Warning for interface of the spark and sticky kind and lots of mush. :-)
"Obviously the excursions will have to stop now… at least for a while."
Soundwave wasn't happy to take that little freedom away from Optronix, but it was necessary in the situation and Megatron nodded back scowling. At the first threat of torture Swindle admitted selling info on Optronix to Starscream and was now spending his time in the deepest cell of the palace, for time undetermined, his wealth confiscated. Not that they needed it but it was a worse punishment for the greedy mech than imprisonment.
They couldn't do anything with Starscream though. The Winglord knew this and flaunted his immunity to their faceplates, his smug façade an unwelcome sight in the Palace events, his presence an unspoken reminder of the scandal he could stir, had he played more on the news. Soundwave wasn't even sure how much the mech knew; Seekers, as vicious warriors were the kind of mechs actually welcome in Kaon, able to go freely around and could befriend anyone really, gathering information for who knows how long.
Vosians were the oldest allies of Kaon, the Winglords and their Trines close friends of the ruling family, some even becoming mates for Kaon's rulers over the vorns and vice versa. Albeit Starscream himself wasn't as well liked as his Sire before, so far none of them suspected the Seeker plotting against them. Sure, he had hatched outrageous plots all the time and some of them were as good as underhanded… but his activities so far were all aimed against other city-states.
This thing though… was either a spur of the moment thing – not unimaginable with Starscream, widely considered more than a bit glitched and unpredictable – or a deep and dangerous plot to put a wedge between Kaon and Vos. What made it even more dangerous that if it was a plot, then Starscream couldn't have acted without the support of another city-state. Soundwave consequently put all his agents to high alert everywhere, warning them of the situation and demanding any sign in any kingdom to be considered and investigated, no matter how unlikely it looked.
"May I ask a little more information about Lord Starscream… and the situation in general?" – Optronix nodded his reluctant understanding and sad acceptance to Soundwave but asked his question from Megatron. The young mech seemed to grow up suddenly and behaved almost like he was always part of the family – "If I'm so much involved, it is best if I know the facts."
They were sitting in Optronix's room, Megatron beside him and unsure whether he should hug the Iaconian again or refrain from touching; Dreadnought opposite to them on the other side of the table, alternately glowering on Optronix and looking away as he saw Megatron's impatient flash of optics. Soundwave nestled himself into a recliner, running possible scenarios in his processor while toying with a cube of Backfire, and Shockwave has just arrived and was introduced to Optronix, as the scientist hasn't visited the Iaconian so far.
The family circle complete, Soundwave took up the task of briefly sketching the overall situation to Optronix, with occasional elaboration on the Seeker himself from Megatron. Not mentioned was the fact that the two were casual lovers in their youth and Starscream's Sire was all for the Heirs to became more than that… until the two had a break-up, the reasons never since discussed and decided to be just friends and allies.
"Starscream can't be persuaded to just forget what he learned. He is not the kind even if he acted on a sudden whim, not a plot."
"Is that likely?" – Optronix looked at them with brow-plates high and optics wide. Such irresponsible behaviour from the ruler of a kingdom was… unusual to say at least. But then, in Iacon, they never had any dealings with Vos as it was the most remote of the kingdoms, on the opposite side of the planet.
"From Starscream…? Definitely." – Megatron's lip components twitched in amusement – "He is… a glitched annoyance?"
"Erratic but brilliant?" – Shockwave's words held a tiny amount of approval towards the mech, acknowledging the Seeker's intelligence and scientific training.
"Unpredictable but a genius." – Soundwave was diplomatic as usual.
"Batshit insane?" – Dreadnought on the other servo, never minced words.
Optronix laughed out a bit at the colourful descriptions, getting the idea from the angles presented. His own assessment of the winged mech was in one word, dangerous, not contradicting any of the descriptions he was given.
"So whatever he is planning or not, he can't be deterred. I can't see many options then…"
His voice trailed away, suddenly unsure. He didn't look at Megatron, avoiding the warlord's glance… but he didn't draw away from him. The bond fluctuated uneasily between them, emotions flowing this way and that, none of them fully formed, none of them clear even to themselves...
"It is still your choice, Optronix."
"But it's not much of a choice, if I understand well."
"I would never… none of us would ever invoke that wretched custom!"
"But Starscream would… right?"
Megatron scowled angrily. Yes, the damned Seeker would do it, out of spite or just because his fancy dictated him to do so… and he couldn't continue to keep Optronix away from his court any more, Starscream made sure to spread the news before they were back to the Palace even. His nobles and courtiers would expect him to introduce his bondmate now that he was supposedly carrying his heir.
"Brother, you must talk to him, tell him the truth." - Soundwave's voice intruded to Megatron's thoughts through the comm – "We'll leave you two for this. Be… try to be careful."
Soundwave stood, comming his brothers too and they left the room after a short goodbye. Optronix felt that something significant, something serious was in the air, in Megatron's tense mood and that they were left alone without any decision or further talks. The Iaconian meant what he's said; he'd consent to interface with Megatron again for a sparkling. He wasn't fully reconciled and ready, but enough so that he could do it. He hoped.
But Megatron made no move to shift closer, in fact the warlord looked uncomfortable, almost… guilty?
"Optronix… there is something I must tell you." – his voice was low, uneasy and Optronix couldn't help but wonder what was going on – "It is… it is my fault, like most things between us, but you have the right to know it now. I only ask that you listen to me… all of it before you judge me."
"I… don't understand." – but he was deeply disturbed by Megatron's grave seriousness.
"I did manage to spark you once… but the sparkling was lost. I… caused it, although at the time neither of us knew about it."
Optronix sat frozen like a statue at the revelation, servo coming up in front of his chest. His spark throbbed painfully, his processor roiled and his memory banks threw up the time when… so that was that awful feeling of loss, that unexplained turning point… he understood it now. But knowing made it no easier to accept. He had a sparkling… a little flame of life and it was extinguished? His pain flared through even their still half-closed bond and made Megatron wince.
"I'm sorry… I know it means nothing now, but I didn't know about it."
"Nor did I…" – Optronix whispered.
"Hook told me that it was very young then, not easily perceivable."
"Was it… was it the reason why you've changed?"
"Yes. It was as though I suddenly saw you in a different light – and saw my mistakes, my maltreatment of you…"
Optronix sat there without moving but his spark was painfully throbbing in the remembered loss. Anger and hurt fought in his processor, but repressed the anger, not wanting to complicate matters with it. Hurt was… harder to deal with.
"I had a sparkling…" – he whispered, blue optics staring ahead unfocused – "… and I can't even remember it."
"I'm…"
"I know that you're sorry. You proved it since, Megatron."
Optronix looked up, shifted and sought the red gaze until it connected to his blue one. He had to be strong now, move over the hurt. Things just complicated themselves immensely, what with the threat the Seeker meant and now the sparkling's issue between them… but he couldn't loose himself in the pain or in pointless anger. He felt Megatron's remorse and felt it to be honest…
"I mean it. It is horrible to know but I don't feel connected to that sparkling that I never knew about."
Optronix was only stretching it a little bit. He did feel the loss, but it really wasn't personal. The sparkling was barely more than a little flame, without a name, a personality, a frame… it was hard to accept its loss, but he wasn't connected to it emotionally, he was capable of looking at the matter from a little distance. – "If anything… it means we can spark together and do it again."
Megatron stared back to his mate incredulously, suddenly finding it hard to say the right words. He was ready for anything from hysterics till rage or even violence, but not… forgiveness, not Optronix accepting it so… calmly? It broke all his remaining preconceived notions about the young mech - and Megatron didn't like to be surprised or proven wrong.
"I don't… I thought…" – it was rare that he could say nothing but Optronix made him splutter and unable to react yet again – this time with an inner strength he'd never expected the young mech to have.
"Ohh, I feel its loss keenly… make no mistake. But I see no point in making a scene over something neither of us can help any more."
Optronix nodded his helm forward as the loss and mourning rose in him like a wave, but he fought it down. He'd have to be strong now, prove himself and save the situation. He could do it. Slowly, he rose and with small, hesitant steps moved until he stood facing the sitting warlord. They were nearly the same height this way and it made what he was going to do easier.
"I'm willing to forget it… if you are." – he whispered, leaning closer.
"What can I do to make up for it? I want to do something…"
"You can… you can give me another sparkling."
A flash of red met with steady blue light. Megatron hesitantly lifted a servo to caress the blue helm.
"Are you sure…? Do you mean it?"
"Yes."
Optronix closed up the remaining distance, pushing aside the last shreds of uncertainty and fear. He pushed back Megatron too, the warlord letting the light touch shove his greater bulk back on the couch. The young mech straddled the silvery thighs, feeling the unsure tension in them. Lightly squirming on the warm lap, he hoped to awaken an entirely different tension in Megatron.
"I want to put everything that happened behind us." – he whispered close to the helm intimidating him for so long, feeling the other's ventilation to pick up at the closeness. – "Let us try again and make it work this time. The bond, the interface, the sparkling… I'm ready now."
Megatron slowly slid his servos up on the slender hips and waist holding his bondmate close and feeling his warm plating under his battle-scarred servos. He concentrated on the bond, cautiously opening it up between them like they did a few times, slowly touching the other's spark and thoughts until they established the usual, light connection. But this time Optronix didn't stop there, he pushed and cajoled and pulled him closer inside and out, to open the bond up more.
Slowly, the connection blossomed and feelings, emotions and thoughts came rushing at him, this time clear and concise, like they were his own. Only… they weren't. They were exotic still, surprising, young, innocent and hopeful, like Optronix himself. Megatron was almost hesitant to show his gruff, strict and aggressive nature, it felt so… so dark compared to the lightness of the Iaconian.
But Optronix didn't let him hide. ::I'm not afraid of you now, nor repulsed by what you are.:: he whispered through the bond, the words coming through now as clearly as he'd spoken them aloud. ::Let me in, please… I want to see you for what you truly are.:: Megatron let the light, kind presence into his spark and processor, opening up the first time in his long-long function. He felt the delighted joy at being accepted and Optronix was suddenly inside him in a way perceived almost as dangerous.
::I'm no danger to you…:: the young mech's inner voice whispered ::I want to share not take.:: Megatron hugged Optronix close with his strong arms and let the younger mech hug him inside. Real world and mindscape mixed and he wasn't sure who had their helm nodded to whose shoulder. ::I'm nothing special…:: he grumbled inside ::I'm just an old warrior.::
Light, pealing laughter answered to him ::You are a leader. A strategist. A statesmech too.:: Optronix touched his inner being flirtingly ::You are fascinating. Strong, capable, protecting…:: Megatron felt a little embarrassment and a lot of shame ::I botched that protecting part…:: but Optronix was having none of it ::You will protect me now. The past doesn't matter.:: the smaller mech burrowed into his embrace, like showing him how much he trusted Megatron.
::I will. I promise.:: Megatron sent his promise through the bond to show his sincerity. His digits traced transformation seams lightly, dipping in to stroke cables and wires. ::I'll be the bondmate I should have been always.:: Optronix's servos clasped on strong plates, tracing the flight surfaces interestedly ::That's all I ask…:: his pelvic plates started to rub on his thighs, his front scratched on Megatron's chest plates, straining to get closer and closer ::I'll be your bondmate forever. Bear your sparklings. Our sparklings.::
The light blue, questing digits froze for a nanoklik, the heating, squirming frame stilled and Optronix lifted his helm to look at him inside and outside ::I will love you.:: It wasn't a promise and it wasn't a pledge, Megatron felt it clearly. It was a declaration and it was… despite of everything that happened between them – true. ::I've always loved you…:: he answered, discovering the truth of it with some awe but still only able to say it within their conjoined mindscape ::I just never realized… or accepted it before.::
The answering smile was blinding to his optics and breathtaking in the inside and ended with a hot, drawn-out kiss, leaving both of them reeling with its intensity.
Gentle, blue digits drew circles and curves on silvery chest plates, leaving tingling, sensitive tracks behind. Then they slid down on the central seam and Megatron shuddered. ::Are you sure…?:: the digits answered wordlessly and the bond yearned to join with him ::Yes.:: came the simple answer, slightly breathless but determined. Optronix's optics were bright, wide and very serious. ::I want it. I want you.::
The central seam parted under the questing digits and Megatron's mouth captured the younger mech's in a kiss. Their chest-plates were flush to each other and both parting, spark chambers spiraling open. Red and blue light spilled out, excited sparks pulsing fast, anticipating the merge. A tiny thread of apprehension was soothed with a gentle, thorough kiss and Megatron let Optonix do the closing of the last, tiny distance, let him be in control of the merge.
The bond fully open as it was, the merge at first brought no new knowledge or awareness of the other; but it caused a sharp gasp of pleasure in Optronix that reverberated in their merged sparks. ::so strong… so imposing…:: The moans were swallowed by the kiss and the sparks flared, pulsed rhythmically, toying with the other, fighting a playful battle of wills, lust and pleasure… ::so beautiful… so brave:: their frames scratched on each other, chests nearly fused and pelvic plates were sliding open to reveal hot, ready and dripping interface arrays.
It was so different, a fleeting thought swelled out from Optronix's processor, so very different from… before. Shame-tinted regret answered it, but then both were swept away by the moment, the sensations of the present rising like waves of an ocean, like the tide that inevitably swallows up everything… they succumbed to it, leaving the past behind and giving themselves over to the present.
It was automatism, instinct which made Megatron to hurriedly prepare the hot, wet valve so insistently rubbing on his spike, so eager now, wanting him and not fearing… barely giving him enough time before demanding to be filled. Pealing laughter floated from the Iaconian and grumbling, serious amusement answered it ::I won't ever dare to harm you:: as he worked one, then two digits in and out of him.
Not that he was able to keep his own arousal in check, not while their sparks reveled in shared delight, chasing each other ever higher in pleasure. All too soon Optronix impatiently snagged his digits out of his valve and wordlessly demanded his spike, the young mech assuring him within their shared mindscape that he was well able to take him now. ::You won't. Now…::
Megatron nearly growled at the tightness when the young mech sank onto his spike, his servos keeping Optronix from going too fast – but only just. But the fully open bond, the merge showed no pain, only the – impossible! – redoubling of pleasure as their sparks and frames were joined completely. The heat grew until they both felt burning up in the sensations and it even grew when Optronix moved and friction made Megatron groan – he wasn't moaning, never! – in rarely attained heights of sensations.
They couldn't go long, not with such intense pleasure, such immense joy that poured forth freely from Optronix. Megatron was hesitant, almost afraid – no, never fearing! Just worried… – at so much enjoyment shown so freely. He'd learned that such openness got one deceived… ::I'll never abuse your trust…:: the slightly hurt and barely coherent answer came to his unvoiced worries and Megatron was ashamed for a klik, before banishing the memory and its winged originator to the past where it belonged and gave Optronix his joy and love as freely as the young mech did.
The climax came close on its heels and a higher-toned yell and the deeper roar entwined in the room, echoing among the walls as their sparks felt like exploding and imploding at the same time – and physical release followed it almost like an afterthought. Optronix fell on him completely limp and Megatron held him in his arms, barely more coherent but holding him close, protecting his mate.
