(A/N: For Crystallax. I hope this cheers you up!)

Blackarachnia wandered the darkened halls of the Nemesis, only the silence and occasional flickering of light her only companions. It didn't bother her. She was accustomed to doing everything on her own, and wasn't about to socialize. There was no need to. Her sparklings and sister were the only true reasons she had come. She was a loyal Decepticon, of course, and would see the war to it's end, but if she had located the remnants of her family in some distant galaxy light years away from the war, she would've been there at this very moment.

Venting softly, Blackarachnia's honed senses picked up on a soft, nearly indistinguishable, skittering sound from nearby. Coming to a standstill, vents closed off from making any sort of noise, the spider-femme finally heard the sound again, coming from the doors that led out onto the flight bridge. Curious.

Light reflected off gold as Blackarachnia made her way over to the doors, pedesteps soft and nearly silent as she stalked the sounds until she was standing before the doors, allowing them to slide open. She was fully aware that whatever lay outside could now see her clearly, but this unfazed her. The sound would always be familiar to her.

"Airachnid."

The silhouette near the edge of the flight deck shifted, pink optics shining softly in the harsh darkness around them as Blackarachnia approached her sister, EM field neutral as she came to a stop alongside the other.

Airachnid cast a long glance at her sister, a small flash of fangs the only telling response to her sister's unexpected arrival before she transformed back to bipedal mode. "I do not want your company here." She hissed, breaking the tense silence between them.

Venting softly, Blackarachnia turned to fully face the other, red optics as hard as her faceplates were schooled of emotions. "Why didn't you tell them."

It wasn't a question, more a demand, and that made Airachnid angry. Spinning towards the black and golden femme, Airachnid stepped directly into her sister's space, denta bared aggressively. "For all they know, you were dead. All they needed to know was that I am the one that cared for them. I am the one that got them off of a dead planet! You were too busy with your sciences to bother!"

Blackarachnia's armour flared aggressively as she leaned in close to Airachnid. "You never intended for me to find them. You wanted to hurt me, so you took my children." The four-opticed femme hissed, her own fangs flashing occasionally. "For millennia I had hoped you took them to protect them. Took them because you cared. But you only wanted to hurt me." She snarled out, anger peeking out from beneath the cracks of her usually collected demeanor.

Airachnid pulled back with a laugh. "I've always wanted to make you pay. For humiliating me, stripping me of my rights to experiment." The femme responded coldly, pink optics bright with anger. "But I would never take that out on the twins." She added, voice venomous and full of hatred.

Though taken aback by the anger and hatred in her sister's tone, Blackarachnia was most surprised to see the flicker that passed through the pink optics, buried beneath layers of anger, hate and bitterness… Hurt. Airachnid was hurt.

"And for the record," Airachnid continued, arms crossed tightly in front of her chassis. "If I wanted to hurt you through Area and Araneon, I would've killed them a long time ago." The femme stated coldly before turning and taking her leave, vanishing into the bowels of the warship.

Venting softly, Blackarachnia turned away, looking up into the night sky of the primitive planet their war had taken refuge on, trying to process. She had known that Airachnid was hurt, but getting through to her sister was going to be harder than she had initially thought. Millennials of anger and resentment had built up into an impenetrable wall, but the conversation had further reinforced her first plan… Only Area and Araneon would be able to get through to her sister.

+/+/+/

Araneon's little servos were clasped in front of him as he stood in the medbay doorway, his insectile winglets slipping from their sheaths and then retracting as another sign of his nervousness.

Bright purple optics followed the movements of the two larger mechs, Breakdown playfully teasing Knockout, the cherry red medic giving him a coy grin and responding with a sultry tone, one hip stuck out in what any older mech would deem seductive.

It was Araneon's own fears about himself, and… Certain aspects of himself that he didn't fully understand yet. He, he felt like there was a ball constricting his spark, and it would sometimes be cold, and other times hot… Like he fought an internal struggle that he was confused about it's real meaning.

Turning his attentions back onto the two mechs currently inhabiting the medbay, Araneon blinked in surprise. Everyone knew that the two mechs were "involved" with each other, but the sparkling had never truly seen someone kiss… At least not like that.

Breakdown noticed the sparkling first, faceplates flushing as he pulled away from his younger lover, golden optics wide as he seemed at a loss of what to say.

"Oh, uh, Araneon! Does your, er, aunt know where you are?" The big blue brute asked, a servo rubbing the back of his helm as he seemed to be looking everywhere but the curious little sparkling intently watching from the doorway.

"No." Araneon answered, cocking his helm, a contemplative look on his faceplates. "What's that feel like?" He asked, causing Knockout to laugh while Breakdown looked to be stuck between bewilderment and embarrassment. "Oh, why, uh-"

"Feels good, Araneon. Learn from the master, hmm?" Knockout winked, causing a rare smile to break out across the smaller spider's face, little fangs peeking out from between his lips as he nodded. "Now, what can I do for you?"

At Knockout's question, Araneon was reminded to the purpose of his visit, and his own faceplates flushed darkly. "I, um, I wanted to ask you some… stuff." He stammered, glancing at Breakdown and then back at Knockout.

"Oh did you now?" Knockout asked curiously, casting a glance at Breakdown then back at the sparkling. "What about?"

The youngling shuffled his pedes nervously, unsure of himself now that he was standing here. Out of all the mechs on board the Nemesis, Knockout was the most appropriate to speak to about his... Condition? Because it was a condition wasn't it? That's what the other mechs said, that one mech liking another was wrong, and he had heard stories of what happened to those mechs... He wanted it fixed, or maybe learn how to embrace it like Knockout clearly did. Knockout was flamboyant in such things.

"Araneon?" Knockout asked, cocking his helm to one side as he studied the nervous sparkling before glancing at Breakdown, the behemoth understanding the silent gesture and leaving the room.

The red mech chuffed a vent as he gave the younger mech his signature smile. "Now. Why don't you ask me what you want to ask?" The medic stated in a cheerful tone.

Araneon looked up at the medic and shifted uncomfortably again. "I-I..." A little fang peaked out from between his lips as he worried his lower lip with his denta. "I like mechs!" The sparkling finally blurted, looking up at the medic. Regardless of Knockout being known as a "gay" mech, for lack of a better term, Araneon expected to be ridiculed and laughed at, like Knockout had been in the very beginning before being acknowledged as the Decepticon CMO. Knockout's rank protected him, but Araneon? He was a young mech with absolutely no such assurances.

The medic blinked at the sudden admittance, looking down at Araneon. The poor mechling was looking up at him with wide, frightened optics, the beginnings of tears welling up in them, EM field a swirl of despair, fear and hope.

Araneon waited, waited for Knockout to laugh, to tell him that he was sick, to work on getting a cure, completely forgetting that Knockout was the exact same. Then... Then Knockout smiled widely.

"Araneon! That's nothing to be ashamed about!" Knockout kept his tone gentle but comforting, pulling the younger mech into his side as he pulled a chair closer for the shivering mechling.

The young spider-mech felt tears finally leak out of his optics as his EM swelled with relief. "I-I thought you'd l-laugh." Araneon sniffled.

Knockout frowned deeply as he had the youngling sit in the seat he had pulled close to them. "Why would I laugh? You saw Breakdown and myself only a few kliks ago?" The medic asked, slightly confused though he tried his best to keep his expression neutral so as not to frighten or hurt the young mech sitting before him.

Araneon nodded, optical ridges knitting together as he shifted in place, a little hiccup making it's way to the surface as he searched for something to say in response. "Y-Yes, but the o-other mechs. They s-say terrible things a-about a mech liking m-mechs, or a femme liking f-f-femmes." The mechling stammered out, his digits twisting together in his nervousness.

Understanding dawned and Knockout vented softly. Araneon most likely overheard what the other officers and grunts said about mechs like himself and now the mechling. It frustrated the medic to no end that someone would be made ashamed of themselves just because a bot couldn't keep his opinions to himself. "Araneon, what they say is WRONG."

Looking up at the medic, Araneon frowned, confused. "I-I thought being l-like this was wrong?" He asked, unsure of himself now. "Th-that you have to b-be fixed?"

Knockout huffed loudly, shaking his helm. "No Araneon, this is not wrong." The medic stated firmly, placing a servo on a small shoulder strut, looking the mech straight into his purple optics. "What is wrong is the mechs you heard making judgments on things they cannot understand. Yes, we are different, Araneon, but so is your aunt and Blackarachnia. They are a form of techno-organic."

Still tense, Araneon struggled to understand what Knockout was trying to convey to him. "My aunt likes femmes?" He asked, his confusion clear on his faceplates if not in his field.

The medic gave a small chuckle and shook his helm. "No, Araneon. I'm saying that she has organic CNA... Or DNA, I think it's called?" Knockout looked thoughtful before shaking that thought out of his processor... For now. "That is different. Does that mean she needs to be fixed?" He asked, the mechling seeming to understand now. "No. You liking another mech is like a mech liking swords when the majority prefer guns. Nothing wrong with that, just a different preference. Are you understanding me?"

Araneon nodded, the fear ebbing slightly as he looked up at the bigger mech. "I-I heard terrible stories of what happened to mechs like me... Like you. But no one would touch you because you're the chief medic."

The cherry red mech vented heavily, rubbing a servo over his faceplates. "Yes, but it wasn't always like that. I used to be just a grunt that knew a little something about medicine. Breakdown was only a wrecker in the Autobots. We both had a rough start of things, but things are different for YOU Araneon." Knockout stated gently, offering a small smile. "Things are changing. Most mechs are beginning to understand that this is normal."

The young mech nodded, relieved now. "Really? They won't laugh at me?" He asked, hopefulness tinging his tone.

Knockout vented softly. "Well, Araneon. Someone will always be there to laugh. Just like the Autobot Bumblebee, there will always be someone that teases or laughs at him for his voicebox, don't you think?" The Decepticon asked. "But where one laughs, there will be many others that will understand and be ok with it."

Nodding slowly, Araneon allowed himself to relax in the company of the older mech. "Yeah... I get it." He answered slowly, shifting carefully. "But what if the mech I like hates someone like me?" The spider-mech asked. "What do I do then?"

Humming softly in thought, Knockout carefully considered his answer. "Then he's the one losing out. You can't change someone like that, because they are too close-minded, as the humans say. Just like we can't change ourselves, because it's who we truly are. Understand?"

Araneon nodded, relief colouring his field as he smiled up at the red medic. "Yeah... Thanks Knockout." The mechling smiled in relief, the medic snorting and rubbing his helm teasingly. "Anytime. Anything else you need?" Knockout asked just as Breakdown peeked into the room to see if it was alright to come back in, doing so when neither mech currently residing in the room seemed uncomfortable to his presence.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you could... If you had datapads on being a medic? I just wanted to look at them." The youngling stated, swinging his pedes in renewed nervousness as Knockout just laughed. "I have some of my old texts if you'd like." The medic stated with a grin, moving over to one of the cupboards, the door slipping aside once the cherry medic got within a close enough distance.

Knockout rummaged through the different datapads, coming up with 3 of his old documents before returning to where the mechling sat, literally on the edge of his seat. "If you have any questions, you can ask Breakdown or myself, alright?"

At Araneon's eager nod, the medic handed the datapads to the young mech, jerking his helm towards to door and offering a smile. "Off you go now."

Araneon scampered for the door, stopping only when Knockout called his name, glancing back at the medic. "Remember. Someone will always be there to laugh. But there will always be others that understand." The medic stated in a serious, gentle tone, the young spider-like mech nodding eagerly before scampering on out.

"What was that about?" Breakdown asked softly as the light pedesteps slowly vanished down the hall like wind.

"Just a young mech confused about his orientation." Knockout responded, frame slightly tensed as he glared up at Breakdown. "I'm sick of the younglings having ideas forced into their helms by those who don't know any better."

Understanding dawned on the red faceplates and Breakdown vented softly. "He's like us then?" He asked. "Poor mech. Most of the mechs around here..." He shrugged, aware that Knockout knew exactly what he meant.

Knockout nodded, venting. "I'm just glad he decided to talk to me about it and not someone else... Like Airachnid."

Breakdown cringed. "Yeah... He wants to be a medic too?" The ex-wrecker changed the subject, his companion frowning faintly. "I'm not sure... Maybe just curiosity? If he does, we could use another medic." He responded, casting Breakdown a playful grin. "Especially with you wrecking more than you can fix." He purred, the blue mech smirking at him. "Want me to prove just what else I'm good at wrecking?" He demanded, the red medic humming in amusement. "Do your worst."