Chapter Text
“I’m positive I left it right here!”
Perceptor gestured helplessly to the patch of land outside the Ark. Optimus massaged his chin- if he had a beard, he would be twirling it in thought.
“Hmm, this is strange.” Optimus hummed. “Are you absolutely sure you left it here, Perceptor?”
Perceptor nodded. “I'm sure.
“Are you sure you're sure?” Spike piped up from down below.
“I’m sure I'm sure.” Perceptor said.
“But are you sure you’re sure you’re sure?”
“Spike,” Perceptor bristled, “I am definitely, most positivley sure that I left my shrink ray right here !”
The human shrugged sympathetically, “Maybe a bird took it?”
Perceptor shoulder’s lowered and he began to whisper ramblings of worry. “How could I be so careless, leaving it here for a simple avian creature to seal!”
Optimus put a servo on Perceptor's shoulder. “ I'm sure it’ll turn up, my friend.” he said that soothing, warm voice that could calm any mech down.
Any mech except Perceptor.
“It took me mega-cyles to get it working- now I’ll have to start over.” he practically whimpered. “All because some bird decided to snatch up the fruits of my labour!”
“I’m not a bird.” a voice rumbled.
The three turned round to see a familiar face looming over them.
“It was a plane!” Spike exclaimed.
“I’m not a plane. I'm a jet.”
“It was Skyfire!”
“I’m not a Skyf- oh. Yes, I am.”
“Hold on,” Perceptor said, “Are you insinuating that you took my shrink ray?”
Skyfire sheepishly looked away.
Optimus raised a non-existent eyebrow. “Skyfire, ” he hummed in that tone you use when you want a dog to drop something. And no-one could refuse Optimus when he used that voice. I bet if he used it on Megatron, even he would feel obliged to stop being a war-criminal.
Scrunching his face in defeat, Skyfire opened up his cock-pit and delicately pulled out the tiny shrink-ray.
Perceptor let out a hight pitch scream that still manged to sound utterly British. “My sparkling!”
Perhaps I should rephrase my pervious statement. Skyfire opened up his cock-pit and delicately pulled out what was left of the shrink-ray.
Spike turned to Perceptor. “That’s your kid?”
“My child of science, Spike!” Perceptor whimpered. “I went through a great deal labour to bring it into the world, and then I accidently made it small, and now its all- oh !” he wailed.
Skyfire was still, but his eyes fell to the ground. “I deeply apologise, Perceptor.”
Perceptor scoffed and snatched the miniscle remenants of the shrink-ray out of his servos. Skyfire was holding it quite high to his chassis, so Perceptor had to do an undignified hop to grab it. If this was BeastWars, he would have transformed into a rabbit.
“An apology won’t fix my creation.” Preceptor barked like a little crusty white dog who yearns for the end.
“Perceptor!” Optimus tilted his head judgementally.
“I only speak the truth, Optimus!” Perceptor said, “I could be utilising my availability for developing new inventions. But now, I am obligated to rebuild a device that shouldn’t have been broken in the first place. So, if you don’t mind, it is in my best interest to begin the process immediately.”
The not-so-micro microscope began to walk towards the Ark.
Spike looked between all the present bots. He then ran up to Preceptor, following him like a dog following its owner's heel. Why have I used so many dog comparisons today? I think it's because I’ve had a ruff week.
“W-wait!” Spike exclaimed, waving his arms, “Perceptor!”
Perceptor did not stop moving. “What is it?”
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh?”
“I take the destruction of my inventions very seriously.”
“I get it, it’s your little science kid, but this is Skyfire we’re talking about!”
Perceptor sighed irritably, “I’m well aware of who the culprit is, Spike.”
“Then you’re also well aware of what kind of bot Skyfire is!”
Perceptor halted. Spike jogged down to a stop- he had started to become quite exhausted. These big guys never seemed to remember that a casual stroll for them was a hundred-meter sprint for him.
“Skyfire’s the largest- h-hold on-,” Spike put his hands to his knees. He took in a big gulp of air. “-Skyfire’s the largest bot out of all of you, but he's also the most careful. The Ark- the world even- isn't built for his height. How do you think he feels, breaking something so small?”
Perceptor paused. He looked over his shoulder, his voice reverting to a calmer state. “By my calculations...”
Optimus had moved in closer to comfort the big guy, but Skyfire hadn’t moved an inch. Still as a statue, his gaze was focused on the floor. His chin was clenched, mouth struggling to be anything but a frown.
“...ashamed.”
Perceptor began to walk towards them.
“Wait, wait, wait-!” Spike started, too out of breath to complete another mini-marathon. He sighed in defeat. A giant hand suddenly lowered in front of him.
“I need my little advisor to help me apologise to dear Skyfire.” Perceptor smiled.
Spike grinned and clambered on. He was placed onto Perceptor’s shoulder.
“I’ll be like your own Jiminy Cricket!” Spike chirped.
“Yes! My own Jiminy Cricket.” Perceptor repeated. “What's a Jiminy Cricket?”
Before Spike could answer, they had reached the others.
Optimus was in the middle of a pep talk. “-to look to worried, my friend.”
“Ah, Skyfire.” Perceptor started, “I must-”
Still avoiding eye-contact, Skyfire bowed. “My deepest condolences for your creation.” he said in his calm, almost monotone voice, “I understand the amount of work you put into it. As a scientist myself, I relate to your loss. But this isn’t about me, this is about you-”
“Skyfire!” Spike piped up with a laugh, “It’s okay! Perceptor just wanted to apologise.”
“Apologise?” Skyfire said. “For what?”
“For the way I acted.” Percptor said sheepishly. “I lashed out without thinking. I know you wouldn't do something like this on purpose.” He looked at the broken shrink-ray in his left hand. “But, what exactly happened?”
Skyfire shifted his foot, embarrassed. “It was just before I embarked on my scouting mission. I gave myself a running start before I transformed. I kept my eyes on the sky as I ran and I did not see your device. It was no match for my foot, I’m afraid.” He forcibly made himself look at Perceptor. “I am sorry. I took it with me on my scouting mission- I was hesitant to give it back to you in such a state.”
With a sigh, Perceptor shook his head. “Well, I must admit, I’m still annoyed... But I suppose this is an ample opportunity for me to install a stronger material into the shrink-ray to allow it to withstand heavy impacts.” He smiled. “Such as those from your foot.”
Skyfire was silent.
Optimus leant in towards him. “I believe that was a joke, Skyfire.”
“Oh.” Skyfire chuckled, a small smile gracing his lips. “I am forgiven then?”
Perceptor nodded. “Yes. But you should be apologising to Spike.”
Spike drew his head back. “To me? Why?”
“Well,” Perceptor pushed up imaginary glasses, “Wheeljack proposed that we use my device to shrink to hus size and include him in a group hug, as we did not include him in one yesterday. But this act of kindness will have to be delayed now!"
The human grinned. “Gee, that’s nice of you guys!”
“Well, it was Wheeljack’s idea. Perhaps you should thank him now- who knows when I’ll get my shrink ray up and running again.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Spike exclaimed. “Lets go!”
Perceptor laughed. “As you wish, little Cricket.”
And with that, they left.
There was a moment of pause.
Optimus coughed, like an awkward Dad about to converse to their teenage daughter who they don't have custody over. “How was your scouting mission?”
Skyfire paused. “It was... good.”
“Did you find anything?”
Skyfire paused. “No.”
Optimus nodded. “Hmm.”
A pause.
“You were out for a long time.” Optimus noted. It wasn’t a push, it was a merely an observation.
“I wasn’t aware I had a curfew.”
“No, you don't. I was-” Optimus sighed, his engine rumbling. “I was simply worried. I’ve never seen you so eager to go on a scouting mission, especially one so abrupt and so long.”
“I... needed some air.” Skyfire said. “You know us flyers- we can go stir crazy without flying for long periods of time.”
“I have seen it for my own eyes.” Optimus nodded. “Powerglide damaged his thrusters and couldn’t fly for a whole cyberweek. Wouldn’t stop mumbling ‘And away we go!’ under his breath. It was rather... unsettling.”
“I am lucky. I’ve yet to see my own side-effects.” Skyfire twiddled his fingers. “So, please do not interrogate me about the longevity of my flights.”
Optimus titled his head. “I’m sorry if my concerns came across that way.”
Skyfire paused. His lips moved silently with words he couldn’t bring himself to say. “I shall return to my quarters and catch up on my missed recharge.”
“Of course.”
Skyfire walked a few steps before Optimus put his servo on his shoulder. Actually, he couldn't reach his shoulder. So, it was more like he put his servo on his arm.
“My friend,” Optimus started.
But Skyfire shrunk back from his touch. “Don’t.”
“I-I’m sorry- I...” Optimus hesitated. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Skyfire did a quite internal scan. “All functions are running smoothly.”
“No, no, Skyfire,” Optimus sighed. “You were out all night. Are positive you didn’t see anything?”
Skyfire looked away. He tried to discreetly stim, shakimg his servo in a rhythmic motion.
Optimus’ optics crinkled. “You can talk to me, Skyfire.”
Skyfire took in a breath. “I saw an old friend.”
Optimus watched on, thinking he had made a breakthrough.
“But...” Skyfire clasped his servo to stop it moving. “It was just a- trick of the processor. Just some rocks that looked like a bot I knew... long ago. It was nothing.”
Optimus’ antenna drooped in disappointment. “I will believe you, friend. But- do not hesitate to find me if you would like to talk.”
“About what?” Skyfire asked.
A sympathetic expression formed on the Prime’s face. “Anything.”
“Optimus, I truly have outdone myself.” Perceptor gushed. “Really, it only took me one Earth Day to fix it.”
Optimus walked alongside him, amused by the Scientists enthusiasm. “That is quite a feat, Perceptor.”
“Isn’t it just?” the microscope said with a proud sigh, “To re-align small fractions and then modify them into a larger form in such a short span of time.”
Optimus hummed. “Meaning?”
“I fixed the shrink-ray and managed to increase its size!” Perceptor chuckled to himself. “I un-shrunk the shrink-ray, you might say. I also added a feature which allows to user to determine how long they want to stay small. And I want you to be the first to see it in its restored state!”
Optimus blushed. “Well, I feel honoured, Percy.”
They walked down the hall until they entered the laboratory.
“And here it is!” Perceptor exclaimed, pointing dramatically to his desk.
There were a few seconds of silence.
“Are you sure you didn’t shrink the shrink-ray again?” Optimus asked.
Percptor smiled in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Pherhaps to a miniscle size?” Optimus approached the desk. The empty desk. “One naked to the Cybertronian optic?”
“B-b-b-but-!!” Perceptor transformed into a microscope and examined the desk. “It's not here!” He transformed back and dramatically put his face onto the desk. “A whole day! Wasted!”
Optimus patted his back. “I’m sure it can’t have gone far.” He soothed. But he looked up in thought. He had a sneaky feeling who could have taken it.
Skyfire knew that Optimus knew. Well, Optimus didn’t know everything, but he definitely knew something was up. He had a sort of Spidey-sense for Primes. Pimey-sense.
Trying to be as discreet as he could, Skyfire transformed and crouched down behind some conveniently large trees. And just over the road, he could see Mikaela pumping up the tyres of her elderly neighbour's car.
Skyfire hated lying. He hated stealing. He basically hated everything that was considered ‘wrong’. Justice sensitivity was a core part of his processing- so looking at the Shrink-Ray in his hand was unsettling. It went against everything he stood for.
“Hello, Perceptor’s child of science.” he said softly to the Shrink-Ray. “I promise I will look after you this time. I will return you...” Skyfire slowly looked up and watched as Mikaela swiped the sweat from her brow.
“...soon.”
He continued to watch as Margey, her neighbour, came out and paid her. Once Mikaela was back inside, Skyfire pointed the gun at himself. He moved the dial on the side to ‘Five Earth Hours’ and shrunk himself down. He ran over the road, hopped over a fence and landed in Magery’s garden. He then hid behind some bushes.
If he was to be honest, he didn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t know what he’d gain out of spying on Starscream, or on his human companion. He didn’t know if he’d tell Optimus or not. He just... he just didn’t know.
The only thing he did know was that he wanted to see his old friend again. Unfortunately, there was no way of knowing when or even if Starscream would show up.
But suddenly, as if on cue, in broad daylight, with the Autobot symbols glimmering on his wings- a giant robot casually walked over the fence and tapped on Mikaela’s bedroom window.
“Make up’? As in- you want to play a child’s game of make believe? Make up stuff?”
“No, I mean makeup!” Mikaela waved her arms in exasperation.
“You want to make up ?” Starscream examined his digits. “I thought we were already on good terms.”
“Starscream! Makeup! The stuff on my face right now?”
Starscream feigned confusion, his upper lip curling ever so slightly. “I have no idea what you are prattling on about.”
“Starscream. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I’m afraid I don’t.” Starscream said smugly. Then he saw Mikaela's death glare. Starscream inwardly groaned.
“I’m afraid I do.” he confessed.
Mikaela swung her legs about in victory. She was sitting on her bedroom windowsill, her legs dangling outside. Starscream was leant against the house itself.
Mikaela missed when Starscream was small. Not because he could enter her house or give hugs, no. It was just easier to even look at him. Unless he was in the distance or crouching down, she was always craning her neck to make eye contact. If her neck ever broke, she would be sending him the hospital bill.
“Starscream, you promised!” Mikaela whined. “You said I could chose anything! Thats what you said. Like, anything. You said that. You.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t say ‘ like ’.”
“Starscream.”Mikaela whined.
“Decepticons don’t keep promises.” Starscream smiled conceitedly. His optics suddenly bulged; “Which is why as an Autobot, I will keep my promise and,” He paused, “Do your makeup for you...?” he asked hopefully in a hight-pitched voice.
Mikaela twirled her finger. “Other way around.”
“Deactivate your mouth before you say what I think you’re about to say.”
“I’m doing your makeup!” Mikaela grinned.
Starscream’s wings drooped. “Oh goody.”
“Stay right there! I’m going to get my instruments of torture!” Mikala sung before she turned round and hopped down into her room. “You are going to look fabulous!”
Starscream rolled his eyes and let out a ‘tut’ of irritation. He side-eyed the window to check if she had left. She had.
A small, affectionate smile graced his lips.
Starscream sat on the grass cross-legged. His posture was atrocious. He looked like a giant metal cashew nut. But he had to lean down so that Mikaela could reach his face. Even then, she had to stand on her car.
Mikaela didn’t use her own makeup. She didn’t have enough for such a big canvas. One tube of foundation would barely cover a quarter of Starscream’s face. Plus, she didn’t have his shade. Instead, she opted for buckets full of paint that she used to customise cars.
“How long is this going to take?”
“As long as it needs to.” Mikaela said. “A masterpiece isn’t made in a minute.”
“Thats true. It took longer than a minute to build me.”
“Shush! You’re distracting me!” Mikaela squinted her eyes, moving around her paintbrush with somewhat precision.
Starscream muttered under his breath, “You shush...”
“Glitter. I need glitter.” Mikaela dipped her brush in a bucket of glitter.
“Thats a lot of glitter.”
“Everyone should have a lot of glitter. For emergencies.” She flicked the glitter on his face. “Oh, close your eyes.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Starscream said sarcastically. Mikaela moved back and examined his face. She held up her fingers in a square.
“ Annnnnd I think we are done.”
“Finally!” Starscream shot up and straightened his back. “My joints are so tense. You have committed a crime- forcing me stay in that uncomfortable position for so long.”
“Giving you back pain is not a crime.”
“It should be.”
“No, you know what should be? It should be a crime to look so beautiful! That’s, like, a total crime.” Mikaela hyped him up.
Starscream looked unconvinced. He stood up and walked to the house. He crouched down at looked at his reflection in Mikaelas bedroom window. His optics widened.
He had been given white eyeliner, two white star outlines in the inner corners of his optics. Blue eyeshadow above his optics and a gold-yellow below. Gold glitter had been peppered over this design, like freckles. His lips had been painted a complimenting black.
Starscream stared at his reflection.
“Do you like it?” Mikaela tried to wipe off some blue paint she had gotten on her cheek.
“No.” Starscream answered bluntly.
“Ah.” Mikaela clenched her teeth awkwardly. “Well, thank you for letting me do it. The paint removers in the garage, it won't take long to-”
Starscream twirled around to meet her gaze. “I love it!”
There was a pause as they looked at each other. Then they grinned and squealed excitedly, waving their hands like two teenage girls.
(Art by Admiralallen, check them out!!! So cute <33 )
Once Starscream had left, Mikaela went back inside. It was getting late- the sun had begun to set and the moths had come out. Skyfire determined he had around two hours left of being small. But he wasn’t expecting how interested they would be in his optics. They fluttered around him like moths to a flame- oh, I can’t really use that. Uh, they swarmed him like Reddit users to an anime-girl cosplayer.
Skyfire didn’t want to swat them away- that would be cruel. But he wasn’t a fan of the feeling of a thousand tiny wings flicking against his frame. He backed away from the bush he was hiding from. He took another step. And another. And another-
“Excuse me!”
Skyfire stopped dead in his tracks.
“What are you doing here? This is private property, young man!”
Skyfire turned around and was met face-to-face with Mikaela's neighbour, Margery. Who had an axe in her hand.
Safely back in the Decepticon base, Starscream walked down one of the many hallways that seemed to infest the place. To the weary intruder, you would probably get lost in the abundance of rooms and twist and turns to even get to them.
A sniffling sound echoed down the hall. Starscream furrowed his optics, quickly stripped his wings of the Autobot insignias and followed the noise. He turned a corner and saw Frenzy sat against the wall. He hugged his knees close to his chest.
“What are you snivelling about?” Starscream asked with a hint of distaste.
Frenzy jumped in surprise. He quickly wiped his visor with his arm.
“I ain’t crying.” he attested. “Decepticons don’t cry. An’ I wasn’t.”
“Don’t bother lying to me unless you have a good excuse to go with it.” Starscream leant against the opposite wall.
“Leave me alone. I don’t wanna talk to you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Starscream huffed. “But I don’t want you lingering out here. Your miserable attitude is... unpleasant. At least have the decency to act weak in the privacy in your own quarters.”
Frenzy crossed his arms. “Thats the problem. I can’t.”
“And why not?”
“The other Cassetteticon’s keep making fun of me for going’ to statis at nine o’clock.” Frenzy explained, “They say I'm not a true bad-bot if I follow Soundwave’s bed-time rules. But I don’t wanna’ make Soundwave mad. But I don’t wanna’ look like some goody two shoes geek. But, I’m also... really tired.”
Starscream checked the digital clock on the wall. 10:00 pm. He turned back to Frenzy. The mini-bot had lost his dignity and was crying into his knees again. Starscream couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty. After all, he was the one who put the bedtime rebellion idea into the Cassetteticons processors.
Frenzy felt something warm and fluffy drape around his shoulders. Confused, he veered his head up to see that he was covered by a pink blanket that Starscream had taken out of his cockpit. It was the one Mikaela had given him when he went into her house.
“The heating still hasn’t been fixed.” Starscream said. “And I don’t want to deal with Soundwave’s grief if one of his little soldiers freezes to death.”
Frenzy curiously touched the blanket. He looked up at Starscream. Starscream’s face was still one of distaste.
“What's your game, Screamer?”
“There is no game.” Starscream spoke calmly. “If there was, I still wouldn’t tell you. I like to keep my players in the dark.”
Starscream straightened his posture, “Meet me here tomorrow at eight o’clock in the evening. And bring the other cassesticons.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” Starscream towered over him, “I wouldn’t refuse a command from a higher-ranking officer if I were you.”
Frenzy looked away and huffed. Starscream smirked triumphantly with a ‘hmph.”
Frenzy pouted and then muttered, “I like your facial decals.”
Starscream paused. He wasn’t expecting a compliment. Especially from a fellow Decepticon. Especially from one of Soundwave’s twerps.
“Thank you.” Starscream said, trying to keep his pleasure to a minimum to retain his authoritative persona. “Treasure that blanket. Don’t ruin it, or I will terminate you on the spot. It's... special.”
When he left, Frenzy looked at his brand-new special blanket with awe. He then snuggled into it.
Starscream didn’t get too far. He bumped into Skywarp and Thundercracker.
“Oh, nice paintjob, Screamer!” Skywarp snickered. “Who managed to do that on you? I gotta talk to the bot- that's a real doozy of a prank! Did they do it while you were in statis?”
“I... I did it myself.” Starscream said proudly.
“Oh.” Skywarp paused. Then he broke out into a grin. “Even better! Well, nothings better than a good prank, but still!”
“Looks good, Screamer! Reminds me of the old days, when we put decals on our faces for our performances.” Thundercracker commented with a smile, “You remember them?”
“We. Looked. So. Cool.” Skywarp grinned, his optics shining as he thought back.
“I kinda miss it, y’know?” Thundercracker sighed.
“You remember when we were asked to perform at Alpha Trion’s creation day?” Starscream grinned.
“And then he got so drunk on Energon?” Thundercracker chortled.
“And then he came up on stage!” Skywarp cackled.
“And then he tripped!” Starscream laughed.
“And his head got stuck in the drums!” they all exclaimed together. Once their laughter had subsided, Starscream coughed.
“I have an idea to propose.” Starscream flashed a smile. “Thundercracker, Skywarp. How would you feel about getting the band back together?”