this is long overdue.. enjoy (:

Starscream groaned as he slowly flickered online. His systems hummed harshly as he squinted, his red optics struggling to adjust to his surroundings.

"Ouch." He grumbled. Starscream winced, feeling his joints creak and groan as he made an effort to sit up. Starscream sat up and looked around, squinting in disbelief at his surroundings. Somehow the terrain was no longer as sandy or dry as he remembered. He placed his servo back on the ground to hear a crunch. Lifting it up quickly in surprise he cocked an optic ridge, humphing under his breath. "Just a branch." He said to himself. Almost in relief. For a moment he thought he'd squished his hostage.

His hostage.

Miko.

"Primus." Starscream cursed, pushing himself unsteadily onto his up to full height. "Miko?" He called out.

Starscream activated his thermal scanner and searched. As he searched, part of him was almost relieved that he didn't have to fuss about the human anymore. Why there was a feeling of dread and worry in the pit of his spark however he couldn't figure out. He moved through the terrain as it grew thicker with trees, stopping quickly as he detected a thermal signature. It was by a narrow stream of water, in a small clearing. What concerned him was that the signature was barely moving. Without a second thought Starscream moved forward.

"Miko?"

The thermal signature was in fact the teen, and she was a little worse for wear. Her head snapped round at the sound of Starscream's call and she frowned, pushing herself onto her feat. Starscream stepped forward instinctively when she wobbled on her feet and hastily sat down again.

Starscream was almost at a loss. He'd never seen a human injured before. Well, he had however in this case this was a human that he knew personally. He wasn't sure the feeling he had looking at the humans injuries was a good one.

"You, are functional?" He started, unsure of what to say.

"You saved me, screamer." Miko said tensely. "Why?"

Starscream stumbled on his words. "I- what?"

Miko angrily brushed her hand across her face.

"Why?!" She exclaimed. "You're the bad guy! You hate humans!"

Starscream tried to interject but Miko was relentless. She raised an arm up at him accusingly.

"First you take me away from Bulk and I hated you for that. I really did. Every moment I was apart from my friends and with you was some of the worst moments of my life." Miko paused, lowering her arm slightly. "But, then you - when we," She faltered. Miko paused, took a breath, then spoke. "When we crashed, you did something that only an autobot would do." Her voice was clear and real. "You protected a human."

The moment could have been sliced with a knife it was so thick with tension.

"So why." Miko continued. "Why are you doing this? Why protect me when you could have let me die and that would've been the end of it. No more chasing. No more separation. Just you."

Miko tucked her knees under her chin and faced away from the decepticon.

"You should have just let me die" She mumbled.

"A life, is a life." Starscream said, clearing his throat a little. "Letting you perish would not have been logical. I - it was an instinct."

Miko raised her head a little. "Instinct?" She said. "What do you mean by that." Starscream noted the tease in her voice and shook it off. He would not let a mere human get to him.

Starscream rolled his optics and scoffed. "You know perfectly well what I mean fleshy."

Starscream moved towards Miko and picked her up, ignoring her protests.

"We must retreat. I need to make repairs."

Miko winced. "You and me both screamer."

Starscream glanced down at the human and discreetly took note of her injuries. The worst was her head trauma but otherwise, scrapes and bruises were the extent. He knew he'd probably have to get human medical supplies if he wanted her to stay online not to mention -

"So, do you like humans now?"

The question snapped him out of his daze.

"What? No!" Starscream snapped.

Miko smirked and crossed her arms. "Mhm. Sure thing screamer."

"My name is not screamer, it is Starscream."

"No problemo."

"What?"

"Spanish dude. Google it. "

Starscream groaned internally slightly. "Humans." He mumbled, striding back into the trees, obscuring them from view.

One thing the pair did not realise, was that they were not alone. Starscream's drone, emerged from their cover, playing back the footage they'd just captured. Their comm activated.

"Report."

It was Soundwave. The drone transmitted the footage as it began its flight back to the rendezvous.

"Affirmative. Megatron will find intelligence to advantage."

The drone flew on, carrying records of a situation that was about to become a whole lot more complicated.