Chapter 1
Starscream certainly did not take the news of his abandonment well. Optimus Prime could only stand with his back to the medical bay doors as he watched on powerless to the situation in front of him. The young, red and white Seeker stood in a far corner, shouting his frustrations as the Autobot medic tried to diffuse the situation. His minicon partner, Swindle, sat on the edge of a medical berth almost smugly, he knew this wasn't going to go well.
"I am going back!"
"Starscream, be reasonable. It only spells death for you going back there! You heard Demolishers' warning from Swindle!" Red Alert sighed to calm himself before continuing, "please. Come out of the corner. Why don't you sit on the berth?" He pleaded, pointing towards a berth.
The Seekerling shook his helm vigorously, planting himself further in the corner, trying his best to stay as far away from the two mechs as possible. Red Alert looked to his leader clearly out of ideas on what to do now. Optimus suppressed a sigh as he listened to the growing conversation in the hall outside. The negotiations with Starscream had gone on far longer, and far louder, than they had anticipated. Hearing a knock and a voice from the other side of the door, the Prime moved out of the way as an older mech joined them in the medbay, sliding the door shut quickly to stop prying optics from peering in.
Scavenger merely observed the scene for a moment before turning his full attention to his commander.
"I see he isn't taking it well then" he turned to look at the Seeker who glared back at him, "you have certainly attracted some attention, Starscream."
"Frag off"
"Now, now, don't take it out on me, Seeker."
"Then let me go back! I just want to go-"
"Where, Starscream! Go where?! This tantrum has gone on long enough"
Red Alert stepped out of the way as Scavenger approached the seething Seeker,
"Calm down. Everything has been explained to you so you are just going to have to accept what is happening."
"B-but I-"
The old mech knelt down in front of the once Decepticon,
"I know you want to go back, back to what you know, but we don't want to see you hurt." When Starscream simply turned his helm away, Scavenger continued, "I mean, what would Demolisher and Cyclonus think?" Now that caught his attention, "They do not want to hurt you, Starscream. You don't want to force them to follow their orders, do you?"
Optimus and Red Alert watched as Scavenger finally got the Seeker to listen and bring him out of his frenzy. Although Starscream had stopped yelling, his intakes were still ragged and rapid, hitching every so often as he came to terms with the circumstances he now found himself in. His frame shivered and he suddenly found himself kneeling on the floor with Scavenger, his voice strained.
"N- no-"
The older mech really didn't expect an answer but continued on, "I know this is going to be hard for you, we all do, but we are going to help. You'll be alright."
This seemed to open the flood gates as Starscream lowered his helm, hiding his faceplates from view. His intakes hitched sharply and Scavenger couldn't help but sigh sadly as optic fluid dripped onto the floor between them.
"Awe, Starscream" Scavenger gently pulled the Seekerling into a hug, suprised to find that he didn't pull away. "C'mere. It's gonna be alright, you'll see."
The Autobot commander and medic could only look on as the old mech comforted the young mech. Optimus was sure he could feel his spark breaking slowly with every soft sob that emitted from Starscream. Placing a hand on his medics' shoulder, he spoke in a hushed whisper,
"Let Scavenger stay with him. I think he has this under control besides, it's getting late. I need to update the troops before heading to my berth. I advise you do the same."
Red Alert glanced back at the two mechs before following his leader out of the room.
