Archive of Our Own ^beta

Skywarp cackled, running ahead of Starscream and Thundercracker. “Come on, you two, we have to hurry up!"

"Relax, 'Warp," Thundercracker said, fiddling with his mask. “The Masquerade isn't going anywhere." He tried to apply his mask to his face, but he couldn't quite get the latches to stay on. He sighed and gave Starscream a helpless look. 

Starscream smirked and reached over for the mask. He stepped behind Thundercracker and held it up to his trinemate's face, clipping it into the sides of his helm. It was silver and black filigree, designed to resemble the feathered fur of a turbofox. “What does it matter? I know you'll be taking it off by the end of the night," Starscream purred into his audial.

Thundercracker smirked. “Jealous, little prince?"

Starscream rolled his optics. “Oh, no, I intend to be very busy tonight." He reached into subspace to apply his own mask. It was a parody of his face: dark with pouting lips and an elaborate crown of rubies and gold set askew on top. 

"Seriously?" Skywarp called. “I thought the point was to be anonymous? Everyone is going to recognize that face immediately!"

Starscream laughed, pressing his chest to Thundercracker's back and grabbing him about the waist from behind. “I'm pretending to be the virtuous Prince Starscream, very innocent in wooing mechs to his berth and inexperienced in the finer points of interfacing," Starscream replied with a wink.

Skywarp rolled his optics and then stepped forward to grab both Starscream and Thundercracker around the wrists to pull them along. “Come on! Hurry up, or we'll miss all the hot ones!"

Starscream and Thundercracker laughed, following their trinemate towards the bright lights and loud music. They rounded the corner around the wall that surrounded the park, and the three of them could barely contain their gasps of wonder.

The park glowed in splendor. Chandeliers of soft light and crystals had been strung from the trees, making the open park look like the most expensive ballroom of the palace. Music poured out of the pavilion, and the glittering decorations hanging from the trees gave the garden enchanted energy.

The fun thing about the Vosian Masquerade was not just the anonymous nature of the revelry but the general… aura of the partygoers. Masked in intrigue and mystery, steeped in luxury and decadence, one could be dancing with a High Priest of Primus or with a lowly mail carrier.

And both would be very interested in participating in bad behavior.

The revelers at the Masquerade were infamous for indulging in scandals and debauchery under the garb of anonymity, as everyone wore at least a half mask that hid their nose and the bottom or top half of their face. Some wore visors or completely new faceplates, shaped like famous scowling Primes of the past or even cruel smiles of Quintessons from long ago.

Illegal or secret financial transactions and inappropriate sexual behavior were commonplace at these parties.

Many mechs of Vos were not only religious to the cult of Primus but were also very sensitive about class hierarchy. High-born nobles were not supposed to casually interact with the lower classes and certainly not flirt with them.

Naturally, that was why Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker had decided to attend.

There was something so enthralling about the Masquerade that they couldn't find even at the fanciest parties in the palace towers. They had been sneaking out for years, trying to make their dalliances a secret between them as they indulged in the debauchery of the evening. It was nothing they could do at home.

They stayed together for a little while until Starscream was grabbed away by a friendly seeker requesting a dance. He had asked after giving a very competent formal bow to the "fair Prince Starscream," and Starscream had predictably been enchanted. He allowed himself to be carried away into the undulating crowd after spying a knowing smirk from Thundercracker and Skywarp.

Starscream was handed a drink, which he had to transform the bottom half of his mask away to sip. The high grade tingled his tongue, and it did not take long for him to get a nice, charged buzz going. His mouth was then available for mechs to pull him into eager kisses as they whispered promises of carnal delight if he would just allow them to take him away. He coyly strung them along as long as they kept plying him with compliments, treats, and drink. He quickly grew giddy on the attention.

Someone stroked their nimble fingers down his back, and he arched into the touch. It was a little early into the evening to be stolen away for pleasure but perhaps his thin disguise was particularly attractive to his suitors. Who wouldn’t want to feel up the prince (or someone “pretending” to be him) who was here at their mercy and aching for their frames against him? His interface array stirred with interest at the promise of what was to come as someone started to kiss his neck.

Then Starscream could feel optics rake over his back.

He laughed politely to the other mechs showering him in affection, trying to clamp down on his plating and not give away his discomfort. He slowly looked over his shoulder into the edges of the crowd and locked optics with a cyan and black seeker who watched him intensely.

He had been chased before, but that was not the energy this mech was giving off. The strange mech stared with ravenous optics, watching Starscream's every move. He looked so tense that Starscream thought he was seconds away from charging at Starscream, pulling him away from the crowd and using him for his own pleasure.

Starscream enjoyed walking the line of danger in his liaisons, but he understood the difference between sexy and worrisome.

He felt a chill down his spinal strut. 

The music swelled, and the beat picked up.

Starscream turned to hide in the crowd of revelers. He wove between the costumes and mechs in various stages of flirtation, and a straying hand reaching out to grope his wing gently. He allowed it with a shiver, casting a glance over his shoulder to see if the mech was still watching him. He was, and it looked like he had moved slightly, noticing his quarry was on the move. His optics were blazing in fury and fixation on Starscream, and yet again, Starscream swallowed worriedly. 

A warm and inviting field brushed up against Starscream, pulling his attention away.

"Are you looking for something fun tonight, little seeker?" a new mech murmured in his audial.

The music seemed to swirl louder around him, and the lights all flickered at once. He was sure he had imagined it, but when Starscream looked back, the scary mech who had been staring at him was gone.

Starscream looked wildly around and couldn't find him. His spark spun frantically in his chest.

"Hey," the new stranger whispered, his gleaming white plating and red accents catching Starscream's optic. “You okay? Need to get out of here?"

Starscream pulled his panicked gaze from the outskirts of the crowd and looked to the mech who was now holding him close. Somehow Starscream felt safe in the arms of this mech.

"I’d prefer to stay right here,” Starscream purred. His frame draped against the stranger, and his mouth delved into a smirk. He thought if he could keep this stranger’s attention, then perhaps the other mech would be dissuaded from… whatever he wanted.

He noticed the new stranger holding him was pretty attractive. He wore a full-face mask and visor that glinted blue in the flickering lights of the chandeliers above. He was a large shuttle class with red and black accents and a blue glass cockpit emphasizing his white, clean plating. 

He was also huge. He looked like he could fully encircle Starscream’s waist with just one hand.

Or hold him down with one.

“You are quite… bulky,” Starscream murmured, tracing a digit down the blue glass of his cockpit.

The mech gave a low chuckle, and his hand traced down Starscream’s back to rest on his hip. “I get that a lot. Especially when surrounded by so many smaller attractive seekers.”

“Interested in seekers, are you?” Starscream squirmed in the grasp and tried to take a playful step back. The mech followed, taking a step forward to pursue.

Starscream had already ensnared him. It was too easy.

Starscream looked over his shoulder to see if he could find that mech again.

“I am, if they are interested in me,” the shuttle replied, reaching up to gently grasp Starscream’s chin and turn his face back to him.

Starscream’s optics widened slightly, looking up at the visor. “Apologies,” he said with a lazy smile. “You have my full attention.”

“I’m glad,” the shuttle replied. Starscream thought he could hear the smirk behind the mask. “I’m not usually so jealous. But you seem to be a prize worth winning.”

The words coiled into Starscream’s audials, and he thought the music of the party seemed to fade out a little. His arms felt a little heavy, and he leaned harder on the mech without thinking. “You don’t need to be jealous,” Starscream replied, his voice softer than usual. “I was trying to escape what I think was going to be some unwanted advances from someone else. I’d much rather spend some time with you.”

This appeared to please the shuttle, who hummed at the words and gathered Starscream a little closer. His arms encircled him, and fingers started to press into his plating with the promise of rougher treatment.

Starscream’s face heated behind his mask, and his mouth fell open a little.

Something was… happening to him. He wasn’t sure if it was the high grade, the clashing tidal wave of aroused fields from the mechs all around him, or something else. But he found he could not turn away from the piercing optics staring at him through the visor. He was dizzy and hot, uncomfortable in a heady way, and not sure what he needed, but he needed it- now.

His vision swam, and he was possessed with the desire to let his helm fall back in delirium. “I- I want,” he started, not able to complete the words. His tongue felt swollen in his mouth.

“Hmm?” his beautiful stranger said. He pulled his hand up to cup the side of Starscream’s helm as if supporting him. “What do you want?”

Starscream’s spark was spinning rapidly in his chest, and he gave a quiet hysterical gasp of breath, not sure why the mech’s voice excited him so. He opened his mouth again to reply, just as he thought he was being pulled closer and away-

“Star! There you are!”

Starscream was instantly irritated, his helm snapping to the new voice to see Skywarp standing there with an impossible smirk. “What?!” Starscream growled. Already the stranger was putting him down on the ground. Dimly he tried to remember when he had been lifted off the ground but couldn’t remember. Despite his confusion, Starscream dearly missed those strong arms wrapped around him as the stranger pulled away.

“Sorry, were you busy?” Skywarp said, smirking wider. “I’m looking for TC; have you seen him?”

Starscream stared at him incredulously. His wings twitched behind him, and he took a menacing step towards Skywarp.  “No! I have not seen him, ‘Warp. Now leave me alone, I was just about to-” he said, turning to face the remarkable stranger again.

But he had disappeared.

How… how had he moved so quickly? Starscream hadn’t even felt the air move- and the shuttle had been so impeccably large. He should have noticed him leaving, but he was gone in a blink.

“Aww, it appears you were not about to,” Skywarp said, laughing derisively. 

Starscream growled and considered punching his trinemate but instead just sighed. He really had been about to sample something delicious, he thought. Now he was all charged up and frustrated.

“Yes, well, maybe if you hadn’t come along and scared him off!” Starscream said with a pout. “Let’s find Thundercracker and get you home.”

“Aww, no, I was just playing!” Skywarp cried. “We don’t have to leave yet!”

“No, no, let’s find Thundercracker and ruin his fun too; that way, we can all be miserable!” Starscream snapped, flicking his wings back. “Can’t let anyone have any fun tonight, can we?”

Skywarp scowled, only his slanting optics visible above his mask with a lewd tongue draping out across the lips. “Geez, sorry. You, uh, kinda looked like you needed a break. I thought you were going to jump that mech’s spike in the middle of the crowd- and while I don’t blame you, maybe you needed to slow down?”

Starscream opened his mouth to give a rude retort, but he stopped himself, remembering the strange weakness that had clouded his vision and relaxed his frame. That was unusual for him. He liked to pursue and take his lovers hard and fast and viciously as he could. As much as he played the coquette, he wasn’t really the surrendering type when he got someone into the berth with him. 

What he had felt with that stranger had been… different.

“I don’t need you to look out for me,” Starscream said, sneering. “But… there was a different mech earlier that was giving me a weird look. I think we should just find Thundercracker and get out of here.”

If Skywarp was worried about Starscream, he didn’t let it show, which Starscream honestly appreciated. Starscream was promiscuous but not to a dangerous degree; he enjoyed the tease, pursuit, and promise of pleasure often left unfulfilled. But Skywarp was right; he probably would have slid his panels back a few moments later had Skywarp not interrupted them. That was unlike him.

It was unnerving.

He grabbed Skywarp’s hand and started weaving through the crowd, looking for the blue plating of his errant third trinemate.

They found Thundercracker a little while later, mask off and discarded at his pedes as he hungrily kissed a minibot perched on his lap. Skywarp squawked, rushing forward to push the minibot off the throne of Thundercracker’s thighs, but TC had seen him coming and twisted at the right moment so that Skywarp fell against him instead. The minibot’s optics went comically wide as Thundercracker began to kiss Skywarp’s sputtering mouth.

Skywarp was like mercury, pliantly falling into the kiss with a tiny noise of want. Thundercracker’s arm wrapped around his waist so that now Skywarp was straddling Thundercracker’s other thigh. The minibot shrugged and began to kiss the cables in Thundercracker’s neck, earning a deep rumble from the seeker.

“You want to join us, Starscream?” Thundercracker called as he kissed down Skywarp’s jaw, pausing once to glance at Starscream without moving his helm. Thundercracker’s lips hovered right above the delicate cables in Skywarp’s neck, and Starscream saw Skywarp shiver with his neck bared.

Starscream smirked. “No. You have your fun,” he said warmly. His irritation from before had melted away when he saw how desperately Skywarp had yielded himself. “I’m going to see if I can find someone to distract me from my missed connection earlier.”

Skywarp mewled as Thundercracker licked a stripe of oral lubricant across his neck. “You should apologize to Starscream,” Thundercracker said. “I know you are the one who ruined his fun.”

Skywarp whimpered as the licking stopped, and he cast his needy optics to Starscream. “I’m sorry,” he whined, squirming to get Thundercracker’s mouth back on him. “I’m a slagger,” he added.

Starscream regarded him for a moment and then smiled.  He stepped forward to pet Skywarp’s helm indulgently. “Perhaps it was for the best,” he replied. He turned to look back to the rest of the revelers, all starting to pair off and leave the party. The music became more somber, and the lights dimmed to indicate that the evening was winding down.

“Get them home, will you, little bot?” Starscream said, casting a side-glance at the yellow mech in Thundercracker’s lap. 

The little yellow one called after him as Starscream turned away to head back to the party. “You probably shouldn’t go alone! Something bad could happen,” he said worriedly.

Starscream gave him a smirk over his shoulder. “I’m counting on it.”

Starscream walked down the lit path, looking around at the dwindling crowd. Darkness started to encroach on the park, and the dim lights didn’t help much as time went on, but still, he walked and searched for something interesting. He was called a few times asking if he wanted to join whatever the next stage of merriment the night might bring, but he waved them off with a smile.

He had a big shuttle to find.

What had it been about that stranger that had excited him down to his core? He knew it had something to do with the feeling of power from the mech, but there was something else. Something… lustful about his demeanor that had arrested Starscream’s vents. Starscream was not a stranger to mechs wanting him, but it was usually when they knew he was the prince. He wasn’t sure he could remember a time when he had been so affected by the desire of someone for him- the wanting, the captivation, the need. He swallowed, wondering what the stranger looked like under his mask.

“You look lost,” came a smooth voice behind him.

The energon in his lines went cold as he froze on the spot. He turned to look over his shoulder, and it was his worst fears- the black and cyan seeker who had been stalking him before was leaning up against a tree. His red optics tracked Starscream, and his mouth was arched in a crooked grin. 

“I’m not lost,” Starscream replied coolly. “Just looking for some better company.”

“Better than me?” the mech replied, leaning off the tree and taking a few steps towards him. “There’s no one better than me.”

Starscream sneered. He really only liked his own arrogance; smelling it on this mech didn’t interest him in the slightest. “You don’t look like the fun I want to have tonight,” Starscream replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Go find someone more desperate.”

The mech smiled wildly. “You have a mouth on you. Perhaps you need taming.” He started walking forward, closing the distance between them. Still, he looked at Starscream with that intense stare that looked like it promised a lot more pain than pleasure. 

Starscream frowned and pulled out a rapier from subspace. He held his ground and stared back at the seeker with disgust. “I do believe I was pretty clear. Get lost.”

The mech glanced at the point of his sword and then back to Starscream. “Awfully dangerous weapon for a beautiful mech. You sure you can handle that thing?”

Starscream ran his tongue along his bottom lip. “I’m sure I can manage. It’s the only thing between us that will be doing any penetrating, I can tell you that much.”

The mech huffed a laugh.  Then his optics narrowed and he surged forward, charging at Starscream. 

He was faster than Starscream expected. Starscream struck a painful blow in defense, dragging it across the mech’s abdomen. There was a pained grunt, and Starscream almost laughed. He spun away with a flourish from the mech and held his rapier in preparation for another strike.

Starscream realized too late that unlike his sparring partners in the palace, who were averse to scars and pain, this mech didn’t seem to care. The mech rushed forward again, even as Starscream gave him another painful blow in the side.

The mech reached Starscream and punched him in the face, and his mask fell off crumpled on the ground. Starscream’s mouth fell open as his hand reached up to hold his cheek, staring back at the mech who grinned at him with twisted glee. He grabbed the rapier from Starscream’s hand and threw it away into the darkness of the park.

“You hit me!” Starscream said with surprise. “You hit my face, you frelling piece of scrap!” he shrieked, extending his claws. He swiped at the stranger, who didn’t even flinch at the wounds Starscream inflicted.

He grabbed Starscream’s wrists and smirked darkly. “I’m not sure you realize the position you are in,” the mech said, reaching up to squeeze Starscream’s neck with his other hand.

Starscream snarled angrily, spitting and cursing as he tried to get away. The other seeker was much stronger than Starscream had thought at first glance, and as his neck was squeezed tighter, Starscream released a pained whine. The cables in his next were constricting, and he was afraid they would burst from the pressure.

Starscream’s frame began to go slack. He collapsed to his knees, looking up at the mech. 

Wait. This was just about… killing him? Starscream tried to laugh bitterly but only managed to whimper. That was not what he had expected, and he mentally chided himself. This was the most embarrassing way to die- he should have been able to defend himself.

Starscream was delirious. His vision was swimming, and he was dizzy and scared. He tried to cry out, but the mech had covered his mouth and was staring down at him with hatred and bloodlust. Starscream didn’t understand what was happening and tried to gasp a needed vent, but he could not.

Was he hallucinating, or was the beautiful stranger appearing out of the darkness behind the other mech?

Starscream’s optics fluttered closed before he slipped unconscious, but right before everything went dark, he thought he heard the sound of screaming.

Starscream slowly came back to consciousness, his optics flickering online.

The berth he was on was soft, and he could feel his frame pleasantly sinking into it. A silky white blanket lay draped across his frame, and he only dimly registered that this was not his berth in the palace but someplace new and unfamiliar.

Starscream didn’t usually wake up in strange places, but he didn’t feel immediately in danger. He looked around the small apartment, trying to remain still and not alert anyone to his awakened state. The apartment was only a single room, with a large luxurious berth up against the wall and facing large windows. It was still the middle of the night based on the dark and quiet.

Not seeing any danger, he slowly sat up, feeling the blanket fall away from him and hit the bed.

Then Starscream’s neck ached, and he reached up to touch it, wincing when it was very tender to the touch.

“I brought you a cooling pack,” came a deep rumbling voice next to him.

Starscream startled, certain only a moment ago that he was alone. His fingers reflexively curved around the blanket as if to pull it up to him as a shield, as foolish a notion as that was. He was very vulnerable at this moment and clenched his jaw as he looked around to see the owner of the voice.

Starscream’s spark skipped a few beats when he saw the mech before him was the shuttle from before, now maskless and more beautiful than he could have dreamed. His features were defined, chiseled as if from stone, and his blue optics were piercing and steadfast. His lips were slowly quirking up in a smile as he noticed Starscream’s dumbfounded face.

“See something you like?”

Starscream shut his slightly open mouth with an audible snap. “I’m just… surprised,” he tried to recover, reaching for the cooling pack. The mech’s hands were so large-

Starscream didn’t realize he had frozen in place, staring at the hands with ludicrously wide optics. The stranger chuckled and gently took Starscream’s smaller wrist and turned it so that his palm was facing upward. He then deposited the cooling pack into his open hand and closed Starscream’s fingers around it.

Starscream was still slightly gaping, but he was coming out of it. He shook his helm slightly and then brought the cooling pack up to his throat.

“I’m Starscream,” he said, without an invitation. 

The stranger smiled gently. “And I am Skyfire. It must be a blessing to be named after the prince,” he said, tilting his helm to the side.

Starscream pursed his lips and then shrugged. “A blessing and a curse.”

Skyfire nodded, looking him over. “How is your neck?”

“Slightly tender, but fine. My cheek hurts more, the fragger,” he pouted. He cast his optics down for a moment in what he hoped was a fetching manner and then slowly raised his optics to meet Skyfire’s again. “I suppose I should thank you.”

Skyfire considered the words for a moment and then slowly sat down on the berth at Starscream’s pedes, leaning back. “You could thank me if you wished,” he replied, matching Starscream’s tone. They stared at each other for a pregnant pause, and the silence yawned between them, morphing into something like anticipation in Starscream’s tanks.

“I am sorry I didn’t come along sooner,” Skyfire added, breaking the silence.

“Where did you come from, anyway? I was pretty sure everyone had left the park already. I had been looking for… someone,” he said at the end, unsure how he wanted to come across. Was it too early to sound needy? They’d only just met.

“I had been looking for you,” Skyfire replied smoothly. “We hadn’t finished talking, I thought.”

Starscream leaned forward, tilting his helm slightly. “I don’t remember a whole lot of talking.”

“Hmm. I remember you telling me that you wanted something. I found myself very curious as to what that could be. And, if I could assist.”

Starscream’s face heated so fast he was pretty sure the cooling pack was now worthless. “O-oh?” he let his hand holding the pack fall to his side, and he put on his best, brightest smile. “You want to assist me with my wants, Skyfire?”

Skyfire leaned forward a little more, too, his optics grazing across Starscream’s lower lip. Starscream was transfixed on him, his tanks doing flips. “I would like to give you pleasure, if that would be acceptable.”

So formal, despite what Skyfire’s optics were saying. "Decided to come after the prize worth winning, after all? I thought Skywarp scared you off."

Skyfire smiled again, looked down to reach for Starscream's hand, and gently brought it up to his lips. "Is that a yes then?"

Starscream had to stop himself from being too enthusiastic. "I suppose," he replied, attempting to sound bored. Secretly, everything this mech was doing was thrilling him right down to his array.

"I can be a little… rough," Skyfire also admitted, turning his hand to kiss his wrist. "Do you mind things like… biting?"

Starscream's jaw nearly dropped as his fans came on embarrassingly for a quick moment. "I think if your timing is right, you can do almost anything you want to me." He leaned forward, trying to crawl into Skyfire's lap.

Skyfire hummed, accepting him into an embrace, and wrapped his other arm around Starcream’s waist. "Almost?" He kissed and started to lick his wrist, and Starscream could feel his flicking wet glossa against his lines.

Starscream gave a stuttered gasp, pushing his chest up against Skyfire’s. "I don't mind a little pain mixed in with pleasure. Just no scars."

Skyfire's engine purred in acknowledgment as he removed his lips from Starscream's wrist, and he smiled down at him. 

Starscream was already inflamed by the gaze. There was a heady element to Skyfire’s field that drew him in and made him dizzy with anticipation. Their fields tangled and writhed in the air around them, and Starscream could practically taste the lust dripping from every sensor.

Skyfire leaned in and started kissing his mouth, gently at first, with soft and kind lips. Starscream’s optic ridges furrowed, confused at the careful fondness as they opened their mouths to deepen the kiss at the same time. The kiss was delightful, of course, but there had been an edge to Skyfire earlier at the Masquerade that had made Starscream shiver with want. He gently nipped at Skyfire’s lip, trying to get that same spark of power back into the kiss.

Skyfire gave a low rumble from his chest. Was that warning? Or encouragement?

Skyfire pulled Starscream flush against his chest and wrapped a firm arm around his waist to hold him there. Starscream again was struck by the slight hesitancy. The touch was cautious, almost unsure of its welcome, but also the most forceful move Skyfire had made so far.

Starscream hummed in approval and tilted his helm forward, nosing along Skyfire’s jaw. Skyfire’s plating was so smooth and cool to the touch, and Starscream found that he desired more of it against him. He wanted to lick his way up the strong jaw, but again, he did not know Skyfire and how his own brimming enthusiasm would be received. Would things escalate too quickly that Starscream would be overwhelmed? Would the mech be disgusted at how quickly things devolved into lewdness? Starscream desperately did not want to scare this perfect mech off.

So, instead, Starscream dragged his nose up Skyfire’s audial and nuzzled into it, letting his exvents ghost over the plating and components there. Skyfire’s vents began to pick up as he shivered, and Starscream smiled smugly to himself.

Skyfire apparently wanted to claim his mouth again. He reached up with those powerful hands of his and firmly turned Starscream’s face so that their lips brushed again, and then Skyfire was kissing him hard. 

Starscream’s venting sped up as he continued to kiss eagerly. As his arousal grew, he made soft noises of excitement and used his servos to explore Skyfire’s ample chest and plating. As it was, every touch Skyfire gave him in return lit his sensors on fire, heightened in sensitivity that it almost hurt.

Then Skyfire’s denta bit into Starscream's bottom lip.

It hurt a little, but Starscream only whined in light protest, trying to bite Skyfire back again. It was only fair.

Skyfire chuckled lightly, kissing the lip he had just bitten, and started to kiss down Starscream’s neck and then down his arm.

Starscream leaned back on the bed, unable to sit up straight. Skyfire seemed to want to lavish him with attention, and Starscream was not complaining in the least. He felt pampered and delighted as Skyfire applied his skilled mouth across his plating.

There was another surge of dizziness that made his helm swim, but at the same time, he was euphoric. He felt like he had been drinking the most delicious high grade, and while it had gone straight to his helm, he was happy.

It didn’t feel natural though.

“Wha-?”

“Relax,” Skyfire said gently. “You’re alright,” he murmured against his wrist as he kissed and licked it.

Starscream was falling deeper into the berth, his frame relaxing more. He whined, unsure what he was feeling and uncertain if it was… okay. He felt okay, but at the same time, this wasn’t… normal. He struggled to get up just as his optics felt heavy and fluttered shut. Sound and sensation were muffled, and he wasn’t quite aware of anything, almost as if he had been numbed by a drug.

His frame slowly went limp, and he was drifting. He was at peace and had to be smiling dumbly despite his best efforts to appear unaffected. His HUD warned him he had a minor energon line leak on his wrist, which he dismissed with some confusion, feeling nothing but bliss and warmth. He wasn’t even sure Skyfire was still touching him at this point.

When he was finally able to online his optics, he saw Skyfire’s mouth and denta latched to his wrist as he sucked and lapped at his energon.

It took Starscream a moment to recognize what he was seeing. Skyfire had bitten him with impossibly sharp denta and was now drinking his energon through his wrist. His spark clenched in fear, but it was laggy, dim, slow. It was as though he was flying through a thick fog pulled against his wings and dampened his sensors, trying to drag him back into that unaware, blissful state. But he fought it. He blinked and then weakly tried to pull his arm away.

Skyfire locked optics with him, and Starscream’s spark froze. Skyfire’s optics were nothing but dark, wide pupils as he stared back at Starscream. His look was possessive and feral.

Starscream whimpered, finding his voice finally. “What- what are you doing?!"

Skyfire only gazed back with unblinking optics and sucked harder.

Starscream was surprised he didn’t feel any pain. He wondered if there was something else going on that made him unable to feel it- and even as the panic threatened to bubble up through his frame, he felt himself getting more and more aroused by the dangerous mech currently drinking from his lines.

“Oh,” he said breathlessly. “What-“ he tried to continue, but his voice left him with a gasp. His back involuntarily arched, discovering his array was heating at what he saw and felt. He didn’t have the capacity to be embarrassed by these feelings, so desperate he was to be claimed suddenly. His want was overwhelming even as he felt slightly weaker every moment, and he gasped in confusion and pleasure.

Skyfire then unlatched from his wrist and licked the small wound until it stopped bleeding freely, before kissing it gently, as if in apology. He then cast his optics back up, looking a little sad and guilty. Starscream had not expected that reaction, and his brow furrowed with renewed bewilderment.

Skyfire sighed and leaned down to kiss Starscream on the lips.

Starscream was confused, but still more than a little aroused. He opened his mouth to receive the kiss, and with a thrill, he tasted the salt and metal of his own energon in Skyfire’s mouth. Starscream made a sound then, just a tiny exhale but with a light moan underneath. 

Skyfire’s optics went wide as he slowly pulled away. “I- I was trying to say goodbye.”

“What?” Starscream said. “What?”

Skyfire furrowed his brow. “I- I shouldn’t have done that. I got a little overwhelmed by your reactions,” he said quietly. “I know you agreed to the biting, but you probably didn’t realize what I meant by that.”

The strange fog that had been permeating his systems pulled back entirely, and Starscream was able to think clearly. He frowned, leaning up on his elbows. “I was surprised, not…” he said, gesturing vaguely in the air. “Dissuaded.”

Skyfire blinked. His optics looked over-bright with surprise and eagerness. “You… are into this?” Skyfire asked breathlessly.

Starscream’s face heated immediately, staring up at Skyfire's confused face. “Uhm.  Well. You- you aren’t going to kill me, are you?”

Skyfire’s optics went wider, and he shook his helm quickly in surprise. “No- no, nothing like that. This- I’m sorry I didn’t clarify; I’m always non-lethal.”

Something about that statement curled Starscream’s memory. “Even with my attacker?” he asked quietly.

Skyfire’s optics hardened a little, and there was a twitch in his jaw. He invented deeply like he was going to sigh but held his breath instead. “Do you want me to answer that?”

Starscream swallowed, trying to sort through his feelings that were probably not appropriate at this time. 

“So. What is this then- a… fetish?”  He absently pulled his wrist back and ran his digits over the puncture marks in wonder. They mainly were healed already and barely noticeable save for the slightly warm plating.

“Not… exactly,” Skyfire said gently. He was sitting very still on the edge of the berth, and his giant wings twitched a little with uncertainty. “I’m a little different from the average Cybertronian.  Stronger, faster, heightened in senses- but I have the urge to feed on the energon from a mech rather than from a cube. The urge can be overwhelming.”

Starscream knew he should probably be frightened. He was more intrigued.

“So this was about feeding then?” he asked neutrally. While the idea of being used in such a manner kind of excited him, he also found the need to ask, “And why me?”

Skyfire, despite being something powerful and perhaps otherworldly, smiled shyly. “This wasn’t just about feeding. You are… gorgeous.” His optics trailed over his frame, and Starscream felt more seen than he had in his entire life. “You seemed interested. My… charming only works if the desire is already present.”

“Charming?” Starscream asked, sitting up more now. “That’s what I was feeling.”

Skyfire swallowed, nodding. “I won’t do it anymore if it frightens you.”

Starscream frowned slightly. “Let’s not be too hasty there,” he said without thinking. When he realized what he had said, he shifted in the berth. “It felt… good.”

Skyfire traced his back denta with his glossa as if weighing something in his mind. “That’s the idea. It makes you more compliant.”

Starscream stifled a shiver at the idea of being forced into compliance. He sat up fully and looked at Skyfire’s wary optics. “So, let’s say that I’m still interested-”

Skyfire frowned and didn’t let him finish. He stood up from the berth, shaking his helm. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” he said hastily. “I can take you home or wherever you would like to go, but I think the evening needs to be over.”

Starscream blanched, swallowing down a cry of frustration. “And why not?!”

“I can’t control myself!” Skyfire said with a tinge of desperation. “I don’t know what it is about you, but Primus, I just want to-” he looked at Starscream’s neck, and then his gaze drifted lower, and Starscream’s vents caught at the look. But then Skyfire turned away. “Starscream. Your highness,” he whispered. “For your own safety, you need to go home.”

Starscream was shaking his helm. “No, I don’t think so,” he said, biting his lower lip. “No, you are exactly what I want, with all your teeth, frightening power, and please, please don’t send me away,” Starscream said, sliding from the berth and to his pedes. He took a step towards Skyfire. “I want you to do this. Please, I want you to touch me, and hurt me, I trust you-“

Skyfire’s breathing had increased, and then he was touching Starscream, gently holding him under the chin to crane his neck into a breathy kiss. 

Starscream grabbed Skyfire’s hand and pulled it down to rub against the plating between his legs.

Skyfire then crowded him against the wall, using two large fingers to stroke against his plating and coax his valve to wetness. Starscream gasped as his back hit the wall, then lifted his leg to spread himself for Skyfire’s touch.

Their mouths continued to move, wet and hot and eager, and their tongues twined together. Starscream pulled back his interface panels, and then Skyfire exhaled as he slowly, torturously slid a finger into Starscream’s valve.

Starscream could not hold back his moan, making Skyfire’s kissing more frenzied. Skyfire used his thumb to press little circles into Starscream’s node, varying the pressure and speed as if trying to draw out another moan from Starscream’s mouth, and Starscream obliged him once again.

Starscream felt Skyfire shift, not realizing he had closed his optics. He opened them to see Skyfire dropping to his knees, watching to see if Starscream would signify this wasn’t desired. Starscream’s optics went wide, and his vents were hitching, but he also nodded twice in eager rapture.

Skyfire swallowed as he opened his mouth to extend his tongue and give a long, lewd lick up the outer folds of Starscream’s valve, and Starscream trembled. He started to pant a little as Skyfire did it again and again, lapping at him, and the honeyed scent of his increased lubricant filled the room. Starscream tilted his helm back, hitting the wall, trying to hold himself up. Skyfire wrapped his hand around Starscream’s aft, cupping him to support him.  A stray digit might have pressed lightly against his port, and Starscream shivered at the touch. Skyfire’s other hand gently pressed into the soft metal of his inner thigh, pressing it back to spread Starscream open more.

Starscream was biting his lip so hard he was sure he would break the surface. It was so hard not to buck his hips into Skyfire’s face as he continued to lick and then started to suck him. Starscream gave a whine, pleading with his tone more than his words because coherent thought was becoming harder to come by.

Skyfire delved his tongue into Starscream’s valve, and Starscream clenched.

He knew he was shamelessly moaning now, his hips gyrating against the eager tongue inside him, exploring him and fucking him. Skyfire moved his hand from the thigh to continue to play with his node, and Starscream had to take a few deep breaths to keep himself centered, or he thought he might pass out from the onslaught. Right when he was cresting higher, his arousal peaking, he felt Skyfire increase his frenzied movements on his array, and his mouth became ravenous and fervent. Starscream was about to lose it when he heard Skyfire give a low noise like a growl, and then his mouth was gone from his valve.

His sharp teeth sunk into the soft protometal of Starscream’s exposed thigh, as a thumb pressed against his node.

Starscream came with a strangled shout, keening as his valve flexed on nothing. The bite stung, not as numbed as the wrist had been, and he was fully aware this time as he felt Skyfire’s tongue gently running over the plating. Starscream’s valve dripped with lubricant, and he reached to press Skyfire’s helm harder against his thigh, hissing and moaning as Skyfire bit down more. Starscream curled around Skyfire, panting from the pain and the intense pleasure that was still flowing through him.

Finally, Skyfire relaxed his jaw and licked the puncture wounds. Starscream shivered in feverish desire, feeling hot, weak, invigorated, and dizzy; many flickers of emotion raced through his frame with overwhelming speed and force. Skyfire was mouthing at the side of his helm and then lifted him off the ground and into his arms to carry him to the berth.

Starscream was returning to himself and was pleased to feel his frame still hot and aroused. 

“Primus, I can’t believe you let me do that,” Skyfire murmured, his voice thick with excitement. “Will you let me enter you, little prince?”

Starscream arched his back, trying to get his mouth on Skyfire’s again. “How? How can I properly thank you?”

“Oh, you are thanking me enough,” Skyfire replied. He sat down on the berth with Starscream in his lap and was kissing down his neck again, being mindful of his tender cabling there, though Starscream could tell he wanted very much to be rougher. Starscream was still slightly in a haze but started to press his hips up against Skyfire, needing more than he currently had.

“Then fill me. However you want,” Starscream said. With some satisfaction, his valve smeared some lubricant on Skyfire’s array, and his erect spike dribbled some prefluid on Skyfire’s abdomen. “I am at your disposal.”

Skyfire exvented, his optics lustful. “I wonder. Do you serve all your subjects like this?” He gently picked up Starscream’s leg and moved it to turn Starscream in his lap. This sent a thrill down Starscream’s spinal strut, as he faced away from Skyfire’s chest. His aft was snugly against Skyfire’s array, and he cheekily moved it a little, squirming in the lap.

Skyfire huffed a little laugh and snaked a hand down to Starscream’s spike from behind and began to stroke it while nuzzling the back of his neck.

Starscream pressed his lips together as his aching spike hardened. “I would serve any of my subjects in this manner if they touched me as you do,” he replied with a gasp at the end. Skyfire had possessively squeezed at the head of his spike, making him leak more prefluid down Skyfire’s clenched hand.   “But as I am here, at your mercy, I suppose I will just have to serve you.”

Skyfire hummed in agreement. He released his own spike, and Starscream felt it pressurize between his legs, laying against his inner thigh. It was beautifully large and girthy, and Starscream’s valve clenched at the sight.

“Touch it,” Skyfire murmured.  “I can feel you staring.”

Starscream swallowed and reached down, his delicate fingers fluttering over the spike as he explored. Skyfire gave a sigh and continued to stoke Starscream’s spike with slow, lazy strokes.

"Primus," Starscream said as he smiled mischievously. “You didn't say you were so enormous."

Skyfire's breath came out in a huff and tickled the edge of Starscream’s audial. The tips of his digits delved into Starscream's hips. "You didn't ask, Princeling."

Skyfire wrapped his hand over the nape of his neck, index and thumb diving into the tense places where his neck muscles meet his shoulders- driving Starscream to shift his helm up and backward to turn. Starscream was reminded of the moment when they were in the middle of that crowd of partygoers earlier that evening, and Starscream had been distracted by his attacker. Skyfire had grabbed his chin to force him to focus on him.

It did things to Starscream that he wasn’t quite ready to admit.

Flicking his tongue out to taste Starscream's lips, Skyfire's fingers squeezed the scruff of his neck tighter, keeping him still. A delicate moan escaped away from Starscream's lips, Skyfire allowed his teeth to brush over the plump of Starscream’s lower lip.

"Oh," Starscream inhaled, his lips separating around the low sound, and that was all the invitation Skyfire needed to plunge his tongue inside his mouth again.

Pressing his back closer to Skyfire, Starscream appreciated the pleasantness of the kiss, getting rougher Starscream started to grind down into Skyfire's lap. "Mm," he hummed in satisfaction, warmth twisting in his tanks as he squirmed his aft in little, prodding circles over the solidifying length of Skyfire's spike.

Skyfire cursed quietly, and Starscream smirked, hearing how wrecked his voice sounded. Starscream pulled away from the kiss, deciding to play as he leaned forward and pressed his valve against the Spike between his legs.

Skyfire’s hands pressed down his lower back appreciatively, tracing the bottom edges of his wings. Starscream was pretty sure his valve was gaping wide on display from that angle, and his face flushed. “You look tight, your highness,” Skyfire said. He traced his fingers around the open valve before using them to scissor him open.

Starscream gasped as Skyfire poked at his valve with his spike.

“It’ll fit,” Starscream ground out. “Stop teasing.”

“So impatient,” Skyfire chided. He then slid into Starscream’s slick valve with a single thrust.

"Frag," Starscream groaned. His previously teasing voice now sounded totally destroyed.

Skyfire gave another smooth roll of his hips and cursed softly again as Starscream scrambled his servos to grip the silky blanket. The stretch was just shy of too much, but Starscream thought he could handle it as he gave a little puff of exertion. He tried to relax the calipers in his valve, but the urge to clench was too great.

Then Skyfire began to move.

It doesn’t take long for Skyfire to settle into a rhythm as Starscream fell apart beneath him—and frag, Starscream didn’t think he ever had anyone quite like Skyfire between his legs before. Starscream tried to get his knees up under him to give himself leverage to push back and impale himself on the spike more, but he kept slipping. He wanted Skyfire to fuck him faster, to give him more, to give him what he so desperately desired. 

“Skyfire,” Starscream gasped.

Skyfire leaned over him and started to fuck him harder, snaking his hand down his waist to wrap around and press up on his abdomen to line up their arrays. Skyfire started to kiss his shoulder, mouthing at his neck as his thrusting became more frenzied.

Starscream gave a little cry with every thrust until Skyfire’s rhythm began to falter. Skyfire then grabbed Starscream about the waist and pulled him back so that they were both sitting up. Starscream’s thighs were split apart with Skyfire bucking up into him, and Starscream’s aching spike swaying with the movement. 

Starscream was so close again, and he thought he heard the breathy gasp in Skyfire’s vents that indicated his own impending release. The thrusts became harder, and Starscream shuddered on the spike, clenching down just as the tide of pleasure rushed over and triggered his overload.

It was then that Skyfire bit down on his neck, holding Starscream tightly so that he couldn’t get away.

He cried out his moan, warbling with surprise at the force and hit of it. Skyfire must have felt it, because he gave a growl again, and then thrust up one more time into Starscream’s spasming valve and started to come deep inside him.

Starscream struggled weakly, more out of instinct than actual want. Skyfire continued to pump his load into Starscream with tight little thrusts as he drank from Starscream’s sore neck. Starscream had started to try and push Skyfire away, but his confused frame kept giving him mixed signals. Instead, he reached up behind Skyfire’s neck and pressed his mouth harder to his lines, increasing the sharp sting of the bite a little more.

Skyfire moaned against his neck, and Starscream’s spent valve clenched in response to the noise, though Starscream was fully sated. He leaned heavily against Skyfire’s chest and continued to bob on top of Skyfire’s spike for a few more moments before Skyfire stilled, and finished filling him with transfluid.

Skyfire removed his mouth from his neck and kissed where he had bitten. They both panted and tried to catch their vents. 

Eventually, Skyfire gently removed Starscream off his spike and laid him down on the berth again. Starscream whined incoherently, and Skyfire was there, curling around him, petting his wings and plating. “You’re alright,” Skyfire soothed, nuzzling against him. “You were wonderful, sweetspark.”

Starscream was not used to his partners being interested in aftercare, and he nuzzled back into Skyfire as relaxation began to creep into his frame. “That was worth sneaking out of the palace.”

Skyfire chuckled lowly and gently grasped him under the chin to tilt up his face again. “Are you sure you are okay?”

Starscream stared up at him, his engines purring with contentment. “You are so worried,” Starscream said, going soft in the warm, inviting berth. “I enjoyed it.”

Skyfire searched his optics as if looking for deceit but must have believed whatever he found there. He shook his helm slightly in surprise and wonder before leaning down to kiss Starscream on the forehead. 

Starscream hummed in question but was already drifting into unconsciousness, nestled in the crook of Skyfire’s arms.

Starscream woke with a start.

He was surrounded by scarlet satin sheets and light gray blankets in his berth. His hand flew to his forehead as he had a slight helmache that made him wince. His frame was sore and weakened, and he tried to stay upright in the berth.

His door burst open, and in strode Thundercracker with a nervous Skywarp behind him. “Starscream!” Thundercracker called. “Thank Primus, you made it back here!”

Starscream stared at them with bleary optics, blinking a few times before Skywarp screeched in horror. “What happened to your face?!”  He ran to the side of Starscream’s berth and was crawling in beside Starscream, who pulled away slightly. “Oh, darling, what happened?” he crooned, gently caressing his cheek.

Despite his slight irritation at the coddling, he leaned into the touch. “I’m hoping it looks a little better than last night. Mech punched me.”

Thundercracker was in the berth beside him on the other side, turning his face this way and that to get a good look. “It looks like it is healing. Kind of hard to hide, though, Star. I hope you gave the mech hell back.”

Starscream smirked wickedly. “You could say that.”

Skywarp was looking him over for any other injuries. “And your neck?”

Starscream’s hand went to his neck, unbidden, to touch the area where Skyfire had last bitten him. He felt the puncture marks and blushed. Skywarp saw it and started to snicker. “Well,” he said, pulling back. “Guess it was a good night for all of us then.”

Starscream traced the inside of his cheek, deciding to keep the details to himself. “I am… tired, though,” he said quietly.

“We’ll make something up,” Thundercracker said softly. “As an apology for not sticking with you. That should give you some time for your face to heal up, so we don’t all have to face… unfortunate questions.”

Starscream nodded, settling back down into the berth. His trinemates tucked him in, placing the blankets back over him and fussing over him until he snapped at them to let him rest.

As they left, his hand bumped against something under his pillow. Pulling it out revealed Skyfire’s mask, glinting in the low light of his room. Starscream turned it around and found a little note with a comm frequency written on it tucked inside.

Starscream smirked, held the mask to his chest, and laid down on the berth, quickly falling back asleep.