OK, I'm terribly sorry for the confusion with Jetfire/Skyfire. I know it was Skyfire in G1 and not Jetfire, although they are basically the same bot. They're kind of like Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime, if you will. Though I've always been more familiar with Jetfire, so I used him instead. But because of the confusion, I will be going back and changing Jetfire's name to Skyfire. Hope that it makes it easier for you! Thank you to all my reviewers!

Disclaimer: Transformers… I do not own them.

Optimus Prime had led the seekers to an old but livable room. It was plain and empty, but Starscream could care less. This place beat the cells any day, so long as he and the others had a real place to recharge. Though he wondered what the Autobots thought of himself, Skywarp, and Thundercracker, and what their reactions were when they discovered that these Decepticons were taking refuge in their base. If he were in their position, there was no way in Cybertron that he would trust them.

Despite being semi welcomed into the Autobot's base, he still felt like an intruder. Starscream wished he could stay in the given quarters and never come out, but he knew he couldn't do that. He'd eventually die of power failure or lack of energon, and that certainly wasn't how he had pictured his death.

Later, while 'Warp and TC were blissfully recharging, Starscream decided to test the Autobot leader's word. He crept swiftly out of the quarters, careful not to disturb his fellow wing mates. The air commander prowled the hallways precariously, all the while on the lookout for any unwelcoming Autobots. He roamed the base until someone startled him from behind.

"Starscream."

The seeker sighed. 'Great, just great.' Turning around he answered, "Yes?"

It was Ironhide. "You listen here, if you cause any of the others to—"

Starscream raised an optic ridge. "How comforting. Is this how you greet every newcomer?"

Ironhide frowned. "No, just you."

"Lucky me."

"I can't believe Optimus let you out. For all I care, you could've rotted in that cell for the rest of your pathetic life."

Starscream pretended to flinch. "Ouch. Yes, well, I didn't exactly make that decision now did I? So stop your pointless ranting, and tell it to someone who can actually do something about it. Who knows, maybe you'll get somewhere." He snarled.

The red weapons specialist looked as if he was about to do something he'd regret, fortunately someone else grabbed his arm before it could claw into the seeker's metal plating.

"Ironhide, don't do this. You'd be disobeying a direct order from Prime." Silverbolt forewarned, then whispered, "Besides, Optimus said that he's going through a rough time right now. All you're doing is making it worse."

'Rough time? Oh, it's more than rough.' Starscream thought.

Grunting, the angered mech simply stalked off without a word. As he left, another Aerialbot passed him and stopped next to Silverbolt. Fireflight peered at Starscream wearily. A small smile appeared on his quiet lips in an effort to be polite to the 'con, although uncertainty was inscribed on his features.

Starscream's optics didn't show any particular emotion as he cautiously eyed the two Aerialbots, almost waiting for them to attack.

As if reading the other mech's thoughts, Silverbolt said with solicitude, "We won't hurt you, Starscream."

Fireflight nodded slowly, but again said nothing.

The seeker forced himself to look away. 'I don't understand it! How can they be so accepting of me? No harsh words or unforgiving glares…' He thought. 'Others have never treated me like this, except Skywarp and Thundercracker. Why are these two showing even the slightest bit of compassion towards me? I've wounded them many times in battle before, so why… this just doesn't make sense.'

"Starscream?" Silverbolt saw the confusion.

"…Why?" He questioned a bit harsher than he had meant to.

Looking him in the optics, Fireflight chose this time to speak. "Why? This is one of the many things that the Autobots stand for. Sure you've done terrible things, sure half of the Autobot army still doesn't trust you… but it doesn't mean you are a lesser being and should be treated without respect. No one is entirely innocent. Not even us."

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Fireflight." Air Raid smiled, after just turning a corner to see Silverbolt, Fireflight, and Starscream standing in his way. "Cause I'm no where near innocent." He joked.

Behind him Slingshot snickered. "You got that right."

Skydive pursed his lips as he too came up behind Air Raid. "Even so, we're all fliers, we need to stick together."

"The welcome is appreciated, but I don't deserve it. I've done far worse than you can ever imagine, you don't want someone like me by your side." Starscream abruptly turned away, already en route for 'his' quarters.

"You know Skyfire used to be a Decepticon too, and look where he is now!" Silverbolt yelled after him.

111111111111

Skywarp awoke when Starscream returned. "Hey, look who it is?"

The air commander mumbled an apology for waking the other seeker.

"What happened?"

"Ironhide threatened me, while the Aerialbots tried to befriend me. I just can't comprehend the Autobot way; it makes no sense."

"I'll agree with you on that. So, nobody attacked you or anything, right? Cause I don't know about you, but I don't wanna go back to that cell."

"No, just empty threats."

Skywarp looked thoughtful, for once. "I wonder what Optimus Prime has in store for us… or what he plans to do with us."

Starscream crossed his arms. "At least we can trust the fact that he won't try and hurt us, physically or emotionally." He whispered, and then he thought, 'Not on purpose anyway.'

The dark purple jet looked down. "Never thought I'd say this, but, I-I actually like the feeling of knowing at least one other person in the universe is looking out for us."

Seeing the grave, pain filled look on his fellow seeker's face, Starscream dimmed his sight receptors. His spark flickered when he realized that he too enjoyed the feeling of being even the tiniest bit cared for, and respected. That's all he longed for, was to be respected. Yet another reason as to why he had originally aspired to be leader of the Decepticons, but of course, that was always just out of his reach. The very aspect tore at his self-esteem until it bled, and it never stopped bleeding the affliction.

"I don't know how we've lived for so long, like that." Skywarp soughed.

Starscream sank into a sitting position on his berth, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't either."

"Isn't it a little too late for second thoughts you two? Yeah, they're letting us stay here, but what then? I mean, we're still Decepticons." Thundercracker reminded as he sat up, just arousing from recharge.

"Good morning to you, too." 'Warp scoffed.

"Sorry."

"But c'mon TC, you have optics, you've seen the way Optimus has tried to help us while we've been here."

Starscream blocked out the arguing by turning off his audio receptors. 'You won't have me anymore Megatron, whatever it takes.'

(A/N) There you go, sorry it's so short. Hope you enjoyed it!