"No, I'm going."

Megatron's optics flicker as he started at Orion, who stormed over and grabbed the barrel of oil from Blitzwing's servos. Both Decepticons stared down at the smaller red and blue mech, who looked back at them with a face of determination.

"Orion, I don't think you're quite-"

"No," interrupted Orion, taking hold of the barrel in one arm and motioning Megatron to be quiet so he could speak. "If you want to bring the Constructicons back, someone else should go."

Blitzwing's face twisted into Anger and loomed over Orion in an attempt to intimate the mech. Orion wasn't as he stood there, glaring right back at the triple changer.

"Vhy do you think you vould be better zhen me!?"

"I just know that you tend to be unpredictable, and we might need more than oil to convince them again to help us."

"Oh yes! You vould be perfect for doing that! Vith zhat perky aft and spreading your le-!"

Bam!

Megatron stood there, a bit dazzle that Orion had been able to knock Blitzwing out. With a single punch too. He couldn't blame him for the actions as Megatron was about to trash Blitzwing for those comments as well. To insult Orion in that way was to insult him too. Did he think that Megatron would allow just anyone with a pretty frame into his berth?

Would need to deal with Blitzwing once he online again.

"I believe that proves my point," huffed Orion, waving the servo he delivered the punch to remove the sting.

"It appears so," sighed Megatron, shaking his head and pushing Blitzwing's form to the side with his peds. Best to let the mech lay there. Megatron wasn't going to clean this up. He walked over to his console and started to type at the keyboard. "I'll suppose now I'll have Lugnut go and get them."

"No."

"Orion, you don't need to go out and do this. Please go back to reviewing the coordinates we need for the invasion."

"I can do this, Megatron. Lugnut doesn't have the social skills unless it's to reassure how wonderful you are and the cause."

"That might be, but you're more useful to me here than doing a simple retrieval mission," sighed Megatron.

"Will you look at me when you're dismissing me like this!"

Megatron restrained himself from lashing out at Orion from his outburst. It felt so natural to turn around and slap whoever dare question him. It was a matter of respect, but it tended not to work. No matter how many times he punished Starscream in a similar matter, the seeker always plotted behind his back.

But he couldn't do that to Orion. Maybe if he treated Starscream with a gentler hand, he wouldn't have become the traitor he was now. With Orion, Megatron couldn't trust that there wasn't still some Autobot programming inside him, waiting to come out.

It's a fear that Megatron couldn't shake every time Orion faced one of those Autobots here on Earth. It's why he tried to keep those events at a minimum.

He liked Orion too much to allow him to go back.

If Orion got his memories back...

Turning around and facing Orion, Megatron could see how upset the young mech was at his words. Any Decepticons wouldn't have been so emotional, but Orion wasn't like any other soldier under his command. He stood there, outrage over his face and stranging from crushing the oil drum in his arm. His wings were trembling from Orion holding back from lashing out in anger.

"Orion, why do you feel so strongly about this?" asked Megatron, stepping away from the console and shifting to a calm posture, showing himself to be open to whatever answer Orion was going to give him.

Seem to work as the young mech ease up on his stance. "I'm ready to go out on my own. We're so close to being done, you don't have the time and botpower to focus on protecting me from the Autobots," said Orion. "Besides, I think I've proven I can take care of myself."

He motioned to Blitzwing's prone body on the ground as proof.

Megatron couldn't argue with that.

Rubbing his brow, he didn't want to fight about this anymore. Orion seems to be quite determined to do this, and if he continued to fight against it, it would only waste more time.

"All right, but please be quick about it. We need this space bridge complete soon. Our forces cannot hold their positions forever."

The bright smile of joy that came across Orion's face brought warmth to Megatron's cold spark. He rushed over and gave the warlord a quick peck on his cheek before making his way to the entrance, battle mask snapping into place.

"Thank you! I won't let you down!"

Watching him leave to drag the Constructicons back, Megatron reached up to touch the place where Orion's lips touch. A slight grin traces his face as Megatron allowed a moment to enjoy the feeling, leaning against the console.

What had he done to deserve someone like him?