Happy Christmas. Here is a gift in the form of a little shortie. Have a lovely holiday!

Chapter 30

Alexis finished speaking, and braced herself for the furious outburst, getting to her feet and pacing away from him. When it didn't come, she turned, looking up curiously. Starscream was indeed looking angry, clenching his fist, but his demeanour was one of weariness rather than fury. 'Oh, Rumble, you stupid, self-serving idiot,' he growled, rolling his optics and shaking his head.

'Are you going to kill him?' she asked.

After a moment he looked down, spreading his palms, exasperated. 'Well, obviously. Enlighten me as to what other choice I have?'

He rose to his feet as Alexis looked down. 'I don't know,' she said miserably.

'I have a position to maintain, a position as feared and respected leader. He's already had one chance. And his brother is wounded… I should never have allowed Frenzy to transfer to his human form!'

Frenzy. Alexis looked away, her eyes brimming with hot tears that spilled down her cheeks. Starscream was striding back and forth, his towering form suddenly imbibed with frustrated energy. Alexis wiped her cheeks on her sleeve. 'Starscream…'

'He's insulted me, insulted my authority. I KNEW granting him mercy was a mistake but I never imagined he would throw away his life so carelessly! How else am I supposed to react?'

She took a deep breath, her trembling voice on the edge of hearing as she forced her chin to remain up. 'Before… you rush into a decision…'

'AND he has insulted you, by daring to presume he can throw you to our enemies for trinkets…'

'He never meant to…'

Starscream wheeled round, regarding her scornfully. 'Oh, what? Don't tell me you're going to argue his case! In any event it is out of your hands. And I won't be dictated to on…'

'Starscream LISTEN!'

He stopped short, finally noticing her devastated expression, before shaking his head, his hands moving to cup round her, dismayed at her anguish. 'No, no… don't cry. What's wrong?'

She looked up as she wept, her sleeves pulled over her hands as she tried to stem the flow of tears. 'What's wrong? What's wrong? What's… fucking right? My Dad kidnapped and badly hurt.. And now… Frenzy's been shot and what if he dies… and it's all because of…'

'No,' said Starscream, quietly and firmly. 'Look at me. We talked about this. Stop.'

'Rumble has done wrong, OK, I know, but I spoke to him… back on Earth… and I think he regrets what he did.'

He cocked an eyebrow, emitting a disbelieving laugh. 'Regret? Trust me Alexis, he'll know the proper meaning of regret only when I get my hands on him.'

She looked down, roughly wiping her eyes once more, the skin around her eyes red and puffy. His finger gently pushed her hands away, and he sighed, lifting her face towards him.

'Look. If it… distresses you, then I will wait before deciding what to do with Rumble.'

She swallowed hard, and nodded, smiling faintly. 'Thank you.'

'BUT remember what I said, on Earth. Your planet was called to pay a price for the part played in your capture on its soil. Rumble will face a price, and I am not ruling out death for him just yet. I HAVE to respond to this with the show of strength expected of me, Alexis.'

She nodded, and he seated himself once more. The two of them gazed, in companionable silence, out of the vast window overlooking the glittering lights of Cybertron, the ship having entered its atmosphere.

'Starscream.'

'Mm?'

Alexis looked down at her wrists, turning them over, inspecting the black cuffs on her bruised, blistered wrists. 'These powers I have are not a game. I wish I'd never been given them.'

He looked down. 'You don't mean that.'

'Oh yes I do. I've had plenty of time to think about it whilst watching others suffer. All they've done is cause hurt.'

She looked up.

'I'm surrendering.'

Starscream frowned. 'What? What do you mean?'

'To you. To your desire to keep me, possess me.'

He stared at her.

'Do whatever you want. Lock me away. Because I can't go back to the way things were. And I can't risk the lives of those I love. It's not worth it. My freedom isn't worth it.' She inhaled, slowly, tucking her hands under her chin.

'Alright,' he said calmly, settling himself, leaning back on his throne. 'Consider it done.'

She looked up quickly, her expression now one of bewildered apprehension. 'Really?'

'Mm hm. I won't pass up on an opportunity like this. When we get back to Cybertron I will put measures in place to restrict your movements. For your safety and the safety of others, as you point out.'

'Oh.' She looked away, taken aback, as he smirked above her. 'Wow, I didn't think you would just… agree like that.'

'Of course I don't agree, you idiot!'

She glared up at him. 'Hey! Don't call me an idiot!'

He erupted into laughter. 'You see? You can't maintain the submissive vibe even for a nanosecond! You should have seen your face when I pretended to agree to that nonsense you just spouted!'

Having been caught out, Alexis flushed a dark pink. 'It's not like you don't want that, Starscream!' She huffed and turned her head away, though she couldn't fight a smile as he continued to chuckle above her head.

'All I want, in time, is the Alexis who screamed at me, completely without fear, in front of all the most senior members of my council.'

She lowered her head, trying to hide her smile, but looked up as his tone became serious once more. 'She's in there, somewhere. She's bruised, and she's processing some hard lessons learned. But she'll be back to annoy and defy me in time, as well she should.'

She smiled, properly this time, snuggling into his fingers as he lifted her, his voice rumbling in her ear.

'When we land, I have some things to attend to, things I can't put off, my one. Will you go to your quarters and rest? Be patient. I will come to you as soon as I can. Your friends can accompany you. Sari, and that scared human girl that's been following you about.'

She looked up, worried. 'And Frenzy?'

'I have no new updates. But someone will send word. I promise. In turn, I'm asking you to just wait until I have finished a few important tasks.'

'What tasks?'

'Nothing for you to trouble yourself over,' he said calmly, and she nodded, knowing he would not elaborate further, recalling to mind her earlier words to Lucy. "Timing is everything with Starscream."

'OK, fair enough. But… what about the humans in the brig?'

The corner of his mouth lifted in a sneer of contempt. 'Ah yes, my new… acquisitions. Arrangements are being made for them. Don't worry about them.'

Alexis nodded again, knowing she would have to be content with that for now.

'Alexis?'

She looked up.

'All will be well,' he said firmly, his fingers curling a little tighter around her as if to emphasis his resolve.

She nodded, before leaning her head against him. She felt exhausted, but her mind was spinning. 'I know.'