Freedom
Chapter 7: Adapting
Optimus smiled as he watched Jetfire and Jetstorm play.
It was a beautiful day on Cybertron. The air was warm and there was a cool breeze blowing. Jetfire and Jetstorm declared it a perfect day to play outside. Optimus decided to watch them to make sure they didn't get into any trouble.
Starscream had been summoned by Megatron the day before to discuss the new rebellion that was starting to arise. The twins explained that when Starscream was summoned for these sorts of situations, he would sometimes be gone for days. And even when he came home, it seemed he was constantly leaving in order to help the Decepticons smother out the problem before it could become a serious threat to them.
Optimus watched Jetfire and Jetstorm soar through the air. He had been here for over a week now. He was still borrowing Starscream's shirts, but he didn't really mind. The Seeker promised him that when he had a spare moment, they would go to the city.
Optimus liked his new home so far. The twins were good company. They talked about what they had gone through since they last saw Optimus and how life had been treating them.
Optimus took notice a few days after Megatron gave him to Starscream that neither Jetfire nor Jetstorm had slave collars. They told him they used to war them, but then Starscream just took them off one day. His reason being that he trusted them enough to not run away or cause trouble. The Decepticons taunted and teased the Seeker for this, but he merely ignored them. Megatron saw no problem with it and that was all that mattered. Which is why Optimus still had his slave collar. Both he and Starscream knew for a fact that Megatron would be very displeased with the Seeker if he removed it. Until the Decepticon Lord believed that Optimus had submitted to Starscream and wouldn't run away at the first opportunity given to him, the collar stayed.
As he thought about Starscream, Optimus looked from Jetfire and Jetstorm down to the ground. Like the twins, the Seeker was good company…when he was actually around.
Optimus only saw the masked flyer a few times a day. The few times he came down to dinner he didn't get anything for himself. He merely sat and talked to Optimus.
Their conversations hadn't gone past Starscream asking how the mech's day was and if he was happy with his environment. After getting an answer to these questions, the Seeker would chat with Jetfire and Jetstorm for a few klicks before getting up and leaving.
Starscream was a mystery to Optimus at times.
But he was a good caretaker.
He never forced Optimus or the twins to do hard labor. In fact, most of the work Megatron had Optimus do, Starscream did himself.
The Seeker…was different.
The Autobot was brought out of his musings by a loud screech. He looked up in time to see that Jetfire had made some sort of mistake and was now falling.
Without a second thought, Optimus got up and ran to his rescue. He lunged for and caught him before he hit the ground. Jetstorm landed next to the kneeling Prime, whom was holding the shaken orange flyer in his lap. Jetfire had his arms wrapped around Optimus' neck and was shivering and whimpering pitifully.
"Shh," Optimus attempted to sooth the flyer by gently rubbing his back and rocking him back and forth. "You're okay."
"Brother," Jetstorm began, kneeling beside Optimus. "Are you being alright?"
Jetfire shuddered and continued to cling to Optimus. After several klicks of the older Autobot's gentle whisperings and comfort, Jetfire calmed down enough to speak. "I am not knowing what happened."
Optimus hugged the small flyer and said, "I think you should stick to land until Starscream gets back. Okay?"
Jetfire slowly nodded his head in agreement. It took little coaxing on Optimus' part to get them inside. Soon afterward, the sky darkened and acid rain began to fall from the sky.
Optimus was now in his room, sitting on the veranda by his window and he watched the acid rain come down. Jetfire and Jetstorm were in their room taking a nap. Soon enough, they would wake up and start running up and down the corridors of their home. Being flyers, they never like being cooped up.
Optimus continued to watch the acid rain. The rust-red liquid was a nescience to all Cybertronians. Optimus didn't know of anyone who didn't despise it.
One thing was for sure.
If Starscream had planned on coming home that night, he wouldn't be able to now.
XXX
Starscream groaned inwardly as he watched the acid rain fall.
He and Megatron's other high ranking officers were summoned to the Decepticon Lord's home to discuss the new rebellion. The meeting had been concluded a few klicks ago, but it was discovered they wouldn't be able to leave because of the acid rain.
Megatron had his servants set up rooms for them. And now Starscream was staring out the window of his room, his arms crossed over his chest.
He very much wanted to go home to begin making plans. The sooner they destroyed this problem, the sooner he could be with Jetfire and Jetstorm…and Optimus.
Starscream couldn't explain what was happening. The mech had only been around for a week and already the Seeker had developed as soft spot for him. However, the affection he felt towards Optimus wasn't the same as what he felt toward Jetfire and Jetstorm.
This was different.
Whenever he was near the Autobot, his spark would pound in its casing and breathing became more difficult.
He felt warm inside…
Whenever he spoke to Optimus…Starscream felt a small shred of who he had been return to him. When he talked with Optimus, he didn't feel weak or afraid…He felt like the rebellious, Decepticon traitor Megatron had loathed.
When he was with Optimus…he felt whole and complete.
What were these strange feelings bubbling up within his spark?
Why did he feel so attached to Optimus?
And where could all this lead?
So many questions he did not have the answers to. Starscream sighed. He didn't like not knowing. It always made him nervous.
Hey guys, so sorry I didn't update yesterday. Some stuff came up, mainly family stuff but that's why I'm giving you two chapters instead of one this time. I hope you enjoy them. Please review. :)
