford it for myself..."
"You want to be able to afford it for your creation," Bluelight softened. "Bluestreak, we aren't kicking you out of the family. You'll have the same support we all have from kin. Live within our means and you'll be able to pay for a Third Degree for him, and eventually for yourself. Remember how often you were with kin instead of a care center?"
"I don't even remember ever being in a care center," Bluestreak replied softly. "And I... I also want to at least try to give him upgrades and supplements closer to what its sires would have been able to give it," he replied, his voice quieting even further. It was the first time he had really admitted anything about his newspark's sires to his creators.
The pair looked at each other, then at Shatterlight, who simply nodded towards Bluestreak.
"My little one, who are they?" Stillvoice stood to embrace his youngest creation.
Bluestreak leaned into his carrier's frame gratefully. "A set of twins in Crystal City, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. They're not nobility, but they make enough credits to be a part of those social circles." He felt his carrier's shock, saw it in his sire.
"How did you end up with them, and carrying, and they aren't taking care of you both?" Bluelight's tone was sharp, her sensor wings flared in outrage that a sire would abandon their creation like that.
"Sire, I was back in Praxus before I knew I was carrying, and it was my choice not to tell them," Bluestreak said firmly. "They were the ones I was doing contract work for, and no, they did not force me to interface with them. That happened after the contract was completed. And I just... read more into it than they did. But if they knew I was carrying, they'd want full custody, and they'd be able to convince even a Praxian judge to give it to them."
"Because they have that much more wealth," Bluelight settled down. "What was your contract for? What could those kind of mecha need of you? How did you even meet them?"
Bluestreak hesitated a moment, before looking down as his sensor wings drooped. If anyone deserved to know, it was his creators. "I carried for them," he admitted, quiet voice thick with emotions. "They wanted a creation but couldn't carry themselves since they're twins. They had hired an agent to recruit potential mecha for the job, and found me through him."
There was silence around the table for a long, tense several kliks as Bluelight and Stillvoice processed that.
"You knew," Stillvoice looked at Shatterlight. The racer canted his sensor wings in apology, that he had been keeping it quiet at Bluestreak's request.
"Why did you accept?" Bluelight was focused on Bluestreak.
Bluestreak explained his reasoning to his creators, about the rising fee to return home and how it was beyond what he felt he could ask family to help with. Then he mentioned what they had paid him in return. "They were the ones to pay for tutoring and the chance to take the test for a Second Diploma," he added. "That wasn't even directly a part of the contract, and I didn't think of it until well after I had agreed."
"They did that to ... pamper you?" Stillvoice hesitated, uncertain of the leap he'd made. "You just asked and they paid for it all?"
"Yes," Bluestreak confirmed. "I don't think they would have done the same for a Third Diploma even if there was time, but a Second was within what they were willing to spend."
"What Diplomas do they have?" Stillvoice asked, more curious than needing to know.
"What do they do for credits?" Bluelight asked.
"Sunstreaker has a Fourth Diploma, and he paints. Murals, portraits... A lot of high-end commissions and what isn't a commission sells for a lot of credits. Sideswipe has a Fifth Diploma and operates as a merchant. Handles the business end of his brother's art, as well as acquiring and selling other high-luxury items." Bluestreak explained as best he could.
"They're self-made mecha." A voice Bluestreak rarely heard in family talks came from the doorway. "I've heard of Sunstreaker. Real talent there from what I've seen."
"Hi Sledgehammer," Bluestreak greeted his creators' lover. "He is really, really good. I got to see quite a bit of his work."
"I'm sure," the heavier build Praxian mech nodded as he walked through the living room into the small kitchen/energon storage area. "Airstream and Gadget are hungry."
"What did they start with?" Bluelight asked anyone who could answer.
"I never asked," Bluestreak admitted. "They didn't really like to talk about their younglinghood or creators."
Acceptance greeted that answer and Sledgehammer was soon gone to tend to the sparklings under his care.
"Okay, back to the subject," Bluelight dragged them all back on track. "Do you have a preference for which job to take?"
"The emergency dispatcher," Bluestreak said right away. "The safety, and how it's a good stepping stone to what I want in a career."
"Those are good reasons to accept that one," Bluelight smiled.
"Agreed," Sillvoice nuzzled him before going to sit down next to his mate. "Though I doubt any of the three are truly terrible."
"I'm hoping this works out," Bluestreak replied, then perked up with some of his old cheer. "So now tell us your plans for the next outing with Sledgehammer!"
Bluestreak smiled as he looked around the room at the gathered sparklings and younglings. Soon, very soon, the sparkling inside him would be a part of this group. For this shift, Bluestreak and one of his other cousins were watching them, with a younger mechling to help. It felt so good to be a part of this once more, seeing all of the youngest generation of the family together. It soothed him in a way that little else did since he returned from Crystal City.
This was a well-organized arrangement with the extended family and some close family friends in the neighborhood. It strengthened ties between the cousins and within the community, and provided extra credits for those who watched over the sparklings while still being far, far cheaper than a care center. There were shifts that covered all joors and orns, so that those who didn't work normal joors could have their creations here. Scheduling shifts gave preference to family members that needed either the credits or experience. Bluestreak, despite his feelings, was solidly in the second category being a first-time carrier as far as the world was concerned.
"Bluestreak!" Airstream cried as he ran up, holding out his arms to be picked up. Bluestreak grinned, lifting the sparkling onto what left of his lap. "How is Prowl?"
"Eager to be out and meet playmates," Bluestreak replied with a smile as the sparkling resting his helm against the expanded armor, tapping on it as if he could communicate with his cousin that way.
Inside him, Prowl growled at his creator to stop the noise disrupting his nap, but even in his irritation the almost-complete sparkling was surprisingly polite. Something Bluestreak was immensely grateful for given how much more tiring this carry was without any sires to help supplement him with transfluid. The energon and supplement quality was likely involved too, even though Bluestreak was purchasing a higher quality than what the rest of the family used. It still wasn't anywhere near what they had insisted on providing while he was with them.
"Want to meet him." Airstream trilled eagerly. "Won't be the youngest anymore!"
"He's napping at the moment," Bluestreak explained, catching the sparkling's hands gently. He sent a wave of love over the creation bond to try to settle Prowl once more, even as he gave the sparkling on his lap his attention. "It won't be long until you get to meet him. You'll show him all of the best toys and games, right?"
"Always." Airstream promised seriously. "Show him everybody and all the good places too."
"You'll be a good friend for him," Bluestreak said, giving Airstream a kiss on his helm. "Just like your sire and I were when we were little."
"I will," Airstream grinned, then whipped his helm around and squirmed to get out of Bluestreak's grip, his little wing nubs fluttering madly. A moment later Silverwind pinged at the door.
"Looks like your carrier is here," Bluestreak said, setting the sparkling down so he could lever himself to his pedes. He walked over, opening the door for the Altihexian. "Hi Silverwind!"
"How was my little sprite?" he knelt for Airstream to run into his arms and hugged the sparkling close. "Did you behave for Uncle Bluestreak?"
"Always!" Airstream giggled and hugged his carrier.
"He's a joy to watch over," Bluestreak replied. "And as eager as the rest of us to have Prowl here."
"I'm sure. How are you doing?" he asked with more seriousness. "It can't be easy without a sire to help."
Bluestreak gave him a bit of a wry smile. "I'm holding up. I do ache more than what the reading suggested, and there's the frustration of over active interface protocols without someone to focus on." He ran a loving hand over his distended plating. "Prowl isn't making it worse though. He's so calm despite how much I can feel he wants out."
"Mmm, the quiet ones can be the hardest to control, or the easiest," Silverwind hummed. "It'll be interesting to see which side he takes to. A lot depends on how much he wants to please his elders."
"I'm hoping he'll be one of the easy ones," Bluestreak said. "I'll be kept on my pedes keeping him entertained. His biggest complaint right now is that he's bored."
"Oh my, that sounds like one of the difficult ones, but we'll see," Silverwind trilled encouragement. "I'm sure he'll be a darling and a sparkbreaker when he grows up, like so much of his family."
"He definitely will," Bluestreak trilled in agreement. "I can already tell that everything will be worth it."
"That's wonderful to hear," Silverwing settled Airstream in his arms. "I know I found this stage to be the hardest. Even with Boldstreak to help, it was just as difficult for me as for this little imp once I couldn't transform. Glad you enjoy being with the little ones too. See you later!" he said before turning to leave.