Starscream was still asleep when Knock Out woke up. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at the commander, curled on his side with his wings neatly folded down his back. There was a faint smear of transfluid, dried, on his cheek, and his chassis was more liberally marked. His face was peaceful, however, and a quick scan told the doctor Starscream's levels were back down to a more normal level, at least for now. He closed the scan results, and spent several moments watching the sleeping seeker. After a little while, he reached out and traced his hand down the elegant curve of Starscream's side, the narrow dip of his waist and the gentle swell of his hip. His touch was feather-light, but it was enough to cause Starscream to stir.
Knock Out drew his hand back with a sigh of disappointment, but Starscream didn't wake. After a moment, Knock Out returned his hand to Starscream's hip, gripping and caressing more firmly. He gently rolled the seeker onto his back, and brushed his fingertips over Starscream's lower abdomen, and then down, over his spike housing and between his legs. Starscream's valve was still exposed from the night before, and a sticky mess of transfluid liberally coated his inner thighs and the outer folds of his valve. Knock Out shifted onto his knees and nudged Starscream's legs apart enough for him to settle in between them. He leaned on one hand, and with the other he continued to gently toy with Starscream's folds. Starscream made a soft sound as Knock Out's slender fingers parted Starscream's lips and exposed the inner folds of his valve, and then eased those open as well. Knock Out purred, using both hands now to ever-so-carefully hold the seeker open. He lay down on his front and moved his face close, giving himself a good close-up look at the elegant seeker's hole. He considered taking a recording for later, but then reminded himself that Starscream wouldhave to come to him again, the next time his heat got the better of him. Why settle for a recording when he could have the real thing?
Starscream stirred again, and Knock Out leant in and delivered an affectionate kiss to Starscream's entrance. Then he pushed himself up and got off the berth. Starscream was still in recharge as the doctor moved to the wash-racks adjoining his room and started to get ready for the day ahead. Knock Out cleaned off the evidence of their lengthy tryst, and let the warm water ease his tired struts. The previous cycle had been a more energetic session than he'd had the privilege of in a few millennia; truly, Starscream was something amazing.
When he returned to the berthroom to check on Starscream, the seeker was awake, but just barely. He lay where Knock Out had left him, sprawled on his back with his legs open, his pretty silver valve on show.
"Any chance of an oil bath, doctor?" Starscream said with a small, ironic smirk.
"Just the showers, I'm afraid, Commander," Knock Out answered. His own finish gleamed in comparison to the seeker's scuffed and abused frame, still smeared with come and smudges of red paint. "I have an early appointment. I trust you'll be all right to clean yourself up without me. There's energon in that cabinet." He nodded toward a low storage unit at the back of the room.
Starscream nodded and closed his optics. Knock Out smirked. He would be back to check on him later. First, he really did have an appointment – an appointment with Breakdown to buff out the scratches and scuffs Starscream had gifted him with last night. He left Starscream stretched out on the berth, and headed back to the med-bay to find his nurse.
Starscream was gone when he returned to his quarters, but Knock Out didn't worry over-much. Indeed, it was only kliks later that he found the seeker, when the ship's officers assembled on the command deck for a formal briefing from Megatron. Starscream had cleaned himself up well, and not a trace remained of his "treatment". Knock Out contrived to stand close to him during the briefing, close enough to run a quick scan of his systems, and breathe in his scent. Starscream's energy field was clear, and his scent, while enticing enough on its own, was not the sex-drenched pheremone-filled signal of a mech in full heat. Starscream avoided eye-contact with him, and stood erect and stiff throughout the whole meeting, his wings pertly angled, his hands linked behind his back. Knock Out stole glances at him whenever he could. Sometimes Breakdown caught him looking, and they exchanged a knowing smirk.
After that morning, three days passed with hardly a glimpse of the beautiful seeker crossing Knock Out's path. The doctor resumed his normal duties, conducted some clandestine research into the nature and treatment of aerial heat cycles, and waited for his patient to return. Needless to say he told Breakdown every detail of his and Starscream's tryst, and enjoyed reliving each exquisite moment. Breakdown had gotten pretty revved up over it, and Knock Out had enjoyed the rewards in the berth-room as the big mech showed him just how excited the doctor's stories got him. Doctor-patient confidentiality was a consideration, of course, but Breakdown was his assistant. He had a professional right to know how best to help all their patients.
Three days passed uneventfully, aside from his tumbles with Breakdown. On the fourth day, Knock Out had been summoned, along with Soundwave, to the bridge to listen to one of Megatron's newest schemes. He hoped he wouldn't be sent into combat himself, but his fears were forgotten as soon as he glanced away from Megatron's back and the banks of screens and caught a glimpse of Starscream. The seeker stood at the door to the command deck, where he had clearly chosen to lurk to eavesdrop on Megatron's speech. Three Vehicon drones surrounded him, and appeared to be engaging him in some inane conversation. Knock Out frowned slightly and continued to watch out of the corner of his optic, trying not to draw attention to either himself or Starscream. One of the drones said something, and he saw Starscream smile in response, even laugh a little. The seeker's wings were spread wide in a very pretty display, and he held himself with an elegant, attractive grace. One of the drones slid behind him, murmuring something Knock Out couldn't hear. Whatever it was, it made the seeker blush and twitch his wings.
Knock Out resolutely turned his attention back to the meeting at hand. Megatron and Soundwave were engaged in working out the fine details of their plan, and Knock Out was already all but forgotten. He stole another glance at Starscream.
The drones were standing closer to him now. Starscream looked flustered, but was still exchanging murmured words with them. One of them touched his shoulder in a friendly gesture. When Starscream didn't swat his hand away or growl at the mech, one of the others brushed his fingers against Starscream's waist. The touch could have been accidental, but each time Knock Out glanced back one of the slaggers had a hand somewhere on Starscream's frame. Light brushes became very definite caresses, until, as the meeting was wrapping up, Knock Out saw all three of the drones leaning close to the slender seeker, their hands all over him. One stroked his wing, another clearly had his hand on Starscream's aft. Knock Out's lines were boiling, and as one of the drones slid his hand down over Starscream's panel he couldn't take his optics away. His hands were curled into shaking fists, and his optics blazed-
"Doctor. I asked you a question." Megatron's irritated rumble cut through Knock Out's awareness, and his optics snapped to his leader in surprise and alarm.
By the time the meeting eventually ended, there was no trace of Starscream. Knock Out felt wrung out by Megatron's questioning, frame still zinging with the fear of his master's disapproval. And yet, beneath that, lingered the unease that seeing Starscream with those drones had created. If Starscream's heat had rekindled, Starscream would be giving off all kinds of signals. He would be feeling hot and needy, plagued by an itch he just couldn't scratch on his own. He probably wouldn't be aware of what he was doing, but he would be well nigh irresistible to most unwitting mechs he met.
Knock Out returned to the medbay and paced restlessly. What Starscream did was his own affair, as was who he chose to frag. His heat cycle was still a medical issue, however, and he was within his rights to be concerned for his patient's welfare... wasn't he?
Breakdown came in just as he was angrily tidying up a shelf of tools, slamming them into their cases and clattering around loudly.
"What's up?" the big mech asked, coming up behind him. Knock Out growled.
"Commander Starscream has decided he no longer requires my services," he said. Breakdown laid a large hand on the small of his back, which quickly slid down to cover his aft. "Apparently the tender mercies of the troops are preferable to my medical expertise."
"Tsk." Breakdown leaned in behind him and nuzzled the side of his helm. "Somebot's jealous...?"
"I'm not jealous," Knock Out snapped. "But the mech is a fool to give himself over to those half-wit drones. They won't have the first idea how to treat him, they won't know what they're doing-"
"Wait," Breakdown growled. "Starscream's fragging Vehicons?" His hands were heavy where they gripped Knock Out's hips. "...How many?"
"How the frag should I know?" Knock Out said flippantly. "I saw him talking to three. How many are there on this ship?"
Breakdown's dirty chuckle sent shivers down the doctor's spinal strut. "Think the Commander will try to take on all of them? He is a greedy fragger. Heh. Well, what's the harm? Maybe you're just not mech enough for him," he said, teasing.
Knock Out frowned in irritation. He left his tools alone, and leant on the counter and allowed Breakdown to feel him up. "It's not just that," Knock Out said. "He's in heat. If he gets with spark, if any of them tries to take him that way-"
"They won't. He's a dumb glitch sometimes but he's not an idiot," Breakdown soothed. He toyed with Knock Out's shoulder wheels, setting them spinning.
"You don't know what he's like, how he gets – Breakdown, you didn't see how he was. I could have done anything to him-"
"I didn't see him," Breakdown interrupted sulkily. "Why didn't you come get me?" His big hands were stroking up and down Knock Out's frame now. "Sweet little model like that..."
Knock Out gave him a disapproving look over his shoulder. "Not you as well?"
"You are jealous. Mm, just think about it, though. That little frame, passed around how many soldiers?" His thick fingers reached down in between Knock Out's legs, and the doctor opened up his panel and stepped his feet apart. He leaned down over the counter, his optics going distant as he pictured Starscream getting fucked by a gang of Vehicon drones, spikes stuffed into every hole, transfluid filling him up until he leaked. His legs grew shaky just thinking about it.
Breakdown lifted one of Knock Out's thighs and set his knee on the counter, opening him up. The big mech knelt down behind him and inhaled a deep breath, taking in the scent of his open valve. "It gets you wet," Breakdown said. He nudged the tips of two blunt fingers against Knock Out's tight opening, and then thrust them inside. Knock Out hissed, his frame going tense, as his assistant forced his large fingers deep into his valve. He closed his optics, and after a moment to adjust to the rude penetration, he gently ground his hips back against Breakdown's hand. Breakdown fingered him for a few kliks, while Knock Out's mind ran rampant with the idea of Starscream becoming the Nemesis's newest frag-toy. It made his valve pulse and drip, and his spike sprang out hard and quivering. Breakdown chuckled and licked the tip. Then he withdrew his fingers, stood up, and gripped the doctor's waist. "Look at it this way: you'll have to give him a check-up after," Breakdown said. "To make sure they didn't do anything stupid. And to make sure he didn't get himself sparked up. Right?" The thick head of his spike bumped against Knock Out's valve, and the doctor curled his slim fingers and bit his lip.
"Right," he murmured. Behind him, Breakdown grinned, and then pulled the doctor's hips toward him at the same time as thrusting up and forward. His thick, long rod pressed into Knock Out's opening, pushing deep and opening the doctor's hole wide. Knock Out moaned and arched his back. Breakdown was a good assistant and a good friend, and they had been through a lot together. He also had a big and beautiful spike, and Knock Out had trained him how to use it. The mech knew just how best to please him. Breakdown set a slow rocking pace, pressing his spike into just the right places to stimulate Knock Out's sweetest sensors. Knock Out rubbed his spike at the same time, and Breakdown gradually grew rougher as his pace sped up. One hand remained on Knock Out's hip, while the other groped his chest and held him close. It didn't take long for Knock Out to reach overload; he pumped his spike aggressively and snarled as he came. Breakdown smiled against his neck and slowed right down.
"Not on my finish," Knock Out grumbled.
"Aww, come on?" Breakdown stroked his frame with strong, deft touches.
Knock Out sighed, lulled by Breakdown's caresses, and the sweet, slow grind of his spike. "Oh, all right," he said.
Breakdown's grin returned, and he gently pressed Knock Out down on the counter, his hands on the doctor's back. He pulled his spike out of Knock Out's valve and wrapped one large hand around it. Knock Out lay still, relaxed and resigned, as his assistant stroked his long, wet spike firmly until transfluid burst from its tip in a generous stream and splashed thickly onto Knock Out's back. Silver come pooled in the hollow of his back and splattered all over his aft, marking his sparkling, crimson paint.
Breakdown hummed in contentment as the flow eased and then stopped. He rubbed his spike against Knock Out's aft, smearing the transfluid even further.
"Ugh. I don't know why you enjoy doing that so much," Knock Out muttered.
"It looks pretty on you," Breakdown said, and gave Knock Out's aft a fond smack.
Afterwards, Knock Out tried to reach Starscream via comm-channel, but Starscream wasn't picking up. Knock Out frowned and grumbled to himself. He had paid yet another trip to the wash-racks and cleaned Breakdown's overload off his finish, and now he was supposed to be reviewing the datapacket of battle plans Soundwave had sent to him from the meeting. His mind kept wandering, however, to the sight of Starscream surrounded by those three drones.
Doubtless Starscream wouldn't know what he was getting into. And the drones – well, mindless Vehicons could hardly be relied upon to give a highly-strung seeker the appropriate care and consideration he needed, could they? Starscream could overheat at any moment, and those lecherous glitches wouldn't even know how to treat him. Knock Out grimaced. Primus dammit, he was a fool, but still...
He left the med-bay, and went in search of Starscream. He kept sending the bot pings on his comms, but Starscream continued to ignore him. No matter. Knock Out pulled out his hand-held and headed down into the crew quarters, carrying his shock-stick over his shoulder. He knew Starscream's energy signature, especially since it was now clear he was already back in the full sway of his heat. It wasn't difficult for him to follow the seeker's trail through dark and winding hallways, until he reached a broad, sealed door. Behind it Starscream's signal blazed bright and inviting, surrounded by a cloud of weaker signatures. Knock Out frowned, put the hand-held away, and overrode the lock on the door.
The room inside was dark. Two rows of narrow, hard berths lined the walls, and the only light came from a couple of dim lamps that cast an intimate, blue glow. The air smelled of potent energon and the sweet musk of a seeker in heat. Starscream reclined on one of the berths, a harem of five Vehicon drones clustered around him. It seemed Knock Out had arrived just in time.
The doctor stepped inside and the door closed behind him. The door chimed as it shut, and five red visors turned his way. Knock Out felt the alarm prickling in the air, felt the panic in the drones' combined fields. Starscream, oblivious, tipped his head back and took a luxuriant draught of his high-grade.
"Gentlemechs," Knock Out said smoothly. "I'm here to retrieve my patient."
The drones' panic was delicious, but Knock Out couldn't bring himself to smirk. Instead, his face was grim as he levelled his shock-stick at the lead drone. "Out," he commanded. To emphasise his order, he jerked his head toward the exit. He kept his weapon up, and the Vehicons scrambled to apologise and vacate the room so quickly they tripped up on their own feet. Knock Out wasn't a big mech, and he would never command the same worshipful fear that Lord Megatron did, but he was still a ranking officer. His reputation as an expert in de-constructive surgery did him a few favours as well.
Alone again with Starscream, Knock Out finally dropped his shock-stick and moved hastily to the berth. "Were those bots bothering you?" he said, though his tone was more strained than he intended.
"You're bothering me," Starscream slurred. He glared up at him, and his optics were hazy. Knock Out pressed his palm to the front of Starscream's helm. He swore. "What?"
"Starscream, how much high-grade did you drink?"
"A couple of cubes. What? Get off me." Starscream swatted Knock Out's hand away, but then Knock Out caught his wrist. Starscream lurched upright into a sitting position.
Knock Out pulled him up onto his feet. "Oh no, you don't," he muttered when Starscream swayed and began to fall. He caught the seeker and lifted him into his arms. Starscream's armour was feverishly hot and near crackling with current, and his frame was limp. His head tilted back as Knock Out held him, teeth gritted at the strain. "Did it even occur to you that for a bot whose spark is about ready to combust, getting overcharged is a really bad idea?" Starscream didn't reply, and his optics slowly closed. "Starscream." Knock Out gave him a shake, but the seeker was unresponsive. "Primus dammit, Starscream." Knock Out bit down on a string of curses, and swiftly started to carry Starscream back to the medical bay.
