Favouritism
Megatron x Starscream, pre-2007 movie
It wasn't of particular interest to any of the other guardians, or of the Autobots outside their home.
It was subtle, something not easily understood by their kind.
It wasn't love - at least not in the usual sense. Yet there was a tenderness in the arguments between the Lord Protector and his second, an understanding and tolerance between them that was never spoken aloud, or to be spoken of.
The air commander pushed boundaries, tried already thin patience, each time with a sense of dread in the other guardians that the fifth second in command this century was about to be well and truly slagged…
…and sighs of confusion and relief when Starscream was left barely living, dragged to repairs, scraped along the floor by Megatron himself.
There was a twisted respect between the two. In his mockery and treachery, the second gave his Lord the challenge he needed to stay at the top. In his punishments and berating, the Lord Protector gave his second the determination and resilience to become his heir.
In the scrapes, scratches, scars, rips, blows, punches, punishments, for all the pain and screams, there was favouritism - because Starscream was still alive.