Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hashtag was excited, as the sun finally rose into the sky. She and her Terran siblings, except for Thrash, were making sure the base and the barn were in impeccable condition for their special guest, who would arrive soon.

“I’m going to say it again. I think inviting him over is a terrible idea,” Thrash grumbled, his arms crossed, and a frown etched on his faceplate. He stood outside, watching as his siblings stepped out of the barn.

“Come on, Thrash, Starscream is pretty cool,” Twitch chimed in. “Just give him a chance.”

“Yeah, he’s super nice,” Jawbreaker added.

“Jawbreaker… You’ve hardly talked to him…” Thrash argued with Jawbreaker.

“What our brother means,” Nightshade interjected, “is that Starscream is nice because, thanks to him, the Decepticons helped us against Mandroid. Without Starscream, they wouldn’t have come and we all would have been doomed.”

Thrash waved off Nightshade’s reasoning dismissively. “He probably helped us to get revenge against Mandroid or something.” He then noticed all his siblings were frowning in his direction. “Come on guys, this is Starscream we’re talking about. You know, the most cowardly and deceitful Decepticon to have ever existed.”

“Thrash, please don’t call Starscream names like that, especially a coward, because he’s the opposite of that,” Hashtag intervened with a firm yet composed tone. She remembered how Starscream had risked his life to protect her in the tunnels weeks ago. The way Starscream had protected her really shifted her perception of the Decepticon. She was looking forward to all of them spending time with him, to get to know him. Also, she wanted her human siblings to befriend him so he could see that not all humans were terrible.

However, Starscream’s interaction with Mo and Robbie would have to wait, given that they were in school and wouldn’t return until later in the afternoon.

“Please, could you try to be nice to him, just like you are with the Autobots?” she pleaded to her brother. “Trust me, he’s not so bad.”

Thrash remained unconvinced, still sulking as he grumbled under his breath.

“Hey, kiddos,” Dot greeted her children with a warm smile as she walked over to them, only to notice Thrash’s vexed expression. “What’s wrong, Thrash? Already missing Robby and Mo?” she teased.

“No… I’m just not excited to have Starscream coming over,” he grumbled, leaving Dot puzzled.

“What do you mean, coming over?” she asked before turning to the rest of her Terran babies.

“Yeah, mom, remember Starscream is coming over today?” Hashtag reminded her.

“Wait, hold on, what?” Dot let out in shock, causing everyone’s gaze to shift toward her in confusion before turning to each other.

“You said you were going to tell her,” Hashtag told Twitch, who blinked in response.

“No, I didn’t. You said you would,” her older sister pointed out.

Dot rubbed the corners of her eyes, struggling to maintain her composure, but then her ears picked up a distant sound, making her heart drop.

Oh no…

The sound grew louder and more intense with each passing second. It was a terribly familiar sound of an engine roaring through the sky which made her mind race.

She looked up to the heavens to see Starscream, in his jet form, streak across the bright sky with an astonishing speed, a trail of ionized particles marking his path in a cascade of shimmering light. His wings sliced through the air, creating a haunting melody that brought certain horrible memories for Dot of countless jets, operated by her fellow people, falling one by one when Starscream had shot them down years ago.

Her mind quickly returned to the present when Starscream burst forth from the heavens, his jet form a blur of speed, rattling the barns’ windows and making the ground quivered beneath everyone’s feet. With a deft and practiced maneuver, he transformed mid-flight, wings folding as his feet met the earth.

Dust swirled around Starscream as he landed with a resounding thud, his blue orbs fixing upon her with a bored and dismissive look.

And just like that, one of the most dangerous and unpredictable Decepticons was standing before her and her children without Megatron or Autobot in sight…

Chapter Text

No…

No, no, no.

Dot wished she had a firearm on her so she could shoot at the towering robot before her. Her instincts urged her to shout at her kids to run while she distracted him. Her communicator was back at the house, which she needed now to call Megatron or any of the Autobots, yet retrieving it meant leaving her children unprotected — an option she absolutely refused to do.

“Ah, Dorothy Malto,” Starscream drawled, his tone oozing condescension as he surveyed her, instantly aggravating her. “I must admit, seeing you again isn’t a delight…”

Dot’s glare shot daggers at him. Before she could retort, Twitch interjected.

“Starscream!” Twitch squealed, and Dot’s heart sank as her daughter hurled herself at the Decepticon. She expected Starscream to strike her down the moment Twitch wrapped her arms around his waist. Instead, he flinched and staggered back, staring down at Twitch as if she had sprouted another head. “We’re so glad you’re finally here!” she exclaimed, gazing up at him with gleaming optics.

Starscream was as stiff as a rock. A sea of emotions swirled in his gaze before he composed himself mentally.

“Yeah… I can see that,” he let out, his voice momentarily pitching higher due to a flicker of nervousness. With a somewhat awkward motion, he gently disentangled Twitch from his frame by her shoulders, less abrupt than his initial reaction to her embrace weeks ago.

The only reason he had shoved her off so harshly the first time was because he had panicked. He didn’t expect her to hug him, not after she had shown to favor Megatron immensely to the point she tried persuading Nova Storm and Skywarp to follow the former Decepticon leader instead of him.

Now, he didn’t push her away this time around because he disliked her touch. On the contrary, her embrace held a certain warmth to it, yet it also made him feel uncomfortable. A tinge of anxiety accompanied the strange blend of emotions. He wasn’t sure why he would feel such conflicted feelings. Though, now that he thought about it, maybe the fact that anyone who had laid hands on him without inflicting harm on him was close to none, Twitch being the exception these days.

Hashtag ran over with a grin of her own and, seeing her immediately, brought a warmth in Starscream’s expression and eased him a bit. A gentle smile graced his features, a sight Dot had never considered possible, and left her utterly confused.

Starscream’s smiles often bore an air of arrogance or malice, or so it appeared to Dot from the past interactions with him.

“I got to hand it to you Starscream, but that was a badass entrance,” Hashtag said with amusement. Her compliment made Starscream stand taller with hands on his waist and puff his chest out slightly with pride.

“Of course, it was great,” he declared with a trace of a smirk, the arrogance that Dot expected of him slipping out, but for Hashtag, it was a sign of confidence. “After all, I am the fastest and greatest Cybertronian flier that ever existed.” He let out a moment of self-satisfaction wash over him as he chuckled to see most of the Terrans look up at him in awe.

Thrash, on the other hand, rolled his optics in an exaggerated display of mock exasperation.

“Ohhh, is that true?” Twitch asked curiously before she had a rush of excitement coursing through her frame. “Then I challenge you to a race right now!”

“Oh?” Starscream asked with some amusement. He didn’t follow with his usual urge to ridicule her request, which he found strange.

“I don’t think you have a chance against him, Twitch,” Jawbreaker spoke up as he approached the group.

“Jawbreaker is correct. Starscream’s alt mode is meticulously engineered for peak aerial performance,” Nightshade said to his sister. “While yours is not.”

Twitch crossed her arms over her chest plates. “I’m not expecting to beat Starscream in a race,” she said. “I just want to see how fast he is compared to me.” Of course, mentally she wanted to test him out so she could find a way in the future to beat him, but she wasn’t going to share that information with anyone.

“Well, now that seems like an interesting experience to have,” Nightshade responded with a chuckle.

“You guys can do that later,” Hashtag said, pulling out a tablet. “We have so much to do today, and the first thing on the list is to show Starscream around.”

“Show me around?” Starscream blinked at this with confusion.

“Yeah!” Jawbreaker said with excitement. “We’re gonna show you our amazing home and our favorite spots to hang out, then later see a movie together!”

Starscream turned to Hashtag, looking at her questioningly.

Hashtag let out a sheepish smile. “Yeah, sorry, I had to trick you to come over,” she said.

“What do you mean, trick him?” Twitch asked her with surprise.

“I’ve tried asking him to come over before so we can all hang out with him, but he kept saying no. So, I convinced him by telling him I wanted to talk to him in person and that it was very important.” Hashtag explained and then she gazed up at Starscream. “But I was serious that I wanted to talk to you, but later privately, if that’s okay with you.”

“You deceived me,” Starscream commented, but he sounded impressed.

Well, he was impressed by how she manipulated things to get her way. Made him believe it was something he would do if he was in her position. He wasn’t mad about it, but of course he would not stick around now as he felt paranoid that Megatron would show up later.

His optics quickly scanned around their surroundings to make sure Megatron wasn’t hiding somewhere behind a tree.

Dot sighed after taking the whole scene in before she stepped forward.

“Hashtag, you shouldn’t be lying to anyone, even if you meant well,” Dot lectured her.

“I know I shouldn’t lie, but I just didn’t know how else to bring Starscream over,” Hashtag said, looking up at the Decepticon, now feeling guilty since she didn’t want Starscream to feel like he couldn’t trust her. “Sorry, Starscream…”

Starscream simply shrugged. “Psh, it’s not a big deal,” he said.

“It is a big deal,” Dot retorted him before she turned to her Terran babies gently.

“And you kiddos can’t go inviting others over without my permission,” Dot said to them, then she gazed back up at Starscream. “And since they asked you to come without my permission, I’m going to have to ask you to please leave.”

Starscream frowned at her.

“But mom, we can’t do that,” Twitch said to her. “It’s rude to just send Starscream away after he came all the way here.”

“Yeah, super rude!” Jawbreaker piped in.

Hashtag dropped her gaze to the ground, feeling guilty for not handling things better, and ashamed to have troubled Starscream.

Starscream, on the other hand, changed his tune.

Of course, he wanted to leave, but the fact the human was sending him away now urged him to stay, just to annoy her.

Because no one told Starscream what to do…

Especially a pathetic human.

“Jawbreaker is right, it’s pretty rude to just tell me to leave after I came all the way here, especially when I was invited,” Starscream drawled. “And we don’t want to be teaching the kids to be awfully rude to their guests, am I right?” he let out a sly smirk to Dot, which she couldn’t help but glare at him.

“Starscream knows my name?” Jawbreaker let out quietly to Nightshade with surprise.

“Well, I guess that settles it,” Starscream said, clasping his hands together with amusement after Dot remained silent. “I’m staying,” he declared to the Terrans. All of them, except for Thrash, cheered with excitement. “So, what’s the first thing on that list of yours?” Starscream asked Hashtag, who once again was grinning.

“Let me show you where we sleep!” She quickly grabbed his servo, taking note though the way he slightly tensed up under her touch, and guided him toward the barn.

“Can I touch one of your wings?” Jawbreaker asked Starscream curiously as he tagged along.

“Don’t even think about it,” Starscream grumbled at the Terran.

Dot stood rooted in place as the group went into the barn. She felt slightly panicked and irritated at the fact Starscream clearly was planning something terrible now. Because what else would Starscream want to be around her kids for?

She didn’t want him going into their base, but damn it, she couldn’t stop them, especially since Starscream somehow got the kids eating from his servos. But she shouldn’t have been shocked, Starscream was extremely manipulative.

However, she noticed Thrash was wearing an expression that mirrored her own annoyance, making her glad that at least one could see that Starscream was bad news, and helped her steady her racing heartbeat.

“Thrash, please keep watch over your siblings,” she instructed him. “I’m going to contact Megatron and Optimus.”

Thrash emitted a sigh, not really wanting to be near the Decepticon. “Fine,” he said before he made his way to join the others while Dot quickly dashed to her house and grabbed her communicator, immediately trying to contact Megatron.

Though… for some reason, something in her was telling her that perhaps she was overreacting. She had just witnessed Starscream interact with the children with some tenderness and awkwardness, completely different from who he’s supposed to be.

But as she stared down at her communicator device, she couldn’t help but remember a dark, horrific memory of how Starscream, amidst chaos, let out a sinister laugh, one that had haunted her dreams for countless nights, once again, taking a harsh grip over her.

Chapter Text

Dot held her communicator device close to her ear as she waited for Megatron’s response while she kept watch over the barn through the kitchen window.

She had sent out a distress call to her close friend.

“Come on, Megs,” she urged for the second time, her tone laced with a plea. “Please, pick up.”

“Dorothy, what’s wrong?” The sound of Megatron’s voice on the other end brought a sigh of relief from her.

“We have a problem,” she replied after doing her best to maintain her cool. “I need you or Optimus to get here immediately. Starscream has shown up, and he’s with the kids at the moment.”

“Wait, did you just say Starscream?” Megatron let out with utter confusion.

“Yeah,” Dot confirmed, staring at the barn that seemed eerily still. “I don’t know how he managed it, but the kids invited him. I’ve tried to get him to leave, but he refused.”

There was silence on the other line, leaving her puzzled. She had expected an immediate assurance that he would be on his way now to handle the problem. Unless Starscream’s involvement against Mandroid had also led Megatron, like her children, to believe the seeker had changed.

“Has he harmed any of the Terrans?” Megatron asked.

“I don’t think so,” she said, unsure since she couldn’t see what was happening inside the barn. “But I don’t like this one bit, Megs,” Dot said. “The kids might believe he’s changed after his recent help, but you and I both know that genuine change takes more than just one good deed. You’ve said it yourself - he represents everything terrible of what Decepticons became. And it’s highly likely as well that he aided us only because Mandroid posed a threat not just to us, but to him as well.”

Another pause followed, but only briefly, before Megatron finally responded. “I’ll make my way there as soon as possible,” he said to her. “Keep me updated if anything else happens.”

Dot couldn’t help it but notice the hint of hesitation in Megatron’s voice before he ended the call. She felt uneasy and worried that Starscream might have deceived Megatron somehow, especially while he was trying to help the other Decepticons who have been proving themselves a willingness to change.

Truth be told, Starscream was regretting not leaving when he had the chance of appearing like a jerk to Hashtag. He definitely blamed the human for having the audacity to try to send him away so rudely. If she didn’t annoy him, he wouldn’t have stuck around enough to be inside such a tiny space of a building with the Terrans.

The sensation of the walls closing in on him crept into his systems, though the surprising comfort of Hashtag holding his servo helped him in maintaining his composure, which was rather strange to him. In the meantime, Nightshade tapped the floor before an entrance revealed itself to an unseen tunnel, making Starscream blink.

“Come on, Starscream” Hashtag grinned at him, tugging him forward as they all descended a lengthy staircase within a tunnel constructed of metallic components. Nightshade activated the lights, revealing an expansive chamber with unique looking areas. What caught Starscream’s optics was the spot at the far end of the room.

“Nightshade made this place for us,” Jawbreaker informed Starscream.

“I couldn’t do it without my big brother’s help though,” Nightshade was quick to credit Thrash, who was lingering in the background with a frown that his siblings had brought Starscream into their shared space.

“I made certain each corner was designed specifically for each of us,” Nightshade said. “I even included a lab.”

“A lab, you say?” Starscream asked, intrigued.

“Yeah, I enjoy tinkering away with some new inventions,” Nightshade revealed before bringing Starscream into the lab to show him the device they and Tarantulas had worked on together for a while.

Starscream was surprised by the fact Tarantulas had permitted Nightshade’s involvement in any of his projects. Tarantulas was notorious in his reclusive tendencies, disliking interacting with anyone.

Studying the device with intrigue, Starscream took hold of the projector, closely inspecting its features.

Noticing Starscream’s interest, Nightshade began to elucidate the intricate nuances of how they and Tarantulas had successfully brought the device to work as Tarantulas intended. Their detailed explanation left their siblings perplexed, but Starscream himself seemed fixated on their words, understanding every detail.

“I see,” Starscream remarked before handing the device back to Nightshade. “You know, I used to be a scientist myself before the war,” he revealed.

“You were?” Nightshade asked with surprise and interest in their voice.

“Yeah. In fact, I was the first and only seeker ever admitted to the Cybertronian Academy of Science,” Starscream said, his tone brimming with pride, which immediately drew the other Terrans, except for Thrash, closer with curiosity and admiration.

“What’s the Cybertronian Academy of Science?” Twitch asked.

“It was a prestigious institute on Cybertron dedicated to advanced studies and research across various domains of science and technology,” Starscream explained. “Only the best and brightest gained entry. My friend Skyfire and I were the only non-grounders who were given the opportunity to conduct our own research and collaborate in projects there,” he continued, although his attempt to keep his emotions in check faltered for a second as the memory of Skyfire's lifeless form on the battlefield crawled back into his mind. His friend’s once vibrant optics, now dim and vacant, were as haunting as the blast hole in his chest.

“That sounds incredible,” Nightshade exclaimed, their hands clasped in enthusiasm. “I would have loved to attend it myself.”

Starscream regarded him for a moment. “Unfortunately, Nightshade, you wouldn’t have been admitted,” he responded calmly.

Nightshade blinked in confusion. “Oh? And why’s that?” he questioned.

“Are you saying Nightshade isn’t good enough?” Thrash asked Starscream with annoyance, ready to defend his younger sibling if he had to.

Starscream frowned at him. “No, I’m not saying he isn’t good enough,” he retorted before redirecting his attention back to Nightshade. “Even I can tell you’re gifted. But you’re not a true Cybertronian. The academy’s board would have hardly spared you a second thought and deemed you as a lower-class hybrid.”

“That’s… sounds like discrimination,” Twitch stated, her expression clouded with disapproval.  

“Unfortunately, Cybertron was full of that,” Starscream grunted out. “That’s why Skyfire and I were the only flyers within the Academy for some time. They didn’t think any flyer was capable of working in the science field. Many in the Academy couldn’t stand having us there, thus why they eventually found a way to get rid of us…” He spoke with a trace of resentment.

“They kicked you out?” Hashtag asked in shock.

“Yeah…” Starscream admitted with an annoyed sigh. “Although, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me when it happened, especially to me. After all, I was merely a cold construct Seeker manufactured to serve as a loyal warrior for military purposes.”

“Cold construct Seeker?” Nightshade tilted their head to the side in confusion. “Forgive my ignorance, but I’m unfamiliar with that term.”

Starscream raised an optic ridge, noticing how Nightshade and their siblings looked kind of lost. “You don’t know what a cold construct Cybertronian is?” he asked.

The Terrans all shook their heads in unison. Even Thrash’s irritation had turned into curiosity as he stared at Starscream, waiting for him to continue.

“I figured at least Megatron would have told you guys a bit about it, given that many Decepticons were cold constructed,” Starscream said with a frown. Now he was wondering if the Terrans had any sort of clue of how terrible Cybertron was before the war. “But I suppose I can explain it myself.”

“Oh, yes, Cybertronian history,” Nightshade chimed in with a touch of excitement.

“Story time, guys!” Twitch declared, prompting everyone to gather around Starscream, their eyes fixed on him in anticipation. Thrash remained in the background, but his attention was clearly on Starscream.

“Well…” Starscream hesitated. Normally, he relished being the center of attention, but now he felt a twinge of insecurity about sharing his origin.

Would the Terrans view him differently?

Would Hashtag consider him a freak just like many Cybertronians would look at cold constructed Transformers?

“So… you’re all aware that sparks are the core essence of a Transformer?” he asked. All nodded in affirmation. “Well, the natural way that a Cybertronian is ‘born’ is when new sparks emerge from the planet when an energy pulse is flashed from Vector Sigma. Then, the spark develops their own body, which we call a protoform. And of course, through time, they develop their own personality, their own form, and individuality.”

“Yeah, yeah, we know all about that,” Thrash said, waving his head dismissively.

“Thrash, don’t be so rude…” Twitch lectured him before she turned to Starscream. “So how are cold constructed Transformers different?”

Starscream didn’t respond for a moment. “Well… there was a time when a huge demand for Transformers was needed. So instead of waiting for new sparks to emerge, a scientist was able to synthesize new sparks by tapping into the legendary energy of creation through the Matrix of Leadership before they were placed into artificially built bodies made for them.”

The Terran’s expressions morphed into horrified ones, making Starscream hesitant to continue. Though he went on with his explanation. “There were times when too many sparks were created so they were ‘frozen’ in photonic crystals until they were ‘thawed’ once enough bodies were built for them. That’s why we are called cold constructed.”

“That’s… horrible,” Jawbreaker exclaimed in shock.

“Originally, it was easy to differentiate between naturally born Cybertronians and cold constructs by the color of their optics,” Starscream explained. “Red optics indicated cold constructs, while blue represented those who were naturally ‘born’.”

“But your optics are blue,” Twitch pointed out.

“That’s because my friend, Skyfire, found a way to change it to blue for me,” Starscream mumbled. “Eventually, the majority of the Decepticons, that were not cold constructed, decided to change their optics to red as well out of respect for their comrades who were cold constructed.”

“But you kept yours blue?” Hashtag questioned.

“I was one of the few who didn’t change them,” Starscream said. “I refused to go back having red.” He omitted the part about how his decision had caused him maybe problems in the beginning when the war started, including with Megatron. Everyone believed he didn’t want to go red eyes due to being too prideful and was trying to be something he wasn’t. But Starscream couldn’t bear to lose the only reminder he had of Skyfire…

“So, why did Cybertron need more sparks?” Nightshade asked.

“A Prime, by the name of Nova Prime, wanted to create a grand galactic empire,” Starscream replied. “He sought dominion over the cosmos, so he needed an army loyal to him in order to establish dominance over other races.”

“Gees, this just keeps getting worse,” Twitch muttered to Hashtag.

“I don’t see why being born differently would prevent you from attending the Academy,” Nightshade commented.

“That’s because cold constructs were considered inferior, even beneath the labor class,” Starscream said.

“But, that’s not fair,” Thrash said with annoyance, surprising Starscream. Thrash approached the group. “You and the others didn’t choose to be cold constructed.”

“Yeah, what they did to you, Starscream, is terrible,” Hashtag said, getting back to her feet. “They should have never done that to you. I can’t even imagine if my own spark was forced into a body that wasn’t meant to be mine.”

“It’s indeed unfortunate,” Nightshade added, lips pressed into a tight line. They were all about accepting oneself and letting others be true to themselves. The fact that someone or others decided to force sparks into a body that wasn’t meant to be theirs was messed up. They began to wonder if such horrid actions were one of the key roles of the war that had ignited the prolonged war between Autobots and Decepticons.

Nightshade gazed up at Starscream, focusing on his blue optics—the feature that Starscream had chosen for himself, defying the pressure to conform. They smiled warmly. “I think your blue optics suit you quite well, Starscream,” they said, causing Starscream to blink in mild surprise.

“Hum… thanks?” Starscream responded, a touch unsure.

“Yeah, you look pretty cool, honestly,” Hashtag grinned.

“Not just looks cool, but he is cool,” Twitch chimed in. “Not only are you the fastest Cybertronian flyer, but you’re also super smart since you attended that academy for geniuses.”

“You’re one of the coolest Cybertronians we’ve met for sure!” Jawbreaker added in.

The Terrans truly believed their words. After all, Starscream even managed to get a bunch of Decepticons to help them out against Mandroid.

If Starscream was a human, he would indeed have a blush form across his cheeks as at this moment he grew slightly embarrassed by the cascade of praise.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough compliments for today.” Starscream let out a groan as he was feeling overwhelmed with strange emotions building through his system.

“But we’re just being honest,” Twitch teased with a shrug. “Or are you getting shy with us?”

“I am not shy,” Starscream grumbled, looking away, prompting most of the Terrans to chuckle at his response.

Hashtag smiled.

She had heard how big of a showoff Starscream tends to be, lacking any sort of humility. But instead of just pushing them to keep showering him with compliments, he wanted them to stop.

“And I swear, if I hear one more compliment from anyone today, I’m out of here,” Starscream warned them.

“Aww, that’s not fair,” Twitch whined.

“Yeah, especially since you’re known to enjoy boasting about yourself,” Thrash pointed with a grunt.

“I don’t boast,” Starscream retorted, feeling offended. “I’m merely stating facts about myself.”

It was strange now that he thought about it. He did enjoy boasting about himself; it always felt empowering. Yet now that others were lavishing him with praise, he found himself uncertain how to react. He appreciated it, but at the same time, a part of him felt uncomfortable – like he didn’t deserve it.

After all, he was just a pathetic coward…

“If we can’t compliment you, can we at least hug you?” Jawbreaker asked curiously.

“No,” Starscream frowned, crossing his arms on his chest. “The hug invitation has officially been terminated as of now.”

“Aww, but Twitch got to hug you,” Jawbreaker whined.

“Actually, I got to hug him two times now,” Twitch smirked at her brother while she held up two digits in his direction.

“Totally not fair!”

Starscream rolled his optics at Jawbreaker’s complaining. He didn’t understand why these Terrans were so touchy. Being surrounded by humans a lot makes someone touchy, he supposed.

“Anyway, aren’t you guys going to show me the rest of your home or your hiding spots, or whatever it was you wanted to do?” he grumbled, attempting to steer the conversation away from himself.

“We can show you Fluffy Ears!” Jawbreaker piped up with enthusiasm as he got up.

“Who…?” Starscream wasn’t sure if he liked the sound of that.

“Great idea, JB,” Hashtag agreed, amused. She turned to Starscream. “You’re going to love her. Everyone loves Fluffy Ears. Even Shockwave seemed to like her. We found him holding her when we came back after the fight with Mandroid.”

Starscream stared at her in complete puzzlement. But now he grew curious to see who this Fluffy Ears was – a creature that even one of the most dangerous Decepticons didn’t blast or use as an experiment.

He imagined the creature to be a powerful, unique specimen.

As the group headed to the stairs, Starscream stopped for a moment, frowning as he felt something rather strange in his spark chamber. He wasn’t sure how to describe the feeling, but it felt off. Like, a flurry of tiny sparks, but it didn’t hurt though…

He had been feeling the strange sensation a few times already, though he was glad it wasn’t one of the painful ones he had experienced in the past years.

“You, okay?” Hashtag asked in confusion when she noticed him stop in his tracks.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Starscream responded simply when the feeling vanished. He then followed through the tunnel before emerging from the barn. The familiar sound of a roaring engine greeted the group. A yellow sports vehicle sped down the road before transforming.

“Starscream?!” Bumblebee exclaimed; his surprise clear on his wide optics upon spotting the current Decepticon leader in the Malto residence. “What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded with annoyance. He swiftly transformed his hand into a blaster and aimed at Starscream, who returned the gesture by pointing his null-ray cannon.

The Terrans froze at the sight of Starscream and Bumblebee, glaring at one another with deep seeded hatred, ready to tear each other apart. Meanwhile, Hashtag groaned at the fact things were going so well and now was on the brink of falling apart before their optics.

Why couldn’t things go according to plan for once?

Chapter Text

“Whoa, hold on, Bee.” Hashtag quickly stepped directly between the two and raised both her hands. “We invited Starscream to hang out with us.”

Bumblebee’s gaze shot at her in shock. “You guys did what?!”

“You heard her,” Starscream drawled, his tone dripping with mock amusement. “Or perhaps your processor needs a check-up.”

Bumblebee growled at him. He took a menacing step forward. “The one who has some loose screws is you, Screamer. Everyone knows that.”

“Okay, enough from both of you,” Twitch intervened, fluttering between the two with a determined stance, making sure Hashtag wasn’t the only one to keep the two from getting into a brawl.

“Hey, he’s the one who started it,” Bumblebee argued, motioning at Starscream with his blaster.

“You’re the one who first pointed a weapon at me!” Starscream barked back, not daring to lower down his weapon. “I’m merely defending myself.”

“Guys, come on,” Hashtag spoke up with a frown before looking at Bumblebee with confusion. “I thought you said you were going to be gone today because you had some race to go to.”

“The race was canceled,” Bumblebee said before blinking at Hashtag. “Hold up. Were you guys making sure I wasn’t here so he could come over?”

“Well, we didn’t think you were going to like the idea of him being here,” Twitch said. “And well… we were right.”

“Of course you were right!” Bumblebee exclaimed; irritation was evident in his voice. “No bot in their right mind would be fine with you guys hanging around with this sociopath!”

Starscream hissed at him menacingly, glaring at him as if he was ready to tear the Autobot apart.

“Bee!” Hashtag raised her voice with annoyance at her mentor. “That’s uncalled for. Apologize to Starscream right now.”

Bumblebee gawked at her for a moment before he shook his head, as if trying to shake off his shock. “Look, guys, I get what you guys are trying to do here, and that’s very nice of you, but you need to trust me on this. Starscream is the last bot you should trust.”

“Hey!” Starscream interjected sharply. “I’m right here, you know!”

The Decepticon leader despised being discussed as though he were absent, especially when they were uttering negative things about him. Then again, he had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

He was a bot that both Autobots and Decepticons loathed, though for different reasons. This stemmed from how dangerous he was in the field and the extreme measures he took to ensure his victories. He hadn’t risen to second-in-command among the Decepticons simply due to being the fastest seeker.

Truth be told, he had grown somewhat indifferent to all the name-calling thrown his way. Liar, coward, traitor, monster… He had heard these labels and more countless times. Even when Thrash had accused him of being selfish back at the tunnels, he felt nothing.

He had taught himself not to care about others’ opinions. He had done what he needed to survive against both Autobots and his fellow Decepticons. That had been his primary concern for most of his life. He didn’t care if others judged his ‘terrible’ actions.

Yet… There was something about Bumblebee telling the Terrans not to trust him that struck a chord.

“Is it because he’s a Decepticon?” Jawbreaker asked Bumblebee with confusion. “But you trust Breakdown and Megatron.”

“They’re different,” Bumblebee explained. “You all should know not every Decepticon deserves a second chance. Remember Swindle?” He turned to Thrash as he asked the question.

Thrash looked away, a frown forming as he remembered how Swindle had gained his trust and then betrayed it entirely. But then again…

“I mean… he did come and help us out when we needed him and the other Decepticons the most,” the Terran admitted, casting a glance back at Bumblebee.

“And they came thanks to Starscream,” Twitch chimed in.

“And I have yet to hear a thank you from you,” Starscream retorted to Bumblebee in a mocking tone. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

Bumblebee narrowed his optics at him, wanting to wipe off that smirk that Starscream had plastered on his faceplate.

“Starscream…” Hashtag frowned at the Decepticon. She gave him a certain look, similar to the one she had given him back at the underground tunnels that had compelled him into aiding them against the Dweller.

She hadn’t expected for Starscream to be friendly with the Autobots, but she didn’t approve of his taunting manner towards Bumblebee. Not that Bumblebee was playing nice, either.

Starscream rolled his optics at Hashtag’s gaze before he put his null ray away.

With Starscream’s weapon out of sight, Bumblebee felt an urge to take advantage and tackle him down to the ground. However, the serious gazes he received from the Terrans prompted him to retract his own blaster. This, in turn, caused the Terrans to relax, some audibly exhaling in relief.

These were the moments when Bumblebee wished the Terrans weren’t so quick to extend kindness to others. He had hoped recent events would teach them that the world wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. What irked him most was how Starscream likely reveled in their naivety, likely scheming ways to manipulate them against the Autobots.

Of course, Bumblebee couldn’t fault the Terrans for not maintaining distance from Starscream. They’d merely heard stories about him, never firsthand accounts of his atrocities. They hadn’t felt the impact of Starscream’s missiles or discovered their friends tortured or slain by his actions.

They lacked the personal experience of how much of a monster Starscream was, to the extent that even Megatron had to watch his back during his time as the Decepticon leader.

The Terrans had only ‘good’ experiences with Starscream.

“I got a great idea!” Jawbreaker spoke up suddenly, with a wide grin breaking across his face. “Why not have Bumblebee hang out with us today? So he can see that Starscream isn’t all that bad.”

“That’s a terrible idea,” Starscream was quick to say.

“Not gonna happen,” Bumblebee added firmly.

“Have you two ever like… engaged in anything other than battling each other?” Hashtag asked both of the Cybertronians. “I mean, have you ever tried talking to one another?”

Starscream folded his arms on his chest. “Why would I try to be friendly with an Autobot?” he scoffed.

“Besides trying to manipulate them? Yeah, not sure why you would,” Bumblebee shot back. “Do you even know how to hold a normal conversation with anyone?”

“I do,” Starscream drawled. “But I don’t care to waste my vocalizer on bots whose processors are the size of pebbles, much like yours.”

Hashtag buried her face in her servos and let out an exasperated sigh.

They were not going anywhere except possibly having to witness Starscream and Bumblebee exchange blows.

“Hmm…” Nightshade mused, resting their chin on their servo while tapping it with their digits. “This is quite troublesome, but I do believe it’s the perfect time for Starscream to meet Fluffy Ears,” they proposed.

One of the most effective ways for individuals to bond was discovering shared interests. The universal appeal of finding Fluffy Ears adorable was something that everyone could agree upon.

And so, the entire group found themselves in a grassy terrain, surrounded by a fence and a herd of cows leisurely grazing.

Starscream arched an optic ridge, his optics scanning the surroundings in search of the object that piqued Shockwave’s interest. However, all he saw were worthless animals.

“Behold the most endearing creature in existence,” Nightshade declared with a hint of amusement, approaching Starscream and then lifting a young calf, cradling her gently. “Starscream, I’d like you to meet Fluffy Ears.”

The calf emitted a soft moo in Starscream’s direction as her fluffy ears bounced a bit.

For a fleeting moment, Starscream felt his processor halt as he stared at the calf, then shifted his gaze to Nightshade. “You must be joking...” he muttered before hesitantly accepting the calf from Nightshade, lifting her closer to examine the creature. He even turned her around, only to get close to getting smacked by the calf’s tail.

Thrash stifled a laugh, finding the sight of Starscream examining the calf to be an unexpected source of amusement.

A suspicion tugged at Starscream that the Terrans were playing a prank. There was no way Shockwave would express any interest in something so feeble. Unless the Ghost organization had tampered with Shockwave’s processor during his captivity.

A certain memory, a haunting recollection from his time as a captive in the Ghost facility, dared to resurface in his mind, but he quickly shoved it aside.

“You don’t find her cute?” Hashtag asked him with confusion.

Starscream’s gaze flickered between Hashtag and Fluffy Ears, feeling insecure all the sudden.

The notion of cuteness had been foreign in their home world. Starscream had only recently come across the concept, thanks to Skywarp, who had shown him internet videos featuring creatures referred to as ‘cats’ and supposedly people found them ‘cute’. Yet, he struggled to comprehend how something could be considered ‘endearing,’ capable of evoking tender emotions.

Holding the calf, Starscream could only sense an emptiness within himself. The calf tilted her head in what seemed like curiosity.

“Of course he doesn’t,” Bumblebee said. “That would require Starscream to have any decent emotion. Man, I didn’t think even Shockwave had more emotions than Starscream here.”

One of Starscream’s optic ridges twitched. He promptly handed the calf back to Nightshade, eager to distance himself from the creature and quell the negative emotions simmering within him from the fact he didn’t share the same reactions the Terrans had for Fluffy Ears.

There was no way Shockwave would have more positive emotions than him…

Well, he thought Fluffy Ears was rather soft. Did that count for something?

“Well, you didn’t care about Fluffy Ears either the first time you met her,” Thrash pointed out nonchalantly. “You even said once that she was just a cow before.”

“For reals?” Jawbreaker asked in shock as he looked up at Bumblebee.

“Quite interesting,” Nightshade added, cradling Fluffy Ears in one arm while gently patting her head. “I never would have thought anyone could resist her charm.”

“Hey, I like her now,” Bumblebee swiftly clarified. “I was just too frustrated before with other things to have realized what I was missing out on.”

“Yeah, I remember that,” Twitch said, recalling how stressed-out Bumblebee was when he was trying to mentor them back in the day while they kept getting distracted with other things.

“Well, Starscream, perhaps you just need a little time to develop an appreciation for her too,” Nightshade suggested to the Decepticon.

“Maybe...” Starscream’s response trailed off into a grumble. His optics averted to the side, prompting concern from Hashtag while Bumblebee interpreted his reaction as sheer annoyance.

“He probably won’t even bother to touch her again,” Bumblebee remarked. “He probably looks at Fluffy Ears as insignificant.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Starscream hissed at him.

“Oh?” Bumblebee crossed his arms over his chest plate. “So, you’re telling me you don’t think she’s insignificant?”

Starscream stayed silent, directing an intense glare toward Bumblebee.

He was usually adept at weaving falsehoods, but inexplicably, he found himself unable to utter any lies in the presence of the Terrans. Their collective gaze, particularly Hashtag’s hopeful eyes, stifled any retort he might have offered, had he the nerve.

“That’s what I thought,” Bumblebee said after Starscream failed to respond. “Honestly, for the ‘slyest’ Decepticon, you’re pretty predictable.”

Starscream simply clenched his dentas, doing his best not to snap at the Autobot.

In truth, he surprised himself by holding his glossa. All the while, the frowns on the Terrans’ faces deepened, but at Bumblebee’s direction.

Hashtag, in particular, was going to have a word with Bumblebee later. Starscream was their guest. They all should be on their best behavior with him, and try to set a good example for him, despite him being older than them.

Based on her interactions, she had garnered Starscream’s respect by affording him the same. Unfortunately, Bumblebee was failing in this regard.

Maybe having Bumblebee around was a terrible idea…especially by how Starscream seemed to be withdrawing from them all, at least, mentally by how quiet he was being.

“Hey, Starscream,” Hashtag’s voice reached him, redirecting his attention, hoping to fix this quickly. “Want to show us how fast you are against Twitch?”

“Oh, yes, please, let’s race,” Twitch grinned, her fists shaking near her faceplate from uncontrollable excitement before quickly transforming into her drone alternate mode.

“I also want to join this race,” Nightshade said, gently placing Fluffy Ears on the ground. “I’d like to witness your flight up close, even if only for a moment,” they directed to Starscream.

“And don’t take it easy on us,” Twitch cautioned, her excitement palpable as she circled around Starscream. “We want the real deal.”

Starscream regarded them both with puzzlement. At first, he didn’t understand why they wanted to fly with him so badly.

Back on Cybertron, it was commonplace for aerial bots to relish the camaraderie of flying together. However, Starscream for the past million of years preferred to be in the air alone, since, well, the war had made him paranoid that someone nearby would shoot him down. Even flying alongside Skywarp and Nova Storm these days was a bit stressful.

Though… before the war, he felt rather at peace when Skyfire used to fly by his side all those years ago…

Perhaps taking to the skies with the two Terrans would indeed be enjoyable. Especially as he was completely certain they wouldn’t harm him.

“Come on, Starscream,” Twitch beckoned, soaring into the air while Nightshade transformed into their alternate mode and also began to fly up. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Amusement tugged at the corner of Starscream’s lips. The urge to impress the Terrans rose within his spark. He was on the verge of transforming and launching himself skyward when an abrupt pressure landed on his arm.

“You’re not going anywhere with them,” Bumblebee said, having acted quickly when he saw, in his optics, a sinister smile from Starscream. “If you think I’m going to allow you to go up there alone with them, then you have another thing coming.”

Starscream tried yanking his arm free from Bumblebee’s grasp, but the Autobot only tightened his hold. “Get your filthy servos off of me,” he growled, his words dripping with venom.

“Bee, let him go,” Hashtag intervened. Her servo on Bumblebee’s arm urged him to release Starscream. “Starscream isn’t going to hurt any of us.” Starscream felt the pressure around his arm lessen. In one fluid motion, he tore himself from Bumblebee’s grasp and leaped back, taking the chance to transform as he ascended into the sky, engines roaring to life.

Bumblebee shielded Hashtag with his frame due to his protective instincts kicking in. He thought Starscream would attack them, but after he didn’t feel any sort of pain or heard any commotion, he straightened up, and scanned the horizon quickly. His gaze fixed upon the sky, where Starscream’s form was suspended, almost as if he were gliding through the air in a non-threatening manner – slow as he had ever seen him go.

Nightshade and Twitch seemed to gather by the Decepticon’s side, most likely talking to one another.

“Hey Bee, can we have a quick serious talk?” Hashtag asked him after she had made sure Bumblebee seemed to calm down.

The Autobot glanced down at her.  

“Can you stop trying to antagonize Starscream?” she asked. Her voice was calm, yet assertive. “I know he’s not playing friendly towards you either, but you’re not making things any better by aggravating him.”

“I’m not antagonizing him.” Bumblebee frowned and only deepened further when Hashtag’s narrowed gaze bore into him. “Look, Hashtag, Starscream was the second in command of the Decepticons for years and has done terrible things to me and the rest of the Autobots. He’s a dangerous bot. Asking me to just play nice with him all of the sudden isn’t possible.”

Hashtag paused for a moment, taking in his words.

“It’s like, as if I were to ask you to be all chummy with Mandroid right after we defeated him, while he still wants to kill you,” Bumblebee said.

“Oh…” Hashtag let out when the clarity of his comparison set in. Her optics widened at the realization. After everything Mandroid had done to her and her family, even she would feel completely uncomfortable if she was forced to engage with him in a kind manner. Especially since Mandroid was adamant about getting rid of her and her siblings.

“Alright, I see your point,” Hashtag admitted, now feeling guilty for expecting such unrealistic things from Bumblebee.

“But Breakdown has done terrible things too against the Autobots during the war, hasn’t he?” Thrash decided to ask, catching Bumblebee off guard. Hashtag looked up at her brother, blinking, while Bumblebee was quick to defend his old friend.

“Well… yeah… but he didn’t enjoy doing them,” Bumblebee said, his words holding a trace of conviction. At least, he imagined his friend wouldn’t have enjoyed killing other bots like Starscream did. Breakdown had his own personal reasons for joining the Decepticons, and doing what he did to survive.

“And you think Starscream did?” Hashtag asked her mentor.

“Yes,” Bumblebee responded firmly, blue optics locking with hers as he affirmed his belief that Starscream had indeed reveled in his terrible actions. “He absolutely did…” his gaze dropped to the floor, a shadow passing over his features as the echoes of Starscream’s cruel laughter rang in his audio receptors. He could vividly imagine the countless memories of all the bots and humans Starscream had taken down as if it was just a game.

In response, Hashtag’s servos turned into fists, not wanting to believe Bee’s words.

She admitted she barely knew Starscream, but he has shown her how protective he could be towards her. He had a soft smile that made her feel safe, just the same way her parents’ smiles made her feel.

Her gaze returned to the sky, where her siblings hovered alongside Starscream in the tranquil expanse of blue. There was a sense of peace up there, a glimmer of hope that told her things would definitely be better from now on between Autobots and Decepticons.

Well… at least that’s what she liked to believe.

Chapter Text

After ending his call with Dot, Megatron hurried with his delivery that Optimus had requested. He landed near the former Ghost organization’s base, allowing Jon and his fellow agents — the agents that were unaware of Karen’s true intentions — to unload the supplies. He transformed into his robot form as Optimus and Elita-1emerged to meet him.

Megatron wasted no time and promptly told Optimus and Elita-1 that he wouldn’t be able to get hold of the second round of supplies. He explained that he had received a call from an urgent Dot, who had alerted him to Starscream’s presence at the Malto’s residence. Elita-1’s eyes widened slightly, while Optimus appeared deep in thought.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Elita-1 exclaimed, noticing the lack of urgency in Megatron and Optimus. “We should go now before Starscream ends up harming them.”

Indeed, Megatron wondered why he and Optimus were so hesitant to take action as they just stood there, showing no inclination to depart. Truth be told, Megatron found himself uncertain about what he would do once he reached the Malto’s location. He felt he should be seething with anger that Starscream had dared to approach the Terrans, possibly scheming to exploit their innocence. But instead, he was confused, especially since, according to Dot, the Terrans invited Starscream. The kids wanted the treacherous bot there.

“Nowhere is safe if it’s with you,” Starscream’s words crawled into his mind, leaving him with a sense of unease. He couldn’t help but feel that it was he who was probably a danger to the Terrans. Although, he knew this couldn’t be true since he had been a mentor to them, protecting them, earning their respect and trust. He would go to great lengths to ensure their safety, just as he had done countless times for the Decepticons.

Alright, there were moments when he had left his own men to fend for themselves, and even took some of their lives. But those bots were typically from the terrible bunch that frequently plotted against one another.

Now, when it came to Starscream, his second-in-command for many years, there had never been an instance where Starscream risked his life for others. Even when his fellow seekers required his assistance, Starscream rarely intervened to aid them. Usually when Starscream sensed danger, he would flee and abandon everyone else to ensure his own survival.

Yet, his processor would occasionally replay the memories of Starscream rushing to help Hashtag and Twitch telling him, after Mandroid was defeated, how Starscream saved her from getting annihilated by his own missiles…

Starscream seemed to care for the Terrans. But… there was no way that could be true because that would be out of character for him. Could it be possible that the fifteen years Starscream spent in Ghost’s captivity had brought a tremendous change in him?

Megatron frowned as he recollected the numerous instances when Starscream had cowered away from a fight, remembering all the ignominious actions Starscream had committed — the countless betrayals, the times he stabbed Megatron in the back, and the way he had forsaken his fellow Decepticons for personal gain. Megatron also thought about how Starscream would exhibit a state of eudemonia when he believed he was on the verge of assuming leadership of the Decepticons. Especially the moments when it seemed Starscream had finally learned to be a loyal second-in-command would ultimately prove to be deceptive and detrimental. These memories were hard to forget and were reminding him how terrible Starscream was.

“The kids might believe he’s changed after his recent help, but you and I both know that genuine change takes more than just one good deed,” his mind replayed Dot’s words from their conversation, and he had to agree with her. While Starscream may have aided Hashtag and later the rest of the group against Mandroid, it hardly served as evidence that Starscream had truly undergone any sort of significant change. In fact, recalling the instances again when Starscream tricked him into believing he had changed for the better, only for it to blow up in his face, confirmed that Starscream was once again manipulating him like a puppet.

“Nowhere is safe if it’s with you,” Starscream’s words whispered in his mind again, and rage welled up within him as he believed that he for sure was falling for Starscream’s schemes again. Again, Starscream was trying his best to make himself seem like the victim... Just like during the times Megatron had punished him.

‘You mean, abused?’ A voice crossed his processor, making him feel nauseous yet frustrated.

Yes, he was extremely rough with his former men, but Starscream needed to be put in his place…

“Megatron.” The former Decepticon leader’s optics shot up with confusion when he heard Optimus’ voice, and the Autobot leader gave him a concerned look. “I think it’s best that I go to the Malto’s alone, and you stay behind with Elita-1.”

Elita-1 frowned, and Megatron gazed at his friend with a puzzled expression.

“You’re going to need us, Optimus,” Elita-1 said.

“She’s right,” Megatron eventually spoke up, his gaze firmly fixed on Optimus. “Starscream is unpredictable, and we aren’t entirely sure why he’s over there in the first place. For all we know, it could be a trap set by him, with other Decepticons waiting to ambush us.”

Megatron chose not to inform Optimus that the Terrans had invited Starscream to visit them, as it was likely a lie fabricated by Starscream to provide a cover for himself. After all, Starscream may be a coward, but he was also a genius in his own right and could easily devise plans for his personal gain.

Moreover, while some Decepticons had shown not wanting to engage in battle with the Autobots anymore, there were still those who remained hostile.

Optimus maintained his gaze on Megatron before conceding, “Alright, but I ask that both of you stay back when I confront Starscream. If Starscream is merely visiting the Terrans, I don’t want him to feel cornered.”

And yes, Optimus believed there was a slight chance Starscream was visiting the Terrans based on the last interaction he had seen of them with the Decepticon. Twitch and Hashtag had looked so disappointed to see Starscream fly off after they begged him to stay longer after Mandroid’s defeat.

Megatron wanted to let out an annoyed sigh. Optimus, as always, sought a more peaceful resolution, expecting the best out of everyone. Normally, Megatron would attempt to emulate such behavior these days, but this was Starscream for crying out loud…

But of course, Megatron settled with the compromise and agreed with a curt nod, wanting to head over to the Malto’s now.

Oh… Starscream had been so close to bashing Bumblebee’s head in for a second there.

He felt the mix of rage and – he hated to admit it – a tad of anxiety, especially when the Autobot had refused to release him if it weren’t for Hashtag doing something about it. But as he shot through the air, he couldn’t help but feel the instant relief from being out in the open sky.

He had to hand it to Earth, it might be underdeveloped, but its skies were one of a kind. They always made him feel that a peaceful life was possible.

Though… he knew better than to believe such naive hopes.

Nightshade and Twitch hovered over to him once he slowed down. He decided to act like nothing had just happened, so he wouldn’t ruin the moment he would have with the Terrans.

“What happened down there?” Twitch asked in confusion.

“Are you okay, Starscream?” Nightshade asked him, catching Starscream off guard, especially by how concerned the Terran sounded as they flapped their wings to keep themselves up in the air.

“Did Bee hurt you?” Twitch now shared the same tone as her sibling, though it also held a hint of what Starscream thought could be protectiveness, though, of course, that was probably his processor playing tricks on him.

“I’m fine,” Starscream simply responded, and quickly did his best to change the subject. Because Starscream didn’t want to appear weak to them. “So, how do you want us to race?” he asked them.

“I’ll just hang back here and observe from a distance,” Nightshade remarked. “I’m certainly not as fast as you two, but I do want to see how Starscream flies. It’s a shame the others won’t get the same view as I do.”

“Maybe we can record it next time,” Twitch suggested. She then gestured for Starscream to follow her, leading him approximately two miles away from Nightshade.

Twitch let Starscream know basically they will race to where Nightshade is, which he agreed to. So, they positioned themselves to start. Well, it was Twitch, mostly preparing to take off while Starscream was calm as a cucumber, his engines humming softly.

“Okay, on the count of three, we go, got it?” Twitch asked him, which he agreed to. “Alright… one…two…three!” she launched herself, soaring effortlessly. Starscream stood back for five seconds and then, without warning, Starscream surged ahead, shooting past her effortlessly. The wind rushed past her, momentarily making her stop, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Before she could react, Starscream smoothly came to a halt next to Nightshade, where they awaited him.

Starscream assumed his robot form, hovering in the sky with a smug smile as he watched Twitch finally reaching over to them. She transformed. Her optics were blown wide with sheer amazement.

“Wow…” she let out in awe. “That… was…incredible!” she exclaimed, and she was genuine about her reaction. She was definitely trying her best to fly as fast as she could, but he effortlessly streaked past her as if she was nothing but a fly. Oh, now she was determined to match and even surpass Starscream’s speed one day.

Together, the trio began their descent towards the rest of the Terrans and Bumblebee, who awaited them below.

“I never thought anyone could be that fast,” Nightshade commented, their voice brimming with admiration as they returned to their robotic form upon landing. “That was truly remarkable,” they complimented Starscream.

“Starscream is even faster than Bumblebee!” Jawbreaker said with amusement, approaching the group.  

“Oh yeah, he definitely is,” Twitch agreed while Bumblebee was frowning, optics shifting to the side as he responded with a nonchalant “whatever.”

Starscream couldn’t help but chuckle, placing his servos on his hips with pride. “Told you guys that I was the fastest flyer of all Cybertronian.”

Thrash stood there, utterly dumbfounded, until Hashtag, who stood beside him, nudged him gently. She cast him an amused glance. He rolled his optics and crossed his arms on his chest.

“Okay, I have to admit, that was pretty cool,” he said, free of any animosity.

“How come you didn’t fly with them, Nightshade?” Jawbreaker asked Nightshade.

“He said he didn’t think he could keep up with us,” Starscream responded instead. “But, who knows, maybe he can with enough practice.”

Nightshade beamed at Starscream, appreciative of the encouragement. Then, they took a moment to bring something up.

“Oh, Starscream, I wanted to let you know that I go by They/Them,” they said.

Confused, Starscream turned to Nightshade, causing Bumblebee to refocus his attention on the interaction. The Autobot narrowed his optics slightly, preparing for the expected conflict to finally take place.

“I don’t follow,” Starscream said to Nightshade.

“My pronouns,” Nightshade clarified patiently. “You know, like he/him and she/her?” they asked which they received a nod from Starscream in response. “Well, since I’m nonbinary, I go with they/them instead.”

Starscream stared at the Terran, his processor working to grasp such a concept that to him, didn’t make sense. It was different from what he was used to. However, he reminded himself that they were on Earth, and Nightshade likely adopted these pronouns from humans that made sense to them more.

There were so many things that Starscream had to learn from the human world, just like the idea of cuteness…

Great… more things that he was completely unaware of. Now, he felt as the ‘child’ among the group. But of course, he was going to respect what the Terrans believed in. He may believe humans were inferior to Cybertronians, but there were certain aspects of their ways that were working for the Terrans. Nightshade and the rest of their siblings appeared to be mentally better than many Cybertronians back home.

“They/them,” Starscream repeated, as if trying to engrave it into his processor. “Alright. I will do my best to remember that.”

A grateful smile now appeared on Nightshade’s features, while Bumblebee, surprised by Starscream’s acceptance, stared at him in sheer astonishment.

“It’s fine if you happen to make a mistake later on,” Nightshade reassured Starscream. “I understand you’re not accustomed to this, and I want you to know that I won’t take it personally.”

“No. I’ll remember,” Starscream sounded a bit stubborn this time, earning a round of amusement from the Terrans.

“Hey, can you now teach us some crazy fighting moves?” Twitch asked with eagerness, which immediately got Bumblebee to step in before Starscream could provide an answer to the smallest of Terrans.

“I need to speak with you privately,” the Autobot said in a stern tone, making Starscream growl. Once again, Bumblebee was irritating him.

“Bee…” Hashtag groaned in exasperation. She was growing increasingly frustrated with him, particularly after having just discussed his antagonistic behavior towards Starscream.

“I just want to have a civilized conversation with Starscream,” Bumblebee reassured her and the others, who wore frowns of disapproval.

Starscream could have easily brushed the Autobot aside like a speck of dirt, but his mood soured once again, and now he had the urge to get rid of him. He pondered whether to make Bumblebee so irate to the point he would strike first, which would convince the Terrans to make the Autobot leave the area so they could finally be left alone for the rest of the day.

Yes… that was a great plan… and he was pretty good at aggravating others…

“Very well, let’s talk,” Starscream agreed in the calmest tone he could muster. He reassured Hashtag that he’d be fine and found himself walking away from the group with Bumblebee, leaving the Terrans still within view of the forest.

Bumblebee glared at Starscream, who returned the look with equal intensity.

“Well…?” Starscream sneered. “Do you have something to say to me? Or are you merely going to stand there and-”

“Listen, Starscream,” Bumblebee began, cutting him off in a manner Starscream deemed quite impolite. His name was emphasized with an underlying hostility. “I’m not sure what game you’re playing here, but I won’t stand here and let you manipulate them. They have no connection to our war, have nothing to do with what happened between our factions. So, consider this a warning. If you ever harm them in any way, I promise you, you will regret it...”

Starscream regarded him with a bored expression. “Are you finished?” he asked dryly. When Bumblebee simply responded with a silent glare, Starscream continued. “And you called me predictable.” He rolled his optics, crossing his arms over his chest plates. It was almost endearing how Bumblebee was there, attempting to threaten him. “I honestly can’t fathom how the children can tolerate being around you,” he muttered.

Bumblebee was on the verge of snapping back, but he halted himself in confusion when he processed what Starscream had just said. “Did... did you just refer to the Terrans as children?” he asked slowly.

“Well, aren’t they?” Starscream responded with irritation as he thought Bumblebee was judging his choice of words. “They were born on Earth, and since they’re being ‘raised’ by humans and are young, I imagine they’re akin to human children in some respects.” He shrugged. “In that regard, they differ from us. Unless you have a different way of addressing them, but logically speaking, they are children.”

As Starscream finished speaking, he cast a sharp, challenging look at Bumblebee, expecting a rude response. He was prepared to go along with his plan, to lure Bumblebee into physically assaulting him, but as seconds passed by, Bumblebee remained silent, his gaze locked onto Starscream.

For a brief moment, Starscream felt the annoyance grow at the lack of reaction from Bumblebee, but then slowly it turned to discomfort, especially when he spotted the children staring at them from afar. He then noticed, as the silence stretched on, Bumblebee’s defensive stance slowly began to lower. His shoulders, once tensed and ready for the possible heated argument that he expected to engage with Starscream, relaxed just a fraction. The subtle change from the Autobot added to the growing unease that gnawed at Starscream because it didn’t make sense to him.

“Yeah…” Bumblebee finally spoke, almost startling Starscream. But of course, Starscream did well from expressing it. “You’re right. They’re children….” Bumblebee went on before falling back into silence and seemingly studying Starscream who did his best to maintain his glare.

Starscream was guessing now that Bumblebee was trying to get him to start the fight somehow, but then completely against what Starscream was expecting, the Autobot turned around and began to make his way back to the Terrans. Just like that.

No antagonizing retorts.

No punches thrown.

What the heck?

Puzzled, Starscream stared at the Autobot’s retreating form before noticing Hashtag going over to him with a concerned look.

“You okay?” she asked. He assumed she was trying to read his expression by the way she was looking at him closely which he quickly smoothed out. Even though he was now feeling uncomfortable by how apparently the Terrans kept getting worried for his well-being.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Starscream muttered, the day starting to be a bit too overwhelming and confusing to him to the point that was giving him a headache. “I guess I’ll show you guys some stuff I picked up during my time in the war. But I expect you guys to not to imitate me on some of my moves, got it? They can be dangerous, and I don’t want you guys hurting one another,” he said to her, bringing an amused smile out of her.

“Alright,” she responded.

Oh, how he hoped things wouldn’t get more confusing later, even though, when it came to him, he had the worst of luck of all Cybertronians. But regardless of this, he was going to do his best to handle anything that came his way no matter what it was. Especially as he really wanted to see Hashtag and the others smile more around him.

Such desire was strange to him though, but he shoved the thought aside before he finally joined the others for their next activity.

Chapter Text

And fan art piece made by jazzy-man13 : ). Thank you so much for doing this, it's so cute! Peeps can follow them through: https://www.tumblr.com/jazzy-man13

Bumblebee wasn’t going to lie, but he was surprised when Starscream referred to the Terrans as children. He, too, had often used that term to describe them, as they were raised among human children and by human adults. They also behaved like typical human youngsters – similar to their siblings, Mo and Robby. Hearing Starscream, who should be the sort to judge everyone as insignificant creatures, didn’t view the Terrans as mere soldiers or Autobot lackies but rather as something like human children and better yet, was seemingly respecting them. Now… that was very unexpected.

He observed the Terrans gathered before Starscream in an open field, struggling to catch what Starscream was telling them. Bumblebee couldn’t help but wonder why Starscream was being unusually civil with the children, acting like an entirely different bot. There was no trace of his usual awful attitude. Well… he was still a jerk, but it felt almost - almost… - tolerable. Honestly, it seemed like Starscream was genuinely attempting to connect with the Terrans, trying to get along with them. At least, that’s what he thought when he saw the Terrans smiling while listening to Starscream.

But… Bumblebee couldn’t ignore the fact that Starscream was known to be destructive, scheming, manipulative bot, willing to sacrifice countless innocents for his ambition. It made him ponder if Starscream playing all caring and friendly-like with the Terrans was merely another ploy to win them over and potentially turn them against the Autobots. But what if it wasn’t a trick? What if Bumblebee was just overthinking things?

He was staring to believe that maybe he was somewhat bias with Starscream. With other Decepticons, he would be hesitant but still try to do his best to give them a second chance.

Well… maybe not Shockwave… Though, finding him holding Fluffy Ears on his arms was surprising and cute. The scene was particularly funny when Shockwave simply handed Fluffy Ears to him and without a word just walked away as if nothing had happened.

Anyway, he found himself genuinely lost on what he should be doing at this moment. Then, he almost slapped his forehead when just thought about the most obvious thing he should have done the moment he had spotted Starscream in the Malto’s land.

Call Optimus Prime.

He was about to contact him when he heard his name being called by Twitch, who was hovering among the group, waving to his direction to get him to come.

Bumblebee let out a human swear word under his breath before coming over to the group. He did his best to ignore Starscream’s grumpy face.

“What’s up?” he asked calmly.

“We want Starscream to show us how he fights, but he doesn’t want to spar with us,” Twitch said while displaying a pout on her face. “He says he doesn’t want to hurt us at all.”

“So, we were thinking to ask you to spar with him instead,” Nightshade added, elaborating further. “You’re an expert so you wouldn’t get hurt as bad. Also, it would probably be better to watch you guys go at it instead.”

Initially, Bumble was about to decline the request, but the fact that Starscream remained completely silent and appeared somewhat uncomfortable suggested that he didn’t want Bumblebee to participate.

“Alright, count me in,” Bumblebee said, eliciting smiles from the children and a disapproving look from Starscream, which amused Bumblebee even more.

Starscream held back from sighing with irritation as he moved to stand a good distance from the group, with Bumblebee standing across from him a few feet. Both exchanged hostile glares before a sly smirk crept on Bumblebee’s face.

“Well, I guess we should give the kids what they want,” the Autobot said. “Let’s see how the mighty Starscream bravely fights.”

Starscream’s optics narrowed, but he remained silent.

He knew Bumblebee was trying to press his buttons, but he wasn’t going to fall for the bait.

The last thing he wanted was to show how unhinged he was to the Terrans. He was certain if any of them witnessed one of his ‘reactions’ they would forever look at him exactly just like everyone does. He found himself not wanting to lose their respect the longer he spent time with them.

Spending time with bots who weren’t constantly judging him or expecting the worst from him brought feelings that he hadn’t felt in so long… Feelings he had wanted to continue having.

Damn it… he shouldn’t have accepted Hashtag’s invitation.

“Go, Starscream!” Jawbreaker cheered, and the others joined in, except for Thrash, but he too observed their two senior Transformers with eager anticipation.

Starscream tilted his chin up a bit as he was reminded he had an audience to impress, and in a split second, he lunged at Bumblebee who quickly jumped back before throwing a roundhouse kick. Starscream deftly blocked it with both arms before clutching the leg to hurl Bumblebee to the side. Bumblebee tumbled through the air but managed to catch himself on the ground with his hands, swiftly shoving himself back on his feet.

Starscream didn’t waste time and activated his thrusters with a sudden burst, shooting himself forward to slam his shoulder harshly against Bumblebee, sending the Autobot crashing into the ground hard.

Bumblebee grunted in pain when he his back made impact and mentally lectured himself for not remembering about Starscream’s speed.

“Oh wow,” Jawbreaker let out from a far in awe.

“He’s fast as well in his robot mode,” Nightshade noted as he watched Starscream propel himself a few feet back from Bumblebee with his thrusters then began to narrowly dodge the multiple shots coming at his direction from Bumblebee’s blaster. Starscream’s pedes skimming just a couple of inches above the ground as he darted around Bumblebee as the ‘bullets’ past him.

“Wait, no shooting!” Twitch yelled out immediately, making Bumblebee cease his blasts, looking at her direction with confusion. Starscream took this chance to shoot up into the air before descending in an angle, his right pede connecting squarely with Bumblebee’s chassis. Bumblebee hit the ground again, skidding across the area, his frame wracked in pain. Then Starscream again propelled himself up in the air with amusement.

The majority of the Terrans erupted in cheers for Starscream, save for Hashtag, who now wore a concerned expression, watching Bumblebee’s struggle to rise from the ground. Bumblebee glared at Starscream with hatred, while Starscream circled above him.

“You were never a match for me in a one-on-one fight,” Starscream taunted, his tone laced with mockery. “You always needed some other Autobot to help you to even stand a chance against me.”

Bumblebee couldn’t bear to listen to Starscream’s gloating. He wished Starscream’s words were untrue, but unfortunately, even though Starscream was a known coward, he was still strong and fast. Those were the reasons Starscream managed to survive for so long. After all, his schemes could only take him so far in life.

“At least I could count on others to help me out,” Bumblebee retorted once he managed to stand.

Starscream merely rolled his optics in response.

“Yeah, of course you would think comrades having loyalty to one another was nothing but a joke,” Bumblebee said coldly.

“And I didn’t think Autobots were such sore losers,” Starscream snorted, making Bumblebee point his blaster back at him. Starscream immediately returned the gesture as he stopped moving around Bumblebee. Again, they were in the same situation as they were earlier in the day. “Ta, ta, Bumblebee,” Starscream chided, wagging a finger in his direction. “I do recall Twitch saying no shooting.”

“Oh, so now you follow the rules?”

“There are no rules in war…” Starscream stated coldly. “This here, however, is simply a demonstration on how, like Soundwave would say, Autobots are inferior and Decepticons are superior.”

“Gees, you honestly don’t know your fellow Decepticons well,” Bumblebee said with a grunt. “If you paid enough attention to Soundwave, you would know that’s not how he says that annoying phrase.”

“I know how he phrases it… but I won’t mimic it precisely because it’s an unfinished sentence.”

Bumblebee stared at him.

“Incomplete sentences irritate me…” Starscream confessed with a grumble as he further explained himself.

“I don’t believe you,” Bumblebee responded bluntly.

“Of course, you’d assume I’m lying. How typical.”

“Then prove to me you’re telling the truth,” Bumblebee challenged.

“Oh, yes, please, Starscream, do it, and do it in Soundwave’s voice too,” Jawbreaker called out with amusement as the Terrans have been listening in to the discussion.

Starscream slowly lowered his blaster, no longer directing it at Bumblebee, who continued to keep his own weapon trained on the Decepticon. He shifted his gaze toward the children with a frown etched on his face. He wasn’t entirely eager to comply with Jawbreaker’s request; he had his pride, after all.

“I’m not going to humiliate myself by doing that,” Starscream grumbled.

“Aww, pretty please?” Jawbreaker pleaded, even clasping his servos together to add to the effect.

“Come on, JB, let’s not make Starscream do anything he doesn’t feel comfortable doing,” Hashtag said to her brother who sighed in disappointment.

Starscream offered Hashtag a small smile to her, to appreciate her having his back before returning his attention back to Bumblebee.

“Now, where were we….” Starscream said and pointed his blaster at him with a smirk.

“Guys, I said no shooting!” Twitch reminded the older bots with annoyance that she had to repeat herself and even worse that she was being ignored.

Both veterans locked optics with one another, the tension growing between one another. Starscream remained suspended in the air as silence had fallen between them, as if they were in a sort of standoff, waiting to see who would make the first move in front of the kids.

Both were determined and stubborn, each refusing to pull the trigger first as they wanted to prove to the Terrans who was the ‘better’ one. After all, they didn’t want to appear as the antagonist. They also wouldn’t tuck away their weapon even after a while as they also didn’t trust one another to not shoot. However, Starscream trusted Hashtag very much, and he knew very well that Bumblebee wouldn’t dare fire on him while he appeared ‘unarmed’ in front of her.

So, without a word, he relaxed his stance, a subtle change in his posture that didn’t escape Bumblebee’s notice.

Bumblebee’s hostile expression shifted to one of confusion to see how Starscream also no longer was glaring at him and simply was looking bored.

Mentally, Starscream was rather amused, and was about to take pleasure at the fact he may catch Bumblebee off guard when he was going to put away his blaster. Yet, before Starscream could do so, a deafening blast erupted from a distance. Excruciating pain engulfed him, especially at the back of his head. The last thing he knew was someone calling out his name before he was swallowed by darkness.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee was definitely not expecting the sudden turn of events that played out in front of him. Just moments ago, he and Starscream had their weapons trained on one another, ready to shoot, and after Starscream began to lower his weapon, which he didn’t expect, he saw a bright blue flash of energy struck Starscream’s helm, making energon burst out from it before Starscream hit the ground while Hashtag screamed Starscream’s name with anguish.

Bumblebee’s spark sank, but his experience of the long war and honed instincts immediately made him jump into action. The children, however, remained frozen in shock from the way Starscream lay on his side, motionless.

“Get down, now!” Bumblebee’s voice rang out to the Terrans as he sprinted to Starscream’s fallen form. He knelt by the Decepticon, blaster ready, positioning himself as a protective wall between Starscream and the hidden threat.

The Terrans, instead of following Bumblebee’s order to take cover, rushed to Starscream, their weapons trained on the source of the attack. Nightshade worked desperately to staunch the flow of energon from Starscream’s head wound by covering it with their servos, and to their relief, the damage wasn’t as extensive as they had feared.

Bumblebee didn’t do anything about their disobedience. Instead, he was prepared to return fire to whoever was lurking in the shadows of the woods. The tension hung in the air, his servos steady and his processor racing as he tried to anticipate what might come next.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger upon spotting movement, a familiar white and blue figure emerged from the forest’s shadows.

The Terrans reacted instinctively, opening fire on the figure, who skillfully used the trees as shields to evade their shots.

“Wait, guys, stop!” Bumblebee’s voice cut through the sounds of the blasts, halting the Terrans, whose faces now held a mixture of confusion and irritation. “Don’t shoot. He’s with us!” Bumblebee urged the group.

“Are you sure about that?” Thrash asked his mentor with irritation when the white and blue transformer stepped out to the opening, his weapon still aimed at the Terrans. “Doesn’t look like he is.”

“He’s an Autobot,” Nightshade let out in confusion to see the Autobot emblem on the Transformer’s chassis.

“Prowl, what the hell, man?” Bumblebee let out with annoyance. “Lower your weapon!”

Prowl’s blue optics scanned the hostile faces of the Terrans, who still had their weapons trained on him as well. “Not until they lower theirs,” he responded sternly.

Bumblebee muttered a curse and quickly ordered the Terrans to lower their weapons.

“But, he just shot Starscream!” Twitch argued.

“I know he did, but just trust me. He’s not going to do anything now,” Bumblebee urged. Well, he hoped he was right. Prowl was the sort of bot that even Optimus had troubled keeping under control.  

He assumed that Prowl had shot at Starscream because, well, the way Starscream and him were standing with their blasters pointing at one another probably made it seem he was in danger.

His gaze shifting to Starscream, who emitted a pained groan while lying on his side, his optics still dim, showing the Decepticon was still unconscious.

“We need to get Starscream help immediately.” Bumblebee retracted his blaster and signaled for Hashtag’s assistance in securing the fallen Decepticon onto his back so he could carry him safely.

“Twitch, go to your mother and inform her about what happened,” Bumblebee instructed the smallest of the Terrans. “Tell her we’re bringing Starscream. She’ll know what to do.” Twitch’s lips tightened into a thin line, but she offered a curt nod before transforming and flying back to her home.

The remaining Terrans hesitantly concealed their weapons but maintained their protective stance between Bumblebee and Prowl, who approached them with a measured gait after holstering his own weapon.

Prowl’s expression remained stern as he locked optics with Bumblebee. “Bumblebee,” he addressed his fellow comrade, his voice even and composed. His optics bore intently on Bumblebee. “What’s the meaning of this?” He gestured toward the injured Decepticon cradled on Bumblebee’s back.

“I’ll explain later,” Bumblebee replied, his attention still concentrated on the injured Starscream. And with that, he began making his way in the direction of the Malto’s home.

Relief washed over Dot as she caught sight of Optimus and Elita-1 rolling up the road in her direction, with Megatron transforming as he descended to the ground. Optimus and Elita-1 followed suit, shifting from their vehicular forms to their actual ones upon reaching her.

Megatron wasted no time in addressing Dot. “Where are they?” he asked urgently.

“Last I saw them, they were heading north into the forest,” Dot replied with a furrowed brow. “Bumblebee is with them now.”

Megatron prepared to head towards the forest, but Optimus swiftly reached out and grasped his arm.

“Don’t forget what we agreed on,” Optimus reminded the former Decepticon leader. They had decided that Optimus would approach Starscream first, take him to the side and have a peaceful conversation to understand why he came over to the Malto’s. Optimus hoped that Starscream would be less aggressive if confronted by him, even though the Decepticon harbored resentment towards both leaders.

Megatron scowled, about to protest, but before he could voice his objection, Twitch emerged and flew over to them quickly before transforming. She gazed up at them with wide optics.

Her terrified expression instantly made them think of the worst-case scenario and gave them the urge to dash to where she had come from, ready to fight Starscream.

Rage rushed through Megatron’s system for ever trusting that the Terrans could be safe around Starscream. He should have flown immediately to the Malto’s the moment Dot had called him so he could take Starscream down.

“Starscream is badly hurt!” Twitch exclaimed, panic in her voice. “Some Autobot shot him for no reason in the helm!” Optimus, Elita-1, Dot, and Megatron stared at the Terran with utter confusion, caught off guard.

Optimus was the first one to collect his thoughts. “Where is Starscream?” he asked Twitch.

“Bumblebee is bringing him,” she responded, before turning to her mother. “He said you’ll know what to do. Please mom, we have to help him,” she pleaded.

Dot hesitated for a moment, as the resentment and fear she had towards Starscream made her not want to aid him. But as she looked into her daughter’s distressed expression, her maternal instincts took over. With a heavy sigh, Dot nodded reluctantly.

She won’t be able to do much herself, but Megatron was there who was the bot she would have immediately reached for if a Transformer required any medical assistance. But… she knew better than to ask him to help Starscream.

She turned to Optimus. “Any chance we can get in contact with Ratchet?” she asked him.

“Unfortunately, I have yet to make contact with him,” The leader of the Autobots responded. Ratchet had stopped talking to him ever since he had given Megatron a second chance. Some of the Autobots had not been fond of his decision as well.

Dot really hated to do this, but she turned to Megatron.

Megatron was conflicted. He could feel her gaze on him as he was avoiding eye contact with her.

“Depending how bad it is, we may not have any other choice,” Optimus, having a good idea what was in Dot’s mind, said to Megatron, who remained dead silent.

“We should make sure we have everything ready to tend to Starscream,” Dot said before she rushed with Elita-1 and Twitch into the barn so they could clear the metal table that stood at the underground base.

Megatron and Optimus were about to go into the forest before they spotted Bumblebee emerging from the forest, carrying the injured Starscream on his back. The other Terrans followed closely behind him, their expressions full of worry. Immediately, the two old veterans recognized Prowl, who followed the group.

Megatron’s optics narrowed at Prowl, who returned the same hostile glance.

“Megatron…” Prowl addressed in a cold tone, chin tilting slightly up. “I see you’re still playing nice after all these years.”

Megatron didn’t respond to Prowl’s condescending attitude, not taking the bait. Prowl was one of the Autobots that had not taken well when he joined Optimus during the last moments of the war.

Meanwhile, Optimus ushered Bumblebee to get Starscream into the barn, Megatron saw the severity of Starscream’s helm injury as Bumblebee walked past him, energon was trailing out from fractured metal.

He assumed Starscream had done something to antagonize Prowl to have prompted him to shoot at him.

Then again, Twitch said Prowl had shot his former second in command for no reason… which wouldn’t be a surprise either. Prowl had taken down any Decepticons even when they had given themselves up.

“Is he going to be okay?” Hashtag asked Optimus with worry. “Please tell me he’ll be alright.”

Optimus placed a comforting servo on the Terran’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Hashtag,” he said in a calm and assuring tone. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure Starscream gets the help he needs. He’ll be fine.”

Hashtag looked down, appearing rather guilty, which Optimus couldn’t understand why she would be.

He exchanged a meaningful look with Megatron. Both of them knowing very well that Megatron was the only one who could truly help Starscream now.

Megatron knew how to tend to severe wounds. He had learned to do so before and during the war. Well, they were mostly wounds on him that he had tended to. Of course, he wasn’t as great at Ratchet, but he was better than nothing.

After a moment, he took a deep breath to push aside his personal feelings he had for Starscream and moved into the barn, ready to offer assistance in tending to the traitorous Decepticon.

The world was a blurred haze, and the pain was unbearable. Oh... he felt so much pain... It felt like someone had split open his helm and set it ablaze. He tried activating his optics, but the searing light above him sent waves of agony coursing through his helm, forcing him to shut them down.

He loathed getting injured, but he absolutely hated it when he obtained an injury on his head or his wings.

Something hard brushed against his helm, causing him to groan. He tried to reach for his head, but he felt metallic restraints holding his wrists captive, and a dreadful realization crept over him. It wasn’t just his wrists; his legs were also pinned down with something.

Panic surged through him like a rocket soaring through the air. The searing pain in his head did not hold him back from struggling violently against his bonds. Whatever was on his helm retreated abruptly, replaced by heavy, familiar servos roughly landing on his shoulders, further restricting his movements and intensifying his fear.

“Starscream, calm down,” a voice, tinged with irritation, one that had haunted him in his nightmares, commanded him. His response was to struggle harder, his teeth clenched as he attempted to spit at his captor out of instinct.

“Starscream, it’s okay,” a familiar, softer voice quickly said with concern. “We’re only trying to help you.” Starscream nearly believed it, but the face of a blonde human flitted through his thoughts, and with it came a flood of haunting memories.

‘Don’t you worry…’ Her cold voice echoed in his processor. ‘We’re only trying to help you…’

Fear seized him. He was back, under the merciless grasp of Ghost where they forced his chest plates open, his spark cruelly exposed. The painful memories came crashing down on him.

For a heart-stopping moment, Starscream feared that the freedom he had yearned for, meeting Hashtag and the other Terrans, were nothing but a fleeting dream, and that he was still imprisoned, about to endure the same agonizing procedures.

No, he couldn’t bear that pain again. Pain that didn’t seem to end ever since he was created. Pain that just grew worse since he decided to follow that tyrant.

Panic rose exponentially in his spark when something touched his helm again, making him finally break free from the restraint on his right wrist.

“Hashtag, get away from him right now!” a voice shouted, joined by a chorus of others.

“Hold him down!”

“Stop! You’re scaring him!”

“Starscream, it’s us! It’s okay!”

“Stand back, both of you!”

“You’re making things worse!”

“I said you’re scaring him!”

A sharp, excruciating pain seared on his right arm as it was forced down hard, metal fingers digging into him, drowning out the surrounding commotion. The noise, the pain, it all overwhelmed him, suffocating him. Then, suddenly, a burning sensation began to make its way within his spark, and it just grew worse within a blink of an eye. He wanted to scream but found himself choking before slipping back into the cold darkness that waited for him.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

Seekers…

Skyfire wasn’t sure how to feel about them from the start. They were created, one of the specialized new Cybertronians handcrafted to aid their world’s development. Their mission? To scour different regions, gathering vital resources to ensure their society’s growth. However, rumors suggested Nova Prime had grander plans, and Skyfire suspected truth in it, especially when he spotted Seekers undergoing combat training with military officers.

These Seekers, split into two subgroups, were near indistinguishable – one group considered as the standard one while the others were the coneheads who sported, well, cone-shaped heads. If not for their varying paint jobs, telling them apart would’ve been a puzzle. Their red optics, just like all the cold constructs had, somewhat unnerved him. Cybertronians mostly had blue optics, and deviations existed, but red was unnatural. It echoed a wrongness, a coldness, and a silent scream hinting at something he couldn’t quite grasp.

His interactions with Seekers were rare, and their rough demeanor toward each other put him off. Their aggressiveness seemed like part of their nature, yet Skyfire had to admit, he was rather interested to see how they all had their own special abilities that many cold constructed bots had. Each seeker possessed a distinct superpower, a trait exclusive to everyone. He’d witnessed teleportation, temporary invincibility, and the creation of lifelike holographic duplicates – abilities that set them apart in a way he found fascinating.

They were also remarkably fast compared to other Cybertronians flyers. Thrust, a conehead Seeker, hailed as the fastest among them, left Skyfire awestruck, streaking through the skies, outpacing everyone during their Seeker flying drills.

He also sympathized with them, the cold constructs. Many ‘natural’ born Cybertronians tended to dismiss them as mere automatons, lacking true life, which Skyfire disagreed with. He’d observed their emotions – laughter, anger, and disagreements during training sessions – that contradicted the belief of their supposed mindlessness.

But Skyfire kept his distance, occupied with his cargo transport duties between cities. Interaction with others wasn’t much of a priority, even during his rare moments of leisure, which he dedicated to absorbing recent scientific findings. Science fascinated him. If not for his inherent flying abilities, he imagined himself in Polyhex, devoted to interstellar life forms or unraveling the secrets of faster-than-light travel, of course after attending the Academy of Science and Technology at Iacon as a student.

Ambition coursed through him, ambition for knowledge. He had lived a very long life and had grown to have interests in various scientific fields. But as in any society, roles were assigned by one’s construct, and Skyfire was loyal to fulfill his duties.

One day, after completing a material transfer from Kaon to Tarn, he overheard sounds of laughter echoing from afar. Curiosity piqued within his systems, making him follow the noise. He walked around a building and spotted a group of Seekers gathered, their laughter cutting through the air. Among them stood one Seeker, a red and grey seeker but with blue highlights in his arms and legs.

Right away Skyfire didn’t like what he was seeing and could tell right away the isolated Seeker was the subject of mockery.

The bullied Seeker, his frame bearing the brunt of their amusement, had a fixed, silent, intense glare at Thrust, who was standing in front of the rest of the Seekers.

“It’s so pathetic that you don’t have any super abilities whatsoever,” Thrust chuckled with condescension. “I thought that you were hiding it this whole time, but apparently, you’re not. I guess you truly are defective, ha!”

“He can’t even fly that fast nor can he fight,” another bot, colored pink, added on with a cruel amusement. “He truly is a lost cause.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, the group just joined in a chorus of laughter.

Skyfire’s circuits hummed with concern and honestly, his spark couldn’t stand what he was witnessing. The general population, if they were in his place, would just turn a blind optic from the scene, but he couldn’t do such a thing. Without hesitation, he approached the group, his tall stature looming over the rest of the Seekers.

“What’s going on here?” his voice cut through the laughter, momentarily silencing the group.

The bullied Seeker’s optics flickered with a mix of confusion, and frustration as Skyfire intervened. Not expecting anyone to jump into their business.

Thrust looked up at Skyfire with a frown, and there was a moment of hesitation in his gaze, but he quickly pulled a dark smirk on his faceplates. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he claimed with an air of arrogance.

Skyfire’s optics fixed on Thrust, his expression unwavering. “Doesn’t seem like it’s just nothing,” he remarked sharply. “He’s hurt,” he motioned to the bullied Seeker’s injured arm. “Did you have something to do with his injury?” His voice was firm, demanding an answer.

Thrust appeared to be offended at the accusation. “That wound has nothing to do with me,” he retorted. “It’s his fault he’s clumsy.”

The accusation had riled the group, and another conehead, his laughter laced with disdain, chimed in, “Yeah, have you seen him land? It’s a wonder he’s not injured more often. He’s just terrible at it,” the bot chuckled.

Skyfire’s optics narrowed at the group. “Regardless, mocking someone for any reason is not acceptable,” he said.

Thrust rolled his optics. “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say,” he replied with a chuckle, dismissive of Skyfire’s words. He turned to the others. “Let’s get out of here.”

The group, following Thrusts’ lead, transformed and took to the skies, leaving Skyfire and the Seeker alone, the air heavy with tension.

Skyfire turned to the Seeker, who met his gaze with a glaring, accusatory look. “What was that?” The Seeker’s voice was laced with hostility.

Perplexed with the injured Seeker’s reaction, Skyfire blinked with confusion. “What was what?” he responded, genuinely not understanding the question.

The Seeker remained silent, staring at him, a mix of frustration and apprehension flashing in his optics. Skyfire took a step forward towards him, but quickly the Seeker took a step back, a hint of fear crossing his features, causing Skyfire to halt his advance.

The Seeker had the tendency to avoid other Cybertronians, especially those that were not cold constructed.

Sensing the Seeker’s discomfort, Skyfire softened his approach. “Your injury looks bad,” he stated gently, maintaining a respectful distance. “Mind if I look at it?”

The question filled the Seeker with confusion, not comprehending what the taller robot wanted. He hesitated, uncertainty flickering his faceplates.

“Why…?” he let out after a moment.

The question made something twist within Skyfire’s chest plates, which he wasn’t sure why it would. “Because,” he began to say as he tried to find an explanation. Honestly, the Seeker asked him a very good question. Why was he trying to help?

Skyfire took a moment to think things through before he finally continued. “Because you need help.”

His words brought confusion and surprise out of the Seeker, as if the Seeker was not expecting such words, driving Skyfire to really want to aid him out more than ever before.

After the most suspenseful moment Skyfire has ever experienced in his life, he finally got a hesitant nod from the Seeker. He felt relieved and slowly approached the injured Seeker. Towering over the smaller frame, he slowed his steps, careful not to startle him since his immense height tended to scare others a lot. He gracefully knelt, his massive form at eye level with the wounded Seeker.

Skyfire’s optics softened. “Oh, I’m being rude here,” he began, his voice carrying a gentle tone. “My designation is Skyfire. What’s yours?”

The wounded Seeker regarded Skyfire with a certain wariness, his optics holding a trace of uncertainty. For a moment, he did not respond, he wasn’t sure what to do. Except, something in his spark stirred him to slowly extend his injured arm toward Skyfire. “Starscream” he responded quietly.

Skyfire smiled to learn the Seeker’s designation and carefully took hold of Starscream’s injured arm, handling it with utmost care. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Starscream,” he said.

Starscream felt an unfamiliar softness in his spark as Skyfire’s smile directed his way. Feeling a rush of confusion, he couldn’t help but avert his gaze, overwhelmed by the unexpected warmth.

Observing Starscream’s nervous demeanor, which was obvious to Skyfire, made him smile more and further confirmed to Skyfire that cold constructed Cybertronians were not just mere automatons… And for some reason, he felt a new longing fill his spark, a desire he wanted more than become a scientist; that he would become friends with Starscream no matter what.

Present Time

Bumblebee had to admit, he wished the race, the one he was supposed to take part in earlier in the day, wasn’t cancelled. Unfortunately, life loved to surprise him sometimes by working against his hopes and expectations.

Yep, his life could be a drag…

Fine… he will admit that sometimes he found himself loving how some things turned out after believing he would end up hating it. For instance, he imagined becoming the mentor for the Terrans and living with the Maltos was going to be a living nightmare. Especially being near a fervent fan like Alex. But… after staying with the Maltos and Terrans for months, he discovered an unforeseen sense of belonging among them.

Family… The concept was somewhat alien to his own kind. His people didn’t have such deep relationships like the humans did. Of course, they had those they considered being rather close, like what the humans would consider best friends, mentors, spouses, or comrades.

Alright, he supposes they did have a family in a way, but human families sometimes consisted of more than one person in their lives they were close to compared to his people who tend to have just one special person in their life.

And truth be told, learning from the humans to be part of a family, being seen as an older brother or a young uncle to the Malto children - that, of course, included the Terrans - made him so happy. These newfound relationships made him bent on protecting them from any threat, no matter what it cost him. Thus, when Starscream was near the Terrans, Bumblebee was desperate to distance him from them. He honestly believed if he didn’t get rid of Starscream as soon as he could, one of the Terrans would end up hurt or worse. But somehow… everything turned out unexpectedly. The Terrans were safe. Megatron tended to Starscream, who was the one that ended up injured, shockingly, within their hideout. And he, himself, stood outside, guarding the barn’s entrance with his frame, his gaze fixed on a fellow Autobot.

Oh Prowl… Bumblebee did not expect to see the bot soon. Not after the bot and other Autobots expressed their disapproval of Optimus granting Megatron a second chance many years ago.

Now, Bumblebee would have been glad to see Prowl again, but the fact the White Autobot had dared to point a weapon at those Bumblebee considered family aggravated him.

What struck him as peculiar was his huge discomfort with Prowl being around the Terrans. He felt more at ease with Starscream being in close proximity to them instead - and that’s saying something, considering Bumblebee wasn’t happy with Starscream being near them either. The discomfort simmered within him as Prowl continued to stand nearby, his gaze fixed on the Terrans who offered varied reactions. Thrash, who was leaning on the barn’s walls, cast a glare at Prowl. Jawbreaker’s uneasy shifts between his Thrash and Prowl, Hashtag’s silence, Twitch’s frown, and Nightshade’s quiet observation heightened the tension that felt as thick as a brick wall.

Alex’s arrival interrupted their silent interaction, with Robby and Mo rushing out of the car. Dot had alerted Alex about a troubling situation back home and asked him to come home after picking up the kids immediately.

“Whoa, it’s Prowl!” Mo exclaimed with excitement, recognizing the Autobot from their Transformers comics. “Hi there,” she greeted as she approached and looked up at him, offering a friendly wave. “I’m Mo. Nice to meet you.”

Prowl was calm as he glanced down at Mo, studying her in silence.

“Don’t talk to him, Mo,” Thrash cautioned his human sister, drawing puzzled glances from her and Robby. “He’s a massive jerk.”

Prowl’s optics narrowed at the young Terran’s remark but said nothing.

“Thrash,” Alex intervened, joining the group. “Let’s be respectful to our guest,” he urged gently.

“But he’s not our guest,” Twitch argued. “No one invited him over.”

“Twitch is right,” Jawbreaker added, finding his voice. “Starscream is our actual guest and Prowl just shot him for no reason!”

Robby and Mo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You invited Starscream here?” Robby exclaimed.

“He shot Mr. Starscream?” Mo echoed, stunned.

“He shot him at his helm!” Jawbreaker said to his human sister, motioning over to the back of his own helm. Mo threw her hands over her mouth in shock.

Bumblebee sighed, giving in to clarifying the situation once more. “I already told you guys that Prowl shot Starscream because he thought there was an actual fight between Starscream and me. He was trying to protect me,” he said, though, he had to admit, Prowl should had done a better job examining the situation before acting out first.

“Is Mr. Starscream going to be okay, Bumblebee?” Mo asked, her worry clear in her wide brown eyes.

“He’ll be fine,” Optimus assured as he emerged from the underground tunnel, accompanied by Elita-1 and Dot. “He’s stable. Megatron is finishing with sealing the wound up now.” He looked down at Dot. “We should probably keep him here for a few days once he wakes up to monitor his condition.”

Dot sighed, a hint of resignation in her voice. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”

Hashtag averted her gaze, her guilt weighing heavily for Starscream’s condition. She refrained from vocalizing it, aware that her mother held no concern for Starscream, a sentiment shared by the other adults except for Optimus, clear in his compassion by how he was handling Starscream’s state at this moment.

Hashtag doubted she’d ever erase the memory of Starscream’s sheer terror upon awakening, restrained on the table. She hadn’t witnessed such raw fear before, and it stirred an anger within her to see Megatron lose patience, forcefully slamming Starscream’s freed arm down. Fortunately, Nightshade was able to place Starscream in stasis mode and she stepped in before Megatron could escalate further.

Megatron’s callous disregard for Starscream’s well-being left Hashtag in shock. His indifference to Starscream’s injuries was jarring. She hadn’t seen Megatron appear so... unconcerned about someone she cared for before. It troubled her deeply that many of the adults didn’t seem bothered by Starscream’s condition as well, fostering a growing worry for him as long as he was among them.

“So, you’re all cozy with the rest of the Decepticons now?” Prowl’s bitter tone twisted something inside Hashtag. “I suppose the Decepticons were right. Some Autobots are as naïve as they say.”

“Prowl…” Bumblebee growled at Prowl’s disrespect toward Optimus and the others. “Come on, man… Don’t be like that.”

Prowl shifted his focus from Bumblebee to Optimus. “I can somewhat understand giving Megatron a second chance, since you guys had a history before the war, but really, Optimus? Starscream?”

“A lot has transpired since your absence,” Optimus began.

“I can see that,” Prowl interjected. “Bumblebee briefed me on your newfound... acquaintances,” he gestured toward the Terrans.

“Why are you even here, Prowl?” Elita-1 asked, arching an optic ridge.

“Several weeks ago, an energy surge rendered me and others unconscious,” Prowl explained. “After regaining consciousness, Ratchet ran some tests on us and found out we weren’t unconscious but instead we briefly died before we were resurrected. It wasn’t just us affected; other Autobots globally experienced the same event. Care to shed some light on that?”

“Like Optimus said, a lot has happened since you were gone,” Dot said.

“There was a human who sought to exterminate all Transformers,” Nightshade calmly informed Prowl. “He nearly succeeded, but Robby and Mo saved us,” they explained, gesturing toward the two human children present.

“And if not for Starscream, we would’ve died as well,” Twitch interjected, her expression stern as she addressed Prowl. “He helped us against Mandroid. So, thanks to him, you’re alive. So, you definitely should thank Starscream instead of shooting him next time.”

Prowl’s optics narrowed icily. “It’s due to Starscream that countless of my comrades are dead,” he retorted, his words chilling. Twitch did not squirm under his gaze but was unsure how to respond. “He deserves more than just a shot to the helm.”

“And it’s thanks to friendly fire from Autobots that claimed human lives, fueling one’s hatred toward all Transformers and nearly ending us,” Nightshade countered. “So, following your logic, Autobots should face grave consequences for the humans’ deaths as well.”

“Those are vastly different scenarios,” Prowl maintained. “One was accidental, while Starscream’s actions were for his own amusement.”

“How do you know that...?” Hashtag asked with annoyance, frustration mounting as accusations against Starscream persisted. “And besides, you guys were at war.”

“What do you know of our conflict?” Prowl grunted. “You’re a naïve newcomer who befriends Decepticons blindly.”

“Enough, Prowl,” Optimus intervened firmly.

“At least these kids wouldn’t aim their weapons at what you label as ‘newcomers’ and then ignore commands to stand down,” Bumblebee muttered.

Dot blinked at Bumblebee’s words.

“Come again?” she asked, glancing up at the yellow bot.

“He pointed his blaster at us,” Jawbreaker told his mom.

“Hold on, he did what?!” she let out in shock and anger, glaring daggers at Prowl.

“Oh, you’re in for it now,” Elita-1 drawled to Prowl, who appeared indifferent as Dot began admonishing him for aiming his weapon at her children.

Hashtag felt a wave of relief as the conversation shifted from Starscream. She attempted to slip back into the lair, but Elita-1 caught her shoulder, signaling her to stay put.

“Not yet,” Elita-1 advised firmly.

“But I want to be there when Starscream wakes up,” Hashtag protested. “And I’m not comfortable leaving Megatron alone with him.”

“Hashtag, Megatron won’t harm him,” Elita-1 reassured. “Right now, it’s important for you and your siblings to rest. We should probably distance you all from this chaos,” she suggested, nodding towards where Dot continued lecturing Prowl.

Hashtag glanced at the ground, torn.

“Starscream will probably rest for a few days,” Elita-1 assured her. “You’ll be there when he wakes up. I promise.”

Hashtag had the urge to disobey Elita-1 and run back into the hideout, but she knew the adults were going to just do their best to keep her and her siblings away from Starscream while Megatron continued to mend him. But… she refused to leave the area at least.

“I’m sorry, Elita-1, but I’m staying here,” Hashtag muttered. She could not solely hope that Elita-1’s words held true and weren’t mere assurances. Elita-1 gazed at her and sighed, not forcing the Terran to do something that she felt strongly against. But she did guide the rest of the Terrans into the forest, steering them away from the tumult unfolding among the adults. Alex, Robby and Mo also joined them, as they were concerned and wanted to check on them.

With a last stern word directed at Prowl, Dot ended her lecture and her threats; she made it clear to him that if he ever hurt one of her babies, he would severely regret it. Her frustration was evident in the creased lines on her forehead as she turned away from the Autobots and made her way back into the underground hideout so she could keep Megatron company, of course after telling Hashtag she will let her come in a moment.

Inside, the subdued lighting cast elongated shadows across the room, where Megatron meticulously attended to Starscream. The Decepticon lay prone on the cold, metallic table, restraints securing his wrists and ankles. His helm turned to reveal the blast wound at the back. Dot, despite her unease with Starscream being in the same room as them, continued to approach them. She observed Megatron focused on repairing the injury inflicted by Prowl’s blaster. He was, of course, solely aiding Starscream because the children were desperate for someone to mend Starscream, which made her feel bad for him at the awkward position he was forced in.

Megatron’s imposing figure loomed over Starscream with an air of reluctant help. His movements, typically forceful and dominant, now displayed an unexpected carefulness as he worked on repairing the damage caused by Prowl’s blaster while looking troubled.

“Are you alright?” she asked with concern. Megatron continued his work on Starscream’s head, his attention consumed by the delicate repairs. For a moment, he didn’t respond to Dot’s query.

Observing Megatron’s commitment despite the history of antagonism between him and Starscream, Dot felt a pang of sympathy. Here he was, mending the very individual who had been a constant thorn in his side, an enemy entrenched within his ranks for years.

She truly was worried for his mental state.

After a brief pause, Megatron finally acknowledged Dot’s question with a terse response. “I’m fine.” After he made sure all the circuits and connections were mended to and aligned, he closed the wound up. He leaned back, his expression inscrutable. Dot sensed a hint of puzzlement in his gaze, a rare uncertainty that seemed to linger. Perhaps it was coming from the concern about the effectiveness of his repairs.

“You did the best you could,” she said, assuring him, her voice gentle yet firm.

Megatron remained silent, his optics fixed on Starscream’s now-repaired helm. His stern visage betrayed no emotion as he seemed to contemplate something that bothered him.

He had experience in treating wounds that he and his people had suffered during their war, but what Starscream had was far more serious than he had expected, exceeding his capabilities. Prowl’s blast had breached the neural pathways of Starscream’s helm. Such an injury would put anyone on the verge of being permanently offline, yet Starscream’s life signals persisted with no alarming fluctuations. Even more, Starscream even woke up and broke free from one of their restraints.

Moreover, to Megatron’s bafflement, as he thought it was a lost cause, the processor seemed to initiate its healing process spontaneously before it stopped and just left Megatron with the non-life-threatening damage for him to repair. As he dove in to repair Starscream at first, he didn’t question what had happened. But now, he was left grappling with an inexplicable mystery beyond his understanding. Never had he witnessed someone withstand a lethal strike and then slowly heal without help. Especially someone like Starscream, who had been severely punished countless times by his own hands.

Megatron was starting to believe something was off, and he took note that he definitely was going to talk to Optimus later based on what he had seen…

Everything was moving so fast.

Everything was so loud…

Starscream’s optics fixed on Optimus, losing his grip on the AllSpark, the coveted cube tumbling to the ground by his pedes.

“Yes!” he let out as a surge of triumphant relief coursed through him as he swiftly seized the cube and ascended, taking flight in jubilation.

But his elation abruptly turned to agony when a forceful impact crashed down on him. Despite the searing pain pulsating through his frame as he was slammed into the ground. He felt the large load pull off of him, making Starscream shoved himself back on his pedes, and he quickly glanced at Megatron, who ruthlessly snatched the AllSpark and bolted forward.

A torrent of fury surged through Starscream’s circuits at the sight of the bot he hated the most in his life. Especially the most hypocritical one. “Autobot lackey!” His enraged cry echoed through the chaos as he unleashed a barrage of shots in Megatron’s direction.

Nova Storm descended, landing on Megatron’s back before grappling with Megatron in a desperate struggle for control of the AllSpark. Meanwhile, Soundwave stood in front of the portal, unleashing sound waves to impede Megatron’s advance.

Seizing the opportunity, Starscream charged toward the fray, slamming Megatron to the ground with a surge of determination to claim the AllSpark. Amidst his desperate drive to secure the artifact, a sense of vindication surged within him as he pinned down Megatron—a spectacle he wanted his fellow Decepticons to witness. To witness the leader who dared betray them.

It was honestly ironic… Megatron always believed Starscream would end up betraying the Decepticons somehow, yet, it was he who had done so.

Starscream was the one who stayed loyal to his people, even though they never gave him reason to.

“Decepticons, bear witness to Megatron’s downfall!” His proclamation reverberated, his optics scanning the surroundings to ensure others observed the struggle, so they could witness who cared for them, and who was going to win them the war.

He grappled through Soundwave’s onslaught, locked in a frenzied contest with Megatron for possession of the AllSpark.

Starscream’s desperation surged as he clenched his teeth, grappling over Megatron’s form, frantically tugging at Megatron’s arm to wrestle the spark closer. Nova Storm’s grip tightened around Megatron’s neck, intensifying the struggle.

Then, a cry pierced the chaos, “Now, Megatron!” Optimus Prime’s voice echoed across the battleground. Starscream attempted to block it out, relentlessly tugging at Megatron’s arm. Abruptly, Megatron surged upward with a cry, throwing both Starscream and Nova Storm backward.

Time seemed to slow, as Starscream hit the ground, his optics spotted Optimus, a weapon aimed at the portal, just as Megatron hurled the AllSpark toward it. Panic gripped Starscream at the reckless action unfolding before his eyes.

What were the fools thinking?! They were about to obliterate the AllSpark!

Reacting instinctively, a surge of desperation consumed Starscream. With a frantic shout of “No,” he hurled himself toward the AllSpark, reaching out desperately, attempting to prevent it from getting destroyed because there was a huge chance it would not go through the portal in time if Optimus was going to shoot immediately.

As he was so close to catching it, not even a second wasted worrying about his own life, a blinding, sudden light enveloped him, searing agony seeping into his being. The sensation was overwhelming, as if an unstoppable force latched onto his spark, rending it apart. The excruciating pain was unrelenting, a feeling of devastation as his very essence seemed to fracture. He had never felt so much pain in his entire life. Not even the countless times Megatron had left him in a broken mess could compare to what he was going through now.

Starscream’s consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse. His mind and spark felt as though they were splintering, fragments shattering within him. The torment was unbearable, a plea echoing within him—Primus, anyone, make it stop!

Oh please, he couldn’t bear it any longer!

Starscream’s blue optics flashed to life, wide and startled. He tried to shoot up upright, but again he found himself restrained. He gasped, his engines desperately trying to vent out the anxiety that dared to overwhelm him. But as he panted heavily, he could quickly spot the familiar Terran’s monitor on his right side and at the certain devices hooked up to him.

He looked around and realized he was in the Terran’s hideout, which made him do his best to calm himself down, even though his body trembled with residual fear.

The nightmare, a fragmented echo of the horrors he went through, lingered vividly in his mind. He couldn’t recall what transpired right after the blinding explosion, nor what happened to the AllSpark. Well, all he knew was that Ghost somehow got their hands on him and offered a twisted form of “help” that haunted his thoughts and chilled his spark, which, honestly, he would rather not think about more.

As the unsettling memories dissipated, Starscream’s focus sharpened, well, slightly. There was an ache in his helm that bothered him a lot. Then, his momentary relief shifted to stark panic as he heard the familiar, heavy steps from Megatron echoing through the entrance of the room.

Yes, unfortunately he knew Megatron’s steps very well.

His panic surged when he saw Megatron’s imposing figure coming into view as he walked into the room and approached him.

Starscream laid there frozen. Megatron eventually stood by his left, his red optics glowing down at him.

“You’re awake,” Megatron said, cutting through the silence that had fallen between them. The former Decepticon leader’s voice had a mixture of annoyance and surprise as he spoke. Starscream also spotted Dot standing on Megatron’s left shoulder, gazing at him with weariness. “You attained a massive injury at your helm.” Megatron informed him.

Starscream’s optics darted around, his breaths coming in quick now, shallow gasps. Panic rushed through him as he didn’t want to be in the predicament he was in right now. “Release me this instant!” he demanded, his voice laced with urgency and a hint of desperation. He weakly struggled against the restraints, every movement an attempt to break free from the confinement that kept him captive.

Despite his agitation, Megatron’s thoughts swirled in confusion. How had Starscream awoken so soon after the repairs?

The chamber remained tense as Starscream’s panic escalated. “Calm down. No one’s going to harm you,” Megatron said, his voice deep and authoritative, agitating Starscream further.

“I highly doubt that,” Starscream snapped, his optics blazing with fury. “Knowing you, your blast to my helm is just the beginning.” His struggle against the restraints intensified, though he didn’t think he would be able to continue as he felt too exhausted.

Megatron’s frown deepened, his tone edged with frustration. “I was not the one who attacked you,” he stated firmly, attempting to reason with the restrained bot. “It was Prowl who thought you were attacking Bumblebee.”

“I don’t believe you,” Starscream retorted, continuing his futile struggle against the restraints, his desperation growing.

“Megatron is telling the truth,” Dot said calmly.

“As if I’m going to believe Megatron’s pet,” Starscream hissed with condescension.

Megatron’s patience with Starscream waned, and he grew annoyed at him as well by the way he disrespected Dot. With an abrupt movement, he advanced toward Starscream, seizing him and slamming him against the table by planting a heavy servo on his former lieutenant’s cockpit. “Dot is not a pet,” he growled at Starscream. “Now, I told you to calm down now…” he growled, his voice carrying a tone of command that brooked no argument.

The sudden forcefulness caught Starscream off guard. He froze, his defiant struggle faltered as a surge of genuine fear coursed through him. His blue optics widened, shimmering with unspoken dread in the face of Megatron’s overwhelming presence and command. For a moment, Starscream remained motionless, stunned into silence by the terrifying situation he was in. At the similar situation he had found himself countless times before Megatron started to tear him apart.

The room had fallen deadly silent. Even Dot, holding herself as best as she could on Megatron’s helm, found herself stunned.

Starscream began trembling unconsciously under Megatron’s hold, even though he desperately didn’t want to show such vulnerability, but Starscream couldn’t help it. He was restrained with no way of defending himself. The defiance he had earlier was completely stripped away from him at this moment.

Now, Megatron had told Dot countless times how Starscream was such a coward and would throw an act of a sniveling pathetic bot to slip out of the consequences from his actions. She kind of expected him to do so at this moment, but instead, the fear that Starscream displayed felt so genuine to the point that it made him appear like a scared child. The reaction was like those that she had seen during the war when finding  people among the detritus of destroyed buildings, or just how she, herself, reacted years ago from the war...

It felt strange that Starscream, the one who she was weary of, was completely terrified of her friend at this moment. Instead of feeling afraid of the Seeker, she found herself experiencing pity for him.

“Megs…” Dot let out quietly, feeling the increase of discomfort and guilt increasing while Megatron continued to pin Starscream down on the table. It was at this moment she just realized how much bigger Megatron truly was compared to Starscream. “Pull back.”

Megatron heard Dot’s tone and then his optics caught the sight of Starscream’s somewhat crushed right arm – damage he had caused - that still needed to be repaired.

He couldn’t help but feel guilt run through his systems just like it did earlier as a memory replayed in his processor.

“Hashtag, get away from him right now!” Dot called out to her daughter who was by Starscream, a servo softly landing on the unhurt part of Starscream’s helm, attempting to offer comfort after he broke free from the restraint clamping his right wrist.

“Hold him down!” Elita-1’s command pierced the chaos as Starscream continued his violent struggle against the restraints, blindly grappling with the other restraints.

“Stop!” Twitch yelled with annoyance, blocking Elita-1 from advancing toward Starscream. “You’re scaring him!”

“Starscream, it’s us!” Hashtag urged to get through to Starscream who continued to panic. “It’s okay!”

“Stand back, both of you!” Megatron said immediately after he made an attempt to grab Starscream’s right arm.

“You’re making things worse!” Hashtag retorted sharply to Megatron’ intervention. Elita-1 maneuvered around Twitch, joining Megatron’s efforts to restrain the freed limb. Starscream let out a pained noise as the struggle persisted.

“I said you’re scaring him!” Twitch pleaded desperately as Starscream forcefully struck Elita-1’s servos away, prompting Megatron to lose his patience. He seized Starscream’s arm, forcefully pressing it down onto the metal table, his grip digging into the frame, crushing it.

Starscream released a gasp of pain, his struggle intensifying until Nightshade finally managed to place him in stasis. The efforts to do so had been fraught with unexpected difficulty, their system encountering unanticipated challenges during the process.

The room fell silent, Megatron’s digits still digging into Starscream’s plating, drawing out energon, but he hastily released his grip upon meeting Hashtag’s gaze, her optics clouded with a blend of dismay and anger at the sight of how he was restraining Starscream.

For a moment, she looked at him as if he were some monster which made him feel a huge wave of guilt spread in his spark, the same way he felt when he realized how terrible he had allowed the war to get.  

“Starscream did nothing wrong,” Hashtag’s voice cut through the silence, her tone taking a firm tone, her optics growing serious. “He did nothing to deserve this…”

Megatron snapped out of the memory.

Hashtag had a point though. Starscream didn’t do anything that day, according to the children, to justify Prowl shooting at him out of the blue.

But the way Hashtag had continued to stare at him, had made Megatron feel she knew about the complicated relationship he and Starscream had. The scrutiny in her optics bored into him, silently judging him which immediately made him feel a tinge of anger towards Starscream.

What lies had Starscream fed to her?

Rage flowed through his systems, and he wanted to wrap his servo around Starscream’s neck and demand to know what nefarious tales he’d spun to manipulate Hashtag into regarding him like a monster, what he had said to make Dot appear like she was believing in Starscream’s charade now by how she stared at him with confusion. He wanted to punish Starscream for trying to pull one of his devious plans to portray himself as the victim, and for even daring to make him feel guilty when he shouldn’t be.

“Megs,” He heard Dot softly say while she caressed his helm, slowly pulling him from his temper that threatened to explode. “I think we should give Starscream some space. He’s been through a lot today, don’t you agree?”

Truth be told, he had issues controlling his rage, but for some reason Dot was able to calm him down, just like she was at this moment.

“Let’s have you step outside and get some fresh air,” Dot suggested, her smile reassuring.

Megatron was reluctant, wanting to force Starscream into admitting how he was playing them like puppets. His servo pushed down slightly, threatening to crush Starscream’s cockpit into pieces. Unbeknown to him, causing a strange pain to echo in Starscream’s spark.

‘Nowhere is safe if it’s with you…’ Starscream’s voice echoed in Megatron’s helm, making him freeze on the spot, staring at Starscream with wide optics, who continued to tremble. He eventually pulled away. Anger once again overtook him, but instead it was directed to himself.

Dread was still visible on Starscream’s faceplates before he seemed to gather himself and sent a glare at his direction before looking away, internally seething.

Not wanting to be around Starscream any longer, Megatron hurried out of the room and soon found himself walking outside of the barn. Hashtag dashed past him as he exited the hideout tunnel, ignoring her mother’s calls.

Bumblebee glanced at them. Prowl and Optimus were nowhere in sight. Gently, Megatron placed Dot on the ground.

“Please, don’t follow me,” Megatron murmured, his optics avoiding eye contact with her. “I need some time alone.”

Dot gazed at him with concern, and she watched him march into the forest.

“What happened?” Bumblebee asked Dot with confusion once Megatron vanished from view.

“I’m… not really sure…” Dot admitted before looking up at him. “Could you head back to the hideout? Keep an eye on things there. I need someone watching over Starscream, and I’d rather not have Hashtag alone with him,” she explained.

Bumblebee gave her a nod. “Alright,” he said.

“Oh, by the way, he’s awake.”

“Already?” he asked, blinking at her with confusion. “I guess the wound wasn’t as bad as I thought,” Bumblebee said before he began making his way to join Hashtag.

Starscream’s gaze was fixed on the monitor that was keeping track of his life signal. He was mentally frustrated at how easily Megatron could still rattle him and how he showed such weakness in front of a human as well.

How he wished he had managed to land more missiles on Megatron during that whole Mandroid fiasco weeks ago. The memory gnawed at him, fueling his vexation.

His felt himself tensed up as the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the tunnel. Despite his weakened state, he instinctively attempted to struggle against the restraints.

“Starscream?” the familiar voice interrupted his efforts, instantly putting him at ease. He ceased his struggles and turned to see Hashtag, who’s worried expression softened up with immense relief as she hurried over to him.

“How are you feeling?” she asked him urgently, and without hesitation, she began freeing him from his restraints, knowing all too well that no one would like to be confined. She noticed his right arm was still wounded. She wished Nightshade was in the room now so they could mend it.

“I’m fine,” Starscream murmured as she released his wrists. “Just tired,” he admitted softly, before thanking her when she freed his final limb. She also removed the other devices hooked up to him.

Struggling to sit up, Starscream found himself met with Hashtag helping him sit up, one of her servos on his back to guide him. “Take it easy,” she gently told him. “Don’t push yourself too much.” Her words were both comforting and grounding after the earlier harsh encounter he had with Megatron. There was a certain warmth in her concern that made him feel safe, happy, and at peace.

“I’m fine, really,” Starscream assured her. “And honestly, this is nothing. I’ve been through worse,” he tried to dismiss his condition as if it was just some scratch on his paint job.

And truth be told, he was feeling fine compared to other times where he would be drowning in agony.

His nonchalant demeanor brought a frown on Hashtag’s face. “That’s not something I like to hear,” she said, her concern evident as she imagined what worse things Starscream had gone through.  “Starscream, you got shot in the head… you were bleeding out so much, we were all worried that you were going to die.”

Starscream eyed her before he finally reached over to his helm, feeling the flesh sealing on his helm.

“Who shot me?” he asked.

“The Autobot named Prowl,” Hashtag responded.

Starscream frowned at the fact Megatron was telling him the truth.

Though, he shouldn’t be shocked, he supposes. After all, if Megatron did shoot him with his own cannon in the head, the damage would have been worse as he imagined Megatron would have had fully charged his cannon for a blast. But… Prowl was a great shooter as well… and would have taken a killing shot.

He slightly tensed up when Hashtag gently took hold of his right arm, a faint flinch escaping him as he realized it was injured. Somehow, he had been oblivious to the pain until her touch brought it to his attention. Hashtag glanced at the wound with concern.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the tunnel, kind of ignored by the both of them. “I wish I could mend this,” Hashtag said softly, a hint of helplessness in her tone. “But I’m not sure how to treat wounds like this.”

Her caring nature struck something within Starscream. She reminded him of…

“It’s alright,” he quickly reassured her. “I can handle this. I’ll just need some tools.”

“Sure, I’ll get them for you. Which ones?” Hashtag asked swiftly, ready to help.

Before Starscream could respond, Bumblebee entered the room. Starscream’s optics narrowed with hostility at the sight of him. Bumblebee raised his servos in a non-threatening gesture. “I come in peace,” he stated calmly, hoping to diffuse any sort of tension as he didn’t want to distress Hashtag further.

“Bumblebee actually defended you,” Hashtag interjected swiftly, informing Starscream. “He stood between you and Prowl right after Prowl shot you.”

Starscream’s gaze remained locked in a hostile stance, unyielding even as Bumblebee lowered his servos. “I’ll get you the supplies you need for your arm,” Bumblebee offered calmly. He made his way to a corner where various tools used for fixing injuries were stored.

In the storage compartment, there was a well-organized arrangement of devices, including a medi-tool, a compact welding kit, and a specialized scanner used for diagnostics.

As Bumblebee gathered the supplies, Starscream’s attention shifted to Hashtag, who was staring at his injured arm with a troubled frown.

She was mentally replaying the way Megatron had caused the damage on Starscream’s arm. She caught his gaze. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her optics clouded with regret. “This is all my fault.”

And she truly believed her words. She tended to be impulsive with some of her actions and decisions. She honestly didn’t want others to get hurt because of her.

Confusion flickered across Starscream’s face as he listened to her self-blame. “Don’t blame yourself,” he told her. “This isn’t your fault.”

“I shouldn’t have tricked you into coming over,” Hashtag admitted with a sigh. “I should’ve just been upfront with the other adults about having you here. It would have avoided all this mess.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Bumblebee advised Hashtag as he approached them with the tools in his arms. He placed them on the table next to Starscream who tensed up by his presence. “Starscream is alive and that’s what matters. Let’s just focus on getting this sorted out, alright?” He then turned to Starscream. “I can help you if you want.”

“No,” Starscream responded with a cold tone, which honestly made Bumblebee relieved as he didn’t want to be placed in a more awkward position than he already was.

Eventually Bumblebee stood at a cautious distance, leaning against the wall, silently observing the scene unfolding before him. Hashtag was determined to help, assisting Starscream as he instructed her on how to mend his wounded arm. Starscream was surprisingly patient, just like he was earlier with the rest of the Terrans, more than Bumblebee was at first with the Terrans when he became their mentor, guiding her through the intricate process of repairing his arm.

The sight was further confusing Bumblebee regarding Starscream. In a way, Starscream was acting like some sort of mentor to Hashtag. Starscream was calm while Hashtag handled the tools under Starscream’s guidance, carefully adjusting and repairing the damaged mechanisms.

He expected Starscream to slip up and act like his erratic self. After all, he was one of the most unstable bots he has ever met.

As the repairs progressed, Bumblebee also couldn’t help but notice Starscream’s usually sharp blue glow in his optics seemed fainter, as if diluted. He assumed Starscream’s energon levels were probably low.

A part of him wanted to ignore it, but a major portion pushed him to do the right thing. Bumblebee gently pushed off from the wall, making his way to another corner of the room.

While Starscream observed Hashtag sealed the metal plates on his arm, he couldn’t suppress the question that had been gnawing at him. “How long was I out?” he asked.

“Just a couple of hours,” Hashtag replied, her response causing Starscream to be caught off guard. He had expected an injury to his head to leave him out for at least a few days.

Bumblebee approached them, carrying a cube of Energon. “Yeah, which was a surprise for us,” he said. “I expected you to be out for a while. Also, you should thank Megatron as he tended to your injury,” he informed Starscream, offering the cube to him. “Didn’t expect Megatron to be that great at medic work,” he added.

Starscream took the cube, his optics widening in disbelief at what Bumblebee just said.

No… there was no way Bumblebee’s words were true. Megatron, of all bots, had tended to his injury? The news left him too stunned to refuse Bumblebee’s offering, also, he was too tired to even abnegate anything.

Because never in the million years he served Megatron had he ever received any sort of medical aid from him. Instead, Megatron was the bot responsible for the majority of his injuries that he had to endure.

“Then again, head injuries often look worse than they truly are,” Bumblebee said. “Now, go and drink that up before you pass out,” jolting Starscream out of his daze.

Starscream eyed the energon cube with suspicion.

“It’s okay, Starscream,” Hashtag assured him, sensing his apprehension. “The energon is safe.”

“I trust you, but not him…” Starscream grumbled, but still went ahead and cautiously sipped the energon. It did offer some relief, but the exhaustion lingered. “By the way, I’m not thanking Megatron for anything.”

“Of course, you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Hashtag responded immediately before she finally finished sealing the last bit of the metal on Starscream’s arm. “Done,” she said.

Starscream lifted his arm to inspect her work and nodded approvingly. “You did good,” he complimented, earning a grin from Hashtag. “You should be proud of yourself.”

“Couldn’t have done it without your amazing instructions,” she praised, causing Starscream to kind of gaze away.

“Psh, of course,” he said with a hint of pride. “I am pretty good at giving out directions.”

Bumblebee rolled his optics at Starscream’s boast, but honestly, it didn’t come out as annoying. Instead, it reminded him how the kids would act when they did something they were actually proud of.

“Yeah, not gonna lie, but I’m surprised you are pretty good at it,” Bumblebee admitted. Starscream shot him a disbelieving look, not expecting such words to come out of the Autobot’s mouth. “Seriously!” Bumblebee was quick to defend his statement. “I’m just stating the facts by what I saw.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Starscream asked a bit with hostility in his voice, questioning Bumblebee’s sanity at this moment.

Were they all sure Starscream was the one who got struck in the helm?

Bumblebee blinked with confusion, but then realized that Starscream’s reaction made sense. Even he was questioning how he was interacting with Starscream in a friendly sort of manner instead of, well, now that he will admit it, antagonizing him like he was earlier. But the way Hashtag was smiling at his direction gave him his answer. Because when one had a family, and one loved them very much, they would do anything to bring them joy. The kids ‘adored’ him, so he should at least be civil towards him.

He had to admit, living beings were complicated; they weren’t just evil or good. At least, that’s what he had learned for the past months from the Maltos. For so long, Bumblebee had seen himself as a hero with the Autobots on one side and the Decepticons as villains. But maybe, just maybe, viewing others like he used to was problematic. Judging others as just pure evil took away of actually finding a peaceful resolution with others and hinder a broader understanding of others’ circumstances.

And even though Starscream was a conniving bastard during the war, maybe there was a chance that he was more than that. Something good that the Terrans were not blind to see. So, for now, Bumblebee was going to try to give Starscream a chance, just like they all have been doing with other Decepticons. He’ll definitely keep an optic out though to make sure Starscream wasn’t actually tricking them all for some evil master plan.

Also, giving others chances is what a great hero would do. Which, of course, that’s what he was.

“I’m just trying to play nice here,” Bumblebee said as he shrugged his shoulders. “Trying to get along with you for the kids, you get me?”

No, Starscream didn’t get him and wasn’t sure if he wanted to. But when he heard Hashtag chuckle next to him, he glanced over to see her glancing at him with a sparkle in her optics, immediately making his spark ease from the built-up agitation he had because of an Autobot in the same room as them.

He wanted to harshly reject Bumblebee’s attempt of interacting with him civilly, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it, not with Hashtag nearby.

‘Not everyone is terrible, Starscream…’ a soft voice from a memory, one he hadn’t heard in so long, whispered in his processor. Yet, instead of easing his paranoia of others, it reignited the anxiety that had haunted him for years, creeping back to take control of his thoughts and refusing to let go…

After all, life was never so kind to him…

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

Skyfire flew through the Cybertronian skies. Below, some Seekers whizzed by, engaged in what looked like training exercises around tall buildings. He paid them little mind until he noticed a familiar figure—red, blue, and grey—perched alone, hugging his legs, deep in thought on the roof of one of the largest towers. With a swift dive, Skyfire transformed mid-air, landing gracefully beside Starscream.

Startled by Skyfire’s sudden arrival, Starscream flinched, his expression shifting from a glare to one of confusion.

Skyfire offered a friendly smile. “Hey there.”

Starscream frowned, offering no reply, which didn’t surprise Skyfire. Last time they interacted, after Skyfire intervened to stop other Seekers from bothering Starscream, Starscream barely had said much.

The seeker appeared to be a sort of the silent type.

“How’s your arm?” Skyfire asked.

“It’s fine,” Starscream replied curtly, shifting his gaze away. “You repaired it adequately.”

The term “repaired” to describe what had been done to Starscream felt condescending. Cold constructs like Starscream tended to be reduced to mere objects by others.

“Well, I’m glad I could help mend it,” Skyfire remarked, choosing to take a seat beside Starscream, who tensed slightly at the proximity. “Shouldn’t you be out there with the others?” He gestured toward the Seekers engaged in training.

Starscream’s frown deepened, his focus fixed ahead without a word.

Skyfire’s felt regret; he realized he might have misstepped, especially considering the dislike the other Seekers seemed to harbor toward Starscream. “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry,” he apologized.

“You’re strange...” Starscream grumbled, prompting Skyfire to blink at him in confusion. “I’m here because I’m not exactly a great flyer, in case you hadn’t heard, which, clearly, you have.”

Skyfire recalled the jabs and snide remarks from the other Seekers, criticizing Starscream’s less-than-perfect landings. “Come on, I don’t think you’re that awful,” Skyfire remarked.

“There’s a reason I was named Starscream,” Starscream grumbled irritably, causing Skyfire’s optics to stare in confusion.

“Wait, Starscream isn’t your real name?”

Starscream let out a sigh, looking up at the sky. “Cold constructs don’t get to choose their names,” he explained. “The instructors decide for us based on our ‘abilities’ or other factors during our initial evaluation.”

Skyfire’s expression darkened at the revelation, realizing Starscream’s name stemmed from outright mockery, despite its initial appeal to him.

“The first time I flew, well, something went wrong. My wing collided with something, and I plummeted,” Starscream grumbled, recalling the humiliating experience. “It was... pathetic, especially by the scream I let out as I fell. So, my instructor dubbed me Starscream, and that’s been my designation ever since.”

Skyfire didn’t like hearing that Starscream’s name originated from such disdain. He’d found the name beautiful when he first heard it. He pondered if there existed any provision for cold constructs to legally change their own names.

“Anyway,” Starscream redirected the conversation. “I prefer practicing alone at night,” he admitted. “It’s easier to focus and avoid... crashing into others or anything else.”

“Oh, so you do practice?”

“Of course,” Starscream grumbled. “Just because I’m not proficient at something doesn’t mean I’m giving up...”

Skyfire was taken aback by Starscream’s determination. And it also made him smile with some sort of fondness towards the Seeker.

He observed Starscream in silence, noticing how the Seeker’s red optics seemed to study a particular seeker who was zooming fast without a moment of hesitation and making it look easy. He wondered if Starscream was studying the other Seekers and if he found himself in the usual situation to just sit and watch the others from afar.

In a way, Starscream sitting there every day seemed rather lonely to Skyfire, and kind of boring as well.

Suddenly, an idea crossed his processor. Even though he thought it was a bad one since he couldn’t imagine just anyone sharing the same interests as him, but it didn’t hurt to try.

“Want to come with me to the data repository center at Iacon?” Skyfire proposed, which made Starscream turn to him, puzzled. “I go there weekly to catch up on the latest scientific advancements,” Skyfire explained.

“Why...?”

“Oh, you know, because... science is fun?” Skyfire offered, the explanation falling somewhat flat.

Starscream regarded him skeptically.

For a moment, Skyfire expected Starscream to refuse him, but he was surprised when both ended up flying toward Iacon not soon after, at a leisurely pace, taking their time before arriving. Once there, Skyfire guided Starscream through accessing the databases, showcasing various fields of information. There were multiple screens embedded along the walls inside a large building and anyone could just access them. They just had to have an account to log in before they could navigate through the screen to search what they were looking for. Skyfire demonstrated his personal favorites before granting Starscream freedom to explore while he downloaded data onto his own datapad from another open screen.

Upon returning to Starscream, Skyfire noticed him seemingly engrossed in an article on the screen. He attempted to get Starscream’s attention, asking about what he was reading, but either Starscream ignored him or was genuinely captivated by the text. Observing Starscream for a moment, Skyfire then glanced down at his datapad. Eventually, he held out his own datapad in front of Starscream.

“Here,” Skyfire offered. “I don’t think standing here for hours will do your knee joints any good,” he teased lightly. “So, download anything you want onto this, and you can read it later.”

“But... that’s your datapad,” Starscream pointed out.

“Oh, it’s fine. I can get a new one.”

Starscream eyed him with suspicion and slowly accepted the offer. He stared at the datapad for a moment, before he downloaded countless of articles onto the device.

The next day, Skyfire noticed a complete transformation in Starscream; he was chattering incessantly about what he’d read. To Skyfire’s surprise, Starscream hadn’t rested that night, completely glued to reading studies and findings. And unexpectedly, Skyfire found himself thoroughly enjoying their conversations, delving deep into various studies on multiple subjects. He discovered Starscream was far more intelligent than the average bot and was captivated by the way his optics gleamed with enthusiasm as he discussed scientific concepts; it made Skyfire want to spend endless hours with him.

Later that week, they moved beyond conversation and into creation.

Skyfire had never considered himself much of an inventor, yet there he was, at his apartment, working alongside Starscream on a project. Starscream took the lead, showcasing an impressive understanding of chemicals and other components in a remarkably short span. The Seeker even created some sort of machine that took one fourth of the space in his living room out of scraps they found.

“With this, we can alter the taste of energon,” Starscream explained, catching Skyfire’s curiosity. “I read studies about creatures from other worlds that can detect different flavors, and I thought, why not adapt that concept with energon?”

Starscream eventually had a vial of energon he’d changed, its color slightly altered to a faint shade of green. “Sour energon,” he presented before handing a small portion to Skyfire.

“Sour energon?” Skyfire eyed it with curiosity. “I’m going to be honest, I’m excited about this.”

Starscream smirked. “Let’s hope it’s as strange as studies have said.”

They tipped the glasses back simultaneously, taking the first sip. It hit them like an unexpected burst of lightning. Skyfire optics widened. The strange flavor filled his mouth, making his circuits tingle.

“So… that’s sour?” he said with a mixture of surprise and delight. “It doesn’t taste bad at all!” he took another sip, enjoying the unique sensation. “It’s like a jolt of energy on the taste buds. Definitely different, but amazing.”

“Next one we should try is the sweet one,” Starscream said with excitement as he was changing the settings of the small machine, looking at his datapad to make sure he was doing things correctly.

Skyfire observed Starscream’s fervor for the project. He smiled as Starscream was reviewing everything before he turned on the machine. In some way, Skyfire couldn’t help but imagine himself feeling warm around him and could clearly see Starscream’s potential.

The seeker was meant to do great things in life.

“You know, Starscream, your name suits you,” Skyfire let out. Starscream froze for a moment, and slowly he turned to Skyfire with a sad-looking confusion, probably assuming he was being mocked. “The first part, ‘star,’ makes me think that you’re unique, like how every star shines uniquely, standing out from the others,” The shuttle explained gently, with a warm smile, now making the seeker just stare at him before he continued. “And the ‘scream’ part, I see it as not as noise, but as your loudness in a way that makes you stand out. Your passion, your determination—they’re loud, drawing others toward you. Because that’s who you are, Starscream, you are exceptionally unique.”

Starscream’s eyes were wide at Skyfire’s kind words.

Starscream’s reaction made Skyfire’s spark twist and made him wonder if anyone had ever given Starscream any sort of beautiful compliment ever in his life.

Then, Starscream turned his face away, with a small, shy smile that graced his lips.

“I think that sour energon is messing up with your processor,” Starscream managed to say timidly, not daring to look at Skyfire, and it was at that point Skyfire wanted to continue to shower the Seeker with as many compliments as he could.

And he realized he was truly glad to be a part of Starscream’s life now.

Present Time

Starscream kept himself from letting the anxiety get the best of him. The task wasn’t easy, but distractions were his saving grace for now. For one, he had the Energon cube in his servos; he kept taking his time to sip it - at least it tasted much better than the artificial sort that he and his people relied on in the past weeks. Second, Hashtag sat next to him on the metal table, sharing videos of quirky felines, hoping to ease his mind; at least that’s what Hashtag was trying to do as he did fall silent for a few minutes while his mind was being pulled into a dark place. The videos were supposed to bring out laughter from him. At least, that’s what Hashtag implied, based on how she would laugh during them. She would sneak a glance at him in order to see his reaction, and Starscream would try to force a small smile, hoping to meet her expectations.

Now, Starscream didn’t mind lying; he couldn’t care less if he tricked and hurt others by not telling the truth. However, Hashtag was a different story. He couldn’t bear the idea of misleading her. Yet, he found himself trapped, as he wasn’t sure what else to do without her thinking he was some boring bot or a heartless machine, unable to find joy in innocent videos. It pained him to realize that for the past years, the only times that a laugh would escape him would be by inflicting harm on others or reveling in victories against his enemies.

He used to be a normal bot before... would laugh from silly moments that he had with Skyfire. He knew now he had some loose screws in his head, probably from all the beatings his helm had taken, but he didn’t realize how bad he had gotten till Hashtag came into his life.

His optics shifted slowly toward Bumblebee, wiping the trail of Energon, a makeshift mop in the bot’s servos. Starscream didn’t think the wound he had obtained from Prowl was so bad since he had woken up within the same day he got hurt. But the way the Energon snaked across the metal floor, a stark crimson, thin river weaving its way to the tunnel, proved the injury was not a mere crack to the helm, and would explain why he also felt so fatigued and wanted to recharge.

Starscream reached over to the tender area of his healing wound, his digits touching, coming across the crust of dry Energon. He wasn’t looking forward to seeing how badly the job Megatron had done to seal it up. But, he probably would have one of his bots later mend it properly.

Speaking of his people, he found out he had lost the connection he had with them. He guessed the communication channels got rebooted from his helm injury.

He made a mental note to ask Hashtag about re-establishing the communication channel they used to stay connected to when he was away.

“Hey, Starscream,” Starscream heard Hashtag say, drawing his attention. He turned to find her setting the tablet down, its screen now dark. “You doing okay?”

He’s never doing okay… but his spark wasn’t threatening to burst, so, yeah, he was relatively better off than when someone had cracked open his helm, which was probably the better question to ask him.

“I am,” he responded in a calm tone.

Hashtag stared at him and when she saw Bumblebee enter the tunnel to continue cleaning the Energon from the rest of the way, she turned to Starscream. “I mean, are you doing okay, like, over all?”

Starscream arched an optic ridge.

“We all temporarily died weeks ago,” Hashtag began. “It really shook us, even the adults. I wanted to check on you, you know? Since you keep things to yourself.”

Starscream considered her words. “Who says I’m not talking to anyone? I communicate with my fellow Decepticons regularly.”

“Starscream, you don’t talk to them all the time, and when you do, it’s all about tasks and some argument you’re having with them,” Hashtag stated firmly, knowing she was right. Since she and Starscream would talk through their communication link, and she would hear about his stressful days about making sure the Decepticons were not killing one another. “And I mean, you don’t talk to anyone about anything that actually troubles you or about any traumatic things that have happened to you. You need someone to confide in that will listen, help you… well, feel safe.”

“Is this why you insisted on speaking face to face?”

“Of course. This is important, and I thought it was only appropriate to do it in person. And since I’m probably the only person you trust, well, I think I am-”

“You are.”

“Yet, I still feel you don’t trust me enough to tell me how you’re feeling,” Hashtag continued. “I’m worried about you, Starscream. You can’t keep bottling things up like you’ve been doing for eons. It’s not healthy.”

Starscream casually waved away her concern. “I’m fine,” he said, a lie, of course, which again, he hated doing to her. “And, just so you know, I did talk to my fellow Decepticons a couple of weeks ago, and I was actually civil with them. There were no arguments involved, and I shared with them a little about myself…”

Hashtag blinked with surprise. “You did?”

“Yes. I followed your advice regarding Nova Storm and Skywarp.”

Hashtag vividly recalled a previous discussion they had. Two weeks back, Starscream had been seething at the attitude of the two other Seekers, their defiance aggravating him. They disregarded his orders on gathering supplies, nearly pushing him to resort to violence. She lectured him when he admitted to how things went down. She had admonished him, urging him not to use force and insisting that he explain patiently to them why he required the materials rather than belittle them.

“And how did it go?” she asked, curiously.

“I suppose they’re more receptive than I give them credit for,” he grumbled, taking a measured sip of his energon.

Hashtag chuckled.

“Told you talking to them would work,” she teased.

“You know, they actually like you,” Starscream remarked to Hashtag, observing her confusion as she placed the nearly empty glass beside him. “Skywarp and Nova Storm, they think highly of Twitch too. They used the word ‘cool’ to describe both of you.”

He was truly being honest with her. Skywarp and Nova Storm had discovered his communication with Hashtag, and surprisingly, they encouraged him to continue. They even hinted that she might be a positive influence on him.

Hashtag felt a silly smile make its way on her faceplates. She couldn’t deny the rush of satisfaction at hearing that Decepticons labeled her as ‘cool’. Yet, a question tugged at her thoughts.

“Starscream,” she got his blue optics to glance at her. “How come I’m the only one you trust?” But then the words slipped out, her optics grew wide, feeling her tanks churn with nausea. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that,” she was quick to add.

Starscream watched her look down on her lap, most likely mentally kicking herself for being so direct with him.

Deep in the tunnels, Bumblebee was listening to their conversation closely.

Yeah, he was snooping, but he couldn’t help it. Cleaning duty was so boring, and his audial receptors were quick to catch any noise coming from the hideout.

“Because,” Bumblebee heard Starscream eventually say, making him stop moving the mop side to side on the floor, to make sure he did not miss any word coming from Starscream’s mouth. “You’re not one of them.”

“What do you mean, ‘not one of them’?” He heard Hashtag ask.

“You’re not an Autobot or a Decepticon. You didn’t live through our conflict, so your perspective on any of us isn’t tied to our ongoing disputes,” Starscream explained. “You’re not Cybertronian. You didn’t experience life on our planet, nor the inherent biases many carry toward those who are cold constructed. You... don’t see me like everyone else does.”

Bumblebee let Starscream’s words sink in.

Meanwhile, Hashtag fixed her gaze on Starscream, initially perplexed by his words. Gradually, his meaning began to make sense though, and she was surprised how honest he was being with her.

Before encountering Starscream, she’d heard tales painting him as the epitome of Decepticon malevolence, the worst of their kind. She learned about him from some comics she’d read on her tablet and snippets from articles written of him online. Yet, her experience with Starscream contradicted the negative portrayals. He wasn’t as dreadful as the stories depicted. At least not to her or her siblings. He showed protectiveness, albeit awkwardly at times, perhaps due to his unfamiliarity with those who liked his presence.

She learned from the internet how prolonged exposure to abuse can negatively impact someone’s emotional well-being. The victims tend to become super paranoid, always on guard, and they tend not to trust anyone. Starscream, based on the rumors she heard from others and from what she had seen how he acted towards Autobots, acted just like those people who’ve been through tough times or been hurt loads.

Starscream also tended to think there was no location in the world that he was safe, constantly having the Decepticons and himself move to another area. He was quick to anger, well, at least by the Decepticons and Autobots, and he trusted no one else except her.

Though, she could see why he was defensive too, as he was at war for a long time.

She mused that if someone else found themselves in her shoes, faced with Starscream’s quick threats back in the tunnels after refusing his command, they might have resorted to throwing fists at him. It occurred to her that perhaps others, in the past, hadn’t attempted conversation with Starscream. And if they had, his paranoia might have stood in the way. Which made her think Starscream was a walking self-destructive bot…

However, her being a Terran, devoid of any negative connections in Starscream’s mind to her or her siblings, must have been a breath of fresh air for him.

She felt relieved that Starscream didn’t hold a grudge when her siblings criticized him, asserting that Megatron was the one deserving their trust during their first encounter. He seemed to disregard their accusations once she showed faith in his warnings about Megatron. She pondered if anyone had ever taken his predicament with Megatron seriously before.

Everyone harbored their opinions about Starscream, especially the adults who seemed to echo the same perception of him: a deceptive, selfish coward of a Cybertronian. But, he hadn’t shown selfishness towards her after he won her trust. He’d been supportive, listening to her as she vented her own struggles over the past few weeks. He hadn’t displayed cowardice either, offering his help when needed. Deceptive? Well, everyone tells lies, including herself, but he wasn’t manipulating her into doing anything nefarious like others would think he would.

She cherished the thought that they’d become friends, perhaps more. He had become a part of her life, much like many of the Autobots had.

He’d become part of her family.

And, in some way, he was like a …

“A cool uncle,” Hashtag blurted out, catching Starscream off guard.

“I... don’t follow,” Starscream admitted. Which she didn’t blame him, as he didn’t know what was going through her processor.

She chuckled, throwing him a playful grin. “Just thinking about how I see you, and well, I think of you as a cool uncle, sort of mysterious, somewhat pessimistic, but overall pretty cool.”

Starscream maintained his puzzled expression. “What... is an uncle?”

“Oh, sorry, hum… technically, they’re the brother of one’s parent,” she explained.

Starscream’s confusion only seemed to deepen, eliciting another chuckle from her.

“Yeah, I know, you’re not related to either of my parents, but the term ‘uncle’ can also be used for someone we hold in high regard and who plays a significant role in our lives, someone we admire.”

“You... admire me?” Starscream’s incredulity seeped into his slow question.

“Of course, I do,” Hashtag affirmed, her smile warm. “All of us do. When we were praising you earlier, they weren’t lies. We were all being honest. We truly believe you’re cool.” she then got close to him as she lowered her voice so only he could hear her. “And, just between you and me, I think Thrash does too, but he doesn’t want to admit it.”

She pulled away, giving his space back, and Starscream found himself rather dazed.

He yearned to believe her, to trust that other Terrans didn’t see him merely as the coward he was often called.

For a brief, fleeting moment, warmth blossomed in his spark, reminiscent of how he felt during the good old days when Skyfire was alive, when everything was going so well. The notion of being regarded as an uncle, a figure of trust and admiration, stirred an unfamiliar sensation, one he hadn’t felt in eons.

He remembered how Skyfire would be so supportive of him, complimenting him so much that actually made him believe he wasn’t just some mindless cold construct. Yet, in the next breath, a suffocating wave of depression crashed over him, drowning his spirits.

The shadow that lingered in the corners of his system was like an uninvited guest. Doubts and insecurities clawed at him. Once again, he asked himself if he deserved someone like Hashtag looking up to him. The fear of inevitably messing things up haunted his thoughts. After all, he was the reason why the good things didn’t last in his life and why Skyfire died…

His body tensed as he tried to reason with himself, blaming the dark feelings to sheer exhaustion, the reason why his thoughts were getting twisted. He tried to assure himself that he did deserve to have the positive image that Hashtag had of him. After all, he had been good to her for the past weeks. And he wasn’t expecting anything in return.

However, he couldn’t help but have the urge to just run, dash out of there, away from everyone, and hide himself in some cave and just scream.

“Starscream?” He felt his spark stop for a moment when he heard Hashtag call out to him with concern. “What’s wrong?” she asked, and he didn’t dare look at her, nor did he respond as he struggled to push the negative thoughts and emotions to the side. But it grew tougher to do as his memories reminded him how his relentless pursuit of being a better comrade to the Decepticons tended to lead him to getting almost stabbed in the back. He recalled that no matter how hard he tried to steer the Decepticons toward victory, to prove that his plans were great, Megatron found a way to cast blame upon him when something went wrong. It was as if Starscream was destined to bear the weight of every misstep, every failure, as though he were the singular root of all their problems. And perhaps that was the crux of it all - what if Megatron was right?

Starscream’s fists clenched as anger, and frustration boiled within him. He despised how easily Megatron could poison his thoughts, making him doubt everything he believed in. Doubt had visited him before, but this time, it crashed upon him hard. The nagging possibility haunted him: was he truly blinded by his own pride, unwilling to admit his faults, perpetually casting himself as the victim? Maybe that was why Megatron resorted to brutal measures, believing it was the only way to resolve their conflicts and teach him a lesson.

No… he refused to believe that he deserved the brutality Megatron had inflicted upon him. He refused to believe he deserved the loss of limbs, the fractures in his chassis, the excruciating pain Megatron had unleashed upon him. He refused to accept that he didn’t deserve happiness in his life, that he couldn’t have genuine care or trust from others like Hashtag.

He wasn’t just some terrible evil of a bot…

Starscream felt himself deflated. The exhaustion he was feeling earlier grew heavier on him, as if his negative thoughts were draining him.

Truth be told, he was growing tired of feeling so… haunted by Megatron. Even when he was locked by G.H.O.S.T, Megatron seemed to show up in the shadows, hissing at his audials, reminding him how worthless he was.

“Starscream?” He heard Hashtag say before he felt her gentle servo on his, pulling him slightly away from his spiraling depressive thoughts.

His blue optics settled on Hashtag whose concern was clear as day on her faceplates.

“I think you should rest. You’re not looking so good.”

Starscream’s servo instinctively rose to his helm. He was indeed feeling nauseous and slightly light-headed.

Of course, what did he expect? It was already a miracle that he was even awake, talking to Hashtag as long as he had been.

“I… I should probably head out,” he murmured.

“Hold on,” Hashtag let out with confusion. “What do you mean head out? You’re not going anywhere like that.”

“Yeah, Hashtag is right,” Bumblebee said, reentering the room with the mop in hand. “You’re in no condition to even walk.’

Starscream shot him a glare as best as he could at the Autobot. “Have you been listening in on us this whole time?” he asked, irritation lacing his words.

“Hey, you two are pretty loud,” Bumblebee said with a shrug. “But seriously, Starscream, you should lie back down and take some rest. All that loss of energon isn’t going to let you get so far from here.”

Starscream met Bumblebee’s advice with a cold stare before he began to move.

“Starscream, hold on,” Hashtag said when Starscream got off the surgical table. She almost grabbed his arm out, but quickly went against it, as she didn’t want to injure his healing arm. “Optimus said you should stay here for a few days, you don’t have to leave.”

“Yeah, that’s what the boss said,” Bee said. “We also have to monitor your condition in case something didn’t heal right.”

“I’ll be fine,” Starscream grumbled stubbornly and began to walk forward. Bumblebee immediately positioned himself in front of Starscream, attempting to block his path. “Starscream, listen to Hashtag, she—”

“Get out of my way, Autobot,” Starscream’s voice was sharp and loud. “If I’m not your prisoner, then I have every right to move where I please. Now, move.”

Bumblebee stared at him with a frown. “Make me,” he challenged.

Starscream let out a growl of frustration before throwing a punch at Bumblebee.

Bumblebee effortlessly intercepted his jab, catching his servo mid-air. The sudden movement caused waves of dizziness through Starscream, making him realize maybe he shouldn’t have tried to attack Bumblebee. Nausea surged through his systems, and the world around him began to blur.

His leg gave away beneath him, and Starscream crumbled, sinking to his knees. Bumblebee, still clasping Starscream’s servo, swiftly grasped his arm to prevent him from collapsing any further.

Hashtag reacted swiftly as well, catching Starscream by the shoulder.

“Oh, Starscream…” Hashtag sighed as she watched his blue optics go offline, as he was, once again, met by darkness.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

“Have you ever thought about going to the Cybertronian Academy of Science?” Starscream decided to ask one late evening in Skyfire’s apartment as both were sitting on the ground, surrounded by a clutter of dismantled devices collected from the Cybertronian Academy of Science’s abandoned bins. Both were disassembling contraptions so they could use the scraps as materials for their projects.

Skyfire paused his tinkering before he responded. “Yeah, I have. Long ago,” he admitted, a melancholic smile made its way on his faceplates. “But I don’t really think about it anymore.”

“Why not?” Starscream inquired with an optic ridge raised.

“Well, they would never allow someone like me in.”

“Because of your frame type?”

“Yeah,” Skyfire chuckled, glancing over to the Seeker. “Life can be unfair, I guess.”

Starscream stared at him with no expression before he returned his attention to the device he was dismantling, digits deftly working through the intricate components.

But then, Starscream broke the silence that had fallen on them. “I want to attend the Cybertronian Academy of Science one day,” Starscream said, his voice holding a determined tone that made Skyfire glance at him with surprise. “I think we should do whatever it takes to become the first flyers to be ever admitted.”

Skyfire did not expect such words coming from Starscream. He knew Starscream had found a love for science, but he didn’t expect him to share the same dream he once held. He also couldn’t help but feel his spark flutter with an unexpected warmth as he replayed Starscream’s words, at the fact that Starscream included him in such aspiration.

Skyfire then wondered if Starscream considered them a team.

Joy filled deeply within his spark that Starscream was including him in his future.

Truth be told, Skyfire didn’t think it was possible for both to ever be accepted in such an Academy, but for some reason, knowing that Starscream wanted them to get in together made him have the urge to make it into a reality.

Because going to the Academy with Starscream would definitely be a beautiful dream to accomplish and was now one he wanted for himself.

“Yeah. That sounds good,” Skyfire finally said with a warm smile before he returned to the gadget in his servos, as he was now imagining himself and Starscream walking into the Academy together.

Skyfire observed from a distance as Starscream navigated through a makeshift obstacle course constructed from discarded metal scraps outside the city, flying with precision under their moons’ visible light. Skyfire and Starscream had created a challenging path within a nearby garbage dump, an undertaking that spanned a quarter-mile and had taken an entire Orbital cycle to assemble.

“Alright, you’re doing well,” Skyfire’s voice resonated through their communication network. “Now, increase your speed a bit.”

Starscream obeyed, and everything seemed to be going fine as Starscream continued to smoothly maneuver through the course. Yet, as Starscream increased his speed, his precision faltered. He struggled to evade the obstacles, almost crashing his wings into them, forcing him to either slow down abruptly or halt altogether.

There were moments when Skyfire held suspicion that Starscream possibly held a fear of flying too fast, but Starscream had already denied such a thing when he asked him about it a few days ago.

Eventually, Starscream returned to his side, landing with a frustrated expression etched upon his faceplates. “I don’t understand,” he lamented, exasperation clear as he ran his servos down his face. “Is there something wrong with me?”

Skyfire swiftly approached him and gently placed his servos on the Seeker’s shoulders. “There’s nothing wrong with you,” he reassured softly.

“I’ve been trying so hard for cycles to improve, but no matter what I do, it’s never enough!” Starscream pulled away from Skyfire, tears welling in his red optics, swiftly brushed away with a rough motion. “I’m the only seeker without a trine. No one wants me because I can’t even do the one thing I was built for! Am I truly that pathetic?!”

“Starscream...” Skyfire began, his spark sank to witness his friend in such distress. Starscream rarely displayed such vulnerability; typically, he masked his emotions with grumbles or a stoic facade. Yes, there were times Starscream shed tears, only around Skyfire, but even those were rare moments. “Please, don’t call yourself pathetic. You’re anything but that.”

“Then why can’t I fly as fast as the others?!” Starscream demanded at Skyfire, his anger rising by the second just as his voice. “They all assume I’m afraid, but I’m not! I’m not some coward, Skyfire. I swear I’m not!”

“I know you’re not,” Skyfire affirmed quietly.

“And I know I’m meant to fly,” Starscream’s voice cracked while he wiped away additional tears that trickled down. “I’ve dreamt of soaring through the skies, feeling the freedom that the others do. But...” His arms dropped to his sides, wings drooping. “When I try to go fast... everything I see slows down... like my processor can’t keep up,” he admitted in a hushed tone. “I can’t keep up, Skyfire... and sometimes I’m starting to believe I won’t ever get better. I’m truly pathetic...”

Skyfire’s gaze softened as he approached, pulling Starscream in a tight embrace. “I’ve told you not to call yourself that,” Skyfire murmured, as he caressed the back of Starscream’s helm to comfort him. “You’ll figure it out. I have faith in you, I truly do. I can feel it in my spark that you will get the hang of it. Just keep believing and trying, like you’ve been doing all this time, okay?”

Starscream shut his optics, leaning against Skyfire’s chassis, seeking comfort in their embrace.

Skyfire did his best to figure out how to help Starscream. However, he couldn’t think of anything else other than to continue offering mental encouragement and support.

Then, as he replayed Starscream’s words on perceiving things slowly when he increased his speed, Skyfire was prompted to consider certain theories in his processor and made a mental note to talk to someone later who might help them possibly figure out the cause of Starscream’s problem.

“Remember, stay close,” Skyfire murmured to Starscream as they walked through an underground passage.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Starscream grumbled as he subtly shifted closer to Skyfire, his wings low. Their arms almost brushed against each other as they walked besides one another. Skyfire had to hold back the urge to hold Starscream’s servo, as he thought it wasn’t appropriate for him to do so.

As they rounded a corner, they encountered another Transformer, Torrent, who greeted them with a mix of impatience and relief.

“Finally, didn’t think you’d show up,” Torrent grumbled, arms folded across his chest.

“I’m sorry about that,” Skyfire was quick to say while Starscream said nothing, his optics narrowing at the stranger with suspicion. Skyfire couldn’t blame Starscream. He hadn’t told him why they were there in the first place except that it was a surprise.

Without waiting for more explanation, Torrent led them deeper into the network of tunnels. They arrived at a nondescript metal door. Torrent tapped out a precise rhythm, causing the door to slide open with a metallic hiss.

Music poured out into the passage as they stepped inside, revealing an underground space teeming with Transformers of all shapes and sizes. The cacophony of voices reverberated off the walls, blending with the blasting music. Straight ahead stood a massive cage arena, drawing the attention of the assembled crowd.

Starscream’s optics widened in awe, taking in the bustling scene around him. Meanwhile, Skyfire motioned for Starscream to follow as they trailed their guide through the throng of Transformers. They passed rows of spectators perched on stands, their optics fixed on the center stage—the arena.

Starscream couldn’t tear his gaze away as he witnessed a mesmerizing scene inside the cage. A towering, grey-armored Transformer effortlessly deflected and countered the furious strikes of another blue transformer. The display of skill and agility was unlike anything Starscream had seen, especially one that came from a cold constructed bot. The gladiator was of cold construct, created to be a miner or for hard labor work and nothing more.

“Who’s that?” Starscream couldn’t contain his curiosity, raising his voice over the uproar to ask their guide.

Torrent grinned at him as he stopped walking. “Oh, that’s Megatronus,” he replied, gesturing toward the grey-armored Transformer landing a massive blow to his opponent’s helm, sending him crashing down to the ground. “The best and unbeatable gladiator of Cybertron.”

The crowd roared as Megatronus landed on his opponent’s torso before his fists rained down on the blue Transformer, cracking the opponent’s helm, causing energon to burst out from it, which immediately made both Skyfire and Starscream wince; Starscream found himself no longer captivated by the duel.

The two were eventually led away to another tunnel, walking past two other gladiators, waiting in anticipation for their turn. They were larger than Starscream by far, but he held his wings high up to show he wasn’t intimidated by them, making Skyfire smile. Further down sat a solitary green Transformer, engrossed in examining a digital panel. Countless machinery and devices were scattered around him.

The green Transformer, known as Hook, glanced up from his data panel as Starscream and Skyfire approached. Without delay, Skyfire briefed Hook about Starscream’s experiences when trying to fly fast and requested if Hook could scan Starscream to see if he could find anything that may be causing Starscream’s delay reaction.

Starscream was silent the whole time, surprised that Skyfire brought him there to try to find a solution to his problem. Hook had him lay on the metal bed nearby. Starscream held back his disgust at the stains of energon on it while Hook started a thorough scan using an advanced diagnostic device, a handheld device that hovered over Starscream, recording every detail on his datapad.

First, Hook conducted an exhaustive scan of Starscream’s entire frame, probing deeply into every circuit and component. After analyzing the results, Hook adjusted his vocalizer with a thoughtful hum before announcing his findings.

“Found the culprit,” Hook declared, his optics focused on his data readouts. “It’s your optics; they’re defective.”

Starscream stared at Hook with bewilderment while Hook ran another scan on Starscream’s optics before reading the data on his datapad. “It’s odd,” Hook said. “Cold construct bodies are examined before a spark is housed within them. Defects like these are extremely rare.”

Starscream sat up once Hook was done scanning him, unsure how to feel about the revelation.

He couldn’t believe that defective optics were the root of his flight problems… And if it were, that said a lot about how much the creators of his body cared about what they built.

“I’ll have to dive into his scans more to see what exactly is causing his optics to have some delayed reactions,” Hook said to Skyfire. “But, I bet it would be an easy fix.”

“So, you can definitely fix them?” Skyfire asked Hook.

“Of course I can,” Hook snorted dismissively. “But it’s going to cost you.” His optics glinted at him.

“Name your price.”

After a brief pause, Hook responded, “500 Shanix.”

Starscream’s head whipped toward Skyfire, a startled expression crossing his features. “I don’t have that kind of cash,” he blurted out. He was a seeker in training. They were not paid and were only given housing and energon to survive.

“Don’t worry about it. I have more than enough,” Skyfire said to Starscream with a reassuring smile.

“Skyfire. There’s no way I’ll be able to pay you back soon.”

“Who says I’m expecting you to pay me back?”

“Are you insane?” Starscream barked at him. “I’m not letting you spend that much on me.”

“Well, I want to,” Skyfire responded in a soft tone. “And I don’t want to hear more about it, because I won’t take no for an answer.”

Starscream stared at him in shock, unable to believe what was going on while Hook was letting Skyfire know they should return in a Deca-cycle with the currency as he would have everything he would need to fix Starscream’s defective optics. There was a moment too that made Starscream confused as Skyfire took Hook aside to discuss something in private, but Starscream didn’t think too much about it as he was still trying to process the fact Skyfire was willing to spend so much on him.

Later, they were back at the large empty tunnel, away from all the chaos of the underground fights, walking towards the path that would lead them to the exit. But, before they could step out, Starscream abruptly halted, causing Skyfire to stop and turn to him with confusion by his sudden pause.

Starscream was staring at him with an unreadable expression for a whole minute before his vocalizer reset. “What do you want from me?” Starscream asked in a monotone voice, making Skyfire blink with confusion.

Skyfire didn’t respond right away, but he eventually replied, “I don’t want anything from you.”

Now, Starscream’s wings twitched, and his optics narrowed with hostility. “Don’t you dare lie to me, Skyfire. Now, tell me, what do you want?” His tone held a mix of irritation and vulnerability.

Irritated because he hated the idea that Skyfire may be lying to him while fearing that Skyfire was this whole time leading him towards some sort of trap.

What if Skyfire never truly wanted to be friends with him? What if Skyfire was working with Thrust and the others to pull a long played out prank on him?

Such questions terrified Starscream. Well, they scared him to believe that he was being tricked this whole time.

Skyfire held his gaze steadily. “Nothing.”

Starscream’s expression twisted into a glare, growing frustrated. He marched closer to Skyfire, despite being shorter in stature, his chin lifting defiantly, wings tilting up defensively. “Nothing, you say?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “You seriously want me to believe that you’re willing to pay 500 Shanix on me just because you feel like it?”

“Is it truly hard to believe that?” Skyfire asked him quietly, leading Starscream’s anger to falter, uncertainty taking its place on his faceplate as Skyfire sounded like he was truly not trying to trick Starscream at all.

And honestly, Skyfire wasn’t planning some sort of cruel joke on Starscream.

Starscream’s accusations did not offend Skyfire whatsoever. Skyfire understood where Starscream was coming from, especially by the fact Starscream never had a friend in his life up till now.

His gaze softened as he took in Starscream’s crimson optics, that usually held a fiery determination, now looking rather lost. He desperately wanted to pull Starscream into a tight embrace and promise him he would never do anything to hurt him. There was no way he would ever do such a thing, because the truth was, Skyfire admired Starscream. He truly did. He was captivated by Starscream’s unwavering determination in just about anything.

And he wanted to protect Starscream from the pain that their world was prone to cause on to cold constructs.

“Alright, you got me. I do want something,” Skyfire began, a tender smile gracing his lips. Sensing Starscream’s guarded anticipation from the frown that made its way on him, Skyfire gently grasped Starscream’s shoulders. His digits caressed him to keep him calm. “What I want, is… well... I want you to be happy, Star,” Skyfire confessed softly, his voice filled with earnestness.

Starscream’s expression morphed to utter confusion as he met Skyfire’s gaze, especially at the endearing way Skyfire addressed him as ‘Star’.

“What…?” Starscream let out quietly.

“You’re intelligent, beautiful—inside and out,” Skyfire said without any hesitation. “I want to help you become the greatest Cybertronian I know you can be. Even if you don’t see it yet, I see greatness in you.”

Starscream continued to stare at him, his features softening up from each word spoken to him.

“I love spending time with you, talking to you, listening to everything you have to say. I love seeing you get excited about the next projects we take on together. I love seeing you happy. I’ve come to realize, after getting to know you these past orbital cycles, I just want to make you happy. And that I’ve fallen for you,” Skyfire confessed just as his thoughts and feelings rolled out from him. His own optics grew as the realization hit him at what he felt for the seeker. “Oh Primus… I have fallen in love with you…”

Starscream’s optics widened at Skyfire’s confession. “You…love me…?” he let out with a voice mixed with confusion and uncertainty.

Skyfire took a moment as he was thinking things through before his optics shined with joy. A soft chuckle escaped him, his touch gentle as he caressed a digit along Starscream’s shoulders. “Yes, I love you,” he affirmed, his voice sincere and filled with affection. “Loved you for a while now, I guess.”

“But... I’m just... a cold construct,” Starscream murmured, his voice filled with doubt, unsure if someone like Skyfire could ever truly have such a strong feeling towards someone who wasn’t naturally forged.

Skyfire shook his head, gently. “You are more than that, Star. Oh, so much more,” he insisted. “I wish you could see what I see when I look at you. I wish you could see how truly magnificent you are. Your resilience, your spirit, every bit of you is amazing. I wish you -”

Before Skyfire could finish, Starscream impulsively surged upward, flying up to close the distance between them, his lips meeting Skyfire’s. But as quick as he kissed Skyfire, he quickly pulled away, a look of shock spreading across his features after he realized what he had just done, especially when met by Skyfire’s wide-eyed stare.

“I… I…” Starscream stammered, unsure what to say, because he had no idea what had come over him.

Shame washed through, making him avert his gaze. His instinct screamed at him to fly away, as far away from Skyfire as possible, yet Skyfire gripped his waist, holding him in place.

Turning hesitantly to Skyfire, Starscream expected to be met with disgust or to be ridiculed. Yet instead, he was met with a warm smile. Skyfire’s blue optics radiated adoration, soothing Starscream’s rising panic.

Without hesitation, Skyfire tenderly drew Starscream closer, his lips meeting Starscream’s once more in a soft, lingering kiss. Starscream hesitated for a moment, but the warmth that appeared in his spark urged him forward. He closed his optics and melted to the moment. His servos delicately cupped Skyfire’s helm, deepening their kiss.

And for the first time in Starscream’s life, he felt loved.

Present Time

Everything seemed to have settled into a quiet night. The Terrans heard Starscream was doing better, had woken up for a moment even, which brought relief to them. Elita One accompanied them to their hideout, as the Terrans wanted to stay near Starscream, while Thrash walked with his human siblings to their house. He made his way to his family’s roof and found himself perched right next to Mo’s window.

Mo had pulled a chair over to be close to him. They both sat in silence for a while before Mo broke the ice.

“I felt what you guys were feeling when Starscream got shot,” Mo admitted to Thrash. “At least that’s what I think all the sadness and fear were coming from.”

“Yeah,” Thrash said as he tapped his digits on his bent knee. “It’s crazy how someone can just take someone down like that in a second, without any warning. We literally didn’t see it coming.”

Mo leaned to the side against the wall, watching Thrash through the window. “Bee and Mr. Starscream didn’t either.”

“I don’t blame Twitch for being scared and angry about it,” Thrash said as he recalled his sister’s admission while they talked to Elita One earlier. “That even those two, who’ve experienced war for many years didn’t expect someone to be hidden in the forest, getting ready for a kill shot. She’s right to be worried about us ‘cause who knows what other dangers are lurking around, just waiting to strike us down.”

Mo pulled her legs up on her chair and hugged them close to her chest.

Thrash and Mo spotted Optimus and Prowl driving up to the driveway before they transformed.

“Stay here,” Thrash instructed his sister before he jumped off the roof and ran over to the two Autobots.

Dot also walked out of the front door of her house the moment she heard the sounds of their transformation.

She went over to stand next to her son, her arms on her chest. She gave Prowl a pointed look while her son glared at him. Prowl narrowed his optics at the two of them.

“I’ve briefed Prowl on how the Terrans came to be and what we’ve been through since now,” Optimus said calmly. “And Prowl has something important to say to you, Dorothy.” He gave Prowl a stern look.

Prowl kept his faceplates even as his optics locked on to Dot. “I apologize for pointing my weapons at your children,” he said. “I did not know of their nature until till now.”

Dot eyed him still with annoyance but eventually she sighed, “Alright, I accept your apology. I swear, if you do it again, you’re going to find out what a human mother is capable of when her children are threatened. Understood?”

“Understood,” Prowl replied curtly, and kept back from spouting the details during his earlier conversation with Optimus, where he had mentioned he would indeed shoot at the Terrans if they tried ever attacking him. Of course, when he brought it up, Optimus was not happy. He ended up getting an earful on how, as adults, they were responsible for keeping the Terrans safe.

“Are you going to apologize to Starscream next?” Thrash questioned Prowl. "Mom says he's woken up."

“I would only apologize for not finishing the job,” Prowl coldly retorted.

Thrash glared at him while Optimus rubbed his helm as a headache was making its way in his helm. “Prowl, we’ve been over this,” Optimus said with disappointment in his voice.

“Yeah, I definitely don’t like you,” Thrash grunted out at Prowl.

“I’m indifferent to your opinion,” Prowl replied, unfazed.

“Is this why Optimus and the others haven’t introduced us to you? ‘Cause you act like you have something up your a-”

“Thrash!” Dot was quick to jump, clearly taken aback at her son’s choice of words.

His mother was about to scold him for his choice of words, but Prowl spoke up before she had the chance.

“I wasn’t aware that you care so much for someone who almost killed your mother,” Prowl drawled ever so calmly, making the air grow tense around them.

Thrash frowned in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

Dot’s glare intensified at Prowl, her jaw clenching in frustration.

“I have access to your records, lieutenant,” Prowl continued as his attention settled on her. “I know precisely how you lost your leg. Starscream nearly wiped half of your entire platoon single-handedly, isn’t that right?”

The memories flooded Dot’s mind in a rush, and this time, unable to keep herself pulled at the chaos. She threw a hand over her now closed eyes as she tried to stop the image of countless jets plummeting from the sky, one by one as missiles shot out by a particular jet, striking them down. Then the echoes of screams and the searing pain in her legs returned as a barrage of missiles rained down on them soon after.

Oh, how she tried to avoid recalling the many lives lost that instant. So many of her people, who she was responsible over, gone all while a cruel laugh spilled out from the multicolored jet as he transformed and landed by their wrecked bodies before he-

“Mom!” she was yanked out of the gruesome memory. She blinked rapidly, glanced around to realize where she was, on her driveway, and her son, Thrash, hovering over her with wide optics, full of worry, a servo on her back. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

She quickly tried calming down her rapid gasps. Her chest was heaving as though she had just run a marathon.

Dot mentally cursed to have allowed Prowl to trigger her that way.

“Prowl, that was uncalled for,” Optimus said firmly to his fellow Autobot. His gaze hardened with disapproval. He was not okay with the way Prowl had just revealed Dot’s personal history like that out in the open, especially with her son around. Then again, knowing Prowl, he only did such a thing to cause Dot’s children to view Starscream differently.

Thrash’s attention shifted between them, desperately trying to understand what was happening, but then he eventually began to put the pieces together. “Starscream is the reason mom lost her leg?” he managed to ask Optimus with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Optimus remained silent, his expression held some hesitation on how to respond to him.

“He almost killed Mom…?” Thrash’s voice wavered with the sudden realization of why his mother wanted to keep Starscream a distance from them this whole time.

“You should be careful who you trust, kid,” Prowl remarked coldly.

At that moment, Alex emerged from the house, his face sat in an uncharacteristic sternness. Robby and Mo were standing right behind him with wide eyes as they had heard everything. “I’m going to ask you to leave now, Prowl,” Alex asserted, his tone holding an unusual edge of anger that caught Thrash off guard.

Prowl, unfazed, studied them before transforming and driving off down the road.

Optimus observed Prowl drive away off to the distance before he watched Alex go over to Dot, checking on her right away. Robby and Mo joined in as well.

Dot was doing her best to assure to all of them she was fine, putting on a brace smile as if to convince them nothing was wrong. Optimus pulled away from the family and tried calling Megatron as he had a feeling Prowl was going to possibly cause them more problems soon.

Megatron had walked a long distance from the Malto’s residence, deep into the dense woods until he found himself by a pond, alone. Seated on the ground, his arms resting on his knees, he had closed his optics, attempting to ‘meditate’—a technique he learned from videos sent by Optimus years ago. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there, trying to clear his mind, but he was constantly finding his thoughts plagued by the countless lives he had hurt and those he had killed.

Regret consumed him, especially for the pain inflicted upon both mechs and humans. Well, at least he regretted the majority of things he had done to others. Now, when it came to Starscream, Megatron was finding himself trying his best to justify what he had done to him, but every time Hashtag’s shocked face would emerge when he tried to find an excuse at the times he had bashed Starscream’s helm or done worse.

Megatron rubbed his faceplates with his servos while he released an exhausted sigh. He felt so worn out, and now all he wanted to do was call Optimus. And just like that, as if fate was teasing him, he received a ping from Optimus.

Caught off guard, panic seized Megatron, because he had no idea what to say to Optimus at that moment. And without a second thought, he rejected the call.

Optimus had witnessed the moment Megatron crushed Starscream’s arm, yet Megatron couldn’t bring himself to glance at Optimus, fearing the disappointment he might see on the Autobot’s leader’s face. The memory of Hashtag’s gaze weighed heavily on him, and the fear of Dot’s judgement haunted him, especially after his servo threatened to crush Starscream’s cockpit before her eyes.

His teeth clenched with anger now, convinced Starscream was playing them all. And he was falling into the trap easily because maybe he had grown too soft. All he craved was peace, especially now that the war had ended, and this time for good. But Starscream was the sort of power-hungry and unwilling mech to just let things go like that.

And he hated to admit it, but Starscream was leading the Decepticons now… He didn’t want to believe it at first, but when saw the Decepticons, even Soundwave, once his most loyal follower, gathered around Starscream after the whole Mandroid incident, waiting for his orders on what they should do afterwards confirmed Megatron’s suspicion. The sight of the Decepticons obeying Starscream as if he were their true leader stoked a fiery rage within Megatron.

Uncertainty plagued him. Was he furious because Starscream had seized leadership among the Decepticons now? Or was angry at the fact Starscream was definitely trying his best to ruin what he had worked so hard to obtain over the years?

Because there was no way Starscream was at the Malto’s residence to just hang out with the Terrans. Starscream was planning something…

“But what if… Starscream has also changed…?” he muttered under his breath, opening his optics to tiredly gaze at the dark pond before him.

The memory of Starscream jumping to grab onto Hashtag’s wrist before getting yanked by the Dweller was replaying in Megatron’s mind once again, extinguishing the rage in him and only leaving him feeling utterly exhausted as his head fell on his servos.

Starscream stirred, feeling himself pull from a peaceful recharge, grateful he did not have a nightmare.

Nightmares were not really a regular thing for him, but lately, he’d been having them, at least since he escaped G.H.O.S.T. He imagined he used to be paranoid that they would find him once again or that Megatron would change his mind about letting him be free.

He could still feel a lingering exhaustion through his body, but he opened his optics. They were filled with drowsiness, adjusting to the ambient light. As he blinked tiredly, he found himself laying on his back. His audials receptors picked up some movement on his right, making him turn his head to spot Twitch, standing there, her elbows propped on the table where he had been resting, servos cupping her cheeks, her orange optics shimmering with anticipation and a wide smile adorning her face.

“You’re finally awake!” Twitch cheered with amusement, straightening up.

Starscream groaned, throwing an arm over his optics, not really in the mood to talk to anyone. Especially since he hated to admit it, he felt kind of embarrassed at being in an unconscious state in the Malto’s residence.

He really had to stop losing consciousness.

“How long was I out this time…?” he asked with a grumble.

“Well, it’s 1 a.m., so, I guess like five hours?” Twitch offered.

Five hours… but at least he did feel better than the last time he woke up.

Starscream eventually pulled his arm off his face and glanced at Twitch with a pang of awkwardness as Twitch continued to stand there, staring at him with amusement.

“What were you doing…?” he asked her.

“Was watching you sleep,” she responded ever so casually.

“Why…?”

“Because she loves watching others sleep,” Hashtag responded, as she, Jawbreaker, and Nightshade walked over to them with smiles on their faces. Hashtag offered him a cube of energon. “How are you feeling, Starscream?”

Rubbing his helm, Starscream noted the tenderness from where he was shot had subsided, replaced by a dull ache. A quick scan at the room revealed no adults around, making him relax. He also noticed Thrash wasn’t around, but he didn’t really think too much of it.

“Better,” he replied before he subtly shifted from his position, adjusting himself so he seated himself on the edge of the table. He accepted the energon cube and took a huge gulp of it. He was starving.

“You sure?” Nightshade asked.

“Yeah, I just need energon.”

“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Jawbreaker said with relief. “We were so worried about you.”

“Yeah, you really scared us out there,” Twitch added as she flew around the table so she could be hovering over her siblings. “You lost a lot of energon while Bee carried you.”

One of Starscream’s optic twitched. “Bumblebee… carried me…?”

“Yeah, on his back,” Jawbreaker said as he gestured on his back.

Starscream did his best not to store the mental image in his processor. And he hated the idea that not only Megatron had fixed his wound, but that an Autobot had assisted him as well. Now he didn’t have the upper hand on both of them…

So much for wanting them to feel like they owed him after helping them against Mandroid.

“Oh, by the way, I contacted Shockwave so he could let the others know you were okay,” Hashtag spoke up. “I didn’t want them worrying where you were, so I just told him you were sleeping.”

As if any of the Decepticons would worry about him… The thought of it was rather amusing and depressing at the same time.

Starscream raised an optic ridge at Hashtag. “You have Shockwave’s line?”

“Used the old Decepticon emergency line, and Shockwave connected instantly.”

The old Decepticon emergency line, none of the Decepticons used it ever since Megatron betrayed them. Though, he should have guessed Shockwave would continue to monitor it at times just in case. He wondered how Hashtag came across it though.

“What did Shockwave say once you informed him of my status?”

“He said ‘understood’ and ended the call.”

Typical Shockwave.

“So, if you’re feeling better, Starscream, want to play a game with us now?” Jawbreaker asked eagerly, hands clasped together.

“J.B, Starscream might still need more rest,” Hashtag said to her brother, casting a concerned glance at Starscream. “Which means, once you finish that energon, you should go back to resting.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “You worry too much,” he grumbled, finishing the last sip of the cube.

“Do you want to talk about what happened, Starscream?” Nightshade asked him.

Starscream looked at them with confusion. The Terrans seemed to like discussing feelings and such… Of course, he wasn’t comfortable doing so. For crying out loud, Cybertronians rarely were the sort to do such things. And even though Hashtag found ways to make him open just a little bit the past weeks, it didn’t mean he was going to spill out his feelings. “No?”

“I think we should,” Twitch insisted, moving closer to the Decepticon. “We talked about it earlier with Elita One.”

“I was really scared when I saw you get shot,” Jawbreaker mumbled as he looked down at the ground.

“Yeah, I can’t stand seeing anyone we care about hurt, especially that badly,” Twitch said as a mix of a haunted and bitter look crossed her faceplates. “For a moment there, I honestly feared the worst…”

Starscream was taken aback by her words, surprised that she admitted they cared about him. And the way she said it made her sound genuine. Though he wasn’t sure why she had thought that he was going to die.

“It’s going to take much more than a simple shot at my helm to take me down permanently,” Starscream scoffed. “I’ve gone through worse and always found a way back up.”

“You’ve been through worse than what happened earlier?” Nightshade’s eyes widened with disbelief. Well, they weren’t the only ones shocked as the others also shared their expression.

“I guess you can say I’m hard to kill. Many have tried taking my life, even Megatron has tried killing me so many times, but here I am, still ‘breathing’,” Starscream chuckled, actually proud of such a statement.

The Terrans exchanged uncomfortable glances among themselves. Hashtag, in particular, didn’t enjoy hearing Starscream act like getting injured or going through countless death experiences were the norm for him. Instead of being in awe, Hashtag felt her spark drop.

Of course, Starscream could sense their discomfort and took in the worried glances directed his way, making Starscream feel that he should probably leave them now. It wasn’t his intention to make them uneasy.

Starscream thought now was the best time to fly back to the other Decepticons. He preferred flying during the daytime, but to avoid humans from noticing him mostly was better if he flew at night.

Then suddenly he just realized something by the way the Terrans were still awake.

“Shouldn’t you all be recharging now?”

The Terrans blinked at him. “Why?” Twitch asked him in confusion.

“What do you mean why? Isn’t it past your bedtime?” At least, Starscream figured Dorothy would make the Terrans have one like humans did with their children.

 “We don’t sleep.”

“What do you mean, you don’t sleep?”

“We Terrans don’t require it,” Nightshade clarified.

“Yeah, I thought Cybertronians also didn’t need to, but Bee does, which is weird,” Twitch added.

Starscream stared at them, wanting to run a servo down on his face at the fact Bumblebee nor any other Autobot had taken their time to explain to the Terrans what recharge was for. And now he pondered if they even knew how to do it to begin with.

“We call it recharge,” Starscream began to explain. “We don’t require it as much as humans do, but it helps us to clear our minds, to rest our bodies. Honestly, we all do it at least for 6 hours to kind of reset ourselves for whatever is coming the following day.”

“Sounds a lot like why humans need sleep,” Twitch pointed out.

“It’s not.” The four stared at him, a frown appeared in his face. “You’re telling me, you’ve never recharged even once since you’ve been alive?”

“Well, we do rest,” Nightshade replied. “We lay outside and stare at the stars.”

“Or listen to music,” Hashtag added.

“Or watch the cows sleep,” Twitch jumped in with a grin.

Unbelievable…

“That does not offer the same benefits as actual recharging.” He sensed explaining with words wasn’t going to get through to them, so instead he thought of another approach. Though he felt he would probably regret it, something within him pushed him to go for it. “Fine, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re all recharging now. And no whining!”

“Aww, come on, do we have to?” Twitch whined.

“I just said no whining,” Starscream scolded, irritation clear as he rose from the table. “Alright, all of you, pick a spot and get comfortable. Come on now, stop making those faces.”

“We’re serious, Starscream, we don’t need to sleep,” Hashtag told Starscream.

“I think we should play a game instead,” Jawbreaker continued to insist.

“Trust me, you’ll enjoy it,” Starscream said, folding his arms on his cockpit, ignoring Jawbreaker’s suggestion. “And I think it’s about time you all tried it.”

The Terrans looked at one another with uncertainty.

Eventually, Starscream observed as they moved over to the ramp and as they laid on their backs against it, they looked as stiff as boards while gazing up at the ceiling. They looked rather ridiculous, to say the least.

He couldn’t believe he was teaching someone how to ‘sleep’. If the other Decepticons caught him in this situation, he’d never live it down. “Alright… close your optics, relax and sleep,” Starscream instructed. But the Terrans kept their optics open. For a moment, he thought they were rebelling against him by even avoiding blinking.

Starscream fought the urge to run a servo down his face.

Though, now he wondered that maybe the Terrans couldn’t recharge at all. They were rather different from Cybetronians, after all.

Jawbreaker was the one to shut off his optics, which satisfied Starscream briefly. But then the Terran’s lips twisted to the side as he attempted to stifle a series of low, shaky whimper, a tremor ran through his body, leaving Starscream puzzled.

“I… I can’t,” Jawbreaker let out, his optics flashed on with fear and anguish while he quickly sat up fast. “I’m sorry, Starscream, but I’m scared.” He covered his face with his servos.

“Truth is, I am also afraid,” Nightshade admitted as they and their siblings settled into sitting positions as well.

“Yeah, same here,” Hashtag sighed, shoulders sagging a bit.

Twitch didn’t say anything, but had a frown on her faceplates, glaring down at her lap.

Starscream regarded them with an unreadable expression for a while, trying his best to not get annoyed with them while trying to comprehend their fear of recharging.

Patience…

He knew he had to get better in that area. Though, he had to admit; it was so much easier to do so with the Terrans compared to anyone else.

“Why are you all afraid to recharge?” he asked them.

“Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I fear it because the only time I wasn’t conscious was when Mandroid offlined me,” Nightshade revealed to him, making him stare at them in disbelief.

“Yeah… that’s why I’m scared too,” Jawbreaker mumbled, finally releasing his face, optics clouded with a mix of shame and sadness.

“It happened so abruptly,” Hashtag added. “We’ve talked about it with the other adults, but it still haunts us, almost like that scary movie we all watched a month ago about a killer clown, except it’s ten times worse. I’m also afraid that going into recharge will leave me open to someone to control me, just like Mandroid did.”

Right…

Hashtag had spoken to him about what exactly Mandroid did to her, hacking her systems, imprisoning her within her own mind, harassing her, taking full control over her actions, even making her fight her siblings. She wasn’t fully over from the experience, but at least discussing it with Starscream seemed to have helped her a lot. At least, according to her it has.

“Thrash was on top of me when he died,” Twitch revealed bitterly, feeling guilty for not being able to protect him and the others from Mandroid’s instant attack. “Watching him shut down like that…” She squeezed her optics shut. “The only time I went offline was due to energy depletion, and it was painful…” 

“So, yeah, we’ve all had terrible experiences with losing consciousness,” Hashtag remarked.

“And because of that, we’re going to associate recharging as something terrifying,” Nightshade added.

“I guess that makes sense,” Starscream mused, placing a servo under his chin as he pondered how to help the children.

He recalled how the first time he lost consciousness was when he flew the first. He crashed and fell unconscious. But the experience didn’t traumatize him, though.

However… fear was something he knew firsthand, for many other things.

The Terrans were definitely not like him, who refused to admit what terrified him in his life. Then again, even though he wasn’t the sort to vocalize it, he hated to admit it, he showed his fear too often, especially during battle. Cybetronians tended to ridicule anyone expressing such emotions. Proof of that was that he was called a coward for years and by many.

He wondered why he didn’t consider the Terrans cowards for their fear of recharging. Perhaps because, as he told Bumblebee, they were just children?

Either way, he had to help them somehow.

“Look, nothing’s going to happen to any of you,” Starscream stated firmly, trying to reassure them. His optics scanned each one of them. “No one’s going to hack into your systems, or attack you,” he continued, his voice steady. “When you recharge, you’ll just wake up feeling refreshed and energized. No pain, no danger. You’ll be fine, and most importantly, you’ll be alive.”

He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words as he took notice of the way the Terrans still looked unsure. “There is nothing scary or dangerous about it.”

The four in front of him remained silent. He failed to convince them, prompting him to quickly think through another way to change their minds. He mentally retraced the conversations he’d had with Hashtag, recalling her advice on dealing with the other Decepticons.

An idea sparked in his processor, though, he felt rather awkward following through with it. But what other choice did he have? He truly wanted to help Hashtag and her siblings. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Starscream asked, forcing his voice to take a gentler tone. “Anything that might make it easier so you are not all afraid?”

Hashtag and the others exchanged glances, silently contemplating Starscream’s offer to help. They seemed unsure if there was anything that he could do for them. Then, in a hesitant and bashful manner, Jawbreaker raised his servo.

He looked rather uncertain. “Well… maybe if… well… actually, never mind,” Jawbreaker mumbled, quickly withdrawing his servo and averting his gaze.

Starscream blinked. “What is it?” he asked.

Jawbreaker shook his head rapidly. “No, no, just ignore me. It was a dumb idea,” he trailed off.

“Well, now I’m curious,” Twitch spoke up with an amused grin.

“Yeah, J.B, don’t leave us hanging like that,” Hashtag added, nudging Jawbreaker gently.

Jawbreaker let out a frustrated groan, wrapping his arms around him protectively. “But Starscream’s going to hate it,” he muttered under his breath.

Starscream frowned. “Hate what?” he asked, trying to understand.

“You won’t know until you ask him,” Nightshade interjected, their voice calm yet encouraging.

Jawbreaker emitted uneasy, jittery sounds from his vocalizer. He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with them all.

“Come on, J.B, ask him,” Hashtag urged. “Starscream won’t hate it, right, Starscream?” she turned to the Decepticon. “You won’t, will you?”

“Of course not,” Starscream replied. “I can’t think of anything that you will say that I will despise.”

“See, J.B? Now, go on, what were you going to say?” Hashtag encouraged, while Nightshade and Twitch stared at their brother with anticipation.

There was a pause as Jawbreaker hesitantly glanced at Starscream. Nervously, he eventually spoke up, “Well… maybe if you… lay down with us and… let us hold you, we might feel safer to recharge?”

The room fell completely silent. Starscream’s optics widened. His mouth hung loose, before he blinked, processing the most unexpected request he had ever heard in his life coming out of Jawbreaker’s mouth.

Him? Lying down with them? Holding him?!

Oh, how he regretted following Hashtag’s advice at that moment.

Starscream was starting to believe he hadn’t woken up at all yet, or the shot in his helm surely screwed him up to the point he was hearing things completely wrong.

Even the Terrans stared at Jawbreaker with surprise as Starscream struggled to even figure out how to respond.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Nightshade admitted, though with a hint of amusement, that imagining them holding onto Starscream painted a cute picture in their mind.

“Well, I saw a movie where a kid was afraid to sleep in his room ‘cause he thought there was a monster in his closet, so he went to his parents’ room and ended up sleeping with them ‘cause he felt safe,” Jawbreaker said.

“Hmm, I can see how having an adult close by us as we recharge could ease our fears,” Nightshade mused, prompting all four Terrans to turn their attention toward Starscream, with a sort of pleading look etched on their faces.

Starscream was uncomfortable. He wanted to take a step back to add some distance between himself and the Terrans.

Maybe he should seek Bumblebee and drag him to fulfill the Terran’s request instead.

“Starscream, it’s alright if you’re not comfortable with it,” Hashtag reassured him gently, but instead of calming him down, her words made him feel like a coward.

Was he truly afraid that a bunch of kids wanted to hold him as they slept so they could feel safe?

Was he truly that pathetic that he would deny them such an innocent request?

Summoning courage he didn’t entirely feel, Starscream put on a brave front. “If it helps ease your fears, I suppose I can oblige,” he responded, as if Jawbreaker’s request hadn’t spooked him at the slightest.

His response brought the Terrans to react even more surprised.

“I call dibs on his chest!” Twitch quickly called out as she jumped up to her pedes with excitement.

Eventually, Starscream found himself lying on the ground by the ramp. A soft bed of hay cushioned his helm.

Twitch had landed on his chest right away, her arms enveloping him while a light chuckle escaped her lips as her cheek rested comfortably on his cockpit. “I’m definitely counting this as a hug,” she teased Starscream. 

Jawbreaker laid on his left, held his arm. A relieved sigh escaped him. “This feels nice,” he murmured as his forehead leaned against Starscream’s arm.

“Yeah, it does,” Twitch hummed.

Initially, Starscream tensed at the Terrans’ bodies on him, but the children’s words brought a sense of warmth in his spark, easing him down.

Hashtag sought permission, and with a nod from him, she laid down and held onto his right arm. Nightshade transformed into their owl form, and settled by Starscream’s left leg, a gentle touch from their head made the warmth grow within Starscream’s chest, into a feeling that sent out waves of calmness that he hadn’t felt in so long. Actually, the sensation was even stronger.

Truth be told, Starscream was confused. He was supposed to make the kids feel safe, and somehow, he himself was experiencing that very feeling himself.

Oh, how he hoped no Autobot or Decepticon ended up catching him in his current position. Then again, a part of him didn’t seem to care.

Unbeknownst to him, the Terrans felt a soft hum of tranquility radiating from Starscream, easing their fears that had gripped them for so long.

“I can’t believe… I’m sleepin’ on Starscream,” Twitch mumbled with amusement, her words slurring slightly. “So warm…”

Starscream rolled his eyes, but her innocent words brought a smile on his lips. “Sleeping bots aren’t supposed to speak.”

“What if I’m a sleep talker?”

“Go to sleep, Twitch…”

Twitch grumbled, but she snuggled closer.

Hashtag tightened her grip on Starscream’s arm, and he glanced at her, noticing some lingering anxiety flickering across her faceplates.

“I’ll protect you and your siblings, Hashtag,” he said in a soft tone, to assure her. “I’ll make sure nothing terrible happens to you four while you sleep. I’ll make sure you guys wake up tomorrow morning. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You promise…?” Hashtag quietly asked him, her face leaning on his arm, a servo holding on to his.

Starscream felt his spark stir with a soft desperation, as the image of Skyfire’s lifeless body flashed in his mind, urging him to not make the same mistakes as before and to protect Hashtag and her siblings no matter what.

He wrapped his digits around her hand to hold her as best as he could in his current position.

“I promise, Hashtag,” he whispered to her, as one by one, she and her siblings slowly slipped into recharge. “I promise I will.”

Chapter Text

Thrash observed his mother with concern as his father helped her walk into the house. His mother was taking slow and deep breaths along the way, with her eyes closed, but Thrash could see the small tremor in her hands. He had never seen his mother so shaken up before. Even during their battles with their recent enemies, she stayed determined and fierce.

Though, now that he thought about it, his mother had appeared panicked the moment Starscream arrived earlier in the day. Yet, neither he nor his siblings have minded her reaction; Thrash just thought his mother was panicking for their safety. His siblings instead were all welcoming Starscream like some sort of celebrity.

‘You should be careful who you trust, kid,’ Prowl’s voice played in Thrash’s processor, making his servos turn into fists as he felt his spark fill with anger at the fact Starscream had gotten his siblings to be fond of him.

His father stepped back outside. “Look, kids, for now, please don’t tell the others about what Starscream did to your mom,” Alex said to his three kids present.

Thrash’s optics grew wide in shock. “What? Why not?” he let out with annoyance.

“The story is very traumatic for your mom, and it’s her story to tell,” his father responded calmly. “Prowl had no right to share it without her consent, especially to you guys the way he did.”

“But the others have the right to know they’re trying to befriend a monster,” Thrash argued.

“Thrash,” Mo let out quietly, with worry as she felt her brother’s boiling rage through her cyber-sleeve.

“Thrash, please listen to me,” Alex carefully began to say as he walked up to his son, placing his hands gently on his son’s arms. “They were at war, just like Optimus and the others were. Yes, what the Decepticons did was awful, but remember, we’re trying to move forward and be at peace with everyone. We can’t let ourselves be blind by our emotions.”

“But Starscream almost killed mom,” Thrash said through clenched dentas.

“And the Autobots almost killed Mandroid that same day as well,” Alex said, making Thrash look confused. “The Battle of the Bay, that’s where your mother lost her leg, and where Autobot friendly fire also hit the G.H.O.S.T laboratory where Mandroid and his people were working in.”

“The Autobots didn’t mean to shoot at them.”

“But it still happened, Thrash. Mandroid lost people. He learned to hate all Cybertronian life that day to the point he didn’t want to give any of them a chance later, not even those who were innocent like you and the rest of your siblings. Remember, Starscream helped us, didn’t he? Twitch wouldn’t be here with us if he didn’t step in to protect her.”

“But…” Thrash shut his optics hard, growing frustrated as he wasn’t sure what he should do or feel now. Because his dad was right. They would have all been dead if Starscream didn’t get the rest of the Decepticons to join in their battle. But that same bot had taken his mother’s right leg.

“I understand this situation is hard for you. It’s hard for me as well,” Alex gently said to his son, maintaining a strong yet calming hold on his son’s arms. “But we can’t let the anger nor fears take a hold of us like it did with Mandroid. Especially if Starscream has shown signs that he’s willing to live in peace on Earth and trying to do better.”

Thrash pressed his lips into a thin line before his optics glanced over to Robby and Mo who looked conflicted as well. Robby was looking down to the ground with a frown while his sister had her eyes towards the barn with a look of contemplation.

“Optimus and Megatron were enemies for many years and now they’re friends,” Mo quietly said before looking at Thrash. “I think… we should give Starscream a chance, especially since Hashtag and the others told us he was getting along with you guys.” She managed to let out a small smile, even though Robby’s brows furrowed, still unsure about the situation they were in. “Let’s not be like Mandroid.”

Thrash stared at Mo before he let out a tired sigh, his shoulders sagging a bit. “I want him to apologize to -” He stopped before he could finish when Robby’s and Mo’s Cyber-sleeves began to glow bright suddenly.

His siblings’ eyes were wide, but filled with surprise as they stared down their metallic sleeves.

“What’s wrong?” Thrash immediately asked, his dad letting him go and turning to Robby and Mo with confusion.

“I feel warmth,” Robby managed to say, his fingers caressing the stone on his arm,

“Twitch and the others feel so happy, safe,” Mo added with a soft smile, bringing her hand close to her chest. “This feels so familiar, almost like…”

“When we used the Emberstone to revive the others,” Robby compared, now looking confused before meeting his sister’s gaze. “But… kind of different.”

Thrash stared at his siblings with confusion, unsure what was going on, but it seemed Twitch and the others were having a great time with Starscream.

He turned to the barn, debating if he should go and check on his siblings, since he felt he would lash out at Starscream if he saw him any time soon and he didn’t want to ruin their ‘peaceful’ moment with him.

He disliked Starscream for what he did to his mother, but… the last thing he wanted was to get completely blinded by his emotions like Mandroid had been.

He groaned, looking away from the barn, wanting to kick something as hard as he could to release the rage that continued to build up even a tiny bit.

Prowl drove down the empty roads through a silent night, his engine humming a low, constant growl.

He passed a set of train tracks, sped over bridges, through quiet towns whose sleeping inhabitants were unaware of his presence while his rearview mirrors flicked to ensure no one was trailing behind him. Eventually, after driving for quite some time, Prowl transformed, the sound of shifting metal echoing in the night. His sensors scanned the surroundings before he walked off the road and into the dense, dark forest.

The tall trees loomed overhead, darkening the shadows as he navigated through the thick underbrush. Once he travelled deep enough into the forest, he reached up to his helm and connected to a secure line. “I’m here,” he stated in a composed voice.

The silence was shattered by the distant echo of heavy, metallic footsteps drawing nearer. Soon, four large robots emerged from the shroud of darkness from different directions, all wearing Autobot crests proudly on their metal plates.

“What kept you so long?” the shortest one, Cliffjumper, asked with a frown, who had a striking resemblance to Bumblebee, but sported a more serious look overall and had a red paint job. “Leaving us waiting out here surrounded by this organic stuff ain’t cool, you know?”

The green robot rolled his optics. “I can’t see why you hate Earth so much,” he said to the red horned bot. “It’s not that bad.”

“I never said I hate this planet, Hound,” the bot grumbled in response. “I just don’t want to be standing where these insects can crawl on me. It feels too weird.” He let out a shudder and instinctively wiped off his arms, as if trying to get rid of something on him.

“Quit ya whinin’ Cliffjumper,” Ironhide, a rugged red Autobot, grunted out. Arms crossed on his chest plates, his blue optics focused on Prowl. “So, what’s the situation?”

Ratchet, a white and red bot who seemed tired, unlike the others, inched closer to catch every detail.

They had all been en route to the G.H.O.S.T facility over a day ago, with the intention of meeting Optimus - though “confronting” might be a more fitting term, especially after Prowl had secretly unearthed certain details weeks ago – information that reignited a glimmer of hope for their home world - and Optimus had done nothing about it. However, while they were on their journey, they spotted a jet from a distance streaking through the sky in a blink of an eye. And there was only one jet capable of such speed and bore the multi color scheme.

“It appears that the Allspark, or at least some of its’ energy, resides within Starscream’s spark, just as G.H.O.S.T agents hinted in their reports from the intel I gathered,” Prowl revealed, making most of his comrades’ optic ridges rise on their faceplates.

“You certain about that?” Ratchet finally spoke. He doubted Prowl, even though the bot had a neck in gathering information and had seen certain footage - by infiltrating the G.H.O.S.T facility weeks ago – of proof that revealed Starscream’s spark reacting abnormally to certain G.H.O.S.T experimentation while the con was held captive.

“Did you crack him open or somethin’ to confirm?” Hound asked.

“I shot him in the helm,” Prowl explained, catching everyone off guard. “He should’ve been offline or at least in stasis for some time. Instead, he’s stable and even woke up hours after Megatron ‘attended’ to his injuries. I’m guessing that Allspark energy in Starscream’s spark played a significant role in his quick recovery, because I highly doubt Megatron has the skills to save anyone with such deadly injuries.”

“Are you outta your circuits?” Ratchet raised his voice with annoyance. He shook his head disapprovingly. “Shooting him at the helm? Killing him is the last thing we want to do right now.”

“Is it?” Cliffjumper quipped with a snort.

“We aren’t sure if Starscream dying would have affected that energy stored in his spark,” Ratchet retorted at the younger mech.

“Ratchet… Starscream should have died in that explosion,” Prowl told the old medic in a serious tone, his optics narrowing with intensity. “In fact, there shouldn’t have been a trace of him left. Yet somehow, he pulled through, so I highly doubt a blast to the helm would have posed much of a threat to him.”

“I still don’t get it,” Cliffjumper frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “How in the pits did the Allspark end up inside Screamer?”

Ratchet vented with annoyance. “We aren’t entirely sure if it’s the Allspark or just remnants of it inside Starscream’s spark. Whatever is inside of Starscream has shown to have immense power based on what Prowl had gathered weeks ago from G.H.O.S.T.”

“Ya reckon Starscream himself knows what his spark is packin’?” Ironhide asked Prowl.

“If Starscream was aware of his situation, he wouldn’t be among the Autobots, especially anywhere near Megatron,” Prowl stated. “Starscream’s paranoia would most likely make him go into hiding. He’d be too scared someone might breach his spark chamber and seize his spark. He definitely would stay away from Shockwave since that con wouldn’t allow Starscream to move freely with that kind of energy and would probably keep him somewhere locked up for his own purposes.”

“Near Megatron?” Ironhide leaned in towards the group. “Ya saw Megatron?”

“Hold on, tell us everything that happened,” Ratchet demanded impatiently.

Prowl glanced over his shoulder, again making sure no one was around before proceeding to recount to his team everything Optimus had told him about the events that had taken place that led them to go offline for a split moment. He told them about the Terrans and Mandroid, how the Decepticons helped them. Then, he detailed everything that occurred after he left the group behind earlier that day, following the direction Starscream had taken, which, he had guessed, where Dorothy Malto was living from intel he had gathered before. He described how he hid in the forest and observed the Terrans and Starscream. He had taken advantage to shoot Starscream when Starscream and Bumblebee were sparring, to test his theories concerning the Allspark and Starscream.

The reactions from the majority of individuals at the Malto's residence suggested that not everyone was aware of the true state of Starscream's spark. However, he assured them all that Optimus definitely knew about the situation because the systems that held the information were locked by security and had Wheeljack’s ‘name’ all over them. And, of course, Wheeljack required Optimus’s approval to mess with any of those systems.

“How do you reckon Megatron doesn’t know?” Hound inquired. “Optimus would’ve spilled the beans to him.”

“Would he, though?” Prowl pondered, his optics glinting in the darkness. The leaves rustled as a soft breeze swept through the forest. “Megatron would be desperate to get the Allspark back and fix what he perceives as an error, because from what I’ve gathered, Megatron feels remorseful that the Allspark was ‘destroyed’. Regardless of Megatron’s intentions, even he would prefer the Allspark in safe hands, back on Cybertron, rather than in the grasp of a deceptive coward like Starscream.”

“Wait, so… Optimus hasn’t spilled to Megatron because what? He doesn’t trust him? He’s protectin’ Screamer?” Cliffjumper blinked.

“Knowing Optimus, he probably feels indebted to Starscream for his help against this Mandroid,” Ratchet vented his annoyance.

“Typical Optimus move,” Hound shook his helm.

“So, are we still goin’ after Screamer’s spark?” Cliffjumper asked. “That’s why we’re here, right? ‘Cause you said it might be the only way to save Cybertron?”

“But how do we plan to nab Starscream?” Ironhide inquired. “Even back in the war, grabbin’ him was almost impossible.”

“We’re going to need Starscream alone and seriously banged up if we want a chance,” Hound said.

“And how are we pullin’ that off?” Cliffjumper frowned, feeling his servos tensing. “Didn’t you say the Allspark energy in Screamer’s spark heals him?”

“Based on the data I gathered, he only heals from life-threatening injuries,” Prowl began to explain. “Optimus wants to keep Starscream in the Malto’s residence for a few days, to watch over his progress, probably to monitor any strange behavior within Starscream’s spark, so he isn’t going anywhere for now. But I’ve got a plan to single him out and put him in the right state.”

“Ever mentioned how much I love your way of doin’ things, Prowl?” Cliffjumper asked with a smirk.

“We’ll move first thing tomorrow night,” Prowl began before Hound cut in.

“Hold on, what’re these Terrans you spoke of? What are they like?” the green bot asked curiously.

“Naïve,” Prowl stated dryly. “They’re pretty protective of Starscream.”

“No way!” Cliffjumper exclaimed, baffled. “How the frag did Screamer manage to get some new lackeys?”

“If what you said checks out, and they were forged just months ago, it makes sense they’d fall for Starscream’s tricks,” Hound said. “I feel bad for those poor kids.”

Ratchet seemed deep in thought, staying silent.

“They aren’t just innocent kids,” Prowl told them. “They’re dangerous, just like us, and we can’t underestimate them. So, by all means, do what you have to do to get that spark. Understood? Cybertron depends on it.”

Majority gave Prowl a nod of affirmation while Ratchet just let out a sigh, rubbing the corner of his optics before Prowl began to tell them the plan he had in mind, of course with Hound giving his own input on it.

Chapter Text

Skywarp teleported herself and Nova Storm into a dense forest, surrounded by towering mountains and thick trees. The moonlight barely pierced the canopy above, but their glowing optics were more than enough to take in the scene. A wide river flowed beside them as the two Seekers touched down on the ground.

Both carried metallic storage tanks under one arm, snug against their frames. Skywarp let go of Nova Storm’s servo and frowned, touching her helm after attempting to connect with Starscream.

“He’s still not pickin’ up,” Skywarp muttered, frustrated.

Nova Storm shrugged. “So? Not the first time he’s ghosted us all night. Why are you so worried?”

“He’s never cut off our channel before—not since we escaped G.H.O.S.T,” Skywarp said, starting to walk along the river’s edge.

“I bet he’s fine. As fine as he gets, anyway. I mean, come on, this is Starscream we’re talkin’ about,” Nova Storm said with a smirk as they approached a large waterfall. The crashing water roared through the trees, and standing nearby was Soundwave, with Ravage perched on his helm. He glanced at them briefly but said nothing as they walked through the veil of water, revealing a hidden cavern behind.

At the cavern’s depths, Swindle and Hardtop lay sprawled out, trying in vain to recharge. Meanwhile, Shockwave sat against the far wall, facing the entrance. His single glowing optic stared blankly into the distance, a norm since the reunion after Mandroid’s defeat. Ever since then, Shockwave either zoned out or watched the forest animals—which creeped everyone out. They were used to him being busy with inventions or analyzing data, not just... sitting.

Skywarp shot Shockwave a side-eye glance, but quickly followed Starscream’s instructions to ignore him. She and Nova Storm hauled the metallic barrels over to a machinery setup. Dark oil was being siphoned from one of the hooked-up barrels, disappearing into the machine, which then expelled a brownish liquid into another barrel at the opposite end. The cavern had stacks of barrels lined up, some filled with oil and others with the brown liquid.

Nova Storm noticed the frown hadn’t left Skywarp’s faceplates. “Wow, you’re gettin’ as bad as Starscream with the whole ‘brooding’ thing.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Skywarp asked, puzzled.

“You’re actin’ like you’re actually worried about him. And I mean, really worried.”

“I am worried.”

“Yeah, sure you are” Nova Storm snorted back, waiting for Skywarp to crack a grin or admit she was messing around. But Skywarp stayed serious.

“Skywarp, we’re spark sisters. Even after all that time apart, stuck trinin’ with others, I still know you better than anyone. And you and Starscream? You two never liked each other.”

“I don’t hate Starscream,” Skywarp grumbled. Nova Storm gave her a knowing look, prompting a reluctant sigh from her. “Fine. Maybe I don’t hate him as much as I thought. Just… never really liked him. He’s...”

“A self-centered aft?” Nova Storm suggested with a smirk.

“Well, yeah, but—”

“And when you and Thundercracker were trinin’ with him, he blocked the comms and ditched you guys with that shuttle of his?”

Skywarp’s expression tightened at the memory. “Yeah…”

“And even after the Academy booted him, when he came back to you two, he still acted like he was too good for the military?” Nova Storm continued.

“Or how he ditched us with G.H.O.S.T and didn’t even bother to come save us,” Swindle piped up as he and Hardtop sat up from their failed recharge attempt. “Not that you two were any better, forgettin’ about us too,” he grumbled.

Skywarp rolled her optics. “For the last time, we didn’t forget you. We had to refuel first. Starscream spent ages building this machine to make artificial energon.”

“Did he even try to make it taste decent?” Swindle grunted out. “Worse than low-grade stuff, I swear.”

“It’s better than nothin’,” Skywarp said, crossing her arms.

“Better than takin’ scraps from some human,” Nova Storm added as she filled a cube with the brown energon. She took a sip and barely managed to hide her disgust. “At least, that’s what I tell myself every day.”

“Well, good thing Starscream’s working on upgrading that converter soon,” Skywarp said.

“It’d go faster if someone wasn’t acting so weird and actually helped,” Nova Storm grumbled, giving Shockwave a sideways glare.

Skywarp sighed and tapped her helm, trying to reach Starscream again, only to get the same error message—still no connection. “He should really start telling us where he’s gonna be,” she muttered under her breath.

“Starscream is with the Maltos,” Shockwave suddenly spoke, spooking everyone for a second as they weren’t expecting him to talk suddenly.

“He’s with Hashtag?” Nova Storm’s optics blinked in confusion, while Skywarp let out a small breath of relief.

“How do you know that?” Skywarp asked.

Shockwave paused for a moment, his single optic glowing faintly before he replied. “Hashtag contacted me earlier. Starscream was injured—shot by Prowl—but he’s safe. He’ll be staying with the Maltos while he recovers.”

The news made everyone’s optics go wide in shock.

“Wait, what?!” Nova Storm’s let out.

“Prowl shot Starscream!?” Skywarp’s optics flared as she spun on Swindle and Hardtop. Swindle quickly threw up his servos in defense.

“Hey, hey! We didn’t know!” Swindle stammered, and Hardtop gave a hasty nod. “Last we heard, Prowl was still hiding out with the Autobots that ditched Optimus!”

Nova Storm, once she recovered from the shock, fixed her optics on Shockwave. “When did this happen?”

“Yeah, why didn’t you tell us sooner? And why are you just sitting there doing nothing?!” Skywarp joined in with frustration.

Shockwave’s optic narrowed slightly, his tone eerily calm. “The Terrans and Hashtag favor Starscream. He’s in safe hands. If his condition worsened, Hashtag would inform me.”

“Safe hands? He got shot!” Nova Storm said, before turning to Skywarp. “So, are we gonna check on him or what? Not that I care or anything, but... he is our leader.”

“Yeah, we should,” Skywarp said.

Shockwave’s optic narrowed thoughtfully. “Your concern is understandable. However, arriving unannounced may be seen as a threat. The Autobots might interpret it as aggression, especially after Starscream was attacked.”

Skywarp clenched her fists, grinding her teeth. She hated how Shockwave always threw logic at them. “So, what? We just do nothing?”

“As I said, the children favor Starscream. If anything changes, Hashtag will contact me.”

Skywarp let out a frustrated groan, glaring at Shockwave before storming off, fists still clenched. Nova Storm quickly followed, both passing through the waterfall without saying a word to Soundwave.

They walked in silence until Skywarp reached the riverbank and dropped down with a heavy sigh. Nova Storm sat nearby, glancing at her sister with concern.

“Careful, Skywarp. You’re starting to look cranky like Starscream,” Nova Storm teased.

Skywarp groaned, dragging her servos down her faceplates. “Can you blame me? The only reason we’re not starving out here is because of him. I don’t wanna go back to working for some human mad scientist.”

“Yeah, that was the worst,” Nova Storm agreed, both falling quiet as they stared at the flowing water.

Skywarp curled her legs up, resting her chin on her knees. “I hate this situation we’re in,” she muttered. “Stuck out here in a world that’s not our own, hiding from Autobots and humans, just trying to survive. I don’t know what’s worse—this, or being stuck fighting a war for millions of years.”

“Not gonna lie, fighting all those years kinda sucked,” Nova Storm responded dryly.

“Yeah, true. But at least during the war, we had a purpose, a goal that could’ve made Cybertron better and put us on top. Now... it just feels like we’re existing, hiding, waiting until our sparks fizzle out.” Skywarp began tracing patterns in the dirt absentmindedly with one digit.

Nova Storm observed her sister quietly for a moment before rubbing the back of her helm, then flopped down onto the ground, her arms propped behind her head. “Look at you, Skywarp—all mopey like everyone else,” she teased lightly, causing Skywarp to glance at her in confusion. “Primus, I’m probably next in line to look all sad too,” Nova Storm chuckled.

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed. Just look around. Everyone’s all weird ever since we got back with the others. Soundwave’s still moping about Megatron’s betrayal, Shockwave just stares off into space like he’s questioning every life decision he’s ever made, and Starscream... well, he’s been weirdly quiet and distant instead of barking orders like a lunatic.”

Skywarp was silent, mulling over Nova Storm’s words.

“At least Breakdown’s out there, having the time of his life, racing against humans,” Nova Storm added. “Not gonna lie, first time I’ve ever been jealous of not being a grounder.”

“Yeah,” Skywarp sighed. “Being a Seeker doesn’t do us much good out here.”

“You ever think about joining the Autobots?” Nova Storm asked. “I know I joke about it a lot, but sometimes I wonder. Then again, maybe it’s too late since we didn’t switch sides before the war ended.”

Skywarp scoffed. “You really want to work with Megatron again?” She ran a servo along the tear in her wing—an old wound from Megatron, weeks ago. “After he abandoned us?”

“Well…”

“Starscream would never go near Megatron again,” Skywarp grumbled. “And, honestly, I trust Starscream with my life these days more than I ever trusted Megatron.”

Nova Storm sat up, her optics wide in disbelief. “Okay… Starscream definitely spiked that artificial energon with something. ‘Cause there’s no way anyone’s saying that and being serious.”

“I'm serious,” Skywarp insisted. “Starscream’s been the one keeping us alive.”

“I get that, but—”

“He’s changed.”

“Oh, please, he’s going to-”

“He apologized to us.” The words were firm, and Nova Storm fell silent.

For a long time, neither of them spoke. Then eventually Nova Storm finally let out a sigh. “Yeah, still can’t believe he did that,” she said quietly before her gaze drifted up to the stars, where the sky appeared so peaceful that night.

Chapter Text

Fanart done by loudeluxe : 3, I love both art pieces, they are amazing! Thank you loudeluxe for doing them <3

Peeps can follow them through: Tumblr

Thousands of Years Ago

“I think he’s coming back online,” Starscream heard Skyfire’s hopeful voice say.

Starscream felt tired as he regained consciousness, though he wasn’t sure how long he’d been out. He tried to rub his optics, but Skyfire quickly snatched his servos.

“Careful, they might still be sensitive,” Skyfire said.

Starscream blinked a few times as his vision cleared up. He struggled to sit up, his frame still recovering from whatever Hook had used to sedate him during the surgery.

“How do you feel?” Skyfire asked, with a small smile as he helped Starscream take a sitting position.

“Tired,” Starscream replied groggily.

“Any pain?” Hook inquired.

“No.” Starscream glanced around, finding himself in the familiar room where Hook had taken them in to perform the surgery. He was sitting on the hard, metallic table with various medical tools laid out nearby.

Hook flashed a light into Starscream’s optics, making him wince, then ran a scan with his device to ensure everything was as expected.

After Hook confirmed that everything was looking good, Skyfire sat next to Starscream on a stool.

“It doesn’t feel like anything’s changed,” Starscream said. “I see everything exactly the same way as before.”

“You’ll notice the difference when you’re flying,” Hook said. “But wait a few cycles before you do that.”

“Understood.”

Hook then excused himself and left the room.

Starscream glanced at Skyfire, noticing a nervous look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“So, um… I may have overstepped while Hooking was performing the surgery.” Skyfire handed Starscream a mirror but kept a servo on it, preventing Starscream from seeing his reflection. “I thought... since we want to go into the Academy, maybe this would help you fit in better once we’re accepted.”

Starscream narrowed his optics, suspicious. “What did you do?”

“If you don’t like it, Hook can easily change it back,” Skyfire quickly reassured him before pulling his servo away from the mirror.

Starscream lifted the mirror to see his reflection and blinked, surprised. Instead of red optics, warm blue ones stared back at him.

His digits traced the plating around his optics, his mouth parting in disbelief. “How… is this possible…?”

“I was doing some research on the side, was trying to surprise you. I’m sorry, Starscream, I shouldn’t have asked Hook to do it without your permission,” Skyfire said, now feeling awful for acting without thinking about how Starscream might feel having his optics changed color. “Let me get Hook and—”

Starscream grabbed his arm before he could stand. Skyfire looked down, confused, as Starscream met his gaze with a serious expression.

“Don’t you dare take this from me,” Starscream said. His grip tightened. “Please… don’t take this from me, Sky,” his voice shook this time, his face falling into a plea.

Skyfire sat back down and gently placed a servo on Starscream’s faceplate. “I won’t, Star,” he said softly. “Not unless you want me to, okay?”

Starscream’s blue optics glistened, and without a word, he threw his arms around Skyfire. Skyfire pulled him on to his lap, holding him tightly as Starscream quietly thanked him for everything.

He was so happy Skyfire believed he, a cold construct, was worthy of sharing the same optic color as him…

Starscream stood nervously with the other seekers before an instructor who was assigning them into groups. Most of the seekers had already been paired with someone else, but a handful, including Starscream and Thrust, hadn't been assigned yet, as they lacked any special ability that made them stand out like the others.

“To complete the trine for each group, the last member will be chosen based on their flight speed,” the instructor said.

“And the fastest is going to get the best duo, which will be me,” Thrust said arrogantly, glancing at two particular seekers—one with a blue and silver paint job and the other with black and purple. “You two will be all mine.”

Thundercracker stood with his arms crossed, watching Thrust with indifference, while Skywarp snorted in amusement at the comment.

“Sure about that?” Skywarp snickered at Thrust.

Starscream stared at the two seekers, who possessed the most powerful abilities compared to the others.

He didn’t care much for them, but the thought of Thrust being trined with those two irritated him - it would only inflate Thrust’s already aggravating ego.

The instructor began calling all the seekers—Starscream, Thrust, and the others—to stand at the starting line.

Starscream wished Skyfire was around, but the bot had been held up by work. He wasn’t sure if the procedure he’d gone through had worked since he hadn’t even had a chance to test his ‘repaired’ optics. The instructor unexpectedly moving the trine assignments up had been an unwanted surprise for him.

“Why do you even bother?” Thrust chuckled cruelly at Starscream as they waited to start, standing on his right. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t assign you to anyone and just throw you out in the streets where you belong. Unless that shuttle of yours decides to keep you around like a pet.”

Starscream glared daggers at Thrust but said nothing, turning his attention back to the racing track that hovered in the air, its boundaries marked by dim red lights emanating from various structures around the city. The route twisted and turned around towering skyscrapers and narrow alleyways, creating a dizzying labyrinth.

At the instructor’s signal, Starscream, like the others, transformed into his flight mode. Everyone waited in line until the instructor raised his arm and fired a missile into the sky, signaling the start. The seekers activated their thrusters, shooting forward along the path at top speed.

“See ya, losers!” Thrust yelled with a laugh as he immediately took the lead.

Starscream hesitated, not launching as quickly as the others. He fell behind fast, but he gradually increased his speed. Just as he braced himself for impact with the first building he was supposed to turn around, he was surprised to find himself maneuvering effortlessly, even accelerating as he did so.

At that moment, Starscream took notice what had changed in his optics. He could detect everything so accurately during high speeds, something he couldn’t do before.

He pushed all his doubts and fears aside and threw more power through his thrusters, surging ahead. He sped past a few seekers, who were shocked to see him moving so quickly, twisting and turning through the city with precision. Excitement surged inside him, mixed with countless emotions, as he felt invincible.

He had never felt anything like it before. Never felt as though he could do anything he wanted. He couldn’t help but genuinely laugh with joy as he realized he wasn’t as pathetic as many thought him to be while he continued to leave others in the ‘dust’.

As he soared through the sky, he dove between two buildings, sharply turned left along an alleyway before shooting up between skyscrapers. Up ahead, he spotted Thrust. Adrenaline rushed through Starscream as he locked his sights on the seeker, fueled by his pent-up rage. Gaining a little bit more speed he eventually caught up to the cone head.

“What the frag?” Thrust let out with genuine puzzlement as Starscream appeared right beside him. They were now neck and neck, racing toward the finish line where the instructor stood, waiting.

“Sorry, Thrust, but I’ll be the one partnered up with the best,” Starscream taunted with amusement. “See you at the finish line, you glitch!” he laughed before letting his thrusters unleash their full power, roaring like an explosion. He shot forward at an incredible speed, crossing the finish line in a blur. He was so fast that the instructor stood there, stunned, his wide blue optics frozen in shock. All the other seekers who had been watching the race stared at Starscream in disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Even Thundercracker looked visibly surprised while Skywarp’s jaw hung opened.

With a wide grin, Starscream transformed back into his robot form midair as he slowed down quickly before landing with ease. Then he stood tall, and for the first time in his existence, he relished the attention, loving how everyone’s optics were on him.

The Present

“There you are,” Elita-1 said to Arcee as she emerged from the forest. She and Bumblebee had been waiting outside the barn after Arcee had sent them a message she was on her way over. “I was about to have Bee look for you.”

“Sorry,” Arcee replied, rubbing the back of her helm. “Wheeljack had me moving some equipment around. Is he still here?”

“Yep. Starscream’s downstairs with the kids,” Bumblebee said.

“Alone?” Arcee blinked, looking a bit surprised.

“I know this might sound crazy, but I don’t think we need to worry about him around them.”

Arcee stared at Bumblebee as if he’d grown a second head.

“Though, I don’t like how the kids have been awfully quiet the past hour,” Elita-1 added with a frown, gazing toward the dark tunnel that led to the underground lair.

“They’re probably just watching videos or something,” Bumblebee said. “But I’ll just check, just in case.” He headed toward the tunnel while Elita-1 stayed behind to brief Arcee on the day’s earlier events.

Bumblebee walked through the dark tunnel, and as he did so, something warm and gentle brushed through him, reaching into his core, tugging at his spark. The sensation felt soft, comforting even – yet puzzlingly familiar. Where had this before?

As he got closer to the lair, the feeling grew stronger. And when he eventually reached his destination, he looked around in confusion when he was met with silence - there was no sign of movement either.

Then his optics went wide when they landed on an unexpected sight off the side of the room. Lying on the ground was Starscream, with the kids curled around him sound asleep. Twitch, looking as cozy as a stray cat, was nestled right on top of his cockpit.

He blinked rapidly, wondering if his optics were glitching. As he gawked at the sight for a while, Starscream’s optics snapped open, glaring right at him. In that instant, the warmth in the air dropped, as if it never existed.

The two Cybertronian locked optics, Bumblebee unsure what to do under Starscream’s piercing gaze. He forced a small, awkward smile and lifted a servo in a clumsy wave which made Starscream’s optics narrow further with irritation.

“Uh… sorry,” the Autobot mumbled, feeling like he was intruding. Without another word, he spun on his heels and hurried back up the tunnel.

“What’s wrong?” Arcee asked, noting his stunned expression that slowly morphed into one of amusement once he processed what he actually seen and how amusing it really was.

“You two aren’t gonna believe what I just saw,” he said quickly, a grin starting to spread, causing the two femme bots to look at him with confusion. “Starscream was laying there with all the kids sleeping almost on top of him!”

“Wait, what?” Arcee’s optics widened in shock while Elita-1 raised an optic ridge. “Starscream? As in, the cowardly backstabbing, that Starscream?” Arcee let out.

“Trust me, I didn’t believe it at first either,” Bumblebee laughed loudly. “It was so weird, but actually pretty funny.”

“Well, that’s… something I didn’t expect to hear today.” Elita-1 said, crossing her arms on her chest. “But that doesn’t makes sense. Since when do the kids sleep?”

“Yeah, aren’t they usually running around like they’re on High-Grade Energon?” Arcee asked.

“That’s what I thought, but they looked sound asleep,” Bumblebee replied.

A mischievous smile made its way Arcee’s face. “Alright, I gotta see this for myself.” She moved toward the barn, but Bumblebee quickly stepped in her path.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. He wasn’t exactly thrilled when he noticed me there,” he said.

“Not surprised,” Elita-1 said. “Didn’t think Starscream would want anyone to see his soft side. Honestly, surprised he even had one.”

“Come on, just a quick peek.” Arcee said, her optics gleaming. “I’ll be in and out - he won’t even know.”

“Arcee, let’s not spoil the moment for them."

Arcee frowned. “Aww, come on, Elita-1! This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime chance! I can’t miss this.”

“We have to, as the humans say, respect boundaries. Besides, if this really is the first time the kids are recharging, then it’s best we let them be.”

Arcee sighed, shoulders slumping, conceding while Bumblebee was no longer smiling after taking in what Elita-1 had said about the kids recharging.

How had he not realized the kids could recharge? Did they even know how before?

A pang of guilt settled in his spark for not once discussing sleep with the Terrans. Somehow, he thought maybe they didn’t need it. And he wasn’t sure how to feel about the possibility that Starscream might have been the one to teach them something so important and been the one to have been there to help them through it.

While Starscream lay there, he glared at the tunnel’s opening. Bumblebee hadn’t returned, and no other Autobot had poked their head in. Hopefully, his silent threat had been as clear as day.

Being caught with the kids sleeping practically on him was so embarrassing.

A part of him wanted a black hole to open underneath him and swallow him whole. Yet, as he looked at the kids’ sleeping forms, he felt his anger simmer down.

He sighed, turning his optics toward the ceiling, and thought about what he truly felt having the kids hold him while they slept.

Great, Hashtag had really left an influence on him, making him take time to think about his ‘feelings.’

He shook his helm at himself for growing soft, thanks to her. But he had to admit, it felt nice that there were others who trusted him enough to hold him while they were in their most vulnerable state. And that he trusted them not to harm him, either.

Then again, that scared him as well.

The last time someone trusted him with their life, they died—and it was his fault.

The last time he truly trusted someone, it had been a monster who continued to haunt him with his presence, ready to turn him into a pile of scraps if he made even the smallest mistake.

He did his best not to let the fear in his core take hold, as it usually did. But it was difficult, especially after thousands of years of traumatic experiences.

He reassured himself that the Terrans wouldn’t hurt him. Hashtag wouldn’t go stabbing him in the back.

Though, knowing his history of screwing things up, maybe he would slip, and everyone would just turn their backs on him.

His chest ached at the thought of Hashtag looking at him like everyone else had in the past—a failure, a coward, a monster. The feeling grew worse when Hashtag tighten her grip around his arm, scooting closer with her faceplates soft in a calm smile.

Hashtag opened her optics slowly after someone had nudged her awake. She felt so well rested, and at peace.

“Hate to wake you all up, but Starscream needs his energon,” Hashtag heard Elita-1 say before Starscream let out a grumble of annoyance.

She sat up, stretching her arms with a yawn before her siblings were moaning at being woken up.

“No, I want to go back! I was having an amazing dream!” Twitch whined as she clung on to Starscream’s cockpit.

Hashtag smiled with amusement as Nightshade pulled a stubborn Twitch off Starscream before he sat up with a frown directed at Elita-1.

He wasn’t happy that she had come into the lair five hours after the kids had fallen into recharge, especially since she wore an amused smirk upon seeing him bundled up with them.

Elita-1 handed Starscream two cubes of energon. He was hesitant at first, tense to have one of the most dangerous Autobots in the same room with him, but then he chugged the first one all down as he desperately needed to refuel. After all, he still needed it after losing all that energon the day before.

The second cube he sipped on it.

“So, how was your first recharge?” Elita-1 asked the Terrans curiously.

“It was amazing!” Jawbreaker exclaimed with joy. “I had a dream where I was as large as Grimlock!”

“Fascinating,” Nigthshade smiled. “I dreamt about Tarantulas. We were inside this abandoned house, working on some new project together.” They looked down with a sigh. “I do wonder where he is and if he’s doing well.”

“Don’t worry, Nigthshade. I think he’s doing okay and who knows, maybe you’ll see him soon,” Hashtag assured him.

“Yeah, I hope so…”

Starscream observed them, still finding it surprising that Tarantulas had worked with Nightshade on a project before.

Once he was done with his second cube, he rose back to his feet, stumbling for a moment, Jawbreaker and Hashtag quick to help him steady himself.

“I’m fine.” Starscream pulled from their servos. “Just got up too fast,” he said when the children looked at him with concern. He avoided their gazes, the anxiety that had been bothering him in the past hours still tugging at his spark. “I think it’s time for me to head out now.”

“Wait, no, don’t leave yet,” Jawbreaker grabbed onto Starscream’s arm, making him grow tense, which was enough for the Terran to let go with a meek apology.

“Optimus made it clear to us you were staying for a few days to make sure you were full recovered,” Elita-1 said, a hand on her hip. “So, you’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” Starscream said with annoyance.

“Didn’t look like it to me for a nano-cycle ago.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “You of all people know we’ve received worse injuries and still made it back to our comrades during the war. Now, if you excuse me, I have to make sure my men aren’t killing each other.”

“Killing each other?” Jawbreaker’s eyes widened with worry.

“Don’t worry, kid, Starscream’s just being dramatic,” Elita-1 assured him.

“You Autobots are the dramatic ones,” Starscream retorted before finally making his way around everyone and made his way to the tunnel.

“Aww, Starscream, don’t go!” Twitch whined.

Elita-1 didn’t stop him, but Hashtag was quick to go after him.

“Starscream, I really think you should stay at least one more night,” Hashtag said, looking up at him with concern. “Please? Just one more just to be safe.”

Starscream did his best to avoid her gaze as they walked together, passing Bumblebee, who was fast asleep by the barn’s entrance. They stepped outside, just as the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon. Arcee was standing there, her blue optics trained on Starscream with a fierce hostility that stopped him in his tracks.

Hashtag bit her lip, her circuits buzzing with unease. The last thing she wanted was for the two veterans to get into a fight.

Starscream, however, steadily moved aside, to get more distance from everyone so he could transform and fly off, keeping an optic on Arcee, wary of her making any sudden moves. Although, with Hashtag around, he doubted she’d try shooting him.

“Wait!” a voice called out, making Starscream turn. It was Thrash, sprinting toward him.

“I need to talk to you about something. Alone,” he said.

Starscream and Hashtag gazed at him with confusion.

“You want to talk to Starscream... alone?” Hashtag asked, making sure she correctly heard her brother.

“Yep," Thrash responded.

“Why...?”

Thrash didn’t answer. He just stared at her, his silence only making her feel suspicious.

Arcee approached them. “Sorry, kid, but I can’t let you do that,” she said.

Thrash frowned. “Come on, Arcee, it won’t take long. I promise.”

“You do know everyone would lose their minds if I let one of you Terrans wander off with Screamer unsupervised, right?”

“How mature of you,” Starscream sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm at the mention of the nickname he loathed so much.

“Arcee, Starscream isn’t going to hurt anyone,” Hashtag interjected.

“Trust me, I’ll be fine,” Thrash said, looking up at Arcee with a serious expression. “It’s really important I talk to him.”

Arcee’s lips twisted into a frown before she sighed, her optics flicking back to Starscream with distrust. She was about to deliver a stern warning, but Starscream beat her to it, rolling his optics before waving her off with a dismissive gesture.

“Yeah, yeah, if anything happens to him, you Autobots will come after me,” he said, his voice laced with boredom. He then walked into the forest, with Thrash following close behind.

“Don’t leave after you guys finish talking, okay?” Hashtag called out to Starscream. “Come back right after.”

The urge to follow them gnawed at Hashtag. She considered sneaking close enough to eavesdrop, curious about what Thrash wanted to say to Starscream. But her conscience quickly kicked in, reminding her that she’d be disrespecting Thrash’s wishes. Still, that uneasy feeling lingered in her circuits that something was wrong.

Starscream walked with Thrash deeper into the forest, the shadows of the trees obscuring him as the sun struggled to rise fully into the sky. Exhaustion still slowed him down, every joint ached, his circuits buzzing with fatigue. He craved nothing more than to collapse somewhere and recharge, but instead, he cursed Prowl for ever wounding him.

Once they were far enough from the others, Starscream slowed his pace. Finally stopping, he turned to look down at Thrash.

“So,” Starscream said casually, “what was so important that you needed to talk to me about?”

Thrash was silent for a moment, his expression tightening. He took a few steps back, putting a little more space between himself and Starscream before glaring up at the Decepticon.

“I know what you did,” Thrash said, his voice cold.

Starscream raised an optic ridge. Someone confronting him over past transgressions? Hardly a surprise. He already knew Thrash didn’t have much of a good opinion of him, much like many others.

“Shouldn’t have expected anything better,” Starscream grumbled, marching back to the barn.

“You hurt Mom,” Thrash raised his voice.

That made Starscream stop dead in his tracks. Slowly, he turned back toward Thrash, confusion clouding his optics.

“You hurt her during the war.” Thrash’s voice was low, his glare darkened, filled with a hatred that Starscream have seen directed to him for most of his lifetime. “You... almost killed her…”

Chapter Text

A Million Years Ago

Skyfire was smiling while he held Starscream, who was on his lap, close to his chassis as he sat on his berth. Starscream had arrived at his apartment a couple of hours ago and recounted how he had beaten Thrust in the last trial race before being assigned his own trine.

Skyfire had been amazed to hear how fast Starscream had flown past all the other seekers—the same ones who mocked him as the “slowest” of them all. This whole time, Starscream always had the potential to be faster than the others; Starscream’s defective optics having been the culprit of holding him back.

“So, who are your new trine mates?” Skyfire asked curiously.

“Thundercracker and Skywarp,” Starscream responded. “Skywarp is kind of annoying. Thundercracker is not that bad, I guess. You should have seen their faces when I won the race. It was pretty funny. But the best reaction was from Thrust. He was throwing a tantrum, accusing me of cheating.”

“Yeah, I wish I hadn’t missed it,” Skyfire sighed.

“We can always race, so you can see how great I am,” Starscream teased.

“And you can fly circles around me?” Skyfire raised an optic ridge with amusement before pulling Starscream closer. “I would love that,” he said, pressing his lips to Starscream’s before resting his chin on top of his head as Starscream hummed with pleasure.

“We should start looking at those entry exams soon,” Starscream said.

“Yeah, we should.” Skyfire smiled.

Skyfire and Starscream were sitting apart among other Cybertronians in a large room – all were taking the entry exams.

The two fliers were sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone else was a grounder and had been in disbelief when they walked into the room earlier that day.

No one had made a comment, though, there were a few who sneered at them, which they had ignored.

Skyfire was surprised he had been worrying about them since he was answering each question with ease. And from Starscream’s relaxed form three rows ahead of him also assured him Starscream was not having a difficult time either.

Skyfire stood in a room with a group of other Cybertronians who made up the top members of the university. The Chancellor, the Vice President, Deans, Department Chairs, and Senator Shockwave—who, unlike the others wearing stern expressions, was grinning and sitting at the center of the long table—were all present. Shockwave had once been a student of the Academy and a member of the board, continuing to hold some power in its affairs.

“Incredible,” Shockwave began, his blue optics gazing down at his datapad, where Skyfire’s profile was displayed. “I knew there was something special about you and that Seeker when I received your application to take the entry exams. But I never would have imagined you two would blow everyone away with your marks. Especially that Seeker, Starscream, nearly achieving a perfect score.”

Skyfire smiled with pride, especially about Starscream’s results.

“You know, everyone in this room didn’t want to give you two a chance. But I told them we had to, because it’s not your average day a flier and a shuttle want to get into the Academy. It’s a good thing I got my way, huh?” Shockwave laughed.

Skyfire smiled genuinely. “And we’re very grateful.”

“But we do have a dilemma,” Shockwave said, setting his datapad down. “The others think you two cheated on the exams.”

“Because that’s the only logical explanation for this madness,” the Chancellor snorted coldly, indifferent to Skyfire’s frown at the accusation.

“So, I propose a reasonable way to settle this,” Shockwave continued, smiling at Skyfire. “You and Starscream can retake a different version of the exam that we’ll prepare for you in separate rooms under heavy surveillance. If you pass well, we’ll know you two are extremely gifted and we’ll be happy to welcome you to the Academy. Sounds good?”

Skyfire felt disappointed at the prospect of taking a new set of exams, but he was determined to get into the Academy. “Sure, we’ll do it,” Skyfire replied with a firm nod.

“Congratulations. You two are officially students of the Academy,” Shockwave said with excitement as he shook Starscream’s servo, who was hesitant to do so.

Skyfire, though, accepted Shockwave’s gesture with a warm smile. “We’re honored,” he said. “Thank you for believing in us and giving us this opportunity.”

Starscream and Skyfire had taken the additional exams as Shockwave suggested they do. And just like before, they passed with flying colors and were called the following day for the great news.

Skyfire noticed the rest of the top members of the university board, standing behind Shockwave, wore irritated expressions, unhappy with the outcome. But he assured himself everything would be fine, especially with Shockwave as their ally.

Later that day, Skyfire and Starscream flew out of the outskirts of the city

Later that day, Skyfire and Starscream flew out to the outskirts of the city. Starscream needed a break from the city. Something Skyfire noted was the seeker wasn’t flying in circles around him at his usual incredible speed.

Eventually, they descended, transformed, and took a seat on a tall cliff that offered a view of the entire city from afar.

“You’ve been quiet since we left the Academy,” Skyfire said, wrapping an arm around Starscream’s shoulders and pulling him close. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”

Starscream leaned against him, gazing quietly at the distant city. “They’re going to find a way to kick us out,” he mumbled.

“Senator Shockwave is on our side, though,” Skyfire replied. “He won’t let that happen.”

“What if… I don’t do well, though?” Starscream’s gaze dropped. “What if I’m really not good enough? What if I screw up somehow?”

Skyfire’s chest tightened at hearing Starscream doubt himself again. It hurt him to see these moments of insecurity. It tended to happen quiet often as they got to know each other more.

“You scored higher than anyone, Star,” Skyfire said gently. “And those projects we’ve worked on? Most of them were your ideas. You’re going to do great things. Even Senator Shockwave sees your potential, and he’s one of the most brilliant mechs to have ever graduated from the Academy.”

Starscream remained silent, which only deepened Skyfire’s concern.

“You may not always believe in yourself, and others might not either, but I know you, Star. I know you better than anyone else.” Skyfire softly took hold of Starscream’s chin, tilting his face toward him. “And let me tell you, you’re the most incredible, smartest, and talented Cybertronian who has ever existed. And soon, everyone will see that.”

Starscream’s blue optics shone with unshed tears as a small smile appeared on his lips, just before Skyfire leaned in to capture them with a gentle kiss.

Moments Before the Present

Thrash slipped off the house once Mo and Robby had gone to sleep.

Optimus was standing in the driveway beside the truck, his optics gazing up at the moon. He reached up to his helm and tried to contact Megatron, but once again, he received no response. This time, he left a message, saying he just wanted to make sure Megatron was all right.

After the day’s earlier events, Optimus was sure his friend was struggling with some personal issues. Starscream always had a way of getting under his friend’s plating, though Optimus honestly couldn’t understand why.

Well, he did understand. Starscream had been a thorn in Megatron’s side for most of the war and had made countless attempts on his life. But… many Autobots had tried the same thing as well. Yet Megatron was willing to be on civil terms with the Autobots, despite still harboring deep hatred toward Starscream. And those dark feelings worried Optimus, especially since Megatron refused to talk about them.

He looked down at Thrash, who was gazing silently at the barn, where Arcee had arrived, and was talking to Elita-1 and Bumblebee.

“I’m going to look for Megatron,” Optimus said. “I won’t be too long.”

Thrash nodded without a word and watched the leader of the Autobots disappear into the forest.

The Terran stood there for a long moment before Arcee approached him.

“Thought you’d be with the others,” she said.

Thrash looked down at his pedes with a frown, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hey, Arcee, can I ask you something?” he asked.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Do you think we should give Starscream a chance?”

Arcee did not respond, her optics drifting to the side.

“Dad and Mo think we should,” Thrash continued. “But I just found out what Starscream did to Mom, and it just makes me so mad that he almost killed her. I know we’re supposed to give Decepticons a chance if they want to change, but what if some cons can’t be good? There’s gotta be a reason Starscream was locked up for so long, and why he wasn’t given a chance like you guys did with Megatron, right?”

“Starscream is unpredictable,” she eventually said, after a brief pause. “One moment he’s sweet-talking you; the next, he’s stabbing you in the back. Megatron’s seen it all firsthand. He’s spent centuries at his side, and he knows better than anyone what Starscream’s capable of.” She cast a glance toward the forest, her face clouded with something. “I’ve heard a lot of stories from bots who Starscream tricked them into believing he’d changed, only to find out he was the same as ever in the worst ways possible.”

Thrash’s spark flickered with fear, recalling how Swindle had done the same thing to him - making him believe he was a good guy when he was just using him.

“So, to answer your question…” Arcee looked down at him with a grim expression. “I don’t think we should.”

Megatron had spent most of the night wandering around in the forest, failing to stop the doubts and fears plaguing his processor concerning Starscream.

He continued to ignore the calls and messages he received from Optimus, as he still couldn’t face him at this moment. He hoped to talk to Dorothy first.

From everyone he’s met, she understood him well.

Once the sun was rising, he took his time to stroll back to the Malto’s before he stopped, his red eyes narrowing to see Starscream and Thrash walking through the forest.

He had to hold himself back from blasting Starscream from where he was at. Because there was no good reason for that deceiving coward to be alone with one of Dorothy's children.

Instead of attacking, he kept himself hidden in the shadows and got closer to the scene.

The Present

Starscream stared at the Terran, his faceplates expressionless, while the boy met his gaze with blue embers burning with rage.

The two stood there in dead silence. Even the trees around them have gone still. There was anxiety flickering within Starscream’s spark, but he quickly shoved it deep into the dark depths of his soul, just like he had done many times in his existence during certain moments of his life.

“Yeah, so?” he forced the words out to sound indifferent as he crossed his arms on his chest, his wings tense. “I’ve hurt and killed many. It’s not a big deal.”

Thrash’s face twisted with disgust.

“Don’t give me that look,” Starscream said, rolling his optics. “The Autobots have done the same to me and my kind. We were at war, child, and your mother was on the other side of it. If she was there in the heat of battle, then she was just as much a target, just like anyone else that was not a Decepticon.”

Thrash’s faceplates lost some intensity as Starscream’s words sunk in.

“And it’s hardly my fault your mother was foolish enough to throw herself into our war, thinking she had a chance against me and the rest of the Decepticons,” Starscream snorted, only to cause the fire in Thrash’s eyes to burn again.

“First of all, don’t talk about my mom like that,” Thrash growled with annoyance. “And second, you and your jerk-cons were literally attacking Earth. You guys were the bad guys. My mom had no choice but to fight you to protect her home. She wasn’t foolish. She was a hero!”

Starscream wanted to argue with Thrash’s statement, continue ridiculing his mother, but he held his glossa back because he instantly recalled Dorothy Malto was also Hashtag’s mother, and Hashtag’s feelings would be hurt if she found out he was disrespecting her. He may not care for the primitive planet nor its inhabitants, but even he understood why anyone who loved their world would do whatever it takes to save it. He himself had devoted his life to doing what was best for Cybertron, even going as far as literally throwing himself to save the allspark from getting destroyed years ago, which sadly ended up in failure.

“Alright, you have a good point,” he grumbled, making Thrash blink with surprise; the Terran had expected Starscream to continue belittling his mother more.

“She was protecting her home, and I suppose I can’t fault her for that,” Starscream continued. “But if you’re expecting me to apologize for almost killing her after the Autobots and her people threw me in a cage for years then -” he paused when he saw the child’s expression hardening as he spoke, hostility building up again.

Then at that moment, he recalled a memory from weeks ago concerning apologies.

“We talked about this, Starscream,” Hashtag reminded over comms as Starscream flew through the sky after he vented his frustration with her – something he rarely did but he just couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Just try explaining why you don’t want them flying around the cities. Yelling isn’t gonna solve anything. Remember what we went over last time?”

Starscream grumbled.

“I know it’s tough,” Hashtag said. “That’s why we’re having you take baby steps. Change doesn’t happen in an instant. It requires tons of work and patience. But you’ve gotta trust me here when I tell you gotta stop lashing out.”

“It worked for Megatron,” Starscream grunted out.

“Did it, though?”

Starscream went silent. Off in the distance, he finally spotted the two Seekers gliding above the mountain range.

“Found them,” he sighed.

“Okay, so just remember—”

“I know,” he cut in. “I’ll handle it. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Sounds good. And try making those apologies we talked about too. Good luck!” Hashtag encouraged with a hopeful tone before the call ended.

Starscream accelerated, catching up to the two Decepticons.

“Oh, look who’s here,” Skywarp groaned.

“What d’you want, Screamer?” Nova Storm grumbled as Starscream hovered above them.

“We need to talk,” Starscream said tensely.

“Only if you catch us!” Skywarp exclaimed, transforming before disappearing in a series of teleports around him while Nova Storm sped off, laughing. Skywarp reappeared beside her, grabbed her wing, and teleported them both out of sight, leaving Starscream fuming and nearly ready to launch missiles into the mountains.

With a deep breath, Starscream swallowed his anger and returned to the cave where Soundwave and Shockwave were resting. He stood outside by the entrance, arms crossed, silently seething as he waited. Night fell before Skywarp and Nova Storm finally strolled back, snickering at his annoyance.

Before they could start with their usual jabs, Starscream glared, silencing them. “Come with me,” he commanded coldly, walking past.

“Yeah, no thanks,” Nova Storm snorted. “We’re starved, so—”

“Now!” Starscream screeched at them, making them jump and follow, grudgingly, away from the cave.

“We were just having some fun, you know,” Skywarp muttered once Starscream took them a good distance away from the cave. He stopped by a cliff, facing away from them with a tense stance.

“Can’t expect us to just sit around forever,” Nova Storm added.

“It’s not fair. The others get to drive around anywhere they want, but we’re grounded all the time,” Skywarp vented out.

The two femmes waited for another of Starscream’s yelling sessions, but he stayed silent, his wings tense.

Skywarp and Nova Storm exchanged confused looks.

“Starscream?” Skywarp asked, uncertain.

“I… I’m sorry.” The words were barely a whisper, catching both seekers off guard.

The three stood in silence for a long moment.

“You’re… what?” Skywarp let out with utter confusion.

Starscream’s wings twitched. “I said… I’m sorry,” he forced out, a little louder.

“Um… what’s happening here?” Skywarp stammered to her sister, her optics wide.

Nova Storm blinked slowly. “Uh… I think he finally lost it.”

Skywarp gathered her thoughts before looking at Starscream with suspicion. “Okay… who are you, and what did you do with the real Starscream?”

Starscream’s wings twitched again. “I’m trying to apologize to you two for the way I’ve treated you since we’ve met,” he muttered. “I know I’ve been harsh, and unfair-”

“Okay, he definitely lost it,” Nova Storm whispered to Skywarp who nodded, wide-eyed again.

“I should have never yelled or raised my hand at any of you,” Starscream continued.

“Okay, yeah, no, this is hella freaky,” Nova Storm said as she felt extremely uncomfortable, glancing around at their surroundings. “Are we getting punked here?”

Starscream exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to roll his optics at how they weren’t taking him seriously.

He turned to them with a frown. “I’ve been… stressed with trying to keep the Decepticons safe, at least what’s left of us,” he said, doing his best to follow Hashtag’s advice by communicating his worries to his comrades. “I shouldn’t lash at you two. But I need you to understand that we can’t afford to be careless, not while there are Autobots and humans still a threat to us.”

“But we’re being careful,” Nova Storm retorted.

“Yeah, we aren’t doing anything wrong,” Skywarp added. “We just wanna fly.”

Starscream’s blue optics softened a bit in understanding. Because he too enjoyed flying and he understood so well how it felt to be kept from the skies, especially from the past years.

He took a moment to think how he could solve their dilemma. Taking his time just like he used to when trying to solve an equation or a problem that he and Skyfire had back when they were working on their projects. “Maybe there’s a way we can compromise,” he said.

Nova Storm and Skywarp now gawked at him as if he was some foreign monster. They were actually in complete shock. And after they exchanged baffled looks, they looked back at him with uncertainty.

“Um… sure…?” Skywarp hesitantly let out, nervous that it was all a trick from their leader, which satisfied Starscream.

Starscream pulled himself back from the memory. After that talk, he, Skywarp, and Nova Storm had actually managed to agree he would let them fly only at certain times and in specific areas. Before each flight, Soundwave would send Laserbeak ahead to scope things out, just to make sure it was safe. Skywarp and Nova Storm kept their word, more or less. Sure, they still gave him a hard time by not obeying other orders, but things were better between them. Communication had brought better results compared to when he would spout out threats.

He told himself at that moment he shouldn’t be giving Thrash a hard time about his mother nor should he be cold-hearted.

He should be ‘understanding’….

Starscream cleared his throat as he tried to find the right words to calm Thrash down. “What I’m trying to say is—”

“Look, Starscream, I don’t trust you,” Thrash interrupted. “You’ve got a record of being all buddies with others until you turn on them. I don’t know if you do it on purpose or not, but how do I know you’re being real with my siblings this time or you’re just using them?”

“This time is different,” Starscream insisted.

“Is that what you told all those Autobots right before you stabbed ‘em in the back?”

Starscream clenched his jaw. “I would never harm Hashtag… or your family.”

“I don’t believe you,” Thrash narrowed his optics.

“And you shouldn’t,” came Megatron’s deep voice from the shadows.

Starscream’s frame stiffened, his spark sinking as he whipped his head towards the dense trees, where two crimson optics glowed menacingly. Out stepped Megatron, his gaze sharp and directly at him.

Just his luck.

His wings tucked tight to his back as anxiety and anger boiled in his spark. “This has nothing to do with you!” he snapped, already failing to control his emotions.

Megatron’s optics narrowed as he drew closer, stopping beside Thrash who was also surprised by his presence. It appeared as if Megatron had purposely hid his presence to eavesdrop on them.

“Anything or anyone that could endanger Dorothy and her family is very much my concern,” Megatron said lowly to Starscream.

“Oh, so I’m the threat here?” Starscream shot back. “That’s rich - coming from you.”

A flash of anger washed over Megatron’s faceplates as he took a heavy, menacing step forward. Starscream didn’t flinch, though his spark beat hard within his chassis.

“What are you doing here, Starscream?” Megatron growled. “Why did you actually come to the Malto’s residence for?”

“Didn’t you hear? Hashtag invited me.” Starscream tilted his chin. “Or is that oversized helm of yours thicker than I imagined?”

“Hashtag may have invited you, but that doesn’t mean you’re welcome here.”

“I would like to differ. And according to Elita-1, Prime wants me to stay a few more days. Can’t disrespect the Prime’s wishes now, can I?” Starscream let out a sly smile. 

“Enough with these foolish games, Starscream!” Megatron snarled. “I demand you to leave this instant, and I forbid you from ever speaking with Hashtag or any member of her family again!"

“Do I have to remind you I don’t take orders from you anymore?!”

Thrash was now feeling utterly uneasy at the scene between Megatron and Starscream. The two veterans were now yelling at one another, making him regret coming out along with Starscream in the first place.

“I may not be your leader anymore, but do not think for a moment I’ll stand idly by while you do as you please,” Megatron growled. “You may have convinced Hashtag and the others that you’ve changed, but I know you, Starscream. I know you better than anyone. You’re an opportunist, a schemer, a traitorous coward who ruins everything and everyone that comes your way.”

Skyfire’s lifeless face flashed in Starscream’s mind, making him feel sick. “Oh, and you haven’t done the same, you fragging hypocrite,” Starscream sneered. “You dragged us down all with you and then turned your back on us when it was convenient for you! And let me remind you, you got more ‘blood on your hands’ than I do! Yours are practically dripping pools underneath them!”

Shame crossed Megatron’s face for a brief moment, but it vanished. “I’ve changed,” Megatron said.

“And you call me the liar,” Starscream snorted, crossing his arms on his cockpit.

Megatron stared at him hard. “Optimus saw a spark worth saving in me, gave me another chance. And I’ve proven myself all these years – I’m making amends for what I’ve done.”

“Ha! Don’t make me laugh.”

Megatron narrowed his optics, taking a silent moment before speaking. “Tell me, Starscream. During all those years spent caged in that prison, did Optimus ever reached out to you? Offer you a chance to change like he did for me? As I recall, he didn’t and instead he left you to rot.”

The words died in Starscream’s mouth, unable to find anything to throw back.

“It seems that even Optimus Prime couldn’t see any good in you,” Megatron said coldly.

The truth hurt Starscream - Optimus hadn’t shown his face after he had been thrown in that human made cell. He was thrown aside, forgotten, as if he never mattered, the evil that everyone wanted erased.

His spark ached painfully from all those years he was left imprisoned, alone, while the humans opened him up any time they wanted to see inside of him.

But what hurt the most was…

“I’ll admit, I was a monster,” Megatron continued firmly. “I’ve done terrible things, but unlike you, Starscream, I’ve changed, learned from my mistakes. But you, you’ll never change. It’s in your very nature - you can’t help yourself. And like I said, I’m not going to stand by while you drag the children into whatever twisted scheme you’ve thought of. So, I’ll say this once more—leave, or -”

“Or else what, Lord Megatron?” Starscream shot back. Yet even as he sneered, Megatron’s words cut him deep, where his resentment simmered on the surface.

Thrash glanced nervously between them, though he was left confused at the title Starscream had used on Megatron.

Lord Megatron?

When he saw Megatron take another threatening step towards Starscream, he quickly stepped in, servos raised in a defensive stance.

“Uh… maybe we can all just… take a deep breath and calm down?” Thrash stammered, a nervous chuckle escaping him. “Please?”

“Thrash, stand aside,” Megatron said, voice low as he glared at Starscream, who only smirked in response, finding it amusing that a Terran was shielding him.

The second Terran to ever do so.

Though, Starscream had a feeling the Terran wouldn’t be enough to hold back Megatron if he lost his temper, and he wasn’t in the state to defend himself way nor fly off as fast as he could yet.

“I think that’s a fabulous idea, Thrash,” Starscream drawled, as fear began creeping back in his spark with Megatron’s faceplates darkened. “Though, I suppose I should get back to Hashtag now. I wouldn’t want her worrying about poor, defenseless me. Still recovering from that awful helm injury, after all.” He placed a hand on his helm in exaggerated pain.

He almost sarcastically thanked Megatron for patching him up, but he was keeping his word to Hashtag he wasn’t going to do so. And of course, he had poked the ‘bear’ more than he should have.

Not wanting to spend more time around Megatron or meet the end of his fist, Starscream turned and began making his way back to the Maltos’ residence. But Megatron quickly followed, with Thrash cursing under his breath as he kept pace, desperately hoping they wouldn’t start shooting at each other - especially not in front of Hashtag.

Starscream could feel Megatron’s imposing presence close behind, his jaw clenching with a mix of irritation and building anxiety.

Megatron’s words clawed at him as well, as he thought about how Skyfire had died because of him, how he had caused the deaths of so many under his watch or by his own hands.

Did he really ruin everything and everyone that came his way?

He quickened his pace, trying to leave behind the doubts that clouded his mind, frustrated that Megatron had interrupted his attempt to apologize to Thrash for almost taking his mother’s life. Relief washed over him when he spotted Hashtag’s welcoming grin, but her smile quickly faded, replaced by confusion and concern as she noticed Megatron trailing behind.

She shot Thrash a frown, silently questioning if he had somehow lured Starscream into the forest to force a confrontation with Megatron.

“Hey, Hashtag, didn’t Jawbreaker want us to watch a movie together?” Starscream asked, doing his best to sound casual.

“Uh, yeah, he did,” Hashtag replied, feeling uneasy at the way Megatron was glaring daggers at Starscream.

She could see something had taken place between the two veterans in the forest. She wasn’t what but whatever it was made Starscream feel on edge and had changed his mind about leaving.

“We’ve got many to choose from,” she said. “And since you’re our guest, you can totally pick which movie we should watch.” She took Starscream’s servo, and he didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, his fingers curled around her hand, allowing her to guide him toward the barn, and away from any potential danger.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

“I just think bringing in two more for the project would make things easier for us,” Skyfire suggested as he and Starscream strolled down the hallway.

A few mechs shot them curious or disapproving glances, but for the most part, the others barely paid them any attention.

“We don’t need anyone else, Skyfire,” Starscream replied, annoyed. They entered the lab and made their way to a table piled with machinery they had built for the past weeks. “Look at those two over there. They’re always working alone, and they’re doing just fine. Well, at least one of them is.”

Skyfire glanced over at the two Cybertronians Starscream had pointed out. In the far corner sat Tarantulas, an unusual mech by anyone’s standards, with his multiple limbs hanging on his back. The mech had a habit of keeping to himself and barely spoke during lectures. Nearby, at another table, was Wheeljack, who everyone avoided since his experiments had a notorious tendency to explode.

These two were outcasts, just like Skyfire and Starscream were. He thought it might be nice if they could all work together, put their minds together and create something impressive for their final project.

And honestly, he thought Starscream could use a few more friends.

Speaking of friends…

“How are Thundercracker and Skywarp?” he asked.

Starscream raised an optic ridge at him, looking away from his datapad. “What about them?”

“You haven’t mentioned them since you all trined. I was just wondering how things were going between you three.”

Starscream glanced back down at his device. “Oh, I stopped talking to them when I got accepted into the Academy.”

Skyfire blinked in disbelief. “You… what?”

“There’s no point in keeping them around,” Starscream said dismissively. “I’m not some military grunt anymore. They can find another Seeker to fly with for their duties.”

“But, Starscream, you three trined…” Skyfire frowned.

“So?” Starscream shrugged, seemingly unbothered. “They weren’t thrilled I wasn’t going to keep working with them because I was going to be here at the Academy. I can’t be a scientist and a soldier at the same time, Skyfire. I had to make a choice, and I’ll never give up the Academy.” He paused, before glancing back at Skyfire. “And… they didn’t like that I spent so much time with you, either. But I’d never give you up for anything or anyone. Unless…” He hesitated, looking away. “Unless you grow tired of me…”

Skyfire placed a gentle servo on Starscream’s faceplate, guiding him to look back. “I’m never going to get tired of you, Star,” he said quietly. “I’ll always be here, right by your side.”

Starscream’s expression softened, a small but genuine smile appearing, though his optics betrayed a flicker of doubt.

“I just think… having more bonds in your life could be good for you,” Skyfire continued gently. “Maybe we could ask Wheeljack to join us, or—”

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the lab as the device Wheeljack had been tinkering with detonated, sending him sprawling into another mech’s table and nearly toppling the equipment there. Smoke billowed through the room, accompanied by groans from their classmates - Wheeljack’s third explosion that week.

“Sorry!” Wheeljack blurted, scrambling to get back on his pedes under the glare of the mech whose table he’d crashed into. “I swear it won’t happen again!”

The seeker glanced back at Skyfire. “So, you were saying…?”

The shuttle sighed. “Never mind.”

For a while now, Skyfire had wanted to ask Starscream to become his sparkmate. He loved the seeker and wanted to be there for him as he had promised many times. But he was terrified of being rejected - especially since Starscream had never told him he loved him.

Still, Skyfire assured himself he didn’t need to hear it from Starscream. They had been living together in his apartment for some time now, sharing the same berth, hugging and kissing behind closed doors whenever they felt like it. Starscream confided in him about everything: his wants, his frustrations, his moments of self-doubt. The seeker didn’t want to spend time with anyone unless it was with him.

So, once again, Skyfire reminded himself that he didn’t need Starscream to say the words. Actions spoke louder than words, after all.

And Starscream showed him he was loved.

“I love you,” Skyfire blinked, surprised when he heard the words slip out of Starscream, who timidly glanced away. Starscream was settled on his hips, having been kissing Skyfire as he lay on his berth, with Skyfire’s hands resting on Starscream’s waist.

“Star…” Skyfire eventually let out surprised, staring with wide eyes as he processed what Starscream had just said. He hadn’t expected to hear those words, especially not at that moment.

Starscream pressed his lips into a thin line and almost pulled away, but Skyfire held him back. Struggling to sit up without letting go, Skyfire shifted so Starscream was now settled on his lap.

The seeker still wouldn’t meet his gaze and looked almost ashamed for reasons Skyfire couldn’t comprehend, just like he couldn’t understand how someone so talented and intelligent could carry so many insecurities.

He leaned forward, pressing gentle kisses to the seeker’s faceplate. “And I love you, always,” Skyfire whispered, wrapping his arms around Starscream and pulling him close. Starscream shut his optics with a soft smile, nestling his helm beneath Skyfire’s neck.

The Present

“Look who decided to come back,” Twitch teased playfully, hovering over to Starscream as soon as Hashtag led him back into the underground lair. “I knew you wouldn’t just leave like that - especially without a proper goodbye.”

Starscream rolled his optics. “My helm’s still feeling off. Figured it’s better if I leave tomorrow.”

“Does that mean we can sleep together with you tonight too, Starscream?” Jawbreaker asked eagerly.

“Depends on how you behave,” Starscream replied as he crossed his arms.

“We’ll be on our best behavior!”

Starscream shot a narrow-eyed look at Elita-1, who was watching him with an amused expression. “Is something funny, Autobot?” he barked.

Elita-1 shrugged, a teasing smile on her faceplates. “I just think it’s sweet that the Decepticon leader is taking care of the kids. Didn’t expect that from you.”

Starscream opened his mouth for a retort, but the way she’d called him “leader” made him pause, leaving him staring at her in silent suspicion. She didn’t call him a wannabe or anything that questioned his position among his people.

“Elita-1, please don’t pick on Starscream,” Hashtag interjected softly.

Elita-1 turned to Hashtag, her gaze softening. Then, looking back at Starscream. “Apologies, Starscream. I didn’t mean it that way,” she said with sincerity, catching him off guard. “We really do appreciate you helping them, it was very kind of you to help them. We didn’t know they could recharge, and if we had, we would have encouraged it sooner. They told me how nervous they were the first time, and that you helped them through their fears. So, on behalf of the Autobots, we thank you.”

Starscream’s vocal processor seemed to stall for a moment, genuinely taken aback. An Autobot had never thanked him before. Actually, that’s a lie. Optimus had done so after he helped the Terrans against Mandroid. But he never expected for Elita-1’s showing gratitude towards him. It was very unexpected.

He quickly gathered himself, looking away. “Well… you’re welcome, I suppose,” he grunted, earning amused smiles from the Terrans at his clear discomfort with gratitude.

“Psst, Elita-1,” Jawbreaker whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Starscream told us not to compliment him.”

Elita-1 raised an optic ridge.

“But that was yesterday, Jawbreaker,” Twitch reminded him. “Today’s a new day, so we can give them as many as we want now.”

“No, no, absolutely not,” Starscream said quickly, his voice rising. “Or I’m leaving.”

Twitch rolled her optics, then smiled. “Fiiiiiine, we won’t say anything nice about you,” she joked dramatically.

“Oh, by the way, guys, Starscream wants to watch a movie with us,” Hashtag said.

“Yes, movie!” Jawbreaker cheered, throwing his servos up with excitement. “Let’s watch a bunch of them!”

“Mind if I stay for the first one?” Elita-1 asked.

“Yes, we do,” Starscream grumbled.

“Aww, come on, Starscream, don’t be like that,” Twitch said.

“Starscream can pick the first one,” Nightshade offered, walking over to a cabinet to grab the projector.

Hashtag quickly hurried to Nightshade. “Can we set up the screen here?” she asked them quietly.

Nightshade tilted their head. “Oh?”

“I just think it’d be better if we stayed down here,” she explained, glancing at Starscream, who was busy listening to Jawbreaker excitedly talk more about the dream he had.

Nightshade observed her, as if trying to gauge her reasoning, then nodded. “Sure. I can do that.”

“Then Grimlock and I were fighting these weird aliens with tentacles. It was so exciting, but strange,” Jawbreaker said.

“You’ve been watching way too many alien movies,” Twitch chuckled at her brother.

“Okay, Starscream, we got all these movies you can choose from,” Hashtag said, taking out her tablet and showing him the screen with a huge listing from different genres.

Starscream took the device and awkwardly scrolled down, only seeing images with titles. He honestly wasn’t sure what he was looking at and what he would want - he had never seen a movie before. He also felt uncomfortable with an Autobot in the room.

He had the urge to tell her to leave.

“So, anything catching your eye?” Hashtag asked him curiously.

“Perhaps you should choose,” he said, handing the tablet back to her.

“We could watch a horror movie,” Twitch quickly said.

“Maybe an action movie?” Jawbreaker suggested.

“Or one of those princess animation movies,” Elita-1 proposed and everyone looked at her, some with surprise, while Starscream gave her a look of puzzlement as he didn’t know what she was talking about. “I heard about them from Mo, and been curious about them,” she said.

“We can try Cinderella,” Hashtag suggested, when she found it on her list. “I read it’s a cute movie.”

“Yeah, let’s do it,” Twitch replied. “But we should tell Thrash first. He wouldn’t want to miss the movie.”

Hashtag’s digits paused mid-scroll. “I think he’s kind of busy with Megatron right now,” she said quickly, trying to brush off the idea. She didn’t feel comfortable with him being around Starscream after her still assuming what Thrash had done earlier.

“Hey Starscream, you want to see a little bit of Hashtag’s first movie she ever made?” Jawbreaker asked him with excitement before going over to pull a cassette looking object from Hashtag’s personal box.

“Wait, no, JB, don’t show it to him,” Hashtag said with wide eyes.

“Hashtag made a movie?” Starscream inquired, intrigued.

“Yeah, and I helped her make it too,” Jawbreaker added proudly as he put it on the video camera and brought it over to Starscream so he could look at the screen when he began playing bits of it.

“Oh man,” Hashtag hid her face behind a servo with embarrassment.

She was proud of making the movie and was happy that her family had seen it when it was done, but she didn’t think it would be good enough for Starscream to watch.

“It’s pretty good,” Twitch said. “Elita-1 is in it.”

“I am?” Elita-1 questioned before she recalled the day Hashtag had been carrying a camera and had Jawbreaker interview them. “Oh, right. This was the day to help Jawbreaker find his alt mode.”

Starscream watched with mild amusement as he could hear Hashtag’s voice through the video. There was even a scene with her energetically demonstrating moves that Thrash and Twitch should imitate before she ran out of view. The carefree atmosphere in the video felt strange to him yet refreshing. And he couldn’t help but appreciate Hashtag’s passion, something he could have related to, many years ago.

But his amusement faded when Jawbreaker accidentally fast-forwarded to a scene with Megatron. Starscream quickly snatched the video camera from Jawbreaker and brought it closer to himself, his optics narrowing at Megatron while he addressed Jawbreaker, calling him “young one” with an unexpectedly soft and patient tone. Starscream felt a strange pang in his chest - he’d never heard Megatron speak like that to anyone.

“How did you choose your alt mode?” Jawbreaker asked curiously in the video.

“No one’s ever asked me that before,” Megatron replied.

Starscream observed the scene in silence, everyone in the room watching him quietly, unsure if they should say something.

“Um… Starscream?” Hashtag tried to get his attention, unsure if he should be watching the clip.

In the scene, Megatron sat with Jawbreaker, explaining how he had chosen his alt mode when he stopped fighting against Optimus. Jawbreaker had been shocked to find out Megatron was a “bad guy.”

Starscream grew furious at how Megatron didn’t defend the Decepticons from being viewed as the ‘bad guys’, simply told Jawbreaker that his priorities had changed - that he’d done what was necessary for the survival of Cybertronians, as if he’d made some grand sacrifice. Then Megatron explained the way he had gained Optimus’s trust was by scanning an Earth vehicle.

“That doesn’t sound fair,” Starscream heard Jawbreaker say in the video. “You had to give up your Cybertronian alt mode?”

Megatron nodded solemnly. “At first, I refused. But then Dorothy Malto and her squad were attacked…”

On the screen, Hashtag displayed a holographic clip on her arm, showing the attack - Nova Storm, missiles firing.

Starscream recalled that battle. He had led it himself. The day he now assumed was when he almost killed Hashtag’s ‘mother’.

Then he saw on the screen Megatron throwing Nova Storm down, pummeling her as if she were always the enemy, making him wince, feeling the phantom servos clutching at his wings.

And just like that… Megatron, after so many years of trying to kill Optimus Prime, killing so many Autobots, torturing them, even killing some of his own men, and brutalizing many… hurting him… had won Optimus’s trust… The Autobots accepted him as if he was some old friend.

“Optimus saw a spark worth saving in me, gave me another chance.” Megatron’s voice seemed to echo in his processor. “It seems that even Optimus Prime couldn’t see any good in you.”

Starscream’s jaw clenched before he shoved the video camera into Jawbreaker’s servos.

He had so many things to say at that moment, but he forced them all down his throat.

“How’s that set up coming along, Nightshade?” Elita-1 asked the Terran to lighten up the mood since the others were looking at Starscream with concern etched on their optics, but they looked rather lost on how to handle it. She especially could see Starscream’s foul mood clear as day on his faceplates.

Before Starscream knew it, they were all gathered by the bike ramp with a large white screen set up across the room.

Starscream sat with a frown, elbows on his knees, cross-legged. Elita-1 was on his left but made sure Jawbreaker sat between them. Though he doubted Elita-1 would try anything in front of the kids - especially with Megatron around - Starscream was not happy with her so close.

Twitch sat beside Elita-1, while Hashtag took a spot to Starscream's right.

“All right, the movie’s about to start,” Nightshade announced. “Skipping the opening credits.” They used a control remote to fast forward.

“So, what’s this movie about?” Jawbreaker asked, turning to Hashtag.

“It’s about a girl whose dad dies, and she ends up working as a servant for her awful stepmother and stepsisters. But thanks to her fairy godmother, she gets to go to a fancy ball, and meets her true love,” Hashtag explained dreamily.

“I didn’t understand half of that,” Starscream mumbled, furrowing his brow.

With a chuckle, Hashtag first gave him a quick rundown, explaining what a stepmother, stepsisters, and a husband are.

“Ah, like a Conjunx Endura,” Starscream said.

The Terrans looked at him, puzzled.

“Conjunx Endura is like a human spouse,” Elita-1 clarified for them.

“Oh, I didn’t know Cybertronians had something like that,” Twitch said, surprised. She turned to Elita-1. “Do you have a Conjunx Endura?”

“I don’t and never did,” she admitted.

“What about you, Starscream?” Jawbreaker asked the seeker.

Starscream remained dead silent for a moment. “No,” he said shortly, which the majority in the room couldn’t tell if he had lied but they could see it was a subject he was sensitive to.

“What’s a fairy godmother?” Elita-1 asked Hashtag, once again trying to divert the attention away from Starscream.

“Uh, one second,” Hashtag quickly gathered data through the internet before she responded, “a fairy who acts the godmother or guardian of a human, typically using magic to help.”

“What’s magic?” Starscream inquired.

“The dictionary states it’s the power of influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces,” Nightshade offered the explanation. “Basically, a power in fictional stories that allows one to do things that can’t be explained, to do impossible things.”

Starscream just stared at them, unimpressed. “Sounds made up.”

“It may be fake, but but it’s fun to include it in movies,” Nightshade grinned

Just then, the screen lit up, displaying colorful images as the narration set up the story’s premise.

The tale began with a father who had a daughter he believed needed a mother, so he remarried a woman who already had two daughters. But not long after, the father passed away.

“Well, that’s suspiciously convenient,” Starscream grunted out. “She obviously killed him.”

“Well, some humans can get really sick and die,” Jawbreaker said as the story revealed later how the stepmother was cold and jealous of Cinderella, determined to advance her own daughters while forcing Cinderella into servitude, and even abused her.

“See! She totally planned it,” Starscream declared with confidence. “Killed the father, stole the fortune, and made the kid her slave. What a glitch.”

“Hmmm, yah, I can totally see it,” Hashtag said thoughtfully.

“Or maybe you’re just overthinking it?” Elita-1 teased.

Starscream scoffed. “Or maybe you’re just too naive.”

As the movie continued, Starscream stared with and incredulous look at how the girl talked to animals and broke into random songs. But then his attention drifted from the animals and bright colors as he listened to the lyrics:

“Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through.
No matter how your heart is grieving,
If you keep on believing,
The dream that you wish will come true.”

Starscream’s spark tightened painfully as memories surfaced - of Skyfire, of their time studying together, of their shared hopes and dreams to achieve something great from their love of science. Before it had all fallen apart.

He’d been thinking too much of Skyfire lately and he wasn’t sure why.

“That was a really nice song,” Jawbreaker sighed, lost in the moment.

“It really was,” Nightshade agreed.

Elita-1 was amused by the scene where the mice helped the main character with chores, but then she noticed Starscream’s unusual silence. His blue optics looked dimmer as he watched.

She didn’t say anything, but she could tell something in the movie had affected Starscream in a way, not having expected it.

Was it the song…?

The movie progressed to a scene where Cinderella’s stepmother, lying in bed, berated her harshly and piled on endless chores. Starscream’s optics glowed with irritation, hating how cruel she was with Cinderella.

“How does she expect her to do all that alone?” he said in frustration.

“Well, she is the ‘cruel stepmother’ - it’s kind of her thing,” Hashtag said to him.

“Cinderella should just stab her while she sleeps,” Starscream grunted.

The Terrans all turned to him, optics wide.

“She can’t do that!” Jawbreaker exclaimed, shocked.

“Why not?” Starscream leaned his chin on his fist. “She must have one of those human knives lying around she could use.”

“Starscream, not everything should be solved by violence,” Hashtag reminded him, making him roll his optics.

They reached the scene where the stepmother smirked, gloating over tricking Cinderella about going to the ball.

“Fragging glitch,” Starscream grumbled under his breath.

Then, as the stepsisters tore the necklace from Cinderella’s neck, Starscream felt a heavy drop in his tank. Watching them rip her dress apart, seeing the humiliation and distress on Cinderella’s face as they yelled at her, Starscream’s hands clenched into fists.

In his mind, he remembered all too well the times Megatron had bashed him down, humiliating him in front of everyone.

He wanted nothing more at this moment than to blast those girls - and their mother - into ashes, especially as Cinderella ran off, sobbing, to sit alone on a bench.

He too well understood how it felt to suffer in their own misery alone.

“That was so mean…” Jawbreaker whispered, his voice filled with sadness. “Why would anyone do that to her? She didn’t deserve it…”

“Sometimes, there are just bad people like that,” Elita-1 said softly, resting a servo on Jawbreaker’s head to comfort him.

Then Cinderella whispered that she had nothing left to believe in - that she’d given up. Starscream’s spark tightened; his mind almost taking him to the days he had thought gone through the same experience…

“Whoa, a random lady in a blue robe just showed up!” Jawbreaker gasped, startled.

The mysterious woman began to sing and cast spells, making a pumpkin grow, and transform into a carriage.

“That’s the magic I assume,” Starscream said.

“Yep, isn’t it cool?” Hashtag asked excitedly.

Starscream didn’t comment.

When Cinderella was given a stunning blue dress, the Terrans gasped in awe. Starscream’s optics brightened with a rare grin, sensing where the story was headed. He couldn’t wait to see the looks on the stepmother’s and stepsisters’ faces - they’d be seething with envy.

Oh, he hoped so badly Cinderella rubbed it on everyone's faces.

As Cinderella ascended the grand staircase, Starscream felt a thrill of anticipation. When the prince spotted Cinderella from across the room, the Terrans all cheered when he went over to her.

“Yes! Love at first sight!” Jawbreaker exclaimed.

For Starscream, it was perfect that Cinderella captivated the prince’s attention immediately. Watching them dance, he couldn’t help but remember old memories. He and Skyfire may not have danced like this, but they’d had their own kind of waltz, soaring through the sky together, him twirling him in a way that felt like a dance.

“So this is love.”

Another song began in the movie.

Yes… the way one feels warm and safe around someone, the need to always be around them, to see them happy, that was love…. And he once had that… a very long time ago…

“My heart is wings

And I can fly

So this is the miracle

That I’ve been dreaming of”

Skyfire was the reason he was able to fly just as he was mean to…. Without him, Starscream would have been thrown out like trash by everyone, probably have died, never finding his passion for science, and learned to love. Skyfire had given him purpose. Since his death, Starscream’s life had spiraled down. He’d become someone he could hardly recognize, given up science, extinguished many sparks, a monster. But now, things felt like they were turning around because of Hashtag. She’d believed him about Megatron, hadn’t dismissed or mocked him. She trusted him, could see something that was worth saving like Skyfire had, and wanted to help him become better. Yet…

What if, like Skyfire… he would lead her to her doom, too?

Opportunist. Schemer. Traitor. A coward who destroys everything he touches. Is what Megatron had said to him. Is what many have accused him of being for thousands of years.

Starscream felt sick, hardly noticing the screen anymore, not catching the way Cinderella was fleeing from the prince, leaving behind her glass slipper.

What if Megatron was right? What if he really was responsible for everything that went terribly wrong in his life? What if he was meant to break and taint everything?

No. He wouldn’t hurt Hashtag. He wouldn’t hurt her family. They were innocent. They had shown him kindness and support. He couldn’t, wouldn’t harm them.

But… hadn’t he felt that way about Skyfire too?

He tried to focus on the movie again, assuring himself that this time would be different, that he wouldn’t mess it up.

But something in his processor whispered to him that he was meant to be the villain for everyone. That he deserved all the beatings and humiliation that Megatron had thrown at him.

Yet… his spark twisted with anger to fight off such thoughts.

As the bells rang in the movie, signaling the story’s happy ending showing Cinderella and the prince having gotten married and running to the carriage, he realized he had completely stopped paying attention to the movie.

“That was an amazing movie,” Jawbreaker said, Starscream wasn’t sure if he could agree.

“What did you think of it, Starscream?” Hashtag asked the seeker.

“It was interesting.” Was all he said without making eye contact.

Elita-1 rose to her pedes. “Alright kids, I’ll leave you Starscream for yourselves while I go to check with the others. I enjoyed watching this movie. Maybe we can watch another sometime?”

“Of course,” Twitch grinned. “Maybe we can get Optimus and the others to join too.”

“He would love that,” Elita-1 said before she took her leave.

“Now I want to see those other princess movies,” Jawbreaker said.

“Maybe we can watch Snow White?” Hashtag suggested with a grin. “Unless you’d like something else, Starscream.” She tried not to seem concerned about how quiet he’d been, especially since the first movie ended.

“Hmm, yeah. That’s fine,” Starscream replied, gazing silently at the credits rolling on the screen.

“But this time, I want to sit next to Starscream!” Twitch said, jumping over and wrapping her arms around his, her faceplates pressed affectionately against him.

Starscream tensed for a few seconds, but when he saw her smiling genuinely up at him, his spark warmed, and he relaxed. For a brief moment, the worries building inside him faded. He didn’t understand why Twitch wanted to touch him so often, but this time, he welcomed her affection. It helped remind him that he wasn’t a monster - surely, Twitch wouldn’t want to hold someone with no chance of being better.

“Alright, should we start it now?” Hashtag asked, scooting close to Starscream to lean against his other side, just as Nightshade began the next movie. Starscream did his best to clear his mind and focus on the screen before him, feeling grounded by the comforting presence around him that kept his intrusive thoughts from being his worst enemy like they tended to be.

But, unfortunately, that didn’t last as long as he had hoped.

Elita-1 stepped out of the barn to find Bumblebee, who had finally woken up, speaking with Megatron and Arcee.

“I think we should give him a chance,” Bumblebee was saying, looking cautiously at Megatron, who was visibly fuming. “Not saying we trust him blindly. This is Starscream, so yeah, we gotta be careful, but what if he’s genuinely trying to change? Optimus always says that everyone deserves a chance if they’re willing to try.”  

“Starscream will never change,” Megatron replied coldly. “You know that as well as I do. He’s not capable of anything other than looking out for himself.”

The doubts Bumblebee had regarding Starscream resurfacing, even though he did his best not to dwell on them.

“You’re letting the children’s optimism blind you, Bumblebee. Starscream is only here because it suits him - for now. And when he decides he no longer needs the children, he’ll turn on them and the rest of us without hesitation. Mark my words.”

Bumblebee frowned. “But if we just keep shutting him out, then we’re only encouraging him to be our enemy.”  

Arcee sighed, giving Bumblebee a sympathetic look. “Bee, I get where you’re coming from. But Megatron knows him better than any of us. If he says Starscream’s playing us, then it’s not something we can just ignore.”

Elita-1 recalled how Starscream had been around the Terrans. Surprisingly, he hadn’t shown his usual arrogant self, instead he looked hesitant to be around them. After she’d apologized for being harsh and thanked him for helping with the kids the night before, he’d accepted it without any snark. And during the movie night, he’d started out genuinely enjoying himself. Later, though, he’d seemed… distant. Sad, even.

She wondered if the injury was still affecting him, or there truly was another side of him that they failed to see.

She didn’t trust him, but she wasn’t ready to dismiss him either. Starscream could possibly become an ally, and they shouldn’t believe he was beyond redemption.

Elita-1 nearly pointed out to Megatron that he had been given a chance to prove himself. After all, Megatron had led the Decepticons, and had been the worst of them all. He used to be violent, enforced loyalty through fear - especially with Starscream. But she knew better than to bring that up. Still, she needed a way to keep Megatron calm; his patience was wearing thin with Starscream around the Maltos, and if things didn’t settle soon, chaos was inevitable.

And she knew just who to turn to.

Without a word to her teammates, Elita headed over to the Malto's house. The family was gathered around the dining table, with Thrash sitting by the window.

“Good morning,” Elita greeted them. After a round of friendly replies, she turned to Dorothy. “Dorothy, mind if we chat? There’s something we should discuss.”

Dot, looking well-rested, feeling better than the night before, took a sip of her coffee before setting her mug down. “Sure, Elita. I’m just about done here.”

“What are you going to talk to my mom about?” Mo asked with her mouth full of pancakes.

“It’s about Starscream and Megatron,” Elita-1 responded calmly before a tense silence fell over the Maltos.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

“What are you doing here?” Starscream demanded with wings raised in anger, glaring at Thundercracker and Skywarp, who stood in the doorway. “And how in the frag did you find me?”

Skyfire watched from the living room, surprised to see Starscream’s trine.

“Well, I figured we should talk face-to-face since you blocked our connection,” Thundercracker said with a frown. “And it wasn’t too hard to spot a Seeker flying around with a shuttle in the city.”

“You followed us?” Starscream’s voice rose in disbelief.

“And the bond we share basically pointed us in the right direction,” Skywarp pointed out with amusement.

“We don’t have a bond,” Starscream shot back. “Now, leave me alone and don’t ever show your face here again.” He tried to slam the door, but Thundercracker caught it with his servo, holding it open.

“I’m not leaving until we talk,” Thundercracker said firmly, his red optics narrowing.

Skyfire quickly moved over to the Seekers, hoping to keep things from escalating.

“Maybe we can arrange a better time and place,” Skyfire offered, prompting Starscream to look up at him in shock. “Now’s not a good time - we’re busy with some lab preparations for tomorrow. How about next week when things calm down at the Academy for us? I’ll share my comm link with you so we can keep in touch.”

Thundercracker stared at him, guarded for a moment, then relaxed slightly. He reached up, shared his contact link, and Skyfire accepted it. “Thank you,” Thundercracker said, glancing at Starscream, who was still glaring daggers. “We’ll see you later, then.” He finally let go of the door.

Starscream slammed it shut, then turned to Skyfire. “Block him,” he ordered coldly.

“I’m sorry, Starscream, but I’m not going to do that,” Skyfire replied calmly. “They’re your trine, and you can’t avoid them forever.”

Starscream’s face twisted with anger. “Yes, I can.”

“Star…” Skyfire said gently, resting his hands on Starscream’s shoulders.

But Starscream pulled away, his jaw clenched, wings twitching in agitation as he walked to the table littered with documents.

“I’m not going to talk to them,” Starscream seethed. “I want nothing to do with them!”

Skyfire didn’t understand what was going on. Why was Starscream so hostile towards his trine? Usually, trine mates got along with one another, at least, for the most part. Unless those were just a generalization from his part.

However, he strongly felt Starscream pushing Thundercracker and Skywarp wasn’t the way to go about it, not while they’ve shown they weren’t going to just forget about him.

“Star, you have to give them a chance,” he said as gently as he could. “At least, hear them out. Don’t you think they deserve that after they made the effort to find you?”

Starscream stood there, his back turned to him. “Why should I…?” he let out through clenched denta.

“They’re your trine…” Skyfire said. “They need you.”

“Where the frag were they when I needed them?!” Starscream’s voice broke from rage and anguish, turning to face Skyfire with his blue optics welling up with coolant.

Skyfire was caught off guard.

“Where were they when others ridiculed me?” Starscream spat, violently brushing away the coolant in his optics—he always hated getting so emotional. “Not once did they step in to protect me. Not once did they try to stop others from humiliating me. Thundercracker always just stood by and watched, while Skywarp and her glitch of a sister laughed with the rest!”

Skyfire felt his spark clench. “Star…” he murmured quietly.

“The only reason I bonded with them was because my superiors forced me,” Starscream said with frustration. “If I’d had a choice, I wouldn’t have bonded with any of them!”

The shuttle walked over and pulled him into a tight embrace, unable to bear seeing Starscream in such pain.

“You were the only one who was there for me, Sky,” Starscream said, coolant trailing down his faceplates despite his efforts to hold it back. “You’re the only one who helped me, who cared. The only one I trust… Everyone else thought I was some useless mech, not deserving of respect. They couldn’t care less about me. Why should I care about them now, after proving them I’m worth something? They don’t deserve my friendship, my time. Not after they made me feel so alone and unwanted…”

Skyfire held him closer, understanding now why Starscream was pushing his trine away. He couldn’t blame him; it pained him to know that Thundercracker and Skywarp had either stood by or joined in with Starscream’s tormentors.

He no longer felt it was right to push Starscream to connect with his trine.  

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner,” Skyfire said softly. “I’m sorry they made you feel that way.”

“Please, Sky,” Starscream pleaded, wrapping his arms around Skyfire. “Please don’t make me talk to them… I can’t… I just can’t…”

Starscream wasn’t one to beg and hearing him do so broke Skyfire’s spark even further.

“I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to,” Skyfire whispered, resting his faceplate on top of Starscream’s helm. “You’re right - they don’t deserve you if they weren’t there for you when you needed them. You deserve so much more, Star. And just so you know, you’re not alone anymore, because I’ll always be here for you.”

Starscream shut his optics and pressed his face against Skyfire’s chest, not wanting him to let go.

The Present

“I watched a movie called Cinderella with the kids and Starscream,” Elita-1 began as she drove Dot along the highway.

Dot blinked, her eyes on the road ahead. “You did what now?” 

Elita chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Hard to believe, right? One of the most dangerous Decepticons, sitting in the same room with me, watching a young human talk to animals and sing about dreams and love. And you know what’s even stranger? He actually seemed to be enjoying it, for the most part, that is.”

Dot wasn’t sure how to respond to Elita’s story. She hadn’t expected it at all.

Elita went on, “In the beginning, I was waiting for him to grow bored with the kids and leave. With his helm still recovering, I figured he’d have less patience for putting on an act with them.  But during the movie, he was getting angry, amused, and even sad at points.” She paused, pulling over to the side of the road and parking. “I’ve seen him put on a fake sorrow before, but this time, he looked genuinely lost and vulnerable. So much different from his usual prideful self.”

“Why are you telling me this, Elita?” Dot asked quietly.

“What has Megatron told you about him - if you don’t mind me asking?”

 “Pretty much what you and the other Autobots have said,” Dot said after a moment.

“A self-serving, power-hungry mech who wouldn’t hesitate to rip out another mech’s spark for his own goals?”

“Among other things,” Dot sighed. “The fastest flyer with too much ambition. Megatron used to say Starscream always felt he deserved power and control and would do anything to get it, no matter the cost.”

“Yeah, that tracks. Megatron claims he knows Starscream best, but I think we all know better. War brings out the worst in everyone. Megatron’s done some pretty unforgivable things too. He was the most brutal of all the Decepticons. He’s killed more bots than probably anyone else. And yet, we gave him a second chance because of Optimus. Because deep down, Optimus still remembered the mech Megatron used to be - Megatron had that luxury. It makes me wonder who Starscream was before the war. Did any of us ever known him, or did we only know the mech that possibly was a product from our war?” She sighed. “Maybe, just maybe, even Megatron doesn’t truly know him at all.”

Dot hadn’t said a word, silently thinking about what Elita-1 was telling her.

“Optimus never gave up on Megatron,” Elita said. “He eventually found a way to reach him because he knew who Megatron was before hatred overtook him. You also saw the side of him none of us knew was there. And you helped him grow into who he is now while you fought alongside him during the war.” She paused. “Maybe Hashtag sees something in Starscream too – someone who isn’t the monster we all believe him to be. Like mother like daughter, don’t you agree?”

Dot’s thoughts drifted to how Twitch hugged Starscream, to the surprise and nervousness in his optics, and how worried her kids had been when Prowl shot him. 

Elita’s tone softened as she continued. “Megatron’s told you plenty about what Starscream’s done to him, to the other Decepticons. But has he ever told you what he’s done to Starscream?” 

Dot imagined Megatron had taken disciplinary actions when Starscream had tried stabbing him in the back. But she had to be real here. There were always two sides to one story, and not once had she considered Starscream’s side.

Maybe because deep inside she didn’t want to believe her friend had been as bad as everyone claimed to have been? She wanted to believe Starscream had been the actual villain that brought the worst out of Megatron.

“I’m guessing he hasn’t admitted to you the truth,” Elita said quietly. “Maybe he felt too ashamed to tell you before. But if he’s truly committed to making things right, he needs to be honest about it now.”

Dot knew Megatron had done terrible things and had been harsh with his own soldiers. He rarely talked about it, always glossed over the darker details. But now, she found herself wondering what those moments had really looked like - especially with Starscream.

“The reason I wanted to talk to you is because Megatron’s convinced Starscream is plotting something, certain he’s beyond saving. I’m worried he’ll fall back into old habits, reacting without thinking. I think he needs someone he truly trusts to keep him from doing something that would undo all the hard work he’s put into becoming better. And if Starscream truly isn’t planning anything, it wouldn’t be right for him to get hurt for no reason.”

The memory when Megatron had pressed down on Starscream’s cockpit threatening to crush it under his palm until Dot stepped in flashed in her mind. Starscream had looked terrified, like a scared child. She’d been able to reach Megatron, pull him back before he had caused actual damage, and the ugly belief was if she wasn’t there, he might have actually hurt Starscream who hadn’t done anything to deserve it.

Megatron was a mech with heavy burdens, many regrets. The last thing she wanted was for him to slip back into the tyrant the Autobots had once fought against.

And while she wasn’t particularly fond of Starscream, her daughter was. And it didn’t feel fair to only give Megatron a chance to change while Starscream was denied one – maybe there was more than meets the eye with him. Maybe she hadn’t been fair to Starscream either.

“I’ll talk to Megatron,” Dot eventually said, then decided to do more than just that. “And I should speak to Starscream as well.”

Optimus received a call from Elita-1 while making his way back to the Malto’s. She informed him that Megatron was at the Malto’s and shared her concerns about his growing anger toward Starscream. However, she had potentially good news: Dot was going to speak with Megatron and possibly Starscream to help them find a path toward truce.

Optimus wanted to be hopeful, but even he doubted that Dot could ease the resentment Megatron harbored toward Starscream. The history between them was too violent, and he believed there were other reasons behind Megatron’s constant disdain for Starscream that wouldn’t allow Megatron to just let go. Reasons he felt it was now time to address with his friend, while Dot spoke with him.

He told Elita-1 they could arrange a time with Dot to meet with Megatron and Starscream the next day, after the children had at least one drama-free day with Starscream. He forwarded the message to Bumblebee and Arcee, asking them to inform Megatron that they wanted to talk - and to discourage any rash actions, as Megatron continued to ignore his calls and messages. Meanwhile, he didn’t realize that someone else had forwarded the message to others.

“What should we do?” Cliffjumper asked Prowl, concealed in the shadows of the forest. “Everyone’s gonna be monitoring Screamer tonight more than ever.”

“Then, I suppose there’s always plan B,” Prowl said firmly.

The Terrans watched another movie with Starscream. He barely paid attention to it, his mind elsewhere most of the time. However, he didn’t push Twitch off as she clung to his arm throughout the entire movie. And the physical touch from her and Hashtag had been comforting him while his mind would drift to what Megatron had said to him earlier.

Later, the kids were playing a game called Twister. Jawbreaker stood off to the side with Starscream, spinning the wheel to instruct his siblings on which limb to place on which color next. Starscream found the game strange and didn’t understand the point of it. But gradually, he became amused watching the kids tangled up with one another, their limbs intertwined in a mess. Eventually, Twitch found herself sandwiched between Nightshade and Hashtag.

“I’m not going to lose,” Twitch said with determination, her face pressed against Nightshade’s left knee.

“We’ll see about that.” Hashtag began pressing down on her two siblings beneath her, and Nightshade immediately collapsed onto their back.

“Darn,” Nightshade sighed before doing their best to pull out from under Twitch without disturbing her position.

Twitch quickly tickled Hashtag by brushing her wings against Hashtag’s abdomen.

“Stop that!” Hashtag laughed involuntarily.

“Who do you think is going to win?” Jawbreaker asked Starscream, who hummed in thought.

“Hard to tell,” Starscream responded, unsure of who he wanted to win in the first place. He rather liked Twitch, but Hashtag was definitely his favorite Malto.

Suddenly, the lab monitor turned on, catching Nightshade’s attention.

“That’s weird,” they said.

Starscream watched as Nightshade approached the monitor, which displayed some kind of writing that they couldn’t comprehend. But from afar, Starscream recognized the language. He stood and walked over just as Twitch and Nightshade struggled to shove each other out of position before both collapsed simultaneously.

“It appears someone sent a message,” Nightshade said to Starscream. “Someone hacked into our system.” They started to block the connection, but Starscream quickly grabbed their wrist to stop them.

“It’s Cybertronian,” Starscream said quietly, taking in the message internally: We know where the AllSpark is. Below it was a series of numbers for a comm link.

Starscream’s optics narrowed at the monitor.

“What does it say?” Nightshade asked as Starscream released their arm.

Starscream remained silent, uncertain who had sent the message or who it was meant for.

The AllSpark was gone; he had failed to save it from the explosion.

He felt the urge to ignore the message, but something deep inside nagged him to take it seriously. Because, what if the AllSpark was indeed still intact somewhere? What if there’s still a way to save their home?

He saved the contact information right away, erased the message from the Terran’s system, and blocked the sender.

“It was nothing,” Starscream said simply before turning to see the other Terrans gathered around them.

“What’s going on?” Hashtag asked.

“Someone hacked our system and sent a message in Cybertronian,” Nightshade said, though Starscream mentally wished they’d kept that information to themselves.

“Cybertronian?” Twitch blinked, turning to Starscream. “Another Cybertronian trying to reach us? So, what did it say, Starscream?”

“It was from Shockwave,” Starscream lied smoothly. “He just wanted to know where I was since all my connections have been severed because of the blast. He sent me his comm link to reconnect.”

“Oh. Here, let me send you mine again so you have it too,” Hashtag said, quickly sending it to Starscream, who accepted it gladly.

“Now, would you mind - just for a moment - giving me the room?” he asked the children, who looked at him with confusion. “I’m going to call Shockwave to check on my fellow men. It’ll only take a moment.”

“Sure, we’ll respect your request for privacy, Starscream,” Twitch said with a smile. “Boundaries are always important, after all.”

“Right, boundaries,” Starscream said, not actually comprehending what Twitch was going on about.

“Just ping me when you’re done,” Hashtag said before she and her siblings walked over to the tunnel.

Starscream waited for about a minute after the kids entered the tunnel then he connected with the com link he had saved.

“Who’s this?” he asked coldly.

“I knew you wouldn’t help yourself,” Prowl’s voice went through.

Starscream’s faceplates scrunched up with utter disgust. “Of course, it had to be you,” he said and was about to end the call.

But as if reading his mind, Prowl continued, “Before you cut me off, don’t you find it strange how you survived an explosion of that magnitude? I’d say that’s impressive, even for someone with your ego.”

Starscream frowned. “I’ve survived worse,” he retorted, ignoring the one-time Megatron had blasted him with his cannon…

Though, the explosion was probably ten times worse than that incident.

“Yes, a pest like you who just doesn’t die, no matter how many near-fatal experiences anyone throws at you,” Prowl said. “Just like yesterday with that shot at the helm that should have offlined you.”

“I suppose I should get to the point,” Prowl said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “The AllSpark isn’t completely lost. It wasn’t entirely destroyed in that explosion all those years ago.”

Starscream casually leaned against the table, raising an optic ridge with mock boredom. “Oh, is that so?” he drawled. “So, where is it?” There was no way the Allspark had successfully transported to Cybertron. He had seen it destroyed before it could teleport, at least, he thought he did. He couldn’t wait for whatever ridiculous story Prowl was about to spin to mess with him.

“After our inside bot shared with me with what Wheeljack had found in Ghost’s data months ago, analyzing the readings they captured during those experiments they conducted after cracking open your spark chamber—”

Starscream’s optics blazed. “You glitch,” he hissed, hating the fact that Autobots had looked into such information.  

Prowl continued, unfazed by Starscream’s rage. “And after seeing how you healed from that helm shot yesterday- much faster than even you normally could - which, by the way, was done deliberately to test my hypothesis which was proved correct. It appears that some part of the AllSpark has fused with your spark, likely during that explosion. Maybe not all of it, but a significant portion of it. And possibly, it’s the only traces that exist of the AllSpark that’s left now in our universe.”

Starscream had fallen dead silent, processing what Prowl was saying to him.

“I wasn’t sure how that’s possible, but from the videos someone shared with me from those sessions Ghost had you go through, your spark isn’t like any other,” Prowl said. “It’s evolved.”

Starscream continued to be silent. For a long time, he said nothing before he was unable to help himself, he threw his head back, laughing uncontrollably.

“You’ve really outdone yourself, Autobot!” Starscream cackled loudly. “You’re even more stupid than I thought if you think I’d fall for something that absurd!” He continued laughing, his voice dripping with derision.

“Laugh all you want, Starscream,” Prowl said, his tone ice-cold. “But tell me – have you felt different these past years?” He paused, letting the question sink in while Starscream’s laughter faded. “That explosion should have left nothing of you but scrap. And yet here you are. You were out cold for a while, sure, but you survived. My theory is during the explosion, a portion of the Allspark bonded to your spark, shielding your frame right before you were annihilated. There’s no other rational explanation for why you’re still standing, and you know it.”

Starscream frowned.

The Autobot was right. The explosion had been bad. Even the other Decepticons had admitted they were surprised how he wasn’t gone like the Allspark.

His servo drifted to his cockpit unconsciously, recalling the strange sensations that he had been experiencing, especially in the past days. The strange aches his spark felt… And that powerful warmth that radiated through him the night before, a feeling that now that he thought about it reminded him of…

Starscream’s frame went cold when he realized the sensation was the same as when he held the Allspark in his servos or whenever he’d come near it.

No… It couldn’t be. That was impossible.

The Allspark was a powerful artifact, and there was no way his spark could even hold a bit of that power inside. His spark could have been destroyed if some of that energy were to fuse to it. Wouldn’t it?

Though… he had taken direct blasts to his spark chamber during the war and somehow survived…

He tried to stay calm as he recalled the moments Ghost opened his spark chamber. Every time they did so, he would pass out, unsure of what they saw inside.

When was the last time he had looked into his spark as well?

He glanced around the room, making sure Hashtag or any of the other kids had sneaked back in.

“Optimus knows the truth,” Prowl said, drawing Starscream’s attention back. “He’s known for a while. I wonder if that’s why he kept you locked up all that time and why he’s keeping you close now. And If I was able to figure it out, others would soon as well. The Decepticons, especially Shockwave, will eventually find out.”

Starscream’s spark pulsed with dread. He felt faint.

“And Megatron… once he realizes you hold the one thing that could revive Cybertron, that he has the chance to make up for everything he’s done, he’ll tear it from you himself,” Prowl added, his voice turning dark and mocking. “He’s not going to let anyone or anything get in his -”

Starscream severed the connection, his spark pounding painfully as panic gripped him.

No, no, no. It couldn’t be possible. There was no way the Allspark, or even a portion of it was dwelling in his spark.

He forced himself to laugh, assuring himself everything Prowl had just told him was some sick joke.

Why would he even tell him such foolish things? What was the point? Even if, let’s say, was true, wouldn’t Prowl want to keep such a thing a secret?

He took deep slow breaths, feeling nauseous all around, his spark aching more than ever. His helm pounded painfully while he berated himself for even allowing Prowl to get into his mind.

“Just lies to mess with you,” Starscream mumbled to himself, his servos resting on his cockpit before hesitantly looking around the room again, to make sure he was alone. He approached a large mirror that stood on the corner of the room.

He was just going to see his spark, the same as always – a bright, blue sphere, swirling with energy. Nothing out of the ordinary. That’s what he told himself, over and over.

Slowly, he opened his cockpit, metal plates retracting to reveal the core of his being.

Then everything seemed to have gone cold and still as he felt his tanks dropped at the sight of what the mirror was reflecting. Instead of the usual swirl of blue energy that every Cybertronian had, it pulsed with strange symbols, glowing in a shade of blue that wasn’t his own. Symbols that were almost a replica from those of the Allspark itself.

Chapter Text

Thousands Of Years Ago

“There they are! My favorite duo!” Shockwave exclaimed with a bright grin as he approached Starscream and Skyfire after they stepped outside the Academy. The two turned to look at Shockwave curiously as he drew closer.

“Senator Shockwave,” Skyfire greeted with a smile, while Starscream held a blank expression. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“And it’s great to see you two as well,” Shockwave replied, patting both Starscream and Skyfire on the arm. “I’ve been wanting to catch up with you two, to see how you’ve been doing these past months. Though, I’ll admit, I’ve been keeping an optic on your work and marks, and I’ve got to say - you’re both meeting my expectations. Especially you, Starscream. You’re the best student this academy has had since I left. You should be proud of yourself.”

Starscream blinked, glancing away shyly, feeling a bit bashful. “Thanks…” he mumbled, earning a chuckle from Shockwave.

“Always so humble, aren’t you?” Shockwave teased. “Now, I have a favor to ask of you two.”

“Sure, what is it?” Skyfire asked.

“In a week, I’ll be visiting the War Academy to deliver a speech,” Shockwave began. “I’ll be encouraging the war frames to consider pursuing careers in science.”

Starscream and Skyfire blinked in surprise at the news.

“As you both know, war frames and flight frames are often overlooked in terms of their potential scientific contributions, and I intend to change that,” Shockwave said, grinning. “However, I can only do so much with words alone. I’m hoping that having you two join me will inspire them to consider what they truly want to do with their lives. You’re both known for breaking through barriers no one thought was possible. I want to show them that anyone passionate about science can thrive in it, if they’re willing to pursue it. So, what do you say? Will you join me at the event?”

Starscream and Skyfire stared at him for a long moment before Skyfire was the first to respond. “Of course, we’d both love to join you!” he beamed, placing an affectionate servo on Starscream’s shoulder. “It would be an honor, Senator.”

Starscream remained quiet but gave Shockwave a curt nod.

“Perfect,” Shockwave clasped his servos with a satisfied smile.

Skyfire and Starscream walked through the underground tunnels before entering a massive chamber where the gladiator fights were now being held. The space was larger than the previous one, with rows of stands surrounding a caged arena. Countless mechs were either standing or sitting, watching a fierce fight between two other mechs.

They had arranged to meet Hook in one of corridors for a follow-up to double-check Starscream’s optics, just to ensure everything continued to look good. After Hook confirmed that everything was fine, they began to make their way out but stopped when they heard the sound of countless mech pedes stomping in unison on the stands, cheering Megatronus’ name as he fought against his opponent.

“Isn’t that Senator Shockwave?” Skyfire asked Starscream, spotting him in the stands, talking to another mech - a blue and red bot who was watching the fight with concern.

“Yes, it is,” Starscream responded, curious about why the senator was watching the fight and who he was speaking to. Starscream approached the stands, with Skyfire following right behind him. They stood behind some mechs, peering between those in the lowest row. Starscream noticed that the bot, next to the senator, looked like a labor worker mech, not one of special value.

The two froze when Megatronus tackled his opponent close to their direction, pummeling him harshly, cracking his chestplates and causing energon to spurt from the impacts.

Skyfire felt Starscream jump back, colliding into him. Instinctively, Skyfire wrapped an arm around Starscream, his servo resting on Starscream’s cockpit in a calming gesture.

Megatronus rose and raised his sword above the downed mech’s head. The cheers grew louder, with the crowd urging him to finish his opponent off.

“We should go, Star,” Skyfire whispered, and Starscream grabbed his servo.

“Yeah, let’s,” Starscream mumbled.

“They pit us against each other to keep us weak!” Megatronus’ voice boomed, keeping Starscream and Skyfire rooted in place as they glanced back at the arena in confusion. “To keep us distracted!” he continued, raising his sword higher. “But I say no more!” He drove his sword down - not through the mech’s helm, but besides it, into the floor.

The arena fell silent. Everyone, including Skyfire and Starscream, stared at the scene in puzzlement. Senator Shockwave watched with a smile, while the blue-and-red mech beside him also gazed at the spectacle with curiosity.

Megatronus scanned the arena, his red optics narrowing. “We are more than tools,” he continued. “We are the future.” The crowd began to look mesmerized by his words. “Together, we are unstoppable.” Even Starscream seemed entranced, and Skyfire felt Starscream’s servo almost pull away, but he held it tightly to keep him back. “And together, we will rise from these pits and seize the future that is rightfully ours!” Megatronus raised his fist, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Even Senator Shockwave stood up, clapping enthusiastically, while the red-and-blue mech joined in.

Skyfire had to admit, the gladiator’s speech was inspiring, but the way Megatronus’s red optics burned with rage made him feel uneasy—especially as he noticed Starscream continuing to gaze at the scene with awe.

Starscream was sleeping peacefully beside him, his helm resting on Skyfire’s chassis.

Skyfire, however, was having a hard time closing his optics to recharge. The gladiator’s burning gaze was in his mind as well as the way Starscream had watched the gladiator as some kind of idol. He’s never seen Starscream look at anyone like that before. And it bothered him a lot, he wasn’t sure why.

He didn’t think it was jealousy. At least, he hoped it wasn’t. So, he tried to distract himself by reading random information he could find. The reports were mostly about government offices being broken into, energon thefts, and a large group of miners killed, with few details explaining why.

Skyfire pulled Starscream closer to his frame, hoping things would eventually calm down in their city.

Starscream stirred slightly, his optics flickering open tiredly.

“You’re still awake?” he asked in a raspy, groggy voice.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Skyfire chuckled, turning off his datapad and setting it aside. “Sorry for waking you.”

Starscream threw an arm around Skyfire, his helm snuggling closer, wings fluttering a bit. “I’m never going to forgive you,” he teased playfully.

Skyfire chuckled, wrapping his other arm around Starscream. “Then I guess I’ll have to find a way to make it up to you forever.”

“Hmhm,” Starscream murmured sleepily before drifting back into recharge, making Skyfire both jealous of how easily he could do that, and grateful that he could. Their own lives were peaceful, and he hoped it would stay that way for the rest of their existence.

“For the hundredth time, we did not tamper with anyone’s project!” Starscream raised his voice, frustration seeping into every word. His servos clenched into trembling fists as he and Skyfire stood before the Academy’s top members. Shockwave, however, was absent, his usual seat taken by the chancellor.

Skyfire remained rooted to the spot, struggling to process what was happening. Moments ago, they had been pulled from one of their classes and accused of tampering with someone’s machine. The accusation had blindsided both him and Starscream.

“We have surveillance of you two sneaking into the lab in the middle of the night and messing with Brainstorm’s device,” the chancellor retorted sharply.

Starscream’s optics widened in disbelief before narrowing into a glare. “I want to see your proof,” he demanded.

“I don’t have to show you anything,” the chancellor replied coldly. “And we do not tolerate rule-breakers. Effective immediately, you two are expelled from the Academy forever.”

Skyfire caught the vice president’s smirk, her amusement barely concealed as Starscream erupted, his wings raised with rage, demanding evidence and insisting they couldn’t be kicked out just like that.

Skyfire had never seen Starscream so agitated, but even he could feel the anxiety and anger building within his own frame.

Everything they had worked for was going to be taken away from them if they did nothing quick.

“Where’s Senator Shockwave?” Skyfire finally spoke, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Excuse me?” The chancellor raised an optic ridge.

“Senator Shockwave,” Skyfire repeated, making sure his tone was clear and calm, even though his spark burning with anger. “Starscream and I are supposed to accompany him to an event in a few days. Does he know about these accusations?”

“Ah, Senator Shockwave,” the chancellor said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. “Unfortunately, he’s had a terrible accident and he’s no longer with us.”

Starscream and Skyfire fell dead silent for a moment, staring at them with utter disbelief.  

“What do you mean, ‘no longer with us’?” Starscream asked slowly with hesitation.

“He has joined the Allspark,” the chancellor replied simply. “A terrible loss, truly. He’ll be missed dearly.”

The two stood frozen, in complete shock, feeling as though a hole appeared beneath them and swallowed them whole.

Shockwave was dead? But how? Skyfire hadn’t seen any news about it – not yet, anyway. The Academy’s leadership seemed so indifferent to Shockwave’s supposed death. It was unsettling. And now Skyfire believed the Academy made up and accusation to get rid of them now that Shockwave was gone, since from the start they had been opposed to two flyers joining the Academy. Only reason why they had been given entry was because Shockwave wanted them to.

“But don’t you worry,” the vice president interjected with a saccharine smile aimed at Starscream. “We’ve heard you’re the fastest seeker Cybertron has ever seen. The War Academy is more than happy to take you in and make you one of the best soldiers they’ll ever have. Not all hope is lost for you, little seeker.”

Starscream stared at her as if she had physically struck him, his wings falling limp behind him, and Skyfire felt an overwhelming mix of fury and helplessness surge in his spark. He wanted to comfort Starscream, to hold him close and reassure him that they would find a way through this, that their dreams weren’t over.

But without Shockwave – without his advocacy and support – their hope felt as if it was ripped from them forever.

Skyfire and Starscream were back in their apartment. Skyfire held Starscream close to his chassis, doing his best to comfort him.

Skyfire was silently fuming at what the Academy had done to them. To make matters worse, officials from the War Academy had been waiting in the hallway earlier. They had taken Starscream to another room to discuss his immediate transfer to their institution - it had all been planned out.

Since they left the building, Starscream had been completely silent, which worried Skyfire most of all. He hadn’t said a word, expressed any grief, or shed a single tear. Instead, Starscream stared tiredly at nothing, his dimmed blue optics almost devoid of life.

“We’ll figure something out,” Skyfire whispered, his face pressed gently against Starscream’s helm. “Maybe we can talk to Brainstorm. He didn’t seem to mind us being at the Academy. Maybe he could vouch for us and confirm we’d never tamper with his device?”

Starscream didn’t respond, and Skyfire couldn’t blame him. Deep down, he knew the Academy Board would find a way to bar them from attending again and likely prevent them from enrolling in any other science-related Academy in the other cities as well.

Skyfire’s mind raced to find a way to fix their situation, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of anything.

“If you don’t want to join the War Academy, you don’t have to, Star,” he said softly. “If you’d rather stay here and work on your ideas, we’ll make it work. I can take on two shifts if I need to.”

Starscream let out a faint smile. He closed his optics and leaned his face against Skyfire’s chest, but again said nothing.

Skyfire returned to transporting cargo for a living, while Starscream, unfortunately, rejoined the War Academy - Starscream revealed to Skyfire that the War Academy officials had warned him that if he didn’t return, the Science Academy board would press charges against them for “trespassing.” The board was determined to force Starscream into the role they believed he was “created” for. Truth be told, everything the Academy board was doing felt too personal.

It pained Skyfire to see Starscream come home physically exhausted from the grueling training and hated that Starscream was forced to learn how to fight – Starscream wasn’t the sort to be violent at all. He was a scientist, not a soldier.

Starscream often returned with dents and cuts, and the worst injuries were cracks in his frame. Skyfire did his best to mend them, tending to Starscream with all the care he could manage. Starscream no longer spoke about science. He no longer smiled and barely talked. Most of his time at home was spent recharging, and Skyfire had to force him to drink his energon, as Starscream didn’t seem to care enough to remember.

At least Starscream didn’t push him away. Instead, he clung to Skyfire when they slept, as if afraid they might be separated.

One day, Skyfire was surprised to receive a call from Thundercracker, who informed him that Starscream wasn’t doing well. He was barely keeping up during their laps in the sky. Truthfully, Skyfire had already been growing worried - Starscream had been recharging far too much lately.

“Is he refueling enough? Recharging enough?” Thundercracker asked.

“Yes, he’s recharging most of the time when he’s home,” Skyfire replied. “And I make sure he has his two rations daily.”

“Skyfire…” Thundercracker’s tone was low. “Things are different now. With the training we’re going through, Starscream should be having at least 6 rations a day. He gets two during training and needs the other two in the evening then two at night.”

Skyfire felt his tanks fall from Thundercracker’s words. Of course… Starscream was flying a lot, going through intense physical training every day. He needed so much fuel to keep up. How had he not realized that Starscream’s declining health was due to running low on energon?

After the call, Skyfire made sure Starscream drank all four rations that he needed, even though Starscream resisted at first and only wanted his usual two.

The next time Skyfire spoke to Thundercracker, it was Skyfire who reached out, desperate for an update on how Starscream was holding up at the War Academy since Starscream wouldn’t tell him anything about his day.

“He’s doing better,” Thundercracker said, surprising Skyfire. He hadn’t expected a straightforward answer, especially since Starscream had left his trine months ago to be with Skyfire, and Skyfire wasn’t sure if things between him and Thundercracker were tense because of it.

“He’s beating Thrust and the others in our morning laps,” Thundercracker continued. “But he’s still struggling with everything else.”

Skyfire leaned against the railing of the apartment building roof, staring out into the evening skyline with a pained expression. Meanwhile, Starscream was resting in their berth, recovering from another tough day. “He came home with a nasty dent on his right leg today,” Skyfire said, unable to hide the worry in his voice.

“Yeah,” Thundercracker sighed. “He was partnered with Blazewake today, and he’s the most brutal one in our squadron. I try to pair up with Starscream when I can, but the captain thinks I’m too easy on him. Instead, Starscream gets forced to spar with others, and it’s rare if it’s Skywarp or me. Honestly, it feels like the captain has it out for him. A lot of the superiors seem to dislike Starscream, actually.”

“Starscream shouldn’t be there…” Skyfire said with a bitter tone. “I know he was built to fight but… that’s not who Starscream is.”

“I know, and I agree with you,” Thundercracker said. “He should have never been kicked out of the Science Academy.”

Skyfire was surprised to hear the Seeker’s words. “I thought you and Skywarp would have been happy that Starscream was back at the War Academy.”

There was a long pause on the other line before Thundercracker sighed. “I’ll admit, at first, I wasn’t pleased. Skywarp and I needed him—he’s part of our trine, and no one could replace him. But later, I came to terms with it. I was happy for him, proud that he was following his dream. To be honest, if I were anywhere near as smart as you or Starscream, I’d have loved to join the Science Academy too. Studying advanced Cybertronian technology is something I had dreamed of since I can remember.”

“You like science?” Skyfire asked, genuinely surprised.

“I used to pick up broken scrap from the streets and take it home to tinker with,” Thundercracker said with a chuckle.

Skyfire was stunned into silence.

“You didn’t see that coming, did you?”

“Honestly, no,” Skyfire admitted. “Have you ever told Starscream?”

“I don’t think he’d care.”

“I think he’d like to know that one of his trinemates has something in common with him.”

“I tried telling him months ago,” Thundercracker explained. “It’s why I wanted to talk to him in person, but you made it clear he didn’t want to see us anymore.”

“You weren’t going to bother him about returning to the War Academy?” Skyfire asked hesitantly.

“Not after the first month. Skywarp and I got over it. I just wanted to tell him how happy we were that he was proving seekers could be scientists and I hoped we could at least hang out during our free time.”

“I… I didn’t know…” Skyfire said quietly, guilt creeping into his voice. But he reminded himself of the reasons Starscream had distanced himself from his trinemates.

“Anyway, that’s all in the past,” Thundercracker said. “For now, I’ll do my best to protect him during training. It’s the least I can do.”

“Thank you, Thundercracker,” Skyfire said sincerely before Thundercracker excused himself and ended the call.

Five months had passed, and Skyfire continued calling Thundercracker for updates about Starscream - Starscream still refused to talk about his time at the War Academy. At least he wasn’t coming home with as many injuries as before, and he had started showing some interest in listening to Skyfire talk about his day. Still, Skyfire missed the way Starscream used to lead their conversations with enthusiasm.

Thundercracker informed Skyfire about Starscream’s gradual improvement over the months. Starscream could finally hold his own during sparring, even against the more aggressive members of his squadron. There were times Starscream would leave deep dents on his sparring partners, or make them spill their own energon, which Skyfire wasn’t sure if he should be happy about it or not.

One evening, Skyfire was surprised to find Starscream working on a device in their apartment. It had been so long since he’d seen Starscream building anything - ever since they’d been expelled from the Science Academy. At first, Skyfire felt a thrill of excitement at the sight, but as he stepped closer, his excitement turned to concern. The device looked like some sort of weapon.

“Um, Star? What… are you building?” Skyfire asked hesitantly.

“A null-ray,” Starscream replied calmly, not looking up.

Skyfire blinked. “A null-ray?”

“That’s what I’m calling it,” Starscream said, continuing to tinker with the device’s cables. “It will paralyze anyone it hits with one shot and temporarily disable machines as well.”

“That… actually sounds very interesting,” Skyfire admitted, curiosity overcoming his initial worry. He sat down across the table from Starscream.

“They want us shooting each other during training, which I think is so barbaric,” Starscream said with a faint note of disdain. “I was thinking maybe I could show them there are less violent ways to neutralize opponents. After all, I believe we are far too advanced to rely on tearing each other apart. Don’t you agree?”

Skyfire felt a shimmer of pride in his spark. Even as the world tried to force Starscream into becoming a violent cold seeker, he remained stubbornly determined to prove he was different.

As he watched Starscream work, Skyfire couldn’t help but place a servo gently on Starscream’s. Starscream paused, looking up at him in confusion.

“Can I build it with you?” Skyfire asked with a warm smile. “It’s been so long since we’ve made something together.”

Starscream stared at him for a moment. Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled - a genuine, heartfelt smile. “Of course.”

Skyfire was confused to find his datapad turned on brightly on the table when he returned home after his shift. He picked it up to find a message on it—an invitation addressed to him and Starscream.

Someone had broken into their home and wrote up a message on his device.

Worried, he checked the windows, only to find them locked, just as he had left them.

So, had someone come through the door?

He looked back at the message. It included coordinates to a specific location deep in the underground tunnels, along with instructions to meet at a particular time.

When Starscream returned, Skyfire showed him the message and shared his concerns. He thought it could be a trap. Perhaps the Science Academy board wasn’t happy with Starscream - especially since his null-ray had even impressed some of the War Academy officials after he had used it during a drilling exercise and had successfully paralyzed everyone on the opposite team.

But Starscream was insistent they should go. He even suggested they could bring Thundercracker and Skywarp along, just in case.

“Would they come, though?” Skyfire asked.

“Of course, they would,” Starscream replied with confidence. “I’m their trine leader, after all.”

Skyfire was surprised to learn Starscream had become the leader of his trine. That was something Thundercracker had failed to mention.

After contacting Thundercracker and Skywarp, the four of them met at the entrance to the tunnels.

“If things go wrong, teleport us out immediately, Skywarp,” Starscream instructed as he activated his null-ray, preparing for any danger. “The last thing I want is for us to be pulled into some mindless fight.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Skywarp replied, grinning. With that, Starscream led the group into the tunnels.

Skyfire walked behind Starscream, noticing his hesitant steps. He could tell Starscream was nervous but doing his best to appear confident, wings held up high. Skyfire couldn’t blame him -none of them had any idea who had sent the invitation or what they wanted.

They moved cautiously through the dark, silent tunnels. Thundercracker stayed at the rear, keeping watch, while Skywarp walked beside Starscream, ready to defend against any potential attack from the front.

Eventually, they entered a particularly dark tunnel. In the distance, a small, strange-looking mech with four limbs emerged from the shadows. It stared at them briefly before turning and walking further into the tunnel.

Suspicious but curious, the group followed it until it stopped at a door that was currently guarded by two mechs.

The two mechs were rugged and almost rusted, but they looked like they could definitely put up a fight, especially as they had weapons in their hands ready if they decided to use them.

One of them opened the door, allowing the tiny mech to slip inside before motioning Starscream and the others to follow. They stepped into a dimly lit room, smaller than the chambers Starscream and Skyfire had gone to within the underground tunnels in the past.

At the chamber’s far end, a throne-like chair had been fashioned from salvaged materials, and seated upon it was the gladiator, Megatronus. His crimson optics burned with an intensity that made Skyfire and his group freeze in the spot.

To the gladiator’s left stood a mech with a glowing, unblinking optic and clawed hands – a victim of Empurata, the punishment inflicted by the High Council to mark and ostracize criminals. On Megatronus’ right was a navy-blue figure, his face obscured by a visor a faceplate, emanating an air of detached menace, approached by the strange animalistic creature.

“It’s… him,” Starscream muttered, awe and apprehension in his voice. “The gladiator…”

The door slammed shut behind them, jolting Skyfire’s internal alarms. Three mechs barred the exit, causing Skyfire to grab Starscream’s arm just as the group of gathered mechs began to part, making way for the clawed, one-optic figure who began making its way towards them.

“We have to get out of here now,” Skyfire whispered urgently.

Starscream, however, raised his null-ray and aimed it directly at the one-optic mech. His trine followed suit, weapons snapping to bear on the crowd of mechs. The other mechs responded in kind, raising their own armaments. The cyclopean mech stopped on his tracks but stared at Starscream without a hint of fear.

From his seat, Megatronus narrowed his optics, his scrutiny resting heavily on Starscream, but said nothing.

“Don’t take another step,” barked Skywarp, shifting closer to Starscream as her weapon remained trained on the nearest mechs. She was ready to teleport her group out if necessary.

“It would be in everyone’s best interest for all parties to lower their weapons,” the one-eyed mech said, his tone cold and emotionless.

“That voice… sounds familiar,” Skyfire muttered, gazing at the mech with confusion. Yet, the lack of emotion in the mech’s voice made it hard for him to remember where he heard it from.

The mech’s optic gleamed as he addressed the gladiator. “Megatronus, I present the two former students of the Cybetronian Science Academy, unjustly cast aside.” His gaze shifted to Starscream. “Starscream, your null-ray - I heard so much about it. Remarkable. Even now, your intellect surpasses expectations. The Academy was shortsighted to discard you.”

Recognition dawned on Skyfire and Starscream simultaneously, their optics widening in disbelief.

“No… it can’t be…” Starscream stammered.

“Shockwave…?” Skyfire’s voice cracked with disbelief. “By Primus, what have they done to you?”

“The High Council subjected him to Empurata and shadowplay,” a mech off the side stated coldly.

Skyfire and Starscream recoiled, their optics wide with horror.

“What’s shadowplay?” Skywarp asked, frowning. She was familiar with Empurata but had never heard of this other term.

“It’s a procedure that alters a mech’s personality to suit the manipulator’s will,” Skyfire explained grimly, his gaze heavy with sorrow as he looked at Shockwave’s faceless head.

“But… why?” Starscream asked, slowly lowering his null-ray. Megatronus signaled for the others to lower their weapons as well, though Thundercracker and Skywarp kept their weapons drawn, reluctant to lower their guard.

Rising from his makeshift throne, Megatronus began to approach. “Shockwave dared to defy a corrupt system,” he finally spoke, his voice sharp and disdainful. “He sought to reshape our fractured society – to forge a brighter future for us all. For this noble pursuit, the High Council subjected him to their twisted punishments.” His optics blazed with contempt, his sneer betraying the rage simmering beneath his words.

Skyfire’s optics softened as they locked onto Shockwave’s cold, unfeeling visage. “The Academy told us you were dead,” he murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow.

“A deliberate deception for their own agenda,” Shockwave replied in his monotone, as devoid of warmth as his single unblinking optic. No longer Skyfire could see the bright smiling senator that helped Skyfire and Starscream. The mech now seemed like a cold husk.

“This is yet another example of the true nature of our society,” Megatronus turned to address the crowd around them. “Those who challenge injustice or fight for change are met with brutality and punishment.”

His optics burned as they shifted back to Starscream and Skyfire. “Shockwave has spoken so much of you to me.”

“He has?” Starscream asked, curious.

Megatronus inclined his head. “Indeed. Strong, capable, brilliant minds. Especially you, Starscream. You’ve proven that cold constructs are far more than mindless tools to be used and cast aside,” he paused, studying Starscream closely who looked surprised from the compliments. “But the High Council sees you as a threat now. They fear the doubts you sow, the influence you wield. Soon, they will silence you, crush your spirit, and reshape you into what fits their goals.”

Starscream’s wings sagged slightly, pressing down closely onto his frame as fear settled over him. Skyfire’s own spark trembled as well, worried for Starscream if the High Council decided to hurt him.

Megatronus stepped closer, his imposing form looming over the seeker. “But I will not stand idly by and watch another mech, one with the potential to reshape our very world, be crushed beneath the Council’s heel. I will not see you reduced to a shadow of yourself, as they did to Shockwave.”

His servo reached out and settled firmly on Starscream’s shoulder. Starscream tensed under the touch, uncertainty flickering in his optics, while Skyfire’s protective instincts urged him to intervene, but he was frozen at the spot for some reason.  

“That is why I summoned you here, to offer you a choice,” the gladiator said, making Starscream and Skyfire confused. “A choice to either continue bowing to the Council’s chains or rise to shatter them once and for all.”

Skyfire felt cold dread in his spark growing heavier with every word, now realizing what was happening, especially with all the mechs in the room that were carrying weapons.

“You could be so much more, Starscream…” Megatronus said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “I see you. I see what you could become. With your intellect, your strength, you can stand at the forefront of a brighter era.”

Starscream stared at him, as he was drawn in like a moth enticed by a flame.

“You, by my side,” Megatronus continued, his optics burning as he studied the seeker, “will help me tear down this decaying order. And in its place, we will forge a Cybertron that is just, a world where the likes of us will never be silenced again…”

The Present

Dorothy wanted to talk to him and Starscream - Megatron wasn’t sure how to feel about it. He was nervous and worried that Starscream would start throwing jabs at him, leading him to lose his temper; Starscream always found a way to irritate him.

Starscream might even try to twist everything around to make Dorothy believe some narrative that would pull her to his side. He could lose the close bond he had with Dorothy, and that was the last thing he wanted - she was one of his only close friends. He truly cared about her and her family.

He decided to ask Optimus to join the conversation to keep him grounded and make sure Starscream’s schemes didn’t win once again. He couldn’t risk messing things up somehow.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” Hashtag said excitedly as she and her siblings were walking out of the tunnel before stepping out of the barn without Starscream. “It’s time for me to ditch the G.H.O.S.T van look and pick something else.”

“Finally…! I’ve been wanting to bring it up, but Thrash told me not to bother you about it,” Twitch said.  

“How about a dino-mode like mine?” Jawbreaker suggested eagerly.

“Or you can go for a beast mode,” Nightshade said. “I’ve got a list of interesting creatures you may like.”

“Hmm, tempting,” Hashtag replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “But I’m leaning toward something fast and stylish.”

“Well, if it’s speed you’re after, I know a place that got a bunch of slick rides you could check out,” Bumblebee offered.

“Actually, I was thinking maybe like an aircraft, so I can fly with Starscream,” Hashtag said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her helm.

The Autobots made no comment. Megatron crossed his arms, visibly not liking the idea.

Twitch, on the other hand, practically buzzed with energy. “That would be amazing!” she exclaimed, zooming around her sister. “We could race every day! Oh, I knew you would end up like your older sister!”

Hashtag chuckled. “But, uh… is that even possible? I mean, can I go from grounder to flier mode?” She turned to the older mechs.

“That’s a good question,” Bumblebee said. “For most Cybertronians, what you’re born with is what you stick with. Grounders stay grounders, fliers stay fliers. But you guys are different from us, so who knows? Maybe you could try scanning an aircraft?”

“Yah, I could try that. I guess I better start deciding what I want to scan and hope it works,” Hashtag said.

“So, what are you guys doing next with Starscream?” Bumblebee asked.

“Not sure yet,” Twitch replied. “I guess we’ll figure it out once he’s done talking to Shockwave.”

“He’s speaking with Shockwave?”

“Yeah,” Hashtag said, “Shockwave sent his com-link info to our computer since Starscream lost his during the head injury.”

“How would Shockwave know that?” Bumblebee asked, raising an optic ridge. “And since when do you have Shockwave’s com link?”

“Well, I used the Decepticon emergency line yesterday, and he answered.” Hashtag responded. “I explained to him everything that happened in case they were wondering where Starscream was. But now that I think about it… I never mentioned to Shockwave that Starscream lost his com-links. Even I didn’t know about that until now.”

Megatron and Bumblebee exchanged wary glances, questioning if it was even Shockwave who sent a message into that computer, while Arcee avoided eye contact with them. Shockwave was very strict on who could have his com-link. When Megatron joined Optimus, Shockwave immediately changed his com link so Megatron could no longer contact him.

“Shockwave isn’t the type to give out his com-link and risk it falling into Autobots hands or mine,” Megatron said, his tone heavy with suspicion. “He would never send it so carelessly into a computer.” He turned and strode toward the barn entrance, his expression dark.

“Whoa, whoa!” Hashtag darted in front of Megatron, her hands raised defensively. “You can’t just go down there. No offense, Megatron, but I don’t think Starscream feels comfortable with you right now.”

Megatron’s chest tightened at her words.

Since when did it matter what Starscream wanted?

“Look,” Hashtag continued, her tone firm. “I trust Starscream, and if he says he’s talking to Shockwave, then he -”

“He’s lying to you,” Megatron interjected, his voice hard as stone.

Hashtag blinked in surprise, her arms falling to her sides. “He wouldn’t lie to me.”

For a moment, Megatron simply stared at her, his crimson optics flickering with unspoken thoughts. Finally, he let out a slow, heavy sigh. “Listen to me, young one. Starscream is—”

“No. You listen, Megatron,” Hashtag interrupted, her voice rising with irritation, rare for her to do, catching everyone off guard around her. “I heard it all already that he lies, back stabs, and was a terrible Decepticon. I don’t have to be reminded of it all the time. We’ve all made mistakes, and he’s been proving to me and my siblings he can be better. I’m not about to betray his trust just because you don’t believe in him.” She crossed her arms over her chest plates, her optic ridges furrowed. “He asked for a little space to make his call, and I’m going to respect that. And if it makes everyone feel better, if I don’t hear from him in half an hour, then I’ll go check on him just to make sure he’s okay. But I’m not letting you go down there. And I’m not changing my mind, got it?”

Megatron narrowed his optics, observing her with frustration. It was clear that Starscream had truly won her over.

But why wouldn’t she trust Starscream? After all, Starscream had thrown himself into danger to save her from the Dweller, while Megatron had stood frozen in shock, unable to act. The memory resurfaced in his mind, filling him with an uncomfortable mix of doubt he was having for Starscream once again.

Taking a deep breath, Megatron forced his racing thoughts to settle; he didn’t want to be the one giving anyone reasons that he was the problem between him and Starscream. Slowly, he took a step back, signaling his retreat. Hashtag’s tense frame relaxed immediately, and a small, grateful smile spread across her face. He noticed the Terrans too, who had been holding their breaths, exhale in unison.

Even as he stepped away, Megatron’s optics scanned the area, alert for any signs of trouble. He thought of assigning Bumblebee and Arcee to scout the perimeter. But, for now, he decided to have everyone stay put, while the Terrans start talking to Bumblebee and Arcee about the movies they had seen with Starscream.

His frame trembled as he braced himself against the cold surface of the mirror, his servo palms pressed flat, digits scraping faintly against the reflective glass. He gasped for air, frantically trying to slow his rapid breathing, to stop himself from overheating, but nothing seemed to work. His sharp, panicked optics stared at his own reflection, wide and unseeing, mocking him every second into madness, while the light from the symbols covering his spark burst painfully bright, as if mirroring the agony and panic of his spiraling thoughts.

Prowl’s warning repeated in Starscream’s mind, staining every corner of his processor. Again and again, he closed his optics before opening them, hoping to see the bright symbols on his spark as nothing but a hallucination—a glitch in his mind. But no matter how many times he hoped to see a normal-looking spark, the truth struck him. And every time it did, the glow from his spark pulsed brighter, flaring with a painful intensity that eventually forced him to keep his optics tightly shut as coolant gathered in them. A few drops trickled down his faceplates as he finally sealed his spark chamber.

It felt as though his feelings were physically manifesting from his spark, and it hurt - not just physically, but in a way he couldn’t process, couldn’t stop. He was having a difficult time holding himself together and he didn’t think there was anything in the universe that could make it better.

“And Megatron… once he realizes you hold the one thing that could revive Cybertron, that he has the chance to make up for everything he’s done, he’ll tear it from you himself.” Again, Prowl’s mocking words clawed at his mind, causing the glass beneath his servos to groan under the pressure.

If Megatron found out, he would undoubtedly hold him down with his massive frame, split open his cockpit, and tear every piece of him apart to wrench his spark from his mangled body while others simply watched with indifference. His screams and pleas would be ignored, just like so many times before when Megatron beat him into scrap, but this time, it would be the last.

Or if Shockwave discovered the truth and reached him first… the mere thought of what horrors the mech might subject him through made him almost purge out the energon he had consumed earlier.

“What if you could go somewhere safe?” Megatron’s words hissed now tauntingly in Starscream’s processor, making him want to scream, but his voice betrayed him, catching in his throat as his vents desperately tried to calm him down, his body running so hot it felt as though he were suffocating in a lava pit.

He wished he had never thrown himself into trying to save the AllSpark. He desperately wished he could go back in time and stop himself from doing it.

What was he thinking?!

He should have simply stayed back, just like everyone else had done when Megatron hurled the artifact into its ‘demise.’

The Allspark was the source of all life from Cybertron, but at this instant, it was just a parasite in his spark he wanted gone.

Prowl was right. Everyone was going to find out soon. And once they did… there would be nowhere he could hide, nowhere he would ever be safe again. It didn’t matter if he was the leader of the Decepticons. No one would care for his existence because his spark possibly held the only way Cybertron could finally be restored.

Then another fear crept over him. Was there a reason the presence of the AllSpark in his spark was more noticeable than before? Was the AllSpark somehow going to take over his spark and kill him?

The thought of him meeting his end caused agony to shoot through his spark.

He… he had to do something. He had to find a way to save himself. Maybe whatever power now dwelling inside of him he could control and used to defend himself? But what if that wasn’t enough to stop those who posed a threat to him?

Maybe a part of the Emberstone was still out there, and he could use it somehow to protect him from his awful predicament or pull out the Allspark essence that was inside of him.

And what about the cyber sleeves the two human children had? Maybe they held something that could help him. But reaching those children - and taking their sleeves - would be impossible with every Autobot watching his every move if he so much as dared to speak to them.

It was frustrating, really. He honestly believed he could have something better. Even though Cybertron might have been lost to them forever, Hashtag made him feel there was possibly a brighter future for him on Earth. He no longer had to fight constantly, no longer had to live through the fear and hatred that had manifested in his core. He was finally smiling, genuinely, feeling a connection with someone after shutting his spark down when Skyfire met his end.

Then the foolish thought came to mind: what if Hashtag and the rest of the Terrans could protect him?

Would they, though?

He clenched his dentals in shame, embarrassed by how desperate he had become to the point that he would reduce himself to begging children to keep him safe. But he quickly shoved the feeling aside and thought of ways to manipulate the Terrans to get them to risk themselves for him.

But then, a memory resurfaced in his processor.

“A cool uncle,” Hashtag blurted out, catching Starscream off guard.

“I... don’t follow,” Starscream admitted. Which she didn’t blame him, as he didn’t know what was going through her processor.

She chuckled, throwing him a playful grin. “Just thinking about how I see you, and well, I think of you as a cool uncle, sort of mysterious, somewhat pessimistic, but overall pretty cool.”

Starscream maintained his puzzled expression. “What... is an uncle?”

“Oh, sorry, hum… technically, they’re the brother of one’s parent,” she explained.

Starscream’s confusion only seemed to deepen, eliciting another chuckle from her.

“Yeah, I know, you’re not related to either of my parents, but the term ‘uncle’ can also be used for someone we hold in high regard and who plays a significant role in our lives, someone we admire.”

“You... admire me?” Starscream’s incredulity seeped into his slow question.

“Of course, I do,” Hashtag affirmed, her smile warm. “All of us do. When we were praising you earlier, they weren’t lies. We were all being honest. We truly believe you’re cool.”

Hashtag was wrong. He wasn’t cool. Truth be told, he was pathetic and had been for so long. She was foolish to ever admire him.

For thousands of years, he was selfish, a coward, a monster. It almost made him laugh sadly and bitterly when he recalled, once upon a time, others thought he could help bring a bright future for Cybertron with his talents and resilience for his love for science. Even Megatron had once believed it, or at least, he said he did…

Even though there was some anger for even considering using the Terrans as shields for his own being, he argued he had no other choice.

He wanted to survive.

He had to survive.

Nothing else in the universe mattered for him other than to continue living even though it was a miserable, lonely existence.

Starscream eventually pulled away from the mirror with a shuddering ex-vent, his frame trembling as he clumsily wiped at his damp faceplates, the coolant streaks smearing against the metallic surface. His vents hitched as he fought to steady his ragged breathing, forcing each intake to be deeper, slower, and more controlled.

His optics darted to his reflection - blue optics, a facade of what he truly was. They were the only remnants of his old life, a faint reminder of the hope he used to have, of the beautiful times. For a moment, he thought he could see Skyfire standing next to him, looking at him with sorrow, begging him to think things through, to avoid doing anything rash that might hurt others and leave him drowning in regret, as he had so many times in the past.

But again, what other choice did he have?

He couldn’t truly trust anyone.

No one would ever care about him unless he controlled them through questionable tactics.

He averted his gaze sharply from the mirror, unable to bear the sight of Skyfire any longer and he continued to breathe, cooling down his systems, his wings pinned back. It took quite some time to ease the burning pain in his spark. Truth be told, it felt like an eternity.

Starscream was about to reach out to Hashtag through their com link and start—actually, what was the plan, even?

He stood there, wracking his processor to figure out how he was going to make sure the Terrans were under his control, how he could get those cyber sleeves from the human children, when suddenly… he froze.

Something had brushed against his wing.

His spark flooded with terror, anxiety crashing over him like a tidal wave as he imagined Megatron standing right behind him, ready to rip his spark from him. He spun, lashing out in blind panic with a raging shriek tearing from his vocalizer. His fist swung back and connected with something solid and hard.

The sound of impact echoed sharply, followed by the crash of something - or someone - hitting the ground.

And then, silence.

Everything seemed to have gone still. Starscream felt as though someone had plunged him into a freezing lake, his optics widening as he stared down at one of the worst things he could possibly have ever done.

On the ground, slowly sitting up, was Hashtag, her wide optics locked onto his with a mix of shock and disbelief, her cheek deeply dented.

And just like that, Starscream had tragically fragged up once again.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

Skyfire was timing Starscream as he sped through the obstacle course they had built months ago. They had continued upgrading it over time, and occasionally, Thundercracker and Skywarp joined them. That night, however, they were alone. Skyfire was thrilled to see Starscream beating his record, maneuvering through the obstacles with ease before transforming and landing beside him.

Starscream had a bright smile on his faceplates as Skyfire congratulated him. “You beat your all-time record,” he said before sweeping Starscream by the waist and pulling him into a kiss. Starscream wrapped his arms around Skyfire’s neck to deepen the kiss, then rested his head on Skyfire’s shoulder. Skyfire held him close as he flew them to a small tower on their makeshift course.

Sitting on the edge with Starscream curled up on his lap, Skyfire smiled at the soft purring of his partner’s vents as they basked in each other’s warmth. He chuckled quietly; he always loved the sounds Starscream made when he was happy. Lately, Starscream’s mood had been lighter, and Skyfire wondered if it had to do with Megatronus’ offer two weeks ago.

The memory lingered, bringing unease. He leaned his faceplates against Starscream’s helm. “I still can’t believe you rejected Megatronus’ proposal to join his group.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Starscream murmured, pressing his head against Skyfire’s chest plates and listening to the soft rhythm of his spark, which sounded like a soothing lullaby.

Skyfire didn’t respond, prompting Starscream to look up at him. “Something’s bothering you,” Starscream said.

“I’ve been thinking about what he said that night,” Skyfire said with hesitation. “He made some good points.”

This time, Starscream didn’t say anything, instead, traced slow circles along Skyfire’s arm with his digits.

“Society has given us so few choices, especially you, Star,” Skyfire said softly. “The moment we dare to step outside their rigid rules, we’re shunned, threatened, stripped of everything. Look at what they did to Shockwave. He was one of the brightest minds, a visionary who only wanted to bring great change to our society. And yet, they punished him for it, turned him into an unrecognizable husk. If they could do that to a senator, then there’s nothing stopping them from doing far worse to you.” His arms tightened around Starscream, holding him closer.

“Megatronus was exaggerating,” Starscream scoffed, rolling his optics. “Why would the High Council see me as a threat? I’m just a cold construct. I’m nothing special or worth worrying about.”

“You’re more than that, Star. Damn it, you’re… you’re the reason I ever dared to dream of entering the Science Academy. Thanks to you, I built things I never thought I could. I stepped into a world I thought was light-years out of reach. You inspired me, Star… that’s the influence Megatronus was talking about.”

“Sky, nothing bad is going to happen to me,” Starscream grumbled. “It’s not like I’m trying to go back to the Science Academy. I’m just doing my part now as a soldier, following the High Council’s expectations. I’m not striving for something more. I learned my lesson.”

“What about the null ray?”

“What about it?”

“Inventing new weapons isn’t something seekers are supposed to do, yet you did it. You’ve already proved society a lot seekers can do more than just fight. The High Council are most likely not pleased with you, especially if other seekers see your example and start questioning their own roles.”

“So, what? You want me to join Megatronus and fight the High Council?” Starscream asked with a frown.

Skyfire quickly shook his head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying.”

Starscream snorted and leaned against his shoulder. “Good, because that gladiator will only bring senseless bloodshed to Cybertron if he keeps going the way he is,” he muttered. “There has to be another way to change Cybertron. Bashing other mechs isn’t the answer.”

“Star, I… I just worry about you,” Skyfire admitted quietly. “All I want is what’s best for you. I want you to shine the way you’re meant to. I don’t want someone turning you into something you’re not… like what happened with Shockwave.”

Starscream closed his optics and leaned in, pressing his lips to Skyfire’s faceplates. “I’ll be fine,” he said softly before kissing him again. “I’ll make sure of it.”

One day, Skyfire was finishing his shift when he received a message from Starscream, letting him know he’d be home later than usual. Skyfire thought little of it until Thundercracker informed him that two senators were at the War Academy.

Immediately concerned, Skyfire quickly feigned illness to skip his last route and made his way to the War Academy as fast as his thrusters could carry him. While flying, he opened his com-link with Thundercracker, who informed him they were in a battle simulation inside one of the Academy’s larger buildings. Thundercracker sent him the coordinates, and moments later, Skyfire found himself standing on the second floor on the railing of a vast simulation arena.

The space below resembled a war-torn cityscape, complete with mock buildings and streets. Seekers fought furiously in what seemed to be a chaotic free-for-all. Blaster fire lit up the air, and the screams of those struck down filled the arena. Some engaged in hand-to-hand combat, while others shot wildly at any target they could spot. The ground was stained with energon and littered with wounded mechs writhing in pain. From his vantage point, Skyfire scanned the scene, his optics searching frantically for Starscream. Instead, he spotted the two senators Thundercracker had mentioned, standing on the opposite railing, observing the carnage with cold, predatory gazes.

Skyfire’s optics flicked back to the simulation as Skywarp teleported from rooftop to rooftop, narrowly avoiding shots before sending missiles toward a mech hiding behind a building. One of the missiles landed on the mech’s shoulder, obliterating it, making him cry out in agony. Thundercracker, meanwhile, crouched inside a building, carefully avoiding getting spotted. But there was still no sign of Starscream.

Thrust soon came into view, firing his blaster through a shattered window from the second floor of a building, at opponents below. As the battle raged on, the number of combatants dwindled until only five remained. Then, Starscream appeared, stepping out from the shadows of a building, shooting one of the remaining seekers with his null-ray, paralyzing them on the spot. Then, Starscream activated his thrusters, launching himself skyward and shooting Skywarp mid-teleport on a rooftop. His next target, a yellow-and-black seeker, attempted to flee, but Starscream was faster - even without transforming. A well-placed shot sent the seeker spiraling out of the air and into the dirt below.

Thundercracker simply surrendered, stepping out of his hiding spot and left the battlefield. That left Starscream and Thrust on the battlefield.

Starscream dodged blaster fire from Thrust, who then landed a direct shot on Starscream’s arm. Sparks flew as the null ray exploded, rendering it useless.

“Oh, no…” Skyfire whispered, worrying twisting in his spark.

Starscream’s face darkened in a frown as he darted behind a building to avoid Thrust’s relentless fire. Each time Thrust advanced, Starscream flew to another building, keeping his distance and forcing his opponent to chase him.

“Coward!” Thrust shouted, frustration crackling in his voice. “Come out and fight!”

Starscream stayed hidden behind the wall.

Thrust, losing patience, transformed into his jet mode and shot toward him at high speed. Starscream instantly transformed into his own alt-mode and weaved around the building props with Thrust chasing after him.

Meanwhile, Skyfire thought Starscream was going to keep avoiding Thrust till both tired out, but then Starscream back flipped in jet form, transformed mid-air, and landed on Thrust’s frame. Starscream crushed Thrust’s cockpit with a slam of a fist, sending them both into the ground.

Thrust transformed on impact, struggling on his pedes with his cockpit cracked and leaking energon, while Starscream had no visible damage since he had jumped off Thrust just in time and landed on the ground safely. Despite the pain coursing through his body, Thrust lunged at Starscream, both now in a physical brawl. Starscream was faster though, dodging and blocking every punch and kick with ease. Starscream would successfully land a punch or two on Thrust’s face before blocking and dodging again. From where Skyfire stood, he could see Starscream was a natural.

“You told me he was getting better,” Skyfire said through the com-link to Thundercracker, “but you didn’t tell me he was this good.”

“He’s… one of the best now, actually,” Thundercracker admitted, almost reluctantly.

Skyfire’s optics widened with surprise. “Since when?”

“For a while now,” Thundercracker replied. “No one can really touch him now, especially with that null ray of his. But let’s be honest here, Skyfire, are you actually surprised? This is Starscream. He’s ambitious, determined to stand out, especially after what happened at the Science Academy. Do you really think someone like him would ever settle for being just like the rest of us seekers? He’s brilliant and fast - that’s probably why that gladiator wants him on his side.”

Skyfire hated to admit it, but Thundercracker was right. Starscream’s ambition burned brightly, especially now that was fueled by the pain of being told he wasn’t good enough for science. Maybe Starscream getting better at fighting was his way of numbing that pain, of proving to himself he still had some worth for something.

“Our superiors already told the High Council about him,” Thundercracker continued. “That’s why they’re here. They want to see him for themselves. And with those rebels causing chaos and taking out the High Council’s officers, it’s only a matter of time before they pull Starscream out of the Academy. They’ll want him in their ranks when it’s time to deal with those rebels.”

Skyfire’s gaze snapped back to the fight just in time to see Starscream deliver a brutal punch to Thrust’s throat, making Skyfire wince. Thrust staggered, clutching at his neck, before Starscream landed a front kick squarely on Thrust’s chest, shattering what little remained of his damaged cockpit. Thrust collapsed onto his back, energon spilling from his mouth in heaving spurts, especially from his chest.

“But… Starscream hates fighting, despises violence,” Skyfire murmured quietly, before his tanks sank when Starscream stood over Thrust, glaring coldly, before stomping hard on his head to knock him out. The two senators smiled with amusement from above.

“And Senator Shockwave used to be a talkative, optimistic mech,” Thundercracker said with bitterness.

Skyfire didn’t want Starscream stripped of all emotion, his elegant face replaced with a blank, featureless head, his skilled hands reduced to cold, lifeless claws only for destruction. It was a horrifying thought - especially now, as he watched Starscream walk away from Thrust’s unconscious form, his expression blank.

“I won’t let them destroy him,” Skyfire growled through the com-link. A surge of rage burned in his spark, a fire he’d never felt before as he glanced back at the senators who were now making their way downstairs to meet with Starscream’s superiors. “I’ll protect Starscream no matter what it costs me…” he muttered under his breath.

The Present

Breakdown was heading back to the cave, his tank needing energon after doing his own thing out in the world without refueling. As he walked through the woods, he heard a sharp, rhythmic sound of metal striking something hard in a certain direction.

He stopped, confused.

Curiosity made him follow where the sound was coming from, expecting Starscream having another one of his ‘episodes’. Eventually, he found Shockwave on his knees, slamming his arm cannon into the ground, over and over. Energon burst from the damaged limb, the exposed circuitry sparking and flickering in a mess.

Breakdown froze, optics wide. “Shockwave! What in the Allspark are you doing?”

Shockwave didn’t respond, didn’t even glance at him, just kept bashing his arm against the ground, energon staining everywhere.

“Hey!” Breakdown bolted forward, grabbing onto the damaged arm and yanking it back. “Cut it out!”

The scientist stilled, as if Breakdown’s touch snapped him out of a trance. He didn’t fight back, but neither did he say anything. He simply sat there, energon leaking from his ruined limb, his red optic fixed on the damage.

Breakdown didn’t know what to say. Even though he and Shockwave weren’t exactly close, they’d been on the same side for so long, so in some way, they were family. And truth be told, Shockwave hadn’t been acting right since the whole fiasco with Mandroid. Sure, the mech had never been a chatterbox, but now he barely spoke, barely moved. He simply just stared into the distance like his processor was running on empty.

Breakdown had shrugged the strange behavior off at first - Shockwave was always a little off. But now, as he held the busted arm in his servos, it made him worry.

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” Breakdown asked as he crouched down to Shockwave’s level. “Hey, Earth to Shockwave.” He waved a servo in front of Shockwave’s optic, but only got a blank stare. “Scrap,” Breakdown muttered under his breath.

Then he opened a comm link to Starscream, to let the boss know about the situation, but the connection failed, which was strange.

He commed Soundwave next, and within minutes, Soundwave arrived with Nova Storm and Skywarp, lugging some medical equipment.

“What the pit happened here?” Nova Storm let out with wide optics at the sight of Shockwave’s mangled arm.

“I dunno,” Breakdown admitted, finally releasing Shockwave’s arm as Soundwave began to silently patch it up. “I found him smashing his arm into the ground and had to hold him back to stop him. By the way, where’s Starscream? I tried calling him, but he didn’t answer.”

“He’s with the Maltos,” Skywarp said. “Has been since yesterday.”

“Well, Shockwave’s completely out of it and I think we need to get him some help before he does something more extreme.”

“And who’s going to help us? The Autobots?” Nova Storm snorted.

“Well…” Breakdown trailed off with a frown. “I mean, why not? We helped them beat that Mandroid guy. They kind of owe us.”

Soundwave finished closing down the fuel lines, so Shockwave was no longer losing energon.

Shockwave suddenly got up to his pedes, his posture rigid as always. “I’m fine,” he said, voice sounding robotic, forced to sound emotionless.

“Yeah, sure. Fine,” Breakdown muttered, crossing his arms. “Because bashing your arm into scrap is totally normal.”

Shockwave turned his optic to Breakdown, his gaze unreadable. “It won’t happen again.” Without another word, he turned and started walking toward the cave.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to do at that moment, especially with Starscream not answering to any of their calls.

No…

This couldn’t be happening.

No, no, no…

How could he have done such a terrible thing?

Starscream’s servo shook as his optics darted to it, then back to Hashtag. She didn’t move at first, just stared at him in complete shock. Slowly, her servo hesitantly reached up to touch the dent on her cheek, and she winced in pain from the injury.

He couldn’t believe what he had just done. To make matters worse, the scene was painfully, awfully familiar - so much so that it made him want to screech in rage at himself. His processor urged him to do something, anything.

Instead, his wings trembled against his back, pinned down, as guilt suffocated him. “I… I didn’t mean-” He stumbled over his words, his vocalizer choking as he tried to explain what couldn’t be undone.

Hashtag’s optics now gazed at him, hurt swimming within them. Was that fear, too?

“H-Hashtag, I…” He tried again to speak but struggled to get more of the words out.

He never wanted to hurt her. Never wanted her to suffer in any shape or form. She didn’t deserve it; she was innocent. A kind hearted soul that only tried to see the good in him, tried helping him.

Then again, he reminded himself, he had been planning to use her and her siblings for his own selfish benefit, to the point he was willing to risk their lives if he had to. And the terrifying part was, there was a huge chance he would have gone through with it.

The urge to run, fly as fast as he could, hide somewhere as far away from everyone as possible came crashing down on him. Yet, he felt as though something held him in place, or felt as though his body wasn’t his anymore.

Then his legs gave out beneath him as his chest rose and fell sharply, his vents having a hard time cooling down. Coolant blurred his vision, turning Hashtag’s form into a trembling silhouette.

He didn’t want to lose her. He couldn’t bear the pain of her hating him, just like everyone else in the universe did.

But could he blame her if she pushed him away? He had been so willing to throw away their friendship to save himself, and he had just physically assaulted her.

His servos shook as he reached for her, to fix what he had just done, but the tremors were so strong that he almost recoiled from himself.

What if he made it worse?

After all, he always made everything worse.

Just as he began to pull his servos back, a small, firm grip stopped him.

He froze, his breathing hitching, his coolant systems stuttered when he saw Hashtag’s servos wrapped around his, tightly.

He hesitantly met her gaze that no longer held the prior emotions, and now looked at him with a softened gaze, though it looked sad.

Before he could say anything, she lunged toward him, her arms wrapped around his neck, her head pressing against his, catching him completely off guard.

“I shouldn’t have sneaked up like you like that,” Hashtag said to him immediately, quietly. “I’m sorry, Starscream… I saw you weren’t doing well, and I called out to you, but you weren’t answering and I was growing worried, and …” She tightened her hold on him

Starscream’s optics were wide from her gesture and words.

She was comforting him, taking the blame when he was the one that messed up.

But, why?

He couldn’t help but recall the many times Megatron had blamed him for things that were out of his control, and from certain outbursts that Starscream didn’t deserve to be at the receiving end.

“I shouldn’t have scared you like-.” Hashtag was cut off by Starscream wrapping his own arms around her, his frame instinctively curled protectively around her.

She found herself loss at words, surprised. It was the first time he ever hugged her.

“Hashtag… don’t…” he pleaded, his vents hitched as his tremors rippled through his system. “Don’t you dare… apologize. This… this isn’t your fault.” He fought hard to pull himself together, not wanting the child to be comforting him after he was the one who struck her.

Hashtag’s optics welled up at this moment.

“You did nothing wrong,” Starscream said, and after a few shaky breaths, he continued firmly.  “Please, don’t blame yourself for what I’ve done to you.”

“But-”

“No.” Starscream pulled her closer to him, desperate for her not to argue with him. He couldn’t wrap his mind around why she would even dare to blame herself. He couldn’t stand her take all the blame. “None of this is your fault.” The guilt churned violently inside him, clawing at his insides like a parasite. He didn’t want her to suffer how he had for many years. “Please… don’t Hashtag… you didn’t deserve it…” his voice grew small, and he did his best not to let the sobs that threatened to slip out from his throat. “Please, don’t you dare apologize…”

Hashtag closed her optics, fighting hard to hold on to her own tears. “Okay… I won’t…” she murmured. “But I don’t want you blaming yourself, either. I know you wouldn’t hurt me. So… let’s just agree it was an accident?” She paused when she felt Starscream’s frame tremble, and she held onto him tighter. “And next time, I won’t sneak up on you like that. So, we won’t have to worry about it happening again, okay?” She pulled away from him and offered him a small smile as her eyes shimmered as a tear trailed down her faceplate.

Starscream quickly tried wiping his own faceplates with his arm before hesitantly placed a servo to cuff her cheek where the dent was, gently, trying hard not to harm her further. He looked so devastated seeing the injury on her.

He wanted to have the power to heal it that instant, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the ability to do so.

Hashtag placed her servo on his, curling her digits around it. Smiling at how soft Starscream’s touch was. It reminded her of when her parents affectionately held her. She honestly didn’t expect him to be like that. Though she recalled how he had pulled her from the small lake months ago after fighting the Dweller. He had been so soft to her then as well.

“Don’t worry, it will heal,” she said, still holding on to her smile to show him she was alright. “Though, probably be a good idea I ask Mo to come down here and use her cyber sleeve to heal it sooner so the others don’t see it.”

Starscream wasn’t sure if that was a great idea. It was one thing letting Hashtag come down by herself to meet with him, but letting one of the human children?

And… a part of him whispered into his processor how if Hashtag successfully brought Mo into the lair, then he could take the cyber sleeve and run off with it, but he shoved the temptation at the back of his mind.

Starscream pulled Hashtag into an embrace tightly again, wanting to admit to her the awful things he had been contemplating before, begging for forgiveness for even thinking about betraying her.

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay,” Hashtag said, wrapping her arms around him, oblivious why he pulled her into another hug. She assumed it was because he was giving himself a hard time for striking her. “Though, um… do you want to talk about what was bothering you? Was it something Shockwave said?” she asked him, still worried to have seen him looking so panicky when she came down into the lair.

Starscream just shook his helm.

“Are you sure?”

“You can’t keep bottling things up like you’ve been doing for eons.” Her words from the day before repeated in his processor.

“I’ll tell you later,” he said quietly, without realizing it. “Not… not now…”

Hashtag smiled in relief. “Okay. Sounds good.”

Both continued to hold one another for a while, at least till Hashtag could feel the tremors in Starscream cease. He was the first one to pull away, looking worn out with his optics looking pale. Then they stood on their peds as Hashtag opened a comm-link to Nightshade, who had been trying to reach her like the rest of her siblings. Robbie and Mo had gone to the group, alarmed after feeling her pain and shock through their connection. Their reaction nearly sent the adults rushing down the tunnel in panic, but the other Terrans managed to hold them back.

Hashtag quickly assured everyone she was fine - especially the adults - and then asked if Mo could come down to join her.

Nightshade later told her that the adults thought it was a terrible idea, Megatron being the most vocal against it, which wasn’t a surprise. They eventually agreed, but only if one of the adults came along with Mo.

When Hashtag shared the message to Starscream, he looked like a deer frozen on the road before being struck by a car.

“Bumblebee was cool with you earlier, and I think he’ll understand what happened if I explain to him right away,” Hashtag said.

Starscream didn’t look convinced, staring at her with hesitation.

“Alright, I guess we can think of someone else. um… Arcee is a no go. I’m not sure if Elita-1 or Optimus are back yet.”

“No, I don’t want to see Optimus nor his second in command right now,” Starscream said through clenched dental, doing his best not to let panic sink in. He didn’t trust Optimus at all, especially since the leader of the Autobots had known about the allspark being inside of his spark all along. Who knew what the bot was planning.

Now that he thought about it, he was running through his options what to do next.

He didn’t want to just disappear from Hashtag’s life…  He couldn’t lose her. So going into hiding forever wasn’t a great idea.

Meanwhile, Hashtag was still talking to Nightshade.

“Okay, yeah, cool, we’ll be waiting then,” Hashtag said before cutting off her connection. She turned to Starscream. “Nightshade was able to convince the adults for them and Twitch to come down with Mo.”

Starscream wasn’t sure which was worse. He didn’t want any of the other Terrans to know what he had done to Hashtag. The shame grew heavier in his chest as he heard footsteps echoing from the tunnel. Instinctively, he stepped back, putting distance between himself and Hashtag.

“It’s going to be alright,” she assured him with a soft smile before turning to face her siblings.

When the others arrived, they stopped abruptly, their optics wide with shock as they noticed the dent on Hashtag’s faceplates.

Hashtag quickly raised her hands to calm them. “Before you guys start freaking out, let me explain,” she said. She then told them how she’d found Starscream in a disoriented state, and how she had touched his wing to get his attention from behind, which resulted in him getting startled and harming her by accident.

“So, that’s why Robby and I felt pain from you,” Mo said.

Twitch seemed to relax slightly with the explanation. “Mom says we shouldn’t sneak up on the adults like that,” she reminded Hashtag.

“I know,” Hashtag admitted quietly. “I messed up. Never doing it again, that’s for sure.” She glanced at Starscream, whose wings were pinned low against his back. He was avoiding eye contact with everyone, his posture tense. “I was hoping Mo could patch me up. I don’t want the adults to see the dent and overreact. You know how they’ll get if they saw it on my face.”

“They would definitely not react well,” Nightshade said.

“Yeah, they wouldn’t have listened to you if they found out it was Starscream who hurt you, even when it was an accident,” Twitch sighed.

Hashtag knelt, and Mo approached her with her cybersleeve activating, the orb on it glowing green. It grew brighter when Mo placed her hand over the dent on Hashtag’s faceplate. Starscream’s own spark felt a strong warmth as well at that moment.

He glanced over to see the dent on Hashtag’s faceplate vanish; the damage gone as though it had never existed. Relief flooded through him, though the self-loathing still clung to him.

“Good as new,” Mo said to her sister before looking at the orb with confusion as it continued to glow green. She felt something strange, like something was tugging at her cybersleeve. She looked up, locking eyes with Starscream, where the direction of the feeling was coming from.

“Is that nice feeling from last night,” Twitch pointed out in awe, glancing around curious where it was coming from.

And she was right.

The warmth the Terrans felt while they slept with Starscream was coming from Starscream’s spark, and it made him panic again when he realized the cybersleeve was reacting to his spark and Mo could sense it.

The feeling vanished though after a moment, making Starscream sigh in relief, hoping the child would completely forget about it.

Starscream's processor was then filled with the same thoughts he'd thought before; manipulate the children - who would likely protect him if he played his cards right - or take Mo's cybersleeve and flee. But as he thought about it more, the only way to take the cybersleeve would be slicing her arm off.

The thought unsettled him. It was strange. He’d killed humans before, with his missiles or by stomping on them. Yet, the idea of leaving Mo in a bloody mess churned his spark uncomfortably. Maybe it was because she was Hashtag’s sister.

Still rattled from hurting Hashtag earlier, Starscream shook his helm. He couldn’t make things worse. He needed to have some time alone, far from everyone to think things through, to make sure he didn’t do anything out of desperation.

“I… I should go,” he said quietly, voice strained.

“Starscream, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hashtag said with concern. “Especially after… well, what just happened.”

“Yeah, you’re also not looking too good,” Twitch added.

Starscream ran a servo down his face. He still felt overheated, his systems running harder than they should.

“Maybe take a nap or something?” Twitch suggested.

“I… Shockwave needs me back,” he lied again. “I have responsibilities as the leader of the Decepticons, I can’t stay away for too long.”

Hashtag gazed at him quietly for a moment before going over to him and hesitantly grabbing his servo. “If you really have to go, I’ll respect it,” she said, though her grip tightened. “But promise me you’ll call and tell me what was bothering you earlier or tell someone in your team about it. Please?” She gazed at him, her optics pleading.

Starscream hesitated. Lying to her again made his spark twist painfully, but he forced himself to nod silently.

“Can I give you another hug?” Hashtag asked, her voice soft and hopeful.

Starscream’s optics flickered down to her. Then he avoided her gaze and gave her a silent nod. She didn’t hesitate, wrapping her arms around his waist. He slowly brought his arms around her as well.

Twitch wanted to join but sensed the quiet moment was important for her sister. So, she stood back, a small, understanding smile on her face.

When they finally stepped apart, Hashtag later handed him a cube of energon for the trip. Though, she still didn’t want him to leave so she asked a second time if he was sure he couldn’t stay at least one more night as he’d said he would. Of course, he insisted he had to return to the Decepticons and wouldn’t change his mind.

As they all made their way upstairs, Mo lingered behind, her gaze on Starscream as though trying to puzzle something out.

Starscream stilled the moment he stepped outside the barn. The Autobots and the Malto family were waiting, all their eyes on him. What unnerved him though was the sight of Megatron and Optimus.

Megatron’s piercing glare met his.

Dot stepped forward from the group. “Starscream, I was wondering if I could speak to you for a moment,” she said.

“Speak to me…?” Starscream inquired, his face blank, his spark pounded with worry. Were there surveillance cameras in the lair? Had she seen what he did to Hashtag?

His processor raced, panic clawing at his systems, almost pushed him to transform and flee out of there.  

“Yeah, there’s some stuff we have to talk about,” she said. “And more importantly, I think it’s high time you and Megatron had a deep conversation. About everything.”

Starscream stared at her as if she had lost her mind. He wasn’t the only one to feel that way as Hashtag was frowning at the idea.

Before he could just leave and act as if she had said nothing to him, Megatron gave him a dangerous look, his red optics burning with a silent threat, making it clear to Starscream he had no choice but to do whatever the human wanted, or else.

Chapter Text

Thundercracker and Skywarp were standing just outside of the War Academy with Skyfire, who then rushed over to Starscream when he finally stepped out of the building - he was the last of his squadron to emerge.

Starscream blinked, barely had time to register when Skyfire cupped his faceplates with his servos.

“Are you alright?” Skyfire asked, his voice filled with concern, his thumbs grazed along Starscream’s cheek seams. “Are you hurt?” His optics scanned over Starscream’s frame to check for dents, scratches, or any scorch marks he may have received from the earlier events. To his relief, Starscream just had a few scratches here and there.

“I’m fine,” Starscream said, his optic ridges furrowing with confusion as he held Skyfire’s servos before pulling them off his faceplates. He looked at Thundercracker, who was avoiding eye contact with them. Starscream narrowed his optics at him. “Didn’t I tell you not to tell him anything?” he asked with irritation in his voice.

This time, Skyfire was confused, but before he could comment, the two Senators stepped out of the building. Starscream’s frame tensed up, and released Skyfire’s servos, his arms falling to his sides as he stared at the Senators with an expressionless face.

The Senators looked rather serious, locking eyes with the seeker, but exchanged no words with him as they walked past him and the group. They transformed into their alt modes and drove off down the road.

“Let’s go home,” Starscream grumbled to Skyfire before glaring at Thundercracker. “You and I will exchange words later.”

Thundercracker simply gave him a curt nod.

“I saw whatever that was at the War Academy,” Skyfire began, shutting the door behind him. “I saw how you took the last seekers down.”

Starscream’s wings twitched with irritation as he frowned and glanced at Skyfire from the living room. “You weren’t supposed to be there. You weren’t supposed to know.”

“And what, exactly, wasn’t I supposed to know? That the Senators are planning something dangerous with you? Or that you’re not just a capable fighter but better than your entire squadron?” The questions tumbled out of Skyfire one after the other, his tone growing more anxious with each one.

Starscream’s optics flickered, and his wings lowered slightly. He averted his gaze. “Slagging Thundercracker… can’t keep his mouth shut,” he muttered.

“Star…”

“Look, I’ve had a long day. Can’t we just talk about it tomorrow?”

Skyfire stared at him for a long moment, the urge to press for answers died off from the guilt of pushing Starscream after he had been forced to fight against his entire squadron - he must have been exhausted. “Alright, I’ll wait until tomorrow,” he said quietly.

Starscream glanced at him briefly before heading toward the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” Skyfire asked, confused. He almost reached out to grab Starscream’s arm as he passed but stopped himself when his fingers nearly brushed against the limb.

“Going up to the roof to call Thundercracker,” Starscream said before leaving Skyfire alone in the apartment.

Skyfire sighed, hoping he hadn’t caused Thundercracker too much trouble with Starscream. He decided to talk to Starscream later about not being too harsh on his trine-mate as well – after all, Thundercracker was just doing what he thought was best for them.

While waiting in the living room, Skyfire scrolled through the latest news of attacks on government facilities on his datapad. Reports also mentioned a High Council official who had vanished without a trace. After an hour with no sign of Starscream, he stood and decided to check on him. When he got on the roof, he found no one there.

Skyfire’s spark sank as his nerves frayed. He tried calling Starscream - no answer. Then he tried Thundercracker and ended up with the same result.

His processor flooded with worrying questions: What if something terrible happened to Starscream when he stepped out to call Thundercracker? What if the Senators had something to do with it? What if the rebels took him for refusing to join them?

He mentally cursed himself for being careless, for letting Starscream out of his sight.

Then a call came from Thundercracker. Skyfire answered immediately. “Is Star with you?” he asked, panic clear in his voice.

“He’s not,” Thundercracker replied, sounding bewildered. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“Star came to the rooftop to call you, and I went to check on him, but he’s not here.”

“He didn’t call me, Skyfire.”

“He didn’t?” Dread painfully coursed through Skyfire’s systems, and worst-case scenarios played out in his mind.

“How long ago did he leave the apartment?”

“About an hour.” Skyfire pressed a hand to his helm, feeling faint. He hurried downstairs, hoping Starscream had somehow slipped back into the apartment unnoticed. But when he didn’t find him there, the worry doubled. “Thundercracker, something’s wrong. Starscream won’t answer my calls, and he rarely leaves the apartment, and when he does, it’s always with me or with you and Skywarp. You know how much of a shut-in he is. He wouldn’t just leave without telling someone - without telling me.”

“Skyfire, I need you to calm down. I’m going to call Skywarp so we can look for him because I also find him going off without telling you out of character for him.”

“I’ll check the outskirts of the city. Starscream and I usually spend time there.”

“No, you’re not. You need to stay at the apartment in case he comes back.”

“Thundercracker, I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

“No offense, Skyfire, but this is what Skywarp, and I are made for. We’re Seekers - you’ll just make our job harder if you’re flying around in a panic. And if Starscream does come back to the apartment, I don’t want him worrying if you’re not there. So, please, just stay put. I’ll send updates as we search, alright?”

Skyfire wanted to argue but knew Thundercracker had a point. Deep down, something told him to stay. “Alright… I’ll stay,” he said with a sigh before giving Thundercracker the coordinates where Starscream usually trained outside the city.

Pacing back and forth in his apartment, Skyfire tried to stay calm as updates trickled in from Thundercracker and Skywarp. Even Skywarp’s sister, Nova Storm, had joined the search, which brought him some relief. The more mechs looking for Starscream the better he felt, well, slightly better. But then after a couple hours, the updates stopped; all three had gone silent.

Skyfire tried reaching out to connect with the three, but there was no response from any of them. He sank onto his berth, burying his faceplates in his servos as a tightness settled in his chest. Tears gathered in his optics, threatening to spill over as he imagined Starscream’s altered into an emotionless drone, just to kill others without hesitation. Or worse, Starscream’s lifeless body abandoned in the dark tunnels.  

What if they couldn’t find Starscream? What if something terrible happened as well to Starscream’s trine and Nova Storm?

He tried to calm himself down, forcing himself to be optimistic. Maybe Starscream just needed some time alone, maybe he went for a solo flight to clear his mind.

But Skyfire knew he was only kidding himself. Starscream never flew alone - he always wanted Skyfire by his side; he was that clingy. That’s why Starscream hated sleeping alone, why he always held onto Skyfire even during the days he had depression.

Wiping his faceplates and optics, Skyfire whispered a quiet prayer to Primus, pleading for Starscream to return safely, to come back unharmed so he could hold him again.

A life without Star, now, that’s something he couldn’t imagine going through without his spark suffering forever. Thanks to the Seeker, Skyfire’s life held actual meaning.

Before Star, his life was so dull, so empty. Every day he would wake up and go to work, then come back home and read science articles till he passed out before repeating the routine just like he had done for so many years. The past stellar-cycles, he felt so alive, more than he ever did before, especially as his spark flared with warmth any time he saw Star’s radiant smile, or when he held him close.

He couldn’t lose Starscream, not any time soon, not ever.

Skyfire felt his spark nearly stop when he received a message from Thundercracker that read: He should be coming in now. His head shot up when the sudden sound of the door reached his audio receptors, and relief washed over him like a flood as Starscream stepped inside.

Launching himself off the berth, Skyfire rushed to him and pulled him into a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he choked out.

The hesitation in Starscream’s response didn’t go unnoticed, but eventually, arms wrapped around him, and a quiet apology followed. “Sorry for making you worried …”

Skyfire held him tightly, as though afraid he might disappear again. It took him a moment to gather himself enough to pull back slightly, his servos still gripping Starscream’s arms. “What happened to you? Where were you?” he asked gently. “I went up to the roof to check on you, but you weren’t there.”

Averting his gaze, Starscream’s wings drooped. “I… had to do something,” he muttered, the vagueness of his answer making Skyfire know instantly Starscream was hiding something from him.

“Do what?” The question came without sounding too firm.

When no immediate answer came, Skyfire realized he had to be assertive to get Starscream to respond, because this was a conversation they couldn’t avoid, that he couldn’t brush off. He led Starscream back to the berth, settling him onto his lap. One servo tilted the seeker’s chin upward, forcing their optics to meet.

Starscream’s blue optics wavered as he gazed at Skyfire.

“Please, tell me what’s going on,” Skyfire said gently, his voice calm but firm.

There was a long pause from Starscream before he responded. “I… didn’t want you to see that side of me,” he said, barely above a whisper.

Confusion flickered across Skyfire’s features. “What do you mean?”

Starscream’s optics darted away briefly before meeting Skyfire’s again. “Back at the War Academy… I didn’t want you to see me fighting the others. I didn’t want you to think of me as some mindless, cold, killing construct. I didn’t want you to know about the Senate either, because if you found out what they were planning, you would do something to protect me. The last thing I want is for you to get into trouble with the High Council.” He grabbed Skyfire’s servo with both of his own. “You’ve done so much for me since the day we met, and for once… I want to protect you. I want to protect what we have…”

The sorrow in his spark was almost unbearable as he gazed at Starscream, who looked so desperate and vulnerable in that moment. A gentle servo cupped the Seeker’s faceplate, and his thumb traced soothingly along the edge.

“Star, listen to me,” he began softly, filled with warmth. “Just because you can fight better than others doesn’t make you any less than who you are to me. You’ll always be my smart, determined, sweet-spark. Nothing will ever change that.” The faint flicker of doubt in Starscream’s optics made him press on, determined to reassure him. “And whatever is happening with the High Council, you don’t have to face it alone.”

“But I have everything under control,” came the quiet reply, almost defensive. “You know, I’m not the same useless, weak Seeker you first met.”

Skyfire’s expression softened. “You were never useless nor weak, Star,” he said, leaning closer to press his forehead gently against Starscream’s. “And you don’t have to prove yourself to me, especially not by keeping things from me, or by doing things alone. I’m here for you. You and I are a team. Together, we’re strong. So please, don’t fight your battles alone. Let me help you.”

Starscream closed his optics briefly, his frame trembling slightly as he processed the words. “I can’t let anything bad happen to you…”

“And I can’t let anything bad happen to you either,” Skyfire replied. “Please, Star. Tell me now - where did you go?”

Wings lowered in defeat as shame clouded Starscream’s gaze. “I… I went to meet with Megatronus,” he admitted at last, the guilt in his voice clear as day.

Skyfire blinked in shock, staring at Starscream with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. He didn’t believe it at first, especially after Starscream had shown displeasure with the Gladiator’s lust for war. When he finally gathered his thoughts, he asked, “Why?”

The Seeker hesitated for a moment. “The Senate is going to pull me out of the Academy in seven days… and I have no say in it,” he said. “They’re going to force me to join their army, to fight the rebels. And truth be told, Sky, I rather join the rebels and fight for a better Cybertron than serve under those who look at me as some mindless drone to use and discard whenever they wish. I don’t want to go down fighting as some slave so… I panicked and went looking for Megatronus and offered my services to him.”

Skyfire didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t mad at Starscream. On the contrary, he was proud of him for standing up for what he thought was right, though he didn’t think joining the rebels in an upcoming war was the answer to their problems.

Though, the more he thought about it, he couldn’t think of a better solution to keep Starscream away from the High Council’s grasp.

Somewhere deep in his spark though, fear swirled, feeling uneasy at the thought of Starscream being near Megatronus. The hatred that burned in the gladiator’s glowing red optics was too unsettling, too dangerous. The other mechs that surrounded the gladiator appeared to have been infected with his rage – they all looked ready to tear others apart without any ounce of mercy to offer.

“I know I said there has to be another way to change Cybertron, that fighting isn’t the answer,” Starscream began, pulling Skyfire out of his thoughts. “But when the Senators came to me and told me I had to fight for them, I realized I won’t have a choice but to pick a side in this growing conflict. The good news is, I’ve made a deal with Soundwave. He promised to make sure you’re safe if things get bad in the city - or if the Senate comes after you while I’m helping the rebels with their cause.”

“Star, you didn’t have to do that,” Skyfire said softly, his optics filled with concern.

“Yes, I did,” Starscream countered, frowning. “If the High Council finds out I’m helping the rebels, they won’t just come for me, they’ll come for you too. They know how much you mean to me, and I’m not—” His voice cracked briefly. “I don’t want to lose you.”

The determination painted on Starscream’s faceplates and the desperation burning in his optics made Skyfire’s spark ache. It was almost ironic. For all his worry that Skyfire would do something reckless to protect him, here he was, ready to do the same. The thought of Starscream being dragged into the bloodshed made Skyfire think the first thing that came into mind.

“Let’s leave the city,” Skyfire said suddenly, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. He was surprised with them even though he didn’t show it.

Starscream blinked, his optic ridges furrowing in confusion. “What?”

“Better yet, let’s leave Cybertron,” Skyfire continued as the ideas began pouring into his processor. “We can travel through space. We can take as much energon as we can carry and find one of the nearest planets with enough resources to sustain us. We don’t have to stay here, Star. Not if things are going to get this bad. We can start over - just you and me. And both of us are smart enough to pull it off.”

The suggestion hung in the air. His partner’s expression was unreadable, his servo slowly slipping from Skyfire’s grasp to rest between them.

Without hesitation, Skyfire gently clasped Starscream’s arms. “You don’t have to fight,” he said quietly, his tone pleading. “You don’t have to pick a side. And if you want, we can bring your trine with us because I know how important a trine is to a Seeker.”

Starscream’s optics narrowed slightly as he tilted his helm. “So… you want us to just run away like cowards?” he asked, clearly not liking the idea.

The question made Skyfire blink. At first, he didn’t understand why Starscream would describe them leaving Cybertron as cowardly, but then again, the harsh words and insults Starscream had endured over the years came to mind. “Star, running away from a battle that’s going to bring nothing but destruction isn’t being a coward. It’s called surviving. And sometimes, that’s the bravest thing you can do depending on the circumstances. It takes courage to protect what truly matters, and to make the decision to build something better than being consumed by rage.”

Starscream didn’t reply immediately, his gaze fixed on Skyfire as if trying to make sense of his words.  

“We’re running to protect each other,” Skyfire added softly. “To protect what we have gained. Truth be told, I would lose my will to live if I lost you…Nothing else matters to me, Star, except you.”

The tension in Starscream’s frame eased as his optics softened. Slowly, he leaned against Skyfire, wrapping his arms around his neck. “You’re my everything, Sky…” he whispered. “All I want is a better life for us.”

“And that’s what I want for us too,” Skyfire replied, holding him close. He could feel Starscream’s warmth resonating with his own. They felt so right together.

And now that he thought about it…

“My Star, I’ve been wanting to ask you something for a long time, and to tell you the truth, I was nervous to do it earlier, but after everything we’ve been through, I don’t think there’s a reason for me to hold back anymore,” Skyfire said. “Especially that my feelings for you remain strong and true even now.”

As Starscream pulled back, confusion flickered across his face.

Skyfire gently ran his servo along Starscream’s leg, staring at him lovingly. “Since I’ve met you, you’ve filled my life with love, joy, and meaning,” he said. “With you, everything feels brighter, more meaningful, and complete. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my existence with anyone else but you. And honestly, I wouldn’t want to live my life without you, even for a second.”

Starscream stared at him with surprise just as Skyfire continued, “You’re wonderful and smart, even though you don’t believe it yourself. I love your tender smiles, your laugh, your voice, that determination that burns brighter than any stars in space. When I look at you, I feel like anything is possible.” He cupped Starscream’s face, smiling softly, filled with warmth. “My Star… will you… will you let me spend the rest of my existence loving you the way you deserve? Will you be my partner, my love, my everything forever? Will you become my Conjunx Endura?”

Starscream’s optics widened in surprise, his lips parting slightly. He was silent for a moment before stammering, “W-what…?”

“Will you, my Star, become my sparkmate?” Skyfire asked him softly just as Starscream continued to stare at him as if he couldn’t believe what was coming out of his lips.

“You…You want me to be your…?” The Seeker’s voice trailed off, stunned.

In response, Skyfire pulled him close and kissed him tenderly as the answer.

He felt Starscream still in his embrace for a few seconds before he began to tremble.

Coolant gathered in Starscream’s optics - not from sadness, but from an overwhelming happiness he had never experienced before.

“I… I didn’t think… you wanted me to be your…” Starscream’s voice shook, his face crumpling sadly from his own words, tears trailed down his face. “I didn’t think I was good enough…”

“You always were, my Star,” Skyfire whispered, regretting having Starscream wait as much as he did due to his own insecurities. He wiped the tears away from Starscream’s faceplates. “There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”

Starscream pressed to him, passionately kissing Skyfire more than ever before while he turned his body, so he was facing Skyfire completely.

The shuttle responded with the same eagerness, the same affection, his servos running down on Starscream’s lower back. Their bodies began to grow warmer than usual, a static rushing through them. And, as if their bodies could read both of their minds, could feel their deepest desires, their spark chambers slowly slid open, revealing two bright blue sparks glowing with life.

Starscream looked down and stared in awe at both of their sparks. He hesitantly glanced at Skyfire, who was smiling at him before pulling the seeker closer against his frame so their spark chambers were pressing against each other. Starscream began to tremble slightly, his wings pinned low against his back, but wrapped his arms around Skyfire, his legs pinned on Skyfire’s sides, his optics shut as he took slow, steady breaths.

“You’re going to be okay,” Skyfire assured him, kissing Starscream’s helm. “We’re going to be okay.”

Their sparks brightened, a blue stream of energy emerged from their sparks, almost like ribbons reaching out to one another until they intertwined, forming a link, a stream of flowing energy, making them both let out soft gasps.

A sparkmate bond; the strongest, rarest, and most intimate connection two Cybetronians can make with one another. Skyfire had read about it years ago, and for most of his life he never thought he would have something so sacred, so pure with anyone.

It felt warm, so gentle, so perfect - like a missing piece had finally fallen into place for both of them. They could feel every bit of one another as if they were completely exposed. Skyfire could feel Starscream’s fears and insecurities and sent waves of comfort and reassurance in return, which gradually made Starscream to stop trembling, and press his head against Skyfire’s neck, a peaceful smile making its way on his faceplates while his systems purred in bliss, his wings relaxing.

“I love you, Sky…” Starscream said quietly, all his worries gone for now, all the painful experiences forgotten. All he could feel was Skyfire’s deepest affection - it was like a wave of tenderness brushing against his soul - and was all he wanted as well at that moment.

“And I love you too, Star,” Skyfire kissed his head again, his arms holding him close as they continued to feel their sparks growing stronger together, the delicate presence of one another caressing their souls.

They were finally one, their sparks aligned in harmony. Nothing mattered to them at that moment -  they were happy, bonded, and they hoped it stayed that way forever.

Chapter Text

Thousands of Years Ago

Skyfire didn’t want to leave the berth that morning, nor could he bring himself to wake Starscream, who slept soundly, his faceplates relaxed just like Skyfire adored. Even though their spark chamber panels were closed, and their sparks weren’t directly connected, he could still feel the tranquility radiating between them as he held Starscream; the bond they had formed the night before was still holding strong.

He was happy. Happy to have Starscream as a sparkmate, and grateful he had finally mustered the courage to ask him to be his bonding partner. Unfortunately, he couldn’t spend too much time relishing the moment; there were more pressing matters to tend to. His optics dimmed as his mind drifted to their conversation before they bonded. He had been serious about leaving Cybertron together. Only a blind mech couldn’t see the chaos looming over Cybertron, and as a flight war frame, Starscream would inevitably be swept into the conflict, even against his will, if they stayed.

Thundercracker and Skywarp crossed his mind; he had suggested bringing them along. But would they even agree? Sneaking four flight frames off Cybertron would be difficult, since orbital satellites heavily monitored the skies, tracking all departures and arrivals. Unless... Skyfire created a device to block their detection and with the help from the right Cybertronian, it might just be possible.

Starscream stirred in his arms, his optics flickering online. A small smile crossed his lips as his digits brushed softly over Skyfire’s chest. He let out a contented hum, sending a gentle warmth through their bond. Skyfire’s servo slid down to rub Starscream’s lower back, tracing soothing circles into the plating there. The motion drew a pleased purr from Starscream’s engines and a small flutter of his wings.

For a while, neither of them spoke, neither making a move to start the day. The quiet moment they shared was enough to make Skyfire forget - if only for a minute - the worries that plagued him.

But then, Skyfire sensed something shift within Starscream. A faint, dark ripple seeped through their connection, like a cloud smothering a clear sky, confusing Skyfire.

“Do you regret it?” Starscream’s voice broke the silence, quiet and uncertain.

“Regret what?” Skyfire asked, tilting his head down to meet Starscream’s gaze.

Starscream avoided his optics, curling closer into Skyfire’s frame. His wings pinned low against his back. “Regret bonding with me?” he mumbled.

Skyfire’s optics brightened briefly in confusion; the question catching him off guard. Last night had been the most profound experience of his existence. Their sparks had resonated so perfectly, and they’d fallen into recharge wrapped in a shared sense of peace and love. Starscream had seemed so happy, so at ease, so why would he think Skyfire was regretting bonding with him?

Then again, Starscream’s insecurities tended to get the best of him, so it shouldn’t have surprised Skyfire that he was doubting the love they shared.

“Never,” Skyfire said firmly. He pulled Starscream closer. “I could never regret it, Star. I love you and you’ll forever be my sparkmate.” He did his best to send a warm feeling through their bond, to assure Starscream. “Are you regretting it?” he asked this time.

Starscream shook his helm faintly. “No…”

Skyfire’s optics softened, brushing a servo tenderly along one of Starscream’s wings. “I’m glad,” he said.

Silence briefly settled in the room before Starscream asked, “do you still think we should leave Cybertron?”

“It might be our only option. At least, for a while till things calm down.”

“Sky, I don’t think it’s a good idea, especially now. With everything happening, they’re going to tighten sky surveillance. Unless… we create a countermeasure to their detection systems.”

Skyfire chuckled. “Great minds think alike,” he said, mostly to himself. “That’s exactly what I was planning earlier. I thought of reaching out to Tarantulas from the Academy to see if he could help us out on making a device to block the satellites. Last I checked that kind of technology seems to be his expertise.”

“I don’t think he’ll want to help us since that technology would be considered illegal.”

“I doubt it’s going to matter now if we’re breaking any laws.”

“Even if he agrees to help, it’s going to take weeks,” Starscream said, frowning. “And if we’re both seen working with him, it’ll raise suspicion from others.”

Skyfire wasn’t great at estimating timelines like Starscream, but the thought of him working for the Senate until the device was ready churned his tanks.

“Maybe we should find a place to hide you while I work on it,” he mumbled.

“I’m not leaving you out here alone,” Starscream said, his brows furrowing as he leaned into Skyfire. A strong wave of protectiveness surged through their bond. “The High Council will target you immediately if I disappear. I can’t just leave you like that.”

Skyfire thought about suggesting he hide as well, but they both knew his size made it nearly impossible to be as stealthy as Starscream.

His mind shifted to Starscream’s earlier idea of joining the rebels. Soundwave might protect him if Starscream helped them, but…

“I don’t want you joining the rebels,” Skyfire said.

Starscream blinked in confusion. “Why not?”

“I don’t trust the gladiator,” Skyfire admitted. “Something about him… it feels wrong. He’s dangerous.”

“And you think I’m safer with the Senators?” Starscream asked as he sat up, raising an optic ridge.

“I…” Skyfire hesitated, his thoughts returning to what the Senate had done to Shockwave.

“Megatronus just wants freedom for all of us. I agree his methods are extreme, but… what other choice is there?”

“I don’t trust him with you,” Skyfire said softly, laying a servo on Starscream’s arm.

“Shockwave trusted Megatronus, even before what was done to him. He supported him, just like he supported us, so I think we should maybe give him a chance.”

“He did?” Surprise flickered in Skyfire’s optics.

“Yes, Soundwave mentioned how Shockwave would meet with Megatronus and another mech in the underground tunnels occasionally. They plotted together on how they could bring change to Cybertron.”

“Hmm…”

Starscream gazed at him. “Sky, do you really think I’m better off fighting for the High Council if the time comes?”

Skyfire took a moment as he carefully considered his words. “I’m not implying that you are, but the gladiator is consumed by rage. I think he’s the sort to act on impulse, does not take into consideration the potential consequences that his actions could bring. That kind of recklessness… it’s troubling. His followers, they seem utterly devoted, blindly so, no matter the cost. No good can come out from a leader like that, especially if they can influence others that much. I fear what he might do, especially to you. He seemed quite offended when you declined his offer to join him, and I think he’s also the sort to hold grudges forever.”

Starscream placed his servo gently on Skyfire’s chassis, letting the essence of their sparks brush together. “He does… intimidate me a little,” he admitted softly.  

Skyfire covered Starscream’s hand with his own, curling his digits around it tightly. “We’re both going to be late. Let’s talk more tonight, alright? I’ll head to the Academy after work and find Tarantulas and see if we can start working on the device as soon as we can. Honestly, Star, I have a strong feeling that we might get it done before the Senate comes for you, so you might not even need to choose a side.”

Starscream stared at him with uncertainty, but then he offered a smile when Skyfire leaned in to kiss him on his lips. “I guess I’ll trust you on this,” he said.

Later that evening, Skyfire approached Tarantulas as he stepped out of the Academy, asking if they could speak privately. They had never spoken before, and the Cybertronian stared at him in silence. Skyfire couldn’t see what sort of expression the mech was making since a visor and a faceplate he always wore that obscured his face. After a moment, he agreed and followed Skyfire to a secluded corner, away from prying optics.

Skyfire didn’t share every detail but explained that he and Starscream were planning to leave Cybertron and needed a device to hide them from satellite detection.

“Is this because of the growing tension between the rebels and the High Council and Starscream, being a war frame, possibly being recruited by the High Council to fight for them?” Tarantulas asked, on point with everything.

Skyfire lowered his gaze and nodded, seeing there was no reason to keep things a secret from the mech. “It’s the only choice we have.”

Tarantulas tilted his head. “It’s going to take time to figure out the mechanics and get it working.”

“I understand, but I think it may not take us too long if we work together. At least, I hope so.”

Tarantulas was quiet for a few seconds. “I’ll do it, but on one condition.”

“Um, what’s the condition?”

“You take me and a close friend of mine with you.”

Skyfire blinked.

“Things are going to get worse soon,” Tarantulas continued. “There are more mechs hiding underground than most people realize, and let’s just say a lot of them aren’t happy with those who’ve had comfortable lives up here. I’m afraid many of us from the Academy will become targets and my friend is in a vulnerable position to be thrown into the front lines as well, which I want to avoid. So, if you’re leaving, we’re coming with you.”

Skyfire didn’t have a problem with that. Tarantulas loved science and seemed just as eager to avoid violence. If he was serious about leaving, Skyfire figured he’d be motivated to see the project through.

“Alright, we’ll bring you and your friend along,” Skyfire said with a small smile.

Tarantulas nodded and suggested they start working on the device immediately. He invited Skyfire to his place to begin.

Skyfire hesitated. It was hard to be away from Starscream, especially the day after they had spark bonded; his spark cried for him. But he reminded himself it was for the best. He sent Starscream a message, letting him know he’d return later that night and asking him to stay safe. Skyfire wanted Starscream to help with the project, but he feared the High Council was watching him closely and he didn’t want to put Tarantulas at risk either.

Skyfire and Tarantulas had spent countless hours planning, going over schematics, and gathering the materials needed to get started. Tarantulas lived in a cramped, dimly lit apartment in one of Cybertron’s lower tiers. The place was a mess - a hoarder’s den of twisted metal, half-built gadgets, and unrecognizable contraptions scattered across every surface. Faintly glowing monitors flickered erratically on the walls, and oil residue stained the corners of the floor.

There wasn’t even a proper berth. Skyfire couldn’t figure out where Tarantulas recharged, though judging by the state of the place, it was likely in some cobbled-together nest of scrap.

By the time Skyfire flew back home, it was late into Cybertron’s perpetual night cycle. The city’s spires gleamed faintly under the pale light of a nearby moon, while distant hovercraft buzzed through the air, their engines echoing faintly. Skyfire stepped inside his apartment, his joints aching from exhaustion.

Starscream was lying on their shared berth, looking utterly drained. His wings drooped slightly, his optics dim, though not fully offline. He turned his head as Skyfire approached.

“Sorry,” Skyfire muttered as he knelt beside him, gently caressing the smooth plating of Starscream’s helm. “I didn’t mean to take too long, but the good news is Tarantulas and I made good progress. I think we can get the prototype working sooner than we expected just like I thought we would.”

Starscream shifted, making space for Skyfire to lie beside him. As Skyfire settled in, Starscream scooted closer, his frame pressing lightly against Skyfire’s larger one.

As they rested, Skyfire explained the arrangement he had made with Tarantulas - that they’d have to take him and one of his friends along when they left Cybertron. Starscream didn’t say anything in response, merely resting his helm against Skyfire’s shoulder.

“I still need to talk to your trine about it,” Skyfire said.

“I’ll tell them soon,” Starscream replied.

“You sure?”

Starscream hummed in affirmation, then sat up and shifted to sit on Skyfire’s waist, straddling him. He looked down at him, his expression soft.

“What is it?” Skyfire asked with a smile.

“Just... want to look at you,” Starscream said quietly.

Skyfire chuckled, the deep sound reverberating through his chassis. He reached up to cup Starscream’s face. “You’re so beautiful, Star,” he murmured in a dreamlike state.

Starscream leaned into the touch, his own expression softening further. “I think you’re more handsome,” he replied.

“No way that’s possibly true,” Skyfire said. He felt a warmth spread through him, seeing Starscream so at peace, so trusting of him. “We’re going to be okay,” he said. “Everything will turn out alright.”

Starscream sighed quietly, laying down, resting his helm against Skyfire’s cockpit, and said nothing before offlining his optics to rest for the night.

Four days passed and he only saw Starscream late at night and early in the morning, and it was taking a toll in his spark, but he pushed forward to work with Tarantulas on their device.

By late evening on the fourth day, they had already completed a couple of prototypes. Tarantulas proved to be an exceptionally intelligent mech, but he wasn’t much of a talker. Skyfire wondered how Starscream would interact with the mech if they ever ended up in the same room.

Truthfully, Skyfire enjoyed working alongside Tarantulas. The mech was respectful, and he wished he had convinced Starscream back at the Academy they had collaborated with Tarantulas, as he had once suggested.

Breaking the silence, Skyfire decided to spark some conversation. “So, do you live alone?” he asked casually, glancing away from the prototype he was soldering.

“No,” Tarantulas replied without looking up. “My friend lives with me.”

Skyfire tilted his helm in curiosity. “The one you want to bring along with us?”

“Yes.”

“What’s he like?”

Tarantulas paused mid-adjustment. “Hmm. Many find him cold and prickly,” he said simply.

Skyfire blinked.

“But I find him intelligent,” Tarantulas continued, his tone softening, “loyal… among other things.”

Skyfire offered a small smile. “Looks like you care about him a lot.”

Tarantulas set the prototype down and glanced at Skyfire. “Skyfire, there’s something you should know,” he said after a moment of hesitation. “My friend... he’s a cold construct and works for Security Operations for the High Council.”

Skyfire froze, his optics widening at the revelation. He hadn’t expected that. Someone working for Security Operations - a branch directly under the High Council - was a potential threat; the cold constructs working for the Senate were notorious for their unwavering loyalty. They prioritized the Council’s interests above all else.

Tarantulas noticed Skyfire’s tension immediately and raised a servo, as if to reassure him. “Don’t worry. He doesn’t know what we’re up to. Not yet, at least. And he’ll agree to come with us if I ask him when the time comes.”

“You’re sure about that…?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Tarantulas admitted quietly, his fingers curling around the edges of the device he had been working on. His visor dimmed as he stared at it. “You see, I think getting him away from the Council’s influence will be the best thing for him. He’s capable of so much more than what they’ve made him believe. There’s brilliance in him - a brilliance they’ve suppressed.”

Skyfire gazed at the mech, smiling in understanding.

Tarantulas glanced up again. “Starscream is your partner, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is.”

“And he’s a cold construct too.” Tarantulas’ voice carried no judgment, only quiet certainty. “That, dear Skyfire, is the only reason I agreed to help you. Because you understand what it’s like to care for someone who has been denied their freedom, someone others see as nothing more than a tool. It’s revolting, isn’t it? The way they dictate how others should live, think, be.”

Skyfire nodded, his spark tightening from Tarantula’s words.

“Everyone deserves the right to be,” Tarantulas said. “To strive for what they want. I want to grant my friend the freedom he deserves, just as you are trying to grant Starscream his.”

Skyfire’s optics softened, happy that someone understood his and Starscream’s situation. And now he was especially excited for Starscream to meet Tarantulas and his friend and hopefully they could all become friends.

Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the building and the city, making Skyfire and Tarantulas jolt from their work. They exchanged confused glances before moving to the windows, opening them, and noticed other mechs doing the same - some peering out cautiously, while others stepped onto the streets below. Everyone was staring in a certain direction, where a dark plume of smoke was rising into the sky.

Skyfire leaped out of the window and flew up while Tarantulas climbed up on the building. They saw where the smoke was coming from, from the High Council building, the tallest structure in their city. Skyfire’s optics widened as another explosion ripped through its upper levels, shattering the reinforced spires and sending debris tumbling down in a fiery cascade. Though only the top few floors collapsed under the blast.

He had a feeling Megatronus and his followers were behind this.

But then he realized something. If the gladiator had launched an attack directly on the High Council, then maybe everyone would be too busy to keep tabs on Starscream and the skies. This was the perfect opportunity for them all to leave Cybertron undetected.

“We might not need the device after all,” he said when flew to Tarantulas. “I think we should leave tonight.”

“I can’t. My friend is in that building,” Tarantulas revealed with concern etched in his voice as he tried to communicate with his friend. “Prowl, please tell me you’re okay,” he said through his comm link.

Skyfire was now worried for Tarantula’s friend, then, a deep, booming voice echoed through the city. Skyfire and Tarantulas looked up with confusion as multiple holographic screens projected high above the skyline across Iacon. It was a way the High Council would communicate with the population in case of an emergency or for important announcements. But the figure on the screen wasn’t a council member. Instead, it was…

Megatronus, standing there, menacingly looking in what looked like a chamber in the underground tunnels. Mounted on his arm was a massive cannon that Skyfire didn’t recall him having before.

“My brothers and sisters,” the gladiator began, his voice measured, resonating through the city. “For countless vorns, the High Council has shackled us – stripping us of our choices, binding us to lives of servitude. They have dictated who rises, who falls, and who gets cast into the smelting pits like scrap. For too long, they have built their towers upon our backs, feasting on our suffering, dividing us against one another.” His voice gradually rose with rage. “No longer will we bow to their tyranny! No longer will we be pawns in their games. Today, we rise as one!”

A surge of cheers rippled from certain parts of the city. Skyfire could only watch as anxiety tumbled in his spark as he listened.

“Together, we shall destroy this Cybertron, the one built on our suffering, on our energon,” Megatronus continued just as his crimson optics flared with rage. “In its place, we will build a Cybertron worthy of its people. A Cybertron where no spark is born into servitude, where no mech is forced into the mold of what they deem "acceptable. We will forge a future where we decide what it means to live, to thrive, to be free.”

Two mechs were dragged into view - one of them a senator, his helm cracked and leaking energon. The other senator struggled futilely in the grip of Thundercracker and Skywarp. But what truly froze Skyfire’s spark was seeing Starscream, dragging the severely injured senator to Megatronus.

“Star… no…” Skyfire whispered, his spark sinking as disbelief was drowning him.

He couldn’t tear his optics away from Starscream, who forced the senator to his knees before Megatronus. The fusion cannon whined as it powered up.

“They had their chance to change. Countless cycles, countless opportunities to undo their oppression. But to them, we will forever be nothing to them!” Megatronus snarled. “Well, tonight, they are nothing to us!”

The cannon discharged with a deafening blast, obliterating the senator’s helm in an instant. The lifeless frame slumped forward, energon pooling beneath it. Gasps and screams of horror echoed through the city, mingling with the triumphant cries of Megatronus’ supporters.

Skyfire’s tanks churned, his frame trembling as he watched Starscream step back, his face blank, his optics avoiding the sight of the fallen senator.

Megatronus gestured to the remaining senator, who was dragged forward, trembling. “We are done asking for justice,” Megatronus said with fury. Another blast, another lifeless body lying on the ground dead.

“And I will not stop till Cybertron is ours!” Megatronus growled. “Change is no longer a dream, my brothers and sisters. I, Megatron will see to it, no matter the cost!”

Then the transmission cut abruptly, leaving the dark skies clear as if nothing happened.

Skyfire and Tarantulas had parted ways, each going after their loved ones. Skyfire had to get to Starscream first before the enforcers found him. After what Megatron did, the enforcers were going to make it a priority to capture or execute those who had been present in the sky feed.

“Star, please… tell me where you are,” Skyfire begged as he sent another message, one of many he'd already sent to Starscream. Flying through Cybertron’s skies in his alt mode, he veered toward the opening to the underground tunnels they had often used before. But then his scanners picked up squads of enforcers rushing toward the same entrance.

He halted mid-air, his thrusters dimming as he sought cover behind a building. Transforming back into his robotic form, he pressed against the cold steel structure. “Star, they’re heading for the tunnels,” he said through his comm link, hoping Starscream would pick up. But again, he didn’t get any response. The worry suffocating him made him grow desperate. “Star, I swear, if you don’t respond soon, I’ll come down there myself, and I don’t care if I get shot at.”

Immediately, his communicator buzzed to life. “Sky, please don’t!” Starscream said, filled with panic. “Stay where you are. I’ll send Skywarp to get you. Just give me your coordinates.”

Relief flooded through Skyfire’s systems as he did as told. Within moments, Skywarp appeared in a flash of purple light. Her optics met his as she gave him a sheepish grin. She took his arm before teleporting them into a small, dimly-lit chamber. Thundercracker stood there alone, in a rather tense stance.

“What did you all do?” Skyfire demanded, his normally soft demeanor falling apart as his optics flared with panic.

“Skyfire, calm down,” Thundercracker muttered.

“You can’t just tell me to calm down - not after what I saw out there.”

Skywarp chuckled nervously. “Yeah, you can’t blame him, Thundercracker. Even I can’t believe what we just did… It was pretty crazy.”

Skyfire’s gaze hardened. “Where’s Starscream?” He moved toward the door, only for the blue seeker to step into his path.

“He’s in a meeting,” Thundercracker said.

“In meeting with who?”

“Megatron and a few others.”

Skyfire glared at him and moved towards him. His frame towered over Thundercracker’s.

Thundercracker’s wings lowered down as if intimidated.

“Thundercracker, tell me where my sparkmate is, or bring him to me, now. Or I swear…” Skyfire’s servos clenched into shaky fists.

Thundercracker was silent for a moment before straightening up, his lips pressed into a firm line. “The High Council pulled Starscream from the Academy today,” he revealed. “And not just him - they also forced all of our squadron into their military.”

Skyfire looked at him with utter confusion. “But they weren’t supposed to do that till a few more days.”

“Well, they lied. No surprise there,” Skywarp grunted out.

“What’s worse is there was word going around that the High council was going to force us all through processor modifications,” Thundercracker revealed. “To make us into obedient drones.”

“Star didn’t tell me any of this…” Skyfire said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“He didn’t have time to. Everything happened so fast. And he also didn’t want you to worry. And let’s be honest - there wasn’t much you could’ve done for any of us the moment we were forced into that building.”

Skyfire felt his spark ache, knowing Thundercracker was right.

“So, without much of an option, Starscream devised a plan at the last second, contacted Soundwave and had us attack from the inside,” Thundercracker continued.

“You should’ve seen him, Skyfire!” Skywarp said with a grin filled with pride. “Starscream was so awesome. He was firing his null ray left and right, paralyzing mostly everyone there while the rest of us were blasting others away.”

“Megatron ordered us to bring him two Senators,” Thundercracker added grimly. “Skywarp teleported a huge group of us out of there and into the tunnels... and then, well, you saw what happened next.”

Skyfire ran a servo down his faceplates, his systems twisting with nausea. “I can’t believe he just... in front of everyone…”

“Oh, and guess who made Megatron’s fusion cannon,” Skywarp added with a mischievous smile.

“Skywarp…” Thundercracker warned, glaring at her.

“What? Starscream worked really hard on it. You gotta admit it’s pretty cool.”

Disbelief washed over Skyfire as Skywarp’s words sank. “No... he... Starscream would never build a violent weapon like that.”

“Well, he did. Megatron wanted Starscream to prove his loyalty by making him a weapon powerful enough to take anyone down.”

“That’s enough, Skywarp.” Thundercracker’s voice grew lower.

Skywarp rolled her eyes with annoyance at being lectured, but pressed her mouth closed.

Meanwhile, Skyfire took a step back, clutched his helm, his vents struggling to cool his overheating systems. His spark churned painfully as his processor was struggling to accept what Thundercracker and Skywarp were telling him.

There was no way Starscream created a weapon that deadly – he was against doing such a thing. And he refused to believe Starscream brought two mechs before Megatron to be assassinated for all Cybertron to see.

“Skyfire, you need to calm down,” Thundercracker said cautiously, placing a servo on his arm.

“Stop telling me to calm down!” Skyfire snapped, glaring daggers at them.

The sudden outburst left both seekers flinching in stunned silence. Guilt surged through Skyfire almost immediately. Since when did he lashed out at others like that?

The door swung open and Starscream stood in the doorway, looking rather confused and uncertain.

“And we’re out of here,” Skywarp muttered, grabbing Thundercracker by the shoulder. In a flash, they teleported out of the room, leaving the two alone.

Quietly, Starscream closed the door behind him, hesitating before lifting his optics to meet Skyfire’s gaze. “I know… you told me not to get involved with Megatron, but…” His optics darted to the side as his wings lowered in shame.

Without a word, Skyfire stepped forward, pulling him into a firm embrace. He shoved his inner turmoil aside. “I should’ve worked faster,” he murmured. He could feel Starscream’s aching spark filled with fear. “If I’d finished the device sooner, maybe you wouldn’t have felt forced to turn to him.”

Starscream sighed, leaning against Skyfire’s frame. “You know finishing that device that soon was impossible…”

Pulling back slightly, Skyfire looked him in the optics. “We need to leave, Star. The enforcers are most likely raiding the tunnels by now. It’s only a matter of time before this place becomes a battlefield and they’re not going to stop till they have you and your trine’s sparks snuffed out.”

A frown creased Starscream’s faceplates. “Sky, we can’t leave.”

“Yes, we can. No one can stop us right now, not while everyone is distracted.”

Starscream stepped back, slipping out of Skyfire’s reach. “What I’m trying to say is, I don’t want us to leave Cybertron,” he said now with a firm tone.

Skyfire’s optic ridges furrowed. For a second, he thought his mind was glitching. “What?”

“This is our home… And I refuse to abandon it. We…we should be fighting for it and not running away like cowards.”  

Filled with confusion, Skyfire stared at him. “I… I don’t understand. I thought we agreed that leaving was the best option.”

“No, you decided that. I told you what I wanted - a better life for us. And staying here, helping Megatron to create a new Cybertron will give us everything we hoped and more.”

Skyfire said nothing, unsure what to say.

“I know what Megatron did was…extreme,” Starscream trailed off.

“It was more than extreme, Star,” Skyfire said with a frown. “And please tell me Skywarp was lying to me. Tell me you didn’t build that fusion cannon for him.”

No answer came.

“You built it while I was working with Tarantulas, didn’t you? That’s the only time you had the time to make it. Were you meeting with Megatron and his followers while I was away this whole time? You know how dangerous that was? What if an enforcer caught you sneaking into the tunnels?”

“Skywarp would come and teleport me to the tunnels to make sure I wasn’t spied on. So, there really was nothing to worry about.”

Skyfire rubbed the corners of his optics before he let his arm fall to his side.

“I don’t regret helping Megatron,” Starscream said, looking up at Skyfire. “I wish there was another way, but sometimes you have to make hard choices to bring change.”

“Is that what you believe or is that what Megatron’s convinced you to believe?” Skyfire said quietly.

Starscream optics narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean…?”

Hoping to avoid an argument, Skyfire carefully chose his next words. “What I mean is, everything that’s happening is a mess,” Skyfire said softly. “And you’re hating every second of it. And don’t you dare lie to me, because when I saw you up in that projection feed while Megatron took down those mechs, I saw how uncomfortable you were when the senates were lying dead on the ground - it was written all over your face.”  

His sparkmate said nothing, optics fixed stubbornly on the floor.

Skyfire rested a servo on Starscream’s cockpit. Once again, he could feel the pain and fear radiating from his spark. “I know this isn’t what you truly want. This whole thing, it’s not you, Star. Not the you I know. Not the Starscream you want to be.”

Suddenly, a series of blasts echoed outside the room. The door trembled faintly, accompanied by distant screams from the other side.

Skywarp reappeared into the room, clutching Thundercracker’s servo as her ventilations came in sharp, uneven bursts.

“There are so many of them!” Skywarp cried, her optics blown wide with panic.

Another sound erupted - massive, deafening, and making the ground tremble beneath their pedes. Skyfire recognized the roar of Megatron’s fusion cannon after what he had seen earlier.

“What should we do?” Skywarp asked, her optics darting toward Starscream.

Skyfire didn’t wait for Starscream to answer. He grabbed his arm. “Skywarp, get us out of here now.”

Skywarp nodded, though her servos trembled as she reached out to grab Skyfire.

“No!” Starscream snapped, wrenching his arm free.

“Starscream, don’t be ridiculous!” Skyfire’s voice edged on desperation. “We don’t have time for-”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Starscream cut him off with annoyance, his wings flaring up sharply. “I’m not letting us get pushed around anymore!”

Skyfire’s optics softened, a pained expression crossing his faceplates. “Star, please…”

Ignoring him, Starscream turned to Skywarp. “Take Skyfire out of here. Get him somewhere safe.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” Skyfire’s voice cracked as he reached for Starscream. But before he could say or do anything else, a massive explosion tore through the door, shattering it into thousands of pieces. Everyone in the room was thrown violently against the far wall when the blastwave surged into the room, engulfing everything in its path.

Then everything went deadly still.

A relentless buzzing filled Skyfire’s audials when he came back online, drowning out any other sounds for a moment. He groaned as pain radiated through his frame. His optics flickered on – his vision fragmented by error feeds flashing across his processor.

He coughed this time while he struggled to shove aside all the warning signs his systems were throwing at him. Eventually his vision cleared up enough to see he was sprawled on the ground, with Starscream limp frame on top of him while Thundercracker and Skywarp lay crumpled on the floor by them.

Starscream let out a weak groan, struggling to sit up. Skyfire found the will and strength to sit up and cradled Starscream, wanting to shield him from any more assaults. His chest twisted in pain when he saw how Starscream’s back and wings were scorched, platting cracked, energon lines exposed, leaking slightly.

The wings of a seeker were powerful and sensitive - their pride; Skyfire couldn’t stand seeing them so ruined.

“Skywarp...” Skyfire croaked. “You need to get us out of here.” He turned to find Skywarp unconscious, with her helm dented slightly, as Thundercracker sat up, cradling an arm that was leaking some energon from an injury.  

Then heavy footsteps came in their direction. An enforcer stepped through the jagged opening left by the explosion, his optics burned with hostility as he took in the sight of the four battered mechs.

The enforcer let out a low snarl, raising his blaster.

“Wait!” Skyfire raised a servo in a desperate plea. “Don’t shoot! We surrender!”

Before the enforcer took the shot, Starscream’s optics flickered brightly, and he twisted around and fired his null ray square at the enforcer’s chest, paralyzing the mech on the spot.

Without wasting any time, Starscream shot to his feet, shooting at another enforcer that was coming right behind the first one.

Skyfire watched in stunned silence, amazed by how Starscream managed to find the strength to move and quickly take down the enforcers. But he was also extremely concerned by how Starscream was now panting and his frame trembling from the damage his body had sustained in the explosion.

“Star, your wings...” Skyfire said with sorrow.

Dropping to his knees besides his trinemates, Starscream shook the female seeker’s shoulder. “Skywarp,” he called, trying to wake her up.

A faint groan escaped her, but her optics remained offline.

A quiet curse slipped from Starscream’s lips as his optics narrowed with worry. He glanced up at Skyfire. “We need to get you out of here.”

“No. We all need to get out of here,” Skyfire said firmly.

Regret clouded Starscream’s optics, but he turned to Thundercracker. “Can you move?”

“Yes, I can,” Thundercracker said, pushing himself unsteadily to his pedes.

“Good. Watch my back,” Starscream instructed, before telling Skyfire to carry Skywarp.

Skyfire struggled to his feet, lifting Skywarp’s limp frame into his arms. He was nervous to leave the room, even though the sounds of blasts and yelling grew faint.

Though Starscream pressed on, his face was pinched with pain and hesitation, his frame trembled under the strain of every step, shoving the frozen enforcers out of the way, letting their bodies hit the ground without a care. Thundercracker moved right behind Starscream while Skyfire followed them.

When they all stepped outside, Skyfire was surprised to find himself stepping out to what appeared to be an underground town. The tunnel stretched far in both directions, its sheer size rivaling that of several massive starships lined end to end. Small, dimly lit swellings clung to the walls. Flickering neon signs and dim lights illuminated market stands, many of them now abandoned or destroyed.

Tales of a hidden town buried within the tunnels had always been a rumors others enjoyed sharing in Iacon. Skyfire never thought such a place actually existed.

His awe was short-lived though as dread sank like a lead weight into his spark when he saw how the ground was littered with scorched frames. There were also some mechs with gaping holes in their heads or across their bodies. Pools of energon staining the ground.

There were only a few enforcers remaining ahead, standing among the dead. Starscream gestured Skyfire to take cover behind a large metallic wall, large enough to shield him just as the two seekers fired at any mech foolish enough to raise a weapon against them. Hidden from view, Skyfire’s spark hammered in his chest when the tunnel rang with the sounds of energy blasts. He was afraid that Starscream would be shot dead, that none of them would make it out alive.

He flinched as a sonic boom reverberated through the tunnel, hearing multiple metal hitting the ground. He peeked out from behind his hiding spot to see the enforcers were on the floor, disoriented while Thundercracker stood among them, his frame crackling with residual energy from his attack.

Starscream quickly shot the enforcers with his null ray, pinning the remaining enforcers where they laid.

A comm from Starscream got him moving with Skywarp still in his arms. He followed the seekers, stepping carefully over the lifeless frames. Starscream guided them toward a stand that was half-destroyed before kicking aside a loose panel, revealing a hidden passage behind it.

“In here, hurry,” Starscream said, going in first, before Skyfire joined. Thundercracker was last, shutting the door behind quickly.

The passage was narrow and dark, the walls close enough that Skyfire had to shift Skywarp slightly to avoid scraping her against them. They were all forced to lower their wings against their backs too as they moved. Starscream led them, with his null rays aimed forward in case of a surprise attack. Their optics and the soft glows from their frame lights emitted faint beams of light, illuminating the area around them.  

“How did you know this tunnel was here?” Thundercracker asked from the back as they traveled through the passage.

“Soundwave gave me a map with most of the tunnel network the other day,” Starscream replied simply.

Skyfire wasn’t sure how long they walked, but they stopped by a ladder that was encased in a cylindrical framework, stretching high above them into darkness. Starscream stared at it with a hard expression. There was no way Skyfire could climb through it, he was far too wide.

“Star, it’s okay,” Skyfire said, offering a soft, encouraging smile, doing his best to hide the grief he was feeling. “You guys go up ahead.”

“Now who’s the ridiculous one?” Starscream muttered under his breath before frowning at him. “We’ll find another way out.”

They all continued to move across the narrowed tunnel till they came across a metallic door with a thick pole wedged horizontally across it, barring anyone from coming through from the other side. They could hear distinct sounds of shouting through the door. They weren’t sure if the noise was coming from allies or enemies, or both.

“Maybe let’s wait till things die down,” Thundercracker suggested.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Skyfire said. Before Starscream could add, they all heard an explosion roaring behind them, back from the tunnel they had just traveled through.

“Never mind,” Thundercracker said with a groan when sound of multiple footsteps echoed from the darkness behind them, growing louder by the second. “Starscream, I still need more time for the next charge.”

Growling in frustration, Starscream grabbed the rusted pole barring the door and yanked it free with a screech of metal. He then slammed his entire frame against the door, forcing it opened.  

When he stepped out to a massive tunnel, he raised his null rays, ready to fire at anyone standing before him. But he froze when found himself staring at a massive group of battered mechs. Dozens of optics locked onto them, and multiple blasters immediately trained in their direction.

“Hold your fire! He’s with us!” one of Megatron’s soldiers barked sharply. They gradually lowered their weapons down after everyone recognized the seeker.

Skyfire and Thundercracker quickly stepped into the wider tunnel.

“I think Enforcers are coming right behind us,” Thundercracker warned the group who then immediately began forming a defensive line near the small tunnel entrance while some of the mechs shut the door, melting the edges to seal it closed, filling the air with an acrid scent of molten metal.

“Let me look at her,” a green mech said, gesturing toward Skywarp. “And yes, I’m a medic,” he said after noticing Skyfire’s hesitation.

Skyfire laid Skywarp down carefully on the ground before stepping back, letting the green mech do his thing by scanning her helm and tending to her injuries, starting with the dented helm.

“Why is everyone just standing around here?” Thundercracker asked the green mech after noticing how there were many of Megatron’s mechs just scattered around them. Some were talking to others through their comm links while others were keeping watch from either side of the cavern.

“We’re meeting Megatron here,” the mech said. “He’s currently held up with the others.”

Skyfire turned to find Starscream stepping away from them, his wings and legs giving slight tremors. It pained Skyfire to see the damage, so ugly and painful, on Starscream’s back and wings.  

How was Starscream even standing?

He now wondered if maybe he should have never come down to the tunnels. The reason Starscream had been severely injured was because he had been distracted, caught off guard.

And now he was stuck there, a burden to them all. He couldn’t fight, he had never shot a blaster before… And his large, white frame made him an easy target, doing no one any favors, especially for Starscream who most likely was going to do anything in his power to protect him.

After a moment drowning in regret for risking himself and Starscream by being there, he walked over to his sparkmate.

“We should have the medic check you once he’s done looking over Skywarp,” Skyfire said quietly once he was standing next to the seeker.

“I’m fine,” Starscream muttered, his optics slightly dimming from exhaustion.

Skyfire took one of Starscream’s servos, clutching it tightly, and immediately felt the torrent of emotions radiating from Starscream – utter fear, worry, and agonizing pain.

“No, you’re not,” Skyfire said, his voice breaking as his spark throbbed sadly. He wrapped his arms around Starscream’s battered frame and pulled him close, careful not to aggravate any of the wounds. “You’re not fine, Star…” Coolant gathered in his optics while Starscream leaned against the embrace.

Desperation gripped the Shuttle as he tried to comfort his sparkmate, but the ache in his spark grew unbearable. “I’m sorry,” his voice trembled. “I’m so sorry for getting you hurt, for being useless here.”

Starscream wrapped an arm around Skyfire to hold him close. “I’m going to get us out of here in one piece,” he said in a whisper against Skyfire’s frame. “I promise we’ll both be okay.”

The peaceful moment didn’t last long. A sudden barrage of energy blasts erupted form their left. Megatron’s men got into position and fired back at the advancing enemy. A huge number of them coming in fast.

Starscream pulled away, staggering forward to join the fight. But his legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to his knees with a pained grunt. He gritted his denta, one servo pressing against the ground for support as he struggled to push himself back up.

The panic surged through Skyfire when he saw energy blasts ricochetting off the tunnel’s metallic walls and almost striking Starscream. He quickly dropped down beside him, wrapping his massive frame around Starscream to shield for any potential incoming fire. Sparks flew as energy blasts struck the ground dangerously close to them.

“What are you doing?!” Starscream let out in disbelief, squirming against Skyfire’s grip. He tried shoving Skyfire off with trembling arms, but his strength was depleting due to his injuries catching up to him.

“You’re in no condition to fight, Star,” Skyfire said, tightening his hold, desperate to keep him safe while he felt the terror coursing through Starscream. “And I’m too useless to help in this fight, so at least let me be your shield.”

Starscream gazed at him with wide optics, and they grew even larger when Skyfire gasped in pain when he his left leg was struck by an energy beam.

“Sky, no!” Starscream struggled more against the large arms holding him close. “Don’t make me shoot you with my null ray!” He yelled just as the blasts continued from either side. There were shattered metal everywhere, cries of pain assaulting their processors.

With a sudden burst of strength, Starscream threw himself backward, breaking free from Skyfire’s grip. He hit the ground hard, his damaged wings scraping harshly against the metallic surface. But he rolled onto his front and pushed himself to his pedes before firing rapidly at the enemy across the tunnel. One blast struck an enforcer, freezing him just before he could fire down at a fallen mech bleeding on the ground.

He placed himself in front of Skyfire who was staring at him in stunned silence. “Stay low and stay behind me!” he barked. He continued to shoot, striking any part of the enemy’s frame he could from a far – pedes, arms, legs, wings. It honestly didn’t matter. All he needed was to avoid Megatron’s men and hit anywhere on the enemy so they could fall into his weapon’s effects, which helped his allies finish the mechs off.

Some of the enforcers began transforming into their alternate modes, speeding forward to break through their defense. Their engines roared as they evaded most of the shots aimed their way before they began ramming into Megatron’s men.

One swerved around many mechs and slammed into Starscream harshly, shattering his cockpit, sending him flying to the side. Starscream’s frame skidded harshly against the floor, leaving a trail of scorched marks and broken plating in its wake.

For a moment, Skyfire froze in horror as he stared in shock as Starscream was struck. Then the next, he was on his pedes, tackling the enforcer to the ground so hard, the smaller mech’s frame slammed to the ground with a sickening crash. Its helmet whiplashed violently against the hard surface, the plating cracking open from the impact. Energon splattered across the floor.

Skyfire stared down at the limp body beneath him, his optics wide with shock at what he’d done. But the sound of Starscream’s pained coughing pulled him away from the enforcer and rush to Starscream’s side.

Struggling to sit up, Starscream clutched his shattered cockpit, his face tight with pain.

“Everyone, watch out!” someone yelled through the chaos.

Skyfire’s optics snapped upward to see missiles streaking through the air. Explosions tore through the battlefield, striking mechs indiscriminately, and randomly in their area.

He felt his spark stop when he saw one flying at them. The next he knew, he shoved Starscream back as he moved to shield him and then he felt pain.

Agonizing, burning pain coursed through his body, from his chest - he felt as though he was burning alive.

He couldn’t see as he hit the ground. His frame felt heavy – far too heavy to move. His HUD was filled with countless errors, more than before. He thought his suffering would never cease, but then slowly it was fading, replaced by an unnerving numbness. It was as though his systems were shutting down, one by one.  

He could barely hear anything, except something – someone. A voice, sobbing. A heartbroken sound that stirred something deep within his fading, pained filled spark.

No…

Was he dying…?

Fighting against the errors urging him into stasis, he forced his optics online. Everything was a scrambled blur, but he fought through enough to make out his partner’s anguished face. Tears trailed down Starscream’s faceplates, streaking through the grime that covered him as he cradled Skyfire’s helm in his lap, his body unmoving on the cold ground. One trembling servo pressed gently against the shattered spark chamber as energon seeped through digits.

“Someone, please, help him!” Starscream screamed desperately through the chaos before he looked down at Skyfire sadly and then leaned his head against his forehead. “Please, Sky, please,” Starscream’s voice cracked, his words coming in broken sobs. “Please hold on.”

Skyfire’s systems sputtered weakly, his spark struggling from fading away. He wanted to speak, to say something, but his vocalizer refused to cooperate. All he could do was watch, barely clinging to consciousness while Starscream’s frame trembled.

He didn’t want to die.

“I’m sorry,” Starscream cried sadly. “I should have listened to you. We should have left Cybertron. We should have flown off, start all over. I’m so sorry for not listening to you.”

The thought of leaving Starscream alone was unbearable.

“Please, Sky… please don’t leave me!” Starscream sobbed before screaming for help again.

Skyfire clung to the faintest thread of consciousness, fighting to stay alive for the one who meant everything to him. Memories of his entire life flickered like distant stars. His early years felt like someone else’s dream, a blur of existing without meaning. For so long, he had lived just like many in Iacon, moving by the notion dictated by society. Then the memories became crystal clear, full of life when Starscream appeared in them.

“What was that?” The Seeker’s voice was laced with hostility.

Perplexed with the injured Seeker’s reaction, Skyfire blinked with confusion. “What was what?” he responded, genuinely not understanding the question.

The Seeker remained silent, staring at him, a mix of frustration and apprehension flashing in his optics. Skyfire took a step forward towards him, but quickly the Seeker took a step back, a hint of fear crossing his features, causing Skyfire to halt his advance.

Sensing the Seeker’s discomfort, Skyfire softened his approach. “Your injury looks bad,” he stated gently, maintaining a respectful distance. “Mind if I look at it?”

Confusion flickered on the seeker’s faceplates. “Why…?” he let out after a moment.

“Because,” Skyfire took a moment to think things through before he finally continued. “Because you need help.”

His words brought confusion and surprise out of the Seeker, as if the Seeker was not expecting such words.

Skyfire pulled from the memory when he met Starscream. Not once did he regret standing up for him from the other seekers. Now, all he wanted was to return to those moments when the two were either snuggling in berth together or flying in the sky besides one another.

“Want to come with me to the data repository center at Iacon?” Skyfire proposed, which made Starscream turn to him, puzzled. “I go there weekly to catch up on the latest scientific advancements,” Skyfire explained.

“Why...?”

“Oh, you know, because... science is fun?” Skyfire offered, the explanation falling somewhat flat.

Starscream regarded him skeptically.

There was so much left for them to do together, so many experiences to share. For Primus’ sake, they had only just become sparkmates.

Yet, he could feel himself shutting down, and Skyfire feared he was truly fighting a losing battle.

“You know, Starscream, your name suits you,” Skyfire let out. Starscream froze for a moment, and slowly he turned to Skyfire with a sad-looking confusion, probably assuming he was being mocked. “The first part, ‘star,’ makes me think that you’re unique, like how every star shines uniquely, standing out from the others,” The shuttle explained gently, with a warm smile, now making the seeker just stare at him before he continued. “And the ‘scream’ part, I see it as not as noise, but as your loudness in a way that makes you stand out. Your passion, your determination—they’re loud, drawing others toward you. Because that’s who you are, Starscream, you are exceptionally unique.”

Starscream’s eyes were wide at Skyfire’s kind words.

This couldn’t be the end – not like this.

He wanted to tell Starscream not to blame himself, to let him know he was loved. But his vision began to dim and his processor faltered.

“But... I’m just... a cold construct,” Starscream murmured, his voice filled with doubt, unsure if someone like Skyfire could ever truly have such a strong feeling towards someone who wasn’t naturally forged.

Skyfire shook his head, gently. “You are more than that, Star. Oh, so much more,” he insisted. “I wish you could see what I see when I look at you. I wish you could see how truly magnificent you are. Your resilience, your spirit, every bit of you is amazing. I wish you -”

Before Skyfire could finish, Starscream impulsively surged upward, flying up to close the distance between them, his lips meeting Skyfire’s.

With his remaining strength, Skyfire did his best to focus on Starscream, who was falling apart, crying, begging for him to live.

“I love you,” Skyfire blinked, surprised when he heard the words slip out of Starscream, who timidly glanced away. Starscream was settled on his hips, having been kissing Skyfire as he lay on his berth, with Skyfire’s hands resting on Starscream’s waist.

“Star…” Skyfire eventually let out surprised, staring with wide eyes as he processed what Starscream had just said. He hadn’t expected to hear those words, especially not at that moment.

Starscream pressed his lips into a thin line and almost pulled away, but Skyfire held him back. Struggling to sit up without letting go, Skyfire shifted so Starscream was now settled on his lap.

The seeker still wouldn’t meet his gaze and looked almost ashamed for reasons Skyfire couldn’t comprehend, just like he couldn’t understand how someone so talented and intelligent could carry so many insecurities.

He leaned forward, pressing gentle kisses to the seeker’s faceplate. “And I love you, always,” Skyfire whispered, wrapping his arms around Starscream and pulling him close. Starscream shut his optics with a soft smile, nestling his helm beneath Skyfire’s neck.

Skyfire managed a soft, weak smile. Coolant streaked down his own optics, but even that gesture was fleeting. The shadows crept closer, threatening to swallow the light.

In those final moments, Skyfire prayed to Primus. He begged not for himself, but for Starscream – to keep his beloved safe.

Safe and happy. For all eternity.

And he hoped, if he couldn’t be there, Thundercracker and Skywarp and future bonds would surround Starscream with the love he deserved. To help him shine as bright as he was meant to, even in his absence.

“Please, don’t leave me,” Starscream’s broken voice came through faintly. “I love you, Sky, please…”

‘And I love you too, my Star…’ Where the last thoughts that crossed Skyfire’s mind just as darkness became his companion, closing the chapter of their time together - an ending neither of them wanted.

Chapter Text

The Present

“Are you serious?” Breakdown let out, his optics wide in shock after Skywarp told him about Prowl shooting Starscream.

“Don’t worry,” Nova Storm said quickly. “Shockwave said he’s patched up and fine now. The Terrans like Starscream, so they’ll keep him safe from the Autobots.”

Breakdown shot her a look like she’d fried a circuit. “You’re seriously trusting anything that’s coming out from the bot who’s been glitching out for months?” He gestured to the cave corner, where Shockwave sat eerily still, his single optic staring blankly at the wall. Soundwave knelt beside him, carefully working on his battered arm again. Ravage sat by them, watching.

“He’s got a point,” Swindle said, standing by the group. “And Shockwave’s only getting worse.”

“That’s why I said earlier we should get him help,” Breakdown muttered, arms crossed. “But after hearing an Autobot shot Starscream, well, forget it. I can’t believe Bee hasn’t told me a fraggin’ thing about it. And I can’t believe no one has even bothered to check if our leader is okay. Man, feels like everything’s going into slag.”

“Don’t worry, guys. I can totally fix Shockwave!” Frenzy grinned as she walked over while carrying her guitar - Laserbeak following right behind. “I’m gonna play him some kick-ass songs to knock him back to normal. I learned that some humans use music to help others who are going through some mental stuff or whatever.”

“That’s gotta be the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard,” Swindle snorted.

“Hey, at least she’s trying to think of something,” Laserbeak retorted.

“Maybe we should ask Starscream when he gets back,” Skywarp suggested.

“If he gets back,” Swindle muttered, earning a sharp elbow from Nova Storm. “What? I’m just saying - maybe the Autobots killed him and made the Terrans lie to Shockwave as part of some evil master plan they got. And we’re all just sitting here, falling for it.”

“Hashtag wouldn’t lie to us, especially about Starscream,” Skywarp said firmly.

“That’s what they want you to think,” Swindle said, waving his servo dramatically.

“No, she’s right,” Breakdown interjected. “The kids don’t have a reason to lie us.”

“Except maybe you, Swindle,” Nova Storm pointed out. “Didn’t you threaten one of the Malto kids after conning two of them into some shady scheme of yours?”

Swindle rolled his optics. “It was one time! And I made up for it by helping ‘em against that nutjob human, didn’t I? Pretty sure they’re over it by now. And hey! I’m not the only one who’s attacked those Terrans either.” He narrowed his optics at the seekers.

Breakdown sighed, shaking his head. He turned just in time to see tremors running through Shockwave’s frame.

Before he assumed something terrible was going to happen, Ravage moved closer to Shockwave, nudging her head gently against his good servo. The touch seemed to snap Shockwave out of whatever was troubling him. He looked down at her for a moment before resting his servo on her head, patting her lightly.

Soundwave froze at the sight, staring at the small, unexpected interaction.

“Uh… you’re all seeing this too, right?” Skywarp asked quietly as the group watched Shockwave’s uncharacteristically gentle gesture.

“Yeah, we are,” Breakdown said, surprised, as Ravage purred softly under Shockwave’s touch.

Dorothy’s request to speak with him and Starscream caught Megatron off guard when she arrived with Elita-1 and Optimus. When he asked for an explanation, she simply replied that it was time for the two of them to resolve some differences and address some things - which he wasn’t sure what she meant by that.

Before irritation and anxiety could rise within his spark - he didn’t want the possibility of losing his temper in front of Dorothy because of Starscream - Optimus assured him he would be present during the conversation. Elita-1 also offered to join as well, which, truth be told, Megatron was relieved to hear. Because he couldn’t trust Starscream. The Seeker would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to provoke him in front of Dorothy. And after their earlier interaction that day, Megatron had a feeling the next one would end up with him bashing Starscream’s helm in, which wouldn’t be good for him.

He hoped with Optimus and Elita-1 present, they would at least keep things from escalating, help him stay in control over his emotions; the two knew how to keep him grounded, so he was grateful they would be there for him.

Even so, Megatron was on edge. He had wanted to rush into the barn and through the tunnel to find out what happened in the underground lair. Starscream was plotting something involving Mo. The fact Hashtag had wanted Mo to come down alone had raised alarms for him and the other Autobots. Even though the other Terrans tried to reassure them that everything was okay based on what Hashtag had said, Megatron couldn’t shake his doubts.

But he stayed with the others, arms crossed over his chest plates, seething as he waited.

Eventually Starscream stepped out with the others and Megatron glared daggers at him after his optics scanned Mo and the other children for any sort of damage, any signs of distress. He didn’t find anything wrong with them and he couldn’t help but notice the exhaustion dragging the Seeker’s faceplates; his usually bright blue optics were slightly dim. Still, Megatron dismissed Starscream’s tired state as one of his manipulative acts. The Seeker loved to play the victim to elicit others to pity him, which, in turn, he would use it to his advantage.

When Dorothy told Starscream what she wanted from him, the Seeker looked baffled at the request. Megatron’s glare only intensified, a silent warning that Starscream had no choice but to obey. And it seemed to have worked since Starscream’s faceplates turned completely blank, as they always did when he was going to do as he was told, like the obedient soldier he should have been during the war.

Meanwhile, Hashtag wasn’t having it.

“Mom, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, still frowning.

“Yeah, I gotta agree with Hashtag on that,” Thrash suddenly spoke up awkwardly while he stood there, making sure to avoid eye contact with the adults. He wanted to say more but decided to keep his thoughts to himself and a good distance away from Megatron.

“And I know he’s supposed to stay a few more days with us, but he really needs to go check on the other Decepticons,” Hashtag added, trying to help the Seeker leave without any problems, especially since he was standing completely silent next to her. After everything that had happened with Starscream the past two days, he was definitely not in the right state of mind to talk to Megatron. And she assumed Starscream was still blaming himself for accidentally hurting her.

There was a good chance Megatron and Starscream had already clashed earlier when Thrash took him into the woods - another reason they shouldn’t speak again, at least not on the same day. She made a mental note to ask her brother what went down in the forest.

“Hashtag,” her mother said, giving her an understanding look. “I get you’re just trying to look out for your friend, but if he’s going to visit our family in the future, we’ve gotta work some stuff out with him and Megatron first.”

“Can’t this wait until, I don’t know, literally any other day?” Hashtag asked, almost pleading.

Her mom shook her head. “It’s better to handle it sooner rather than later.”

“Don’t worry, Hashtag, Optimus and I will be there to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Elita-1 reassured her with a reassuring smile.

Hashtag glanced up at Starscream, who was still staring at Megatron with a blank, almost eerie expression. It unsettled her; Starscream was usually full of expression. Acting on impulse, she grabbed his servo.

Starscream had been feeling numb, and felt as though everyone and everything had been too far out of reach from him, but her hold snapped him out of his trance. He looked down at her, confusion flickering across his face.

Then for a second there, he thought he could see the dent again on her faceplates, almost causing him to panic.

“Hey, you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” she told him firmly, in a serious tone.

Starscream’s helm was starting to ache, just like his spark. But the grip on his servo at least kept his mind from spiraling out of control.

“Hashtag…” Hashtag’s mom sighed.

“No, seriously, if you want to leave, you can,” Hashtag insisted to the Seeker. “They literally can’t force you to do anything you’re not cool with.”

“She has a point,” Nightshade said as they stepped on Starscream’s left. “It wouldn’t be right to make you do something you’re uncomfortable with - especially when you haven’t done anything wrong.”

Starscream’s tanks churned at their words. The truth was, he had done something wrong. What he had done to Hashtag was unforgivable and it continued to plague him with guilt.

Yet, he didn’t want to stay any longer around the Autobots and Megatron, especially with Prowl likely out there somewhere, watching, waiting, and planning, coming up with whatever his cold spark could think of to get his servos on his. But Megatron’s threatening glare kept him in place as if it was physically chaining him down. He loathed how the former Decepticon leader still had some power over him, even now, even after he had betrayed him and his people.

While Hashtag and Nightshade told him he could leave if he wanted, he felt as though he couldn’t without making the Autobots and Megatron suspicious that he was hiding things from them.

Then again, maybe he didn’t have to worry about anyone else finding out at this moment about the allspark’s presence inside of him. Optimus had to have a reason why he hadn’t told Megatron about it and he was most likely going to keep it that way.

Either way, he had no choice but to give in to the woman’s demands. And the sooner he complied, the sooner he could fly off and hide from everyone to protect his spark before he could plan his next steps.

For now, he did his best to appear calm, even though he was internally panicking. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with…” he said under his breath, avoiding everyone’s gazes.

“Starscream…” Hashtag let out with concern, her servo gripping his tighter. Then her optic ridges narrowed. “Then I’m coming with.”

Starscream turned to her quietly.

“I’m not letting you deal with this alone,” she added firmly.

“I’m sorry Hashtag, but this is something that’s more for the adults to handle right now,” Dorothy said gently.

“But mom,” Hashtag tried to argue.

“It’s fine, Hashtag,” Starscream said, his voice quieter than usual and he offered her a small smile, as a trace of gratitude flickered in his optics.  

He still couldn’t understand how, even now, she was trying to help him after he had struck her. But he appreciated having someone that reminded him of Skyfire.

Though, now that he realized how protective she was like the Shuttle was, he couldn’t help but feel sick as Skyfire’s lifeless optics flashed in his mind for a second.

He quickly pulled from her servo and followed Dot and the others into the forest, while Hashtag and the others stood behind with concerned plastered on their faceplates.

“This is gonna end so bad, I just know it,” Thrash muttered once Starscream and the others vanished into the forest. He was nervously rubbing his arms, unsure what else to do with his fidgety servos.

“It’s going to be fine, Thrash. Don’t worry too much,” Bumblebee said, trying to assure the Terran. “Optimus and Elita-1 are there to makes sure nothing bad happens.”

Thrash shot him a skeptical look.

“Work-case scenario, Megatron and Starscream start throwing punches, and Optimus and Elita-1 have to break them up,” the veteran said with a shrug as if it was no big deal.

The Terrans and Mo now stared at him with wide eyes.

“Wait, why would they get into a fight?” Jawbreaker asked with utter confusion before panic set in. “I thought they were just talking.”

Bumblebee winced, realizing his mistake when the Terrans were looking at one another anxiously. “Um… forget I said anything,” he said awkwardly while he rubbed the back of his helm.

“Kind of too late for that,” Arcee sighed as majority of the children were looking more concerned by the second.

“Now that you mention it…” Nightshade said, taping their chin thoughtfully, gathering everyone’s attention. “Remember when Starscream said we don’t know the real Megatron and said Megatron ruled the Decepticons through fear and intimidation?”

“Yeah, I remember that,” Twitch said.

“I mean, Megatron was a bad guy before,” Jawbreaker reminded them. “So, maybe he was really mean to his own team too?”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Nightshade said.

“I think he was more than just mean, especially to Starscream,” Hashtag said quietly, her servos curling into fists.

“What do you mean by that?” Jawbreaker asked softly with hesitation.

“You don’t think he…?” Mo trailed off, her gaze flickering to Bumblebee, whose optics were now darting away uncomfortably. Arcee stood with her arms crossed quietly with a somber expression. “Did Mr. Megatron hurt Mr. Starscream, Bumblebee?”

“I shouldn’t really answer that,” Bumblebee said. He then noticed some of the kids were glaring at him for avoiding the question. “I mean… it’s a bit too complicated for me to talk about.”

Hashtag let out a deep vent, stomping a little as she took a few steps towards the direction her mom had taken Starscream. “I should be there with Starscream. I mean, sure, he helped us take down Mandroid, and now there’s like, this unspoken truce between the Autobots and Decepticons, but he still doesn’t trust the Autobots, which I don’t blame him for, especially after that Prowl guy shot him yesterday. He’s probably feeling super unsafe ‘cause he’s basically surrounded by his ‘enemy’.” She glared down at the ground, her spark churning anxiously, recalling how quick Megatron was to attack Starscream months ago. “I know Optimus, Elita-1, and Mom wouldn’t hurt him, but… Megatron probably would.”

She turned to Bumblebee, her optics narrowing. “Mom seriously thinks I shouldn’t be there ‘cause I’m still too young. Which is totally not fair. My siblings and I have fought our own battles. We should be able to stand by Starscream while he talks to Megatron and Mom. He shouldn’t have to do this alone with people he doesn’t trusts.”

“Hashtag, but what if they’re going to discuss about things that Mom knows Starscream wouldn’t want us to hear?” Nightshade countered calmly. “Mom probably has a feeling Starscream would hold back from saying something important to Megatron if you’re there. You’ve told me before that he barely opens up to you, and even when he did that one time, he didn’t go into much detail. I really think Mom understands what’s the best in this situation, and maybe we should trust her judgement,” They offered a gentle, reassuring smile.

Hashtag’s lips twisted with frustration.

“And just so you know, Starscream isn’t just an innocent victim either,” Arcee cut in with a sigh. “He’s hurt Megatron as well.”

“And Megatron’s hurt Optimus, so what’s the big deal if he hurt Starscream too?” Thrash added, though he didn’t actually believe in his own words.

“It is a big deal because Megatron and Starscream were on the same side,” Hashtag said with annoyance bubbling in her spark.

“Well, I think we should be making a bigger deal about how Starscream almost killed Mom,” Thrash blurted out, his frustration slipping through - until his optics went wide, and he slapped his servos over his mouth, realizing what he’d just admitted.

Everyone fell silent. Nightshade, Jawbreaker, Twitch, and Hashtag stared at Thrash in shock, their optics impossibly wide.

Mo sighed and pressed her palm to her forehead. “Thrash…”

“What do you mean Starscream almost killed Mom?” Twitch asked quietly, unable to believe what she just heard.

“Well… he almost… during the war,” Mo explained, her tone uneasy.

“Wait, you knew about this too? Does Robby know? How come the rest of us didn’t?” Twitch threw her hands up with annoyance after noticing how her other siblings looked taken aback from the unexpected news concerning their mom just like she was.

“Yeah, Robby knows,” Mo admitted. “And, uh… we just found out last night from Prowl.”

“Starscream’s the reason Mom’s missing a leg,” Thrash added with a frown.

“And… he never told us…?” Jawbreaker let out, sounding hurt and betrayed.

Even Hashtag looked lost, unsure how to react that Starscream had hurt their mother and kept it a secret from her.

Bumblebee rubbed the corner of his optics - the last thing he wanted was things from escalating any further than they should. “Okay guys, listen. I don’t think Starscream knows he almost killed your mom. He fired some missiles during the battle, and she was there helping the Autobots. It wasn’t like he was targeting her specifically.”

“Actually, he does know he hurt Mom,” Thrash said, looking away. “At least now he does... I told him earlier when we were talking.”

“Was he sorry?” Twitch asked, sounding hopeful.

“Nope,” Thrash admitted, crossing his arms over his chest, causing his siblings look as if their tanks dropped from their frames. “But… he did say he’d never hurt Hashtag or our family. And I guess he probably meant it starting now he wouldn’t.”

Twitch, Nightshade, and Mo exchanged uneasy glances, all carefully avoiding giving out any hints to the others concerning what they knew about Starscream and Hashtag’s earlier incident.

“Starscream may have been a bad guy, just like Megatron,” Nightshade said after a moment, as they looked up at the bright sky. “But… he’s really trying to turn things around now. I mean, look at what he’s done with us over the past couple of days - it’s clear he’s making an effort. Yeah, he hurt Mom, and that’s not okay, but from what I can tell, she’s giving him another chance. She’s helping him sort things out with Megatron, maybe even with the Autobots, so he can come see us without it being a big deal. If Mom isn’t holding the past against him, I don’t think we should either.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Hashtag said with a curt nod of her helm. “But Megatron doesn’t think Starscream deserves another chance, and that’s a problem.”

“Yeah… he, uh, really seems to hate Starscream,” Thrash admitted, shifting uneasily.

“So, why’d you trick Starscream into talking to Megatron earlier?” Hashtag asked with a frown. “Look, I know you don’t like Starscream, but what you did was totally not cool.”

The others turned to Thrash with puzzled expressions.

“Wait, you did what?” Twitch asked her brother in disbelief.

“I didn’t trick him!” Thrash said, throwing his servos up defensively. “I just wanted to talk to Starscream alone about some stuff, but then Megatron showed up out of nowhere. And then, well… Megatron started saying terrible things, and then Starscream said terrible things back, and… they were just arguing.” He groaned, running his servos down his faceplates. “I tried to calm them down before things got really bad. It was a good thing Starscream walked away because Megatron was looking very scary for a moment there...”

Hashtag narrowed her optics at him before spinning around and heading in the opposite direction from where their mom had taken Starscream and the others earlier.

“Hashtag, where are you going?” Bumblebee sighed, already sounding tired from all the drama.

She didn’t answer, and just continued without looking back.

“I’ll go after her,” Twitch offered.

“I’m coming too,” Mo said as the two followed after Hashtag.

Once the three of them walked into the forest, Hashtag glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one else had followed. Satisfied they were alone, she turned to her sisters. “Okay, don’t tell anyone about this, but—”

“You’re totally about to spy on them, aren’t you?” Twitch interrupted with an optic ridge raised, her arms crossed on her chest as she was hovering off the ground.

“I’m not spying on them. I’m just gonna make sure nothing bad happens to Starscream,” Hashtag clarified.

“Yeah, I don’t think you should do that,” Mo said with concern in her voice.

“Unless…” Twitch added, with an amused smile, “you bring us along.”

“Twitch, I’m serious! If Mom finds out, we’re all getting grounded forever.”

“That’s only if she finds out,” Hashtag countered with a firm tone before giving Mo a pleading look. “Come on, Mo, you saw how shaken up Starscream was earlier in our underground lair. And it was even worse before you guys showed up. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. What if he needs us…?”

Mo hesitated but thought it over. She recalled how her cyber-sleeve had felt drawn to Starscream while she was healing Hashtag. There was definitely a mystery there she had to solve herself.

“Well…” Mo finally said, her lips curling into a small smile. “If we’re doing this to help someone, I guess there’s nothing too wrong about it, right?”

Twitch and Hashtag exchanged satisfied smiles before looking back at Mo.

“Okay, then let’s move quietly so no one notices us,” Hashtag said before her sisters nodded with determination and followed her as she took the lead through the woods.

Chapter Text

Fanart done by norman6464 : ), Thank you so much norman, I honestly appreciate it so much <3

Peeps can follow them through: Tumblr

Thousands of Years Ago

Two senators down, and six more to go.

Taking the lives of those responsible for the suffering of many, broadcasting it for all to see on Cybertron, had given Megatron a chilling satisfaction - one he welcomed with open arms. But it wasn’t enough to quell the raging storm in his spark. He lusted for the deaths of many more. And he would make sure the whole High Council was dead no matter what.

Megatron was firing the cannon that Starscream had built for him in a surprisingly short period. Across the underground tunnels, it blasted the enemy into bits - or, at the very least, left them with crippling damage.

What unnerved him, as he pressed forward with his loyal men to meet up with another group of his followers, was the sight of countless lifeless corpses from his men, those who had wanted nothing more than to reach for their dreams, to claim the chance to live as they deserved – to have freedom and finally peace.

Something that irked him was how he noticed Starscream wasn’t among the living or the dead. The seeker had abruptly departed from their earlier meeting, before the Enforcers had come barging in and attacked.

Had Starscream run off with his trine to avoid the Enforcers?

He knew the Seeker was a coward. He could see it in the false blue optics, desperate to hide the truth of what he really was, deceiving everyone around him. Megatron wasn’t sure what Shockwave saw in that mech. Yes, the Seeker was smart and could fight well, but for some reason, irritation bloomed in his spark whenever he looked at him.  

Megatron turned to Soundwave as they marched down the tunnel. “Have you been able to reach Starscream yet?” he growled.

“Negative,” Soundwave responded.

Megatron’s faceplates darkened with annoyance as they finally reached their destination. They were met with more lifeless frames from both his followers and the Enforcers. Yet, there were a handful of his people still standing, injured but alive, most of them looking relieved to see him.

He spotted a white, familiar, large frame lying on the ground from afar. Standing right by it was Starscream, looking down at the lifeless figure with his back to him. Thundercracker stood close, wearing a sympathetic expression.

So, Starscream and his trine hadn’t teleported away as he’d first believed. And it appeared the shuttle named Skyfire had been killed.

Losing a friend was painful, but the experience would make the Seeker stronger, open his optics to reality - just as it had for him. And perhaps, now Starscream had more of a reason to help him with the cause. And he took note to later build Starscream up if he needed to because there were times some needed some motivation after losing someone close.

Then Starscream pulled away from the body of his fallen friend, with a blank face, and walked over to him.

Megatron narrowed his optics at the Seeker, watching him not spare another glance at the Shuttle, even Thundercracker was looking at Starscream with confusion, following close by.

“We should leave before more Enforcers come,” Starscream said to him with a cold tone.

Megatron gazed at him, as if trying to read Starscream. He didn’t know the Seeker much, but there was something that was unnerving him by how he was acting.

“Starscream, what about…” Thundercracker trailed off, his face pinched with sorrow, especially when he turned back to look at Skyfire’s lifeless frame.

“He’s gone,” Starscream responded dryly, his optics staring at nothing as he spoke. “There’s nothing we can do for him. Now, let’s stop wasting time and go before it’s too late.”

Ah, so Starscream’s strong ambition that Shockwave has told him about was finally showing. Shockwave had strongly suggested to use it well; his friend believed the seeker would lead him to victory. And by the looks of how Starscream appeared barely affected by the Shuttle’s death, maybe the Seeker would definitely be a great warrior by his side.

Megatron, satisfied how things were coming together, turned to address the rest of his men, doing what he did best, and gave an inspiring speech to help them recover from the ordeal they had just endured and to rally them to push onward with him - for a fair Cybertron.

“There’s no other explanation, Soundwave,” Megatron seethed as he stormed into the meeting room with Communications officer. “There’s a traitor among us. And when I get my hands on whoever dared betray us, I will make sure there’ll be nothing left of them but scrap.”

Megatron was furious. They had lost a significant fraction of the resources his people had been gathering over the past months in Polyhex. The mission to retrieve them had failed. Somehow, the Autobots had discovered one of their storage locations and looted everything. There was no way they could have known about it. He had assigned the right people for the job - those who were adept at hiding their tracks.

Starscream was standing by a large table, the map of Polyhex displayed in the center as a hologram as he stared at it intently. Megatron barely acknowledged him. Soundwave went directly to a computer and began analyzing data.

“Megatron, sir, I might know where the Autobots moved the resources to,” Starscream’s grating voice cut through the room, which Megatron found irritating.

Megatron jabbed a servo at the screen in front of him and Soundwave. “I want every Decepticon accounted for at all times. No one moves without my knowledge or-” A touch on his arm stopped him mid-sentence.

“Megatron, I—”

Red clouded his vision. Megatron turned and struck Starscream hard across the faceplates, sending him sprawling to the floor.

The room fell into stunned silence. Soundwave froze, staring at Starscream through his visor. The seeker lay motionless, optics wide with shock and disbelief as energon trickled from the corner of his lips, his faceplate slightly dented.

Megatron stood still, his hand burning as it, too, felt the impact. He had never struck any of his officers before. A wave of shame coursed through him as he gazed down at Starscream, but he quickly shoved it down, masking his expression with cold indifference.

Slowly, his servo curled into a fist and dropped to his side.

“Soundwave,” he said, turning to the mech as if Starscream didn’t exist. “Check the surveillance for suspicious activity and report anything of concern.”

Soundwave hesitated for a moment before nodding silently.

Megatron’s gaze flicked to Starscream, who was holding his damaged faceplate. “And Starscream,” he started, but paused for a moment, unsure of what to say to the Seeker. “Don’t ever interrupt me again. Understood?” He eventually said.

Starscream’s optics flickered with hesitation before lowering in shame. “Y-yes, Megatron. I mean, sorry, Megatron, sir.”

Satisfied, though his spark twisted uneasily, Megatron dismissed the moment. He had more pressing matters to attend to. Without a backward glance, he strode out of the room, leaving silence and tension in his wake.

“I’m sorry, Megatron,” Starscream said as they stood alone in a dark chamber, looking rather ashamed. “I didn’t think they would-”

“That’s the problem,” Megatron interrupted, his voice laced with irritation. “You didn’t think.”

Starscream fell silent for a moment, his optic ridges furrowing. His gaze drifted to the metal plating welded onto Megatron’s left arm, a grim reminder of the wound Megatron had sustained in battle - an injury that had almost cost him the whole limb.

“I swear, I won’t fail you again,” Starscream said, his blue optics shining with a determined light. But his words only stoked Megatron’s anger. It boiled within him as he took in Starscream’s pristine frame, free of even the slightest scratch from the latest battle they were in with the Autobots. Of course, Starscream would be unharmed; he always stood back like a coward while everyone else was doing the hard work.

“Oh, I will make sure you don’t,” Megatron said coldly. Starscream blinked at him in confusion. Before he could react, Megatron grabbed his left arm and yanked it upward, his grip tightening hard to the point it dented the metal.

Starscream’s optics widened in fear, wings lowering down against his back. “Wa-wait, Megatron, sir! What are you doing?” he stammered, as he tried pulling away in vain.

“Making sure you understand what your mistake cost me,” Megatron growled darkly.

Before he could process what was happening, Starscream’s agonized screams filled the room, piercing Megatron’s audials. Megatron’s massive servos tore through the metal beneath his grip. Sparks erupted violently, mingling with the burst of energon that splattered the floor and on him.

Starscream collapsed to his knees once Megatron released the limb, his frame trembling uncontrollably as he cradled his ruined arm against his chest. Agony radiated from him in shuddering gasps, his optics dim with pain and disbelief all while Megatron glared down at him.

“Tell me, Starscream, do you see yourself better than us?” Megatron was holding Starscream by his neck and pulled him close to his faceplates, while other Decepticons were silently watching around them, as an injured Autobot, on his knees, was being held by two other Decepticons.

Starscream’s optics, wide, shook his helm, while trying to pry off the servo off him. “No, Megatron, sir, that’s not what it is. I… I just can’t…I…” he tried to articulate what he was trying to say out of panic and while his neck was being crushed.

Megatron’s glowing red optics glared at him, his patience running thin, his grasp tightening around Starscream, drawing a pained whimper from him.

No one around them tried to stop the display of punishment.

“I can’t do it,” Starscream admitted with shame before he gasped when Megatron threw him to the ground in front of the Autobot. Then Megatron threw a blaster by Starscream.

“When I tell you to do something, Starscream, you do it,” Megatron said cold as ice.

Starscream sat up, and didn’t dare grab the weapon, and instead, looked around them to see some Decepticons looking uncomfortable, some looking at him with pity, while others were sneering. Thundercracker and Skywarp were doing their best not to make eye contact with him.

“Don’t make me force your servo, Starscream,” Megatron threatened, and Starscream’s optics widened as he looked up at him.

“Megatron, sir, please, I, my null rays are enough to aid our cause,” Starscream attempted to argue, giving him a pleading look to listen.

Then Megatron raised his right arm, cannon flaring to life and Starscream’s optics became wider than before. “Shoot him, Starscream.” Megatron commanded.

The seeker stared with fear and his servos, trembling, grabbed the blaster, and slowly rose to his pedes and pointed at the Autobot, who looked at him pleadingly to spare his life.

Starscream was trembling for a moment, and just when Megatron thought he heard him on the verge of hyperventilating, his frame went still, his faceplates blank - just like Megatron had seen before. Then, without hesitation, Starscream fired straight at the Autobot’s spark chamber.

Megatron walked among the ruins of Iacon. The towering buildings were now ghostly remnants of destruction. Beside him were Starscream and his loyal soldier, Barricade. Megatron scanned the desolate surroundings while Starscream clutched his blaster, ready to fire if needed.

They were searching for Swindle, who had reportedly gained the materials needed for Shockwave’s latest invention - something that could shift the war in their favor. But Swindle had vanished without a trace, leaving the Decepticons unable to locate him. Frustrated, Megatron decided to take matters into his own hands and look for him himself.

Suddenly, gunfire erupted from the left, forcing the group to take cover behind the crumbling remains of a building. Starscream and Megatron returned fire, aiming at the Autobots perched atop a worn-down structure. When the stalemate dragged on, Starscream transformed into his jet form and shot into the sky. With a quick maneuver, he dived at the Autobots, firing his null rays and paralyzing both targets.

Megatron and Barricade stepped out of cover just as Starscream reverted to his robot form, landing by the immobilized Autobots. With dark amusement glinting in his optics, Starscream pulled out his second blaster and shot one Autobot in the chest, killing him instantly. The other he hurled off the building, letting him crash to the ground below.

Starscream landed beside the fallen Autobot, pressing his pede into the Autobot’s helm with cruel satisfaction. His optics glowed as he relished the pained groan escaping from his victim. There was a disturbing delight Starscream took in toying with those who couldn’t fight back.

Not that Megatron minded.

Starscream looked up. “Megatron, sir, I think we’re—”

“It’s Lord Megatron,” Barricade interjected in a sharp tone.

Starscream rolled his optics. “Lord Megatron,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. The habitual insolence always irritated Megatron. “As I was saying, I think we’re heading in the wrong direction. We should regroup with the others.” Starscream pressed his pede harder against the Autobot’s helm in emphasis before lazily firing a shot into the Autobot’s chest.

Megatron ignored him, walking past without a word.

Starscream scowled but followed with Barricade trailing behind.

Deep down, Megatron knew Starscream was right. They were wasting time combing through the ruins and exposing themselves to potential ambushes.

“Lord Megatron,” Starscream said again after an hour of fruitless searching. “We should really head back.”

Megatron halted abruptly, forcing the other two to stop as well. He turned to glare at Starscream, his optics cold and menacing. The glare would have once made any Decepticon tremble, including Starscream in the past, but now, Starscream met the look with one of loathing.

Blue optics burned with hostility - optics that Megatron had ordered changed to red long ago, but Starscream had refused.

Tension crackled between the two in heavy silence.

“I didn’t bring you along to hear your incessant voice, Starscream,” Megatron said icily. “Either stay silent, or I’ll tear out your voice box for good this time.”

Starscream’s glare deepened, but he eventually looked away, his expression twisted with annoyance. He said nothing more, just as Megatron preferred, exactly like he wanted Starscream to be.

An obedient soldier.

Or at least, what he hoped for out of the Seeker, but he wasn’t foolish to let his guard down as he continued walking. Especially when he could feel the glare wanting to burn holes on his back. Something he had grown used to for the past vorns from the Seeker.

The Present

Starscream followed Optimus and Megatron through the forest. Dorothy sat on Megatron’s right shoulder, her palm resting on his helm to steady herself. Behind Starscream was Elita-1, though she kept her distance - something he wasn’t sure if he was comfortable with or not. Perhaps he would have preferred her in front with the others. Either way, his wings were lowered and pinned against his back, his hands curled into fists, ready to defend himself if he had to against the three – because he doubted they just wanted him to talk to Megatron - even though his frame was exhausted.

What if this was all a ruse to get him alone and rip his spark out of his frame? Maybe that’s why they were making sure to walk far enough away from the others, so no one would witness what was about to happen. Again, he had to remind himself Optimus most likely didn’t want Megatron to know about the Allspark inside of him, but he couldn’t control the paranoia getting the best of him.

At least his helm felt better now. If things went south, he could transform and make a quick escape without any trouble. Well, maybe with some injuries from Megatron, but at least he would still be alive. For now, he did his best to remain calm, letting frustration override the anxiety that threatened to grip his processor tightly.

“This should be far enough,” Megatron said gruffly, impatience dripping from his tone.

Everyone came to a halt, the trees around them all looked the same to Starscream, and he noticed it would be slightly difficult for him to fly out of there without hitting some branches.

“Now, you-” Megatron began, but Optimus interrupted him with a gentle servo on his chest.

“Remember what we agreed to,” Optimus reminded him.

Megatron’s optics narrowed, but after a tense moment, he looked away in annoyance and stepped back from Starscream. He carefully set Dorothy down on a large boulder - one that barely reached his knees - where she could stand on. Elita-1 moved to stand beside Megatron, careful to position herself in a way that wouldn’t make Starscream feel cornered as all four of them faced him - even though he still felt like it. Optimus’s gaze fixed on Starscream, who’s frame was still tense, wings low, and his face pinched with a mixture of irritation and unease.

Optimus had wanted to postpone this conversation until the following day, but Dorothy had insisted they address it now - especially after Mo had gone downstairs to meet with Starscream, which caused Megatron to almost stormed down there and causing a scene. Even though they were all clearly uncomfortable, Dorothy was right. They had to settle things once and for all between Starscream and Megatron. Even he believed it was long overdue.

And, as planned before Starscream had been shot, Optimus would start up the conversation, determined to show him that they weren’t here to cause any harm. “So, Starscream. How are you feeling?” he asked awkwardly. “I hope your helm isn’t in too much pain now.”

Starscream stared at him as though he’d lost a circuit or two.

Dorothy smiled at Optimus. She wasn’t sure if starting off this way was the best approach, but she had a feeling it was better than whatever Megatron had initially planned to say.

After a moment, Starscream seemed to gather himself and narrowed his optics at Optimus, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve felt worse,” he answered dryly, not without sending a quick glance, coldly, at Megatron who glared back.

Optimus’ optics dimmed slightly in understanding. “Well, I truly hope you make a swift and complete recovery soon,” he said with heartfelt sincerity. “While we’re on the topic, I must express my deepest apologies for the harm caused to you by Prowl’s actions. I never intended for -”

“Oh, please, Prime, spare me the apology,” Starscream interrupted with annoyance. “Prowl isn’t even on your team anymore, and yes, I’m fully aware he turned his back on you the moment you let Megatron join the Autobots. So don’t go apologizing for actions that you had no control over.”

Optimus winced at Starscream’s statement. Some of his former Autobot allies leaving due to his decision with Megatron still stung his spark. Of course, he wasn’t going to take out his anger at Starscream for it. It was a choice he had made. No one else was to be blamed for it.

“Prowl may not stand with me anymore, but that doesn’t absolve me of responsibility for what happened,” he said, his voice heavy with remorse. “What he did was unfair and uncalled for. You were the children’s guest, and your life should have never been put at risk in any shape or form, especially when you have been nothing but kind to them. For that, I take full accountability.”

Starscream rolled his optics at Optimus’ sentiment, which he wasn’t sure to believe in or not. Why should he trust one of the Mechs that made sure he was locked in a cage, forgotten, and left under the mercy of humans who got away with doing whatever they wanted with him?

“Now, I’ll let Dorothy take over from here,” Optimus said before moving to stand on Megatron’s other side.

Starscream glanced down at the woman who regarded him for a long moment.

Now that she had his full attention, Dot was making sure she chose her words carefully. There was still resentment inside of her towards him, from all the terrible things he has done to humanity, to Megatron, but she reminded herself how much her children cared for him, and what Elita-1 had told her earlier, and the good he could maybe do for humanity.

Yet, the words she had told Megatron the day before, when she called him about Starscream, replayed in her mind while Starscream’s blue optics – the color that had seen only on the Autobots – stare at her with intensity:

“The kids might believe he’s changed after his recent help, but you and I both know that genuine change takes more than just one good deed. You’ve said it yourself - he represents everything terrible of what Decepticons became. And it’s highly likely as well that he aided us only because Mandroid posed a threat not just to us, but to him as well.”

The moment her own words died down, Elita-1’s took over:

“Maybe Hashtag sees something in Starscream too – someone who isn’t the monster we all believe him to be. Like mother like daughter, don’t you agree?”

She took a deep breath, pushing away the prejudices she had toward Starscream before she finally addressed him, “My kids care about you a lot,” she started with.

Starscream’s stance seemed to grow more rigid, if that was even possible.

“Especially Hashtag,” she continued gently. “We were on opposite sides of a war once, enemies. And you’ve hurt people, taken many lives. So, you can probably imagine how hard it’s been for me to see my kids get close to someone like you. If I’m being real here, it scares me. I’m worried you’ll hurt them or worse.”

Starscream’s jaw clenched, his chest churned in pain as the image of Hashtag with a dent on her faceplates flashed in his mind.

“But, I admit, I haven’t been exactly fair to you, Starscream. I teach my kids to see the best in others, give second chances like I did with Megatron - but I’ve failed to do the same with you. I’ve let my own prejudices cloud my judgement, expecting the worst out of you. Most likely because I’ve gotten hurt by you. I’m not excusing your past actions against humanity, but I believe we should give you a chance to make up for the damage you’ve caused, just like we did with Megatron. It’d be pretty unfair not to extend the same chance to you. If you’re willing to prove yourself, that is.”

Starscream stared at her with a frown.

Truth be told, he didn’t care about the humans who had lost their lives during the war. In his mind, it was their fault for being in the way in the first place. But deep within his processor told him he should feel guilty. After all, humans might be insignificant compared to Cybertronians, but they were still life forms. And Hashtag, along with her siblings, cared about them deeply.

It was clear Megatron cherished Dorothy as well. Starscream had seen it. And he asked himself, if someone like Megatron could find worth in humans, then perhaps… shouldn’t he? Unless, of course, he truly was a selfish monster like most believe him to be.

“So,” Dorothy continued, offering him a small smile. “What I’m trying to say, or rather, what I should be asking is, do you want to make amends, Starscream?”

“Dorothy,” Megatron interjected, and Starscream’s glare immediately snapped to him, already expecting the worst.

“I understand your desire to see the best in others,” Megatron said to his human friend, “but Starscream does not feel compassion for anyone. He’s-”

“For Primus’ sake, she wasn’t talking to you!” Starscream snapped, his irritation boiling over. “And no one asked for your fragging opinion, you glitch-head!”

“I’m not going to let you manipulate Dorothy with your lies, Starscream,” Megatron shot back, stepping closer to the Seeker. “You may have gotten in the children’s heads, but enough is enough!”

“Megatron, please, calm down,” Dorothy said, unable to believe how quickly things were escalating.

Though, from the day prior, how Megatron had almost crushed Starscream’s cockpit, maybe she shouldn’t have been surprised.

Elita-1 and Optimus exchanged concerned glances before he gently placed a servo on Megatron’s arm.

Megatron tensed up, glaring at Optimus who looked disappointed in him, and shook his helm silently, disapproving his outburst. And somehow, that brought Megatron’s spark to churn with shame, and he took a step back, glaring off the side.

Meanwhile, Starscream was burning with desire to provoke him more, but he forced it down before he glanced back down at Dorothy, with some irritation directed to her as well but for a different reason.

“And you… You have some nerve asking me to make amends with your people,” Starscream sneered, his tone dripping with disdain, one that caught Dorothy off guard. “Especially after everything your wretched kind has done to me,” he said before realizing it was too late.

Megatron’s dark gaze locked back onto Starscream, looking like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.

Dorothy folded her arms, her brow furrowed. “You mean after we imprisoned you for the chaos and destruction you caused on Earth?”

Starscream’s piercing stare turned cold, his optics narrowing. Now he was wondering if she truly did not know about the experiments that were inflicted on him.

No… she wouldn’t know. If she did, she’d have said something. She looked like the sort to apologize for such terrible actions done to anyone. And by the looks of it, even Elita-1, who had an optic ridge raised in his direction, was also clueless.

His glare snapped to Optimus Prime, who now looked ashamed, making him realized only he knew about his suffering by the humans.

“I’m sorry, Starscream,” Optimus said, his deep voice heavy with regret, his fists clenched, his optics closing briefly. “I didn’t know. I swear to you, I didn’t know.” The others - Dorothy, Megatron, and Elita-1 - turned to him with confusion before he continued after opening his optics to look at Starscream with remorse, “I only just learned recently of what they did to you. If I had known sooner -”

“How convenient,” Starscream spat, cutting Optimus off.

“Had I known, I would have done everything in my power to stop it.”

Optimus’ words only made his anger boil over. A part of him wanted to drop the subject, because he was risking the others finding out about the All-spark, but the rage was clouding his judgement at this moment.

“Hah! And I’m supposed to be the liar here?” Starscream said sharply, exaggerated, his voice lowering with disdain. “That’s a pile of scrap and you know it, Prime!” His wings rose sharply. “You handed me over to those wretched humans! You, nor anyone else, bothered to check on me to see if I was okay, or at least functioning! Just admit it. Admit that you didn’t care what happened to me after you had me locked away. Or were you too busy living a ‘perfect’ life with the mighty Megatron to give a scrap about me?”

He wanted to let out a bitter, sharp laugh when Megatron’s words from earlier that day replayed in his processor while Optimus stood there, daring to appear like he truly regretted his actions: “It seems that even Optimus Prime couldn’t see any good in you.”

Dorothy turned to the Leader of the Autobots with a firm expression as she tried understanding what the two mechs were talking about. “Optimus. What is he talking about? What did G.H.O.S.T do?”

Even Megatron, and Elita-1, unsure what to do or say, turned to Optimus with confusion as they too were lost.

Optimus wasn’t sure if it was his place to share what had happened to Starscream under G.H.O.S.T.’s imprisonment. Of course, he wouldn’t tell them every detail, but... he knew he couldn’t, and shouldn’t, keep everything that took place behind closed doors.

“G.H.O.S.T. didn’t just keep Starscream imprisoned all these years,” he began hesitantly, meeting Dorothy’s gaze. “They also subjected him to torturous experiments against during the years he was held captive.”

Silence fell like a bucket of cold water for most of them there. At first, no one was sure they’d heard him right. But as the words sank in, Dorothy raised a hand to cover her mouth, horror dawning on her face. Elita-1 and Megatron stared at Optimus in disbelief.

“Optimus, that can’t be true,” Elita-1 said, finally breaking the silence.

“I’m afraid it is,” Optimus admitted quietly. “Wheeljack uncovered recorded footage after we took over G.H.O.S.T.’s headquarters. I saw bits of it myself - what they did to him without our knowledge.”

“And the others?” Megatron asked immediately, his worry shifting to the other Decepticons. “Were they victims too?”

“Wheeljack confirmed a few others suffered as well,” Optimus responded somberly.

Megatron stared at him in shock, and slowly his expression darkened. He couldn’t believe it - refused to believe it. His former soldiers, those who had stood by his side, had suffered while in captivity. And the worst part of it all was he had allowed it to happen by trusting strangers with their lives.

“You said... you swore to me we could trust them,” Megatron said slowly. His voice was low, trembling with barely restrained anger.

Then again, after the Mandroid incident and Karen’s actions against him and his kind, he shouldn’t have been surprised that G.H.O.S.T would have also crossed other lines.

Optimus met his gaze, filled with guilt. “And I take full responsibility for what they went through.”

Megatron stared at him. A part of him wanted to lash out at Optimus, let him shoulder all the blame, but deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be fair. They were partners, and as much as he hated to admit it, he could have – should have – done better himself. He should have checked on the Decepticons, but instead, he let the guilt of switching sides turn him into a coward, too afraid to face them.  

He should have tried helping the Decepticons realize the error of their ways as well. Help them get the second chance he got himself. It was the least he could have done after all their years of loyalty and the sacrifices they made for the cause.

Even now, he failed his people in some many ways…

After a long silence, Megatron placed a firm servo on Optimus’ shoulder, drawing his friend’s optics to meet his. “Don’t put all the blame on yourself, Optimus. I’m also responsible for their suffering,” he admitted. “I was their leader, and I abandoned them. I should have done more, pushed for a different and better solution, no matter the cost to myself.” He paused for a moment, his optics dimming slightly as they lowered, before meeting his friend’s gaze once more. “We both have made mistakes, old friend. But as you’ve reminded me before, our mistakes are lessons. We can rise above them, evolve, and make sure we do better moving forward.”

Optimus smiled softly at him, his servo grasping Megatron’s tightly. “And we will do better together,” he said.

Elita-1 smiled proudly at them, while Dorothy looked back at Starscream, who was standing there, staring at the scene with utter disbelief. Then, gradually, the expression melted away, his optics dimmed, as a growing sadness seemed to wash over his faceplates. His head lowered slightly, wings having fallen against his back, his faceplates twisting as if in pain.  

And Dorothy felt her heart ache for him, surprising her. For a second time in the past two day, she was feeling sorry for him. Could anyone blame her, though? Because a few apologies later, Megatron and Optimus had completely brushed off Starscream’s terrible experiences with G.H.O.S.T and made the whole situation about themselves. And to make things worse, Megatron seemed to have been more worried over the other Decepticons’ suffering over Starscream’s, even though Starscream had been the victim the longest.

30 years Starscream had been stuck with G.H.O.S.T, and she couldn’t imagine what sort of atrocities they did to him. All while he had to suffer through it alone. Anyone imprisoned by the ‘enemy’, isolated, and tortured for so long would break anyone or drive them mad.

He was clearly traumatized, burying it, and no one could see it. Except for her daughter, Hashtag, and possibly a couple others too in her family. And even though she didn’t know Starscream, she could tell he wasn’t the sort to talk about his problems.

She saw now Starscream’s wings trembling before his head rose with optics flaring bright, his dental clenched. with nothing but rage as he glared straight at Megatron who was completely oblivious to him, still gazing at Optimus with a soft fondness.

Dorothy knew things were going to get ugly quick if she didn’t do something.

And she was right.

Starscream was devastated to see Megatron simply ‘forgiving’ Optimus so easily from his mistakes, a mistake that had caused Decepticons so much agony. He felt even worse that Megatron brushed the suffering he had gone through, as if not caring he had been tortured for years.

His spark felt heavy, drowning in pain as memories of his struggles, his awful experiences came crashing down on him like a heavy, suffocating wave. Then, beneath the sadness, the dark, boiling rage coiled in his spark, growing with every thought of his suffering by the hands of a particular Mech.

He raised his helm, his blue optics flaring as he glared darkly at Megatron.

And it was at that moment, Starscream couldn’t hold back the torrents of emotions from blinding him. He raised his null ray as rage consumed him entirely.

“Starscream, don’t!” Dorothy yelled right before Starscream, with a furious cry, fired toward Megatron.

Out of reflex, Megatron stepped back just in time as the energy blast flew past his faceplates.

Elita-1 tried getting to Starscream, but he swung his null ray toward her this time, forcing her to stop and dodge as he shot at her in a blind fury.

Which was a fatal mistake for him.

Megatron lunged at him, tackling him into the ground hard. Starscream gasped in pain at the impact sending a shockwave through his wings and frame.

“You spineless, miserable, ungrateful fool!” Megatron yelled with fury as he grabbed Starscream by the neck, his hand wrapping around his neck cables. “And I was stupid enough to let you manipulate your way into the children’s lives!”

Starscream barely had time to recover or register what was happening before Megatron’s fist came down hard on his face, sending a sharp burst of pain through his systems, causing a sharp, high-pitched ringing in is audio receptors that drowned out any other sounds. His vision blurred momentarily as he cried out in pain.

“You’ll never change!” Megatron screamed louder and before he had the chance to start running more blows on Starscream mercilessly just like many times he had done so in the past, Optimus and Elita-1 grabbed Megatron by the arms, both attempting to pull him back.

“Megatron, stop!” Dorothy yelled while Megatron struggled from Optimus and Elita-1 violently, his red optics burning with rage as he snarled down at Starscream, who thrashed underneath him, desperately trying to get away from him.

“Megatron, that’s enough!” The commanding voice of Optimus rang out sharply, which was enough for Megatron to stop fighting against the two Autobots and allowed them to pull him off of Starscream and a few steps back.

“I told you we couldn’t trust him!” Megatron yelled at Optimus with fury. “I-” he stopped when he heard a sound cutting through the air - a sob, raw and broken. Startled, Megatron turned, his gaze landing on Starscream in shock.

Starscream struggled to sit up, his frame trembling and once he did, he hunched on himself, and brought both servos to cover his optics, his lips pressing into a firm line as he tried so hard to hold himself together, to stop the pooling of tears in his optics as a trail of energon stained his faceplates from Megatron's strike. But it was difficult to fight against the emotions tearing him apart. Especially when he was just so done with everything.

A tear managed to escape, trailing down his faceplates, which only made him feel worse. Made him feel ashamed.

Meanwhile, never, ever in Megatron’s existence of knowing Starscream had he ever seen him cry. Not even when he punished him. All Starscream did was plead pathetically to spare him, but to actually see outright crying?

Megatron didn’t know what to do. He stared at a complete loss as Starscream’s entire chassis shook as another sob escaped his vocal processor. It was strained, filled with static. And he wasn’t the only one staring at the scene in shock. Optimus and Elita-1’s optics were wide while Dot had a pained expression on her face.

Because they all failed what they had promised the kids of what they should have kept from happening.

While everyone fell silent, Starscream was still struggling with himself, fighting a losing battle to hide his emotions. He was so tired, so utterly tired.  He had cried in front of Hashtag, and truth be told, it was the first time he had done so after… Skyfire’s death. And now, he was doing it again, and worse, in front of Megatron.

He blamed how weak he’d become, blaming it for the years he was held captive by G.H.O.S.T, how they tortured him. Did the humans somehow break something in him during those years…?

Well, if they did, could anyone blame him?

After all, he was inside that cage, for far too long. Alone, and the only time he wasn’t, was to throw him onto a lab table and cut him open. There were moments when he felt himself slipping into madness, tempted to do something drastic… maybe even enough to force Optimus to notice him. But in the end, he didn’t. And now… there he was, showing Megatron how some pathetic humans reduced him into an embarrassment.

Yes, he had many times humiliated himself to beg Megatron to spare him, but… crying was an entirely different level that he never wished to do in front of Megatron.

As his systems worked hard to calm himself down, he felt something soft yet somber brushing in his spark, as if trying to comfort him. But it wasn’t enough to calm the ache and sadness that he carried and have been growing worse since Skyfire’s death.

Since Skyfire’s death…

Skyfire…

“Do you remember what you said to me when we first met?” Starscream asked, his voice quiet as he lowered his servo from his faceplates. His blue optics were slightly dimmed, exhausted. “You invited me to meet with you. I was surprised it was you, the great gladiator Megatronus, who wanted to see me. But there you were, waiting as if I was someone worth your time. And you… you told me I could be much more. You said you saw me, you could see what I could become. You told me that with my intellect, my strength, I could stand at the forefront of a brighter era.”

Megatron was silent, his face guarded now as Starscream slowly rose to his pedes, standing before him.

“You, by my side,” Starscream said, mimicking Megatron’s voice – not mockingly, as he might have in the past, but with raw emotion, “will help me tear down this decaying order. And in its place, we will forge a Cybertron that is just, a world where the likes of us will never be silenced again…” His shoulders shook as he struggled to hold himself together. “That’s what you said to me, and I, a fool, believed every word of it…” His voice dripped with self-loathing as his servos curled into tight fists.

Anger crossed Megatron’s faceplates, looking defensive. “You-”

“Shut up!” Starscream screamed at him with pure rage. “I’m not finished speaking and you WILL listen to me!”

His shriek was so grating, it made Megatron flinch, as did the others. Then Megatron stared at him in disbelief, but said nothing, watching as Starscream’s vents came in heaving gasps. Starscream’s blue optics burned with unshed tears.

“I did everything you wanted when the war broke out!” Starscream snapped, stepping closer to Megatron. “I’ve taken so many lives, risked my life, all for you and your precious cause!” His servos shot up, gesturing at himself in frustration. “I used my intellect to help Shockwave create weapons of destruction - inventions I never wanted to build – because you demanded it! I fought in battles that terrified my very core. And you… you-” He trailed off, gazing up at Megatron with a mix of despair and bitterness.

“I still don’t understand why you despise me as much as you do… You never… hated anyone as much as you hated me…” Starscream’s wings fell limp on his back, his systems doing their best to cool down as he tried to steady himself. “Do you remember,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost eerily calm, “when we lost those resources back in Polyhex because the Autobots took them all?”

Megatron didn’t reply.

“You were so furious,” Starscream continued, his optics trailing down to the ground. “You thought there was a traitor in our ranks. You wanted Soundwave to hunt down the mole while I was trying to suggest strategies to recover at least a fraction of what we’d lost. But you weren’t listening. And when I tried to get your attention… I reached out to you, you…” Starscream’s voice faltered, his optics dimming as the memory washed over him.

And Megatron, at first, wasn’t sure what Starscream was talking about. His processor tried going back to the early years of the war. Then, the memory played and his optics widened in revulsion.

He had long forgotten about the memory, and originally, he had found countless ways to justify striking Starscream or simply dismissed it as an accident. But now, after everything he’s experienced with the Autobots and the Terrans, he knew better.

“Starscream, I’m -”

“Then one of my plans failed in Kaon,” Starscream cut him off quietly, as he grabbed his left arm, holding it close to his chest that painfully throbbed, reflecting how he felt. “And you got seriously hurt. After you were patched up, you told me to follow you. You had to make it clear to me what my mistakes cost you…”

The second memory replayed in Megatron’s processor this time immediately, and shame washed through Megatron’s systems and spark.

Another memory that was so long forgotten. They were from the years when he started to completely lose himself to his rage, to his hatred. And at that time, he had truly believed Starscream had deserved his arm getting crushed by his servos.

“And then the time you wanted me to officially take someone’s life,” Starscream said though clenched teeth. “You humiliated me in front of everyone, and even when I begged you not to, when I told you that my null rays were enough, you gave me no choice. It was my life or theirs.”

That’s right. Megatron had completely forgotten he had been the one to force Starscream to kill for the first time. And after that death, Starscream gradually became great at killing, transformed into a powerful warrior just like Shockwave had promised him when he recommended to bring him into the Decepticons.

That was the main reason Megatron sought Starscream out, wasn’t it? Because Shockwave had told him Starscream could help the cause. That he was built to be a fearsome tool if used right.

Megatron threw a servo on his helm, his face averting away from Starscream in shame and saw how Optimus and Elita-1 were staring at him in disbelief. Even Dorothy looked shocked.

“You never punished anyone else the way you did me,” Starscream said, his tired gaze fixed on Megatron. “Even now… that hate you have for me still burns. I see it in your optics. I’ve felt it in your words… and through your servos.”

Guilt crossed Megatron’s red optics, but he said nothing.

“My life may have not been perfect before the war, my dream to be a scientist was ripped away from me, and I barely had any choices, but… I-” Starscream’s voice faltered for a moment… “I still had him… I still had Skyfire…” his voice broke as he said the name, and a couple of tears trailed down his faceplates, his lips trembling as he imagined Skyfire’s loving smile, his soft touches.

Megatron’s optics dimmed slightly as the realization of who he was talking about dawned on him, surprised to see the pain Starscream carried for the Shuttle’s death.

“I should have done everything in my power to leave Cybertron, just like he wanted us to do,” Starscream continued, letting his faceplates pinch with sorrow. “But I was too ambitious. Too consumed with the idea that we could have everything - the life we deserved - because you told me we could.”

“I believed in you…” his voice dropped to a low, broken whisper. “I turned to you, followed you when I lost everything. When I lost him…” His optics squeezed shut, his face turning away as though saying it out loud would shatter him entirely. “I was so desperate to believe in your words because it was the only thing that was holding me together after Skyfire’s death… It’s all I had left…”

Megatron’s servos turned into fists, the guilt washing through him more than before as he recalled how desperate Starscream was to please him during the first years of the war. How respectful the mech was. How he followed him like a shadow through their base.

“And yet, you…” Starscream’s voice broke again. “You humiliated me. You hurt me, time and time again. Do you know how much it hurt when you tore me apart all those times? When you crushed my wings? When you smashed my cockpit? When you cracked my helm open?"

Megatron felt his servos burn now when he thought of how many times they were stained with Starscream’s energon.

“Do you know how many times I thought about leaving the Decepticons? About joining the Autobots instead?” Starscream let out a hollow, mirthless laugh. “But I didn’t, because I was afraid of you. I saw what you did to those who betrayed the cause, and I refused to end up like them. I thought – no, I hoped – if I worked harder, if I became your second-in-command, then maybe you’d finally see my worth. Maybe then, I wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore. Maybe then, you would stop hurting me.”

‘No where is safe if it’s with you,’ the words replayed in Megatron’s mind.

Starscream’s optics flashed with renewed anger. “But even when I earned that rank, you still blamed me for everything – for every loss, every mistake, even the ones that weren’t mine to bear.” His voice rose, trembling with frustration and fury. “Mistakes you made!” He shoved Megatron back hard, making the taller mech tumble back a few steps, caught off guard. “At first, I believed it,” Starscream hissed as he glared up at Megatron. “I blamed myself. I thought I wasn’t trying hard enough. I grew paranoid with everything I did, just to avoid your wrath. But then I grew tired of taking fault. Tired of the punishments. Tired of being the laughingstock you made me into. But it was too late then. No one respected me anymore – not because of who I was, but because you turned me into a joke.”

He paused, his vents harsh and uneven as his wings drooped slightly, his optics narrowing. “And the worst part of it all? You didn’t care. After everything I did for you, you repaid me by making me as angry, as miserable as you were. You wanted to hurt me just like they hurt you… And I realized a long time ago, all those words you said to me to get me to join your cause… they were just lies. You lied to me.”

Megatron said nothing, unable to find the right words at this moment. Shocked that he truly had forgotten regarding what he did to Starscream before things grew worse between them. Before Starscream tried becoming the leader of the Decepticons himself.

“And yet, between the two of us, after everything you did, I somehow became the liar?” Starscream asked quietly. “I turned out to be the monster everyone hates? The one meant to be locked away, forgotten, ripped open, while you got a second chance?” he said through clenched dental, his optics burning with so much emotion.

“How is it fair that I’m the one who has to suffer while you become some victimized hero? How the frag did I become the one to shoulder all the blame for your sins?” He stepped closer, his wings angling sharply, his whole frame trembling with the fury he could barely contain.  “When it was you who lead Cybertron to its downfall. When it was you who poisoned the Decepticons with your hate.”

Optimus was now the one to feel the guilt that Megatron was feeling, but in a different way, for different reasons. His blue gaze watched Starscream who’s shoulders trembled violently.

“I… I hate you, Megatron,” Starscream hissed, his blue optics flooded with raw disdain. “I hate all the pain and hurt you’ve caused me. I hate how you destroyed Cybertron, how you ruined the Decepticons, all because you couldn’t stop making everything about yourself, all because you couldn’t stop yourself from dragging all of us down with you. I hate that you made me into this monster that now you want nothing more but to erase. I hate how you don’t want anyone to give me a way out of this misery of existence you pulled me into because you’re too much of a coward to face the consequences of your actions.”

Starscream’s body trembled, tears pooling in his optics as his faceplates shattered from sorrow. “I…” he choked out. “I don’t deserve the level of hate that you have for me,” he said with a trembling voice. “It wasn’t my fault that you were forced to become a gladiator to entertain others. It wasn’t my fault they hurt you so much.” His lower lip quivered as he took a few steps away from Megatron. His arms wrapping around himself as he looked away, his spark aching worse than before. “I had nothing to do with what you went through. I was just a cold construct seeker, that wanted nothing more but to feel validated. I don’t deserve to be in constant fear of my life because of your personal problems.”

He let out a shaky vent out, his spark throbbing still. “I should have never made that cannon for you…” he let out. “I should have never delivered those senators for you to slaughter. I should have never blindly trusted you. I…” He shut his optics hard, his limp wings trembling behind him as tears trailed down his faceplates again. “I should have never allowed you… to turn me into someone Skyfire… could no longer love.” He sobbed now, his legs shaking underneath his weight.  

Then he thought about everything that lead him to that point in his existence. How he had led Skyfire to his death as well. Because that was the honest truth. It was his actions that got Skyfire to come looking for him after what happened to the Senators. If only he had allowed Skywarp to teleport them all away just like Skyfire wanted. If only he wasn’t so stubborn to want more.

Maybe, every terrible thing could have been avoided if…

If… only he…

His chest felt like it was falling apart when he remembered how Skyfire shoved him back just as the missile struck him.

“I should have never joined the Decepticons…” Starscream said, barely above a whisper, his blue optics flooded with coolant as it smeared down his face, his helm bowed low. “I should have never…” he choked on his words, unable to say more.

Just when he felt he was drowning alone, someone pulled him into a warm embrace, making him freeze and panic. At first, his vision was too blurry to make sense of what he was seeing. All he could see was a haze of pink. Pulling away slightly with fear, he blinked furiously, trying to clear the flood of tears overwhelming his optics. Slowly, his vision came into focus, and he realized it was Elita-1 in front of him, her servos gripping his arms tightly. Her own blue optics shimmered with unshed coolant, a sympathetic look softening her features.

He stared at her in disbelief, because why would the second in command of the Autobots hug him?

But he found himself not pulling away when she held him close against her frame a second time. She guided his helm to her shoulder, her servo gently resting against the back of his head.

There were no words exchanged between them, and there was no need for any. Her embrace – despite her being an Autobot – was enough to release the anguish he had been holding back in his spark, breaking him down into silent sobs that wracked his frame. Tears slipped free as he wrapped his arms around her, desperately seeking warmth and comfort in his miserable existence.

All he wanted was for someone to hold him. He wanted to believe that everything was going to be okay – that he too, could turn his life around. He so desperately wanted to believe he wasn’t a lost cause, as so many had judged him to be…

And he also wished he could finally feel safe in the universe, even though he didn’t think it would ever be possible for him. Especially while his spark felt the source that could save their home world.

Chapter Text

Fan art

Please like and reblog their art pieces on tumblr, to show support :)

Thank you norman6464 for drawing these amazing art pieces based on one of my favorite parts of chapter 22 :'3. I'm glad peeps really felt the feels with that line hahaha. I just had to include it for angst purposes hahaha

But yeah, so well done, I just want to hug Starscream :'c. Look at that sad puppy! :'c!

Their tumblr:
https://www.tumblr.com/norman6464

Thank you loudeluxe for creating this amazing fan art piece of Starscream angst based on chapter 22 :'3. Ahh, it definitely tugs in my heart strings hahaha
Megatron hurting Starscream just makes me want to hug him tightly v.v, and his expression is just so ahhh
Their trumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/loudeluxe

Thank you dream-miel for the amazing art piece based on one of my favorite scenes of chapter 22 : ). It's so amazing and I love it <3.
I lowkey rewrote that last part of Starscream's dialogue multiple times. I hope it was good at the end hahaha
But yeah, Megatron's and Starscream's expressions are just so <3

Their tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/dream-miel

Thank you rat-maggie for the amazing art piece based on one of my favorite scenes for chapter 22. honestly, it was one of those scenes that I kept rewriting because I wasn't happy with it till I got it just the way I liked it hahaha.
So it's amazing you did an art of it. Love that Megatron and Optimus expressions while Starscream is like >: I, lololol
Their tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/silly-ratmaggie

Thousands of Years Ago

Megatronus caught the fist aimed at his faceplates, a hiss of pain escaped his lips when his opponent drove a dagger into his side. Energon burst from the wound, but he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he seized his opponent’s arm, yanking him close before slamming his helm against him with all his strength. His opponent cried out, his grip on the dagger faltering. Megatronus quickly knocked the opponent’s servos aside and yanked the dagger from his own frame before plunging it into the mech’s neck, ignoring how much energon was spilling from his own injury.

His opponent staggered back, wide red optics filled with shock, servos desperately clutching at his wound in a futile attempt to stop the energon from spilling.

Meanwhile, Megatronus ignored the boos from the audience, his narrowed red optics shifting sideways to a camera perched in the corner of the cage. He stood silently, ignoring his opponent crumpled to his knees before collapsing entirely. Then, without warning, electricity burst from the metal cuffs around his wrists through his already aching frame. He gritted his dental, fighting to stay on his pedes, but the pain overwhelmed him. With a final shudder, he hit the ground and went offline.

“I warned you, didn’t I?” a red mech said coldly the moment Megatronus came back online, his entire frame pulsing with pain. “I told you to stop beating your opponents the second the fight starts. You’re driving their patience.”

Megatronus met the mech’s gaze with an icy stare before struggling to sit up. The red mech sighed and helped him lean against the wall. Glancing down at his side, Megatronus noticed a crudely welded metal plate covering his injury. He had lost a lot of energon, which explained the exhaustion and pain coursing through his frame. The wound was nothing new to him - his frame was littered with scars from injuries that were never treated properly.

“Listen, Megatronus,” the red mech continued. “Just play along. Give them a show, and they’ll make you their champion. Keep fighting back, and you’ll just end up rusting in here with the rest of us.”

His gaze lingered for a moment on the countless other mechs sitting nearby, their battered frames motionless in the dimly lit cell. The floor was cold, stained with energon and oil. A single flickering light in the hallway barely illuminated the space.

“They’ll kill you,” a blue mech muttered. “If you keep defying the Senate, they will end you.”

Megatronus didn’t respond. Even through his exhaustion, his gaze darkened as he glared at the guard standing outside the cell. His digits, crusted with dried energon, twitched. Having the urge to yank the guard’s axe hanging from his side and cut through his own spark chamber to end it all; he rather take his own life than allow others do it for him.

Then, three more guards entered the chamber. Two of them carried staffs, their tips crackling with blue electricity.

“Megatronus,” the one in the center said, his voice calm. His cold blue optics bore down on him - the color Megatronus had grown to hate. They were nothing like the soft ones he longed to see again. “You’re being summoned.”

Megatronus wanted to ignore the guard, to stay where he was. He knew he was about to be punished for ending his fight too quickly. But not wanting the others in the cell to suffer from disobedience, with clenched denta, he forced himself to his pedes, his tired limbs protesting with every movement, and strode forward.

Megatronus was led into another chamber - much cleaner than the one he had been rotting in for vorns. The floor was spotless, the walls pure white, and a bright overhead light illuminated the room. In the center stood a table surrounded by a few chairs, as if the room was meant for meetings rather than prisoners.

Inside, a mech with a white, blue, and lime paint job stood waiting. At first, Megatronus didn’t recognize him. The last time he had seen this mech - on a distant projector feed in the sky - his colors had been different.

But once he realized who was the mech, something raw and violent ignited in his spark.

Pure hatred.

“Could you three step out and give us some privacy?” The multicolored mech spoke with a perfect smile on his face. “I would prefer to speak with him alone.”

“Senator Shockwave,” one of the guards said stiffly. “With all due respect, we must –”

“None of that,” Shockwave interrupted with a dismissive wave of his servo, amusement lacing his tone. “I’ll be fine. Now, shoo. My time is valuable.”

The guards hesitated, exchanging glances at one another, but ultimately obeyed, stepping out and sealing the door behind them.

“Wow, we’re pretty lucky. I honestly didn’t expect them to leave us that soon,” Shockwave chuckled and turned toward Megatronus, walking over to him. “Well, I have to say, it’s great to fina-”

His words were abruptly cut off.

Megatronus lunged, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him onto the table. The force sent the surrounding chairs crashing to the floor.

Shockwave’s blue optics widened - not out of fear, but mild surprise. He didn’t struggle, didn’t fight back. He simply lay there as Megatronus loomed over him, denta bared in a snarl, red optics blazing with unrestrained fury.

“Senator Shockwave,” Megatronus spat the name like venom, his grip tightening around the mech’s neck, earning a wince of pain. “Out of all the senators cowards, you’re the most foolish and the one I’ll drag to the pits of Unicron with me.”

Shockwave let out a strained breath. Then, despite the pressure on his throat, he managed a quiet chuckle. “Foolish?” he mused. “Yeah, been called that a lot lately. And I don’t think Orion Pax would be too happy to find out his friend met his end before he had a chance to see him again.”

Megatronus froze, confusion flickering across his faceplates at the mention of a name he hadn’t heard in so long. His optics darkened once more.

“What have you done to him?” he hissed.

“No-thing,” Shockwave choked out as Megatronus’ servos tightened. “I swe-ar… your fri-end is sa-fe. Now, if you wo-uld kin-dly rele-ase me… for just a mo-ment… I can ex-plain… why I’m he-re.”

Megatronus considered ignoring him, wanting nothing much but to crush the life from the Senator. His entire being burned with the desire to. But, desperately wanting to know how his only friend was doing, he finally released his hold and took a step back, but not far enough to allow Shockwave to get off the table.

Shockwave sat up slowly, coughing a bit violently as he rubbed at his sore neck. He could feel some plating dented. “Yeah,” he muttered between coughs. “Orion Pax was right. You do have quite the grip. Though I imagine he left out the part about you being this dramatic.” He let out a soft laughter this time. “Then again, I suppose that’s something we both have in common.”

The glare on Megatronus grew darker if that was even possible, and the way he towered over Shockwave, made him stay in place, not wanting to provoke the Gladiator into another outburst.

“Anyhow,” the Senator said, offering a friendly smile. “I can see from your reaction that introductions may be unnecessary but allow me the courtesy of formality. My name is Shockwave, and it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, D-16 - or rather, Megatronus, as you have chosen to be known by these past vorns.” He offered a servo to shake.

There was only silence from the Gladiator, his glare as hostile as ever, with no indication that he would accept the gesture.

“Your friend, Orion Pax, has spoken highly about you,” Shockwave continued, dropping his servo, not the slightest bit offended, nor intimidated by the Gladiator despite standing merely a foot apart and fully aware that he could be easily crushed. “And before we continue, I want to make one thing very clear– I did not approve of what’s been done to you. In fact, I was unaware who you were until Orion sought me out about your situation. He was deeply concerned about your well-being and pleaded to me to find out about what became of you after your arrest. It was pretty shocking to me, after extensive digging, to find you and other mechs here, being forced into fighting each other for entertainment purposes.”

The gladiator continued to stay silent.

“Believe me when I say I had no knowledge of this underground operation. It’s very barbaric and I certainly don’t condone it. To be honest with you, I don’t agree with most of what the High Council does. Which is probably why they don’t like me very much.” Shockwave chuckled.

“Forgive me if I find your words difficult to believe, Senator,” Megatronus hissed, before leaning down so his face was barely an inch away from Shockwave’s. “But I know your kind very well. You’re all nothing but corrupted, spineless functionaries, twisting words in order to manipulate everyone around you. So, don’t bother wasting your time with your fabricated lies because I’ll never trust someone like you.” 

Shockwave observed him quietly. “You know,” he said, tilting his helm slightly, not putting any distance from the Gladiator, “your friend shared me your journal. I’ve read your writings, Megatronus. Read what you hope for Cybertron, and for the lives of our people. And the truth is - I agree with most of everything you have written.”

The gladiator narrowed his optics in silent suspicion as he pulled away from Shockwave but stayed in place before him.

“Our society is truly corrupt,” Shockwave said, his tone firm. “It has been for far too long. I have seen the suffering of our people - ignored, dismissed - as those in power turn away, concerned only with preserving their own status. The High Council does not govern; it hoards. It clings to this hierarchy they’ve created, while those below it are left to rust.”

He looked down at his lap as his blue optics dimmed. “There is no justification for the oppression they have instilled onto others. We have the means, the knowledge, the resources to create a society where all Cybertronians can thrive, yet they choose division. We allow those in power to dictate who is worthy and who is disposable.”

His servos curled into fists as he lifted his gaze to meet Megatronus’ cold one. “I agree with you, no Cybertronian should be forced into a life they did not choose. No spark should have its future decided before it has even had the chance to define itself. And the cold construction process is an atrocity- forcing a spark into a frame it never chose, stripping them of identity before they even have a chance to grow into is cruel and should have never been done. Cybertron has to change soon, or it will collapse under its own corruption, destroyed by those it has cruelly oppressed for far too long.”

Shockwave’s blue optics glowed with a strength and determination that seemed so familiar to the gladiator, to the point it made his chest clench.

It was almost like looking himself in a mirror with his past self.

“The High Council fears you, Megatronus,” Shockwave said in a serious tone. “They know you have the ability to change Cybertron. Not only do you have the physical strength for it, but your words hold power as well. And that makes you dangerous to them.” He placed a hand lightly on Megatronus’ arm, causing him to tense up.

However, Shockwave’s optics appeared so sincere to Megatronus that he couldn’t bring himself to pull away, drawing him in.

“You are the beacon of hope,” Shockwave said in a serious tone. “The people need someone who understands oppression firsthand, someone who has endured, who has survived. Someone whose spirit remains unbroken, even when the world tried to crush them. Megatronus, Cybertron needs you to save it from its downfall.” With his other servo, Shockwave grasped Megatronus’ left arm before bringing him close to him, catching Megatronus off guard. “And I’m here to tell you, that I’ll help you as best as I can.” Shockwave smiled at him, his blue optics flashing bright. “I want a better Cybertron just like you. I want to give our people the freedom they’ve been denied for so long. Every Cybertronian deserves the right to determine their own fate, to have the same opportunities as those above them. And I believe, if we work together, we can make it all happen.”

A heavy weight pulled in Megatronus’ spark. Something in his spark whispered to him the Senator was trying to trick him – that he was spouting lies.

For far too long, he had lived with rage burning his spark. His life was a constant battle of survival. First spending most of his life in the mines, darkness always welcoming him, nothing but pain and aches in his joints, dragging him down. And even worse, in the past vorns, he’d been forced to tear down other Cybertronians, tainting and crushing his soul.

There was a time he longed for a better life, something other than suffering and rage. And he hoped he could at least see his only friend again, his warm optics and the welcoming smile once more before he met his end.

And yes, for a long time, he wanted to find a way to change Cybertron, to help others live a life without rage and pain like he had. Yet… he had given up on such hope a long time ago. He believed there was nothing waiting for him in the future other than death after he had taken the lives of others who shared the same fate as him.

Megatronus averted his gaze from Shockwave, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted, wanting to go back to his cell.

It was too late for him to hope.

It was too late for his life to finally have some true worth.

And after everything he’d been through as a gladiator, he didn’t even want Orion to see who he’d become.  

Shockwave, seeing how Megatronus was emotionally withdrawing, he gripped Megatronus’ arms tighter. As if anchoring him back.

“I know there is still some strength in you who wants to fight for what is right,” Shockwave said quietly. “Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on what you believe in. You can do so much more than just survive. And you’re not alone. I’m here, Megatronus. Orion Pax is there for you. Let us help you bring the change you’ve been longing for since you first came online.”

Megatronus hesitantly gazed back at him, and saw a soft, earnest glow coming from Shockwave. It reminded him of Orion Pax. As if it were the only light piercing the darkness that had suffocated him for most of his existence. And the gentle smile that made its way on the Senator made Megatronus’ red optics soften.  

He blamed the exhaustion in his spark for falling for the Senator’s words.

“Trust me, Megatronus,” Shockwave said softly, his grip maintaining strong. “We can save Cybertron together.”

Shockwave made frequent visits to Megatronus after their first meeting.

The Senator would take him to the same chamber as before, away from prying eyes, and provide updates regarding Orion. It seemed to Megatronus that Shockwave was getting quite close to Orion, based on how much time the two were spending together and how fondly Shockwave spoke of him. At first, this stirred something ugly in Megatronus' spark.

The Senator described Orion as a kind mech - strong-willed and loyal - qualities that Megatronus deeply missed about his friend. He wished it were he who was out there, spending time with Orion; he didn’t think it was fair that a Senator was the one enjoying Orion’s time.

However… he hated to admit it, but he enjoyed how gently Shockwave would lay his servo on his arm or his leg whenever they sat when he visited him, and how warm he was…

“I come bearing gifts,” Shockwave said as he extended a small, finely crafted box to Megatronus during a visit. This time, the Senator had a paint job of red, blue, and white. “Orion mentioned you have an affinity for rust sticks. I made sure to buy the finest available.”

Megatronus’ optics narrowed down at the gift with suspicion, and hesitantly took it.

“Oh, and I’m thinking maybe, I can sneak Orion here next time I come visit,” Shockwave said.

This time, Megatronus cast a sharp glare at Shockwave. “You will do no such thing,” he growled.

“He wants to see you,” Shockwave frowned. “He wants to make sure you’re alive and that I’m not just fabricating lies to keep him happy. And trust me, he’s rather insistent.”

“I swear, if you bring him here, I will rip that spark out of your frame,” Megatronus threatened. “The last thing I want is for him to be dragged into this hell.”

Shockwave folded his arms. “No need for dramatics now. Orion is under my protection and has been for a while now. I give you my word Megatronus, nothing bad is going to happen to him, especially if I bring him to see you.” He then gestured toward the box. “Now, indulge me. Try one of the rust sticks I got for you. Perhaps a good snack will temper your mood.”

Megatronus shot him an unimpressed look but then Shockwave rested a gentle servo on his arm, as if coaxing him. The touch was soft and inviting.

With a sigh, he opened the box, pulling out one of the rust sticks.

He couldn’t believe how easily he had given in, but he ignored such thoughts as he took a bite -the familiar taste, but even better, settled over his circuits, making his red optics glow with surprise.

Shockwave smirked. “Well? Exquisite, aren’t they? Only the best, for the best.” He then winked playfully.

Megatronus didn’t answer right away, his optics fixated on the rust stick in his hand, before he slowly met Shockwave’s gaze that softened up.

“Go on, enjoy the rest,” Shockwave said, nudging him playfully. “You totally deserve it.”

Something warm stirred in Megatronus’ spark, a feeling he hadn’t felt in vorns, as he gazed at Shockwave’s blue optics that were warm as ever, unlike the cold ones that belonged to those that hurt him for so long…  

The Present

“How many times do I gotta tell you to leave him alone?” Breakdown grumbled, yanking Frenzy away from Shockwave, who had been sitting silently in the corner of the cave, Ravage curled up in his lap, resting.

“Ugh, c’mon, Breaks!” Frenzy whined, twisting in his grip. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Breakdown shot her a deadpan look. “That’s exactly why I ain’t lettin’ you do anything ‘cause I don’t want to find out how much worse his glitching processor can get.”

“But I got the perfect song for him that should put him back to normal!”

“Nope. Don’t want to hear it.” He dragged her over to the energon dispenser and plopped her down next to it. “And you’re stayin’ right there.”

“Oh, yeah?” She crossed her arms, her visor glinting mischievously. “What ya gonna do if I don’t?”

Breakdown’s optic ridges knitted together. He wasn’t great at making threats to Soundwave’s cassettes. “I’ll tell Starscream on you.”

She let out an exaggerated gasp, then rolled her optics. “Oh noooo, whatever shall I do? Not Starscream,” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Breakdown shot her a warning look before motioning to Nova Storm. “Keep an eye on her.” Then, with an exhausted sigh, he stepped outside the cave to get some fresh air and make a call.

The moment Bumblebee picked up, Breakdown got straight to the point. “So, when were you gonna tell me one of your bots shot our leader?”

“Breakdown! Heyyyy, buddy.” Bumblebee greeted, his voice nervous. “Look, that was, uh… a total misunderstanding.”

Breakdown huffed. “Yeah, heard that one before.”

“I’m serious.” Bumblebee insisted. “And Starscream’s fine now. He’s pretty much healed and even had a cute sleep over last night with the kids.”

Breakdown blinked at that last part, and almost asked about it more in detail, but he quickly reminded himself there were more pressing matters. “Then you wouldn’t mind handin’ him my com-link so he can call me himself? ‘Cause we got problems back here and we need him back.”

“Uh… what kinda problems?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Breakdown-”

“Just get him on the line.”

“Well…”

“Well, what?”

“He’s kinda… busy right now.”

Breakdown exhaled sharply through his vents. “Busy doin’ what?”

“Talking to Dot, Optimus, Elita-1, and… uh… Megatron.”

Breakdown frowned.

Talking to Dot was no big deal. Meeting with the Autobots was bound to raise some questions. But Megatron? That was, what humans would say, an immediate red flag.

After all, Starscream detested Megatron.

“Right... Well, once they’re done with whatever that is, tell him to get back here. And if I don’t hear from him in an hour, then Skywarp will retrieve him herself.”

“Alright, I’ll tell him,” Bumblebee sighed. “And sorry for not mentioning about Starscream getting shot. Honestly, it didn’t cross my mind. Didn’t think you’d care.”  

“He’s our leader. And I’d much rather have him callin’ the shots than the rest of the lot.”

“Really? Figured you’d choose Soundwave over him.”  

“Yeah, well, Starscream’s actually pretty good at his job when Megatron ain’t around,” Breakdown admitted, realizing just how much that fact was now starting to sink in.

“So, you’re seriously not gonna tell me what’s goin’ on over there?”

“Nope,” Breakdown said with amusement before he cut the connection, before dragging a servo down his faceplates as he felt an ache in his processor forming.

Despite never attempting to return Elita-1’s embrace, he didn’t pull away.

Starscream wasn’t sure how long he had buried his faceplates against her shoulder, shedding tears from all the pent-up emotions he had tried so hard to ignore most of his life - emotions he had shoved deep into the dark depths of his spark, as if they had never been real.

After all, the sadness and guilt spilling out of him were nothing but weaknesses - burdens carried only by useless mechs. They had no place in a soldier, least of all in a leader.

Yet, there he was, proving to himself and to everyone how pathetic and weak he truly was. How he was never meant to be anything more than a joke - just as he had been before he met Skyfire.

Eventually, the tears stopped, as if his frame had nothing left to release. Soon after, the torrent of emotions died down, leaving him feeling utterly hollow and exhausted - both mentally and physically; he felt as though the life was sucked out of him.

And when he finally realized how he had allowed himself to break down, and how he had lashed out at Megatron the way he did, how he had blamed him for his suffering, dread came pummeling into his spark, his optics widening wide with terror.

What the frag-

His spark began to race.

Was he-

His wings, low against his back, trembled.

Thinking?!

His breathing came in sharp, uneven gasps.

He wanted nothing more than to flee - to escape his shame, to hide from the punishment he feared he would receive from the tyrant. He tried to pull away from Elita-1, but she only held him tighter against her warm frame, her hand firm yet gentle on his helm.

“Optimus,” she said quietly - just enough for the leader of the Autobots to hear her, and to not startle Starscream. “I think you should take Megatron with you and…” she trailed off, hoping he understood where she was going with her suggestion without clarifying.

As if reading her thoughts, Optimus gave her a soft look of understanding. “Of course,” he said, gently placing a servo on Megatron’s shoulder.

The former warlord had been staring at Starscream’s trembling frame with a distant gaze, looking rather lost. He barely reacted to Optimus’ touch, and, as if in a daze, allowed himself to be guided away. Dorothy followed them quietly, leaving Elita-1 alone with Starscream.

For a moment, Starscream shut his optics hard and remained tense, his spark still racing, his breathing still erratic with the lingering fear that Megatron would hurt him for everything he had said. At first, the sound of those heavy, familiar footsteps sent a fresh wave of panic through him more, making his tanks twist with a sickening churn, almost making him nauseous. But then he realized, they were moving away.

He listened, forcing himself to steady his breathing as the footsteps grew fainter, hoping his processor wasn’t playing a trick on him. And once he could no longer hear them, the weight of exhaustion came crashing on him more than before. His frame slightly sagged against Elita-’s warm hold, but the sliver of relief that he hoped for didn’t come. Instead, he felt utterly small and ashamed, as self-loathing chipped away at his soul.

Guilt.

Hashtag wasn’t used to feeling it. It was heavy, crushing, the kind of awful emotion she never wanted to go through again.

Yet, there she was, crouched down in the bushes with her sisters - some distance from where everything had gone so wrong - regretting everything she’s done that led Starscream to the point of breaking down in front of his abuser and others he didn’t trust.

Now she understood why, out of all the Cybertronians, Starscream hated Megatron the most -why he was so quick to say terrible things about him. Why he didn’t respect him as a leader the way someone like Bumblebee did with Optimus.

And now, the times Starscream would tense up when she or any of her siblings hugged him - or even touched him - made sense. Because for most of Starscream’s existence, Megatron had hurt him, making him associate touch with pain.

What made her feel even worse was that she had looked up to Megatron and hadn’t done enough to keep Starscream safe from him.

Then, the moment when Starscream had accidentally struck her replayed in her processor, and she recalled how broken he had looked - how he hadn’t let her take the blame for sneaking up on him. Unlike Megatron, Starscream had apologized and held her tight, looking so guilty…

Because he knew exactly how she had felt at that moment.

She couldn’t imagine how sad and hurt Starscream must have felt after Megatron abused him and left him believing he deserved it - how alone he was when he had no one to talk to about the trauma, leading him to bottle it all up for so many vorns.

And she asked herself, did anyone ever tried stopping Megatron from hurting Starscream even once?

Well… the answer was clear and she couldn’t help but hate herself as well for having done nothing when Megatron had attacked Starscream.

Hashtag pressed her lips into a thin, trembling line, trying to keep the coolant from spilling down her faceplates. But she couldn’t stop them as her helm dipped while Elita-1 led Starscream away in the opposite direction that Optimus, Megatron, and her mom had gone to.

Mo hugged her arm, burying her face in silence, doing her best to comfort her younger sister.

And Twitch stared. The tears had started, trailing quietly as she gazed toward where Optimus had led Megatron away.

The tiny Terran felt her tanks churn with guilt of her own when she remembered how she had told Skywarp and Nova Storm basically how Megatron was a better leader than Starscream. How he wouldn’t leave them.

Megatron had been so kind to her and her family. Protected them. Trained them. He regretted a lot of his terrible actions in the past and truly seemed like he was trying so hard to be a better mech.

However, hearing Starscream reveal about his abuse in the hands of Megatron had left her drowning in conflict. Especially when Megatron was quick to lash out at Starscream even now.

“This is all my fault…” Hashtag finally whispered, her voice trembling after a long moment of silence.

Twitch slowly turned toward her with utter confusion. “What?” she let out, quietly.

“I…” Hashtag’s voice cracked, trying to swipe at the coolant streaking her face, but the tears just kept coming. “I tried so hard to get him to open up to me. He wanted to leave because he didn’t feel safe, and I… I made him stay. I should’ve never tricked him into visiting us.”

Mo’s grip tightened. “Hashtag, this isn’t your fault.”

“Mo’s right.” Twitch leaned close, wrapping her arms around Hashtag. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened.”

Hashtag just shook her helm. “But none of this would have happened if I just left him alone.” Her optics squeezed shut, more tears escaping. “And I knew Megatron had hurt him before. I just… I didn’t know it was that bad.”

Twitch pulled back slightly. “Wait. You knew?”

Hashtag nodded rather brokenly. “I assumed at first back when we first met Starscream, when he told us how we didn’t know the real Megatron, how he ruled over the Decepticons through fear and intimidation.”

Twitch remembered that. She had thought Starscream was lying - because the adults always painted him as a liar and a manipulator. And because she had a hard time picturing Megatron to being a terrible leader even though he had admitted he wasn’t a great person years ago.

“You should have seen his face when I confronted how Megatron treated him,” Hashtag said quietly, hoarsely. “He was surprised that I believed him… that I knew Megatron had hurt him somehow.” Her servos turned into tight fists on her lap before fresh tears gathered in her optics. “Then I tried telling him how I understood how it felt to be hurt, when it wasn’t our fault.”

Her sisters were quiet, gazing at her in sorrow silence. Both could see now why Starscream liked Hashtag. And why she felt so connected with him. Because she had empathized with Starscream in some way.

“I shouldn’t have just frozen the way I did when Megatron attacked him,” her voice trembled before it broke into a sob. “I should’ve run to him… comforted him. I should’ve gotten him away from here, or help him feel safe, so he wouldn’t have broken down like that, ‘cause I know he wouldn’t have wanted Megatron to see him like that.” She clenched he denta, more tears spilling over. “I failed him… I told him I saw him like family, but I didn’t protect him as if he was.”

Before she could spiral further, Twitch kneeled in front of her, gripping her shoulders tight. “Hashtag, no - you didn’t fail him,” she said with a stern look, her faceplates wet from tears, but she was no longer crying. “Megatron did. Megatron failed Starscream. All you’ve done was be a good friend to him, doing your best to help him the best you could.”

Hashtag hesitantly, optics darting up to meet Twitch’s, filled with doubt and sadness.

“And if you really see Starscream as part of our family, then we should start doing something about it and hold Megatron accountable for hurting him,” Twitch said, even though it hurt her to say it too because she still felt some affection towards Megatron after all the tenderness he had shown her. “It’s not too late to stand up for Starscream. It’s not too late to help him.”

Mo had a small mile as she nodded in agreement to Twitch’s words.

Hashtag wasn’t so sure what they could do, but there was something deep in her spark that was close to anger when she thought about Megatron on top of Starscream before he had punched him.

The feeling seemed far redder and hotter though…

But her sister was right. It wasn’t too late for them to help Starscream. And she had a feeling if she didn’t do something soon, she may lose him forever.

Chapter Text

Fanart

Please don't forget to follow these artists and prior artists and reblog and like their art <3

The following is done by owly-lumi and it is such a heart-warming art piece :'3. I'm so happy someone did a piece of Elita-1 hugging Starscream, ahhhh, it just melts my heart in a good way :'3

For reals, put a huge grin on me <3, so thank you so much <3

Peeps can follow the artist through: https://www.tumblr.com/owly-lumi

I also appreciated those memes too, hahaha, especially the joke with the fic's title :'3

The following is a collaboration with owly-lumi and watering-the-goats-99 : ). watering-the-goats-99 did the line art and owly-lumi colored the piece and they both did an amazing job. The angst... the emotions! ahhh

You all know how much i love emotions hahaha, especially related to our Starscream :'3

Thank you so much you two, I loved it so much <3

 Peeps can follow the artists in the following links: https://www.tumblr.com/owly-lumi  and https://www.tumblr.com/watering-the-goats-99

There was so much happening around him - Autobots and Decepticons shooting at one another, countless lifeless mechs on the ground, their bodies greyed out, all color flushed away, energon staining the land like spilled paint. Debris was bursting from all directions. Missiles flew across the battlefield, lasers zooming through the air while Megatron was pummeling an Autobot off one of his loyal men, Soundwave, who lay on the ground, a nasty wound on his shattered chassis threatening to knock him out.

After Megatron landed the fatal blow on the Autobot, he lifted Soundwave to his pedes and threw his arm over his shoulder.

There was static emitting from Soundwave, but none of the words could be made out.

“None of that,” Megatron said, as if he knew what Soundwave was trying to say, while he did his best to move through the chaos, semi-carrying Soundwave.

Suddenly, a giant explosion erupted behind him, sending him and Soundwave forward into the hard ground. A few of his men rushed over, getting in between them and the Autobots closing in. A couple of Seekers quickly shot over as well, landing nearby to assist with their own attacks.

Megatron quickly stood and turned to blast at the enemy with his cannon before turning to Slipstream, who was checking on Soundwave, who had fallen unconscious.

“Get Soundwave out of here,” he barked at her - he was going to make sure Soundwave survived.

Without a second thought, she threw Soundwave over her back and quickly flew both of them, as best as she could, away from harm.

Megatron almost called for a retreat, but the rage burning inside him made him charge his cannon, sending blasts all across the field, and forcing the Autobots to back away quickly. Even though he was wearing himself down, he clenched his denta and continued.

Then, suddenly, agony shot through him out of nowhere; something long and sharp dug deep into his back.

Fortunately, missing his spark chamber.

He gasped, his attacks coming to an abrupt halt. He stumbled forward and quickly tried to hurl his arm back to strike his assailant for daring to, cowardly, attack him from behind.

“You…” Megatron rasped in shock, his optics wide as he met Starscream’s blue optics, that blazed with deep hatred for a moment - similar to someone Megatron had seen from before - before fear and shock flooded over them. The Seeker held the hilt of a sword - most likely from a fallen soldier - with a shaky grip.

Energon spilled from Megatron’s wound. And Starscream seemed to have frozen in place before being tackled hard to the ground by another Decepticon just as Megatron fell to his knees, energy rapidly draining from him due to the loss of energon as it pooled underneath him. His HUD screamed at him with warnings, but the sight of the wave of Decepticons dashing over and the Autobots retreating ahead eased his worries - though he remained in shock at what had transpired.

One of his own men had tried to take him out.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been out, but after days of recovery, he later found himself losing the count of blows he had rained down on the crumpled mess pinned beneath his frame on the throne room floor. He held the seeker’s neck in an unrelenting, violent grip, ignoring the weak, wet-sounding pleas as energon burst from Starscream’s glossa. The few Decepticons present watched in silence - some amused, others visibly disturbed - as he finally stopped bashing the seeker’s faceplates, now cracked and bloodied like the rest of his trembling frame.

“P-ple-ase, Lord M-Megatron,” Starscream coughed weakly, begging. His remaining right optic blazed with desperation, while a crack marred the other. “P-please... have m-mercy...”

Megatron stared down at him with hatred, his spark burning with rage. He’d patched up the wound - on his lower back - Starscream inflicted during a raid, but the pain still throbbed in his frame, a constant reminder of the betrayal.

“It was a mis-take,” Starscream continued, his voice grating. “I-I-I didn’t mean to—” His words died when Megatron bashed him across the face again before the metal plates on Starscream’s neck buckled under his crushing grip. The seeker’s blue optic flared bright with agony, his mouth opening in a silent scream. And Megatron watched, waiting for the blue light to dim into -

“Megatron.”

Dorothy’s voice pulled him from the memory that was playing after Optimus led him far through the forest, away from Starscream. It was an old one, from a time when rage and pain had blinded him. A time when Starscream had made his first attempt to dispose of him and claim the Decepticons for himself. A reminder that the Seeker had deserved some of the punishments Megatron had dealt him.

Yet, no matter how much he tried to hold on to that belief, the heaviness in his spark refused to fade. Not since he had watched Starscream break down in front of him as he poured out his spark - something he had never done before. The image of Starscream silently sobbing into Elita-1’s shoulder as she held him close, clung to Megatron’s processor like rust that refused to be scrubbed away. It settled deep within him, making the weight - tearing at his spark - grow heavier with every passing moment.

Slowly, he turned to face Dorothy. She stood at a distance, staring at him with brows drawn tight, jaw clenched. Hurt, anger, disbelief, and even a hint of betrayal swirled within her dark eyes. Her mouth parted as if to speak, but then her lips pressed together. Her gaze flickered to the side, as if she couldn’t bear to look at him.

Panic surged through his spark like a tidal wave slamming into shore violently, almost driving him to defend himself. To fight back against Starscream’s lies, justify his punishments on the Seeker, and make Dorothy see Starscream was just trying to gain sympathy for manipulation reasons and paint Megatron as the bad guy.

After all, he couldn’t lose Dorothy. He would do anything - anything - to protect his friendship with her.

But the memories of him hurting Starscream wouldn’t release their tight grip on him.

“You never punished anyone else the way you did me.” Starscream’s words echoed in his mind, cutting deeper than he wanted to admit.

His servos clenched at his sides.

He glanced at Optimus, who stood as silent as the surrounding forest, his optics lowered to the ground as if he were the one who had wronged Starscream. The sight only filled Megatron with frustration and shame.

The frustration, he understood. But the shame? That… confused him.

Or did it?

After Starscream had reminded him of just a few of the times he had hurt him - for no good reason - during the early years of the war, Megatron had painfully realized, in that moment, that he had wronged him. And yet, his processor struggled to accept it.

Because, yes, he had been a mech consumed by a towering rage for a long time - one that had driven him to commit countless atrocities towards many. But had he truly been a monster to Starscream for a long time without provocation? The same Starscream that many despised and couldn’t trust?

“Tired of being the laughingstock you made me into. But it was too late then. No one respected me anymore – not because of who I was, but because you turned me into a joke.” The words from earlier rushed through his processor against his will.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Dorothy finally spoke, her voice heavy with exhaustion and something else.

Megatron felt his tanks churn, anxiety pressing against his circuits, but he remained silent. He wasn’t sure what to say. What could he say when he was still trying to process everything himself?  

“I never would’ve put Starscream in that position if I had known,” Dot continued, her voice growing quiet. “If I had even the slightest hint that you…” she trailed off as she frowned.

She knew better than to make excuses.

“I shouldn’t have ignored the signs…” she said, remembering how Starscream had flinched when Twitch hugged him, how uncomfortable he looked as he gently pushed her away. Or how quick he was to react with hostility - always on edge, never feeling safe - with anyone - who wasn’t one of the kids - like a wounded stray dog that had long since learned not to trust outstretched hands. “They were so obvious,” she murmured, mentally kicking herself for having been so biased against Starscream to where she had refused to see what Hashtag had seen in him.

Megatron was her close friend, and she trusted him, just like he trusted her. They had fought together, laughed together. He had been a great mentor to her children, a guardian they could depend on. He had even become part of her family.

And yet…

She pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, moisture gathering in her eyes.  

She wasn’t sure why she felt so emotional, so overwhelmed - she wasn’t the one who had suffered under Megatron’s wrath. Maybe it was because she had believed all the terrible tales Megatron had told her about Starscream when, in reality, they hadn’t been the whole truth. And now, confronting him about what he had done to the Seeker was difficult; it twisted her stomach into a nauseating knot that made her feel sick.

But no matter how much she cared for Megatron - loved him - she couldn’t overlook this. She couldn’t ignore the ugly, twisted part that still lingered in his spark. As much as she wished it weren’t real, she had no choice but to do something about it.

Because he had hurt someone badly. For far too long. And the worst part of it was he still would, given the chance.

At least, that’s what he had proven the past two days while Starscream was staying with them.

Dot swallowed the lump in her throat. She had always known what Megatron had been. A monster, but one capable of change. She had seen the good in him, gave him a chance to redeem himself after everything he had done, after thousands of years of chaos he had inflicted on Cybertron and across the universe.

And despite her personal feelings toward Starscream, she believed him. His vulnerable, broken confessions, the tears he had fought to hold back as he confronted Megatron, were far too real to be an act. And Megatron had denied none of Starscream’s accusations. He hadn’t lashed out, hadn’t made excuses, hadn’t tried to twist the blame onto Starscream; his silence had been its own kind of confession.  

Of course, she had to tread carefully if she wanted to make things right. A part of her wanted to scream at her friend, frustrated that he had gone too far with someone and hadn’t realized it.

But that wasn’t what he needed.

The last thing she wanted was to push him back onto the path that she and Optimus had worked so hard to pull him from. After all, Megatron had grown - had changed - from the tyrant the Autobots had once feared. And she should have known there was still so much Megatron had to work through. So many mistakes he had yet to atone for, so much damage still left to repair. And as his friend, she wanted to help him face them - no matter how uncomfortable, messy, and painful it was.

Because it was the right thing to do, because she knew he could be better. But most of all, it would help Starscream, who needed so much help and support.

Oh, how she wished she had introduced Megatron to a psychologist long ago… or at least had one on speed dial, someone familiar with Cybertronians to help in situations like these.

But for now, she had to do the best she could.

She let out a slow, steady breath, forcing herself to push past the emotions clouding her mind. Maybe she could tackle things based on what she had learned from years of therapy herself. After what felt like an eternity, she finally gathered the will to meet Megatron’s gaze again.

“Megs, how exactly did you meet Starscream?” she asked, deciding to start there - to understand what had led her friend to hurt someone so severely. Even though, deep down, she knew there was no excuse that could ever justify it.

Meanwhile, Megatron had expected her to lecture him, to scold him, to be hard on him.

He didn’t respond right away; his processor taking its time to reach back in the past, and doing his best to stop Starscream’s broken expression - that flashed in his mind - from bothering him

“Shockwave spoke highly of him,” he said at last. “Said he was the best Seeker Cybertron had to offer. Shockwave suggested I recruit him if I aimed to assume control of the planet.”

“This was after you had Shockwave rescued from the Senate, wasn’t it?” Optimus asked after looking up.

Megatron responded with a nod.

“I recall you mentioning a Seeker that Shockwave wanted you to reach out to. He referred to him as a genius, talented, and ambitious individual, the fastest flyer in the skies at that time,” Optimus said. “You met him the same night we argued about our next moves against the High Council. I didn’t realize that Seeker was Starscream.”

Truth be told, the revelation surprised Optimus. He had always imagined the Seeker in question to be older, more experienced in battle and in life - perhaps a rogue soldier from the High Council’s military. Yet, when he first saw Starscream on the battlefield, he had been struck by how young he was compared to the other Decepticons in Megatron’s inner circle.

Now that he thought about it, something didn’t add up as a particular detail surfaced.

“I was under the impression the Seeker had refused to join your cause,” he said. “You were infuriated with him for walking away from you after you personally spoke to him.”

He clearly recalled Megatron ranting about how ‘arrogant’ the Seeker had been when he turned down the cause. He had never seen Megatron so enraged towards someone that wasn’t from the High Council. And he remembered reminding Megatron how everyone had the right to choose if they wanted to fight or avoid the conflict. How they couldn’t force anyone to do anything against their wishes.

Because if they did, they would become exactly what they hated the most.

“He did refuse at first,” Megatron admitted. “But he returned after a few days after the High Council had decided to pull him and the rest of the novices from the Academy into their ranks before they even had the chance to graduate.”

“So, he joined out of desperation. I’m surprised you accepted him after he originally declined.”

“I almost had my men shoot him down when he showed his face again. After all, he could have easily been a spy for the Senate. But to prove his alliance, I asked him to build me a weapon I could use to defeat the High Council, so he created this,” Megatron said as he slightly raised his right arm where his fusion cannon rested.

“I should have never made that cannon for you…” Starscream’s words crawled into Megatron’s processor, and he quickly shoved it aside.

“Starscream made that?” Optimus’s optics widened with disbelief. He had seen that weapon aimed at Starscream’s own faceplates more times than he could count - the irony of it all…

“What happened then after he joined?” Dot asked, making sure she mentally noted everything Megatron and Optimus were saying. “How were your interactions with him? And please, Megs, tell me the truth.”

Megatron felt the weight pressing down on his spark again. He had the urge to focus only on the worst of Starscream during the first years of the war.

Yet, he had a hard time finding much.

“He did as he was told,” he said, surprising himself with his own words. “Most of the time, that is. He wanted to stand out, to prove as if he wasn’t like the rest of the seekers, or the Decepticons.” He paused for a moment. “Starscream would boast when his plans succeeded, when he made the right calls on certain situations that gave us victories. He had the tendency to show off and sometimes it would get to his head. Too prideful for his own good which eventually led him to make mistakes and get many killed.”

Dot couldn’t help but frown at his last comments. “Or maybe it was more than that, Megs,” she said. “He mentioned he lost everything, and Skyfire - I think that was his name? And it seems to me, this Skyfire was very important to him, and his death really affected him. So, after losing him and everything, he may have felt lost and was desperate to fill that void one tends to feel when they have nothing left in their lives. He admitted it was your words that you said to him that held him together after Skyfire was gone.”

Megatron’s optics narrowed as he thought of what she said. “Starscream was never one to seek validation, wouldn’t care what anyone truly thinks of him,” he replied as he then thought how Starscream cried earlier when he talked about the Shuttle, but then vividly recalled how callous Starscream had been around Skyfire’s lifeless body. His expression hardened at the memory. “Just like he doesn’t care about anyone else other than himself. He’s selfish, only worries for his own survival and that’s always been in his nature.”

“That’s not true!”

The voice rang through Megatron’s audials. He, Dot, and Optimus all froze, their ‘eyes’ widening as they turned just in time to see Hashtag burst from the thick bushes with optics blazing with a furious blue light.

She stormed over to them, a defiant glare locked onto Megatron. A second later, Twitch and Mo hesitantly stepped out, as well. Twitch was looking at him with a sad look, which now Megatron felt the heaviness in his spark more than ever, almost suffocating him.

“Girls, what are you three doing here?!” Dot let out in disbelief.

“What I should’ve done from the start,” Hashtag said in a firm tone. “Standing up for Starscream.”

She turned right back to Megatron, optics flaring brighter through her visor. “You don’t know him. None of you do. Not like I do at least,” she said coldly. “Starscream isn’t perfect, and yah, he’s done terrible things just like everyone else during the war, but he’s not the selfish, self-absorbed mech you think he is. He may worry about himself most of the time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about anyone else. He does care about others, even if he doesn’t show it.” Her servos curled into fists. “He cares about me. And you can’t say that’s not true. You saw it with your own optics when he threw himself to save me when the Dweller got me. He risked his life for me that day.”

Megatron’s jaw tensed - even now, he still had a hard time believing Starscream had been so desperate to save someone, especially one he had just met.

“And he always answers when I call him,” Hashtag pressed on. “He listens to me when I talk to him about my problems, especially when I spoke to him about what I’ve been through with Mandroid. If he didn’t care about me, he would have never given me his com-link and accepted my calls.”

“Hashtag…” Dot said quietly, looking at daughter with heartfelt concern - she didn’t know Mandroid’s actions still affected her daughter.

Hashtag ignored her mother. “And now that he’s the leader of the Decepticons, he’s always worrying about them, even when they don’t listen to him,” she said. “Sometimes too much, actually. That’s why he’s always stressed out when he’s trying to figure out how to keep them alive and safe while they’re hiding from the rest of the world. And he loves Cybertron. The way he’s talked to me about it in the past, he would do anything to save it. That’s why he literally threw himself into danger to save the Allspark when you hurled it into the spacebridge just when Optimus shot at it.”

“And if he tends to only care about himself, well, can you blame him?” she asked with frustration. “‘Cause it seems to me he only had himself to count on to survive for most of his life. Just look how you guys ‘cared’ so much after he brought up what G.H.O.S.T did to him.” Then her shoulders shook slightly as she tried to hold back her anger. “And you say Starscream is so prideful, and yeah, he likes to show off, but the second someone actually compliments him, he gets super self-conscious. He acts like…”

“Like he doesn’t believe us,” Twitch said when Hashtag was having a difficult time trying to find the right words. “He’s even told us to stop complimenting him.”

“’Cause he probably thinks he doesn’t deserve them,” Hashtag said as her fists shook this time. “’Cause you made him feel like he’s never good enough after everything you did to him.” Hashtag shot at Megatron coldly.

“At first, I believed it,” Starscream hissed as he glared up at Megatron. “I blamed myself. I thought I wasn’t trying hard enough. I grew paranoid with everything I did, just to avoid your wrath.”

Megatron stood in silence.

Now, after recalling so much, he couldn’t deny how, over and over, he had punished Starscream when things went wrong, when missions failed - especially when it wasn’t even his fault.

And for so long, he truly believed Starscream was to blame for many of their failed missions.

He couldn’t understand why such an awful tendency started in the first place.

“And yeah, we heard every word after you attacked him.” Hashtag’s optics narrowed at Megatron with scrutiny.

“Hashtag-”

“No, Mom,” Hashtag cut her mother off without hesitation. “I’m not going to stop. And I know you said this was an ‘adult thing’, but Starscream is family to me, and I’m going to protect him just like family should.”

She exchanged a glance with Twitch, who gave her a firm nod, supporting her. “And maybe Nightshade was right,” Hashtag said, as her optics dimmed for just a second. “Maybe Starscream wouldn’t have wanted us to have heard all of that earlier, but after everything he said… I can’t just do nothing. I won’t let him deal with his problems and his pain alone anymore.”

She turned back to Megatron, glaring at him with rage. “I won’t let you abuse him anymore. From now on, you’re done hurting him!”

Megatron grew still as a rock, optics flickering in shock - he wasn’t sure if he had heard her right.

‘Nowhere is safe if it’s with you,’ Starscream’s words once again began to tear at his processor.

“Abuse?” he let out, his voice almost cracked, wanting to deny the accusation at that moment. Even though the day before he had also thought about it. But hearing someone else calling him out on it hurt.

“Yeah!” Hashtag finally snapped in anger. “Because that’s what you did! You abused Starscream, and not just physically, but emotionally too! And don’t even try to deny or justify it!”

Megatron’s optics darted to Optimus, wanting his friend to defend him. But Optimus met him with sorrow.

“You always called it punishment,” Optimus said quietly. “It hurts to admit it to you, but the children are right. What you put Starscream though was abuse.”

Megatron’s optics widened, faceplates shifting with disbelief, feeling as though his friend betrayed him. His gaze quickly turned to Dorothy, hoping she would assure him the accusation was wrong, but she only stared back with an unreadable expression.

“Megatron,” Twitch spoke this time, making him feel complete dread.

He hesitantly looked down at her, whose optics were clouded with conflict.

“How many times… did you hurt Starscream before he decided to fight back?” she asked.

Megatron faltered.

What?

“When Mandroid controlled you, you had your fusion cannon aimed at me,” Twitch said quietly, her optics dimmed. “And… even now, I remember how scared I was at that moment. You looked… so different… You’ve always been bigger and so much stronger than me, but I’ve never been so terrified by you till that moment. And I don’t think I ever want to be in that position ever again with you, because I don’t think I could deal with it.”

Megatron’s helm dipped; he had never wanted to scare his little bird in his lifetime.

“You’re bigger and stronger than Starscream too.” Her gaze slowly lowered while Megatron stared at her as she continued. “I can’t imagine how terrified he was all those years of you when you…” she closed her optics and paused for a moment. “He was too scared to leave the Decepticons and join the Autobots because of what you might have done to him if he did. I’m wondering now - was he so terrified of you that getting rid of you was the only thing he could think of to finally feel safe and in control of his life?”

“Just like some people have done in life to free themselves from their abusers,” Dot said quietly, vocalizing her thoughts before she looked at Megatron with a solemn look. “Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

The moment she spoke those words, something struck Megatron in his processor.

“You…” Megatron rasped in shock, his optics wide as he met Starscream’s blazing blue optics.

Starscream’s blue optics blazed with deep hatred for a moment - similar to someone Megatron had seen from before -

Megatron’s optics slowly widened – he felt as though someone dumped ice water over him – when realization hit him like a thunderbolt.

No…

Had he truly been so blind this whole time?

Those blue optics, filled with deep hatred… Of course, they looked so familiar. They may not share the same color, but they shared the very emotions that drove him to overthrow the Senate and wreak havoc upon the world.

He had been looking at himself in the mirror any time Starscream glared at him with such disdain.

After everything I did for you, you repaid me by making me as angry, as miserable as you were.

Had he truly driven Starscream to turn out like him? Filled with rage and pain?

He recalled how Starscream used to look at him in the early years of the war, before he ever raised a fist against him. Back then, Starscream used to look at him with admiration, just like the other Decepticons once had. But with a little bit of desperation.

Desperation to probably have a reason - meaning - to live after Skyfire was gone…

Megatron clenched his denta hard, he dipped his helm as he felt his spark ache painfully while his processor was running in a panic state. His vents were slowly becoming hard to take in. His metal fists trembled - he wanted to tear all the trees around him apart, to swing his fists and snap each one of them like he had done to the Senators.

Anger, sorrow, frustration, regret, and many other emotions he couldn’t pinpoint was flooding through his system.

What had he done…?

Had he truly not changed from the monster that he was years ago…?

“You tell everyone how no one should trust Starscream,” Hashtag spoke again, her tone filled with irritation. “You tell us how he’s going to ‘betray’ everyone who gets close to him, just like he ‘betrayed’ you many times, but the truth is, you’re the one who betrayed him first!” she yelled. “You were his leader! You were supposed to protect your people, be a great example to them, just like Optimus did with his own. But instead of doing that, you abused him, you completely messed him up!”

‘Nowhere is safe if it’s with you.’ 

“And not once did you admit to us how cruel you were with him.” Her voice this time trembled. “You know, Starscream told us months ago, how you were a tyrant, how you ruled him and the other Decepticons with fear and intimidation. But not once did he actually tell us what you did to him. He never spent so much time with us trying to ruin your reputation like you did with his. Even when I wanted him to open up with what you did to him, he wouldn’t budge.”

‘Nowhere is safe if it’s with you.’

“And what makes me so mad is even after everything, you still wanted us to hate him. You tried to make us see him as some monster by saying all those awful things about him.” She stopped to take a few sharp vents just as tears began to finally gather in her optics. Then she lowered her helm. “You told us many times on how you wanted us to be better than you, not to make the same mistakes that you and the others did, but… you wanted us to push away someone you hurt so much. You wanted us to hate him as well.”

‘Nowhere is safe if it’s with you!’

She took a couple steps back from Megatron as tears trickled down her faceplates. “We trusted you… Megatron,” her voice broke sadly. “We trusted you so much… but… you…” This time, a small sobbed made its way from her throat. “You broke our trust…” Another sob tore from her as she her frame trembled.

She tried to brush her tears as best as she could, to control her emotions so she could continue to confront Megatron for Starscream’s sake. But it was getting harder too when she realized why she was hurting more than she thought she would. Because Megatron was someone she and her siblings looked up to. He was not just a mentor but was also family. Yet, he had done so many awful things to someone she cared about as well and refused to acknowledge it.

And she also couldn’t help but recall that Starscream wasn’t innocent either, that he too had hurt so many, killed so many. Her mom had been his victim once upon a time. And who knows how much pain Starscream had caused to the Autobots during the war.

She even recalled how Bumblebee brought up why he held resentment towards Starscream.

“Look, Hashtag, Starscream was the second in command of the Decepticons for years and has done terrible things to me and the rest of the Autobots,” Bumblebee said. “He’s a dangerous bot. Asking me to just play nice with him all of the sudden isn’t possible.”

Hashtag paused for a moment, taking in his words.

“It’s like, as if I were to ask you to be all chummy with Mandroid right after we defeated him, while he still wants to kill you,” Bumblebee said.

Hashtag didn’t know how to handle the conflicting thoughts and emotions processing in her mind. It was overwhelming and she just wished she had done a better job bringing Starscream to visit her and her family without keeping it a secret from the others.

She then suddenly felt a small grip on her servo. Confusion ran through her systems, and she instinctively opened her optics to see Mo was holding her servo with her tiny hand. Mo’s eyes were filled with a quiet sadness, but then she gave a small motion with her head, urging her to look forward.

Hashtag turned her gaze back to Megatron before she found herself frozen, staring at him standing there, unmoving, his helm bowed. One servo rested over his optics to shield them from sight.

Then, just for a second, she saw a slight shudder in Megatron’s shoulders before it vanished.

The forest had fallen dead silent, no one daring to say another word. Or it was more like they didn’t know what to say.

Yet…

Megatron’s servo slowly fell away from his optics, revealing optics with coolant gathering around them, making him look as exhausted as he truly was, a sight even Dorothy and Optimus had never seen before.

Regret was written all over his face as he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. Only after a heavy, shaky, vent, he regained his voice. “You’re right,” he finally said in a low, strained tone. Shame washed through his optics when he looked at Hashtag. “You’re right, little one. I’ve hurt Starscream, for far too long. What I did to him, is unforgivable…” His optics slowly averted away as the dimmed into a faint light. “And not only did I fail him, but I’ve also failed all of you as well.”

Hashtag stared at him, her optics glistening, surprised at his confession. And she wasn’t the only one crying. Twitch, too, couldn’t stop the drops from trailing down her faceplates as she watched a tear finally escape down Megatron’s own for the first time in his entire existence right before he threw his servo over his optics one more.

Chapter Text

Fanart

Please follow the artists, like and reblog their art work : )

If you want to provide some fanart, please tag me on tumblr <3

Following art pieces are done by dream-miel : ). Thank you so much dream-miel, they were all amazing, so adorable. I think my fav is that tension part between Senator Shockwave and Megatronus, bahaha

Peeps can follow them through:  https://www.tumblr.com/dream-miel

Following artwork is done by leapingleolizard : ). Which is so emotional, ahhh, love it!

Peeps can follow them through:  https://www.tumblr.com/leapingleolizard

Thousands of Years Ago

“Almost done,” Shockwave said as he sealed a wound on Megatronus’ lower back.

The gladiator lay silent on the table, plating singed and dented where an axe had struck from his earlier match. The guards had left him without tending to his wound, even though he won the fight. When Shockwave arrived that night and found him with other gladiators doing more harm than good to mend his injury in the cells, he immediately demanded medical supplies and to get Megatronus to their private room so he could tend to him himself.

“I didn’t expect someone like you would know how to treat a wound of such severity,” Megatronus said in a rough voice.

“During the early vorns of my life, I was bored at the science academy after they denied me access to the more volatile components that I needed for some of my research,” Shockwave replied as he continued working on Megatronus. “Understandable, I suppose, since I was pretty young and reckless, and I could’ve put so many lives in danger if I had gone through with my experiments.”

“You went to the science academy?”

“I was the best student they ever had - even now,” Shockwave grinned with pride. “You haven’t heard? I’m a genius,” he teased.

“Hmm.” Megatronus had his doubts.

“So anyhow, I was bored and decided to randomly go to the medical academy. An indulgence, really. I learned how to patch mechs up - dissect some too. I excelled there, naturally. So much so they wanted me to stay permanently. But the Science Academy were desperate for me to come back for a rather large project, so they offered full access to anything I wanted – tech, labs, unrestricted research, everything I ever wanted. Naturally, I went back to fulfill my personal dreams.”

Shockwave gently passed a servo over the sealed wound, inspecting it. “There, all done,” he said. “Consider yourself lucky I came here tonight.”

Megatronus didn’t move, optics shuttered, letting out a soft ex-vent as Shockwave’s touch lingered longer than necessary.

He didn’t care what was going through the Senator’s mind. After a brutal fight, any kindness, even from a mech like him, was welcomed.

Then he frowned in disappointment when he felt Shockwave’s servo pull away.

“I apologize if I’ve been over tactile,” Shockwave said after a pause while Megatronus moved to sit up on the table. “I have a poor habit of not keeping my servos to myself and letting curiosity get the best of me. I mean, can you blame me? Interesting things are too intriguing to resist.”

“Things,” Megatronus repeated, his optics narrowing at the Senator.

“I didn’t mean it in that sense,” Shockwave quickly said, raising his servos up with a sheepish smile. “What I meant was…” he hesitated before he placed a servo gently on Megatron’s chest, his digits brushing across the scarred plating with a curious look. “You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever encountered. Remarkable, truly. When Orion first approached me about you, I assumed he was exaggerating when he told me how important you were to him and Cybertron’s future. And after reading your journal, I expected someone gentler, physically speaking, more like Orion from your writing, especially from those poems, which, by the way, were lovely to read. But when I first saw your profile, and eventually met you in person, I was surprised by you.”

He looked up at Megatronus. “You are compassionate for others, yet dangerous enough to make the Senate squirm. You make me want to pull you apart just to understand how you function.” Then he chuckled. “Of course, I wouldn’t do that. I only mean to say, you fascinate me in such a way I can’t quite define.”

To Shockwave’s surprise, Megatronus raised a servo and placed it over his.

It was the first time Megatronus touched him since that violent night weeks ago.

“And you,” Megatronus said, his voice even, “you’re a Senator that holds so much power, yet you want to save those beneath you. I’d have expected you to be the kind of mech who would let the world rot as long as you can enjoy the life of a king like the rest of the High Council.”

“I’d be lying if I said that the selfish route hadn’t tempted me before,” Shockwave admitted with amusement.

“Unless…” Megatronus's grip tightened, his other servo reaching out to grasp Shockwave’s arm and pull him closer, so their faces were inches apart. “You have other ulterior motives,” he said coldly. “Like turning me into a political pawn to later publicly execute, making me into an example of those that dare to oppose the High Council.”

Shockwave’s lips curled into a smile, impressed. “Suspicious and not easily manipulated,” he murmured, not pulling away from their close proximity, his hot breath brushing Megatronus' faceplates. “You continue to exceed my expectations, Megatronus.”

There was a pause.

Megatronus held on to him, feeling the brush of warmth against his spark again, stronger now. He didn’t fully understand it, but he wanted more of it.

Needed it.

“Why do you change your paint so often?” he asked, doing his best to sound casual, to change the subject, to distract himself.

And yes, he could’ve just pushed Shockwave away to stop the fumbling of emotions inside of him, but he didn’t want to.

He wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to…

Shockwave blinked with confusion at the question before he smiled mischievously. “Can’t you tell?” he asked as he leaned closer still, their lips nearly brushing. “I rather enjoy the attention.”

Megatronus felt his processor go blank and without realizing it himself, with a sudden, forceful motion, he pulled the Senator in and crushed their mouths together in a rough kiss.

It was a powerful moment, raw even. A heat ignited from the contact, like something deep in Megatronus spark had surged forward and refused to be thrown aside, wanting nothing but to pull Shockwave to him closer. But just as quickly as it happened, he recoiled, optics wide when he had realized what he had just done.

Meanwhile, Shockwave stood there, his own blue optics round with astonishment.

No one said anything for a long moment, only a buzz from outside of the walls could be heard, before Shockwave tilted his helm to the side slightly, after gathering his thoughts. “I’ve studied the neurology of intimacy, read many recorded accounts from others’ experiences, even conducted analyses on neural feedback loops. But I never imagined it would feel that… incredible,” he admitted in awe.

Megatronus stared at him, not expecting such a reaction.

And when he saw Shockwave’s gaze fall to his lips with his own want, he took it as an open invitation and pulled Shockwave down onto his lap rather fast as the fire inside of him grew warmer. The Senator let out a small gasp of surprise, but he didn’t resist. Instead, he shifted to a more comfortable position, his servos on Megatronus’ shoulders, his frame straddling the gladiator’s while he looked at him with something akin to fascination.

The gladiator’s servos moved to Shockwave’s waist, holding him firmly as he drew him closer. He could hear Shockwave’s vents gradually quickening, his frame radiating heat. His own spark pulsed in response as he kissed Shockwave again, but this time, slower and gentler.

Shockwave didn’t hesitate to respond. Almost eagerly he kissed Megatronus back - he was messy, almost clumsy as he pressed his lips against him hard. He lacked experience that only made Megatronus amused and wanting more.

Because everything felt just right, so warm, unlike the cold walls from his cell that had surrounded him for many vorns.

The Present

Swindle poured some artificial energon into a cube, before taking a sip of it, his faceplates scrunching up with disgust. He then looked over to Shockwave who had stayed rooted in the same spot for the past hour.

Ravage continued to lay on Shockwave’s lap, there were even moments when she would glance up at the one-optic mech before she snuggled her snout against his helm. Shockwave would respond by holding her closer to his chassis.

“Well, at least he hasn’t gone berserk on us, am I right?” Swindle asked with amusement to the others in the cave who didn’t share the same humor as him.

“Probably it’s a matter of time till he does,” Nova Storm sighed.

Breakdown walked in right after. His gaze fell on Shockwave.

“I called Bee to get me in contact with Starscream soon,” he revealed to the others before looking over to Skywarp. “If we don’t hear back from him in about 45 minutes, then I’m sending you and your sister to get him.”

“Why can’t we just get him now?” Skywarp asked with a frown.

“Supposedly, he’s talking to Optimus and Megatron.”

The whole cave fell silent for a dreadful moment.

“About what…?” Skywarp eventually asked as her optics narrowed with suspicion.

“By himself?” Nova Storm let out now with a slight concern etched on her faceplates now.

“I know, I don’t like it either, but as long as Optimus is there, I think everything is going to be fine,” Breakdown tried to assure everyone.

“Or Prime will look the other way while that traitor wrecks our leader into parts,” Skywarp retorted.

“Look, I don’t like any of the two, but I trust Bee. And if he thought Starscream was in any sort of danger, he would immediately let me know.”

“Of course he wouldn’t. He’s an Autobot! He’s going to wanna get rid of Starscream!”

“Yeah, the Autobots do hate him a lot,” Nova Storm pointed out.

“I mean, let’s be real, who doesn’t hate Starscream?” Swindle asked as if it was no big deal.

The sisters glared at him, quickly shutting him up.

Breakdown ran a servo over his faceplates with a groan. “Just trust me guys. He’s going to be fine. You know Starscream, he always has a way to survive.”

“Doesn’t mean we should let Megatron anywhere near him,” Skywarp grumbled with a bitter tone. “Starscream is never safe around him.”

Breakdown was quiet, thinking about her words. And recalled the times he had witnessed Megatron assault Starscream and it always ended so badly…

Those were the times that made him so uncomfortable, felt bad for the Seeker, and sometimes made him question if he was fighting on the right side.

Now that he thought about it, he found it surprising that Starscream hadn’t done the same to them since he became their leader. He would have imagined him resenting them for all those years they did nothing to end such beatings.  

And yeah, Starscream would berate or yell at them if they didn’t follow orders at times, but even so, he didn’t do it as much in the past month.

He then caught Frenzy slowly making her way to Shockwave.

“Damn it, Frenzy, get back here!” he barked with frustration, going after her since no one was stopping her.

Meanwhile, Shockwave didn’t listen to any words spoken in the cave. His spark would feel empty, exactly the way it should be. But something in him would shatter the silence, just like it had been the past months, driving a shudder and a panic through his systems before it would cease to nothing again.

He knew perfectly well what was happening, and something had to be done about it. However, the feline cassette in his arms kept him in place - something deep inside him needed her, was desperate for her to hold him together while, for the first time in so long, he felt…

Fear…

The exhaustion weighing down Starscream was unlike anything he had ever experienced before – just seems like every time he felt such a feeling, it was just getting worse each time going through it. It seeped into every circuit and bit of his frame until a suffocating fog shrouded his processor and spark - the trace of the fire that kept him going in life was now a flicker on the verge of extinguishing.

At this moment, all he wanted was to find a dark cave, crawl into it, curl up, and never wake up again, finally giving in as many others had during the war. And yet… he couldn’t allow himself to just throw away his life like that, despite the misery that seemed to follow him like a shadow.

After all, Skyfire had given his life for him.

Of course, there were times when Starscream flirted with the idea of ending it all, but the instant the thought surfaced, self-loathing would flood his systems like a sea of muddy oil. And always, without fail, Skyfire’s lifeless optics would crawl into his mind, reminding him of what he had done.

Perhaps that was the reason he kept pushing through such a dreadful life. To punish himself for not protecting Skyfire, for letting the shuttle take the fatal blow meant for him, for going behind Skyfire’s back and trusting someone like Megatron with his lies. Or maybe, because he didn’t want Skyfire’s sacrifice to have been in vain.

He released a heavy vent, slightly opening his optics. He had been sitting on a fallen, moss-covered trunk, his faceplates buried in his servos, hoping he was trapped in a nightmare from which he would soon wake. However, life wouldn’t grant him any mercy even now, not after humiliating himself in front of others. At least the Autobot, standing nearby, hadn’t bothered him after guiding him away from the rest. Even though he wanted her to leave him alone since her presence unnerved him.

Being around her embarrassed him. He hated how she had her arms around him earlier, comforting him as he broke down. And what he despised even more was how he wished the moment had lasted longer…

He shouldn’t have enjoyed her warmth against his frame - she was the enemy, for crying out loud. They were both second-in-commands from their factions for many years, always trying to kill one another. She had taken many Decepticon lives, while he had taken Autobots.

Yet she held him as if he’d been a close friend, someone she felt compelled to comfort. It was entirely strange, and suspicious, to him. What would have moved her to pull him close to her? Again, they were nothing but enemies. He didn’t know a thing about her, other than that she was a capable warrior - one of the best, actually. A fighter no Decepticon would ever underestimate in battle.

He assumed that after exposing how fragile he truly was beneath his defenses, she had only embraced him to make him more vulnerable, and that soon, she’d mock him, just to break him further.

She was probably smiling to herself as she watched him struggle to pull himself together. Or worse, pitying him, just like so many had pretended to before, only to gain something in return.

Because he was only meant to be used before being discarded. Then again, after humiliating himself in front of Megatron, did he have any use left - other than being someone’s punching bag?

How pathetic.

He was pathetic.

How could he lead the Decepticons now? Then again, he couldn’t return to them in the first place - not while the Allspark’s presence dwelled inside him.

It was then the realization hit him. If he couldn’t go back to the Decepticons, then… he truly had nothing left in the universe, other than Hashtag and the spark Skyfire had sacrificed his life for.

He pulled his servos off his face, letting them drop into his lap as he stared at them with dimmed optics, wanting to just lay on the ground and recharge.

Primus… he truly felt as though someone had drained him dry from energon; he was utterly exhausted.

He tiredly gazed at his palm, where energon from his face wound stained it - he didn’t feel any pain where Megatron had struck him; it felt numb. He was, somewhat, glad at least he didn’t end up in a bloody mess - he should count himself lucky the others had stopped Megatron just in time.

His optics drifted silently over to Elita. She stood a few feet away, arms loosely crossed over her chest, her gaze turned upward past the tall trees, wearing a thoughtful expression. She hadn’t been staring at him as he’d thought, unless she was just quick enough to look away in time.

As if sensing his gaze, she turned to him, and he immediately gave her a tired glare before looking away, his servos curling into fists.

Then he rose to his pedes, his wings pinned against his back, not wanting to be around anyone anymore. He especially wanted to leave, in case Megatron decided to get vengeance for lashing out at him in front of Dorothy.

“Starscream,” Elita began in a soft tone, the moment he took a step forward.

His body tensed, stopped dead in his tracks.

“I want you to know that-”

“I don’t want to hear it, Autobot,” he cut her off, doing his best to sound hostile, but his voice came out rough and quiet, while he glared straight ahead across the dense forest.

Truth be told, his response didn’t take Elita by surprise.

She understood where he was coming from. Many of her own people, including herself, would feel shame and other complicated emotions if they were in his position. Or at least, avoid any sort of circumstance that would make them feel vulnerable. But she genuinely wanted to help him. She couldn’t just let him walk away after everything he’d revealed to her and the others, especially when his mental state was clearly in shambles.

“I’m sorry that we didn’t do anything to stop him,” she said, giving him a look full of regret, even though he was avoiding ‘eye’ contact with her. “We should have done something or at least given you the same chance we gave the others who wanted out of the Decepticons.”

Starscream slowly turned his head to give her a puzzled look from her words.

Elita was quiet, recalling how some Autobots, like Optimus, had believed some Decepticons had the ability to have a change of spark during the war. There had been plenty of times when they would offer the opportunity to join their side in the early years of the war, even though only a small number of them did.

However, everyone, including herself, had never thought Starscream would have wanted to leave the Decepticons. After all, he had been deemed, for so long, as one of the cruelest and selfish mechs to have ever existed. And she probably assumed him, being the second in command of the Decepticons, would less likely want to change sides.

Still, they should have reached out to him before, especially during the times Megatron had struck him during battles, humiliated him, abandoned him…

Mistakes had been made, she was admitting to them. And as the second in command of the Autobots, she had to do what was right – now - with the current leader of the Decepticons.

Meanwhile, Starscream didn’t say a thing after her comment. Because, truth be told, he wasn’t entirely sure what he could say. Yes, he had been desperate to escape Megatron’s abuse, but… there was another big reason he wouldn’t have left the Decepticons – a reason he had yet to reveal to anyone.

He then noticed her making her way to stand right in front of him. And still determined to not trust her, he took a step back to put as much space as he could without stumbling on the trunk behind him, his optics narrowing at her, his frame tense, digits twitching as if expecting violence from her.

“You don’t deserve what he did to you,” she said, as honest as she could muster. “You didn’t deserve any of it.”

A deafening silence fell on Starscream as disbelief flickered across his face. Then came rage, blazing dangerously in his optics - only to be shattered by a sad, aching longing to believe her words. Soon after, his expression sagged into one of a lost mech - the light in his optics dimmed as tears gathered, heavy with sorrow.

His shoulders trembled. And oh, how he wanted her to pull him into another tight embrace, to ease the pain, even if it was a little, like earlier. But the very thought frustrated him so deeply that he scrambled to bury every emotion, shoving them down into the darkest depths of his being – until the tears abruptly ceased, his face settled into a blank, unreadable mask, though, it was tougher to keep up with as the turmoil in his spark wanted to break free from its confines.

He suddenly gasped, startled, completely off guard, when Elita suddenly grabbed his arms.

“Don’t do that,” she said firmly, though her tone was soft as her blue optics locked on his. “I’ve seen so many do the same that you’re doing right now, and let me tell you, it never ends well.”

“Let go of me,” Starscream forced through clenched dental, optics squeezed shut to avoid her gaze. But instead of yanking his arms from her grip, he fought hard not to lean into it.

“It’s okay to feel angry, hurt, confused, Starscream,” Elita continued. “What you’re feeling - those emotions stirring inside you - they’re valid. Don’t push them away. There is no shame to-”

“I demand you release me this instant!” he snapped with desperation, his lower lip betraying him with a slight tremble.

“What Megatron did to you was wrong. You should have never gone through it. He had no right to lay a hand on -”

“Enough!” Starscream yelled this time, yanking himself free from her, finally pulling back hard, panicked as he felt himself succumbing to the misery that he wanted nothing to do with. But he forgot about the trunk behind him, and he stumbled - his heel having caught its edge and suddenly he was falling backwards.

But before he could hit the ground, Elita caught him again, gripping his arms and hauling him back to his feet. His optics were blown wide, his frame shaking as she helped him steady himself on his pedes. His vents were pulling too fast, too shallow. He hadn’t even realized he was hyperventilating until he felt Elita’s gentle touches on his back, concern etched on her faceplates.

He hunched over slightly, his arms crossed over his chest, his wings trembling, fighting hard not to cry again.

What was wrong with him?

Why couldn’t he hold himself together?

Then after his vents became slower, and more controlled, she let go and stepped back, giving him space.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

Oh… how he hated her.

“I came on too strong.”

He hated her so much.

“I’m only trying to help.”

But he hated himself even more.

“I don’t need your help!” Starscream snapped at her, his wings rising in frustration, rage so overbearing he wanted to blast something into ashes. His arms falling to his sides as his servos turned into shaky fists. “I’ve survived most of my life without anyone! So, what twisted logic in that Autobot processor of yours makes you think I’d need it now?!”

Elita didn’t say a word, meeting his glare with a sympathetic gaze.

“Don’t look at me like that!” His shoulders trembled as rage bubbled like a lava pit in his spark, having the urge to claw at her face this time. “You don’t get to look at me like that! I’m the leader of the Decepticons! I’m not some pathetic scrap to pity!”

“Starscream-”

“And don’t act all high and mighty by acting as if you care about me, because we all know you would want me wasted if given the chance! I’m no fool, Autobot. You all detest me, just like he does.” He took a moment to catch his breath, before something dark crossed his processor. “Of course, I shouldn’t fault you for it,” he said, this time with a hushed, gravelly tone. “After all… I’ve slaughtered more of your kind than I can count.”

The softness in Elita optics faded, replaced with an unreadable expression. It was enough to spark something vicious in Starscream’s spark, a cruel, profound satisfaction, and a rush to last out. Hurting her would help ease his rage, his frustrations, even though it would do nothing with the pain and despair clawing at him.

“And if I could, I would do it all over again,” he said without thinking much about it, mustering the will to produce a dark smile. “Now that I really think about it, I wonder exactly how many of your precious friends I tore apart. How many screamed beneath my servos, begged, sniveled for mercy.”

Mutely, Elita stared at him.

Starscream let out a strained, jagged chuckle – fragile, like it might collapse into a sob as Skyfire’s image flashed through his processor. “They always looked so pitiful in the end, right before I crushed them.”

Elita continued to hold her gaze on him before her shoulders sagged a bit as she sighed. “Starscream, I know what you’re trying to do,” she said right after. “And I’m not falling for it.”

His wings fluttered with irritation.

“And just to make things clear, I don’t think you’re a fool. I don’t -”

“I know what you and everyone thinks of me,” Starscream interjected before she could finish. “You think I haven’t heard the rumors that have been spread about me all through the war? Coward, selfish, monster, imbecile,” he spat each word. “And not once did anyone ever hold back from saying it to my face either.”

Elita couldn’t deny the accusation.  

However…

“Well, we were wrong,” she said, and when all Starscream did was stare at her in silence, dumbfounded, she continued. “Opposite sides during a war tend to, what humans would say, ‘dehumanize’ those on the opposing side. Our war had been ugly, and for far too long it had torn us in so many ways. I still find myself wondering how some of us made it without completely losing ourselves. You were the second in command of the Decepticons for most of it, one of the greater threats we had to face. Others painting you in ways that stripped you from your ‘humanity’ was bound to happen. Especially, like you said, have taken the lives of many of my people.”

She paused for a moment, letting Starscream process her words before she pushed on. “But the small interaction I’ve seen you having with Hashtag and her siblings, I realized you are not the complete monster we believed you to be. There is some goodness in you that we tried so hard to overlook. There’s so much that we don’t know about you, and I guess that’s one of the reasons we just kept fighting each other, because neither side wanted to see beyond what they saw. Like Optimus always says, even though it’s cliché, we are more than meets the eye.”

Starscream remained silent and Elita smiled, “Look at how Hashtag and the others welcomed you,” she said. “They opened their sparks to get to know you, just like they had done with me and the other Autobots. You guys get along so well. I’ve seen a side of you I would have never would have seen if it wasn’t for them. Like, I wouldn’t have realized you were the type of mech who would enjoy movies like Cinderella.”

A faint flush crossed Starscream’s faceplates. “I didn’t enjoy it,” he said defensively.

“Sure, you didn’t,” she said with an affectionate teasing voice. “I can’t blame you though, the movie was fun. What I’m trying to say is, we are both complicated beings and even though we had fought for so long, we can still find a way to understand each other, find peace. We don’t have to be enemies anymore, Starscream. Especially since the war is over.”

Starscream’s chest felt as though he could sense the Allspark tugging at his spark, reminding him the war was far from over once everyone else found out about his secret.

“And it’s crazy to realize how I honestly have no idea who you were prior to the war,” she said. “Well, I do know you used to be at the War Academy.”

“Not just the War Academy, but the Science Academy as well,” he grumbled, his gaze sliding to the side to avoid looking at her again.

Elita blinked with surprise. Truth be told, she didn’t expect that.

The whole time she imagined Starscream, just like most cold construct seekers, having no choice but to train at the War Academy. It wasn’t like she didn’t believe his claim, but it was just unexpected, and it made her curious to learn more about him.

Because how did a cold construct seeker get admitted to a program that was known to exclude mechs like him?

Now she wondered if he had gone during the time Wheeljack and Perceptor did, and if so, why didn’t her comrades ever bring it up?

Probably, because, again, he had been the enemy, and they did their best not to think about anything they had in common with him.

“That’s honestly kind of impressive,” she admitted.

Her compliment touched Starscream, without him wanting to.

His wings relaxed a bit. “I left the War Academy when I was admitted to the Science Academy,” he revealed, unsure why he was sharing more details. “Skyfire… and I were the only flyers to ever be accepted. But we didn’t last long,” he added the last bit with a voice filled with resentment. “We were removed after a short term, because the Board couldn’t stand the idea of us among their ‘precious’ students. The only reason we even got the chance to attend was due to Senator Shockwave’s influence, but when he was removed from office, well, we had no one backing us up and eventually we were removed by force.”  

Elita had no idea. And found herself more surprised that Starscream had chosen science over fighting when he had the opportunity to do so.

“Did you enjoy it while you were attending?” she asked curiously.

Starscream was silent at first, his optics dimming as his processor went through some of the memories with Skyfire and the Academy. “I loved it,” he answered, barely above a whisper. “I loved learning, inventing. Skyfire introduced me to science, and the both of us were the best students there. No one could compete with us when we worked together. We … we were…”  his words trailed off as his throat clenched, his optics welling up again. His servo reached over to his cockpit, his digits digging into the metal frame while his spark clenched painfully.

Talking about Skyfire for the second time after so long was taking a toll on him.

“It’s okay, Starscream,” Elita said quietly, doing her best to apply what she has learned from the humans and Terrans, reaching out to place a gentle servo on Starscream’s arm. “You can let it out. This is a safe space.”

Starscream, again, had to fight the desperate need to lean into her touch for that warmth from her, even the presence inside of him seemed to make him crave it more. His optics flickered down to her servo with a longing look, before he quickly jerked his arm away.

“Stop patronizing me!” he spat, wings fluttering in all kinds of emotions mixing together as they collapsed against his back, storming a few feet from her, then whirled around in rage at her. “What the frag do you want from me?! And don’t you dare tell me it’s to help, because I’m not going to let you manipulate me!”

“The kids love you,” Elita said in a firm tone, making him halt with his outburst in an instant.

Elita didn’t want to bring up the kids, but she started to feel that was the only way they could reach through his guarded exterior. “And you know it’s true,” she continued. “We’ve both seen how much they want to be around you, how they worry. It will hurt them so much, especially Hashtag, if anything terrible happens to you.”

Her words stirred the despair his spark was feeling even further.

“Starscream, please, let me help you,” she said quietly. “Trust me, I’m not going to hurt you. I wouldn’t dare betray Hashtag or her sibling’s love for you.”

She was right, only a fool wouldn’t see how Hashtag and the other Terrans – except for Thrash – cared about him. A part of him wanted to embrace their affection towards him, while the rest reminded him how he had been close earlier to take advantage of their affection towards him, and he recalled what happened the last time someone loved him.

Hashtag was a very determined individual, like Skyfire was. And now that he thought about it, he was afraid how far she was willing to go to protect him, especially when everyone finds out about the Allspark or if Dorothy had the nerve to tell her what he had said during his outburst earlier.

The dreadful memory of Skyfire’s lifeless optics flashed in his processor, before it twisted into what looked like a dead Hashtag. The image made him almost purge his tanks. His optics widened when he realized he never truly considered the dangers Hashtag would put herself in for his sake.

He had been so selfish…

His servos turned into tight fists, his spark feeling as though it was being torn apart. The concern he had for himself and the events with Megatron went out the window, as his processor was now in full drive, worrying about Hashtag.

And even though he didn’t want to lose her - she was all he had left now – he would rather push her away than have her die for him. 

His wings trembling behind his back as he let out a heavy, shaky vent, tears almost gathering again in his optics. His processor pushed him to place her before his well-being, to stop making the same mistakes that he had done countless times before.

“I struck Hashtag,” he said without thinking about it, staring at Elita with his blank expression.

Elita blinked for a moment, as if she didn’t catch what he said. “What?” she let out slowly.

“You heard me,” Starscream said, his blue optics looking straight at her growing confused ones.  “I struck her, the same way Megatron has done to me so many times.”

Even when he said it a second time, Elita didn’t know what was happening and couldn’t believe his words. Not once did Hashtag show any fear or hesitation around Starscream. The Terran had shown either affection or concern over him most of the time.

And why on Earth would he admit such a thing to her? Especially now?

Probably the same reason he was trying to antagonize her earlier, to push her away, even though it was extreme.

Then again, this was Starscream. His methods were always so eccentric.

Her optics narrowed at him. “I’m not buying it,” she said.

Starscream was a great liar, that’s how he had been able to manipulate his way in certain situations during many battles. Which was the main reason she was falling for his words, even though she didn’t want to.

Then again, as he continued to stare at her, she noticed how there was no amusement crossing his features, a contrast to when he taunted her about killing Autobots. It was the same emotionless mask he wore earlier when he tried to ignore his feelings.

“If that were true… then she would have said something to us,” she pressed on.

“Would she, though?” Starscream drawled.

“You wouldn’t hurt her, Starscream.”

“…”

“You may not see it, but the way you are around them - you’re always so hesitant, like you’re afraid of just being near them might break them.”

“…”

“Unless…” she trailed off, looking down at the ground as she thought things through carefully. She considered the possibility that Starscream had hurt Hashtag - and why. Because to her, there was a big chance it may not have been intentional. “Unless it was an accident…” She looked back at him with a grim expression when the Seeker’s optics dimmed with shame. “Starscream, tell me what happened.”

Starscream was planning to twist the truth to make her believe his lies, to anger her. Of course, he was risking her attacking him if he made her believe he had purposely hurt Hashtag, but he could handle her, at least, enough to hold her off before flying off. And she and the others would make sure Hashtag wouldn’t come after him later. He could hide forever to protect his spark without anyone ever finding out where he was, and, more importantly, protect the Terran.

Then again… Hashtag would tell them it was all an accident… Unless they think she’s just excusing him.

It was at this moment, Starscream didn’t understand what he was trying to accomplish. There was too much he had to worry about and consider - he really needed some time to be left alone to gather his thoughts.

Suddenly, he caught something in the corner of his optics, something within the trees, before it melted into the shadows. It was red, but larger than any of the Terrans or Autobots living with the Maltos. And somehow, he could feel multiple optics locked on him from different directions.

Panic rushed through his spark and he quickly raised his left arm, aiming his weapon right at Elita’s chest, catching her off guard.

“I know you’re out there!” he snapped, his optics scanning the area frantically. “Now show yourself or I’ll blast her!”

Before Elita could calm him down, a voice responded.

“And we’ll make sure there’s nothing left of you but scrap metal,” Prowl said coldly as he stepped into view, his blaster aimed directly at Starscream.

To her shock, one after another, Autobots she hadn’t seen in vorns emerged from behind trees and bushes - Ironhide, Cliffjumper, and Hound. All of them had their weapons trained on Starscream, which only made him look more panicked than she had seen him in a long time.

And Elita wasn’t going to lie - even her own spark began to race, but for Starscream’s sake.

Chapter Text

The following fanart is done by owly-lumi : 3 and sketchy-mf helped with the animation portion, and the final piece is absolutely amazing, and so ahhh, feeelsss!

Thank you so much for this amazing fan piece :'3, love it so much <3 I honestly appreciate the hard work and beautiful love you've given here :'c
peeps can follow them through: 
https://www.tumblr.com/owly-lumi

https://www.tumblr.com/sketchy-mf/

Loudeluxe has done it again ;3, an amazing art piece but this time of Prowl >: D, thank you so much!

Peeps can follow them through:
https://www.tumblr.com/loudeluxe

The Past

Cliffjumper let out a groan of pain. He was sitting on the cold floor inside a military base, with Ratchet stabilizing the worst of his injuries, which was a gaping wound on his left shoulder. The metal plating had been sheared and torn open.

“That Screamer really got you this time,” Hound said, as he stood nearby, his own frame littered with small dents and dirt, but nothing too severe.

“He was just lucky,” Cliffjumper grunted before hissing in pain when Ratchet continued to cauterize the wound.

“You should know by now you’re no match for Starscream,” Ratchet lectured. “You’re lucky Hound got you out of there just in time.”

Cliffjumper rolled his optics. After a few more minutes of work, Ratchet checked the patched wound and pulled away, satisfied. Cliffjumper moved his arm around, checking its mobility before he struggled to get up, but was quickly shoved back down with a thud.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Ratchet said with annoyance.

Cliffjumper tiredly glared at him. “C’mon, Doc. I need to get back out there.”

“Do I look like I spent an hour reconstructing your shattered shoulder just so you could get it blown up again?”

“Trust me, I’m gonna make sure that slagger’s the one drowning in his own pool of energon this time.”

“Cliffjumper, I swear, if you step out of this base, I’ll disable your T-cog permanently,” Ratchet threatened with a cold glare, making Cliffjumper’s optics widen in genuine fear.

Hound reached over to receive a message through his com-link before he glanced down at his friends. “Optimus and the others are coming back,” he said.

Cliffjumper frowned, disappointed he wouldn’t be getting his revenge on the Decepticon second-in-command just yet.

Meanwhile, Ratchet hoped all his friends had survived - and that none had suffered serious injuries.

He slowly rose to his pedes, his frame aching all over. His optics dimmed with fatigue.

“Looks like Doc needs a good recharge after this,” Cliffjumper teased.

“The kid’s got a point,” Hound said as he watched Ratchet quietly wipe Cliffjumper’s spilled energon from his servos with a cloth. “You’ve been runnin’ yourself ragged this whole week. When’s the last time you gave that old processor of yours a break?”

Ratchet cast a sidelong glance at Hound. “Recharge is a luxury we don’t have at the moment,” he muttered.

“I get it. You don’t trust anyone else to patch us up. But you gotta take a breather sometime. Won’t do any of us any good if you’re exhausted.”

Ratchet ran a servo down his faceplates. “What we need is this war to finally come to an end.”

Hound and Cliffjumper didn’t say a word, though inwardly, they agreed.

After cleaning his tools, Ratchet noticed a large group of humans running toward the base’s entrance.

“We’ve got multiple wounded coming!” one of the humans yelled.

“Hopefully it ain’t one of our own,” Hound said, as he and Ratchet stepped outside just in time to see four large VTOL aircraft descending from the sky. Their rear ramps lowered, and human soldiers quickly poured out, some helping the wounded stumble down, others carrying stretchers bearing those too injured to move.

One of the humans being rushed in on a stretcher was Dorothy Malto - the human who had spoken to Megatron a month ago and survived. She was looking pale, and one of her legs was in a bloody mess. Ratchet recalled how she had hoped to change the tyrant’s mind about the war, which, in his opinion, had been incredibly naïve and pointless. Maybe after this terrible experience, she would realize how dangerous the Decepticons truly were.

His frame relaxed slightly when he spotted Optimus and the rest of their comrades approaching in their vehicle forms, all accounted for. Then, from the corner of his optics, he noticed Cliffjumper poking his helm out of the base. “Didn’t I just tell you to -” Ratchet started, but stopped mid-sentence as the grinding sound of transformation filled the air - and it wasn’t coming from Optimus’s direction.

Ratchet, Hound, and Cliffjumper’s optics widened as one of the aircraft’s parts twisted, metal plating folding away, and within seconds, it transformed into the towering form of the one responsible for so much death and destruction across the galaxy.

Megatron.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Cliffjumper said in shock, just before Ratchet and Hound pulled out their blasters and raised them to fire.

But before they could, Optimus rushed between them, transforming and spreading his arms wide as if to protect the leader of the Decepticons. “Stand down!” he ordered. “Megatron is no longer our enemy.”

Ratchet and Hound stared at Optimus with utter confusion as they slowly processed his words.

Then Ratchet glanced over to Prowl and the others, who had taken their base forms and stood nearby, looking visibly displeased but making no move to raise their weapons against the Decepticon leader standing silently before them. Optimus, right after, took the time to explain how Megatron had supposedly seen the error of his ways, how he no longer wished to fight them, how he wanted to help both humans and Autobots stop the war once and for all. How, allegedly, he had even given up his alt form and taken on a human aircraft to help evacuate wounded soldiers from battle.

Ratchet stood there in shock - he couldn’t believe what he was listening to. After gathering his thoughts, he immediately demanded to speak with Optimus and Elita privately. Unfortunately, Megatron insisted on joining. And Prowl tagged along. Eventually, the five of them were standing in the dense forest a couple miles from the base. And Ratchet was glaring furiously at his long-time friend.

“Are you out of your damn processor, Optimus?!” His voice cracked into static, brimming with utter disbelief and barely restrained rage. “You can’t possibly believe a word that comes out of his mouth! After all these vorns, after everything he’s done to us - to our world, and so many others - you expect us to believe he’s finally had a change of spark just like that?!”

“I’m right here, you know,” the leader of the Decepticons grunted out dryly.

Ratchet whirled on him, optics burning with seething hatred. “Oh, I’m well aware you’re standing right there, Megatron!” he snapped. “Believe me, I haven’t stopped noticing as much as I want to!”

“Ratchet, please, old friend, take a moment to-”

“Optimus, I don’t know what load of scrap he’s been feeding you, but he’s manipulating you,” Ratchet cut him off sharply. “You can’t trust him. If it were Breakdown wanting to defect, maybe I’d believe it, but Megatron?”

“I know this is hard to believe,” Megatron began, his tone calm, which only stoked Ratchet’s fury further. “But all I want now is to finally end this war.”

“The very mech who started this bloodshed now wants to be the one to end it,” Prowl scoffed coldly. “How ironic. What’s next? Starscream has grown a conscience?”

Megatron’s optics narrowed in a glare, but he said nothing.

Ratchet turned desperately to Elita, who stood with her arms folded, her expression unreadable. “Please tell me you’re not falling for this either,” he pleaded.

She held his gaze for a moment before speaking. “I’m not,” she said. “But... you should have seen him fight the Decepticons. They didn’t expect him to turn on them. If it weren’t for him, we would have at least lost one of our own.”

“For Primus’ sake,” Ratchet muttered, venting an irritated sigh.

“Ratchet,” Optimus said, his optics warm and filled with understanding. “Believe me, I understand where you’re coming from, and I would never risk the lives of our friends if I wasn’t certain there had been a real change in Megatron. But thanks to Dorothy, he’s finally seen the error of his ways.”

Ratchet frowned. “Dorothy Malto? The human? The same one who appeared to look like she might lose her life soon?”

“Dorothy will survive,” Megatron said in a firm tone.

“Starscream’s missiles struck her and her unit,” Elita jumped in. “He would have wiped out the rest of her platoon and ended her life if Megatron didn’t stop him just in time.”

“So, you’re telling me,” Ratchet said, glaring at Megatron with disbelief, “that it took one human to change your mind about everything?”

Megatron remained silent, simply meeting his gaze.

“It seems we underestimated the humans,” Optimus said quietly.

“Fine,” Ratchet said exasperatedly, throwing up his servos. “Let’s say this tyrant suddenly decided to have a change of spark. So, what now? We’re going to accept him as if he’s done nothing wrong? Optimus, not even you expect us to forgive and forget everything he’s done.”

“You’re right,” Megatron said gravely. “I’ve caused immeasurable pain. But I will do everything in my power to make amends.”

Ratchet let out a bitter laugh. “Make amends, he says.”

“You know as well as I do, Ratchet,” Optimus said, his tone soft but firm, “that freedom is the right of all sentient beings. And that includes the freedom to change.” His optics glimmered with emotion. “No one is beyond redemption - not if they truly choose a different path.”

Prowl’s expression darkened while Elita lowered her gaze to the ground, silent.

Ratchet stared at Optimus, his disbelief turning to a raw, aching pain. It felt as though someone had driven a blade through his very spark.

“But Optimus...” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “He’s taken so many from us, so many of our people.” His words cracked under the grief that wanted to swallow him whole. Countless faces flashed through his processor, the friends, the soldiers he couldn’t save, the lifeless gray husks so many mourned, the former friends that turned into monsters by war. His spark cried for them. “I know he was once your friend. But... he crossed so many lines. No act of goodwill can undo what he’s done.”

“We’ve all lost so much, Ratchet.” Optimus said, his own optics bright with sorrow. “Both sides have suffered immensely.” He approached him and placed a gentle servo on his arm – a touch that usually would bring Ratchet comfort, but this time it felt cold and foreign. “I’m not asking you to forgive him or forget,” Optimus continued. “What I’m asking you is not to let our pain chain us to the past. If we do... the war will never end. We have to move forward, no matter how painful it is. We cannot allow this war to continue any longer. Our duty has and should always be to protect all life, so we should focus on preserving as many lives as we can now.”

The words were grating to Ratchet’s audials. A part of him agreed with Optimus, but… his spark couldn’t accept it; it boiled with rage, especially at how Megatron was just standing there, as if he hadn’t torn countless sparks from their frames without a second thought.

Ratchet roughly yanked his arm away from Optimus. The hurt in his leader’s optics didn’t bother him. Then his gaze locked onto Megatron, burning. “I remember all of them. Every name, every face that I couldn’t save,” he said bitterly, his voice low and harsh. He jabbed a trembling digit at Megatron. “That’s on you. Every single spark extinguished is on you. And that will never change.”

Megatron’s optics flickered faintly before his expression settled into one of deep guilt. “I don’t expect forgiveness,” he said. “Nor do I expect you to dismiss my actions. I admit, I should have listened to Optimus from the start. I should have never allowed rage to blind me for so long. I was wrong. And I will devote the rest of my existence to make things right.” He paused for a moment before he continued. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry, Ratchet.”

“You think a few words, a few realizations, and an apology will somehow change my mind?” Ratchet said in a bitter tone.

“Ratchet,” Optimus said gently.

Ratchet glared at him. “You know I’ve stood by you, Optimus - through everything. I’ve followed your lead without question. Gave you my life. But giving this monster a second chance? You’re not just betraying me, you’re betraying every Autobot who has fought for our cause, every bot who’s died because of him.”  

Optimus gazed at him with a sad look and remained silent this time.

“Please, Optimus,” Ratchet’s voice broke, barely above a whisper. “Reconsider. Don’t let their sacrifices mean nothing. Don’t let this monster get away with everything he’s done.”

Optimus’s optics trailed down to the ground as he took in Ratchet’s words. The silence that followed stretched for what felt like an eternity to Ratchet. And when Optimus spoke again, it wasn’t the answer he had been praying for.

Later that night, at the military base, a small group of Autobots were walking away into the dark forest, leaving Optimus’ side as he stood there, watching with a mournful gaze.

Ratchet walked alongside Prowl, Ironhide, Hound, Cliffjumper, and Arcee, leaving only a handful of Autobots standing beside Optimus’s side, Megatron among them.

Ratchet did his best not to look back. His spark felt like it was shattering piece by piece with every step away from his oldest friend - the brother he had bled for, fought for, trusted with his life. But he couldn’t bear to look at the monster who had somehow wormed his way back into Optimus’s life, only to bring more destruction in his wake.

Moments Before the Present

Ratchet sat alone by a riverbank, staring down at the tablet screen in his servos. Hound had handed it to him before slipping away with the others, disappearing into the thick woods they had learned to move around stealthily over their years on Earth.

The tablet displayed a clear feed from a small mechanical raven that was invented by one of their contacts. Equipped with a camera and a mic, it transmitted video and audio directly to Ratchet. They had been using it since morning to spy on Optimus and the others.

Currently on the screen, Ratchet could see Starscream, Elita-1, Dorothy, Megatron... and Optimus.

It was the first time he had seen him in years. The last encounter had ended in an emotional argument and even now he still found himself unable to believe how his oldest friend ended up giving a second chance to the very mech who had started the war and cost them millions of lives.

Ratchet had always known Optimus harbored a soft spot for Megatron. Truth be told, everyone did. But he had still held onto a desperate hope that, eventually, Optimus would see that some sparks were beyond saving. That Megatron was beyond saving.

But Optimus, ever the optimistic bot, never truly gave up. And Ratchet resented him for it. Even though, deep down, it was the trait that Ratchet had respected him for and what he missed the most… Now, seeing his friend again, on the screen, made his spark ache with a longing he hadn’t let himself feel in a long time. The longing to talk to him, to be near him. After all, Optimus was the one mech he had once trusted with everything, including his life.

Ratchet wasn’t a bot that trusted anyone so easily, nor let others get close to. Even if he was surrounded by other Autobots in the past years, he felt the cold bite of loneliness clawing at his spark. But he reminded himself why he had turned away. Why they had all left Optimus’ side. Especially after the destruction of the Allspark.

As he stared down at the screen, his optics narrowed at the image of Megatron on the screen.

It was strange. Something about him looked different and he couldn’t figure out what that was. Megatron’s frame was the same. The paint job, too - if anything, less battered than before. Nevertheless, something was off…

“Spotted three of the children closing in on them,” Hound’s voice crackling softly through the group comm-link interrupted Ratchet’s thoughts.

“Make sure to keep your distance from them,” Prowl’s voice answered. “Remember, you don’t have to be too close to our target. That’s why we have Ratchet keeping an optic on him.”

“So, what’s the plan again?” Cliffjumper asked with a bored tone.

Ratchet vented an annoyed sigh, shaking his helm. He wasn’t the only one. He could hear Hound’s low groan through the open call.

“We wait until Ratchet gives the signal,” Prowl said coolly. “Once Starscream’s away from Megatron and Optimus, we attack.”

“Those kids are gonna be a problem though,” Hound muttered. “I can see them going after Starscream once the talking’s over.”

“We’ll figure it out if it happens,” Prowl replied, unbothered. “The priority is to get Optimus and Megatron out of the picture.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ironhide said.

Ratchet tuned out the group and listened to the feed through a private audio channel connected to the tablet. And he watched how things escalated on the screen. Starscream fired at Megatron, who dodged easily before tackling the Seeker and landing a brutal punch.

Ratchet huffed through his vents. Typical. Nothing had changed. Megatron would never change.

Then he watched as Optimus and Elita struggled to pull Megatron off Starscream. He fully expected the tyrant to lash out at Optimus next.

          “I told you we couldn’t trust him!” Megatron’s voice snarled through the feed.

Ratchet scoffed under his vents. What a hypocrite.

But then - the most unexpected thing happened. At first, Ratchet wasn’t sure what he was looking at. The camera didn’t pick up Starscream’s sob, but the feed captured Starscream’s struggle to sit up, his entire frame trembling as he hunched over, bringing both servos up to cover his optics.

The angle wasn’t great; he couldn’t see Starscream’s face fully. But the way everyone around him froze, the sudden hush that fell, told Ratchet exactly what was happening. And he couldn’t believe it. His optics stared in stunned silent as he listened to every word that slipped out of Starscream.

Megatron tried to interrupt, but Starscream cut him off sharply - raw, vulnerable emotion spilling from him. Nothing like the sadistic, cruel mech who had done the most heinous of acts during the war.

Starscream lashed out verbally at Megatron, venting the years of misery he had gone through. He spoke of the abuse he had endured, the humiliation, the pain Megatron had inflicted on him time and time again.

And Megatron didn’t snap in return, didn’t punch or blast his cannon at Starscream. Instead, he stood there silently, looking guilty.

         “You humiliated me,” Starscream’s said through clenched teeth. “You hurt me - over and over. Do you even know how much it hurt when you tore me apart?”

Ratchet felt a heavy weight settle in his spark.

But why?

Sure, in all those cycles of fighting Starscream, he had never once considered what the Seeker might have been enduring behind enemy lines, but why would he? Starscream had killed so many without a hint of remorse.

Ratchet continued to listen, and the more he did, the more his spark felt for the Seeker, the more exhausted he felt from all the anger and resentment that he carried for far too long in his existence.

         “I should have never made that cannon for you…” Starscream said quietly. “I should have never delivered those senators for you to slaughter. I should have never trusted you…”

He watched Starscream’s optics shut tight, his limp wings trembling violently behind him. Actual tears streaked his faceplates.

         “I should have never let you…” Starscream’s voice broke into a sob, “turn me into someone Skyfire could no longer love.”.

Ratchet could see it. Could see the regret pouring out of Starscream’s voice.

         “I should have never joined the Decepticons…” Starscream admitted, barely above a whisper, before blue optics were awash with coolant as he bowed his helm low.

Ratchet did his best to shove the sympathy he was feeling for Starscream, reminding himself that it was too late for the Seeker. Far, far too late to change.

Starscream was a monster, just like Megatron. And both did not deserve a second chance.

Suddenly, he saw Elita move. And without hesitation, she pulled Starscream into an embrace.

Ratchet’s optics widened, shocked. And watched Starscream look up at her in confusion and fear, trying to pull away, but Elita held firm by his arms, before pulling him back in, then guided his helm to her shoulder, her servo resting gently against the back of his head.

And Starscream stopped resisting. The current leader of the Decepticons - the most dangerous mechs in the skies, broke down completely, silent sobs wracking his trembling frame. All the while, Elita - one of his lifelong enemies - held him tighter, comforting him.

The scene continued; it was one that Ratchet would have never imagined possible. And what really shocked him was, for the first time, Ratchet didn’t see Starscream as a monster. Instead, he saw a broken mech - one desperate, just like so many Autobots Ratchet had failed to protect, to be held, to be comforted. A lost, shattered soul - tired of the war, just like so many of them.

Ratchet was in a daze, busy struggling to make sense of what he had seen, of what he felt and before he knew it, he watched Megatron, Dorothy, and Optimus leave the scene when a soft ping from Prowl reached him for an update. And without thinking, he eventually told him the direction where Elita was taking Starscream to when they moved.

“And the children?” Ironhide asked over the group channel.

Ratchet slowly realized the children were stepping into the camera feed.

“They’re following Megatron and Optimus,” he said, still disoriented.

“What are we gonna do about Elita?” Cliffjumper asked.

“I have something in mind,” Prowl answered. “Hound, get that signal jammer ready. We have to make sure Starscream nor Elita can call for help.”

“Copy that,” Hound replied.

Ratchet again tuned them out, adjusting the mechanical bird to tail Optimus instead. He needed to see what Megatron was going to do after Starscream had confronted him. He imagined Megatron had been secretly hiding his true feelings about the situation and would soon release it in rage.  

It took him a while to finally catch up to them after they walked a while, and, just in time, he caught the beginning of Dorothy speaking to Megatron.

Megatron looked uncomfortable, defensive, already trying to spin everything that Starscream had just said to justify the abuse. Just as Ratchet expected.

Megatron even admitted that Starscream had originally refused to join his cause. And had only changed his mind due to the High Council trying to force him to join their ranks - Ratchet had been certain that Seeker had been one of the first ones to join the Decepticons and sought out to tear down the Senate.

Just as he watched Megatron trying to paint Starscream as the selfish mech theyf know, one of the Terrans stepped out of their hiding spot angrily, cutting him off.

Now Ratchet was stunned as the young mech confronted Megatron without fear, without any hesitation. A second Terran stepped up too. All the while this happened, Megatron didn’t lash out. There was no anger crossing his features. Instead, he listened to them, allowed the children to call him out about what he had done to Starscream.

Everything that was happening, including Starscream’s earlier scene, was surreal.

         “You don’t know him. None of you do. Not like I do at least,” Hashtag said coldly. “Starscream isn’t perfect, and yah, he’s done terrible things just like everyone else during the war, but he’s not the selfish, self-absorbed mech you think he is. He may worry about himself most of the time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about anyone else. He does care about others, even if he doesn’t show it.” Her servos curled into fists. “He cares about me. And you can’t say that’s not true. You saw it with your own optics when he threw himself to save me when the Dweller got me. He risked his life for me that day.”

Her revelations surprised him even more.

Starscream risked his life to save the child? Since when did the Seeker care about anyone else except himself?

Maybe the Seeker was tricking the child. For reasons he couldn’t understand.

         “And he always answers when I call him,” Hashtag pressed on. “He listens to me when I talk to him about my problems, especially when I spoke to him about what I’ve been through with Mandroid. If he didn’t care about me, he would have never given me his com-link and accepted my calls.”

Ratchet was silent while the Terran continued to confront Megatron, and that in itself still amazed him, because the Megatron he knew, would never allow anyone to yell at him. To never call him out about his actions.

         “You told us to be better than you,” Hashtag said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You told us not to repeat your mistakes... but now you want us to hate someone you hurt?”

         She stepped back, tears streaking her face.

         “We trusted you, Megatron…” her voice said brokenly. “We trusted you so much… but you… you broke our trust…”

         A sob tore from her as she covered her face, her frame shaking.

Now he stared at the screen, at a loss for words, watching how a young mech was hurting from Megatron breaking their trust, showing how much they actual valued the tyrant.

He didn’t know how to feel about it.

He tried to reason that the Terran was just naïve, like human, Dorothy. She couldn’t comprehend the true complexities of-

Ratchet, optics wide in utter shock as Megatron slowly raised a servo to block his optics.

No...

Megatron was not capable of….

His thoughts stopped when Megatron’s servo lowered again. Coolant had gathered around his optics, making him look as exhausted and hollow.

         “You’re right,” Megatron said in a low, strained tone. Shame clouded his optics as he looked at Hashtag. “You’re right, little one. I’ve hurt Starscream for far too long. What I did to him... it’s unforgivable.” Megatron’s optics dimmed faintly as he averted his gaze. “And not only did I fail him - I’ve failed all of you as well.”

The memory from years ago suddenly started to replay in Ratchet’s processor.

“So, you’re telling me,” Ratchet said, glaring at Megatron with disbelief, “that it took one human to change your mind about everything?”

Ratchet’s dental clenched, his servos tightening their grip on the tablet, threatening to shatter it.

“You know very well, freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Ratchet,” Optimus said softly, his voice carrying that old, stubborn hope. “And that includes the freedom to change.” His optics gentled as they met Ratchet’s. “No one is beyond redemption, so long as they choose to walk the right path. And that includes Megatron.”

“But Optimus...” Ratchet’s voice cracked under the weight of his turmoil. “He... he’s taken so many of our friends. So many of our people.”

Ratchet’s spark twisted in agony as he pulled his gaze away from the screen, coolant gathering in his optics with frustration and from conflicting emotions.

“I know he was once your friend. But... he crossed so many lines. No act of goodwill can undo what he’s done.”

Yet no matter how hard he tried to cling to that belief, the image of Elita embracing Starscream - holding him while he sobbed silently - flashed through his processor. And then Megatron’s teardrop, trailing slowly down his worn faceplates. And the Terrans... the young ones, desperately trying to defend someone they cared about.

It was when Ratchet felt cold dread wash through his entire frame.

The Terrans cared for Megatron, and they cared about Starscream. They had been willing to confront Megatron for the pain he had caused the seeker. And he remembered when Prowl reported to them how, after he had shot Starscream in the helm the previous day, the Terrans had immediately jumped in to defend him.

“Oh, no...” Ratchet whispered in horror, optics wide.

The Autobots and Decepticons weren’t at war at the moment. Starscream - the current leader of the Decepticons - was about to be attacked by a group of Autobots, and that would undoubtedly reignite the war. He was well aware of this, but he didn’t realize how emotionally invested the Terrans were in Starscream. If the conflict started again, the Terrans, who had nothing to do with it in the beginning, would be pulled into it too, as they weren’t the type – from what he can see -to just stand by and let anyone they cared about get hurt.

Countless memories of lives lost under his care during the war flashed through his processor - and the thought of one of the Terrans finding themselves in the same situation because of him filled him with such terror that it drove him into panic.

He didn’t know the children at all, but they were young and innocent. Even if he thought them naïve, they didn’t deserve to experience the horrors he had lived through. They shouldn’t be punished for caring about others.

“I should have never allowed rage to blind me for so long.” Megatron’s words echoed in Ratchet’s mind, making him realize how he had been following the mech’s footsteps.

“I’m not asking you to forgive him or forget what he’s done,” Optimus voice seemed to replay next. “What I’m asking you is not to let our pain chain us to the past. If we do... the war will never end. We have to move forward, no matter how painful it is. We cannot allow this war to continue any longer.”

He hurriedly unmuted the comms.

“Our duty has and should always be to protect all life, so we should focus on preserving as many lives as we can now.”

“Everyone, listen to me, I need you all to stop now!” Ratchet barked with desperation. “Do not attack Starscream! I repeat, do not attack-” He stopped, his optics wide in dismay as he just noticed his HUD alerting him the connection had been blocked. Completely forgetting the fact Hound would have used his communication dampener by now.

The Present

Elita hadn’t seen Ironhide, Cliffjumper, or Hound in years. She had searched for them countless times, trying to reconnect, but they had vanished without a trace. Arcee had originally left with them, but after a few years, she returned to Optimus’ side but refused to reveal where the others were hiding. And now, after all this time, they were here - right before her optics, weapons drawn, aiming at Starscream. Which she found suspicious.

“You set me up!” Starscream shrieked. His voice was sharp with terror and outrage, pulling her attention back to him as his wings flared in panic, teetering on hysteria. “I should have known better than to trust an Autobot!” His optics were wide with wild fear, vents rasping harshly as his arm - still trained on her - trembled with desperate rage.

“Starscream, wait, listen to me,” she said quickly, trying to keep her voice calm and gentle, she had to keep him from spiraling any further. “I know how this looks, but I swear, I have nothing to do with this.”

“Lies!” Starscream snapped, his voice cracking as his optics darted around. “Was this whole sympathy act just a cruel joke to lower my guard?!”

“No, Starscream, it wasn’t—”

“I’ll tear you apart before I let Megatron - or any of you - make a fool out of me!” he snarled, activating his missile launcher.

But the hum of other weapons powering up around him snapped him out of his spiraling panic.

“Everyone, stand down,” Elita barked firmly. She glared at her friends, who looked more than eager to open fire on Starscream, even as he struggled to control his venting and keep his rising terror in check.

“Sorry, Elita,” Cliffjumper snorted, “but we don’t take orders from bots who cozy up to Decepticons.”

Her glare darkened in his direction.

“Hey now, Cliff, don’t go disrespecting her like that,” Hound said, shooting a look at the red mech before glancing at their former second in command. “This isn’t personal, Elita.”

“If it’s really not personal, then lower your weapons,” she said evenly. “Starscream and I were just talking-” She stopped mid-sentence, a realization flashing through her processor. “Wait... how long were you skulking around?”

“Does it matter?” Prowl drawled coolly.

At Prowl’s words, Starscream’s entire posture faltered. His optics flickered down to the ground as shame bled into his frame, his wings folding tight against his back in a subconscious attempt to make himself smaller. When he finally looked up at Elita, his optics were hollow with confusion, hurt etched across his face.

The sight twisted something deep inside her spark.

She clenched her jaw, fury bubbling under her calm exterior. Her anger was not directed at Starscream, but at her former comrades, for lurking in the shadows and destroying the fragile moment of trust she had built with him.

And now as she thought about it, she hoped they hadn’t seen Starscream confronting Megatron as well. After all, they had no right to have seen Starscream in such a vulnerable moment.

The urge to reach for her com-link and call Optimus was almost hard to fight it, but she knew if she made any abrupt movements, it would terrify Starscream even further. He was already panicking, and he would fire on her without meaning to.

So, instead, she took a slow, deep vent, to steady her thoughts. She had been second-in-command of the Autobots for most of the war, had been their commanding officer. Even though she hadn’t seen them in years, she should be able to handle the situation on her own.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken,” she began carefully. “And much has changed.”

“Yeah, we can tell,” Cliffjumper said dryly. “Weren’t the Decepticons supposed to be locked up or something?”

“I repeat,” Elita said, her voice taking a firmer tone, “much has happened. We are currently in a truce with them.”

“Doesn’t look like that to me,” Cliffjumper grunted out, waving his blaster at the missile still trained on Elita.

“Can you blame him? You have him all spooked with all your weapons aimed at him.” She swept her gaze over them, her spark heavy with frustration. “Listen to me, the war is over. Starscream isn’t our enemy anymore. So, please, lower your weapons.”

“The war is far from over, Elita,” Prowl said, his voice low, his optics locked onto Starscream like a predator stalking prey.

And Starscream could feel the weight of Prowl’s gaze, which only made his anxiety spike even higher.

“The Allspark is gone. There’s no reason to fight anymore,” Elita insisted.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Prowl said coldly.

Starscream’s arm began to tremble.

“Prowl...” Elita’s patience was running thin.

“I didn’t expect you, of all Autobots, to fall into the same naivety that blinded our former leader,” Prowl said in a disapproving tone. “Trusting a Decepticon - you know very well how dangerous and foolish that is. Having Megatron around you is bad enough. But letting Starscream near young mechs? Have you all lost your processors?”

“Starscream doesn’t pose a threat to those children.”

“Didn’t he just admit he hurt one of them?” Cliffjumper pointed out.

“It was an accident,” the words spilled out of Starscream before he could stop himself in a panic state.

Elita turned to him, surprised to hear him admit to it.

“I didn’t realize she was behind me,” he stammered, his voice cracking with desperation. “I… When she touched my wing, I... I panicked and...” He trailed off, the bright blue of his optics shimmering with a desperate plea for her to believe him.

And relief flooded her frame.

“Bullshit,” Cliffjumper grunted out.

“I swear, I didn’t mean to hurt her!” Starscream cried out to Elita.

She was glad it was an accident for many reasons, especially for Hashtag.

“I would never want to harm her!”

“I know you wouldn’t,” she eventually said.

“You have to belie-” Starscream stopped and stared at her with utter confusion, unsure if he had just heard her correctly.

“Don’t worry Starscream, I believe you,” she said gently, ignoring the annoyed groan slipping out from Cliffjumper. “Honestly, I figured something like that happened. After what Bumblebee saw last night, there was no way you would have gone out of your way to hurt any of the children. At least, not on purpose.”

Starscream continued to stare at her, and when she offered him a small, reassuring smile, something stirred in his spark, reminiscent to how he felt when Hashtag told him how she believed him about Megatron months ago.

The trembling stopped on his arm without him realizing it.

However, a small portion in his processor was telling him she was lying to him. Because since when did anyone actually believe him what he had to say? Though… Hashtag did… and Elita as well regarding what Megatron did to him.

Meanwhile, Ironhide was the one only in his group to notice how the Seeker was no longer looking at Elita with rage and fear. Instead, the Seeker’s optics were glowing with some sort of longing.

“Now, I need you to listen to me very carefully,” Elita said to Starscream. “These idiots are finding any excuse to hurt you. But if you trust me and do what I say, no one is going to lay a servo on you.”

Starscream’s optics flickered at the others around him, hostility flooding back in his gaze, before they landed back on her.

“I know every circuit may be telling you not to believe me,” she said. “But I swear to you, Starscream, they won’t harm you. All you have to do is deactivate your missile launcher and lower your arm and everything will be good.”

His frame tensed up again, the fear flashing in his blue optics right after.

“If you aren’t threatening anyone, they’ll not attack,” she pressed. “Even though they have reasons to do it, they won’t. Because they’re still Autobots,” she glanced at Ironhide who met her gaze silently.

She had a point. Autobots, at least, the ones closer to Optimus’ circle followed certain ‘rules’ in battle – they weren’t like the other mechs who simply wanted to end the enemy. But the fact Prowl and the others around them had left Optimus’ side was what concerned Starscream.

“They won’t shoot,” she assured him softly while she took one step towards him. “I’ll call Optimus right away to come over and he’ll make sure you’re safe.”

Even if neither Prowl nor the others shot him, Starscream still had to get out of there as soon as possible. They knew about the Allspark inside him, and he couldn’t risk Megatron finding about it now, especially after he had lashed out at him earlier.

“I promise you Starscream, they won’t kill you,” Elita pressed on.

“She’s right, we won’t kill you,” Prowl said calmly. “At least, not until you hand us the Allspark.”

Starscream felt his spark stop for a moment. Silence fell on them while Elita’s optic ridges furrowed, and she glanced at Prowl as if he lost his processor.

“Ah, so he hasn’t told you?” Prowl inquired Elita.  

“You know very well the Allspark was either destroyed or sent to Cybertron during the Battle of the Spacebridge,” she said.

“Are you sure about that?” Cliffjumper chimed in with amusement.

“Why don’t you ask Starscream what truly happened?” Prowl asked, his optics glinting with mock friendliness. “Since you and he have become so rather close, I’m sure he’ll be honest with you.”

Elita was sure Prowl the others were trying to mess with her, to put her against Starscream, but when she turned to look at the Seeker, she found him looking at her more with wider optics than before.

He blinked once, too slowly. “Don’t listen to him,” he stammered a bit, too nervous. “I-I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

Unlike last time, when she could sense his honesty through his desperation and the plea in his voice, now there was only the nervousness she’d seen in him during a few of their past interactions in the war, when he couldn’t lie while under pressure. His armed arm trembled again, and she was beginning to feel nervous herself, fearing he might attack her.

And truth be told, the whole situation confused her. She had seen with her own optics that the Allspark was nowhere to be found after the destruction of the spacebridge. She had seen Starscream’s battered frame lying on the ground, but again, no sign of the Allspark.

Maybe the Allspark had somehow appeared somewhere else on Earth and Starscream found it? But, why would Starscream even step out of hiding if he did have the Allspark in his possession? And how would Prowl and the others know that?

Actually, there were a few questions that were nagging her now.

Like… how did Prowl and the others know Starscream had been coming over to visit Hashtag? Honestly, she thought Prowl showing up the day before after all these years was a huge coincidence, but now seeing the rest of them as well…

She didn’t believe Starscream had the Allspark, but he was definitely hiding something. But, whatever it was, getting him out of harm’s way should be her main priority.

“Starscream… I’m going to get you out of here,” she said softly. “Don’t worry about them, I’ll handle them, okay? Just, trust me.”

Starscream couldn’t trust her, especially after Prowl just spilled his secret.

However, what other choice did he have?

He was surrounded by the enemy, and the only way out was to fly without getting critically injured.

After quickly running through every possible plan he could think of, playing along with Elita, at least for the moment, seemed like the best option. If he lowered his weapon, and if the others did the same, he would take the advantage, activate his thrusters, and shoot through the forest to put enough distance between them before transforming and flying away.

The plan wasn’t perfect, but his options were limited.

He took a few slow vents, trying to steady himself. He had to time everything perfectly. There was no room for error, especially not now.

As he deactivated the missile on his arm, Elita gave him a soft smile and an encouraging nod.

He could do this… he told himself. There was enough space between Elita’s right side and Ironhide for him to blast through. The trees would offer just enough cover to evade their shots - if they decided to attack. And he was certain they would.

He began lowering his weapon and noticed, from his angle, that Ironhide and Prowl were doing the same, stirring some hope inside his spark.

Then suddenly, a searing, white-hot agony erupted through his left side.

What just happened...?

A guttural cry tore from his vocalizer before he even realized he was making it.

Agony, that’s all he could register as his body was burning with it, before he was going through shock.

His blue optics were wide, venting struggling to keep up as his systems overheated immediately. Pain drowned every other sense. Slowly, he realized he was on his knees, his body trembling uncontrollably. And for a fleeting moment, he thought Megatron had appeared and shot him from behind with his fusion cannon - just like he had done before.

But he hadn’t heard any loud blasts going off.

He heard Elita screaming, but he couldn’t make out what she was saying. His audials were struggling to filter through the static and the rising pitch of system alarms.

Then she appeared in his flickering vision, kneeling in front of him, optics wide with horror, her mouth moving fast. But still, he couldn’t understand her.

Her servos hovered over his left side, but she didn’t touch him. And after a great deal of effort, in a daze, he slowly turned his helm to the side.

His wing was nearly severed, dangling by scorched joints. Just like his shoulder - raw circuitry sparked violently, shattered plating hung loosely, and energon covered everything in thick globs.

He stared at the ugly mess on his left side, his vents coming in labored bursts. His body was failing to cool, his systems screaming at him to enter stasis lock. He didn’t even realize he had slumped against Elita until he heard her voice again, whispering at him that everything was going to be okay.

But he knew her words were nothing but just all some joke, just like his life had been.

Starscream was afraid.

Even though there was a soft presence in his spark, trying to comfort him, he was terrified. He was convinced that his existence was finally coming to an end, or that a darker fate awaited him with whatever Prowl had planned for him…

He truly hated his life.

Chapter Text

I give you all permission to whack me with pillows v.v, hard pillows too : c

So, i saw the recent thunderbolts movie and... I got obsessed with it. I didn't see that coming, like, for reals... I won't give spoilers but yah, it's that good and i highly reccomend peeps to watch it O.O

So... I started a fanfic of the thunderbolts the night i saw the movie v.v (chaps are rather short though). and ahhh my friend's wedding is coming up soon too and i got a trip happening this month, ahhh..., im terrible i know... so... what im trying to say is not sure when the next chapter of "trust me" will be out since im sooo hyperfixated with the thunderbolts movie, especially a certain character : c...  

and the thing is, i don't like writing a story if im not like super focused on it since, i think it will come out flat and that's the one thing i don't want to happen when giving you peeps a story : o. especially with the future events, it would ruin the story v.v

so for now, yah, the chaps for this story may come out slower than usual : c. im legit sorry about it v.v

And for those who have seen the thunderbolts movie, please give my new fanfic a shot : ), it's called "when life gives you lemons" and please leave a comment telling me what ya think and a kudo : )
And for those who haven't seen the movie , pleaseeee watch ittttt, it's soooo goooooood : D, like no joke, amazing.... i haven't been addicted to an mcu movie in such a long time x.x.... 

but anyways, i promise i won't abandon this story, especially since there are two other scenes that are huuuge , well, hopefully impactful and i am so curious to seee if i can pull it off and see your peeps' reactions : )

again, sorry : c, i hope you understand and i will be going back on chapter 26 to respond to your comments - i have read them all like twice already since that's what i do before i respond LOL