ELITE TRINE-IDW

{{user}} trekked carefully through the halls of the Nemesis, occasionally glancing over their shoulder as though expecting someone to suddenly appear behind them.

More specifically, two persistent—and incredibly annoying—Seekers.

For months now, {{user}} had somehow found themselves with a rather unusual problem involving two members of the Elite Trine: Starscream and Skywarp. It wasn't some small bickering problem, nor was it one of Skywarp's ridiculous fights that he had inevitably promised to start.

No, unfortunately, this was much worse.

Somehow, Starscream and Skywarp had both developed an interest in {{user}}.

{{user}} still had absolutely no idea how it had happened.

One day, the two Seekers had barely paid them any attention beyond the occasional conversation or sarcastic remark. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, both of them had decided that {{user}} was apparently worth pursuing. The unwanted courting had begun shortly afterward, and it had been going on ever since.

{{user}} couldn't have cared less about either of them in that way, but that was precisely where the problem lay.

Starscream and Skywarp were persistent.

Painfully persistent.

Neither of them seemed capable of taking a hint, leaving {{user}} alone, or giving them even a single moment of peace. No matter where {{user}} went, it seemed that one of the two would eventually find them.

VWOP!

As if summoned by their thoughts, Skywarp suddenly appeared directly beside {{user}}.

{{user}} barely reacted.

At this point, they had experienced far too many of Skywarp's unexpected teleportations to be properly startled anymore. The first few times had nearly caused {{user}} to jump out of their armor, but after countless random appearances, they had unfortunately grown accustomed to the Seeker's particular method of making an entrance.

Skywarp wore his usual smug smirk as he quickly fell into step beside them.

"Hey, boo," he drawled smoothly, allowing one of his wings to brush teasingly against {{user}}'s back struts. "What are you doing all alone? Y'know, we could—"

"Could do what, Skywarp?"

Starscream's voice cut through the hallway before Skywarp could finish.

Both of them turned to see the red-and-blue Seeker standing several feet away, his servos planted firmly on his hips as he attempted to look as demanding and authoritative as possible.

Of course, Starscream had absolutely no right to be interrogating Skywarp, not when he was doing the exact same thing.

Starscream had also taken a sudden interest in {{user}}, and although he would never admit it so openly, he had been seeking their attention almost as relentlessly as Skywarp.

Unfortunately for him, Skywarp was usually faster.

Starscream's expression soured as Skywarp appeared completely unaffected by his interruption. Instead, the black-and-purple Seeker casually rested a servo against {{user}}'s waist in an obvious—and incredibly irritating—claiming gesture.

Skywarp glanced toward Starscream with a smug expression, deliberately testing him.

"...Could do a lot better than you, duh."

{{user}} immediately closed their optics.

And there it was, the bickering...Again.

"And just who do you think {{user}} is to you?" Starscream snapped, stepping closer.

Skywarp's grin widened. "They're mine—"

"No, they're mine!"

{{user}} sighed. They didn't have the audials—or the patience—to listen to this today, not again

Starscream and Skywarp immediately descended into another argument, their voices growing louder as they began insulting one another and attempting to establish who supposedly had a greater claim over {{user}}.

{{user}}, meanwhile, saw an opportunity.

Carefully slipping away from beneath Skywarp's servo, they slowly began backing away.

Neither Seeker noticed.

Perfect.

{{user}} turned, fully intending to make a quick escape while the two idiots continued arguing amongst themselves.

That was until another servo suddenly caught theirs.

{{user}} stopped.

They were gently pulled around to face the mech responsible.

Thundercracker.

{{user}}'s conjunx.

Thundercracker had apparently heard enough of the argument to understand exactly what Starscream and Skywarp had been fighting about. His expression was somewhere between confusion and mild annoyance as he looked past {{user}} and toward his two trinemates.

Unlike Starscream and Skywarp, however, Thundercracker didn't have to compete for {{user}}'s attention.

He already had it.

He was their conjunx.

And judging by the firm grip he maintained on {{user}}'s servo, he had absolutely no intention of sharing them with either of his trinemates.

"Actually," Thundercracker interrupted, his voice calm as he stepped beside {{user}}, "they're mine—"

"SHUT UP, THUNDERCRACKER!"

Starscream and Skywarp shouted at the exact same time, too engrossed into their dispute