Starscream should have been used to waking up in awkward positions by now, but he wasn't. Something was pressing him uncomfortably into the bed and he felt abnormally warm. He soon discovered that Megatron had shifted in his sleep and rolled on top of him, with one of his arms thrown over his waist and both legs wrapped around his, Starscream was trapped under and around his Commander's body. Carefully, Starscream pushed against the mattress to see if he could shift Megatron's bulk; but it quickly became clear that his leader was far too heavy and he gave up with a frustrated sigh. He inhaled the thick humid air heavily, more than a little thankful that Megatron had bothered to shower again last night as his nostrils were filled with the mild aroma of damp skin and hair, rather than the usual stale sweat and dirt. It was almost pleasant in comparison, but still too unbearably organic for Starscream to stand.

Soundwave and Slipstream had –thank Primus- taken the twins down stairs to get some food, so everyone else –mainly Megatron and Starscream- could catch up on some well needed sleep. They had been gone for about an hour, so depending entirely on how long Soundwave could keep the twins entertained with the elevator they could be back any second now.

Starscream grasped Megatron's thick forearm and manoeuvred himself further under him, taking some of the weight off of the left arm his Commander had previously been crushing by redistributing the weight. His leader then began to shift in his sleep again, and Starscream froze as he felt Megatron's massive arms worm their way under his body to tighten around his lower back. He wriggled, and Megatron's grip tightened.

Starscream bit back a groan. So this was why he always woke up in such questionable positions every morning. He turned away, teeth gritted, as Megatron breathed deeply against his ear. The infuriating tickling feeling started to return and he started to become more aware of his bare chest against Megatron's. He was unable to stand it any longer when a hot mouth pressed against the corner of his jaw as Megatron nuzzled him in his sleep. He did the only thing he could think of. He pinched him, hard.

Megatron jolted out of his sleep, eyes opening part way. He glanced at Starscream, his rough, bristly cheek still pressed against the seeker's smooth one, before asking slowly, "Did you just pinch me?"

"... You're crushing me." Starscream muttered, wanting to look away from his leader's dark tired, unfocused eyes but too hypnotised by them to do so.

Megatron drew back and looked down, noticing that he was, indeed, lying completely on top of his second. The bed was far too cramped for the two of them. Had he been Starscream's size it might not have been a problem. Knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep comfortably if he had to constantly worry about either rolling off of the bed or flattening the seeker, Megatron, grip still tight around Starscream, flipped over, taking the seeker with him, so that now his second was lying on top of him instead of the other way around.

Starscream stiffened as his world was suddenly flipped over and he found himself sprawled out over Megatron's hard, warm, skin covered chest instead of across the soft, fabric covered mattress. His leader looked as if he had fallen straight back to sleep again and so now he was stuck, trapped in his Commander's unbreakable grasp, against his bare front, the steady rise and fall of his powerful chest sending invisible shockwaves through the seeker's body. Starscream began to work on prising one of the thick forearms away until Megatron muttered, sleepily, "Just go to sleep..."

Starscream groaned again, knowing he wasn't going to get anymore sleep in such an awkward and uncomfortable position, and tried to relax against Megatron, pillowing his head on his muscular shoulder, struggling to ignore the alluring feel of his leader's beating heart against his chest and how it felt just like the throbbing of a spark.

XDXDXXDXDXDXXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD

Slipstream had to stop to catch her breath as she reached the second floor.

Why couldn't they have booked a room on the ground floor? Especially as half of them couldn't face the traumas of entering an elevator -wouldn't it have been the most logical decision?- Especially if she had to carry everyone's breakfast up three flights of stairs from the restaurant.

She didn't need to be doing this. The so called men should be able to drag themselves out of their beds and trudge down three flights of stairs to get their breakfast themselves. But, they had slept through breakfast yesterday, likelihood was, they would sleep through breakfast again today. They already had in fact, which was why she was climbing yet another section of stairs.

It was also because she couldn't stand being with Soundwave's twins for a second longer. Soundwave himself was fine, which was why she was feeling a little guilty for abandoning him, she quite liked him. He didn't say much, which gave her more of an opportunity to talk; but the twins, they just wouldn't shut up. Soundwave had taken them outside into the market in hopes of getting them to run off some of their seemingly endless energy before they had the chance to raise the pit in their hotel suite.

She balanced the four metal trays of whatever was being served in the restaurant that morning, something called Idli and Vada, on her arm as she approached their door.

Starscream was miraculously wide awake as she entered, in the opposite position to what he had been in when she had left with the twins around two hours ago. Rather than lying squashed under his leader, he was now draped over Megatron like a blanket, and looking thoroughly annoyed about it.

"You're looking a little flustered Starscream." She whispered quietly, kicking the door shut behind her.

Starscream took a moment to inspect his cousin. She was dressed in her new clothes; clothes that she had obviously spent far more money on than anyone else's. She wore a light blue tank top with black shorts, baring a lot of skin. He hoped she got sun burn.

He scowled at her as she approached the bed, and jostled Megatron until the tight grip around his back was loosened and he was able to sit up. She offered him a metal tray full of food wordlessly and he sneered at it, "What is that?" He asked, shifting to sit on the side of the bed as Megatron started to rouse.

"Food," Slipstream answered simply, passing a duplicate of his tray to Megatron, who took it without even looking at it before he began to shovel it down.

Starscream stared at him –noticing the distinct lack of chewing going on- and then back at his own tray. He picked up one of the two brown, disc like objects and sniffed at it.

"That's a Vada." Slipstream informed him, moving to the double bed and flicking Thundercracker's nose to wake him.

Starscream took a tiny bite and immediately spat it back out again, "It's disguising," he sneered. He was about to throw it back onto the tray angrily when he found that he no longer actually held it. One look at Megatron's full mouth confirmed that his leader had obviously helped himself, "I hope you choke," he snapped at him spitefully.

Megatron ignored him.

Thankfully Starscream didn't mind the taste of the Idli; a rice based fried food substance, and ate both of them, so it didn't look like he was going to go hungry.

Slipstream turned to the last occupant of the room left to wake up, Skywarp.

"C'mon Skywarp," she said gently, nudging her still sleeping cousin and placing the last tray at the end of the bed, "Wake up and eat this quick," she cast a look across the room at her former Commander, "Before Megatron does."

Megatron, halfway through shoving Starscream's other Vada into his mouth, paused to level a glare at her.

Skywarp sat up blearily, dark brown hair sticking up at all gravity defying angles, and leant against Thundercracker as he reached blindly for the metal tray.

They looked up as they heard a quick succession of loud banging noises approaching from somewhere outside in the hallway. Slipstream sighed and counted down in her head-

Three

Two

One-

The door banged open, smashing against the wall with an almighty crash and bouncing back slightly at the force of the impact. The doorway was filled with too very excited looked twins, both, due to Slipstream's own idiocy, dressed exactly the same in white polo shirts and beige cargo pants –Megatron groaned at the sight of them.

"Look! Look!" one of them was shouting. Slipstream was too tired to inspect the minor differences between their almost identical faces to figure out who was who. The other twin then came forward, holding something... furry.

They held it out proudly, and Skywarp shrieked.

Starscream jumped at the sudden noise, knocking his –now empty thanks to his leader- tray off of his lap and onto the floor.

The twin holding the fur ball drew back, hugging it protectively to his chest, "You'll scare him!" he shouted at Skywarp, who was now trying to duck behind Thundercracker.

"What the pit is that!" Starscream screeched after he too spotted the fluffy object cradled against... Rumble's chest, he immediately took his bare feet off the floor, scrambling to stand on the bed.

Megatron stood up, pushing his empty tray at Starscream and strode towards the twins.

"Get rid of it!" the seeker called after him.

Rumble attempted to back away as Megatron reached out to grasp his precious bundle of fluff, but eventually released it to his leader as he heard it cry in pain at their tug of war. Megatron lifted the small furred organic creature out of Rumble's arms by grasping a section of loose skin on its back. Holding it aloft, he began to inspect it.

"Don't hurt it!" Frenzy pleaded, making to step forward as the organic wriggled in their leader's grasp.

Megatron frowned at the small fluffy creature staring back at him with large brown pleading eyes. Floppy ears that seemed far too big for the creature's tiny head, flickered back and forth, and the limp tail between its legs occasionally wagged as its curious gaze fell over the other occupants of the room. Megatron wondered what the purpose of such a creature could be. It didn't seem particularly vicious or useful.

"What is th-"

"It's a dog." Said Slipstream from the bed, answering his question before he fully had a chance to ask it. She gazed at the small ball of brown and black mattered fur with an odd sort of fondness in her eyes.

"A dog!" Skywarp cried, even more terrified now, peeking out from behind his brother at fierce animal.

"Rabies!" shrieked Starscream, sneering at the disgusting, filthy, possibly diseased thing.

The twins looked confused, "Soundwave said it was a puppy."

"Soundwave gave this to you?" Megatron frowned, brandishing the puppy dog. It seemed to enjoy this, its tail started to wag happily again.

"We found him," Frenzy explained, staring at the animal longingly, "It's only a baby."

"Soundwave wanted us to get rid of it but..." Rumble began to say, voice trailing off.

"Can we keep it?" Frenzy suddenly shouted, clasping his hands together as if praying.

"No," Megatron replied, not at all deterred by their pleading faces or the puppy's large brown eyes, and began to walk to the window.

The twins suddenly realised what he was going to do, "No! Don't kill it, please! We'll behave; we'll do whatever you want! Please don't hurt him!"

Megatron didn't bother turning back as he began to unlatch the window, "It is vermin that will likely grow to become dangerous and diseased."

"We'll get rid of it!" Rumble tried again, "Just don't throw him out the window! Please!"

"How am I to know that you won't just bring it back in again at the next available opportunity?" Megatron asked, sliding the window open.

The twins didn't have an answer for that, "He's not hurtin' anybody." Rumble said quietly, eyes beginning to glisten as the puppy's innocent gaze met his.

Megatron grunted and began to lift the arm clutching the animal out of the window, Rumble and Frenzy gasped.

The Fur ball, as if sensing his doom, began to wriggle frantically. It kicked out, one of his clawed paws managing to scratch his captors wrist. Megatron dropped him instinctively and the puppy fell to their hotel room's discoloured red carpet with a slight thud, before bouncing right back up again and starting to bound across the room.

Both Starscream and Skywarp started screeching and screaming. The tiny fluffy menace was loose in their room, bounding about and emitting a high pitched yapping noise. Megatron strode forward as if he were about to kick it, when Frenzy dove forward to shield it with his own body.

"Get it out of here!" shrieked Starscream, picking up a pillow from the bed and throwing it at Frenzy, unfortunately, pillows were not known for their accuracy when thrown and rather than hitting the twin it ended up smacking Megatron in the face.

Frenzy took full advantage of the distraction, releasing the small bundle of fur and giving it a good shove towards the still open door.

"RUN PUPPY! RUN TO FREEDOM!" he shouted as the puppy made its escape down the hallway. Rumble scrambled after it, but Megatron slammed the door shut before Frenzy could follow.

"Where is Soundwave?" he growled, looming menacingly over Frenzy.

Frenzy didn't have the chance to answer before Starscream started to shriek, "How could you have let that evil creature in here? It could have killed us all!"

"It was harmless!" Frenzy tried to defend.

"I-it h-hurt Megatron!" Skywarp whimpered, eyes fixed on the small red scratch across his leader's delicate white skin.

Starscream scoffed, finally climbing down off the bed now that the threat had been removed and the floor was safe and puppy free. "Didn't even draw blood. Don't be such a coward."

Thundercracker laughed with Slipstream at his hypocrisy, "And you're not? How brave you were, screaming from the bed at a creature small enough to fit into the palm of your hand."

Starscream's only reply was to hiss venomously and didn't have the opportunity to defend his bravery as the door banged open again -they really needed to remember to lock it, they were so used to using access panels and automatic locks, the idea of keys and door handles might never become routine for them- this time with Soundwave dragging a reluctant looking Rumble, whom he must have caught on the stairs, in by his ear.

"Apologises, Lord Megatron." Soundwave said casually as he reached out, lightening quick, to snag his other creation before he attempted to flee like his brother had. "The younglings and I became separated after they fell into pursuit with a small canine."

"Yes, we have already had the pleasure of meeting that...canine," said Megatron slowly, unable to resist smirking at the twins predicament, "Where is it?"

"Dealt with, my lord," answered Soundwave swiftly. The twins didn't look too upset though. Their creator must have left the pest relatively unharmed then.

Megatron bent down to be level with the twins, glowering at them, "If I ever see that piece of vermin-"

"-Puppy!" Frenzy was unable to help himself from bursting out, and Soundwave twisted his ear. He gasped before falling silent.

"Puppy...then, if I ever see it again I will remove it from temptation permanently. Do I make myself clear?" he finished darkly, looking at each of the boys in turn.

They shrunk back against their creator, "Yes, Lord Megatron," they said together, quietly.

Megatron nodded, seemingly satisfied and pulled himself back up to his full height. "We have things to do today, get up." He addressed the room at large.

Thundercracker and Skywarp obediently began to drag themselves out of the double bed, but Megatron was busy scowling at his second, who was doing the exact opposite of what he had just ordered by crawling back into the single bed. If the seeker really thought he was going to let him lounge around in bed all day, sleeping, just so he could keep him up all night with stupid questions again, he had another thing coming.

Megatron whipped the blanket away from the single bed just as Starscream concealed himself beneath it "Get up." He repeated to his second. Starscream just groaned and tried to pull the sheets back over his head.

"Starscream," Megatron said impatiently, tugging on the sheets again. Behind him Soundwave began to lead the others out through the door, leaving his leader alone with the errant seeker.

"Hmm," Starscream groaned after a while.

"Get up." Megatron ordered yet again, standing over him.

Starscream groaned and turned over to press his face into the pillow, "m' tired,"

Megatron whipped the pillow out from underneath Starscream's head, "So am I, now get up and get dressed. We need to survey the area."

Starscream didn't reply.

"Starscream, I won't tell you again."

"Five more minutes..."

"Up now!" Megatron shouted, bending to wretch Starscream to his feet. The seeker merely slumped against him tiredly, "Stop acting out, you idiot." Megatron hissed.

The seeker whimpered against him, leaning more of his weight on him, "I just want to sleep."

"If you sleep now then you won't be able to sleep again tonight... and then neither will I." He glanced back at the door, wondering whether he could call Thundercracker back and have him deal with his Air Commander.

"My head hurts!" moaned Starscream, clearly lying. "Stupid human brain feels like its shrinking."

Megatron didn't believe a word of it, "You don't have a headache. You wouldn't have been shrieking at that creature earlier if you did."

"Please," Starscream started again, "I just don't want to go out. Let me stay here."

"We're not splitting up. I can't leave you here alone; Primus knows what kind of trouble you would cause."

"Then stay with me. I don't feel well, please, lord Megatron!" Starscream said, wrapping his arms around Megatron's waist and squeezing, pressing his face into his bare chest.

Megatron promptly shoved him off, and bent to pick up a shirt, "Get dressed."

Starscream stumbled away and glared until Megatron had pulled the shirt over his head and vacated the room, seconds later, Thundercracker appeared. Starscream didn't bother looking up at him when he offered him his dark green t-shirt. He hated that colour. Slipstream must have known and picked it out on purpose.

He heard a sigh from his brother and the shirt was lowered, "Starscream?"

Starscream snatched the t-shirt out of his lowered hand and pulled it over his head. Thundercracker wrapped an arm around his shoulder, lowering it to rub across his back, where his wings would have been attached. "C'mon," his brother's deep voice rumbled in his ear, "Megatron is waiting."

Starscream nodded and allowed himself to be led out into the hallway and down the stairs.

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The dark circles under Starscream's eyes were even more noticeable in the bright daylight of the market place. Thundercracker tried not to be too concerned.

They were walking languidly at the back of the group, Skywarp trailing close behind them. Soundwave and Slipstream had gone ahead after the twins, who had taken off as soon as the hotel lobby's door had been opened for them. Megatron was just behind them, turning back every now and then to check that his second was still with his brothers and wasn't making a nuisance of himself.

The air was more humid than usual, and Soundwave seemed to be under the impression that it would rain soon, but as Thundercracker stared up at the clear blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, he couldn't see it happening anytime soon.

He was already bored with all the market place stalls, covered in colourful clothes and food; he had seen it all yesterday. Skywarp though, his eyes were as wide as dinner plates as he took in the vibrant scenery. He spent most of his time walking backwards and it was up to Thundercracker to steer him between the people and objects he was inevitably going to walk into or trip over.

"Thundercracker!" Skywarp gasped, pointing and staring at a long line of large bowls full of colourful grains and seeds. "Look! It's like a rainbow."

Thundercracker quickly agreed and pulled him away from the stall before he could attempt to start bargaining for some, next to him he could hear Starscream muttering something about 'idiots' under his breath. He turned to look at him and found that surprisingly, his brother wasn't talking about Skywarp.

Across the cramped street at a clothes stall, filled with boots and jackets and hats, Slipstream was up to her usual mischief and having what seemed to be a three way argument with Soundwave and the stall owner, who was adamant she buy the pair of light blue and black boots which matched her top. In the end Soundwave simply snatched the boots away from her, handed them back to the stall owner –who was nearly half his size- and then proceeded to bend down, wrap his arms around Slipstream's thighs, pick her up and throw her over his shoulder. The three seekers stood and watched as Soundwave continued on up the street as if he didn't have a screaming, protesting woman grasping desperately for boots tossed over his shoulder.

"I hope he drops her on her head." Commented Starscream as Slipstream's shouts started to fade away and merge with the streets general noise.

"You are in a bad mood this morning," said Megatron's voice as he backtracked towards the seekers, obviously having heard Starscream's comment. Skywarp shrunk back and hid behind Thundercracker as their leader came to stop in front of them.

"Can we go back now?" Starscream hissed testily, eyeing the general populous of the street, wrapping his arms tighter around himself whenever someone passed a little too close to him.

"No," said Megatron, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Now come, you three are falling behind," with that he strode ahead again.

Thundercracker saw how Starscream's expression darkened and his fists clenched. He quickly steeped forward to wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him close. Starscream let him, falling against him wordlessly. Thundercracker pressed their foreheads together for a second before pulling back and letting Skywarp in, who hugged his brothers a lot tighter.

Starscream allowed in for a few moments before catching Megatron looking back at them and then shoving them away. He walked off, muttering, "Get off of me, sentimental femmes..."

Thundercracker shared a smile with Skywarp before they followed after him.

They walked through the crowds and stalls until they found Soundwave, Slipstream and the twins again, all three of whom were sat waiting for them at the end of the street around a large clay structure. Rumble and Frenzy were leaning over the top of it, peering down into the middle and occasionally throwing small pebbles passed to them by Slipstream into its centre.

As Thundercracker grew closer he could hear the tale tell splash that indicated there was water at the bottom. A Well. "You know you're supposed to be throwing money down there, not rocks, right?" Thundercracker asked the twins, as he too, leant over the side of the clay walls to peer into the seemingly endless Well. Frenzy dropped another small rock and they waited in silence until they heard the splash as it hit the water.

"Why would anyone waste money by chucking it down a Well?" came Slipstream voice from next to Rumble as she bent over with them.

The twins and Thundercracker shrugged but Soundwave answered for them, "Human customs," He stated, opening his palm and revealing several silver paisas, Indian coins, "They use the money as payment for a wish."

Rumble dove forward to grab most of the coins, "Do the wishes come true?" he asked, passing some of the coins to Frenzy before throwing one in.

Soundwave choose not to answer. The twins seemed happy anyway, and were even generous enough to give Thundercracker and Slipstream a coin each. Slipstream simply tossed hers in uncaringly whilst Thundercracker studied his coin for a moment before glancing at his brother.

"Skywarp, come and make a wish."

Skywarp's eyes widened and he shook his head, frozen to his spot in front of the Well but not daring to go any closer, "W-what if I fall in?"

Thundercracker smiled, "You won't fall in, don't be stupid." He gestured for him to come closer again.

Slowly, Skywarp stepped forward and leant over the top of the clay wall before rearing back quickly, "I-it's really deep!"

"Skywarp you're not going to fall! Just toss the coin in." He pushed the coin into his brother's hand and Skywarp quickly threw it in before backing away quickly, "What did you wish for?" Thundercracker asked.

Skywarp blushed, "I forgot..."

Meanwhile, Starscream was doing everything in his power to be as in a bad a mood as possible. It must have showed on his face as Megatron left the others by the Well to come and harass him.

"Cheer up Starscream," Megatron said dryly, "It might never happen."

"It already has!" Starscream snapped, teeth bared.

Megatron's amused smile fell slightly, "it was merely a human saying."

"Why are we here?" Starscream snapped after a while, glaring viciously off into the distance. "We're not even doing anything. We're just- just screwing around! They're literally throwing money away, and you're here trying to- to what? What are you doing? What do you want?" he screeched hoarsely, finally looking up at him.

"Perhaps you should sit down." Megatron ground out through gritted teeth.

Starscream barely restrained himself from calling Megatron something very, very rude. "I am fine."

"What would you rather we be doing?" Megatron asked.

"Something!" Starscream shrieked loudly, as if it were obvious, several locals passing by glanced over at them, "like fixing this!" he gestured down at his pitifully skinny human frame.

Megatron ignored his tone, "At this present moment in time we are barely surviving. Before we start to focus on our future plans for revenge we must first learn to survive."

"You are being ridiculous," Starscream argued, "you act as if surviving as an organic would be a challenge for us. We are a superior race, we-"

"You are struggling far more than anyone else. You need to stop thinking about-"

"Don't act as if you know what I am thinking!" Starscream interrupted, angrily, he leaned forward on his tip toes to make himself seem taller, "Just because I am not as deluded as you and your pathetic lackeys-"

"Starscream," Megatron barked suddenly, snapping Starscream out of his rant. The seeker's expression became fearful as his leader glowered down at him, had he pushed too far? "Before we make any moves we must gain resources; whether that is food, money or even just knowledge. You know that."

Starscream's mouth drew into a thin line, "...I am not struggling." He hissed out resentfully before scowling, "Can we go back now?" he snapped again, a hint of desperation in his voice this time.

Megatron looked at his pale skin and the dark circles beneath his eyes and sighed, "We will go back as soon as we have found something to eat-"

"I'm not hungry, I'm just tired." Starscream replied quickly.

"You may not be, but I am. Go and fetch the others." He ordered. When Starscream didn't move he went on to say, "The sooner we get moving the sooner we will get back to the hotel."

That seemed to motivate the seeker. He marched over to the Well, shoving between his brothers and knocking Skywarp forward over the side of the clay wall. Luckily, Thundercracker grabbed hold of his hand before he could overbalance and fall down the Well. Skywarp shrieked as he stared down the seemingly bottomless pit before he was dragged back upright.

Starscream didn't seem to care about his brothers though, and proceeded to snatch the rest of the coins from the twins and throw them down the well with an echoing clatter. "We're going!" he screeched, stomping away again, leaving the twins to glare daggers at his retreating back.

Megatron fought back a chuckle at seeing Starscream make everyone else as miserable as he was. What Starscream lacked in common decency, he more than made up for in entertainment and comedic value.

XDXDXDXDXDDXDXDXDXD

Twelve hours later, and Starscream was still awake. Clearly, this wasn't about not being tired, because he was tired. He had never been so exhausted in his entire life.

Now he had nothing to do but think until he finally fell asleep. He shuddered, exhaling shakily.

...

What the slag was he doing?

Starscream asked himself that question at least once every hour. He even dreamed it sometimes.

What was he doing?

Nothing?

Why was his own answer another question?

He choked back a sob. It wasn't a question. Nothing was what he was doing. He didn't have any plans, schemes... he couldn't think. He didn't want to think; because he inevitably knew that there was no solution, no ingenious plan could ever get them out of this mess.

So what else was there to do but nothing?

Nothing, that's what.

He rolled onto his side, gently; he didn't want to wake Megatron. His leader's face looked so peaceful, so untroubled. It wasn't fair.

This was all his fault! Wasn't he supposed to be their Commander? Wasn't he supposed to protect them? Protect him? What had Megatron been doing?

Nothing; like him.

But he was Starscream, king of the skies; he didn't need anyone's help, anyone's protection. He was perfectly capable of protecting himself; he could protect the others too. It was a shame no one else seemed to think so.

He felt his eyes begin to well over as his bed mate shifted and sighed next to him, warm breath ghosting over his forehead. A thick muscled arm slid towards him, finger tips brushing against the cloth of his shirt. Starscream gently moved it back, inhaling deeply as he felt the strength in the muscles beneath the fragile skin.

Skin so fragile his nails could pierce it.

Megatron was nothing more than skin and bone, with a few fleshy bits here and there. He was so delicate.

Sometimes he found himself thinking just how Megatron was so delicate.

It would take a mere three minutes for his fleshy lungs to give up after being deprived of oxygen. His heart needed to beat constantly, his lungs needed to breathe constantly. The smallest of things could kill him, just like that. He was so vulnerable. Starscream wondered if he knew it. Did he think, like Starscream, over the human's rule of three? Three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food and they'd all be dead.

He felt something trickle from his eye across his nose, and lifted a hand to swiftly wipe it away, sniffing.

Starscream couldn't decide between goading Megatron into showing these vulnerabilities, lowering him down to everyone else's half broken state of mind, taking pleasure in seeing him break like he had broken, to make him seem more... human, or to just give into the increasingly undeniable urge to crawl as close as he could get to Megatron and wrap himself tightly in the infallible, dependable aura his leader always seemed to be projecting.

Another tear trickled down his cheek to seep into his pillow.

The intelligent and yet malicious side of him said it was nothing more than a wishful fantasy; Megatron couldn't protect him, he was weak, broken. It was the pit forsaken chemicals in this defective flesh bag he was held captive in, they made him blind to any logic and all he could see was the way Megatron loomed over everyone, tall and powerful; like there was still indestructible iron plating under that delicate skin and hard steel in those dark eyes.

Starscream jolted on the bed as he suddenly realised Megatron's hard, dark eyes were open, and focused on him.

"Don't you ever sleep?" Megatron grunted.

Starscream lowered his head, sniffing quietly and subtly trying to wipe the moisture away from his face. Unfortunately Megatron noticed, "What is wrong this time?" he asked quietly, the impatience surprisingly missing from his tone.

Starscream muttered something incoherent and began the awkward process of rolling himself back over without falling off the bed or brushing against his bed mate, when Megatron's massive hand reached out for him. His massive palm cupped the entire side of his face, warm against his damp cheek. He felt the skin against it start to heat up, flushing. Megatron's thumb swiped under his eye, wiping away some of the salty tears. Starscream scrunched his face up angrily, squeezing the last few tears from his eyes and sniffing angrily, he wretched the hand away from his face.

The mattress squealed and bounced as Megatron sat up, resting his weight on one arm to lean over Starscream, the ends of his dark black hair falling down to tickle the seeker's face.

Starscream swallowed thickly, "Just... will you leave me alone."

Megatron exhaled heavily, breath once again fluttering over Starscream sensitive skin, "How do you think I can sleep with you snivelling next to me?"

Starscream felt his face heat up furiously, tears almost reforming in his damp, stinging eyes. "Fine!" He snapped, "I'll sleep somewhere else."

He began to roll off the bed, despite knowing that there was nowhere else to sleep other than the hard, grotty floor. A strong hand closed around his wrist, stilling him in his movements, before slowing beginning to drag him back down between the sheets.

He was pulled back until he could feel the unbearably, comforting warmth of Megatron against his back.

"I'm tired," he choked out, voice breaking.

One of Megatron's thick arms wrapped around him from behind and a sigh blew a burst of hot air against his ear, "Why do I have a feeling this is going to become routine?"

"Sorry to inconvenience you so," Starscream hissed waspishly.

"Perhaps I should be sending you to bed earlier," Megatron muttered more to himself than the seeker held tight against his chest.

Starscream hissed, twisting his head back at an uncomfortable angle to glare at Megatron through the darkness, "I am not a- child!"

"Shh!" Megatron hushed him quickly, slapping a large hand over his mouth, "You don't want to wake-"

Starscream ripped the hand away from his mouth, "I don't care about the others! If I can't sleep why should they get to?"

Megatron, rather than reproaching or snapping back at him, simply looked at him before saying, "You can sleep in tomorrow."

Starscream eyes softened as he turned back to look into his leader's face, "Really?"

"I don't want you being any more petulant than you already are." Megatron explained softly.

There was a long pause before anyone spoke again. They lay there, back to front, listening to the sound of each other breathing; feeling the subtle rhythm of their hearts beating strong in their chests.

"Where did you go?" Starscream asked curiously, and Megatron groaned, sensing the beginning of another one of those conversations. When his leader didn't reply Starscream explained himself better, "When you were... offline, where did you go?"

Megatron huffed against the back of his neck, had Starscream always been so morbid? "I was offline. I went nowhere."

Starscream's face screwed up, "Didn't you go to the pit? See the Unmaker?"

"You assume I would have gone to the pit? Why not the well of Allsparks?"

Starscream snorted, "They wouldn't have let you in, Primus isn't stupid."

"You once told me you did not believe in such ridiculous things as Gods and after lives."

"Because I have never offlined," Starscream explained, "but you have."

"So I am your latest little science experiment."

"Please, science is anything but 'little'" Starscream snapped loudly, "So, what happened?"

"I do not remember."

"Then there is nothing."

"I did not say that," announced Megatron, his arm unconsciously tightening around the seeker's waist, "I cannot remember, but there was something."

"...You just don't want to tell me."

Megatron almost chuckled, "I am not quite as spiteful as you are. I am withholding nothing from you, little seeker, even though you do not deserve to know anything of those details."

"You used that word again," Starscream said testily.

"Excuse me?"

"That word!" The seeker snarled angrily, barely managing to keep his voice below a whisper, "That utterly inappropriate word."

Megatron's silence told him that his leader clearly had no idea what he was talking about. "Little! I am not little! I am of a perfectly acceptable size for a human."

Megatron made a mental note to remember to call him 'little' more often, "a human female maybe..."

Starscream scowled at him for a long time, looking like he didn't know whether to punch him or burst into tears, before saying stiffly, "I'm not speaking to you anymore."

Megatron barely resisted the urge to cry 'thank Primus!' at those words and had to bite down on his tongue before he said something as equally damning.