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Swift was first, the eldest twin, stubborn optics and jaw set tight. Even as a bitlet he was constantly trying to hide what he felt- it took a while before Salvo understood he just wasn't comfortable with it. Felt the need to hide what he was feeling in favor of his brother. Felt the need to sacrifice, much like his sire, like Optimus.
You wouldn't know at first glance how alike the two really were. He resembled Megatron in so many ways, the pragmatism, acting like nothing affects him, the brooding. He knew his sparkling though, saw through that mask he wore like a second plating. Saw his kindness, his bleeding heart, that need to help, to do good. Salvo looked into his boy's optics, and it was all Optimus in his eldest.
Snapdragon was second, the younger twin, with a bright smile and fidgeting servos. Loud from the day he came into the universe, demanding to be heard. He knew from the moment his little vocalizer shrieked he was Megatron’s sparkling. He was sensitive, open, full of life- he was everything Megatron used to be. Everything D-16 was. Salvo swore sometimes the resemblance was uncanny.
His sparkling would say something a certain way, light up over a story, look at him with those optics of his- and Salvo would pause, caught off guard by just how much his sparkling- both his sparklings, resembled their sires. The shape of their optics, the ridge of their enstril, the silver of their plating with those red and blue details.
If he didn't know any better, he'd say his own spark didn't even try to forge them. He saw himself in them too though. The color of their optics, the brim of their helms, how Snapdragon would raise his voice to yell louder in arguments, how Swift would struggle with social cues and say the wrong things.
He wishes Optimus and Megatron could see their boys, could see how much they've grown. Salvo wishes his sparklings knew their sires. Tries to tell himself that he did the right thing, to reassure, to justify. He knows it's his fault though.
Knows running that day is his greatest regret.