They had tickets to the big game at Kaon today and needed one more mech to watch with. Arcee refused the offer when they asked her, because she would rather spend time with her boyfriend Tailgate and best friend Cliffjumper; as if! And Bulkhead and Wheeljack wanted to play ball with their other friends so it was hopeless.
There was Makeshift, but he had family plans and Airachnid went off to pick up a package she had been waiting for in the last two months. Everyone was so busy, everyone but... "Starscream!" Perfect, and just in time too. Knockout ran up to him, and tugged him towards the exit with Breakdown opening the door. "Perfect, you can come with us!"
The seeker offered his flashy friend a look and tilted his helm. "Um... Okay, but what are we doing?" Starscream would have much rather been in a science lab, running tests and taking notes. He probably wouldn't enjoy whatever it was Knockout was kidnapping him to. Starscream sighed softly and waved a goodbye to his brothers and his other best friend, Skyfire. "Knockout, where are we going?"
"To Kaon!" Breakdown cheered clasping Starscream on the back and leading him out the door with the medic in training, and although it was enforced by the High Council that seeing the gladiatorial fights was 'illegal' everyone who wanted to attend went. It was the final fight before next season after all, it would be a nice treat. The only problem for Knockout and Breakdown was that they were short one person to have a free pass for the tickets they won the day before from a bet. "You'll enjoy it, get to relax, perhaps even meet a few mechs along the way~" Knockout purred.
Starscream rolled his optics and sighed. "Are you trying to set me up /again/, Knockout?" He lightly punched the red mech's shoulder, huffing slightly as his wings twitched in mock annoyance.
"Oh come now, Starscream. It was just a suggestion, but you'd be surprised who you can find in unlikely of places. Now come on, before we're late!" Knockout was practically dragging the Seeker to the transport train nearby the campus.
Again, the flier rolled his optics and allowed Knockout to lead him away. "You two aren't going to be making out during the game, are you? I'd like to know so I can sit /away/ from you."
"That's why the game is there for you to look at, love. So you won't have to look at Breakdown and I." The cherry red con wrapped his arms around his lover who did the same in return. The three of them managed to find a suitable spot to watch among with a high class audience, meaning there wouldn't be too much noise, but oh, they were so wrong. When the champion known as 'Megatronus' took down the first beast, the audience roared with life, so loud that one's audio receivers were sure to break.
The seeker covered his audios and glared at the surrounding public, turning his attention to this 'champion'. His optics widened at the mere size of this 'Megatronus'; he was much larger than the petite Starscream. After watching the scene, Starscream grew enthusiastic about the event and began cheering along with the rest of the crowd as his two friends cuddled and kissed.
The crowd continued to go wild as the next beast came into the arena and launched explosives to where Megatronus was standing. The warrior dodged to side, and charged towards his opponent without fear. The monster roared and swiped with its tusks, its mistake. A moment later, the champion leaped off the fallen behemoth and threw a fist in the air. The crowd roared, and Megatronus looked at the ocean of mechs, catching optics with a Seeker who had been sitting a few rows to the front. A distraction, and the warrior had let his guard down too soon as the brute he thought he had slain rose again and rammed him. He staggered, falling to his knees and the crowd grew silent.
Starscream jumped to his feet, clasping his servos together, praying to Primus that the warrior would stand again and defeat his opponent. He bit his lip as he continued to watch anxiously. This sort of bloodsport never interested him before but he couldn't help but grow invigorated by the crowd and by the sheer display of skill.
Just as Starscream had, the majority of Cybertronians watching leapt to their feet, the ones sitting at the front gripping the railings. Megatronus had never fallen before, and some were horrified, worried, some started doubting him, but the warrior rose again with his blade by his side. The creature tilted its head and purred tauntingly, trying to provoke the 'so called' champion. But Megatronus staggered again, catching himself on one knee. There was faint gasps throughout the audience. Little did they know that they would soon regret the noise they had made, for the monster launched itself towards them, towards where Starscream and the others had been sitting. It shattered the glass and people panicked.
The flier panicked and looked around for Knockout and Breakdown, but his friends had been pushed away through the sea of fleeing bots. Starscream tried to push past the screaming crowd to get to his friends but a few larger mechs shoved him out of the way, causing Starscream to fall back on his aft. he looked over his shoulder and his optics widened in fear when he saw the creature tearing into a nearby bot. He tried to remain quiet, but he screamed.
Scrap. Megatronus followed suit, climbing the walls. The creature was fast, it managed to devour two mechs and rip another one apart. It turned to Starscream and tilted its head side to side, examining the delicate Seeker. And just when it thought no one else would intervene, it crashed against the rocky walls after receiving a brutal kick from the Kaon warrior. "Get up!" Megatronus barked at Starscream, picking him up and shoving him towards the exit as the monster recovered and left again, more angry than before.
Starscream turned back and fired one of his arm mounted missiles at the beast. "Let me help you!" He shouted, standing by Megatronus. No one else had stayed to help destroy the beast, and it needed to be killed before it broke out of the stadium and attacked anyone else. The seeker chose to stand by the gladiator to help him as much as he could.
It was a direct hit and the beast cried out in pain, limping to the side and trying to recover. Megatronus turned on Starscream and grabbed his arm, forcing it down and pushing him to safety, where everyone else was escaping to. "Don't try to be a hero, you need to get to safety high class!" The warrior's voice had a gentle, yet commanding tone to it and he already had to take responsibility for the three that were killed, and didn't want another family mourning the loss of their son if this Seeker was killed too.
"Don't underestimate me, gladiator." Starscream shot back, pulling his arm away. "You need the help. I'm not going anywhere."
Wonderful, he saved a stubborn one. He would have slain the beast by now if it hadn't climbed out of the arena, let alone started attacking innocent people. Speaking of which, it was much harder to hit something when people were in the way rushing to get out. "I'd rather not risk another death-" Too late, the monster came for them and Megatronus pulled Starscream to safety. There was no time to argue any more, "Distract it, I will flank it from behind. Don't die on me, high class."
"I have a name, gladiator!" Starscream fired another missile, attracting the beast's attention. He danced backwards gracefully at the behemoth pursued him.
"Then you should introduce yourself," Megatronus called, hiking up the brute's back. When it jerked he found something to hold onto, and eventually the warrior was able to make a clean cut, decapitating the creature. The severed helm fell, rolling away and the body pitched forward, and fell in front of the Starscream. Megatronus climbed off, "Megatronus," He held out a hand.
The seeker offered a smirk and clasped his servo with the gladiator's. "Starscream. A pleasure, Megatronus." He chuckled softly, looking the warrior over. Megatronus wasn't as big as Skyfire, but he was still much larger than the small Starscream.
"The pleasure is mine, I thank you for the help." Even though he was a little troubled by the Seeker's courageous offer to help him, the warrior would no longer complain. No one ever expects someone from the high class to actually help when something similar to what just happened. This one is different. And Starscream? That was a pretty name. "Well then Starscream, I suppose this is where we should part ways. It's best for you to leave before patrols come." Also, there was a lot of cleaning up to do.
Starscream shook his head. "They won't take your word for what happened, since you come from a lower caste. I'll explain to them that what happened wasn't your fault." He crossed his arms, making it clear that Megatronus wouldn't be running him off so easily.
Megatron's lips formed a straight line and his brows came together. Sure, he underestimated the Seeker's combat abilities, but it seems that he also belittled the fact that this Starscream was a very stubborn one. He could handle the patrols, he had resources to keep him out of trouble. Why was this citizen of the high class so inclined to help him? Surely he couldn't be returning the favour, because Starscream already aided him in slaying the beast; that was enough.
The patrols eventually came and the warrior was taken away into a separate interrogation room. The cop that rallied witnesses got more notes on how terrifying the monster was than if the warrior intended for the way things happened to happen. Primus, they were running out of willing mechs to give them a solid and clear answer. The next one better be good. It was not hard to say that the cop was surprised to see a high class come forth, let alone a Seeker. What the slag was a Seeker doing in Kaon? "Uhm, take a seat." He gestured to Starscream.
Starscream sat across from the officer, crossing his slender legs and hiking his wings up in superiority. "Ask your questions. I don't have all day."
"Uhm well," He looked at his datapad, quickly creating a new note page, "I take it that you came here for entertainment?" That sounded like a stupid question, of course the kid came for that. "... Did the fighter in the arena have anything to do with the attack?" How many bots died again? Primus, and at the beginning of the holidays too.
"No. It was completely accidental. The beast suddenly turned on the crowd after a bout of silence. When the noise resumed, the beast began attacking the crowd. Megatronus destroyed the creature after only two or three casualties." Starscream explained clinically, as if it were rehearsed.
Megatronus, of course. The mech never lost a fight ever since he rose from the energon caves. Three casualties though, that wasn't a lot and it was at the same time. Three families will be devastated to hear some unfortunate news. "Well then, I think that's the first, clear answer that we've actually gathered. Thank you, though what's a high class like you doing here? Kaon is a dangerous place for your lot, especially Seekers. If you catch my drift." The officer resisted the urge to look at Starscream's legs and slender body structure. Slagging Seekers.
The young Seeker examined his claws before offering the officer a rather bored look. "A friend of mine asked me to accompany him to this event. As for Kaon being dangerous, Slaughter City is no worse and I traverse through that area quite frequently. Do not speak to me of danger, nor of what form of entertainment those of my caste level should or should not partake in." His optics narrowed at the other mech.
"We're just trying to keep the peace, kid." The officer said and jotted a few more notes down, and then excused Starscream. "Thank you, and be careful out there. Call in the next one!" He waved to another officer standing beside the door.
Starscream stood and exited, looking around for the gladiator. He walked along, casting a few glances at mourning event goers. He scanned for his friends and was relieved to see them both safe. Starscream waved to them, but didn't walk over. Where was Megatronus?
"Out of my way," A hoarse voice came to, and a cyclops mech pushed pass others. He was tall, and purple with yellow highlights and behind him was another bot without a face and had tentacle feelers. They were looking for Megatronus as well.
"Pardon me!" Starscream called. He recognized the faceless one as another gladiator he had heard of. "You are friends of Megatronus, yes?"
The faceless one known as Soundwave stared and Shockwave, the other shook his head moving past Starscream. "We don't have time for this, Soundwave where did you say Megatronus was?" Soundwave pointed to one of the rooms being used for interrogation.
Starscream frowned at the snub and followed the two mechs as they wandered off. He muttered under his breath about how rude Kaon natives were.
The two stopped and Shockwave turned, finding Starscream behind them. "Are you still following us, Seeker? Go home, the tournament is over." Where the slag was Megatronus?!
"I'd like to speak with him, pit dweller. Is that a problem?" He growled softly, hiking his wings in irritation.
What the slag-who the frag was this Seeker even? Shockwave frowned, and resisted the urge to lash out at the smaller mech. "Yes, as a matter of fact you are a problem. Who do you think you are to just waltz in here and demand to speak to the champion?"
"My name is Starscream, future Air Commander. I wish to speak with the mech I aided in today's incident!" He hissed.
Shockwave growled, seizing Starscream's shoulder and preparing to shove him back, "He's not available!" when suddenly Megatronus' voice stopped him, and the warrior stood behind his two friends. "What is all the commotion? Ah, you have not left yet?" He raised an optic ridge at the Seeker.
Starscream jerked his arm away from Shockwave. "Not yet. How did your interrogation go?" The Seeker asked.
Shockwave scoffed and stomped off with Soundwave following, leaving a confused warrior who stepped up to Starscream, "Uh, well. They were asking how Shockwave's creation managed to escape the arena. Ah, that was Shockwave and Soundwave, two of my close friends." He smiled softly, "Don't mind him, he is often mistrusting of new friends." Was he and Starscream even friends? They just met but they just seem to click.
"I think I realized that. He is quite unpleasant." Starscream gave an annoyed sigh before smiling. "You didn't get into any trouble due to what happened, did you?"
"No, I have been in more dire situations than a simple interrogation, though you would know why." Megatron gestured to him, "I take it that your questioning went well?"
"Aside from the fact that I think I aroused the officer questioning me, yes." Starscream chuckled softly. "All things considered, it was quite a show, gladiator."
"I am glad the accident did not deflate your interest, thank you." Megatronus nodded with a chuckle. It was then that Knockout and Breakdown approached to get Starscream, but at the sight of the warrior they practically bowed down. "Oh scrap, Megatronus! I'm a huge fan!" Breakdown cheered. Knockout stared with his mouth agape, and pulled Starscream aside. "He talks?!" It was a stupid question, but the medic in training was shocked.
"Who, Megatronus? Or your boyfriend?" He snickered at the red medic, nudging him playfully.
"You know who!" Knockout made a face, "Why didn't you tell me you knew him? Is that what happened, you disappeared to hit it off with Megatronus?! Starscream, I thought you died!" Jumping to conclusions, sigh.
"This is me we're talking about, Knockout. Do you really think you're getting rid of me so easily? You keep forgetting I can hold my own, don't you?" True, Starscream wasn't the best fighter, but he certainly wasn't the worst. "As for Megatronus, we were just talking."
"Talking?" Knockout repeated, in a bored manner. He had been expecting something else entirely. "Is that another word for...?" Need he say more? He loved teasing Starscream.
Starscream's optic twitched. "Knockout! I just met him!" He crossed his arms and glared at the future medic.
"So the great Starscream says," Knockout snickered to himself. He was starting to fantasize and it wasn't helping Starscream, at all.
"Knockout! I swear to Primus!" He growled, stomping his foot in irritation. He glanced at Megatronus and blushed, as if Knockout's imagination had infiltrated his own mind.
Breakdown's praise for him amused Megatronus and he continued to listen, and at some point the conversation became a fanboy banter from the strongman. The warrior looked up to search for Starscream and caught optics with him again. Knockout nudged Starscream, "Ooh~ he likes you too."
The Seeker growled again. "Just because he looked at me, doesn't mean he likes me!" He tossed his head and turned away from his friend.
"Well he's approaching us right now, well... Breakdown and I are off. I believe we should leave you and your new 'friend' to 'talk' some more." Knockout ended up pulling Breakdown away by his helm, and the blue bot refused to go, pretending to cry his optics out. Megatronus made a face and watched, stopping by Starscream.
Starscream facepalmed and muttered under his breath. "Those two idiots..." He cast a sideways glance at Megatronus. "Sorry about them..."
"It's alright. I was hoping to converse with all of you further but it seems that they have other plans in mind." Megatronus smiled, "I wish to escort you to the transport station as a thanks for your aid. Is that alright with you?"
He nodded. "Of course, Megatronus..." He blushed and looked away quickly. Fragging Knockout.
He gave a nod and lead the way. Once they were out of the stadium he spoke up, "It is nice to get away from the arena once in a while, and it has been a while."
"Gladiator life must be rough, huh?" Starscream fidgeted nervously. Why was he so nervous? He blamed Knockout. It was his fault.
"It helps you prepare for combat, but it has its downsides. Not being able to see Cybertron as much is one of them." Megatron looked over at Starscream and noticed the awkward posture the Seeker held, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." He murmured, looking over at Megatronus. "Knockout was just teasing me about you."
"Oh?" Megatronus was interested, whatever could the cherry red con be saying about him to Starscream? "What for?"
"He keeps trying to set me up with someone, since he thinks it's 'a crime someone as gorgeous as me is single'... Or so he says. And he got the wrong idea when he saw us talking." Starscream explained.
Megatron blinked and turned his helm away at first, until his whole frame started to shake and a quiet chuckle came out, and he ended up laughing. "Ah," He settled down, giving Starscream a slight nudge. "I am quite surprised. I was hoping that someone as enticing as you would have a lover. Really now, there isn't anyone?"
Starscream shrugged and rubbed his arm. "No, no one... Someone has interest in me, but he's more like family to me. I've never had romantic interest, or sexual interest for that matter, in anyone."
That was too bad, since Megatronus thought that Starscream was an attractive Seeker. He wanted to urge him to give the guy a shot, but he came to the conclusion that it would become awkward, so the gladiator just dropped the thought all together. "I take it you want to focus on your studies, you are a student? If you are, and you want to pursue your education first then that is good..." Oh, what the hell. The poor kid needed help on relationships. "Though I do not see why you should not pursue a relationship with someone who has interest in you, and vice versa."
"I'm a science student, yes... And honestly, I don't like him like that... I'd hate to give him false hope only to break his spark if I ever find someone I actually have interest in. So you see, I'm sparing his feelings this way." Starscream smiled at Megatronus, a faint blush on his cheeks.
He had difficulty processing how Starscream, so young, and admirable can also be that good, and intelligent. Most mechs would just hit it off and break up, but this one truly wanted to save his spark for someone special and the warrior became even more interested. Unfortunately, he didn't deny that that bot wouldn't be him; oh well. They could at least be friends, or kind strangers to each other. "I am certain you will find someone someday." He smiled back as they neared the transport station.
When Starscream realized how close they were get to the station, he gained a disappointed look. He didn't want to part with Megatronus just yet.
Megatronus started informing Starscream of the different transportation trains, and which would stop at the Cybertron Academy. The warrior didn't get out much, but during the times he did see Cybertron again his friend would take him places to get supplies. "The fastest trains are the Terminus and Expo trains, so I suggest taking one of the two. The Millennia train had just left so the Terminus should come soon... Starscream?" He looked down at the student, finally noticing the disappointed look.
"Huh?" Starscream looked up at Megatronus. "Oh, right... The trains..." He rubbed his shoulder again, not realizing the beast had damaged it earlier. "Wh-which one was the fastest one again?"
His optic ridges came together in worry, "Erm..." he had trouble remembering all of a sudden, but the whistle of the coming train alerted him. He gestured to the one that is coming, "The Terminus or Expo, this is the Terminus one; it should stop at Cybertron Academy. It was a pleasure fighting along side with you, Starscream. I wish more of the high class citizens were more like you." He took the Seeker's hand and gave it a gentle kiss. "Till we meet again."
Starscream blushed again, suddenly not wanting to leave. He wanted Megatron to ask him to stay a bit longer. Knockout would tease him anyway. He opened his mouth to ask if he could stay, but a conductor interrupted. "I... I hope it's soon, Megatronus."
Megatronus hoped that it would be soon too. As much as he had wanted Starscream to stay he refused to ask, thinking it would be rude and it was getting dark. "Perhaps after the holidays, when we don't have our servos full."
He nodded. "After the holidays, you and I can spend time together. Maybe you can show me how things work in the arena?" He took a step onto the train and waved a farewell to Megatronus.
The train was empty once Megatronus left, and no one else seemed to be coming as it waited, however, the conductor was delivering his daily writings of how many mechs had gotten tickets for not paying to a colleague inside the nearby office at the station. Suddenly, the lights inside the transport flickered and powered down, leaving the Seeker in complete darkness. An announcement came on, "Please remain seated, train will leave shortly. Thank you." but the next voice was different, and it was beside Starscream. "What do we have here? I don't believe I've ever seen a Seeker outside this late within Kaon before... aren't you a little too 'precious' to be in this part of the city?" There was a dark chuckle, and servos wrapped around Starscream's lips to keep him from screaming.
The Seeker's wings twitched in fear and he struggled to escape. Starscream kicked his legs, swiped his claws before wincing. He kept forgetting about his injured arm. Why now? Why him?
But the Seeker's attacker was much larger, and made almost no effort to keep the petite mech from struggling. The mysterious bot slammed Starscream against the window, pressing his body against the slender form that was Starscream. "Don't move, or I'll kill you right here." Something sharp poked the Seeker from the side, "If you make even a single noise I promise I'll make you hurt."
Starscream swallowed thickly and nodded. The last thing he needed was to become one those mechs whose situation and death spawned urban legends. A few tears of fear fell from his now tightly closed optics.
Another chuckle, and the sounds of plates retracting broke the silence that followed. Something else poked Starscream, between his legs. "They won't be able to fix the train any time soon, the workers here have the processor of a nut. You and I are going to be here a little while." He knew it didn't matter to the Seeker, but he said it anyway and forced Starscream's panel open. The mysterious mech threatened the student again, and pushed in roughly, servos still covering Starscream's lips to muffle his cries.
The frail Seeker screamed as loudly as he could, despite the sound being muffled by the larger mech's hands. He whimpered softly, pleadingly for his assailant to stop. He was a virgin. And this hurt. He looked out the window and saw Megatronus already a good distance away. He raised his servos and began to pound on the window, hoping someone would come investigate.
"I said be quiet!" The culprit snarled and pushed in again, pulling at the delicate wings of the Seeker as a warning. His pace quickened, helping himself he raised the Seeker a bit and slammed the slender mech on his gerth. The conductor of the train was still at the office, making conversation with his friend and having no idea what horrific thing that was going on outside. When Starscream pounded at the wall, the two conversing mechs at the office looked up, but Starscream's attacker had pulled him down already on the floor and the mechs outside shrugged and continued talking.
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you? Perhaps this will teach you a lesson." Using the sharp object he had been holding earlier, the mech stabbed Starscream's side. He made sure to muffle the scream. Little did they know that Megatronus had unintentionally looked back. He was making his way back to the stadium when a mech accidentally bumped into him in a hurry. The mech apologized and entered a building, but Megatron saw something i the distance, and he could have sworn it was someone familiar being pulled away from a window. Slag. Starscream!
Starscream began to pant heavily as he panicked, his side leaking with freshly drawn energon. He wondered if he would die. That was a depressing thought. And he fit the 'his life had barely begun' cliche. He whimpered, slashing a claw at his attacker.
The mech caught his wrist and started twisting, but before Starscream's arm broke, someone else had entered the transit and knocked his attacker into oblivion. The mech pitched forward and fell beside Starscream in an unconscious heap, and Megatronus came forward, gathering the Seeker in his arms. "Primus, I should have gone with you..." He saw the energon and his optic ridges came together again. "Shockwave will fix you!" Aw slag, aw slag!
Starscream shook violently and jerked when Megatronus touched him before calming once he realized who it was. The Seeker looked over his shoulder at the fallen mech, but he couldn't see his face. He turned away, trying to forget what had happened as he clung to the gladiator.
When Starscream clung to him, Megatronus became even more worried and he embraced the Seeker, trying to get to the stadium as fast as he could. He sent a transmission to Shockwave to meet him in the sick bay, and he gently stroked Starscrea...See More
As he clung to Megatronus, his grip began to weaken and his optics flickered, unsure if they wanted to remain online or not. Everything had happened so quickly, Starscream wasn't sure if it had actually been real or not.
"Stay online, Starscream. Stay online." Megatronus hurried, making it to the stadium and eventually to the sick bay where he laid the Seeker on a berth and asked him to stay awake. "Do not go into stasis-no, Starscream, stay online." He ordered and pleaded with Shockwave to hurry up. Soundwave turned the berth on to keep Starscream warm and gently closed the Seeker's panel. He tugged at Megatronus but the warrior wouldn't move. He felt at fault. He should have gone with Starscream.
Starscream cycled heavy breaths through his vents. He reached out to weakly grasp Megatronus' servo with his own. Had he lost so much energon already? If Megatronus had been a few moments later, Starscream may not have made it. His optics flickered again and dimmed. He was close to blacking out.
"Shockwave what are you doing?!" the warrior asked as he held Starscream's hand and squeezed. The scientist snapped, cutting his way into Starscream. "He's bleeding internally you fool! I can easily replace this layer of metal and he'll be...See More
The Seeker nodded weakly and tried to relax. But the more relaxed he was, the less aware he became. Relaxing was making him slip into stasis. He thought for a moment. What could go wrong? Surely he was in capable hands. It should be safe to slip into stasis while Shockwave worked. Right? Starscream couldn't think anymore and his processor shut down and he fell asleep.