Work Text:
Smokescreen endeavoured to be many things in life. Since coming to Earth and serving under Optimus Prime himself, the scout had vowed to learn how to be as wise and commanding.
Since the creation of his OT3 with he and his two special girls, Brit and Star. And having witnessed their close knit relationship with said leader, Smokescreen had also vowed to figure out exactly why his girlfriends seemed so drawn to spend time in close, cuddly proximity with Optimus rather than himself.
Recently Star had been having trouble sleeping, and despite his tightest snuggles and firmest kisses the blonde had of late began sneaking off to seek out solace with Optimus instead. Smokescreen, Star and Brit all would go to bed together, but when they'd awake in the mornings, Star would be long gone. Curled up in the arms of Prime's holoform and tucked up safely within the cab of his alt mode.
He still had his gorgeous Brit, his warrior queen of adventure, which softened the blow despite there being a missing warmth at night on one side of his holoform.
The time read 3:48AM, according to his internal body clock when converted to Earthen time. Having served with the Elite Guard for a considerable period the younger was used to arising early, never this prematurely however. It seemed something subconscious had stirred him.
The hub was mostly cascaded in darkness, save for Ratchet's dormant computer monitors that cast a dim yet usable glow over the space.
The shirtless holoform rolled into a roused state, sprawled across his front atop the pull out couch bed that lay situated on the human platform. The trio had taken to sleeping there, with the Autobot's alt mode parked up below the ladder.
The lack of blonde and mint hair amongst the pillows and fleece blankets sank his spark, though it wasn't exactly surprising. He guessed Star had slipped out a while ago.
Bleary blue gaze gave sight to his remaining lover, currently lay with her back to him as he spooned her. If he couldn't be sandwiched between his two favorite ladies then he would bear hug his remaining brunette babe like his life - and sanity - depended on it. Which to him it did.
Tightening his hold with a slink of his arms, and a nuzzle of his face against her neck, Smokescreen noticed that Brit was actually awake. Just lay there, expression somewhat vacant and unhappy.
"Brit, baby?" Youthful vocals prompted with puzzlement.
Despite his lesser experience with all aspects of life, Smokescreen could be perceptive. It was part of the job, watching and plotting a tactical response. Sure, he could get blinded by excitement sometimes, but who didn't!
The last couple of days he had noticed Brit's character shift. She'd seemed quieter, distracted, less talkative. When his girl was in the mood they could talk about nonsense excitedly for hours on end. But recently, just nothing.
Optimus, perhaps preoccupied or biding his time, had not questioned Brit's mood. Then again the hunt for the Omega Keys had their days swamped with pursuits and his nights were now spent cradling Star until she could find rest.
Only silence answered him, as had been the case since he'd first noticed her change in demeanour.
The scout pondered what Optimus would do if it were him faced with this situation.
Probably poke her insistently until she cracked and gave some form of explanation. Well, poke her with words and concern. Smokey was more likely to try actually poking her.
Actually, maybe he should let Optimus handle this? After all the long, meaningful speeches were his area of expertise.
But that would involve waking him up from recharge. He'd looked so worn out by the time the team had finally disbanded to retire for the night. If Star was in there too that would involve disturbing her much needed sleep too. No, he would deal with this one himself.
Just how was the question. The cogs of his digital brain turned furiously, yet metaphorically. Though a few cognitive clicks did echo up from his vehicle mode.
Eventually he did recall a piece of advice bestowed to him by Prime not long after he'd joined up with Autobot Outpost Omega One.
"The most noble thing that can be done in dire situations is to sit and to listen. Even if there is nothing to be said as consolation. Listening can often be the greatest comfort."
Listening, eh? Worth a shot!
"Hey, babe?" Smokey propped himself up to lean on his holoform's elbow, gazing down at the beautiful form resting beside him with longing.
Instead of spurting out the first and most often random thing that his head could come up with, for once in his life he thought carefully about what words to choose.
He even tried to modify his voice, dropping his vocal range to mimic how Optimus would sound. Much like his "Emperor of Destruction" playful voice.
"I understand something saddens you, and I wish you to know that whatever it is, I shall destroy it if it would make you glad…"
That was as far as he got before he trailed off, realizing how ridiculous it actually sounded.
How did Optimus achieve 'the voice' without sounding weird? Man, the 'bot must sure struggle!
"Okay, scratch that. Ditchin' the Optimus impression." He mumbled, strands of fluffy light hair falling over his face as he dipped his head in mild embarrassment.
He clearly couldn't do this as Optimus. The scout would have to make this work by being himself.
"Look, babe." Now back to his natural voice, but gliding using a low and gentle tone, his holoform's head came to rest upon Brit's shoulder as he cuddled her reassuringly from behind. "I know somethin's botherin' you. If you wanna talk about it, I'll sit and listen, promise! But… If you don't wanna talk about it - or ya'd rather tell someone like Optimus. That's cool too! I'm just-what I'm tryna say is, I'm here for you. Especially if you need me to scramble someone's circuits."
Was that good? He figured that sounded pretty good.
Swiftly, he was reassured of his efforts. The couple ended up repositioned. Smokescreen sitting up in the bed, cross-legged with his Brit curled up against his chest. Engaging in the warmest, snuggliest hold on eachother one could imagine.
Brit didn't speak much. But to what she did say, as vowed, Smokescreen listened intently. Planting the occasional kiss on a portion of her skin when he felt it was needed.
"See, your dashin' heroic Himbo's here for you." He proclaimed proudly, flipping to quiet confused however when Brit's gaze shot up to his face with wide eyes at his statement.
"Where did you hear that word?"
"... Dashin'?"
"... Himbo."
"Miko said that's what Earth would call me." Smokescreen shrugged unknowingly. "It's a good thing, right?"
Brit's fit of manic laughing didn't help to confirm nor deny anything. In all honesty he liked the term. And his stunning girl was laughing. That was what mattered to him.
For a while more they sat like that, discussing what they would do once morning came. The idea of taking a hike in the mountains further north came into conversation and was met with dual enthusiasm.
Perhaps Star would come. But in that moment Smokescreen decided that he didn't mind if Optimus held onto her a little while longer.
Because he, the greatest Himbo that marble of a planet had ever seen, had a current destiny of snuggling his darling brunette into euphoria for the remainder of the night.
And when morning came, they'd speed past Ratchet and Knockout on the way out, and ride off into the rising sun with the forests and lakes in sight.