10
Night after night Starscream would intend on recharging in his own quarters. But inevitably he would find himself walking toward the eradicons' wing and crawling into Steve's warm berth.
It was very late in the evening. He slipped out of his quarters and treaded into the eradicon living area. A few late-goers lingered in the hall, straightening and giving him a small, respectful bow as he passed. He waved them off, finding it ridiculous to keep up pretenses when they had likely already either seen or heard him committing something undignified.
Steve was still up when he entered, typing away at a small computer unit at his desk. He promptly minimized his window and stood as Starscream entered. Starscream draped himself on the berth and sighed.
"I don't feel like interfacing tonight," he said decidedly. He still ached from Megatron's little power show earlier that evening. Explaining that it wasn't his fault might make Steve feel more at ease, but talking about being in the berth with Megatron wasn't his favorite topic. He liked to pretend Steve didn't think about it. Who knows, maybe he didn't.
"I'm glad you still came, Commander," Steve said, sitting on the edge of the berth. He rubbed Starscream's lower back paneling.
Starscream sighed. "How in the blazing pit do you do that?"
"Do what, Commander?"
"Know when my back aches. Or any part of me, really. You always seem to know."
"Oh, just your posture. And the way you walk or stand. Your wings fall when your back hurts. And if your ankle hurts you usually lean on your other leg and keep your toe back."
Starscream felt almost disturbed by his insight. "And if my arm hurts?"
"You lace your digits behind your back."
"And my neck?"
"You straighten your back and lower your head slightly."
The seeker scowled. "Am I really so predictable?"
Steve straightened. "Oh no, Commander! I've just been... paying attention for a long time."
Starscream studied him. "Can you tell when I'm in need?" Steve's hand paused against him. He looked hesitant. Starscream turned onto his side to face him, encouraging him with a smile. "Well?"
Steve took a moment to gather his courage, then lowered his voice. "You're in constant motion. Even when you're standing still, your frame sways. Your wings move so slowly that no one would notice if they weren't paying attention. But I can't help it. I'll watch your wings spread out to the sides then pull tightly together. It amazes me that no one else sees. Your frame keeps moving, pacing slowly, a servo sliding along the edge of the controls as you walk by."
Starscream, whose digits had been rubbing against the side of his thigh, pulled them away self-consciously. Steve's hand had continued it's rubbing from his back to his side.
"And your knees..."
Starscream's legs froze, and he realized his knee joints had been rubbing together. When Steve's fans came on, he pulled his hand away and stood. He looked at Starscream sheepishly, body language speaking for him. "Sorry Commander, I said too much." He rubbed the back of his helm, looking like he needed to cool off. He sat at his desk, putting a little space between them.
Starscream wasn't in much better shape, but there was no way he'd live it down if his fans kicked on right after he'd said he wasn't in the mood. He wondered morbidly if Steve could tell when he'd been with Megatron. He didn't want to know, and decided to try and change the subject.
"So what are you doing?" Starscream asked, gesturing to the computer. "I've caught you playing on the computer before. What is there for one to do with the limited content available on the Nemesis?"
"The eradicons use the Earth's grid, Commander."
Starscream smirked. "Really? What could be amusing there? I do hear some mechs like their music. Knockout certainly does."
"Yes Commander..." Steve said, sounding unsure. Finally he expanded the window he'd hidden before.
Starscream sat up, reading the English text curiously. "A University?"
"Yes, sir. I'm um... taking the online courses."
"You're going to school?" Starscream laughed. "What for?"
"International Politics, sir. Well, and Governmental Science, Sociology and Psychology. And I've been reading up on some history courses too."
Starscream had sobered. This was certainly not something he expected a drone to be doing on his free time. Then again, Steve never failed to surprise him. "Why? What's the point?"
"Well you know, the drones didn't exactly get the best education. I mean, Shockwave built us to fight, not to think. There's so much out there to know and I'm always curious why people do what they do." Steve fidgeted nervously, and Starscream rubbed his hull plating encouragingly. He wanted to know more. "I feel like if I study enough, I could understand Cybertron's fall. I could know what went wrong so I can see it coming if it happens again. I know it's stupid, it's not like a vehicon could do anything about it even if I knew what was going on. I still like to know though."
Starscream felt a strange sense of pride and excitement over Steve's endeavor to learn. "When I'm lead..." He paused, still not sure if he wanted to go there. He trusted the mech, but he'd never shared this with anyone.
"When you're leader of the Decepticons?" Steve asked, matter-of-factly, as if it could happen tomorrow. Starscream felt his face paneling heat.
"If..." Starscream corrected himself, "If I were to be leader of the Decepticons, I would make you my second in command. And when the war is over, I'd start a new colony and you would advise me."
Steve laughed hard. "A drone as second in command? Commander I believe in you, but I can't imagine that."
"Well then leave the imagining up to me," Starscream said.
xxxx
The halls were flooded with soldiers as they returned from battle. The officers were among them, some more pleased than others. Breakdown seemed nonchalant as he listened to Knockout rage about the slagging old medic carving a new constellation into his finish. Two of the last to return were Megatron with Soundwave ever by his side. Megatron was probably the most pleased of them all, carrying the large weapon they'd managed to slip out from the Autobot's grasp.
Starscream felt exhilarated. It had been a while since he'd stretched his wings, and this open-field battle had given him ample opportunity to do so. He strode ahead of the other officers and through the crowd of soldiers.
Ahead he found Steve, easily recognizing him by his voice. He and another vehicon had draped themselves over an eradicon comrade, pretending to be too exhausted to go on. The eradicon swayed as they pulled him each way, onlookers laughing at the scene.
Starscream approached quietly from behind. He gave Steve a firm squeeze on the aft, which made the drone jump with a yelp. Starscream, who had slipped ahead of the trio, turned back to grin at him before heading off toward the meeting room. The last thing he heard were the laughs and teasing snickers from his friends.
Soon the officers met up with him in the meeting room. Megatron set the weapon on the center table.
"Now I intend on studying this and having it active before the solar cycle is through. Are there any volunteers to try it out?"
They all knew he would choose someone if there were none in the next two seconds. Starscream stepped forward, still feeling cocky from the war zone. After all, it was a weapon, not a self-harming device. "I'll volunteer if it pleases you, my Lord."
The war lord looked around. "Anyone else?" Megatron asked. Starscream blinked and stepped back, unsure of his motives. Breakdown volunteered next and approached the table. As he lifted the device, Megatron moved toward Starscream. "I need you in optimal health for this evening," he said. "You will be in my quarters on exactly the 21st hour." He looked at the seeker with a sinister smile.
Starscream lowered his optics in feigned submission and gave a single nod.
xxxx
Starscream was in a testy mood by the time he headed to Megatron's quarters. Steve wasn't in his room when he went looking for him, and none of his friends were around to point Starscream in the right direction. Yes, it was much earlier than their usual meeting time, but not having him whenever he wanted was still annoying. He was likely partying with that 404 and whoever else.
He wouldn't have even minded sharing him, sitting on his lap while Steve chatted with the other soldiers. He knew they could be an entertaining bunch from the moments he caught them off guard. If he brought a little high grade, maybe he could get them to loosen up around him.
But here he was after a hard day's work, heading to get fragged by Megatron without having had any time spent where he wanted to spend it. He went through the main doors, and headed through the large, high ceilinged room that was Megatron's private wing. He padded through to the smaller doors to his berth room. The doors slid open.
Starscream stopped at the entrance, unable to move any further toward the sight. Megatron lounged back on a large chair beside his berth. It was the true stance of a lord, one elbow joint propped on the arm of the chair, his servo raised for him to rest his chin. Megatron looked at his spark mate with knowing optics. Starscream's gaze lowered slowly, fearfully, to Steve, who knelt on the floor at Megatron's feet.
To be continued.