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Chapter Twelve: Off to Work

Megatron and Starscream had a stare down. It was a wonderful way to start a Monday morning; with animosity and smugness.

"No, Starscream," Megatron said through gritted teeth. "You are not coming with me to work?"

"Why not?" Starscream responded easily. Megatron looked a bit taken aback by the question. Oh frag, he needed an excuse and needed one now. "Well?" Starscream smirked.

"Because it's exclusive!"

Starscream cocked an optic ridge. "What?"

"Yeah!" Megatron had inspiration. "Only those that work there can get in!"

"You know... I just don't believe you."

Megatron glared at his unwanted roommate. "Then don't."

Starscream's smirk turned into a full-out grin, one that made Megatron realize he had said the wrong thing. "Alright, so I don't have to believe you... which means I'm going!"

"No, you're not!"

"Yes..." Starscream stepped forward, "I am."

Megatron growled, but realized he had no other choice. It was getting late; he was already half an hour late. He didn't have the time to waste arguing with Starscream. So the infuriating Seeker would have to come along.

"Fine!"

Starscream grinned in his victory. He motioned that Megatron go first, and the Lord High Protector grumbled but complied. Starscream followed Megatron outside, immediately drawing the attention of any mech or femme passing by. The Seeker stuck his nose up in the air, glaring at the ones staring. They ducked their heads and scurried on.

Megatron sighed heavily, starting off down the sidewalk with Starscream striding beside him. Starscream's entire demeanor just screamed, "Come on, stare. I dare you." It was a bit unnerving to think about, because Megatron knew Starscream wouldn't hesitate to punch anyone. Not even Prime himself.

Finally they made it to Iacon Capital. Starscream eyed the tall, gray building critically. "Not many windows," he commented.

Megatron smirked. "Does it bother you?"

Starscream sniffed. "Of course not."

"Then by all means," Megatron shoved Starscream inside. "You go first."

Starscream glared daggers at Megatron, but he was unfazed. So Starscream was forced to walk side-by-side with Megatron, seeing as he had no idea where he was going. The building was nothing like the ones back in Vos.

They didn't bump into anyone on the way to Megatron's office, thankfully. It was also after Megatron had closed his door that Starscream chose to speak. "Does anyone else work here?"

Megatron sat in his chair, picking up a datapad. "You'll see," he said simply.

Starscream was perplexed – not that he'd ever admit it – at that. You'll see? What the heck was that supposed to mean?

Starscream's answer came around an hour later.

It was quiet in Megatron's office, the sound of the Lord High Protector typing on a datapad the only thing breaking the silence. Starscream was sitting in a spare chair, looking bored. Megatron felt pretty smug about that little fact.

"Ah!"

Starscream shot up from his slouched position. "What was that?"

Megatron sighed heavily, "I don't think I want to know."

Starscream was about to retort, when Megatron's door flew open. Starscream watched as a black and gold mech stormed inside, dripping with low grade energon. He had a murderous look about him; one of pure fury. It was... frightening. Again, not that Starscream would admit it.

"Megatron!" Prowl shouted.

Megatron raised an optic ridge. "Can I help you, Prowl?"

"Do something about those immature sparklings!"

"Jazz and Cliffjumper again?" Megatron asked resignedly.

Starscream couldn't resist asking, "Who?"

Prowl spun around only to have his mouth fall open in shock. Starscream smirked, he so enjoyed watching mechs go speechless at him. He had an admittedly large ego, after all.

"A Seeker," Prowl breathed.

"Indeed," Starscream smirked.

Megatron rubbed his optics in an expression of weariness. This was going right to Starscream's head, he could tell. The Seeker would be even harder to live with now. Joy. "Starscream, meet Prowl. Prowl, meet Starscream," he introduced.

"Some idiots spilled energon on you?" Starscream asked.

Prowl nodded darkly. "It's a waste of energon and ruined my paint job!"

Starscream noticed that the energon had, indeed, stained Prowl blue. Starscream winced; if anyone messed with his paint, they would die. Slowly and painfully.

"Prowl, the best you can do is file a report and go get cleaned up," Megatron interjected.

Prowl scowled, but nodded. As he went to leave the room, Starscream stopped him. "If you want revenge, come find me." With that said, Starscream released Prowl's arm. Prowl looked contemplative as he exited Megatron's office.

Starscream sat back down in his chair, a pleased smirk on his face. Megatron shook his head, going back to work. Let Starscream wreak havoc on the building, see how much he really cared...

Later that day, Prowl returned to Megatron's office. Owner of said office was currently discussing something with Optimus, so the room was empty save for Starscream.

"Starscream?" Prowl spoke.

Starscream glanced over at the other mech. "Yes?"

"Still up for helping me with revenge?"

"...What did you have in mind?"

Prowl smirked evilly. "Well..."

As Prowl explained his plan to Starscream, a smirk grew on the Seeker's face. 'Oh yes, Prowl and I will be good friends...'

Once Prowl was finished, Starscream stood up. "Let's go," he declared. Prowl grinned, following Starscream out of the room. Revenge was going to be sweet.

Jazz and Cliffjumper walked into the break room. They were in desperate need of some medium grade energon. The two friends had each gotten a cube when Cliffjumper frowned. Something just didn't feel right...

"Hi," a voice stated.

The two pranksters turned to stare at Prowl. Prowl looked completely normal, not angry in the slightest. "Um... hi Prowler," Jazz said slowly.

"It's Prowl."

Jazz nodded, used to that particular argument. "Sorry," he said, sounding anything but.

Prowl poured himself a cube of medium grade, looking perfectly normal. Until a smirk slowly spread across his face. Prowl took a sip of his drink, before looking at the two mechs in front of him. "You might want to run," Prowl commented neutrally.

There was the sound of thrusters above them and cackling, before the two pranksters were covered in a concoction of paint thinner and energon. The effect was nothing short of hilarious; their paint ran off them while the energon stained them with blue spots.

Jazz and Cliffjumper simply gaped at the laughing Prowl. Then they nearly had spark attacks when a Seeker landed beside him. "Well, I'd say that this was a success!"

Prowl nodded. "I agree."

The duo walked past the stunned victims. Prowl paused in the doorway, though. "Oh, and I'd clean up. After all, you don't want to be stained." With that, Prowl and the Seeker strode out of the room.

"Dang..."

"We made a pretty good team," Starscream commented once they were outside Megatron's office.

Prowl nodded in agreement. "We certainly did."

Starscream stuck out a hand. "Friends?"

Prowl accepted the offered hand. "Friends."

Inside his office, Megatron had a sudden feeling of dread.