ubHammerhead. /b/u
ubWarnings/b: Violence, bad language, gore and possibly some sex. /u
i "Through this doorway what's on the other side, never knowing exactly what I'll find, locked and loaded, voices screaming: let's go, come on do it, here we go!" /i– Hammerhead, ithe Offspring. /i
Timing: Post season 2 finale, set few weeks after Beauty of the Beast in my very own BotB Prime Timeline (due to the fact that season 3 – The Beast Hunters is about to be aired at the end of March).
Rating: M (alternative – if there will be any – or extended chapters will go MA and will be available on my Tumblr account, the address is available on my profile page).
Pairings: Megatron and June, Bumblebee and Miko, maybe some Shockwave and Arcee.
uDisclaimer: Transformers Prime © Hasbro. Story's plot and OC's © me. There may be some OC's that aren't mine – they belong to their respective creators. /u
bWouldn't it be good./b
iI got it bad
You don't know how bad I got it
You got it easy
You don't know when you've got it good
It's getting harder
Just keeping life and soul together
I'm sick of fighting
Even when I know I should
The cold is biting
Through each and every nerve and fibre
My broken spirit is frozen to the core
Don't wanna be here no more
(…)
I got it harder
You couldn't dream how hard I got it
Stay out of my shoes
If you know what's good for you
The heat is stifling
Burning me up from the inside
The sweat is dripping
From each and every pore
I don't wanna be here no more./i – "Wouldn't it be Good" iPlacebo (originally by Nik Kershaw)./i
Megatron almost growled. He was in no mood to converse with the Prime. He would probably hear endless stream of decency banalities, how he allowed himself to get corrupted, how his ideals turned into tyranny and how immoral he and his army became. And he was first to admit everything wasn't the way he planned, on the contrary, his every plan blew right into his faceplates. All went wrong. But he wouldn't allow Autobots to win and return to the old ways.
Prime spoke of equality, justice and freedom but all that meant nothing. Other Autobots, those of political stance before the war would outmatch him, they dreamt of nothing else but return to pre-war order. Caste system would return and with it all that was evil before the war: the slavery, the abuse, the injustice, murders, rapes and exploitation – things practices in majesty of law by those of high enough stance. All this was Megatron's greatest fear. He didn't feared that he would be executed after the lost war; he feared that they would allow him to live long enough to see how everything went back to the pre-war state. Knowing some of them they would sentence him into life imprisonment instead of execution just to force him to witness how work of his life is being ruined and how Decepticons – those that wouldn't end up dead – would be turned back into thralls, low lives and beggars.
The worst part was that even Prime wouldn't be able to prevent all of that. Megatron felt desperate, whatever happened he couldn't loose, he couldn't allow himself and his people to fell into Autobot servos. He would go to an exile if he had to but he wouldn't allow his Decepticons to become Autobot thralls, then with grim bitterness he recalled that he already was on exile.
"Megatron, you're awake…" Low and calm voice of Optimus Prime snapped him back into reality.
"Unfortunately so." The Decepticon stared at the ceiling not favouring the Prime with his glance.
"Yes, I believe I may understand what you mean, the boredom can be uncomfortable."
"What do you want, Prime?" Megatron still avoided Optimus' optics. He didn't want to see compassion that his mortal enemy felt for him at the moment.
"Ask you few questions. And I would greatly appreciate if you would answer them."
Megatron snorted, he knew what the Prime will ask him about. He wasn't in any mood to answer those questions any more than before but this was Optimus Prime, patient as a mountain, consistent as the continental drift.
"But most of all I wanted to talk with you."
The Warmonger flinched. That was even worse. Not that he would say that out loud. That would be just rich if he, Megatron, Lord of Decepticons, would fear a chat with a Prime.
"There are few things that we should straighten up so they would not pose any issues in the future." Started the Prime. "Especially the nearest future. First of all Ratchet will re-install your modifier tomorrow and will close your wound permanently which will conclude surgical part of your recovery. Your weapons however will remain deactivated during your stay here and will only be activated when you will be leaving. This precaution is meant to avoid any accidents. Do you understand?"
"Yes Prime." There seemed to be a note of weariness in Megatron's voice as if the Gladiator already had enough of this conversation.
"Also as I informed you before, there are humans present here so when you will be able to move more freely…"
"I know. I am to be cautious at all times and watch my steps. Anything else?"
"There are two more things." Optimus paused for a moment considering how to approach the next subject. "You do realize that Ratchet is strongly against Nurse Darby's visits to you… Visits that I feel you enjoy."
"I would be a fool not to expect Ratchet being strongly against anything related to me."
"He believes that you are a threat for her." This time Megatron looked at Optimus, his red optics piercing the Prime as if he wanted to read his enemy's mind.
"I am barely moving, how can I be a threat to anyone?" The Decepticon Warlord moved his stare away with all the dignity he had. Being immobilized was humiliating enough without being questioned all the time.
"That state won't last forever." The way Prime pointed it out sounded like plain accusation to Megatron, as it was his fault that he won't stay badly injured forever.
"I held her on my ship, I held her in my very servo and somehow I managed not to hurt her." Megatron's voice was now filled with irritation. "Do you think I could manage to repeat this incredibly difficult achievement?"
"There is no need for you to be angry, Megatron. I don't believe that you would hurt Nurse Darby. At least not on purpose." Prime observed the lying mech carefully. "On the contrary, I believe that you wouldn't allow any harm do befall on her. Am I right?"
For a moment Megatron stared at Optimus in silence. His facial plates stuck somewhere between bewilderment and embarrassment.
"I don't know what you are talking about Prime." The Decepticon returned his stare to the ceiling.
"I think you do."
"And what makes you think that?"
"You insisted on her presence when Ratchet was giving you examination and you expressed desire for her to visit you again." Prime fell silent for a moment as he stared at the Decepticon leader. There was no reply so he decided to continue. "I know that Ratchet turned monitors off, but I could clearly feel how your electromagnetic field spiked when you saw Nurse Darby in my servo…"
"It could have been anything. A stab of pain…"
"Megatron, do not pretend to be a fool, it doesn't befit you." There was a threat in that calm voice, a warning that Prime's patience wasn't infinite and that there was only so much of it booked for the Tyrant.
Megatron had two choices. He could insist on denial; or he could simply admit what was so obvious to the Prime. Megatron's optic brows furrowed as the mech deliberated whether he denied admitting his feeling because they weren't true or rather because he was – to some extend – uneasy or even scared of them? This wasn't an easy task as the alleged object of his feasible feelings was an organic. Then again who would forbid him to take an interest in a human femme? Only someone suicidal.
And suddenly he knew the answer. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only for those who know what they're looking at." Optimus remained serious. "I presume that this was the reason behind you having the modifier installed?"
"Not exactly, I never decided if I would act upon my… interest. I had it installed because I wanted to be able to use it for whatever reason."
"And now, do you plan to act upon your, as you call it, interest?"
This earned Optimus a hard stare from Megatron. "I don't want you to tell her."
"Why, is there any reason she shouldn't know?"
"I do not wish her to take pity upon me in my current, miserable condition. If I am ever to reveal my interest in her and she is to accept me, I want her to do so while I am in my top condition – a worthy suitor, not a pitiful shadow."
"I understand." Said Optimus, and he did. He knew that he himself wouldn't want to be seen by Elita-1 in the state he was in at the moment. "I won't tell June about your feelings, but you must remember that she is not some toy you can take and then throw away."
"Do not worry, Prime, I have had enough of that in the past, I would like to finally have a partner permanent enough to actually bother to learn my name."
Optimus stared at Megatron for a moment as it dawned on him what the Decepticon was talking about. 1) Then he mentally shrugged, he could disapprove his habits, but he did understand that in the ex-Gladiator's situation it was hard to aim at any lasting relationship. The Prime knew that he was lucky to have Elita, even though they were apart at the moment and that there was always a chance that they would never see each other again, but he could feel her spark pulsing with energy, he knew she was there somewhere. Megatron had no one.
"Just don't wait for too long." There was slight smirk of superiority on Optimus' lip plates. "She may have other suitors soon enough."
Megatron's optic grew wider, few thoughts flew through his mind but before he could answer the voice of Prime's newest soldier filled the hangar. Megatron had the displeasure of meeting that individual and found him irritating. He understood that the mech was cheeky, it was the right of youth, but it didn't mean that he had to enjoy such an attitude.
"Hey, Ratchet! What'cha doin'?"
Then there was silence as Smokescreen's comment dragged everyone's attention to Ratchet. Then some shuffling followed and angry yet quiet Ratchet tried to whisper loud enough to be heard by Smokescreen but not enough to be heard by Optimus and Megatron.
"Will you keep it down?"
Optimus blinked once, then quietly (almost too quietly for someone that big) sneaked to what served as a door and was the end of the crate-wall. He peaked behind it, then took two normal steps enough to stand normally and be seen by Megatron.
"Ratchet, have you been eavesdropping?" Those words, spoken with utter calmness met with silence. "Ratchet, this isn't behaviour that I would expect of you…"
"But I would." Said Megatron as loud as he could still feeling weakened.
Optimus ignored the Decepticon and continued to stare at Ratchet. "I hope you do know that you are to keep for yourself everything that you heard here?"
"I…" Was everything that Ratchet said.
"I do not know what you tried to achieve here, old friend, but this is mostly disturbing behaviour."
"I… "Ratchet stammered weakly. "I… did it with yours and our all best interest in mind."
"I appreciate it; just try to trust in my judgement in the future."
"Yes Optimus." Answered Ratchet meekly.
Megatron could only admire how the Prime could embarrass his mechs just by being calm and composed. If it was him and Knockout he would probably yell already, intimidate and threat his medic. Optimus only stared and spoke in quiet voice, didn't even mention any consequences. But then again, Ratchet and Optimus knew each other for a long time.
"Megatron…" Megatron looked at the Prime and realized that he zoned out again.
"Yes Prime?"
"Ratchet wants you in as good condition as you can get in current circumstances for tomorrow surgery so rest now. I can ask ratchet to give you tranquilizer if you want."
"No, I will manage. Though I could use something to occupy the time, perhaps something to read?" Megatron decided to try his luck. "Maybe something classified?" He added with half smirk.
"I will ask Ratchet to find you something non-classified to read." Optimus remained serious. "I will see you tomorrow."
With that the Prime left. Megatron heard him asking Ratchet to download something for Megatron, Ratchet's complains about not only having to treat their enemy but also finding him amusement. Then he clicked in Cybertronian – for the benefit of his team and to ensure that their underage human companions won't understand – that Megatron has his right servo to amuse himself with while thinking about certain organic femme. Megatron knew that one of the humans could understand Bumblebee and he wondered if the young boy managed actual Cybertronian as well. Judging by the silence that the comment caused, chances were that the little pest did, and Megatron grinned widely.
"Umm, Ratchet…" It was Arcee, and her tone suggested that while she didn't knew why the medic said what he said, she though that Ratchet should keep it for himself.
"It's all right, Arcee, I am old enough." Said the aforementioned human.
"Still, Ratchet, try to keep certain thoughts to yourself." It was Arcee again, with rather sour tone. "Some of us have more aesthetical approach."
"Do I even want to know? " Megatron recognised the voice as belonging to Jack, said 'organic femme's ' son.
"I seriously doubt." Arcee's tone changed only by a fraction but now it wasn't sour anymore, just cold.
"Hey, Ratchet, try to download those." It was Rafael again.
"Thank you Rafael." Ratchet restrained himself from making any further comments about Megatron's entertainment. "This should be sufficient enough, if he's won't want it, he's not bored enough."
Megatron's grin faded, they will probably give him 'Occupational safety and health' regulations to read – the most boring lecture on any planet and in any language.
TBC
1] No, not prostitutes. Megatron is talking about one night stands.
Sorry for taking so long, but I'm still chased by deadlines. There is possibility that the next chapter will also come with delay – it may take me two weeks to finish it as I really have to finish some things.