Chapter 10 "It could (not) be worse"
It was not until the next day of his visiting that Starscream finally decided to open Thundercrackers' gift.
A box full of many bubbles most commonly used during oil baths to give a nice smell to it. He was not thinking in using them soon, though. Those spheres reminded him of the past. And even if it had been a nice part of his life, he preferred not to think in who he had been before the war.
It still hurt to think "what if...?"
Starscream left the box in a high shelf of the bathroom and the went to the kitchen to prepare himself a diluted cube. His brain nerves were killing him. He could swear he heard the noises of the gears inside his head.
As he drank his cube slowly, his inner communicator pinged.
It was Skyfire.
Starscream sighed and answered.
-" Hi, Star."
-" Hi, Sky."
An awkward silence invaded the channel.
-" How are you feeling, Starscream? Did you take your rations on time?"
-" I am not sparkling to forget to drink my energon, my dear. And yes, I do feel better. I took these two days off. "
-" I never said you were a sparkling; I am just worried... You did not look so well when I left Rung's office..."
Of course, Starscream had not look good. He had been feeling like a piece of scrap left to rust in the oil sea.
-" Your concern is appreciated very much."
-" Is it? You sound rather cynical."
Starscream snorted.
-" Cynical my thrusters."
Well, maybe he was sounding cynical.
-" Did you get it out of your system? The thing about Megatron, I mean."
-" I... Yes. I talked to Rung. He talked back. He says I may be having an age crisis."
-" You are not that old."
-" We are that old, Skyfire."
The autobot laughed in the other side of the channel.
-" Yes, I am afraid so. Do you want to go out and have some drinks? You know, a date."
-" Rung gave me some medication so no drinks for a while... - then Starscream changed his tone to a softer level. - But I would love to see you."
Skyfire´s giggles were hear in the comm.
-" You know how I get when you use that tone..."
-" Does it make you remember when you were 'senior Skyfire who would never date his advised who is a poor innocent new guy in the Academy', perhaps?"
-" Starscream! Don't say things like that out loud..."
The red seeker smiled and finally decided his soon-to-be-Conjunx did not deserve such tease.
-" I will see you tonight, then."
-" At my place?"
-" At your place."
The call ended and Starscream felt a relief in his chest. It seemed Skyfire wasn't angry enough with the situation to leave him... Or uncomfortable enough.
.
Megatron never thought that buying jewelry could be so difficult.
His mind had told him that once he picked up a limit for the price and that he decided which store he was going to give his credit card number it would be easy to select anything that looked pretty.
But none jewelry seemed to be pretty or at least conventional enough to use out in the streets. Everything was... Ostentatious. As strange as that word sounded in any context.
He had been listening to a young femme talk for almost one hour now, and he was more confused than when he was looking for something on his own.
That the necklace was too simple for a seeker, that the ring would probably be too small for a mech, that the crown was an exaggeration...
Wasn't the femme supposed to sell him the most expensive accessory possible? Because she was doing a terrible job.
Megatron sighed while the femme looked for something that, she assured, would be perfect for a seeker.
And then it happened.
-Hello, Megatron.
The councilor snarled, that voice...
He turned and saw Ironhide's unmistakable figure. The red autobot was holding an organic bag in his right hand and a drink in the other. Looking at him with those annoying blue optics.
-Hi, Ironhide.- he murmured reluctantly.
-What ya doin' here?
Primus, Megatron hadn't missed that awful accent and even worse speaking.
-Buying something, obviously.
-Yeah, but like, for whom?
-For "who".
-Yeah.
-No, I meant that... Never mind. The addressee is not of your business.
Ironhide gave a sip to his drink.
-Whatever ya said, Megs.
Who had been the one coming out with that idea of calling him "Megs"? He still had that question pending to Soundwave.
-Great. I cannot say it was a pleasure to see you, Ironhide.
The autobot laughed softly, but before he could say anything the femme who had been attending Megatron came back. Loudly.
-I found it, sir! I found the perfect tiara for a seeker!
And then Ironhide left his bag in the floor and put his arm over Megatron's shoulder. Smiling.
-Do you know something, oh great councilor Megatron? If you were courting someone you could just have said so.
The decepticon already could see the gossip getting everywhere.
.
"Talk to Starscream" was easier said than done.
Skywarp took a deep breath before walking inside the building of apartments, trying to but time and therefore avoiding what was actually unavoidable.
He walked up the stairs for a few minutes before getting to Starscream's floor, but then he knew it was a bad idea.
Not to the tell Starscream the truth, but well, right now it was a bad idea.
After all, Tarn (and just what the hell Tarn doing in Vos) was already knocking the door. Impatiently.
Skywarp hide a few steps down, waiting. Maybe Starscream would need reinforcements.
.
Soundwave typed quietly in his data pad. It had been long since his apartment had been so quiet and it was just perfect.
Rumble and Frenzy were out there with Ravage, most likely spying on someone, but that was not Soundwave's business, was it?
Soundwave decided he could use and drink, but when he got up and started walking to the kitchen the ring bell sounded.
Then it sounded twice.
The blue mech looked with resignation to the floor for a second before turning around and start walking in the opposite direction to open the door.
And when he did, he saw Megatron.
-I need your help.
-Soundwave: Is actually finishing a report...
-I need your help as my friend.
Sometimes the ex-TIC forgot how Megatron loved blackmailing him with their friendship.
-Soundwave: Would like to know what is his help needed for.
-I need you to get Starscream's address.
-Soundwave: Is afraid to tell Megatron that will not be possible.
Megatron gave him a threatening glance.
-Why?
-Politicians addresses are kept hidden to avoid any assassinations attempts.
-Starscream is well known for that, isn't he?
Soundwave sighed.
-Sound... I cannot give you his address, Megatron. You need to get over this.
Megatron shied away from Soundwave's glance.
-No, I... I lost him once, I am not losing him again.
-You already did.
-Maybe I had a change of mind.
-You always do.
-I... Look, I am tired of this. Once I get free from my charge and fix things with Starscream I will be fine.
-And who the hell told you it was a good idea to fight for Starscream's love?
Soundwave swore to Primus that if Skywarp was getting his nose in things that he shouldn't he personally would rip his head off and send it to Thundercracker.
-Why do you assume it was not my own idea?
-Because last time we talked you were considering letting go everything. You said you wanted to leave your charge as soon as possible and then Cybertron itself.
-I was tired...
-And you also said you knew Starscream was out of your possibilities.
-When did I said that?
-When you were drunk. A little bit after you sent that invitation that got us in all of this trouble.
-Us?
Soundwave wanted to punch himself.
-Soundwave: Has been very annoyed by...
-No. You don't mean that. Who is getting troubled by all of this besides me?
Well, frag it. Time to spit everything out.
-Soundwave: Was talking with Skywarp a few days ago, he... He confessed he might have exaggerated a little bit about Starscream and Skyfire becoming Conjunx Endura.
Megatron took a step behind.
-So, they aren't?
-Negative. They will, but not right now. Their relationship was supposed to be only known by Starscream's trine mates. But Starscream is not committed per se, not yet.
Megatron looked confused.
-But... Why would Skywarp tell me they were... That Starscream was becoming Conjunx with that autobot in any moment soon?
-Because he thinks you are better for Starscream
Megatron hid his face in his hands.
-And I am not...
-Soundwave: Believes this is more a thing about prudence. You and Starscream already had a bad relationship.
-It was not bad...
-But it ended that way.
-So Skywarp was trying to get me all stressed about Starscream getting a boyfriend in order to get us together again...
-Skyfire is not as simple as a boyfriend. They left implied to Skywarp and Thundercracker they were going to become Conjunx Endura in the years to come... As I said, the engagement is still missing...
Megatron let himself fall a little bit over Soundwave, a really bad try of a hug.
-I just made things worse.
-Why? Is it worse that the improvised reunion made up only to see Starscream?
-Well, let's say that I sent Starscream a gift... And Ironhide may have tell who-knows-who that I am courting Starscream...
Oh, Primus, what had Megatron done now?
.
To be continued...
...
Notes:
Well, I just updated this twice in a month, I am really in a good streak with my inspiration. As always, I am sorry for any grammar errors, but you know that english is not my mother tongue.
I am happy to say that I actually know where I want to get with this story, pretty sure will have between 18-22 chapters and, if I consder that this has received enouch attention, two alternative endings.
By the way, I just love writing Soundwave and Megatron's interactions as the one of a father and the stupid son. We are having plenty of Soundwave and certain seekers. And I blame IDW for Tarn getting involved in this story. He's not gonna hurt our loved Starscream, I promise.
Reviews are free, my fellow cybertronians!
`Till all are one!