Author's note. Woo, I just had my first exam today, was up at five for it but I think it went pretty well. 4000 words in three and a half hours is pretty good I think, chopped up into three essays.
With thanks to Kaitamis, ZabuzasGirl, and Akirisan_X frothier suggestions.
Suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy and please review.
Megatron sat there, gently rubbing Alexis as he held her against his chest. She was sniffling as she cuddled against him but wasn't crying any more. A short time ago, he'd been about to harshly punish her for a slip of the tongue but a memory of his Spark mate had stopped him. He'd managed to calm down and forgive Alexis for accidently bringing up a painful subject.
Now he was just comforting her, she'd gotten a huge fright and needed to be reassured.
He briefly toyed with the idea of telling her why he'd reacted like that but decided against it. He just couldn't speak of the pain he'd gone through when he lost Sliverblaze, it was just too much. Alexis was far too young to understand something like this, especially if she'd never lost anyone.
However, he wanted to make sure she was taken care of so he decided to comm. Starscream and have him look after her. Lifting her up for another gentle kiss, he laid her down again on his chest and activated the comm.
"Starscream, I need you to come and take your charge."
"Is everything alright Megatron?" Starscream replied, sensing something was wrong.
"Alexis needs you, I...mistook something she said and scared her. She needs you Starscream so I want you to come now."
"I'll be there," Starscream said softly before the connection was gone.
"Starscream's coming for you," Megatron said softly to the trembling girl.
"He'll take care of you."
She nodded shakily before saying.
"I-I'm sorry for asking you that, it was stupid and..."
"You were just curious," Megatron said softly before she could continue.
"I understand that, you couldn't know how I'd react. Just try and listen to Prime next time."
"I will," Alexis promised, snuggling into his armour.
He smiled.
"Good girl," he said softly.
He continued rubbing her back as he waited for Starscream to appear. But as they waited, he suddenly remembered something and reached into Sub Space.
"Here, I believe this belongs to you," he said with a slight smile as he offered Alexis her emerald necklace.
"My necklace," she cried in delight, reaching for it and hugging it against her body as soon as it was in her hand.
"Oh thank you, Megatron."
"My pleasure," he said softly, lightly stroking her head as she slipped it back on.
They had only a few more minutes before Starscream arrived, wearing a very concerned look on his face.
"Alexis are you alright?" he questioned as he came over.
"I'm fine," she replied, her face lighting up at the sight of Starscream.
Oddly enough, Megatron didn't even feel a twinge of jealously, he just wanted to forget what had happened. So he held Alexis out to his Seeker who gently cradled her against his chest. As she snuggled against him, the red Seeker gave his leader a look and Megatron simply jerked his head in the door direction, letting Starscream know he could go.
Starscream did so, and Megatron knew he'd take care of the girl. But know he was left all on his own with only his thoughts for company, he felt his mood plummet even more. All he could think about was how scared and upset Alexis had been and how Sliverblaze would have been disappointed in him.
He growled, gripping his Throne hard enough to cause cracks in the rough metal. Why did these things always seem happen to him, he could never catch a break? And it occurred to him that if human children were this much trouble, how much would his own have been?
He'd rather not think about it.
But he had to find something to focus on, he knew that he'd only end up taking his temper on the other occupants of this base if he just sat here brooding. But what could he do, he somehow didn't feel like any training.
"I'm sorry, Optimus said we shouldn't..."
His brow contracted, he'd thought that Prime had told those nosy children all his secrets but it seemed he hadn't. Still, he decided he wanted to have a talk with the Autobot leader, find out exactly what he'd told the kids.
So without wasting another moment, he rose and set off to the brig.
When he got there, he found Optimus asleep but as soon as he entered the cell, the Autobot leader's optics lit up and he raised his face to Megatron. He immediately saw Megatron's slightly thunderous expression and his own became wary.
"What has happened?" he said seriously as Megatron stared down at him.
"I want to know what you told those children about me."
Optimus frowned, no doubt wondering why he was asking this.
"I...haven't said very much about you," Optimus began cautiously.
"The only important thing I can think of is...I warned them about asking you if you had a Bond mate."
Megatron grimaced and his optics shifted to one side, which confirmed Optimus's fears.
"They asked, didn't they? I made them promise..."
"It was a slip of the gloassia," Megatron snapped irritably.
There was silence before Optimus asked quietly.
"Who was it and what happened?"
Megatron's optics slid back to Optimus and he said.
"Alexis."
Optimus closed his optics with a small sigh before looking back up at Megatron.
"She was curious about how Sparklings were formed and I told her. She got overexcited and asked if I ever considered having them. I thought you'd been telling tales on me."
Optimus nodded slowly before asking.
"Did you punish her, Megatron?"
"I almost did," Megatron said with a very heavy sigh, turning and leanied a raised arm against the bars of Optimus's cell.
"But I...recalled something my mate once said, so I didn't."
Optimus nodded again, not pressing for details, that was Megatron's business.
"Is Alexis alright?"
"She's better," Megatron said shortly.
"I gave her to Starscream to look after and returned that necklace of hers."
"She would like that," Optimus said approvingly. "It would have cheered her up a lot."
His back to Optimus, Megatron gave a swift nod.
"You did the right thing," Optimus now said softly. "I never knew her but I think she would be proud of how you handled the situation."
"No, she wouldn't," Megatron growled softly, glad that Prime didn't mention Sliverblaze's name. "You don't know how close I was Prime, I was just about to give her a bare spanking, I yelled at her, she was terrified out of her wits."
Optimus shifted at this, no doubt displeased at the punishment Megatron had been about to dispense but he still said.
"Nevertheless, you stopped before you could hurt her, you admitted your mistake. I know my predecessor would not have done the same."
"Do not speak to me about him," Megatron snapped angrily. "That piece of slag started this whole damn war, if not for him, I might have considered ending it long ago."
"I know, he was a corrupt fragger who only cared for himself," Optimus said darkly.
"Thank Primus, the council saw fit to take the Matrix of Leadership away from him."
"So that they could give it to you," Megatron sneered though his tone did not contain as much venom as usual."
"Essentially," Optimus said quietly. "With War looming, they thought it would be a good idea to find Sentinel's heir, should the worst happen."
"Worst," Megatron sneered. "I rejoiced when I held he was killed and cursed that it wasn't by my hand."
"I can imagine," Optimus said softly. "If either of my mates were killed, I...,"
He couldn't quite finished, he didn't want to think what he'd do to their murderer. It wouldn't be a very Autobot solution, he was fairly certain about that.
Megatron now turned back to face him and said.
"The children were very curious about your mates."
Optimus chuckled.
"I know and shocked by the fact I have two mates."
Megatron smirked slightly.
"I know, I was watching, they seemed most intrigued by young Bumblebee."
Optimus nodded.
"I know, it's understandable, she is quite young to be Bonded. But she has a lot of potential and I wanted to give her that chance. She's not a trophy mate."
"I know," Megatron said softly.
"You wouldn't be bothered with some slip of a thing dangling on your arm and...," he added with a smirk. "I hear your first mate wouldn't tolerate it."
Optimus laughed at this.
"That she wouldn't, she is formidable," he said dreamily. "She is hopeful that I will Sire some Sparklings with Bumblebee, when she's older of course."
"Doesn't she desire her own?" Megatron questioned with a raised brow.
Optimus chuckled.
"She does but she is still very keen for her little sister to have some so she can mother them. She is...nervous about having her own with all her responsibilities. Plus, Bumblebee very much does desire them so Elita wants to encourage her to fulfil her dreams."
Megatron nodded, feeling a twinge of jealously. Optimus had two loving Femmes for mate who wanted to start a family with him, something he couldn't. Prime had the luck of Primus it seemed.
Optimus saw Megatron's look and said quietly.
"Don't give up so easily Megatron, there could still be someone for you."
"There was someone for me," Megatron snapped back. "But she's dead and no one can replace her."
"I didn't say that," Optimus said gently. "But you're a powerful Mech, its customary to take another mate."
Megatron snorted.
"I would only have taken another if...she had suggested it and wanted it to happen. I'm not taking another just because I should."
"I'm not saying that," Optimus said earnestly. "I just mean, if you ever see a Femme who could be the one, you should at least consider it."
"What would your men think, giving me dating advice?" Megatron sneered as Optimus chuckled.
"They'd probably hope you'd find someone to calm you down, so you don't rip them apart during fights."
Megatron snorted and turned away again.
"They shouldn't act like fools during battle, war is a serious business."
Optimus shrugged, he didn't really have anything to say to that.
"So," Megatron now said, his back to Optimus.
"You only told those children that they shouldn't ask me about having Sparklings or getting a mate?"
"That's correct," Optimus said firmly. "I knew they might ask so I tried to warn them not to, I'm sorry Alexis forgot, I know she wouldn't have meant to."
"I know that," Megatron said shortly. "But I hope she remembers next time."
"After what happened, I think she will," Optimus said meaningfully.
Megatron grumbled under his breath but didn't say anything more on the subject. He didn't know what to say to his arch rival now, they rarely talked so causally. It made him briefly think that if they'd been on the same side, or even in times of peace, they could have been quite good friends.
He brushed this thought aside, there was no point dwelling on such things. What was done was done.
"Here," he suddenly said, sub spacing a cube of Energon and shoving it Optimus.
"Megatron?" Optimus questioned as he took the cube.
"Never mind," Megatron snapped before striding out of the cell and out of the brig.
But as he went he heard a soft but audible.
"Thank you."
Alexis's POV
"What happened, Alexis?" Starscream asked softly as he lay on his berth gently stroking her.
"I said something stupid," Alexis said softly, snuggling into his warm armour.
"He was telling me all about Sparklings and I...I asked if he wanted to have any."
Starscream stilled, his optics widening in shock.
"You asked him that?"
"I know," she moaned.
"It was so stupid, it just slipped out. I was thinking of Optimus and his mates and...oh God."
"Hush," Starscream said, recovering from his shock and stroking her some more.
"You didn't know its okay."
"O-Optimus warned us not to ask him about Bond Mates or Sparklings but I forgot."
"It's alright," Starscream repeated gently. "You're lucky Megatron managed to control himself though."
"I know," she said in a whisper. "He...he was going to give me a bare spanking...but he didn't, I don't know why."
Starscream shrugged, he had no idea either, Megatron was normally unstoppable when someone was foolish enough to mention his mate to him. Maybe he really was fond enough of the kids to forgive them. It was an incredible thought, he never thought he'd ever see Megatron fond of anyone.
But it had happened and he was pleased that it was these children, Megatron needed something that wasn't directly involved with the war.
"He must have realised you didn't deserve that," Starscream now said softly.
"But...he wouldn't listen to me when I tried to explain," Alexis said, now sounding upset again.
"He was yelling at me, he'd pulled down my leggings and pants, put me on his knee. And the he was just about to hit me and he...stopped."
Starscream frowned, now that was really strange. He wondered what had gone through Megatron's processor as he'd stared down at his helpless charge. But before he could dwell, Alexis now cried out.
"Why? Why is he like that about Sparklings and Bond Mates, why can't we ask him anything?"
"Alexis, no one is allowed to say anything, not even though closet to him. I doubt even Prime would dare say anything."
"I need to know," Alexis said, looking up at him tearfully.
"Please, tell me so I understand and don't make the same mistake again."
"I...," Starscream said before sighing heavily.
"Alright, I'll tell you but you must not repeat this to anyone or let Megatron know I said anything."
"I won't," Alexis said, snuggling into Starscream's hand.
"Well," he began.
"It all started just before the War..."
Megatron's POV
Megatron was laying on his berth, a cube that had contained High Grade held loosely in his hand. It had been several hours since he'd talked with Optimus, everyone was probably in their own berths asleep. The children would be back in the Med Bay, snuggled up together with a Minicon to watch over them.
He'd gone to the shooting range and blasted several targets before tiring of that and slouching back to his quarters where he'd remained ever since. He'd had a hot shower to rid his armour of the clogging dust that seemed to infect this small moon.
After that, he'd collapsed on his berth with a fresh cube of High Grade and stayed there the whole evening. This was his third cube, he'd nursed all of them while immersed in memories. Oddly enough, if he took his time with High Grade, it tended to have a bigger affect on him.
Head swimming, he leaned his head back, as the cube fell from his hand.
"Frag it," he growled as he slipped into a dream like state induced by his High Grade consumption.
Colours swirled, lights seemed to flash, and he could hear a distant echo of loud noise as he lay there. He grumbled, he hated sitting through dreams like this, it was like being at a bad nightclub.
Shapes moved past him, some large, some small. But then there seemed to be a glow right in front of his optics and as he squinted, it grew larger and brighter and seemed to be moving closer.
"Primus, what now?" he said irritably.
There was light laughter which made him freeze on the spot.
"Is that anyway to greet an old friend?"
"Sliverblaze?" he croaked as a glowing figure of a beautiful sliver Femme came towards him.
He was literally rooted to the spot on his berth, he couldn't move as she came closer and closer. She laughed again as he gawked at her, climbing up onto the berth and moving between his legs to come even closer.
"I...you're here?" Megatron stuttered, utterly dumbfounded.
"I am," she said softly, reaching up to lightly caress his cheek.
"I...Blaze," he gasped, grabbing her and pulling her into a tight embrace.
She laughed again and her laugh was light and full of such lift it lifted up his whole being. He breathed in the scent from her armour, it was just as he remembered it, polishing wax and Copper Candy. She even felt the same, he just couldn't believe it.
Had Primus granted his dearest wish? Had he returned his beloved mate, the one he'd dreamed about all these Stellar Cycles?
"I missed you so much," Megatron said huskily, not wanting to let her go in case she disappeared.
"Blaze..."
"Shh," she said, twisting so she could place a finger on his lips.
"I missed you too my strong Mech but I've always be there, watching you."
"You have?" Megatron questioned and she nodded against him.
"I have, I saw you come to planet Earth and what you've been doing."
"Oh," he said, now feeling guilty. "You saw...everything?"
"I have," she said quietly.
"I saw you make mistakes, do wrongs but..." she said before he could say anything.
"I've also seen you display great kindness and caring, and the goodness I've always seen has started to grow again."
"For earlier...," he began. "I know I overreacted, I scared that young girl but I thought of you and stopped. How you wouldn't want me to hurt a child like that, especially when I was angry."
"I know and I'm proud of you Megatron," she said softly, stroking his horns as she snuggled up against him.
"You remembered your promise and you honoured it, even after all this time."
"Of course," Megatron replied quietly as he stroked her back.
"Anything for you Blaze, I'd do anything."
"Then promise me one small thing," she said gently, nuzzling his neck.
"Continue being kind to those children, you light up when they smile though you may not realise it. I know you've grieved so much for me but they can help you. Just be patient and try to keep your temper."
"I'll try," he said with a small chuckle. "But they can drive me up the wall sometimes, the things they say..."
"Like all children," she laughed,, hugging him tighter.
"Apparently," he teased before saying. "I will do my best, Blaze, you can count on that."
"I know you will," she said warmly, before saying seriously.
"Megatron, you know I can't stay long, I wish I could but I must go back."
"Why?" Megatron croaked, he couldn't bear to lose her again.
"Primus's will," she said softly. "But I was allowed to see you briefly, because there's something I must tell you."
"What is that?" he asked curiously.
"I...can't tell you much, it is forbidden," she said with a knowing smile, he hated mysteries.
"But there is a danger coming, a great danger that threatens our whole race."
"What is it?" Megatron demanded. "Whatever it is, I can handle it..."
She sighed as she nuzzled him again.
"I don't doubt you Megatron but you will need help for this, from a source you'd rather not ally with."
Megatron frowned and then scowled.
"You mean the Autobots, the ones who killed you?"
"The one who killed me met his end," she said coolly. "Optimus Prime is not your true enemy Megatron, you haven't met him yet."
"So it's a Mech?" Megatron questioned and she chuckled.
"Of sorts. I can let you know the threat it from a Mech but the kind of Mech...oh my dear, you've no idea."
"So give me one," he probed and she sighed again.
"If only I could. But you will find out soon, you will come face to face with the first danger very soon."
He felt her start to draw away and knew her departure was near. Grumbling, he said.
"Tell Primus, I'd like at least a few hours with you next time, alone."
"You," she said, giving him a light slap. "That is all you Mechs think of, why did I Bond with you?"
"Because I'm hot," he rumbled with a wide grin and lapped up her laughter.
"Before I go, let me leave you something," she murmured in his audio and leaned over his face now.
He drank in her beauty, not caring if this was real or not, she looked so clear. He wanted to burn this memory into his processor so he'd never forget her.
Her lips lightly brushed against his and he shivered, Primus, it felt like a small electric shock. He licked them as she smiled down at him, tracing his strong jaw line with a delicate finger.
Normally, he'd grab her and crushed their lips together but he couldn't move he just couldn't. It was as though something held him in place though he knew if he wanted to, he could move. She seemed to be drinking in the sight of him, as though she too never wanted to forget this moment.
"My love, my Spark, my eternal," she whispered, the same thing she used to say before they made love.
"My Megatron," she whispered before bending and placing her lips against his.
Immediately, a shock rushed through his whole body, more powerful than the strongest shot of High Grade. His lips burned like they'd been splashed with acid and yet it didn't hurt, it felt better than he'd ever tasted before.
His hands suddenly lifted and they were cupping her head as she kissed him with such passion, his Spark was literally slamming against his chest, begging to be released. But it couldn't so it continued hammering as they shared this one moment of love and lust all rolled into one.
He actually thought he was going to fall unconscious, so many emotions were rushing through him, pain, glee, fear, anger, triumphant, every single emotion he'd ever felt.
It all seemed to last for an eternity but at the same time only seemed to last a moment. And then she was letting him go, a last touch of her glossia on his lips as she lifted away from him. He kept focused on her face, not paying attention to anything else.
As she melted away, still smiling with happiness and love, the strange glow went with her until Megatron was left in darkness. This didn't last long, he was slipping into true recharge now. He didn't know if this had been a High Grade induced dream or a gift from Primus but quite frankly, he didn't care.
Author's note. Megatron's plan is put into action in the next chapter as is Sideways. How do they both go? Find out next time, until then.