Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Author's Note: This is a piece for my friend (see Fanfiction.net for more info). My friend wanted this written as she struggles to write herself. She told me what she wanted, and I did give a lot of input and suggestions. Some she loved, some she didn't. In the end, this is what she wanted. Some things I might not have agreed upon, as I would have made some different choices at place, but in the end this is her story and what she wanted. I can tell you we talked a LOT about what to have happen, bounced ideas around, all of that. So if it's not as dark as you expect from me... That is why. :P

This story is filled with rape, abuse, manipulation, cussing, past trauma, a graphic miscarriage, interface, BDSM, and good friends becoming enemies. I hope you enjoy!

Cybertronian Units of Time (according to IDW):

Astrosecond ≈ .273 of a second
Breem ≈ 8.3 minutes
Cycle ≈ 1 hour 15 minutes
Decacycle ≈ 3 weeks
Joor ≈ hour
Klik ≈ 1.2 minutes
Megacycle ≈ 93 hours
Orbital cycle ≈ 1 Earth day
Orn ≈ 13 days
Stellar cycle ≈ 7.5 months
Vorn ≈ 83 years

Disclaimer: The Transformers universe, names, and characters are property of Hasbro.

OCs are created by me for the sole purpose of this story and any names or scenes similar to other fanfics are simply coincidental. Any ideas or names intentionally taken from other fanfics will be noted at the beginning of any chapters to which the occurrence shall take place.

Enjoy. :)

“Ouch… Ha, ooh…. Ow…”

Starscream winced, biting back a moan, his red optics locked onto the ones hovering above him. He gasped as the clawed servo tightened its cruel grip around his throat, his denta gritting as the savage thrusting intensified. Megatron grunted, his climax nearing, going harder and faster with the anticipation and desire fueling his body.

It wasn’t always painful, but tonight the warlord was certainly in a desperate mood to alleviate his body’s prodigious craving for rough interface.

“Please, my lord, you know I haven’t been, hah, feeling too well as of, ow, late.” Starscream managed to pant out between pants and groans.

“Shut up.” Megatron growled.

Starscream swallowed, looking into those harsh optics, his digits clasping onto the wrist that held him down. Megatron’s other servo was holding the Seeker’s waist, keeping it raised so he could thrust into the jet with more ease.

Starscream offlined his optics, trying to focus on not losing what was in his fuel tank. He had been feeling nauseous and dizzy for an orn now. Not sure as to why. He assumed it had to do with these frags, but then again…. He had been dealing with Megatron’s needs for thousands of vorns…

Maybe it was the energon. Not like they got the same type of energon they had during the war. This new energon wasn’t always the best quality. Cybertron had a lot of recovering to do, and with that came less adequate essentials for those no longer in power… No, the Autobots have that pleasure now.

The loud, bestial growl of Megatron overloading shook the Seeker out of his thoughts. He whined as their exposed sparks bonded, something Megatron wanted more of since the war ended. The grounder brute panted, sitting there for what felt like joors, before pulling out and getting off the berth.

Starscream swallowed, ensuring his fuel stayed down, before he slowly sat up, closing his plates.

“Is that all, Megatron?”

Megatron didn’t say anything. Starscream vented a sigh, knowing that meant Megatron was indeed finally satisfied. He slid off the berth and went to the washroom, needing to clean himself off.

He stepped into the shower and turned the water on. The former Air Commander wiped himself clean, removing his codpiece to ensure all that was Megatron was truly off him. He finished, and stepped out of the shower, drying himself with a towel. He stood in front of the mirror, feeling a tingle in his spark. Curiously, he opened his spark chamber, wondering if some water spilled within. He squinted his optics, noticing something… Off. Was that… Another glowing orb? Something small next to his own. But that couldn’t be unless he was-

His optics widened. He dropped the towel and began to dig around in the drawers until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out the medical scanner, turned it on, and searched through the settings. He found the one he needed, activated it, then held the scanner out. He quickly ran it over his spark and read the result. His wings flicked; he ran the scanner over his spark again. Same result.

He swallowed, biting his lower lip plate. He then perked his wings.

He was sparked, and it was Megatron’s. If he was carrying Megatron’s sparkling…. Maybe the brute would actually start to be nice to him! Maybe this was how he finally got accepted by Megatron as something more than a punching bag and frag toy. Maybe Megatron might actually, finally, love him.

Starscream smiled at that thought. He closed up his chest plates and exited the washroom. He quickly made his way over to where the former gladiator was drinking energon while reading from a datapad.

“Ahem.”

Megatron ignored him.

Starscream reset his vocalizer again. “Ahem, Megatron. I… I have some news for you.”

Megatron looked up at him. “What is it?”

Starscream slowly held up the scanner, faintly smiling as his wings lowered, nervous. “I-I’m… You sparked me.”

“What?” Megatron grunted.

“You sparked me. I’m sparked. I am carrying your sparkling. I’m almost three decacycles along. That must be why I’ve been so sick. I’ve been sparked and haven’t been eating metal or taking-“

“Get rid of it.” Megatron snapped harshly, returning to his datapad.

Starscream’s smile disappeared. “I-I’m sorry...?”

“Get rid of it.” He growled again.

“You… You don’t want a sparkling...?” Starscream’s vocalizer got lower.

Megatron rolled his optics as he stood up, tossing the datapad aside. “I said to get rid of it. Is that not clear enough of my position on having a sparkling?”

Starscream took a nervous step back. “I-I thought you would want a-a heir or-AH!” He cried out when Megatron viciously punched him in the abdomen, right where the gestation tank was.

Starscream fell to his knees, clutching his abdomen, his wings as low as they could go. He cycled air heavily, trying to calm down his systems.

“There.” Megatron grunted, returning to his seat. “It’s gone.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, feeling coolant filling his optics. He slowly stood up and went to the berth room, his servos still clutching his dented abdomen. He slowly lay down on the berth, curling into himself. He allowed the coolant tears to leak out, softly sobbing. Nothing he did was ever good enough for Megatron, not even carrying the bastard’s own sparkling…

Megatron entered the berthroom a joor later and lay down beside the Seeker. Without cuddling, or even touching the jet, the grounder offlined, falling into recharge. Starscream swallowed, his servo still holding his abdomen.

Maybe it was for the better. He would make a terrible carrier.

Starscream onlined the next morning. He slowly got up and went to the energon room. The jet poured himself a glass of energon, but then felt uneasy. He quickly ran to the washroom, waiting to purge, but thankfully his fuel tank settled some. His wings flicked. Why was he feeling nauseous and not having a miscarriage? If Megatron’s punch killed the sparkling, he should be feeling something wanting out a different end…

The Seeker grabbed the scanner, turned it back on, and scanned himself. He hesitated before looking at the results. The sparkling was not only still there, but the spark was, too. The protoform was very much alive.

Of course. He would be hard to kill like his sire.

Starscream bit his lip plate, not sure what to do with this news. Would Megatron punch him again? Would he drag him to a clinic? Would he do worse?

The Seeker didn’t know what to think. Megatron was so unpredictable at times. Would he be mad about failing to kill his own sparkling? Would he not care and ignore the jet? Would he beat him?

But surely, he would want a sparkling...? It would be a sign of his strength and ability to breed and maybe a sign of hope for Decepticons? And it was with him, Starscream, and not some mongrel!

Starscream sighed. He wouldn’t be able to hide it forever. Sooner or later the sparkling would come out and Megatron would know. Might as well get it over with now and pray that Megatron wouldn’t be as hostile as he was last night…

Starscream walked out of the washroom and found the grounder in the living room. Megatron was messaging someone, probably Soundwave. Maybe he would be in a better mood with his dog wagging his tail at him…

“My lord,” Starscream spoke up. “I… I need to speak to you.”

Megatron rolled his optics. “What is it, Starscream?” He grunted.

“I… I’m still sparked.”

Megatron finally looked up at him. “Really?” He almost growled it.

Starscream swallowed. “This isn’t a bad thing. You procreating is a sign of strength, of leadership, of-“

Starscream was barely able to dodge the datapad chucked at his face. It lodged itself into the wall behind him. The Seeker glanced from it to the warlord, his wings flicking.

“That was mature.” He grunted before his wings instantly dropped, seeing Megatron rise to his peds.

“I do not want a sparkling!” Megatron roared, stomping over.

“Then maybe you should have used protection!”

“I use-“ Megatron’s optics narrowed. “You clearly are fragging behind my back!”

“What?!”

“That sparkling isn’t mine.”

“Oh… OH!” Starscream flicked his wings, his servos clenched into fists. “How dare you accuse me of being unfaithful! You know I spend every night with you!”

“We would have to be together for you to be ‘unfaithful.’”

“We are together!”

“You’re delusional.”  Megatron spat. “You’re a slut and always have been. I would never be with a slut!”

That hurt. Starscream bit back the tears that wanted to come forth. “You-“ He swallowed. “Then why do you only frag me and keep me with you wherever you go?” He demanded sternly, trying to not let his real emotions be revealed. “If I’m so disgusting to you, why do you frag me every night?”

Megatron’s optics glowed brighter for a brief moment, his servos tightening into fists. “You’re not worth my time.” He growled.

“No, just the less than a breem you can actually manage to pump out each night.”

He yelped when he was punched in the faceplates, stumbling back.

“You miserable, little brat!” Megatron roared.

Starscream’s optics widened before he spun around and ran. Megatron gave chase, the small room not allowing the Seeker to escape. Megatron had him and began to rain down savage punch after savage punch. Starscream tried to block the blows, but the grounder was too strong.

Megatron grasped the smaller mech by the neck and dragged him to the door. Starscream kicked and struggled, clawing at the arm that held him. Megatron palmed open the front door, and with one swift swing of his arm, threw the Seeker outside. The jet landed hard on the ground, yelping from the pain. He looked up, his wings flicking, then lowering.

“I don’t need you, Starscream. Be a slut elsewhere.” Megatron snapped before closing and locking the door.

Starscream quickly got to his peds. “Megatron! Don’t you dare lock me out!” He ran to the door and tried to open it. “Megatron!” His wings flicked. “Megatron...? I… My lord?”

No response.

Starscream swallowed. Whatever. Megatron would let him back after some time. The brute had thrown him out of the bedroom many times before and always let him back in after some time. He just needed to wait it off.

So, he did.

The Seeker sat on the stoop and waited, and waited, and waited. Joors passed, the sun set, and still Megatron didn’t let him in. Surely, Megatron would let him in now since it was the usual fragging time, right?

The door remained locked.

Starscream vented a sigh. Maybe it would be more than joors that the idiot needed before letting him back in.

Starscream stood up, his fuel gauge informing him that he was less than half a tank full. He needed more energon. The sparkling was draining him faster than it normally would.

He didn’t have Shanix though, and what little he did have was locked inside with that bumbling aft.

He would have to find energon that was free. And the only place that offered that was the shelter. The shelter would also offer him additives for his carrying, which he needed badly.

With a defeated sigh, the once proud Seeker warrior trudged down the street in the direction of the shelter. Thank goodness his enemies and Soundwave weren’t around to see this humiliation…

He eventually arrived at his destination. Hopefully, no one recognized him… He entered the shelter, wings low.

“Can I help you?”

The Seeker looked up at the receptionist. A short, grounder femme with magenta paint and yellow optics. “Um, I…” He hesitated, not sure what to say.

“Do you need help? Energon?” She implored.

“Yes…” He answered weakly. “I’m… I’m sparked and don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“How far along are you?” She asked as she prepared a datapad.

“I… Two decacycles. The scanner indicated that.”

“Have you had any complications? Sickness?” She held the datapad out to him.

“Um… Nausea.”

“Fill out this form. We have a space for sparked fliers. You will receive energon three times each orbital cycle and must be in your room by 22:00. Curfew is for safety to ensure no unwanted guests come by. You will be given a card to present to the guard before entering the shelter every-“

Starscream had stopped listening, feeling his spark sink as he filled out the form. Hopefully, Megatron let him back soon.

He was soon led to a door, down a hallway, and eventually to a small room with a desk, berth, and storage space. It wasn’t much, but enough for one to be somewhat comfortable. Not that he planned on staying here long, just until Megatron took him back in. That wouldn’t be long, of course. The idiot had a libido that only Starscream could satisfy. He’d be welcomed back very soon.

It had been a decacycle.

Starscream was still at the shelter. He had returned to Megatron’s abode more than once, knocking on the door, demanding to be let in, but the grounder never once answered or opened the door. It was as if he wasn’t there… But he was. Starscream could hear him walking around or saw him enter. He just never opened the door.

But he could out stubborn the stupid grounder. He was Starscream after all!

So, he persevered. He stayed at this stupid shelter, slowly feeling the sparkling grow inside of him. The shelter provided him with everything he needed for the sparkling, and he did feel so much better. The nausea wasn’t as bad, but he was starting to feel more tired and wanting to recharge.

Due to being sparked, and the sparkling developing to the point it was getting harder to do manual labor, the shelter didn’t require him to find work or anything. He was allowed to just live in his room, receive energon and medical care, and otherwise behave. After the sparkling’s birth he would be required to participate in a program to find work. But Megatron would take him back before that! That, he knew.

While it was nice to not work and having free energon delivered, there was incidents that left Starscream uncomfortable… The guards were all grounders and frequently cat-called him. One night he was returning to the shelter, having to pass closely by the guards in the hallway.

“Hey, beautiful.” One of the grounders smiled.

Starscream ignored him, trying to brush by the second guard in his way.

“Looking good, sweet plates!” The second exclaimed while giving the Seeker a hard slap on the aft.

Starscream spun around, wings flaring, glaring at them. “Do not touch me!” He roared.

“It’s just a joke.” The guard who hit him laughed, reaching over as if to grab the Seeker’s wrists.

Starscream leaped back, claws out, ready to fight. The grounder stayed put, slowly raising his servos in a peaceful gesture. Starscream flicked his wings, then slowly backed away, never removing his optics from the grounders. Once he was far away enough did he turn and hastily made his way to his room. He locked the door, trying to calm his panicking spark.

When will Megatron take him back?

And then another decacycle passed…

The Seeker, now close to five decacycles of carrying, returned to Megatron’s place.

“Megatron!” He banged on the door. “I know you are home! Come on! You can’t be this petty!” He threw his arms out, wings flicking. He waited a moment before resuming his knocking and shouting, but nothing came of it.

With a defeated sigh, he turned and walked away.

He was absolutely miserable. The shelter was miserable, so many people coming and going, the energon wasn’t the best, and he didn’t trust some of the night guards. Between the catcalling, aft slaps, and breast plate molesting, they probably were planning on assaulting him or something. He didn’t want to go back there…

He chose to walk around instead, delaying his inevitable return to that place. It wasn’t a bad orbital cycle, no, rather nice weather. He could somewhat enjoy the city despite everything.

He rounded a corner and found a small park. The benches were empty, so he sat on one with a view of the pond. Some cyber ducks were swimming in it, with other birds flying around. He leaned back. A servo resting over his abdominal plating, then he offlined his optics, feeling the warmth of the sun on his plates.

Finally, some peace. But it was not to last.

After a couple of breems he was startled by the sound of approaching peds and voices. He onlined his optics, seeing some young grounder nearing. They appeared to be adolescents, some trucks, some tanks, and speedsters.

“What do we have here?” One sneered, a brown truck. “A homeless slagpile?”

“Homeless aren’t welcomed here! Your stench is ruining it for the rest of us.” One of the tanks piped up.

Starscream flicked his wings. “Run along, sparklings. I’m sure your carriers are eager to clean out your waste tanks.”

“What did you just say?” The first truck demanded as he stomped over.

“I said to frag off.” Starscream flicked his wings again, then flared them. Something that would have been a serious threat to another flier, but to grounders it didn’t mean much.

“You can’t speak to us like that.” One of the speedsters snapped, holding a metal pipe. “You’re a homeless flier.”

“The war is over and yet the prejudice continues…” Starscream grumbled.

Suddenly, the speedster with the pipe swung it, smacking Starscream across the helm. “Take back what you said, Seeker!” He sneered; his lip plates curled in a snarl.

Starscream cried out from the blow, almost falling off the bench. But before he could speak or react, he was suddenly struck by another object, followed by a punch. Then he fell to the ground, which resulted in peds kicking him.

He yelled, clutching his abdomen with one arm as his other tried to shield his helm from the raining blows. They were kicking him, hitting him with a pipe, and one even grabbed one of the branches from the nearby tree and was using it as a weapon.

Then, one of the grounders poured his bottle of energon over the jet, then pulled out a lighter.

Starscream shrieked as the energon became engulfed in flames, burning his torso, shoulder, and part of his face. He jerked up but was struck with the pipe. He tried to get away, try to dissipate the fire, but the grounders kept beating him.

Then, as quickly as it had started, it ended. The grounders, laughing, walked away, eager to brag about what they had just done.

Starscream slowly got to his peds, the energon burnt off, leaving his blackened plates behind. Painfully, he limped down the path, wings low, on his way back to the shelter, holding back his coolant tears.

He eventually arrived at the shelter, no one even asked him what happened as he made his way to his room. He collapsed onto the berth, and only then allowed himself to cry.

He couldn’t stay here. He had no protection. He was miserable! He needed to get out of here, but where could he go? Megatron was being an aft… Soundwave hated him, and that moron was living with more cyber cats than one could find at a shelter… Everyone hated him… He had no friends…

Wait. Friends… He did have a friend! At least… He thought he did? Maybe…

Did Knock Out care about him still? They used to be friends at one point… Living with Knock Out would be better than living in this horrible shelter… And he just needed to stay long enough until Megatron let him back!

Yes, that was the plan. Tomorrow he’d go to Knock Out’s, stay with him until Megatron stopped being stupid, and have the sparkling! Perfect!

The next orbital cycle Starscream stepped out of the shelter and made his way across the city. He would have preferred to have flown, but he was so far along into his carrying transforming wasn’t easy. So, he walked.

Eventually, he arrived at his destination. He had only been here once before, so hoped the couple still lived here.

Tentatively, he approached. He stood on the stoop, held up a fist, and paused. While he had thought about what he would say, now that he was here, he wasn’t sure what to say. What if Knock Out rejected him? What if Knock Out hated him? What if-?

He swallowed, trying to not think the worst. Maybe Knock Out would let him in. He would see his friend was hurt and carrying and let him in. Maybe he would receive the pity he deserved.

He sighed, hesitated for one more moment, then knocked.

It felt like an eternity befor the door finally opened, and what greeted him was not the open arms and warm smile he had hoped would.

“Look what the cyber cat dragged in.” Was the mocking tone. “He finally kicked you out and your stray aft comes all the way to me. I would say, ‘told you so,’ but I doubt you still would listen to me.”

“Knock Out…” Starscream spoke, his voice softer than he expected.

“Nah uh!” Knock Out held up a single claw. “Don’t you dare try to make me pity you! I warned you; I begged you, I fragging told you that Megatron cared not for you and would leave you on the streets or dead. Did you listen? Nope! You never do. You only care about Starscream.”

“Babe, who’s at the door?” Breakdown’s vocalizer sounded from inside.

“Just a drowned rat!” Knock Out called over his shoulder with a scowl.

Starscream lowered his wings at that. “What do you want to hear from me? An apology? Me to tell you you’re right?”

“Of how much I love to be told of how right I am, I don’t think I would accept that from you.”

Breakdown appeared behind his mate, his optics widening at seeing Starscream. “Oh! What happened to you!”

“He was just leaving.” Knock Out huffed, reaching to close the door.

“I’m sparked!” Starscream exclaimed.

“Not my problem!” Knock Out started to close the door when Breakdown grabbed it, stopping him.

“Sparked?” He looked so concerned. “What’s the due date?”

“I don’t know… I’m five decacycles along.” Starscream replied.

Breakdown’s smile grew. “Aw! Congrats!”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Yes, congrats. Now leave. Go backstab some pigeons or-“

“Knock Out, sweetie,” Breakdown interjected.

 “What?!” The red speedster glared up at his mate.

“You’re not seriously going to turn away an expecting carrier, are you?”

“It’s Starscream!”

“But, the sparkling…”

“Is his problem!”

“But… the sparkling…” He said it softer, his optics becoming like a begging puppy’s.

Knock Out narrowed his optics. “You want the sparkling?”

Breakdown smiled and quickly nodded, excitement filling him.

Knock Out just glared at him, then finally sighed. He could never win against that face. “Fine. But you’re responsible for him.” He jabbed a digit into his mate’s chestplate. “If he pisses in the house, I’m rubbing his face in it…” He grunted as he walked away.

Breakdown practically was squealing. “Yes! Sparkling! Come in, Starscream. I’ll get a berthroom ready for you.”

Starscream faintly smiled as he walked in. “Thanks, Breakdown.”

“The energon room is over there. Help yourself. And the washroom is over there.” He pointed to the mentioned rooms.

Starscream looked around the house. It was perfection. Everything perfectly cleaned, painted, waxed, organized, everything. There was a living room to his right with couches and a TV, and a staircase behind that. To the left was the energon storage room and a dining room. Not a single speck of dirt existed. Not a single cup was out of place.

It was nothing like Megatron’s place, and especially not like that shelter.

Yes, this would do just fine.

Starscream went up the stairs and found the washroom. He locked himself inside, turned on the water, and stepped in. The warmth of the water on his exhausted frame felt amazing. He needed this. To just feel normal, safe, and not in danger.

He finished washing himself, having to really scrub the grime off from what those ruffians had done to him. He paused to study himself in the mirror, noting how awful he looked. Scrapes, cuts, dull plating, chipped paint… He would need a lot of work. Knock Out surely would allow him to borrow some equipment to beautify himself.

The Seeker exited the washroom and made his way down the stairs. He saw Breakdown sitting on the sofa watching TV and walked over.

“How you feeling?” Breakdown inquired, gesturing for the jet to sit by him.

“Better.” Starscream replied, sitting on the other couch, not wanting to sit right next to the grounder. They weren’t that close of friends, after all.

“The berthroom is ready for you. If you need anything let me know. And help yourself to energon whenever. We have plenty. Knock Out is out the most so he may not always be around to help you.”

“I appreciate it.” Starscream said softly, leaning back on the couch.

“So…” Breakdown’s vocalizer slowly rose, excitement obvious. “Mechling? Femmling? Twins?”

“Oh, gosh…” Starscream rolled his optics. “I hope not… One will be enough of a helm ache…. I honestly don’t know the sex. I haven’t had an ultrasound or anything other than a physical.”

“Knock Out can give you an ultrasound. Can’t you, babe?!” He called out over his shoulder.

“What?!” Knock Out’s vocalizer sounded from the other room.

“Starscream hasn’t had an ultrasound! You should look at him!”

Knock Out walked out of the backroom, approaching his mate. “I’m not an obstetrician.” He grunted.

“Oh, you’ve delivered several sparklings and done other obstetrician practices.” Breakdown gave a dismissive wave.

“There’s a difference between being licensed, thus medically trained, and doing what must be done during a fragging war.” He gave Starscream a hard glare as he stood behind Breakdown. “Starscream can see an actual obstetrician.”

Starscream swallowed, his wings lowering some.

“You need to be nice.” Breakdown chastised his mate with a digit pointing firmly at him. “Starscream has been through a lot and needs our help.”

“He wouldn’t have been through so much had he listened to me.” Knock Out crossed his arms.

“People sometimes need to learn the hard way.”

“There’s nothing for me to ‘learn the hard way.’” Starscream snapped.

Knock Out’s optics brightened. “Nothing to l-LOOK AT YOU!” He gestured at the Seeker. “You’ve been living with that abusive idiot, infatuated with him like he’s some sort of god, while he beats you!”

“Megatron does not-“

“I do not want to start this over again!” Knock Out held up a servo to silence him.

“Megatron cares about me! You’re just-“

“I am what?!” Knock Out’s servos grasped his hips as he leaned forward, his engine beginning to rev.

“Y-you’re-“ Starscream flared his servos, trying to think of something. “Clearly jealous!”

“Jealous?” Knock Out cocked his helm to the side, then slowly smirked. “Y-you think I’m jealous?” He pressed his digits to his chestplates. “What is there for me to be jealous of? Hmm? That I don’t live in fear? That I’m not being beaten? That I am not being thrown onto the streets and left to starve? That I’m not-“

“Megatron didn’t throw me onto the streets to starve. We’re just in a rough patch. It’ll go away. It always does.” Starscream flicked his wings resolutely.

“No, Starscream, a ‘rough patch’ is when you don’t speak to someone for a few joors and then have apology interface.”

“Oh, can we do that?” Breakdown suddenly interjected, only to have Knock Out hastily cover his mouth.

“That’s a rough patch!” Knock Out finished, keeping his servo on the blue grounder’s mouth.

“Okay, so, whatever...?” Starscream rolled his optics. “All couples fight differently. You and Breakdown do the silent treatment and Megatron and I just recharge in different berths for a couple of nights. Like… It’s normal.”

“IT IS NOT NORMAL YOU FRAGGING IDIOT!” Knock Out shrieked, tired of this same argument for the thousandth time.

“IT IS NORMAL!”

“ENOUGH!” Breakdown roared, silencing them both. “You, here.” He pointed at Knock Out and then his lap.

Knock Out walked around the couch and sat on his mate’s lap, who immediately hugged him. Knock Out, despite his best effort, couldn’t retain his anger once his mate was holding him, so loudly sighed as he relaxed into that chassis of his beloved.

Starscream flicked his wings, his anger still residing, but he was slowly calming down seeing Knock Out relax.

“You can’t get angry like that, darling. It’s not good for your complexion.” Breakdown said it so lovingly and gently, not loosening his hold on his Conjunx Endura.

“Yes, yes, I know.” Knock Out grunted.

“I love you.”

“Love you more.” Knock Out finally smiled.

“Love you mostest.” Breakdown purred before they kissed on the lip plates.

Starscream felt awkward.

“I know there’s a lot of anger in you both, but we need to put aside our differences.” Breakdown lectured them, still hugging Knock Out firmly around his waist. “Starscream is sparked and needs help. You two were once friends. Act like it.”

“And if I refuse?” Knock Out demanded.

“Then I’ll have to tickle you. And not just the tickles, but I’ll have to hug you so tightly you explode!” He said it in a baby voice, getting his face in Knock Out’s.

“Not the explodies!” Knock Out said in mock horror.

“Yes, all the explodies! And then I’ll have to kiss you, and love on you, and tell you I love you.” He continued in that annoying baby voice before kissing Knock Out on the lip plates.

“Stop...!” Knock Out giggled, pushing Breakdown away without any effort.

“Nevers!” Breakdown continued to kiss Knock Out, the two soon going all out on kissing each other.

That was enough PDA for Starscream. He stood up and went upstairs to find his berthroom. He located it and closed the door behind him, not wanting to be bothered. He lied on the berth, sighed, and offlined his optics. He needed to rest. He’d deal with Knock Out in the morning.

Starscream online the next morning. He checked his chronometer, noting he had recharged in longer than usual. Probably because the sparkling was making him tired.

He slowly got up, that becoming a more difficult task with each passing orbital cycle, and stepped out of his room. He perked his wings, hearing people downstairs. He wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Knock Out… Hopefully it was Breakdown.

The Seeker descended the stairs and walked to the energon room.

“Morning, Stars!” Knock Out said a little too… Joyfully.

Starscream raised on optical ridge, not trusting this smiling, happy Knock Out. What was he up to?

“Morning…” He greeted cautiously, glancing around in case there was an ambush.

“I prepared some additives for you here.” Knock Out gestured to several energon cubes. “I have goodies in this cupboard and if you need more additives they are over here.” He pointed. “I am off to work. Breakdown will be home so seek him out should you need anything, Seeker.” He then gestured a peace sign at the jet. “Peace out!”

Starscream watched the speedster leave in complete confusion. Why was he acting like this? He then glanced at the energon. It must be poisoned.

“Morning!” Breakdown greeted as he entered the energon room. “Hope you recharged well.”

“Yes, I did.” He flicked his wings. “Did Knock Out poison these?” He gestured to the cubes.

“What makes you think that?” Breakdown asked in confusion, removing an entire energon cake out from behind some cubes, clearly having hidden it from Knock Out.

“He was unusually giddy…” Starscream flicked his wings again, glaring at the cubes, knowing they were there to kill him.

“Oh! Well,” Breakdown set down the cake on the table. “Um, no, he didn’t poison your energon. He’s just… Happy.”

“Why? He wanted to leave me on the streets yesterday…”

“Err, um…” Breakdown hesitated. “I didn’t want him to yell again so I… I kissed him…. Downstairs… It makes him nice.”

Starscream raised an optical ridge, quickly getting it before smirking. “What kind of glossa you got, Breakdown? You can make even Knock Out act like that? Damn, do you do glossa workouts or something?”

Breakdown swallowed, a little flustered. “No, I just… Really love him.” He started to cut into the cake with a knife. “Want some cake?”

Starscream nodded. “Does he not get that often?”

“I’m not discussing anymore with you. That’s between me and my mate.” He set a slice of cake onto a plate and pushed it to Starscream.

“I’m sure he’ll gossip about it.”

“Yeah, he does... Some of it.” Breakdown took the rest of the cake and walked out.

Starscream raised an optical ridge. No wonder Breakdown was so large… He grabbed his cake slice and a cube and walked out.

The Seeker spent the day watching TV with Breakdown and napping. His sparkling clearly didn’t want him to even have the energy to stay online. He was lying on the couch when Knock Out came home.

“Sexy one! I’m home!” He called out, carrying a couple of bags.

“Finally! I almost dieded without you!” Breakdown cried out, acting like he had suffered so.

Are all these two gonna do is be overly dramatic and baby talk each other? Starscream rolled his optics. So annoying.

“I almost dieded without you!” Knock Out proclaimed. “I need kissies from my conjunxie!”

Breakdown trotted over and kissed Knock Out on the lip plates. “All the kissies!”

“I love you.” Knock Out smiled, holding the sides of Breakdown’s helm.

“I love you more.” Breakdown lowered a servo to hold Knock Out’s aft.

“I love you moistest.” Knock Out purred before the two began to kiss.

Make it stop… Starscream rubbed over his faceplates. They never acted like this on the Nemesis…

“Did my sexy mate get me anything?” Breakdown inquired once they finally broke the kiss.

“The sexy one did get something.” Knock Out rummaged in a bag and pulled out something Starscream couldn’t quite see. “For tonight.” The speedster naughtily smirked.

Breakdown giggled. “You’re the best.”

“I know I am.”

“You two better not keep me up all night.” Starscream grunted.

Knock Out’s smile disappeared as he turned to face the Seeker. “Keep you up? What do you have to do in the morning? Be delusional?”

“Sweetie…” Breakdown started.

“I don’t want to hear you two doing…. Kinky stuff all night.”

“Kinky stuff? What do you think we do? BDSM? You’re the masochist.”

“Then what is that?”

“You think I bought something for interface? You’re a pervert. I got a puzzle!”

Breakdown held up the box so Starscream could see. Indeed, it was a puzzle, the image being of zap ponies around a pond.

“You spend your nights playing with sparkling games?” Starscream raised an optical ridge.

“It’s not a sparkling game. And, yes, we spend our nights hanging out, playing games, watching TV, snuggling, and other normal activities mates do. You’d know that if you didn’t live with an abusive fragger who uses you as his personal whore.”

“He does not-“

“I’m not having this argument.” Knock Out growled, stomping over with the bags he still held. “Here, I got stuff for you.” He opened the bags and started to roughly shove them into Starscream’s chestplates. “I got you your own buffer, and wax, and towels for your shower, a datapad, denta brush, denta paste, soap, and-“ He just shoved the bags into Starscream. “The stuff you need to be normal! Because at least I’ll give you that decency!”

Starscream swallowed, not expecting this kind gesture. He dumbly held the gifts, not sure what to say. His wings lowered, realizing Knock Out did care about him, even if he was still angry and clearly wrong about Megatron.

“You’re welcome.” He sneered before pivoting on a heel and stomping up the stairs.

Breakdown stood there for a moment, not sure what to say.

“I didn’t mean…”

“It’s ok.” Breakdown said softly. “He knows you’re thankful. Just rest, Starscream. Let me handle him.” He started for the stairs. “If you need anything let me know. We’ll be working on the puzzle.”

Starscream watched him leave, then glanced down at the gifts. He opened one of the bags and looked through it, noticing a stuffed toy of a cybercat, A sparkling’s toy, but a small gesture that showed Knock Out wanted him to be happy and to have more than just the necessities.

He vented a sigh as he rubbed over his faceplates. Why was this going so badly...?

A few orbital cycles passed, nothing really happened. Starscream kept to himself in his room only coming out for energon and to shower. He had a TV in his room, and with his new datapad he was able to stay entertained. Not like he could do anything else. He was unable to transform, and walking was becoming more difficult with the sparkling. He also napped a lot. Who knew doing nothing but grow a life was so exhausting?

The Seeker stood up, having to grab the berth for balance, and walked out of his room. He made his way downstairs, intending to go to the energon room and get some energon. Breakdown was watching TV, loudly snacking on energon goodies, and Knock Out was at the dining room table tinkering with whatever he was trying to build.

“How are you feeling?” The doctor inquired, never looking away from what he was doing.

“Tired…” Starscream grunted, going into the energon room.

“You have an appointment for an ultrasound tomorrow. If you’re going to stay with me, you will have a proper checkup.”

Starscream flicked his wings as he grabbed a cube. “Any chance of you swinging me by Megatron’s afterwards so I can see if he’s done being a grump?”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “I’m not taking you anywhere near Megatron. Stop asking about him.”

Starscream walked out of the energon room. “I’m not staying here forever.”

“And where would you go? Megatron doesn’t want you back, Starscream.” Knock Out looked up at him. “He’s through with you. He’s moved on. He’s not going to deal with you anymore when he can find someone who doesn’t try to kill him.”

“That was one time.”

“Starscream, Megatron doesn’t care about you. And he cares less about a sparkling…” Knock Out grunted the last part.

“Megatron does care about me! He always has. I’ve done so much for him, after all.”

“Yes, yes, opening your legs for him is ‘so much.’” Was the sardonic reply.

Starscream flicked his wings. “I was his first lieutenant. You never moved up the ranks. You were just a lowly medic.”

“I was a doctor, not a medic.” Knock Out forced a mocking smirk. “And I didn’t care about moving up in ranks. I was trying to survive. You know what I saw as a doctor? I saw a LOT of ways I didn’t want to die. If surviving meant staying a doctor who stayed behind the lines to tend to the wounded and dying, so be it.”

“So, you admit to being a coward.”

Knock Out stood up and tossed down what he had been working on. “I did my duty, Starscream. I saved lives. I made sure you had an army to lead. Why are you attacking me? How have I hurt you? I’ve been trying to protect you from Megatron! I’ve been your friend when no one else would or could be! I opened my home to you!”

“It’s just temporarily…”

“Megatron isn’t taking you back!”

“He is!”

“Yeah? Call him. Call him and ask!”

Starscream flicked his wings. “I will.”

“Oh? Do it.”

“I am.”

“Let’s see it, glitch.” Knock Out gestured for him to do so.

Starscream held out his arm. “I’m doing it.” He folded a plate back and pressed in the frequency.

“I’m eagerly awaiting.” Knock Out crossed his arms.

“It’s dialing.” Starscream said it like Knock Out didn’t know what that was.

“Put him on hologram. I want to see his face.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“NO!”

“YES!”

The very grumpy vocalizer of Megatron suddenly sounded. “If you called just to scream, I’m hanging up.”

Starscream’s wings quickly lowered, sputtering for a moment before he could talk. “Megatron! I-err, was calling to, uh, see if you, uh, might be-“

“Get to the point.” Megatron snapped.

“Are you ready to let me back in?”

“No.” Was the emotionless reply.

“Megatron, come on.” Starscream forced a smile despite Megatron not even being able to see him. “You have made your point clear. I apologize for my mistakes and am ready to return and be-“

“I don’t want you back, Starscream.” He said it in the same voice.

Starscream swallowed. “You surely do not mean that, my lord. After all, all I have done for you-“

“Is in the past.”

“Yes, but I am devoted to you just as much now as I always have been. It is why you love me-“

“I do not love you, Starscream. Stop being delusional.”

Knock Out gave Starscream a ‘told you so look,’ but the Seeker didn’t falter.

“What do you want, Megatron? It’s kind of too late to abort the sparkling if that’s what you still want?”

“I want you to stop calling me.”

“You’re just going through a phase. It’s normal for couples to fight.”

“We’re not a couple. Goodbye, Starscream.”

“Megatron, you must surely see the folly in your-“ He stopped when he heard the beep of the call ending. “He hung up…” Starscream said softly.

“I told you so!” Knock Out exclaimed. “He doesn’t care about you, Starscream! Not one iota!”

Starscream glared at him, his wings flicking. “He’s still just being ridiculous. He’ll come around once the sparkling is born. You’ll see, and then you’ll owe me an apology.”

“I’ll believe it when it happens.” Knock Out defiantly grunted.

Starscream was too angry to reply. He pivoted on a heel and stomped back upstairs. Knock Out sighed when he heard the door slam shut.

“I don’t know what to do with him…” Knock Out vented a sigh as he approached Breakdown.

“Be there for him when reality crashes down on him. He will have the truth slapped across his face and will need a friend there to support him.” Breakdown replied.

Knock Out sat on Breakdown’s lap and hugged his mate. “He gets slapped by the truth literally all the time… And almost beaten to death…”

“Not everyone is so lucky to find a guy like me their first time.” Breakdown hugged his mate back.

“I am the luckiest mech alive.” Knock Out smiled up at the blue grounder.

“No, I am.” Breakdown smiled back before kissing his mate on the lip plates.

Starscream glared angrily at the ceiling when he heard them downstairs being all loud about how much they loved each other and their kissing, and giggling, and whatever else they were up to down there… He didn’t want to know.

Starscream lied on a medical berth, looking over at the screen by his helm. Breakdown was on the opposite side of the berth, smiling, more excited than Starscream was about this.

“There you are.” The femme smiled as she pointed at the screen, her other servo holding a device over Starscream’s abdomen. “This is the helm right here.” She explained, showing the sparkling on the monitor. “And here is the torso, there’s an arm right here…”

“Wings?” Starscream inquired.

“Hmm, don’t see wings… There is something on the back… You can see a little of it here… Difficult to say.”

Starscream narrowed his optics. Of course, that old idiot would give him a grounder.

“Oh, what’s the sex?” Breakdown eagerly asked.

The femme looked at the screen, having to move the device around before speaking. “You have a mechling!” She proclaimed.

“Awww!” Breakdown squealed.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, looking at the monitor. He could see the full body of his son, now. He could see facial features. This was really happening. There was a sparkling alive inside of him and here it was. A sparkling. His sparkling.

After they finished and Starscream was given pictures of his sparkling, Breakdown escorted him down the hallways of the hospital. They weren’t going straight to the exit like Starscream wanted, though.

“Got time for one more patient?” Breakdown smiled.

Knock Out looked up from the datapad he held, about to go into a room. “Hey, babe. I can’t talk long, I have surgery.”

Breakdown pecked a kiss to Knock Out’s lip plates. “Starscream has a mechling! Show him the pictures!”

“Oh, um,” Starscream held up his datapad, revealing the images of his unborn son.

“That’s a gremlin. Definitely your son.” Knock Out grunted.

“Be nice.” Breakdown chastised.

“But, seriously, congrats, Stars. He looks healthy.” Knock Out smiled at him.

“Thank you.” Starscream said softly.

“Alright, I gotta go. I’ll see you two tonight.”

“See you later, babe.” Breakdown then kissed his mate. “Good luck with surgery.”

“Never need it.” Knock Out winked before palming open the door and entering the room.

“So, since we’re already out of the house, do you want to go anywhere?” Breakdown inquired of the Seeker.

“Hmm? No, I would rather return home. I’m tired. Sparkling and all.”

“I understand. I’ll get you more cake!”

Starscream glanced back at the datapad, seeing that little blurry face. He would soon see it face to face.

The orns passed, Starscream stayed in his room and suffered, thinking about Megatron and also this sparkling. He was beginning to become concerned that that big idiot wouldn’t let him back in. That this was what his life would be like forever. But, surely Megatron would change once the sparkling was out, right?

He would soon find out.

Starscream was lying on his berth watching TV when he felt it. He gasped, feeling the sparkling turning inside of him. Not a normal kick or dream twitching. No, this sparkling was ready to be expelled.

Then he felt the pain.

“Ow.” He hissed. “Slag…” He slowly sat up, resting his servos over his abdomen, debating if this was truly the beginning of his labor, or just the sparkling moving around a lot. But then he felt more pain. “Knock Out!”

The summoned mech soon palmed open the door. “What’s up?”

“I think I’m in labor. I don’t know, I feel…”

“What are you feeling?” He unsubspaced a scanner and began to check the Seeker.

“Like the sparkling is running a marathon inside me…” The silver jet grumbled.

“Yes, you are definitely in labor.” Knock Out replied after reading the scanner results. “Let’s get you to the hospital. Breakdown! I need you to carry Starscream. He’s in labor.”

“OH MY PRIMUS THE SPARKLING IS COMING!?!?!” The excited squeals came from downstairs.

He better not squeal the whole time…

Starscream eventually found himself pacing in a hospital room, Breakdown bouncing in his chair, as Knock Out and a nurse helped the Seeker.

“How long do I have to do this?” Starscream growled, wishing the pain he was feeling would cease.

“You have to loosen up. Help the sparkling along.” The nurse explained.

“Can I just lie down already?”

“Actually, lying on your back to give birth isn’t the best position.” Knock Out explained. “It’s actually more natural to be leaning over something or take more of a squatting position.”

“I don’t care! I just want this sparkling out of me!”

“You are not dilated enough.” The nurse explained. “You aren’t ready yet.”

“It’s been joors! How am I not dilated enough?!”

“I think the doctor should explain it to you.” Knock Out grunted.

 “You’re a doctor.”

“I’m not that type of doctor.”

“You’ve delivered!”

“Emergencies! There is someone actually qualified and knows more about this than me just down the hallway. I rather hear his opinion.”

“Ugh!” Starscream moaned, walking over to the berth and climbing on.

The doctor soon came into the room, another grounder and much older. Why couldn’t he be a flier? Why were all the doctors grounders?

“How are you feeling?” He inquired of the jet.

“Miserable.” Starscream grunted.

The doctor approached and ran a scanner over the Seeker. He studied the results, and then pressed his servo onto the Seeker’s abdomen. He felt around for a bit, then shook his helm.

“Mhmm, you’re not going to be giving birth. The sparkling is too large.”

“Too large?” Starscream perked his wings. “What does that mean? Is he fat?”

The doctor chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it. No, you have a larger grounder model in you, by the looks of it. Tank? Yes? Due to the sire being a larger grounder the sparkling is, simply, too big for your model type. But, fret not. Despite your hips being far too small, we can surgically remove the sparkling.”

“A C-section? Because of my hips? W-What would happen if I just… Pushed really hard?” Starscream gestured as if he was pushing said sparkling out.

“Then your pelvis strut would tear apart and you’d be in immense pain. A C-section would avoid this and ensure the sparkling, and you, survive.”

“Then let’s do that.” Starscream said quickly.

“Knock Out, do you want to help with this?” The doctor turned to the speedster.

“I’ve worked on him plenty already.” Knock Out shrugged. “Let me sanitize.”

Starscream swallowed, more nervous now. He watched as the two doctors prepared for surgery. Breakdown held his servo, as the doctors cleaned his abdomen, grabbed a saw, and pumped him with pain dampeners.

A curtain went up so he couldn’t see what was happening, to ensure he wouldn’t go into shock. He bit his lower lip plate, listening to the sound of the saw turning on. He squeezed Breakdown’s servo tightly, his other servo grasping the edge of the berth. He couldn’t feel anything, as they turned off all his sensors for the lower half of his body, but he heard it… And then he felt himself becoming cold. Very cold. His system was warning him about how cold he was getting. His engine started to rev, his fuel pump pumping faster, his HUD now warning him about energon loss.

“Shhh, you’re ok.” Breakdown patted his arm. “It’s going well.”

“I’m cold.” Starscream said quietly, surprised by just how quiet his vocalizer was.

“That’s normal. It’s because they had to move your organs out. It reduces the frame’s temperature. It’s all normal.” Breakdown reassured him with a smile.

Starscream looked down, unable to see what was happening, but watching how Knock Out was helping the doctor move something. He heard the saw again, then liquid… He heard what sounded like wires detaching, and then… He heard a whimper.

His wings perked, not sure what that was, but then it sounded again. Louder this time. He saw the doctor moving something up, then Knock Out taking it, and then… A sparkling started to cry.

Starscream’s spark jumped. He could feel his spark pulsating inside his chest. He wasn’t sure if he was trembling from excitement or what, but he was certainly trembling now. He didn’t look away from Knock Out as the speedster finally took a step back and turned to face the jet.

“Congrats, Stars.” He smiled, holding up a tiny, fat sparkling, dripping of gestation fluids, flaring his stubby arms as he coughed up fluids.

Starscream couldn’t speak, just stared wide eyed at that… Did that come out of him?

He watched dumbly as the nurse helped Knock Out clean off the sparkling, and pat the tiny one’s backplates to help get more gestation fluid out of him. The doctor was working on returning all of Starscream’s organs to their proper location, but the Seeker wasn’t paying attention to him. He couldn’t look away from that sparkling.

Knock Out finally handed the jet the little being, partly wrapped in a towel as he kept flaring his arms. The speedster placed him on his carrier’s chest, and took Starscream’s servos, making sure they were holding the sparkling before he stepped back to give them space.

Starscream looked down at this thing on him, watching as he twitched and began to cry, so angry about being removed from his warm host. Starscream just dumbly looked at those tiny faceplates, not sure if he even saw any of himself in those. It was all so… wrinkly.

“Th-this was inside of me?” He articulated almost in horror.

“Yes, that’s your sparkling!” Breakdown beamed.

“H-he’s…” Starscream felt like crying. “He’s ugly.”

Knock Out snorted. “Yes, all sparkling are ugly when they just pop out. Minus me, of course. I was beautiful since conception.”

“Oh, stop it.” Breakdown rolled his optics. “You’re just feeling a lot of emotions right now, Starscream. It is all normal.”

“I don’t want to feel all these emotions!” Starscream exclaimed, wiping at his optics as coolant began to pour out. “Why am I crying!”

“Minor shock.” Knock Out commented. “You’re experiencing so many emotions and are simply shocked you had a real sparkling in you. Not an unusual response. Once the drugs wear off you’ll feel a little more like yourself.”

“Not to mention your programming is all off.” Breakdown patted the carrier’s arm. “Do you know what you’re going to designate him?”

Starscream shook his helm, wiping away some more coolant. At least Megatron wasn’t here to see him crying like this… He pulled the sparkling closer to his face, smelling this new scent. It was weird how it calmed him down. Stupid maternal programming.

“Want me to weigh him, or do you want some more time with him?” Knock Out asked gently.

Starscream swallowed, watching as the sparkling was now falling into recharge on him. “Just… A little more.”

Knock Out smiled. “Alright.”

Starscream was on a med berth in a patient room, his incision welded together and on less powerful pain dampeners. He was connected to an energon drip as he did lose some energon and was very tired from the entire process. But he strangely didn’t notice it. He held his sparkling, who was now burrito wrapped in a blanket, and smiled down at him. Maybe it was his maternal programming kicking in, but he felt… Happy.

This was his little sparkling. He was healthy, he was alive, he was…. Not beautiful right now but he was sure that would change. After all, he was the carrier!

“Got you some goodies.” Knock Out announced as he entered the room, holding up a box.

“Thank you.” Starscream said it without looking away from his sparkling.

“Do you need anything else?” He set the box on the table beside the Seeker.

“No… No, I’m fine.” Starscream finally looked up at him. “Would be nice if Megatron was here. He should meet his son.”

“Uh huh…” Knock Out rolled his optics as he sat on the chair beside the med berth. “I don’t think Megatron should see his son, Starscream.” He placed his servos on Starscream’s arm. “I don’t think it would end well for him.”

“Are you claiming Megatron would kill his own son?” Starscream’s optics narrowed.

“I’m saying…” Knock Out paused as Breakdown entered the room, carrying energon cubes. “That I don’t believe Megatron wants to be a sire.”

Starscream flicked his wings. “You’re wrong. He does want his son, he wants me, and he’s just been… He’s just being a grouch! That’s it!”

“Starscream, you should rest.” Breakdown interjected quickly.

“I am resting!”

“I mean to take a nap. I can hold the sparkling while you-“

“I’m not taking a nap!” Starscream turned back to Knock Out. “Stop talking ill about the sire of my son! You don’t know him like I do! He does want to be a sire!”

“He does not! He left you-“ Knock Out shouted.

“I’ll call him and invite him over!” Starscream interrupted him. “You’ll see.” He growled, lifting his wrist up and putting in the frequency.

“Starscream...” Knock Out grit his denta, so done. “You need to rest. Please, Starscream, listen to me!”

“It’s ringing.” Starscream grunted, not looking at the doctor.

Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, so exhausted by this. Breakdown placed a servo on his mate’s shoulder, trying to comfort him.

The sound of the call being answered felt like Knock Out had been punched in the gut. He did not want this on an orbital cycle that should be the happiest orbital cycle for Starscream.

“What do you want?” Megatron’s less than thrilled vocalizer sounded.

Starscream’s smile grew. “Megatron! Guess what? I gave birth to our son! I’m in the hospital, room 56. Your son is a healthy grounder. H-he’s amazing. You need to come meet him-“

“Why do you keep calling me?” Was the guttural response.

“My lord?” Starscream’s wings lowered some. “Our son was just born. I’m calling because-“

“It’s not mine, Starscream.” He said it with such venom in his vocalizer. “It’s not mine, it’s from whatever idiot you whored yourself out to. I do not want to hear from you.”

Starscream’s spark jumped at that. “What do you mean? I-I gave birth to your son… We have a sparkling now… We’re…. We’re a family.” His vocalizer got softer and softer with each word spoken.

“Listen and listen well, Starscream.” The ice of his vocalizer sent a chill through Knock Out and Breakdown. “I am not the sire of that brat. I am not a ‘family’ with a bumbling fool like you. I do not want to have anything to do with you ever.”

“But…” Starscream swallowed. “We made love…”

“Made love?” The tyrant cackled. “You still think I love you!? I never loved you, Starscream! I fragged you because I could! Who else could I frag during the war that wasn’t a whore? You were never special to me! You did your job in the Decepticon forces, which is now disbanded, and was nice for some overloads. That’s it. And I’m bored with you. I’m done with your constant sniveling, your delusions that I want to have a sparkling or life with you… I’m done. Find someone else to throw yourself at.”

“But… W-what about the date you took m-me on? W-we went to the beach and-“

“Beach...?” Megatron growled. “I went to clear my processor and allowed you to come along! I never intended to ‘date’ you, Starscream! And the frag was just a frag! You’re incredibly delusional. I don’t care about you!”

Starscream felt his spark dropping as coolant began to fill his optics. “Y-you don’t mean th-that, Me-“

“I do mean it. I’m blocking your frequency. Unless I want a frag, you won’t hear back from me. Be someone else’s problem.”

And with that, the call ended.

Knock Out looked up at Starscream. “Stars, I-“

“H-he never loved m-“ Starscream swallowed, the coolant beginning to leak out now. “H-he doesn’t mean-He doesn’t love me…” He placed a servo over his mouth, looking away, but the venomous words kept stabbing his spark as he heard them over and over again in his processor.

“Oh, Starscream.” Knock Out stood up so he could hug the Seeker as he began to cry. “He’s an aft. That’s all he ever was. You deserve better.”

“Forget about him.” Breakdown piped up. “You don’t need him.”

“Listen, Stars, you are going to stay with us for however long you need to. I actually do give a slag about you.”

But the Seeker couldn’t stop his bawling, the reality finally making itself clear. If Megatron wouldn’t see his own son…. Then it was truly over. He didn’t want an heir, or a mate. He wanted a frag toy. And when that frag toy became broken with a sparkling… He was disposed of like trash.

If he hadn’t become sparked, maybe he might still have had a future with Megatron, but… If a sparkling fractured that…

“Fracture…”

“Hmm?” Knock Out cocked his helm to the side.

“M-my sparkling,” The jet managed to say between sobs. “His designation i-is Fracture.”

“Fracture is a good designation.” Knock Out said quickly, wanting to soothe the Seeker. “How about Breakdown take Fracture and you and I talk privately? Sound good?”

Starscream slowly nodded, wiping at the coolant, trying to keep his sobs in check. Breakdown gently took the newborn and exited the room. Knock Out waited until his mate had closed the door behind him before taking Starscream’s servo in his.

“What do you need me to do right now?” Knock Out asked firmly, but lovingly.

“I-I don’t-“ Starscream couldn’t finish as the sobbing resumed.

“Let it out. It helps.” He vented a soft sigh. “I’m going to take care of you, Starscream. Don’t… Don’t think your life is over. Megatron is an idiot who just hurts and uses people. He has always been a terrible person. And what he has done to you… Is wrong. You are not the problem.” He said the last part firmly.

“I-I just don’t understand what I-I did wrong.” He cried.

Knock Out grabbed a cloth and wiped at Starscream’s optics. “You did nothing wrong, other than believe he cared about you. But that’s what abusers like him do. They lie and trick people into thinking such things. You weren’t the first and are far from being the last.”

“I-I guess y-you did tell me…”

“I did. But I’m not going to say so right now. What I’m going to do is make sure you get some rest, consume plenty of energon, and enjoy your sparkling.” He paused. “If there’s one good thing you got out from being with that monster it’s your son.”

“B-but what’s the point? I-I was supposed to have his sparkling so th-that-“

“You have a sparkling because Primus knows you need a distraction. Many people have sparkling with partners who leave them. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just the beginning of a new chapter.”

“I-I can’t be a carrier. I-I don’t know what to do…” He wiped at his optics, beginning to calm down some.

“I’m going to be here to help you. Breakdown loves sparklings. You’re in good servos, Stars.”

Starscream swallowed, biting his lip plate as he thought. Then he heard his vocalizer again, saying those cruel words, and the bawling resumed.

Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, wanting to beat a certain someone to death with a metal rod. But, he needed to be here for his friend.

But he was right, after all.

Hey, been a while. I haven't written anything in like 3 years due to stalkers. That situation is getting better. Not over, but much better. I got Homeland Security involved and now have the names and addresses of the people who have tried harming me. Yeah, you can imagine shit is about to go down. ;) You can follow the updates for that at my website: The Vegan Dragon

(Redacted) At the time of publishing this, the fic is over 600 pages long. I have no idea how much more it will go on for...

My friend is a huge Transformers: Prime fan with Prime Starscream being her true love and obsession. Now, she has kept some of my headcanons I have for reproduction and culture, but there are changes. So don't be surprised if you see new headcanons concerning the species and how they live. The biggest thing is she has her Seeker headcanons being VERY different from mine. And this is Prime universe, so the history and everything is different from what I usally write about which is G1/IDW G1. The cartoon and the books about the cartoon are what's canon for this fic.

There will be so much drama in this fic, I'm so sorry for the shit you're going to end up reading. These two gay, robot bitches will be ridiculous. I am partly to blame as I encouraged it with the client.

Please, comment, fave, share, all of that good jazz! I really don't have much to say for this note other than I hope you guys enjoy, I'm sorry for disappearing, and I can't wait to be done with the stalkers and be back to doing what I love: Making you guys hate me as I abuse fictional characters you love! XD

Chapter Text

“I got you.”

Starscream grunted when Knock Out grabbed his elbow, helping him balance as they walked down the hallway of the hospital. The Seeker held his recharging son in his arms, still exhausted from the birth, but wanting to leave this place. Despite Knock Out demanding he stay for at least the night, Starscream wanted to go back home. He wanted to be alone, in his room, and process all that had happened.

He was determined to walk on his own, regardless of the fact he literally pushed out a sparkling only seven joors ago. So long as no energon was leaking he was fine… At least he told himself that.

“Why don’t I carry you?” Breakdown offered so sweetly, as he always did.

“No.” Starscream growled.

“We’ll get you home and you’re going to recharge.” Knock Out said firmly, never releasing the jet’s arm. “You need to rest after labor.”

“I am fine. The incision is fine.”

“Uh huh.”

It was uneventful, the trip back home, and the drugs certainly made the incision less noticeable. It should be fully healed in a few orbital cycles. Breakdown helped Starscream up the stairs and to his berth. Knock Out assisted him in lying down as Breakdown held Fracture.

“There you go.” Knock Out said softly as he lay Fracture down on the berth beside Starscream. “Recharge, Stars. If you need anything don’t hesitate to call either of us. I’ll bring you some energon in a bit.”

Starscream swallowed, watching his sparkling, not looking up at the two grounders who were hovering over him. Knock Out patted his shoulder, then he and his mate left the room, closing the door behind them.

Starscream finally reached over and stroked Fracture’s cheekplates with a claw, studying that miniscule visage. Everyone said sparklings look the same, but… He was positive he could see Megatron in that face.

And that’s when those last words returned to his processor. He swallowed as his neck cables tightened, feeling the coolant leaking from his optics.

___________________________

Knock Out knocked on the door with two knuckles before palming it open. “Hey, Stars, I hope you recharged well!” He greeted as he walked in carrying a try with energon, sheets of metal, and goodies on it.

Starscream didn’t look up at him, still lying on his berth with a recharging Fracture beside him. Knock Out set down the tray on the nightstand, then sat on the berth.

“How much did you recharge?”

“A few joors… I don’t know.” Starscream replied quietly.

“At least you got some rest in.” Knock Out looked over at Fracture. “How about him? Has he onlined?”

“No…”

“Sparklings can recharge a while after birth. I’m sure he’ll be onlining soon and ready to annoy his carrier.” He smirked over at Starscream, it soon fading when he noticed the Seeker was leaking coolant. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re crying.”

“I’m fine.”

Knock Out vented a sigh. “Stars… Forget about him. He’s an aft. You don’t need him. You have Fracture to think about now. And you have me and Breakdown to help you. You know we care about you. I wouldn’t open my home to someone I hated.”

Starscream didn’t say anything.

“He said some really fragged up things…”

“I can’t believe I thought he ever cared about me…” Starscream finally choked out, his crying renewing.

Knock Out placed a servo on Starscream’s shoulder. “I would say, ‘I told you so,’ but that’s not what you need to hear right now.”

“No… N-no it is… I-I was a blind fool.”

“A fool alright… I don’t understand why you thought he cared about you… He was such a jerk to you. A bully…”

“I just… Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did I think h-he cared?”

“It is a mystery… Especially since he beat you constantly…”

Starscream swallowed, thinking for a moment before he responded. “He… also would… force me to interface him.”

Knock Out vented a sigh. “I’m sorry, Stars. He shouldn’t have done that… You should have had a say in it… You should have found your own Breakdown.”

“He sometimes would… Hit me if I said no… Most of the time when we interfaced it just… It hurt. He never even pleasured me.” He paused. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t tell you-“

“No, no, let it out. You need to talk about these things.”

“Yeah, but interface…”

“Stars, we’re adults who both have fragged a lot in our lives. We know about this stuff. No point in hiding it.” He was silent for a moment. “While it’s not… As graphic as what you’ve been through… A long time ago when I was stationed on the planet Yulgaren… There was a mech there who couldn’t take a hint. Kept harassing me… He was really annoying and then… One orbital cycle he started to touch me. Grabbed my aft a few times… One night he… Tried to rape me. It was… It was terrifying. I barely managed to get away from him. I was damaged and scared. I hadn’t told Breakdown about this moron because I didn’t want to worry him. But… I finally did after the assault and… You think Breakdown is incapable of being angry...? You’re wrong. Never seen him so furious… Had to talk him down from killing the guy…” He paused to study the Seeker. “We all have baggage that’s too heavy for us to carry… But we have friends who can help us carry it… I have Breakdown… And you have me.”

Starscream finally looked up at him. “You’ve been hurt?”

Knock Out faintly smiled. “Yeah… Hard to find anyone who hasn’t been… With the war and all… I can’t share names because doctor-patient confidentiality, but… Sexual assault is extremely common in the ranks. I had to see so many bots who need rape kits or repairs… And most were too scared to even report it. The doctors are the only ones who have those files, and we can’t do anything with it.

“I’m not trying to lessen what happened to you, just letting you know that you’re not the only one who’s been hurt in that way. Not everyone was violently grabbed by a stranger and hurt. Most were hurt by friends, by partners… By the people they trusted.”

“I… Don’t even know if I ever trusted Megatron…”

“I sometimes wonder if Soundwave even trusted him… Surely that creep knew what Megatron was doing to you behind closed doors?”

“I think he did… Just stayed silent about it… He knew about the forced interface, the beatings… How Megatron shoved my face into a waste disposal while it was still…. Full of waste… All of the beatings that left me in the hospital… He walked in on Megatron strangling me all because I tried making a joke… He didn’t like the joke…”

“He is just an evil, selfish, and ugly bully. You’re safe now. I have legally adopted you so will make sure you get all that you need.”

Starscream smiled at that. “Adopted me?”

“Don’t question it.” Knock Out smiled back.

“I won’t. Just no one has-“

Fracture woke up, crying softly as his tiny arms reached out, searching for his carrier. Starscream hesitated before pulling the sparkling closer, trying to comfort him.

“What do I do?” His wings lowered as he looked up at the grounder.

“I think it’s time to fuel him.”

“How?”

“Here, open your chest plates.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate before anxiously folding them away. He had only ever removed them for Megatron whenever he demanded to spark bond…

“Okay, see, this right here.” Knock Out pointed, making sure not to touch Starscream. “That’s the fuel line. Yours may not be as long as a grounder’s, so see if you can pull it out.”

Starscream took it and gently pulled it out, only getting it to come out a little.

“So, you will place the end in his mouth, but don’t let him be lying on his back. He could intake took quickly. Either sit up and hold him or keep him on his side.”

Starscream sat up, picking up the sparkling and holding him in one arm, the other servo holding the feeding tube. He carefully placed the end of it in the sparkling’s mouth.

“Ok, search through your fuel files. See the one for fuel pump? Open it and you’ll find a file for weakened energon.”

“Manufactured energon?”

“Yeah, that one. Ok, allow that to operate.”

Starscream bit his lip plate. “That… Ow.”

“Yeah, it can hurt a little as the fuel is processed and pumped in. But, now the line has energon in it. So, once the sparkling sucks the tube will automatically release energon. The fuel processor should have plenty of weakened energon already made since it automatically onlines at five decacycles into carrying.”

Starscream held up his son, holding him against his chestplates as he helped the little one keep the tube in his mouth. He waited, but all Fracture did was cry and not clasp onto the tube.

“I’m not sure if I’m doing this right…” He said with some frustration.

“Sometimes they have trouble latching on. Here, let me...” Knock Out reached over and placed one servo on the back of Fracture’s helm, and the other he took the tube. He helped guide Fracture’s mouth into the right shape, pressed the tube in, and gave it a few pinches, getting the energon to flow. Soon, Fracture was contently nursing. “There you go. Just like that.”

“How did you know how to do that?”

“I had to learn a lot of things when I was the only doctor at a base. Lots of people were making sparklings instead of patrolling and someone had to know how to keep those sparklings alive.”

Starscream was silent as he watched his sparkling feed, feeling this new sensation. Fracture kicked his little legs in joy, his miniscule servos clenching and unclenching on nothing. Such a tiny, helpless being, and he was somehow supposed to raise this thing into an adult Cybertronian.

“Thanks, Knock Out.” He finally said, quietly.

Knock Out smiled. “Anytime, Stars. If he has trouble latching again, come get me. Even if it’s the middle of the night.”

“You sure?”

“I can catch up on recharge later. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay…”

___________________________

“Come here, big guy.” Knock Out smiled as he led Breakdown into their berthroom by a servo.

Breakdown was smiling like an idiot, knowing what his mate wanted. He allowed the speedster to push him to the berth, then watched as he closed the door.

“I am ready to be rrrravaged by my big, strong truck.” The red one purred as he poked a single claw into his mate’s chest with each word.

“I prefer to ‘lovingly cuddle’ than ‘ravaging’ you.” Breakdown said slowly.

“Oh, gosh, shut up and plow me, you big idiot.” Knock Out rolled his optics before falling back on the berth.

“I don’t want to ‘plow’ you. That sounds violent.” He winked as he started to get over Knock Out.

“Tear me apart!” Knock Out reached up and began to pleasure his Conjunx Endura.

“Aw, but you’re so tiny.”

“And you’re so stupid.” Knock Out grabbed the orange cheekplates and squished them. “I fragging love this stupid face of yours!”

“And I love your perfect face.” Breakdown kissed him on the lip plates.

“It is, isn’t it?” Knock Out smiled.

“Mhmm,” Breakdown started to rub over Knock Out’s codpiece as he opened his own.

“I should get manacles. The fluffy pink kind.”

“I don’t want to tie you up.”

“I’ll tie you up.”

“And I’ll just kiss you more.”

Knock Out stuck his glossa out at the truck, only to receive a nuzzle on the faceplates.

“You are so ridiculous sometimes. I want to do more in the berth and you just want the same thi-oh! Hahhh.”

Breakdown smiled. “You were saying?”

“Could still be more exciting.” He winked.

“You love the way I treat you.” He then began to kiss Knock Out on the neck.

“Mmm, I do. I love everything about you.” He offlined his optics, allowing Breakdown to have his way with him.

Breakdown continued to kiss his mate as he thrust into him, the smaller one moaning beneath him. The door slowly opened and they were interrupted by the wails of a sparkling.

“I-I’m sorry, Knock Out…” Starscream said anxiously. “H-he isn’t latching and I-I can’t-“

Breakdown was frozen, mortified someone had just walked in on them, but Knock Out didn’t even seem bothered.

“No, no, it’s fine.” Knock Out replied quickly, pushing at Breakdown. “Sparklings come first! Get out!”

“Oh, sorry.” Breakdown said still in his confused daze, quickly removing himself but making sure Starscream didn’t see anything.

Knock Out stood up, closing his plates, and trotted over to the Seeker. He took Starscream’s servo and led him back to the jet’s room. Starscream swallowed, his wings low.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have interrupted you two…” He softly apologized, not able to even look at Knock Out.

“It’s fine, Stars. I can frag him anytime.” Knock Out gave him a dismissive wave. “I’m more sorry for you having to hear us.” He winked, trying to make the Seeker feel better. Starscream did faintly smile at that, which made Knock Out smile back. “Okay, let me see him.”

Knock Out reached over, and just as before, helped Fracture latch onto the feeding tube and begin to contently nurse. The sparkling, finally able to feed, ceased his screaming and instead curled into his carrier’s chassis, content.

Starscream studied those little faceplates, then vented a sigh. “Will this be a constant thing?”

“Nah, they eventually get it. Good thing you’re interrupting me during interface and not that jerk.”

“Megatron would not be as kind, that’s for sure.” Breakdown spoke from where he had been watching in the doorway.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, the memories of that brute and what he said returning to his processor. They were right… Megatron would not be nice at all had Fracture caused him to have to stop interfacing.

“You alright?” Knock Out asked gently when he noticed coolant pooling in Starscream’s optics.

“I-I just…” Starscream stopped, the sobs returning with the memories.

“Come here.” Knock Out made him sit on the berth and then sat beside him. “How can I help?”

“I just… I don’t know…”

Knock Out leaned over and hugged him, which Starscream returned with his free arm, the other holding the still nursing Fracture.

Breakdown looked anxiously at his mate. “So… Um… Are we finishing or…?”

Knock Out looked over with a “are you serious” look. “I’m not in the mood anymore. I have to take care of Starscream.”

“But…. I am still…”

“Finish yourself off then! I’m busy.”

Breakdown narrowed his optics. “Fine.” He grunted before leaving, his pedfalls a little louder than usual.

Starscream swallowed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset him, or-“

“Stars, stop. He’s fine. You know how some mechs are when they get told ‘no.’ He’ll get over himself. Stop thinking about me and Breakdown so much. We need to focus on you and Fracture.”

“You sure everything is okay?”

“Positive.” He resumed hugging the Seeker.

“If Starscream needs anything from me just give me a call.” Knock Out then kissed his mate on the cheekplates. “Love you!”

“Love you, too!” Breakdown smiled at him.

Knock Out walked out the front door, leaving the truck alone on the couch. Starscream swallowed from where he stood at the top of the stairs, holding a recharging Fracture. He hesitated before walking down the stairs.

“Hey, Breakdown…?”

The mentioned mech looked up. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I… Just wanted to apologize for bothering you and Knock Out last night. I didn’t mean to anger you…”

“I’m not angry Starscream. I was just being a grouch. You know what they say, post overload clarity. Once I got it out I realized I had been the silly one. You’re all good.” He smiled at him. “Need me to get you anything? Knock Out just left for work.”

Starscream slowly nodded. Megatron certainly never seemed to have post overload clarity… Just eternal grumpiness…

“Can I hold him?”

“Oh, yeah, here.” Starscream handed over the sparkling.

“Hey, there tiny.” Breakdown grinned broadly at the little one. “You are so adorable I could dip you in my energon and eat you right up!”

“You can keep him…” Starscream grunted.

“Maybe I will.”

“Please do… He woke me up twice last night…”

“Aw, that’s just him being a sparkling. They get better, then they get independent, then they leave you and you’re left wondering where the time has gone.”

“I look forward to that stage…”

“I look forward to the first stage. One orbital cycle I’ll have my own.”

“Knock Out doesn’t seem keen on having any of his own.”

“Never say never. He’s been great with Fracture.”

“He can have him, too.”

Breakdown chuckled.

“Look up for me.”

Starscream did so as he sat with crossed legs on his berth, Knock Out doing the same in front of him. The doctor carefully leaned forward, focusing on his work as he applied paint to the bottom of Starscream’s left optic lid. Fracture lied on the berth beside them, recharging peacefully as he was bundled in a blanket.

“I know you insist on being a winter, but I’m kind of thinking maybe a summer look for you.” Knock Out mused out loud.

“I could never pull off that look.”

“Please, I didn’t think I’d look so good in red, and yet here I am… Killing it.” He smirked.

“That’s you. I am a Seeker.”

“Yes, but you have a similar facial structure as me. So…”

“I don’t know…”

“Well, I think your optics look lovely.” He removed the brush and grabbed a small mirror, holding it up to the jet.

“Oh, wow…” Starscream took the mirror to look better at his newly polished, waxed, and painted faceplates. “That black optic liner really does make my optics pop.”

“See?! Told you. Now you look more like me.” The speedster winked. “I think… You need just a little contour on your ridge plates…” He said as he grabbed the necessary paints to do so. “If you don’t think you’ll look good as a summer… What if we added some blue?”

“Like where?”

“Servos. Not on the digits, I think those look best black. Just back and palms.”

“I’d have to think about it. I was trined to a blue Seeker…”

“Painful memories?”

Starscream chose not to answer that.

“Well,” Knock Out leaned back in and dabbed a dry brush to the ridge lines, adding a slightly darker grey paint to it. “Anything done can be undone.”

Breakdown walked into the room; the door being left open. “Hey, do you two need anything? I’m going to run a couple of errands.”

“Yes! Get me a glass of energon before you leave.” Knock Out ordered without even looking away from his canvass.

“Got you, babe.” Breakdown smiled. “But do you need anything from outside the house? Like, more paint, wax, oil…. Cake….?”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “No cake. That makes you fat. They put so much metal shavings in it….”

“Okay…. Starscream, do you need anything? Anything for Fracture?”

“Uh, not that I can think of…” Starscream replied, trying not to move for Knock Out.

“Okay, but I better not get back and either of you yell at me for ‘forgetting’ to grab you something…” The truck grunted as he approached his mate. He leaned over and kissed Knock Out on the lip plates. “Be good while I’m away.”

“No.” Knock Out said it like a fact, still keeping his attention on Starscream’s face.

“At least don’t get arrested.”

“I make no promises.”

“Mhmm.” Breakdown kissed his mate’s cheekplates before walking out of the room.

“And there we are. Beautiful!” Knock Out smiled, admiring his work. “Let’s do those claws.”

At that moment Fracture decided to online with a loud scream, causing them both to startle. Starscream vented a sigh, picking his son up and trying to comfort him.

“Well, silence was nice while it lasted.” Knock Out sardonically remarked, setting down his paints. “You need me to help you?”

Starscream was trying to get the sparkling to latch, but he simply screamed and flung his little arms around. Defeatedly, Starscream nodded. Knock Out reached over, and like many times before, helped the carrier with his creation.

“You need to learn to do this yourself, Fracture.” Knock Out chastised him as he finally got the little one to latch and begin to nurse.

“I’m sorry….” Starscream swallowed, feeling anxious over how Fracture kept bothering his hosts. They wouldn’t want to keep him around if this was all Fracture did.

“It’s not your fault, Stars.” Knock Out took the jet’s free servo. “I am thinking… A nice ebony.” He then began to file the claws, smoothing them out in preparation for buffing and painting.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, not sure how honest Knock Out was being over this all being “fine.”

Starscream lied awake that night, trying to ignore the sounds of Breakdown desperately trying to convince Knock Out for interface, while Knock Out kept telling him he couldn’t because he just did his claws.

Just keep your claws away… It’s not that hard… Starscream thought, annoyed that they were having somewhat of an argument over something dumb like that. And why did he have to hear them be stupid with each other? Why couldn’t they shut up and let him recharge in peace? Why was Breakdown so horny lately? Go to recharge you idiots!

Starscream rolled onto his side, looking forward to when Knock Out would go to work in the morning leaving the house nice and quiet… Fracture was mouthing the air as he dreamed, unbothered by any of this. Of course, he didn’t know what they were saying so didn’t realize just how stupid they were.

Starscream reached over and gently traced the back of a digit along his son’s cheekplates, studying how much they took after his sire. And that thought reminded him of those hurtful final words, which reminded him of the past beatings, the fear, the pain…

Starscream swallowed, coolant pooling in his optics. That was behind him. He was better now. At least, he hoped he was better… Was he better being here with Knock Out and Breakdown and a whiny sparkling, or was he better with Megatron without the sparkling? Maybe Megatron would have changed had he never gotten sparked… Maybe he would have fallen in love with him and then everything would have been so different…

But, no! This dumb sparkling had to come along and ruin everything. Now, he was stuck dealing with it and listening to those two idiots in the other room. Like, oh my gosh, Knock Out, let him take you from behind and keep your servos up if you don’t want them damaged! Make the idiot stop complaining about you not “prioritizing” him or whatever the slag he was saying earlier…

Idiots… He hated idiots… Everyone was an idiot and they all could eat slag and die. He could care less what happened to any of them…

Fracture suddenly yawned, his tiny limbs stretching. Then, his optics onlined for the first time. He looked up at his carrier, confused, not sure what was happening with this new experience called sight. Starscream found himself smiling, seeing those optics. They were his optics, not that brute’s.

“What are you looking at?” The Seeker demanded of the sparkling.

Fracture immediately recognized his carrier’s voice and giggled, a large smile etching itself over his chubby faceplates. It was his first smile and his first giggle. And that broke the Seeker. Starscream didn’t see some stupid sparkling that shrieked all night and orbital cycle, and was a nuisance… He saw him in this being. This was his. He made this. This little being was part of him.

He reached over and pulled Fracture closer, letting the tiny one grasp onto his chestplates and snuggle. Fracture kicked those chubby legs, mouthed the Decepticon insignia on his carrier’s chest plate, and giggled, so excited about finally seeing his carrier.

Starscream wiped away the fresh coolant tears, smiling down at his son.

“Morning, lovely. I brought you your energon.” Knock Out greeted as he entered Starscream’s room the next morning, carrying a tray with said energon on it.

Starscream looked up, smiling. “Hey, so… Look.” He gestured to Fracture who was lying beside him, mouthing a toy, his optics brightly lit.

“Oh, Primus… He looks even more like you.” Knock Out grunted, setting down the tray, and then picking Fracture up. “You, little stinker, are going to cause so much sparkache in the future. Yes, you are!” He then nuzzled Fracture’s faceplates, eliciting a giggle. “Babe! Get in here!”

“What is it?” Breakdown inquired, looking in, and then widening his optics. “Eeeee! His optics are online! Gimme!”

He practically snatched the sparkling away before showering him with kisses. Without saying anything, he simply left the room with Fracture.

“And we lost him.” Knock Out said it like it was a fact as he sat beside Starscream on the berth. “How is carrier feeling?”

“Tired, as usual, but better.” Starscream replied, his optics offlining as he relaxed.

“We should schedule you an appointment to make sure everything is healing properly and to check on Fracture.”

“Can’t you do it?”

“I can… But again, I didn’t go to medical school for sparklings or gestation tank care. I rather entrust you with someone who did.” He patted Starscream’s arm almost lovingly. “I will go retrieve your creation from my mate.”

The speedster stood and exited the room, leaving the Seeker to try and return to recharge. Knock Out went into his berthroom where Breakdown was sitting on the berth kissing and nuzzling Fracture still. The sparkling giggled and screamed with glee, his little servos trying to grasp at Breakdown’s faceplates. Knock Out sat beside the truck, silent a moment before speaking.

“You probably should return that to the rightful owner.”

“Aw, let me have some fun with him. I’ve been waiting to hold a sparkling forever.” Breakdown sighed, giving his mate a sideways glance.

Knock Out watched him play with Fracture a bit more before continuing once more. “You are really happy with him.”

“You know I’ve always wanted one…” Breakdown said it slowly, some sadness in his vocalizer.

Knock Out was silent for a moment. “Yeah… I know. They’re a lot of responsibility. They need someone caring for them all the time.”

“I’m home all orbital cycle…”

“They keep you up at night.”

“I’m used to being woken up early.”

“They grow up and get sassy.”

“I literally told everyone I’m okay with sassy when I joined with you.” Breakdown looked down at his mate.

“That you did…”

“Knock Out….” Breakdown vented a sigh before placing a servo on his mate’s knee. “I know I’ve asked you a million times before… But that was all during the war so it made sense why you said no… But now with the war over….” He made optic contact with the speedster. “Can we please, please, have a sparkling? I’ve been ready for vorns. I’ve waited for vorns…. I really want this…”

Knock Out looked from those pleading, yellow optics to the giggling sparkling. He didn’t want to, but he forced himself to look back at those desperate, pleading, and painfully hopeful optics. He noticed Breakdown was biting his lip plate, preparing for more disappointment. Breakdown really did want to be a creator so badly… He talked about it when they were still dating, throughout the entire war, and was so jealous of his friends who did have sparklings… Jealous of Starscream of all people…

They were in the best position for creations. Knock Out worked while Breakdown was home all orbital cycle. They had enough Shanix, and energon wasn’t rare anymore. Most importantly the war was over.

If they were going to do this… Now was the time. Plus, Starscream was now getting all the attention with his sparkling… He couldn’t let Starscream’s Metagram get more followers because he had a cute sparkling to post on it! That is something that simply could not happen. His newly done claws be damned, he had to get more followers than that damn Seeker….

“Okay.”

Breakdown eyed him. “Okay….?”

“Okay, let’s have a sparkling.”

“… Really? You’re not playing with me?”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Would I ‘play’ with you if it concerned risking damage to my perfect figure?”

“I never suggested you be the carrier…”

“No sparkling of mine is gestating in you. No offense, babe, I love you more than anything, but you don’t take care of yourself well enough to produce the perfect Metagram sparkling. I need them cute and model worthy.” He waved a servo dismissively.

A smile slowly swept across Breakdown’s faceplates. “You’re being serious? You’ll get sparked? W-we’ll have a sparkling?”

Knock Out smiled at him. “Yes, you big idiot. Let’s have a sparkling.”

“A-and a second?”

Knock Out pressed a digit against Breakdown’s lip plates. “Let’s not rush ahead. Start out with one and see how it goes.”

“W-when can we start?” Breakdown was beginning to tremble with excitement.

“Let me get the tube pinch removed. Then sparkling factory will be open for business.” He winked.

“I will remove it right now.”

“I’ll get it removed at work. Slow down. You’re going to ruin my finish if you go at me like a turbofox.” He reached over and plucked Fracture out of Breakdown’s servo. “I shall return this to the rightful owner.”

“I am so excited!” The truck bounced on the berth, barely containing himself.

“Why do I feel like I’m going to be very sore the next few orbital cycles…?” Knock Out moaned as he exited the room. He returned to Starscream who had fallen back into recharge. “You’re not getting more attention than me.” He pointed an accusing digit at Starscream, saying it firmly as if the Seeker was now his enemy.

3 Decacycles Later:

Starscream sat on the floor of his room, arms outstretched, his digits gesturing for Fracture to approach. The sparkling giggled, carefully crawling over, trying not to fall over as his legs wobbled behind him.

“Come on, you can do it.” Starscream smiled, his wings perking. “You are almost there.”

Fracture screamed when his servo finally touched his carrier’s leg. He giggled when Starscream picked him up and kissed his cheekplates.

Knock Out appeared in the doorway. “Hey, you busy?”

“No, what’s up?” Starscream stood up, holding Fracture against his chestplates.

Knock Out smiled, taking Starscream’s servo in his own. “Okay, so… No, sit down.” He then quickly sat down on the berth and waited for Starscream to do the same. “I… Um, so…”

“What is it?” Starscream raised an optical ridge, confused why Knock Out was stuttering.

“Mmm! I don’t know how to say it so it… I don’t know. Okay, so…” He paused, seemingly about to explode with excitement. “I… Breakdown and I have been like… It just took a while… Why am I unable to talk!? Dammit. Just…” He then produced a scanner and showed it to Starscream.

Starscream took it and read the screen, his optics widening. He looked over at Knock Out, glancing down for a moment. “Is this real?”

“Shhh! Don’t be loud. I need to surprise the big guy. He doesn’t know…!” He said it almost frantically, grabbing Starscream’s arm with both of his servos, allowing the Seeker to feel that he was trembling.

“Why are you shaking?” Starscream grunted.

“I-I honestly don’t know. I’m like… Excited and scared and like… I can’t believe I did this…!” His smile was so large, and his back wheels spinning. “I’m an orn along. I’m just… Gotta stay calm.” He began to control his cycling to calm down. “Can’t risk losing it. Did you feel like this when you found out?”

“No…” Was the deadpanned response.

“Bah bah!” Fracture interjected, his miniscule servos grasping at his carrier’s arm as he sat between them.

“Yes, Fracture, you’re getting a sibling! Of sorts. Not like… An actual sibling. But you guys will get to hang out and be friends and, oh my gosh, Starscream, we have to get them matching paint schemes!”

“You are jumping way ahead.” Starscream handed him back the scanner.

“I’m allowed to. Stars, come on, be happy for me.” He said with a firmer vocalizer, some of his excitement dying down. “I’m really happy here. I know I said a million times I didn’t want sparklings, but now since it’s happening, and with my Breakdown… I’m like… Really happy.”

Starscream vented a sigh. “I’m not trying to rain on your parade. I am happy for you. I just… Kind of remember when I found out and my situation wasn’t… So happy.”

Knock Out hugged him. “I know. But you’re here, and mini Knock Out is also here, and so is mini Starscream. It’s one big dysfunctional family!” He gave Starscream an extra hard squeeze. “I-I can’t wait anymore. I need to tell my mate!”

He stood up, pausing to calm himself, and carefully walked out as if he was made of glass.

Starscream watched him leave, his wings lowering. Soon he heard Breakdown shouting, “ARE YOU FRAGGING KIDDING ME?! NO WAY!!!! YES!” And a lot of other excited screams and shouting from the both of them.

He looked at Fracture, venting a sigh. “They are not going to want us around while they are raising their sparkling…” He rubbed over his faceplates. “I’m going to need to find somewhere else for us to stay… Just as well… I’m sure we both have annoyed them and they want us gone anyway…”

“Bah eeth!” Fracture then squealed loudly before rolling onto his back.

“And your banshee shrieks certainly have not helped…” Starscream rolled his optics. “And thus my bad luck continues….”

2 Decacycles Later:

“Blllrrrrrrhhhh!”

Starscream winced, watching as Knock Out leaned over the waste disposal, practically hugging it. He had been unable to keep his energon down for several orbital cycles now and was pretty weak from it. He couldn’t go in to work, so was stuck at home, recharging a lot, and also vomiting up his insides.

“My carrying was not this bad…” Starscream grunted, glancing down at the sparkling who was using his leg to help himself stand on his wobbly, stubby ones.

“Please…” Knock Out groaned, his misery evident in his strained vocalizer. “Don’t… I-I don’t want to hear…”

“Are you okay? You sound like you’re dying…”

“I am…”

Breakdown arrived, having left to get more clean towels. “Do you want to take a bath? Maybe the warm water will sooth your gestation tank?”

“I just really want to die…” Knock Out said it so pathetically, coolant now pooling in his optics. Starscream wasn’t sure if the crying was because his programming was out of wrack, or he was in that much pain.

Breakdown was on the floor beside his mate, loving wiping clean his face with a warm, damp towel. He also began to clean Knock Out’s chestplates where he had accidentally purged on himself in his rush to the washroom.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Breakdown soothed him. “It’s only temporary. I told you I should have been sparked…”

“No, if you were the sick one you’d have died for real… I-I can do this.” Knock Out rested his elbows on the rim of the waste disposal as he covered his faceplates. “I can do this.” He said it more to himself. “I’m going to have this sparkling… And we will laugh about this… And it will be a terrible memory…” He exhaled loudly. “I can do this…”

“Maybe we should go back to the doctor…”

“No…” Knock Out shook his head, optics offline, trying to control his emotions. “It’s normal. This is my first carrying. My body is just confused… It’ll learn and the next carrying will be better.”

Breakdown’s face lit up. “We’re having a second?!”

“Primus…” Kock Out covered his faceplates again. “No loud noises. I can’t han-bleerrrrrrrrrrrhhh” He suddenly vomited once more, his body beginning to tremble as he wrenched.

 Starscream had to look away, the sight making him start to feel queasy. He bent down and picked up Fracture, who was busy chewing on the toy Breakdown had gotten him. He placed the little one on a hip and walked away, trying to ignore the sound of Knock Out finally losing control and having a mental breakdown.

“I am so thankful you did not do that to me…” Starscream commented to his son.

Fracture just watched his carrier with those massive red optics of his, not entirely sure what his carrier was saying, but determined to not miss any of it.

Starscream set the youngling down on the floor of his room, and watched as he crawled away, ready to conquer the other sparkling toys scattered on the floor. The Seeker closed the door and sat on the berth, venting a sigh.

He had been thinking about what he would do when Knock Out inevitably kicked him out. Surely Knock Out and Breakdown wouldn’t want him around when the sparkling arrived… Or any other sparklings they would pump out… He would be forced to leave.

Maybe he could find an apartment on the south side of town. It was a little nicer over there… He would be closer to Megatron than Knock Out, though. He wasn’t sure if he should keep Knock Out too close. He probably would want his space…

“Bishah!”

Starscream looked down to see Fracture offering him a red cube. He was busy chewing on the corner of a yellow cube, so clearly his carrier had to join him with the teething. It was only natural!

Starscream accepted the proffered cube, smiling when his son giggled in approval.

“How can you be so cute and yet cause so much trouble?” The former Decepticon inquired of the non-verbal one.

Fracture laughed, biting his cube with more fervor as his stubby legs kicked. Starscream reached down, plucked him up, and hugged him. He may be a stinky sparkling who somehow needed his waste tank cleaned once again, but he was so comforting to hold.

Starscream stood in the doorway of Knock Out’s room, his wings perking. “Hey,”

Knock Out looked over from where he lay on the berth, obviously exhausted despite not doing anything all orbital cycle. “Hey…” He said it so weakly.

“You doing alright?” Starscream dared to come closer, wary of potential vomit attacks.

“Better than yesterday…”

“No purging?”

“Don’t jinx me.”

“I won’t.” Starscream sat on the edge of the berth. “You look awful.”

“I feel awful…” Knock Out rubbed his faceplates. “I honestly didn’t expect my systems to react this poorly to carrying. I thought I’d be one of those who enjoyed being sparked and it’s all easy…”

“Why did you expect that?”

“I don’t know… I take good care of myself, so I thought I was so healthy and fit and… I thought carrying would be a breeze…” He looked over at the Seeker. “And it’s actually murder.”

“But it’s all worth it, as they say.” Starscream smirked.

“This sparkling better fragging be worth it.” Knock Out rolled his optics.  “He better be beautiful, and smart, and never disobey me ever…”

“If he’s taking after you he’ll only be one of those.”

“Har har.” Knock Out grunted. “It does scare me that I’m so sick because something isn’t right.”

“Like what?”

“That my sparkling isn’t forming right… That something isn’t right about my gestation tank. I checked. I went to the doctor and we did the scans and I was cleared to go. But what if something was missed?”

“I’m sure everything is fine. Some people just get sick.”

“Mmmmrrrgh.” Knock Out groaned. “Where’s Fracture?”

“He’s napping.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to have a playmate.” Knock Out faintly smiled. “It’s going to be so adorable seeing our sparklings playing together. I wonder if they will be friends for life?”

“Most likely they will become mortal enemies and start another vorns long war.” Starscream teased with a smile.

“If they do I’m going to march to their rooms and put a stop to it. I’m going to be like that hard aft carrier who is super sweet to his creation until he’s an idiot. Then I’m terrifying.”

“You’re not terrifying when you’re vomiting over a waste disposal.”

“Be nice to me. I suffer.” Knock Out reach down to take Starscream’s servo in his. “I need to be spoiled.”

“Breakdown is spoiling you.”

“I need more.”

Starscream was silent a moment before speaking. “Want me to get you energon?”

“Thanks, but no… I’m scared I’ll purge it up… But I could use someone to talk to about the idiots on this show I’m watching.”

Starscream slid off the berth, circled around it, and climbed on the opposite side. He lay beside Knock Out, enjoying some peace with his sick friend.

2 Decacycles Later:

“SHUT UP! No! I don’t want green energon, you idiot!”

Starscream watched as Knock Out threw the platter at his mate, striking him in the thigh, causing energon chips to be flung all over the living room.

Breakdown, like a beaten puppy, didn’t say anything, just began to clean up the mess.

“I just wanted normal energon.” Knock Out’s vocalizer began to become brittle, as coolant filled his optics. “Why is that so hard to ask for? Am I meant to suffer?”

“I’ll get you something else, sweetie.” Breakdown stood up and tried to kiss his Conjunx Endura, only to get slapped in the face instead.

“What the frag!? Do I look like I want a kiss?!” Knock Out bellowed furiously as coolant was now pouring from his optics. “Just leave me alone!” And now he was crying as if he just lost someone he loved.

Breakdown wisely backed away and headed back to the energon room.

Starscream flicked his wings. This hostile environment was becoming more hostile with each passing orbital cycle. He was grouchy during his carrying, but this… Knock Out was a monster.

“Nuk uht!” Fracture screamed as he hobbled from nowhere, almost losing his balance. He was still very wobbly, but he was walking on his legs now… Somewhat.

Knock Out reached down and picked up the sparkling, hugging him. Fracture was the only person alive who could get close to the beast without risk of injury. Sometimes, they used the sparkling as the messenger to ensure the safety of their own lives. Fracture enjoyed the extra attention. Most of the time he was told not to carry around glasses because of spilling the contents. But recently he would be gifted a glass and directed in the direction of the angry monster, as his carrier and Breakdown hid behind furniture and walls as if they were in the midst of a fire fight. Breakdown referred to Fracture as the “bomb disposal bot.” So far, the only mission he failed was when he drank Knock Out’s energon rather than deliver it to him.

“They just don’t understand.” Knock Out cried to the sparkling he hugged against his chestplates. “They don’t love me. Look at me! I’m so ugly!”

Starscream’s optics rolled so far back he was sure he saw his own brain module.

“Psssh ruh bah!” Fracture proclaimed.

“That’s exactly right.” Knock Out nodded.

Fracture reached up, wiping his miniscule servos over Knock Out’s cheekplates, trying to help him remove the leaking coolant.

Breakdown timidly returned from the energon room, being careful to not be in the direct eyeline of the dangerous creature. He set the energon on a cart with wheels, and pushed it hard enough so it rolled close to the speedster. Fracture knew his job, and climbed off Knock Out’s lap, pulled the cart closer, then climbed back up with the help of the doctor.

“Are you appeased!?” Breakdown called from a safe distance.

Knock Out didn’t answer, simply taking the energon and eating it. Breakdown exhaled tiredly, thankful that, for now, the monster wouldn’t murder him.

Fracture hugged Knock Out, smiling so broadly. Starscream’s wings flicked, his optics narrowing. How dare his own son love on that aft and not him. He wasn’t the one throwing things around the house…

“While he’s sated, do you need anything?” Breakdown inquired of the Seeker.

“I’m fine.” Starscream grunted.

“Okay, I’m going upstairs then.”

Starscream watched the truck leave, then turned back to his son. Fracture was standing on the couch now, snickering about something. He looked up and saw his carrier, his face instantly beaming.

“Cuh-cuh!” He shrieked, reaching out to his carrier with both of his little arms. He laughed, squealing as only a sparkling does when so excited.

Starscream couldn’t help but smile, someone was actually thrilled to see him and want him. Without hesitating, he approached and picked up the sparkling, giving him a quick hug. Fracture giggled, his arms wrapping around his carrier’s neck.

“Don’t take him away.” Knock Out snapped.

Starscream glared at him, his wings flaring. “This is my son. I can take him if I want. You can do whatever you want with yours.”

“He was happy with me.” Knock Out glared back.

“He is happier with me.”

“No one is happy with you.” Was the harsh response.

Starscream’s wings lowered slightly, but he reminded himself that Knock Out was just mean because of his carrying. “Fracture is. Just watch your stupid TV.” He grumbled, shifting Fracture to a hip.

“It’s not as stupid as you are.” The speedster snapped back.

“You’re the stupid one.”

Knock Out grabbed his glass of energon and threw it at Starscream, striking the Seeker in the chestplates, it shattering. Fracture cried out, then began to bawl as he clung to his carrier.

“LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!!!” Starscream shrieked, gesturing to the energon all over his chest and Fracture. “You slagging idiot!”

“Don’t yell at me!” Knock Out shouted back before beginning to cry himself.

“Ugh!” Starscream flicked his wings and turned to leave. “You are utterly worthless.”

“You’re a jerk!”

Starscream flicked him off as he began to walk away.

“No wonder Megatron beat you.”

Starscream stopped, those words feeling like someone had just stabbed him. Slowly, he set Fracture down.

Breakdown looked up when he heard a loud bang followed by screaming. He ran out of his room and down the stairs, his optics widening when he saw the jet wrestling with the car.

“Stop it!” He raced over, grasped Starscream by the wings, and yanked him off.

As if the Seeker weighed nothing, he threw him across the room, then quickly picked up his mate. Starscream crashed into the floor and slid into a wall. He shook his helm, wings flicking.

“What the hell is wrong with you!?” Breakdown roared, carrying Knock Out bridal style.

“What is wrong with me?!” Starscream quickly got to his peds, noticing Fracture bawling on the floor by the stairs. “He fragging said that I deserve to be beaten by Megatron!”

“That doesn’t give you the right to attack him!”

“Let me at him!” Knock Out exclaimed, clawing at Starscream as he weakly struggled for freedom.

Breakdown growled something under his breath. “Starscream… Take care of Fracture.” He then stomped away and up the stairs with his partner who kept punching his arm for freedom.

Starscream flicked his wings one last time, then drooped them. He approached Fracture, picked him up, and gently bounced him. Fracture only continued his wails, clinging to his carrier. Starscream then noticed he had energon leaking from his cheekplates. Knock Out did get at least one hit on him, but he managed a couple back at him.

“Owie.” Fracture whimpered, pausing in his crying to acknowledge the cut on his carrier’s face. He pressed a digit tip to it and gave his carrier a concerned look.

“I’ve been through worse.” Starscream sighed.

He took Fracture to his room and closed the door. He was sure Breakdown would be kicking him out soon…

Breakdown did come to his door, and palmed it open a joor later.

“Hey,” He greeted. “Listen, I know things got heated earlier. Knock Out certainly is not… In a normal mood these orbital cycles. I’m mad it happened, but…” He shrugged. “Just please come to me next time he is being a jerk.”

“That’s it? No… Kicking me out?” Starscream looked at him incredulously.

“Why would I kick you out? You guys had a fight. Not like you killed him. Isn’t it the Decepticon way to fight?” He smirked. “It’s forgiven, Starscream. I’ll get you some energon.”

Starscream watched him leave, not sure if he trusted him forgiving the incident. He would need to just avoid Knock Out. The idiot was not mentally stable…

2 Decacycles later:

Starscream lied on his berth watching videos on the vidscreens with Fracture. Fracture was curled against his carrier, holding a stuffed toy with one arm while the other was wrapped around his carrier’s shoulders.

Suddenly, the door was opened and Breakdown entered. “Starscream!” His optics were wide. “Knock Out is in labor. I’m taking him to the hospital.”

Starscream looked at him. “Is it the start of labor or…?”

“His contractions are two kliks apart.”

Starscream turned off the vidscreen. “I’m coming.”

Breakdown carried Knock Out as Starscream carried Fracture. They arrived at the hospital soon enough and were put in a delivery room. The Seeker sat on a chair with Fracture on his lap as Knock Out paced the room, in obvious pain.

“You doing alright?” Breakdown anxiously asked, his servos trembling with excitement and anxiety.

“I’m not dying.” Knock Out hissed, a servo on his abdominal plating. “This sucks…” He groaned, his other servo grasping a counter corner and squeezing. “Is it supposed to hurt to this degree? I think I’m in more pain than I’m supposed to be in.”

“You have had a bad carrying…”

“I think I’m going to die…”

“Don’t say that.” Breakdown placed a servo on his mate’s shoulder, only for it to be shoved away.

“I can’t believe I’ll die in sparkling birth…”

“You won’t.”

“I leave everything to you… Starscream, you can have my detail kit. Heaven knows you need it.”

Starscream’s optics narrowed. “Gee, thanks…” Was the sarcastic response.

Knock Out shook his helm and went to the berth. He moaned loudly, slowly getting to his knees. “I can do this… I can do this…”

“Do you want pain dampeners?” Breakdown asked gently.

“I said I would do this naturally…” He swallowed, gripping the edge of the berth before him. “I’m gonna do it naturally.”

Starscream chuckled. “See how long that lasts.”

“I can do this!” Knock Out exclaimed, more to himself. “I ate natural this entire carrying, I didn’t take any medication… I’m going to give birth naturally.”

“Would something homeopathic help?”

“I want nothing!” Knock Out offlined his optics. “Please…. I will use the bragging rights against all other carriers I come across…. Including Starscream.”

“I have no regrets about using drugs.” Starscream grunted.

“I’m not-Ow! Ughhhhhhhh!” He tore his claws into the berth. “Breakdown…” He said it in a different tone. “I think…”

“Need the doctor?”

“Probably.” Knock Out then folded away his codpiece allowing liquid to gush out. “My gestation tank just released.”

“I’ll be back with the doctor!” Breakdown then rushed out of the room.

“Sure you don’t want to lie down?” Starscream inquired.

“NATURAL!” Knock Out bellowed, positioning himself on his knees. “It’s easier this way… The way Primus intended… Oh gosh… As… intended…” He said each word softer, coolant beginning to pool in his optics.

Starscream shrugged. “Good luck.”

Breakdown soon returned with a couple of nurses. Knock Out stayed on his knees, grasping the berth side, whining every so often between pained groans. It was not a fast labor. And it certainly was more painful than Starscream’s.

Starscream hugged Fracture close as he listened to Knock Out screaming from the pain, the nurses trying to help him, and Breakdown babbling like some idiot completely worried about Knock Out.

He was doing fine, all things considered, for almost a joor when energon began to leak out. That’s when the doctor came in, and tried to convince Knock Out to take something, but he still refused. Starscream thought he was just being an idiot.

Breakdown was holding Knock Out’s servo, ignoring how he was denting it from squeezing so hard, when the sparkling breached.

“Helm is out.” A nurse announced.

Knock Out looked up and locked optics with Breakdown. The truck smiled, stroking Knock Out’s helm with his free servo.

“Almost there.” He encouraged his mate. “And you did it naturally!”

Knock Out grit his denta, then cried out as he gave another push. Suddenly, the pressure was gone, and he felt so much weaker.

“Sparkling is out.” The doctor announced, taking the newborn.

Knock Out began to collapse, but Breakdown caught him and lifted him up. He was placed on the berth, and the nurses were quickly over him. Starscream watched as they scanned the speedster, and soon had him on an energon drip and finally were able to convince him that he needed something else. He wasn’t able to say much before offlining, his body thoroughly exhausted, weak, and needing repairs.

The doctor was struggling with the sparkling, but finally got him to begin to move and whimper. Starscream bit his lip plate, silently thankful that the sparkling was revived. Who knows how Knock Out would have handled losing him.

Breakdown was trembling when he took his son in his servos for the first time, the little one whimpering as he was tightly bundled in a blanket. He sat beside Knock Out and took his mate’s servo.

“Hey,” He said softly. “Love, online.” He kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates.

Knock Out slowly did online, his optics dim, the lack of energon in his systems evident.

“Look at what we made.” Breakdown’s smile was so large, coolant beginning to fill his optics. “This is ours.” He then placed the newborn on Knock Out’s chest plates and helped him move his servo to rest on the sparkling. Knock Out could only faintly smile, too weak to do anything else. “I love you, so much.” Breakdown kissed his mate on the lip plates, then wiped at his optics as the coolant began to leak down. “You make me so happy… And right now… Being with you and our son… I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Knock Out smiled back at him. “I love you, too.” He said softly. “I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t be sorry. You rest. You did all of this for me… And I… I love you so much.” He kissed Knock Out again.

Starscream swallowed, watching the sire of this sparkling love on the carrier. He didn’t have that when he gave birth… Or anytime before or after that… He was dumped the orbital cycle he gave birth…

“You want to meet my son?”

Starscream looked up, noticing Breakdown was smiling at him, still having to wipe away coolant. Knock Out had passed back out, and the nurses and doctor had left to give them space.

“Uh, yeah.” Starscream stood, picking up Fracture who was playing a game on the datapad he had been given.

The Seeker approached, glancing at the monitor hooked up the Knock Out. He was very low on energon, having lost a lot from the tear caused by the birth, and his systems were in shock from the event. He had a terrible carrying so no surprise the labor was also so bad.

Starscream sat on the chair beside the truck and set Fracture on the berth beside Knock Out. “Don’t touch that.” He pointed at the drip that was connected to Knock Out’s arm.

Breakdown handed Starscream the sparkling, which he carefully took. Fracture was watching, curious about this little one. The newborn was recharging, but Starscream could clearly tell he was Breakdown’s with how orange his faceplates were.

“He’s so beautiful.” Breakdown was starting to sob harder now.

“Huggie!” Fracture reached out for Breakdown, not sure why he was crying, but determined to make him feel better.

Breakdown picked him up and hugged him. “Thank you.”

Starscream studied those tiny faceplates, then looked over at Knock Out, then to Breakdown who was kissing the back of Knock Out’s servo. He imagined that was him lying on the berth and Megatron kissing his servo. He quickly forced that out of his processor. Megatron hated him… He would never have him back…. Right?

Starscream returned to the house a little later, fed Fracture, and returned to watching videos with his son. He looked over at Fracture, seeing Megatron in his son, and then thinking back about Breakdown and Knock Out. They were still at the hospital as Knock Out was too sick to return home… And Breakdown was there beside him loving on him…

Starscream picked up the datapad, took a picture of Fracture, then paused. He opened the file, selected “send to,” then typed in Megatron’s info. He bit his lip plate, staring at the comment section. Then, he slowly typed, “In case you were wondering how much he looks like you.”

He then hit “send.”

He quickly set the datapad down, feeling he made a mistake. Why did he do that? Megatron wouldn’t even look at it let alone respond….

But half a joor later he did get a response. He opened the datapad,  hesitated, then opened the message.

“He looks healthy.”

Starscream sat up, debating, then typed a reply, “He is. He refuels and recharges all orbital cycle. He is very smart, too.”

He sent it and waited. He didn’t receive a reply for a couple of kliks, but then he got, “How are you?”

His wings perked. Megatron was asking how he was?

“I am well. What about you?”

Another reply, “I am alive. Been thinking about you.”

Starscream’s optics widened, his wings fluttering. “Oh?”

“Yes. Have you been laid since we last saw each other?”

“I admit I have not. I could use a good frag.”

“Same.”

“Are you asking?”

“Only if you’re offering.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate. He did want a frag… And one from Megatron could either be nice… Or not nice.

He set down the datapad. He would need to think about it before deciding.

Knock Out was home the next orbital cycle. Breakdown carried him inside and up the stairs, the sparkling held in the arms of the speedster. Starscream watched as Breakdown put Knock Out in his berth, gave him energon, and helped bottle feed the sparkling, as Knock Out was still too sick to nurse.

“You rest, love.” Breakdown said it with so much love as he placed the sparkling beside Knock Out on the berth.

“I’m sorry…” Knock Out said softly, his optics still dim.

“No, sweetie. Don’t be sorry. You’ll get better.” He kissed him on the cheekplates. “Rest. You and Wildbreak both need lots of recharge. I’ll get you more energon when you online.”

Knock Out faintly smiled at him. “How did I find such a perfect mech like you?”

“You’re the perfect one.”

“I am.” Knock Out offlined his optics, still smiling. “When I am no longer dying… I’m going to make it up to you.”

“How so? And you are making up for just the after-birth care or everything you did to me for the entire carrying?”

“All of it.”

“Oof, that’s gonna be a lot.”

“I know… That’s why I am going to please my mech like he’s never been pleased before.”

Breakdown giggled excitedly. “I look forward to it.”

Starscream rolled his optics and stomped back to his room. He wasn’t getting cuddled or laid after all he went through… He paused and eyed the datapad. He picked it up, onlined it, and opened the chat.

“I could use a frag.” He replied.

It didn’t take long before Megatron answered back. “I would love to hold you again.”

“Hold me how?”

“In my arms… As I make love to you. Slowly.”

Starscream’s wings fluttered. “Make love? You don’t hate me?”

“Why would I?”

“Last thing you said to me kind of indicated you had a distaste for me…”

“You must have misunderstood me. You were on medication from just giving birth, correct?”

“I don’t think I misheard you…”

“Mistakes happen. I do want to see you again.”

“How soon?”

“Tonight. My place.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, then looked at Fracture. “Fracture, want to go out?”

Starscream walked up the steps to the front door, Fracture on his hip. The little one was playing with his datapad, not paying attention to what was going on around him. Starscream knocked on the door and waited. It soon opened.

“Hello, Starscream.”

Fracture finally looked up, his optics widening. “No!” He screamed, then hugged his carrier tightly.

Starscream smiled, part of him nervous, but the other part really hopeful. “Hey, Megatron. Uh, this is our son, Fracture.” He made Fracture face his sire. “Fracture, this is your sire.”

“No…” Fracture hugged his carrier again. “Cuhreeor, go home!”

“He’s shy.” Starscream quickly apologized.

Megatron stepped aside, gesturing for the Seeker to enter. “Come in, Starscream.”

Starscream did so, setting Fracture down once the door was closed. Fracture hugged his carrier’s leg, watching the former gladiator closely.

“You look well.” Megatron commented, his optics soaking up every detail of the jet’s body.

Starscream sheepishly smiled, feeling those optics on his frame. “I feel great. I’ve been staying with Knock Out and Breakdown. They really push the energon.”

“Knock Out? And how is he?” Megatron continued with the palaver, despite his optics clearly wanting something more intimate.

“He actually just gave birth yesterday. His sparkling is Wildbreak.”

“Hmm,” Megatron stepped closer, which elicited a nervous step backwards from the smaller mech. “Did you get a new paint job?” His servo reached out, lifting the Seeker’s chin.

Starscream swallowed. “Y-yes, actually, Knock Out did everything.”

“You look amazing.” A large servo snaked around Starscream’s waist and clasped onto his aft.

Starscream squeaked, not expecting that. At least, not so soon. They hadn’t even gotten into the berthroom yet!

“Perhaps I should put Fracture to recharge?”

“He’s fine. He has his game.” Megatron’s lustful smile grew.

“Right.” Starscream looked down at his son. “Fracture, go play your games on the couch. I need to speak to Megatron in private for a bit.”

Fracture looked up at him in confusion and worry. “But, cuhreeor..?”

“Now, Fracture!” Starscream suddenly barked.

Fracture looked at him with the saddest expression but did as he was told. He released his carrier and wobbled over to the couch before climbing onto it. He watched as Megatron led his carrier into the berthroom and closed the door behind them.

Starscream squeaked when he was suddenly shoved onto the berth. Megatron was on the berth almost instantly, and on top of the smaller being. Starscream swallowed, nervous if Megatron would be a brute about this.

“You need to relax.” Megatron spoke, pushing Starscream’s legs apart.

“I’m relaxed. I’m simply thinking about Fracture. He usually isn’t alone.”

“He’ll be fine.” Megatron began to rub Starscream’s codpiece, sending electric currents into it.

Starscream moaned softly, then looked into those large, lustful optics before him. To his surprise, Megatron leaned forward and kissed him on the lip plates. His optics widened, but then his wings fluttered as he kissed back. He reached up, wrapping his arms around Megatron’s neck, and opened his codpiece. He shouldn’t have been surprised with how fast it took for Megatron to be inside of him. The old bastard must have been hard the moment the Seeker entered the apartment…

“Oh! Mmm!” Starscream gasped, lolling his helm back as Megatron began to thrust, but not painfully. “Oh, Megatron...! Hah, you have no patience, oh, do you?”

“Not when I need inside you.” Megatron purred, his servo grasping Starscream’s neck, but not choking him.

Starscream grabbed onto the arm that held his neck, looking into those red optics above him. He gasped from each thrust, never looking away. Megatron smiled, before leaning back over and kissing Starscream on the lip plates once more. The Seeker fluttered his wings, moaning into his firmer commander’s mouth.

“Open.” Megatron ordered as he tapped Starscream’s chestplates.

Starscream did so, and Megatron followed suit. The grounder began to thrust harder and faster into the Seeker, his heated exhales beating down on the flyer’s faceplates. Starscream moaned louder, feeling that servo still grasping his neck. Megatron leaned forward, their spark’s energy reaching for each other in long tendrils. Starscream gasped when he felt Megatron’s very being connecting with his. Then, their sparks angrily bonded, sending them both into overload. Megatron growled through his as Starscream yelped, whining softly as the excess energy coursed through his systems before fading.

“That was great, Megatron.” He panted.

Megatron smirked as he panted over the Seeker. He pulled out, flipped Starscream over, and raised the jet’s aft before penetrating him again. His servo pressed on the back of Starscream’s helm, keeping it down, as the other servo grasped the flier’s hip. Starscream grasped at the berth as Megatron began to thrust, being harder and faster about it this time. But it still wasn’t bad. He moaned between pants, his optics offlining as his sensations were overwhelmed with what Megatron was doing to his body.

Megatron leaned forward and bit the Seeker on the nape, eliciting a hiss. Starscream pushed back against his former leader, which only earned him more biting. He yelped when the unexpected slap across his aft came.

Megatron grasped his neck and lifted his helm up, biting him on the shoulder. Starscream whimpered, his claws scraping into the berthtop. Then Megatron pulled his helm back and kissed him over the shoulder, his glossa entering the Seeker’s mouth. The jet moaned, wings fluttering, reaching back to cup Megatron’s faceplates. He yelped when his aft was slapped again, this time even harder.

“Will you, hah, stop that.” He growled.

“No.” Megatron deepened the kiss.

Starscream only fluttered his wings more, loving this. “Do it again and I’ll, hah, bite back.”

There wasn’t even hesitation from Megatron. He slapped Starscream’s aft, chuckling at the yelp the smaller mech made. Starscream flicked his wings and snapped his denta at Megatron.

Megatron loved the feisty display, and bit the Seeker on the nape. Starscream winced, but then purred when the biting was replaced by kisses.

Fracture sat on the couch, hugging his datapad as he heard the strange noises from the other room. A lot of clanging and his carrier yelping in pain. It scared him. Was his carrier okay? Was he going to be hurt next? Where was Knock Out or Breakdown?

He wiped at the coolant leaking from his optics, just wanting to go home.

Starscream found himself in several positions as the night progressed. From turbofox, to leaning over the berth, to against the wall, and finally leaning over the desk, grasping it tightly as Megatron absolutely railed him to finish the session. He was exhausted by the end of it, his aft, neck, and valve sore, but feeling so satisfied. Megatron, too, was pleased, and lay on the berth, panting as his cooling fans worked hard to cool him off.

Starscream cleaned himself off in the washroom, his legs wobbly. He opened the door and walked over to the couch.

“What’s wrong?”

Fracture looked up at him, then quickly hopped off the berth and ran over. Starscream picked him up, grinning as his son wrapped his arms around him tightly.

“Cuhreeor hurt?” Fractured inquired as he noticed the dents around his carrier’s neck and shoulders.

“No, not hurt.” He kissed him on the cheekplates. “I’m wonderful.”

He walked back into the berthroom, his legs a little bowl legged, and sat on the berth. He lay down next to Megatron, and pulled Fracture close to him. Fracture anxiously glanced at Megatron, curling into his carrier’s chassis for protection. Starscream offlined his optics, ready for a good recharge after what he just went through. They onlined when he felt Megatron grabbing his waist, pulled him closer, then wrap his arm around that tiny waist. His smile grew, and he rolled over to curl into Megatron’s chassis, leaving Fracture alone. The sparkling snuggled into his carrier’s backplates, not sure what else to do.

He wanted to go home.

Starscream onlined the next orbital cycle. His engine purred when he saw Megatron was still holding him. Maybe what Megatron had said during that call was just Megatron in a foul mood. If Megatron didn’t care about him then why would he be holding him like this all night? And the fragging before that… That was loving making! It wasn’t lust, nope! Megatron cared about him.

He snuggled against Megatron, thinking about how he’ll need to go back to Knock Out’s and get his belongings, and where he would set up Fracture’s berth. They’ll be able to raise their sparkling together!

Fracture onlined, stretched, then sat up. “Cuhreeor!”

Starscream was use to this greeting, so didn’t react. But Megatron wasn’t. The former Decepticon leader startled online, fist raised, ready to strike, but quickly realized there was no danger. He narrowed his optics at the sparkling who was looking up at him.

“What is that doing in my berth?” He growled.

Starscream onlined his optics. “Hmm? What? Our son?” He sat up, pulling Fracture onto his lap. “He just needs energon.”

“He’s not my son…” Megatron grumbled.

Starscream looked at him incredulously. “Seriously? He looks just like you.”

“He’s not mine. You got sparked by one of the many others you recharge with…” He grunted.

“I only recharge with you!”

“You have been living with Knock Out and Breakdown for decacycles. There’s a reason for that…”

“What are you implying?”

“That that is Breakdown’s sparkling.” Megatron pointed as he stood up.

“I have never fragged Breakdown!”

“Do not raise your vocalizer at me!”

Fracture clung to his carrier as he began to cry. “Why are you like this?” Starscream growled, his wings flaring. “Why can’t you just accept that you sparked me, and this is the result of your irresponsibility? We have a son, Megatron.”

“Not. Mine.” He growled with gritted denta, leering over the Seeker.

“Yes. Yours.” Starscream gritted his denta back, his wings flaring.

“Get out.”

“What?”

“I said get out.” Megatron ordered as he started to walk towards the washroom.

Starscream quickly got off the berth, set Fracture down, and took a couple of steps closer to Megatron. “No. No! You do not make me some booty call because you’re horny, Megatron! I am not leaving!”

Megatron turned around, his optics filled with such rage. “And here you are, again, being a nuisance. Always disobeying me!”

“I am not! You will not degrade me like I’m some whore! I thought you cared about me!”

“I care about everything that’s not your mind.”

Starscream’s servos clenched into fists at his sides as he stomped a ped. “Why are you such a selfish, slagging fragger?!”

“You do not speak to me like that!”

Fracture was beside his carrier, hugging his leg as he began to cry. Megatron had it. He took three steps forward and then kicked Fracture, sending him flying a ways. Starscream’s optics widened in horror, then they narrowed. Without thinking, he swung, his claws tearing across Megatron’s faceplates leaving four gashes. Megatron growled, touching the cuts, then checking his digits, seeing them covered in energon. Those cold, furious optics turned onto the Seeker.

“You miserable, little-“

Starscream leaped back as Megatron lunged, but the room was too small for him to transform or do anything to escape. Megatron quickly had him and punched him in the face. Fracture cried louder as he sat on the floor, watching.

Starscream struggled to get free, but Megatron’s grip on his arm was far stronger. Megatron had done this same routine many times before. He knew how to keep the Seeker from escaping.

The ex-gladiator dragged his victim to the desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pair of manacles. Starscream’s wings dropped, his free servo desperately clawing at the hand that held him.

“Megatron, please!”

But he didn’t listen. Megatron dragged him to the berth, placed the manacles on one wrist, wrapped the chain around a berth post, and slapped the other manacle onto the other wrist. Starscream struggled, trying to pull his wrist out from the cuffs that bound him to the berth, but they weren’t giving. Megatron grasped him and pushed him onto the berth, then tied his ankles to the foot of the berth, securing him in place.

“Megatron, I-I apologize! I was in the wrong! Please, Megatron… Master?”

Megatron ignored his pleas and went into the closet. He walked out with a thick, metal cable. Starscream’s optics widened, desperately pulling at the restraints.

“Megatron, please! Don’t!”

But he didn’t listen. He raised his arm and lashed the cable across Starscream’s lower back hard. Starscream screamed, his body jerking from the horrible pain tearing through his systems. He didn’t even have time to recover before another lash landed across his backside, then another over his aft, one over his wing, then his thighs. He could only scream, frantically beg, and jerk with every evil strike.

Fracture was a bawling mess, watching as his carrier was hurt. He kept looking at the door, hoping Breakdown or Knock Out would appear and stop the bad mech, but they never did.

Megatron was not merciful. He brutally lashed the Seeker over his entire backside and wings, denting his plates, and even causing some energon to leak. Starscream tore his claws into the berth post he was tied too, coolant pouring from his optics as he could only shriek from each brutal blow.

It felt like an eternity, and he was certain he was at least lashed a hundred times, before Megatron finally ceased. The grounder untied him, grabbed him by the neck, and dragged him out of the room. Fracture quickly got up and ran after, still crying as he clutched his datapad.

Megatron opened the front door, threw Starscream out like garbage, waited for Fracture to run out, then slammed the door closed. The sparkling sat beside his carrier, crying as he hugged him. The Seeker slowly sat up, every movement bringing searing pain to his body. He wiped the coolant away from his optics, dusted the dirt from his frame, and picked up Fracture. He sat there, hugging his son, his wings drooping.

“I wunna go home.” Fracture managed through his whimpers.

Starscream bit his lip plate, slowly nodded, and stood up. Painfully, he limped down the road, his wings still low, fighting back the fresh coolant pooling in his optics.

He palmed the door open and walked into the house. He was hoping he could make it to the washroom and shower in peace without being detected, but nothing gets by Breakdown.

“Oh my gosh!” Breakdown rushed over, dropping the plate of energon cubes he had been taking to the couch where Knock Out was with Wildbreak. “Starscream, what happened?!”

“I’m fine.” Starscream grunted, pushing Breakdown away.

“You were gone all night and come home looking like this! Who attacked you?!”

“No one attacked me!” Starscream snapped, painfully making his way to the stairs.

Knock Out was watching, his optics narrowing as the Seeker neared him. He set Wildbreak down on the couch, then carefully stood up, needing to use the couch as support. He circled around it, one servo on the couch as the other rested over his abdominal plates, still sore inside from the labor.

“Let me see.” He ordered, his vocalizer softer than usual, obviously from not being fully recovered from the labor.

Starscream simply limped by him, which allowed the doctor to get a good look at his backside.

“I’ve seen that before.” His optics narrowed. “Only one miserable creep hurts you like that.” He released the couch to cautiously step closer to the retreating jet. “You…” He pointed an accusing digit at Starscream. “You visited Megatron, didn’t you? Looks like he had his usual fun with you.”

Starscream stopped, his ped on the first step on the staircase. He looked back at Knock Out, his optics narrowed and glowing brighter. “I am not in the mood, Knock Out.” He growled.

“What happened to Fracture?” Knock Out approached, wincing from the pain between his legs and abdomen. “What did he do to him?”

“Fracture is fine.”

“He is not. I can see damage to his frame. He’s dented, and he has been crying. What did Megatron do to him?” The speedster said it sterner, his engine revving some.

Starscream turned so Knock Out could fully see the youngling. “He was kicked! Okay?! That’s it!”

“That’s it?! He was kicked! You took him to a waving lunatic who is a fragging sociopath! He could have been killed! What kind of carrier are you!?”

“Clearly not one up to your standards!”

“And not to the standards of ANY decent creator! Does Fracture’s life not mean anything to you!?”

“He means everything to me!”

“Clearly not! You took him to someone who has tried to KILL YOU MORE THAN ONCE!”

“He has not!”

“Are you seriously saying that to the one who saved you on the operation table more than once because of Megatron?!”

“This is none of your business. It’s my life and my son.” Starscream growled, his wings flicking, which he instantly regretted with a loud hiss.

“None of my-“ Knock Out then jabbed a furious claw at him. “If you DARE take Fracture back to that monster… I will get custody of him!”

“HE IS NOT YOURS!”

“YOU’RE NOT TREATING HIM LIKE HE’S YOURS!”

Fracture began to cry, then reached out for Breakdown who was standing nearby, anxiously watching. “Brehkee!” He cried.

Breakdown started to approach to take the sparkling, but Starscream turned away, flaring his wings and growling his engine.

“HE IS NOT YOURS!”

“Starscream…” Breakdown said soothingly, holding his servos up to placate the Seeker. “He just wants me to hold him. Why don’t you go shower and I’ll give Fracture a bath. There’s no need for-“

“You are trying to take him away from me!”

“We’re not! You live here!”

“I’ll take him away if you go back to Megatron!” Knock Out shouted, grabbing onto the banister before he lost balance. “Why did you even go to him?!”

Starscream glared at him, trying to think of an answer that didn’t make him sound like a whore. “I… He wanted to meet Fracture.”

“That’s slag and you know it.” Knock Out snapped. “You went over there and spent the night, Starscream.” He paused. “You miserable whore! You went for interface!” He threw his servo in the air as he rolled his optics incredulously. “SERIOUSLY!? Did you go because he manipulated you or were you just horny?! For Primus’ sake, Starscream, if you needed a frag we could have a threesome!”

“Wait, what?” Breakdown shook his helm in confusion as he turned to his mate, but he was ignored.

“So what if I wanted to frag him! H-he Didn’t hurt me during it! In fact, he was amazing. He made me feel nice.” Starscream said resolutely.

“Oh, did he pleasure you and make you feel loved, or just used you?” Knock Out attempted to cross his arms but started to lose balance so had to grab the banister again.

“I felt wonderful.” Starscream snapped.

“And then he beat you.”

“That had nothing to do with the interface!”

“But it had to do with that fact he doesn’t care about you!”

“You don’t know our relationship!”

“BUT I KNOW OURS!” Knock Out shrieked. “I care about you! I care about Fracture! I’ve helped you with y-your carrying, and Fracture! I’ve helped you even before the war ended! I’ve been by your side since the first orbital cycle we met!” Coolant began to pool in Knock Out’s optics. “Does our friendship mean nothing to you?! Do I mean nothing to you?!” He paused, waiting for Starscream to respond, but the Seeker didn’t. “I was so happy you were there with me yesterday when I gave birth, even if I don’t remember half of what happened that orbital cycle, I remember you were there… And that means a lot to me.”

Starscream swallowed, feeling coolant pool in his own optics. He was silent a moment before speaking. “I can’t be the person you want me to be…”

“I just want you to be Starscream… My friend who understands that Megatron is dangerous.”

“He is Fracture’s sire. I can’t just throw him out of my life.”

“You can! If Breakdown beat me or hurt Wildbreak I’d leave him and never speak to him! It would suck, but I would do what I had to to protect myself and my son! You can ignore Megatron. You have us to help you.” Knock Out gripped the banister tighter as his legs wobbled, his body weakening from the energy he was exerting.

Starscream eyed Knock Out, seeing how weak he was, his optics dim, and yet here he was… Pleading for him to leave Megatron for good.

“Starscream...” Breakdown spoke. “You should take a shower and rest. Knock Out, you need to rest, too. You’re not well.”

“I’m fine.” Knock Out winced, coolant now leaking from his optics. Starscream wasn’t sure if he was crying from the conversation or because he was in pain.

“You should rest.” Starscream finally spoke.

“I’ll rest when you promise me you will never see that monster again!” Knock Out snapped, starting to become irritated.

Starscream bit his lip plate debating. “I… I can’t make that promise.”

“What is wrong with you?! LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE TO YOU!” Knock Out shook his helm. “Why did he beat you this time?!”

Starscream glared at him. “He… He just was annoyed by Fracture.”

“He did this to you because of Fracture?! No, you can NOT EVER take Fracture near him.”

“You don’t tell me what I can and can’t do with my own son.”

“THEN I’LL GET CUSTODY OF HIM! I WON’T LET YOU GET HIM KILLED BECAUSE YOU’RE AN IDIOT!” Knock Out shrieked.

Fracture was bawling now, desperately looking at Breakdown for him to stop the fighting.

“YOU WILL NOT TAKE HIM FROM ME!”

“I WILL TO PROTECT HIM!”

Starscream had it. He shoved Knock Out, almost causing the speedster to fall over, but he had a type grip on the banister still.

“You do not touch me!” Knock Out screamed, not having full control of his emotions still. He shoved back at Starscream.

Starscream set Fracture down on the steps before shoving Knock Out again, this time much harder. Knock Out fell to the floor, yelping.

“Hey!” Breakdown ran forward, but he wasn’t as fast as a Seeker. “AH!” He cried out, his servos clutching his faceplates as energon oozed out of the four scratches Starscream’s claws left.

“YOU BASTARD!” Knock Out shrieked, somehow leaping to his peds despite how weak his systems were and tackling Starscream.

The flyer cried out from the horrible pain piercing through his frame, but he could fight through it to focus on the speedster. Claws rained down on each other, the two tearing into each other’s faces, chests,. arms, and sides. Knock Out fought back best he could, but his burst of energy quickly began to fade away. He soon was left feebly trying to block Starscream’s punches, but they kept landing on his faceplates. Energon was oozing out of his dented plates, and he soon was coughing it up. Starscream finally landed an extra hard blow to Knock Out’s abdomen, his already sick body not able to handle that. The speedster vomited, unable to do anything more but roll to his side as he clutched his abdomen.

Starscream was suddenly yanked off and thrown into a wall. He looked up to see Breakdown over Knock Out, holding him close, his one optic damaged from Starscream’s claw striking it. Fracture was screaming as he cried, looking from his carrier to the conjunxes endurae.

“BAD!” He yelled, pointing at Starscream, then he began to climb up the stairs.

Starscream’s wings lowered, beginning to realize what he had done.

“You fragging idiot...!” Knock Out groaned, still holding his abdomen as he sat up. “This is why you have no friends...!”

Starscream bit his lip plate, then ran up the stairs after his son. He closed the door to his room, noticing Fracture hiding under the berth crying. He rubbed his faceplates, then punched the wall, leaving a dent. Knock Out would not let this one go.

He opened the drawer and began to subspace his property. He paused when he heard Breakdown carrying Knock Out by the closed door, taking the doctor to his berth. He resumed once they passed.

He finished subspacing his things, then grabbed Fracture. He went downstairs and to the energon room where he began to subspace energon and additives. As he was doing so he heard heavy pedfalls behind him.

“What are you doing?” Breakdown’s vocalizer sounded.

“I’m leaving.” Was the gruff reply.

“Leaving? Where to?” Breakdown said quickly.

“Not to Megatron, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He grunted.

“Starscream, don’t leave.”

“Two fights.” Starscream held up two claws to him. “We have gotten into two fights, physically, and many verbal altercations. He’s been a complete slagger to me this past stellar cycle, and… I can’t Breakdown.”

“Starscream, the carrying made him a jerk. He’s on medication now. He’ll stop being mean soon. And the fights…” He gestured to anything and everything. “It happens! What you expect from people who have been in a war most of their lives and never been to therapy!? I got into fights a lot with other Decepticons! You know how many people I punched because they hit on Knock Out?” He vented a sigh. “Starscream, please, don’t go. Knock Out doesn’t want you to leave.”

“He seemed pretty intent on taking away Fracture.” Starscream snapped, subspacing the last cube, then picking Fracture back up.

“We worry about him, and you.”

“You won’t need to worry about us any longer.” Starscream started for the front door.

“Starscream… Please, stay. If you need space I will gladly pay for a hotel for you.”

“I don’t need your charity.”

“I want to help you.”

“I can help myself.” Starscream snapped, palming the door open.

Breakdown grabbed his arm. “Please, don’t go. We will work this out.”

Starscream pulled his arm free. “And get into another fight or be yelled at? No thank you.”

“What will you do for Shanix?”

“I am fully capable of finding work.”

“And take care of Fracture?”

“There are many single creators…”

“At least let us sparkling sit him…”

“And have you take him from me?”

“Starscream…”

Starscream flicked his wings, wincing from the pain, then stomped out of the house. He didn’t get far before Breakdown ran over and grabbed his arm again.

“At least take this.” Breakdown handed him a bag of Shanix.

“I don’t need your Shanix.”

“You’re not giving it back.” Breakdown said it so harshly, so unlike him, which made Starscream know he definitely could not give it back. “Stay safe. And, please, come back. We will help you with Fracture and anything else.”

“We’ll be fine.” Starscream jerked his arm free once more and stomped away.

Fracture watched Breakdown over Starscream’s shoulder, dried coolant coating his cheekplates, and his optics so scared. Breakdown watched them leave, venting a heavy sigh.

Starscream had been looking for a place to stay almost constantly since that first fight with Knock Out. He looked through his datapad and began to call the places he could get into the soonest. Only one could see him tomorrow.

He would need to spend the night on the street. He could go back to that shelter, but he didn’t feel safe there. No, he could just hold up in one of the many abandoned buildings until he got a proper apartment.

He found one abandoned place that wasn’t too dismal or had homeless all over it. He had to push some rubble out of the way to get through a window, but he was inside. The only decent room was on the fourth floor. Possibly were others on higher floors, but he wasn’t in the mood for carrying Fracture up anymore stairs.

He settled down on the berth in the selected room, Fracture lying beside him, anxiously looking around.

“Where home?” The little one inquired, his optics so round.

“This is temporary home until we find something else.” Starscream grunted.

“I want ta go home.” Fracture began to whimper.

“That’s no longer our home.”

“Why?”

“Because Knock Out hates me.”

“I want Knock uht.” He wiped at his optics.

“Just go to recharge.” Starscream abruptly ordered before shutting himself off for the night.

Fracture softly cried, thinking about home.

The next orbital cycle Starscream refueled himself and Fracture with the energon he had taken from Knock Out and Breakdown. He then went out to find this new apartment. Meeting the landlord he didn’t feel like the guy wasn’t up to something shady behind closed doors, but he needed the place.

It was small, a little dirty, but it had electricity, running water, and some furniture. Much better than the abandoned places that only had one of those…

Fracture didn’t like it, but he soon sat on the couch and played games on his datapad, allowing Starscream to work on cleaning up the place.

It was the afternoon when there was a knock on the door. His wings perked, hesitating, but then answered it. His wings drooped when he saw it was a police officer.

“What do you want?” He scoffed, wings flicking.

“You were not easy to find.” The grounder replied, pulling out a datapad and filing through it. “Seeker Starscream of Vos… An emergency order for youngling custody was filed this morning. The judge has issued that the hearing be in two orbital cycles due to the nature of the danger the sparkling is in.”

Starscream’s wings flicked, his optics narrowing, and engine growling. “That miserable slag pile!”

The cop handed him a datapad. “This is your copy. And I need you to sign this as well.” He held up his own datapad. “If you fail to show up you will be arrested and the sparkling taken.”

“I’ll be there.” He growled, signing the datapad and then shoving it back into the officer’s chestplates. “And tell Knock Out to shove it up his tailpipe.

“I need to see the sparkling before I can leave.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “Fracture, come here for a klik.”

Fracture slid off the couch and walked over. The officer looked him over, inspecting for any signs of dents or other signs of abuse. He noted the dents from when Megatron kicked him.

“I didn’t do those.” Starscream snapped.

“Do you feel safe?” The officer inquired of Fracture, ignoring Starscream.

Fracture didn’t even look at him. “I wanna go home.”

“He’s upset about moving to a new place.” Starscream quickly explained.

“Mhmm.”

Fracture glanced at the officer, then walked back to the couch. The cop turned to Starscream.

“You have a good orbital cycle.”

Starscream closed and locked the door on him. He spun around, shrieked in absolute fury, and kicked the wall.

“I WILL KILL HIM!!!!”

Fracture hugged his datapad, scared of what was happening.

2 Orbital Cycles Later

Starscream stomped into the courtroom, having left Fracture just outside in the hallway with a deputy. He was silently cursing not being allowed to bring his sparkling inside, but apparently it was to “reduce stress” on the sparkling. Slag.

His wings flicked and he felt the fires of hell burning inside him when he spotted the reason for this entire hearing. Knock Out was sitting beside Breakdown and another grounder. He sat at the defendant’s table, flicking his wings once more.

Knock Out glanced at him, his optics still dimmer than usual, but looking a little better than when he last saw him. Oh, how he wanted to make him look worse again…

The judge eventually entered the room and sat down at his desk.

“This is an emergency order for custody of a…” He paused to read his datapad. “One stellar cycle old sparkling. Defendant is the biological carrier of said sparkling, and prosecutor is a family friend.” He looked up at those gathered in the court room. “Alright, what is the concern for the sparkling’s welfare?”

“Yes, your honor,” That other grounder spoke as he stood, holding a datapad in one servo. “The sparkling is the son of Seeker Starscream of Vos, former Air Commander and First Lieutenant of Decepticon founder and leader, Megatron of Tarn. Starscream, three orbital cycles ago, took his son to visit Megatron for interface. While there, Megatron assaulted both him and the sparkling causing physical injuries. When Starscream returned to my client’s home, where he had been residing for over one stellar cycle, he became aggressive and assaulted both my client and his mate. As you can see the injuries are still present on both of them.” He gestured to the mated couple.

He continued. “The damage inflicted by Megatron is also present on Starscream. But after his attack, Starscream fled the house with Fracture, the sparkling, without anywhere to go or any Shanix. He did not stay at a shelter during the night, as my clients called them all. He possibly returned to Megatron for the night or stayed outside for the night.

“Starscream does not have a job, nor Shanix saved up. My client has not only a job but is a doctor working at the Iacon Hospital and Emergency Center. His mate is a homemaker and is already providing care to their newborn son. They have no communications or contact with Megatron, Soundwave, Shockwave, or any Decepticon High Command minus when they tried to help Starscream. The only other Decepticons they are regularly in contact with are friends of theirs, all grunts from the Decepticon Army, medical division, or scientific research branch.

“My clients are not only financially stable with a house they own and a well-paying job, but have vorns of experience caring for younglings, and do not believe in ever striking a sparkling. They do not interact with the dangerous Decepticons who would kill a sparkling, nor would they ever knowingly put a sparkling in danger. 

“They seek to have full custody of Fracture as he has lived in their home since even before he was born, he knows and trusts them, and would be safest in their care. They love him and are deeply concerned for his safety and wellbeing. We ask for immediate custody of Fracture of Iacon, limited visitations of the carrier, Seeker Starscream of Vos, and a protective order against Megatron of Tarn to ensure he doesn’t come near my client’s home and harm his son.”

The lawyer then sat down.

Starscream flicked his wings, glaring daggers at Knock Out and Breakdown. Breakdown wrapped his arm around Knock Out’s shoulders and pulled him close, making sure he didn’t look at Starscream.

The judge was writing down notes before turning to Starscream. “Where is your counsel, Starscream of Vos?”

“I am representing myself.” Starscream grunted.

“Then, Starscream of Vos, explain to me why your son should remain in your custody.”

Starscream stood. “He is my son. I sacrificed everything to have him. I do not put him in danger like this liar claims!” He flicked his wings, pointing an accusing digit at Knock Out. “Fracture is happiest and safest with me.”

“Your honor, may I question the defendant?” That slagging grounder lawyer inquired.

“I’ll allow it.”

“Starscream of Vos, if you may take to the witness stand?” The lawyer gestured to it.

Starscream rolled his optics but went to it anyway. At least now he could directly glare his unadulterated fury at Knock Out. Which he did. Oh, if there weren’t armed deputies in the courtroom right now he would rip off Knock Out’s head!

“Starscream,” That miserable lawyer spoke. “You say Fracture is ‘safest’ with you. Where do you currently reside?”

“I have an apartment.” Starscream grunted, wings flicking.

“But do you have a job?”

“If you rusty Autobots made it easy for Decepticons to get jobs I would have one by now.”

“So, how do you plan on caring for Fracture until you get a job?”

“I have sources available.”

“The shelter?”

“That’s one.”

“Megatron?”

“No.”

“Starscream,” The lawyer paused. “You visited Megatron for a night of interface. You brought Fracture along with you knowing you were specifically going for interface. Was Fracture in the room with you?”

“Are you implying I had him in the room while I fragged? Absolutely not!”

“But he was in the room when Megatron attacked you, correct?”

“Fracture was barely touched.”

“Fracture had a serious dent that was observed by my client, and you admitted he was kicked.”

“He might have been accidentally kicked during my argument with Megatron.”

“Starscream, you have no job, you have taken Fracture to see a very dangerous sociopath, and you are quick to violence. How can we be so sure you won’t strike Fracture out of frustration? Sparklings are loud and damage property. You may become angry and hit him.”

“Is this because I’m a Seeker? You think we beat our Seekerlets?” He growled.

“On the contrary,” The lawyer replied. “The fact you attacked my client twice speaks volumes of how you handle stress.” He then turned to the judge. “If I may direct your attention to the vid screen, your honor.” He pulled out his datapad and pressed some buttons, having what was on the datapad appear on the larger vid screen so all could see. “These are images of my client after he was attacked by Starscream during his carrying when he and Starscream got into an argument.” He explained as those images appeared, showing the wounds to Knock Out’s body. “And here are the injures directly after Starscream attacked my client the other orbital cycle.”

“Are there any of the sparkling?” the judge asked.

“The sparkling was taken away before pictures could be taken, but I believe the sparkling is in the hallway.”

“Bring him in.”

A deputy left to do so, soon bringing Fracture into the room. He was escorted over to the judge, and the lawyer pointed out the large dent from Megatron’s kick, and the other dent from hitting the wall.

Fracture was taken back out to the hallway, glancing over his shoulders at Knock Out and not Starscream.

The judge vented a sigh. “I think it’s clear in this case that the relationship between Starscream and Megatron is the main issue. I cannot in good faith allow a sparkling to be around him. And given the fact Starscream doesn’t have a job, while they do.” He gestured to Knock Out and Breakdown. “I rule in favor of the prosecution. Speedster Knock Out of Navitas, Velocitron and Truck Breakdown of Delta, Velocitron, are to have immediate custody of Fracture of Iacon, son of Seeker Starscream of Vos. Visitations of the biological carrier, Seeker Starscream of Vos, are to be non-existent until a future court date rules him safe enough for supervised visitations. Megatron is never allowed to interact or visit with Fracture of Iacon.” He then slammed his gavel before standing up.

“What?” Starscream’s wings flared. “You can’t just hand over my son to these lying grounders!”

“Watch your tone or else I’ll hold you in contempt of court.” The judge ordered harshly. “I suggest you say your goodbyes, Decepticon.”

Starscream narrowed his optics, seeing this was Decepticon vs Autobot and nothing to do with his abilities to be a carrier. He stood and stormed out of the room. He grabbed Fracture by the arm and forcibly led him out of the courthouse.

He quickly returned to the apartment, sat on the couch, and held Fracture on his lap, hugging him. He didn’t know how much time they had together before that idiot and his fat mate would be there to take his son away.

It was a joor.

A knock at the door announced their arrival. He hugged Fracture tighter, not ready to have him taken away. There was more knocking, then some shouting. Eventually, the door was hacked open, and armed police entered.

“Get out of here!” Starscream roared, wings flaring and engine growling as he protectively hugged Fracture.

“The sparkling is no longer in your custody. Hand him over.” One of the officers ordered.

“Over my dead body.” Starscream flicked his wings.

“Starscream,”

Starscream turned to the voice of his now most hated enemy. “Get out of here before I kill you, Knock Out!”

Knock Out didn’t change his expression, knowing this was going to be difficult. He set his jaw, looked hard at the Seeker, and spoke firmly. “Starscream, hand over Fracture. He doesn’t need to be traumatized.”

“You are taking him away from me! That is traumatizing!”

Fracture began to cry, looking from his carrier to Knock Out frantically.

“Staying with you is too dangerous! Starscream… You know he’ll be safe with me.”

“HE’S SAFE WITH ME!”

“Release the sparkling, Seeker.” One of the cops ordered.

Starscream stood, holding Fracture tightly, then stepped backwards. The police stepped forward, beginning to circle around him, batons in their servos, and their guns ready for quick draw on their hips.

“Last warning, Seeker.”

Starscream didn’t obey.

The police neared, Starscream flicked his wings, then one reached for his arm. Starscream lashed at that officer, slashing him across the faceplates. The others lunged, grabbing him, and wrestling him as he kicked and struggled. One officer got a hold of Fracture, as another pried at Starscream’s arms to release. Fracture was screaming and bawling, but eventually yanked free of his carrier’s arms. The other officers held Starscream back as the one delivered Fracture to Knock Out. The doctor gently took the crying Sparkling, holding him firmly against his chestplates. Fracture wrapped his arms around Knock Out’s neck, trembling from how scared he was.

“I’LL SLAGGING KILL YOU!” Starscream shrieked, still struggling against the cops. “I’LL TEAR YOU APART AND MAKE THAT BUMBLING, FAT IDIOT YOU FRAG WATCH!!!”

Knock Out quickly turned and started to leave, stopping only to grab Fracture’s datapad from the couch. He placed one servo on Fracture’s bottom to support him, the other holding the back of the sparkling’s helm to his chestplates so he wouldn’t see what was happening.

“KNOCK OUT!!!! YOU’RE A DEAD MECH!!! I WILL TAKE FRACTURE BACK AND KILL YOU!!! THERE WILL BE NOWHERE FOR YOU TO HIDE YOU MISERABLE, LYING, LIVING SACK OF SLAG!!!”

Knock Out hastily walked out of the apartment and approached Breakdown who was standing on the sidewalk, waiting. He pulled Knock Out closed and hugged him.

“We have him. He’s safe now.” He soothed his mate.

“Let’s get back home.” Knock Out said quickly, wiping away the coolant beginning to leak from his optics.

They soon got back home, Breakdown thanked their neighbor for watching Wildbreak, and soon they were alone. Knock Out carried Fracture to the berthroom Starscream used to stay in and set him down.

“It’s your old-new room.” Knock Out smiled, presenting the room to Fracture.

It now had many more toys, the berth had a berth rail, small steps so he could get into berth on his own, and many more videogames.

Fracture looked up at Knock Out with large optics, silently asking for approval.

“Go ahead, it’s all yours.” He gave him a loving nudge forward.

Fracture squealed before running over and hugging the new stuffed toys and jumping from one new thing to another. Knock Out sighed. Maybe the transition wouldn’t be so hard for him.

Later that night Knock Out lay in berth next to Breakdown, exhausted from the long orbital cycle. Wildbreak was recharging in the crib beside the berth, close enough that Knock Out could reach in and pick him up without leaving the berth.

“Doing alright?” Breakdown asked as he wrapped an arm around Knock Out’s waist, holding him closer to him.

Knock Out didn’t look back at his mate, focusing on the crib in front of him, watching his son recharging peacefully. “I’m upset. I don’t know why he couldn’t have simply stayed with us and avoided all of this.”

“He’s stubborn.” Breakdown kissed the back of Knock Out’s neck, his optics offlining as he settled for recharge. “This is a huge wakeup call for him.”

“I don’t think he’ll ever be safe enough to have a sparkling. He won’t stay away from Megatron.”

“There’s not much more we can do. We gave him a home, Shanix, energon… Don’t say we didn’t try everything.” He lowered his servo to rest over Knock Out’s abdominal plates. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Tired… Pain is gone… I’m just tired…”

“You can focus on getting better now. We have two sparklings to take care of.”

Knock Out vented a sigh, placing a servo over his mate’s. He offlined his optics and allowed himself to drift into recharge. It didn’t last long before being onlined by a small vocalizer.

“Knock Out?”

Knock Out online his optics and saw a tiny pair of red optics in front of him. The doctor quickly propped himself on an elbow.

“Fracture? What is it sweetie?”

“I had a nightmare…” Fracture whimpered, coolant in his optics.

Knock Out reached over and picked the little one up onto the berth. Fracture lay beside him, clutching one of his new stuffed toys. Knock Out wrapped his arms around the sparkling, protectively holding him close. Breakdown grunted in his recharge, holding Knock Out’s waist a little tighter. He looked down and saw that Fracture had fallen back into recharge, already feeling so much safer.

He was safe. He was safe from Megatron and anything stupid Starscream may do. And he would do everything he had to to ensure Fracture would never be in danger again.

Originally, my friend had envisioned Starscream always having Fracture and never being separated. I pitched the idea of Knock Out getting custody of Fracture because, well, who wouldn't want to keep a baby away from psycho Megatron? And thus she gave it her blessing and the most chaotic, dramatic, friends-turned-enemies story was born. Things will get MUCH crazier from here on out.

At the time I wrote this we hadn't made certain decisions, but there was some accidental foreshadowing here.

I decided to make Knock Out have a hard time with pregnancy because he's so arrogant and thinks himself so perfect, so him having trouble with anything is ironic. Also, he is one of those who wants to do an all natural pregnancy for bragging rights. We all know he would.

Fracture is a good baby. But I must say, Fracture from RiD 2015 is very ugly. I disagree with the theory of him being the son of Starscream and Megatron, but some of y'all wanna make that claim. That's fine. He's ugly, tho. :P

Chapter Text

“Can you take that to Knock Out?” Breakdown asked as he handed a cube to Fracture.

“Okie dokie!” Fracture sweetly replied before hobbling out of the energon room and over to the couch where Knock Out sat with Wildbreak. “I gotcha cube!” He proclaimed for the world to hear as he held up said cube.

“Aw, thank you sweetie.” Knock Out took the proffered cube. “Come up here.”

Fracture climbed up and sat next to Knock Out, snuggling against him. He looked over at Wildbreak who had onlined his optics, bright yellow like his sire’s. The little one was contently nursing on the feeding tube, his tiny servos clutching at Knock Out’s chest plates.

“Wut dis!?” Fracture inquired as he poked at Knock Out’s spark casing, seeing it through the open chestplates.

“That, my observant sparkling, is my spark casing.” Knock Out explained.

“Spark cussing?”

“Casing. Yes, my spark is inside. That’s the thing that makes you you. It makes you alive, your own individual. It’s who you are.”

“I have one?”

“You do. We all do. Even the birds have sparks. Everyone born on Cybertron, or the colonies, have sparks.”

Fracture looked down at his own chest for a moment before leaning back over Knock Out’s chest. “Wut dis!?” He poked at something a little deeper.

“That is a piston. It helps me move. Don’t put your servo too far inside of there.”

“Wat dis?!” He poked another part of the speedster.

“That’s the top of my fuel pump.”

“Wut DIS!?!?!” He shouted.

“That is my cosmitron.”

WUT DIS!?” Fracture giggled, poking something else.

“Those are wires, you silly.” Knock Out smiled at him.

“You silly.”

“Oh, I’m the silly one?”

“YESH!”

“I love you. Can I get nuzzles?”

Fracture stood on the couch, wrapped his arms around Knock Out’s neck, and nuzzled his face against Knock Out’s.

“Can I get in on that?” Breakdown playfully smiled as he sat on the other side of Knock Out.

“Yes, you can.” Knock Out smirked up at him.

Breakdown leaned over and kissed Knock Out on the lip plates. Fracture watched them closely.

“Why you do dat?”

“Hmm? Why do we kiss?” Knock Out turned to him. “Because it’s how you show love. Grownups kiss each other on the lip plates, while sparklings get kisses on the cheekplates.”

“All grownup kiss each uddor?”

“No, only the mated ones. The ones who are carriers and sires together.”

“Cuhreeors?”

“Yes, carriers are people who give birth to sparklings. So, I’m a carrier. Sires are people who help carriers make sparklings. Breakdown is the sire.”

“You’re a cuheeor, too!?” His optics widened; his little mind completely blown.

“I am. To this little guy.” Knock Out gestured to Wildbreak.

“And to you.” Breakdown added, gesturing to Fracture.

Knock Out gave him an uncertain look, not sure if he should take that title from the real carrier.

“Me?” Fracture looked up at Breakdown in confusion.

“Yes, to you. We are also your carrier and sire.”

Knock Out whispered. “You really think he should call us that?”

“We’re adopting him, are we not?” Breakdown whispered back.

“Is that the plan?”

“It is if you so say, my love.” Breakdown kissed his mate.

“He’s going to come after us.”

“Let him. He won’t ever convince a judge to let him have custody. You know he can’t get away from Megatron.”

“I guess we already committed to this.”

“So long as we’re together we can do anything.” Breakdown held Knock Out’s servo in his.

Knock Out smiled at him. “It’s like giving birth to twins.”

“We can handle it.”

“I know, but two already… Plus however many more…”

Breakdown’s optics widened. “We’re having more?”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “You said we were starting a family. Of course we’re having more. I love you so much.”

Breakdown giggled excitedly.

Fracture then shoved his arm down Knock Out’s open chest. “WUT’S DIS?!”

“AH!!!!”

“No! No, no, no!” Breakdown quickly, but carefully extracted Fracture’s arm from his partner’s torso. “We don’t do that to carrier. It hurts him. He’s very delicate. Like a crystal flower.”

Knock Out rubbed over his chest plates as he closed them, ending the fueling time for Wildbreak. “Of course, that would happen when I said I’ll have more sparklings…” He grumbled. “I’m fine. Breakdown, stop, I’m fine.” He vented a sigh. “Go show him an anatomy datapad… I’m not a cadaver… If I was, I’d be the most beautiful one.”

Starscream was pacing in his apartment, his wings flicking, claws twitching, and his denta clenched. He was going through all the different ways he was going to murder Knock Out. Tear off his helm! Smelt him and turn his corpse into waste disposals! Throw him into an active volcano! Throw him out an airlock in deep space! Feed him to Predacons! Feed him to Terrorcons! Tie him down and sodomize him with a metal rod with nails until he leaks to death! Lock him in a room with scraplets! Throw him in a vat of acid! Throw him in a pool of sharkticons!

DO ALL OF THOSE!!!!

Why was he just thinking about doing these things? He’s a fragging Decepticon officer! The Air Commander! He has every right to simply order Knock Out to hand over his son or else face the consequences! He would do just that. Go over there, demand for his son back, and should Knock Out refuse… Well, this time he’ll ensure Knock Out will never be in the way ever again.

With that thought, Starscream stomped out of his apartment, transformed, and flew over to Knock Out’s house.

He transformed and landed outside of it, stomped to the front door, and began to bang his fist against the door.

“KNOCK OUT!!!” He screamed furiously. “OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR AND GIVE ME BACK MY SON BEFORE I KILL YOU!!!!!”

Knock Out was still sitting on the couch with the sparklings on his lap. He startled at the loud banging, immediately hugging the youngling close to him.

“Breakdown?” He turned to his mate.

Breakdown narrowed his optics, then stood. “Lock yourself and the sparklings in the berthroom.”

“I’m not leaving you alone.”

“I’m not arguing with you, Knock Out.” Breakdown said it firmly, a tone he rarely used with his mate.

Knock Out knew he wouldn’t be winning against Breakdown in this argument. He stood, holding the sparklings close to him, and made his way upstairs. Breakdown waited until he heard the berthroom door lock before unsubspacing his gun and approaching the door.

Hesitantly, he cracked it open.

“I suggest you back away.” He ordered Starscream.

“Or what? You gonna shoot me?” Starscream sneered.

“That’s exactly what I’ll do.”

“What happened to the whole ‘Decepticons fight’ thing?”

“That was before you literally lost your mind and threatened my mate.” Breakdown grunted as he opened the door fully, looking so much larger in the doorway with his weapon and unyielding stance.

“That is my son you two slagging grounders stole.” Starscream hissed.

“You put Fracture’s life in danger. We are protecting him from your stupid decisions.”

“I NEVER PUT HIM IN DANGER!”

“The court decided otherwise.”

“A court run by Autobots and grounders!”

“You implying something?”

“He was taken from me solely because I’m a flier and a Decepticon! It had nothing to do with my ability to be a creator!”

“And that’s your problem! You blame everyone else for your mistakes instead of owning them and doing better!”

“The slag is that supposed to mean?!”

“You know exactly what it means, Starscream.”

Starscream flicked his wings, his optics glowing with so much fury. “Even if I made a mistake, you still have no right to take my son away!”

“If you want him back you have to go through the court, Starscream. Take it up with the Prime.” Breakdown snapped.

Starscream crossed his arms. “I will take it up with the Prime!”

“Good!” Breakdown pointed the gun at Starscream. “Now, leave.”

Starscream glared at him, furry filling his thin frame. He finally turned around, transformed, and flew away.

Breakdown watched him leave before subspacing the gun, stepping back inside, and locking the door. He vented a sigh, rubbing over his faceplates, then proceeded up the stairs. He opened the door to his berthroom to find Knock Out sitting on the berth with the sparklings.

“What happened?” Knock Out inquired, hugging Wildbreak close as Fracture stood behind him, holding his wheels, and bouncing up and down using the wheels to try and elevate him higher into the air.

“He wanted to see Fracture.” Breakdown answered calmly before leaning over and kissing Knock Out on the cheekplates. “You doing alright?”

“I’m fine. It’s you I worry about.”

“Don’t worry about me. It’s my job to protect you and the sparklings.”

“And I protect you.”

“That’s cute.” Breakdown smirked before kissing his mate again. “I’m going to carry you back to the couch and you are going to rest all orbital cycle.”

“I can walk. I feel much better.”

“You can walk on your own when I’m dead.” Breakdown said as he picked up Knock Out bridal style.

Fracture held up his arms, wanting to be picked up too, giggling loudly as he was boosted onto Knock Out, and Breakdown carried the three of them out of the room.

It took a while, but Starscream managed to find where the Prime was working from. Getting that intel wasn’t easy as he had to revisit someone he hated.

“You don’t have to make this difficult.” Starscream growled, his arms crossed, and wings flared. “Just tell me where he is, and I’ll leave. Isn’t that what you want? Solitude?”

Soundwave cocked his helm, his face hidden behind that damn mask of his. In his arms was a cybercat, loudly purring. All around him were cybercats, and a cyberdog, and quite a few birds perched on the branches of the tree they stood under.

“What do you want from me? You seem plenty happy with your… Menagerie of critters.”

“You – critter – difficult.” Soundwave repeated the words Starscream just spoken with his recordings.

“Megatron isn’t around to protect you! I can just force the information out of you!” Starscream shrieked, his fists at his sides and wings flicking.

Some recorded laugh track sounded from the former spy as he crouched to pet another cybercat.

“Fine. Be a lonely creep. I’ll get the info myself.” Starscream pivoted on a stiletto heal and began to walk away.

“Really, Starscream?”

Starscream stopped, hearing Knock Out’s vocalizer. He flicked his wings, jaws clenching, and his optics narrowing.

“I’m always – better – than – you. Jealous?” The clips of Knock Out’s recorded vocalizer continued.

Starscream looked back. “Why are you using his vocalizer?” He growled.

“Soundwave knows everything.” Someone else’s vocalizer spoke. Then, the recording of a sparkling crying erupted from the silent being. “Not yours.” Another voice spoke. “You failed, Starscream!” Megatron’s vocalizer this time.

Starscream stomped back over, almost kicking a cybercat on his way. “You stay out of my private life, you miserable, slagging, aft kissing bastard!” He shouted furiously as he jabbed a claw into Soundwave’s chest.

“Did I say – too much? Starscream – lost his – sparkling. Knock Out – has – custody – of the – sparkling – because, Starscream – incapable -of being – responsible. Starscream! – Needs – to – fix – himself. Sparkling – better off – without – that bumbling idiot!” Various voices all spoke.

“And what if someone just took one of your dumb cats?! Would you give up?!”

“Soundwave – not – that bumbling idiot! Soundwave – superior. Soundwave – intelligent – Soundwave – not – Starscream!”

“I don’t need this from some homeless moron who recharges with filthy animals…”

“Soundwave – does not – recharge – with – you.”

Starscream raised his servo to smack him, but managed to stop himself. He ignored the laugh track playing again. He flicked his wings, turned, and stomped away.

Soundwave cocked his helm. “Optimus Prime is! – currently – in – Iacon. The government – building – is his – office space – He’s there – most orbital cycles – 24^th – floor – down the – right – corridor. Guards are stationed – outside – doors – Not advisable – Autobots surround – all entryways – Starscream! – will never – see – him – Give up – on the – sparkling – you – bumbling idiot!”

Starscream looked back at him. “And you choose to share this why?”

“Soundwave -enjoys a good show! – I look forward – to seeing – Starscream! – get the slag – beaten out of him!” The laugh track sounded again.

Starscream flipped him off with a rude Vosian gesture. “Die alone.” He snapped before resuming his departure.

“YOU’RE AN IDIOT, STARSCREAM!” Megatron’s voice sounded. “Sparkling – is – better off – with – Knock Out. Soundwave knows everything.”

Starscream transformed and flew off, not wanting to hear anymore.

The cat creep was right… The government building was heavily guarded. No way he would be entering it through the front door.

So, instead, Starscream flew straight through a window on the 24^th floor. He transformed and quickly ran down the hallway, knowing that someone must have been alerted to the break-in and are on their way. He found the office he was looking for, took a moment to collect himself, and barged in.

He kind of expected the gun in his face.

“Another step and I’ll pull the trigger, Seeker.”

Starscream held up his servos peacefully. “I am here to speak to the Prime.” He tried to say it peacefully.

The gun was pushed against his cheekplates. “Decepticons are never peaceful.”

“Prowl, lower the gun.” That deep vocalizer spoke so calmly.

Prowl slowly did so, his cerulean optics boring into the Seeker with such disgust and hatred, it was almost like Megatron’s optics.

Starscream turned to the one who had spoken, his wings lowering some. “Ahem, yes, Prime, I have come seeking an audience with you.”

“Ya coulda filled out a form, man. None of this breakin’ an’ entering’ need be done.” Jazz commented as he leaned back in a chair much too large for him, his peds resting on the Prime’s desk.

Optimus sat behind his desk, elbows resting on it, as his digit tips pressed together to forming a  steeple. “I am sure Starscream has his reasons for the dramatics.” The Prime spoke in that same monotone vocalizer that demanded attention.

“Yes, I have an urgent request.” Starscream quickly stated, taking a step closer to Jazz to distance himself from the Petrexian. “I am demanding that my son, Fracture, be returned to me at once! And the court order from your stupid judge thrown out!”

“You’re a creator?” Jazz said it such disbelief before smirking. “Dis I gotta see, man!”

“Always a pity when they breed…” Prowl grumbled as he leaned against the wall.

“I apologize, Starscream, I am not familiar with what you are referring to. If you might elaborate further…” Prime gestured for him to do so.

Starscream flicked his wings, giving Prowl the nastiest glare that he could, then turned back to Prime. “I gave birth to a son a little over a stellar cycle ago. He was recently taken from me after that idiot Knock Out and his mate took me to court falsely claiming my son was ‘in danger’ with me. The judge ruled against me and gave full custody of my son to those idiots! I am not going to wait around for a discriminatory judicial system to screw me over again and again as I try to get my son back! So, I am requesting you, being the one in charge of this Autobot monarchy, throw out the order and have my son returned to me at once!”

“Why was it ruled against you? What was the deciding factor?”

“The factor was I’m a Seeker.”

“Surely that wasn’t it.”

Starscream vented a frustrated sigh. “And the fact Megatron is the sire… And apparently, him being the sire instantly means I would have my son around him and therefore put him in danger!”

“Did you?” Prowl inquired, an optical ridge raised.

“Why are you so short? Does your bigotry weigh you down?” Starscream snapped.

“I’m not the one who isn’t safe around sparklings.”

Jazz snickered at that.

“Prowl, shut up.” Prime ordered abruptly before turning back to Starscream. “Starscream, if you bring me a copy of the case files, I am more than willing to investigate.”

“You’re not seriously going to give him back a sparkling for him to abuse?” Prowl spoke.

“Don’t you eat sparklings?” Starscream retorted.

“He does, actually.” Jazz piped up, eliciting an icy glare from the tactician.

Optimus rolled his optics. “Starscream, get me those documents and I’ll review the case. That’s all I will say at this time until I have further information.”

“Fine, I’ll get you the case files.” Starscream turned to leave, giving Prowl one last glare.

The Autobots watched him leave.

“The hell is security?” Jazz raised his servos incredulously.

Starscream flew to the courthouse, demanded the case files, and was promptly handed them. He went through them, wings flicking when he saw the copy of the report Knock Out had made. The miserable grounder literally wrote, “Starscream poses a significant danger to Fracture due to his close relationship with Megatron.”

Oh, he’d show Knock Out what a “significant danger” he could be…

The Seeker added his own notes about what a good carrier he was and would never see Megatron again, before flying back to the Prime’s office.

“Thank you. I will look over this.” Optimus spoke as he took the datapad, standing by the second window Starscream chose to crash into.

“How soon will you make your decision?” Starscream demanded.

“I will call you in a couple of orbital cycles.”

“A couple of orbital cycles?! No, tonight!”

“I need time to review this properly, and to speak to the other parties involved.”

“So, my word is not good enough?”

“Ya crashed through two windows today, man!” Jazz exclaimed as he gestured to the Seeker’s newest victim. “We need a lot more than jus’ ya word.”

“I will speak to you when I am ready to.” Prime said it a bit sterner.

Starscream vented a frustrated sigh before stomping away and leaping out the open window. He transformed and flew away.

And so Starscream waited… And waited. And waited some more!

It was after an orn of still not hearing anything from Prime when he decided he would need to take further action.

“These are reports from Kaon.” Prowl spoke as he and Optimus walked down a hallway together, showing the truck a datapad. “As you can see, the city has been-“

The both of them jumped and spun around when a window was crashed into, followed by the sound of someone transforming.

“Primus-dammit, Starscream!” Prowl shouted, gesturing his servos at the third window victim. “Use a fragging door!”

“Have you even read my case?!” The Seeker ignored the furious tactician.

“I am reviewing it still. I am speaking to witnesses, now. Not everyone’s schedule is immediately free.” Prime intoned slowly.

“Well, make them free it! I haven’t seen my son in a decacycle!”

“I’m sure he’s relieved.” Prowl grunted.

“Prowl.” Prime gave him a hard look before turning back to Starscream. “I understand you’re frustrated, Starscream, but these things take time. Rest assured I am seeing to it.”

Starscream wanted to say something more, but didn’t want to piss off his chance at getting his son back. He lowered his wings, turned, and left. He also didn’t want them to see him get emotional at the thought of not holding his son in so long.

He needed to hold him again.

“You can scream my designation. I know you like this.”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “I do like it, big guy.” He looked back at his mate as he leaned over the berth. “But I’m, hah, not going to risk onlining the sparklings.”

“They aren’t going to hear us.” Breakdown smiled as he began to thrust harder into the smaller mech.

“Oh! Primus!” Knock Out grasped at the berth top, moaning loudly as Breakdown grasped his hips firmly.

They didn’t even notice someone was outside the window.

Starscream peaked through it, seeing them distracted with their fragging. They wouldn’t even know! He carefully climbed along the side of the house, making his way to the window that used to be his room. He peaked in, his wings perking. Fracture was there, recharging peacefully on the berth, the door closed and a fan on so he couldn’t hear the adults in the other room. The little one had a blanket over him and was holding a stuffed toy.

Starscream checked the window. It was locked. He could break the glass, but the sound might startle Fracture causing him to cry which would then alert the idiots in the other room. No, he would need to do this discreetly.

He unsubspaced a small welder and began to use it along the edge of the window. It wasn’t fast, but eventually he would be able to pop the entire window right out.

Knock Out and Breakdown overloaded a couple more times, then began to kiss and hug each other.

“Ready for recharge, gorgeous?” Breakdown smiled, his brow pressed against his beloved’s, as his servos rested on Knock Out’s hips.

“Absolutely. But let me go check on the sparklings. Then, I want all the snuggles!” Knock Out giggled.

“And I will give you all of them.” Breakdown kissed him.

“I look forward to it.” Knock Out released him and walked out of the berthroom.

He first checked on Wildbreak who was recharging in the crib in the berthroom right next to theirs. The berthroom was now a nursery, with the walls painted with cartoonish animals, stuffed toys, and everything else little sparklings needed. Knock Out adjusted Wildbreak’s blanket, kissed his cheekplates, and took a moment to look at him with absolute pride and love. His little sparkling, so perfect, and all his.

He finally pulled himself away from his son and walked to the other berthroom. He slowly opened the door.

Starscream saw the door opening and immediately ducked so that he couldn’t be seen. He carefully watched as Knock Out approached Fracture. The doctor adjusted Fracture’s blanket, then lovingly caressed the back of two digits along Fracture’s cheekplates. He smiled at the peaceful sparkling, feeling like this one was his son, too. He loved him so much. He leaned over, kissed Fracture on those chubby cheekplates, and whispered, “I love you,” to him. Fracture faintly smiled in his recharge.

Knock Out turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open.

Starscream waited a klik, making sure Knock Out wouldn’t come back, then resumed his work. It took a couple of more breems, but he finally cut through the frame of the window all the way around. He subspaced the welder, hooked his claws into the right side of the frame right where he cut through, and carefully popped out the window. He threw it onto the dirt, deafening the bang. Then, he pulled himself through the open hole. He quietly crept to the door and closed it, then locked it.

He turned to Fracture and picked him up. Fracture slowly onlined, not sure what was happening.

“Cuhreeor…?” He groggily asked, his optics lazily onlining.

“Yes, I’m here.” Starscream whispered.

Fracture’s optics widened. He looked up at Starscream in shock and… Fear. “NO!”

“Shush!” Starscream whispered loudly at him. “Be quiet!”

“PUT ME DOWN!!! CUHREEORR!!!” He then screamed, struggling best he could.

Knock Out’s optics lit up as he startled online. He heard another scream and immediately leaped out of berth. “FRACTURE!”

Knock Out palmed the door but it wouldn’t open. He tore his claws into the edge of the door, desperately trying to pry it open, not even noticing that how hard he was pulling he dented and tore his claws causing energon to leak out.

“What’s going on?!” Breakdown was beside his mate, confused and worried.

“I don’t know! I can’t get in! My sparkling!” Knock Out quickly screamed, still desperately trying to tear open the door.

“Step back.” Breakdown pushed him aside as his arm transformed into a hammer.

Starscream jumped when the door was immediately smashed open, and Breakdown charged in like some massive beast about to maul him.

“Cuhreeor!” Fracture reached out for Knock Out.

“Starscream!” Breakdown roared, raising the hammer again. “Put Fracture down this instant or else I’ll find out what your brain module looks like splattered on the wall.”

Starscream swallowed. A real threat from Breakdown was quite serious.

“I am simply checking on my son.” Starscream flicked his wings.

“YOU BROKE INTO MY HOUSE!”

“Yes, well, it may appear that way…”

Knock Out stepped between them. “Starscream, please, put Fracture down.” He held out his servos for the little one, only now noticing how much damage he caused to them.

Starscream glared at him, all his rage and hatred returning. “You stole him from me.” He snarled.

“I’m trying to protect him. Please, set him down.” Knock Out’s vocalizer was softer.

Starscream flicked his wings and growled his engine. “He’s mine.” He growled.

Fracture began to bawl, reaching out desperately for Knock Out. “Cuhreeor!” Coolant poured from his optics, his tiny body beginning to tremble from how scared he was.

“I’m your carrier!” Starscream snapped at him.

“Starscream, please! Set him down.”

Starscream looked over at Breakdown when he heard his arm transforming back into a servo… and unsubspacing his shotgun. He swallowed, seeing the barrel aimed right at his face.

“Put him down.” Breakdown said it in a vocalizer rarely ever heard from him.

Starscream lowered his wings, then looked down at Fracture. He wouldn’t even look up at him, just kept reaching out for Knock Out, pushing against Starscream, trying to get away. Starscream felt his spark dropping.

He slowly set Fracture on the ground, and watched as Fracture ran without hesitation to Knock Out. The speedster scooped up Fracture in his arms and held him close, as Fracture buried his face into Knock Out’s neck and cried. He clung to Knock Out so tightly, his body no longer trembling from fear, already feeling safer just being held by Knock Out.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate seeing that.

Knock Out retreated behind Breakdown, trying to comfort Fracture.

“Have you lost your mind?!” Breakdown shouted furiously. “Breaking into my house at night and trying to abduct a sparkling?! WHAT THE FRAG DO YOU THINK WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?! I AM THIS CLOSE TO SHOOTING THE STUPID RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE! DON’T LOOK AT KNOCK OUT, HE’S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU! PRIMUS COULD WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR RIGHT NOW AND NOT EVEN HE WOULD SAVE YOU FROM ME!”

Knock Out placed his servo on Breakdown’s arm, trying to calm him down. Breakdown only reached back to ensure Knock Out stayed behind him.

“I just wanted my son…” Starscream said it pathetically.

“THEN GO THROUGH THE COURT, YOU IDIOT!”

Fracture cried louder, now terrified of a furious Breakdown.

“Babe,” Knock Out spoke up. “Calm down. Fracture is safe.”

Breakdown didn’t look away from Starscream, his intakes beginning to slow down as he worked on calming himself down. Knock Out stepped out from behind his mate so Starscream could see him.

“You’re an idiot.” Knock Out said it with a forced smile, trying to look calm for Fracture’s sake, but coolant tears betraying him as the emotions of almost losing Fracture took over. “Just… Breaking through a window and trying to steal Fracture. Didn’t even think how he would feel about such a traumatic event as this.”

“Traumatic event… YOU took him from ME! His REAL carrier!” Starscream flicked his wings, his engine growling louder. “You have him calling you that to keep the illusion that what you did was somehow ‘right?’”

“He chose to call me carrier. I never told him he had to.” Knock Out looked down at his broken claws, still leaking from them. He glared back at Starscream. “I have been a better carrier to him than you.” He made sure Starscream saw those broken digits.

Starscream clenched his fists at his sides. “You steal him from his real carrier and deny me ever seeing him! You are not a better carrier! What lies about me have you been feeding his processor with? Hmm?”

“None.” Knock Out snapped. “I never took him with the intention of making him hate you, Starscream. You put him in danger! You’re not able to even care for him, let alone yourself! You don’t have a job, your place is surrounded by circuit users, you don’t even know how to be a civilian! All you know is making others obey you. You’re not ready for this responsibility!”

“I am ready!”

“The court decided otherwise!”

“The court hates Seekers!”

“No, they hate liars who take their sons to homicidal maniacs for interface!”

“IT WAS ONE TIME!”

“That’s one time too many! And it wouldn’t be the last time! I know you, Starscream. For the entire war you were recharging in Megatron’s berth! I begged you to stay away from him more times than I can count and you ignored me! I-“ He looked away, biting his lip plate, so filled with rage. Then he threw a servo up, the other one still holding Fracture close to him. “I-I give up on you, Starscream.” He said it with that forceful smile again, almost like he was about to lose his mind. “I tried and I tried, and I gave you my home and love and everything! And you throw it all away once more because of him. Couldn’t give him up even for your own son.”

“It was one time.” Starscream growled.

“You are so delusional it hurts. I just… ARGH! I want to slap you so hard!”

“Do it! Show Fracture you’re no different from me!”

“I’m not perfect, Starscream, but I put my sons before myself and my sexual desires. If Breakdown ever hurt me, I would leave him and never look back. For the safety of my creations.”

Starscream flicked his wings, noticing the plural usage. “He’s not your son.”

“He’s more my son than yours.”

Starscream lost it. He lunged forward, but Breakdown moved faster than he ever had before. He grasped Starscream’s wing and flung him into the wall. Fracture screamed, resuming his crying as he clung to Knock Out.

“Call the police.” Knock Out said quickly, backing into the hallway as he tried to comfort Fracture. “I’m done with him.”

Knock Out went into the other berthroom and picked up Wildbreak who was softly crying from hearing all the commotion. He then took the sparklings into his berthroom and locked the door.

Breakdown kept his gun aimed at Starscream as he dialed the police. Starscream stood up, flicked his wings, and walked out of the window, transformed, and flew off.

Breakdown subspaced his gun and went into his berthroom, finding Knock Out sitting on the berth hugging both the sparklings. He sat down beside him and hugged him.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright.” He soothed his mate.

“He’s not going to stop. He’s lost his mind.” Knock Out didn’t even look at Breakdown as coolant leaked from his optics.

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m just… really upset! He breaks into my house and almost takes Fracture away. W-where would he take him? Would he have gone into hiding and we never find him again? Would he go to Megatron and Fracture is-“

“He didn’t get away with him. For now on… We do better. In the morning I’ll get a security system.”

“I’m terrified of going back to work and leaving you alone.”

“I can handle Starscream.” Breakdown said firmly.

“But what if he gets help? What if he convinces someone to help him o-or he pays someone-“

“He doesn’t have Shanix.”

“He can pay with something else. He’s a slut.” Knock Out grunted.

“What’s a slut?” Fracture inquired, no longer crying as he sat on Knock Out’s lap.

“It’s what people like Starscream are…”

Breakdown gently took Knock Out’s servo and inspected the damaged claws. He then lovingly kissed each knuckle before clasping his much larger servo around it. “You’re an amazing carrier. These mechlings are so lucky to have you.”

“I know what you’re doing. Can’t I be upset?”

“No.” Breakdown kissed him. “You’re never allowed to be upset when I’m around.”

Knock Out looked down at Fracture who was looking up at him with those large, round, adorable optics. “Did we make a mistake?”

“Mistake in what?” Breakdown said as he unsubspaced a cloth and began to clean off dry energon from the servo he still held.

“Letting him move in with us? If we hadn’t let him in-“

“If we hadn’t let him in he would have died on the street… And we wouldn’t have Fracture.”

Knock Out vented a sigh. “Can we please make him pay for my manicure? This is his fault.”

Breakdown snorted a laugh. “Yes, dear. I’ll add that to the demand.”

There was a knock at the door. Breakdown stood up.

“That must be the police. I’ll let them in.”

A Couple of Orbital Cycles Later:

Breakdown opened the door, taking a moment to remind himself this was happening.

“Come in, Prime.” He gestured, allowing the Autobot leader to enter with two guards.

“Hello, Breakdown.” Prime greeted calmly. “Is Knock Out ready?”

“He is. Right this way.”

Breakdown walked him over to the couch where Knock Out sat holding Wildbreak, and Fracture was sitting beside him playing a game on his datapad.

“Hello, Prime.” Knock Out said as he looked up at the truck. “I would stand to greet you, but I am feeling ill.”

“Is it a bad time?” Optimus inquired.

“No, I had a difficult carrying with my son, and I appear to still be recovering from it. I’ll be fine. Please, sit. Make yourself at home.” He turned to Breakdown. “Sweetie, please get our guest some energon.”

“There is no need.”

“I insist, Prime. You are seeing to this matter personally. At least let me make it a bit easier for you.”

Optimus sat on the couch opposite of Knock Out, unsubspacing a datapad. “Congratulations on the sparkling. What is his designation?”

“Wildbreak.” Knock Out smiled. “He looks just like his sire, doesn’t he?” He held up the little one who was busy stuffing three digits into his mouth. “Has his appetite, too.”

“And this is Fracture?”

“Yes, this is Fracture.” Knock Out stroked a loving servo over Fracture’s helm. “The entire reason we are going through all of this.”

Breakdown handed the two guards some energon before offering a cube to the Prime, who accepted it. He then sat beside his mate with a bowl of goodies. Fracture set aside his game and crawled onto Knock Out’s lap so he could reach over and eat some goodies too.

“He appears to be comfortable with you, both.” The Prime commented.

“He’s very happy here. He’s lived here all his live.” Knock Out explained. “When Starscream was sparked with him he came here looking for a place to stay.”

“He was homeless?”

“He had been living with Megatron.” Knock Out grunted. “When he became sparked Megatron kicked him out. He had no job, no Shanix, so he moved into a homeless shelter. He was miserable there and got attacked, so he finally came crawling to me. I let him stay because he was sparked. I’m not going to let a sparked mech be homeless. I was there for him for the carrying, the birth, and helped him with everything for a stellar cycle that he lived here. I got sparked shortly after Fracture was born. It was a bad carrying, I was moody, we had some fights, but he was there for me when I gave birth.

“It was shortly after I gave birth that he took Fracture to spend the night with Megatron. It was a booty call. He wanted interface, and so he, like the idiot he is, took Fracture with him. And whatever happened there… Megatron ended up beating him with a cable, bad enough his entire backside was covered in dents and he leaked in several spots. And Fracture was at least kicked by Megatron. I don’t know what else happened there. Fracture won’t talk about it. He is completely traumatized by it.

“When they got back, I confronted Starscream. I was very sick from just giving birth, I could barely stand. We got into an argument, and it became physical. Starscream left with Fracture. Breakdown and I were terrified that he was going back to Megatron and Fracture would be killed or hurt. So, that’s when I filed the emergency report to get custody of Fracture. And, you know how that went.”

“Yes, I have read through the entire case.” Prime spoke. “What has he done since this decision? I heard he broke in the other night and tried to steal Fracture?”

“He did. He removed the window and locked the berthroom door. Breakdown had to break down the door just so we could get in. When we did, Starscream was holding Fracture and was about to jump out the window. Fracture was terrified and crying for me. We were able to get Starscream to hand him back, but he did try to attack me. If Breakdown hadn’t been there he would have gotten away with Fracture and… I don’t know.” Knock Out stroked Fracture’s helm, reminding himself that he was still here and safe. “I’m beyond terrified that Starscream will take Fracture and run away with him, and we will never see Fracture again. Either he’ll be killed by Megatron, or whatever homeless bums Starscream is living with… He knows Fracture is safe here, but can’t even wait to go through the court to do things right. He is desperate to get Fracture back, even if it means traumatizing him.

“Fracture won’t go back into his room. He only recharges with me. He cries if he’s left alone for any amount of time. My maternity leave will be ending soon, and I don’t know how he will handle me being gone at work all orbital cycle.”

“Do you think Starscream would hurt Fracture himself? Hit him or otherwise harm him with his own servos?”

Knock Out didn’t answer immediately. “Yes. I think Starscream is not able to control his anger. He’s attacked me twice, almost three times. When he was Megatron’s first lieutenant it wasn’t uncommon for him to strike subordinates who pissed him off. He… Has not been able to transition into civilian mode. Mentally, he is still a commander of an army of brutes who you need to out-brute in order to not be beat up by them. And not only that but his mental health is all over the place. He has depression and PTSD, and who knows what else. He can’t do it, Prime. He’s not ready. Even if he got a job and an apartment, until he fixes his processor, he is not in a position to care for another life. He has to concentrate on himself.”

Optimus was busy writing notes on the datapad. “Would you be open to visitations?”

“Only if they are supervised. But I don’t know how soon he would be ready for that.”

The Next Orbital Cycle:

Starscream paced nervously outside the door to the office of the Prime. It eventually opened and a guard ushered him in before taking post outside the door.

“Morning, Starscream.” Optimus greeted, only he in the office. “Please, sit.” He gestured to the chair before him.

Starscream did so, his wings lowering. “So, um, do you have a decision?”

Optimus set his datapad down, then rested his elbows on the desk, his digit tips pressing together. “I have. After speaking to Knock Out and other witnesses, and reviewing the case files… I do not believe you are capable of having custody over Fracture.”

Starscream’s lower lip plate trembled, his spark dropping inside of him. “Y-you don’t-“

“But,” Prime continued. “I do believe that maybe you can have visitation rights.”

“V-visitation?”

“Yes, if you do what I say. You need a job. A real job. You need an apartment or house that isn’t dirty, you need to stop seeing Megatron, and you need to take a psychological test. Your behavior is not normal, and not safe for a sparkling to be raised by. You need professional help.”

“H-how am I not safe for my own son to be around?” He asked in disbelief.

“You broke into someone’s house to try and steal him.”

“He’s my son.”

“Starscream, this is my ruling: Do these things and I will preside over the next court hearing, or…. You go to jail for breaking and entering, as well as sparkling endangerment.”

Starscream swallowed. “H-how much time do I have?”

“I will not put a time limit on anything so long as you begin work on finding a job, a psychiatrist, and proper living accommodations right away. I understand it takes time to achieve those, so you may take however long as needed. However,” He raised a digit. “If you try to steal Fracture again, you will go to prison. For now on, you do it the legal way, or prison.” Prime said it sternly.

“Understood.” Starscream swallowed. “I-if I do all of these things… The house, the job, the evaluation… Will I get him back?”

“We will start with visitations and see from there. I also will have you made aware that Knock Out has my frequency, so should you threaten him or visit without invitation, he will call me and apprise me.”

“If I get the job… Can I get a visitation? Or must it be after a court hearing?”

“Inform me when you have the job, or gotten the evaluation, and I will speak to Knock Out. He is open to allowing you to visit Fracture, but only supervised visitations. But as for now, I do not believe I will give you full custody of Fracture. I do not see you being prepared for raising a sparkling within the timeframe before he is an adult.”

Starscream slowly nodded. “I-I’ll… I’ll get started on those applications.”

“Dismissed.”

Starscream stood up and quickly exited the office. He ran out the open window, transformed, and flew off. He transformed as he landed on top of a building, collapsed, and cried.

Getting a job would not be easy for a hated Decepticon, especially brass. He couldn’t apply as Starscream, the Seeker well known across the galaxy and hated by all. He would need a new identity.

Starscream bought some paint and spent the next orbital cycle painting himself, putting on a new layer of primer and waxing himself. He had known many Seekers throughout his life, so picking one he knew was dead wasn’t hard. He remembered that Seeker’s paintjob and some of his backstory. He would just copy it. Not like anyone would know who he was…

His new paint job was mostly a dark blue over his torso, lowers arms, and lower legs. He was white elsewhere with some red highlights. He hated the look, but he didn’t look like Starscream anymore.

The next orbital cycle he went out and started to apply at whatever place he could. First it was at the lab, but he was rejected because he was a Seeker, and those don’t do science. He tried a university job, but denied for the same reason. He started for secretary positions, but no interest.

For the next two decacycles he went from place to place trying to get a job, but all rejected him because he was a Seeker, or because he was a Decepticon, or just because they didn’t think he could do it… which probably meant because he was a Seeker.

He couldn’t even get a security job because he was “too dangerous” to be given weapons…

Then, finally, he found one.

It wasn’t a job he was proud of, but better than prostituting himself… He was able to secure a job at the local recycling plant. Mostly was sorting scrap metal from the destroyed buildings that was being collected. Sort it out so it could be melted down and turned into new things for the new buildings being built. All part of rebuilding all that had been destroyed in the war.

It wasn’t a job he was proud of, but at least he wasn’t selling his body, or working in filth, or being worked to death. It paid enough. Which meant he could start looking for a better apartment. But, for now… After over two decacycles, he could call the Prime.

Starscream entered the Prime’s office. He had been working his job for nearly a decacycle now, after being told he had to wait to see the Prime to make sure he stayed with the job. Over three decacycles since he had last held his son…

“Hello, Starscream.” The Prime greeted him. “You have a job, now?”

“Yes!” Starscream quickly handed him a datapad which contained the evidence of his employment. “A-and I’m working on finding a new apartment, now. I have also begun research into the psychological testing.”

Prime handed the datapad back once he finished recording the info on it. “And have you refrained from seeing Megatron?”

“Yes, sir. I have not seen him, visited him, or otherwise communicated with him at all. You can view my call logs!” He quickly held up his wrist to show it.

“Very good.” The Prime intoned. “Then, I shall give Knock Out a call and see if he would be willing to allow you to have a short visit with Fracture.”

Starscream’s wings fluttered.

Five Orbital Cycles Later:

Starscream was trembling with excitement as he approached the house. He swallowed, then rang the bell. Breakdown soon answered it.

“Hey,” He greeted, not as cheery as he normally was. “Come in.”

Starscream slowly entered, noting that Breakdown had his shotgun in his servo. They certainly did not trust him. His wings perked when he saw Fracture sitting on the couch watching TV next to Knock Out.

Knock Out glared at him. “Fracture, look who’s here to see you.”

Fracture looked up, then swallowed. “Why’s he here?” He quickly asked the speedster.

“He’s here to visit you.” Knock Out adjusted Wildbreak who was on his lap.

“H-hey, Fracture.” Starscream faintly smiled at him, carefully approaching. “I’ve missed you.”

Fracture shrunk back against Knock Out. Starscream drooped his wings, hesitated, and then sat on the couch.

“I just want to be with you.” Starscream tried again.

Knock Out stroked Fracture’s helm. “It’s okay, sweetie. Your sire and I are here. Starscream won’t try to steal you.”

“You used to hug me… And say you loved me…” Starscream bit his lower lip plate.

“You scared me. More than once.” Fracture said it with a bit more confidence now. “You took me to the mean mech! He hurt me!”

“I-I know, and I’m sorry! I’ll never do that again! I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

“You tried to take me from carrier!”

“Fracture, I’m your carrier. You were inside of me.” He placed a servo over his abdominal plates. “You came from here.”

“No, sparklings come from carrier.” Fracture then jabbed a digit at Knock Out’s abdomen.

“Actually, he is right.” Knock Out gently corrected. “You did come from Starscream’s belly. He is your carrier biologically. I’m your carrier by adoption.”

“But you have a sparkling!” Fracture exclaimed, pointing at the speedster’s belly once more.

Knock Out placed a servo over his abdominal plating and rubbed it slowly. Starscream’s optics narrowed.

“Yes, because there are many carriers. I am one, and so is Starscream.”

“Why are you sparked, again? You just gave birth.” Starscream grunted.

“Because….” Knock Out looked at him. “We made a mistake. I didn’t want to put the groundings back in because I want to have another. So, we were going to have Breakdown just unplug his nanite wires. Made the mistake of not checking them.” He gestured to his abdomen. “A happy accident. I’m a decacycle along.”

“You’re going to be sick having another carrying so soon.”

“I was sick with the first one.” Knock Out grunted. “I’ll be fine. Do I not even get a congratulations?”

“Was I supposed to congratulate you on also taking my son?”

Knock Out narrowed his optics. “I’m not going to start with you. You’re here to visit Fracture, not argue with me.”

Starscream flicked his wings, then turned back to fracture. The sparkling was now hugging Wildbreak, who was hugging him back.

“Fracture, can I get a hug?” The Seeker tried again.

Fracture shook his helm.

“Why blue?” Knock Out suddenly interjected.

“What?”

“Your paint. I was told you had a new paintjob, but… Why blue?”

“Why not?”

“Just looks… It’s not the color I would have chosen.”

“I’m not you.” Starscream snapped.

“Thank Primus for that.”

Starscream glared at him. “I would ask if you were eating enough, being sparked so soon, but your thighs tell me enough.”

Knock Out’s optics widened. “I have not gained weight!”

“I doubt any scale that Breakdown uses is working…”

“Ladies, please, stop.” Breakdown quickly ordered, snapping his digits to get their attention. “This is time for Fracture to see his carrier, not for you two to try and insult each other. In the end, only my opinion matters.” He said the last part like it was a fact.

Knock Out glared at his mate, but otherwise remained silent.

Starscream hesitated, then reached over and grabbed Fracture. He carefully pulled him over and onto his lap, hugging him. Fracture struggled some, looking desperately at Knock Out, then Breakdown. Seeing them not do anything or act scared helped him calm down some, but he still didn’t feel safe.

“I just want to hold you. Please, let me hold you.” Starscream softly pleaded with his son.

“Don’t take me away from carrier.” Fracture swallowed.

“I’m not taking you away. I’m staying right here.”

“He’s not going anywhere, Fracture.” Breakdown replied. “You’re safe.”

Fracture looked up at Starscream, his optics so wide and bright. Finally, he reached up and felt along his carrier’s chestplates, studying this new paintjob.

“Why did you change your colors?” The little one inquired.

“I needed to look different for my job.”

“Which is?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge.

“An honest one.” Starscream grunted.

“Love, behave.” Breakdown gave Knock Out a look.

Knock Out gave him a look right back.

Fracture studied his carrier’s new look, then looked at his servos. He suddenly giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Starscream asked.

“You have big servos like sire.”

“Not quite…” Starscream grunted.

“Sire has the biggest aft. Carrier says so.” Fracture giggled again, covering his mouth as he did so.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “He hears everything I say.”

“Wildbreak is my brother, but he doesn’t say much.” Fracture continued. “He cries a lot. He falls down and cries! He… Hit his head right there.” He pointed in the direction where the incident transpired. “He was trying to walk like me but he fell and hit his head.” He indicated the spot on his own head. “Carrier had to kiss him to make him better.” He then leaned in closer to Starscream and whispered. “Carrier doesn’t kiss sire when he gets a boo-boo. He says he’ll live.” He then nodded quickly.

Starscream smiled, stroking Fracture’s helm. ”Does he now?”

“Yeah… Sire’s clumsy… He fell down, too. Over there.” He pointed.

“What else does he do?” Starscream hugged Fracture close to him, enjoying hearing his son blabbering away.

“Sire eats a lot, and carrier says he eats too much. Wildbreak eats a lot, too. He cries when hungry. I don’t cry when hungry. I just ask carrier. But, sometimes carrier is gone at work, so sire gives me energon. I like it when carrier gives me energon.”

“Why is that?”

“Carrier is better.”

Knock Out snorted a snicker while Breakdown looked hurt. “I love him so much.” The speedster laughed.

Fracture giggled at the sight of Knock Out laughing, which encouraged him to keep going. “Carrier is funny. One time! One time, he hit sire on the aft and told him ‘you’re blocking the whole house!’” He laughed again. “Carrier is funny.”

Starscream forced his smile, but also wanted to cry. He was his carrier, not Knock Out. He held his son close, savoring this time with him and all his sparkling innocence.

Eventually, Starscream had to leave Fracture and return to his own apartment. But he had him. He was getting closer to having him more. He had to just keep doing as the Prime said to do. He had the job, now to get that better apartment and get tested. He could do this.

He had been looking at apartments before, but now all his attention was finding the perfect one. Something high, with a balcony so he could just fly to it and avoid the ground. A proper Seeker home.

Most places were still being built or fixed up, but he eventually found a good one. It wasn’t as high up as he had hoped, only the fifth floor, but better than the ground level place he had been at. He spent the next decacycle tidying it up, replacing old furniture, and making it look like a proper home.

Then, he focused on getting tested. He had found a place to do it and was waiting for his appointment. Finally, the orbital cycle arrived and he went. It was mostly asking questions, looking at ink blotches, and simple stuff like that.

And orn later he had his test results and went to see Optimus Prime.

“Well?” The Seeker perked his wings as he sat on a chair in front of Prime’s desk.

Optimus had been reading through the test results. He finally looked up at the flier. “Did you read through this?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And your thoughts?”

“I mean… I guess the PTSD, anxiety, depression makes sense.”

“Did you read the recommendations?”

“Yes, they suggested therapy.”

Prime set the datapad down. “I am concerned that due to your mental health you might not be ready at this time to care for a sparkling full time. I believe you should do as the psychologist recommends and see a therapist. After you have been seeing one for some time, we can revisit and schedule a hearing for visitation rights.”

“For how long should I see this therapist?”

“More than a stellar cycle.”

Starscream swallowed, but slowly nodded his helm. “I… I got the apartment.”

“I saw that. And Bluestreak reported back to me what it looks like. I have accepted it. That being said, the only requirement left is you remain away from Megatron.”

“I have. I have not spoken to him nor visited him.”

“Keep it that way.”

“I will.” Starscream paused. “Can I see my son, again?”

“I will give Knock Out a call.”

Starscream quickly walked over to the front door and pressed the doorbell. He hadn’t held Fracture in two decacycles and couldn’t wait any longer!

The door finally opened. “Hey,” Breakdown greeted softly. “Come in.”

Starscream noted that the truck was off, but he didn’t want to ask about it. His son came first. He entered the house and approached his son, who was playing a game with Wildbreak on the floor in the living room.

“Hey, Fracture!” Starscream greeted cheerfully, wasting no time in picking up the sparkling and hugging him.

Fracture was surprised by this but didn’t fight back. He allowed his carrier to hold him close, and even give him kisses on the cheekplates, which he quickly wiped away.

“How have you been?” Starscream asked.

Fracture shrugged.

“Nothing happening?”

“No, lots happening.”

“Like what?”

“Carrier was at the hospital at night. I didn’t get recharge.”

Starscream raised an optical ridge. “What do you mean? Why was he at the hospital?”

Fracture shrugged. “He got a bad tummy ache, I think. I don’t know. Wildbreak doesn’t know either.”

Wildbreak was busy trying to eat a toy car. Yes, he certainly knew nothing, Starscream thought.

“Well, I want to talk about you. And how cute you are, and how much I love you.” Starscream nuzzled him.

Fracture didn’t react to the nuzzling, instead he looked down at Wildbreak. “I got a new car!” He then squirmed to be put down, which Starscream did. The sparkling quickly grabbed his new car and held it up for Starscream to see. “Look! See? It’s purple.” He then giggled.

“Yes, but do you have any jets?”

“I got a bird.” Fracture reached for his bird toy. “Caw! Caw!” He made the bird toy “fly” over and poked Starscream’s leg with it. “It’s pecking you.” He snickered.

“I see that. What other toys do you have?”

“I have this one!” He held up a shuttle toy. “And, that one.” He pointed to a mech toy that was being chewed on by Wildbreak.

“Do they have names?”

“Umm…”

“There he is…!”

Starscream looked up to see Knock Out coming down the stairs, one servo holding onto the banister as the other held a bottle of engex. He was a little wobbly, obviously from drinking from that bottle.

“Knock Out?” Starscream raised his wings. “Why are you drinking? You’re carrying.”

Knock Out snickered. “Not anymore.” He waved a single digit at Starscream. “I lost him.”

“Lost?”

Knock Out made it to the bottom of the stairs, took another swing of his bottle, and paused. “Yyyyyeeeeup! Lost him…. I had a fragging miscarriage!” He started to laugh, but coolant was coming from his optics. “He had servos… And optics… But my body killed him.”

Breakdown came from the energon room. “Sweetie, please, go back to our room. You need to rest. You lost a lot of energon this morning.”

“SHUT UP!” Knock Out shouted at him. “I lost my sparkling!” He then glared at Starscream. “Not that you care.”

Starscream narrowed his optics. “No, I don’t care.”

Knock Out raised the bottle to throw it at Starscream, but Breakdown caught his arm and snatched the bottle away. Knock Out glared at his mate, and tried to reach for the bottle, but Breakdown simply raised his arm higher.

“Of course, you don’t care.” Knock Out snarled at Starscream, jabbing a claw at him, while his other hand instinctively went over his abdomen. “You never cared about sparklings. You almost got Fracture killed by Megatron.”

Starscream flicked his wings. “You’re drunk.”

“Only a little. Because I actually care about my creations. I get sad when they die oooor are hurt. You don’t care at all what happens.”

“I care what happens to my son.”

“The court says otherwise.”

Starscream growled his engine. “You stole my son from me, and now the universe steals your son. Seems fair, don’t you think?”

Breakdown gave Starscream a look that could kill. Knock Out’s engine revved.

“You’re a miserable, cock sucking slut! All you’ve ever done is hurt everyone around you!” Knock Out shouted.

“Oh, stop acting like you’re some saint, Knock Out! You have killed and hurt so many people over the vorns! You take my own son away from me!”

“To save him from your stupidity and selfishness!”

“And Primus did the same for your ejected spawn.”

Knock Out trembled with rage. “I want him out!” He pointed at the front door.

“I get my joor with my son!”

“SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! MY SPARKLING IS DEAD AND YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT?!”

Breakdown grabbed Knock Out’s arm and pulled him to the stairs. “Go to our room.” He ordered.

“I want him out.” Knock Out snapped.

“I’ll handle Starscream. Go.”

Knock Out reached again for the bottle of engex, but Breakdown moved his arm away. The speedster glared at Starscream once more before making his way up the stairs, coolant streaming down his cheekplates. Breakdown waited until he heard the berthroom door close before he turned to Starscream.

“Finish your visit, then fragging leave my house.” Breakdown said it in a tone rarely ever heard from him. So much anger and pain in it.

Starscream swallowed but didn’t remove his angry expression. He picked up Fracture, who had been hugging Wildbreak, and held him close. His wings lowered some when he heard Knock Out crying upstairs. Maybe he had been too harsh… But these two were the reason why he didn’t have Fracture with him. No, he was right! They deserved to lose their sparkling in a miscarriage. They were stupid to have another one so soon, anyway. Serves them right for stealing his son and showing off they could just have more if they wanted to.

Stupid grounders.

Starscream tried to schedule another visitation, but Breakdown would not answer his calls. And he wasn’t going to call Knock Out… He tried talking to Prime, but all Prime would say was that he was talking to Knock Out and Breakdown about the next visit.

He was becoming worried. Why wasn’t he allowed to see his son? He was doing everything right…

He kept trying to call, to get something to happen, but time went by. He tried focusing on the therapy, but he didn’t really care for it. So long as it was down on paper, he was talking to someone, that’s all he needed. He needed to prove to this court that he could care for Fracture.

Decacycles turned into stellar cycles, and he was growing more and more anxious. It was almost three stellar cycles since he last saw Fracture that he finally got a call from Breakdown.

“Hey.” Starscream answered the call, his spark pulsating faster.

“Hey,” Breakdown greeted, nothing unusual in his vocalizer. “Fracture starts his first orbital cycle of school tomorrow. You should be there.”

Starscream felt the coolant pooling in his optics. “W-which school?”

“I’ll send you the address. Can you be there at 8?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We’ll see you then.” He then hung up.

Starscream trembled with fear and excitement. Finally, he would see his sparkling again.

The Seeker transformed and landed at the designated meeting spot. He perked his wings, anxiously looking around. He was far earlier than the agreed upon time, but he wasn’t going to miss a single nanosecond with his son.

After a breem, he finally spotted Breakdown, and quickly made his way over. The look he got from Knock Out was colder than space itself, but the speedster stayed silent.

“Hey, Fracture.” Starscream smiled at him.

Fracture held onto Knock Out’s servo, looking at his carrier for a moment. Then he waved before quickly hiding behind Knock Out’s leg.

“What’s wrong?” Starscream lowered his wings.

“He’s become shy.” Breakdown explained as he held Wildbreak.

“But, he knows me.”

“Not that well.”

That hurt Starscream. He had been away from his son for far too long, all because Knock Out had to be a drama queen about losing that dumb sparkling of his…

“Fracture, you remember me, right? I’m your carrier.” Starscream crouched to be optic level with his son.

“This is my carrier.” He hugged Knock Out’s leg.

“I’m your real carrier.”

Fracture shook his helm.

Knock Out vented a sigh, stroking Fracture’s helm, which he could now do without having to bend down due to how tall the sparkling had gotten. “He is your carrier as well, sweetspark. You should go say hi to him.”

“Hi!” Wildbreak greeted, waving at Starscream. “See, I said hi, Fracture! You can too!” He then giggled and hugged Breakdown around the neck.

That helped. Fracture handed his backpack to Knock Out, then slowly approached Starscream. The Seeker perked his wings as he held out his arms. Fracture hesitated, then held his arms out, too. Starscream hugged him close, his optics offlining as coolant pooled in them. Finally, he had his son again.

“He’s a good sparkling.” Breakdown said, setting down Wildbreak.

“Why wouldn’t you let me see him?” Starscream looked up at the truck, not letting go of Fracture.

“Gee, I wonder why.” Was the sardonic remark from Knock Out, not even looking at the Seeker.

Starscream glared at him. “He’s my son, not yours. You didn’t even send me pictures of him! I have missed out on so much of his life!”

Knock Out rolled his optics, still not looking at the Seeker. A servo rested over his abdominal plates, slowly circling.

“I’ll send you all the pictures and videos we have.” Breakdown said quickly, not wanting a fight to break out.

Starscream noticed Knock Out’s servo. “Are you sparked again?”

Knock Out finally looked at him, his optics so cold, looking only like another enemy of Starscream’s. He only growled his engine.

“Four decacycles.” Breakdown spoke up. “A mechling. Our first since…. You know.”

“He doesn’t need to know anything about my sons.” Knock Out growled, his jaws set so firmly it was a miracle a hydraulic didn’t snap.

Of how much Starscream hated Knock Out, he didn’t want to go another three stellar cycles without seeing Fracture again. “Congrats, Knock Out.” He paused. “I mean that.”

Knock Out didn’t look at him.

“Carrier is fat!” Wildbreak giggled, running circles around Knock Out, not noticing how tense the moment was.

“Carrier is fat.” Fracture snickered, still being held tightly by his actual carrier.

Wildbreak hugged Knock Out’s leg, his optics so large, far too large for his pudgy face, and so bright. He watched Starscream holding Fracture, then ran over and hugged Starscream.

“I want hugs, too!” He proclaimed.

Starscream couldn’t help but smile at that, and allowed the other sparkling to be held by him, too.

“That’s the crazy one.” Breakdown smirked. “Fracture is shy and avoids people, while Wildbreak believes everyone is his friend. He’s going to get kidnapped…”

“I like naps!” Wildbreak proclaimed.

“Yes, you are very good at that.”

“Why you crying?” Fracture inquired when he saw the coolant leaking down Starscream’s cheekplates.

“Oh, I… Just really missed you. I haven’t seen you in so long.” Starscream wiped at the coolant.

“You need hugs!” Wildbreak shouted before hugging Starscream even harder.

“We probably should go inside.” Breakdown gestured to all the other creators entering the school with their own creations.

“I don’t think Seekers are allowed.” Knock Out’s vocalizer was simply ice. Even Breakdown had to double take from how sparkless his mate sounded.

“Um, I don’t think that’s true…” Breakdown said slowly. He flinched at the evil glare his partner gave him. “Sweetie, you’re scaring me.”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Wildbreak, come with me.” He snapped.

“Okie dokie, carrier!” Wildbreak released Starscream and trotted after his carrier. He quickly took Knock Out’s servo and skipped beside him.

Starscream looked up at Breakdown. “Is he going to murder me?”

“Probably.” Breakdown said it like it was a fact. “You did say some pretty horrible things about us losing our son.”

Starscream looked away, not saying anything.

“There it is. Still no apology.” Breakdown smiled in almost disbelief. “Oh, Starscream… You have such a long way to go until you’re a decent person. I’m still holding onto hope, but… That’s slipping away more and more each orbital cycle.”

Starscream stood and took Fracture by the servo. He slowly walked towards the school’s door, listening to Breakdown’s heavy pedfalls closely behind him.

He entered the school, wings perking, and saw Knock Out talking to someone. He cautiously approached, not releasing Fracture’s servo.

“Yes, the court documents only give me and my mate authorization to pick him up from school.” Knock Out was saying, still holding Wildbreak’s servo.

The other mech was looking at a datapad. “Ok, I will need to have your IDs on file to ensure only you two pick him up. Who is the sire?”

“This is my mate.” Knock Out pointed to Breakdown. “He’ll be the primary one picking up Fracture as I work.

Starscream picked up Fracture and hugged him close. Knock Out was always ahead making sure he had zero rights to his own metal and spark…

“I wanna go to school!” Wildbreak piped up, jumping up and down as he still held his carrier’s servo.

“You will.” Knock Out grunted, his free servo rubbing over his abdominal plates.

Starscream silently watched as Knock Out and Breakdown filled out the paperwork to make sure only they could pick up his son, and that he wasn’t allowed to be with Fracture unless they were present. He wiped at the coolant and hugged his son closer. At least he was going to school, now. He would be getting an education and be able to make some friends.

“You cry a lot.” Fracture commented.

Starscream slowly nodded. “There’s a lot to be sad about.”

“Is he allowed to be present for teacher-creator meetings?” The mech inquired.

“No.” Knock Out said quickly.

“He can be.” Breakdown replied, which earned him another cold glare from Knock Out. Breakdown winced from that look, but bravely continued. “The court doesn’t say he can’t be present at a teacher-creator meeting. So long as we’re there it’ll be fine.”

Knock Out rolled his optics again, looking like he was doing everything he could to not punch his Conjunx Endura.

“You alright?” The mech asked Knock Out.

Knock Out forced a fake smile. “Yes, my back is just sore. I’m four decacycles along with my youngest.”

“Do you need a chair?”

“That would be great, thanks.”

Once the mech left to retrieve a chair, Knock Out spun around to face his mate.

“We talked about this.” He growled.

“Did we?” Breakdown raised an optical ridge.

“He has NO say in Fracture’s education.”

“Babe, sweetie, come on… He’s an aft but Fracture is still his son. He still should be around for at least this.” He flinched when Knock Out clenched his fist. “Don’t hurt me, I love you.”

“Only reason you’re still alive.” Knock Out growled at him. Then turned around and smiled as he was given the chair. “Thank you.” He said it in such a sweet, innocent tone, sitting down and pulling Wildbreak on his lap.

“Trouble in paradise?” Starscream grunted quietly.

“It’s just the sparkling.” Breakdown gave him a dismissive wave. “You remember how mean he was when he was sparked with Wildbreak.”

“He was mean, yes, but he didn’t look at you like that…”

“I hid all the knives and guns so I’m fine.”

“He hasn’t put a life insurance policy on you, has he?”

Breakdown’s optics widened.

Knock Out finished the paperwork and handed it back to the mech. The mech looked over it, then turned to Starscream.

“I need you to fill out some information, too. You are not allowed to pick up the student from school, but you still are a contact for him, as well as allowed to be present for meetings with his teachers. I just need your designation, address, and everything else this form asks for.”

Starscream took the datapad, juggling it while also refusing to set down Fracture. He went ahead and put down his real designation. This was his son, and he didn’t want to risk any chance of not being there for him with his school.

“Are you tired?” Breakdown quietly asked his mate.

“No.” He snapped.

“You seem tired. Is it the sparkling?”

“Ask me another stupid question and I’ll tear out your glossa.”

Breakdown quickly retreated.

Starscream finished the form and handed it back. After a moment the mech spoke.

“Okay, Fracture is good to go! Would you like to walk back to his classroom?”

“Yes, that would be great.” Knock Out spoke so kindly, as if he wasn’t secretly plotting on murdering Starscream and his mate. He slowly stood up, taking a moment to hold his abdomen. Breakdown reached over to try and help him, only to be shoved away. Knock Out took Wildbreak’s servo and followed the mech.

Breakdown vented a sigh, then gestured for Starscream to follow the homicidal speedster. The Seeker did so, holding Fracture so tightly, knowing he was going to be saying goodbye soon.

They walked down a couple of hallways, passing many other creators and their sparklings before they finally arrived at the classroom.

“This is his classroom, and his teacher is Chevron.” The mech gestured to the other mech that was in the classroom helping students.

Starscream noticed that every student was a grounder. He bit his lower lip plate, beginning to realize that he hadn’t seen any fliers. Of course, Knock Out would put his son in a grounder school.

“Ready for your first orbital cycle of school Fracture?” Knock Out smiled, again speaking in that sweet tone of his.

Fracture nervously looked around, then shook his helm.

“It’s okay, Fracture. You’ll be great in school.” Starscream smiled at him.

“I want carrier.” Fracture said softly.

“I’m your carrier.”

“I want carrier!” He reached out for Knock Out.

Starscream swallowed. He squeezed Fracture one last time and gave him a kiss on the cheekplates. He then handed him to Knock Out, noticing the sly smirk on his faceplates. If they weren’t in public he would claw that smirk right off those stupid faceplates.

“Hey, sweetspark.” Knock Out held Fracture, speaking in such a loving tone. “You’re going to have so much fun! I loved school so much I did extra school. So much extra school! That’s why I am now a doctor. You’re going to have fun, and do amazing, and make so many friends.”

“I don’t want to make friends. I want to stay with you!” He clung to Knock Out.

“I wish you could stay with me, too. But carrier has to work, anyway. I’ll see you again in a few joors.” Knock Out kissed in on the cheekplates. “My handsome, mechling. Carrier loves you!”

“I love you, too!” Fracture proclaimed, kissing Knock Out on his cheekplates.

Knock Out carefully set him down, having to place a servo on the wall for balance due to the carrying.

“Here’s your bag, sweetie.” Knock Out handed it to him, then turned him around and gave him a gentle push.

Fracture looked back, coolant pooling in his optics. He couldn’t do it. He turned back around, crying as he hugged Knock Out’s leg.

Wildbreak saw Fracture crying and began to cry himself. Knock Out exhaled loudly.

“Hey,” Breakdown crouched. “After school I’ll take you out to get a treat. Sound good?”

Fracture wiped at his optics and nodded.

“Just for you.” Knock Out grunted. “Your sire doesn’t need any more sweets.”

Breakdown gave him a look as if to say, “uncalled for.”

Fracture took his bag, hesitated, and walked into the classroom. Knock Out watched him as he got settled, then turned to Breakdown.

“I’m going to work. I’ll see you tonight.” He grunted, beginning to walk away.

“I hope you don’t treat any of your patients with the same care you have to me all morning.” Breakdown grunted.

Knock Out looked back at him with a glare that would have instantly murdered any being lesser than Breakdown. The speedster then gave the same evil glare at Starscream before stomping off.

“Well,” Breakdown picked up Wildbreak. “I will probably recharge in another room tonight.” He turned to Starscream. “I will call you for the next visitation.”

Starscream’s wings perked. “When will that be?”

“Well, if Knock Out doesn’t murder me, I’m thinking within an orn. Send me your schedule.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Only doing this because you’re the carrier.” Breakdown grunted. “Still waiting for that apology.”

He then walked away with Wildbreak, tossing him up in the air, something that normally gets him yelled at by Knock Out, but he wasn’t around now.

Starscream peeked back through the door and saw Fracture already talking to another sparkling. He was giggling, sitting on his little chair, and already coloring on a datapad. The Seeker vented a sigh. He would be alright. He was a good sparkling. He’ll be fine in school.

Starscream managed to pull himself away and left the school, anxious about when he’d see his son next.

Knock Out having the miscarriage was my idea. Originally, my friend wanted not only that Starscream never lost Fracture, but also he worked as a stripper. But I told her it would be more interesting if he had a normal job (as no one would give him custody if he had a sex related job) and the main drama was between Starscream and Knock Out.

The miscarriage will play a big role as you keep reading. Miscarriages are really hard. Unborn babies are alive, and losing your baby is not easy. Females of any species that experience them do suffer depression, hormone imbalances, and feelings of regret and self hate. And to be told your baby didn't matter (like what abortionists do) or that your baby was killed because you deserve it is just cruel. So, yeah, Knock Out HATES Starscream right now.

My friend really liked how I had Starscream crash through the windows. Honestly, every Starscream would. They are a chaotic species of gremlin.

Soundwave, every version of him, also always becomes a cat rescuer of sorts. Let the man have his kittens!

Y'all enjoying the hostility between the now former best friends? XD

Chapter Text

A couple of orbital cycles later Starscream found himself flying over to Fracture’s school. He transformed and waited, wings perking when finally he saw the large form of Breakdown walking out of the school. Beside him, Fracture skipped along, blabbering away. Wildbreak held Fracture’s servo, the two so happy to see each other after being apart all orbital cycle.

“Hey, Fracture.” Starscream greeted, stepping in their path.

Fracture hesitated, not sure what to do or say.

“Hi!” Wildbreak waved with his free servo.

“Hi…” Fracture said slowly.

“Next time, give me a call so I know to expect you.” Breakdown grunted.

“Sorry, I just-“ Starscream lowered his wings.

“It’s fine, I just rather be prepared.” He then turned to Fracture. “It’s okay. You can go say hi.”

Fracture didn’t budge, but Wildbreak was there.

“Come on!” He pulled his adopted brother over. Without any hesitation, Wildbreak went straight for a hug from Starscream, smiling so proud of himself.

Fracture wasn’t sure. Starscream gently pulled him over and hugged him, having both of the mechlings in his arms.

“I missed you.” Starscream said softly to his son.

Fracture didn’t hug back, but Wildbreak did. Starscream swallowed. At least for now he had him in his arms.

“How often is he there?!”

Breakdown vented a sigh. “He’s there every orbital cycle. Sweetie, it’s not a big deal.”

“It IS a big deal.” Knock Out snapped, putting away energon cubes with a bit more force than was needed.

“Fracture is still his son. He has every right to visit him for a few breems an orbital cycle.”

“The court took away those rights.”

“Temporarily. He’s not entirely removed.”

“I don’t want him around my sparkling.” Knock Out turned to his mate, his optics livid.

Breakdown started to reach for Knock Out’s hips, but the speedster pushed them away. Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates tiredly.

“Is the sparkling making you this grumpy...?”

Knock Out just glared at him, then resumed putting away clean glasses and other dishes. Breakdown approached from behind, pressing his crotch against Knock Out’s aft, and then slowly snaking his arms around to hug him. He didn’t expect to be elbowed so hard into his chassis, and then have Knock Out spin around and forcefully shove him away.

“What is your problem?” Breakdown threw his servos up. “Am I not allowed to show affection to my Conjunx Endura?”

“I am not in the mood.” Knock Out snapped.

“Please… Can’t I hold you…?”

“Not. In. The. Mood.” Knock Out growled.

“Can I at least kiss you?”

Knock Out turned away and resumed his work.

“I get you’re angry with Starscream and what he said, but treating me like this is ridiculous.”

“Oh, I’m not ‘angry’ with what he said. I’m livid. I’m fragging FURIOUS!” Knock Out glared at him.

“Yeah, I’m mad, too. But I’m not taking my anger out on you.” Breakdown narrowed his optics.

“He mocked my son’s death!”

“OUR son. That sparkling is just as much mine as he is yours.” Breakdown jabbed a digit at the smaller mech.

“He meant more to me.”

“How could you say that?! Are you implying I don’t love our sons as much as you?!”

“I carried him!”

“Yes, but I still loved him!”

“You let that thing follow you around!”

“Starscream has every right to see Fracture!”

“HE HAS NO RIGHT TO ANY SPARKLING AFTER WHAT HE SAID!” Coolant was pooling in Knock Out’s optics now. “DO MY FEELINGS MEAN NOTHING?!”

“OH MY GOD, KNOCK OUT!” Breakdown threw his arms up. “Your feelings are all I give a damn about! I have been by your side for all of the war! I have held you through everything!”

“But you won’t side with me on this ONE THING!”

“BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DENY HIM SEEING HIS OWN SON!”

“HE LOST EVERY RIGHT TO THAT SPARKLING THE MOMENT HE TOOK HIM TO MEGATRON!”

“HE LOST CUSTODY, NOT VISITATION!”

“HE ATTACKED ME AND MOCKED MY SON’S DEATH!”

“HE’S AN AFT! NO ONE IS DENYING THAT! WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH A BRAT?!”

Knock Out punched at Breakdown, but the larger mech caught the fist and tightly held his wrist. Knock Out tried striking him with the other servo, but Breakdown grabbed that wrist as well. Without any difficulty, he pulled Knock Out over, glaring at him. Knock Out struggled, coolant pouring from his optics, but he couldn’t get out of the iron grasp that held his wrists. He tried kicking, but Breakdown twisted his wrists, making him quickly stop.

“You do not take your anger out on me.” Breakdown sternly snapped, a tone he never used on his mate. “You will not strike me, you will not treat me like this. Understand? I am your Conjunx Endura, not a punching bag.” He paused. “Understood?!”

Knock Out quickly nodded, beginning to cry now as he lost control of his emotions. Breakdown released him and watched as his mate collapsed on the floor, covering his faceplates as he cried. Breakdown vented a sigh, rubbing over his faceplates. He then crouched, and lifted Knock Out’s chin so the speedster would look at him.

“I know you’re hurting so much, my love.” He said it in his usual calm, loving vocalizer. “I know I don’t know the pain you’re going through as I wasn’t the one who carried him… But you cannot treat me like this. We’re a team. You’re my best friend, and I don’t want to ever be mad at you. Hey, the orbital cycle I joined with you is the best orbital cycle of my life. I love you so much. I still can’t believe you’re mine.”

Knock Out was wiping his optics, calming down some, but still didn’t say anything.

“You can’t hit me or push me away like this. Talk to me. If you have to hit something, please go punch the wall, or the couch, or anything that isn’t me.” He then looked at Knock Out’s wrists. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No…”

“Get off the floor. You’re too pretty to be down there.” He took Knock Out’s servos and helped him stand. Then he kissed him on the lip plates. “Why don’t you go rest? I got things here.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re five decacycles carrying. You need to rest. We’ll talk more about this after you have rested.”

Knock Out walked away, knowing he wouldn’t be able to convince Breakdown otherwise. The mechlings watched him go up the stairs, not sure what had just happened.

“Is carrier okay?” Fracture inquired.

“Carrier is just having mood swings because of the sparkling.” Breakdown explained. “Sometimes, when you have a sparkling in your tummy it makes you very grouchy. So, you yell and even hit people. Nothing to worry about, sweetspark.” He smiled at him.

Fracture wasn’t convinced.

“I’m going to hug carrier!” Wildbreak announced as he ran up the stairs to do just that.

Starscream approached the park bench slowly, his wings perking, then lowering.

“Hey.” He greeted.

Knock Out glared only death at him, looking like if he wasn’t heavily sparked he would lunge at the Seeker and tear out his optics.

Starscream quickly backed away and made his way to Breakdown who was standing by the jungle gym where the sparklings were playing.

“I’m here.” He announced.

“’Sup.” Breakdown gave a head nod. “Fracture, Starscream is here.”

Fracture looked up from where he was standing, getting ready to go down the slide. Wildbreak was preparing to try out the monkey bars. The older mechling sat down and went down the slide, landing on the dirt below. He giggled, having so much fun playing outside.

Starscream walked over, picked him up, and hugged him tightly, his wings fluttering some. He kissed Fracture on the cheekplates, ignoring the face the sparkling made. He shouldn’t have, but he allowed himself to glance over at that bench, seeing that angry speedster sitting there, arms crossed. So much rage in someone so small.

“Sire, help me!” Wildbreak screamed, nervous about how high up he was.

“I’m coming.” Breakdown trotted over to him.

“How have you been?” Starscream asked his son, his engine purring from how happy he was to be with him.

“Fine.” Fracture shrugged.

“Anything interesting happening?”

Fracture shrugged. “Carrier and Sire were yelling at each other yesterday.”

“Oh? What were they arguing about?”

Fracture shrugged again. “Carrier was crying a lot.”

“Good.” Starscream hugged him tighter. “I love you.”

“I wanna play on the swings.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll push you.” Starscream said as he set Fracture down. He once again dared to glance over. Yup, Knock Out was still there, looking as jovial as ever.

Fracture quickly climbed onto a swing, and Starscream got behind him, gently pushing him. He smiled when Fracture began to laugh, enjoying this time with his son. Too bad that aft Knock Out was ruining the nice orbital cycle with his bitterness.

Starscream sat in his apartment, reading from a datapad. He was feeling good. He saw Fracture almost every orbital cycle after school and had a few nice meetings with him at the park, despite how obvious Knock Out wanted him dead. And now Prime was talking more about the hearing for his visitation rights.

Yes, things were starting to finally look up for him!

His wings perked when there was a knock on the door. He checked his comm link, but no missed calls from Breakdown, or from Prime. If it wasn’t Breakdown or Prime… Who could it be?

He set aside the datapad and approached the door. He hesitated, then opened it.

He wished he didn’t.

“Starscream,” Megatron smiled, stepping inside without invite. “I was wondering where you had gone. And what a horrendous paintjob you gave yourself.”

Starscream narrowed his optics. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I can be wherever I wish to be, Starscream.” Megatron then turned and began to walk around the apartment. “Not bad. Could use some more furnishings.”

Starscream closed the door, knowing that the brute wouldn’t be leaving right away. “I am saving my Shanix.”

“On what? What do you have going on?”

“I have a son. Remember? The one you put in me?”

Megatron just smirked, noticing the pictures of Fracture on the wall. Some had been taken by Starscream, others had been sent to him by Breakdown. “He looks to be doing well. Growing very quickly.” He then tapped a picture of Knock Out holding Fracture, only Knock Out’s optics had been burned out with a torch. “I’m guessing you and Knock Out are no longer together.”

“My relationship with others is of no consequence to you.” Starscream crossed his arms.

Megatron just smirked, noticing how bitter the Seeker sounded. He then walked into the berthroom, looking around. “Not bad.” He pressed his claws onto the berth, testing how it felt. “You certainly haven’t broken anything in.”

Starscream flicked his wings. “Please, leave.”

“Not yet.” Megatron approached him. “You know why I’m here.”

“I’m not fragging you, Megatron.”

Megatron chuckled at that. “Do you really think you have a say?”

Starscream swallowed, his wings lowering. “Please, leave.”

Megatron approached him, placing his servos on Starscream’s shoulders, and then pushing him towards the berth.

“Please, leave.” Starscream said softer.

Megatron pushed him onto the berth.

“Please… Don’t…”

Megatron got behind him, his servos all over the Seeker’s body.

Starscream froze. He wanted to fight back, but he wouldn’t win against Megatron. And he couldn’t risk being injured when he saw Fracture tomorrow. Knock Out would know who did it and would say something. He wasn’t going to lose his son.

“Please…” He whispered, feeling his codpiece forced open. “Just leave.”

He winced when Megatron forced himself inside, and coolant filled his optics when Megatron began to thrust. He grasped the berth, his optics offlining. He just needed to behave. Megatron would have his fun, then leave, and that would be it. No one would know that the tyrant had been here.

Just behave. That’s all he needed to do.

Starscream approached the house, his wings lowering. Breakdown had called and told him to come here instead of the park. He pressed the call button and waited.

Breakdown soon opened the door.

“Hey,” He smirked. “Come in.”

Starscream hesitated but did so. He made sure to walk as normally as possible, despite how sore he was between his legs. “Where’s Fracture?”

“He’s upstairs.” Breakdown gestured for him to follow.

Starscream did so and followed the truck all the way to the door to his and Knock Out’s room. Breakdown slowly opened the door and walked in. Starscream stayed in the doorway, perking his wings.

Knock Out was recharging on the berth, next to him was a tiny sparkling, mere joors old, wrapped in a blanket. Wildbreak was passed out beside his carrier, and Fracture recharging next to him.

Breakdown quietly began to pick up Fracture, being careful not to online anyone. But Knock Out’s optics dimply lit, clearly low on energon and weak.

“Wwhat...?” He groggily inquired.

“It’s just me, love. Go back to recharge.” Breakdown kissed him.

Knock Out faintly smiled, his optics drifting until they saw Starscream. They began to narrow, but his systems were too exhausted, and they quickly shut off as he drifted back into recharge. Breakdown quietly stepped out of the room carrying Fracture and closed the door.

“Knock Out gave birth this morning.” Breakdown explained, his smile so large. “We were at the hospital almost all night. The mechlings insisted on coming with us instead of going to their sitter. Fracture was so brave. He was there for Knock Out the whole time. You should be proud of him. They stayed up the entire night until their brother was born.” He then gestured to the still recharging Fracture. “Been passed out ever since.”

Starscream gently took Fracture from him.

“H-how was the birth?”

“A little difficult. He tried to do it naturally again. Almost did it, but he started to lose too much energon and the doctor called it off. The sparkling turned, they almost had to do a C-section, but thankfully they got the sparkling turned around and it was all good. He’s exhausted, but he’s fine. Had to be on an energon drip for a couple of joors. Dead End is a good weight and no health concerns.”

Starscream nodded. “That’s good. Congrats.”

Breakdown dumbly smiled. “Thank you! I’m so happy.”

“Hopefully Knock Out will be in a better mood now.”

“I don’t think he will, but maybe he’ll be less volatile.”

Starscream slowly nodded, then turned and walked down the stairs with Fracture. He sat on the couch and held him on his lap. Fracture curled into his chassis, still recharging so peacefully. Starscream took the time to study his faceplates, noting everything he got from him… And everything he got from his sire.

“Mmmm,” Fracture groaned as he began to online. “Carrier...?”

“Yes, I’m here.”

Fracture gave him a confused look, then looked around. “Where’s carrier?”

Starscream’s wings lowered. “I’m your carrier.”

“No, carrier has my sparkling brother.”

“He’s upstairs.” Starscream swallowed. “You know you have two carriers, right? Him and me.”

“Carrier was sick.” Fracture continued like Starscream said nothing. “He gave birth. My brother came out of him! It was gross.” He then giggled. “Carrier said bad words.”

Starscream hugged him closely. He had him. That was all that mattered.

Four Decacycles Later:

“Please, don’t!”

Starscream was shoved onto his berth hard. He started to try and get off, but Megatron was upon him. Starscream weakly struggled against the brute, but the much larger being easily overpowered him. Coolant leaked from the Seeker’s optics as he looked up into those uncaring optics. He whimpered when Megatron entered him, and grabbed the wrist of the servo that grasped his neck, pinning him down.

All he could do was softly cry as he looked into those optics.

“Everyone is recharging.” Breakdown smiled as he entered the berthroom.

“Good.” Knock Out looked up at him from the closet. “What are you thinking about?” He held up a large dildo.

“For me or you?”

“Well,” Knock Out tossed it back into the drawer. “I actually feel like you should be the big dog tonight.”

“Oh?” Breakdown approached his mate from behind and placed his servos on the speedster’s hips.

“I think I’ve been kind of an aft to you.”

“Understatement of the vorn, but continue.”

“You should totally make me respect you again.” Knock Out reached up, poking his index digit at Breakdown’s faceplates.

“Oh, you’re feeling like that, tonight?”

Knock Out smiled as he nodded his helm, still looking up at the larger mech.

“In that case… Yes, you need to learn to respect your mate.” He then reached over into the drawer and pulled out a paddle. “I think this might do the trick.”

“You’re evil.” Knock Out feigned shock. “On my beautiful aft?”

“And those beautiful thighs. Should I use anything else on you?”

“Nothing that will online the sparklings.”

“Nah, this won’t online them. So long as you stay quiet.”

“I’m so able to stay quiet. They have the fans on, anyway. They won’t hear a thing.”

“Don’t underestimate how loud I’ll make you scream.” Breakdown playfully growled into Knock Out’s audio receptor.

Knock Out bit his lower lip plate, his engine humming. “Mmm, make me beg, big guy.”

“Grab that dildo again.”

Knock Out did so, and Breakdown grasped the speedster’s wrist. He pulled him out of the berthroom and down the stairs, making sure they would be far away enough from the recharging sparklings as to not online them.

Breakdown led Knock Out to the couch, turned around, and kissed him on the lip plates. Knock Out kissed back, his engine purring, and a ped rising up behind him.

“I love you so much.” Breakdown smirked. “But you were so mean to me.”

“I know.”

“Oh, you’re about to know.” He sat down and yanked Knock Out over, eliciting a startled squeak from him.

As if he weighed nothing at all, Breakdown moved Knock Out over his lap, and made him lie so his aft was in perfect striking range. He grasped Knock Out’s wrists and pinned them against his back with a single servo.

“Safe word is ‘Polyhex.’” He said as he began to rub over Knock Out’s aft and thighs.

“No, I don’t like Polyhex. Nothing but weirdos from there.”

“That’s why it’s the safe word.” He began to pat his mate’s aft and thighs, preparing him.

“You pick stupid safe words.”

“Well, maybe you won’t say it and I’ll make you really scream tonight.”

“Don’t damage my beautiful frame.”

“There will be significant damage to this part of your frame.” He gave Knock Out’s aft a hard smack.

“Mmm!” Knock Out winced. “I’m beginning to regret this.”

“Gonna say the safe word?”

“Ew, gross, no.”

“Okay, then shut up.”

“Rude!”

Breakdown smiled, thinking how lucky he was that he, and only he, got to do this to this wonderful mech. His beautiful, wonderful Knock Out, and that beautiful, wonderful aft… Now, it was time to beat on that aft. Literally.

He raised his servo and began to smack Knock Out’s aft hard.

“Mmmmmrrrgh!” Knock Out struggled, but his wrists were held tightly by Breakdown’s servo. He wasn’t freeing them at all. He kicked his legs some, but he was held firmly in place. “You’re a fat bully! Ow! Ugh, I hate you! Ow! Why do you have to- ow! Be so cruel to me!”

“I’m barely hitting you. Want me to hit harder?”

“I’m going to say no, but I really mean yes. No!”

“Okay.” Breakdown began to hit him harder and faster.

“Ow! Nrrrgh!” He kept struggling, but Breakdown’s grip was not loosening.

Breakdown mercilessly slapped his aft and thighs, giving him about forty hard smacks before grabbing the paddle.

“Ready for phase two?”

“Have mercy, I beg you!” Knock Out looked back at him.

“Take back calling me a ‘fat bully.’”

“Oh my gosh, no. You’re a fat bully who is being a bully… And fat.”

“Okay, look ahead, and stop kicking.”

Knock Out did so, still trying to get his wrists free, but they weren’t making any progress. Breakdown waited until he had settled down before pressing the paddle against that aft he loved so much.

“Such a shame… It was really beautiful.” He vented a sigh. “Okay, time to destroy it!”

“Ow!” Knock Out yelped when the first hard strike from the paddle landed cruelly on his aft, quickly followed by many more brutal ones.

He kicked, he struggled, but nothing stopped the beating his aft and thighs were receiving. Breakdown smiled, enjoying this all too much. Only he got to do this, after all. And he could brag about it to everyone.

“You’re such a bad, mech. You deserve every last strike. Naughty, mech.” Breakdown said, never ceasing.

Knock Out buried his face into the couch, yelling from the pain and cursing his mate, making sure he wouldn’t online anyone despite how loud he was shouting. Breakdown ignored the kicking peds and muffled screams to keep hitting that aft with his paddle, thinking about if he should frag Knock Out against the couch, or maybe the table once he was done here.

“Why are you hitting carrier?”

Breakdown froze, looking up with wide optics. Knock Out noticed the beating had ceased and raised his own helm, only for his optics to also widen.

Fracture looked very concerned as his optics darted from the paddle to Knock Out, then to Breakdown.

“Hey, sweetie.” Knock Out quickly smiled. “W-why are you online?”

“I wanted energon.” Fracture wrung his servos.

“Oh, why don’t I help you with that?” He finally got his servos free now since Breakdown loosened his grip, and quickly got off Breakdown’s lap. He took a moment to rub over his rear end as he approached Fracture. “What kind of energon do you want?”

“Blue…” Fracture followed him, glancing back at Breakdown.

“Alrighty! Let’s see.” Knock Out opened a cupboard and grabbed the requested energon. He poured it into a glass and handed that to Fracture. “Does my sweet sparkling need anything else?” He smiled, wishing Fracture would just go back to berth.

Fracture looked at the energon, then Knock Out. He stepped closer to Knock Out. “Is everything okay?” He whispered, very concerned.

“Everything is fine, sweetspark. Why don’t you go to berth and keep that fan on the loudest setting? Hmm?” He felt like he was about to burst with how much he just wanted to drag Fracture to his room, lock him in there, and go back to Breakdown.

“Why was sire hitting you?” Fracture whispered again.

Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, then crouched down. “Carrier and sire are playing a game.”

“Hitting isn’t a game.”

“It’s an adult game.”

“It doesn’t seem fun.”

“The fun part is coming.”

“Blink twice if you’re in trouble.”

“What? Where did you learn that?”

“Saw it in a movie.”

“I’m not in trouble, sweetie. I asked sire to hit me.”

“Why?”

“It’s a grownup thing. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“I want to understand now.”

“That is a very long conversation I am not ready to give right now.”

Fracture gave him a confused look. “Do you need me to protect you?”

Knock Out placed a servo over his chest. “That is so sweet. I love you so much. But no. Sire is being a good mech. Now, run along.” He stood and turned Fracture around before gently pushing him.

Fracture began to walk, holding his glass with both servos. Knock Out led him to the bottom of the stairs, and then nudged him to go up.

“Go back to recharge. Forget everything you saw tonight. I love you!”

Fracture gave him a look, then glanced over at Breakdown who seemed frustrated. He looked back at Knock Out before slowly scaling the stairs. Knock Out waited until he heard the door close before venting a sigh.

“Thought he’d never leave.” He moaned as he climbed over the back of the couch.

“Poor guy… He’s going to be so traumatized when he thinks back on this night ten stellar cycles from now.”

Knock Out gave his mate a look. “So long as none of them walk in when we’re actually fragging… Foreplay is less traumatizing.”

“Mhmm,” Breakdown grabbed him and pulled him back into position, grabbing those thin wrists once more. “Well, due to the interruption, I have to start back from the beginning.”

“Wait, what?”

“I lost count.”

“You weren’t even counting to begin with!”

“That’s why I lost place.”

“You are so evil.” Knock Out groaned.

“Just wait until I’m done and am inside of you.” He smiled, holding up the paddle.

“Mmmm, I look forward to-OW!”

Knock Out buried his face once more as Breakdown resumed beating his aft hard with the paddle.

A  Decacycle Later:

Starscream inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly as he stood in front of the door to the courtroom. The time for the next hearing had finally arrived, and he was so anxious. He swallowed, then palmed open the door and entered.

Knock Out was there with Breakdown and all three mechlings. Dead End was sitting on his carrier’s lap, chewing on some toy. The older mechlings were busy playing on a datapad between themselves, and Breakdown was saying something to his mate while a ped resting on his knee and an arm over the back of Knock Out’s chair. They looked like a happy family all together.

Starscream flicked his wings. His son didn’t belong in that family. That was his son.

Knock Out saw the Seeker, his optics instantly narrowing and looking so murderous. He held his youngest sparkling close, as if the Seeker would snatch him away.

Starscream sat on the defendant’s side, his wings lowering. No one was on his side.

Soon, Optimus Prime entered the court room, more guards taking positions in the room as well. As if anyone here would bother attacking the Autobot leader…

The Prime sat at the judge’s desk, setting aside his datapads. He then addressed the room.

“Good morning, everyone. If everyone is here, then let’s begin.” He looked over the gathered mechs. “This hearing is for visitation rights. Seeker Starscream of Vos is requesting visitation rights for his son, Fracture of Iacon. And Speedster Knock Out of Navitas, Velocitron and Truck Breakdown of Delta, Velocitron, are requesting he not be given this right, correct?”

“That is correct.” Knock Out replied.

“Alright. Knock Out, I’ll let you begin.”

Knock Out handed Breakdown Dead End before he stood. “Your honor, Starscream is not capable of caring for Fracture. He also is not safe to even allow regular visits. Starscream refuses to stay away from Megatron. Megatron has already attacked Fracture once. Should Fracture be allowed to go with Starscream anywhere, his life is in danger. For Fracture’s own safety, he must remain with me and not be allowed to go with Starscream anywhere.”

“Starscream, do you have anything to add?” The Prime questioned.

Starscream stood up, being careful not to show he was in any pain from Megatron fragging him last night. “Yes, Prime. I have not seen Megatron since that night when I made the mistake of taking Fracture over for a visit. I’ve done everything asked of me. I got a job, I got an apartment in the nice side of town. I got a mental evaluation and have seen a therapist. I have been working on myself and will never see Megatron ever again. My son is safe with me.”

“You can’t even afford his school or energon.” Knock Out snapped.

“You don’t know what I can afford.” Starscream glared back at him. “I can take care of my son.”

“What is your job? Whoring yourself out?”

“Knock Out, don’t make me hold you in contempt of court.” Prime said sternly.

“I apologize, your honor.” Knock Out held his servos up, sounding so innocent, but Starscream knew better.

“I have given my work info to Prime. He knows where I work and where I live.”

“So why can’t you share that with me?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge, a servo resting on his hip.

“I am not at liberty to share private information with you.”

“And yet you know where I live and where I work.” Knock Out smiled, but it was a cruel smile, like he was some villain toying with his prey.

Breakdown looked like he wanted to die.

“Knock Out,” Prime interrupted. “Besides Megatron and financial liability… What other concerns do you have?”

“Starscream is prone to violence.” Knock Out explained, ignore the glare Starscream sent him. “He attacked me twice, as was discussed in the first hearing. He always would attack vehicons and other soldiers of the Decepticon army should they annoy him or brought him unfavorable news. He even would harm me to punish me if I had upset him. I am concerned that should he be left alone with Fracture he would harm him out of anger. Fracture is a mechling, and like all sparklings, he can be rowdy, loud, and be annoying. Starscream does not have the patience required to raise a sparkling with love and kindness.”

“I would never strike my son.” Starscream flicked his wings.

“But you’d take him to Megatron to be struck instead.” Knock Out coldly glared at him.

“I don’t see Megatron anymore!”

“Fracture doesn’t even like you.”

Starscream clenched his servos into fists. “I’d like to hear him say that. Fracture, what is it like living with Knock Out?”

“You’re not putting him on the stand.”

“No, I would like to hear what Fracture has to say.” Prime replied. “Fracture, would you like to come up here and tell me some things?”

Fracture looked at Prime, then at Knock Out. Knock Out shook his helm, but Breakdown nodded.

“Go up there and tell everyone what’s it’s like at home.” Breakdown smiled. “Don’t be shy. Just tell the truth.”

Fracture nodded. He slid off the pew, paused, then grabbed Wildbreak’s servo and pulled him along. The two mechlings walked up the dais and climbed onto the witness chair as a guard gestured for them to do.

Knock Out sat back down, arms crossed, only sparing another disdainful glare at Starscream. Starscream also sat down, his wings perking as he tried to ignore the speedster.

“Fracture,” The Prime spoke as he turned to the little ones. “How is life with Knock Out and Breakdown?”

Wildbreak whispered in Fracture’s audio receptor, then hugged him for support.

“Well,” Fracture said slowly, hugging his brother back, looking down at his peds. “Sire and carrier kiss a lot. It’s gross.” He said it so factually. “Sire is always saying how much he loves carrier. He gets us lots of things! Toys and games and takes us to the park!”

“Does your sire or carrier ever hit you?” Prime asked.

Fracture shook his helm. “No, they never hit us… But sire hits carrier.”

Knock Out’s optics widened.

“I’m sorry. Your sire hits your carrier?” Prime repeated.

“Yeah.” Fracture nodded. “He hits him with… With a thing really hard.”

“Where does he hit him?”

“The aft. And he keeps telling carrier he’s ‘bad’ and asking if he likes it.”

Knock Out covered his faceplates and began to slowly sink off the chair and under the desk before him. Breakdown couldn’t help but smirk with a face filled with some pride that it was him smacking that aft. Yes, everyone be jealous of him!

Prime vented loudly, pinching the bridge of his olfactory sensor. “When did you see this…?”

Fracture shrugged. “I got up to get energon and sire was on the couch hitting carrier. I asked carrier if he was in danger but he said no. He said adults do that. I don’t believe him.” He then leaned closer to the Prime and whispered. “Is sire going to jail?”

Knock Out was halfway under the desk by now.

“No, he’s not. Anything else you see them do to each other or to you?”

“They sometimes yell at each other. Really loud.”

“What are they yelling about?”

“Him.” Fracture pointed at Starscream.

“What about him?”

Fracture shrugged.

“Carrier makes funny sounds!” Wildbreak suddenly piped up. “I hear-I hear carrier saying ‘uh uh uh’ real loud!” He threw his arms up for emphasis.

“Yes!” Fracture exclaimed. “Carrier makes lots of noise! Sometimes when we’re in berth, and not recharging like he told us to, we hear-“ He then slapped his servo against the arm rest so the metal of his hand and the chair made a loud clang clang clang sound. “From carrier’s room and he’s going ‘uh uh uh!’”

“No, it’s more like, ‘oh oh huh, uhhhhhhhhh!” Wildbreak proclaimed.

“Yeah, and sire makes sounds too! He says ‘arrrrrrrrrrrrbbghh!’”

Prime just rubbed over his faceplates slowly. Knock Out was completely hidden under the table. Breakdown was guffawing, slapping his knee heartily. Starscream couldn’t help but laugh, trying to hold it in.

“Sometimes carrier is loud in the morning.” Wildbreak continued.

“Yeah, and sire makes really big breakfast when carrier is loud in the morning.”

“But your sire and carrier never hit you or yell at you?” Prime tried to bring the focus back to the subject at servo.

“No.” Fracture shook his helm. “Only each other.”

“Carrier calls sire fat.” Wildbreak added.

“Yeah, he does.” Fracture agreed.

Wildbreak giggled. “Sire is fat.”

Fracture giggled too. “He is.”

They both giggled, looking at each other like they were the funniest people ever.

“Knock Out clearly isn’t doing enough to keep them from seeing or hearing him engage in interface.” Starscream spoke up. “What makes him better qualified than me who is currently single and abstinent? “

“At least we try to make sure they don’t see anything.” Breakdown grunted.

“We don’t know that. My son clearly saw you being kinky with Knock Out in the living room. Who’s to say you didn’t do that on purpose? Or won’t purposefully expose him to more of your weird grounder fetishes?”

“You are into far worse BDSM.” Knock Out spoke up, rising from under the desk to sit back next to his mate, but still clearly embarrassed. “I may be fine with some light paddling-“

Breakdown snorted. “I wasn’t going light on him, your honor!”

“Shut up!” Knock Out shoved at his mate who was laughing. He turned back to Starscream. “You’re into extreme slag, Starscream. Whips, chains, cables, gang bangs…”

“I have never had interface with more than one at once.” Starscream glared at him.

“Neither have I.” Knock Out snapped.

“I’m not into the things you think I’m into. And even if I was, I still would never expose my son to that.”

“I doubt that. He heard you and Megatron.”

“He hears you and Breakdown!”

“At least I try to cover it up!”

“So would I!”

“What, between how many mechs walking in?”

“I am not some harlot, Knock Out!”

“How many mechs have you recharged with?” Knock Out crossed his arms. “Surely more than forty.”

“Excuse me?! I only have been with a handful of mechs throughout my entire life!”

“And I’ve only been with one.”

Breakdown made a face. “That’s not true. You had more than one mech friend before we started dating. There was Tapout, Crusher, Fusion, that two-wheeler with the weird helm crest…. Who was the guy you snorted circuit boosters with in med school?”

Knock Out slowly turned to face his mate, his optics filled with unholy rage and some horror that Breakdown brought this up. His claws scraped loudly across the desktop, tearing into it.

Breakdown’s smile was instantly gone. He quickly looked away, hoping if he didn’t speak or look, it wouldn’t tear his head off.

“You did circuit boosters in med school?” Starscream snickered. “No wonder you’re not a very good doctor.”

Knock Out glared death at the Seeker.

“We’re getting off track.” Prime sighed. “Knock Out and Breakdown seem perfectly capable of raising Fracture and are not abusing the sparklings in their care. And Starscream has done everything I asked him to do and is working on bettering himself. I think it will be safe for Fracture to have regular supervised visitations with Starscream. I am ruling for a minimum of two visitations each orn. Fracture will not be allowed to spend the night at Starscream’s, for now. If Starscream is denied his visits, he is to bring it up with me and I will deal with it personally.” He gave Knock Out a stern look.

Knock Out slowly nodded. “Understood, Prime.”

“I will now dismiss the court room. Unless there is anything else?”

“Will I be able to have a hearing for more time with Fracture? Or partial custody?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Yes. I will set up a meeting with you and we will discuss that further.”

“Thank you, Prime.” Starscream smiled, a genuine smile.

“Dismissed.” Prime banged the gavel, then stood.

“Boys, come here.” Knock Out called to Fracture and Wildbreak.

They quickly ran over to the speedster, Wildbreak grabbing Knock Out’s free servo as he held Dead End in the other arm. Fracture held onto Wildbreak’s other servo.

Knock Out only spared a disgusted and furious glare at Starscream before walking away with his little train.

“Sweetie, I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.” Breakdown said quickly, following after his mate.

“You will be recharging on the couch for the foreseeable future.” Knock Out snapped coldly, not even looking back at him. “Don’t ever ask for interface ever again.”

Breakdown vented a sigh. “At least it’s on the record I did so much to your aft.”

“You’re recharging outside.”

Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates.

Starscream watched them leave, then got up and walked out himself. He looked at his schedule, planning when he would schedule his visitation with his son. Now, Knock Out can never tell him no again.

Starscream approached the front door, his wings perking. He was surprised that Knock Out wanted him to do the visitation at his house, but so long as he got to see his son he didn’t care where the visitation happened.

“Evening.” Breakdown greeted, letting the Seeker inside. “Fracture is in his room.”

“Thank you, Breakdown.” Starscream nodded at him, then began his way to the stairs.

He noted that there was a pillow on the couch. Knock Out was indeed making his mate recharge there. He climbed the stairs, wings lowering when he heard Knock Out’s vocalizer coming from his berthroom. He peeked and could see that the speedster was lying on his berth, holding Dead End as the little one nursed. Wildbreak was on the berth beside him telling his carrier all about something or other.

Starscream knocked on the door to Fracture’s room, swallowing when he noticed Knock Out look up at him and could feel those murderous optics boring into his very being. He quickly palmed the door open and walked in.

“Hey,” His wings perked, approaching his son, and then sitting on the berth beside him. “What are you up to?”

Fracture didn’t put down the game he was playing on his tablet. “Just playing.”

“What is it?”

“It’s Darkness. You have to fight these organic monsters who have taken over the world.”

“Sounds intense.”

“It is.”

“You know, I once fought organics. Lots of them.”

“Yeah, Carrier and sire said they were in a big war and killed organics.”

“Yes, I was in the same war. In fact, I was Knock Out’s commanding officer. I bossed him around.”

Fracture gave him a disbelieving look. “Carrier is the boss. He bosses sire around all the time.”

“That may be true in this domestic household, but prior to current life on Cybertron, I was in charge of an entire army.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why not? How is that so hard to believe?”

“Because… You’re… Not cool.”

Starscream flicked his wings. “I am very cool.”

“Carrier is cool. He gets to cut people open!”

“I got to cut people open, too. I just never put them back together.”

“Uh huh.” Fracture turned back to his game.

“If Breakdown said I was the boss of an army would you believe me?”

“Maybe.”

Starscream got up and stepped out of the room, quickly checking to make sure Knock Out was still on the berth. He was. The Seeker then walked to the top of the stairs and looked down.

“Hey, Breakdown?”

“Yup?” The truck looked up from where he was cleaning the floor.

“Could you come up here for a moment?”

The truck shrugged. He got up and climbed the stairs. The Seeker led him into Fracture’s room.

“Fracture doesn’t believe I was once a commanding officer of an entire army, and that you and Knock Out had to take orders from me.” The Seeker crossed his arms.

“Oh, yeah, we haven’t talked to him much about the war…” Breakdown scratched his nape. “But, yes, Starscream was a commanding officer and did have command over me and your carrier. But he wasn’t the top dog. Even he had to follow orders from someone else.”

“Yes, but you still had to obey me.” Starscream piped up quickly.

“I mean… Yeah, then we did. Now we follow a new chain of command. And your carrier is at the top of it.” He gestured to the invisible bar that showed where Knock Out was on this chain of command. “We do as he says, and it keeps him from laying waste to the land.”

Fracture giggled. “Carrier is your boss.”

“And yours.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “I was his boss.”

“It’s in the past, Starscream. We still remember your role. Yes, sir, no, sir. But we’re not in the army anymore.”

“Wish we still were…” Starscream grunted.

“I don’t. I’ve never been happier having this house and my sons, and to do it all with my best friend.” He grinned broadly.

“Who is making you recharge on the couch…”

“It’s temporary. Not the first time he’s banished me from our berth.”

“What was the first time?”

“I’m not allowed to discuss it.”

“Well, anyway,” Starscream turned to Fracture. “I was a commander of an army.”

“Okay.” Fracture shrugged.

“Just okay? Are you not impressed?” Starscream gave him an incredulous look.

“Carrier is still cooler.”

“Why is he cooler than me who led armies?!”

“Carrier just is.”

“I’m your real carrier. You do know that, right? You were inside of me.”

“Nah,” Fracture kept playing his game.

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“I’ve literally seen carrier push my brother out of him. We come from him.” Fracture said it like Starscream was an idiot.

“I have documents from the hospital that show I am your carrier.”

“Okay…” Fracture just played his game.

“You have two carriers, Fracture.” Breakdown spoke. “Starscream is the one you came from and Knock Out is the one raising you.”

“Can you please go.” Starscream glared at the truck.

Breakdown raised his servos peacefully before leaving. Starscream rubbed over his faceplates tiredly.

“Can I have a hug?”

“Why?”

“Please? I just want a hug.”

Fracture sighed loudly as he set down his tablet, then scooted over. Starscream hugged him close, but Fracture didn’t hug back.

Starscream held him for a bit before slowly letting him go. He then felt death itself breathing down on his nape. He looked up, seeing Knock Out in the hallway, his optics glowing, his entire body language screaming that he was fighting the urge to not lunge and kill the Seeker. It was like looking at a wild beast that hasn’t eaten in orbital cycles, and Starscream was the first prey he had come across.

The speedster was filled with so much raw, unadulterated hatred for the Seeker that Starscream could hear his cooling fans working harder, and hydraulics tightening.

Starscream began to think about what he might be able to use as a weapon should the beast attack. Definitely using a sparkling as a shield was an option.

“Carrier! Come look!” Wildbreak’s vocalizer sounded from downstairs.

Knock Out’s optics shuttered, and a loud exhale from his vents pierced the uneasy silence, like an angry beast snorting. He then turned and continued on his way.

Starscream didn’t realize he had shut off his vents. He opened them, cycling heavily to calm himself. His wings flicked, now angry that his former subordinate would dare intimidate him like that, and actually succeed in making him anxious. Stupid, Knock Out…

“You okay?”

Starscream turned to Fracture. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… Thinking. So, how is school?”

“It’s fine.”

“Making any friends?”

“Yeah, I have friends.”

“What’s their designations?”

Fracture shrugged.

“Do they come over?”

“Sometimes.”

“What are their frame types? Flyers? Trucks? Speedsters?”

“I don’t know.”

Starscream vented a sigh.

“If you don’t stop squirming, I will beat you.” Megatron growled dangerously.

Starscream whimpered. “You’re hurting me. Please, don’t be so hard.” He looked back at the massive mech over him.

“I’ll frag you how I please.” He snapped, pinning the Seeker’s wrists to his back with one servo as the other held the flier’s hip.

Starscream winced when the brutal thrusting resumed, being made to lean over the berth, his peds on the floor. He tried to hold still, just wanting this over and not be hurt worse. He had visitation tomorrow and didn’t want to miss it. He couldn’t risk Megatron beating him, and the injuries be noticed by the trained optics of a medical personal who would report him without hesitation.

That stupid doctor was ready to pounce on anything he could to hurt the Seeker. If only he was the one being raped…

“Come on in.” Breakdown gestured for the Seeker to do so.

Starscream walked in, trying to stay as stiff as possible and not let his legs spread apart like they were screaming to do. His valve was so sore still from Megatron fragging him so hard and long last night. He was able to cover up the scrapes and small dents on his back side from being roughly handled, but the pain in his valve was not as easy to ignore.

He felt a cold shiver run down his spinal strut. The jet looked up to see the speedster sitting on the stairs halfway up, watching him closely, his optics narrow, glowing with unholy fury. In his arms was Dead End, giggling and being an adorable sparkling, unaware that the one who held him was thinking thoughts that would make Primus himself horrified.

Starscream looked away, focusing on walking normal as he approached the couch where Fracture and Wildbreak were doing homework. He carefully sat down, making sure his face was turned so Knock Out wouldn’t see him wince.

“Hey, Fracture, what are you doing?” The Seeker greeted.

“School.” He replied.

“Need help? I’m pretty good with school.”

“Sure.”

Starscream took the homework and began to read over it, trying to ignore the homicidal doctor watching him still. Didn’t he have a T-Cog transplant to perform or something?

“Hey, mechlings, do you want some goodies?” Breakdown called from the energon room.

“Yes!” Wildbreak proclaimed as he jumped up and ran over.

Fracture was right behind him, the two grabbing goodies and all-over what Breakdown was doing.

“Starscream, you want some?”

“Oh, no thank you, Breakdown. I’m fine.” Starscream replied.

“You sure? We have plenty. Knock Out is eating less now.” He laughed, glancing over at his mate hoping to see a reaction, but the speedster was still glaring at the Seeker.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine.”

“Suit yourself.” Breakdown continued helping the mechlings.

Starscream tried to continue reading the homework, but he couldn’t handle that boring of hate and desire to kill pressing into his backside. He finally looked back, his wings hiking.

“Can I help you, Knock Out?” He snapped.

He heard Knock Out’s engine growling ominously, but otherwise the speedster didn’t react.

“I know you hate me. I hate you, too. Stop staring at me every time I come over!” He flicked his wings, his own optics narrowing.

Knock Out’s jaw tightened, the wheels on his back spinning briefly. Dead End sensed his carrier was pissed off and began to look around for the reason why, but couldn’t figure out what it might be.

“If you have something to say, just say it.” Starscream grunted. “Is this about the hearing?” He paused, waiting for an answer. “Do you hate me seeing my own son that much?” Another pause, but still nothing. Starscream thought more, his wings flicking. “Is it because I said Primus took your dumb protoform because you stole my son?”

That got the reaction. Knock Out stood, looking like he was about to charge forward and rip Starscream’s helm off, but he stopped. Coolant suddenly began to leak from his optics, and he held Dead End closer. He turned and climbed up the stairs, soon followed by the slamming of his berthroom door.

Starscream rolled his optics. Knock Out needed to let things go. It was just a protoform. How could he love it so much when he didn’t even have time to get to know it? He didn’t even say anything that wasn’t true! It was justice. He stole Fracture, and so losing a sparkling was only fair. And Starscream wouldn’t change his mind on this.

Ever.

Starscream didn’t look up when he heard Breakdown ascend the stairs, and then go into his room. Not his problem. Breakdown needed to control his mate.

“Think you can help?” Fracture inquired as he sat next to his real carrier.

Starscream smiled. “Yes, I can.”

Breakdown grinned broadly as he thrust into Knock Out, who was leaning over their berth. He held his mate’s hips, watching the back of Knock Out’s helm as it bobbed up and down.

“Enjoying this? I’m enjoying it! Mmmm! I love you!”

Knock Out moaned softly from each thrust, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Breakdown noticed.

“Hey, you haven’t said anything since I started. You okay? Am I going too fast? Did you want foreplay?” His optics then widened. “I’m not losing my touch, am I? I’m still able to please you, right? Right?!”

“What? No, you’re fine.” Knock Out gave a dismissive wave. “Keep going. You’re doing great.”

Breakdown paused in his humping. “Doesn’t sound like I’m doing great. What’s wrong? I’m pretty sure I’m hard. I feel hard…”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “It’s not you. I’m thinking.”

“About…?” He leaned over.

“Did you not notice Starscream was walking funny?”

“Why are you thinking about him while I’m inside you…? You only should think about me when I’m inside you… I only think about you when I’m in you. That’s the rule. We only think about each other when fragging. No exes, no celebrities, and no mailmechs.”

“I have a lot on my processor.” Knock Out propped himself up by his elbows as he rubbed his faceplates.

“Do I need to stop?”

“No, you can finish.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Breakdown smirked. “Okay, I’ll finish.” He paused. “But why are you thinking about Starscream?”

“He was walking weird. Didn’t you notice?” He looked back at his mate.

“What was I supposed to have noticed?” Breakdown stroked Knock Out’s side, enjoying his mate’s curves.

“He looked like he was trying to hide something.”

“How would walking indicate hiding something?” He scooped his servos under Knock Out’s torso and squeezed his breastplates.

“He seemed to be trying to cover up that he was in pain. Like… He had been fragged really hard. You remember how he would always walk after Megatron was rough with him?”

“You think he’s seeing Megatron again?” He kept playing with Knock Out’s chest.

“I don’t think he ever stopped.” Knock Out grunted. “He’s obsessed over Megatron. I told him a million times to leave Megatron, but he didn’t. And he stayed with him long after the war. Why would he stop now?”

“Because Prime told him to so he could see Fracture.” He then honked his horn as he gave Knock Out’s breast plates two squeezes, as if squeezing them caused the honks.

“Stop!” Knock Out slapped back at him, trying to hit his aft, but only reaching a thigh. “You’re going to online the sparklings.”

“You like me honking your breastplates.” Breakdown snickered.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “I’m more interested in who Starscream is fragging. He is definitely with someone. If not Megatron it’s probably some creeps he’s selling himself to.”

“Why must he be selling himself? What if he found someone? Lots of lonely people out there ready to date.”

“Who would ever date Starscream?” Knock Out grunted.

“There’s someone out there for everyone.” He then hugged the speedster. “You were meant to be mine. Starscream will also find someone.”

“I’m not buying it. He’s either fragging Megatron or selling himself. He clearly is fragging someone. He wasn’t walking right, he avoided walking the entire visit. Why would he not go get energon when he can’t be making that much? No way does he have enough energon.”

“We don’t know what he makes.” Breakdown reached down and was now squeezing Knock Out’s aft.

“I’m going to find out.” Knock Out said resolutely.

“Can you think about this later?”

“I’m thinking about it now.”

“Yes, but I’m making love to my beautiful Conjunx Endura. And I only want me and my big spike on your processor.”

“You can continue.”

“Am I not at the top of my game, tonight? It’s the interface, isn’t it?”

“It’s not the interface.”

“Well, clearly something is off if you’re thinking about Starscream during our intimate moments.” Breakdown grunted.

“I told you what’s off. Starscream is clearly being fragged by someone.” He looked back at the truck.

“I think you need to calm down about this. We have custody. Fracture is safe. Just… relax and let me make you forget everything.” His engine purred lustfully.

Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, then thought of something. “Breakdown?”

“Yes, sexy?” His servos rose to pleasure along Knock Out’s sides.

“Frag me as hard as you can.”

“You being serious…?”

“Yes. I want you to frag me as hard as you can. Go all out. Don’t hold back.”

“But… I don’t want to hurt you…”

“You won’t, sweetie.” He looked back to smile at his mate. “Please? As hard as you can. If you hurt me I’ll let you know.”

Breakdown studied him for a moment, then dumbly smiled. “Okay! I can do that.”

Knock Out looked ahead, his servos grasping the berth as Breakdown began to brutally pound into him, holding his hips firmly to keep him in place. Knock Out moaned, and winced from the pain, but didn’t say anything.

“Doing okay?”

“Yes, keep going.” Knock Out gripped the berth tighter.

Knock Out onlined quite sore that morning. He had made Breakdown frag him very roughly for three overloads, and it certainly was not easy to get through. But, now his experiment would begin.

He wrote down the time he onlined and the scale of how sore he was on a level of 1 to 10. He noted how he looked when walking, and kept track of the pain, his walk, and how he felt sitting down throughout the orbital cycle. He didn’t allow Breakdown to frag him that night or the next few nights, and continued to monitor the pain level and how bow legged he was into the next few orbital cycles.

Now, he had a rough estimate of how long after a hard frag Starscream would be walking funny. He would be able to tell how often Starscream was being fragged by this mystery person, or people, based on his walk and other habits.

He was a genius. Minus the fact he had to suffer for this science, but he had his data.

“Can I go hard again?” Breakdown asked eagerly.

Knock Out rolled his optics. If only he knew he would create a monster due to this experiment.

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

“Hey, Starscream.” Breakdown welcomed him inside.

“Hey,” The Seeker perked his wings. “Where’s Fracture?”

“Oh, he’s next door playing with his friend. I’ll go grab him. Feel free to help yourself to some energon.” He gestured.

“Oh, I can-“ He stopped when Breakdown had already walked out of the house.

The Seeker shrugged and walked to the energon room. He grabbed a cube and began to eat it, looking at the little sparkling drawings on the pantry door for a moment before turning around. His wings lowered, then flared.

Knock Out was standing right there, his optics narrowed as they always were. Starscream flicked his wings, keeping them held high, showing he wasn’t going to be intimidated by this speedster. The soft rumblings of Knock Out’s engine reached his audio receptors. He growled his own engine back, it being louder as he was a jet.

Knock Out’s wheels spun for a moment, then his optics did a weird brightening while widening some as he took a few steps back. Starscream wasn’t sure what he was up to, so he flicked his wings again. He glanced at the door, not sure if he should step out to wait for Breakdown’s return, or hold up in the energon room. But he wasn’t safe going into the living room where the speedster waited… For whatever he was waiting for. Where was Dead End? Didn’t he need to refuel him or something?

Starscream glared back at the grounder when he heard an engine rev. Knock Out still was watching him, but his optics weren’t narrowed. They were wider, like he was waiting for something. What was he thinking about? What was this weird grounder intimidation thing? It was so much harder to tell what he was trying to silently say without wings, or a tail, or large audio receptors. How was a Seeker supposed to read spinning wheels, a weak engine, and weird optics?

Then the grounder pulled a chair out from the dining room table, sat on it, crossed his legs, and pressed his claw tips together to form a steeple. Still, those optics watched him with whatever they were thinking.

Ugh! He wanted to just go over and punch him while demanding what he wanted!

The Seeker flicked his wings, then exhaled his vents loudly. The grounder only cocked his helm slightly.

The jet straightened himself, flaring his wings to appear as large as he possibly could, then stepped out of the energon room. The grounder’s optics seem to focus even more on him, his wheels spinning for a moment.

The Seeker flicked his wings, snorted through his vents, and slowly made his way to the couch. The grounder didn’t move, just watching him. Starscream stopped, turning to face the speedster.

“What?” He finally snapped, no longer able to play this game.

Knock Out didn’t react.

“Just say whatever it is you want to say.” Starscream growled, placing his servos on his hips.

The speedster spun his tires, then stood up. He gave the Seeker a wide berth as he neared, slowly circling around. Starscream flicked his wings, watching him. Knock Out walked around the jet, servos behind his back, as if he was… studying him.

“What are you looking for? Critiquing my paint job?” He demanded of the red one.

Knock Out completed one circle around, and slowly started a second. Starscream growled his engine, but Knock Out didn’t react to that. He stopped in front of the flier, glancing up and down once more, then looking directly into Starscream’s optics.

“What?” Starscream snapped.

“You had interface two nights ago.” Knock Out finally spoke, his voice simply stating a fact. “Who was it?”

Starscream flicked his wings, engine growling, hiding how his spark jumped a little. How did he know he had been fragged two nights ago?!

“I am abstinent, Knock Out.” He growled. “Want me questioning your interface life?”

“You know my interface life. What’s yours? Who are you with?”

“I’m not with anyone.”

“Your frame says otherwise. You have a difference to your gait. You were fragged hard by someone. You missed some scrapes on your aft, and I can see someone was holding your hips a little too tightly. It’s someone larger than you.” He paused. “Megatron?”

“I’m not with Megatron.” Starscream growled his engine. “Why are you so adamant about me being with Megatron?”

“Because you are either with him or are selling your body.”

“I am not a slut, Knock Out!”

“The crowds of people you’ve recharged with say otherwise.”

“Yeah? Who are they? Bring them forth with evidence.”

“That is precisely what I’m working on.”

“Maybe you should get laid yourself.” Starscream flicked his wings.

Knock Out smirked. “Oh, I get laid plenty. By one mech.” He indicated with a single claw. “Not by five, or ten, or twenty, like you. And I don’t get paid for it. It’s actually love making. And I have sparklings because of it.”

“Doesn’t seem to be enough love as one of them died.” Starscream grunted, knowing it would hurt the speedster. He wanted to hurt him.

Knock Out swallowed, his optics resetting. Starscream smirked. Good, it did hurt.

“He’s a good sire. A good mate. Something you’ll never have. No one wants you the way Breakdown wants me.” Knock Out said it so cold, his optics filling with that unadulterated rage once more.

Starscream tightened his jaw. He had unleashed the beast. Now, to see if this beast would actually sink its denta in him.

“I don’t think Breakdown wants a mate who bullies him and makes him recharge on a couch all because you get a little pissed off at him.”

“I don’t go behind his back and frag random mechs.”

“I’ve never betrayed any of my former partners.”

“Hard to believe coming from a known liar and traitor.” Knock Out leaned closer, his engine growling.

“Says the person who stole my son.”

“He’s better off without you. You don’t care about him. You just want him as some sick trophy to show that you had been Megatron’s mattress.”

“Maybe the sparkling you lost didn’t want to be your trophy.”

“You just love reminding me of my miscarriage, don’t you?”

“You love making a big deal out of it. You had a miscarriage. Lots of people do. Grow up and move on.”

Something flashed in those optics. Something not of this world. It was like a demon took over Knock Out for a split second. The absolute evil and desire to kill that radiated from those optics was so raw, so hateful it caused the Seeker to take an uneasy step back.

“I’m going to kill you.” Knock Out said it with a smile, so calmly, so naturally. “You won’t see it coming. You won’t expect it. But I will kill you.”

“Get in line. You aren’t the first to threaten me.” He flared his wings.

“No, but I’ll be the one who actually follows through with it.”

“You won’t do slag. If you kill me you’d be locked away and your spawns will grow up without their carrier.”

“Who said anything about me killing you while they are still sparklings?” Knock Out slightly cocked his helm. “I can wait. I have lots of time.”

“Yeah, you say that because you won’t follow through and want me to forget this attempt at intimidation, so I don’t add it to the list of all your other failures.” He held up a servo and counted on his digits. “Failed to kill me, failed to be a good doctor, failed as a good spouse,” He paused. “Failed to keep your sparkling alive long enough to birth it out.” He made sure to especially emphasize the “it.”

“Should I list off all your failures? You were a terrible commander. A terrible warrior. You sucked at strategy… But your biggest failure is being an interface doll for our ‘precious’ Lord Megatron rather than his right servo.”

“At least I was never a grunt.”

“I never minded my position.”

“My position was power.”

“Your position was face down, aft up on Megatron’s berth every night.” He paused. “It still is, isn’t it?”

Starscream’s engine revved, his optics glowing. Knock Out stood his ground, readying to transform his arm into a buzzsaw.

The door opened and Breakdown walked in with Fracture and Wildbreak. “Hey, sorry for taking so long. I was talking to Bolt about the neighborhood. Did you know they are opening a-“ He stopped, seeing how the two former friends were in each other’s faces, bodies tense, everything screaming that they were about to start a fight to the death.

The truck quickly ran over and grabbed the speedster like he was picking up an angry cat, and pulled him away.

“Stop it, you two!” The truck ordered harshly. “I’m gone only a breem and you’re acting like this?!”

“Nothing happened.” Starscream replied, his wings relaxing.

Knock Out pushed himself free of his mate’s grip, glared death at Starscream, then walked away. The Seeker didn’t look away as he watched the speedster climb up the stairs and disappear.

“Fracture, your carrier is here.” Breakdown grunted. “I’m going to check on Knock Out…”

Breakdown walked up the stairs, leaving Starscream with the two mechlings.

“You okay?” Fracture inquired of his carrier.

“Yes, I’m fine. Do I not look fine?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I am. Why don’t you tell me about your orbital cycle?”

The courtroom scene was the best part of this whole fic. Breakdown fulfilled his dream of telling the Prime that he slaps dat aft! Not sure if that was his dream... But he's damn proud that it's now official court record that he slaps Knock Out's ass.

He protecc

He attacc

But most importantly he gives Knock Out's aft a smacc!

Look at this drama between these two gay bitches. They hate each other so much right now. They need counseling for sure....

Chapter Text

“If he does kill me… He’ll go to jail, correct?”

Prime looked up at the Seeker who sat on the chair before his desk. “Yes, if he commits murder that’s a crime. He would be imprisoned.”

“What would happen to Fracture?”

“Breakdown would have custody.”

“But Knock Out killed me.”

“Breakdown is not Knock Out.”

“But… What if he helped?”

Prime gave him a look. “They aren’t going to murder you.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Starscream, Knock Out is very emotional at this time. He is going to say anything to upset you.”

“Why does he get away with being a grouch but if I threaten someone I’m suddenly not allowed to have my own son?”

“That’s not how it works.”

“Feels like it.” Starscream grunted.

“Knock Out had a miscarriage.”

“Like, forever ago.” Starscream rolled his optics.

“It’s normal for any carrier who has suffered a miscarriage to be affected by the loss for stellar cycles. I can suggest to him some grief counseling and therapy, but otherwise there isn’t much I can do.”

“So, he can just threaten people all because he had a miscarriage?”

“Stop bringing up his miscarriage with him and perhaps the threats will cease.”

“No, he’s psychotic. He will kill me regardless of what I say.”

“You’re here to request more visitation joors, not to complain to me about Knock Out’s empty threats.”

“You didn’t see the way he looked at me.”

“No, I didn’t…” Prime looked at a datapad now.

“My son is living with that mad mech.”

“Knock Out is not dangerous. I have had both him and Breakdown psychologically tested, I have testimony from the older mechlings, and witness statements from teachers and neighbors.” He gave Starscream a hard look. “They are not a danger to Fracture or the other sparklings in their care.”

“You say that now…”

“I will schedule another hearing if you can behave.”

“Define ‘behave.’”

“Do not get into any physical altercations with Knock Out. You have been doing well thus far. Keep it up and maybe I’ll allow unsupervised visitations.”

Starscream was silent a moment before speaking. “If Knock Out attacks me… Does he lose custody?”

“If you plan on provoking him to cause him to lose custody, I will ensure you lose visitation rights. Am I understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now, let’s go over your latest performance review from your employer.”

“Hey, Fracture is in his room.” Breakdown welcomed the Seeker inside. “Knock Out isn’t home yet so you are safe. They had an emergency, so he had to go into surgery.”

“Will he return while I’m still here?” Starscream perked his wings.

“I have no idea. He hasn’t called me yet.”

Starscream nodded, then ascended the staircase. He entered Fracture’s room, smiling at his son.

“Hey, Fracture.”

“Hey,” Fracture didn’t look up from his game.

“What you got there?”

“Same game I was playing last time you were here.”

“Hi, Starscream!” Wildbreak waved from where he also sat on Fracture’s berth, holding his own datapad.

“Hi.” Starscream gave him a small wave.

“Wanna play?” Wildbreak offered him his datapad. “I’m beating Fracture!”

“No, you’re not.” Fracture gave him a look.

“Play against Fracture? Sure, I’ll give it a try.” Starscream took the datapad and sat down. “Will you show me how to play?”

“Yeah, so, this is to move forward, this shoots, and this is to jump.” Wildbreak directed him.

“I have never played this before so go easy on me.”

“I won’t.” Fracture smiled.

They played against each other for nearly a joor before they heard crying from the other room.

“I’ll get him.” Fracture set aside his datapad and quickly got up.

“Where are you going?” Starscream perked his wings.

“I’m getting Dead End.”

Starscream got up and followed his son, pausing before he walked into Knock Out and Breakdown’s room. Fracture picked up Dead End from the crib he was recharging in, and began to gently bounce him, clearly having done this many times before. Dead End ceased his crying and hugged Fracture, looking around for his carrier.

Starscream watched his son, proud of what a good big brother he was. Didn’t even need to be told, just took action and knew what to do. He got that from him.

The Seeker perked his wings as he looked around the room. He hadn’t been in here since he moved out. It had changed a bit. He studied the nightstand, noting the antidepressants on it. Definitely were Breakdown’s. The guy had to deal with a psychotic glitch like Knock Out.

He opened the closet door and peaked inside. Nothing much in there, but he did glimpse some interface toys. He should put some of those flaming plants on them so when they go inside of Knock Out they burn his valve. Yes, that would be glorious.

He walked around, looking at the pictures of Knock Out and Breakdown during their wedding. They looked so young, smiling so broadly, Knock Out wearing the usual wedding garments for grounders, and Breakdown not having much at all. It was obvious which one grew up rich and spoiled… Knock Out had jewelry all over him, his finish absolutely stunning, optic liner that one could kill for, and everything about his faceplates obviously done by a professional. He was stunning to look at.

And Breakdown was there, clean and well done, but still nothing compared to whatever the salon Knock Out had been to had done to him.

There was a picture of them smiling on the altar, looking deeply into each other’s optics. Another of them walking down the aisle holding servos while Knock Out waved a bouquet of crystal flowers. Another of them eating a slice of the most extravagant wedding cake Starscream had ever seen, and one of them kissing, holding each other close.

A larger picture was of Knock Out making a silly face with his entire wedding party, all of them looking great, but still nothing compared to him. His glossa was out, he was making a grounder symbol with his servo that meant “live life,” and all his friends and family were also being silly to the camera. Starscream wasn’t sure which ones of these people were actually related to Knock Out, or who were friends, but a couple of faces looked like they might be siblings or cousins of the doctor.

Breakdown’s wedding party picture contained less individuals, but they all were ecstatic looking, clearly proud that he was tying the knot with Knock Out.

Then there was the picture of a smiling Knock Out, holding his bouquet, all ready for his wedding, with a person on either side of him. One was a femmling who had his same face, clearly his carrier, and the other was a stiff looking grounder who looked like he was too busy with his high class job to be there. Starscream always studied this picture the most because it gave him the best look at the tiara Knock Out wore for his wedding. Of course, he would wear a tiara…

The final wedding picture was of Breakdown carrying Knock Out bridal style as he ran out of the church and towards the camera mech, with people cheering him on either side. Knock Out had his arm outstretched, clearly shouting with joy.

Surrounded by all these photos were icky lovey phrases like, “till death do us part,” and “I love you, I love you more, I love you most.” The one he hated most was “True Happiness is Joining With Your Best Friend.” Ew…

To the right of the wedding collage were images that appear to have been taken during the war. They were still all romantic and gross, with them kissing, holding servos, their brows pressed together as they dreamily looked into the other’s optics, and other such nonsense. More sappy quotes were written on the wall around this collage, including “together through the highs and lows,” “I will love you always,” and “my life began when I first met you.”

Seriously, how gross can these two be?

It was the collage to the right of this one that was brand new. The Seeker perked his wings when he saw these new images…. With his son. They were your stereotypical family photos. Knock Out sparked in some, showing off his sparkling bump with such a large grin, others were of Knock Out with Fracture and Wildbreak, the mechlings smiling as they sat on his lap, or were being hugged by him. All of these photos were professionally taken and edited. They hired someone for these photoshoots involving his son and never told him!

Starscream narrowed his optics, his fists clenching at his sides. Most of these photos were taken during those 3 stellar cycles when he never got to see his son. Right after the miscarriage.

Breakdown was in a few, holding Knock Out who held the mechlings, or was just with the mechlings and no Knock Out. A couple were of Knock Out just holding a newborn Wildbreak, or a newborn Dead End. Breakdown had his own with his newborns. One was of Knock Out and Breakdown kissing and between them they both held a newborn Wildbreak.

Then, there were some of them on family outings. One looked like they were at a fair, as the mechlings had energon sweets on sticks, and giant stuffed toys. Another they looked like they had taken a hike in the wilderness, as the mechlings were surrounded by plants and clearly in nature.

And written on the wall around this collage were things like, “I love you so much I only want to have my sparklings with you,” “Let our love blossom into beautiful creations,” and “my best friend and carrier to my sons.”

Starscream’s engine growled. That was not their son to be putting into their family collage! And why wasn’t he invited to get some professional photographs with his sparkling?! They had no right!

He wanted to tear the pictures with his son off the wall, but then he noticed the little shelf. He stood in front of it, and realized what it was.

On this small shelf, just above the family collage, was a small urn centered on it. Engraved on the urn was the designation “Grit,” with two dates. The second date was the orbital cycle of the miscarriage. The urn was shaped like a statue, of a generic grounder holding a sparkling close. No significant details, just enough so you know this urn contained a sparkling. On one side of the urn was a framed image of Knock Out smiling, a servo on his abdomen, this image taken just two orbital cycles before the miscarriage. The other side of the urn had two framed images from an ultrasound. One ultrasound image you could see the protoform’s face, servos, and some of the torso. The second ultrasound image was a little less clear, but showed the entire protoform. Above this shelf, written on the wall, it read, “Before I ever carried the pain, I carried you. And, in my spark, I carry you still.”

Starscream swallowed. It was beyond clear this sparkling meant so much to Knock Out. He had this memorial to him, with some crystal flowers lovingly placed between the frames and around the urn. They looked like the crystal flowers that grew behind the house.

“Get away from him!”

Starscream suddenly felt his arm being yanked hard, then shoved away. He stumbled back, catching himself on the berth. Knock Out now stood between him and the urn, his optics murderous, engine revving, and wheels spinning. He looked like he was about to murder more than he ever had before.

“I was just looking.” Starscream grunted, standing straight up, his wings flaring.

“You’re not allowed near him!” Knock Out screamed, his vocalizer filled with so much pain.

Starscream waved his servos peacefully. “I was looking. I had no intention of touching him.” He paused. “Grit is an interesting designation. Breakdown’s choice?”

“Grit is my brother’s designation, you aft.” Knock Out snapped.

“I… didn’t realize you had a brother.”

Knock Out looked at him incredulously. “He’s right fragging there!” He pointed at the wedding image of him with his wedding party. “How many times have you seen that picture and never noticed my brother?”

Starscream looked at it. “I still can’t tell which one he is…”

“He’s the one that looks like me, you idiot.”

“No need to be rude about it.”

“Get out of my room! You’re not allowed in here!”

“I’m going! Calm down.” Starscream flicked his wings as he turned and started to leave.

“Everything alright?” Breakdown asked as he stepped in the doorway.

“You need to control your mate.” Starscream grunted as he walked by.

“What happened?”

“He’s not allowed in here.” Knock Out snapped. “Why weren’t you watching him?”

“I was making you dinner.”

“Who let him in here? Fracture!”

“Yes?” Fracture stepped out of his room, still holding Dead End who was having too much fun poking his big brother’s chassis.

“Did you let Starscream into my room?”

“I was grabbing Dead End.” Fracture said slowly.

“You know Starscream isn’t allowed in there!”

“Hey!” Starscream flared his wings. “You don’t yell at my son!”

“You are not his acting carrier!” Knock Out shrieked.

Starscream was about to yell something back when suddenly cold water was sprayed in his face. He jumped back to see Breakdown with a squirt bottle spraying both he and Knock Out in the face.

“That is enough!” Breakdown roared, his powerful vocalizer overpowering all else. “Fracture was taking care of his brother, just as he was supposed to. It’s not his place to control Starscream. Knock Out, you need to calm down. Nothing bad happened.”

Knock Out turned and stomped into his room, slammed the door, and locked it. Breakdown vented a sigh.

“Fracture, you’re fine. Carrier is having a mood swing.” Breakdown said softly when he saw Fracture had coolant in his optics. “Why don’t you take your brothers downstairs and I’ll get you some cake. Sound good?”

Fracture nodded his helm before doing just that. Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates tired, then turned to Starscream.

“Don’t go in that room. People who don’t respect our loss are not welcomed in there.” He said it in a tone that was both harsh, but monotone.

Starscream flicked his wings. “You’re going to let him just talk to my son like that?”

“No, I’m not. He’s mine to deal with, not yours. Know what… Just go home, Starscream. We’ll schedule for another visitation. I need to take care of my family.”

“You need to leash your mate.”

“Starscream… There’s only so much self-control I can manage in an orbital cycle before I lose it and bash someone’s brain module in.”

Starscream took the hint. He quickly walked down the stairs, said goodbye to Fracture, and walked out. He flicked his wings, absolutely furious that Knock Out would have pictures of his own son as if he was his, and also speak to his son like that. He needed to pay.

Breakdown gave the mechlings their treats, then went upstairs. He put in the code to unlock the door and entered.

He walked over to the berth, sat on it, and reached over to stroke Knock Out’s back. “You okay?”

“No.” Knock Out’s muttered vocalizer sounded as he kept his face in the pillow he was hugging.

“You can’t lose control like that. You scared Fracture.” He was silent for a moment. “You need to apologize to him.”

Knock Out lifted his helm, wiped the coolant away, then sat up. “You can call him in.”

Breakdown kissed him on the cheekplates, then stood up and opened the door. “Fracture, could you come here for a bit?”

Fracture hopped off his berth and walked over. Knock Out gestured for him to approach, keeping his arms out as Fracture climbed onto the berth and into his embrace. Knock Out hugged him close, lovingly stroking his helm.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” Knock Out wiped at the fresh coolant beginning to leak out. “You did nothing wrong.”

“You’re sad because Grit died. I understand.” Fracture hugged Knock Out back.

“I still shouldn’t take my frustration out on you.” He cupped Fracture’s faceplates in his servos, studying the little one for a moment before continuing. “Thank you for taking care of Dead End. You help me and your sire out so much by being such a responsible big brother.”

Fracture sheepishly smiled. “You’re welcome, carrier.”

“No matter what that jerk says, you are my son.”

“I know I am. You’re my carrier.” Fracture hugged him tightly.

Breakdown vented a sigh, knowing what Knock Out was doing. “Knock….”

“Go get your brothers. Carrier needs cuddles from all of you.”

Fracture smiled. “Okay!” He then hopped off the berth and ran into the other room.

“Knock Out, we have to be honest with him about who his real carrier is.” Breakdown said slowly.

“It’s easier for him to not know the truth.”

“Is it, though?” Breakdown raised an optical ridge.

Fracture quickly returned carrying Dead End with Wildbreak following right behind him. They all got onto the berth and into Knock Out’s arms. The speedster held them close, finally able to smile.

Breakdown vented a sigh.

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

“Fracture, could you help your brother?” Knock Out asked as he was busy organizing cleaning supplies back into their cupboard.

“Yup!” He trotted over, and grabbed a sippy cup for Dead End, who was standing nearby Knock Out.

“I wan’ Wil’bruk!” Dead End exclaimed, placing a servo on Fracture’s leg to help balance him as he was still learning to walk.

“Wildbreak is upstairs.” Fracture explained as he filled the cup with energon, then added the additives to it.

“Make ‘im come downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!”

“Sweetie, let Fracture help you.” Knock Out spoke as he was now on his knees partially inside a bottom cupboard, trying to organize things in the far back.

“DADA!” Dead End shrieked. “Make Wil’bruk come down!”

“I think Wildbreak was abducted by aliens.” Breakdown said it like it was a fact as he entered the energon room.

“NOOOOOOOOOO!” Dead End pointed an accusing digit at him, so done with the constant lies from his sire.

“I’m telling the truth this time! Go upstairs and look. He’s gone. Poof!”

“NOOOOO!!!!” Dead End began to cry.

“Why are you like this…?” Fracture glared at the truck.

Breakdown chuckled. “Because I’m the sire. Being an aft is what I do.”

“Don’t be an aft to my creations.” Knock Out grunted, still working on organizing supplies.

Breakdown stood beside his mate, eyeing the exposed aft, just there, begging to be struck. He made a gesture as if about to hit it, then gave a thumbs up motion to Fracture, silently asking if he could strike this red aft before him.

“Don’t…” Fracture glared at him.

That only encouraged the truck more. He then smacked Knock Out’s aft hard with an open palm.

“Ack! Breakdown!” Knock Out shrieked angrily before emerging from the cupboard. “What the hell!!?”

“You can’t have it out like that and not expect me to smack it.” Breakdown chuckled, grinning so proud of himself.

Knock Out stood up. “Stop hitting my aft in front of the sparklings. You’re going to teach them that violence against me is okay.”

“Mhmm,” Breakdown waited until Knock Out had turned away from him before rapidly patting Knock Out’s aft, like it was a drumset.

“Breakdown!” Knock Out spun around.

“You like it.”

“You are incorrigible.”

“And you’re beautiful.” Breakdown grabbed his mate’s hips and pulled him closer.

“I’m cleaning.” Knock Out said sternly.

“And I’m in love.” He leaned in closer, getting his face in Knock Out’s.

“No, I’m cleaning, Breakdown.” He tried again, but Breakdown only began to kiss him on the neck. “Breakdown!” He couldn’t help but laugh, trying to fight off the ticklish sensation. “I’m cleaning!”

“I love you.” Breakdown wrapped an arm around Knock Out’s lower back, hugging him close, as his other servo grabbed Knock Out’s chin. “And I’m going to make all the sparkling see how much I love you.”

“Stop!”

But Breakdown only began to kiss his mate, silencing him. Knock Out tried fighting back, but soon gave in and kissed back, his engine purring.

Fracture ignored them. He had seen this a thousand times. Them always kissing each other, saying how much they loved one another, sire slapping carrier’s aft, and sire ignoring carrier telling him to not kiss him. It was just their daily routine.

“I love you.” Breakdown purred.

“I love you, more.” Knock Out purred back.

“Should we ‘take a nap’ for a bit?” Breakdown winked.

“Not now, Breaky. I love you to death, but I have to get some work done around the house.”

“Tonight, then?”

“Yeah, we can tonight.” Knock Out kissed him on the lip plates again. “Now, let me go.”

“Yes, sir.” Breakdown released him.

Knock Out turned around, only to be slapped in the aft again.

“Breakdown, I swear to-“ He shouted as he spun around to shove his mate, but Breakdown already had jumped out of the way, chuckling as he quickly made his escape.

“Need me to hit him?” Fracture asked.

“No, I’ll deal with him.” Knock Out picked up Dead End who was sipping from his sippy cup. “Do you have homework?”

“I got it done.”

“Good.”

“Do I have to spend time with Starscream?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Knock Out spoke as he adjusted Dead End onto a hip, and then began to put dishes away with his free servo.

“He’s so boring…”

“The court has ordered you to spend time with him. I can’t stop it.”

“Why does the court want me to spend time with him?”

“That is a very long explanation.”

“What is it?”

Knock Out turned to him. “I don’t know if you’re ready for it…”

“Why would I not be ready for it?”

“Sometimes, information can be too heavy to carry. We must wait until we are strong enough to carry it.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means, I don’t think you are able to handle it. It’s… Lots of adult drama, and I have to tell you where sparklings come from.”

“They come from you…”

“I wish it was that simple.”

“You’re not making sense.”

Knock Out set Dead End down, then crouched to be optic level with Fracture. He took Fracture’s servos in his before speaking. “There’s some… things I am scared to tell you at this time. I am scared of how they might affect you. I want you to be happy, right now. I don’t want you stressing over adult things. Let carrier carry this stress for you. When you’re ready… I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

Fracture nodded. “Okay… But when will I be ready?”

Knock Out thought a moment. “How about on your tenth emergence cycle? We will sit down, and I will tell you everything. Sound good?”

Fracture counted on his digits. “So, one and a half stellar cycles from now.”

Knock Out smirked. “Yes. Precisely that.” He then cupped Fracture’s cheekplates in one servo. “You’re growing up far too fast for my liking. You’re going to be such a handsome mech.”

“I’ll look just like you.”

Knock Out swallowed, but forced a smile. “Yes, just like me. And then you’ll probably find your own mate, and join, and have sparklings.”

“What if I don’t get a mate?”

“Then you don’t. So long as you’re happy, I’ll be happy and proud of you. Just… Don’t become a criminal. That’s all I ask.”

Fracture smiled. “I won’t.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” Knock Out hugged him.

Fracture hugged him back. Knock Out purred his engine, so happy to have this sweet mechling as his son.

The doorbell rang.

Immediately, Knock Out’s mood changed. His optics narrowed, engine growled, and body tensed. Fracture vented a sigh, knowing who had arrived.

“I’ll let him in.” The eldest mechling said as he released Knock Out and walked over to the door.

Knock Out stood, watching that door closely. Fracture palmed it open.

“Hey.” Fracture greeted.

“Hey, yourself.” Starscream walked in. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing much. I was gonna watch TV.”

“Mind if I join you?”

Fracture shrugged.

Starscream looked behind him, seeing Knock Out standing there holding Dead End. Just the coldest, most cruel optics boring into his very being.

Starscream rolled his optics and walked away.

“Evening, Starscream.” Breakdown greeted as he walked by, on his way to the energon room.

“Hello, Breakdown.” Starscream gave him a small wave back.

Breakdown stopped by his mate and took his servo. “Time for you to go to our room and stay in there.” He said it like he was talking to a small sparkling.

Knock Out glared at him. “You better watch him.”

“I will. Now, let’s go.” He grabbed Knock Out’s shoulders and forcefully made him walk towards the stairs.

Knock Out never removed his optics from Starscream as they passed him. Starscream was now seated on the couch, his wings perking as he watched his nemesis being escorted to the stairs.

“Thank you for controlling your mate, Breakdown.” Starscream replied.

“At least I have a mate, you miserable, cock sucking slu-“

“Go upstairs!” Breakdown ordered harshly.

Knock Out glared at him, then stomped up the stairs. Breakdown grumbled something under his breath, so done with this drama.

Fracture looked up at Starscream. “Why don’t you have a mate?”

“Hmm?”

“A mate. Like carrier and sire are mates. They are always kissing and saying how much they love each other. I never see you with anyone kissing or say you love them…”

“I love you.”

“I mean a grownup. Like sire and carrier are joined. They’re Conjunx Endura. Sire says that means carrier is stuck with him until carrier kills him for all his bad jokes.”

“Well, yes, I don’t have a Conjunx Endura. I’m not mated to anyone, either.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Conjunx Endura are joined together by the law. They have some fancy paperwork saying they are together, and they get benefits from it. Like, should Breakdown die, Knock Out gets all his property and some Shanix. A mated pair, who are not joined as Conjunx Endura, do not have that paperwork. Depending on where they live, they have some or none of the rights as a Conjunx Endura couple has.”

“Why are they not joined?”

“Because not every culture does Conjunx Endura.”

“Why not?”

“Just how some cultures are.”

“But if they don’t have the paperwork, what makes them a mate?”

Starscream looked away, his optics widening slightly as he thought. “Uhhhhhhhhhhhh, how much have you learned in school?”

“About what?”

“Interface.”

“What’s that?”

“Never mind then.”

“Never mind what?”

“Mated people are adults who live together because they want to. I think that’s a good enough explanation.”

“It really isn’t.”

“You are very sassy, tonight.”

“You’re not very good at explaining things.”

“Wait until you’re older.”

“Carrier says that, too…”

“I’m sure he does.”

“So, why are you not mated?”

“Just… Isn’t my time, I guess. I haven’t found the right person.”

“When you do, are you going to kiss him a lot?”

Starscream smiled at him. “Yeah, I’ll kiss him a lot.”

“Gross.”

Starscream kind of expected that response.

“Hold still.” Breakdown grasped Knock Out and pinned him to the berth.

“Make me hold still.” Knock Out then tried kicking at him.

Breakdown easily avoided the attack, chuckling as he grasped Knock Out’s wrists and held them firmly against the speedster’s back. He raised his other servo and began to rain down hard blows on Knock Out’s aft.

“Ow! You’re a bully!” Knock Out tried wrestling himself free, but Breakdown was far too strong.

“Shhh, not so loud. You’re going to online the sparklings.” He said it without ceasing his cruel slapping.

“Mmmm!” Knock Out kept kicking and trying to pull his arms free, but Breakdown didn’t even seem to notice the pathetic attempts at escape.

He gave his mate many hard smacks to his aft, ensuring it was enough that he’d feel it in the morning, then released him. Knock Out groaned, reaching down to rub over his aft, but otherwise did not move. He stayed lying over the berth, his peds on the floor, perfectly exposed for Breakdown to do more.

“I love you.” Breakdown said as he leaned over to kiss Knock Out on the cheekplates.

“You’re a bully.”

“Mhmm.” Breakdown smiled, giving his mate one more hard slap across the aft.

“Ouch!” Knock Out growled his engine briefly.

He looked back, watching as Breakdown folded away his codpiece, and released his spike. It was already rising, turned on simply by seeing Knock Out in this position. Knock Out smirked, excited for it. His mate was so good to him. Something Starscream would never have…

His optics widened when he thought of this perfect idea.

“Babe.”

“Yes?” Breakdown grinned stupidly, swaying his hips so his spike would bounce around.

“Hand me my phone.”

“Why? Who are you calling?”

“No, one, I want the camera.”

Breakdown’s smile grew. “Well, why didn’t you just say!” He grabbed it off the nightstand and handed it to his mate.

Knock Out quickly turned on the camera, held up his arm, and took a picture so that his face, some of his backside, aft, and Breakdown’s crotch were all visible.

Breakdown rubbed over Knock Out’s codpiece until it opened, and began to finger him. Knock Out took a picture of his face, so it was obvious he was being turned on, and in the background you could see Breakdown’s servo clearly doing the specific act on his valve. Breakdown gave Knock Out’s aft a couple of more smacks before he positioned himself. Knock Out quickly turned on the video, holding it so his face was still visible, and you could see Breakdown’s spike pressing into his aft.

“Oh… Ohhhh…” Knock Out moaned a little louder than normal, making sure the audio would be picked up, as he filmed Breakdown penetrating him. He bit his lower lip plate, keeping the camera in place to record his face, that spike, and his rear end.

He moaned when Breakdown thrust into him, then another loud moan for the second. He turned the camera so that it showed Breakdown’s face, now concentrating on absolutely railing his mate.

Knock Out turned the camera again, showing his face as he loudly moaned, the obvious sound of Breakdown’s crotch humping against his aft in the background. He then smiled at the camera and winked.

He stopped that recording and held the camera back up. He took more pictures showing his face and Breakdown fragging him. He held his arm back so the camera could take pictures of just his aft so that you could actually see the spike entering his body.

His smile grew, getting excited to send these to their intended audience.

Breakdown grasped Knock Out’s hip with one servo, the other grabbing the back of his helm and pressing it into the berth top. Knock Out moaned, his peds kicking up some as Breakdown got rougher.

The truck kept up his mad thrusting until he finally overloaded, loudly crying out as the energy coursed through his systems. He panted over his mate, lovingly stroking his sides.

“Doing alright?” He said between pants.

Knock Out smiled back at him. “Wonderful as always, my love.”

“Round two?”

“Of course! But I want to stand up.”

“Against the wall?”

“No, just standing.”

“Right here or do you want to move...?”

“Just a few steps back. The lighting is better there.” Knock Out gestured.

“Whatever you say, babe.” Breakdown grasped Knock Out by the hip with one servo as the other grabbed his shoulder.

He helped Knock Out stand up and back up without even pulling out. He wrapped his arms around Knock Out’s waist, kissed his neck, then resumed his thrusting.

Knock Out leaned back into his Conjux Endura, purring his engine, smiling, as a servo rested over the strong arms that held him. His other servo held up the camera and took a picture of them. He then lowered it so it could take a picture of Breakdown’s spike entering his valve. He then recorded that scene, of just the spike and valve, watching it move in and out of him, hearing their moans, and the sounds of their bodies interacting with each other.

After recording a bit of that, Knock Out held the camera up to take pictures of their faces as he kissed his mate over a shoulder, a servo holding Breakdown’s cheekplates, both smiling, so happy to be doing this with the one they loved.

Breakdown’s servo groped and squeezed Knock Out’s breastplates, and he made sure to take a picture of that. He held out the camera, taking pictures that showed his smiling faceplates as he was clearly also moaning, and also showing Breakdown holding him, and where they were connected at the crotch. He pushed back against Breakdown, opening up his chestplates to reveal his spark.

Breakdown kissed him, opening up his own chestplates, his servo holding Knock Out’s free one over the shoulder they had been kissing over a moment before. Knock Out filmed their climax, their sparks bonding painfully as the camera captured it all, even what happened down below. Knock Out whined loudly, curling into himself, but Breakdown held him up.

“That was good.” Breakdown panted, patting Knock Out’s thigh.

Knock Out panted, looking at the still recording camera, and smiled. “Yes, it was so good. My beautiful mate.”

Breakdown dumbly smiled. “That’s me!” He began to stroke Knock Out’s frame, savoring his partner’s body.

“Yes, the one thing Starscream will never have.” He said it with such a cruel smile despite still panting.

“Huh?”

Knock Out stopped the recording. “Want to do one more?”

“Absolutely!” He then plucked the camera out of Knock Out’s servo. ”My turn to record!”

“Okay, but what-ack!” He was shoved back onto the berth, causing Breakdown to also pull out.

Breakdown giggled as he held up the camera so it recorded how he saw Knock Out: Sprawled out before him and completely at his horny mercy.

“We haven’t recorded ourselves in forever. Why tonight?” Breakdown asked as he prepared himself.

Knock Out shrugged. “Oh, you know… Sometimes I want to do something we haven’t done in a while.”

“We should compare this to the old interface videos and see if we’ve improved.” He turned on the video recorder.

“If you want to we can-Ouch!” He yelped when Breakdown smacked his aft. “But you already did this!”

“But now I’m doing it for the camera.” Breakdown laughed as he filmed Knock Out’s aft being smacked by his servo.

Knock Out winced. This recording better not leave this room.

“Wait, I prefer how it moves with the paddle.”

“No…. Why are you being so cruel to me…?” Knock Out looked up, but staying in place.

“Because I love you.” Breakdown so cheerily replied as he walked back over with said paddle. “Keep your servos out of the way.”

“If this video is sent to anyone…”

“I’m just going to watch it whenever you don’t want to frag.”

He then began to beat the paddle firmly against Knock Out’s aft, keeping the camera right there to see the impact zone. Knock Out buried his face in a pillow so he could scream and not online the sparklings.

Once Breakdown had given him a good thirty hard smacks with the paddle, he set it aside, readied his spike, and penetrated the speedster. Knock Out groaned, arching his back some. Breakdown continued to record so the camera showed his spike inside of Knock Out, looking down, exactly how he saw it. He began to thrust, ensuring the camera also showed the back of Knock Out’s helm and how it bobbed up and down.

“If I can’t walk tomorrow…”

“Shush, you’ll be fine.” Breakdown laughed.

Starscream onlined, got up from his berth, and began to get ready for his orbital cycle. He needed to go to work, then he had to run an errand. After that he was going to work on some projects at home. He didn’t have visitation this orbital cycle, so he would need to spend his time being productive.

He finished readying himself in the washroom, then got himself a cube. He noticed he had some notifications on his communicator. He onlined it, seeing Knock Out’s name. He raised an optical ridge. Knock Out hadn’t messaged him since the orbital cycle he had walked out of his house to get his own place. Why would he message him now when he hated him?

The Seeker opened the messages. His optics widened.

The first image he saw was Knock Out smiling at the camera, Breakdown inside of him. Then there was the first video. He knew it would be nasty, but he played the video anyway. The look Knock Out was giving the camera was cold, arrogant, and simply evil.

He grimaced at the other images, showing the penetration up close. How nasty that Knock Out would take pictures of his nasty valve, and then send those nasty valve pictures to anyone.

He scrolled through them all, every last one more graphic than the next, and every one of them Knock Out was smiling at the camera in such a mocking, proudful, and simply lustful manner. Starscream wanted to punch him.

The last message was a text message which simply read, “This is what love looks like. Two Conjunx Endura fragging each other senseless. No Shanix, no gang bangs, no meaningless lust. Take a good look at it. You’ll never have this in your miserable life, slut.”

One of Starscream’s optics shuttered. Then his optics narrowed as his engine growled.

“I’m the slut?!” He shrieked at his communicator. “You’re the one sending me porn of yourself!” He then screamed as he threw the communicator across the room.

He flicked his wings, thinking. Then he grabbed the communicator and stormed out of his apartment.

It might not be a visitation orbital cycle, but he wasn’t visiting his son for this…

He flew across town, transformed, and repeatedly pressed the door chime until the door finally opened.

“Starscream?” Breakdown raised an optical ridge, very confused. “What are you doing here? Visitation is in two more orbital cycles.”

“Did you know he sent these?!” Starscream shoved the communicator into Breakdown’s faceplates.

“Okay, wait, that’s too close.” He took the communicator and held it further away from his face. Then his optics widened. “This is us! How did you get these?!”

“That wretched mate of yours sent them to me this morning!”

“Hey, that’s my wretched mate. Watch your tone.” He said firmly before looking at the pictures some more. “Wow… He’s gorgeous. The guy fragging him is so lucky! Right, it’s me.” Breakdown smiled like some idiot.

“WHY IS HE SENDING ME YOUR NASTY PORN?!” Starscream shrieked, flaring his arms and flapping his wings.

“It’s not nasty. I shower. And I don’t know why he sent this to you. He should have sent it to me.” He frowned. “What else has he not sent me…?”

“Read the last message, you imbecile!”

Breakdown glared at him, then scrolled down to the last message. It finally clicked. “Ah… that makes sense. He’s being a petty glitch.” He scrolled back up. “A really sexy petty glitch!” He wolf whistled. “Damn! How did I score that?! Do you mind if I borrow this? I gotta run to the washroom.”

Starscream snatched his communicator back. “You both are disgusting!” He flicked his wings. “Where is he?”

“He’s upstairs getting ready for work. Hey, Starscream! I don’t think you should go up there!”

But the Seeker ignored him. He marched up the stairs and straight for the master berthroom. He stopped when he started to pass the nursery and saw Knock Out was in there taking care of Dead End, the other two sparklings were still recharging in their rooms.

“You disgusting whore!” Starscream jabbed a claw at him as he stormed into the room.

“The mirror to point that to yourself is right there.” Knock Out gestured to a mirror on the wall as casually as ever.

“Why did you send me your porn?!”

“I never sent you ‘porn,’ Starscream.” Knock Out picked up Dead End and placed him on his hip. “I sent you love making.” He smiled, that cruel, arrogant smile. “You would know what that was if you weren’t recharging with a new mech every night.”

“I am not recharging with anyone! What you sent me was beyond disgusting and-and-“

“Jealous?”

“What? No!”

“I have a mate who loves me so much he frags the absolute slag out of me. He lusts for me out of love, not whatever bestial interface you partake in.”

“I am not sure if you are just really hateful towards me, or are being functionist towards my frametype, but this,” He held up the communicator. “Is too far.”

“You are not welcomed here when you don’t have a scheduled visitation, Starscream. Leave before I call the cops.”

“Yeah, and I’ll show Prime what you sent me.”

“Go ahead. I don’t care.”

Starscream paused. “I’ll show it to your work.”

“My work doesn’t care what a Seeker has to say.”

Starscream pointed at him. “Right there. That’s it. Functionist! You discriminating little sack of-“

“Oh, if I was a functionist why the hell did I follow your orders for vorns!?”

“Because you had no choice!”

“Oh, I had a choice.”

“Which was?” Starscream crossed his arms.

“I didn’t have to serve directly under you, you know?! I never transferred because I was delusional at the time to think you and I were friends!”

“That backfired on you!”

“Yes, it has!”

“That is enough!” Breakdown’s voice boomed from the doorway, silencing them both. “Starscream, get out. Knock Out, get ready for work. You’re going to be late.”

Starscream flicked his wings at Knock Out before storming out. He paused when he saw Fracture looking out his berthroom door, trying to figure out why there was so much shouting.

“Hi.” Starscream smiled at him.

Fracture closed his door.

Starscream vented a sigh and walked down the stairs, listening to Breakdown following him to make sure he left.

“I’ll investigate this.” Breakdown assured the Seeker. “Just delete the messages and block his number.”

“I’m sorry he used you.”

“I mean, if being used by him means fragging him…” He smirked. “I am okay with it.”

Starscream rolled his optics. No wonder he couldn’t control his mate… He was only around for the interface.

Despite the gross porn sent to him, Starscream was still eager to go over for his visitation with Fracture. After all, it was a special visitation. Fracture was turning 9 stellar cycles!

The Seeker took the orbital cycle off, and was getting ready to leave when he got a new message. He looked at it, his optics narrowing. Knock Out had sent him a picture of the doctor with Fracture, the two smiling at the camera. The text under the image read, “9 stellar cycles old! Look how happy he is with me.” Then a little devil faced emoji was at the end.

Starscream’s engine revved. Oh, he would kill that speedster!

The Seeker stormed out of his apartment and transformed. He wouldn’t be scared away from being with his son.

“Come on in.” Breakdown let him inside once he arrived.

“Where is Fracture?” Starscream inquired, holding the gift he had gotten the mechling.

“I’ll call him down. Help yourself to some energon.”

Starscream walked to the energon room, his wings perking when he saw the large cake. It had Fracture’s designation written on it, the number 9, and was clearly made by a professional.

He looked back when he heard running peds. Fracture and Wildbreak came running down the stairs and over to him, the two always together.

“What did you get me?!” Fracture quickly asked, reaching up for the box the Seeker held.

Starscream smiled, enjoying when his son was actually happy to see him. “Well, you did tell me what you wanted, so…” He handed the box over.

Fracture quickly opened it, Wildbreak jumping excitedly beside him. The mechling pulled out a new gaming console and a couple of videogames. “YES!!!”

Starscream fluttered his wings. He had done good.

“Hey, what do we say?” Breakdown stopped them from running off with the new gift.

“Oh,” Fracture turned around. “Thank you, Starscream!!”

“Yeah, thank you!” Wildbreak piped up.

Then the two ran over into the living room, excitedly connecting the console to the large screen vidscreen.

“Thank you for making sure Knock Out didn’t give him that.” Starscream said as he watched his son.

“The best gift should come from the one who gave him life.” Breakdown smiled. “How has work been?”

“Been fine. It’s not the most exciting.”

“Eh, boring work is probably best. Knock Out sometimes comes home too exhausted to do anything. He just goes upstairs and passes out on the berth.”

“Has it been worse lately? I haven’t seen him since the porn incident.”

“Yeah, the last three decacycles have been a little crazy. He is here, now, just so you’re aware. He took the orbital cycle off.”

“Where is he?”

“Upstairs trying to get Dead End to take a nap. I told him to behave.”

“He won’t.”

“Probably won’t…”

Starscream went over to the couch and sat down, watching the mechlings play with the new game they got. He smiled, enjoying how happy his son was. He did have to wipe some coolant away when thinking about how happy his son was here with Knock Out and his family instead of with him.

But those tears dried up when the devil came downstairs.

“Having fun?” Knock Out smiled at the mechlings.

“Yup!” Wildbreak piped up.

“Good. Carrier got you a present, too.”

“What is it?” Fracture looked up at him.

“Your uncle is bringing said present. I had to keep the present at his place for a few orbital cycles so I could surprise you.”

“Oh?”

“Mhmm.” Knock Out then looked at Starscream and gave him this cold wink.

Starscream glared at him.

“Better be nice over there!” Breakdown called from the energon room where he was preparing lunch.

“Always, darling!” Knock Out plunked himself onto the couch, a little too close to Starscream’s liking.

The mechling were too invested in their game to pay any attention to the adults. Knock Out purred his engine at Starscream, sliding down the couch some, then sexually pressing three digits against his codpiece. He stuck his glossa out at Starscream, softly making almost a moaning purr sound.

Starscream flicked his wings and growled his engine.

“Why do I hear growling?!”

“Nothing, babe!” Knock Out quickly sat up, servo removed from his codpiece, and acting like nothing had happened.

Starscream glared at Knock Out, who was looking back at him, striking an almost innocent, sexy pose. Like some pinup poster. Oh, how he wanted to tear out the speedster’s optics!

The doorbell went off.

“I got it!” Knock Out stood up, flipped a very rude gesture at Starscream as he walked away, and then opened the door.

“Hey, little bro!” A grounder greeted as he stepped inside, holding a large box.

“Hey, Grit. Thank you so much for holding on to him.”

“Anything for the mechlings.” Grit set down the box. “Where are those mechlings?!”

“Uncle Grit!” Both Fracture and Wildbreak exclaimed as they leaped up from the floor and raced over.

Starscream raised an optical ridge. Who was this guy and why did his son know him and not him? He studied the mech, trying to remember where he’s seen that face before…

Fracture and Wildbreak hugged Grit as he got on a knee to receive them. He hugged them closely, smiling.

“Look how big you two are!” Grit exclaimed. “At this rate you’ll be bigger than your old mech!”

Knock Out opened the box Grit had brought in, and reached in. “Fracture, are you ready for carrier’s gift?”

“Yes!” Fracture bounced over.

“Okay, I worked very hard to get him for you.” Knock Out then lifted up a cyberdog puppy from the box.

“A PUPPY!!!!” The mechlings screamed in unison, all jumping around and shrieking in excitement.

Starscream’s optics widened, then narrowed. No wonder Knock Out didn’t get the game console… He already had plans on how to one up the Seeker.

“Shhh, not so loud.” Knock Out gestured for them to quiet down. “The rescue designated him Rubber, but you can call him something else.”

Knock Out then carefully handed the puppy to Fracture, showing him how to hold the little being. Fracture hugged the puppy close, then began to cry.

“Aww, sweetie.” Knock Out crouched, wiping Fracture’s face with his digits. “You okay?”

“I l-love him so much.” Fracture managed between sobs, Wildbreak now crying too. “Thank y-you.”

“Of course, sweetie. I love you.”

Starscream almost screamed. He tore his claws into the couch, tearing deep into it. He was shaking in absolute fury. He would kill this grounder!

“Go into my room. I have everything in there for the puppy. You can set up his bed and bowls in your berthroom.”

Fracture and Wildbreak then ran upstairs with their puppy, eager to show him around and get him settled in. Knock Out winked at Starscream, that cruel smile on his lip plates.

“Thank you, Grit.” Breakdown said as he picked up the box. “Hope he behaved while he stayed with you.”

“The puppy was perfect.” Grit gave a dismissive wave. “Not a single accident.”

“That’s why I wanted an older puppy. I already have to clean up enough messes.” Breakdown pointed at Knock Out from behind the doctor’s back so he wouldn’t notice.

Grit chuckled. “Still fragging this loser despite what he puts you through?”

“That ‘loser’ is the love of my life. And, yes, I do frag him every chance I get.”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Why don’t you go check on the mechlings and make sure they aren’t making a mess.” He then pointed at Grit. “Do you need anything?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna hop into your washroom real quick. Hit a puddle on my way over.”

Starscream watched as Breakdown went upstairs to check on the younglings, and this Grit guy went into the washroom. Knock Out noticed they were now alone.

The speedster approached, then sat back on the couch. Starscream growled his engine and flared his wings. Knock Out purred his engine.

“Breakdown fragged me last night.” He smiled, a servo reaching down to his codpiece. “It was so nice.” His smile was so lustful now. “I can almost still feel him inside of me.” His thighs squeezed together. “He’s so large….” He bit his lower lip plate. “He pleasures my body just the way I like it.” His other servo trailed down his chassis, from his spark to the groin. He made a soft moaning sound in his vocalizer. “And he doesn’t stop his humping.”

Starscream made a face when he heard Knock Out’s cooling fans turn on. The grounder was turning himself on. He better not overload….

“You don’t have a mech who knows how to play your body.” Knock Out purred louder, rolling over on the couch, his thighs still squeezing together. “You’re just fragged by whoever throws Shanix at you.”

Starscream snarled at him. “You’re the one acting like a whore.”

“I have only one interface partner, and I’m joined with him.” He opened his chest plates enough for Starscream to see the mark made on the spark casing, indicating who Knock Out was the Conjunx Endura to. “Only he is allowed to touch me.”

“And yet you send me videos of yourself with him.”

“Jealous?”

“No.”

“You’re so delusional you don’t even know what a healthy relationship is. Berthing ten mechs in a night isn’t a relationship.”

“I am about to smack you.”

“Do it. I’ll call Prime.”

“And I’ll share your porn with your work.”

“Go for it. They won’t fire me.”

“But your coworkers will never look at you the same.”

Knock Out was about to say something when Grit exited the washroom and started to walk over. Knock Out quickly sat up, looking like he hadn’t been doing anything.

“What are we doing?” Grit asked as he plopped onto the couch right between Knock Out and Starscream. “Hey,” He held a servo out to Starscream. “I’m Grit. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Starscream.” Starscream shook his servo.

“Right. Boss mech, and carrier to Fracture. Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I must say, I haven’t heard anything about you. Please, elaborate on your relationship to Knock Out.” Starscream smiled.

“I’m his older brother. I got all the good looks!” He laughed.

“So, who was the favorite?”

“Oh, Knock Out for sure! He’s the one who actually listened to sire and went to med school and got a mate!”

“Oh, you’re not mated to anyone?” Starscream’s wings perked.

“Nah!” Grit gave a dismissive wave. “I don’t want to settle down quite yet. Not when there’s so many hot mechs like yourself all over the place!”

Starscream’s optics glowed brighter for a moment. “You think I’m hot?”

“Hell yeah!” Grit gave him a look, and Starscream noticed his optics darted down to the Seeker’s crotch.

“Stop it.” Knock Out growled.

“What?” Grit turned to him.

“You’re here for my son, not to talk to a harlot.” The doctor crossed his arms.

“Just trying to be friendly, you grumpy plates.”

“He is very grumpy, isn’t he?” Starscream glared at Knock Out.

“Maybe Breakdown needs to beat his aft some more!” He laughed. “He still putting you over his knee?”

Knock Out glared death at his brother, who only laughed louder.

“If he needs any help with that I volunteer!” He nudged Knock Out, loving pissing off his little brother. “This guy,” He pointed to Knock Out while looking at Starscream. “Was the most spoiled brat ever. Anything he wanted sire and carrier would give him.”

“Oh, I believe it.” Starscream grunted.

“He got away with everything! In high school he bullied everyone, and never got punished for it. He’s the reason so many people became drunks.” He then laughed again. “There was even a rumor spread that he caused a suicide!”

“Grit, shut up.” Knock Out snapped.

“No, I’m not done. At home it was no different. He would demand anything, and sire would just give it to him. The condition was that Knock Out went to med school, which he did uphold that side of the deal. What did you actually want to do? It was stupid.”

Knock Out glared at him, looking a little hurt by that.

“Anyway,” Grit turned back to Starscream. “This guy, spoiled all his life, partied in school, and then he meets Breakdown. Now he thinks he’s hot slag all because he’s only fragged Breakdown for all these vorns. The real miracle is that Breakdown hasn’t divorced his aft!”

“You must know so many deep, dark, and embarrassing stories about Knock Out.” Starscream said it with such fascination. “You must tell me everything.”

“Oh, you have no idea the things I know. Breakdown isn’t the one who first started to beat his aft. Let me tell you about his mech friend Crusher. That guy was crazy. Real kinky. Like, always had threesomes, which Knock Out was often a part of.”

“Grit…” Knock Out glared.

“No, no, continue.” Starscream was leaning over, enthralled by everything Grit was saying.

“Yeah, Knock Out would be in the middle of two mechs, one at the back door and one at the front door.” He laughed. “This guy can take an entire spike in his throat. Crusher would film all of his interface in these threesomes and sell it off. Made a decent amount of Shanix.”

“Are these videos still out there?”

“I think I might be able to find a few.”

“Please, let me know if you can.”

“I’ll look.” He winked at Starscream. “Crusher was the one who got Knock Out into the BDSM scene. He used to be able to take a lot!”

“How do you know all of this? Did you see the videos?”

“Oh, I was there. Crusher was actually my best friend at the time. Knock Out started to date him after meeting him through me. I was the camera guy.”

“I want to talk to you for joors. Do you want to grab energon sometime?”

Knock Out gave the Seeker a death glare.

“What’s your frequency?”

“Here.” Starscream held up his wrist and they exchanged their contact info. “So, what got him from being this kinky, porn star to being so judgmental of what others do?”

“Breakdown is what happened. That guy showed up and Knock Out completely changed. No more threesomes, no more circuit boosters, no more late nights, nothing fun. He became completely dedicated to the big guy. Which is just boring.” Grit made a face.

“Yes, me not doing illegal slag and having a good career is so ‘boring.’” Knock Out rolled his optics.

“Our creators still don’t know what Knock Out was doing.” Grit chuckled.

“So, he was a slut.”

“Basically!” Grit laughed. “A slut who found himself a virgin.”

“Oh, so Breakdown is the pure one?”

“Yes, Breakdown never had been with anyone. He was a virgin, he then started to date this slut, and the rest was history!”

“So, would you say, Knock Out calling anyone else a slut is hypocrisy?”

“Eh, since he hasn’t been a slut in so long, I guess he has changed his ways and all of that. But if he says he was never a slut, yes, he’s a hypocrite and a liar!”

Starscream smirked at Knock Out. “Thank you for that, Grit.”

“Wanna hear about the interface party him and the other med school students had to celebrate graduation?”

“Oh my gosh, yes!”

“No.” Breakdown snapped, suddenly behind the couch. He leered over Grit. “I told you to never talk about Knock Out’s past.” He growled sternly, his optics narrowed.

“It came up naturally.” Grit smiled innocently.

“Knock Out, should I throw him out?”

“No, it’s fine.” Knock Out said softly, rubbing over his faceplates. “How are the mechlings?”

“They’re good.” He leaned over and kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.” Knock Out smiled up at him.

“Should I summon the mechlings so that we may eat cake? Or should I hug and kiss my beautiful mate in front of these two afts so they are so jealous of our love?” He began to kiss Knock Out more.

“Please, let’s just eat the damn cake.” Grit rolled his optics.

“I concur.” Starscream added.

Breakdown gave Knock Out an especially firm kiss before releasing him. “Cake it is!”

Starscream raised an optical ridge, noting how Knock Out was looking up at Breakdown. He looked like he was back in high school looking at his crush. So much intense love in those optics for that truck.

“I’ll help you.” The red speedster got up and followed his mate to the energon room.

Grit turned to Starscream. “Guess we better get the mechlings!” He then stood up to do just that.

Wildbreak and Fracture were called down, they were given their cake, and Starscream had to watch his son go through the usual ceremony of grounder emergence cycle celebrations. But, then again Fracture wasn’t a Seeker, so perhaps this was best for him.

The mechlings ran back up the stairs with their puppy once the celebration was complete, and the adults were left to clean up. Starscream helped some, keeping his distance from Knock Out. It was annoying trying to work when Breakdown kept messing with Knock Out’s aft, or stopping to kiss him, or just randomly saying how beautiful Knock Out was. He was so thankful when Knock Out had to run upstairs to take care of Dead End who had just onlined from his nap.

“I’m gonna head out.” Grit informed his brother-in-law.

“Thanks for coming. Fracture appreciates it.” Breakdown said.

“Of course. Anything for the spawns of my bro.”

Starscream flicked his wings at that.

“Do you want to take any of the cake?”

“Nah, let the mechlings enjoy it. I’ll see you later!”

“Bye!”

Starscream perked his wings. “I better head out, too. I’ll call you about the next visitation.”

“Okay, stay safe!”

Starscream followed Grit out of the house and trotted after him. “Hey, Grit! Wait up!”

Grit stopped and looked back. “Yeah?”

Starscream stopped beside him, smiled, then took his servo in his. “I was wondering if you might like to come to my place and… Have some fun.”

Grit instantly smiled, his optics glowing. “Really?”

“Yeah. That is, unless you don’t think you can do me all night.” His wings perked. “Can you go all night?”

Grit laughed. “I can do whatever you want me to do, and then some! You like kinky?”

“I love kinky.”

“Lead the way, sweet thighs!”

Starscream did just that. He took Grit back to his apartment and brought him inside. The Seeker wasted no time in pulling the grounder into his berthroom, and then kissing him on the lip plates. Grit’s engine purred, grabbing the Seeker as he kissed back, their servos soon pleasuring and roving each other’s. Grit was not shy and had a servo grabbing Starscream’s codpiece in no time. Starscream purred his engine, allowing the grounder to have free range over his body.

“I want you to be rough.” The Seeker ordered, his wings fluttering.

“No need to tell me twice, beautiful.” Grit pushed Starscream towards the berth.

Starscream released the grounder, turned around, and removed his codpiece. Grit grasped his hips, pressing himself against Starscream’s backside. The jet looked back at the grounder as he lay on the berth, his peds remaining on the floor. Grit opened his codpiece and let his spike out. It wasn’t Megatron’s but it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of.

Starscream spread his legs, purred his engine, and watched as Grit prepared himself, then pushed in. The Seeker gasped, wings fluttering some more. Grit grasped the flier’s waist, then began to thrust, going at a fast pace. Starscream unsubspaced his communicator, held it up, and replicated that first image Knock Out had sent him. His face visible, smiling, his aft there with Grit’s spike clearly going inside of him. He then took another photo so that Grit’s face was visible.

“Oh… Harder.” Starscream moaned. “Destroy me!”

Grit chuckled. “I’ll make you scream, sexy, don’t worry.”

Starscream turned on the video and began to record, making sure you could see Grit clearly humping him.

“Oh! Oh, hah, oh, Grit!” He moaned loudly. “Oh, harder! Oh, this is amazing! Ah! Ah, oh, my… Mmmm!”

The grounder was good. Starscream didn’t have to fake his moans as the grounder did go hard and faster, really turning on the Seeker and making him grasp at the berth top. Grit grasped Starscream’s nape and pressed his face into the berth. He began to go faster as he felt his overload nearing. Starscream pushed back against him, genuinely smiling. This was the best frag he had in… Forever! What more could he make this grounder do to him?

“Oh, Grit! Oh, don’t stop. Oh! Hah, ah!”

The Seeker kept taking pictures best he could, but it was hard between the writhing, and grasping the berth top, and wanting to just offline his optics and enjoy this. His wings fluttered when Grit finally overloaded, sending him into climax as well.

“Ahh!” He yelped, not expecting that to feel as good as it did.

Grit pulled out, panting as he sat on the berth. “Liked that, Seeker?”

Starscream rolled over onto his back, panting as well, his cooling fans whirling loudly. “That was amazing. I greatly enjoyed that.”

Grit lied back so he was lying beside the Seeker. “Told you I was good.”

“You certainly weren’t lying.”

“I always leave my partners satisfied.” He boasted.

Starscream fluttered his wings. “Do more to me.”

Grit’s smile grew, all the lust returning. “Like…?”

“Whatever you want. Give it to me hard. Make me scream. Whatever kinky stuff you also want to do to me. I have manacles.”

Grit sat up. “Missionary?”

Starscream hesitated, after all, Megatron liked that position, but he nodded. Grit got over the Seeker and helped him get his legs over his hips. He penetrated the Seeker once again, then leaned over him.

“I want my designation screamed.” The grounder winked.

“Make me, then.” Starscream fluttered his wings, grabbing his communicator again.

Grit kissed the Seeker on the lip plates, and Starscream got a picture of it. Then, he began to thrust. Starscream looked up into those red optics, but they were nothing like those other pair of optics that usually were over him in this position. These weren’t filled with anger or hate. They were lustful, yes, but also there was joy there, and playfulness, and kindness. He liked these optics.

He lolled his helm back, moaning loudly as Grit thrust into him, going hard and fast. It wasn’t like Megatron where he just felt the pain in his valve. No, his entire body shuddered with each thrust, it sending waves of pleasure through him. He couldn’t help but smile.

Maybe this is what Knock Out felt like when he fragged Breakdown?

He opened his chest plates, revealing his spark. Grit smirked, opening his own. Starscream gasped when he felt the grounder, the tendrils of their sparks entangling, so different from when he did this with Megatron. It felt amazing.

He took a picture of their spark connection, making sure the other connection was also visible.

Grit grasped the Seeker tightly, focusing on his humping, never breaking optic contact with the jet.

Starscream cried out when he finally overloaded, sparkbonding with Grit. The force of the bonding sending waves of ecstasy through his entire frame, causing him to shiver.

Grit panted over him, riding out his own overload. “Enjoyed that, too?”

“I loved that!” Starscream fluttered his wings. “Where have you been all my life? I need you to frag me constantly to make up for all the nights we’ve missed!”

Grit chuckled. “I’m good with that.”

“I need you to get kinky with me.”

“Sure! What do you want?”

“I need you to put me over your knee.”

“Ha!” Grit laughed. “So you like some BDSM, too. Great!” He pulled out and folded over his plates. “But I’ll warn you, I hit hard and never show mercy.”

“Perfect.” Starscream smirked as he folded his own plates and sat up. “I need you to really give it to me.”

Grit gestured to his lap. “How many?”

Starscream lied over and held up the camera. “Stop when I can’t even sit down.”

“I like you.”

Starscream winced when the first hard slap across his aft made contact. Grit wasn’t lying when he said he hit hard… The Seeker took several photos showing his face, his aft, and Grit clearly striking it hard. He then turned on the video and recorded the merciless aft beating, making sure each strike was visible, and his wincing face. He still smiled and winked at the camera.

“Ow… Hit hard enough, ow, to leave a mark. I want your, ow, servo imprinted where everyone, ow, can see.” Starscream ordered.

“Are you looking for pain or are you looking for me to mark you?”

“Both.”

“Got anything I can use?” He aimed his servo and then brought it down as hard as he could, leaving a good dent in the Seeker’s aft.

“Ah!” Starscream yelped, then fluttered his wings. “I do actually. But if you use them on me, you also have to put a vibrator in me.”

“You are my kind of interface partner! Where are your toys?”

“Top drawer.”

Grit pushed the Seeker off his lap, got up, and went to the drawer. He smirked as he grabbed a vibrator, manacles, and an energy tawse.

“Grab the switch. I want the marks visible.” Starscream ordered.

Grit did so and returned. Soon, the Seeker was back over his lap, wrists manacled, and his aft being brutally struck by a tawse and switch, with a vibrator inside of him making him moan between his yelps of pain.

When he finally overloaded from that, and his aft was covered in dents, Grit once more got inside of him and fragged him. Then they took a break before fragging again.

Starscream stood in front of a mirror and took a picture of his aft, making sure Grit was visible in the background. He then got in berth, with Grit behind him, spooning him with an arm around his waist. He took a couple of pictures of that.

And when they onlined in the morning, Starscream got over Grit, kissed him, and soon was riding him, making sure to hold up the camera and take a picture of him smiling, and Grit below him groaning loudly.

Knock Out lied on his berth, recharging peacefully, Breakdown behind him, an arm wrapped around his mate’s waist, holding him close. Knock Out’s optics slowly onlined as his communicator beeped. Being a doctor, he couldn’t turn it off, as an emergency could happen at any time. Due to this, he had to look at whatever message it was he received, even if it was his orbital off and he was still recharging in his Conjunx Endura’s warm, strong arms.

The speedster sleepily reached over and took the communicator off the nightstand. He faintly smiled when Breakdown stirred in his recharge and squeezed his mate a little tighter. He turned on the screen, an optical ridge rising when he saw Starscream was the one who had sent him something.

He pressed the message, then his optics widened. First, it was the picture of Starscream over Grit’s lap having it slapped. Then the aftermath of his aft destroyed with Grit in the background. Then, him lying over the berth and Grit behind him fragging. And then them in missionary, and then sparkbonding, and then Starscream riding Grit, and then them recharging together.

Knock Out’s entire body began to shake in pure, unadulterated, unholy rage. His optics narrowed, glowing brightly, his engine revving, claws squeezing the communicator so tightly it cracked, and jaws clenching.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Breakdown startled online, jumped back, and fell off the berth as Knock Out shrieked as loud as he could, and held that note.

Knock Out got out of berth, still shrieking, and threw the communicator across the room. Still shrieking the same note, he flipped over his nightstand, then threw pillows onto the floor, and kicked the wall.

Breakdown was backed in a corner now, petrified, watching his mate holding this horrible scream.

Knock Out, still on the same scream, picked the communicator back up, dialed the number, and waited. Still holding the same scream, his brother answered the call. All Knock Out could do was scream into the phone.

Grit, who was lying beside Starscream, winced at the scream. Starscream could hear it, and the largest, most devilish grin etched itself over his visage, as his optics narrowed. The Seeker couldn’t help but cruelly giggle.

“Whoa, what is going on?!” Grit yelled into the communicator. “Knock Out, are you okay? Is someone hurting you?!”

The scream finally came to an end. “WHAT THE FRAG?!?!!?!?!? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” Another scream started up.

Grit just looked at the communicator as if his brother had lost his mind.

“Sweetie…” Breakdown cautiously approached his mate. “What is happening? I am genuinely terrified right now. You’re not possessed, are you?”

Fracture, Wildbreak, and Dead End all poked their helms inside, having been onlined by the screaming. They were all very concerned with wide optics.

Knock Out threw the communicator back down and kept screaming. As if he was approaching a dangerous beast who could lunge and rip out his spark, Breakdown slowly made his way over to his mate. He hesitated, then touched Knock Out’s shoulder. Shockingly, he wasn’t instantly mauled to death. He took that good sign to place both servos on the shoulders of Knock Out.

Knock Out finished this second scream, his engine revving, snarling with gritted denta, looking like he was about to murder someone.

“Love of my life who loves me so much he would never kill me, what’s wrong?” Breakdown asked, trying to keep his face as far away as possible so his optics couldn’t be gouged out.

“I….” Knock Out hissed, still trembling with the wrath of hell, his vocalizer sounding so…. Demented and raw. “Will…. Kill him.”

“Kill who?  Not me, right?”

“That miserable, flying whore….” His claws were clenching and unclenching, as if strangling an invisible neck.

Breakdown sighed heavily. “What did Starscream do?”

“He fragged Grit.”

“… He what?”

“I’m going to murder him.” Knock Out then stormed out of his room, passing the sparklings.

Breakdown watched him go, then realized he was serious and chased after him.

“Ouch!” Grit yelped as he was slammed against the wall, holding the wrists of his attacker.

Knock Out had his servos firmly wrapped around his brother’s neck, his claws digging deeply into him, enough to cause energon to leak. “WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!!?!? WHY WOULD YOU RECHARGE WITH MY ENEMY!?!?!?! YOU IDIOT!!!!!!”

“Knock Out, you’re legit scaring me. Don’t kill me!”

“I’M GOING TO DO MORE THAN JUST KILL YOU!!!!”

“My beautiful, perfect, amazing love,” Breakdown begged. “Please, don’t go on a homicidal rampage. Our anniversary is coming up and I want to spend it with you outside the prison.”

Knock Out ignored him. “WHERE DOES HE LIVE?!?!?!?!”

“If you let me live I’ll show you!” Grit gasped; his air flow being cut off from how tight Knock Out was strangling him.

Knock Out finally released him. Grit almost collapsed, but caught himself, taking a moment to cycle air and cool off his systems.

“Well?” Knock Out growled.

Grit gave him a hard look, then walked to the door. Knock Out followed. Breakdown started to follow, but stopped and looked back. He couldn’t leave the sparklings. He turned back and already saw the two had transformed and were speeding away. He rubbed over his faceplates in exasperation.

Grit sped across town and stopped at the apartment building where Starscream resided.

“He’s in unit 412.” Grit said, the both of them still in their alt modes.

“Did he ask you?”

“What?”

“Who made the first move?”

“I…” Grit began to reverse. “I am just going to leave now. Don’t do anything that will get you on death row.”

“You’re already on death row.” Knock Out growled, his engine revving.

Grit quickly turned and sped away, his engine revving loudly as he gained speed, soon far down the street. Knock Out reversed and looked back at the apartment complex. Then, he turned and drove down the street in the opposite direction. He drove around for a while, finding an area full of garbage. He transformed, and looked around until he found what he was looking for.

Starscream was feeling so proud of himself. Knock Out had certainly learned a valuable lesson, and maybe the miserable creep would back off.

The Seeker finished fixing his paint where his rough interface with Grit had chipped it away. He was looking good! Maybe Grit might come over again tonight….?

The former air commander walked to his front door and palmed it open. The smell was what he noticed first. He looked down, jumping back at what he saw.

It was…. He wasn’t sure what it was. Looked like maybe it was a Decapodian, but it had been dead for some time. Definitely killed by a larger predator, as half of it had been eaten away. But now here it was, in front of his door, covered in mecha maggots, flies, and other Cybertronian insects. He wasn’t sure what that liquid was dripping out of it, and he had been around many corpses before.

He then noticed the note. It simply read, “Your fate.” He knew that handwriting.

Breakdown answered his comm link. “Yello!” He smiled.

“Your mate left a dead animal on my front step!” Starscream shouted into the comm link, grabbing a broom.

“Uhhhhhhhh, I have no knowledge of this.” Breakdown said slowly. “How do you know it was him?”

“There’s a note on the corpse saying, ‘your fate.’ That’s a death threat, Breakdown. I am reporting this!” The Seeker used the broom to push the corpse away from his door, grimacing at the disgusting goo smearing along the floor, and the writhing mecha maggots.

Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates. “I’ll talk to him…” He grumbled.

“Talking doesn’t work. You keep talking and talking and talking! I want actual action!”

“Starscream, I will very sternly speak to him.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“What do you want me to do?! I can’t lock him up! He has a job.”

“Maybe you should tie him to a post and give him a good old fashion flogging.”

Breakdown narrowed his optics. “You know I would never do that to him. And it would just make him angrier, and he’d burn down the city.”

Starscream pushed the corpse into the elevator and pressed it to go down but didn’t get on. Someone else can deal with it. “I am sending in the report to the police. I’m going to Prime!”

Breakdown looked up when Knock Out walked in. “Babe, could you come here for a sec?”

“No, I need to take a shower.” Knock Out said as he walked to the washroom, keeping his servos held up, clearly not wanting them to touch anything.

Breakdown narrowed his optics. “You did put a corpse on Starscream’s front door, didn’t you?”

“Oh, is that him?” Knock Out smiled. “Glad he knows it was me.”

“He’s making a police report.”

“I’ll be home! Send them my way!” He then walked into the washroom.

Breakdown growled his engine as he heard the water turn on. “I am terribly sorry, Starscream. You do what you must. I’ll…. Discuss this at length with him.”

Starscream tossed the broom out the window, ignoring the yelp of pain from below. “I’m sure he’d enjoy that… You probably will just frag him.”

“Bye, Starscream.” Breakdown hung up.

Starscream hung up as well. He flicked his wings, looking at the dried puddle and dying mecha maggots now left to deal with.

He would get back at Knock Out for this… This was far from over!

“Oh, hah, keep going!” Starscream moaned as he lay over the berth, peds on the ground, his servos grasping the berth top. His wings fluttered, smiling as he enjoyed being pounded into.

Grit panted over him, thrusting hard and fast into the Seeker, one servo holding the Seeker’s wing while the other gripped the thin waist.

“I don’t plan on stopping!” Grit laughed, then leaned in closer. “I never stop when I have a glitch right where I want him.” He chuckled.

“Beneath you?”

“Moaning helplessly.” He smirked. “Now, scream my designation.”

“Hah, you should, oh, frag me harder for that!”

“Insatiable, aren’t you?” Grit pulled the wing he held back, then focused on thrusting as hard as he could.

“Ah! Nrrrgh! Primus!” Starscream fluttered the wing not being held.

He grasped the berth, his peds scraping against the floor, writhing beneath this grounder, the sensation painful, but amazing. He loved it. He loved this grounder being inside of him. The way he held him wasn’t like Megatron, all about power and control. No, he held him simply to hold him, to keep him in place so he could better frag him. He grabbed his wings, but never painfully. Everything this grounder did was intended to ensure both of them enjoyed the interface.

It would be his luck if he found a sparkmate in his enemy’s brother….

“Ahh!” Starscream yelped as he finally overloaded, moaning loudly as the extra energy coursed through his systems.

Grit paused, his servos feeling over the Seeker’s frame, stroking that thin body, then trailing along the wings.

“You good?” He asked between pants.

“Mmmm.” Starscream purred his engine, wings fluttering. “I’m amazing. Keep doing more to my body.”

Grit giggled. “Yes, sir! I know something you’ll love.”

“I love this.”

“Well, love more.”

“You have yet to make me not love what you do to me. Go for it.”

Grit pulled out and helped the Seeker roll onto his back. He adjusted Starscream’s legs over his hips, as he remained standing, then reentered the flier. He concentrated, smirked, then gave the Seeker a thrust. He shifted himself some more, then thrust again. This time, Starscream’s optics widened.

“There it is!” Grit laughed, grabbing the jet’s hips firmly. “Time to destroy you.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate as the grounder began to thrust, hitting his primary sensory node, something Megatron always managed to miss. He whined, grasping at the berth top, arching his spinal strut, and soon making a moaning whimper.

Grit leaned over, thrusting harder, his servo grasping Starscream’s neck. The Seeker flinched, used to Megatron always grabbing him like that, but with the amazing sensation below, he immediately knew it wasn’t Megatron. He helplessly looked into those red optics, the sensation filling his entire being, making him want to scream, to push into the mech, and also pull away. It was such a weird feeling that was both amazing and too much. He never had been stimulated like this before.

He was keeping Grit forever!

That grounder just smirked above him, knowing exactly what he was doing to the Seeker. And he only thrust harder, focusing on making sure every single thrust hit that Seeker right on the primary sensory node.

“Say my designation.” He purred.

Starscream whined. “Grit…”

“Louder.”

“Grit.”

“Scream it.”

“Mmmm! Grit!”

“Now say, ‘you have the biggest spike, Grit.’”

Starscream managed to give him a look between his whining. “You… Nrrrghhh! You have the, ah! Biggest spike, Grit!”

“And don’t you forget it!” Grit laughed. “Should I finish you? Or have you been bad and should be left to suffer?”

“No, be kind. Mmmmm!”

“Surely, you’ve been bad. You are a Decepticon after all.”

“If you, mmm, don’t finish me I’ll-“

“You’ll what? Hmm? You won’t hurt me. You need me to finish you off, remember?”

“You can, hah, do anything to me. I’m, mmnnnrrrr, I’m all yours!”

Grit smirked. “I can work with that!” He laughed, then opened his chest plates.

Starscream opened his own chest plates, never looking away from those optics above him. The way Grit looked down at him, how he was smiling, everything about his visage was just so… Kind. He was enjoying this, not just for his own sexual satisfaction, but enjoying making this Seeker feel good. The lust wasn’t overtaking, it was there but… In the background. This grounder was having fun with Starscream.

The Seeker swallowed, not sure if he was falling in love with that face, or just really amazed by it. He hadn’t seen a face looking at him like that before.

He was shaken out of his reverie by his overload. He cried through the spark bond, Grit also climaxing with him. The grounder panted above him, the warm exhales caressing the Seeker’s faceplates. Then, Grit kissed him on the lip plates. Starscream smiled, wings fluttering.

“Okay, cool down time.” Grit pulled out and sat on the berth.

Starscream sat up, folding his plates back into place. He fluttered his wings, unable to stop smiling. Grit leaned back on his servos, panting softly, but still smiling.

“Want to spend the night?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Hell yeah!” Grit winked at him. “Can I perform unspeakable acts on that aft of yours?”

“My aft is all yours.”

“Yes!” He fist pumped. “I hope you hate sitting because I want to make sure you never can do that again.”

“What else can you do to me besides beating my aft, destroying my valve, and spark bonding?”

“Have you ever taken it in the waste port?”

“Can’t say I have.”

Grit then finger gunned him with both servos as he clicked with his glossa. “I’ll destroy that next. And those wings look like they could use some playing with, too. Have you ever tried electric shock? Do it just right and it’s amazing.”

“Have you been with many and learned all of this from your partners?”

“Some partners, some porn.” He laughed. “You’re in good servos, don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

“But, I can’t stay up all night. I do plan on visiting the nephews tomorrow.”

Starscream perked his wings. “Oh, might I come along?”

“I don’t know… Little bro really hates you…” He scratched his nape.

“I have visitation rights with my son, so…”

“Yeah, but those are for different orbital cycles. Knock Out is very strict how he schedules things….”

“I’m sure he won’t mind too much.”

“He will… But if you want to come… I can’t stop you.”

Starscream smiled.

Grit walked up to the door, venting a sigh, not sure about this. Starscream stood behind him, wings perking, smiling. The speedster pressed the door chime and waited. Breakdown soon opened the door.

“Hey, Grit, what’s-“ He paused. “Um, I’m sorry, Starscream, visitation is in three orbital cycles.”

“I know. I thought I’d tag along with Grit.” Starscream replied calmly.

“Starscream… Knock Out is home. He’s working night shift so is currently home…. Right now.” Breakdown tried to explain.

“That’s fine.” Starscream said it resolutely.

Breakdown vented a sigh. “If you come in…. I’ll have to reschedule the visitation.”

“We can discuss that later.”

Breakdown rolled his optics. “Fine, come in. But don’t piss off Knock Out.”

The Seeker smiled as he walked inside with Grit. His wings perked seeing Fracture playing with the puppy, and Wildbreak also there. Then, he saw the devil. Knock Out was on a call, sitting at the dining room table working on a datapad, while Dead End sat on his lap.

“No, if the patient is going into fuel pump failure the entire pump needs to be replaced.” He paused, typing on his datapad. “Correct. I can see about that… No, he will need to be put on Ixycotil. Yes, with… one vial of pain dampeners. Okay, then prep him for surgery tomorrow. No, because he needs time to-“ He paused, noticing Starscream. His optics narrowed. “Flatline, is there, correct? Good. Listen, I need to go. Flatline has dealt with fuel pump failure in a minicon before. Ask him about the surgery prep and I will see you tonight in emergency. No, I’m doing emergency. I have surgeries in two orbital cycles. Yes, affirmative. Okay, bye.”

He hung up and slammed the communicator down onto the table a little too hard, never looking away from the Seeker. His engine growled, claws scraping across the tabletop before he forced himself to turn back to his datapad and resume typing.

“What is that thing doing in my house?” He growled, aggressively typing, ignoring Dead End bouncing on his lap.

“He followed me inside.” Grit smiled. “How’s work, little bro? Working you hard, I see!”

“Take it back outside and dump it where you found it.” Knock Out snapped.

“Knock Out, come on, not in front of the sparklings.”

“I don’t have time for arguing, Grit.” Knock Out snapped. “I am reviewing patient charts.”

“Why don’t you do work at work?”

“I can’t because we are severely understaffed! I have five surgeries in the next three orbital cycles alone! I lost a patient an orn ago and I-“ He raised a servo, then slowly clasped it into a fist. “I can’t, Grit. I am not dealing with this. I have enough to deal with between work, and that idiot, and the sparklings, and family drama, and the miscarriage, and just….” He inhaled and then exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself down. “Take him back outside. Please, not tonight.”

“It’s just a movie. Can’t we enjoy movie night? No one even talks.” Grit patted his brother’s shoulder.

“Not with him.” Knock Out snapped, typing some more on his datapad.

“I think you’re just stressed because of work. You need to relax, little bro!”

“Don’t look over my shoulder.” Knock Out moved the screen away. “Patient confidentiality.”

“You’re trying to change the subject.”

“No, I’m trying to do my job. I am literally saving lives here. Can you please… Back up. You can’t look at my work.”

“He’s looking.” Grit pointed at Dead End.

“He can’t read.”

Dead End giggled, proud of the fact he had no idea what it even meant.

“Sweetie, do you want to work in our room? I’ll start the movie and Starscream can leave right after it. He’ll get his visitation in for the orn and we’ll be good.” Breakdown suggested.

Knock Out typed some more before locking the tablet and subspacing it. “Why the frag did you have to invite him on Fracture’s emergence cycle?”

“What?”

“We have been making sure Starscream never met any of my family, and it was going great! Then you had to invite him over when you knew Grit was bringing the puppy over!”

“Let’s keep Diesel out of this.”

Knock Out stood, putting Dead End on his hip. “If you hadn’t slagged up that idiot wouldn’t have hooked up with the other idiot!”

“Hey…….” Grit gave his brother a look.

“He would sooner or later meet someone from your family!” Breakdown threw up his servos. “They are here all the time!”

“Grit could still be protected from that whore had you just fragging thought!”

“You need to watch how you speak to me.” Breakdown said it sternly.

“No! You slagged up, Breakdown! ARGH! All you’ve been doing is slagging up left and right! You screwed up the hearing! You screwed this up! You-“

“If you want to yell at me let’s go into our room and yell. But you will not talk to me like this in front of my sons.”

“I will talk to you however I please when you are being such a slagging idiot! Do not touch me.” He jabbed a digit at Breakdown when the truck started to approach.

“No, we are taking this upstairs. Get it out of your system, as you always do, and I’ll just take it.”

“This is why I’m still single.” Grit whispered to Starscream.

“I am not ‘getting it out’ of my system. I am telling you how you fragged up! I wanted to move to hide from that slagger, but you keep saying he has some right to Fracture!”

“He does!” Breakdown threw his arms up. “For the love of all that’s good, Knock Out, you can’t move away and just disappear with Fracture!”

“You won’t even stand up against him when he said what he said about my miscarriage!” The coolant began to pool in Knock Out’s optics. “Why does he matter more than me?!”

“HE DOESN’T!”

“It feels like he does!”

“Go upstairs, Knock Out!”

“I am so fragging tired of you!”

“Oh my god……………………….” Breakdown rolled his optics, clearly not the first time he heard this.

“It’s always someone else that comes before me!” Coolant was now streaming down Knock Out’s cheekplates.

“Maybe you should go….” Breakdown grunted at Grit.

“No, Starscream is the one who needs to leave!”

“Knock Out…”

“I just…” Knock Out stopped when his communicator started to go off. He looked at it and growled in frustration. “I want him gone.” He answered the call. “Knock Out. Yes, no… No, it’s fine. He needs a full energon transfer. What is his status?” He gave a glare to Starscream before turning and walking to the stairs, then climbing it. “No, the readings sound stable. Okay, let me pull up the file on my end and I’ll walk you through the transfer process.”

Grit whistled. “That was fun.” He turned to the mechlings who were holding Diesel close, obviously uncomfortable by the shouting. “Hey, guys! How about we get that movie started and Uncle Grit gets you some goodies! Yeah?”

Fracture slowly got up, picking up his puppy and walking to the couch.

“Why do you guys have to fight?” Wildbreak asked softly, on the verge of crying.

“Because sometimes grownups don’t know how to behave.” Breakdown picked up his son and gave him a hug. He then turned to Starscream. “You can stay for the movie, but then you have to leave. And never come over uninvited ever again.”

“Apologies.” Starscream held up his servos in a peaceful manner. “I didn’t think it would be such a big deal.”

“No, you knew exactly what you were doing.” Breakdown grunted, walking by the Seeker to take his son to the couch.

Grit brought over a couple of large bowls of energon goodies and sat on the couch. Starscream sat beside him and leaned into his frame. Grit smirked, stuffing his face already with the goodies. Breakdown sat on the couch and placed the mechlings on his lap.

They were about two breems into the movie when Knock Out came back down the stairs with Dead End. He didn’t say anything, just walked over, sat beside Breakdown, and curled into his mate’s chassis. Breakdown wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close.

Starscream looked over Grit to study the mated pair, seeing how Breakdown held the speedster. They were snuggled so naturally, their love for each other evident in how they held each other, even after a nasty argument. Breakdown then kissed Knock Out, and they whispered some things to each other.

Starscream looked at Grit, then tried to snuggle against him the same way Knock Out was snuggled against Breakdown, but the grounder didn’t put his arm around him, or did anything Breakdown was doing. Grit was far too invested in the movie and his energon goodies.

Starscream sighed, finding himself constantly glancing over at the Conjunxes Endurae, and feeling jealous of that relationship. At least, the snuggling part he was jealous of. He didn’t care for the arguing.

It was nearly a joor later when Knock Out’s communicator went off again. He looked at it, sighed, then answered it.

“Knock Out.” He paused. “Prep him for surgery. Reroute his fuel into the filter and cut off sensory nodes from the central point to 86, and fuse the lower leg hydraulics.” He got up as he was talking. He kissed Breakdown on the lip plates, then blew kisses at the sparklings. “No, get his spark charged. He cannot go into stasis lock.”

He kept speaking as he trotted to the front door and out. They heard him transform and speed away.

“That is why I refused to go to med school.” Grit grunted, still stuffing his face. “You get no orbital cycles off.”

Starscream looked over at Breakdown and the sparklings, but they clearly had experienced Knock Out rushing out many times before. They continued to watch their movie and eat as if it was perfectly normal for their carrier to just leave like this.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, feeling a bit bad that Knock Out had to leave his sparklings at such random times when he should be there enjoying them. Then again, he did steal his own son, so frag him! Hopefully the hospital keeps him working every orbital cycle!

The movie ended several breems later and Knock Out still hadn’t returned.

“Okay, time for recharge!” Breakdown announced.

“Do they not wait for Knock Out to come back home?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Oh, we never know when he’ll get back. He was working a night shift, so he’ll probably just have to start that four joors early.” Breakdown said as he picked up a recharging Dead End.

“Does he get off early because he started early?”

Breakdown snorted. “Nope! He’s there for the whole shift! So, he’s doing 20 joors tonight.”

“His shifts are 16 joors?”

“Usually they are 10 joors, but they are understaffed. He’s working double.”

“When does he recharge?”

“Whenever he can get a break. Usually, a couple of breems scattered throughout the shift, and then when he’s home.

“See?” Grit turned to the Seeker. “That’s why I refused to become a doctor. They work you to death!”

“Yeah, Knock Out said maternity leave was the best time of his life, despite purging his tanks constantly.” Breakdown commented.

“That’s why doctors keep killing people! They are exhausted so aren’t thinking straight.” Grit shook a knowing digit in the air. “But people don’t know anything about what doctors and nurses go through. It wasn’t so bad before the war, but after it… Not enough doctors or nurses, everyone is now having sparklings, no one is becoming doctors, and so we have too many people, not enough doctors. And then people keep being idiots and getting themselves injured, or getting sick, and taking more time away. All because they had to be stupid.”

“Regardless of how someone ends up in a hospital, be thankful we have doctors like my mate who will leave their sparklings to go take care of strangers.”

“Knock Out is too nice.” Grit grunted. “I don’t want to be taking care of strangers lying on a medberth, vomiting all over themselves, and releasing their waste tanks… It’s…. Not for me!”

“Anyway,” Breakdown turned off the vid screen. “Time for the mechlings to go to berth, and for you two to head out.”

“Thanks for taking care of my brother and the nephews!” Grit smiled as he stood up. “You’re the best, bro-in-law!” He fist bumped the truck. “Let me know if you need me to grab anything for you.”

“I always do.”

Grit started to walk for the door, and Starscream followed. He waved at Fracture, but Fracture ignored him to pick up the puppy and go upstairs. The Seeker sighed.

Grit held the door open for Starscream as they stepped out, then closed it. “So… Where to?”

Starscream smiled. “My place?”

Grit smirked. “Awesome.”

These bitches just keep getting more dramatic, don't they?

Knock Out's scream was inspired by Regina George's scream from "Mean Girls."

G1 Knock Out is actually part of a group, with Grit being a partner. So, adapting Grit to the Primeverse we made him a brother instead. I suggested this to my friend who loved the idea. I think it was my idea to also have Knock Out send the porn pics, and my friend then wanted Starscream to interface Grit. I provided the Regina George scream.

I also thought of the puppy. I think Knock Out would do anything to piss off Starscream even if it means getting a puppy who would jump on him and damage his paintjob. But he does love the babies so wants them to be happy no matter what.

Poor Breakdown... He's the only sensible one when these two are involved.

I also thought about the animal corpse being used as a threat.

Some foreshaddowing in this chapter, too!

This chapter and the previous probably have been my most favorite ones to write for this story because this is like... The pettiest they have gotten. They are such brats. Absolute petty bitches. No voice of reason, here! Just anger, hate, and wanting to harm the other. All over a child.

Also, remember everyone Knock Out is dealing with a miscarriage so his emotions also are not in a good place. He's very depressed over it. So that also is making things worse. His depression over losing his baby, Starscream's anger over Fracture being taken, and you have a bad mix.

Chapter Text

“Your brother is such an aft.”

“He can be, yeah.” Grit nodded, lying on the berth, an arm wrapped around Starscream’s shoulders as the Seeker cuddled against him, resting his helm on Grit’s chestplates.

They had been fragging, and now were relaxing, cooling off their systems. Starscream was enjoying the snuggles, something Grit didn’t give unless he had overloaded several times.

“Was he always so… ‘follow my rules or else?’”

“I mean… He has always been one to think himself better than everyone else.”

“He keeps calling me a whore and yet I’ve learned he has been with multiple people. You should elaborate more on that.”

“Oh, yeah, he’s been with a few people. His first was a speedster designated Tapout. They started dating in high school like… They were juniors. And, unbeknownst to our creators, still to this orbital cycle, Tapout is the one who took Knock Out’s virginity.”

“So, he lost his virginity as a teen?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Yup! Tapout was a nice guy, probably why him and Knock Out didn’t work out. Knock Out was a bully at the time. Tapout probably got laid by him because he was a good-looking mech. They were together until graduation. After graduation, Knock Out eventually started to date this guy, Fusion. Fusion was a working class, not something our creators liked. He was nice, too. They were together through most of Knock Out’s undergrad. Not sure how much they were doing each other as they both were studying and going to classes, but I know they weren’t waiting until joining!

“Then, they broke up because of career differences. Knock Out was going into medical, and Fusion was going into legal. Shortly after that I introduced Knock Out to Crusher, who was a tank. I knew Crusher from my undergrad. He was… A crazy guy. He’s the one who did all the crazy stuff with Knock Out: Threesomes, oral, lots of crazy BDSM. Like Knock Out tied up he couldn’t move and getting his aft absolutely beaten to nothing by whips and cables and all of that, then fragged hard. Like, screaming the whole-time kind of crazy. Not sure how much they fragged in private, but I saw the porn they made… Filmed a lot of it.

“Knock Out wasn’t with him very long. He definitely changed during that time. Became way grouchy.

“He eventually dated a two-wheeler designated Shootout. They were together before Knock Out got into medical school. Shootout didn’t seem like a bad guy. He was definitely very weird. I don’t know what brought their breakup, Knock Out never disclosed it with me.

“Then came the guy Knock Out was with for some of his time in med school.”

“He dated a lot of people in a short amount of time.” Starscream commented.

“Yeah, five guys in ten stellar cycles, basically. But, the guy in med school was Ripcoil. He introduced Knock Out to some serious circuit boosters. Now, Knock Out had done a few with Crusher, but it wasn’t like the kind that can kill you. It was those that get you high and that’s it. Ripcoil introduced him to some more serious ones. They did parties, they would snort up circuit boosters… I think Ripcoil did a lot of very rough interface with him. He never told me what happened when they were alone, but I did see some evidence of it.

“They had been together like a stellar cycle when I saw Knock Out with the shattered optic. That was enough for me. Me and my friends grabbed metal bars and went straight to Ripcoil’s dorm. Beat him nearly to death. I was in prison for seven stellar cycles, but I’d do it all over again. Anything for my brother.

“Ripcoil was in the hospital, I was in jail, and Knock Out was focusing on his school. He graduated with honors, and I was able to get that orbital cycle free to be there for him. Then they threw me back in prison.” He smirked. “Our creators were so embarrassed. One son is graduating med school and the other is there with chains on his ankles and a prison guard watching. Our sire was looking like he wanted to strangle me.

“After Knock Out graduated he got a job at the local hospital. He was there for like… Five stellar cycles before he transferred to another city to work at the emergency clinic there. He was there for…. Like three stellar cycles when he met the delivery mech who would bring supplies like metal, cleaning supplies, all that stuff. They needed that stuff delivered every orn and it was always dropped off by the same mech.

“And that mech was Breakdown. Breakdown saw Knock Out when he needed a firm signed, and he became obsessed over my brother. As he tells the story he, ‘instantly needed to know everything about’ Knock Out. So, he would always look for Knock Out whenever he made a delivery and talk to him. And eventually he learned when Knock Out was on break, so he would time his deliveries to be done right when Knock Out was going on break, and then go and sit with him during the break.

“Knock Out wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time, because of what happened with Ripcoil and me being sent to prison, but Breakdown is stubborn. Eventually, they did start to date, and this time Knock Out did it slow, and four stellar cycles later I found out they moved to the next level of their relationship and were fragging. Which then led to them moving in together, and very quickly after that Breakdown proposed… And there was the massive wedding, and they’ve been a sappy, loving couple ever since.

“And they got together in the nick of time, because the war started only a few stellar cycles after their wedding. He’s not very bright sometimes, but I’m so thankful for Breakdown. During the war I was separated from Knock Out, but I knew he was safe. Breakdown would never leave his side. Knock Out would survive because he had Breakdown… And he did. I sometimes think what it would be like to have my own Breakdown… Someone I would love so much, share all my secrets with, someone who would murder for me, and put up with me being a brat…” He then shrugged. “But being free is way more fun.” He chuckled. “No arguing! No sparklings! Just me, myself, and I!”

Starscream looked up at him. “Surely you don’t want to be single forever?”

“Eh… Maybe if I do find the right person I’ll settle down. But they need to be very special.”

Starscream smirked. He was special!

“Anyway, enough about my bratty brother!” He waved a servo . ”Want to get back to fragging?”

“Yes, please!” Starscream smiled.

“He’s just being a complete jerk.” Knock Out spoke on his communicator as he sat at the dining room table. “I don’t know what to do with him!”

“I can’t make your brother stop being with that disgusting flier, sweetie. You know he doesn’t listen to me.” The femme on the communicator spoke.

“Can’t you at least try to talk to him?”

“Who you talking to?” Wildbreak inquired as he approached.

“I’m talking to grandcarrier.” Knock Out answered him.

“I WANNA TALK TO GRANDCARRIER!” Wildbreak reached for the communicator.

“Sweetie, carrier needs to talk to grandcarrier first.” Knock Out gestured for him to leave.

“Grancuhreeor!” Dead End hustled over, falling over once, but quickly getting back up and running to his carrier.

“I’ll let you talk to grandcarrier in a bit.” Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates.

“What’s going on?” Breakdown asked as he walked over.

“Grandcarrier is on the comms!” Wildbreak announced.

“Oh, really?” Breakdown looked over at his mate. “Is this true?”

Knock Out rolled his optics.

“I wanna talk to her.” Fracture bounded over, also excited to talk to who be believed to be his grandcarrier.

“In a moment, you guys.” Knock Out grumbled.

“HI GRANDCARRIER! LOVE YOU!!” Breakdown tried shouting into the communicator.

Knock Out shoved him away, then looked at Breakdown. “Carrier says ‘hi’ and that she loves you, too.”

“Hear that?” Breakdown turned to the mechlings. “Grandcarrier loves me and only me.”

“DADA, NOOOOOO!!!!!!” Dead End shrieked before beginning to cry.

“UGH!” Wildbreak grabbed the top of his helm, in utter frustration. “WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS LYING!”

Fracture rolled his optics as his engine growled some.

Breakdown chuckled, so proud that his constant teasing had finally broken the mechlings.

“No… Your son-in-law is bullying my creations…” Knock Out grumbled to his carrier. “He’s a pain, too.”

“On three we all scream as loud as we can that we love grandcarrier.” Breakdown said to the mechlings. “Okay, one… two…”

The loudest chorus of “WE LOVE YOU, GRANDCARRIER” was screamed in Knock Out’s face in an attempt to ensure it was heard through the communicator.

That was it. Knock Out stood up, scooped up Dead End, and stomped away before he murdered his mate. Breakdown high fived the older mechlings, so proud that they had annoyed Knock Out so.

The speedster went up the stairs, into his room, and closed the door. He set Dead End on the floor and handed him a datapad before he sat on his berth.

“You doing alright, sweetie?” His carrier asked.

“No! I just…” Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates. “I just can’t do this…. Grit is being a complete aft and fragging my worst enemy! I-I’m working so hard to protect Fracture from that idiot, and now another idiot just comes along… I… Why did Breakdown allow him to come over when he knew Grit was dropping Diesel off?”

“I told you many times that Breakdown doesn’t think. He’s sweet, but dumb.”

“I feel like I don’t matter to him anymore.” Coolant began to pool in his optics. “Ever since the miscarriage I feel like he looks at me differently.”

“Why do you think that?” She asked gently.

“I don’t know… I just… I killed his sparkling. Why wouldn’t he hate me…?”

“You didn’t kill anyone, sweetspark. It was an accident.”

“But I don’t feel like it was. It felt like I screwed up and now Breakdown hates me, and this is how he’s getting back at me. He lets that creep into my house, he lets my brother meet him, he screwed up the last hearing we had… We argue so much… We never argued before.” He wiped at the coolant now leaking down his cheekplates. “I don’t feel like he loves me anymore. Am I even beautiful to him still…?”

“You haven’t hurt yourself, have you?”

“No…”

“You haven’t thought about hurting yourself, have you?”

He paused. “Maybe…”

“Are you taking the anti-depressants?”

“Sometimes…”

“Sweetie, you know you have to take them every night.”

“I know…. I just…. I feel so miserable… I feel like he’s going to divorce me a-and I don’t know what I’d do if he does. I’d kill myself. I can’t live without him.”

“He’s not going to divorce you. He loves you.”

“I killed his son…”

“I’m going to come over.”

“You don’t have to…”

“No, things have gotten out of servo. Grit is being unhelpful, your mental health is not good, and Breakdown needs to be told to his face to be better.” She said it sternly.

“I just need to know if he still loves me…”

“I’ll be over and I’ll talk to him.”

Knock Out watched Dead End playing, seeing Breakdown in that little face. “All of this is happening because of Starscream… If that idiot had never gotten sparked… If that slagging idiot had never tried to fight me over Fracture… I-I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“That’s why I am hiring that lawyer again. He will not take Fracture away. Fracture needs to be with his own kind, not Seekers or any fliers. You are doing everything right, sweetie. If not for you Fracture would be dead by now. That Seeker would have killed him with circuit boosters, or sold him into trafficking, or allowed the sire to beat him to death… You saved Fracture’s life.”

Knock Out swallowed. “But I couldn’t save my own sparkling…” He began to cry. “I can’t do this… I can’t...!”

“I’m leaving the house, now. I’ll be there soon.”

Dead End stood up and walked over to his carrier, then hugged his leg. He wasn’t sure why his carrier cried a lot, but he wanted to make him feel better.

Starscream dreamily looked out the window as he sat at his dining room table. He couldn’t help thinking about Grit. Why was Grit so amazing to him? He fragged him so much, which meant he cared about him, and he didn’t hurt him! Well, didn’t hurt him that wasn’t meant to be kinky. No, Grit fragged him, and was gentle, and didn’t call him names. Unlike that brother of his…

Clearly, they were meant to be. Why else would Grit always be over, and on top of him, pounding him into the next vorn?

Yes, Grit and he were a thing, and he couldn’t help but get excited simply thinking about Grit touching him. Too bad he looked so much like Knock Out…

The Seeker perked his wings when there was a knock at the door. They lowered, knowing who that was. He watched as the door opened, as he had been forced to give the code to his door to the brute.

“Why does it smell so bad in the hallway?” Megatron grunted, quickly closing the door behind him. “Did someone die?”

“Something like that…” Starscream grunted.

“This place looks cleaner.”

“I’ve been cleaning more, lately. Had to get a new broom, though.”

“Hmm.” Megatron looked around a bit more before gesturing Starscream to follow him to the berthroom.

Starscream swallowed, his wings all the way down. He grabbed his communicator and sent a text to Grit simply say, “Have to cancel tonight. Feeling a bit ill. I’ll see you orbital cycle after tomorrow?”

He got up and started for the berthroom when he received a text back, which read, “Sucks, mech. Feel better! I’m good with that. Have fun with your visitation, tomorrow!”

Starscream faintly smiled at that. But the smile quickly faded. He subspaced his communicator, approached the ex-gladiator, and soon found himself beneath the brute.

Starscream winced as he approached the front door. Megatron had not been gentle to him last night, and his valve was burning with pain. He held his box, straightened himself out, and rang the doorbell.

“Hey, come on in!” Breakdown gestured for the Seeker to enter.

“Thank you.” Starscream walked in, trying to hide his discomfort, but the devil was there and noticed.

Knock Out’s optics looked him up and down, his engine revving for a moment. “My brother did not do that to you.” He crossed his arms. “Megatron?”

“I was talking with your brother the other night.” Starscream changed the subject. “He told me all about your dating history.”

“He doesn’t know all about my dating life.” Knock Out grunted.

“He knows enough.”

“He doesn’t actually.”

“Well,” Starscream handed the box to Breakdown, who took it. “Based off what he does know, I got you these. Use them often, Breakdown.”

“Oh, is it utensils? I been meaning to get some more now since the mechlings are getting bigger.” He smiled as he opened the box, but that smile soon vanished. “These aren’t utensils…”

“What is it…?” Knock Out glared.

Breakdown slowly pulled out an energy whip and chains. “Um…. I am not sure I understand…?”

“It’s for Knock Out.” Starscream grunted. “For when you’re alone with him in your room at night.”

“Knock Out doesn’t like whips.”

“His brother told me another story.”

Breakdown narrowed his optics. “Yeah? Where is Grit? How about I tear out his glossa and shove it up-“

“Breakdown.” Knock Out snapped. “Don’t.”

“There’s a ball gag in there, too. You can finally shut him up.”

“Actually, that might be useful.” Breakdown dug around for it.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Fracture is in his room. Don’t get comfortable. Grit won’t be coming over.”

“I got something else for you.” Starscream unsubspaced a datapad and handed it to the speedster.

Knock Out looked at it. It was a self-help book titled, “How to Become a Less Grouchy Version of Yourself and Keep Your Friends.”

Knock Out glared at the Seeker, but Breakdown laughed.

“That’s actually pretty funny.” The truck took it. “I’ll use this as a gag gift with the ol’ sire-in-law! He’d love it.”

“Sire hates you enough, Breaky. Please, don’t exasperate him more.” Knock Out picked up Dead End who had walked over and began to pat his carrier’s leg for attention.

“Grit mentioned that your creators weren’t fond of Breakdown. What’s up with that?” Starscream smirked, enjoying that Knock Out’s family wasn’t entirely perfect.

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know.” Knock Out snapped.

“I would.”

“You’re so lucky you haven’t met them, Seeker.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Knock Out’s creators are big believers in…. Pedigrees.” Breakdown said slowly.

Starscream took a moment before smirking, his wings perking. “That make so much sense.” He turned to Knock Out. “You stole my son because you didn’t want a grounder with a flier.”

“I am not like my creators.” Knock Out glared at him. “Go visit Fracture or leave. You will not stay in my house and mock my creators.”

“That’s strictly my job.” Breakdown added, which earned him a murderous glare from Knock Out.

Starscream shrugged as he kept his smile, loving how much infighting was happening with the Conjunxes Endurae. “I’ll let you two be.”

He turned and went up the stairs. Once the Seeker was out of sight Knock Out punched Breakdown in the arm.

“What I do?” Breakdown looked at him like a kicked puppy.

“Why would you tell him my creators are like that?” He growled.

“Well, they are. Your sire still asks me if I grew up selling circuit boosters from my tent. I grew up in a nice house.”

“At least he finally stopped asking you if you joined me solely for my Shanix.”

Breakdown smirked. “Maybe I did.”

Knock Out rolled his optics.

Starscream walked into Fracture’s room, his wings perking. “Hey, Fracture.”

“Hi, Starscream.” Fracture waved, looking up from his homework.

“What you got there?”

“Geography.”

“Doesn’t sound like fun.”

“It’s not bad.”

Starscream sat on the berth beside his son. “Anything interesting happen lately?” He reached over to stroke the top of Fracture’s helm, but the mechling jerked it away.

“No. Just school. Played at some friend’s house yesterday.” He paused. “What’s divorce? Carrier and grandcarrier said something about ‘divorce’ but when I asked carrier he told me it’s nothing.”

Starscream’s wings perked, and his smile grew. “Oh, divorce is a good thing.”

“What is it?”

“It’s when joined couples take their relationship to the next level. They become very happy. You should tell Knock Out and Breakdown to get a divorce.”

“How do they get happier?”

“Oh, more financial freedom, no arguing, all of that.”

“They do argue a lot… Divorce would stop that?”

“Yup!”

“How?”

“It’s a little complicated, but it basically makes a couple less stress and have things to worry about.” Starscream explained.

“Okay… So, if they get a divorce all the arguing will end?”

“Just like that.”

Fracture smiled. “Okay, I’ll tell them they should get a divorce.”

“Thatamechling.” Starscream evilly smiled.

Knock Out lied in his berth, optics dim, not looking at anything as he thought. Breakdown walked into the berthroom and closed the door behind him.

“Mechlings are recharging, finally.” He smiled. “Even Diesel is passed out.” He chuckled, walking around the berth to his side.

The truck climbed into berth and lied behind his mate. He wrapped an arm around the speedster’s waist and hugged him close to him. He kissed the smaller mech on the cheekplates before settling down and offlining his optics.

Knock Out didn’t move or react to his Conjunx Endura snuggling against him. He looked ahead, thinking.

“Breakdown…” He finally asked after a moment, his vocalizer soft.

“Yes, sweetie?” Breakdown spoke, not moving or onlining his optics.

Knock Out swallowed. “Do you… Are you mad at me...?”

Breakdown made a face, still not moving. “Why would I be mad at you?”

Knock Out bit his lower lip plate. “Because… I killed our son…”

Breakdown onlined his optics, then propped himself up by an elbow so he could look down at the doctor. “You didn’t kill our son. Babe, I’m not mad at you. These things happen.”

Coolant began to leak from Knock Out’s optics. “You still love me, right…?”

Breakdown pulled Knock Out over onto his back so he had to look in his face. “I could never not love you.” He then kissed his mate. “Please, stop beating yourself up over the miscarriage. I love you no matter what.”

“… You don’t want to divorce me…. Right?”

“Why would I ever do that? Who said this?”

Knock Out just looked down, studying his servos. Breakdown kissed him.

“You know… I’ve been thinking about… Maybe we should do therapy.”

“Therapy?” Knock Out looked up at him.

“Yeah. Couples therapy. I don’t think we are as close as we used to be. We don’t frag like we used to.”

“We have sparklings. We can’t frag all the time like before because they are around.”

“Yeah, but… I think we could still do it more.”

“Is that the problem?” Knock Out swallowed. “I-I’m not satisfying you...?”

“What? No, sweetie, I don’t need to frag you. I love fragging you, don’t get me wrong! I’m just saying… We just don’t do it as much. I mean, between the sparklings, and your carryings, and your work killing you lately… I miss making love to you all the time, and seeing how you look at me the way you do when I’m inside of you.” He smirked.

Knock Out faintly smiled. “I’m sure I look quite ridiculous.”

“You look adorable.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you more.” Breakdown kissed Knock Out on the neck, then mouthed him, eliciting a giggle and some squirming from the speedster.

“Okay… I guess we can do the therapy. Do we have to talk about our interface…?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. We will have to talk about… the little one.”

Knock Out slowly nodded. “I just want to stop feeling like you hate me…”

“Well, I don’t hate you. I love you.” He cupped Knock Out’s cheekplates with his large servo. “And if you keep thinking I hate you, well… I’ll just have to love you more.” He smirked before kissing Knock Out again.

“Other than you constantly slapping my aft, you’re the best.”

“I know.” He paused. “Want to frag?”

“I’m a little tired….”

“That’s okay. There’s always tomorrow.” Breakdown kissed him once more before lying back down and spooning his mate.

Knock Out smiled, curling into the larger being. His optics online when his communicator went off. He grabbed it and onlined it, looking at his newest message.

It was a picture of Starscream… Being pounded into by Grit. The Seeker was smiling at the camera, flipping it off, and clearly exhausted from being fragged multiple times already. A text message came with the image reading as, “Guess who can’t get enough of my body? Currently on the sixth overload of the night! And he’s staying the night to do so much to my aft and valve in the morning.” It ended with a smiling devil emoji.

Knock Out’s optics narrowed, glowing with the fires of hell. He then looked up at Breakdown.

“Know what?”

“Hmm?” Breakdown onlined his optics.

“Frag me.” Knock Out rolled over onto his back.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Breakdown smiled as he got up, and over his mate. “Missionary, okay?”

“Yes.” Knock Out said as he got his camera set up.

Breakdown placed his mate’s legs on his hips, and then began to prepare the both of them. Knock Out held out his camera and took a picture of Breakdown’s hardening spike.

“What are these for?” Breakdown inquired, watching Knock Out take the pictures.

“I just like your spike, babe.” Knock Out smirked.

Breakdown smiled dumbly. “I like it too!” He then pushed said spike inside of his mate.

Knock Out filmed the penetration, whining a little louder than needed. He looked up when Breakdown grasped his neck.

“You good?”

Knock Out smiled, glancing down to make sure he was sending these latest images to the correct person. “Yes, frag me.”

Breakdown kissed him as he began to thrust and Knock Out hit the “send” button with his own message.

Starscream saw the messages from Knock Out the next morning. He smiled, glad he was pissing off the doctor. He made sure to send some more images of him being fragged by Grit to the red mech.

Grit growled as he overloaded into the Seeker, then panted loudly. He took a moment, before pulling out. Starscream stayed where he was lying over the berth, sending the last image he took to Knock Out.

“I need to head to work.” Grit commented, pausing before slapping Starscream’s aft hard. “I will be back to hump that tonight.” He giggled.

“I look forward to it.” Starscream fluttered his wings, standing up and rubbing over his abused rear end.

“See you tonight, then.” Grit saluted as he walked out.

Starscream smiled, his wings fluttering, watching Grit leave. He sighed, wishing Grit was back to give him more cuddles. His wings perked when he got another message.

He opened his messages to see an image of Knock Out… With Fracture. The doctor was hugging the mechling, both smiling at the camera. Then the text arrived. “You may have Grit, but I have this.”

Starscream shook with his rage, his wings flicking then flaring. He wanted to slice open Knock Out’s throat so bad!

He then looked through old images until he found one he had taken long ago and sent it. It was an extremely graphic image of a dead Autobot covered in energon, his organs ripped out of him, head almost shot in half, and his face forever frozen in the middle of his dying scream. He then sent the text, “I did this to him. Imagine what I could do to you.”

It didn’t take long before he got another text. “Better hope I never have to operate on you. I might… slip my blade.”

Starscream hissed at his communicator. “I rather die than have you ever operate on me.”

“Oh, you will die. Because no one would ever care for your dying aft.”

“Many would care.”

“Really? Who? Fracture doesn’t love you. He loves me. You have no mate. You never will. Grit doesn’t love you like you think he does. He hates relationships and just recharges with whoever will let him. You have no family. You’re alone and always will be. And you deserve that. Everyone is better off without you in their life.”

Starscream shook with anger, thinking of what to reply with, then he got another image from Knock Out. This one was of Fracture giving Knock Out a kiss on the cheekplates, Wildbreak kissing him on the opposite cheekplates. As the mechling were kissing the speedster, they held up little cards they made in their arts and craft class which said, “to the best carrier ever” and “I love my carrier.” And they had crude drawings on the cards clearly of the mechlings with Knock Out, Breakdown, and Dead End, and they were all smiling with hearts, and looking so happy together.

Starscream froze at that image, looking at his son handing this sweet card to someone who wasn’t actually his carrier. He looked back at the last message, then noticed coolant was leaking down his cheekplates.

Knock Out was right. No one cared about him. He had no family, no friends, nothing. No one loved him, no one cared about him… Not even he son he carried inside of him and gave life to.

He felt his knees go weak before he collapsed to the floor, hugging himself. He cried, all the thoughts that had been plaguing him for stellar cycles coming to him in full. Knock Out was right.

He looked at the image of Fracture, letting his coolant drip onto the communicator screen. Maybe… Maybe he might be able to win back Fracture…. He looked at Knock Out, that evil bastard who stole his sparkling.

His optics narrowed, and he wiped at the coolant. He would need to make this monster pay for stealing his son and making Fracture not love him.

“Is it bad, doc?” The small, blue mech asked as he sat on a med berth.

“Well, it would be bad if you waited any longer.” Knock Out said as he sat on a chair looking at a datapad. “Rust on the T-cog is bad, but not fatal. It’s not bad enough that a T-cog replacement is necessary, but I’ll still need to go in and operate on it to repair the damage done and replace some metal.”

“Is that an intensive surgery?”

“Not too bad. T-cogs are pretty easy to repair. I would suggest you stop transforming so much. The constant strain can cause T-cogs to deteriorate. Ideally, you should transform less than 20 times each orbital cycle. But if you can do less that’s better.”

“Okay, so-“ He paused when there was a knock on the door and it opened.

“I’m so sorry.” A femme nurse apologized. She then turned to Knock Out. “Doctor, you are requested in the manager’s office.”

Knock Out gave her a look. “I’m seeing patients. They can wait until afterwards.”

“I was told to tell you it’s urgent.”

“Is someone dying?”

“No.”

“Then it’s not urgent.” Knock Out grunted as he started to write some notes.

The nurse paused, then whispered. “Something about a Starscream.”

Knock Out’s optics glowed brighter. He looked up at her. “Is he here?”

“No, I-“ She vented loudly. “Please, go to the office.”

Knock Out stood and handed her the datapad. “Schedule him for T-cog surgery and give him an anti-rust prescription to hold him until the surgery date. I already signed for you.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Knock Out walked out of the room and down the hallway. He took the elevator to the floor where the manager officer was, and soon was at said office. He was surprised to see Flatline and a couple of other doctors there.

“What’s going on?” He inquired, crossing his arms.

“Knock Out,” Hook addressed him. “Take a seat.”

Knock Out hesitated, then sat down. “Am I in trouble?”

“You tell me.” Hook grunted, turning his computer monitor around so Knock Out could see.

Knock Out’s optics widened. On the screen was an image he had sent Starscream before… Of him being fragged by Breakdown.

“How did you-“ His optics then narrowed. “Who sent you that?!”

“It was sent to every Email for the hospital and staff this morning by Starscream.” Hook grunted. “And everyone received a different image and video.”

“I got this one.” Conduit held up his datapad to show a video of Knock Out being fragged in the mouth, taking Breakdown’s entire spike in his throat.

Knock Out’s optics widened, his spark dropping inside of him.

“I got this one.” Flatline showed his datapad, which was of Knock Out smiling at the camera, standing, Breakdown’s spike visibly going inside of him.

“How are you able to do that and not vomit...?” Conduit stared in fascination at the video.

Knock Out slapped the datapad out of Conduit’s servo. “WHY AREN’T YOU DELETING THIS?!”

“Do not shout in my office.” Hook snapped. “I am investigating and having employees delete the emails and block the account that sent them. I have collected over fifty videos and pictures at this point.”

“You’re keeping them?” Knock Out gave him a look.

“Compiling evidence. I can assure you, I do not enjoy seeing what you do in your off time.” Hook grunted. “Now, the issue is this… Someone got hold of these very personal files. Did they hack your account? Did they steal your communicator? Did you send these to anyone?”

“It doesn’t matter who I send my own personal videos to. The problem is they are being purposely sent to my place of employment to try and get me in trouble.” Knock Out snapped.

“And you are in trouble.”

Knock Out glared at him. “Are you going to fire me?”

“No, I would be an idiot to do that when there’s so few of us trained and experienced doctors left. It will be stellar cycles before the next generation is ready to take our place.”

“You can’t punish me over videos of me with my Conjunx Endura. This isn’t me off fragging like a hooker o-or some slut! I am joined to this mech!”

“That may be so, but if people saw that one of my employees was distributing his own pornographic content-“

“It’s love making!” Knock Out leaped to his peds. “I am not making porn with my mate!”

“I suggest you change your tone.” Hook snapped.

“If I may say something.” Flatline spoke up. “The videos and images are clearly just Knock Out and his mate making memories as many Conjunx Endura do. I think most people have such intimate images of them with mates or old mechfriends. There clearly seems to be sabotage going on. Someone assessed Knock Out’s private account or hacked his datapad. This person got these private videos, and is simply trying to hurt him. I do not believe Knock Out should be punished. It doesn’t appear the videos are even public. Only staff got these.”

“But what if they did get out?” Hook questioned. “What then?”

“I mean,” Conduit shrugged. “If they did get out we just make a statement that Knock Out made love videos with his mate, who he’s been joined with for thousands of vorns, and someone hacked his account and shared the videos. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before. Revenge porn is a common crime.”

“Knock Out should report this to the police.” Flatline suggested. “This is obvious harassment.”

Hook was silent for a moment as he thought. “Very well. A police report will be made. Knock Out, this is a warning. I better not have any more videos of you fragging someone sent to my work Email.”

“I’ll see to it that it doesn’t.” Knock Out said resolutely.

Starscream sat in his apartment, relaxing. He felt good about sending all that porn Knock Out had been sending him over the last few decacycles to his workplace. Maybe they will fire that aft….

He jumped when something crashed through his window. He leaped up, claws ready to tear into someone, but no one was there. He looked down and saw another animal corpse there on the floor surrounded by broken glass. He had no idea what this animal was…. It was large, maybe a zap pony…? Whatever it once was, it had been dead a long time and scavengers had eaten a large portion of the body.

He covered his face when the stench slapped him like a ton of bricks. Mecha maggots were everywhere, and more strange liquid oozed out.

Worst part, it was INSIDE his apartment, and not in the hallway.

He ran to the window and looked out in time to see a certain red speedster driving away, and another person flying, but couldn’t make out who that was.

He turned to the corpse, fists shaking with rage. He had just bought this broom and now would need to throw it out, too!

Then, he smirked.

“Hah, oh.” Knock Out panted softly as he gripped the sink, leaning over it.

Breakdown held Knock Out’s hips, thrusting into him. He was smiling so broadly. Knock Out was fragging him more this past orn, even when the mechlings were online! Hence, why they were hiding in the washroom right now… Weird how Knock Out had to take pictures and videos every time they fragged.

“Shhh, not so loud.” Breakdown whispered.

“They have their game at full volume… And the door to their room closed… Hah, they hear nothing.” Knock Out panted.

“Still.”

“Just concentrate on, hah, fragging me.”

Breakdown giggled. “I love you.”

Knock Out smiled, looking at Breakdown through the mirror before him.

They both startled when there was a knock on the washroom door.

“Carrier?” Fracture’s vocalizer sounded from the other side.

“Slag.” Knock Out whisper grunted. “Carrier is cleaning out his waste tank, sweetie!” He called out, trying to hide his panting.

“Grandcarrier is here! She wants to talk to you.”

Knock Out looked back at Breakdown in confusion. “Why is she here?” He whispered to Breakdown, who only shrugged. “Fracture, did she say why she’s here?” He called out.

“She says she has to speak to you.”

“Well, tell her I am currently disposed. She will have to wait a bit.”

“Are you sick?”

Knock Out vented heavily. “Yes…. Yes, carrier is sick. Bad energon. Gonna be a while!”

“Where’s sire?”

“Sire took a drive! He’ll be back soon.”

“I can get you medicine!”

“That is so thoughtful, sweetie! But carrier is fine. I have medicine in here. Go to your grandcarrier and let her know I’m sick.”

“Okie dokie!”

They listened to him run off, then Breakdown resumed thrusting.

“That was close.” Breakdown chuckled.

“We probably should come up with better alibis…. At this rate they are going to think I can’t eat any energon without getting sick.” Knock Out grunted.

“Your tank is upset because my big spike hits it with every thrust!” He chuckled.

“Ew, and no.”

“Admit it, you like how I dirty talk you.”

“I am literally over a sink right now. Nothing you say would I approve of. In fact, this is probably the least romantic-“

They both jumped when the door was suddenly thrown open and, in the doorway, stood a crimson and black speedster femme. Her optics were bright red, a crimson helm with spikes, long, black claws, and heeled peds. Everything about her screamed elegance, power, and anger.

Breakdown screamed in horror. Knock Out stared with perfectly round optics in shock.

“Get out of him.” She snapped. “We need to talk.” She growled at the doctor.

“Um, what is happening…?” Knock Out asked slowly.

The femme held up a communicator which showed a picture of Knock Out being fragged by Breakdown. “Your sire and I received multiple pictures and videos of you two.”

Knock Out’s optics went from shock, to narrowing. “Who sent them?”

She gave him a look. “Who the hell do you think?”

“This has gone too far.” A black and silver speedster sternly snapped at Knock Out who was sitting on the couch, a very uncomfortable Breakdown beside him. “You sent him these videos of yourself? What the hell were you thinking?!”

Knock Out’s arms were crossed, not looking at the mech who was yelling at him. “I was trying to piss him off…”

“And he now has these images! Do you realize how embarrassed your carrier and I am?”

Grit laughed from where he sat on the stairs watching the drama. “Not the favorite son anymore, now are you?”

“Shut up, Grit.” The black mech snapped.

“Rude.” Grit grunted to himself.

“You need to stop engaging in your petty, glitch behavior, Knock Out.” The mech growled, jabbing a claw at him. “I didn’t raise a whore.”

“How is this whoring?! It’s me with my mate!” Knock Out finally looked up at his sire.

“It was shameful enough you joined with this creature, but now I must see you copulating with it?!”

Breakdown’s optics widened, but more in a “wow, I’m not even going to touch that” face than anything else.

“OH MY GOSH!” Knock Out threw his servos up. “Is this about me mating a non-speedster or about my interface tapes leaking?!”

“It’s about the leakage.” The femme said sternly, glancing at her own mate.

“I disapprove over you adopting anything with Seeker code in it.” The mech continued gruffly. “But if you must keep this pet-“

“Son.” Knock Out snapped.

“Pet.” His sire growled. “Then you will end this conflict with the incubator.”

“You think I haven’t been trying to get Starscream to drop it?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge. “How did he even get your contact info?!”

“He might have gotten it from the emergency contact forms at Fracture’s school.” Breakdown suggested.

“Do not speak unless spoken to.” Knock Out’s sire sternly ordered the truck.

Breakdown raised his servos in exasperation as he rolled his optics, having gone through this a million times and knowing better than to defend himself.

“I will hire the attorney, we will see this beast in court, and this will end once and for all.”

“We will also have to have his devices seized so that these videos are deleted.” The femme added.

“What about the videos he takes of him and Grit together?” Knock Out grunted.

“Those also will be deleted.”

“Ah, boooo!” Grit gave a thumbs down as he stuck out his glossa. “I want those to go viral!” He then laughed.

The glare of murder he received from his sire silenced him immediately.

Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates tiredly. “Fine, okay…  We hire the lawyer, we get this slag deleted… And I ensure I have sole custody of Fracture. Just have eight more stellar cycles to go with this…”

“You should have never bothered.” His sire grunted.

“Oh, darling.” The femme purred. “Fracture is adorable and sweet.”

“Thank you.” Knock Out gestured at his carrier.

“They always are when young.” The sire grunted. “But once they are adults, they rape and murder you.”

“And there it is.” Knock Out gestured to his sire. “Okay, you insulted me, Grit, my beloved mate, and adopted son. If it’s out of your system, can you please leave? I am late for my evening breakdown when I ugly cry into a pillow about how stressful my life is.”

“I will be contacting the lawyer tonight and will call you in the morning.”

“I’m working in the morning.”

“They will make time for me.”

Knock Out rolled his optics, looking away.

“Don’t send him any more videos.” The femme said sternly as she grabbed Knock Out’s face and made him look at her.

“I won’t.”

“Good.” She kissed him on the cheekplates. “I’ll see my handsome mechling tomorrow, then.”

Knock Out just gave them a gesture meaning “peace” as they left. Once they were out the door did he exhale loudly.

“He was so nice to me, tonight.” Breakdown smirked. “He definitely is starting to accept me as his son-in-law!”

Knock Out only groaned as he rubbed over his faceplates. Grit trotted down the stairs and stopped by his brother.

“Now you know how I feel.”

“Not in the mood, Grit.”

“Well, while you and the creators scheme about how you will deal with Starscream, I’m off to frag him!” He humped the air before laughing.

Knock Out had it. He leaped to his peds and lunged at his brother. Grit screamed as he struggled to not be murdered.

Breakdown sighed, got up, and grabbed the spray bottle he kept in the living room. He now kept one in every room for just this purpose.

“Get off him.” He squirted both of them in the face until they stopped. “Grit, get going before he attacks again. Knock Out, you and I should get some recharge in.”

“Why are you so down?” Grit poked at Starscream’s chestplates.

“Your idiot brother wouldn’t let me visit for my own son’s tenth emergence cycle.” The Seeker grunted.

“Eh, you’ll be seeing him in a couple of orbital cycles for visitation. Got him anything fun?”

“It’s hard shopping for them when they get older. I got him a game he told me he wanted. Hopefully, Knock Out doesn’t get him another puppy….”

“No, no puppy. He got you a gift though. Did you see?”

Starscream raised an optical ridge. “What do you mean?”

“Little bro posted our love making videos to social media. We are trending! Completely viral!” He held up his communicator to show the jet. “Every video so far has a million views. The one where you suck me is the most viewed.” He giggled. “Everyone knows I did it with a boss! Booyah!” He fist pumped.

“Is that only Decepticon…?”

“Nah, some Autobots also have it on their social media. Most viewed there, too!”

Starscream rolled his optics. “Guess I’m not surprised…. I did send his videos to his work.”

“And to our creators. Mech, they are PIIIIIIISSSSED!”

“Did he get yelled at?”

“Yup! The favorite son is in so much trouble!”

Starscream smirked. “Good.”

“Anyway!” Grit subspaced his communicator. “I am here to have some fun! Want me to destroy your aft on the berth, or the couch, or on the deck since it still smells a little in here?”

“I air out the apartment every orbital cycle. How can it still smell?”

“I have no idea….”

“Let’s just frag on the berth.”

“Lead the way.” Grit gestured.

Starscream smiled and walked into the berthroom. He sat on the berth, and soon had Grit all over him, kissing him passionately on the lip plates as his servos groped the curvaceous body. Starscream fluttered his wings, purring his engine, happy to at least have this positive in his life.

Grit turned him over and pushed him onto the berth. Starscream removed his codpiece, and soon gasped when Grit penetrated him. The speedster smirked, grasping Starscream’s hips as he began to thrust. Starscream moaned softly, wings fluttering, smiling, enjoying this so much. He whimpered when Grit suddenly smacked his aft.

“Don’t get too comfortable!” The grounder chuckled. “I still want you to scream!”

“Then make me!” Starscream fluttered his wings.

“Okay!” Grit then focused on thrusting harder into the Seeker and slapping his aft every other thrust.

Starscream gasped and whimpered, grasping at the berth top. He was thinking about what he would ask Grit to do to him next. Maybe more aft beatings, maybe oral, maybe just hard fragging like this! Maybe he’ll just tell Grit to choose and enjoy whatever it was the grounder did to his body.

The Seeker felt his overload coming, his back strut arching as the thrusting started to become even more intense. Grit was panting and groaning, feeling himself also about to climax. Starscream fluttered his wings, pushing back into the grounder, wanting more of this!

The front door suddenly opened.

Grit froze when he heard the loud peds approaching. Starscream’s optics widened, his spark beginning to race.

They both looked up to see Megatron standing before them, not looking amused at all.

“Holy frag….” Grit’s optics were perfectly round, petrified as he just stood there looking up at the massive, grey mech.

“What is this?” Megatron growled, gesturing at the speedster.

“Uh, this is….” Starscream stood up, pushing back at Grit to get out of him, but the Speedster just dumbly stood there.

Then that cruel smirk appeared on the form tyrant’s visage. “Are you fragging grunts?”

Starscream managed to shove Grit back and closed his plates. “Maybe I am, Megatron.” He flicked his wings. “Maybe I like how he treats me, a-and that he’s a better frag than you!”

“Really, Starscream?”

“Hey…” Grit held up his servos peacefully. “Lord Megatron, I, uh, I see that I have grossly overstepped my bounds. I, uh, will just be going, sir!” He saluted, then started to quickly walk around Megatron.

Megatron watched him circle around him, then bolt out the door and run away. He turned back to Starscream.

“He seems very courageous.” He grunted.

Starscream crossed his arms. “He is very nice and cuddles with me.”

“He’s weak, is what you’re saying.” Megatron started to approach him.

“He’s not weak in berth.” Starscream flicked his wings. “He is amazing. His spike pleasures me like no one else ever has.”

“Good for him.” Megatron pushed Starscream against the berth, not caring about Grit.

“You aren’t even jealous?” Starscream looked back at him.

“You can whore yourself to whoever you want to, Starscream.” He said as he folded away his codpiece and let his spike out.

“I am not whoring myself! We are together!”

Megatron chuckled. “No one wants you, Starscream. You’re lucky I still make use of you.”

Starscream’s optics narrowed. “You’re wrong!” He spun around and clawed at Megatron’s face, but the larger mech managed to jerk his face away in time.

Megatron’s optics narrowed as he grabbed the Seeker’s wrist and squeezed. Starscream’s wings lowered, his spark pulsating faster as he began to struggle. Megatron turned him around and threw him against the berth. Starscream struggled, but the former gladiator grabbed his wrists, and pinned them against his back, holding them with a single servo.

“You just can’t help but be a brat.” Megatron growled.

“Let me go!” Starscream continued struggling, flapping his wings to try and hit Megatron, his peds kicking.

Megatron was unphased. After all, he had dealt with his Seeker brat for thousands of vorns and was use to how he struggled during his punishments. This was why he was always prepared whenever he would be around the jet. He unsubspaced his weapon of choice and raised his arm high.

Starscream screamed then the metal cable struck across his lower back, denting him. The cruel, brutal blows continued to rain down on his lower back, aft, thighs, and even wings. All he could do was scream and struggle, but it never could stop the abuse.

He kept looking to the door, hoping Grit or someone would come in and save him, but just like all the millions of beatings past… No one came.

Megatron lashed the Seeker until he was covered in dents and began to leak energon. Then he kept beating him. Starscream was a bawling mess, his struggling eventually ceasing as he became too weak from the beating and fighting so much.

Megatron finally ceased after the Seeker had been leashed nearly 200 times, and subspaced the metal cable. He pulled Starscream’s aft to the edge of the berth, pried open his codpiece, and soon was inside the jet.

Starscream covered his faceplates, coolant leaking out as he softly cried.

He was alone with this brute as always… No one ever came to save him… Not even Grit.

Knock Out vented a sigh, then picked up the cyberdog who was busy chewing on a buffer. “I found it!” He called up to Breakdown as he removed the chewed up buffer from the jaws of the puppy. “Why must you destroy everything you touch…?”

Diesel only wagged his tail, knowing his cuteness would get him out of trouble as it always did.

“You and everyone else in this house are going to drive me to my own grave…” Knock Out grumbled.

The doorbell went off. The speedster walked over, still carrying Diesel, and opened the door.

“Grit, what are you doing here?”

Grit’s optics were wide, his vents panting from how fast he drove. “Oh my gosh, Knock Out.”

“What?”

“I-I was with Starscream and….” He glanced back as if scared someone had followed him. “Megatron just walked right into his apartment!”

Knock Out’s optics slowly widened. “Megatron? You saw Megatron in Starscream’s apartment?”

“YES! I-I was fragging Starscream in his room, and then I heard the door just open, even though it was locked! And then Megatron just walked right in and stood there glaring into my spark!”

“It was one hundred percent Megatron?”

“YES! I know what he looks like! Everyone does! He was… Oh, he looked angry. And they started talking and I got the hell out of there as fast as I could!”

“Is he still there?”

“I don’t know! Maybe?”

“We need the security footage! This will be all the evidence I need to ensure Starscream never sees Fracture again!” Knock Out smiled, hugging Diesel a little too hard, making the dog’s optics widen.

“How do we get the security footage?”

“I’m calling sire. We’ll get that footage, and this nightmare will finally be over!” Knock Out smiled, almost jumping with joy.

Finally, he would see the demise of his greatest enemy.

Starscream sat in his room, hugging himself. He had spent most of the night and morning crying, feeling so alone and hated by everyone. His entire backside and valve still hurt from what Megatron had done to him…

He looked at his communicator when he saw he had gotten a message. He raised an optical ridge, not sure why the next hearing was moved. It was happening in a few orbital cycles now. It had been scheduled for another decacycle…

He swallowed, anxious about this.

Starscream walked into the courthouse, hoping the still healing injuries from Megatron weren’t visible. He had painted and buffed himself to try and hide it, but if someone looked too closely it was noticeable.

His wings perked when he saw Fracture in the hallway holding a squirming Dead End by the wrists. The younger one was trying to run off somewhere, and Fracture was being a good big brother and making sure he didn’t stray far. Wildbreak was there hugging Knock Out, who was talking to a speedster he had never seen before.

The Seeker slowly approached Fracture and waved. “Hey, Fracture.”

“Hey.” Fracture looked up at him, still wrestling with the youngest mechling.

“How are you?”

“I’m okay. Tired.”

“Why are you tired?”

“I stayed up late playing games.”

“That would do it.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, Starscream.” Breakdown approached. “You feeling alright?”

“I’m okay. Nervous, but okay.” His wings lowered. “Who are these people?” He gestured at the two speedsters he didn’t know.

“Oh, you haven’t met the ruler of hell? I’m so sorry your blissful ignorance will come to an end.”

Starscream gave him a look, not sure what he meant. He looked over to see the two speedsters looking at him now, and the way they looked at him was as if they were looking at filth on the bottom of their ped.

Breakdown took several steps back when the speedsters approached.

“I suggest you drop the case, Seeker, and walk away. I have had enough of you harassing my son.” The mech grunted, looking down at the Seeker like he was garbage.

Starscream took a moment. “Oh, you’re Knock Out’s sire. Yes, I remember now from the wedding photo. And therefore, you are his carrier.” He pointed at the femme. “I’m sorry, I was never told your designations?”

“Filth like you doesn’t deserve to speak our designations.”

Starscream shook his helm some in surprise, not expecting that. “Come again?”

Knock Out vented as he walked over. “Starscream, this is my sire, Opulentus, and my carrier, Pulchra. You will have to ignore some of their outdated beliefs. Breakdown does and he’s managed to survive thus far…”

“They’re here as your witnesses?” Starscream grunted.

“Support, mostly.”

Starscream was about to say something when he saw Grit. He swallowed, noticing Grit was not his usual loudmouth self.

“We need to go in.” The mech Starscream recognized as the lawyer from the first hearing said. “Optimus Prime is about to enter the court room.”

Knock Out turned to the mechlings. “Hey! We are going in.”

Starscream watched as his son filed in with the other two mechlings and followed Knock Out into the courtroom. The Seeker waited until the opposing party entered, then walked in behind them. He sat on the defendant’s side, looking around. No one was on his side. Knock Out sat beside Breakdown in the front row, the mechlings all with them. Dead End was on Knock Out’s lap, and Wildbreak beside his carrier. Fracture was beside Wildbreak, doodling on a datapad. Breakdown had his arm around Knock Out’s shoulders, the two whispering to each other.

Behind them sat Opulentus and Pulchra, with Grit in the same row but keeping some distance from his creators. The lawyer was next to Breakdown, looking through a datapad.

Starscream’s wings perked when he noticed his landlord enter and sit on Knock Out’s side.

Optimus Prime walked in and took his seat. He took a datapad from a guard, looked through it for a moment, then looked up.

“I believe everyone is here.” The Prime spoke. “I was given the report about the latest incident. I read through it, and I am concerned by it. Knock Out if you’re ready you may begin.”

“Yes, Prime.” The lawyer spoke as he stood up. “As you were made aware by the report, Megatron was seen visiting Starscream and going into his apartment.”

Starscream’s optics widened. He looked over at Grit, feeling betrayed, but the speedster didn’t look at him.

“Knock Out’s brother, Grit, was at Starscream’s apartment and witnessed Megatron walk inside of the apartment and speak to Starscream. Grit left the apartment immediately and reported the incident to Knock Out. Knock Out immediately got in contact with the apartment complex’s landlord, Flotsam, who provided security footage of Megatron of Tarn entering the apartment building and unlocking Starscream’s front door. He did not leave the apartment for another two joors.”

The lawyer handed a dataslug to a guard, who plugged it into the large videscreen. Starscream bit his lower lip plate when he saw the security footage of Megatron in the apartment building and going into his apartment.

“Not only was this incident recorded, but after learning about the custody battle, the landlord informed Knock Out that he sees Megatron regularly. He provided even more security footage of Megatron of Tarn entering Starscream of Vos’ apartment, and normally leaving a joor or more later. Sometimes, Megatron of Tarn doesn’t leave until the morning after.”

Starscream started to tremble now, coolant pooling in his optics. Knock Out glanced over, glaring at the Seeker. He knew Starscream was only upset because he got caught.

“It was one of the conditions that Starscream of Vos not see Megatron of Tarn in order to have custody or visitations with Fracture of Iacon. Due to violating this contract, Starscream of Vos has proven he is not responsible, safe, or is in any condition to have custody of Fracture of Iacon. His visitation rights should be stripped henceforth. Fracture of Iacon is in danger with this mech.”

Prime slowly nodded, then looked at the datapad he had. “I have here the…. Many police reports filed between Starscream and Knock Out. Knock Out twice threw a carcass of…. Fauna at Starscream’s apartment. Starscream and Knock Out both were sending each other’s…. Private videos to places of work and the internet.” Prime sighed, reading through more of the reports. “How many of these were filed…?” He kept scrolling through the incidents. He looked back up. “Knock Out, how can you defend threatening Starscream with corpses?”

“He sent me images of Autobots he had slain in battle and told me he would do the same to him.” Knock Out said firmly.

“And there are reports that you told him you would kill him.” Prime looked at the datapad again. “There is also screenshots here of you threatening him about surgery…”

“My client was infuriated by Starscream’s actions.” The lawyer spoke up. “He never killed any animal nor intended to kill Starscream, only scare him off. Starscream is the one who has attacked him twice, and is breaking his contract with you, Prime. He is not to be seeing Megatron of Tarn under any circumstances.”

“If I may,” Opulentus spoke up. “This Seeker and its constant threats toward my son, Knock Out, has caused immense emotional distress to him. Knock Out lives in fear for his safety and for the safety of his creations. I, too, feel threatened, and request a protective order for my entire family.”

“Can I get one against you?” Breakdown grumbled.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

Knock Out rolled his optics.

Prime vented. “The police reports… I am going to ignore those for now. Megatron visiting Starscream is my main concern.” He looked up at Starscream. “Starscream, you were explicitly told to not go around Megatron. You had rules you needed to follow. Why did you disobey those rules?”

Starscream was trying not to breakdown as the coolant poured from his optics. He glanced over at Knock Out, then back to Prime.

“Be honest, Starscream.” Prime ordered, his optics narrowed, obviously angry about Starscream not obeying him.

“I-I…” Starscream swallowed, then looked at Fracture. He couldn’t lose him. He wouldn’t lose him! “I… He found where I-I moved to a-and threatened me. H-he’s been raping me and b-beating me! I-I can’t tell him no b-because he hurts me! A-and I was too scared t-to report it because I-I didn’t w-want to lose my son!” He began to cry louder, wings trembling. “I didn’t know w-what to do! I don’t want him r-raping me!”

“What’s rape?” Fracture asked Knock Out.

“I’ll tell you later.” Knock Out said quickly, wrapping his arm around the mechlings and pulling them closer to him.

“When did this begin?” Prime inquired.

“Sh-shortly after I-I moved into that apartment.” Starscream wiped at his optics.

“He’s a Seeker. All they do is whore themselves.” Opulentus said it with such disgust.

“Not another word from you or I’ll hold you in contempt of court.” Prime snapped at the speedster before turning back to Starscream. “Starscream, I would like to speak to you in private.” He turned to the others. “I will continue this hearing on another date when I have all the facts. Knock Out, I will coordinate a time with you later.” He stood. “Dismissed.”

Starscream watched the Prime step down from the dais and gestured for him to follow. The Seeker glanced back at Fracture who was being led away by Knock Out. He hoped that wouldn’t be the last time he saw his son.

The Seeker stood and followed the Prime into the back room. Optimus led him down a corridor, and into an office. He closed the door so it was just them, the guards left outside. Starscream stood there, wings drooping, not even looking at the Prime. Optimus sat on a chair and gestured Starscream to do so in the opposite seat. Starscream sat down, still not looking at Prime.

“Starscream, tell me everything. I will personally deal with Megatron.” The Prime said it firmly, but also gently.

Starscream swallowed. “He… He started to come to my apartment shortly after I moved into it… And he just… Did what he’s always done… Hurt me… And frag me… And I… I didn’t know what to do.” He wiped at his optics. “I-I don’t want to lose my son. I-I didn’t say anything because I was scared you would take Fracture away.” More coolant began to leak from his static filled optics. “Please, don’t take him away. I-I don’t want Megatron in m-my life! I just want Fracture!”

Prime watched the Seeker breakdown, covering his faceplates as he cried. The truck hesitated, then reached over and patted Starscream awkwardly on the shoulder.

“I will deal with Megatron. I’ll have a restraining order filed as well. In the meantime… I will not allow Fracture to visit you, still. The current visitation rules will continue until the next hearing.” He paused. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

Starscream looked up at him. “You won’t take Fracture away...?”

“If Megatron is forcing himself into your apartment and raping you, then, no, I am not taking Fracture away.”

Starscream, for some reason even he wasn’t sure of, stood up and hugged the Prime. Optimus was too confused to move. The Seeker quickly realized what he was doing and released the truck, stepping back.

“I-I apologize! I just… Thank you.” Starscream quickly said.

“It’s fine.” Prime stood. “I will discuss with you the next steps once I have spoken to Megatron.”

Starscream nodded. “Okay…”

“You’re dismissed.”

Starscream nodded again, then walked to the door. He glanced back at the Prime. “Thank you.” He said before palming the door open and walking out.

He left the courthouse, anxious about the whole ordeal. Prime seemed forgiving, so maybe he would stay true to his word and end this once and for all.

He was so stressed; he needed a hug. He was also upset Fracture heard him say he was being raped…

The Seeker unsubspaced his communicator and messaged Grit, “Hey… Do you want to meet up? I could use a hug.”

He waited until he received a reply.

“Uhh, I don’t think that would be advisable. Kinda don’t want to be shot by the former boss mech because I was screwing you. Listen, Starscream, it was fun. I had a LOT of fun fragging you senseless, but… I really like living, too. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Starscream felt his spark drop. “You don’t want to be with me? Prime is getting a restraining order against Megatron for me! He won’t be around anymore!”

“This is Megatron, Starscream! I am not comfortable messing around with his plaything. I’ll catch up with you another time.”

Starscream’s optics filled with coolant. He just wanted a hug.

The Seeker stopped on the corner of the street and began to cry. No one was on his side. He was alone in that courtroom, and alone outside of it. He couldn’t even get someone to hug him…

Why did the universe hate him?!

He needed a drink… And maybe a frag. He needed to get his processor off the orbital cycle’s events.

He transformed and flew to a bar. He landed outside it, transformed, and walked inside. He lowered his wings as he walked to the bar and ordered some engex. He drank two glasses and was feeling a little inebriated when a group of mechs walked in. He ignored them as he ordered another glass and began to drink it. That’s when he noticed that the mechs were sitting around him at the bar, now.

“Hey.” One smiled at him. “Think you had enough there?”

Starscream flicked his wings. “I haven’t had enough…”

“Drinking your sorrows away?”

“That…. And mad that… Idiot I was with won’t be with me tonight.” He grumbled, the effects of the over energization making his processor foggier.

“You got dumped?” Another mech inquired, grabbing his own drink.

“I just… Wanted a hug… And frag!” Starscream drank more of his engex. “I need a frag.”

“Don’t we all!”

Starscream looked over at the second mech, noting he was a speedster… Like Grit. He smirked. “Yeah, we certainly do!” He drank more.

“Let me order you another one.” The mech smiled, before doing just that.

Starscream finished his third drink, and then started on the fourth. He had to grab the bar to make sure he didn’t fall off his stool. The other mechs were laughing as they drank their engex, talking about things Starscream didn’t catch. Work? Probably their work.

Starscream was almost done with his fourth drink when one of the mechs nudged him.

“Hey, wanna get out of here?” He smirked.

“And… Go where…?” Starscream smirked back, almost losing balance for a second.

“My place.”

“Oh, where’s that?” Starscream stepped off the stool, stumbled, and fell into the arms of the mech. He looked up, and stupidly smiled at the mech.

The mech chuckled. “Not far. Wanna come?”

“Yyyyyeeeeeup!” Starscream took his servo.

Another mech took Starscream’s arm, and they walked out of the bar with him. The Seeker giggled, his wings fluttering, enjoying that these two were holding him. Grit wouldn’t hold him…

The five mechs walked down the street a couple of blocks until they got to a house. One unlocked the door, and they all entered. Starscream was helped up the stairs, barely able to stand on his own from how wobbly he was.

They got to a berthroom, then all turned to the Seeker.

“You wanna frag?” The second mech asked, placing a servo on Starscream’s waist.

Starscream looked at him, he looked so much like Grit, and smiled. “Sure! I’ll let you… Destroy me anytime.” He giggled.

The speedster smirked, then pushed Starscream to the berth. He turned Starscream around and shoved him over. Starscream giggled, wings fluttering, feeling like he was with Grit. Grit always pushed him like that.

The speedster rubbed over Starscream’s codpiece until it opened. He removed his own codpiece and folded out his spike. Starscream giggled at something, whatever his drunken processor thought was funny, then gasped when he was penetrated a little harshly. He flicked his wings, but otherwise didn’t move.

“Oh!” He moaned, arching his backstrut as the speedster began to thrust into him.

“How does he feel?” Another mech asked.

“Like he needs more spikes in him!” The speedster laughed, which the other mechs also laughed.

Starscream laughed with them, not understanding what was so funny, but clearly it was if everyone was laughing.

His wing was grabbed and pulled back, which hurt, but didn’t Grit do that to him? He just lay there, moaning as he was fragged until the mech finally overloaded.

The Seeker groaned when he was yanked up and shoved to another mech, who caught him. He was turned around, his aft pressed into this mech’s codpiece, and penetrated by him. The Seeker whined, feeling strong arms wrap around his waist as he was thrust into.

“Kinda dumb, isn’t he?” One said.

“Seekers aren’t the brightest.”

“Frag it harder!” A third exclaimed.

Starscream curled into himself from how harm he was being thrust into, not able to focus on anything in front of him. He felt his face grabbed, then his mouth pried open. Something was shoved inside, then down his throat. He tried to say something, but couldn’t. Then, his foggy processor realized that someone’s crotch was in his face and their spike in his mouth.

He winced when his aft was slapped hard, then his wings painfully grabbed.

“Yeah! Ride him!”

“Get it deeper!”

“Try to touch in the middle!” Someone laughed, which made the others laugh as well.

Starscream whined when he was overloaded into by the person behind him, soon followed by the person in front of him. He coughed, whined, and weakly pushed at the mech in front of him, but he wouldn’t move. He felt the person behind him pull out, then someone else reenter him. The thrusting on both ends resumed.

This time, when the one in front overloaded, he pulled out his spike and sprayed his transfluid all over Starscream’s faceplates. The Seeker tried jerking his face away, but his neck was grabbed. He was held down as the mech in front then started to slap his face with his spike.

“Like that, slut?” The mech laughed, rubbing his spike all over Starscream’s face now.

Starscream started to say something, only to have the spike shoved back inside him mouth.

“Shut up!” The mech started thrusting again.

The one behind finished and gave Starscream’s aft another had smack. The Seeker whined, only to be grabbed by yet another mech and yanked away. He coughed, his mouth finally free of that spike. He was thrown back against the berth, his neck tightly grasped to the point he was having trouble circulating. This mech entered him and began to brutally thrust. Starscream whined from the pain, pushing back, but he couldn’t get the mech to release him.

That mech eventually overloaded, and shoved Starscream at the speedster, who pushed him against the wall. Starscream whined, only to be slapped hard across the faceplates. He whimpered when he was penetrated yet again and fragged. The speedster grasped at Starscream’s chest plates until they opened. He folded away his own, and concentrated on thrusting into the Seeker. Starscream yelped when they sparkbonded, feeling the mech filling him with his transfluid.

Then he was shoved to another mech, who wasted no time in entering him by the waste port. Starscream cried, pulling against the mech who held him in place, but he couldn’t break away. Coolant filled his optics as he was fragged hard in the aft.

“Shut it, already.”

Starscream’s throat was grabbed, his helm forcibly lowered, and a different mech pushed his spike inside of his mouth and began to thrust.

They finished with him and shoved him to another mech. Then he finished and shoved Starscream to yet another. And again, and again.

Starscream felt so weak as he was pushed back and forth and used. His valve, throat, and waste port painfully pounded into, until they were pulsating with pain from every thrust. He tried to push away, but they kept using him.

He was having trouble standing, but they simply shoved him onto the berth and took turns as he lay there.

Several times he was forced to spark bond with each of the mechs.

He was used by them for nearly two joors before he was carried outside and dropped on the sidewalk. It took him a bit to realize he was outside and alone. He looked around, but the mechs were gone now, but the pain wasn’t.

Slowly, he stood up, weak and unsteady from the inebriation and how exhausted his body was. He stumbled down the street, unable to see as he was too weak to remember how to turn on his night vision. He turned into an alley, stumbled through the darkness, then collapsed.

It was joors later when the Seeker onlined, feeling something on his face. He looked up to see retrorats looking down at him. He jerked up, feeling horrible pain in his helm, throat, valve, aft…. Everywhere. He looked down, realizing he was on a pile of garbage, waste, and… he wasn’t sure what else. It was filth, and a lot of it probably was waste from the retro rats.

He pulled himself to his peds by the dumpster beside him, his legs still wobbly. He felt a burn in his spark, but it probably was from the sparkbonds he was forced to endure.

Slowly, painfully, and with much humiliation, he made his way down the street and towards his apartment. He got to his apartment, climbed onto his berth, and passed out once more.

He onlined joors later, feeling tired still, and the pain persisting. He slowly got up and walked to the energon room. He reached for some energon, when suddenly he purged his fuel tank. He coughed, looked down at the mess on the floor. He swallowed, not sure why he was feeling sick.

His helm was dizzy, body sore all over… His spark was still hurting.

He swallowed, and reached for the energon, only for everything to go black as he passed out.

He onlined again, feeling somehow weaker. He checked his chronometer, shocked to find out two orbital cycles had passed since the hearing. How? Was he in stasis for that long?

The Seeker started to stand, but… Couldn’t. His legs were just too weak. He could barely move them. His fuel reserves were also low.

He tried sitting up, but just couldn’t. He started to dial for the hospital, but stopped. Knock Out was there. He would be sent to the Decepticon hospital where Knock Out worked because he was a Decepticon. He couldn’t risk going there and having Knock Out kill him!

Maybe if he got some medicine from his neighbor, he would be able to just recharge off whatever had him feeling so unwell. It probably was just from the bad hangover.

The Seeker stubbornly crawled along the floor, his legs dragging behind him. He managed to get to the front door, absolutely exhausted. He needed to rest…. And then he fell back in recharge.

He online again, somehow feeling even worse. He looked up, and reached for the pressure sensor to open the door. It took several tries before he managed to tap it and get the door to slide open.

Pathetically, he crawled along the floor, his helm so dizzy, body weak, pain pulsating throughout his systems… He kept crawling until everything went black.

A helicopter former walked down the hallway, going to the elevator, when he saw the Seeker. He ran over and pushed Starscream onto his back.

“Hey, you online?” He shook Starscream’s shoulder. “Hey, Seeker! Online!” He kept shaking him, but Starscream wouldn’t online. “Aw, slag. Just wait, I got you.” He pulled out his communicator and started to call emergency.

I know Knock Out's parents are now your most favorite characters. Just like how you all love Bedlam from "screaming Silence." :P Opulentus is Latin for: ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish. Knock Out grew up a rich boy because both his parents are rich doctors and probably also inherited some stuff from their parents. The headcanon for this story is that speedsters on Velocitron are very well off compared to other builds. More of the IDW G1 comics idea of how Velocitron was like. So, I chose a name for the father that explained what his lifestyle was like.

Meanwhile, Pulchra is the Latin word for "beautiful." Knock Out is a good looking guy in Cybertronian standards (and human standards....), so he gets his looks from his momma. I imagine her to be absolutely stunning, able to afford any cosmetic surgeries she may have wanted and top care for her frame to ensure it was always beautiful.

I chose Latin names because Cybertronians are either named after objects, actions, something from nature, or Latin. Like Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, etc are Latin names.

The gang bang scene was my friend's idea. She really wanted that scene. Partly to make Starscream sick so he has to go to the hospital (oh no!), and partly because he's going through a breakdown right now. Starscream has had a hard time of it. Abused by Megatron for 4 million years, then when he finally gets away from Megatron his son is taken away, then Megatron shows up to keep hurting him, and he's then dumped by someone he thought maybe he would be in a relationship with. And not to mention, he lost his best friend. He's not doing well mentally at all, so this is kind of a breakdown going to a bar to get drunk, desperate for a hug and just someone to be kind to him, and it ends up like this.

Yes, part is Starscream's fault. He should have never taken Fracture to Megatron and all of that. But he is also fighting mental health, delusion, brainwashing, etc. Think of it like why so many people still eat animals and pay for animal cruelty despite the thousands of studies, undercover footage, etc showing we are frugivores and animals ALWAYS suffer for these things. Some people are so brainwashed they can't turn away from obvious lies. Not until they get a hard wakeup call. And Starscream is about to have his wakeup call.

Hope you guys have been enjoying this, thus far!

Chapter Text

Knock Out smiled as he walked to the front desk, and then drummed on it.

“You are looking marvelous, Starlight.” He smirked. “What did you change?”

The femme behind the desk smirked. “Morning, Knock Out. I did change something. Can you guess?”

“New polish?”

“Exactly! I was thinking I needed a little extra something.”

“Femme, it’s beautiful. I love it.” He then peaked over the counter. “Got anything for me?”

“Yes, sir! Got a few more patients just for you.”

Knock Out walked over to the file holders on the wall where datapads were placed inside. Each one had a name of a doctor so they would know which patients were theirs. Knock Out grabbed the datapads from his file holder, then noticed a familiar name in Flatline’s holder. He lifted the datapad, reading the full designation, “Seeker Starscream of Vos.”

His optics shuttered. He glanced at Starlight, making sure she wasn’t watching, then traded one of his datapads for the datapad with Starscream’s designation. He quickly walked away, opening the datapad and reading through the file.

Emergency, brought in via ambulance, in stasis. Nurse placed him on an energon drip.

He quickly walked to the room noted on the datapad.

Starscream slowly onlined his optics, taking a moment to focus on anything. He saw the white walls with cabinets first, then a sink, then the line attached to his arm. It took him a moment to concentrate before he realized where he was: He was in the hospital!

He needed to get out! If Knock Out found him he’d kill him!

The Seeker started to sit up, but… Couldn’t. His frame was simply too weak. He winced when he felt pain in his spark. He whined, trying to force himself up, but he couldn’t even move his arms. His spark was starting to pulsate faster, which brought only more pain.

Then the door opened.

Knock Out was standing there, looking at him, his optics surprised almost… Then he smirked. The most evil of smirks.

“Well, well, well,” The doctor sounded so triumphant. “Look what garbage was dragged into my hospital.”

Starscream’s spark raced faster, he was trembling now. This was it. This was how he would die!

Knock Out stood beside the berth, just smirking, then turned to the datapad he still held. “Hmm, too weak to move.” He tsked. “Such a shame.” He placed the datapad on the counter. I will have to find out why that is, my patient.” He winked, then turned and walked to the sink.

He turned on the faucet, washed his servos, then dried them with a towel, which he tossed into a basket on the floor. He then took a mask and placed it over his faceplates, so it covered his mouth and olfactory sensor.

Starscream felt coolant pooling in his optics. He tried to move, but just couldn’t. He was going to die horribly!

The door opened and a femme walked in. “Sorry, for being late, doctor.”

“That’s alright, Shadow.” Knock Out replied casually, like nothing was happening.

Shadow looked at the datapad, reading through it quickly before washing her servos, and then putting on her own mask.

Knock Out waited for her to be ready before speaking. “Inability to move, low energon reserves, and overheating. I need a spark sample and energon sample.”

“Testing for toxicity of energon?” She asked as she grabbed the equipment for drawing energon.

“Toxicity of energon, present viruses, and engex. His optics are dull, which could be from over energization or circuit booster use.” Knock Out then turned to Starscream and carefully touched his plates.

Starscream trembled, but was surprised with how gentle Knock Out was as he manually forced open his chestplates. He swallowed when his spark was exposed. The nurse handed Knock Out a device, which Knock Out pressed against Starscream’s spark. The Seeker winced from the pain, it feeling like a hard pinch. Knock Out handed the device to the nurse who placed it in a small container and labelled it with a marker.

Knock Out then opened more plates, exposing Starscream’s organs. He looked at the inner workings and spoke as he did so.

“Fuel pump is working at 50%, T-cog is offline. Fuel tank is almost empty, reserves are at 40%.” He continued as the nurse typed everything out on the datapad with Starscream’s info. Finally, Knock Out got to the gestation tank. “Gestation tank… has buildup around the birth tube. Significant leakage. Hand me a swab.”

The nurse did so and Knock Out used it to wipe up some of the black good on the gestation tank. He placed the swab into a small container which the nurse closed and labelled.

He looked up at Starscream, then reached down. Starscream swallowed as he felt Knock Out pulling his legs apart… Then open his codpiece.

“Hand me two more swabs.” He instructed. “I need a rape kit as well.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Starscream swallowed, feeling more coolant leak out.

Knock Out glanced at Starscream before taking one of the swabs. He reached down and pressed the swab a little roughly into the Seeker, ensuring it wasn’t pleasant. Starscream whined, but couldn’t move. Knock Out placed the swab into a container that the nurse labelled. He took another swab, and this time pushed it into the Seeker’s waste port, again, harsher than necessary. This too went into a container that got labelled. He then took the rape kit and pushed this swab in too harshly.

Starscream whined, biting his lower lip plate, only able to twitch some digits.

Knock Out finished taking the samples, then continued his examination. He closed Starscream’s codpiece, washed his servos at the sink, dried them, and then walked to Starscream’s face. He tilted the Seeker’s helm back, and pried open his mouth. His one servo transformed into a flashlight, which he shined into the Seeker’s mouth.

“Denting on the back of the throat.” He spoke, to which the nurse wrote it down on the datapad. “Minor denta damage.” He paused. “Hand me another swab.”

Starscream whined as this swab was pushed to the back of his throat a little harsher than necessary.

Knock Out now looked at his optics, shining the light in them. “Optics have no damage.” He then checked the Seeker’s audio receptors, then looked at his throat. “Denting on the neck consistent to strangulation. Pinched cable on the left side.”

He transformed the flashlight back into his servo, and began to look over the Seeker frame some more.

“Dents on his wrists, consistent to servos clasping.” He looked at Starscream’s waist. “Dents on the waist, both left and right. Hips also have dents.” He pushed Starscream some so he could look under him. “Damage to the aft. Note, dents, scraped paint, and streaks of paint not consistent to the coloration of the patient.”

He set Starscream back down and walked to the sink to wash his servos.

The nurse finished writing down everything Knock Out had said. “Would you like an officer to come down?”

Knock Out looked at her as he dried his servos on yet another towel before tossing it into the bin. “Not yet. Let me speak to the patient. Send the samples to the lab. I am going to get a pain reading.”

The nurse set the datapad down on the counter, grabbed all the containers with the samples, and walked out.

Starscream’s optics widened once the door closed, and he was alone with his nemesis.

Knock Out slowly removed the mask, smirking. “I know Megatron didn’t do this to you.”

Starscream swallowed. The doctor grabbed the wheeled chair from the corner, pulled it over, and sat on it. He crossed his arms as he leaned back.

“It’s almost poetic how you, being you, end up in my hospital. What was it you said? You’d scrap me like an Autobot, or something like that?” He grabbed the datapad, his smirk growing. “Now looks who’s the scrapheap.”

“Knock Out…” Starscream said so weakly, surprised by how soft his vocalizer was. “Don’t do this….”

“Do what?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge. “I’m just taking care of my patient.” He smiled, it being so sinister. He looked at the datapad. “Now, tell your doctor how you feel.”

“Are you being serious or threatening?”

“Serious. Are you dizzy? Nauseous? In any pain?”

“I want another doctor…”

“They’re busy.”

“I really need another doctor.”

“Want to talk about who you were fragging?”

“No…”

“Then tell me how you feel. Is your spark hurting?” He said it a little harshly.

Starscream swallowed. “Y-yes… A little bit… It… Burns some.”

Knock Out typed on his datapad. “Burning spark… When did that begin?”

“I don’t know… I felt it… When I onlined… Two orbital cycles ago.”

“So… After the hearing?”

Starscream felt coolant pooling in his optics, remembering the hearing. “Yeah… Like… That night. But it was worse yesterday.”

Knock Out wrote that down. “Any other pain?”

“I… Feel queasy.”

“Have you vomited?”

“I did. I think… Yesterday. I-I can’t remember the last two orbital cycles too well…”

“When did you start to lose your ability to move?”

“Yesterday…”

“Have you felt dizzy? Disoriented?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Two orbital cycles ago…”

Knock Out wrote all of this down. “Now, Starscream… I need to ask you some more personal questions. I can tell you were fragged a lot. Definitely by more than one. Don’t deny this. I am a trained medical professional and know the signs. You had oral interface, correct?”

Starscream swallowed. “Yes…”

“And you were penetrated by the valve and waste port, correct?”

“Yes…”

“Did anything else happen? Sparkbonding? Hitting?”

“There was some sparkbonding… I really don’t remember much.”

“Don’t remember much of the interface? What happened?”

“Why do you need to know?” Starscream narrowed his optics.

“Because, prior to the hearing you were fine. Afterwards, you immediately took ill, as you recant. I need to know how and why so I can do my job.”

“Why does it matter? You’re just going to kill me.”

Knock Out gave him a hard look. “You don’t know me at all. I took an oath, Starscream. In this hospital you are my patient.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re going to kill me.” The Seeker said it firmly.

“Believe whatever you want. Now, what happened?”

“I don’t remember! I was… fragged. By mechs… And I… I don’t remember, okay!?”

Knock Out gave him a look before writing down something. “Is there anything else I should be apprised of? Did you do circuit boosters? Drink engex?”

“I don’t know…”

“Well, when your test results come back, I’ll know.” Knock Out grunted.

The speedster stood and held up the datapad so Starscream could see.

“See this? This says you’re in bad shape. You’re going to be in my care for some time. Better get your attitude checked.” He placed the datapad in a file holder on the side of the counter.

He then adjusted the energon drip, making the needle inside the Seeker’s arm move some to ensure it hurt. Starscream whimpered, then glared at the doctor. Knock Out placed the nurse call button in Starscream’s servo, then washed his servos at the sink once again.

“I enjoyed catching up, Starscream.” He grunted, tossing another towel into the bin. “I suggest you get some recharge. I will be back to administer drugs. Not the kind you probably were just using…” He grumbled the last part.

The speedster walked to the door, looked back at the Seeker, then walked out. Starscream felt relieved when the door closed. He vented loudly, trying to think how he would get out of here. He looked around the room, but there were no windows, nothing. Just the berth, the counter, sink, cupboards, the chair with wheels, two chairs without wheels, a scale, and posters on the wall showing the different anatomy.

He couldn’t believe he would be murdered by his enemy in a hospital. Why couldn’t it be on the battlefield?

Starscream online a couple of joors later to the door opening. He felt his spark pulse quickening when he saw it was Knock Out who had entered the room. The doctor walked over to the Seeker and began to mess with the energon drip.

“What are you doing…?” Starscream asked weakly.

“I am giving you medicine.” He connected another bag to the drip. “Some pain dampeners as well. You are too weak for an immediate full dosage so… I shall administer it with your energon.”

“It’s not poison, is it?”

Knock Out gave him a look. “If I was going to poison you, I wouldn’t do it with the energon drip. That would leave evidence behind. I know how to hide a poisoning.”

Starscream swallowed.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sick…”

“Be a bit more descriptive than that.”

“Weak… My helm is killing me, my spark hurts, everything is sore… I feel like I transformed a thousand times at once…”

Knock Out picked up the datapad, wrote that down, then placed it back. He then vented a sigh. “Why do you smell so bad?”

Starscream didn’t look at him, remembering onlining in the garbage and waste with the retrorats.

“You really need to be open with your doctor.”

“You are trying to kill me!”

“You are my nemesis, yes, but right now, you’re also my patient. My disgusting, idiotic, selfish, miserable, and plain stupid patient… But still my patient.”

“I will report to your CR about abusing a patient.”

Knock Out chuckled. “You want to report abuse when this hospital is run by Hook? Good luck!”

“You already are in trouble for your porn getting out…”

“Yes, that did get out. And I found out it’s very popular and now many of my patients are excited to see the doctor they get off to at night. It’s absolutely disgusting and gross and an insult to the sanctity of my mating, but… You made me a mini celebrity. They wouldn’t fire a mini celebrity.”

“I’m sure I can convince Hook.”

“I’m pretty sure Hook eats nails with his energon. That mech doesn’t let anyone convince him of anything.”

Starscream tried to sit up, but he was still too weak. “I’ll let them all know how you threatened me.”

Knock Out shrugged. “You’re a liar, Starscream. Everyone knows it. That’s why Megatron was always beating on you. You lie, you betray, you’re just a terrible person. You’re the reason Fracture has night terrors!”

“He does not!”

Knock Out glared at him. “He doesn’t remember exactly what happened to him, but his sub conscious does. And he has nightmares about a ‘big, mean mech’ attacking him. That’s your fault.” He pointed a claw at the Seeker. “You were never meant to be a carrier. You can’t take care of a sparkling, much less yourself.” He gestured at the Seeker for emphasize.

Starscream was furious, his optics narrowing. “You stole my son! And all you’ve done is lie! He’s not yours!” He started to try and sit up again. “You’re nothing but a backstabbing glitch! You said you’d help me and all you’ve done is hurt me! Over and over again! You took my sparkling!”

“The court gave him to me because you’re so unfit to care for him. Fracture is healthy and alive because I stepped up to be the carrier he needed.”

“You stole him from me! You miserable grounders took him from me solely because I’m a Seeker! I should kill you! You and your idiot mate! I’ll cut out your sparks and-“ He started to cough, his rage tiring himself out. “And shove them down-“ He felt a horrible pain from his abdomen, then his helm started to become dizzier.

“And you’ll…?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge, crossing his arms.

“I’ll…” Starscream felt more ill, his body trembling, then… He purged all over himself.

The Seeker’s optics widened, realizing he just vomited onto his own chestplates, unable to move himself to at least purge off the side of the berth. He swallowed, his fuel tank feeling like someone was punching it, and his entire frame hurting.

Knock Out didn’t even flinch. He watched the Seeker a moment, then simply turned to the cabinets, grabbed cleaning solution and towels, and walked back to the Seeker. Without even hesitating, he began to wipe clean the Seeker’s chestplates of all the purged energon. Starscream swallowed, watching him, expecting to see disgust in the doctor’s face, but there was nothing. It was like Knock Out was doing something as simple as wiping down a counter.

The Seeker was beyond embarrassed, feeling disgusted with himself, and positive that Knock Out thought him to be filthy. But to Knock Out, it was just another orbital cycle dealing with sick patients. He was use to cleaning waste, purged energon, and other bodily fluids off patients for thousands of vorns. He was a doctor who dealt with the very sick, the injured, and even delivered sparklings. An orbital cycle he didn’t have to handle body fluids were rare and far in between, especially after a war where he had to repair serious injuries that would be spurting energon, oil, and grease into his face.

This was just another sick patient needing to be cleaned to him. But for Starscream, it was utterly humiliating, and he was positive Knock Out would always mock him for this.

Knock Out finished cleaning off the vomit, then washed his servos. He looked at Starscream, noticing coolant leaking from those dim optics. The speedster turned back to the cabinets, grabbed a small bucket and more towels. Starscream watched as the grounder filled the bucket with water and soap, then set it down on the medberth beside him. He wrung out a sponge in the soapy water, then began to clean off the Seeker’s plates.

Neither of them said a thing as Knock Out cleaned Starscream’s arms, torso, legs, peds, codpiece, and even pushed the Seeker onto his side to reach his back plates. Knock Out had to dump out the filthy water, refill it, and go over the Seeker again, this time also cleaning the wings.

Knock Out paused when he reached the face. Slowly, he wiped Starscream’s cheekplates clean, then his brow. He cleaned the helm, neck, and finally around his optics. He wiped down the flier with a towel.

Starscream swallowed, watching the doctor pour out the dirty bucket water, and toss the towels into the basket to be washed. Knock Out then washed his servos.

Knock Out started for the door, but stopped. He vented a sigh as he walked back over to the Seeker and unsubspaced a small box.

“You cannot be my patient and look like this.” Knock Out sat on the wheeled chair as he prepared a brush.

Starscream didn’t say anything, just bit his glossa as Knock Out began to paint optic liner on him…. Just as he had so many times in the past. The speedster didn’t say anything as he worked, concentrating on making sure the Seeker’s paint was perfect.

He then buffed the flier’s cheekplates and fixed up the paint on the faceplates. He grabbed a mirror from a drawer and held it up for Starscream to see. The Seeker swallowed, seeing his face the way it always looked after Knock Out had beautified him.

Knock Out put the mirror back, subspaced his box with all the brushes, paints, and buffer, then handed Starscream the remote for the vidscreen. He walked out without another word.

Starscream watched the door, half expecting Knock Out to come back and push him off the medberth or something, but he didn’t. Did that grounder do this to all his patients, or was he trying to lure Starscream into a false sense of security and then wham! Poison him.

The Seeker may never know…. Until it was too late.

“I’m home!” Knock Out announced as he walked into his house.

“Carrier!” Many voices screamed out at once.

“Hey, my mechlings!” Knock Out held out his arms as three sparklings all ran into him and hugged him.

He purred his engine, holding the older two mechlings with one arm, as the other was lower to hold Dead End close. He gave each mechling a kiss on their cheekplates before releasing them.

“How was your orbital cycle?” He smiled at them.

“School sucked.” Fracture grunted.

“I fell down and scraped my knee!” Wildbreak proclaimed, displaying the injured knee to his carrier.

“How did that happen?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge.

“He pushed me.” Wildbreak pointed at Fracture.

“Why did you push your brother?”

“He was being annoying.” Fracture grunted.

“That’s still not a good reason to push him.”

“I HELPED PUSH HIM!” Dead End shrieked, then giggled before he resumed hugging Knock Out’s leg.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Don’t be violent to each other. You will get enemies when adults so will have to depend on each other’s help. Being violent to the ones you love won’t get you far in life. It will leave you sad and alone.”

“Hey, babe!” Breakdown greeted as he raised his arm high and smacked Knock Out on the aft hard.

“Ouch!” Knock Out spun around and shoved at him. “I am literally telling our creations to not be violent with each other and you are violent towards me!”

Breakdown only laughed. “You love it.”

“I do not! You have hit my aft literally every orbital cycle since the wedding and I am sick and tired of it!”

“You never tire of me.”

“I do.” He pushed at his mate.

Breakdown only grabbed his wrists, pulled him closer, and wrapped an arm around Knock Out’s waist. “You love it when I piss you off.”

“Stop it.” Knock Out raised a claw in the truck’s face. “I mean it.” He said sternly as Breakdown only inched his face closer to Knock Out’s. “Stop! Don’t make me tell the mechlings to save me from you.”

“They like it when I annoy you with my infinite love.” His face was almost in kissing distance of Knock Out’s.

“We actually don’t…” Fracture replied.

Breakdown looked at him. “Just you wait until you have a mate. Then you will be annoying them every single orbital cycle and will be happy about it.”

“Or be the one being annoyed….” Fracture grumbled.

“Even better!” Breakdown laughed before forcibly kissing Knock Out on the cheekplates despite the smaller mech’s struggling.

“Stop! Breakdown, don’t-!” Knock Out continued trying to escape, only for his Conjunx Endura to viciously tickle him.

“Say you love me.” Breakdown smirked, not ceasing his “torture.”

“If you don’t stop, I won’t tell you drama!” Knock Out barely managed to yell because his forced laughter from the tickling.

Breakdown immediately ceased. “Drama? Ooh! I love drama! Did Bolt finally break up with Gearshift? Is Celestial getting the divorce!? Tell me!”

Knock Out managed to push himself free. “Calm down. Let me tell my beautiful sons I love them, first.”

Knock Out turned to the mechlings and first cupped Wildbreak’s cheekplates. He lovingly nuzzled his eldest son’s faceplates and kissed his brow. “Love you, Wildbreak.”

“Love you, too, carrier!” Wildbreak beamed, so happy to have Knock Out as his carrier.

Knock Out then kneeled and did the same to Dead End. “Love you, Dead End.”

“I LOVE YOU, CARRIER!” Dead End exclaimed for the whole universe to know.

Knock Out then stood and cupped Fracture’s faceplates. The mechling smiled up at him, but his smile wasn’t like this “siblings.” He looked nothing like the other two. Wildbreak and Dead End were so obviously related. They had the same optics, same orange faces, everything was either from Breakdown or Knock Out.

But not Fracture. He was painfully obviously not their biological son. Other people noticed and asked Knock Out if he was from another partner, or something scandalous. It scared Knock Out that Fracture may figure it out on his own and be upset he was never told, or might be bullied for being adopted. He didn’t want to tell Fracture the truth, but it was going to come out sooner or later…

“Carrier?”

Knock Out noticed he had stopped smiling. He quickly forced it back, then nuzzled Fracture on the faceplates, his engine purring when he heard Fracture purr his own. “I love you, Fracture. My sweet mechling.”

“Love you, too, carrier.” Fracture broadly grinned, looking up at Knock Out with so much love and pride at being able to call him carrier.

How could he ever tell that face he wasn’t actually his?

He kissed Fracture on the brow before releasing him. “I love you three so much. I need to talk to your sire about something real quick, and then I’ll tuck you all into berth.”

“Okay, carrier!” Wildbreak skipped off.

Fracture glanced back at Knock Out before chasing after his brother. Dead End refused to leave and only hugged his carrier’s leg in defiance. The speedster couldn’t deny that pudgy face of his youngest, so picked him up, which was getting harder. The sparkling was almost too big to carry, but how could Knock Out stop holding his little sparkling?

“So…” Breakdown pried as he watched Knock Out kiss Dead End on the cheekplates. “What’s the gossip?”

“Oh my gosh….” Knock Out turned to him, smirking. “Guess what miserable pile of scrap got checked into emergency this morning.”

“I can’t guess. Tell me!”

“Our former Air Commander.”

Breakdown’s optics widened. “What for? Did Megatron beat him?”

“No, he is diseased. I am waiting for the test results, but he has some serious virus. He can’t even move. I suspect he got something from whoring himself.”

“Why do you suspect that?”

“Because his…” He paused to cover Dead End’s audio receptors, and then continued with whispering. “His intimacy was covered in trans fluid and… Specific signs of intercourse I’m not saying while Dead End is right here. His gestation tank literally was tearing apart from having so much…. Sparkling juice put into it…. He had dents in the back of his throat.”

“But he looked fine at the hearing.”

“He said he had intercourse after the hearing, but won’t say with who. Multiple mechs for sure. He’s in a bad state. All he can do is speak, and he can barely do that.”

“Who is his doctor.”

“I am.”

Breakdown gave him a look. “Don’t do anything illegal.”

Knock Out smirked. “I won’t. You’d be surprised how much is actually legal.”

“Babe…”

“I joke!” Knock Out gently shoved at his mate.

“I know you’re not. I mean it. Behave or else.”

“Or else what?”

“You know what I’ll do.”

“You leave my aft out of this. I’m not going to do anything, promise. Starscream is my patient.”

“Uh huh. I better not hear anything on the news about the passing of the infamous Starscream of Vos.”

“And if you don’t trust me then… I guess no fun times for you.” Knock Out said it sternly.

“How dare you threaten me with no fun times! I need those times!”

“Then trust me.”

“Fine. Did you report this to Prime?”

“Why?”

“He should know. There’s still a custody battle going on.”

“Yes, I’ll make a report once I know what Starscream has.”

“Good.” Breakdown then smirked. “Can we put the mechlings to berth and have some fun time?”

“After this victory?” Knock Out then lustfully smirked. “I’m sucking you dry, big guy.” He purred.

“WOOOOOO!!!!” Breakdown threw his fists in the air. “Everyone in berth! Time to recharge!”

Starscream onlined when he heard the door to his room open. He had been cared for all night by a nurse, so he expected it to be the nurse again… It wasn’t.

Knock Out walked in with a datapad. The speedster sat on the wheeled chair, rolled it over to the medberth, and leaned back.

“I have your test results, commander.” He mockingly said the last part.

Starscream narrowed his optics. “What is it?”

“You, my nemesis, are infected by not one, not two, but three ITVs. That’s Interface Transmitted Virus. It’s something you get when you frag without using protection, or know who you’re even fragging. But you being a whore…” He lifted the datapad to read off it. “You have an ITV we like to call, ‘Spark Rust.’ As the name suggests, it causes erosion to the spark. This is a serious virus, Starscream. This virus kills many. If you hadn’t been admitted to hospital when you were you’d be dead.” He paused. “Pity… Would have saved me a lot of trouble…

“Spark Rust loves to chomp away at the spark and weaken it. It means, for your simple processor to understand, that your spark is growing weaker each orbital cycle and will continue to do so unless you have surgery. But, Spark Rust has yet to be cured. People suffer from this for life! While we do have the technology to treat it and ensure people can still live a very long life, even by our species’ standards, it does come with one major problem: It reduces the chance of a successful spark fusion. In bolt processor words, your chances of making another spark, and therefore life, is significantly lowered. Thank Primus… You already majorly fragged up your first carrying…”

Starscream swallowed. “I… Might never become sparked again?”

“Very likely. It’s sadly not zero, but you’re not as fertile as you were before.” Knock Out grunted. “And that’s just one of the viruses you contracted. You also have an ITV lovingly referred to as ‘rust valve,’ because it rusts away your privates and makes it very itchy in your intimacy. So that discomfort from your valve, birth tube, and waste port is coming from this. The third ITV is wonderful as well. This one is less of a virus and more of a tiny, microscopic androids eating away at your inside. Think scraplets, but smaller, and all up inside of your valve, birth tube, gestation tank, and making their way to your organs. That’s why you’re vomiting so much, because they are inside your fuel tank and fuel pump munching away!”

Starscream just stared at the ceiling, feeling coolant pooling in his optics. He didn’t say anything, not wanting to respond to Knock Out’s condescending tone.

“I’m not done yet.” Knock Out continued. “While those are the ITVs, the viruses you got from fragging strangers for Shanix or just because you love a different spike in you every night, you also have another android disease. This one you didn’t get from your interface partners. This one is common in retrorats and other little trash dwellers. They are energon fleas, and they are sucking your energon out from the tubes while we speak. They burrow inside your tubes, and just drink up all they want while laying their little android eggs. Circle of life happening in you as we speak. Thankfully, they are very easy to kill. The ITVs will be a bit more difficult.”

He lowered the datapad and watched Starscream, but the Seeker remained silent. Knock Out grabbed the other datapad, worked on transferring the test results to Starscream’s file, and then placed that datapad back into the file holder. He waited to see if Starscream would say anything, but the jet still didn’t speak. Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates.

“Part of me wants to just leave you to die of these very painful diseases.” The speedster finally spoke, his arms crossed. “You really deserve it. After everything you put me through, what you did to Fracture… Everything you did to so many throughout the war… You’re such a terrible person, Starscream. It’s like your fate to suffer for causing so much suffering!” He paused before continuing. “But, you’re also my patient and I do love a challenge. I really should give you a new brain module because… You are so fragging stupid. Gosh, I pray Fracture did not take after you in that.”

He stood. “The plan of action is this: I will treat the android fleas first since that’s the easiest. You will feel worse as your energon will be tainted, but it’s the only way to kill them. I will then have to flush your energon and replace it with new energon to ensure all of the android fleas and their larvae are out of you. Then, I will focus on the ITVs in your intimacy. The ITV androids will require a freezing treatment. They can’t handle the cold and depend on warm engines to survive. It will be unpleasant, but lowering your body below freezing will kill them off, and then I will have to flush your organs to ensure they are gone. Rust valve simply is an ointment. It’s the most common ITV so don’t worry about it. I’ve treated it many times. I probably treat it at least once an orn.

“Once the androids and rust valve are cured, your frame will be able to heal. You won’t feel nauseous, you will gain strength, and your intimacy won’t itch. I will allow your frame to heal and grow stronger before I do surgery on your spark. The surgery is… Not as simple because it is your spark… But I’ve done far harder spark surgeries. You will be put in stasis lock for it.”

“And I suppose that’s when you will ‘slip’ the scalpel and finish me.” Starscream said softly.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Don’t insult me, Starscream. I am a perfectionist at my craft. ‘Slipping’ would only embarrass me. When you die it will be obvious that your stupidity was the reason, not me making mistakes I never make.”

Starscream didn’t speak immediately. “How soon until the surgery?”

“Depending on how quickly the other viruses die, and how quickly you self repair… An orn. Definitely less than a decacycle.”

“That long…?”

“What, you have something better to do?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge.

Starscream remained silent. He didn’t want to talk to Knock Out anymore.

Knock Out walked to the door. “Rest, Starscream. I will be back to begin the treatment.”

And with that, he left the room, leaving a very anxious Seeker alone.

Starscream onlined again to find Knock Out washing his servos at the sink and a nurse setting up an energon pump. He felt his spark pulsating faster, watching the doctor closely.

“Ah, you’re online.” Knock Out said once he noticed Starscream’s optics were glowing. “We are about to begin the energon drain. You will have your infected energon pumped out of you, new energon pumped in that has the poison for the android fleas, that will be allowed to circulate for a joor, then it will be pumped out and normal energon pumped back into you.” He explained as he started to help the nurse prepare the equipment. “My assistant for this procedure is Gunsmoke.”

“Hi.” The mech nurse smiled.

“Gunsmoke is good at what he does so please don’t give him a hard time.”

Starscream remained silent, watching them work. Knock Out removed the energon drip, a little roughly to ensure it hurt, and then put in a new needle, this one thicker. He ensured it hurt enough that Starscream yelped a little. Knock Out then opened Starscream’s abdominal plating, pushed another needle into a primary fuel line, which hurt, and then readied the machine. Soon, energon was being sucked out of the Seeker as new energon, tinted pink, was pumped in. He could feel the energon moving inside of his fuel lines. It wasn’t painful, but definitely not pleasant.

The Seeker whined, not liking the feeling.

“Would you prefer to be in stasis during this? It’s going to be a while.” The doctor asked as he checked over the readings on the pump machine.

Starscream swallowed. “And you kill me while I’m unable to defend myself?”

“You can’t defend yourself now…”

Starscream winced from the pumping getting a little faster. Knock Out vented a sigh.

“I’m putting you in stasis lock. When you online the pump treatment will be over, and I’ll allow you to rest for the rest of the orbital cycle. We’ll do the freeze treatment tomorrow morning.”

Starscream felt his spark jumping when Knock Out placed a servo on his helm. He felt the plates moving, he felt Knock Out plugging the chord in, his HUD popped up with a system alert, then… Everything was black.

Starscream onlined, feeling weird, and tired. He looked up to see Knock Out before him.

“The android flea treatment was a success. All the bad energon has been removed and replaced with good energon. Samples were taken and it appears the android fleas are gone. I want you to rest the rest of the orbital cycle.” He then handed Starscream the remote for the vidscreen. “Not too much. Recharge as much as you can. I’ll see you again for the freezing treatment. Gunsmoke will apply the first round of treatment for the rust valve in a bit.” He patted Starscream on the shoulder. “I will see you in the morning. I will be spending my night having interface with my mate, and reminding Fracture he is safe and loved with me.” He smirked.

Starscream glared at him.

Knock Out evilly smiled as he walked to the door and out, leaving the Seeker alone.

“Mmmm, I deserve this.” Knock Out smirked as he sat in the bathtub filled with oil, a glass of engex in one servo, and the other servo held by Breakdown as he filed the claws.

“You deserve everything, my queen.” Breakdown smiled, sitting on the floor next to the tub as he worked on his mate’s claws, sharpening and shining them.

“Work was so hard…” Knock Out offlined his optics, sinking deeper into the oil until it reached his neck. “I had to deal with Starscream some more.”

“And how did that go?”

“Not too terrible… The android fleas have been dealt with, so just the ITVs are left.”

“I’m sure that won’t be hard to handle.”

“Hmm,” Knock Out sipped from his engex. “His test results also showed he was inebriated. He had a lot of excess energy in his energon.”

“You think he was drunk when he fragged whoever he did?”

“Oh, I know he was. He definitely was quite intoxicated. The question is if he was drinking with the mechs who fragged him, before he fragged them, or after.”

“Do you suspect it was forced?”

“He’s a whore so probably was consensual. But, I’ll have to talk to him about it. Not like he will be honest with me.”

“Did you contact Prime?”

“I sent him everything I’m legally allowed to. He knows the viruses Starscream has, the treatment plan, that he was drunk, the results of the rape kit, and how Starscream is physically doing.”

“What were the results of the rape kit?” Breakdown finished filing Knock Out’s claws and now began to shine them.

“I can’t tell you everything, but five mechs injected their trans fluid into him.”

“All together?”

“Seems like it happened in a gang bang.” Knock Out rolled his optics. “Slagging whore…” He grumbled before sipping more of his engex.

“That’s why we have Fracture.” Breakdown grunted. “Keep him far away from that world.”

“It terrifies me thinking what might have happened to Fracture if Starscream never came to us when he did, or if we never took action. He would be dead…”

“Don’t think about those things. He’s here, he’s alive, and he’s loved.” Breakdown massaged Knock Out’s servo now.

“I really don’t want to see him again… That Seeker is just a drain on everyone…”

“Well, you always can come home to be spoiled by me.” Breakdown smiled.

“I love being spoiled by you.” Knock Out smiled back.

“We should hop in the shower and-“

The door was opened, and Dead End raced in.

“Carrier! I want bath, too!” He proclaimed as he went straight to the tub, used his sire’s legs as a ladder to help him climb up, and fell face first into the oil, flipping over as he did so.

Knock Out vented a sigh. “It was nice while it lasted…”

Dead End shot his helm out from the oil, spitting out oil at his sire, and then flaring his arms, making oil splatter all over his creators and the washroom. He laughed, sitting on his carrier’s lap as he splashed in the oil, so happy to be included in whatever his carrier was doing.

“Would you like me to do your digits?” Breakdown inquired of his youngest.

“Yes!” Dead End held out his servo, posing just like his carrier.

Breakdown took the tiny servo and began to file the tiny claws. Knock Out sighed before sipping from his engex.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, his HUD warning him about how cold his systems were. He looked down, watching Knock Out closely as the doctor stood by. Starscream’s body was in a large tube-like machine, only his helm sticking out as he lied down. The machine made him freezing cold, far colder than the tundras of Cybertron. But, this extreme cold was supposed to kill the androids eating away at his organs…

“Doing alright?” Knock Out inquired when he finally looked down at the Seeker.

“Yeah… Just peachy.” Starscream grunted, trying to ignore the warning he was now receiving on his HUD about how his fuel pump was having trouble pumping.

“Just a little bit longer.” Knock Out commented, looking at a datapad, then back at the Seeker. “So… Your test results from yesterday also showed you had been drinking. Want to elaborate on that?”

“No.” He snapped, his optics narrowing.

Knock Out smirked. “Even to your own doctor you lie. I know you were drinking a lot, Starscream. Want to see the results? I also know from a certain other test that at least five mechs used you as their plaything. Was that consensual or…?”

“Why do you care?”

“Well, I am your doctor. Should you have been inebriated to the point of being unable to consent… I am a mandated reporter. I would have to inform the cops.” He paused to wave the datapad he held some. “The Prime has the results. He knows you were fragged by at least five mechs, that you were intoxicated, and about the viruses. He also knows the state you were in when you arrived and how you currently are doing.” He paused. “He might pay you a visit when you are no longer unable to even move.”

Starscream swallowed. He did not want Prime to see him like this… Or anyone.

“Be honest, Starscream. What happened that night?” He said it in a tone that wasn’t mocking, but actually sounded like the old Knock Out.

Starscream glared at the ceiling, not sure if he should say anything. At least, not say everything.

“I… I did go to a bar to get something… And I might have had more drinks than I had originally intended…”

Knock Out cocked his helm, leaning against the machine. “And…?”

“And…. I don’t really remember much. I remember… Some mechs… And I remember going with them somewhere…. And then…” He bit his lower lip plate, remembering some of what he could… And none of it was pleasant.

Knock Out rubbed his faceplates when he saw the coolant pooling in Starscream’s optics. “Stars….” He watched him a moment. “I can make a report and they will be found. We have their CNA. I will be your witness.”

Starscream shook his helm. “I’m not going to court.”

“If they hurt you-“

“Just… Drop it. You’re supposed to be curing me not pestering me about what I did with some mechs.”

“Starscream, if you were under the influence your processor wasn’t in any state to make educated decisions. And if those mechs took advantage of you in such a state, action should be taken. Especially if one of those mechs is carrying such a deadly virus. It would save many other people to find out who he is and ensure he can’t make anyone else sick.”

Starscream didn’t speak, instead he looked away, wanting to forget the few things he did remember about that night. Knock Out bit his glossa, rubbed his faceplates, then turned to the machine. He turned it off, and pulled the tray berth Starscream was lying on.

“That’s enough. They should all be dead.” The doctor spoke.

He pulled the wheeled stretcher over, then helped Starscream sit up. The Seeker could move his arms some, but still not his legs. Knock Out picked him up bridal style, turned around, and gentled placed him on the stretcher. He helped adjust the Seeker’s legs and wings, so he was comfortable, then started to wheel him out of the room.

Starscream didn’t say anything, his servos slowly clasping each other over his abdomen as he looked at his HUD. Knock Out also remained silent, only speaking when a nurse walked over and helped him wheel Starscream back to his room, and then assisted Knock Out in lifting Starscream up and placing him back on the medberth.

Knock Out wrote something in the datapad, set it back in its holder, then scanned Starscream.

“It looks good. I will let the nurse finish the treatment for this orbital cycle and then I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.” He studied the Seeker a moment. “I hope you are a little more open with me then.”

Starscream only looked down, not wanting to look at the speedster. Knock Out gave some instructions to the nurse, then walked out.

“He’s either ashamed or hiding something. He wouldn’t tell me.” Knock Out whispered as he picked up a recharging Dead End from the couch.

“He’s prideful. Why would he tell you if he was taken advantage of by a group of creeps.” Breakdown grunted, turning off the vidscreen, and then carefully picking up a recharging Wildbreak from the couch.

“He needs to tell me so I know if I need to make a report.”

“You’re not going to get him to talk if you’re mean to him.” Breakdown held Wildbreak with one arm against his chestplates as he scooped up a recharging Fracture in the other arm.

“How can I be nice to someone who has done the things he’s done?” Knock Out growled as he started for the stairs, his mate following.

“He’s a terrible person, I’m not disagreeing with you. But of how awful he is if he was raped he still needs that justice.”

Knock Out walked into Dead End’s room and carefully placed the little one on his berth. “He could just be playing off his emotional outburst from the hearing.” Knock Out placed a blanket over Dead End, then walked out of the room to go into Wildbreak’s.

“I don’t think he was lying about Megatron raping him. Megatron has been using Starscream for the entire war.” Breakdown followed his mate into the second berthroom.

Knock Out carefully took Wildbreak from Breakdown’s hold, and placed him in his berth before covering him with a blanket. “He shouldn’t have kept that secret from Prime. He has to lie about everything.”

“He does…” Breakdown followed Knock Out out of Wildbreak’s room and into Fracture’s. He then carefully placed Fracture onto his berth, and Knock Out covered him with a blanket. “But there’s some things he wouldn’t because of his arrogance.”

Knock Out walked out of Fracture’s room and towards his own, Breakdown right behind him. “I suppose you’re right… But he only admitted to the drinking and being fragged by so many after the test results. When he couldn’t hide the truth.”

“Well, you have him in a corner.” Breakdown turned off the light in their room.

Knock Out sat on the berth, then lied down. “Yeah, a cornered animal becomes more aggressive.”

Breakdown got on his side of the berth, then wrapped his arm around Knock Out’s waist, pulling him close to him. “They do get aggressive, but that’s when you offer them treats and be nice so they earn your trust.”

“You’re suggesting I bribe him with treats?” Knock Out looked back at his mate.

“Well,” Breakdown smirked. “That would work on me!”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Starscream isn’t you.”

“You know him better than me. You do what you think is best.” He then kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates before settling down and offlining his optics.

Knock Out settled down himself, a servo lowering to rest over his mate’s as it held his waist. He vented a sigh, then offlined his optics.

Five Orbital Cycles Later:

Starscream hadn’t seen Knock Out since the freezing treatment. Only a nurse ever came to visit him to give him energon, check on him, help him clean, and treat him for the rust valve. Thankfully, Knock Out did manage to kill both types of androids that had been infecting him, and all tests came back negative for their presence.

He was getting better from the rust valve, and his strength was returning to him. He could sit up on his own, but his legs still didn’t want to work. He got tired very easily, and his helm still got dizzy. But at least he no longer felt nauseous and could move his arms.

The Seeker was watching the vidscreen, unable to do anything else, when the door opened. He swallowed when he saw it was Knock Out.

“You’re sitting up. Good.” The doctor walked in with a tray of energon.

“Where have you been?” Starscream eyed him, trying to perk his wings, but they refused to rise.

“I have been seeing other patients. You didn’t need me every orbital cycle hovering over you. The nurses took good care of you, I’m sure.”

“They have been very nice… Minus that magenta femme… She’s a glitch.”

“Lightsaber? Oh my gosh, she is such a glitch!” Knock Out replied as he placed the tray on the counter beside the Seeker.

“She is! Why is she so grouchy?”

Knock Out grabbed the wheeled chair, sat on it, and rolled over. “Maybe she never has had a good overload.” He shrugged, unsubspacing the energon he had brought from home.

Starscream watched the doctor pour additives into a glass of the energon on the tray, and then place the tray over Starscream’s lap with the legs on the tray resting on the medberth. He then grabbed his own energon and leaned back.

“Are you poisoning me?” Starscream eyed the energon before him.

“While I’m on break I’m also still on the clock. I’m not killing you while working. While my work does try to kill me, I still like my job.” He then sipped from his energon.

“Why are you spending your break with me…? Don’t you have a breakroom you can hang out with the other doctors…?”

“Doctors never break at the same time. And, I never go in the break room… The nurses have taken over. That’s their territory now…”

“Do doctors and nurses not get along?”

“Oh, we get along fine, just… Nurses tend to do the most labor, so sometimes they are a little mad at the doctors who don’t do as much labor. And also, the fact the doctors boss them around… We just don’t mingle on breaks. Before the war when hospitals weren’t so understaffed, yeah, sure, we could mingle. But now… We stick to our own kind more.”

“Who knew the inner workings of a hospital were so complicated.” Starscream picked up the glass, still not sure if he should drink it.

“You have no idea.” He drank his energon, then noticed Starscream’s arm was shaking.

The Seeker managed to raise the glass to his lip plates and sip a little, but his arm quickly grew tired, and he had to place the glass back on the tray.

“Doing alright?”

“I’m fine.” Starscream offlined his optics for a moment, wishing he wasn’t still so weak.

Knock Out quickly drank his energon, finishing it, then set aside his glass. He wheeled the chair over until he was beside the Seeker, and reached over. The speedster picked up the glass and held it up to the Seeker’s lip plates. Starscream glanced uncertainly at him, but opened his mouth. Slowly, Knock Out helped him drink his energon until it was all gone. The grounder set the glass on the counter next to his, grabbed a towel, and wiped around the Seeker’s mouth as if he was cleaning the mouth of a sparkling.

“How is your spark feeling?” Knock Out inquired.

Starscream looked down at his servos. “It still hurts some. Not as bad as it was a few orbital cycles ago.”

“That’s good. And I saw the androids are all gone. How is the rust valve?”

“Still itchy but not as bad.”

“Good. You are repairing nicely. Hopefully, I will be able to perform the spark surgery within the next three orbital cycles.”

“Not an orn?”

“It’s already been just over half an orn since you checked in.”

“Right…” Starscream didn’t look at him.

“It’s okay to be scared of surgery.”

“I don’t trust you.” Starscream said it firmly.

“I know you don’t. I know nothing I say will change that. But I’m not killing one of my patients. Maybe after you are released from hospital, but not while you’re here.” Knock Out grunted.

Starscream was silent a moment. “How… How’s Fracture?” He asked softly.

“He’s doing well. Close to being the top of his class. He’s been having a few struggles in some of his classes, but he’s working hard. He spends a lot of his time training Diesel.”

Starscream didn’t speak, just watched his servos as they slowly wrung.

“Starscream,” Knock Out hesitated, then placed a servo on Starscream’s thigh. “Did those mechs rape you?”

The Seeker didn’t say anything.

“You know… During the war I had to deal with a lot of assault. So many mechs, and femmes, would come into my infirmary and be in pain. I saw the signs of their assault, and knew what happened. And they would confide in me. Some of the mechs who were assaulted were not tiny. I would have tanks crying their sparks out to me telling me how they were hurt. And I would have to report all of it to an officer or Decepticon High Justice.” He studied the Seeker’s face, but Starscream wasn’t looking at him still. “I told you some mech tried to assault me once, right? And how pissed Breakdown was? We live in a fragged up world… Everyone can be hurt.”

“Please, just… Drop it. I’m not saying anything.” Starscream squeezed his own servos tightly.

“Are you embarrassed? Or is it because it’s me?”

“I’m not saying anything.”

“Would you like another doctor to make a report? I won’t see it if someone else does it. It’s the policies here.”

“I’m not talking about it.”

“Alright…” Knock Out stood, grabbed the tray, and the empty energon glasses. “I’ll check on you again in a couple of orbital cycles and see if you’re strong enough for surgery. If you do change your mind… Let a nurse know.”

The speedster then left. Starscream swallowed. He did want to talk to Knock Out about what happened, and be comforted by him, but… This wasn’t the old Knock Out. He couldn’t trust him anymore. What if Knock Out was trying to get information to use against him in the custody battle?

No, he had to stay silent. Even if he really needed someone to talk to and have them give him a hug.

Starscream was lying on his medberth watching TV when Knock Out came in. It had been a few orbital cycles since he had last seen the doctor.

“Morning, Starscream,” He greeted, neither friendly nor aggressive. “How have you been feeling?”

“Alright.” Starscream replied softly.

“Any pain?”

“Just in my spark.”

“Any itchiness? Nausea? Dizziness?”

“No to the first two. I am sometimes dizzy, but it’s not as bad as it has been…”

“I’m going to check you now. Do not claw or bite me…” He grunted the last part.

Starscream remained silent as he watched Knock Out wash his servos, put his mask on, and then approach. The doctor carefully opened up plates on the Seeker’s torso and began to inspect the organs, cables, pistons, etcetera inside. The Seeker swallowed, nervous about his arch nemesis literally messing with his insides, but he was too weak to fight back.

“You’re looking good, Starscream.” Knock Out commented. “No signs of rust, or leakage. The damage from the androids looks like it has recovered nicely. There is some scaring on the fuel pump and the gestation tank, but nothing that will cause issues.” He then carefully replaced the wires, plates, and cables he had moved to see the organs. “I’m going to look at your intimacy now. Can you open your codpiece or are you unable to?”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate. He saw that the ability to move them was online again, but he… Couldn’t bring himself to doing it.

“That’s fine.” Knock Out said calmly, reaching down and so gently manually doing it. It was nothing like when Megatron forced it open. “The rust is gone, at least on the outside. We’ll continue treating it just to be sure.” He closed the codpiece back up.

Knock Out walked over to the sink, washed his servos, dried them on a towel, and tossed that towel into the basket to be washed. He approached the jet, and this time opened up his chest plates. The grounder inspected the spark, then very carefully poked around it.

“Does that hurt?”

Starscream anxiously looked up at him. “A-a little…” He stuttered, feeling his spark pulsating faster.

“This might hurt a little. I’m going to rotate the spark to see the backside. I need you to stay calm.”

“Please, don’t touch my spark.” Starscream said quickly, feeling his servos trembling.

“I have to check it to make sure it’s healthy enough for operation. Rotating a spark is harmless.”

“I don’t trust you!”

“And I don’t trust you.”

“Please… Don’t touch it…”

Knock Out ignored that, and began to carefully rotate the spark, being very slow and gentle. Starscream was trembling more now, positive he would die this way, unable to even fight back.

Knock Out slowly rotated it back into place, then closed up the spark chamber and the chest plates. He removed his mask.

“Hey,” He waited until the Seeker was looking at him. “It’s healthy enough for surgery. I’ll have you scheduled for tomorrow.”

He then went to the sink and washed his servos. Starscream swallowed, watching him closely.

“Why do you constantly wash your servos?” The Seeker finally blurted out.

Knock Out looked up at him as he was drying his servos off. “Because I need to ensure that I don’t get you sick, and you don’t get me sick.”

“You do it a lot when around me…”

“I do this with all my patients, Starscream.”

“You didn’t do it much on the Nemesis.”

“The Nemesis was severely out of stock on soap and many other necessities. I had to sterilize my servos with heat. It was unpleasant and terrible for my claws.”

“You’re not doing this because you think I’m a gross Seeker?” Starscream raised an optical ridge.

“I can assure you that is not the reason. This is a hospital, Starscream. I’m required to remain clean at all times. Why do you think I have to fix my digits so often? The constant washing is not ideal…”

Starscream eyed him, not sure if he believed him or not. Knock Out vented a sigh.

“I will see you tomorrow, Starscream.”

And with that, he left.

Starscream swallowed as he sat on a wheelchair being pushed down a hallway by a nurse. He Didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want Knock Out to perform surgery on him!

He was brought into the operating room. It was so plain, nothing on the walls, with the operation table in the middle surrounded by smaller tables filled with surgical equipment. Bright lights shined down on the operation table, and several nurses wearing masks were present.

Starscream looked over and saw Knock Out. The doctor was wearing his mask and checking the equipment he was going to use.

Two nurses lifted the Seeker up and laid him down on the operation table. The nurse who had wheeled him in left with the wheelchair, and the door closed behind him.

Starscream glanced from nurse to nurse, not recognizing any of them. He began to tremble.

“Morning, Starscream.” Knock Out said as he turned around, a scalpel in one servo.

Starscream felt his spark pulsating faster, his optics widening.

“Please, put the patient in stasis lock and we will begin.”

A nurse reached over to touch Starscream’s helm, but the Seeker jerked it away.

“Don’t touch me!” He shouted, weakly trying to sit up, but having difficulty. “I’m not getting surgery! He’s not touching me!”

One nurse grabbed his arm and shoulder and pinned him down. The Seeker tried to claw him with the free arm, but another nurse quickly grabbed that wrist. He tried kicking, but his legs barely moved. His spark suddenly sent searing pain through his chest, causing him to cry out.

“Put him into stasis lock!” One nurse holding him down shouted.

“No! Stop!” Starscream kept struggling, not wanting to die this orbital cycle.

“Stop!”

The nurses froze, looking up at Knock Out.

“Let him go.” The speedster ordered, setting aside the scalpel and removing his mask.

“But-“

“Do it.”

The nurses slowly released Starscream and stepped back. Knock Out approached the jet.

“Hey, Stars, look at me.” He said it like how he used to speak to the Seeker. “I’ve done this surgery many times. It’s going to be alright.”

Starscream looked at him, a servo over his chestplate, his spark pulsating vicious pain. Coolant filled his optics, partly from the pain, and partly from the fear. “Don’t kill me… You have taken enough from me…”

Knock Out hesitated, then took his servo in his. He leaned over the Seeker, holding the black claws against his chestplates. “I’m not killing you. I’m repairing you. I would never kill my own patient. Listen, Stars, you have to relax. You’re stressing yourself and causing your spark to damage itself more.”

“Don’t kill me…” He said it so quietly.

“Listen, you are going to have this surgery, you will online, and you’ll be seeing Fracture again. I promise.”

Starscream swallowed, still not sure if he could trust the very person who had promised to kill him before. “I… Knock Out, please don’t do this….”

“It’s already done.”

Starscream’s optics widened, feeling the nurse opening the panel on his helm. But before he could react, everything went dark.

Starscream slowly onlined. He felt so groggy, so… Out of it. What had happened? Where was he?

His optics widened remembering where he last had been. He startled, but was too weak to move. He could only lie there, looking around, trying to online more.

He noticed he was connected to an energon drip, and was in his room again, the remote by his servo. Then he noticed the nurse.

“Feeling alright?” The nurse inquired.

“I… Feel exhausted…” He could say barely louder than a whisper.

“You will feel tired for some time. Spark surgeries are very hard on your frame. It was a successful surgery, and you simply need to rest, now.” He explained. “Do you need anything?”

“Where’s Knock Out?”

“Knock Out got off two joors ago. You’ve been recharging all orbital cycle.”

“He didn’t kill me…?”

“No, silly.” The nurse smiled. “You had a good surgery.” The nurse patted his shoulder. “You rest. Ring if you need anything. I’ll be checking on other patients.”

Starscream watched him leave before falling back into recharge.

It had been a few orbital cycles since the surgery and Starscream was feeling a lot better. He still wasn’t walking, but he didn’t have pain in his spark, he could refuel himself, and he could sit up with relative ease.

He hadn’t seen Knock Out since the surgery, only the nurses, which he was fine with.

He looked up when the door opened, his wings perking at who he saw.

“Hey,” Breakdown smiled. “You feeling okay?”

“Yeah… I feel a lot better.” Starscream said softly.

“Do you mind visitors?”

“That’s fine.”

“Great.” Breakdown looked back into the hallway. “Come in!”

Dead End charged in first, carrying a datapad in one servo and a stuffed toy in another. He went straight for the chair with wheels and climbed onto it. Wildbreak skipped inside behind his little brother, grinning broadly, somehow looking even more like his sire than ever before. Lastly, Fracture walked in, holding a card.

Starscream’s wings fluttered, then lowered. He was happy to see his son, but also wish he didn’t see him like this…

“Hey, Starscream.” Fracture said, walking over. “Uh, we made this for you.” He handed the card over.

“We made it with love!” Wildbreak giggled, hugging Fracture from behind.

Starscream took the card, reading the front of it. It read, “Get Better Soon!” He opened it to see the signatures of all the mechlings. Dead End’s name was not very well written, and some spelling mistakes. His message beneath his name read, “gut budder son! I haev cupcuk!”

Wildbreak’s name was much better written with his message being, “Hope carrier is treating you well! He’ll get you fixed in no time!”

Fracture’s message below his name read, “Feel well soon, Starscream. Rest a lot, listen to what carrier says, and eat lots of goodies.”

Starscream saw that Grit had signed it, his message simply reading as, “Get well soon, nice aft!” With a winky face drawn at the end.

Breakdown had signed as well, his message being, “Feel better, Starscream. I hope you can trust my mate. He really does want you to recover. We have had our differences, and we’ve fought so much, and there’s a lot of anger, but we don’t want you to suffer like this. Please, take better care of yourself. You’re worth more than being an object to strange mechs.”

Even Diesel had signed it with his pawprint in the corner and Breakdown’s handwriting spelling his designation.

Somehow, they even had managed to get Soundwave to sign it, but there was no message. Prime’s signature also was present with a simple, “Get well soon.” There were a few other signatures from other Decepticons Starscream had known well. He wouldn’t say they were friends, but he had worked with them a lot.

The one signature that surprised him was Knock Out’s, written in his usual fancy handwriting. No message was with it, but the signature was not sloppy meaning he took his time to ensure he did it right.

Starscream swallowed, not expecting this. Maybe from Breakdown and the mechlings, but certainly not from these other people… Especially Knock Out.

“Thank you.” Starscream wiped at his optics as coolant leaked out. “This is very thoughtful.”

“You’re welcome!” Wildbreak beamed.

Breakdown opened a cabinet and pulled out a blanket. He walked over and covered the Seeker with it from the waist down.

“You need to keep your core warm.” The truck said as he adjusted the blanket. “They keep this hospital so slagging cold…”

“It is cold!” Wildbreak exclaimed, hopping onto the medberth next to Starscream without even hesitating. “What’s on TV?” He took the remote and started to switch through channels.

Fracture hesitated, then got on the berth on the other side of his carrier. He lied against the jet, snuggling as he watched the TV.

Starscream swallowed, then slowly wrapped an arm around his son. He leaked more coolant, hugging the mechling close. His son was actually cuddled against him!

Breakdown rolled the wheeled chair over so that Dead End could watch TV as well.

“I’m going to go find your carrier. Stay here with Starscream.” Breakdown ordered before leaving the room.

Starscream kissed Fracture’s cheekplates, his engine purring. “H-how has everything been?”

Fracture shrugged. “Same ol’… Just been doing school.”

“I was in a play!” Wildbreak piped up.

“And I sat on the dog!” Dead End screamed for the world to hear.

“He did and Diesel bit him.” Fracture grunted, ignoring how tightly Starscream was hugging him.

“HE BIT ME RIGHT HERE!” Dead End pointed to his leg. “And-and I cried! And sire said it was my fault! BUT I DIDN’T BITE!”

“He deserved it…” Fracture whispered to Starscream.

“Does he annoy you?” Starscream asked his son.

“All the time…” He grunted. “He is constantly screaming…”

“He screams and throws things…” Wildbreak grunted as well.

“I DO NOT!” Dead End shrieked.

“Hey, better not scream at carrier’s work. They will cut you open here and dump you with the dead people.” Fracture snapped.

“NO!” Dead End began to cry.

“They’re going to chop you into tiny pieces if you don’t shut up.” Fracture warned him sternly. “All that’s going to be left is a single ped which they will throw to Diesel as a chew toy.”

Dead End could only cry louder at the description of his own demise.

“Ugh!” Wildbreak rubbed over his faceplates. “Now he won’t stop!”

“Have you tried not threatening him?” Starscream suggested, getting annoyed by the crying himself.

“No…” Fracture gave his carrier a look like he was insane for suggesting they not threaten their little brother.

“Maybe you should start there.”

“Or he could just grow up…”

“He’s a sparkling.”

“He’s almost 5….”

“Still a sparkling.”

The door opened and Knock Out walked in with Breakdown.

“CARRIER!!!!” Dead End shrieked, crying louder as he held out his arms.

“Hey, sweetie, don’t cry.” Knock Out picked up Dead End and hugged him. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Fracture is mean!” He then buried his faceplates into Knock Out’s neck and continued crying.

“Fracture…” Knock Out vented. “How many times do we need to talk about this? You need to stop being mean to your brothers.”

“He was being annoying.” Fracture said it like it was obvious.

“He’s 4 stellar cycles old. He’s going to be annoying. Please, apologize.”

Fracture rolled his optics. “I’m sorry, Dead End. You’re not going to be chopped up and used as a chew toy for Diesel.”

“Why would you even say that?” Breakdown gave him a look.

Knock Out looked at Starscream. “He probably just has it in him from a certain Slag Maker…”

Starscream narrowed his optics, holding Fracture closer.

Knock Out wiped at Dead End’s coolant with a thumb before kissing him on the cheekplates. “Hey, it’s okay. Fracture isn’t going to say that again. Because if he does he won’t be allowed to attend a certain recharge over with his friends.” He gave Fracture a glare.

“You better not be targeting him.” Starscream glared back.

“I’m not, Starscream. I’m treating him as I do the others. What, do you want me to let him bully his siblings? Is that how you’d raise him? To dominate like you know who?”

“You can say his designation.”

“They are too young to know about him.”

“How about we change the subject?” Breakdown hugged his mate from behind. “Starscream, how are you feeling? Think you’ll be out of here soon?”

Starscream didn’t reply immediately. “Maybe… I suppose it depends on what my doctor has to say.” He looked at Knock Out.

“You’ll need only a few more orbital cycles of rest and monitoring. Then, you will be free to go. But you will be taking medicine with you.” Knock Out said, stroking Dead End’s back as the little one still clung to him.

“I can’t wait to be out of here….”

“Same.”

“How about I go get some cake from the cafeteria?” Breakdown smiled.

“Cake!” Dead End exclaimed; his previous woes forgotten.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Fine, you may spoil them. But don’t eat a whole cake yourself. You’re big enough…”

“You like a big mech.” Breakdown smirked.

“Not in that way….”

“I’ll be back. You all play nice with each other. Wildbreak is in charge while I’m away.”

“Yes!” Wildbreak fist pumped.

Knock Out gave his mate a look as he walked out of the room. He turned back to Starscream. “Do you need anything?”

“I have everything I need.” Starscream gave Fracture a squeeze.

Fracture gave Knock Out a look, not sure why Starscream was so obsessed over him. Knock Out bit his lower lip plate, not wanting to tell him why, but that orbital cycle was nearing fast.

Starscream was resting on his medberth when the door opened. His wings perked, surprised with who just walked in.

“Hello, Starscream.” Optimus Prime said as he approached the Seeker. “How are you?”

“I am doing better, Prime.” The Seeker pressed the button to make the medberth rise at the top, allowing him to sit up.

“Good.” Prime pulled the wheeled chair over and sat on it. “I am glad your surgery and treatment has gone well. I came to update you regarding your custody battle.”

Starscream swallowed. “Yes…?”

The Prime laced his digits together as his elbows rested on his knees. “The orbital cycle after the hearing I confronted Megatron about your accusations.”

Starscream’s wings lowered. “W-what did he say?”

“He… Well, after some colorful language about me I won’t repeat, he did eventually confess that he was visiting you against your will, that you had told him multiple times to leave you alone, and that he was forcing himself on you and to perform certain acts on him.” The Prime paused to study the Seeker. “Because he admitted he was doing this against your will, I will not hold any of it against you. You stayed faithful to our deal. I also granted your protection order against Megatron. He is not allowed in your residence, or to be anywhere near you, or to even contact you with a commlink or any other form of communication. He also has been told he cannot use Soundwave to spy on you or speak to you on his behalf… If he breaks the protection order, he will serve a minimum of three stellar cycles in prison.”

“You… confronted him for me…?” Starscream said softly, his wings slowly rising.

“Of course. I will not allow Megatron to harm anyone, even you.”

“Thank you…” Starscream felt coolant pooling in his optics, amazed anyone would stand up to the mighty Megatron on his behalf.

“Knock Out and Breakdown also are aware of the protection order, and have been apprised that Megatron admitted to abusing you. I also informed them that I have granted you more visitation joors with Fracture. You have the right to visit Fracture a minimum of six orbital cycles each orn. I haven’t granted any overnight visitations because I am concerned about your… Night behavior, such as what landed you here in the hospital.”

“I-I’m not going to have interface anymore…. At least, not for like a vorn. This experience has been awful.” Starscream said quickly.

“Well, prove that to me. Prove to me you will take better care of yourself and be responsible. If you can do that for yourself, then I will know you can do it for Fracture.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I also suggest you find a new apartment somewhere with better security incase Megatron decides to not listen to me… I will put you in touch with someone who can help you with that.”

“I appreciate it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Optimus then stood. “If there is anything else give me a call.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Have a good rest of your orbital cycle, Starscream.” The truck started for the door.

“You, too!”

Starscream perked his wings when Optimus walked out, then slowly lowered them. He had Fracture for more visitations, but still didn’t have custody. Fracture would be an adult in 8 stellar cycles… He had 9 stellar cycles of his son’s life taken away from him by this stupid legal system!

When will he have the right to his own son?

Knock Out practiced that entrance. He was on his way to Starscream's room thinking of what he was going to say! Such a dramatic queen, he is.

My friend really wanted Starscream to get a lot of STDs and be super sick. Being forced to be with Knock Out when so vulnerable will force the both of them to have to see truths about the other. Knock Out sees Starscream is NOT doing well, and Starscream sees Knock Out is not a monster out to get him. He could have killed Starscream, but instead does everything he can to heal him and make him better. He even cleans him of his own vomit. No awful person who hated you would do that. Knock Out cares. I don't think he's ever been a truly evil person, in comics or the cartoon. It think Knock Out is a good guy who has been swept up in a nasty war and has made mistakes. But deep down he loves his husband and friends. And he does do his job as a doctor well. Him not being a good doctor to Megatron in the cartoon... Come on, Megatron is a coked up asshole in the cartoon. No one wants to save his life.... Minus Soundwave but he's a simp.

Also, did you notice Knock Out call him "Stars?" That's what he called him before they became enemies.

Fracture is becoming a bit of a grouchy kid. It happens. He's the eldest and has an annoying baby brother. Doesn't help that he knows his parents are at war with this person who wants to visit him all the time for some reason.

Hope you're enjoying the fic thus far!

Chapter Text

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

“You will take two of these every orbital cycle for an orn.” Knock Out instructed as he held up a small container. “You will also use this on your spark once an orbital cycle.” He held up a small device. “One pulse directly onto the spark. This is long term. Do not stop doing it… Forever.”

Starscream stood looking at the medications and everything Knock Out was discharging him with. “I feel like this is… A lot.”

“You’re the idiot who chose to interface a bunch of vagabonds.”

Starscream flicked his wings. “Why are you releasing me if I’m clearly still so sick?”

“You’re not sick enough to stay in the hospital. You can take all of this medication at home. And you better take it. Not doing so you’ll get sick again.”

“Just replace my parts…”

“Seeker parts are far and few in-between. Maybe if your kind didn’t almost get wiped out we might have some donors. And how much I would love to be able to use organs from trucks, shuttles, and other such frametypes, they are far too large to fit inside of your frame. And many of your parts are not even identical to my own parts. So, you will quit glitching, you will take the medication as instructed, and you will self heal and survive. Understand?”

Starscream didn’t appreciate the condescending tone of the one who once was his inferior. He flicked his wings again. “At least I’ll be away from you…” He finally grumbled.

“A blessing from Primus.” Knock Out grumbled back.

Starscream only flicked his wings.

The Seeker soon had all his medications and was fully discharged from the hospital. His wings drooped as he made his way back to his apartment. He put in his code and entered, suddenly feeling so alone. At the hospital he was visited often by nurses, Knock Out, and when Fracture had come by. Here… No one ever visited but Megatron and Grit a few times. Two slagheaps who had hurt him both emotionally, and one physically.

The apartment was exactly as it was when he was taken to the hospital. The cabinets still open in the energon room, his vomit dried on the floor… Everything a mess….

He vented a sigh, not having the energy to clean anything right away. He sat on the couch, set his medications on the small table, and turned on the vidscreen.

He couldn’t pay attention to what was on the vidscreen, only thinking about how alone he was, how he didn’t have Fracture with him, how he still wasn’t given custody of his own son… And how Grit, someone he thought actually liked him, abandoned him in his time of need. He needed someone to talk to and hug, but Grit couldn’t even give him that!

What was the point? He would never have his son back, and Fracture didn’t even love him… Fracture would never accept him as his carrier and probably never see him when he was an adult and no longer required to spend time with him.

Knock Out had won… He had lost… Keeping him alive to continue suffering was just another cruel joke from the universe, and more revenge from that stupid speedster.

He looked at the medicine on the table, then vented a sigh. He just didn’t need to take it… It would be that easy. And then his suffering would finally be over… Fracture wouldn’t even notice he was gone… And maybe that would be for the best.

The Seeker covered his faceplates as he cried, feeling so hopeless, alone, and just exhausted.

Five Orbital Cycles Later:

Breakdown checked his chronometer and raised an optical ridge.

“Hey,” He turned to Knock Out who was lying on the berth, having just gotten back from work and was exhausted. “Starscream has missed another visitation with Fracture. That’s two in a row. He never has missed one before…”

“He’s probably still tired from being sick.” Knock Out grumbled, his optics offline, wanting to recharge. “He’ll come when he feels up to it.”

“He would come see Fracture despite being ill.”

“He doesn’t care about Fracture…”

“I don’t feel comfortable about this, Knock Out.”

“Mmmm…” Knock Out rolled onto his side, optics still offline. “He’s fine… I’m going to recharge… Cuddle with me…”

Breakdown bit his lip plate. “I would love to, but… I’m going to do a wellness check on Starscream. I just don’t feel right.”

“Fine… Be safe.”

Breakdown walked over and gave his mate a kiss on the lip plates before walking out of the room. He went over to Fracture’s room.

“Hey, Fracture, I’m going to step out for a bit. Your carrier is taking a nap. You’re in charge until I get back. Online carrier only in an emergency.”

“Got it!” Fracture said as he played a videogame with Wildbreak, Dead End watching them.

The truck left the house, transformed, and drove to where the Seeker lived. He entered the apartment building and made his way to the apartment where Starscream resided. He knocked on the door.

“Starscream! It’s Breakdown! Hey, you home?!” He paused to listen, but no answer. “Starscream! You’ve missed two visitations with Fracture. I’m concerned for you. You okay?”

Still nothing.

He pulled out his communicator and called the Seeker. He listened and heard it ringing inside. The Seeker had to be home. Was he hurt? Had Megatron come back?

Breakdown hesitated, then vented a sigh as his servo transformed into a hammer. Better be safe than sorry.

He smashed his hammer against the door, denting it severely. He struck it a couple of more times until it was dented enough to begin to bend away from the wall. He wrapped his digits inside, and then pulled, tearing the door out of the way.

He entered, immediately seeing the Seeker on the couch, curled up, and unresponsive.

“Slag.” He trotted over, transformed his hammer back into a servo, and shook the Seeker. “Starscream! Hey, online.”

But the Seeker didn’t.

Breakdown grabbed the small device Knock Out had given Starscream, then pried open the Seeker’s chest plates. He pressed the device to Starscream’s dim spark and pressed the button. A bolt of energy shot out, and the spark flared. He pressed it again.

Starscream softly groaned.

Breakdown subspaced the medicine, picked up the Seeker bridal style, and left the apartment. He raced back home and carried the jet inside.

“Knock Out!” He shouted, laying Starscream on the couch. “There’s an emergency! KNOCK OUT!”

The speedster startled online and leaped to his peds. He raced downstairs, ignored the mechlings who were poking their helms out the doorway of Fracture’s room.

“What is it!? What happened?!” The doctor demanded as he skidded over, but then stopped when he saw Starscream. “Why is he here!?”

“He’s unresponsive. I gave him two spark shots.” Breakdown explained.

“Why is he unresponsive? I fixed the bastard!” Knock Out grabbed Starscream’s helm and looked at his optics. He then unsubspaced a scanner and ran it over the Seeker. “Idiot…” He grumbled. “Of course, he would ignore my instructions…”

“What did he do?”

“He didn’t take any of the medicine I gave him and now his spark is shutting down.” Knock Out began to unsubspaced equipment. “Open your chestplates.”

“Should we take him to the hospital?” Breakdown asked as he folded away his chestplates.

“If I get his spark jumpstarted then he won’t need to go.” Knock Out clamped two cables onto Breakdown’s spark casing, allowing them to be pressed against his spark. He then turned and did the same to Starscream’s spark with the other ends. He took a third cable and clamped one end to Breakdown’s engine, then the other end to Starscream’s. “When I say so I need you to rev, babe.”

“Yes, sir.” Breakdown nodded.

Knock Out pressed a device over Starscream’s spark, then stepped back. “Now!”

Breakdown revved his engine has hard as he could, forcing his spark to flare. The energy from his spark and engine surged into the cables and into Starscream’s spark and engine. The device over the Seeker’s spark amplified the energy, sending a powerful wave of spark energy into his spark, while his engine received a shock of electricity.

“Ah!” Starscream cried out as he jerked online, his back strut arching, feeling the energy surging into him, and burning his spark painfully. He clawed at the couch, growling from the pain, but too weak to move much.

“That’s enough.” Knock Out said.

Breakdown ceased revving his engine, allowing the circulation to decrease. Knock Out removed the clamps from both mechs, and Breakdown closed his plates. The doctor examined Starscream’s spark and vented.

“You’re an idiot.” He glared at the jet. “All you had to do was follow my instructions, but I guess you’re too stupid to do that…”

Starscream didn’t speak, slowly realizing where he was. He swallowed, feeling so weak, his spark burning.

“You’ll live, unfortunately.” The doctor continued. “Your spark was so close to shutting down. And if it had, a spark jump wouldn’t have saved you. Now, you must take the medicine I gave you if you expect to not almost die again.”

“That’s fine…” Starscream said barely louder than a whisper.

“Is what fine...?”

“Dying…”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “You… Idiot.” He almost wanted to smack the Seeker. “I worked so fragging hard to save your life and now you want to waste my work!?”

“Knock Out…” Breakdown placed a servo on his mate’s shoulder, but the speedster shoved it off.

“You go on that all you care about is Fracture and being there for him, and this is what you do?! You’re an idiot. A selfish idiot.”

Starscream didn’t speak, didn’t look at the speedster.

Breakdown grabbed Knock Out by the arm and pulled him away.

“Sweetie, I know you’re mad… But Starscream clearly is having a mental crisis.” Breakdown said it so gently.

“Yeah, so have I for the past 8 stellar cycles, but I haven’t tried killing myself.” He snapped, his optics narrowed and glowing.

“Yes, but you have me there to support and love you. Starscream clearly doesn’t have a Breakdown.”

“Sucks to be him…” He grunted.

“Sweetie… Maybe it’s best Starscream stays with someone.”

“Who would take him? He’s an idiot, a brat, and a burden on society.”

“He is a pain in the aft, I concur, but… He is the carrier of our dear Fracture.”

“You better not be suggesting he stays with us… He attacked me.”

“He wasn’t sick then.”

“I was both times.”

“Where else could he go? He can’t stay by himself. He’ll kill himself.”

“Good.”

“How about I clean out the downstairs berthroom, and he can move in there.”

“That’s going to take forever to do.”

“He can stay on the couch until I’m done.”

“I don’t trust him around the mechlings.”

“I’m home all orbital cycle. He would never be alone with them.”

Knock Out glared at his mate. “I’m guessing I have no say in this? Just like half the things in our joining?”

“Oh my god………………………………” Breakdown rolled his optics so hard.

“You know what… Since you’re the one in control of everything and clearly know so much more than me… Fine. Keep the glitch.” Knock Out threw his servos up. “But don’t you dare fragging ask me for interface!”

“Primus, help me………………..” Breakdown muttered as he pinched the bridge of his olfactory sensor.

“No, fine, he’s your responsibility!” Knock Out jabbed a claw at his mate. “You clean him, refuel him, take him out for walks, whatever! In fact… Recharge on the couch with him. I’m done.” He then turned and stormed off.

Breakdown flinched when he heard the door to their room slam shut. He vented loudly.

“Well…. At least he didn’t cry and call his carrier to scream at me.” The truck then turned to Starscream. “If you get me divorced…”

Starscream swallowed.

Breakdown walked over and helped the Seeker sit up. “You’re going to do as you’re told. You’re going to drink energon, take your medicine, and behave. If you act up… If you lay a single claw on me or Knock Out… I will dump you in a ditch. Understand?”

Starscream slowly nodded.

“Good. I’m going to get you energon, and then you’re going to rest. We’ll talk more in the morning.” He then handed Starscream the container with the medicine. “Take it.”

Starscream looked up at him, then opened the container and did as he was told.

Breakdown went to the energon room, grabbed a cube, and brought it back to the Seeker. Starscream ate the cube, and then settled on the couch for recharge. Breakdown tossed a blanket over him, then went upstairs.

Starscream swallowed, not sure what was happening. Was he actually staying here in his enemy’s house? Would Knock Out murder him?

But Fracture was also here. If he was living here with his son…

Starscream bit his lip plate, uncertain of what the morning would hold for him.

Starscream onlined the next morning on the couch, feeling exhausted despite recharging for plenty of joors. It took him a moment to remember what happened last night, and then realizing the voices he heard weren’t his imagination.

“But why is he staying here?” Fracture inquired as he got his morning energon.

“He’s sick and was having trouble taking care of himself. He doesn’t need to be in the hospital anymore, but he’s not well enough to be on his own.” Breakdown explained as he helped Dead End with his energon.

“But carrier hates him.” Wildbreak grunted, sitting on the counter with his energon cube.

“He does, but carrier is also no monster.”

“Carrier is still going to be pissed.” Fracture commented as he poured energon in a bowl for Diesel.

“I WAKE CARRIER!!!!” Dead End shrieked before starting for the stairs.

“Hey!” Breakdown called after him. “Carrier is resting still. Get back over here.”

“But carrier!”

“Dead End, seriously, carrier needs his recharge. If you leave carrier alone I’ll give you goodies.”

Dead End thought about it, then accepted the deal with a nod of his helm. He hobbled back over and held out his servo expectingly.

Breakdown handed him some energon goodies, then turned back to the older mechlings. “I’m going to clean out the downstairs berthroom and that will be Starscream’s room. He’ll also use the washroom down here. You guys don’t have to interact with him, but if you do be nice. And, please, don’t encourage your carrier…”

“I bet carrier would win in a fight.” Fracture snickered.

“No one is fighting anyone. Finish your energon and get your pads. I don’t need you late to school.”

Dead End hobbled over to the couch with his energon, awkwardly climbed up, and sat beside Starscream. He studied the Seeker for a moment, then grabbed the remote, turned the vidscreen on, and munched on his goodies.

“Dead End, don’t bother Starscream.” Breakdown said as he approached with his own cube of energon.

“I’m not!” Dead End then stuffed more energon into his mouth.

Breakdown noticed the Seeker was online. “Morning, Starscream. I’m sorry if we onlined you. We’ll be going to school, soon.”

“It’s fine.” Starscream said softly as he sat up.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright.”

“I’ll get you some energon.”

Starscream watched him walk away, then turned to the vidscreen that was showing cartoons. Dead End was giggling at what he was watching, but Starscream failed to find the humor in it…

Breakdown returned and handed Starscream some energon. “Make sure you take your medicine.” He then leaned in closer and whispered. “Do not kill yourself in front of my sparklings, understand? You will take your medicine, you will live, and you will not traumatize any of these mechlings.”

Starscream quickly nodded, not wanting to piss off Breakdown. It was rare when he was pissed, and when he was, it was terrifying.

Breakdown smiled and turned to his youngest. “Hey, what are you watching?”

“Captain Cosmos!” Dead End exclaimed excitedly.

“Oh, is it good?” He said it as he stepped in front of the sparkling, blocking his view of the vidscreen.

“NOOO!!!! SIRE, MOVE!!”

“But this is the best view of the vidscreen!”

“YOU’RE BIG AFT IS IN THE WAY! MOVE!!!”

“Have you tried asking me nicely?”

“I’M GETTING CARRIER!!!!” Dead End slid off the couch and started for the stairs.

“No, don’t online carrier.” Breakdown quickly grabbed him and put him back on the couch. “I’ll move.” He stepped aside and looked at Starscream. “This is the ruler of the house.” He pointed at Dead End. “If you don’t do as he says he will get the supreme dictator of the house. Don’t piss off the supreme dictator…” He grunted the last part.

“Duly noted.” Starscream replied.

Breakdown returned to the energon room to finish his energon, and then clean up the glasses left behind by the older mechlings. They were packing their bags with their school supplies and whispering to each other. Starscream assumed they were talking about him.

“Okay, everyone ready?” Breakdown asked a breem later as he walked to the door.

“Yup!” Wildbreak smiled, holding his bag over a shoulder.

“Dead End, come on, time to go to school!”

Dead End hopped off the couch and ran over. Breakdown opened the door, waited for the mechlings to step out, then closed the door.

It was now quiet in the house, minus the clacking of dull claws on the floor as Diesel walked from the energon room, then to the couch. He hopped up, spun around, and lay down, venting loudly before offlining his optics to recharge.

Starscream grabbed the remote and changed the channel. He looked at the medicine, sighed, and grabbed it. He quickly took it and used the device to give his spark a jolt of energy, then resumed watching TV.

It was a couple of joors later when he heard pedfalls upstairs. He swallowed, remembering Knock Out was still home. Where was Breakdown?

He lowered the volume and listened, hearing the speedster’s peds as he moved around his room, then in the washroom. Eventually, they left the berthroom and he heard them on the stairs. Diesel hopped off the couch and trotted over.

“Hey, Diesel! Who’s a good mechling?” Knock Out’s vocalizer spoke so happily as the obvious sounds of him petting Diesel were also heard. “Come on, help carrier get some energon.”

Starscream listened to them walking behind him as they made their way to the energon room. Knock Out got himself some energon, drank it while he stood by the counter, and then double-checked Diesel’s bowl to make sure he had been fueled. He then gave Diesel some energon goodies while telling him that he was the best behaved mech in the entire house.

Starscream froze when the pedfalls approached him, going back towards the stairs, but then they stopped. He heard a slight rev of an engine, then grumbling. Diesel trotted over to the vidscreen, grabbed one of his toys from the floor, and returned to Knock Out, loudly squeaking it as he chomped repeatedly.

“No, Diesel, I’m fine. Just annoyed with your sire. He let in a stray last night I wish was back on the streets…” He grunted, making sure Starscream heard it. “Come on, help carrier upstairs.”

Starscream listened to the sound of them both going upstairs, Diesel still making his toy squeak. He vented a relieved sigh. Knock Out didn’t come around the couch to torture him or degrade him…

Breakdown returned a couple of breems later carrying supplies. “Babe! I’m home!” He called out, setting everything he had bought on the dining room table.

Diesel was the first to race downstairs, and jump on Breakdown, barking excitedly.

“Hey, there, Dees! Where’s your carrier? He isn’t burying Starscream’s body in the backyard, is he?”

Knock Out came down the stairs. “Thought about it...” He grunted.

“Hey, sexy. How much longer are you here for?”

Knock Out approached his mate and they kissed each other on the lip plates. “I have a couple of more joors before I need to go in. Why? What naughty things are you thinking about doing to my body?” He purred; his arms wrapped around Breakdown’s neck.

Breakdown giggled. “I want to kiss you, and hold you close, and frag your aft off, and then beg you to suck me.”

“Not too rough. I need to be able to walk at work.”

“You’ll be able to walk. You may not be able to sit.” He then snacked Knock Out on the aft, making him yelp.

Diesel growled, then barked at Breakdown.

“Diesel, it’s okay, sweetie.” Knock Out calmed him down. “Your sire is just a rude bastard.” He glared at Breakdown.

“You are so mean to me. I love it.” Breakdown then kissed him on the lip plates.

Starscream made a disgusted face, having to hear all of this.

Knock Out purred his engine as Breakdown trailed kisses down his neck and then chest plates. The speedster looked over at the contents on the table.

“Babe, what did you get?”

“Stuff.” Breakdown said between kisses.

“What kind of stuff?”

“Stuff to fix up the downstairs berthroom so Starscream can stay in it.”

“You better not have spent a lot… He’s not worth it.” Knock Out glared at his Conjunx Endura.

“The room needs to be fixed, anyway. I needed to get this stuff if we’re ever going to have this house finished.”

“Still…”

“Still,” Breakdown placed his servos on Knock Out’s hips. “We need an extra room. We are having another… right?”

Knock Out bite his lower lip plate. “I-I… I don’t know if I can….”

“You can. We’re having a femmling, remember?” Breakdown smiled.

Knock Out’s optics soon had coolant pooling in them. Breakdown’s smile vanished.

“Knock Out… We won’t lose another.”

“You don’t know that…”

“I know that you’re an amazing carrier, and you’re strong, and brave… And you can do this. I’m with you every step of the way. No matter what may happen, I’ll always be with you.”

“Even if I have another miscarriage…?” He asked so softly.

“Till death do us part, and only death.” He paused. “You won’t have another miscarriage. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I just did.”

“I can’t, Breakdown. I’m not ready…”

“I’ll be here when you are. Besides, I still need to fix this berthroom before we can even make our daughter.” He kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates. “You messed up your optic liner. Didn’t I get you a coolant proof one?”

“I ran out.” Knock Out wiped at his optics.

“Come on, let me clean you up.”

Starscream listened to them go up the stairs and into their berthroom. They were talking, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. It would be a couple of breems later when he did make out the pleasured moans of Knock Out and their berth squeaking. He rolled his optics, not having missed that when he had lived with them before.

Diesel at least was with him, recharging on the couch. The only one who didn’t hate him in this house…

Eventually, Knock Out did come back downstairs, only to leave the house to go to work. Breakdown came down and took Diesel outside for a walk. They were gone for a few breems before Breakdown returned to drop Diesel off before leaving again. Of how tempted Starscream was to snoop around the house while alone, he was too weak to move much. He also wasn’t sure how long the truck would even be gone.

Breakdown returned home a couple of breems later with Dead End, as the younger one didn’t have as long of school time as the older mechlings did.

“CARRIER!” He shrieked, running to the stairs, carrying something he had made in class.

“Carrier is at work.” Breakdown apprised his youngest as he began to go through the things he had bought earlier.

Dead End stopped, looked over at his sire, then bolted for the couch. He put his craft on the couch, climbed up, and crawled over to Diesel.

“DIESEL!”

The cyberdog lifted his helm and growled.

“Don’t touch Diesel, Dead End.”

“I’m hugging him!”

“Diesel doesn’t like you hugging him. Come over here and help sire.”

“BUT I LOVE DIESEL!”

“If Diesel bites you again, I’m giving him your energon goodies.”

“NO!!!”

“Yes! He is telling you to leave him alone. Respect his personal space.” Breakdown started to walk over.

“But Fracture hugs him!”

“Fracture doesn’t piss him off. Get away from Diesel or else I’ll tell carrier you were bad.”

“NO! I’ll tell carrier YOU were bad!” He pointed a digit at his sire.

“Carrier likes me more.”

“NO!!!!” Dead End then began to cry and throw himself on the couch.

“Is this a daily occurrence?” Starscream grunted, watching the sparkling writhe around as if he was on fire.

Breakdown rolled his optics as he picked up his youngest. “You have no idea….”

“I suppose keeping me here really is to punish me by exposing me to constant screaming.” The Seeker gave the truck a look, positive this was his punishment.

“He behaves better when Knock Out is around.” He set Dead End on the floor. “Stay away from Diesel. You’re going to help sire. I need you to be a big, strong mechling and assist in moving things out of the berthroom and putting it into the dining room. Then, you can help me paint.”

“Carrier says I’m not allowed to paint.”

“You’re going to paint the walls, only. So long as you don’t paint carrier again, we will all be good.”

Dead End then snickered. “Sire is disobeying carrier. I’m telling on you!” He then snickered like a little villain as he ran to the stairs and climbed up them.

Breakdown vented a sigh. “I have no idea how I raised a snitch… He will tell Knock Out everything. So, watch your back.”

“Duly noted.”

Three joors later and Breakdown left with his mini snitch. They returned a few breems later with the older mechlings.

“Hey, Diesel!” Fracture greeted the cyberdog as Diesel jumped on him and Wildbreak.

“Diesel!” Wildbreak hugged the canine.

“CARRIER!” Dead End shrieked, running to the stairs.

“He’s still not home, Dead End!” Breakdown shouted after him.

“YOU’RE NOT HOME!!!” The tiny one screamed as he continued up the stairs.

Breakdown just shrugged. “I guess that means I can leave.”

Fracture and Wildbreak ran over to the couch, pausing to glance at Starscream, then continue to get their game set up. Starscream perked his wings, his spark pulsating a little faster as he grew excited.

“How was school, Fracture?” The Seeker asked.

“Hmm?” He looked up at his real carrier. “It was fine. Same thing all the time.” He then sat on the couch next to the Seeker.

Starscream hesitated, then pulled Fracture closer, hugging him. Fracture rolled his optics, not sure why this guy always wanted to hold him. He allowed it though, concentrating on using his controller as he played his game.

Starscream held his son close, not wanting to ever let him go. He might be ignoring him to play his game, but he was here, with him. That was all that mattered.

Breakdown came by to give everyone, including Starscream, some energon, then went to work in the downstairs berthroom. He removed boxes and other stored items, and moved the only furniture in the room, a desk, to the center. He then began work on smoothing the walls from dents, and welding new metal where there were holes. The house had survived a war so had been damaged. They fixed up most of it before moving in, but some parts, such as this room, they hadn’t finished.

The mechlings played their game for joors… Joors Starscream had holding his son. Fracture was too busy to talk to him, but he was still there with him.

“Okay, you guys need to do some homework then go to recharge.” Breakdown ordered the mechlings.

Wildbreak got up to turn off the game, but Fracture couldn’t move. He vented a sigh as he felt Starscream hold him tighter.

“Must you? I have homework to do.” He grunted.

“I’m sorry.” Starscream slowly let him go.

Fracture stood up, rolling his optics at the Seeker. He put away his controller, then he and Wildbreak ran upstairs with Diesel following them. Starscream swallowed, pulling the blanket over him as he felt static in his optics.

Breakdown walked over to give him more energon.

“He’ll be back in the morning.” The truck said gently. “He literally lives here.”

“I wish he knew I was his carrier.” Starscream swallowed, accepting the proffered energon.

“He will soon enough. It’s complicated for sparklings. Do you need anything else?”

“No… I-I’m fine.”

“If you need anything you know where I am.”

Starscream listened as the truck went upstairs. A few joors later he heard everyone go to recharge. The Seeker turned off the TV and settled down himself, telling himself that Fracture literally was in the other room, so close to him. He was recharging in the same house as his beautiful son.

He onlined a couple of joors later to Knock Out coming home. He offlined his optics, not wanting to be bothered by the doctor, hoping he would just go upstairs. He listened, hearing the pedfalls walk around the couch and approach him. He didn’t move, wanting Knock Out to think he was recharging.

He felt the blanket move… And cover over his shoulders, then adjusted along the legs. He then felt the gentlest servos touch his wing and fold it down so it would be comfortable as he recharged. He heard a scanner go off, Knock Out checking his spark’s health.

Then the doctor walked away. Starscream listened to him go up the stairs, into his room, and that was it. The Seeker onlined his optics, looking down to see that indeed the blanket had been adjusted to cover him completely. He bit his lower lip plate, not sure what to make of that. Why didn’t Knock Out stab him…?

He offlined his optics, too tired to dwell on this for tonight.

The next few orbital cycles were the same. Starscream onlined to the mechlings and Breakdown getting their morning energon, and Breakdown gave him some. Starscream would take his medicine, and the mechlings left with their sire to go to school. Breakdown would come home, take Diesel for a walk, then work on the downstairs berthroom.

Knock Out usually online when Breakdown was working and either left right away or stayed long enough to talk to Breakdown about how the room should look.

Breakdown would go pick up Dead End from his school around noon, then keep working on the room while Dead End watched TV or played with toys. Then, Breakdown would leave to get the older mechlings, taking Dead End with him. When the older mechlings got home was Starscream’s favorite part of the orbital cycle. They usually would sit on the couch to play videogames allowing Starscream to hug his son.

The older mechlings would play their games, have their dinner, do homework, and then everyone would go to recharge.

Knock Out would come home in the very early joors of the morning, usually 01:00, and go straight to recharge. But, he always stopped to check Starscream’s spark with the scanner.

But this morning wasn’t like the other mornings. This was a no school orbital cycle, meaning the morning was a bit more chaotic than usual.

“Stop killing!” Wildbreak shouted.

“I’m not doing anything!” Fracture screamed back.

Starscream sat on the couch watching them play their videogame, as they always did. Breakdown was working in the berthroom, and Dead End was running around with a screwdriver pretending it was a sword he was using to defeat some invisible enemies. Knock Out, by some miracle, was able to stay recharging upstairs despite the noise.

“Are you guys going to play this all orbital cycle?” Starscream inquired, already bored of what it was they were doing.

“Yes.” Fracture grunted.

“It’s more fun when you’re actually the one playing it.” Wildbreak replied sagely.

“Hmm, my taste in entertainment differs from yours.” Starscream said as he crossed his arms.

“I’m sure you’re into whatever it is old people are into.” Fracture grumbled.

“You will be old before you realize it.”

“Not as old as you…”

“Not as old as me for a while at least, but you’ll get there.”

“Mhmm.” Fracture didn’t care about the conversation, only wanting to play his game.

Starscream sighed, then stood up. He was doing a lot better after resting and taking his medicine. He still didn’t feel well enough to transform or to fight, but he could get his own energon and walk around just fine.

He walked to the berthroom where Breakdown was busy installing a new floor, and stood in the doorway. “It’s looking good.”

Breakdown looked up at him and smirked. “Thank you. Knock Out picked out the floor. I think I’ll replace the window, too. I can feel a draft. Probably easier to replace the whole thing than try and patch up all the holes.”

“Are you going to decorate it?”

“Maybe a little. I’m actually getting a berth in a little bit. It’ll go right there where the floor is finished. This side I’m working on I’ll move the desk back in and put a vidscreen on that wall. The closet needs some shelves put in.”

“How much longer do you think it’ll take?”

“Eh, if I finish the floor today and get the furniture put in, then the window, closet, and shelves are the main things to finish. So, three or four more orbital cycles. Then, you can move in and have some privacy.”

“I don’t mind being on the couch with the mechlings.”

“I know, but sometimes Knock Out’s creators visit and, trust me, you want a place to hide from them…” He rolled his optics.

“I appreciate it. Really, I do.”

“Just be nice to my mate and you’re welcome to stay however long as you like.”

“I will.” Starscream lowered his wings, not sure how nice he could be to Knock Out when the doctor was mean to him.

The Seeker went to the energon room and got himself a cube. Diesel followed him and gave him an expecting look. The Seeker perked his wings, having learned what that face meant. He grabbed a couple of energon goodies and gave them to the dog, smiling a little when he saw the tail wagging. At least someone liked him….

“Hey, Fracture,” Breakdown said as he walked over to the couch. “I need to go get the new berth. Only online carrier if it’s an emergency.”

“Okay, sire!” Fracture replied without even looking back.

Breakdown walked to the door, but turned to Starscream. “You behave. Dead End will tell me if you didn’t.”

And with that, the truck walked out the door. Starscream returned to the couch and sat beside his son. Dead End was still running around playing with his imaginary foes, which he did for a couple of breems before running to his brothers. The youngest one threw himself at Fracture’s lap and started to bounce.

“Play with me!” He demanded.

“No, Dead End.” Fracture snapped.

“I want you to play!”

“Dead End, I’m playing a game. Go watch cartoons in your room.”

“NO!”

“Stop screaming!” Fracture snapped at him. “Why are you the most annoying brat in existence?!”

“I’M NOT A BRAT!”

“Shut up, Dead End!” Fracture pushed him away.

“Fracture, be gentle with him.” Starscream said quickly, sitting up.

“Why are you even here...?” Fracture rolled his optics. “You can frag off, too.”

“Fracture…” Wildbreak said slowly. “Sire said to only use bad words if you aren’t hurting someone’s feelings.”

“Sire isn’t here.”

“I’m here and you need to be nice to Dead End. He looks up to you.” Starscream grunted, his wings flicking.

Fracture rolled his optics, ignoring Starscream.

Dead End, while they had been speaking, stormed over to the console, furious that he had been pushed. He grabbed the power cable for the console and yanked it out, shutting off the game.

“WHAT THE FRAG?!” Fracture shouted.

“Not cool, Dead End!” Wildbreak threw his servos up.

“YOU’RE MEAN!” Dead End pointed his little claw at Fracture, his optics narrowed.

“UGH! You need to be left at an orphanage! Stupid brat!” Fracture threw his controller at Dead End.

“Hey!” Starscream grabbed Fracture’s arm. “Do not throw things at him!”

Fracture shoved him back as he stood, his engine revving. Dead End was crying, the controller barely missing his helm. He bolted for the stairs.

“Dead End get back! Carrier is recharging!” Fracture shouted after him.

But Dead End didn’t listen. He ran up the stairs and opened the door to his creator’s room. Everyone downstairs could hear him crying for his carrier, then the sound of Knock Out getting up.

“Carrier is gonna be pissed.” Wildbreak grunted.

Fracture ignored him to plug the console back in and get it back up and running. “Why do they have to keep Dead End…? He’s a nuisance.”

“He’s a sparkling, Fracture. All sparklings are nuisances.” Starscream grunted. “You also acted up when you were his age.”

“I wasn’t screaming to carrier over everything.”

“You learned quickly. You take after your real carrier.”

Fracture just gave him a look like he was weird.

They paused when they heard Knock Out walking out of his room, and then down the stairs, the little pedfalls of Dead End beside him. Diesel ran over excitedly, knowing he never was in trouble.

“Explain to me why the frag I am being online by a crying Dead End saying Fracture threw something at him and called him a ‘brat?’” Knock Out ordered in a tired vocalizer, obviously having not gotten enough recharge from his long shift last night.

“I had no part in it.” Wildbreak piped up quickly.

“Dead End was being annoying and unplugged the console. So, I yelled at him and then he ran upstairs.” Fracture grunted.

“Did you throw something at him?”

“Yes. But I missed.”

“He also told Starscream to ‘frag off.” Wildbreak added.

Fracture glared at the snitch.

“Fracture, go to your room. I think you’ve played enough games for the orbital cycle.” Knock Out rubbed a single servo over his faceplates tiredly.

“Dead End is the one being a brat! Why do you always side with him?!”

Knock Out glared at him. “I do not ‘always side with him.’ You can not throw things at him or call him names. You, as his older brother, should be guiding him on how to behave, not treating him like he’s beneath you. All you’ve done is shown him it’s okay to call people names and throw things at them should they annoy you. Is that what I should do to you because you are annoying me very much right now. I am exhausted, Fracture. I stayed at work for an extra three joors last night because someone was dying on me! I was covered in his energon feeling his spark fade away because he also got angry with someone, and that someone had a gun, and that someone kept shooting him until he wasn’t moving. Is that what you want your future to be? Getting pissed off at people over minor inconveniences until they shoot you and I have to try to save your life? You want me to be covered in your energon as I watch your spark fade away?”

“…No…” Facture said slowly.

“Then stop fighting with your brothers and learn some self control. If Dead End is bothering you, give him something to distract him. He forgets everything if you give him something shiny!”

“I WANT SHINY!” Dead End piped up, hugging Knock Out’s leg.

“See?” Knock Out vented a sigh. “Go to your room. We will talk more later. Don’t make me say anything more right now because I am not up to it…”

Fracture rolled his optics as he stomped away and up the stairs. Knock Out glanced at Starscream, then turned to Wildbreak.

“Where is your sire?”

“He went to get the new berth.” Wildbreak said as he petted Diesel who had hopped onto the couch. “Do you need a hug?”

“I’m okay, sweetie. I’m just tired.”

“You’re always tired…”

“My job is stressful.”

“Should get a new one.”

“I don’t know what else I’d do. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was 25 stellar cycles old…”

“Sire should get a job.”

“Sire has no skills that would pay like my job. He’s just another sparkling according to my bank…” Knock Out grunted.

Wildbreak giggled. “Sire’s a sparkling.”

Knock Out nodded with a face that said, “you have no idea.” He then walked to the energon room.

Starscream bit his lip plate, not sure if he should go upstairs and check on Fracture or give him space to cool down. But he did appreciate that Knock Out’s parenting didn’t include any yelling, threats, or abuse. He wasn’t sure what he should have done… He had never dealt with a sparkling of Fracture’s age before.

Knock Out got himself some energon, then sat on the couch beside Wildbreak. Wildbreak hugged his carrier, and Dead End quickly climbed up to also hug the speedster. Starscream swallowed, wishing his own son would hug him so willingly like that… Instead of telling him to frag off.

The speedster drank his energon as he chatted with his sons, the two talking about nonsense with their carrier, making him smile. Starscream wanted that… To just talk to his son and Fracture actually want to talk back to him.

A few more breems passed before the door opened and Breakdown came in holding one end of a berth.

“Tilt it just a bit.” He instructed someone at the other end of the berth. “Yeah, ready?”

He backed up carrying his end, and soon Grit appeared holding the other end. They got the berth inside, closed the door, and carried it to the berthroom. They managed to get it through the door and into the room.

Starscream’s wings perked, then flicked when seeing the speedster. His optics narrowed, hoping Grit wouldn’t come over and speak to him.

Grit walked out of the room, smirking his usual smirk, and trotted over to the couch.

“Hey, little bro! You look awful.”

“I’m just tired.” Knock Out grunted, Dead End now recharging on him.

“Breakdown really gave it to you last night?” He laughed.

Knock Out glared at him. “Don’t talk about interface in front of my mechlings.”

“You’re always so grumpy. Where is Fracture?”

“In his room. He’s in trouble.”

“What he do?”

“He got into it with Dead End.”

Grit chuckled. “He takes after his carrier, doesn’t he?” He then looked over to Starscream. “Speaking of, look at you, sweet plates! My brother fixed you up good! Did he use his cosmetic training to add a little extra to your aft so there’s more plate to smash into!” He then humped the air a couple of times as he laughed. “Need some hips for me to hold onto!”

Starscream’s engine growled, his wings flicking. “Go away, Grit.” He growled.

“You don’t like talking about fragging in front of the mechlings, either, eh? Wanna go somewhere else and ‘talk’ about it?” He laughed.

“I don’t want to talk to you! Leave me alone.” He flicked his wings again.

“What has you all worked up? Angry because you haven’t been laid in orns?”

“I’m angry with you.”

“Not my fault I couldn’t stick you in a hospital…”

Starscream stood up, wings flicking again. “I wouldn’t have been in the hospital had you actually come by when I needed you! I needed someone to talk to after the hearing, and you abandoned me!”

“Whoa, hey, we weren’t together to begin with. We’re not a couple. Ah!” He yelped when Starscream suddenly slapped him across the faceplates, leaving 4 cuts from his claws. Grit touched the cuts, noticing energon on his digit tips. “Have you lost your mind?!”

“I lost it when I ever thought you cared about me!”

“I told you I don’t do relationships, you stupid Seeker!”

“You didn’t need to date me to offer me some comfort!”

“You with the mixed signals! You’re insane…” He turned and started to walk away. “No wonder you lost custody, you psycho.”

Starscream flicked his wings, glaring as he watched Grit walk away. He then lowered his wings, feeling coolant pooling in his optics. He sat back down, wiping at his optics.

“He deserved that.” Knock Out grunted. “You also deserved the pain for using him to hurt me. Justice.”

“I don’t want to hear it…” Starscream’s vocalizer was brittle, trying not to cry.

“Don’t cry over Grit. He’s not worth it.” Knock Out said a little softer. “Seriously, don’t cry over him. He’s been fragging someone else ever since you were hospitalized. You were just another notch on his score card.”

Starscream swallowed, feeling his spark aching. He couldn’t hold it in anymore and covered his faceplates as he cried, his wings drooping.

Knock Out watched him for a bit before gently setting Dead End on the couch and sitting up. He scooted over to be beside Starscream, unsubspaced a cloth, and wiped at Starscream’s optics and cheekplates.

“Don’t cry over him.” He said it quietly, but sternly. “He’s not worth it. Don’t let afts like him make you cry. He’s a good brother, but a terrible partner. There are many like him, and not a single one should leave anyone in tears.”

Starscream swallowed, working on calming himself down. “I… It just hurts.” He whispered.

“I know. Trust me, I know.”

Starscream looked at him, but the doctor didn’t elaborate further, simply worked on cleaning the Seeker’s face of all coolant. He then unsubspaced his box of beauty products, and soon was applying optic liner on Starscream.

“Now, you can’t cry anymore because this isn’t coolant proof.” He said it so matter-of-factly, like the optic liner would ensure that the Seeker couldn’t possibly cry while wearing it. “You also can’t cry because this wasn’t cheap. It was 40 Shanix.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Seriously.” Knock Out rolled his optics. “This is why I have to be a doctor. Can’t afford this slag on anything less.”

“Maybe Breakdown needs a job.”

“Breakdown wouldn’t be able to handle being away from the mechlings.” He said as he put away his optic liner and subspaced the box. He then noticed Breakdown was watching them, smirking. “What?”

“Nothing.” Breakdown continued smiling as he turned and walked away.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “He better not be thinking about interface….”

“Are spike dominants really able to think about anything else?” Starscream grunted.

“Seriously…”

Knock Out got up and went up the stairs. Fracture soon came back downstairs and went to hang out with Grit, freed from his banishment to his room. Starscream flicked his wings, wishing his son wouldn’t interact with Grit.

An Orn Later:

Breakdown had finished putting the berthroom together and helped Starscream pack his belongings in the apartment and move them to the new room. The truck also had Starscream’s lease ended, as it wasn’t safe for him to go back there anyway since Megatron knew of the place. For now, the only place Starscream had was Knock Out’s house. He didn’t even have a job anymore as he was terminated while in hospital after missing so many orbital cycles of work.

But he still had his savings and was holding onto those close. He would heal then find another job and move out. Until then, at least he was close to his son.

It was pretty boring, as the mechlings either were at school or playing their games, or hanging out with their friends. The same routine as always with them. Only thing that would change was Knock Out’s work schedule. Sometimes he worked evenings, somethings the night, sometimes he would be gone all orbital cycle. So, Starscream didn’t see him too much. And when Knock Out did have the orbital cycle off it was always when the mechlings didn’t have school so he would be able to be around them. And Knock Out behaved when the mechlings were around.

It was one of those orbital cycles when everyone was home that Starscream was on the couch with the older mechlings, Knock Out was working at the dining room table, Breakdown was upstairs doing his hobby of scrapbooking, and Dead End was playing with toys on the floor.

“If he needs a new leg then build him a new leg. It’s not worth trying to repair damage like that.” Knock Out spoke on the communicator as he looked at his work datapad. “Yeah, if you could send me an image that would be great.” He waited for the file to be sent over, then saw he received a message on his datapad. “Yeah, just got it. I’m opening it now.”

He clicked it, and an image appeared. Knock Out’s spark felt like it was stabbed. The image was of a protoform… Dead and covered in energon.

“Oops!” The person on the communicator said. “I’m sorry, I sent the wrong one. That’s an earlier case we had this morning. Here, this is the correct file. Sending it over now.” He paused. “Knock Out, did you get that one? That’s of the leg. Can you see the wires I’m talking about?... Knock Out?”

Knock Out was frozen, looking at this sparkling, his spark hurting him. The file description read that he died in an attempted murder of the carrier, but that didn’t matter… Knock Out only saw his miscarried sparkling.

Knock Out dropped the communicator and stood. He was only able to take three steps before his legs gave out and he fell to his knees. His spark felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed, again and again, as it pulsated faster. His intakes quickened, his servos were trembling, he felt like he was losing control.

Starscream looked over the back of the couch when he heard Knock Out crying loudly. His wings perked.

“Knock Out?”

The older mechlings looked back, noticing the panicked cries of their carrier.

“Carrier, what’s wrong?” Wildbreak leaped to his peds and ran over.

Fracture stood there, not sure what was happening. Dead End noticed and raced to his carrier.

“CARRIER! Don’t cry! I’m here!” He instantly hugged his carrier.

But Knock Out couldn’t calm himself in the midst of his panic attack, covering his faceplates as he cried.

Starscream got up and cautiously approached. He hesitated, then got down on his knees, sitting on his ankles, and carefully touched Knock Out’s shoulder.

“Knock Out? What’s happening? Do you need medical?” He perked his wings.

“I’m getting sire!” Wildbreak bolted up the stairs.

Starscream looked back at the table to see why the doctor was like this, and noticed the image on the datapad. His wings lowered, figuring out what was happening.

Breakdown quickly came down the stairs with Wildbreak behind him. He trotted over to his mate, and got down on the floor.

“Knock Out, hey, I’m here.” He said so gently, clearly having dealt with this before. “You’re having a panic attack again. Wildbreak, Dead End, and Fracture are all here for you. We even have Diesel. Want Diesel?” He then reached over and grabbed Diesel who was standing by them, not sure what was happening. He then shoved Diesel into his mate’s chassis. Knock Out slowly hugged the dog, his intakes still fast, but his sobbing beginning to subside. “There, see? Diesel helps. He’s a good mechling.”

“I’m a good mechling!” Dead End proclaimed as he hugged his carrier tighter.

“See? You have two very good mechlings with you.”

“I lost a-a good mechling…” Knock Out managed to sob out.

“Hey, no, not thinking about that. Let’s think about happy things. We have Diesel, and Dead End, and Fracture, and Wildbreak… You have me. I’m here for you. Hey, look, even Starscream is right here for you.” He gestured at the Seeker. “We all love you. It wasn’t your fault… Sweetie… It wasn’t your fault.”

Knock Out only continued crying, squeezing Diesel a little too tightly. Breakdown stood, and picked up Knock Out, who still held Diesel, and started for the stairs.

“You guys keep playing. Carrier needs some time alone.”

“Is he okay?” Fracture asked slowly.

“He’ll be okay. Just another panic attack.”

Dead End followed Breakdown up the stairs, refusing to be separated from his carrier. The older mechlings and Starscream watched them, only speaking once they heard the berthroom door close.

“Maybe I should get carrier energon.” Wildbreak said.

“No, let sire handle it.” Fracture ordered.

Starscream walked over to the table, looked at the datapad, then turned it off. He bit his lower lip plate, not sure how to feel. Knock Out had taken his son from him, but Knock Out also had lost a sparkling… And his loss was permanent. He had never seen the doctor have a panic attack… For him to break down like that… He was really hurting.

Starscream went into his room, needing to think away from everyone else. Him and Knock Out both were miserable. It made him feel a little bad about using the miscarriage to hurt him… But was Knock Out actually sorry about taking Fracture away? He did save his life in the hospital… And allow him to move in with him…

Starscream didn’t know what to think. He was still angry with Knock Out after all he did to him, but he also understood that Knock Out wasn’t the same person he had been during the war…

Why couldn’t things be simpler?

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

Knock Out held three datapads as he and Breakdown walked to Fracture’s room. They had just put Dead End in his room to take a nap, and now were preparing for something they weren’t sure they were even ready for.

“Hello, my beautiful mechlings.” Knock Out greeted them as he entered the room.

Fracture and Wildbreak looked up from where they sat on the berth doing homework. Knock Out sat on the berth next to them while Breakdown sat on the chair by the desk.

“What’s going on?” Wildbreak inquired.

“We’re not in trouble, are we?” Fracture asked slowly.

“No, never my loves.” Knock Out reassured him. “We are here because the time has come for you to have a very important conversation that every single sparkling must have.”

“What is it?” Fracture raised an optical ridge.

“I am going to tell you where sparklings come from…”

“They come from carriers.” Wildbreak said it like the answer was obvious.

“They do. But I’m going to tell you how they get inside of us. It’s not as simple as you might think.”

“It’s nanites making a protoform.” Fracture spoke up. “In school they told us. A sire nanite connects with a carrier nanite, and they create the protoform that then grows into a sparkling, and then the carrier gives birth.”

“Yes, that’s how a sparkling is made once inside a carrier. You are correct. But I’m going to tell you how that sire nanite gets inside the carrier.”

“Okay…” Fracture eyed him quizzically.

“So,” Knock Out onlined one of the datapads he held so that it showed an image of a standard speedster mech. “This is a mech, just like you two. He has a spark, T-cog, all of that. Just like everyone does. He also has something called a spike.” He zoomed in to the crotch area of the mech. “This is the codpiece. The codpiece protects the spike. If we fold away the codpiece,” He tapped the screen which made a small animation of the codpiece folding away. “We see a spike cover. This is a secondary plating of protection for the spike. You guys probably have noticed it when you bathe. Now, let’s fold that away.” He tapped the screen again, causing another animation to have the spike casing fold away, and then the spike come out. “See this funny looking thing? That’s a spike.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen that.” Fracture said.  “When I shower and I’m cleaning it’ll fold out.”

“Yes,” Knock Out continued. “This spike is actually what gets the sire nanites into the carrier. The spike has these two tubes inside of it that go up inside of you to the nanite production units.” He tapped the screen which displayed the same mech but now his front plating was missing, revealing all his organs. “See these? Those are the nanite production units. The sire nanites are made inside of them. They go into the spike and shoot out when something called ‘overload’ or ‘climax’ happens.

“But in order to get those nanites to shoot out and go inside of the carrier, the mech must do something called ‘interface.’”

“Interface is shooting nanites?” Wildbreak asked slowly.

“Let me explain.” Knock Out turned back to the datapad. “The spike goes inside of the carrier. See, everyone also has something called a valve under their codpiece.” He showed it on the datapad. “See this panel just under the spike? Let’s tap that so it moves. See how the panel revealed this funny looking hole? That’s a valve. It’s lined with many sensory nodes, which you can see a few here.” He pointed. “The spike goes into this hole.” He then showed an illustrated drawing of just that, which also showed how far the spike went inside of the valve. “The valve is connected to something we call the ‘birthing tube.’ This tube is connected to the gestation tank. Which, you’ve learned is where the sparkling grows. The gestation tank is connected to its own nanite production unit, which there are also two. They are connected on either side of it.

“So, when a carrier and a sire want to make a sparkling, the sire puts his spike into the carrier just like this. But, the spike doesn’t instantly shoot the nanites inside of the carrier. He has to perform interface. That means stimulating the spike. The sire will move back and forth, moving the spike in and out of the valve, and will do this for a few kliks. The spike and valve have a lot of sensory nodes, and it feels really nice to have them rubbed against. This nice feeling causes the spike to eventually ejaculate, which is the word for shooting out nanites. The nanites go into the birthing tube, all the way into the gestation tank, and then fuse with the gestation nanites.

“Now, there’s a second part where the carrier and sire must spark bond.” He showed a picture of that on the datapad. “The sparks share CNA with each other, and this fusion causes a spark to be created. The spark stays inside of the carrier’s spark chamber, feeding off the carrier’s spark until it is strong enough to migrate down this tube,” He showed another image. “And go into the protoform in the gestation tank. The time period for when this happens is different for everyone, as everyone has different sparks, but usually it happens orbital cycles before labor, giving birth, or around five decacycles.”

“So, interface is just people making sparklings…” Fracture said slowly. “Then why do I hear Starscream say he does that, and he doesn’t have sparklings…?”

“Well, that’s where the more difficult part of the conversation comes up.” Knock Out set the datapad down. “Interface is supposed to make sparklings. Yes, that’s its biological purpose… But because it feels so nice, it’s also used for bonding and for fun. Many people will interface just to enjoy the feeling. And for mated people, like sire and I, we do it a lot to grow closer. You can prevent having a sparkling by either not spark bonding, or disconnecting certain wires that activate the nanite production units for the spike, or use this clamp on the top of the birth tube that prevents nanites from going into the gestation tank. Those are the most common, but there are some other methods.

“Now, that being said, you shouldn’t just go interfacing anyone. There are certain diseases that are only spread by interface. So, if you’re not careful you can catch them. Several are deadly if not treated. The rest just make you miserable if not treated.

“There’s also something that is called rape… Which… When you are being penetrated, which means a spike goes into your valve… It can hurt. Especially if the person doing it is not gentle or kind… You have to want interface and the person you’re doing it with has to respect your boundaries and listen to you. If not, it hurts. But some very bad people don’t care about your boundaries. They want to interface so they, and only they, enjoy it. So, they hurt people simply so they feel good.

“Interface has a good and bad side. Good side is like what sire and I have. We bond with it because we love each other, and we use it to make beautiful sons we love. But then the bad people use it to hurt others.

“Now, all this being said, just because you know what something is don’t go and do it. When you lose your virginity, which is when you have never had interface, you want to lose it to someone who really cares about you. When you lose it to someone who never cared about you… It can really make you sad and have many regrets. I lost mine to someone who really hurt me. And it bothers me still to this orbital cycle. But your sire here lost it to me and he’s the happiest mech alive.”

“Damn right!” Breakdown smiled.

“I got you two a book on interface.” He handed them each one of the other two datapads. “This book is for mechlings of your age, and will explain to you more about interface, about the diseases you can catch, and also about the changes in your bodies. You are about to hit puberty, which is when the body prepares itself to be able to make sparklings. You’re going to have some aches in your belly, you’ll get cranky, you’ll feel weird between the legs, but that’s because your body is becoming an adult body. The book explains it all. But if there is anything that the book doesn’t answer for you just ask me.”

“And don’t ask me.” Breakdown said quickly. “Carrier is the doctor. He can explain this all better than me!”

“I also would prefer you not talk about this to Dead End. He’s still too young to understand this stuff.”

“Ew…” Wildbreak said as he was looking through the datapad. “People do this interface for fun and get this disease?! Are people stupid?”

“Yes, people are very stupid.” Knock Out grunted.

Fracture giggled as he looked at his datapad. “Some people have tiny spikes and are bullied for it? That’s funny.”

“Yeah, it is.” Knock Out faintly smiled at him, then his smile faded. “Which brings up another thing I have to discuss with you.”

“What?”

Knock Out vented a sigh, not wanting to do this. “Your sire and I had interface to make Dead End… And Wildbreak… But we didn’t for you.”

Fracture raised an optical ridge. “Then how did I get inside your belly?”

“That’s the thing… You never were in my belly. Fracture… I’m not your actual carrier.”

Fracture looked at him like he had lost his mind. “You’re joking. Sire jokes enough, I don’t need you always joking.”

“I’m not.” Knock Out swallowed, feeling coolant in his optics. “I wish you were mine. I wish so much that I carried you… But I didn’t. I got custody of you because your real carrier couldn’t take care of you, and you got hurt. There’s a reason we have those custody hearings…” He paused. “There’s a reason Starscream is always visiting you.” He reached over and took Fracture’s servo in his. “Fracture… Starscream is your real carrier. I helped deliver you from his belly. He was living with us when he was sparked with you. He made you.”

Fracture just stared at him, not sure if he was lying or not. “Y-you’re still joking, right?” He paused. “Right?!”

Knock Out took his datapad, messed with it, then pulled up the birth certificate. “This is your birth certificate. You can see that Starscream is your carrier. My designation is down here as one of the doctors who helped deliver you. You were born in the hospital I work at.”

Fracture swallowed, not sure how to take this. “W-why couldn’t he have me…?”

“Starscream was struggling.” Breakdown spoke. “He didn’t have a place to stay. He was living on the streets because the person he had been living with kicked him out. He was scared, he was alone, and he came to us. We knew him from the war. He knew he could trust us and moved in. He gave birth to you, and you stayed for about a stellar cycle, the time carrier was sparked with Wildbreak. After Wildbreak was born, literally the orbital cycle after his birth, Starscream and carrier got into an argument and Starscream left believing that we didn’t want him here anymore. He went back onto the streets with you. We were scared for your safety and asked the court to give you to us to care for while Starscream focused on himself and finding a place to live. We got custody of you and have raised you as our own.”

“Why would he leave to live on the streets?”

“Because,” Knock Out spoke now. “The reason we got into an argument is because he went to visit your real sire. Your real sire is… Not a good mech. He has done terrible things. He has horribly abused Starscream a lot. Starscream has had a hard time getting away from him. And when he took you to see your sire… Your sire hurt you very badly, and also hurt Starscream. That’s why the court granted you to us so quickly. We were all scared that you would be killed by your sire. He has done such horrible things… He has killed thousands. He was one of the most evil people during the war. You weren’t safe.”

“And Starscream can’t even take care of himself.” Breakdown continued. “He struggles a lot. Being a civilian after fighting in a war for so long... It’s hard on many. Lots of people are still struggling to make the transition. He was getting better for a while, but then he got sick…”

“I don’t know what to say…” Fracture said slowly. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because I was fighting with Starscream over you, and I selfishly wanted you to love me and not him.” Knock Out explained softly. “It was wrong of me to do that, and I apologize. You should have been told he was your real carrier always.”

Fracture was silent as he thought. “What do I call you then?”

“You can still call me carrier or Knock Out. It’s your decision and I’ll stand by whatever you choose.” He paused. “No matter what you choose, I still love you like you’re my real son. It feels like I did give birth to you. I will always be there for you, and care for you, and help you no matter what.”

“Same here.” Breakdown said. “We may not be your biological creators, but we will always love you like we are. It doesn’t really matter if we share CNA. Many biological creators are terrible people to their creations… What matters is that we love you and you know you are loved by us.”

“The court gave us custody over you, so no matter what, you’re with us until you become a legal adult. But even after that time, we will continue to support you.”

Fracture looked over at Breakdown, then back at Knock Out. “Who is my real sire?”

Knock Out vented a sigh. “I don’t want you to know. He’s so awful… I don’t want you to feel ashamed of who you are and think you’re bad. You’re not him.” He swallowed. “But I can’t stop you from asking Starscream. If you really want to know… It’s Starscream’s place to tell you that.”

“No wonder he doesn’t have yellow optics.” Wildbreak finally spoke up. “Me and Dead End have yellow optics like sire, and Fracture doesn’t even have red optics like you.” He pointed at Knock Out. “He’s adopted like Diesel!”

“Yes, in a way…” Knock Out adjusted himself on the berth. “And just like Diesel, he’s still family and is loved despite not being energon related.”

“Is that why I have nightmares about a big mech attacking me?” Fracture looked up. “Because it was my sire who attacked me?”

“Yeah… That’s why.” Knock Out wiped at his optics as fresh coolant began to leak out. “I wish I could have stopped him and prevented you from ever going over there. You could have been killed. That’s why I’m so protective of you.”

Fracture scooted over and hugged Knock Out. “I’m here, carrier. You did save me. And it’s okay if you didn’t tell me before. I want you to be my real carrier.”

Knock Out hugged him back, holding him close. “That makes me so happy, Fracture. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

Breakdown gave them a moment before speaking. “Fracture, you should still talk with Starscream. He may not feel like your carrier, but he is. And you two have a lot to catch up on. He does care about you. He’s made some stupid mistakes, and he clearly regrets them. He wants to be your carrier. I’m not saying you have to love him more than Knock Out or whatever. But just… Talk with him and accept he did give birth to you, and he has tried to work on himself because he wants to be there for you. Not everyone has a carrier who will do even that for them.”

“You can process this new information for however long you need to.” Knock Out added. “It’s a lot to take in, and if you need to think about what you’re going to say or ask, do so.”

Fracture nodded.

Knock Out kissed him on the cheekplates, then did the same to Wildbreak. “I love you two so much. I’ll give you some space so you can look at your datapads and think about what we said. Don’t hesitate to ask me questions.”

“Again, ask him, not me.” Breakdown chuckled. “I’d just confuse you more!”

“Okay, carrier!” Wildbreak smiled.

“Yeah, thanks carrier and sire.” Fracture held his datapad close.

Knock Out and Breakdown walked out of the room and went into their own berthroom. The speedster turned to his mate, biting his lip plate.

“You think we did it right?”

“I think we did it the best we could.” Breakdown cupped his mate’s cheekplates and kissed him. “Hey, don’t cry. He still loves us. Be proud of yourself. You told him the truth, and you did it without bashing Starscream. I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m just scared he may look at us differently…”

“He won’t. That mechling loves you so much. You’ll always be his carrier, and I’ll always be the sire who annoys him with my bad jokes.”

Knock Out faintly smiled at that. “I know you’re right.”

“Of course, you do. Now, I’m going to love on you and not allow you to escape my loving.”

“Oh no…”

“Oh, yes.” Breakdown then began to kiss his mate as he held him close, despite the speedster weakly struggling to get away.

Fracture walked down the stairs and approached the berthroom where Starscream was. He hesitated, then walked in.

“Hey.”

Starscream looked up. “Hey.” He set down the datapad he had.

“Can we talk?”

Starscream perked his wings. “Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

Fracture walked over and sat on the berth beside the Seeker. “So, yesterday carrier talked to me and Wildbreak about what interface is…”

Starscream’s optics widened some. “Knock Out might be better to ask questions. He’s a doctor….”

“No, it’s not about that… Well, I guess it kinda is… I don’t know… He told me that… You’re my carrier. That I came from you. And he showed me my birth certificate… And explained why I live with him and not you and why you visit… But he wouldn’t tell me who my real sire is. He said my sire is a very bad person and I’m better off not knowing… But if I did want to know I needed to ask you because he can’t make himself say it… So…” He shrugged. “Who is he? Is he that bad?”

Starscream drooped his wings, contemplating. He was surprised that Knock Out had told his son the truth. He never thought Knock Out would tell Fracture who his real carrier was.

“What did Knock Out tell you exactly why I don’t have custody of you?”

“He said… That you were living with my real sire, and he was really mean and made you homeless. And you came to carrier for a home. And then after Wildbreak was born you visited my real sire and he hurt both of us. So, you and carrier argued, and you left, and he was scared I was going to be hurt again… Or killed. So, the court gave me to him.”

Starscream slowly nodded. “Yes, that is what happened. I foolishly visited your sire and he hurt both of us… And I was too stupid at the time to realize how much danger I had put you in because I was a selfish idiot…” He swallowed, hearing himself say out loud that Knock Out was right cemented in him that… Knock Out did save Fracture’s life.

“Why did you put me in danger…?” Fracture asked quietly.

“How much about interface did Knock Out tell you?”

“He gave me this.” Fracture showed him the datapad he had been given. “I’ve been looking through it. ITVs, how sparklings are made inside of carriers, how interface works, how to not get sparked, how the body reacts, and this funny word: Masturbation.” He giggled at that.

Starscream faintly smiled at his son’s innocence. “Yeah, that is a funny word.” His smile vanished as he sighed. “So, it does not sound like emotion has been explained to you…”

“He said interface between mates also is done for bonding. Make them love each other more. That’s emotion.”

“Yes, well, it is. You’re right. But there’s other emotions involved with interface. Emotions you haven’t felt yet because you’re so young.” He paused, thinking about how he would explain this. “So, we all have programming in us, right? Programming that helps us with basic survival needs. Like… Nursing. A sparkling is born knowing how to nurse because that’s a program they are born with. Being scared of monsters would also be a survival program. You already know that you should run away from anything big and scary. There’s another programming that is in us, but it takes a little longer to activate. This programming makes you want to interface. Because interface is primarily about breeding. And we must breed to keep our species alive and not go extinct. But sometimes… Emotions get involved. We feel the need to interface… But to be… Cherished. Because if we are cherished by the one we want interface from we are more likely to interface them and thus breeding.

“I guess what I’m trying to explain is… Sometimes people are really desperate for a mate… And our programming tells us to mate with this person and interface them to be cherished by them… Even if that person doesn’t actually love you back. And I made that mistake with your sire. I thought he loved me back… I thought all I needed to do to make him want to cherish me was to interface him. And that…. He would become my mate and I would have the relationship Knock Out and Breakdown have.

“But… He didn’t want to love me… He wanted to interface me because it made him feel good… And I ignored the abuse because I stupidly thought… He would eventually love me…” He looked at his son. “I took you back to him because he told me he wanted to interface me again and that he… cared about me. I thought I had finally won over his affection. So, I went… And he did what he always has done… He used me, abused me, and threw me away… Only that time he also hurt you…” He bit his lower lip plate as he remembered. “I-It has taken me some time to really take in how wrong I was… And how close I came to losing you forever…” He looked at Fracture again. “I’m sorry. I know my words mean nothing to you, but know I am so, so sorry for what I did. I-I won’t admit it to him… But Knock Out was right to get custody of you. I’m not a good carrier. I’m not ready for this responsibility. I’ve been watching how he treats you and I see he is a good carrier. He is ready, and responsible, and he’s doing a better job than I ever could.”

Fracture studied Starscream a little closer before speaking. “My optics are like yours.”

Starscream perked his wings. “You also have my chin.”

“So…. If I’m understanding this correctly… You thought my sire would love you and join you because you interfaced him… And then carrier – I mean, Knock Out – got custody of me to protect me… But why did you make me? Knock Out said you can interface without making sparklings.”

“Sometimes… You make a mistake. You don’t unplug nanite wires, you don’t use a clamp, you don’t… do whatever and… You make a surprise sparkling. I did not plan on having you. I was shocked when I realized I was carrying you.”

“Were you mad…?”

“No… I was just shocked…. But now I’m happy.” He stroked the top of Fracture’s helm. “Your sire was the angry one. He didn’t want you. He wanted me to… Not give birth to you. But I told him no. I wanted to carry you and give birth to you. Partially because I thought he would love me once he saw you, and also because… I was kind of excited to have a sparkling. I’ve been alive for a very long time. Being a carrier was a new adventure for me. I fragged it up…. But I am glad I still went through with it.”

“But who is he…?”

Starscream cupped Fracture’s cheekplates with one servo, studying those faceplates…. He could see the sire in them. He vented before speaking. “Your sire is Megatron of Tarn, leader of the Decepticons… The Slagmaker… And my superior during the war. I was his right servo during most of it.”

Fracture gave him a look. “The guy we’ve been learning about in history is my sire…? No… You’re slagging me.”

“Have you learned about me in your history class?”

“Um, well, yeah, some.” He shrugged. “But you weren’t Megatron’s mate… The datapads don’t say anything about you guys being together.”

“That’s because you’re reading the datapads for sparklings, not for gossipers… Wait until you go online….”

“You’re serious?”

“I am.” He hiked his wings.

Fracture looked away, finding this hard to believe, then he turned back to the Seeker. “Is that why I’m mean….?”

“What? No, you’re not mean. Megatron has no influence on your processor. Just your physical attributes. You’re probably going to be huge when you’re fully grown. But you won’t be an aft like him.”

“Then why am I mean…?”

“I think you’re just moody because you’ve probably felt something was off but never could figure out what it was. Now, you know.”

Fracture looked at his datapad, thinking, then looked up at his carrier. “What do I call you? I call Knock Out carrier, but you’re my carrier… But I’m use to calling you Starscream…”

“Whatever makes you happy. We both are your carriers. I’m the carrier who gave birth to you, and Knock Out is the carrier who raised and protected you from my stupidity.”

“I can do that.” Fracture nodded.

“Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“Yeah… Carrier – Knock Out carrier – also told me and Wildbreak about rape…. In the last hearing you said Megatron was raping you… He made you interface him when you didn’t want it? Did it hurt?”

Starscream did not expect that. His wings drooped. “Yes… Megatron would… Frequently demanded interface from me even when I wasn’t in the mood. It didn’t… always hurt. Sometimes it was okay… Sometimes it did hurt… Most of the time he hurt me he just…” He wrung his servos. “H-he would hit me… With things…”

“Like sire does to carrier?”

“No, what they do is consensual and isn’t that hard…. What Megatron would do to me… I would be so dented I would leak… Sometimes I couldn’t walk… Other times… I-I’d be in the hospital and not even be conscious… Knock Out would fix me many times from Megatron’s beatings… He would take care of me…” He swallowed, thinking about those times and his most recent time in the hospital.

“Like he took care of me…?”

Starscream nodded, feeling coolant pooling in his optics.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine…” He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. “Knock Out is a good mech… And I’m just very thankful for him… Even if he’s an aft.”

Fracture hugged Starscream, which the Seeker did not expect. “I’m not mad at you.”

Starscream hugged him back. “Thank you… I needed that.” He felt more coolant leaking out now as he squeezed his son.

“If Megatron wasn’t mean and you did mate him… Would you have more sparklings?”

“I don’t know… Maybe…”

“I rather be an only sparkling…”

Starscream faintly smiled. “I like you being my only sparkling. I love you, Fracture.”

Fracture didn’t say anything, not sure if he loved Starscream back. Maybe not now, but some orbital cycle he might feel differently.

Starscream didn’t expect to be told he was loved, but this was huge progress in itself and he happily accepted it.

And now Fracture knows 100% that Starscream is indeed his momma! Will they become closer? Will Fracture distance himself from Knock Out? Will Breakdown ever lose his fat?! The world may never know.

Bet y'all also didn't expect Starscream to move in with Knock Out. My friend wanted this to happen. She really wanted Starscream to get super sick from the STDs so he would be unable to care for himself and need someone to care for him. But who would want to care for that asshole? Well, Knock Out, that's who! Who you can see still cares about Starscream. He may be mad at him and hate him for what he's done, but deep down inside of him he still wants Starscream to be safe and be not dead.

Dead End is a little shit, ain't he? I also told my friend that Starscream needed to see that Knock Out is a good mom to Fracture and the other kids. That Fracture has never been in danger and has been truly loved. So Starscream can better understand he wasn't ready at the time to be a parent, and to learn to trust Knock Out more. They might be fighting, but Knock Out gave Fracture stability and love, ensuring he grew up safe and happy. Something Starscream simply couldn't give at the time due to his infatuation with Megatron and struggling to become a citizen. Which is actually not uncommon for real life soldiers to do who served many terms. Imagine being a solder, a military commander, for literally MILLIONS of years. It's not going to be easy to turn that off one day and be a mother with a job and doing housework.

Starscream also needs to see Knock Out is also struggling. He's having panic attacks over losing his baby, the grief and guilt. Knock Out is not doing well despite having the husband, house, money, and kids. He is also only hu-ROBOT, and is having his own battles. When Starscream can see Knock Out's pain, and Knock Out sees Starscream's pain, they both can better understand that this fighting is stupid. They need to help each other because in the end no one is winning. They are both just hurting and need each other.

The abortion industry sadly has put a lot of misinformation out there about not just abortion but also miscarriage. Having a miscarriage is very hard because your baby died for many different reasons. Sometimes you can figure out why it happened, sometimes you can't. But women suffer a LOT of depression, guilt, etc. after a miscarriage, and some become suicidal, some suffer PTSD, etc. And like an abortion, it not only causes guilt, but can cause hormones to get out of balance leading to more depression or other issues. And so Knock Out probably will never be healed from this miscarriage. He clearly has PTSD from it that causes severe panic attacks, he has guilt believing he did something wrong that killed his baby, and he is suffering depression. Not to mention his PTSD makes him scared he'll have another miscarriage, and his guilt makes him think Breakdown hates him. People get divorces over miscarriages usually due to such guilt and the arguments it causes.

But, Breakdown loves his waifu so will be there for him always. Unlike the abortion industry that throws away women suffering from these feelings...

Anyway, this is real and women, and fathers, who have experienced miscarriages need respect and love. It's not easy, it's not talked about enough, and they are people in mourning. That was their BABY, not a "clump of cells," but a baby they loved and lost.

And I have SCIENCE here if you want to read more about it:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/after-miscarriage-i-was-rocked-by-depression-like-many-other-women-i-didnt-get-follow-up-care-for-this-loss/2019/11/29/bd3dcff0-0729-11ea-8292-c46ee8cb3dce_story.html

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/women-who-miscarry-have-long-lasting-mental-health-problems

https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/postpartum-depression-miscarriage/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4468887/

https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/miscarriage-depression

See, I took a (redacted) from a friend who wanted two bitchy robot boys fighting and made it speak out against the abortion industry and to care for women who have miscarriages. I also snuck in adopting puppies and Soundwave having all the kitties encouraging rescue! And you guys thought I couldn't get vegan messages into EVERY story I will ever write. :P

Anyway, yes, both Starscream and Knock Out are sad bitches, with much depression, and need to hug each other and get over their fighting and raise their babehs and yeah....

I'm also really sad right now because a foster kitten I got really close to got adopted. She went to her new home today with another foster kitten I had that she had bonded with. Regina was so sick when I got her, she almost died. She was with me 10 months, so her leaving... I'm just sad and crying a lot. I hope she is so happy in her new home. She deserves the world.

Chapter Text

“CARRIER!!!!”

“What?” Knock Out looked down at his youngest as he ran over.

“I LOVE YOU!!!” Dead End then hugged his carrier’s leg.

“Aw, carrier loves you, too! Even if you destroy my audio receptors every orbital cycle….”

“NO!!!!!!!!!”

Knock Out flinched some from the horrible shriek. He vented a sigh before sipping his energon.

“Probably best you can’t hear.” Breakdown grunted. “It’ll save us a lot of pain.”

“Oh, stop it.” Knock Out glared at his mate. “You can stay in our room.”

“No, I want to be present. If my mere presence pisses him off then I have won.”

“You need to behave. I don’t need our mechlings learning bad habits from you.” He brought the glass back to his lip plates to drink.

Breakdown leaned over so his face was in his mate’s. “I am a model citizen. The only think they learn from me is how to behave.” He then slapped Knock Out on the aft hard, causing Knock Out to jerk, which made the energon in the glass splash into his faceplates as he was drinking it.

“You-!” He started to cough on the energon he swallowed wrong. Unable to speak, he instead splashed the energon that was left in his glass at Breakdown’s face.

Breakdown only laughed, dodging the liquid best he could. Dead End guffawed, falling on his aft he was laughing so hard.

“See?!” Breakdown gestured to the youngest. “That was funny!” He laughed heartily.

Knock Out punched the truck’s shoulder before stomping towards the washroom.  Breakdown and Dead End kept laughing, even more when Breakdown stepped and slipped on the energon covering the floor.

Starscream stepped out of his room and went to his washroom, his wings perking as he watched Knock Out at the sink splashing water on his faceplates.

“Doing alright?” The Seeker perked his wings.

Knock Out aggressively dried his faceplates and chestplates with a towel before throwing it to the floor. “Sometimes, I want to kill him….” He growled. “But then I remember I love him and then I want to kill myself.”

“Kind of extreme, don’t you think?”

Knock Out glared at him, but his anger wasn’t directed at the Seeker. “You should stay in your room.”

“Why? Are you going to murder your mate?”

“No, my creators are on their way, and they don’t like Seekers.”

“Right, I remember them… Is that why you two are fighting?”

“We aren’t fighting. Breakdown simply believes his humor is shared by everyone…”

“I’m guessing you didn’t join him because he made you laugh?”

“He has his moments…” Knock Out smirked. “The spike helps.”

“It always helps.” Starscream nodded.

“Should see him use his glossa. The finesse of that thing.” Knock Out made a very satisfied face just thinking about it. “Get yourself a mech who can use his glossa and you will be doing just fine…” His optics narrowed again. “Unless he thinks slapping your aft every orbital cycle is the peak of comedy and relationship goals…”

“I thought you liked your aft being slapped?”

“There’s a time and place for it. Me trying to refuel is not one of them…”

“Could be worse. He could do far more embarrassing things to you in public.” Starscream said as he stepped out of the doorway so Knock Out could walk out.

“I fail to see what could possibly be less embarrassing than him slapping my aft when we’re at the store… Or the park… Or in front of my creators…”

“He could dry hump you.”

“I pray he never starts that habit in public…”

“I start what habit?” Breakdown looked up from where he was cleaning the floor from the spilled energon.

“Nothing.” Knock Out replied quickly.

“Carrier got energon in his face!” Dead End snickered.

“Be nice to me, I gave birth to you…”

Dead End only snickered again, clueless what this “birth” thing was.

The door chime went off.

“Well, it’s time.” Breakdown posed to pray and made a religious gesture before offlining his optics. “Lord Primus above, protect us from the devil and the evils he brings, for we are but mortals-“

Knock Out pushed his shoulder. “Stop it.” He snapped before walking towards the door.

Breakdown glanced back at his mate, then offlined his optics again. “We are but mortals and do not wish to be killed by the devil. Protect us from his evil- “

“Stop it, Breakdown!” Knock Out shouted.

Breakdown smirked, trying not to laugh. “Deliver us from-“

“You’re recharging on the couch…” Knock Out growled. He then opened the door and smiled. “Hey, carrier!”

“Hello, Knock Out.” Pulchra smiled as she hugged her son, then stepped inside.

“Hey, sire.” Knock Out hugged him.

“Knock Out.” Opulentus greeted without a smile of any kind.

“GRANDCARRIER!” Dead End ran over and hugged her as she bent down to receive him.

“Hello, Dead End! Look how big you’re getting!” She smiled at him.

Opulentus was the first to notice the Seeker. “What is that doing here?”

“That is currently living with us due to his medical condition.” Breakdown explained.

“Don’t speak unless spoken to.” He snapped at his son-in-law.

Breakdown shrugged, not bothering with arguing as he resumed cleaning the energon.

Starscream smirked when he heard Breakdown was quietly muttering his prayer still. Anything to annoy Knock Out while he was on his role.

“Why is it here?” Opulentus turned to his son.

“My mate explained to you.” Knock Out placed his servos on his hips. “Starscream is having medical issues so is staying with us. It wasn’t safe for him to stay in that apartment any longer, anyway…”

“Grandcarrier!” Wildbreak and Fracture both shouted as they ran down the stairs and over to her, hugging her. She hugged them back, smiling so happily to have them here with her.

“It’s not safe to have around sparklings…” Opulentus continued.

“You’re not safe to have around sparklings.” Breakdown grunted as he stood and took the cleaning supplies to the energon room.

“Watch your tone and do not speak to me.” Opulentus ordered viciously. “You shouldn’t have been bred.”

Breakdown set the cleaning supplies down on the counter and turned around. “Yeah? Last night I found Knock Out’s primary sensory node. When you find that on your own mate you come tell me I shouldn’t breed.”

Starscream looked at Knock Out who was now standing beside him and mouthed, “did he?”

Knock Out slowly shook his helm, his optics rolling some. Starscream then mouthed, “Does he ever?” Knock Out held his servo up and shook it side to side in the universal symbol of “eh…”

“He’s better with the glossa…” Knock Out whispered as he leaned closer to the Seeker, who snickered.

“You’re disgusting…” Opulentus grunted, turning away from the truck. “Knock Out, kick the Seeker out. I am not paying for your funeral should you die because you took pity on it.”

“I’m not kicking out Starscream, sire.” Knock Out grunted. “You’re here for the mechlings. Please, forget about Starscream and my mate and focus on them.”

“Yes, sweetie,” Pulchra spoke up. “Let’s enjoy our grandsparklings. We can speak to Knock Out about the Seeker later. Breakdown, stop symbolizing Primus….”

Breakdown quickly lowered his arm, ignoring the glare from his mate. He had managed to piss off Knock Out three times within a joor. He so was gonna get laid! He then smiled at that thought.

“We won’t be able to enjoy them for long when a dangerous Seeker is living in the same space as them!” Opulentus exclaimed.

“Don’t talk about my carrier like that.” Fracture suddenly piped up. “He’s not dangerous. He doesn’t do anything.”

“Yeah,” Wildbreak nodded. “Starscream is mellow. Dead End is the dangerous one.”

“NO!!!!!” Dead End shrieked.

“Your carrier?” Opulentus raised an optical ridge at him.

“I told him that Starscream is his carrier.” Knock Out said. “Both him and Wildbreak were given the interface talk and were told where they come from.”

“So, Fracture understands he’s a pet?”

“Don’t you say that about my son.” Starscream growled, wings flaring as he stepped forward, but Knock Out held an arm out to stop him.

“Fracture is not a ‘pet.’ See, this is why I only invite carrier over!” Knock Out rolled his optics. “Every time you come over you want to fight! Please, sire, leave. Go bother Grit… I only want carrier here.”

“Same!” Breakdown piped up.

Opulentus glared at Breakdown before turning back to Knock Out. “I have every right to see my son.”

“We can meet at a mutual location. I am more than willing to go to the park with you, or visit you in your own home. But you can not come to my home and insult the mech I am mated to, or the creations I made with him, or the son I adopted.” Knock Out said firmly. “Please… Just go. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Do not speak to me in that tone.” He growled, stepping towards Knock Out.

“If you slap my mate I will tear off your arm and beat you with it.” Breakdown snapped in the coldest vocalizer Starscream had ever heard from him, and said in such a way it was obvious that Opulentus had struck Knock Out before in front of him.

Knock Out stood his ground. “Do not act like this in front of my creations. You want to be an aft? Do it outside of my home. Not here.”

Knock Out turned and walked away from his sire, and pulled Fracture close to him. Fracture hugged Knock Out, needing the comfort.

Opulentus rolled his optics, but remained silent. He simply walked to the table and sat on a chair so he could easily watch everyone.

Pulchra opened her subspace pockets and produced gifts for the mechlings. “Here you guys go.” She smiled, handing them the new toys. “I also got you some Shanix.” She then handed them each little bags filled with Shanix.

“Thanks, grandcarrier!” Wildbreak smiled, hugging her.

Dead End only laughed before running off with his gifts.

“Thanks, grandcarrier.” Fracture hugged her.

“Of course.” Pulchra gave him a kiss on his cheekplates, then hugged him tightly.

Starscream bit his lower lip plate. At least Fracture got to experience having a loving grandcarrier. His creators weren’t around to fulfill that role. Too bad the grandsire sucked, but Pulchra clearly loved Fracture as much as she did her biological grandcreations.

“Now since the drama is hopefully over,” Breakdown spoke as he walked over. “How about we pull out the sparkling pics and embarrass the mechlings in front of grandcarrier!”

Fracture rolled his optics.

“Can you stop being so embarrassing?!” Wildbreak exclaimed in exasperation.

“SIRE, BAD!” Dead End screamed, not even sure what was going on, but he knew his sire was being an annoyance as usual.

Breakdown only chuckled, loving how easy it was to get on their nerves.

Starscream sat on the couch watching the vidscreen. The mechlings were all recharging, and he was alone. Knock Out’s creators had left a couple of joors ago, thankfully without anymore drama. And with the mechlings exhausted from the visit they were in berth pretty quickly.

“Come on.” Breakdown pulled Knock Out down the stairs by his wrist.

“But Starscream is down here.” Knock Out whined as he was dragged along.

Breakdown walked around the couch and sat down. “Let’s go.” He patted his lap, the paddle in his other servo.

“Not in front of Starscream!” Knock Out snapped.

“He knows we do this. Now, come on.”

“Why can’t we do this in the berthroom?”

“Because I like doing it on the couch. I can sit back and have fun.” He chuckled.

Knock Out glared at Starscream, then turned back to Breakdown. “He doesn’t want to see this.”

Breakdown turned to Starscream. “You okay seeing Knock Out get what’s coming to him?”

Starscream smirked as he got more comfortable on the couch. “I would love to see it.”

Breakdown turned back to his mate smiling broader. “See? He doesn’t mind! Now, over my lap.” He pointed to his lap.

“Maybe I don’t want Starscream to see what we do.” Knock Out crossed his arms.

Breakdown gave him a look. “Did you seriously just say that? You who sent him like fifty videos of us fragging without even asking me if I was okay with that? You don’t care if he sees this. You probably want him too…” He grumbled the last part. “It’s my turn tonight. Over my lap.”

Knock Out vented a frustrated sigh as he tossed his helm back. He hesitated, then took a step forward. He paused, not sure if he was going to submit so quickly, but Breakdown reached forward, grabbed his arm, and pulled him over. The truck yanked his mate over his lap with ease, and soon had both of Knock Out’s wrists pinned to his lower back with one servo. Knock Out did not like that he was being made to face the Seeker who was watching them with perked wings.

“I rather we not here on the couch.” Knock Out continued, struggling some, but Breakdown was too strong.

“Just say the safe word when you actually want this to stop.” Breakdown rubbed over his mate’s aft and thighs.

“Breakdown, please, not in front of Starscream.”

Breakdown chuckled and began to lightly pat Knock Out’s aft and thighs. Knock Out glared at the Seeker who was smirking.

“You better wipe that smile off your faceplates.” The speedster growled.

“I’m just observing. Pretend I’m not even here.” Starscream replied so innocently, looking forward to his nemesis suffering.

“I think he likes you watching…” Breakdown grunted, starting to hit harder now.

“I do not!” Knock Out shouted quickly, pulling his arms, trying to get them out of Breakdown’s vice-like grip.

“Mhmm.” Breakdown smacked harder.

“Ouch! Why are you bullying me?!”

“You literally asked for this.”

“Shush...!”

Breakdown began to slap very hard over Knock Out’s aft and thighs, not giving him a moment to recover. Knock Out began to kick and squirm more, whimpering and yelping. Starscream raised an optical ridge. He could handle that kind of pain without making a sound. Knock Out was weak…

Breakdown kept going, really smacking his mate’s rear end hard, concentrating on it like it was an artform. He gave the speedster about thirty brutal smacks before picking up the paddle.

“This is where the real fun comes in.” Breakdown smirked at Starscream as chuckled.

“Can we go upstairs?” Knock Out looked back at him.

“Nah.” Breakdown shook his helm before raising the paddle high and bringing it down hard on Knock Out’s aft.

“AH!” He kicked and squirmed. “You’re a fat bully!”

“You’re the one calling me names.” He smacked him again.

“Ouch! URRRRGH! You’re recharging on the couch! AH!”

Starscream couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Knock Out get his aft absolutely beaten without any mercy by Breakdown. The speedster never stopped kicking and wiggling, trying to get free, his claws desperately trying to reach the servo that held his wrists down. He could handle a beating like this without squirming. Knock Out needed to calm down.

Breakdown had given his mate about forty cruel smacks with the paddle before he looked over at Starscream.

“You wanna have a go?”

“Me?” Starscream perked his wings, noticing Knock Out widening his optics.

“Yeah, come give him a few!” Breakdown laughed.

“No!” Knock Out cried out, trying to kick his mate. “Don’t you dare let him hit me! Breakdown!”

Starscream couldn’t pass up this opportunity. The jet stood up and walked over. Breakdown handed him the paddle, then used his now free servo to hold down Knock Out’s legs at the knees. The speedster was struggling more now, glaring back at the both of them.

“Breakdown, I mean it! Do not let him hit me!”

“I still don’t hear the safe word.” Breakdown only grinned.

“I am never letting you recharge with m-AH!”

“Too hard?” Starscream perked his wings after striking the speedster’s aft with the paddle.

Knock Out glared at him. “Do it again and I am clawing your optics out!”

Breakdown giggled. “Do it again!”

Starscream shrugged, then did it again.

“OUCH! You miserable slagheap!” He struggled some more. “AH! You both are recharging outside! AH!”

“Yeah, get him!” Breakdown was laughing heartily as he watched his mate get his aft abused by the Seeker. “Don’t forget his thighs! He’s been a very bad mech!”

“I see the appeal in this.” Starscream chuckled, his wings fluttering as he kept going, really giving it his all.

“OW! I saved your life! AH! More than once! AH! I’m undoing all of that! AH! I’m undoing the spark surgery! OW! You damn Seeker!”

“He’s really volatile, isn’t he?” Starscream asked so calmly as he kept smacking away.

“He just doesn’t appreciate what we do for him.” Breakdown nodded sagely.

“I’m certainly appreciating this.” Starscream grinned.

He gave the speedster over thirty strikes before handing the paddle back to Breakdown. The truck released his mate, who quickly got to his peds and took a few steps back as he rubbed his dented aft.

“You,” He pointed a claw at the smirking truck. “Are a slagheap.”

Breakdown couldn’t stop grinning. “I am greatly enjoying myself. You should come over and give me a kiss.”

“No.”

“He doesn’t appreciate you.” Starscream replied as he sat back on the couch, leaning back with his legs curled under him.

“I hope he appreciates me. Who else will frag him senseless?” Breakdown chuckled.

“Maybe you don’t deserve interface.” Knock Out crossed his arms.

“I do, in fact. Come here.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“I know you’re turned on, Knock Out. Come on.” Breakdown gestured him to come over.

Knock Out glared at him, then started to approach. Breakdown spread his legs apart and placed his servos behind his helm.

“Now, give your beloved mate some head.”

Knock Out gave him a look. “Really? This in front of him, too?”

“You’ve sent him videos of you sucking my spike. I know you want me.” He winked as he folded away his codpiece.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Don’t say anything.” He pointed at Starscream before turning back to Breakdown. “You have been the worst pain this orbital cycle…” He then stuck his thumb and index digit into his mouth and began to rub the back of his mouth and glossa, making him produce mouth lubricant.

“If I behave every orbital cycle you would get tired of me.”

“Or I wouldn’t be at risk of going insane…”

“We are well past that!” Breakdown laughed.

Knock Out rolled his optics as he got down on his knees. He kept messing with his mouth with one servo as the other began to tickle the bottom of Breakdown’s spike, right at the base. He got it to harden a little before removing his servo from his mouth. He opened his mouth wide, his glossing dangling out, and then in one swift movement he took Breakdown’s entire spike into his mouth and down his throat.

Starscream was impressed. He never could take a spike that fast. Then again, most times he was made to take a spike it wasn’t really at his own pace…

“Mmmm!” Breakdown sighed deeply as Knock Out went to work pleasuring him. “This is why you mate someone who talks a lot. All the ranting and gossiping makes their jaws strong and glossas fluid.” He chuckled.

“Duly noted.” Starscream replied, watching the doctor as he focused on pleasing his mate.

“What’s on TV? Anything good?” Breakdown asked so casually, completely relaxed, his arms over the back of the couch.

Starscream looked at the vidscreen which was still on. “Oh, I don’t know. I can find something.” He grabbed the remote.

“Let’s put on a movie. He’ll be at this a while.” He laughed.

Starscream switched through the channels until they found something good to watch. Breakdown softly moaned every so often, but otherwise was able to be somewhat quiet. After a couple of kliks Breakdown began to grunt, his overload nearing.

“Oh… Yeah, keep going babe!” He panted, looking down at his mate. “I’m almost there.”

Knock Out did keep going, mouthing and sucking on his mate’s spike, feeling the energy buildup. Breakdown sat up some, growling, about to overload. Then, suddenly he grabbed Knock Out, pulled his spike out, aimed it, and overloaded all over Knock Out’s face.

“Ack! Breakdown!” Knock Out cried out as tried to get his face away, but Breakdown held him there until all the transfluid finished spurting out.

Breakdown guffawed as he released his mate who quickly stood up and backed away. “That’s twice in one orbital cycle I got your faceplates wet and sticky!”

“YOU’RE A COMPLETE SLAGHEAP!” Knock Out stormed away, barely able to see. He went into the washroom and began to clean off his faceplates in the sink.

Breakdown leaned back, sighing in satisfaction. “That was good.”

Starscream watched silently, not sure if Knock Out was really upset by it or simply annoyed.

The speedster finished cleaning himself off and stomped out of the washroom and towards the stairs.

“Not coming back?” Breakdown inquired of his furious mate.

“No!” Knock Out started up the stairs.

“Aw, but I love you!”

Knock Out glared at him. “Tomorrow is my turn.”

“I look forward to it!” Breakdown chuckled.

“I’m gagging you…”

“I look extra forward to it!”

Knock Out looked like he was about to strangle his mate. He turned and continued up the stairs and into his room.

Breakdown only chuckled. “I pissed him off three times this orbital cycle.”

“Is it normal to piss off one’s Conjunx Endura?” Starscream asked.

“Yes.” Breakdown chuckled.

Starscream was silent a bit before speaking. “You just do whatever you want to him and he has to take it…?”

Breakdown looked at him. “No, I have to respect him. He could have said the safe word at any point and I would have completely stopped everything. But he didn’t, so I knew he was okay with what I was doing. Maybe not being sprayed in the face… But it’s not the first time I got it in his optic!” He giggled.

“But you can still make him do things he doesn’t want to do…”

“He asked for the paddling. I just brought him downstairs for it.”

Starscream didn’t say anything, thinking silently to himself. Breakdown watched him for a bit before speaking.

“I sometimes push him, but I’ve been with him a long time. I know what he can take and what he’s willing to do. I didn’t force anything on him he hasn’t done before or wouldn’t want. I love him.”

“I know you do, just… I don’t know…”

“What? What’s on your processor?”

“It’s nothing.” Starscream shrugged.

Breakdown eyed him a moment before shrugging. “Well, I better go have some apology interface with him or else he won’t let me recharge with him.”

He stood up, went to the washroom, and grabbed a towel. He cleaned his spike, then went to the couch and cleaned the floor where some transfluid had spilled.

“Night, Starscream.” He smiled at the Seeker before going up the stairs and to his room.

Starscream sat there, not sure what to think. Was interface just always letting someone else have control over you? Is that a relationship?

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

It was late. Starscream was still online, sitting on the couch, looking at his datapad. He was angry because Grit had been over earlier. He knew he shouldn’t be upset, but he was. It still hurt what Grit had done to him. And all the speedster said to him earlier was that his aft was nice, but “too bad it’s attached to a maniac.”

And Knock Out had been at work so wasn’t there to tell his brother to shut up or anything… Knock Out still hadn’t returned home and it was almost 02:00.

The Seeker perked his wings when the door opened and Knock Out entered the dark house. The speedster usually went straight for the stairs to pass out on his berth, but instead he went to the energon room. He opened a cabinet, reached for the engex on the top shelf, and grabbed a glass. Starscream quickly wiped his optics clean of the coolant he had been leaking, and watched the doctor sit on the couch.

“Still online?” Knock Out asked softly.

“Yeah… Was having trouble recharging…” The Seeker replied quietly.

Knock Out poured himself some engex and drank a little. He was silent as he studied the glass for a long moment, then vented a sigh.

“I was in surgery for five joors…” He softly spoke. “A Decepticon came in shot multiple times by an Autobot… I did everything I could… Five joors I did everything I could to save him…” He sipped his engex again. “He died.” He paused, still looking at the engex. “The war has been over for how long now? And we still have Autobots and Decepticons shooting at each other… Still have Decepticons dying with my servos in them trying to save them… And the worst part?” He looked over at Starscream who was watching him. “The worst part was he had sparklings I had to tell that their sire just died. One was no older than Dead End.” He bit his lower lip plate as some coolant pooled in his optics. “We still have this slag going on and it worries me that what if that was Breakdown who died, and I had to tell his sons that he wasn’t coming home.”

Starscream didn’t speak.

“You know…” Knock Out looked at his glass again. “When I joined the Decepticons… At that recruitment slag you were doing… I wanted to help save the lives of these brave soldiers fighting for a better future…” He rolled his optics. “Nothing but slag…” He drank his engex. “All this fighting and millions dead, and we still haven’t solved slag. I held so many as they died, unable to save them. I remember all of them. Even if I don’t know their designations, I still see their faceplates… I still see their optics fade for the last time… I still feel their bodies… Turn off in my servos… I’m haunted every night by their faces… Them begging me to save them… How scared they were as they realized they weren’t going to make it…”

He took another sip. “It’s worse when you do manage to save someone, only for them to be killed an orn later. Like nothing I did mattered… They were meant to die… I sometimes wonder if I would have been of more use as a soldier than a doctor… Probably would have been killed… Maybe that would have been better in some ways….” He looked at Starscream. “Why did you become a Decepticon?”

Starscream wasn’t expecting that question. “I…” He paused to think about his answer. “I wanted a better Cybertron. To see the planet have a second golden age. To fix the slag that was happening…”

“And clearly that worked out.” Knock Out grunted before sipping some more engex. “I should have stayed on Velocitron… The PTSD was not worth seeing the galaxy….”

“At least you got to meet me.”

Knock Out faintly smiled. “Yes, I met someone who has been a pain in my aft and I want to dismember half the time.” He sipped. “Who really gave my aft a beating the other night.”

“I think you liked it.” Starscream smirked.

“I’m not saying anything more.” He kept his smile before drinking some more.

“Aren’t you into other people beating your aft? Grit told me about your love life history.”

Knock Out’s smile faded. “Grit… Doesn’t know all of it. There’s a lot of things I kept hidden from him…”

Starscream perked his wings. “Like what?”  

“Like… A Lot….” He rubbed a claw tip along the rim of his glass. “Tapout took my virginity while I was a junior in highschool, I’m sure you were told. I shouldn’t have done that…  I regret that decision so much… Had I controlled myself better I wouldn’t have fragged him, which wouldn’t make me like fragging at such a young age, and then that would have saved me so much pain later….

“Grit will tell you that Crusher is the guy who got me into BDSM, but it was actually Fusion, my second mechfriend. It wasn’t anything crazy… He liked to beat afts around, convinced me to let him, and I liked it… It was much gentler than what Breakdown does… But, again… If I had more control of myself, it would have saved me pain… Because of me being okay with Fusion putting me over his knee I was okay with trying more new things… And then I met Crusher.”

He vented a sigh. “I never told Grit what actually happened with Crusher…. He’s a good brother… And had he known he would have murdered Crusher…”

“What happened?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Crusher was very controlling… And he was into voyeurism… And making porn. He pressured me to do things I wasn’t comfortable with. He would lie as well to get his way. He would tell me that he wanted me chained to the berth, I’ll get five lashes with an energy whip, and then he would frag me. Not too bad, so I would agree…. But once I was tied down… The five lashes turned into fifty… And I’ll be crying and begging him to stop but he wouldn’t. Because hardcore porn sells better. And instead of him fragging me it would be six of his friends… Maybe one, but sometimes… six.” He sipped his engex. “I was too scared to say anything. Crusher was big and scary. And he had convinced Grit that I was okay with what was being done, that I had consented to everything prior, and things had been explained fully. And the reason I never said the safe word was because I wanted it… He never gave me a safe word…” He shrugged. “I don’t think I ever considered it as rape as I did consent to it in the beginning… He just changed things during the act….”

“Did you tell anyone?” Starscream perked his wings.

“The only people who know this is Breakdown, and now you.” Knock Out looked at him. “At the time I didn’t have any close friends to turn to, and if my creators knew I was fragging before joining…. They would not have paid for med school, and who knows how my life would have turned out.”

“Grit mentioned a guy who beat you…”

“Yes, Ripcoil. Because I had the worst taste in mechs up till I met Breakdown. Ripcoil was… Something else. He gave me some hardcore circuit boosters, that’s for sure. As for the beatings, I didn’t get too many of those. I wasn’t with him long. He just would… Get pissed off at tiny things and explode. Probably was high all the time… He was rough with interface, but at least he didn’t force himself onto me… Just threatened me with the whole if I didn’t let him frag me, he would let people know I was doing circuit boosters. That got me to lie on the berth for him…” He rubbed over his faceplates. “I was so stupid back then. I should have run…. Thankfully Grit beat the slag out of him.” He took another sip. “But then I found Breakdown, and everything became better. I was scared he would be a brute like the others, but… He’s perfect.”

“He didn’t seem perfect the other night.”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “He can be such a pain in the aft… He doesn’t act like that every night; I can assure you. He had too much cake and was on a rush…. Or he really wanted me to punch him….”

“He doesn’t make you do things you’re uncomfortable with all the time?”

Knock Out looked at the Seeker. “No, he’s good. Sometimes he encourages me to try something new, or annoys me, but he knows my limits. We’ve been together a long time. I trust him.”

“He seemed to be forcing you some with letting me hit you when you said no…”

“What difference does it make…? You beating my aft or him? Either way I was going to get my aft beaten. It was embarrassing then but now I don’t really care. You knew we did that, you do that, most people are into aft beating kinks. And you seemed quite experienced…”

“More experienced receiving than giving.”

“Same. Breakdown isn’t really that into his aft being hit… But he does do electric clamps on his chestplates.”

“Really?”

Knock Out nodded. “Really. When it’s my turn…. I don’t go easy on him. He doesn’t like tying me up, but I love tying him up.”

“Why doesn’t he like tying you up? You’d think he’d want to so he could do more to you in your helpless state.”

“He likes to feel me be unable to escape his hold. That’s the kind of monster he is. He wants that power. He is the sweetest mech ever, and the best sire I could ever have hoped for my creations, but during interface he can be very dominant, or just lie there and take whatever I do to him. There’s no in-between. But he’s not dominant in like… You have zero say in what is done to you. He still makes sure it’s things I like or can tolerate, and he will push to see how far he can go, but he never crosses that boundary. He likes rough interface, but he still makes sure he doesn’t go too rough because he knows I can’t take him at his roughest. He knows I can’t handle anything more painful than a paddle or switch, so he never uses anything else on me, but he will still push what he can get away with with that paddle. He’s very good about having it his way, but also making sure I’m comfortable and pleasured. And then some nights he just wants to concentrate solely on what I want and it’s the best interface. Gentle, slow, loving…. And no spraying it in my face.”

“I don’t think I’ve been with anyone who just… Concentrated on me.” Starscream said slowly.

Knock Out pulled his legs onto the couch and folded them under him as he leaned back. “What is your interface history, if you don’t mind me asking.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, not sure if he should say, but then again Knock Out was being open with him about his interface life. “Well… I-I also lost my virginity in school.”

“Oh?” Knock Out smirked. “Was it to your crush?”

“No…. I kinda was…. Well…. A-an older student sorta… Asked me… And offered me something in return…. And I agreed….”

Knock Out cocked his helm. “How much older?”

“Just three stellar cycles….”

“How old were you?”

“14 stellar cycles….”

“That is barely older than Fracture.”

Starscream’s wings lowered. “Yeah….”

“You regret it?”

“Kinda… It wasn’t bad, but…. I should have waited.”

“I know the feeling.”

“After that I… I don’t know… I kind of bounced around… Never could keep a partner for long… Kind of got to the point I just did it when I needed to frag.”

“No one hurt you, though, right?”

“No, I wasn’t hurt by anyone.”

“Well, that’s good. Better than my dating experience…. I think I got stuck with so many afts because they saw my sire was rich and they wanted to get that. Did you have much?”

“We weren’t poor per say… But we could have been better off. Had a house, had energon, we were comfortable, but… We could have had more Shanix to be more comfortable.”

“I sometimes wonder if I would have been better off growing up average. Like, not just with less afts dating me, but like… Maybe I wouldn’t have been such a brat. I didn’t have friends in school. Well, not real friends. They were just around me because I was the rich youngling who had huge emergence cycle parties, and always had expensive stuff. And never got in trouble because my sire just paid people off. Maybe if he actually let me get in trouble I would have learned something and not have made as many mistakes in my life…”

“I’m surprised you didn’t get in trouble. Your sire seems like someone who would be incredibly strict.”

“Oh, he was.” Knock Out set down his glass. “He was very strict. I wouldn’t say… abusive. I mean….” He gestured with his servos as he rolled his optics some. “He was and is abusive. But not like beat the scrap out of me abusive. Very verbal and emotional abuse. When he did get physical it was slapping me across the faceplates. Only there, nowhere else. He never has laid a servo on carrier, but me and Grit…? Oh, he would smack our faceplates right off if we pissed him off enough.” He bit his lip plate. “My carrier is an amazing, beautiful person, who can be strict when necessary, but she’s a good person. Then my sire is just… A hateful bigot who is disappointed in both of his creations. Probably why I wanted to be a carrier rather than a sire… Because I have a better association with carriers, and I want to be like my carrier. I don’t want my creations to have the life I did… Also…. Breakdown would have been whining so much if he carried… He was made to be a sire, not a carrier.” Knock Out lowered a servo over his abdominal plates and swallowed. “Maybe I should have let him be a carrier….”

Starscream knew what he was thinking about. “My creators were both good. No one slapped anyone. It was just me and them. No one else.”

“I’m jealous. I grew up with so much anger around me… Anger towards the ‘lesser’ frametypes, and just always being a disappointment, and Grit constantly arguing with sire… I still have nightmares about being hit by sire…. Or screamed at. I pray my creations never have any nightmares about their sparklinghoods.”

Starscream wrung his servos. “Fracture has nightmares…. Because of what I did….”

Knock Out slowly nodded, not looking at the Seeker. “Yeah… He does…. That will be the only nightmare he will have.” He looked at Starscream. “I love Fracture. He feels like my real son. I’ve been trying my best for him. Best I know how to… Breakdown is better at it than me… He grew up in a loving home… He knows how to do this slag better than me.”

Starscream didn’t speak immediately. “I know you’re doing your best… Breakdown is a good sire. He clearly loves Fracture and his own mechlings…. H-he’s the sire Fracture deserves. Not… Not his real sire.”

“Amen to that. I don’t understand how my sire could hate him so much… He’s so sweet, and gentle, and just… amazing… I got so lucky finding him…. I went from thinking I had to interface all these people in order to have a relationship, only to be used and abused, and hurt by them… Then I met Breakdown, and he didn’t want to frag me on the first date. He wanted to watch the sunset and talk about me… He never asked me for interface…. I was the one who finally asked him. Of course, now he asks for it all the time, but back then… He wanted to know everything about me first before diving into intimacy… Relationships are not about interface, Starscream. They are about being loved. Remember that.” He pointed at the Seeker for emphasis.

“I will.” Starscream nodded, knowing what Knock Out was referring to.

Knock Out paused before getting up. “I better go recharge. Work again tomorrow… And I need a hug from my mech. Night, Starscream.”

“Yeah… Night, Knock Out.” The Seeker replied softly.

Knock Out walked to the stairs, and then stopped. He looked back at the Seeker. “You’ll find your own Breakdown. Just… Stop chasing the Grits and Megatrons… There’s another Breakdown out there. I promise.”

With that, the speedster went up the stairs.

Starscream didn’t expect that. He drooped his wings, thinking about everything Knock Out had said to him. Why was Knock Out becoming more and more like him…? They both have had bad partners, they both were mere sparklings when they lost their virginities, they both were miserable and depressed people….

He liked talking with Knock Out, even if it was about their sad past… He missed having conversations with the speedster… Maybe, things were getting better between then and things will be like they were before everything went bad.

Starscream could only hope.

An Orn Later:

Starscream was in his room trying to ignore the sounds of the mechlings running around the house shooting each other with their dart guns. And he included Breakdown as one of those mechlings… The big oaf’s stomping as he tried to not be shot made the whole house tremble… He didn’t know how Knock Out did it, then again, the doctor was gone most of the time at work.

But not this orbital cycle. Knock Out was home and had spent most of the time locked in his room trying to not get shot, as was the Seeker doing.

Starscream perked his wings when he heard Knock Out speaking.

“Okay, that’s enough! Remember we have a guest coming and I don’t need you guys shooting at him.”

“Awwww, but Knock Out….” Breakdown whined.

Starscream set aside his datapad, slid off the berth, and palmed open his door. Knock Out was at the base of the stairs looking at Breakdown who was covered in darts. Dead End was still pelting his sire with his little dart pistol as he stood nearby. The older mechlings were both behind the couch, using it as cover, also covered in darts. Not even Diesel had escaped, as he had a few darts on his rear end.

“I mean it. Clean up and stop using my table as cover…. Put it back on its legs, Breakdown.” Knock Out ordered.

“You’re no fun…” Breakdown sighed as he turned and walked over to the dining room table that indeed was on its side, covered in darts.

“Yeah! You’re no fun, carrier!” Dead End exclaimed as he raised his pistol and shot it at his carrier.

Knock Out gave him the dreaded “carrier look” that only an unamused carrier could give as he was pelted in the abdomen by darts. “You keep shooting that at me and you’ll grow up to be one of those homeless beggars we see on the streets.” The speedster grunted.

“Don’t listen to him, Dead End! Those people are homeless beggars because they didn’t let their mates have fun!” Breakdown exclaimed.

Knock Out rolled his optics before approaching his youngest, taking the dart gun, reloading it, and shooting it directly in Breakdown’s face.

“Gah! You broke the first rule! No aiming at the face!” The truck raised a servo to defend his visage.

“Clean up.” Knock Out snapped, shoving the pistol at his mate, then turning to the older mechlings. “Help your sire clean up and get those off Diesel. Don’t shoot at the dog…”

“It was friendly fire!” Wildbreak piped up. “He jumped in the way!”

“I don’t care, don’t shoot the dog. Dead End, can you stop running around the house for a klik and help clean up?”

“NO!” Dead End continued running in circles for no reason at all.

Knock Out vented a sigh, wondering why he had sparklings with just a bigger sparkling… Oh, right, because he was cute and the sparklings also are cute…

Starscream perked his wings as Knock Out neared him to adjust the items knocked over on the shelves by his berthroom door.

“So, who’s coming? Is it Grit….?”

“I don’t cleanup for Grit.” Knock Out didn’t look at him as he focused on fixing the shelves and removing the darts.

“Then who is coming that the house must not look like a warzone for?”

“Your parole officer.”

“Who?”

“The Prime.”

Starscream’s optics widened some. “Why is he coming here…? Why aren’t we having a hearing instead…?”

“Because he’s been coming here to talk about you and Fracture quite a bit over the stellar cycles.” The doctor finally turned to him. “It’s just routine, Starscream. Nothing to get worked up about.”

“I’m not worked up about anything. I just… Didn’t realize he would come here…”

“He’s never here for long. We’ll get back to the chaos that is my mate and his sons soon enough…” He grunted before moving on to fix up other decorations.

Starscream watched as the mechlings, including Breakdown, cleaned up their mess and returned furniture back to where it belonged. Knock Out griped about “his floors” being scraped, and Breakdown made him shut up by kissing him which annoyed him more.

The house finally was cleaned up and Knock Out was looking up on his communicator on how to fix scraped floors, while Dead End hugged his leg, when the door chime went off. The speedster walked over to the door, Dead End still holding onto his leg, and opened it.

“Afternoon, Knock Out.” The Prime greeted him.

“Afternoon, Prime. Please, come in.” Knock Out stepped aside and gestured for the Prime and his two armed guards to enter.

“Do you need energon, Prime?” Breakdown asked.

“No, I am alright. Thank you.” He inclined his helm as he walked towards the couch, the guards staying by the door.

Starscream stood in the doorway of his room watching, his wings perking. He bit his lower lip plate, feeling anxious.

“Hey, Optimus!” Fracture waved from where he was sitting on the couch beside Wildbreak.

“Hi!” Wildbreak beamed.

“Hello, Wildbreak, Fracture.” The Prime calmly greeted them before sitting down and unsubspacing a datapad.

Knock Out sat on the opposite couch, Breakdown sitting beside him. Dead End climbed onto the couch and onto his carrier’s lap. The speedster hugged his youngest, enjoying these moments before he became an adolescent.

“Picking up from where we left off…” The Prime spoke as he looked at his datapad. “Starscream was given the six visitations per orn since his release from the hospital, but then he became deathly ill again and moved in with you and Breakdown.” Prime looked up at the Conjunxes Endurae. “How has that been going?”

“It’s been going better than expected.” Knock Out spoke. “Starscream has behaved himself even after recovering for a second time. He has not attacked me, he has not threatened me, he hasn’t even destroyed my home. He has been respectful of our rules and has given the mechlings space.”

“And he still hasn’t found a new job, correct?”

“Yes. We have not asked him to as I am concerned about his spark. He tires easily, and so, as his physician, I want him to take things easy for now.”

“Has there been any discussion of him finding his own place?”

“No, sir. Again, I am concerned regarding his health.”

Prime scribbled some notes down on the datapad. “I can find housing for him with a caretaker if you wish for him to be gone.”

Starscream swallowed, his wings drooping.

Knock Out looked up at his mate, who placed a servo on the speedster’s knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“He’s been well behaved.” Breakdown spoke. “Should anything happen we’ll take you up on that offer. But for now, he may stay.”

“Very well.” Prime typed some more. “In your last communication with me you mentioned you told Fracture that Starscream is his biological carrier and you no longer will refer to yourself as his carrier. How has that been going?”

“It’s been going better than I had anticipated.” Knock Out said, his servo now in Breakdown’s. “Starscream has stayed respectful and allows me to parent Fracture, still. He has not tried to stop me or tell me off when I tell Fracture to do something or discipline him. He also keeps his peace when I show Fracture affection as I do with my sons.”

“And Fracture,” Prime spoke. “How has learning that Starscream is your real carrier affected you? Are you upset? Happy? Do you feel closer to him?”

Fracture didn’t speak immediately. “I don’t know…” He shrugged. “It makes sense, I guess, since he has been here so much and always trying to hug me. I guess I always suspected he was supposed to be something for me.” He shrugged again. “I don’t know him like I do Knock Out. He’s kinda still just… Starscream to me while Knock Out is my carrier.”

“Do you want to know Starscream better?”

“I guess. I mean… He is my real carrier. But I don’t know if I’ll ever be like… Close to him.”

“That’s understandable.” Prime nodded. “You do not need to be close to him. Knock Out cares for you and is doing his best to ensure you have everything you need to succeed.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, wishing it was him giving his own son everything he needed to succeed instead of someone else…

Optimus Prime typed some more notes before speaking louder. “Starscream, come over here. It’s your turn.”

The Seeker didn’t expect that. He lowered his wings and approached the couch. He walked around it until he was facing the Autobot leader. Prime gestured for him to sit down, which he did beside Fracture.

“Starscream, how have you been doing? Do you feel safe here with Knock Out and Breakdown? Has there been any fighting?”

Starscream shook his helm. “No, sir. Knock Out and Breakdown have been very kind to me… Breakdown prepared that entire berthroom just for me, a-and they have given me more than enough energon. Knock Out checks my spark every orbital cycle, and they allow me time alone with my son.”

Prime scribbled his notes. “Do you have plans on leaving?”

“Not at the moment… I am not well enough to be alone…”

“Has Megatron tried contacting you?”

Starscream shook his helm. “No, nothing. I can hand over my communicator if you wish to see.”

“That won’t be necessary. I spoke to Megatron yesterday and he said he has not reached out to you. Thank you for confirming he didn’t lie to me.”

“You spoke to him a second time for me…?” Starscream’s wings perked, his spark feeling like it had skipped a pulse. Did Prime like him?

“Yes, I did. Should he message you alert me immediately, or inform Knock Out who also can apprise me.”

“He’s not allowed anywhere near my house.” Knock Out said firmly.

“And Knock Out,” The Prime turned to address the speedster. “Starscream has not had any access to your weapons, correct? As the Decepticon surrender treaty specified that no former Decepticon officer or otherwise high ranking official shall possess any weapon, be they guns, built in guns, laser weapons, energy weapons, knives, explosives, or military vehicles.”

“No, Starscream is not allowed access to our guns. We keep them locked away from him and the mechlings.”

“I have been teaching the older two how to shoot, but Starscream is not allowed to go to the gun range with us.” Breakdown added. “Fracture and Wildbreak both understand that Starscream cannot ever take a gun from them.”

“Only carrier and sire can have the guns!” Wildbreak piped up.

“That’s exactly right.” Knock Out smiled at his son, who beamed back at his carrier.

Prime scribbled more. “It seems there is nothing else to add, as visitation is obviously not an issue at this time. So long as Starscream behaves himself, I see nothing wrong with him staying here. I still do not suggest he be left alone with the mechlings for a night.”

“He never will be. I’m always home with the mechlings.” Breakdown replied.

“Good. Then, that seems to be it. I will check up again in a couple of decacycles.”

“Thank you, Prime.” Knock Out said.

Optimus Prime stood, which Breakdown did the same.

“Everyone say bye to the Prime.” Knock Out gestured a wave with his servo as he looked at his youngest.

“BYE PRIME!” Dead End screamed as he waved both his servos eagerly.

“Bye, Prime!” Fracture and Wildbreak echoed each other, also waving.

Prime smiled at the younglings, giving them a small nod. “Bye, Dead End, Fracture, Wildbreak.”

Starscream swallowed, feeling that smile and look was for him and not the two mechlings he was sitting beside. The Prime smiled at him! His spark pulsated faster.

Breakdown opened the door for Optimus and the guards. “Have a good orbital cycle, sir.”

“You as well, Breakdown.”

And with that, the Autobot leader and his bodyguards were gone. Breakdown closed the door and walked over to his mate.

“That went well.” He grunted before leaning over and kissing his mate on the lip plates. “Can we go back to shooting at each other?”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “If you must…”

Breakdown chuckled, cupping his partner’s cheekplates in both of his servos. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” Knock Out smiled, making that face at his mate that made him look like some adolescent femmling looking at their school crush. Starscream was so annoyed by that face…

Breakdown then kissed Knock Out on the lip plates, their engines purring.

“Blech!” Dead End hopped off his carrier’s lap and ran towards the dart guns which were on the dining room table.

The older mechlings saw what he was doing and leaped up, racing over to grab them before he did.

“I love you so much.” Breakdown said softly. “But you better go because I will shoot you without mercy.”

Knock Out rolled his optics as he stood. “You are such a mechling….”

Starscream sat there lost in thought. Did Prime like him? No one else had ever stood up to Megatron for him before, and he did it twice! And that smile just now… Had he ever smiled to anyone before? Optimus was sending him clear signals… He liked Starscream! And Starscream couldn’t complain… The Prime was very handsome… And big… And strong… And smart… Those hips… Oh, his spike was probably massive! He definitely was a good fragger. How could he not be? He was the Prime for a reason!

Starscream smiled to himself as he thought about what that truck could do to his body. Oh, it was so hot and naughty…

He was startled out of his reverie when he was suddenly assaulted by a hail of darts from the guns of three laughing mechlings.

The orns passed and soon it was Fracture’s emergence cycle. Starscream had missed so many of these he was probably happier than Fracture was! His son was 11 stellar cycles old, now. It felt like it should be half of that. His son was growing so fast, and in only 7 stellar cycles he would be a legal adult and Starscream wouldn’t be able to fight for custody over him… Not that it seemed like he would ever get custody. It was beyond clear Knock Out had won that battle. He had Fracture’s love, he had the Prime’s approval, and he knew Fracture better than Starscream did.

The Seeker noticed how Fracture looked at Knock Out verses himself. The absolute love Fracture had for this speedster who wasn’t anywhere near related to him. And that strong bond they shared.

He swallowed as he sat at the table watching Knock Out nuzzle his faceplates against his son’s, then kissing him. Fracture was smiling, giggling, nuzzling back, their engines purring with pure love that only a carrier and creation could have for each other… His creation loving someone else like that… He wiped at the coolant threatening to leak out. He wouldn’t cry on his son’s emergence cycle. This was about Fracture, not his woes. Knock Out might have stolen Fracture from him, but he did accept why it had happened. He had screwed up. He recognized that now. It hurt, but he accepted it.

“Carrier?”

It took Starscream a moment to realize that had been said to him. “Yes?” His wings perked.

Fracture held up the gift Starscream had gotten him, smiling still. “Thank you!”

Starscream faintly smiled. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

“Here you are.” Breakdown placed a plate with a slice of energon cake on it in front of the jet.

“Thank you.” Starscream smiled at Breakdown, then turned back to his son.

Fracture was smiling with his gifts as Knock Out took pictures of him. Wildbreak was busy eating his slice of cake, and Dead End was yelling at Breakdown to hurry up with giving him his own slice. A normal, happy family… Something he couldn’t give Fracture… Knock Out had to do that…

The Seeker lowered his wings again, simply watching his son, not feeling hungry for the cake.

Eventually, the mini party was over and Starscream went into his room. He lied on his berth reading from his datapad for about a joor before there was a knock on his door.

“Come in!” He called, his wings perking.

Fracture opened the door with Wildbreak beside him.

“Hey, carrier.” Fracture said casually as he approached. “I was talking to other carrier and he said you can read the markings on this.” He held up a small statue of a Seeker.

Starscream cocked his helm. “Where did you get that?”

Fracture got onto the berth and sat next to his carrier, leaning back. “Carrier gave it to me. Other carrier. He said it’s from Vos and he got it from a dealer.” He handed it over.

Wildbreak got on the berth as well, sitting on the opposite side of the Seeker. Starscream was soon being snuggled on either side by a mechling.

“Yes, this does appear to be Vosian. Not sure how old. Did he give this to you just now?” Starscream inquired.

“Yes, he said it’s part of my heritage.” Fracture rested his cheekplates on Starscream’s shoulder.

“It looks really old.” Wildbreak poked at the statue.

“Well, it is rather old, but probably not much older than me.” Starscream grunted.

“You’re really old.” Wildbreak snickered, which cause Fracture to also snicker.

Starscream rolled his optics. “Yes, when compared to you two…” He looked at the writing on the base of the statue. “It says, ‘Skycutter of Vos.’ That’s probably who is depicted here.”

“Nothing interesting?” Fracture said disappointedly.

“If you were looking for a treasure map, this is not it.”

“What language is it?” Wildbreak asked.

“It’s ancient Vosian. Most modern Vosian is just the common Neocybex with some minor changes to it. But the pure Vosian is the ancient one.” Starscream explained.

“Why can’t Knock Out speak it?” Fracture inquired.

“Well, he might know some words, but isn’t fluent. He didn’t grow up here on Cybertron so wouldn’t be familiar with the older languages found here. I’m sure there’s many languages on Velocitron I haven’t heard of, but he speaks.”

“Do people not speak ancient Vosian?”

“Not as many now as before the war… The Great War devastated Seekers and everyone who came from Vos. Speaking Vosian isn’t useful now since so few speak it.”

“Can we learn it?”

Starscream looked at Fracture. “You want to learn Ancient Vosian?”

“If no one speaks it then no one will know what we’re saying!” Fracture snickered.

“Yeah, we can be like spies!” Wildbreak giggled.

“Carrier won’t know what we’re up to.” Fracture nodded.

“I’d know what you’re up to…” Starscream grunted.

“Yeah, but you aren’t like… The carrier in charge.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

“How to you cuss in Vosian?” Wildbreak eagerly questioned.

“Yeah!” Fracture nodded, smiling.

“You two are going to get me in trouble…” Starscream grunted.

“Carrier won’t know.” Wildbreak gave a dismissive wave.

“If I tell you you better not tell Knock Out.”

“We won’t!” They said at the same time.

Starscream vented a sigh. “Alright… I’ll teach you some, but not enough to get me in trouble…”

“Yay!” They both cheered at the same time.

“Sometimes, you two worry me…” Starscream grunted as he grabbed his datapad.

A couple of joors passed as Starscream taught them basic words and verb usage when there was a knock at the door. It opened, revealing Knock Out.

“Hey, don’t mean to bother you guys, but tomorrow is a school orbital cycle.” The speedster said softly. “Come on, off to berth.”

Fracture sighed, grabbed the statue, and slid off the berth. He walked over to Knock Out and looked up at him.

“Five more kliks?”

“No.” Knock Out stroked the mechling’s helm. “You are very stinky. Go take a shower and then recharge.”

“I’m not stinky.”

“You are.” Knock Out kissed him on the cheekplates. “Go shower.”

“Blech…” Fracture trudged away.

Wildbreak trotted over and hugged Knock Out. The speedster hugged him back and kissed his eldest on the brow.

“You are also stinky. Go shower in my washroom and then go to berth.”

“You’re the stinky one.” Wildbreak giggled.

“Rude.” Knock Out gave his son a look. “Go shower and then straight to recharge.”

“You go shower and straight to recharge!” Wildbreak jokingly poked him.

“That’s the plan. Go.” He gently shoved his son away and watched him leave. The doctor then turned back to Starscream. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Starscream perked his wings.

“So… There’s a creator-teacher conference coming up and…” Knock Out shrugged. “If you want to come and see how Fracture is doing in school… If you want to.”

Starscream gave him a surprised looked. “You’re inviting me to go with you to Fracture’s school?”

“Only if you want to.”

“Y-yeah, I’ll go.” Starscream said quickly.

“Alright then.” Knock Out slowly nodded. “Night, Starscream.”

“Night, Knock Out.”

The speedster closed the door and walked away, sighing. Starscream listened to the sounds of Knock Out’s pedfalls growing more distant. He looked up, not sure how to take the recent events of the orbital cycle. Was Knock Out becoming his friend again…? Or planning something?

He bit his lower lip plate. He would just have to wait and see.

Knock Out walked down the stairs and over to the couch where the mechlings all sat playing their videogame.

“Hey, your sire and I are about to leave.” He explained to them. “I need you to behave and not burn the house down.”

“We always behave!” Fracture gave him a look.

“And I need you to continue that streak.” Knock Out leaned over and kissed Fracture on the cheekplates.

“You look pretty.” Wildbreak complimented his carrier, noticing the extra care Knock Out had administered to his faceplates.

“Aw, thank you, sweetie. I’m keeping you forever.” He kissed his eldest.

“How do I look?” Breakdown gestured to himself.

“You look like sire.” Wildbreak shrugged.

“Just that? Am I not pretty, too?”

“Carrier is the pretty one.” Fracture sagely nodded.

“Yeah, we get our looks from him!” Wildbreak added quickly.

“Carrier is beautifooool!” Dead End snickered loudly.

“My sons.” Knock Out gestured to the mechlings proudly as he smiled.

Breakdown feigned being hurt as he placed a servo over his chestplates. “I do so much for you, and this is how you treat me? Rude. Utter rudeness.”

“I think you’re adorable.” Knock Out smiled, leaning against his mate.

“And I think you’re stunning and magnificent.” Breakdown took Knock Out’s servo before kissing him on the lip plates. “Why don’t you make yourself this pretty just for me?”

“Because I don’t need to impress you like I do strangers.”

“But I like being impressed. I like it when I have to step back and say ‘hot damn! I’m mated to that?!’”

“You don’t do that even when I’m not dolled up?”

“I especially say it when I see you first thing in the morning and you look like that…”

Knock Out rolled his optics. “You’re an aft.” He pushed away from his mate who was chuckling.

“No, you.” Breakdown slapped Knock Out on the aft.

“Ow! Stop it.” He pointed a digit at his smirking mate. “Do not embarrass me in front of everyone. Your servos do not go lower than my waist. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Breakdown reached for Knock Out’s breastplates.

“Stop!”

Starscream approached, his wings low, anxious about going out. “I-I’m ready.” He said softly.

“So are we.” Breakdown smiled, one arm wrapped firmly around Knock Out’s waist as the other was raised to smack the speedster’s aft.

“Let go of me! Fracture! Wildbreak! Save your carrier!” Knock Out kept struggling. “You’re going to mess up my paint! Breakdown!”

“Let carrier go!” Dead End ran over and began to punch his sire’s leg furiously.

Starscream’s wings perked when the door chime went off.

“Four! Five!” Breakdown counted as he slapped his mate on the aft, only releasing him when the door chime rang. “You got off easy!” He laughed.

Knock Out shoved at him. “It better be out of your system because if you do that to me in public…” Knock Out rubbed over his aft as he stomped towards the door.

Dead End was still punching his sire’s leg.

Knock Out opened the door revealing a smirking Grit.

“Hey, little bro!” Grit held open his arms.

“Hey, Grit.” Knock Out hugged his brother. “Thank you so much for watching the mechlings.”

“Anything for you.” Grit released him and walked in. “Hey, Diesel!” He petted the dog as Diesel jumped up at him.

“Hi, Uncle Grit!” Wildbreak exclaimed from the couch.

“Hey, shortstuff! We’re gonna have fun tonight once these boring people leave!” He laughed.

“Don’t party too hard.” Knock Out grunted, pulling Dead End away from his sire. “Their evening energon is on the counter. Please, make sure they go to berth at their normal berth time. Diesel already has been given his evening energon. Just leave it, he’ll finish it later. No one needs baths, so just make sure they go to recharge on time.”

“Got it. Play hard then crash at 10:00. I’m on it.” Grit nodded.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be out. I’ll text you should we take longer.”

“Gonna on a date afterwards?”

“Well, we’ll see. Starscream is coming with us.”

“Oh?” Grit turned to Starscream who was standing by Breakdown, trying to keep the truck between them. “Gonna go find a single creator to bang or something?”

Knock Out hit his brother on the upper arm. “Stop it. He is going to see how his son is doing in school. Nothing more.”

“Mhmm.” Grit winked at Starscream.

The Seeker flicked his wings before stepping behind Breakdown, not wanting to look at that speedster any longer.

“Okay, sire and carrier are leaving now!” Knock Out called to the mechlings. “Behave, my loves!” He kissed Dead End on the cheekplates before pushing him over to Grit.

“Bye carrier!” Wildbreak waved.

“Bye carrier one and two!” Fracture waved as well.

“Carrier don’t go!” Dead End began to cry.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Grit crouched and hugged the youngest. “We’re going to have lots of fun here! Carrier is going to a super boring place. Come on, let’s get some goodies!”

“Yay!” Dead End smiled, not noticing his creators quickly slip out the door while he was distracted.

“Ugh, I haven’t been out with just you in forever.” Knock Out held Breakdown’s servo as they walked, Starscream awkwardly following.

“I know. Always one of us alone or we have a train of sparkling with us.” Breakdown nodded. “Well, we still have a train.” He looked back. “Come on, Starscream! Don’t hang back there, the air is cleaner upwind of Knock Out!”

“Stop!” Knock Out punched his mate’s arm.

Breakdown only chuckled, loving how much he annoyed his mate. It was far too easy, after all.

Knock Out transformed and drove off. Breakdown transformed and followed, the jet quickly doing the same. They soon arrived at the school and transformed back into their root modes.

“Feeling okay?” Knock Out asked Starscream once they had finished shape shifting.

“Yeah, I’m alright.” Starscream nodded.

“No pain in your spark?”

“No, none.”

“Tell me if you feel any as the night goes on.”

Starscream nodded.

They entered the school which was filled with creators all talking to each other, the school staff speaking to creators as they showed them the classrooms or projects on the walls, and creators gathered around a buffet table.

“Ooh.” Breakdown immediately set his optics on the buffet table and hastily left his mate behind for it.

“Breakdown…” Knock Out sighed, knowing he had lost his Conjunx Endura to his one true love, dessert. The doctor rolled his optics. “Come on, let’s find the mechlings’ classrooms.” Knock Out gestured for Starscream to follow him as he pushed through the crowd.

Starscream lowered his wings, trying to keep up with the speedster. He looked around, quickly realizing not a single wing was present. All of these creators and teachers were grounders. He saw speedsters, trucks, motorcycles, constructicons, even a few boats, but not a single flier. No jets, no shuttles, no helicopters, and certainly no Seekers.

He swallowed, suddenly feeling like everyone was watching him. He looked up, realizing that he had lost Knock Out in the crowd. His wings were pressed against his backplates, trembling now. He wrung his claws, not sure where to go or what to do. He felt his spark pulsating faster.

“Come on.”

He looked down to see Knock Out pushing through the crowd, grab his servo, and pull him along after him. The Seeker was surprised to feel relief at seeing Knock Out. He was still anxious, but at least he was with Knock Out.

The doctor pulled the Seeker along, never releasing his servo, until they got to a classroom. Knock Out gestured to a desk that had Fracture’s designation on a little plaque. All the desks had the designations of the students who sat there, made by them earlier that orbital cycle just for this event.

“This is where our sparkling spends most of his orbital cycle.” Knock Out explained to the Seeker, gesturing to the room. “Not as nice as the school I went to. How about you? Was your school like this one?”

Starscream swallowed, still feeling so anxious being in this place. “I-it’s pretty much the same like the school I went to.”

“Yeah?” Knock Out looked back at him. “I hope your school wasn’t filled with mean brats like me bullying everyone…”

“Has Fracture been bullied?”

“No. At least, he hasn’t said anything. But if anyone dares bully my sons…” Knock Out made that face that only a carrier could make threatening immediate bodily harm to anyone who threatened their offspring.

Starscream felt better at that, that Knock Out would protect Fracture from bullies. Maybe since he had been a school bully he knew better about how to deal with them, so Fracture was truly in the best servos.

“Fracture’s carrier, right?” A mech asked as he entered the room.

“Yes, I’m Knock Out.” The doctor shook the mech’s servo. “How is he doing?”

“He’s been doing great in his studies.” The mech smiled, grabbing a datapad. “I’m Lightstreak, I teach literature.” He held up the datapad. “Fracture has been keeping his grades up, but he has had some struggles. Nothing to worry about.”

“So long as he’s working hard.” Knock Out replied as he looked over the grades.

Starscream also looked, not sure if he should introduce himself to anyone. Maybe it was for the best he not say. Fracture probably would end up being bullied in this school if everyone knew his real carrier was a Seeker.

Starscream followed Knock Out from classroom to classroom, going over all of Fractures and Wildbreak’s work. Both mechs were doing well in their studies, and Starscream felt proud of his son. He might not be able to announce it to everyone that it was his son doing so well, but they still knew Fracture was a smart mechling and that’s what really mattered.

Knock Out pulled Starscream along back to the main lobby to find Breakdown still by the buffet table with so many treats talking to other sires just like him. It was like Knock Out had relived this same scenario several times over…

“Come on.” The doctor grumbled as he tugged at his mate’s arm.

“Who’s this good looking fellow?” The truck Breakdown was speaking to asked, also stuffing his faceplates.

“That’s my mate!” Breakdown smiled; his mouth full.

“No way! I thought you were lying about being mated to a hot mate! Damn!”

Breakdown broadly grinned. “I neber lie abou’ mah ma’e!” He stuffed his face with more energon treats.

Knock Out rolled his optics, still tugging at his mate’s arm.

“Can you believe he’s mated to that!” The other truck pointed at Knock Out as he addressed yet another truck stuffing his faceplates.

“Wuh..? No, that ugly with that hot thing!?”

“I know, right?!”

“I go’ lucky!” Breakdown laughed, his mouth still full.

“You’re so embarrassing…” Knock Out groaned.

“I’m with my own kind.” Breakdown winked.

Starscream looked around, truly becoming horrified at how true that was. All these trucks and speedsters who were clearly sires… The way they stood, servos on their hips and their abdomen plates hanging out… All stuffing their faces as they talked about sports or something not really useful. Most with an annoyed mate trying to get them to go with them somewhere else. It was an epidemic.

“Should hear the sounds he makes when I make love to him.”

“Okay!” Knock Out grabbed Breakdown’s servo and yanked, his peds scraping along the floor. “That’s enough out of you!”

“Are you already done?” Breakdown looked down at his Conjunx Endura.

“Yes, I looked at our sons’ work, no thanks to you. And I spoke to all of their teachers, and I have their reports with me. We can go now.”

“Huh, you were fast.”

“I’ve been gone almost two joors…”

Breakdown made a confused face, then shrugged and kept eating.

“You’re gonna get sick…”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are not fragging me if you don’t stop eating.” Knock Out whispered threateningly.

“You weren’t going to frag me tonight, anyway.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

“I know you. You are going to be too tired once we get home.”

“And you’re going to be sick…”

“Energon never makes me sick. It understands me.”

Knock Out gave Starscream an exasperated look as if to say, “look at the slag I have to put up with.” He then turned back to his mate. “Breakdown… If you leave now, I’ll let you frag me. Once.” He held up a single claw.

Breakdown thought about it, then nodded. “Let me grab some to go.”

Knock Out refrained from punching his mate in the arm as Breakdown greedily subspaced an entire cake.

“Okay, let’s go.” The truck smirked. “I’m getting laid tonight by my smoking hot mate!” He exclaimed to all the fellow sires.

“Woo!” They all cheered him on.

Knock Out looked like he wanted to melt into the floor as he grabbed his mate’s servo and hastily led him away and out of the school.

“You are the most embarrassing aft to ever be born…” Knock Out grumbled. “I’m never taking you to one of these again.”

“That’s what you said last stellar cycle.” Breakdown reminded him.

“This time I mean it!”

Breakdown snickered, elbowing Starscream as if the Seeker would be in on the fun. Starscream just gave him an uncertain look.

“Wanna go to a bar or something?” Breakdown nudged his mate.

“No… Seeing you gorge yourself has made me not in the mood for putting anything in my mouth… Don’t you dare say it!”

“Say what?” Breakdown smirked. “Say you won’t put my big sp-“

Knock Out spun around and shoved at his mate. “Stop! Why are you like this?!”

Breakdown grabbed Knock Out by the wrists and pulled him over. “Because I love you so much.”

“Breakdown…” Knock Out gave him a stern look.

But Breakdown ignored it to pull his mate closer and forcibly kiss him on the lip plates. Knock Out struggled, but it was hopeless. He had to just allow his mate to embarrass him in front of all the people outside the school who saw them.

Breakdown finally released his mate who took several steps back.

“You’re such an aft.”

Breakdown chuckled. Knock Out grabbed Starscream’s servo and pulled him along, quickly walking away. The Seeker was surprised by this, but didn’t protest. At least someone was trying to keep him close to them.

They soon returned home, only Grit there on the couch to greet them.

“How did it go?” He asked, turning off the TV.

“It went better than the last one…” Knock Out grunted. “I’m no longer taking that mech anywhere public.” He pointed at Breakdown who was grinning audio receptor to audio receptor.

“Told you being single is better.” Grit shrugged.

“How did the mechlings do?”

“They were good. All of them are in their rooms recharging. Diesel is with Fracture as usual.” Grit stood. “I suppose I should leave, then.”

“You can stay. I don’t mind if you recharge on the couch.”

“Nah, I don’t trust legs over there to behave.” He gestured at Starscream. “He either will attack me or come onto me.”

Starscream flicked his wings as his optics narrowed.

“Well, thank you for being such a big help for me.” Knock Out hugged his brother. “Will you be here for Wildbreak’s emergence cycle?”

“That’s in two orbital cycles, right?”

“Yes, he’s turning 10.”

“Yeah. I’ll swing by. I have work that orbital cycle.”

“Whatever you can do.”

Grit released his brother. “See you then, Knockster.” He nodded at Breakdown. “I’ll talk to you later, Breakdown. Go easy on my little brother, tonight!” He winked.

“Ugh, stop…” Knock Out rolled his optics.

Grit blew a kiss at Starscream before walking out the door. Knock Out closed it behind him.

“You okay, Starscream?” Breakdown asked, noticing how uneasy the Seeker was, his wings low.

Starscream looked up at him. “Yeah, I’m fine…”

“He’s tired from dealing with everyone.” Knock Out grunted. “We’ll leave you be so you can recharge.”

Breakdown took Knock Out’s servo and eagerly led him up the stairs, Knock Out glancing back at Starscream with a “help me” look. The Seeker went to his room and lied on his berth, glad to be back. Not glad to hear the obvious sounds of Breakdown pounding into Knock Out above him, but glad to be out of that crowd of grounders…

He still couldn’t believe Knock Out was holding his servo for almost the entire time they were there… Like he used to before all this slag happened between them.

We all know Starscream enjoyed hitting Knock Out on the ass. Poor speedster has everyone out for his ass... Then again so does every iteration of Starscream.

My friend has her headcanon being that Seekers speak a specific language from Vos. I don't have that in my headcanon for my fics, but I know a lot of fans do have their own ideas for different languages on Cybertron. So, she wanted a scene where Starscream teaches Fracture some Vosian, and also for him to learn a little about his heritage.

The teacher meeting was my idea, as it shows Knock Out is slowly going back to how he was before in wanting to be friends with Starscream. And it shows he's no longer trying to keep Starscream away from Fracture, but to show him more of his son's life.

And, of course, Knock Out and Starscream talking about their pasts. Something they didn't do during the war. Probably due to the whole commander and inferior relationship, but also during such an awful war it probably was best to not get close to anyone because it hurts to lose more people you care about. But the war is over now, so they can actually talk. Plus, Starscream has met Knock Out's immediate family so not like Knock Out can hide them or some of his other past anymore. Might as well talk about it.

They are slowly becoming less enemies, again!

Chapter Text

Starscream watched as Knock Out tried to coral the mechlings, Breakdown, and Diesel so they could go out. Never an easy task when you have a 5 stellar cycle old running in circles, Wilbreak’s emergency cycle was yesterday so he was distracted with his new gifts still, and Fracture was staying close to Wildbreak to also play with the new gifts.

“Breakdown, please grab.” Knock Out ordered.

“On it!” Breakdown then gave chase to the youngest.

“Fracture, hey, look at me. I need you to grab Diesel. He’s coming with us. Wildbreak, my son, hey, set down the game. I need you to get ready to go.”

“Got him!” Breakdown returned carrying Dead End upside down.

Knock Out gave his mate an annoyed look. “Please, handle him carefully.”

“I am.” Breakdown tossed Dead End high into the air and then caught him, causing Knock Out to worriedly step forward.

“If you drop my son I will kick you out on the street.”

“I’m not dropping him.” Breakdown held the giggling Dead End closer.

“I got Diesel!” Fracture proclaimed as he trotted over with Diesel on a leash and harness.

“Good. Is everyone ready to go?”

“Yup!” Breakdown smiled, putting Dead End on a shoulder.

“Let’s go.” Knock Out opened the door and gestured for them to walk out. He watched the mechlings and Breakdown walk out, then turned to the Seeker who was still on the couch. “Starscream, come on.”

Starscream perked his wings. “You want me to go with you?”

“Yes, come on.” Knock Out said it like an order, no other emotions.

Starscream lowered his wings, not sure where they were going, but he was being ordered to go with them. He got up and walked out the door. He stayed close to Fracture as they travelled to the local park. Diesel was eager to pull Fracture around as he sniffed everything, and Dead End was quickly climbing onto the jungle gym. The Seeker didn’t understand why he was made to come along. Maybe just to spend some time with the younglings outside.

After nearly a breem a grounder approached carrying a rather fancy camera.

“Hey, sorry I’m running late.” He apologized. “Are we ready?”

“Yes, as soon as we get the little ones back over here.” Knock Out grunted. “Fracture! Wildbreak! Dead End! Come over here!”

They quickly ran back over to their carrier, Diesel with them, and soon were doing as the photographer was telling them to do.

Starscream swallowed, sitting on a bench as he watched Knock Out with his family getting more professional photographs of them being a happy family. Breakdown and Knock Out smiling with the mechlings and Diesel, some of just the mechlings with Diesel, Diesel by himself or with just one of the mechlings, and a few of Breakdown and Knock Out being their sappy, lovey-dovey selves together. They were all over the park getting their pictures taken on a bench, then a giant rock, or the playground set, or the fence, by some trees, wherever the photographer directed them.

Starscream felt coolant leaking from his optics as he watched Knock Out and Fracture getting their picture taken, just them. Knock Out did the same with the other mechlings, but the one with his own son…

The Seeker wanted to go home. He stood and started to walk away when Breakdown called him.

“Starscream! Come over here, your turn is coming up!”

The Seeker stopped and perked his wings, looking over confused. He noticed the photographer gesturing him over. His wings drooped as he cautiously approached, not sure what was happening.

“Sit on the bench facing me.” The photographer instructed, to which the Seeker did. “Now turn your knees to the side, keep your servos on your lap, and face me. Wings all the way up. Now, spread them just a little… Perfect.” The photographer got on a knee and snapped a couple of photos. “Now a big smile.”

Starscream swallowed, looking up and noticing Breakdown smiling and pointing to his own mouth to encourage the Seeker on how to do it. The Seeker hesitated, then slowly smiled. Breakdown mouthed “bigger,” and the Seeker did so.

“Good, hold it.” The photographer took a couple of more shots. “Okay, which one is his son?”

“I am.” Fracture stepped forward.

“Okay, sit beside your carrier.”

Starscream perked his wings, looking over at Knock Out in surprise. Knock Out’s faceplates were an enigma, but the Seeker thought he saw maybe a slight smirk for a moment. He looked down when Fracture sat beside him and leaned close.

“Okay, Fracture, press your shoulder against your carrier’s arm. Good. Tilt your helm just a little to the right for me and lift your chin. Starscream, lift your chin a bit more. Perfect, now smile real big for me.” The photographer took the shot. “Now, Starscream, can you hug Fracture. Not that tightly. Same pose, just hugging. Good.” He took the picture. “Want to move it to the fence?”

“Oh, before you do that.” Breakdown spoke up. “Fracture, you can come over here for a second. Starscream stay there.” The truck then pushed Knock Out forward.

“What are you doing?” Knock Out quickly whispered to his mate.

“Go sit by Starscream.” Breakdown pushed him some more.

Knock Out was about to protest, but Breakdown only shove him harder. Fracture trotted over to his sire, and Knock Out slowly made his way over to the Seeker. He sat down, not even looking at Starscream.

“Okay, Knock Out, knees together and turn then to the left a little. I need you two to lean in closer to each other… Good, and keep your servos clasped on your laps. Okay, big smiles from the both of you. Look happier you two.”

Starscream had to fight to keep his wings perked, not sure why he was having his picture taken with Knock Out. Knock Out also seemed uncertain about being this close to the Seeker.

“Good. Okay, hold it.” The photographer took the picture. “Okay, now press together. Shoulders touching. Good, tilt your helms towards each other. Turn your outer shoulders to me just a tad. Good. Smile real big.” He took the picture. “Okay, press your cheekplates together but keep the same pose.”

Starscream hesitated but did as instructed. It was like they were taking a selfie together, cheekplates touching, smiling at the camera, so close to each other… When was the last time they did that?

“Got it!” He started to get up, but Breakdown whispered something in his audio receptor. “Okay, can you two hug?”

“You want me to hug him?” Knock Out didn’t say it out of anger nor confusion, more like… It almost hurt him.

“Hug him, babe.” Breakdown nodded, smirking.

Knock Out finally looked at the Seeker, his optics neither angry nor annoyed, simply… uncomfortable. The Seeker felt the same. They hesitated, then slowly hugged each other, facing the camera, their cheekplates pressed together. They slowly smiled; the Seeker perked his wings. It felt… Nice having Knock Out hold him. He hadn’t been hugged by the speedster since… Since he was sparked with Wildbreak. That was ten stellar cycles ago… Over ten stellar cycles. Had they really been enemies for that long? Had he really gone that long since being hugged by his best friend?

Best friend…? Yes, that was what Knock Out was to him before the falling out. He missed him being his best friend… He missed being hugged by him… He missed this…

“Starscream, can you wipe away the coolant?”

Starscream hadn’t noticed he had started to cry. His wings lowered as he quickly wiped the coolant away. He felt a cloth in his face, noticing Knock Out had unsubspaced it and was wiping the Seeker’s faceplates with it. The doctor’s face was an enigma still, but he focused on the jet until his face was clean.

“Can we try that again?” The photographer asked.

Starscream nodded and hugged Knock Out a little faster than he meant to. He smiled, feeling the warmth of Knock Out’s body, and feeling… Safe in that warmth. Comforted by the arms wrapping around him and holding him.

He didn’t want to let go.

“Got it!” The photographer stood. “What else do you want to get?”

Starscream lowered his wings when Knock Out released him and walked away. It was nice while it lasted…

They took more pictures of the mechlings before the photographer connected a wire from his wrist to a datapad that he had uploaded the photos too. He concentrated, quickly editing the photos, his processor automatically making the datapad do the work without him needing to click any buttons. Once done, he uploaded them to a data slug and handed that to Knock Out.

“Hey,” Breakdown whispered to the photographer. “Can you print any?”

“Sure. Which ones you want printed?”

“This one, and…. That one.” Breakdown pointed at the datapad.

“Got it, give me one moment.” The photographer unsubspaced another device, plugged it to the datapad, and sent a mental command to it. Soon, the photos printed and he handed them to Breakdown.

“Thank you!” Breakdown then handed the photographer his Shanix and a tip. “Hope to do this again.”

“I always appreciate your business, Breakdown.” He smiled.

The group soon returned home, the older mechlings running to their games, Diesel plopping himself down on the couch, and Dead End crying for Knock Out to take him upstairs for a nap. Starscream headed for his own room when Breakdown grabbed his shoulder.

“Hey, these are for you.” The truck handed him the two photos he had printed. “You did good, Starscream.” He smiled before leaving the Seeker alone.

Starscream didn’t say anything, just went into his room, needing some time alone. He closed the door, then looked at the photos, his wings perking when he saw him and Fracture hugging. He smiled, liking his one. He moved the top photo to look at the one beneath it, his wings lowering again. There he was, hugging Knock Out, both of them smiling, looking just like they used to look together.

He felt the coolant in his optics again. He wanted his old friend back…

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

Starscream had spent much of the orbital in his room listening to music as he read. Only way to drown out the noise of sparklings playing was music blasting in his audio receptors so he could concentrate on what he was reading or doing.

He looked at his chronometer, realizing it was past noon. He probably should go get some energon. The Seeker set aside the datapad, turned off the music, and got up. He opened the door to his room and walked towards the energon room. His wings perked when he noticed out the window Dead End playing in the backyard. Breakdown was in the energon room washing dishes, not even paying attention. The mechlings weren’t allowed outside unattended as any creep could hop over the fence, or fly over, and snatch them up. Perhaps Dead End simply ran out without his sire noticing?

The Seeker walked over to the door, intending to call the little one back inside, but then saw Knock Out was out there sitting on the stairs of the deck. The jet perked his wings, confused as Knock Out was supposed to be at work.

Starscream walked to the energon room. “Hey, what’s Knock Out doing home? I thought he went to work this morning?”

“He did.” Breakdown replied, still washing the dishes. “He was sent home.”

Starscream raised an optical ridge. “Sent home? Why? Did he get fired?”

“No, he had a panic attack at work.” Breakdown said softly. “Someone had a miscarriage, and he saw it. Give him some space, Starscream. He’s not in a good place right now.”

Starscream lowered his wings, then slowly walked away. He went back to the back door, watching Knock Out sitting there, picking at the crystal flower he had plucked from the ground next to him. Dead End was running around with Diesel, the two not paying any attention to the sparkbroken carrier.

Starscream glanced back at Breakdown who had his back to him, then to the back of the speedster. He vented a sigh, then palmed the door open and walked out. He hesitated, feeling his spark pulsating faster. He had been thinking about this, about what he would say, a lot… For stellar cycles he had thought about this, but never could bring himself to do it. But after that hug the other orbital cycle… After feeling what he had been missing out on for so long… He needed to kick himself hard and do this… He had to.

“Knock Out?” He said softly.

Knock Out didn’t react, just sat there, plucking petals off the flower and watching them fall to the ground.

Starscream took a few steps over, but stopped just before reaching the speedster. “Knock Out…” He said a little stronger. “I… I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry about your miscarriage. I know I’m 9 stellar cycles late… I just… I wasn’t brave enough then… I was angry, I said some horrible things I have regretted saying since the moment they left my vocalizer… I was wrong.” Coolant began to pool in his optics. “I-I don’t know the pain you’ve been going through. I can’t imagine… I think about losing Fracture and… I’m sorry.”

He waited, but Knock Out didn’t move, didn’t speak. He bit his lip plate, understanding that this carrier in mourning needed time alone. He took a step back, then turned around and began to walk away.

“Come back.”

The Seeker perked his wings at that quiet vocalizer. He turned around, lowering them again. Knock Out was still messing with the flower, not looking at him. Starscream slowly approached, then sat on the step beside the speedster. He noticed there was coolant in Knock Out’s optics.

He didn’t speak immediately, but when he did his vocalizer was brittle, like he had been crying for some time. “I had just finished nursing Wildbreak and was getting ready for a nap when the pain started…” He tugged at the flower stem he held. “It felt like… Someone was squeezing my spark in their servo. It didn’t last long…. I thought maybe the sparkling was breaking off my spark earlier than usual… Maybe he was simply having an energy surge… I didn’t think anything of it…” He was silent a moment, breaking the stem in half, then grabbing a new flower from the ground and beginning to tear the petals off that one. “I felt more pain a joor later… In my spark… And it really hurt. It felt like… I had been stabbed by an energy knife…” Coolant began to leak from his optics. “A-and then I felt him kicking inside of me…. I could feel his digits scraping the inside of the gestation tank. Something was wrong.”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, his wings as low as they could go.

“I told Breakdown. I was in so much pain… I felt like someone was stabbing my spark repeatedly. My systems started to heat up and I wasn’t sure why. I’m a slagging doctor and I didn’t even know what was happening to me. I was terrified. Breakdown had to rush me to the emergency… Had to leave Fracture and Wildbreak with the neighbor. No time to call anyone… I couldn’t even walk I was in so much pain.” His servos were trembling now as he remembered, coolant leaking down his cheekplates in a slow flow. “I’m in a hospital berth, Flatline is pumping pain dampeners in me… I could feel…” He stopped, covering his mouth for a moment as he tried not to break down.

Starscream hesitated, seeing the pain Knock Out was in, then placed a servo on the speedster’s knee to try and comfort him, not sure what else he should do.

Knock Out swallowed, trying to control his emotions. “I could f-feel my sparkling convulsing inside of me.” He paused again, his intakes loud and slow. “Th-the pain in my spark was getting worse… He was kicking so hard. They were p-preparing for surgery. Breakdown was holding my servo, but I couldn’t even feel him. I-I could only feel my sparkling. And… I-I felt his pain… His fear. I-I… I felt my sparkling’s fear and pain… I-I don’t know… I felt it in my spark. I felt who he was…” He swallowed. “Then he was gone…”

Starscream watched as the speedster finally broke down, covering his faceplates as he cried. The Seeker was hesitant, but finally hugged Knock Out, feeling him trembling.

Knock Out wiped at his optics, focusing on his intakes to calm him down enough to keep talking. “I-I felt h-him die… I-it felt… Like part of m-me was dying… He… Just stopped m-moving… Th-the kicking… Just stopped. Th-there was nothing in my gestation tank but pain… And my spark… I-it was numb… I-I don’t know how t-to explain it… It was numb…” He wiped at his optics again. “And I saw it… I-it was on the monitor. They were watching my sparkling… I felt him… And saw him die… I could see him in the ultrasound still… I knew he was gone, but I kept looking at that monitor praying he would start to twitch… To do anything…. But he didn’t…. I-I couldn’t even have time to process what happened. I had to go into emergency surgery anyway because h-his kicking…. Th-the convulsions had been so violent h-he had punctured my gestation tank. I-I was leaking out of my valve a-and there was internal leaking… I-I just wanted time to h-have him in me a little longer… To cherish him for as long as I could… But I couldn’t… They cut me open and removed him….” He bit his lower lip plate, focusing on his intakes for a moment. “He was so beautiful… When they h-handed him to me… He was a beautiful mechling… Everything was formed. H-his little digits… His peds… His optics… I-I took postmortem pictures with him… And Breakdown h-had time with him…”

Knock Out was silent again, working on not breaking down again. “My carrier came to be with me…. My sire came to be with me… Even Grit was there. I-I was in the hospital for joors… I was sick, I-I was still in pain… I wanted to hold onto him for as long as possible. And during all of that…. I kept thinking, ‘I need Starscream. I need his support.’”

Starscream perked his wings, his optics widening some, not expecting that at all. “You… Wanted me there…?”

Knock Out didn’t look at him, focusing on tearing another crystal flower apart. “I-I needed my friend. That was the lowest point i-in my life… I needed you, b-but you hated me… I-I’ve been needing you…. A-after the miscarriage… I-I’ve been suffering from panic attacks, PTSD, and depression. I was almost immediately put on antidepressants. I don’t know what good they’ve been doing me… Every…” He swallowed. “E-every orbital cycle I think that Breakdown hates me… I think he doesn’t want me a-anymore because I killed his son… Every orbital cycle I can hear him crying… See him holding our sparkling’s body… I-I feel like a-a failure. I thought for sure Breakdown w-would file for divorce a-and I’d lose Wildbreak and… Have to move in with my creators and… Never be loved again. A-and I still feel those thoughts… I want them to stop… I hate myself…. I killed my sparkling… I hurt Breakdown… I broke the spark o-of the mech I love more than anything…” He paused, biting his glossa. “I thought about hurting myself… About ending myself… I couldn’t tell Breakdown I was feeling like that… Y-you know how he is…. I couldn’t really tell Grit because… He’s not the best with… Emotions… I talked to my carrier, but she…. She wasn’t enough…. I wanted to talk to you about it… Y-you have been depressed… You know some of these feelings…. But I-I couldn’t talk to you… I had to bottle it up.

“And then I got sparked with Dead End… I didn’t want to… But Breakdown kept asking. He wanted another and I-I love him too much. I got sparked and I was terrified. I kept having panic attacks, I would become so ill I would be vomiting out of fear, not because of morning sickness… I was positive I would lose another. A-and my anxiety and stress m-made the carrying worse. I-I almost did lose Dead End. H-he was born premature. My body almost killed him during the induced labor… And Breakdown wants another, and I… I-I’m scared… I-I’ve never been this scared before. Not even in a battle have I been this scared…” He wiped at his optics.

Starscream waited to see if Knock Out would continue, but he didn’t. The Seeker bit his lip plate as he thought.

“I… I didn’t realize that happened… I just assumed…” He stopped, not wanting to say something that might be hurtful. “I’m sorry you’ve been feeling this way, Knock Out. I had no idea. That’s awful.” He noticed he had his own coolant tears leaking out. He quickly wiped at them. “I should have been there for you. I-I should have been-“ He swallowed. “I-I don’t know what to say. I am even more regretful now for what I said about your miscarriage. You shouldn’t have gone through that.”

Knock Out silently broke the stem of the crystal flower he had into several pieces before finally looking up at the Seeker. “I-I should apologize to you, too.”

“What for...?”

“Everything with Fracture… I never should have denied you visiting him. I-I should have been better about so much, and not lie to him about you being his carrier. I fragged up all of that, too.”

Starscream bit his lip plate a little too hard and tasted energon. “I… No… S-some of the things you did was best. I-if you hadn’t taken Fracture away from me when you did… H-he might not be alive. I-I wasn’t in a good state of mind then. I-I was obsessed over Megatron.” Coolant started to pour out of his optics. “I almost got my sparkling killed by that maniac! Y-you saved him, Knock Out. A-and I forgive you. I-I recognize why you did what you did. Y-you saved my son from me. Y-you gave him a better life th-than I ever could. H-he has siblings, a-a nice house, a dog… A sire who actually loves him. Y-you did that all for my son. And I put you through hell for it.”

“I still shouldn’t have pushed you away like I did.” Knock Out continued picking at the stem he held. “You missed out on so much of Fracture’s life because I-I was so angry with you.”

“Y-you had every reason to be angry with me. I-I said those horrible things about your miscarriage. And I’m so sorry for it. I was wrong.”

Knock Out swallowed hard. “I-I forgive you…”

Starscream felt his spark jump at that. “Y-you do?”

Knock Out nodded, still not looking at him. “I do…” He looked up at the Seeker. “W-we both were going through a lot… I-I was angry and broken, you were angry and broken…. We’re two fragged up people.”

“I’m more fragged up than you. You have a mate who loves you, a-a good job…”

“I-I killed my son…”

“No.” Starscream said sternly. “You did not, Knock Out. And you know you didn’t. You love your creations. Everyone knows this. I see how you care for them, how they look at you. You’re a good carrier. You love them so much… You’re a far better carrier than I ever could be.” He wiped at the fresh coolant tears leaking out. “Fracture is blessed to have you be his carrier.”

“You’re his carrier…”

“I-I gave him life, but you raised him, a-and loved him with such dedication and care and… Y-you focused on him. I-I was too busy trying to please Megatron, then I tried so hard to hurt you….” He paused. “I-I also thought about you… A lot… I-I… Was really lonely… And scared…. A-and when Megatron would keep coming over and… Use me…” He wrung his servos a little too hard, his claws scraping his palms. “I-I just wanted to talk to you… I-I missed talking to you… I was so alone and miserable. I-I should have been on antidepressants as well… I wanted to hurt myself… I was so upset I had failed Fracture… F-failed at being a carrier… A-and when I went to that bar… And those mechs hurt me…. I wished I would have died…. But then you were there. And you saved me… Like you saved Fracture…”

“You really missed talking to me…?” Knock Out asked softly.

Starscream nodded. “I-I missed you… I missed being friends.”

Knock Out swallowed as fresh coolant began to leak from his optics. “I missed being friends, too.”

Starscream looked at him, their optics focused on each other, both filled with so much static and coolant. “Can we go back to being friends?”

Knock Out nodded. “Best friends.”

“A-and we never fight again, right?” Starscream wiped at his optics, but the coolant kept pouring out.

“Never.”

Starscream hugged the speedster who tightly hugged him back. They both broke down, crying harder as they squeezed each other as tightly as they could, trembling.

“W-we talk e-everything through, together, for n-now on.” Knock Out managed to say between sobs.

“A-and no more d-dead animals thrown thr-through my window.”

“No, never again.”

“I-I won’t e-ever question y-your judgement i-in a mech again.”

“A-and I won’t keep Fracture a-away from you.”

“A-and I’ll n-never ever say a-anything mean a-about your miscarriage ever again.”

“A-and I-I won’t lie to y-you if a-a plate change makes y-your aft look big.”

“And I-I won’t do th-the same to you.”

“And you s-swear to always be honest a-about my paint?”

“Always!” Starscream swallowed. “A-and I’ll be n-nicer to Grit.”

“No… No, y-you can be mean to h-him still. He’s an aft.”

“He is!”

“W-we promise t-to always be honest w-with each other n-no matter what.”

“Promise.”

“I love you, Starscream.”

“I l-love you, Knock Out.”

They kept crying and hugging each other, blabbering on about promises and how sorry they were about past actions.

Breakdown stood in the doorway having watched them the whole time, listening to everything they said. He smiled and nodded his helm twice with such pride and happiness. His mate and Starscream had done so well, and finally this nasty feud of theirs was over. Everything would be better.

He went back inside, sighing in relief. He had survived the Great Drama War, and was so happy for them. He would need to save the security camera footage of their makeup as this was a historical occasion indeed.

But first, he would celebrate with cake!

Starscream found himself on the couch still hugging Knock Out later that evening. They had been crying almost the whole orbital cycle and apologizing for everything that they managed to exhaust themselves. Wildbreak and Fracture gave them odd looks when they got home from school and saw them crying. Poor mechlings stayed in their rooms to avoid the weird scene. Dead End didn’t care. He was busy playing with his games and telling Diesel all about the cartoon show he had started to watch.

Knock Out was drifting into recharge, not only tired from all of the crying, but also he had to online early that morning for work, and the panic attack had also taken energy out of him. Starscream perked his wings, noticing that the doctor was falling into recharge. He snuggled closer to him, then kissed the speedster on the cheekplates.

Knock Out’s optics onlined, and he faintly smiled. Starscream fluttered his wings and nuzzled his olfactory sensor against the grounder’s cheekplates. His engine purred when he heard Knock Out’s engine purr.

“Silly Seeker.” Knock Out said softly, still smiling.

Starscream hadn’t heard that from him in so long.

“Okay, I think someone is ready for recharge.” Breakdown grunted as he approached. “You look exhausted, my love.”

“Just a bit.”

Breakdown leaned over and kissed his mate on the lip plates. “You have work in the morning, correct?”

“I do.”

“Then let’s get you into berth.”

Starscream lowered his wings as he watched Breakdown pick up Knock Out bridal style. He didn’t want Knock Out taken away from him…

“Night, Starscream.” Knock Out waved to him as he was carried away by his Conjunx.

“Night, Knock Out.” Starscream waved back, his wings still low.

The Seeker watched the truck take away the speedster and go up the stairs with him. He looked over at Dead End who was busy painting Diesel’s claws with paint he had taken from Knock Out’s washroom. He vented a sigh, feeling suddenly alone. He liked holding Knock Out and snuggling with him. It felt…. Really nice. He liked it. It was nice hugging an adult and not his son who didn’t hug back most of the time. He wanted more Knock Out hugs…

He vented a sigh, but then smiled to himself. Him and Knock Out were friends again! He could live here with his son forever now! He could get a hug from his friend whenever he needed one, and he would have someone to talk to, and he didn’t have to worry about Megatron! He was finally safe, and he would finally be happy.

Starscream onlined early the next morning, his wings perking as he listened to the sound of Knock Out in the energon room. He quickly got out of berth and opened his door. The doctor was there grabbing the energon Breakdown had prepared for him, and subspacing it.

“Morning, Knock Out.” Starscream greeted as he approached.

Knock Out startled as he spun around, then vented a sigh. “Stars, don’t startle me! Why are you online?”

“Why are you online?”

“I have work.” Knock Out said it like the Seeker should know better. “I’m doing early shifts, remember? Until they change my schedule once again and make me do afternoon shifts, or night shifts, or whatever Hook wants out of me.”

“Can you not just have the same schedule..?”

“Nope! Because we are so understaffed should anyone need time off it messes up everyone’s schedule. Flatline is going to be taking paternity leave in like an orn so my schedule will be changing again…”

“He’s mated?”

“Yeah, has been for some time. They are having their third sparkling. I’m also going to be getting a new trainee. My last one graduated and now is a full time doctor. Nice to have another doctor so I am not being worked to death. Hopefully, as more of the first round from the sparkling boom age up, many choose to be medical professionals. I need more time with my sons.”

“And with me.”

Knock Out gave him a look before faintly smiling. “And you, yes. And Breakdown.” He finished packing his energon, looked at the decorative mirror on the wall in the energon room to check his facial paint one last time, and started for the door.

“I’ll see you later, Starscream.” He palmed the door open.

“Yeah, see you later.” Starscream waved slowly, his wings lowering.

Knock Out walked out, transformed, and drove away. Starscream pathetically watched him leave through the window, venting a dramatic sigh. He trudged back to his room, closed the door, and returned to recharge.

The orbital cycle went far too slow for his liking. He onlined later when the mechlings and Breakdown were awake, and listened to them get ready for school and leave. He got up and started his orbital cycle, spending his time in his room as usual. Breakdown returned home, took Diesel out for his playtime at the park, then returned home and did some cleaning. The truck later left to pick up Dead End from school, spent time in his room, then took Dead End to pick up the older mechlings.

The usual routine.

The mechlings played in the living room with their videogames, and Dead End screaming at his brothers how to play their games better. Breakdown was upstairs doing his hobbies, having some time alone. Starscream just stayed in his room looking at his datapad.

His wings perked when he heard the front door open. He quickly hopped off his berth and opened his door.

“Hey, my mechlings.” Knock Out smiled as he held his arms out, the three little ones all running into his embrace. “Carrier missed you guys so much!”

“Carrier, can I go to Nighthawk’s house for a recharge over?” Fracture inquired.

“Carrier, we learned about organics in school! Did you know they are made up of living things?!” Wildbreak exclaimed.

“CARRIER! I ate a bug!” Dead End shrieked as he tugged at Knock Out’s arm.

“One at a time.” Knock Out said as he released them. “Fracture, what did you say?”

“Nighthawk asked if I could have a recharge over. Blade will be there.”

Knock Out cupped Fracture’s cheekplates. “Yes, that’s fine.” He then kissed Fracture on the cheekplates and nuzzled his face with his own. “You are almost as tall as me.”

“I’m gonna be taller than you.”

“I hope so. Then you won’t need to get a tall mate to reach the top shelves like I had to.” He kissed Fracture again before releasing him and cupping Wildbreak’s cheekplates. “And what were you saying, my love?”

“We learned about organics! They’re made up of these things called cells and they are like alive! It’s really gross.”

“Yes, organics are very gross.” He kissed Wildbreak on the cheekplates. “I’ve met many. Wait until you learn about the Galactic Council.” He nuzzled faceplates with his eldest before giving him one more kiss. Lastly, he turned to the youngest and nuzzled faceplates with him. “And what did you eat, my odd sparkling?”

“A bug!” Dead End snickered.

“How the hell did that happen?”

“Stakeout dared me.”

“Well, Stakeout is not someone you should be taking dares from, my sparkling.” Knock Out grunted. “Give carrier a kiss.”

Dead End then kissed his carrier on the cheekplates, which Knock Out kissed him back before releasing him.

“Is there any homework you need help with?”

“No, I’m good.” Fracture replied.

“Yeah, nothing bad.” Wildbreak nodded.

“Good.” Knock Out started to walk away from them. “Is Breakdown upstairs?”

“He is.” Fracture answered.

“Hey.” Starscream smiled, his wings perking as Knock Out neared him.

“Hey.” Knock Out smiled back. “You better not have been dared to eat a bug. One is enough…”

“No, just been hanging out all orbital cycle. Waiting for you to get back.”

Knock Out sheepishly smiled. “Really? Waiting for me?”

“Well… Yeah.”

“You’re silly.” Knock Out then hugged the Seeker, who quickly hugged him back, wings fluttering.

Breakdown came down the stairs just then. “Hey, babe!”

“Hey, sexy!” Knock Out released the Seeker, much to his chagrin, and held his arms out for his mate.

Breakdown hugged the speedster and passionately kissed him on the lip plates. “You are stunning as usual.”

“And you’re perfect as usual.” Knock Out smiled up at his mate with that expression of his of one crushing so hard.

Breakdown’s smile only grew. “Nah, you’re the perfect one.” He kissed him again. “Can’t wait until those mechlings are in berth so I can frag you senseless.” He whispered.

“I look forward to it.” Knock Out whispered back before kissing his Conjunx Endura again.

Starscream felt annoyed that Breakdown was getting all of this attention and he wasn’t… Why did Knock Out have to always give Breakdown attention? He was just his mate! Not like he was… Something more important than himself!

Breakdown broke the kiss to give Knock Out a firm smack on the aft. “Anything happen at work?”

“Ow…. No.” Knock Out slowly reached back to rub his aft, rolling his optics at his mate. “The usual. Not even an emergency. How about you?”

“Usual. Nothing exciting on this end. Dead End ate a bug, but I’m sure he told you that.”

“Yes, he already apprised me. He gets that from you.”

“Nah.” Breakdown pulled his mate close again and kissed him on the lip plates. “He gets it from you.”

“Says the one who overheats himself laughing at his own bad jokes…”

“You love my jokes.” He kissed Knock Out again.

“They were cute in the beginning, but now they are annoying.”

“Same as you.”

Knock Out loudly gasped. “You’re a bully!” He punched Breakdown in the abdomen, but the truck only laughed.

“You are so quick to violence.” Breakdown grabbed Knock Out’s wrists and held him close. “Careful, I might end up liking it.”

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

“Breakdown… Don’t.”

Breakdown only smirked, knowing exactly what he was going to do. He turned Knock Out around, wrapped an arm around the speedster’s chest, and with his free servo tickled him on the abdomen.

“Breakdown! S-stop!” Knock Out couldn’t help himself and began to laugh, pathetically struggling to get away.

Breakdown continued tickling the speedster, ignoring the kicking and struggling. He did finally stop, turned the smaller mech around, and kissed him on the lip plates once more.

“I love you so much.”

“Stop treating me like a plaything.” Knock Out tried giving him a stern look, but a smile kept fighting to be seen.

“You are my plaything.” Breakdown then resumed passionately kissing his mate.

Starscream rolled his optics. Why must they be so obnoxious all the time? All this hugging, and kissing, and tickling, and aft slapping… HE was the one who needed attention!

Breakdown finally released the speedster, giving him one final slap on the aft, before walking away chuckling. Knock Out quickly slapped Breakdown’s aft back as he was passing, then ran behind Starscream before Breakdown could get him.

“I’ll get you later.” Breakdown pointed at his mate.

“Come get me now, coward!” Knock Out shouted with so much confidence.

“No, I’ll wait. When we’re alone and in our room… No witnesses.”

“Why are you so mean to me!?”

“Because I love you and you’re so sexy.”

Knock Out flipped a rude gesture at his mate before grabbing Starscream and using him as a living shield. Breakdown chuckled, knowing that Knock Out won’t be able to protect his aft forever. The doctor sat on the couch and pulled Starscream down next to him. He glared at his mate who gave him an expression that said “soon,” before walking away. Knock Out stuck his glossa out at the back of his mate, then turned to Starscream. The Seeker fluttered his wings and wasted no time in snuggling against his friend. He took Knock Out’s servo in his own and held it tightly.

Knock Out smiled, giggling as the Seeker nuzzled his faceplates. “I missed you, too.” He said softly.

That made the Seeker smile, fluttering his wings harder. He curled into the speedster, preparing to remain here forever.

And that’s what he did. He stayed snuggled against Knock Out, hugging him, and occasionally nuzzling him for the next few joors as Knock Out watched TV. Eventually the mechlings went to recharge, and Breakdown approached.

“You look like you could use me inside of you.” Breakdown smirked so lustfully as he leaned into Knock Out’s face.

“That’s so romantic of you.” Knock Out grunted.

“How else should I ask?”

“Maybe like, ‘would you like me to pleasure you and make sweet love to you?’”

“Nah. We are so past that point in our relationship. I’m going to rail you and make you scream.”

“See, that makes me less excited. Maybe I want a nice, gentle, loving frag. Where you kiss me, and frag me gently, and not beat my aft.”

“Do you actually want that?”

Knock Out thought about it. “Maybe for tonight I can have it a little rough.”

Breakdown chuckled. “Let’s go, my love.” He held out his servo for Knock Out.

“You don’t want to stay and cuddle with me?” Starscream lowered his wings.

“We can cuddle tomorrow, Stars.” Knock Out placed his servo in Breakdown’s and allowed the truck to pull him to his peds.

“Yeah, but… Wouldn’t you rather cuddle me…?”

Knock Out looked back at him. “I need to go to recharge. I’ll see you tomorrow when I get back from work.”

Breakdown tugged at his mate’s arm, slowly pulling him away, which Starscream didn’t appreciate.

“Do you want to cuddle… In berth? Nothing else, just… Cuddling...?”

“In berth…?” Knock Out was pulled away by an eager Breakdown and taken to the stairs.

Starscream quickly got on his knees on the couch to watch them. “Yeah, like… Cuddle in recharge…?”

“Starscream, I don’t know.” Knock Out was dragged up the stairs. “I’ll talk to you later.”

And he was gone, taken away by his mate.

Starscream vented a sigh as he sat back on the couch, wings low. He was now all alone, not even Diesel was downstairs as he always recharged with Fracture or Wildbreak in their berth. He didn’t like being alone, especially not when he had Knock Out again. He looked at his chronometer. It wasn’t even that late! Why was Knock Out going to berth this early? How early would he be onlining? He had time to cuddle him some more!

The Seeker slid down until he was lying on the couch. He stayed there, feeling more and more lonely. No Fracture, no Knock Out, no one… He wanted someone. His need for cuddles was worse now that he knew he could get them from Knock Out. He missed out on so many stellar cycles of getting Knock Out snuggles, he had to catch up! The ten stellar cycles since Knock Out took Fracture, then all the stellar cycles before that when Starscream was living with Megatron…

No, Knock Out owed him cuddles. Maybe he could convince him for more still…

The Seeker got up and went upstairs. He passed the closed doors to the berthrooms of the mechlings, all of them with a fan on making sure the little ones only heard the white noise. They were loud enough to block out the sound of Knock Out and Breakdown fragging, as well as the punks outside driving in the early joors causing chaos. It was the safest neighborhood a Decepticon could live in, but the Decepticon side of Iacon was still ripe with crime. Not like Autobots and their police ever came out this way to keep the peace…

He stopped outside the door to Knock Out and Breakdown’s room, hesitated, then slowly slid it open.

Knock Out was lying over the berth, peds on the floor, and Breakdown thrusting into him. The speedster grasped a pillow he was hugging, his optics offline as he buried his face into the pillow to loudly moan, not wanting to online anyone. Breakdown was really pounding into him, smiling so broadly, one servo grasping the smaller mech’s hip while the other held a shoulder.

Starscream stood in the doorway, not sure what to say. He scratched his nape awkwardly, his wings lowering.

Knock Out lifted his helm to gasp for cooler air when he noticed the Seeker.

“Starscream?” He managed between moans. “W-what is it? Hah, are you okay? Oh! Hah, do you need anything?”

Starscream flicked his wings, wishing Breakdown would at least stop for a moment so Knock Out could talk normally. “I-I was just… You know… Seeing if you…. Might want snuggles.”

Knock Out gave him a confused look. “Star, hah, I’m literally being fragged by my mate, ah, right now. I don’t, oh, hah… Need snuggles at the moment.”

“Yeah, I can see that… But maybe after….?”

“Stars, I’m recharging after Breakdown finishes, hah, railing me.”

“But you can snuggle while recharging.”

“I’m snuggling my mate. Oh, the mech I’m joined to. Remember him? He literally has his spike in me, hah, right now!” He pointed back at Breakdown who was not ceasing or slowing down at all with his thrusting.

“But you snuggle him all the time… I haven’t snuggled you in forever.”

“Starscream, we aren’t mates. We don’t frag.”

“No, but we can still cuddle.”

“Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

“But tomorrow is so far away…”

“I’m busy right now, Starscream. Hah, can you not see, oh, the truck humping me?”

“No need to be rude. I am just asking because like, we haven’t snuggled in forever and I want to snuggle you and-“

“Starscream,” Breakdown suddenly snapped, glaring at the Seeker finally. “If you’re not joining then shut up and leave!”

Starscream’s wings instantly lowered, only having heard that tone of voice from the truck a handful of times. Knock Out’s optics widened, also surprised, but not shaken by it. He simply looked at the a Seeker with a “you definitely should go now” expression.

Starscream swallowed, feeling very uncomfortable with how the truck was glaring at him. Breakdown’s vents loudly exhaled before he turned back to focusing on his mate, thrusting even harder and faster. He shoved Knock Out’s face into the pillow and held it there by the nape.

Starscream closed the door, certain that Breakdown would murder him if he pushed his luck anymore. And being killed by a horny truck, or anything horny, was not how he wanted to die. If he was going to die by a horny person it better be from getting the best frag of his life and being split in two from a massive spike pleasuring him to the point of death.

He sighed and went downstairs. Another night alone, it seemed…

The next orbital cycle went like any other. Starscream stayed in his room the whole orbital cycle, not wanting to be around a potentially still pissed off Breakdown. He listened to the mechlings go to school, come home, and all the usual routine. When Knock Out finally returned home did the Seeker dare leave his room.

He waited until Knock Out finished greeting the mechlings, kissed Breakdown, and walked over to him.

“Hey, Starscream.” He smiled, holding his arms out.

Starscream smiled back and hugged the speedster, his engine purring as his wings fluttered.

“You okay? You seem sad?” Knock Out asked as he looked up at the jet.

“I’m fine.” Starscream said softly.

“I’m not mad about last night. You know Breakdown is selfish about his time with me. We’re mated. We need our time alone. Just give us that time, okay? I can still make time for you.”

Starscream nodded.

Knock Out kissed him on the cheekplates and then gave him a tight hug. “We need to find you your own mate, Stars. You deserve to have your own mate to frag you and snuggle you every night.”

“I’m not in a rush…” Starscream said softly, his wings lowering as he held Knock Out, feeling like maybe Knock Out wanted him gone.

“I know. And you never should rush romance. I’m just saying, you deserve your own mate.” Knock Out let him go and looked up at him. “How about… I do your faceplates and make you look nice. And that can be our time together. Sound good?”

Starscream slowly nodded before faintly smiling, his wings perking.

Knock Out smirked. “Alright, let’s go upstairs!”

The speedster took Starscream’s servo and led him up the stairs and into his room. He released the Seeker to go into his washroom and find the items he needed. Starscream looked at all the pictures on the walls, recognizing Grit now in the wedding photos. He flicked his wings at those.

He walked over to the little shelf with the urn and bit his lower lip plate, the memorial feeling different now since he knew the story behind it. That picture of Knock Out sparked with his sparkling, smiling so proudly, unaware that soon he would lose his son and never be the same again.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m going to also grind and buff your plates before we-“ Knock Out paused as he stepped out of the washroom and noticed Starscream by the urn.

Starscream quickly stepped away from it, keeping his servos up in a respectful manner. “I know, stay away. I’m sorry.” He said quickly, backing until he was on the other side of the berth. “I didn’t mean to disrespect or upset you.”

Knock Out swallowed, standing there with the equipment and paint he was going to use on the Seeker. He looked over at the urn, then the Seeker. Slowly, he approached the berth and placed everything he held down on it. He opened a subspace pocket and dug around in it until he pulled out a datapad. He walked around the berth to be closer to the Seeker before sitting down.

“Sit.” He gestured for the Seeker to do so next to him.

Starscream approached and sat beside the speedster. Knock Out online the datapad, unlocked it, then searched on it for a bit before he pulled up a photo. He handed the datapad to Starscream and looked away.

Starscream took the datapad, his wings drooping. It was a picture of Knock Out on a hospital berth, it propped up so he was sitting up, but not completely straight. He was hooked up to a monitor, an energon drip, and had healing slabs on his abdomen. He looked absolutely exhausted, his optics so dim they looked barely online, and his cheekplates covered in dry coolant. He looked more like he had barely survived being shot several times and losing most of his energon, than what he had actually gone through.

In Knock Out’s servo was a protoform, formed and tiny. His other servo was in the midst of tracing a digit along the cheekplates of the protoform, studying the tiny life he had just lost. Breakdown’s servo was visible as it rested on Knock Out’s thigh.

But the face of the doctor was the hardest thing to look at in this photo. How broken he looked, in pain and exhaustion, crying his spark out as he looked down at his deceased son.

Starscream looked over at Knock Out. “You don’t have to show me this…”

Knock Out was looking down, his claws wringing each other. “You weren’t there… Y-you didn’t get to meet him… I-I want you to see how beautiful he was.”

“He is beautiful.” Starscream offline the datapad. “But I don’t want to see you in so much pain.”

“The pain will always be with me. Seeing me period will be seeing me in pain.” Knock Out took the datapad back and subspaced it, being very careful of how he put it back in the subspace pocket.

Starscream hugged the grounder, not sure what else to say. Knock Out hugged him back, his intakes slow as he controlled them to keep himself from breaking down and crying.

“Knock Out,” Starscream said as he released the red mech. “Do you want another sparkling?”

Knock Out looked into his optics, trying not to cry. “I do... But-“

“Just go for it. If you want more sparklings you should do what makes you happy. You’re a good carrier.”

“But if I have another miscarriage-“

“You don’t know if you will. What if you have five more sparklings and no miscarriages? There’s people out there who have had a miscarriage and yet still have a lot of sparklings. What happened to you is a tragedy. It sucks and I’m so sorry it happened to you, but don’t let it keep you from being happy. Have another sparkling.”

Knock Out swallowed. “But if I do have a miscarriage…?”

“We don’t know unless you get sparked.”

“I was really sick with Dead End… I wasn’t even well with Wildbreak… I-I don’t know if it’s ethical for me to purposefully get sparked when the likelihood of me having a miscarriage is so high.”

“Can you predict if you will have a miscarriage?”

“…No…”

“Then you don’t know unless you try.”

Knock Out slowly shook his helm as he looked away, coolant pooling in his optics. “I-I can’t go through that again, Starscream. I can’t handle that pain…”

Starscream took his servo and waited for him to look back up before speaking. “I’ll be there for you. You should try. Do what makes you happy. At least think about it.”

Knock Out nodded. “I-I will… I have…” He paused. “Breakdown wants a femmling…”

“You were meant to raise femmlings.”

Knock Out faintly smiled. “Yeah? Is that what I’m best at?”

“You, yes. Breakdown… It would be interesting to see.”

“I think he would be good with femmlings. He’s good with any sparkling… I love him so much.”

“You’re very lucky to have a mech like him.”

“I am. I tell myself that every orbital cycle. I would do anything for that mech. Well, minus letting him stick it in my aft. That is where I draw the line!”

“Has he asked?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Oh my gosh, yes, he has. More than once! Like, what is it with spike dominants and wanting to do the waste port?! That hole is for waste, not fragging!”

“It certainly is not as much fun as the valve…” Starscream grunted.

“You’ve done it?”

“I have. Not a fan.”

“What is the craziest thing you’ve done? Interface or for kinks?”

“Oh, gosh…” Starscream looked up as he thought. “Well, I don’t know what would be considered ‘crazy.’ Megatron would beat me with a cable or energy whip for kinks… I didn’t enjoy that… At least not when he was the one beating me. I’ve been chained down in some crazy positions… I’ve 69ed someone… I guess maybe the craziest thing would just be like an interface marathon. Just fragging, then kinky stuff, than more fragging, and doing it for five joors.”

“How did you survive that? That is exhausting!”

“Lot of engex….” Starscream looked at the doctor. “What about you?”

“Definitely the things I did with Crusher and his friends. Probably the gang bangs… We would be high on circuit boosters so that kept us going. I was the bottom being passed around and fragged senseless… Having to do oral… And have my aft beaten and whipped… Gosh…” Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates as he remembered. “I hate myself so much for ever being involved with that aft…”

“Crazy to think we’ve done all this slag with our bodies and now we’re creators…”

“Shhh, don’t tell the mechlings. They would never look at me the same way again.” He smirked. “Carrier before he was carrier! Heesh… They would be so embarrassed.”

“I don’t think they would be embarrassed. Probably more shocked.”

“So long as they never do anything like what I did. I’m telling them to be honest with me about their interface life. If I felt safe telling my creators about what I was doing I would have talked to them and that probably would have saved me so much pain.”

“I wasn’t honest with my creators about my interface life, either.”

“Were they all strict about interface?”

“I mean…” Starscream shrugged. “What creator isn’t strict about what their sparkling is doing with their body? Mine were just… Very cautious. I’m a Seeker, and Seekers… We’re very sexualized. Used in porn all the time, always thought to be so breedable, all of that slag. So, yeah, my creators were worried about me being exploited for my body. One of them had been.”

“One of them was in porn?”

“No, my carrier, Borealis, had been assaulted. I don’t know much about it as she never went into detail. Understandable. I don’t want to talk to Fracture about my assaults, so I get why she was quiet about hers. But I know she had been raped, and because of stupid ‘honor’ and ‘old ways’ she was made to join with her rapist.”

“Velocitron has some of that, too. People get raped and then you must join the rapist because they took your virginity. People thinking the first frag is the proper mating ritual or whatever.”

“Exactly.” Starscream leaned back on his servos as he rested them on the berth. “Seekers are very… Traditional. You follow the rules or else shame on you. Well, my carrier had been raped, forced to join the rapist, and she was with him for some time… I don’t know how long before she got away. She eventually mated to Nacelle, my femme sire, and due to the rape and leaving her Conjunx, she was cast out. Both of them were. They were pariahs and not welcomed in Vos. So, they moved around a few times before settling in Kalis. I was conceived there. But they wanted me to be born in Vos because every Seeker is from Vos. So, when I was due they returned to Vos to have me, stayed there for my first… 2 or 3 stellar cycles, and moved back to Kalis.

“So, I grew up in Kalis for most of my sparklinghood. It was a nice city, but no Seekers. I don’t remember much of school, other than that I didn’t have friends. I was kind of the weird sparkling. I loved science, loved doing school, and everyone else didn’t care. I was the sparkling who reminded the teacher about homework.”

Knock Out snickered. “I remember classmates like that. I bullied them. There was one who was so bad about asking for homework for math in… I think it was 7^th grade? Maybe 8th grade, I don’t remember which. But he kept asking for homework and got the teacher to assign homework every orbital cycle. So, I set his desk on fire and poured liquid nitrogen into his energon bottle so it exploded in his face. He had glass shards in his optics that had to be surgically removed.” He smiled retelling the story.

Starscream gave him a shocked look with round optics, completely not expecting that. “You almost killed a classmate over homework?”

“He wasn’t almost killed. Gosh, Starscream, I was a bully but not a monster.” Knock Out put a servo over his chestplates as if he was innocent.

“I thought you were the kind of bully who just called names…”

“Oh, no, I was a terror. I probably would have gotten locked up a few times if it wasn’t for my sire paying everyone off. Teachers weren’t safe from me, either. I once got my servos on a circuit booster and hid it in a teacher’s desk, a teacher I hated. Sent an anonymous report to the cops and got the teacher fired and charged with felony possession. No one ever found out it was me.”

“Oh my gosh…. And you have sparklings now….”

Knock Out snickered. “I do. If we went to the same school I totally would have bullied you. I’m sorry…” He hugged Starscream. “I love you now so do not worry.”

“Thanks… I feel so relieved…” Starscream rolled his optics as he hugged the speedster back.

“Anyway,” Knock Out released him. “You were saying about your school?”

“Yes… Well… I-I wasn’t the bully or a popular sparkling. I was the lonely dork who thankfully wasn’t bullied too much. I mean, called names, datapads slapped out of my servos, shoved around some…. Only attacked like a couple of times. But that’s about it. Nothing… Like what you did.” He paused. “Did you ever apologize?”

“Nope. I have no idea if any of my victims are still alive.”

“Would you apologize to them if you ran into them?”

“Probably depends. If they are a lot bigger than me and could kill me in a nanosecond, I would make sure they have no idea who I was and go the other way. But if they are unable of killing me, yes, I would apologize.”

“Does Breakdown know?”

“Oh, he knows. He knows everything. I’ve told him… Everything. Things I won’t share with you or Grit or anyone else, he knows.”

“What won’t you share with me?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I would.”

“I’m not saying.”

“You should. I’m sharing my past with you.”

“Yeah, but you’re sharing like… Normal stuff. Certain things I did were not… Normal.”

“What wasn’t normal?”

“I’m not saying.”

“Does it involve interface?”

“I’m not saying.”

“Does it involve Idiot Grit?”

Knock Out shrugged. “I’m not saying.”

“I will find out. Maybe I’ll bribe Breakdown.”

“Oh, he won’t say. He knows that should he spill my deepest, darkest secrets I will surgically remove his spike and nanite production units and toss them into a blender. And that mech loves his spike.”

“I’m sure I’ll find a way to get you to speak.”

“Gonna torture me?”

“And risk you liking it? Ew, no.”

Knock Out snorted a snicker. “I’m not you. I don’t know what kind of torture I’d like. Unless it involves a dildo I’m not gonna like it…. A dildo being used properly. Have you ever been slapped by one? It fragging hurts…”

“Why are you being slapped by dildos?” Starscream gave him such a confused look.

Knock Out giggled. “Because Breakdown and I had a sword fight… With dildos. And he wacked me in the face and it hurt!”

“How old are you…?”

Knock Out only giggled harder. “Old enough to be able to buy dildos and use them as swords. He also beat my aft with it and it was not pleasant….”

“Anyway!” Starscream rolled his optics. “I was trying to share my life story and you go off about using dildos as weapons….”

“Don’t knock it until you try it.”

“I’ll pass, thank you.” He flicked his wings as he gave Knock Out an annoyed look. “I did well in school, definitely better than you because I wasn’t occupied with trying to blind classmates. I was able to attend university in Iacon and study science.”

“So, I’ve heard. Why did you not stay a scientist and instead became a jerkface?”

Starscream glared at him. “Excuse you…. The one who was a bully in school. I didn’t stay a scientist because I never finished school.”

“Oh?”

“I… Met a guy at the science academy.”

“Did he have a nice aft?”

“He did…”

“Ooh! Tell me more about it.” Knock Out leaned closer.

“His designation was Skyfire. And we… Became a couple. He… Was so sweet and gentle… He was the only real relationship I’ve had.”

“And his spike?”

“Perfect.” Starscream smirked.

“So, what happened?”

“We went on an expedition and…” Starscream wrung his servos. “There was an accident… I lost him… And never found him again. I-I think he died. I never found him so couldn’t confirm, but I searched for him for so long… The storm…” Starscream shrugged, biting his lower lip plate. “I had to return to Cybertron. I was hoping I could find help but I was blamed for his murder and kicked out of the school.”

“Did no one ever go look for him?”

“I don’t know… If anyone did I was never told about it. We were together for several stellar cycles and then it was just… over. I had to start all over again. I went back to my old habit of one night stands, but that… It’s not the same. I eventually joined the War Academy. What else are Seekers good for?”

“They’re good for causing drama.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “Anyway, I eventually became a bodyguard of Sentinel Prime.”

“I remember this. And you brought him to Megatron and that’s when you joined.”

“Kind of like that. I was his bodyguard for… A few stellar cycles. He was so creepy. Always wanting to frag me but I didn’t want him. I hated him… I had secretly talked to Megatron, as I had learned about the Decepticon cause, and helped him devise a plan to catch Sentinel. I managed to encourage Sentinel to go to a comedy show where Megatron and others would set off a bomb, and security would just be laxed enough for no one to be able to save Sentinel. I was leading Sentinel to safety, but actually led him not to safety. Took him to Shockwave instead as a gift for Megatron. And I was stuck with the Decepticons ever since.”

“If you could change one thing about your past… What would it be?”

“I would say not take Skyfire on that expedition. If he never had gotten lost and died… I would have finished school, become a scientist, probably joined him, and never have become a Decepticon. No Megatron, nothing.”

“And have your own family properly.”

“Yes… No needing you to have to raise my own son…”

Knock Out was silent for a moment. “But… Had that happened. We would have never met.”

“Maybe it would have been for the best. I fragged up your life…”

“No… You’ve been an aft the last few stellar cycles, but… If you hadn’t shown up sparked I wouldn’t have been filled with the need to make my own sparkling and then I wouldn’t have the beautiful mechlings that I do.”

“You wouldn’t have had a miscarriage…”

“No…” Knock Out said slowly. “But I still have those three mechlings.”

“Why are we so pathetic…? So much slag in our lives…” Starscream vented.

“Because the universe hates handsome bastards like us.”

“Is that it?”

Knock Out nodded sagely.

“So does that mean ugly people live good lives?”

“Yeah, just ask Breakdown.” Knock Out snickered.

“I’m telling him you said that.”

“No, don’t! He will get back at me by being embarrassing in public!”

“Doesn’t he do that regardless?”

“Yes… But he would be even worse.”

“I guess there’s worse things he could do to you…”

“Okay, but now since we have shared so much about each other, I have to ask you the real question.”

“What?” Starscream perked his wings.

“Mate – kill – frag.”

“Oh no…”

“Me, Breakdown, Megatron.”

“That’s easy. Mate you, kill Megatron, frag Breakdown.”

“You’d mate me? Not frag me?” Knock Out smirked.

“Mating means fragging long term.”

“Good point.  So, you admit you’re attracted to me.”

“Only because your question demanded I choose you for one of those three options.”

“Okay…. Same question, but this time…. Me, Grit, Megatron.”

“Mate you, kill Megatron, frag Grit, but I still hate him.”

Knock Out chuckled. “Just had to be sure.”

“My turn. Mate – kill – frag… Me, Megatron, Soundwave.”

“Why are you bringing Soundwave into this? Gross. Okay…. Mate you… Ugh… Kill Megatron. And I have no choice but to frag Soundwave. He might be a good lover. He has those… Tentacles.”

“Ew!”

“What?! For hugging, Starscream! Where is your processor going? For shame!”

“What about…. Soundwave, Shockwave, Megatron?”

“I will always choose kill Megatron whenever he is thrown in. He hurt my Fracture. I would mate Soundwave, because again, the hugging tentacles. And frag Shockwave. But that is probably the most boring interface ever. No emotion at all.”

“You’ll just lie there stiff as a board waiting for it to be over.” Starscream smiled.

“I’ll be like, ‘are you near climax?’ and he’ll say like, ‘I have only thrust 23 times. It is illogical that I would have generated enough excess energy to overload at this time.’” Knock Out made a face. “He couldn’t even give me oral! Only one servo to scissor with….”

“He probably would make the interface into an experiment somehow.”

“Right?! Like, test to see how many thrusts it takes to get the average speedster to overload… Or see how much energy an overloading speedster generates…”

“Or find a way to make it so whoever he frags turns into a monster that he controls and then he uses you to serve Megatron.”

“Is that how Soundwave was born?”

Starscream couldn’t help but burst out laughing at that, which triggered Knock Out to also laugh.

“Shhh! He probably has my house wired!” Knock Out giggled.

“Ew, and listens in on you and Breakdown?”

“Didn’t he listen in on your and Megatron?”

“Oh my gosh…”

“He’s a pervert!”

“He is!”

“Who’s a pervert?” Breakdown asked as he walked into the room.

“Breaky!” Knock Out excitedly squealed as he held his arms out to his mate.

“Look who’s so happy to see me.” Breakdown smiled as he hugged his Conjunx Endura, then kissed him on the lip plates. “You are absolutely radiant, my love.”

Knock Out giggled, his engine purring, looking up at Breakdown in that way he always did, like some lovestruck femmling crushing so hard. Starscream didn’t understand it.

“Has he been behaving?” Breakdown inquired of the Seeker. “Or do I need to take him out back and tickle him?”

“He did say you were ugly a little while ago.” Starscream replied.

Breakdown glared down at his mate. “You said what?”

“The Seeker lies!” Knock Out exclaimed.

“I don’t think he is. Come here, you need to be punished.” Breakdown pulled his mate over to him.

“No! I’ve been framed!” Knock Out screamed before he was viciously and sparklessly tickled. “Ah! S-stop! B-Break-d-down!”

Starscream watched as Knock Out was savagely tickled for a bit, then kissed all over his faceplates, before finally being flipped over and having his aft slapped three times.

“Ouch! You’re a bully!” Knock Out quickly sat back up and shoved at his mate.

“And you’re beautiful.” Breakdown grabbed the speedster’s wrists before kissing him passionately on the lip plates. “I love you.”

“I love you, more. Bully.”

“I love you most, beautiful.”

Knock Out looked up at him with that same expression of absolute, unadulterated, madly in love, so much so he looked like he could die from it. He smiled broadly and kissed the truck on the lip plates.

“You’re still a bully.”

“And you’re still perfect in every single possible way.” He took Knock Out’s servo and kissed the knuckles. “I came up here to ask you if you wanted me to get you energon.”

“I’ll take energon.”

“I shall bring you a cube at once, my love.” He kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates, then turned to Starscream. “Would you like energon, too?” He said it in a calm vocalizer, but it wasn’t filled with the sappy love anymore.

“Yeah, thanks, Breakdown.” Starscream nodded.

Breakdown turned back to his mate. “I will bring both of you gossiping femmes your energon.”

“We’re not gossiping, we are discussing.” Knock Out corrected him.

“You’re gossiping.” Breakdown kissed him on the lip plates. “I’m fine with gossiping. So long as you don’t plan my murder for a life insurance policy I don’t care what you talk about.”

“I would never!”

“Your creators would…” Breakdown grunted.

“Stop it.” Knock Out hit the back of his servo against Breakdown’s shoulder.

Breakdown only smirked, kissed Knock Out once more, then walked out of the room.

Knock Out bit his digit as he watched his mate leave, his expression a mixture of being madly in love and lust, his engine softly purring. Starscream raised an optical ridge.

“Why do you always look at him like that?” He finally demanded.

“Look at him like what?” Knock Out faced the Seeker.

“Like… With the big optics, all googly and gross…”

“I’m just looking at him… Am I not allowed to look at the mech I love?”

“You look like a turbofox in heat.”

“I fail to understand… Turbofoxes show their denta when in heat and yowl… I’m not doing those…”

Starscream rolled his optics. “You know what I mean. You look at him all lovestruck. You’ve been together hundreds of vorns.”

“I honestly am not sure how I am looking at him… I just am looking at the mech I love.”

“Nevermind…” Starscream rolled his optics.

Knock Out held out his servos in confusion. “Don’t know what you want from me. I imagine I look at him with love, but surely it shouldn’t be annoying or anything. No one else says anything about how I look at my mech.”

“Forget it.”

“… Is it lust…? Can you tell I’m thinking about interfacing him…?”

“I’m not answering that.”

“No, you should. Because if I’ve been making that obvious all these vorns in front of commanding officers and my creators I need to know! I don’t want people to know when I’m thinking about Breakdown pounding into me!”

“Change of subject….”

Knock Out threw his servos up, but sat criss cross on the berth anyway. “What are we talking about now, then? Or do I do your face?”

“I think we should discuss politics.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.”

“Go on.”

“Okay… Was the war really started because of corrupt politicians and civilians having enough… Or are the rumors of Megatron and Optimus Prime being angry exes true?” Starscream perked his wings.

Knock Out snickered. “The latter, definitely.”

“And that brings up the other question… Do they have an illegitimate creation and is that creation Prowl?”

“Is that what the latest rumor is? Prowl? I’ve heard the Soundwave one before.”

“Soundwave is a creation of Shockwave having interface, remember?”

“Oh, gosh, let’s start that rumor! I’ve always wanted to start a celebrity rumor.”

“Who are you leaking it to?”

“The homeless drunks, of course. They will ensure it spreads to the most trustworthy of sources.”

“Is that where you get your news from?”

“Please, I’m a doctor. I listen to what my patients say. Once they are high on the pain dampeners, they tell you everything.”

“I hope I didn’t say anything when I was in hospital.”

“One would require a functioning processor for that to work.”

“You’re the bully.” Starscream glared at him.

“I guess you better make sure I don’t set something of yours on fire, then.” Knock Out smirked.

“More likely you’d throw a corpse through my window…”

“Why not a flaming corpse?”

“I’ll accept it if the corpse is Megatron’s.”

“I’ll try.”

“Okay, femmes,” Breakdown spoke up as he walked into the room with energon cubes and goodies on a tray. “I bring you your feast.” He set it on the berth between them.

“Thank you, my darling, perfect, amazing, beautiful mate!” Knock Out smiled up at him.

“Anything else?” Breakdown kissed him on the cheekplates.

“No, I think we are good. Thank you!”

“Yeah, thanks, Breakdown.” Starscream said as he took a cube.

“You’re welcome.” The truck kissed his mate on the lip plates, then left them alone once more.

Starscream smiled as he looked at the cube he held. He liked this. Just talking nonsense with Knock Out, Breakdown bringing them energon, and being able to just… Be normal. No drama, no Megatron, no fear, no pain, no war, no fighting… Just being normal friends, in a house, with sparklings, and feeling safe. He had forgotten what this felt like.

He never wanted to leave Knock Out ever again.

The Mean Girls have finally apologized to each other! They are so pathetic.... But at least they aren't trying to murder each other anymore!

My friend had suggested something else for the apology, but I was like, no I have an idea. And this is what I did. I think it was important for Starscream to apologize first as he was the reason the drama started. He took Fracture to Megatron, and then later fled with Fracture forcing Knock Out to get custody. Had Starscream simply stayed with Knock Out and never left the custody battle would have never happened. But, obviously Knock Out isn't faultless either and he had to apologize for denying Starscream visitations and lying to Fracture for so long.

My friend wanted a lot of hugging and kissing between them. They are the kind of friends who are very clingy. Plus, with Seeker being so cuddly, of course Starscream sees this as a normal way to treat a friend or family member. You snuggle like a kitty! But it's even more important to Starscream than your average Seeker because he's been denied actual affection for so long. Literally millions of years he was stuck with Megatron who didn't love him and certainly didn't snuggle him. Last person he got proper snuggles from was probably Skyfire. And any snuggling Grit did wasn't much since Grit didn't see him as a lover, just a hookup.

The background headcanon for Prime Starscream is what my friend specified. Some canon from the Primeverse books, some she made up. She has Prime Starscream being more of a whore than I make G1/IDW G1 Starscream be! She's the pimp!

Breakdown's smile and nodding while he watched them apologized was inspired by that popular nodding gif of the camera zooming onto a man before he smiles and nods. We shared that constantly as we discussed Breakdown being there so proud of the mean girls making up. All his hard work to end the drama coming to fruition. Give the man a waffle!

Almost all of Knock Out's background is from me. Come on, we know he was a rich, mean girl in school who bullied everyone and got away with it.

Also, if you guys noticed... Remember when Grit asked Starscream if he ever did it in the ass and Starscream said "no," and Grit was like, I got you covered? And here in this chapter Starscream says he's done it in the ass and wasn't a fan to Knock Out? That's right! Grit took Starscream's butt's virginity! I'm sure that's something Grit brags about...

Are you guys happy they have made up? Are you happy they are back to being best friends?! Is this not why you are here?! Are you not entertained?!

Ah, now to move onto new drama.

Chapter Text

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

“Fracture, which do you want?” Breakdown inquired as he set down several firearms on the dining table.

“I’ll take the M-45.” Fracture replied as he selected an automatic rifle.

“What do you do before handling any gun?”

“Safety check.” Fracture checked the safety making sure it was on. “Magazine clip check.” He pulled out the magazine and set it on the table. “And pop the one in the chamber.” He did so, the cartridge falling out.

“Good. Disassemble and clean it.” Breakdown then turned to Wildbreak. “And which one do you want?”

“I want the automatic!” Wildbreak exclaimed, reaching for a semi-automatic machine gun.

“How about we go with one with less punch…”

“Fine… The 32.”

Breakdown handed him the rifle. “What do we do?”

“Check safety… Check! Pop the cartridges… Check! And now disassemble!”

“Good. I’m so proud of you.” Breakdown smiled at them.

“I want a gun!” Dead End exclaimed.

“You are too tiny. If I gave you one you’d fly off your peds when firing it.”

“NO, I WON’T!”

Breakdown looked at him. “Fine.” He grabbed a pistol, removed the magazine, popped the cartridge, and handed it to his son. “Hold that.”

Dead End took it, but automatically dropped down. “It’s heavy!”

“It is. That’s why you need to be bigger to have one. You’ll get there.”

“But I want to go with you and shoot!” Dead End’s optics filled with static.

“Dead End, you’re going to stay here with carrier.” Knock Out called over to him from the couch.

“But I want to shoot!” Dead End began to cry.

“Dead End, come over here! Come give carrier a hug!”

Dead End got up and ran over, climbing onto the couch and collapsing into his carrier’s arms. Knock Out hugged him, stroking the back of his helm as he bawled his sorrows into his chassis. Starscream glared, jealous that the sparkling was now getting all of Knock Out’s attention and not him.

“Are they clean?” Breakdown asked the older two mechlings.

“Yup!” Wildbreak proclaimed.

“Good. Assemble them, now.”

“Babe, do you have to use the bullets? Use the laser guns. The bullets have too much kickback.” Knock Out said in the way only a carrier could.

“They can handle the kickback. It’s good for them to learn with the harder guns so when they learn to fire the laser ones it’s easy.”

“I don’t want them getting dented or a shell to hit their face.”

“Burning hot shells hitting your face builds character.”

Knock Out glared at his mate who chuckled.

“I wish I could go…” Starscream grumbled.

“It’s more fun to stay here with me and watch soap operas.” Knock Out smiled at the Seeker.

“Still… I would like to get some frustration out and shoot at a picture of Megatron…”

“I don’t think you’re banned from darts. I can get you some and let you hang a picture of Megatron on the wall.”

“I’d like that.” Starscream smiled as he snuggled against Knock Out.

“We are going to the firing range!” Breakdown announced as he subspaced the guns and gear he was bringing. “Do you need anything while we’re out?”

“I will just be missing you!” Knock Out said it so pathetically.

“Well, I’ll miss you more.” Breakdown walked over and kissed his mate on the lip plates. “Want me to stop by the store?”

“No, but if you could get my prescription…” He said it softer.

“Antidepressants or do you need more pain dampeners?”

“The antidepressants.”

“I will get those for you, my love. If you need anything else just call me.” He kissed his mate again. “Bye! Love you!”

“Love you, more! Miss you already!”

Breakdown opened the door and let the older mechlings out. “Miss you more!”

“No, I miss you more! Bye!”

“Bye!” He then closed the door behind him.

Knock Out turned to Dead End and hugged his youngest close.

Starscream perked his wings. “Pain dampeners?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Clearly it’s something if you need medicine…”

“Sometimes my spark flares up. It’s just something from the miscarriage. Nothing to worry about.”

“Have you gotten it checked out?”

“It’s fine, Starscream. It’s gotten better. You’re the one with the bad spark. You better be taking your medicine every orbital cycle still…”

“I do. I never stopped.” Starscream hugged the speedster.

“Stop!” Dead End shoved at Starscream.

“It’s okay, Dead End. You can share carrier.” Knock Out kissed his son on the cheekplates. “Everyone needs cuddles from me.”

“No, only me!” Dead End hugged his carrier selfishly.

Knock Out smiled, hugging him back. “I love you.”

“Do I get any love?” Starscream grunted, annoyed that the sparkling was winning.

“Diesel is right next to you. Hug him.”

Starscream looked at the cyberdog recharging on the couch beside him. “I rather not disturb him.”

“Well, then you have to wait until Dead End is done.”

Dead End stuck his glossa out at Starscream, knowing he was winning. After all, he was his carrier’s favorite.

Starscream flicked his wings and narrowed his optics. The absolute insolence from this sparkling! He was about to be 6 stellar cycles old and acted like a rich adult who could afford an attorney. Starscream did not see why he was so cherished by Knock Out.

Starscream made a rude gesture at the sparkling, making sure Knock Out didn’t see it. Dead End knew what that meant and did it right back. That pissed off the Seeker. He flicked his wings before shoving the sparkling off Knock Out’s lap.

“Starscream! What the hell!” Knock Out shoved back at the Seeker before quickly picking up his crying son.

“He was mocking me!”

“He’s 5!” Knock Out held his son tightly.

“He knows what he was doing!”

Knock Out growled his engine and glared at Starscream. The Seeker quickly lowered his wings, realizing that Knock Out had engaged protective carrier mode.

“I’m sorry. What I did was wrong.” The flier quickly apologized, keeping his wings low and looking down to show submission.

Knock Out didn’t look at him, simply focused on hugging his son and babying him. Dead End wiped at his optics, looked Starscream right in his, and smirked before flashing a rude gesture at him.

Starscream never thought he would want to punch a sparkling, but he did. His wings flicked, his fist trembled at his side, but he remained still. He would have his revenge…. May not be this orbital cycle, may not be for a few stellar cycles, but one orbital cycle… He would have his revenge…

So long as Knock Out didn’t murder him…

Knock Out poured energon into several glasses as he prepared the mid orbital cycle refueling for the mechlings. Starscream stood by not to help but rather to stay close to Knock Out.

“I was going to do that.” Breakdown said as he walked into the energon room.

“Well, I’m doing it now.” Knock Out shrugged, placing small bowls of energon goodies next to each glass of energon.

“I rather you rest. You need to actually not work on your orbital cycles off.”

“It’s just fueling the mechlings. I’m not exerting myself making sure my sons are given a proper meal instead of the junk you sneak them.” Knock Out grunted.

“I don’t sneak them junk.” Breakdown took a goodie from one of the bowls and ate it.

Knock Out noticed. “Don’t. That’s not for you.”

“I know.” He reached for another.

Knock Out slapped his servo before he could touch the energon. “Will you stop it! You’re constantly eating their energon. The additives are going to make you fat.”

“I’m already fat.” Breakdown made a face like Knock Out should know better.

“You’re not fat...” Knock Out grumbled, mixing additives and oil into the energon.

“Yes, I am. That’s why you joined me.” Breakdown got behind his mate and pressed his crotch into the speedster’s aft before leaning over the smaller mech. “You like the big mechs.”

“Don’t…”

“You want all the power in these extra plates to be clapping these aft plates of yours! Mmm!” He humped a couple of times hard into Knock Out, pushing his mate into the counter.

“Breakdown! Stop it!” The speedster shoved back at him, but was now pinned.

“Aren’t you glad you joined a big, fatty like me and not a skinny weakling like Starscream over there?” He had his arms wrapped around Knock Out’s waist now.

“Let go of me before I spike punch you!” Knock Out stomped his ped right onto Breakdown’s but the truck only chuckled.

“See the abuse I go through?” Breakdown asked Starscream.

“I do believe it’s warranted.” Starscream grunted.

“You’re just jealous you don’t have a big, fat guy like me kissing you.” He then started to force kisses onto Knock Out’s faceplates.

“Stop it! Breakdown! I swear to Primus I will stab you!”

“With what? You wanna frag your big mech?”

“Starscream, can you please kick him?” Knock Out pleaded with the jet.

“I’m on probation, remember? I can’t use guns, kick, stab, kill or do anything fun for… infinity.” Starscream said it with such annoyance.

Breakdown finally managed to kiss Knock Out on the lip plates, forcing it for a few astroseconds before he moved his face away. He chuckled as he reached over his mate, grabbed the large bowl of energon goodies, and started to walk away.

Knock Out wiped his faceplates and lip plates quickly, then slapped Breakdown on the aft, who simply giggled.

“You are such a pain.” Knock Out grumbled. “At least take the energon to the mechlings.”

“Why not call them down? They have legs?” The truck replied with a mouth full of energon goodies.

“Can you be civilized for once…?”

“Absolutely not. You joined this.” He gestured to himself, making sure his abdomen plates were jutting out, his mouth still full of energon. “An’ now you live with it!”

Knock Out rolled his optics, questioning why indeed did he join that… Right, because he was cute… And he felt bad for him…

“Fine, I’ll call them down…” The speedster walked to the bottom of the stairs before shouting. “Fracture! Wildbreak! Dead End! My sweet mechlings, come get your energon before your sire eats it!”

That elicited a flurry of berthroom doors opening and the three sparklings racing down the stairs and running to the energon room.

“Hey, Fracture.” Starscream smiled at his son.

“Hey, carrier one.” Fracture said quickly, grabbed his energon, and ran back off to his berthroom.

“Why is everyone in their rooms this orbital cycle?” Knock Out inquired of his eldest.

“I’m playing with my friends!” Wildbreak grabbed his energon and also fled back to his room.

“Right. Online friends. When I was your age, I set transport vehicles on fire instead of stayed locked in my room all orbital cycle…” Knock Out grunted, then paused. “No, you’re right. What you guys are doing is better….”

“I’ll set things on fire with you, carrier!” Dead End exclaimed.

“Awww!” Knock Out placed a servo over his chestplates. “You’re my new best friend. Where should be commit arson first?”

“THE SCHOOL!”

“Okay, back to your room.” Breakdown ordered the youngest as he handed him his energon. “I don’t need you getting your carrier thrown in prison…”

“What are you doing in your room?” Knock Out raised an optical ridge at Dead End.

“I’m watching my show!”

“Right, of course. The dramas of a 5 stellar cycle old are very suspenseful and intense. I can’t watch it. That’s why I have to watch the watered-down rated R stuff.”

Dead End broadly smiled as he snickered. He knew his carrier wasn’t as brave as he was when it came to TV.

“Don’t spoil anything!” Knock Out called after his youngest as he bravely marched away with his energon.

“And like that they are gone.” Breakdown grunted. “You’d forget they lived here with how much time they spent in their rooms…”

“I could teach them how to commit arson and get away with it.”

“This is why you and Starscream get along.” Breakdown grunted.

“For the record, I never committed arson until after becoming a Decepticon.” Starscream piped up.

“The best time is when you’re a teen and are underage drinking, and have the fear of angry creators on top of the fear of being arrested.” Knock Out smirked.

“Did you ever get arrested?”

“Several times. Why do you think I like being handcuffed? Reminds me of the good times.”

“Two reasons I don’t tie him in berth.” Breakdown grumbled as he raised two digits. “I like to feel him squirm and be unable to escape me,” He lowered a digit. “And last time I put manacles on him he said, ‘harder, officer, and I’ll get you an energon donut.’”

“Don’t tell him that!” Knock Out slapped Breakdown’s arm. “Primus, he doesn’t need to know everything we do or have done.”

“The more I learn about Knock Out the more shocking it is that you two mated…” Starscream grunted.

“He used to have piercings.” Breakdown said quickly.

“STOP!” Knock Out punched his mate in the codpiece.

“Oof! Gah, why...!?” Breakdown fell to his knees as he cupped his injured groin.

Knock Out rolled his optics, then turned to the counter and began to clean things up. “He doesn’t need to know everything. He already knows enough about my interface life he doesn’t need to know anything more.”

“Do you have pictures of him with these piercings?” Starscream asked as his wings perked.

“I do…” Breakdown moaned in so much pain.

“I think I need quality alone time with Breakdown.” Starscream smirked.

Knock Out glared at him. “No. Breakdown, don’t show him anything. Or else…”

“Or else what, my darling love?” Breakdown looked up at him, pain still in his vocalizer.

“Or else I’ll punch your spike again.”

“Maybe that’s my new thing.” He managed a small chuckle before groaning in pain.

Knock Out vented a sigh before crouching in front of his mate. “I’m sorry. But you gave me no choice.”

“And I’d do it again.” Breakdown smirked, still holding his mechhood.

Knock Out gave him such a disappointed look with a slight helm shake before standing back up. “Don’t stay on the floor. I need you to not be dying.”

“Yes, dear. I know this is the only way you show me love.” Breakdown slowly stood up.

Knock Out rolled his optics again. “Stop trying to convince everyone I abuse you. You’re the bully of the relationship.”

“Hey, Starscream, which is the bully? The one who constantly gives kisses, or the one who just punched me in the spike?”

“Oh, totally the one who committed arson as a teen.” Starscream nodded.

“Ha! Your friends have turned on you, too!” Breakdown triumphantly exclaimed as he pointed at his mate’s back.

Knock Out only rolled his optics as he continued to put away dishes.

“I expect apology interface.”

“Can it even work after taking a hit?” Knock Out inquired in such an uncaring manner.

“Oh, it can work whenever I see you lying on that berth. You one smoking hot carrier!” He slapped Knock Out on the aft.

“Ow! Breakdown!” Knock Out spun around and held up a fist. “I am about to make you recharge on the couch!”

“Stop threatening me. You upset the sparklings.”

“They aren’t here!”

“How could you say such a thing?! Our son is right there!” He pointed at Diesel who was lapping up his energon trying to ignore the idiocy of the people he was forced to live with.

Knock Out growled in frustration. “Why are you testing me? What do you want?”

“Your unconditional love.”

“I already give you that.”

“I demand more.”

“I’m not fragging you more.”

“I wasn’t suggesting it but now I do want that. I know you want it too. You want these big, fat hips clapping your aft into the next dimension!” He thrust his hips forward.

“Oh my gosh……….”

“Starscream agrees with me.”

“Yeah, totally.” Starscream smirked.

“You both are afts. I’m-“ Knock Out stopped when the door chime went off. “Oh, thank Primus…”

Starscream perked his wings. “I didn’t realize company was coming.”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you.” Knock Out shrugged as he walked towards the door.

Starscream watched the speedster, ignoring the truck behind him taking advantage to sneak in a slice of cake. Knock Out opened the door and held out his arms.

“Hey, Grit!”

Starscream’s wings flicked, his engine began to growl, and his optics narrowed.

“Hey, Knock Out!” Grit walked in and hugged his brother. “How is my little brother doing?”

“I’m well.” Knock Out let him go to close the door. “How is everything with you?”

“It’s good.” He looked up. “Hey, Breakdown! Have you been keeping my brother out of trouble?”

“He is the trouble.” Breakdown grunted as he was busy stuffing cake into his mouth.

Grit giggled. “That’s why you gotta keep beating his aft!”

“Stop…” Knock Out gave his brother an annoyed look, but he only laughed.

“And how are you, legs?” Grit smirked at Starscream.

The Seeker only flicked his wings and growled his engine louder.

Grit kept his smug smile as he shrugged. “Gonna keep holding a grudge, I see. Sucks to be you, sweet thighs.”

Starscream flicked his wings again, then stomped over to Knock Out. “Does he have to be here…?”

“He’s my brother, Starscream.” Knock Out gave him a hard look, but then lowered his vocalizer so only Starscream could hear. “I know he hurt you, but he’s still important to me.” He paused, seeing the pain in the Seeker’s optics. “Hey, Stars, you want to cuddle?”

Starscream nodded, his wings lowering now.

Knock Out took the Seeker’s servo and led him over to the couch. Grit ignored them as he went to the energon room to help himself to some of the cake Breakdown was getting into. Knock Out sat on the couch and Starscream quickly sat beside him. The Seeker wasted no time snuggling firmly against the speedster, wrapping his arms around him, and practically becoming one. His wings stayed low, and his engine softly purred, already feeling better.

“You’re so silly.” Knock Out pecked a kiss to Starscream’s cheekplates before grabbing the remote. “What should we watch?”

“I don’t care. Whatever you want.”

“Okay, let’s see.” He turned on the vidscreen and began to flick through the channels.

Starscream vented a sigh, hating the fact that Grit was currently in the house with him. He tried to snuggle closer to his best friend, but he physically couldn’t. He then pressed his faceplates against Knock Out’s, vented a sigh, then kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates. Knock Out raised a servo and cupped Starscream’s cheekplates, reassuring him that he was alright. Starscream fluttered his wings a little, then kissed Knock Out again. This time the doctor turned to him and nuzzled his faceplates against Starscream’s while smirking. Starscream smiled back as he nuzzled as well, his engine purring louder now. Knock Out pecked a kiss to his cheekplates, and the Seeker was quick to return the gesture. Starscream took Knock Out’s servo in his, wanting to hold that as well.

“The frag are you two doing?”

The Seeker and speedster looked up to see Grit standing there in front of them, looking a bit shocked, but also angry.

“We’re cuddling.” Knock Out replied like it was perfectly normal.

“Cuddling? Like that?” Grit raised an optical ridge. “You look like you’re about to frag.”

“Why would I frag my friend?” Knock Out narrowed his optics.

“You do nothing but frag your friends. Breakdown was your best friend.”

“He’s still my best friend, but that’s different. I have Breakdown and past mechfriends I’ve fragged. This is Starscream. He’s just a friend.”

“A ‘friend’ who lives with you and is getting all intimate there with the kissing and touching.” Grit crossed his arms.

“Starscream is a Seeker. You know they are very physical creatures.”

“Yeah, I know he kept trying to touch me like that when we were fragging.” Grit’s engine softly growled. “You are fragging him to get back at me, aren’t you?”

“What? No! I’m not fragging Starscream!”

“You are!” Grit pointed his claw at his brother as he took an aggressive step forward. “I know you, Knock Out. You are still pissed at me for fragging the stupid Seeker so now you’re fragging him to get back at me? Are you going to gang bang him with my friends, too? Are we doing Crusher all over again?!”

Knock Out swallowed. “Can you please not talk about Crusher…”

“Oh, stop it, you were a sparkling then and you’re still a sparkling about it, now! Sire calls me a whore when you’re the whore! And you’re joined! Or are you having threesomes since you want to have so many spikes in you at once again?”

Knock Out bit his lower lip plate, not wanting to argue. Starscream flicked his wings, his engine growling, glaring murderously at Grit, but he need not defend the doctor. Like a furious beast of death, Breakdown stomped over, his engine growling loudly. He looked like he was about to tear Grit apart for yelling at his mate, everything about his body tense, ready to strike, and filled with unadulterated fury.

“Breakdown, stop.” Knock Out said it so softly as he raised a servo, but despite his quiet vocalizer the furious monster immediately stopped. Breakdown stood there, so close to Grit, ready to defend his mate.

Grit looked back at Breakdown with such an unimpressed expression, as if he thought lesser of Breakdown for obeying his brother. “Good, dog.” He grunted before turning back to Knock Out. “Guess I’m a little surprised that he still simps for you despite you being unfaithful.”

“I’m not fragging anyone but my mate!” Knock Out cried out. “Why are you being mean?!”

“I’m not being mean! You’ve always been a slut, Knock Out! But to now frag a guy you were angry with?! A guy who threatened you!?”

“You fragged him! You fragged him when you knew he was hurting me and threatened me, a-and was stressing me out! You fragged him and didn’t care! And kept fragging him when I told you to stop!”

“I’m not mated! You’re the problem, Knock Out! You’ve always been the problem! From getting arrested constantly as a teenager, to the porn, to the circuit booster use… And now this! Why did you even get involved with him?! Ever since you took Fracture there’s just been more slag I and the rest of the family have to deal with from you! Carrier and sire haven’t been able to move back to Velocitron because of you! You’re always putting your needs above everyone else!”

“They won’t move back because they refuse to give me space, not because of me! Sire is feeding you slag as usual.”

“Wait until he hears about this.”

“I’m not fragging Starscream! You’re being stupid and paranoid.”

“Stupid and paranoid? Yeah, was I ‘stupid and paranoid’ when I protected you from Ripcoil? Or saved your aft from sire a million times when you had snuck out at night to underage drink with your friends? Or helped you hide the circuit boosters so you wouldn’t have been arrested and kicked out of medical school? Oh, here’s a story you haven’t heard before, Starscream! Knock Out is such an idiot that he took so many circuit boosters while in med school he disappeared for FOUR ORBITAL CYCLES and was found across the city too fragged out of it to even remember who he was! And I had to help him make up an excuse to keep him from being expelled! I had to pay people off to make them help keep the lie going so when sire investigated we had ‘witnesses’ who testified the story I told them too. If I wasn’t around this moron would have not only been kicked out of med school but shunned by the family! And he wouldn’t have met Breakdown! So, you’re welcome for being the reason you found that stupid truck!”

Breakdown was barely staying in place, not because of what was said about him, but because he saw coolant pooling in his mate’s optics.

“Please… Don’t Grit.” Knock Out said it so quietly.

“Don’t what? Be honest with you?! I’ve always been there for you! From keeping you out of prison! From the circuit booster slag in med school! From slag during the war! From your stupid miscarriage!”

Grit immediately stopped when that final sentence left his mouth, realizing he went too far, his optics widening. Knock Out’s optics widened too, his spark pulsating faster, the coolant suddenly pouring out as he began to tremble.

Breakdown lost it.

“Knock Out, I’m sorry.” Grit said quickly, his vocalizer entirely different now, a normal, worried vocalizer. “I-I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry! I-“

But he couldn’t get another word out. Breakdown had grabbed him by the throat, tightly clenched his digits, and dragged the speedster away as if he was a bag of garbage. Grit grasped at the servo choking him, desperately trying to get away, positive Breakdown was about to murder him. The truck palmed open the door, grabbed Grit’s thigh with his free servo while still holding his neck with the other, and easily lifted him up before throwing him out the door. Grit hit the ground hard and rolled a ways, his intakes gasping for cooler air.

Breakdown slapped the door closed and locked it, then looked out the window to make sure Grit was leaving. He then walked back to Knock Out, his optics still narrowed and looking like he was going to murder several people.

“Knock Out? Hey, it’s okay.” Starscream cooed the speedster, trying to calm him down best he could.

Knock Out couldn’t calm down. His spark was pulsating faster, his intakes quickening, he was crying harder, and beginning to tremble all over. He kept a servo over his chestplates, his spark pulsating so fast it was beginning to hurt. His intakes were so fast and hard now he couldn’t even speak, succumbing fully to his panic attack.

“I don’t know what to do.” Starscream said quickly as Breakdown neared. “Should I get energon?”

Breakdown pushed the Seeker aside without uttering a single word, or even acknowledging him. He picked up his mate bridal style and walked away. Starscream lowered his wings as he watched Breakdown take Knock Out up the stairs, call for Diesel to follow them, and heard the door to their room close. He sat there, wringing his servos, not sure what to do. He wanted to be with Knock Out, but Breakdown was in some primal rage and might murder him. But… He really wanted to make sure Knock Out was okay…

He vented a sigh, stood up, and swallowed. He would just have to risk his life. Knock Out was his friend and he needed all the support he could get. And if Breakdown murdered him… Well, there are worse ways to die.

The Seeker ascended the staircase and walked to the master berthroom. The loud sounds of videogames came from the closed doors of the mechlings’ rooms. No wonder they didn’t hear the shouting…

He hesitated, then palmed open the door, his wings staying low. Knock Out was sitting on the berth in the center, lying back on pillows stacked against the headboard. He was hugging Diesel, the poor cyberdog trying to make Knock Out happy by licking his faceplates, wagging his tail, and even making excited whines, but Knock Out couldn’t stop crying. Breakdown was beside him, saying something softly to him when he noticed the Seeker.

“I-I just want to help.” Starscream blurted quickly as he raised his servos peacefully. He slowly approached, got onto the berth on the opposite side of Knock Out, and gently curled against his friend.

“Hey, Knock Out. I’m here.” The Seeker hugged him best he could with the dog there. “I got you.”

Knock Out didn’t look at him, his intakes were still too fast and he was having trouble calming down. Breakdown got off the berth and walked towards the door.

“It’s time for the big guns.” He grunted.

The truck walked to one of the other berthroom’s doors and palmed it open.

“You come into my space?!” Dead End looked up at his sire as he lay on his berth watching his vidscreen. “The audacity of it all!”

“You need to see carrier.” Breakdown replied.

“Time is Shanix. Take my time and I take your Shanix.” He then raised his servo for said Shanix.

Breakdown didn’t even know what movie his sparkling was quoting this orbital cycle. “Carrier is having a panic attack. He needs you.”

Dead End’s faceplates instantly became serious. He leaped off his berth and ran to the master berthroom, knowing exactly what his mission was. He climbed onto the berth, crawled over Starscream, and got right onto Knock Out’s lap.

“Carrier! I love you!” He exclaimed as he hugged his carrier, squeezing Diesel who was between them, still on Knock Out’s lap.

Knock Out hugged his youngest, holding both him and Diesel. His intakes finally began to slow down, and his spark started to pulsate less. Knock Out held his son tightly, Diesel slipping out so he wouldn’t be crushed. The doctor kissed Dead End on the cheekplates, and concentrated on his sparkling.

Starscream vented a sigh. Of course the sparkling who hated him was the only one who could instantly stop Knock Out’s panic attacks. He had more reasons to be at war with this 5 stellar cycle old…

“You need to stop crying.” Dead End told his carrier in a firm, but gentle vocalizer.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Someone said something very hurtful to me and it just… really hurts.” Knock Out swallowed, taking the cloth Breakdown offered him and used it to wipe at his optics.

“Who said a hurtful thing? I’ll beat them up!” Dead End’s optics narrowed, serious about it.

“I just need you to stay with me.”

“I will.” Dead End hugged his carrier again.

“Do you want energon?” Breakdown asked his mate, his vocalizer back to its soft, loving self.

“I’m fine… I-it was just a panic attack… I’m okay…”

“I won’t let him near you again.” Breakdown’s deadly vocalizer returned.

“H-he was just angry… People say slag all the time when angry…”

“He’s always being a slagger. I am done with him hurting you.”

“We’re brothers… We argue… I-it’s normal.”

“Knock Out, I’m about to murder him.”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now…” Knock Out didn’t look at his mate as he hugged Dead End tighter.

“Has he made you cry before?” Starscream perked his wings.

“He’s made Knock Out cry a lot over the vorns…” Breakdown grunted.

“I thought you said he was a good brother?” Starscream gave the speedster an annoyed look.

“He is! H-he has helped me a lot… A-and he does care about me…” Knock Out swallowed.

“Sometimes jerks can do good deeds…” Breakdown grumbled.

“Please, stop…”

Starscream didn’t want to upset Knock Out further so simply cuddled closer to him, purring his engine softly. Knock Out didn’t cuddle back, instead focusing on Dead End who was determined to hug his carrier as tightly as he could. Breakdown sat beside Knock Out, then put his face in his mate’s.

“Hey, Knock Out.” He said softly before a small smile crept on his faceplates. “What did the doctor say to the rocket ship?”

“Oh gosh….” Knock Out almost whispered, steeling himself for the pun.

“Time to get your booster shot.” Breakdown’s smile grew, but Knock Out only rolled his optics, clearly having heard this one too many times. “Hey, Knock Out. Did you hear about the guy who lost his whole left side?” He paused, but Knock Out didn’t say anything. “He’s all right now!”

“Why do you torment me…?” Knock Out still didn’t look at him.

“Knock Out, why is a doctor always calm?” He poked his mate in the arm. “Because they have a lot of patients!”

Knock Out faintly smiled at that one, but still didn’t look up.

“How did the doctor cure the invisible mech?” Pause. “He took him to the ICU!” Another pause. “A patient says, ‘doctor, doctor, I’m addicted to brake fluid!’ And the doctor said, ‘Nonsense, you can brake anytime!’”

That earned a soft snort.

“Want to hear a joke about construction?” He poked his mate. “I’m still working on it.”

“If you’re going to torture me at least use new jokes.” Knock Out finally looked up at his Conjunx.

“What do racers eat before a race?” Pause. “Nothing, they fast.” He kissed his mate. “How do you tell if a doctor is a fake?”

“How?” Knock Out asked softly.

“They have good handwriting.”

Knock Out rolled his optics.

“Did you hear about the obstetrician who became a standup comedian?”

“… No…”

“Apparently, it’s all about the delivery for some people.”

Knock Out’s smile grew, but not quite the reaction Breakdown wanted.

“I had a nightmare last night that someone hit me with their muffler. I onlined exhausted.”

Knock Out finally giggled, his smile larger now. Breakdown grinned, then kissed his mate on the lip plates.

“You’re so beautiful.” He pressed his brow against Knock Out’s. “Want me to keep going?”

“Please, no, have mercy on me. You love me.”

“I love making you laugh.” He looked at Starscream. “Starscream wants to hear more!”

“I really don’t…” Starscream grunted.

“Then everyone is in favor! Even Dead End.”

“No…” Dead End shook his helm.

Breakdown ignored their pleas and continued with his terrible jokes.

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

“Intake deeply.” Knock Out ordered.

Starscream did so, his wings perked as he sat on the couch beside the doctor.

“Let it out slowly.”

The Seeker slowly exhaled, watching as the speedster monitored his spark. Knock Out looked at the scanner he held, then looked up at the Seeker.

“Your spark is doing well. The medicine is working. So long as you continue doing as I say you will continue to live.”

“I intend to do that.”

“Good.” Knock Out put away his scanner, then turned back to the Seeker. “It still isn’t cured. Remember that.”

“Yes… I’ll have difficulty conceiving as well…. And won’t be able to fly like I used to… No more high altitude flights for me…”

“Or racing.” Knock Out took the Seeker’s servo. “But you’re still here, you’re doing well, and you’re no longer plotting my demise.”

Starscream lowered his wings, not looking at his friend, upset about their rough past. Knock Out leaned forward and pecked a kiss to his cheekplates.

“You’re fine. It’s in the past now.” He paused. “So… Breakdown and I are going on a date tomorrow.”

Starscream looked up at him. “Yeah?”

Knock Out smirked as he nodded. “Yeah, I need some time alone with the big guy. It’s been far too long since we had a night to ourselves. Breakdown has it all planned. He won’t tell me it, but… I know it’s going to be amazing.”

“I hope you have fun.”

“I know I will.” Knock Out’s smile faded. “But… Due to our agreement with the Prime… I can’t leave you alone with the mechlings. Someone is coming over to sparklingsit them. You do not need to interact with this person, you can stay in your room. I just want you to be aware that he will be here.”

“Who is it? One of your friends?”

Knock Out was silent a moment, not looking at the Seeker. “It’s Grit.”

Starscream’s wings instantly flared as his optics narrowed. “You’re letting that jerk back after what he said to you?!”

“That ‘jerk’ is my brother.”

“He made you cry!”

“And he’s going to be sparklingsitting my creations, and you will behave yourself.” Knock Out said it sternly as he glared at the Seeker.

“Why can’t you get someone else?”

“I have no one else. I don’t trust most people, especially not with my sons.”

“Fracture is my son and I don’t trust Grit to be around him.”

“You lost custody of Fracture for a reason, Starscream. Your judgement in mechs lacks greatly.”

“Don’t you dare bring what happened with Megatron into this.” Starscream flicked his wings.

“I will because it’s the entire reason you’re not legally allowed to be left alone with your own son. Fracture is in my custody. I treat him as my own creation. And he will be watched by my brother, and you will keep your mouth shut.” He said it in such a firm, harsh manner, his processor clearly was not going to be changed.

Starscream flicked his wings again as he growled his engine. “I get no say? I thought we were friends again?”

“We are friends, Starscream. But you do not get a say when it comes to certain topics, such as how I raise the sparklings under my care. Fracture likes Grit. Grit is a good uncle. If you misbehave I will tell Optimus. Got it?”

Starscream swallowed, lowering his wings. He felt hurt, but Knock Out never liked being told what to do. Of course he would never listen to anyone about how to raise his mechlings, or the mechling he took.

Knock Out was silent a moment before speaking. “Starscream, I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m doing my best for Fracture. He is safe around Grit. Grit would never harm a sparkling. I know Grit has been an aft to you, but he would never be one to Fracture. Let Fracture have an uncle. When he’s an adult he can learn about the infighting.” He pecked another kiss to the Seeker’s cheekplates. “I’ll bring you something. Wherever Breakdown is taking me there’s going to be a lot of desserts. I’ll bring back some just for you. Okay?”

Starscream slowly nodded, wishing he hadn’t done so many things so he wouldn’t be in this position. He should be the one making decisions who Fracture could be around, not Knock Out. He didn’t want his son around that aft.

“Well, now since you’re upset with me, I’ll give you some space.” Knock Out released the Seeker’s servo and stood. “I need to go pick up Wildbreak from his friend’s house. Breakdown should be home soon with Fracture. We’ll speak more later.” He paused. “I love you.”

Starscream took a bit before he quietly muttered back. “I love you, too…”

Knock Out patted the Seeker’s shoulder, then walked over to where Dead End was playing with toys. He took his youngest’s servo and led him out the door. Once the Seeker was alone did he finally allow the coolant tears to shed.

“Hey, big guy!” Grit smiled, holding his arms out as if he would receive love from the one he was addressing.

“You apologize to my mate first or else I’m throwing you out a window.” Breakdown snapped in the coldest, most stern vocalizer.

“Yes, sir.” Grit said quickly, hesitated, then entered the house. He walked straight over to Knock Out who was at the dining room table helping Wildbreak with his homework. Grit stopped beside his brother and got down on one knee. “Knock Out, I’m really sorry for what I said. Especially about the… You know what. I was angry and said things I didn’t actually mean. I love you. You’re my favorite little brother and I’d do anything to protect you. Can I hug you?”

Knock Out vented a sigh, then held out his arms. Grit smirked, quickly standing up and hugging his brother.

“I love you, too.” Knock Out said softly. “Please, behave while I’m gone.”

“I will.” He released his brother and turned to Wildbreak. “Hey, little mech! What are you doing?”

“Science homework.” Wildbreak grunted.

“Heesh, sounds boring. Need help?”

“No, carrier helped me.”

“Good! Because he’s better with that slag than I am.” Grit looked across the living room and noticed Starscream on the couch with Fracture, the Seeker helping his own son with his homework. He turned back to Knock Out. “Sure everything will be alright?” He asked quietly.

“I’ve told him to behave. Should he act up just call me.” Knock Out stood up and tucked the chair back into place. “They will need their dinner. Please, give Dead End a bath. He played in puddles today… Wildbreak and Fracture are almost done with their homework and then they can do whatever they want. Diesel has been taken care of. I gave him dinner and he hasn’t touched it yet so just leave it. He’ll get to it eventually. Make sure everyone goes to recharge on time.”

“Okay, so the usual slag. Got it! Well, you have a wonderful night, have fun, stay out of trouble, and I’ll see you later!”

“Thanks, Grit. You’re a good brother.” Knock Out gave him another hug. “Sweeties, carrier is leaving with sire, now! Listen to your uncle, go to recharge on time, and I’ll be back very late tonight.”

“I don’t want you to go!” Dead End stomped his ped down.

“I’ll be back later, my love.” Knock Out crouched to hug his youngest. “Mmm! You know I can only leave because you’re here to keep the peace, right?”

Dead End giggled. “Yeah.”

“Make sure everyone behaves and report to me if they don’t.” He kissed Dead End on the cheekplates. “I will check on you when I get home even if you’re already recharging. Okay?” He cupped his son’s faceplates.

“Okay, carrier! Love you!”

Knock Out smiled. “Love you, more, my sweet mechling.” He kissed him on the brow, then stood up. He lifted Wildbreak’s chin and kissed him on the cheekplates. “You be good. Love you.”

“Love you, carrier!” Wildbreak smiled up at him.

Knock Out patted his helm, then walked over to Fracture and Starscream. “Love you, sweetie.” He cupped Fracture’s faceplates and kissed him on the brow. “Be good, don’t start any fights, and call me should anything bad happen. Got it?”

“Yup!” Fracture nodded. “Everything will be fine. Go on and do your date thing.”

“I will. You’re so handsome. You are growing up to be a sparkbreaker.”

“He gets it from me.” Starscream smirked, so proud that he made that.

“Mhmm.” Knock Out nuzzled Fracture’s faceplates with his before releasing him. He turned to Starscream. “I better not hear that you caused trouble. Understood?”

“I am perfectly behaved. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Mhmm.” Knock Out started to turn to leave when Starscream spoke up.

“Do I not get a farewell kiss?”

Knock Out turned back to him and raised an optical ridge. Then he leaned over and pecked a kiss to Starscream’s cheekplates, eliciting a loud engine purr from the Seeker.

“Behave.” Knock Out grunted before walking over to Breakdown who was by the door.

“Farewell, rugrats!” Breakdown waved to the sparklings. “We are leaving you and never returning! Enjoy your new life with Grit! You’ll soon learn to appreciate everything you had with me.”

“We won’t miss your terrible jokes!” Fracture shouted.

“You will miss those the most!”

“No, we won’t.” Wildbreak shook his helm.

“Yeah! We won’t miss them!” Dead End exclaimed; his fists balled at his sides.

“And this is why I am dumping you all with Grit! No appreciation! It’s not easy being the only funny person in this house!” Breakdown said it with such fervor.

“You’re funny alright… Funny to look at.” Fracture giggled, causing the other two to giggle.

“I’m damn handsome is what I am, and you wish you got my looks instead of taking after your carrier. Look at you all… Got the faces only a carrier could love…”

“CARRIER DOES LOVE US!” Dead End screamed.

Knock Out rolled his optics. “Sweetie, you can annoy them later. Let’s go.”

“Wait, one more.” Breakdown turned back to the mechlings. “You wanna know my biggest joke?”

“…What?” Fracture grunted.

“You three are my biggest joke.”

Knock Out punched his mate’s arm, who only laughed. “Stop it.”

“Booooo!” Wildbreak gave a thumbs down.

“I’m not a joke, you are!” Dead End screamed.

“Lame!” Fracture exclaimed.

“Tough crowd.” Breakdown grunted as he stepped out of the house.

Knock Out vented a sigh. “We’ll see you guys later… If he doesn’t kill me with his bad puns….” He blew kisses to the mechlings before closing the door behind him.

“And they are gone!” Grit proclaimed. “Finish homework, you two, and then we can party!”

“YEAAHHHHH!!” Dead End threw his fists into the air.

Starscream flared his wings, not looking at the speedster as he resumed working on Fracture’s homework. He could do this… Just avoid the idiot grounder…

“So, do you have the answer?” Fracture asked his carrier.

“Yes, here’s the solution.” Starscream showed his son the work he had done.

The Seeker glanced back, watching as Grit over saw Wildbreak finishing his homework. Wildbreak soon finished his homework and put away his datapads. Fracture was next, and also put his homework back into his bag for school. Starscream no longer had something to hide behind.

“Alright, homework is done! What are we doing?” Grit smiled at the mechlings as they gathered around him.

“Dart guns!” Wildbreak proclaimed.

“Yeah!” Dead End seconded excitedly.

“And what’s your vote, Fracture?” Grit inquired.

“I’m fine with darts.” Fracture nodded.

“Okay, teams!” Grit pointed at the older two. “You two against me and Dead End.”

“Carrier, do you want to play?” Fracture called over.

Starscream vented a sigh. “I’ll sit this one out…”

Grit shrugged. “Okay, Wildbreak and Fracture, how about we do capture the flag. Dead End and I will start with the flag. If you can get it and manage to make it to… The energon room, you win. Back yard and downstairs only. No going upstairs and shooting. I don’t need Knock Out mad at me that we broke something in his room. And no running outside the fence or going through the front door. Got it?”

“Yup!” A chorus of vocalizers excited shouted.

“Good! Go get the dart guns!”

Starscream stayed on the couch as the chaos ensued, Diesel sitting beside him. Grit was merciless as he shot Wildbreak and Fracture many times with darts. And when they were down Dead End would run over and shoot them repeatedly at close range in the aft. It was the worst war crimes Starscream had seen in a long time.

It got worse when eventually the dart guns became waterguns, and soon everyone was slipping and sliding as they got soaked.

After nearly 2 joors of their war, Grit finally had the mechlings exhausted and sitting on the couch.

“Fracture, you want goodies or cake?” Grit asked from the energon room where he was preparing their dinner.

“Cake!” Fracture called over, smiling, so happy to have his uncle over.

“Wildbreak?”

“I want goodies!”

“Dead End?”

“BOTH!”

“Why not!” Grit giggled. “Just don’t tell your carrier!”

Grit eventually walked over with trays and handed them to the mechlings, allowing them to eat their energon as they watched TV. Starscream perked his wings, surprised by how much care Grit had taken in preparing their individual meals, even making sure the presentation was perfect. The goodies were arranged around the main energon to be decorative, the cake was so carefully cut, and even the energon had been arranged to be in a rainbow pattern.

Not something the Seeker would ever expect from Grit. He thought their meals would just be dumped on the plates and carelessly thrown together. Like a feeding trough.

He even brought over trays that had legs so they rested over the mechlings’ laps. He clearly had done this all before.

Grit also knew exactly which movie to put on to keep them entertained and happy as they ate their dinner. They were enthralled, never looking away, and laughing a lot.

While they were distracted, he cleaned up the house of darts and water, put away the water and dart guns, and fixed furniture. It soon looked like nothing had transpired in the house.

He had his energon sitting on the couch next to Dead End, the three mechlings and Diesel all that separated him from Starscream. The Seeker kept glaring over at him, not trusting him at all.

“Okay, take the trays to the energon room and put dishes on the counter.” Grit ordered once the movie was one.

The mechlings did so, and then Grit took them upstairs to help them get ready for berth. Starscream stayed on the couch, listening to the sounds of Grit giving Dead End a bath, and the older mechlings playing in their rooms. Soon, berthroom doors were closed, fans turned on, and it was silent upstairs. Grit walked back down the stairs, petted Diesel who was making his way up the stairs to be with Fracture, as he always recharged with one of the mechlings, and walked over to the couch. The speedster sat down, cautiously eying the Seeker who didn’t look at him. He smirked as he leaned back.

“Whatcha watching?”

Starscream only flicked his wings, glaring at the TV now. Grit crossed his arms.

“So… Why are you fragging my brother?” Grit blurted out almost as if he was talking about the weather.

Starscream flicked his wings again, engine softly growling. “I am not fragging Knock Out.” He growled.

“Oh?” Grit cocked his helm some. “Then why were you two so touchy and kissing each other?”

“I’m a Seeker. We are like that with those we care about, whether they be friends or family. It doesn’t mean we are interfacing.”

“Rrrrrright. Is that why you were all touchy with me when you were fragging me? Looks like you’re doing the same thing to my sparkling brother as you did to me.” He paused. “You got a fetish for speedsters? Is Breakdown in on it or does he just watch?”

Starscream glared at him. “Do you always speak so disrespectfully about your brother?”

“Not being disrespectful. I just want to know what you do to him. Because if you’re hurting him…”

“You’re worried about me hurting him? After what you said to him?”

“Oh, like you have been any better. You have threatened him and mocked his miscarriage so many times, and meant it.”

“I never meant it. I was mad at him and said stupid slag. I apologized to him about it all.”

“Uh huh… Sure. At least I was there for him when he had the miscarriage.”

“I really don’t care what you have done for Knock Out. You’re a bully and manipulative. You hurt him and then fake apologize to make him think he’s safe around you. It’s sickening.”

“Says the creep who sucked Megatron’s spike during the entire war despite how he beat you for fun.”

“You have no idea what happened between me and Megatron.” Starscream snarled, his wings flicking.

“I know you took your one stellar cycle old son to be present while you fragged Megatron and he beat that little sparkling. And now my sparkling brother has custody of your offspring.” He paused. “Hurts, doesn’t it? That someone who used to have to take orders from you now has full control of your son. And there’s not a slagging thing you can do about it.”

Starscream growled his engine. “I may have lost custody of Fracture, but at least I commanded an army and was Megatron’s right servo, while you were a grunt no one has ever heard about.”

“You were Megatron’s frag toy and a joke of a leader.”

“At least I did lead.”

“Yeah, led yourself to being homeless, having your sparkling taken away, and so desperate you frag a mated mech.”

“I am not fragging your brother!”

“You frag everyone. You’re a slut.”

“You frag everyone!”

“I hookup, I don’t prostrate myself to just anyone who walks by. You were gang banged and put in the hospital because you’re such a slut.”

Starscream clenched his fists at his side. “You have no idea what happened to me.”

“I know enough. You’re a slut and a Seeker. Seekers are just… Like you.”

“You sound like your creators.”

“They aren’t wrong about everything.”

“They’re wrong about me.”

“Are you fragging my brother in hopes of trying to get custody back that way? Because that’s not how it works… You’re a bad creator.” He dryly chuckled. “You’re as bad at being a creator as you are at everything else in your life! Bad at leading, bad at living independently, bad at not being a whore… Not even good at interface!”

Starscream glared at him. “What the frag? I am good at interface!”

“You just lie there like a corpse!”

“I do not!”

“Oh, you do. If it wasn’t for your screaming it would feel like an actual corpse…” Grit grunted.

“You’re not good at interface.” Starscream flicked his wings.

Grit’s smile grew. “You loved how I fragged you. What did you keep saying? Right, ‘you can do anything to my body.’” He said it in a bad impersonation of Starscream’s vocalizer. “Or the, ‘don’t ever stop! You are amazing!’ And then how you always threw yourself at me, begging for me to keep fragging you, or beating your aft, or playing with your valve…” He paused. “Do you miss the taste of my spike?”

Starscream snarled at him, flicking his wings harder, banging them against the couch. “Shut up.” He growled through gritted denta.

“You miss me fragging you, but are too arrogant to just ask me to get back in you. So, you are now fragging my brother in hopes of the same experience. Is that it? You could just ask, Starscream. We can do it on the couch right now. The question is, do you want me in your valve or port?” He chuckled.

Starscream turned away, his engine still growling.

Grit stood up and approached him. He leaned over, getting his face so close to the jet’s. “I won’t tell Knock Out. The mechlings are recharging and won’t hear anything.” He grabbed Starscream’s chin and made him look up at him. “You didn’t refuel. How about you eat my spike, and then I will frag you senseless and remind you why you couldn’t keep your servos off me.”

Starscream stood up and pushed Grit away, his wings flaring. “Do not touch me.” He snarled before stomping away.

But as he was walking away Grit slapped his aft hard. The Seeker stopped, his fists slowly unclenching. Before Grit could react, the Seeker spun around and swung his claws slapping them across Grit’s faceplates, leaving several deep cuts.

“Ack!” Grit stumbled back, a servo touching his cheekplates. He looked at his claws, seeing them covered in energon. “You miserable slut! Are you fragging insane!?”

“I’m not a slut!” Starscream lunged at him, blinded by his unadulterated hatred of this grounder.

Grit’s optics widened just before he leaped to the side, barely avoiding the Seeker. But Starscream stayed on him and quickly tackled him. Grit punched back as the flier clawed his faceplates and chestplates, furiously shrieking as he did so. Grit managed to get a solid punch on Starscream’s face, allowing him to get out from under the Seeker and run. Starscream chased after him, but Grit got to the dining table, grabbed a chair, and smashed it across the Seeker’s face. Starscream fell to the ground, energon leaking from his shoulder and helm where the chair had struck him.

“Stay down!” Grit roared, holding a broken chair leg at the Seeker.

But Starscream was only angrier now. He got to his peds, almost falling back as his helm was a little dizzy now. He looked at the decorative vase on the table filled with crystal flowers and grabbed it.

“Don’t you dare. That’s from our grandcarrier!” Grit shouted.

But Starscream didn’t care. He threw the vase at the speedster, who tried catching it to save it, only for it to hit his face and shatter on the floor.

“YOU BASTARD!”

Starscream lunged again and grabbed the speedster by his arm and shoulder, then shoved him into a window so hard it shattered. Grit cried out, grabbed a large shard of glass, and swung his arm back, stabbing the shard into a cable on Starscream’s abdomen. The Seeker cried out, loosening his grip enough for Grit to elbow Starscream in the faceplates, and then get out of his hold. He ran to the energon room knowing where Breakdown kept one of his guns. Starscream knew exactly what he was doing and chased after him. Grit opened the cabinet and reached up for the gun at the top shelf, but Starscream grabbed him, yanked him back, and slammed his helm against the counter edge so hard it dented his helm. Grit cried out, energon now oozing from his own helm. Starscream was back on him, his servos around Grit’s neck, and claws tearing into his neck cables. Grit grasped his wrists, trying to pry his servos off as his legs kicked up at the Seeker. Starscream concentrated, needing his claws to penetrate as deeply as possible so that he could tear off Grit’s helm.

Grit’s intakes were cut off, he kept looking up at the gun so close to him, needing to just get up and grab it. He pulled with everything he had to get those claws off of his neck, but the Seeker was using his entire body weight to stay in place. Grit looked at those red optics, filled with so much hate and fury.

Starscream flicked his wings, snarling at his victim, looking forward to seeing those optics go offline permanently. Grit slapped his face, and the Seeker pulled his helm back, his optics then catching the drawings of the mechlings’ on the cabinets. He saw the drawings Fracture had made of all of them, smiling, and being a family.

His optics widened, realizing what he was doing. He would lose Fracture. If he killed Grit he would lose Fracture, his entire life would be over. He couldn’t lose his son when he had finally gotten him back.

The Seeker immediately released Grit, got up, and ran for his room. He slammed and locked the door, trembling, his wings drooping. His spark was pulsating so fast. He had attacked someone. He was going to be in trouble! He could lose his sparkling!

He slid to the floor, a servo over his spark that was hurting now, and coolant began to leak from his optics. He had fragged up big time. He was going to lose his son!

Grit got up once the Seeker had released him, grabbed the gun, and kept it aimed at the now closed door. His spark was pulsating, not knowing if the deranged Seeker would come out and finish him or what. He gritted his denta at the pain in his body when he started to walk, never lowering the gun. He positioned himself on the couch, using it as a barrier between him and that door, ready should the beast come out and try anything.

It was almost a joor later before the front door opened.

Breakdown walked in carrying Knock Out bridal style, the two passionately kissing, servos all over each other, their lust obvious. Breakdown went straight for the stairs, taking his mate to their room for whatever intense interface they had planned.

“Can I see my doctor brother for a moment?”

Breakdown paused, looking down, his optics widening. “What happened?!”

Knock Out quickly looked down as well. “Oh my gosh! Grit!” He shoved at Breakdown until he was placed on the floor. He ran around the couch and quickly started to check over his brother. “What happened?!”

“Starscream attacked me.” Grit set down the gun. “He almost killed me. I don’t know why he stopped, but he locked himself in his room. Ah!”

“I got you.” Knock Out said quickly as he pulled shards of glass out of his brother’s frame. “How long have you been like this?”

“Almost a joor.”

Knock Out unsubspaced some medical tools, cleaning solution, and cloths. He began to clean the wounds, then grabbed the welder.

Breakdown reached over, grabbed the gun, and approached the door to Starscream’s room. He knocked.

“Starscream, open the door.” He barked, his vocalizer firm.

There was nothing for a few astroseconds, then the door slowly opened. Starscream stood there, wings low, covered in his dry energon, coolant staining his cheekplates. He swallowed, noticing Breakdown holding the gun.

“March out.” Breakdown snapped.

Starscream did so, following the gestures of the truck to go to the couch and sit down. Knock Out continued working on his brother, welding the cuts, and cleaning them. He finally looked over at the Seeker.

“What the frag is wrong with you!? Why did you attack my brother?!” He shouted angrily; optics narrowed.

Starscream flinched. “I’m sorry…” He said softly.

“That’s all you have to say?!”

Starscream swallowed, his servos wringing.

Knock Out turned back to Grit, seeing to his head injury now. He worked in silence until he had his brother patched up, then gave him a cube of energon. He finally sat by the Seeker and began to repair his wounds.

Starscream couldn’t even look at his friend, feeling so ashamed and scared. He winced, Knock Out not being gentle with his care at all.

Knock Out finished repairing the damage on Starscream’s body before grabbing the Seeker’s chin and making him look at him. His optics were filled with so much fury, annoyance, and shame. Starscream looked away.

“Why did you attack him?” Knock Out growled, working on the injury to Starscream’s helm.

Starscream didn’t answer immediately. “He… Called me a slut… A-and tried to get me to interface him… I’m sorry.”

Knock Out then turned to Grit. “Did you?”

“Yeah, I did.” Grit grunted. “But that’s still not an excuse for attacking me!”

“I didn’t say it was. I was confirming if he was speaking the truth.” The doctor turned back to Starscream. “Did you almost kill him?”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate.

“You know I have to report this to Prime, right?”

Starscream’s spark felt like it had been punched. “Please, Knock Out…”

“Starscream, you attacked my brother all because he was his usual stupid self.”

“Hey…..” Grit gave his brother a look.

“I’m sorry.” Starscream said quickly. “I-I made a mistake! I won’t do it again! Please, I can’t lose Fracture!”

“Starscream…” Knock Out vented a sigh. “I’m not kicking you out. But I have to report this to him. You are on probation and if I don’t tell him the truth I will get in trouble. And if I get in trouble I risk losing my job. The job keeping Fracture fueled and safe. You understand?”

Starscream felt coolant pooling in his optics, but he understood. Grit would snitch regardless. It probably was better coming from Knock Out than that miserable aft.

“Grit, how do you feel?”

“Better now.”

“Can you drive home?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine…” Grit stood up. “I’ll leave you with the psychotic Seeker…”

“Be safe.” Knock Out watched his brother head for the door.

Grit stopped and looked back. “You have to stop fragging him and kick him out. That Seeker has been trouble since orbital cycle one.”

And with that, Grit walked out the door.

Knock Out rolled his optics and finished up with Starscream. “Breakdown.”

“Yes, sweetie?” Breakdown said still holding the gun.

“Lock Starscream in his room. We will deal with him in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.” Breakdown then grabbed Starscream by the arm and forced him to stand. He led Starscream back to him room and pushed him in. “Recharge, Starscream.”

Starscream watched as the door was closed and listened to it being locked from the other side. His wings low, his fuel tank feeling twisted, and coolant in his optics, he sat on his berth. He didn’t know what to think. Grit deserved it, of course, but now he was at risk of losing his mechling! What if Knock Out did kick him out!? What if Prime took away everything?!

The Seeker could only cry, scared of what tomorrow would bring.

Breakdown turned to his mate once the door was locked. “So… We still having interface?”

Knock Out rolled his optics.

Starscream onlined the next orbital cycle and remained in his berth. He listened as the mechlings got up and got ready for school, then the sounds of Breakdown taking them out. It was silent, save for the lapping of Diesel eating his energon, then his claws loudly clipping as he walked to the couch and hopped on it. A few breems passed before he heard Knock Out come down the stairs.

The Seeker swallowed, not wanting Knock Out to come over. He couldn’t face his friend.

The doctor went into the energon room and refueled. Starscream could hear that, then Knock Out talking to Diesel about the house needing to be cleaned. Diesel said something back to him, but Starscream didn’t understand cyberdog.

Then, the pedfalls of the speedster approached the door. Starscream tensed. The door was unlocked and Knock Out opened it.

“Morning, Starscream.” He said softly, entering the room.

Starscream didn’t look at him, his wings low, hugging his pillow. Knock Out walked over and sat on the berth. He then held up a small box.

“As promised, I got you some dessert.” He placed it on the nightstand. He reached over and stroked Starscream’s wing, knowing how it relaxed the Seeker. “Now, we need to talk. I know you don’t want to talk, but we need to.” He paused. “Did you at least get some recharge? I hope I wasn’t too loud… Breakdown was quite eager after our date.” He smirked, but the Seeker still didn’t look at him. His smile dissipated. “I sent my report to Prime.” He noticed the Seeker’s optics filling with coolant. “Starscream… I know Grit is an aft. I know he is… Ridiculous to deal with. I’ve been dealing with him literally my entire life. He’s six stellar cycles older than me. He has been harassing me since even before I was born. I understand you getting pissed off at him. I just don’t understand why you didn’t lock yourself in your room the moment he started to be an aft. You can not be getting into fights with people, especially not my family members. We aren’t in the Decepticon army anymore. We’re civilians now. We follow laws and are arrested by police, and have court systems. It’s no longer a commanding officer who makes the rules and decides who is punished and who isn’t. It’s a jury, now.”

Starscream still didn’t look at him.

“Stars… I am mad at you. Especially that you almost killed Grit… If you had… I would have had Breakdown unload in you. You’re my friend, but Grit is my brother.” He paused. “I can’t trust you. For now on, when Grit or any of my family is over you’re going to be locked in your room. Understand? I’m not kicking you out. You are still going to live with us, but you are not going to interact with my family. You will simply be locked inside of here.” He stroked Starscream’s helm. “And I’ll have Breakdown install some bars over the windows to ensure you don’t try anything stupid. I hope I won’t have to chain you to your berth. Please, don’t force me to do that.”

Starscream still didn’t look at him, just continued to hug the pillow, but coolant was pooling in his optics.

“I know it’s been hard for you to transition to being a civilian. I know you’re filled with so much trauma, and anger, and feeling like everyone is out to get you… I know you’re struggling. I’m trying my best to help you.” He paused. “I’ve been thinking about moving back to Velocitron. I don’t know when or if that will happen, but I’ll take you with me. You can start fresh there. Fracture will remain in my custody, but you’ll live with us so you won’t be separated. I might be able to get a bigger house. I could give you an entire level to be yours. Your own room, living room, energon room… You’ll never have to interact with us. Your own apartment in my house. Does that sound nice?”

Starscream slowly nodded, but still didn’t look up.

Knock Out leaned over and kissed him on the cheekplates. “I am going to look for a therapist for you. You need someone to talk to. I know Prime made you see one for a while. Did you like him? I’ll pay for it. I want to help you Starscream. I care about you. You just need to stop attacking people.”

“I-I don’t know why I did…” Starscream said it barely louder than a whisper.

“I know… I know you’re struggling a lot, Stars. That idiot beat you so much he caused so much damage to your processor… We need to find out exactly what damage he did besides severe trauma. I’ll look for a psychologist. Maybe we can do some processor scans… I’ll get you the help you need, promise.” Knock Out then lay over the Seeker and hugged him. “But you need to promise you’ll also try to do better, and you’ll listen to me, and trust me. Alright?”

Starscream slowly nodded. “Yeah… I promise…”

Knock Out cupped Starscream’s cheekplates and made him turn his helm to look up at him. “Do you trust me?”

Starscream bit his lower lip plate, then slowly nodded. “I do…”

“Then listen to me, do as I say, and let me help you. If you do that, and try your best to behave, I won’t ever abandon you. Okay?”

Starscream nodded. “Okay…”

Knock Out gave him another hug before sitting up. “I am going to get you some energon. You should shower.” He then held up his communicator. “Prime will be here tonight to speak to us.”

Starscream felt his spark drop at that.

Starscream sat on the couch next to Knock Out that evening. Grit was there as well, sitting on the second couch, glaring at the Seeker. Starscream didn’t look at him, simply concentrated on Knock Out’s servo he was holding, his fuel tank feeling like something was flying inside of it.

The mechlings were upstairs in their rooms playing their games, oblivious of what was going on.

Breakdown walked to the door when the chime went off. Starscream felt his spark dropping, clutching Knock Out’s servo tighter. Knock Out patted the Seeker’s thigh with his free servo, comforting him best he could.

“Evening, Prime.” Breakdown greeted as he opened the door for Optimus Prime and his two guards.

“Evening, Breakdown.” Prime inclined his helm at the blue truck before walking over to the couches. “Evening, Knock Out.”

“Good evening, Prime.” Knock Out replied, feeling Starscream beginning to tremble. “Please, have a seat.”

Optimus did just that, sitting on the L shaped couch so that he could look at everyone. Breakdown walked over and sat beside his mate, the two guards staying by the door.

“Grit,” the Prime addressed the speedster. “Relay your experience of the event.”

“Well,” Grit adjusted himself so he was sitter straighter. “I had just put the mechlings in berth and came downstairs to sit here on the couch. Starscream was also sitting here. We started to talk… And it was about the drama. H-he’s recharging with my brother.”

“He is not.” Knock Out interjected.

“Well, I don’t believe that.” Grit grunted. “They have been very… Cuddly and kissy… But I was telling Starscream I don’t appreciate him recharging with my brother, and he is an aft, and asked if he is just trying to get back with me. And he got really mad and lunged at me… We started to fight… I hit him with a chair, he threw me into a window, I ran for the gun Breakdown keeps in the energon room, and Starscream tackled me. He tried to rip my head off! He had his claws around my neck and was tearing them into my wiring. I couldn’t get up. Then he just got up and locked himself in his room. I got the gun and waited until Knock Out got home with Breakdown.”

“And you then treated both of them for their injuries, correct?” Prime inquired of the doctor.

“That is correct. I sent you the notes of the placement and causes of the injuries I treated.” Knock Out said.

“Yes, I reviewed your notes. Starscream, is everything Grit said accurate?”

Starscream swallowed, too scared to look up. “Grit called me a slut and slapped me on the aft when I was trying to walk away… He wanted me to interface him… I didn’t want to…”

“But did you strike first?”

“… I did… I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to lose control! I-I just…” I looked up at the Prime with such pitiful optics.

“Well,” Prime held up the datapad he had. “I am glad you at least were honest with me, as Knock Out sent me the security footage.”

Starscream swallowed, having forgotten that Knock Out had installed cameras everywhere in his house since he had tried to abduct Fracture when he was a sparkling.

The Prime played the footage, making sure everyone could see the datapad’s screen. “This is a significant attack, Starscream.” Optimus said firmly once the video had ended. “You attempted to kill Grit. I understand Grit said some very hurtful words to you, and acted in a very unprofessional, immature manner, but you must practice restraint. Grit is no longer your inferior in the Decepticon army. He is a civilian just like you and you must obey the law.”

“I understand… I’m sorry…” Starscream swallowed.

“Do you understand that I should deny you visiting rights for Fracture as this clearly shows you are not safe to be around?”

Coolant filled the Seeker’s optics. “Please, don’t. I-I won’t ever attack anyone again! I promise. I’m sorry!”

“Starscream, I had hoped that after you and Knock Out stopped being enemies this would all resolve and you could actually be a safe guardian for Fracture, but after this… I don’t believe you will ever be safe. You have greatly failed to convince me.”

Starscream felt his spark drop, like someone had grabbed it and yanked it out of him. “Please, don’t, Prime. I-I won’t ever do this again! I promise!” He got up and then down on his knees in front of the Autobot leader. “Please! Please, don’t separate me from my son!” Coolant was pouring out now, his vocalizer becoming brittle. “I’m sorry! I’ll do anything! Don’t take me away from my creation!”

Knock Out spoke up. “Optimus… If I may… Starscream and I talked this morning. I believe simply locking him in his room when guests are visiting would be best to ensure everyone’s safety. Starscream, as you’re more than aware of, does suffer severe PTSD after what Megatron did to him. He is naturally defensive when put in any stressful situation. And my brother put him in a stressful situation. I understand Starscream, and he trusts me. He is best with me who can help him recover from his traumatic past and ensure he doesn’t have access to the public. With me he doesn’t need to work or run errands which put him in direct contact with others. And should anyone come to my house he will be locked in his room. He is no threat to me, the mechlings, or Breakdown. He is safe with us.”

“I understand that, Knock Out, and I appreciate your selflessness in caring for not only Fracture, but Starscream as well. But unfortunately, this is very significant. I can’t ignore what has happened.”

Knock Out paused. “Then let me punish Starscream. I agree that this shouldn’t be ignored, and so I will punish him for it. Let me be his caretaker. I already am providing for him and have started to look for a psychiatrist for him. It is fitting I also be in charge of punishing him for lesser crimes.”

“Unfortunately, I do not believe you will be as effective at punishing him.” Optimus replied. “I am willing to give him another chance should you ensure he has no contact with anyone outside your household until he has received proper treatment. I also want the information on whatever psychiatrist that he sees.”

“Yes, sir.”

“In the meantime, Starscream will be punished.” He paused as he thought. “Two decacycles in prison, solitary confinement, should be fitting.”

Starscream’s wings trembled. “Solitary confinement...?”

“Optimus,” Knock Out spoke again. “Starscream has claustrophobia. I do not believe that would be best for him. And being isolated from me and his son would only harm his mental progress even more. I can punish him, he stays here where he can continue to get support, and he is not separated from Fracture.”

“How would you punish him?”

“Since I know him all too well…. He does learn best with a firm servo. A few lashes with a cable or energy whip would… Be a better punishment. Breakdown wielding them is… Not a pleasant experience. Starscream will be punished, it will be quick, and he can be with Fracture and me immediately afterwards.”

“I do not believe beating him would be best. I am not Megatron.”

“It would be nothing like what Megatron did to him. But isolating him is far worse for him. He will regress greatly if he is taken away and kept isolated. He will regress if he is kept far away from me or Fracture for a prolonged period of time. I do not like the idea of causing him physical pain, either, but he has an easier time bouncing back from that than he does with isolation.”

“I don’t believe in physical punishment.”

“What about community service? He can clean the streets and be back with me after only a few joors each orbital cycle.”

“Solitary confinement for two decacycles isn’t going to cause him to regress.”

“But, Prime-“

“I’ve made my decision, Knock Out.” The Prime said firmly. “Arrest Starscream.”

Starscream felt his spark sink again as the two guards marched over, grabbed his arms, yanked him to his peds, and then placed manacles on his wrists. He looked back at Knock Out, fear in his optics.

Knock Out stood up and walked over, cupping Starscream’s faceplates. “Hey, it’s going to be alright, Stars. Shhh, don’t tremble. You keep your helm low, you don’t cause trouble, and you’ll be fine. I’ll be there to pick you up the moment they release you. Okay?”

“I-I don’t want to go. Please, I need Fracture!”

“Open your subspace.” One of the guards ordered.

Knock Out vented a sigh. “I know… I know you do. Open your subspace for them. I’ll keep your things safe.”

Starscream swallowed, then did so. The guard reached in and began to dig around, removing Starscream’s property. It wasn’t much, just some datapads, a medical kit, and items from his past he kept close to him.

“After this, we will work with a psychiatrist, okay? We will get you better and you’ll never have to worry about this ever again. I’ll take you with us to Velocitron, and you will be so happy there away from all the Autobots and no Megatron anywhere around.” He used his thumbs to wipe away the coolant leaking down Starscream’s cheekplates. “You’re brave, Stars. You can do this. I love you.”

“L-love you, too.” Starscream’s vocalizer was so brittle now, his wings trembling.

“I’ll be there for you. I promise.”

“Come on.” One of the guards pulled Starscream’s arm, forcing Knock Out to release the Seeker.

“Where are they taking carrier?!”

Knock Out look back to see all the mechlings sitting on the steps watching everything unfold. Fracture quickly got up and ran down the stairs.

“Why are they taking him?” He demanded as he approached Knock Out.

“Starscream is going to jail for a little while.” Knock Out said softly.

“But why? What did he do?!”

“He made a mistake and the Autobots are harsher on him because of his past.” The doctor grunted. “This is why I am moving back to Velocitron…” He grumbled.

Fracture ran over and hugged Starscream. The Seeker bit his lip plate, wishing he didn’t witness this.

“When will you be back?” The mechling asked worriedly.

“Two decacycles…” Starscream answered softly. “Fracture, I’m so sorry. I-I made a mistake. Please, don’t hate me.”

“I don’t carrier. I don’t understand what happened…”

“I’ll explain later.” Knock Out said as he gently pulled Fracture away. “Say bye, Fracture. We’ll pick Starscream up when he is released.”

Fracture looked up at his carrier. “Bye, carrier. I’ll get you something!”

“Yes, we will get you presents for your return. Stay safe.”