Starscream shut the door to his lab softly.
There was a thin layer of dust over everything - it had been a while since he'd come to tinker with the crates of scientific equipment he'd insisted on being brought onto the Nemesis, some of the boxes still unpacked. These days, he only came in here to think - to try and regain the scientific, cool, collected approach his mentor, Skyfire, had taught him to use in problem solving.
He dusted off the seat of the chair and sat down, sighing at the object in his hand.
The tiny little heart Megatron had drawn stared back at him blankly. Soundwave just couldn't have been telling the truth…could he? Maybe this was some sort of trap Megatron and Soundwave had planned together…but even Megatron wouldn't stoop so low as pretending to be in love with Starscream.
Starscream snorted incredulously. Love? No way. Only hours before Megatron had disappeared he'd beaten the living daylight out of seeker! Who would beat someone up out of love other than -
…Megatron. Ah. Oh dear. The air commander placed the datapad down on top of a dusty crate, rubbing at his face tiredly. It made sense, in that twisted sort of way that Megatron managed to make sense - everything was violence with Megatron. Even when watching him drink high-grade with the other Decepticons, Starscream could remember the tyrant crushing every cube glass he'd been through. It followed that displays of affection would be just as brash and violent.
Then there was what Soundwave had said - "emotional programming missing". What did that even mean? Maybe Megatron couldn't express himself any other way. But maybe, he could be taught to process love correctly, even without the programming.
Starscream growled to himself and stood, scanning the room. His optics fell on a crate numbered SS2-F10, and he sloped towards it curiously. If his memory was correct, it should be in here…puffing a burst of air through his vents, the dust flew off easily, and he set about entering the access code into the lock. The crate groaned as it was opened - however many million years of sitting here doing nothing had corroded it. Ignoring the rust, Starscream dug carefully, until at last he felt the shape of an old datapad.
He took it out and sat back on his chair, hesitating for a moment, before clicking the "on" switch.
A flicker of light, and with a whine, a photograph displayed itself, lighting up the dark laboratory. In the centre of the picture stood Starscream, draped in a red cape, while Megatron stood by his side in a purple cape - the colour of the Decepticon commander. The day of his official promotion, both to second in command and to air commander. A little behind them stood Soundwave, who Starscream remembered had refused to wear a cape in protest of Starscream's new position. "Too young. Too much responsibility," he'd said. Feh - what did the old telepath know?
Starscream stared at his younger self for a while. So serene; he hadn't had a genuine smile like that on his face for hundreds of years. Thanks to Soundwave rummaging in his head, the day was as clear as crystal in his processor - the overwhelming feeling of pride, of recognition, the respect radiating off Megatron for the young seeker. Megatron, too, was smiling in the photograph, with a hand resting on Starscream's small shoulder.
The seeker held the datapad to his chest, switching it off and allowing the room to become dark and quiet again.
"Ah, Ravage," Soundwave beamed down at his eldest creation slinking towards him. "Energon cookies; ready for consumption."
"We have bigger issues than whether or not the energon cookies are ready," Ravage replied acidly. "Megatron has gone to Cybertron, apparently to get away from Starscream. I called Shockwave - he said he's been trying to give the boss a dose of psychiatry."
"Oh jeez," Rumble groaned, "that's not going to end well. Remember when Shockwave tried to cure Ratbat of his nightmares with 'the pooweeer of psychology'?"
"'Batty didn't stop crying for weeks!" Frenzy sniggered.
Soundwave hummed unhappily, prodding his newly cooked tray of energon cookies. "Starscream; status?"
"Locked in his lab," Ravage informed him. "He was skulking around a bit earlier, after his failed plan to confront Megatron. Mumbling to himself about drawings."
"Drawings?" Ratbat squeaked. "Starscream likes drawings? I'll do him a drawing! I like drawing!"
The twins patted their little brother on the head condescendingly. "Yes 'Batty, we know you do. What are we going to do, boss?"
"Mission; keep base under control. Briefing; tomorrow morning," Soundwave droned decisively, retracting his (new, unwritten on) mask to eat an energon cookie. "Shockwave; terrible psychiatrist. Megatron; undoubtedly back soon. Starscream and Megatron; need to talk."
"Maybe we should set them up on a date!" Ratbat squealed excitedly, nearly falling on the tray of treats. "They can talk over a romantic dinner of energon cookies!"
"Energon cookies; not romantic," Soundwave said gently. "However…idea; possible."