Unicron was gone, the battle won.

All Knockout wanted was to leave, get a bright new finish, and go hide somewhere. Because he knew that no matter what the Prime had said, nobody wanted him here.

He was just the Con, only useful in the case of imminent disaster.

The bridge of the newly repaired warship sparkled with iodine polish, Energon stacked towards the ceiling. All the other bots around the room were talking, laughing, and in some cases, lobbing.

"Hey, Knockout! Spared you some Energon!"

Knockout brushed the young scout out of his way with a polite refusal.

"Thank you. I'm not in the hungry
mood anyway."

He got a cube anyway, and took a light sip. Well, it couldn't hurt him, now could it?

It wasn't long before the scout once again spoke up. He'd earned the right to speak, for all that time without his voice.
"I raise a toast, to every mech and femme that have given their lives for the peace we were privileged enough to see through-Wheeljack? You'd like to say something?"

The Wrecker nodded his response.

"Yeah, commander."

"Well?"

Faster than anyone would have thought possible, Wheeljack swooped Arcee off her pedes and gave her a long, deep kiss. The assemblage cheered, and the toast resumed.

Knockout, however, was SEETHING. On one of the worst days he'd had in a long time, The One just HAD to remind him of his everlasting punishment. To
forever be alone.
He banged a servo against the wall, loud enough to divert all attention to his little corner of the room.

"What are you looking at?!"

With fire and coolant in his optics, Knockout ran off down the corridor.
The bridge long gone, the medic stopped and put his servo on his pede joint, his respiration rate slow and heavy.

Not again.

Not now.

Faceplates flashed through his neural net. Those of a family... long lost. A wonderful femme... Two beautiful daughters... One strong son... all gone now.

Then came words.

What a pretty little thing you are.

I know a paintjob's not all there is to you, Knockout.

You're handsome, daddy. I hope my sparkmate looks just like you.

You want to know why I left you for Starscream, Knockout?

Because I loved him more than you.

Knockout.
Knockout.
Knockout.
Knockout.
Knockout.

His vision cleared, and there she was again.

Her frame was exactly how he remembered it, all those vorns ago. That cyan and yellow. Primus, how he loved that. How he'd lose himself in her.

Twilight.

"Twi-Twilight?"

Then she melted, replaced by a pink and blue femme, her optics showing concern.

"Oh, it's you."
"Yeah, problem?"
"None whatsoever. Now go away."
"What the frag was that? It was just a kiss! I don't see the big deal! And why'd you call me Twilight?"