This is all Megatron's point of view. Just him battling with himself some more. Got some Soundwave in here too, a bit OOC, but funny nonetheless.

He didn't know it yet, but he was already mine. I wanted him for my bondmate, I knew I did. It'd be perfect, we wouldn't argue nearly as much, be unstoppable in battle, and I could freely tell him how much I needed him.

You're pathetic.

For what? Wanting to be a decent mech and stop this insufferable slag going on between my second and I?

For being in love. You've said it yourself. Love is a weakness.

I didn't mean it.

But you said it. And don't you always say what you mean?

I sighed, and grabbed Starscream's servo again. It was so small compared to mine. I brought it to my lip plates and kissed it, hoping I'd be able to do it again someday, once we bonded.

How do you even function with yourself?

Oh Primus, what now?

You beat him. You raped him. You forced him to do something that nearly killed him. And you want to bond with him? Do you seriously think that would happen?

The other seekers already told me he loves me.

He did, but do you really think he still does? After all that? He told you himself that he hates you. What were his exact words again?

I cringed. I didn't want to think about what he had told me earlier. Thundercracker and Skywarp already assured me that he didn't mean it, and if the recent display of him wanting to be closer to me meant anything...

His cicuits held more painkillers and sedatives than energon. He had no idea what he was doing. He already told you the truth. "I hate you. I hate everything you are, I hate everything you ever have been, and I hate everything you ever will be. I hate this thing you've forced to grow inside of me. I hate the way you make me feel when something goes wrong, thanks to you. I hate the way you scrunch your face plates when you laugh. I hate your snoring. I hate the way you rub your cannon when your injured. I hate your very existence. I. Hate. You."

I could feel the liquids pooling in my optics again, memories of the venom in those words forcing me into despair. But then I remembered what Thundercracker had told me earlier, "he's just afraid you'll kill him." They said he was lying, and that was what I wanted to go by.

Oh shut up, you old fool. He's told you he hates you before. This time is no different, and you know it.

I'm going to rid myself of you, one of these days.

You can't. I am you. You'd have to deactivate yourself to get rid of me. Besides, why would you want to? I'm what's kept you strong in this war. I'm the voice of reason. I'm what's keeping your drive for the ruling and rebuilding Cybertron alive.

Optimus has done fine without you.

Comparing yourself to your enemy? How mature. That's what's gonna win this war here, folks! Acting like the enemy!

Shut up, he's waking up.

So I suppose you're going to apologize like a spinal relay-less fool?

SHUT UP.

"Welcome back, Starscream," I whispered. I watched him smile weakly, acknowledging the greeting. I bent over and kissed his fore-helm, desperate for him to realize I wouldn't hurt him.

It doesn't matter, he hates you nonetheless.

I bit my mouth plates and thought of a way to put what I wanted to say, regardless of what my voice of "reason" said. Still holding onto Starscream's servo, I looked down and took a deep cycle of air in.

"Starscream," I started, mind still wandering about. Regardless of what he feels for me, be it hatred and hostility or love and affection, he had the right to hear this. "I want you to know and realize that no matter what you do, or what you say, or how cowardly and treacherous you act, I, I," I stuttered. I had never said what I meant to before. To anyone. I felt Starscream squeeze my servo as a sign to continue, so I tried. "Please, don't be afraid of me. Your trine mates said you were, and that's why you didn't want to keep the sparkling. I won't terminate you, ever. If I wanted to, I would've done so by now. But I won't, and I can't, because I, well, you know, I," I rubbed the back of my helm with my free servo, trying hard to say it.

That's when I felt the smack to the back of my helm. "Demand: Just say it already!"

"I love you."

Starscream smiled again, like a giddy sparkling. And I took that opportunity to look behind me and glare murderously at my telepathic Third in Command.

"Suggestion: I should have done that vorns ago."

I smiled slightly, deciding to let this one time pass. "Just, don't do that again, or I will not hesitate to deactivate you."

Soundwave nodded in acknowledgment, then went around the corner to Hook's office. I had no idea why, but I honestly didn't care.

"I," came a heavy, drawn out response from next to me. I turned my attention back to Starscream, hoping maybe, just maybe...

"L-love," he tried harder. I could see he was straining, but I felt it was necessary for the both of us.

"Alright, Starscream, time for more work,"Hook said, rushing from his office with a box and Soundwave hot on his tail. He turned to me, "you'll have to leave for this one, my lord. He has a lot more cables I still have to replace."

"It can wait a moment or two more. What was that, Starscream?" I turned back to him, eager to hear the rest.

"I-, I-, lov-v-v-e," he tried again. I could see Hook put more sedatives into the IV bag, and I reminded myself to do everything but terminate him for it later.

"Come on Starscream, just a little bit more," I tried to encourage, but it was too late. The sedatives were already beginning to work, and Hook was all but pushing Soundwave and I out of the med-bay.

"Thanks Soundwave, that's all I needed to know. Now the both of you, out!" He exclaimed, rushing like a madman. Once out of the doors, I turned to Soundwave. Luckily, I didn't even have to say what I was thinking.

You, me, telling whatever you told Hook, in my quarters, now.