In Cybertronian higher achy, there are slave bots known as Songbirds.
Many laws and rules revolve around Songbirds and their masters, and the punishment for breaking any...
Is death.
"Jetfire..." Optimus Prime tugged the energon leash towards his hip, dragging with it a beautiful mech of red, white and gold.
"Yes, master?"
As their name insinuates, Songbirds are stationed with their master as entertainment, in the way of music.
"Sing for me Jetfire... I am tired." Sunset orange optics flickered in the cold blue light of the room, the Songbird's shackles clanking around his wrists.
A master chooses his/her Songbird... out of love.
"Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Everyday I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time"
"Sweet, sweet Songbird..."
The greatest crime a Songbird can commit...
"M-master?" His leash was pulled viciously, dragging him onto the red, silk sheets.
"You're beautiful Jetfire... never doubt how wonderful you are for the optic and ear..." Blue hands caressed white metal, tugging roughly until glittering armour rolled off the bunk.
"I-I will not... master..."
Is to fall in love with another.
"Optimus Prime, sir, I request your attention!"
"Come in Stepper..." The little blue and yellow Autobot scurried into his lord's chamber, trying to ignore the limp white and grey figure strewn inelegantly in the berth. "What is it that has you so flustered, my son?" Optimus turned to the youngest mech on his grounds, who cowered accordingly.
"It... it is the emperor of Kaon, my lord... Megatron requests your presence at his palace this very day, my lord..." Optimus rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"On what terms?"
"He won't say, my lord, just that it was important!" Stepper couldn't help but steal a sympathetic glance and Jetfire as the battered mech stirred, groaning and twitching.
"I see... tell him I shall be there... help my Songbird to ready himself, then meet me in the throne room." Prime ordered. Stepper nodded, then curtsied.
"Yes, my lord." With that, Optimus removed himself from the room. Stepper waited until he could no longer hear his lord's footfalls, then released the breath he'd been holding. "Jetfire?"
"I'm awake kid..." The handsome mech sat up shakily on the berth. Stepper hurried to his side, grabbing the Songbird's armour as he went.
"What did he do to you now..." He asked rhetorically. He never wanted to truly know what went on behind those doors at night, and Jetfire never wanted to tell him.
"I can handle it!" He grinned cheerfully. He tried standing, but wobbled and had to use a nearby berth-stand to stay balanced. Groaning, he rubbed his faceplates. "Help me dress, Stepper..."
"Of course." The little mech got to work, latching and attaching the different pieces of white and gold metal to Jetfire's body.
"How is Sir Blurr?" The Songbird asked in curiosity, craving conversation out of the thick silence. Stepper clicked a particularly awkward part of armour into place, a piece Jetfire would have needed help with even if he wasn't stiff and numb all over. The mere mention of the brave, blue knight that had once saved him made Stepper blush and bury his face into Jetfire's back.
"I... I have not been able to... see him in a while..." He whispered. Jetfire laughed his hearty laugh, just thrilled by how timid and sweet the little servant was.
"I still have yet to thank him, for bringing our dear little Stepper into my life! If he hadn't, I would have to rely on Hot Shot to reattach my armour!" Stepper giggled, pressing his hands over his lips.
"Jetfire, you're terrible! My brother is not so bad..." Jetfire glanced over his shoulder and raised an optics ridge. "... Alright... he's worse." They both laughed, just enjoying one of the little moments they had as friends, rather than fellow slaves to Optimus Prime, lord and dictator of Iacon and several other cities and states.
A bell above the door rang, signalling Prime was becoming inpatient. "We must hurry!" Stepper squealed, gathering everything Jetfire would need for the trip. It escaped Jetfire as to why Optimus would even need his Songbird if he were just heading to a meeting with emperor Megatron, but he then remembered how he was much the same as an accessory; shown off to others to make them jealous. And, oh, how he had made many bots jealous of his master! Jetfire was thought to be a Primus sent gift to Cybertron, and slag if he didn't know it. It was just a pity his master kept him in shackles. This Songbird actually had wings.
"I heard the emperor of Kaon actually has a femme Songbird!" Jetfire glanced at a group of gossiping slaves as he and Stepper rushed to the throne room.
"That because he is suitor to the prince of Charr, Starscream!" One explained.
"So he doesn't actually use her?" Jetfire felt disgusted at how slaves, besides Stepper, talked about Songbirds as if they were mere tools. When is actual fact, they were all once just regular slaves like them; all it really took was a beautiful body and a pretty singing voice.
It could happen to anyone.
"Has Scavenger gotten back to you about the possibility of you joining me in this field?" Jetfire asked as he and Stepper scurried down the steps. The little mech blushed and shook his head.
"I don't think my voice has what it takes... compared to yours, my singing voice is as rough as sandpaper!" The blue and yellow mech squeaked as he tripped on a step, but Jetfire caught his arm.
"I wouldn't say that! Your voice is lovely, trust me Stepper!" They jumped down the last few steps and down the corridor.
"But... your voice is as smooth as satin, soft as velvets and heavenly as clouds..." Stepper's optic band went foggy, in a daydream state at the very prospect of Jetfire's singing. "Where as mine is... out of tune, croaky and immature!" He huffed, shaking his head. Jetfire shrugged.
"You are still maturing... your voice will become deeper, more pure! You just have to keep practising..." He tapped his chin. "If I recall, Blurr likes your singing, correct?" Stepper blushed.
"Well... he says he does..."
"There you are then." They shared a tender smile with each other, before opening the grand doors to the throne room where their lord and master awaited.
AN: Hey... hey guys... hey! HEY DUDES! … Uh, hi?
Ooh, I bet you all thought I was dead! Well I ain't :D Just that I decided to wait for my new laptop before continuing Cold as Iron, but then I was listening to El Tango De Roxanne from Moulin Rouge and I was imagining Armada Jetfire singing the sitar player's parts and... I won't give too much away XD Long story short; inspiration hit me like the corner of a wardrobe to my unprotected bare foot! Ouch. All joking aside, I really did walk into my wardrobe...
Tell me if you want me to continue!