Fireworks

The quiet in Autobot Headquarters is such a refreshing change from the normal noise that goes on it’s almost off-putting for Bulkhead. The large green mech sits by a big window looking out over the city, pulling a brush carefully across his canvas.

“Wish I had a different color for this part… but it’s not like it’s very colorful out there.” He glances out at the gray city surrounding the base. Gray skyscrapers, gray streets, gray sky- only interrupted by fat white flakes coming down again. Bulkhead checks the time, suddenly noticing how long it’s been since Prowl left. Since the city has been so cold, the Autobots have been reluctant to leave their base for anything other than emergencies, but according to Prowl, this trip was important enough for him to head out along with his sidecar despite the heavy snow warnings.

“What are you looking at, Bulkhead?” Sari’s voice snaps him out of his thoughts, and he glances down at her to see bright red paper cards in her arms.

“Oh, nothing interesting. Why’s it so gray out? I thought Earth was supposed to be colorful.” Sari shakes her head, grinning.

“This is Michigan, Bulkhead. From November to April, everything is gray and white. When the spring comes, everything will come back again.” She flies up to his canvas and plants a heart-shaped card right on top of a shape of some sort- Bulkhead still isn’t sure what it’s going to be yet. “Anyways, Happy Valentine’s Day!”

“Valentine?”

“Yeah, Valentine! It’s a day where you show how much you love others around you, whether they’re your friends or your family or something more.” She smiles happily. “You all are my family, so this is just a little way that humans like to show affection.”

“With paper cards?”

“Yes. Just go with it, big guy.” Bulkhead glances back at his canvas. Somehow, the little red heart fits in with the gray, and Bulkhead starts to paint around it, suddenly figuring out what the painting is going to be.

There’s another long silence, and before he knows it, three hours have gone by. Bulkhead glances up as he hears light pedes in the hall, and turns to see Prowl come into the room. It’s obvious the ninjabot was driving around the city area- most of his body is covered in chemical splatters from that strange substance the humans use to keep the streets from getting icy. In his left arm are two cubes of energon, and in his right is a dripping wet silver can.

Bulkhead lowers an arm as Prowl comes over, and the ninjabot sits on it, allowing Bulkhead to lift him up so they’re at eye level with each other.

“You have frost all over your helmet.”

“I’m sure I do. It’s a mess out there… I was sitting in traffic for so long trying to get back here I think a few of my joints iced over from the wind.” Prowl smiles as Bulkhead affectionately nuzzles him, then sighs and settles into the bigger mech’s chest plating.

“So, what was so important you had to go and get all dirty and cold to get?” Prowl sits back up, and Bulkhead can’t help but notice the gleam in his visor.

“I brought this back for you- I thought you might like it. I’ve driven past the store all week and seen the display in the window, and it’s kept me thinking of you and how you’ve needed new paint!” Prowl gives Bulkhead the energon, and carefully works his fingers under the lid of the paint can. Bulkhead stares at the paint inside, a gorgeous, energetic red that’s screaming to be brushed on a canvas. “Do you like it? It’s called ‘Fireworks,’ and I thought it might be enough to help you get over the grayness of-” Prowl suddenly turns and sees the canvas Bulkhead’s been working the entire afternoon. It’s a landscape, of the entire city, done in all grays and blacks and whites, but he can’t stop staring at it. The depth of color- no two shades are alike, something that must’ve taken Bulkhead hours to get right. And at the top- “Is that-“

“Sari called it a ‘Valentine’ and she says today is a day to show others how much you love them and care about them.” Bulkhead glances down at Prowl, seeing him mesmerized still by the painting. “It still doesn’t feel… finished, though. I just don’t know what it needs…” The bigger mech glances at the canvas, searching through all the colors, then at the heart, then it hits him.

He looks at Prowl again, then carefully takes one of Prowl’s hands and gently dips it in the paint. “Wha- Bulkhead, what…” Prowl’s systems heat up as Bulkhead skillfully lifts his arm up to the canvas, and he spreads his fingers as Bulkhead aims for the heart. For a moment, Prowl is terrified that he’s just ruined it for Bulkhead, but he trusts his bondmate’s decision.

With all the care of an artist, Bulkhead pulls Prowl’s hand away from the canvas. Prowl gasps as he sees that in the middle of his handprint, the little card has come off, and all that’s left is a crisp white heart on the canvas. “Now it’s done.”

“B-Bulkhead-“ The bigger mech glances down at him, grinning happily.

“Thanks for helping me finish my painting, Prowl! That was just what it needed!” Another rush of heat goes through Prowl’s systems as Bulkhead kisses him tenderly, and he hugs his arms around Bulkhead’s neck. The bigger mech smiles warmly at him after it’s over. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Prowl. I love you.”

“I love you too, Bulkhead.”