XIII. Champorado Conversations


The taste of champorado brings tears to her eyes as she munches on the chocolate flavor in her mouth. It brought back stormy days when schools were cancelled due to signal number two and the cold added to the nostalgia she was feeling.

"You look as if you're enjoying yourself." Starscream's voice catches her attention.

Persephone looked at him, watching the Second-in-Command sit beside her. She took note of the distance between them.

"Of course! Who wouldn't like champorado?" Persephone says before shoving another spoon in her mouth. "It tastes like heaven!"

Starscream eyes the contents of the bowl in her hands, cringing at its contents. "It looks... disgusting. For starters what is all that brown blob? Humans don't exactly like things to be burned."

"Well, champorado is a chocolate rice porridge," She explained, cringing at her accent for a second. "It's really easy to make one if I'm honest."

"I thought you weren't able to leave your berth for a while due to the wires attached to you." Starscream points at the devices that surround her. "Exactly how are you able to make your food? It's not like you could make them in your state."

Persephone grimaced at his words. Shockwave had ordered her to not leave her bed unless she needed to and it wasn't funny at all. She shrugged. "Well, I asked Megatron to cook for me."

"What?"

"What?"

They stared at each other as she munched silently while the cybertronian looked at her with disbelief.

"You are joking, right?" Starscream asked.

"No, not really." Persephone shrugged as she finished her food and placed the bowl beside her.

"That is ridiculous! Not only that, where is everyone? How comeShockwave, you and the sparklings are here when I woke up?" He looks around, flailing his arms as to gesture at the lack of other Decepticons around them save for the scientist who barely gives him a glance.

Persephone sighs and says, "Megatron told me to tell you that he orders you that you should look after me and the babies while they're gone... if anything happens to us then it's on you."

Starscream grumbled as he stood up walking away and kicking at the snow. She laughed at his childish tantrum, watching him stomp towards her. "You think this is funny?!"

"Yup."

"Why I ought to–"

"I don't see the problem." Persephone cuts him off. "You don't have to do anything but watch over us and protect us from harm. And clearly there is nothing around here to harm us so you're basically gonna do nothing." She grins with a shrug. "I see that as a win-win."

Fuming, he sits back down. "This is insulting! Why do I have to be stuck on... on pet duty!"

She snickered.

"They had to go scout. He said he wanted to plan his next move after he had seen the humans and what they are capable of," Persephone replied. "He's done with hiding and I don't think I can stop Megatron, you know?"

"Typical." The seeker rolls his eyes. "If I retreat from a fight I know I cannot win, I'm a coward. But if he does it, he's called smart. I am telling you, the hypocrisy is unimaginable."

Persephone snorted, slapping her thigh as struggled to breath. "What do you mean?" She says after her little laughter. "Ooh! Tell me! Tell me!"

"No. I've told you enough already" Starscream crossed his arms, eyeing her warily.

She rolled her eyes at him. "As if I'll tell Megatron."

Glancing at Shockwave who was far enough for him not to hear them. Persephone ushers Starscream towards her, giddy that he scooted a little closer.

"Listen, Shockwave is far enough that he won't be able to pick up what we're talking about!" Persephone urged him, making sure to keep her voice low enough for him to hear. "Come on! When's the last time you talk shit about Megatron without anyone telling him?"

And that seemed to convince Starscream as he looked at Shockwave, only to see him busy with typing and recording data about the sparklings in his records.

The seeker scoots a little closer, not enough to crash the medical equipment before her but just enough to talk to her without raising his voice.

"Megatron may be terrifying but he is incredibly annoying!" Starscream hissed. "I would propose an idea and the fragger would take credit! Stating that he had thought of it. Everyone usually thinks he's very smart, but he's an actual buffoon!"

Persephone sat there as the seeker raved and spat his woes, she nodded her head agreeing to some of them as he listened. Lowering their voices when Shockwave passed by and going silent when he was too near to avoid being detected, Persephone signals to Starscream to quiet down.

"Anyways, the fragger has a very sensitive ego. Surely, you of any being who had seen everything about us, would agree." He grumbled, shaking his fists. "Someone points out his mistakes and he goes crazy, but if I do it but if I do it I'm being dramatic?!"

"No, because the two of you have sensitive egos, but the difference between the two of you is that you act immediately and let their insults get to you while he plans their death." She points it out to him. "No one plans a murder out loud, after all."

He turns to glare at her, red optics burning with rage as he lowered his face to try and intimidate the human woman.

"So you're saying he's right?" Starscream sneers.

"I'm saying prove him wrong," Persephone answered.

Persephone smiled at him, putting down the now empty bowl on her lap. "I don't know if you noticed, but the two of you are somewhat the same, but the difference is how you two tackle the obstacle in front of you. That's why he's a leader and you," she points at him, "a Second-in-Command."

"How am I supposed to act how I want when he immediately kills anyone who have any potential of overpowering him?" He rolled his eyes. "You think Decepticons just dropped dead? Most of them who he deemed a threat to his position are killed in one way or another."

"How would you know?"

"Because I was ordered to kill them."

Persephone recoils at his words. There are times when she forgets that they were actual beings now. Blood was on their hands and... and she didn't know how to feel about that.

It must have shown on her face because Starscream smiled and laughed at her. "You think I am just his Second-in-Commandbecause in your universe I was created to be under his shadow, but I have remained in this position of power because I made sure I stay here. You are right, no one plans a murder out loud, but perhaps you had forgotten that no one boasts about killing someone as well."

She shrugged. "I think you're the type who would parade a dead body around and claim that you killed them."

"Only when I'm proud of it and if it would gain me merit among the ranks."

"You know, when I was younger, maybe a little older than the sparklings if I put it in cybertronian terms. My aunts were taking care of me," Persephone said. "Well, not just me. I had two older siblings. Leon being the eldest and Maria being the second eldest."

"You had siblings?" Starscream raised his optic rides at her. "I feel sorry for them."

"Yeah. Too bad for them since people who have a uterus has a 'give birth, no return'policy... unless you terminate it while it's still part of the body." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, my aunts they would... they would hurt us. One foot out of the line and they would... they would whip us and make us kneel in salt."

Starscream tilts his head in confusion remaining silent for a moment, his eyes fading into a slightly faint light before they burned back into bright red light—just like she had seen Megatron's optics before he cooks something she would eat— and screeched, "As a youngling?!"

Persephone shushed him, glaring at him.

They both turned to look at Shockwave who looked at them with a tilt of his helm, before going back to typing. Starscream turns to her and with a hushed tone he says, "As a youngling?!"

Persephone nods her head. "If we're lucky enough, we'd only get the belt or a walis."

"How is this allowed?" He asked, a troubled look on his face.

She shrugs. "I mean, it's discipline, but it was very scary. Hey, at least I know how to recognize someone from their footsteps and what their mood would be." Persephone grins at the seeker.

"That is horrible! You cannot teach a sparkling or a youngling through violence!" Starscream exclaimed. "Your race is by far the most violent species we have ever encountered."

"There was that one time we had to be rushed to the hospital for... um... injuries... I think?" Persephone squints, trying to recall the events that happened. "I don't remember much, but I do remember waking up in a hospital. My aunts said we fell down the stairs while playing too much." Persephone laughed, shaking her head. "Mom immediately flew home after that. She stayed for a while to take care of me before she had to go back to her job."

"I've heard of humans who had continued to suffer from the physical injuries they had acquired in their life."

Persephone frowns, her fingers grazing her knees. "Well, I'm glad the scars aren't that noticeable."

If she doesn't see her scars then it doesn't exist.

To her it was that simple.

Her gaze flickers to him and sees that he looked... disturbed. Starscream opened his mouth before shutting it close, eyeing her as if she had grown a second head.

After being silent, he finally asked, "How long did that last? The... um... the violence that you and the rest of your litter were subjected to?"

"I think... I think until I was like seventeen, so not too long I guess," She shrugged.

"And... and how are you fairing?" Starscream asked.

"I'm okay. I feel fine, but I would appreciate it if the needles aren't in me. It feels weird since I could feel it in my flesh."

Persephone glares at her left arm where the needles were placed. Hoping that one day she'd get to walk around again and not be sick.

Occupied with her inner turmoil, she missed the concerned look of the seeker before he got up and left.


"How did you make this?"

"I am the Second-in-Command of the Decepticon army. I'll always find a way."

She sat on her bed with a bowl filled with warm chocolate rice porridge in her lap, a cute little circle swirl of evaporated milk on top. The morning came and Megatron hadn't returned yet, she thought she might see him again when she woke up.

She was mistaken.

After mixing the porridge and taking a spoonful, she said, "Hey, you actually got it right!" Persephone takes another one as she tries her best to not wolf down the hot substance.

"You... Do you actually like it?" He asked, clasping his metal hands together which reminded her of a child that asked if their parents like the glitter garbage they created.

"Yup!" She chirped as she shoved a spoonful of food in her mouth. Her eyes caught sight of Shockwave approaching. Persephone smiled as she raised her hand that held the spoon and waved at him, gulping down her meal. "Good morning, Shockwave!"

"Hello." The one-eyed cybertronian looks at her, giving her a nod. "Why are you so giddy when I approach?"

"What can I say? You're everyone's favourite scientist," She paused. "Well... not everyone, but then again most don't appreciate science-ish people."

Shockwave looked at Starscream and asked, "How is the specimen fairing?"

"She seems fine, I suppose," The seeker responds. "Alive and breathing so that counts for something. Talkative... I'm surprised she still has the energy to communicate."

"Why ask him when you could have asked me, instead?" Persephone asked.

Shockwave doesn't answer, ignoring her question. She frowned but said nothing.

He puts down a little cart.

Like a multifunctional cart with tiny cupboards and drawers. On top of it was a metal tray with several test tubes.

Shockwave materialized into a smaller version of him. He wasn't as big as Megatron but he still towered over her.

When was Megatron coming back?

It doesn't surprise her anymore... No, it does surprise her but she doesn't jump anymore and has learned to screech on the inside. The heart monitor, however, started beeping really loudly.

She glared at it.

"Apologies. I did not mean to startle you every time I use my nanoform." The scientist says as he gets a really, really huge syringe.

Persephone screeched. She scoots away from him—as far away as she can in her bed—with a the urge to run the fuck away.

He looks at her, confused. Shockwave tilts his head before he laughs, shoulders shaking. She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms, watching the scientist crumble as he laughed.

Starscream had also burst into laughter, standing up and stumbling away before collapsing on the ground as he banged his fists on the ground.

"Yeah, yeah! Laugh and feast on my fears," Persephone says sarcastically. "I insist."

Shockwave snorts. "I haven't had that much amusement since my last experiment," He says after calming down from his laughing fit. The scientist takes a cotton and douses it in alcohol before moving to her right side with a needle in the other hand. "Although, to be fair, you are the first human who had been docile in my presence upon first meeting."

"Put down the needle or I will throw hands, Shockwave. Mga punyeta kayo!" Persephone hissed as she glared at him.

Starscream, who finally finished laughing, went back to them. "It's just a needle, it won't hurt that much," He said as he observed them.

"What if I beat the shit out of you," She sneers at him. " It won't hurt that much."

"Of course it won't," the seeker chortled.

Persephone rolled her eyes, lifting her hand to flip him off. " Gago ka. Sana madapa kang puta ka."

Her head snaps back to Shockwave when he grabs her wrist and pulls down her arm.

"How old are you?" He rubs the area on the upper arm part of her elbow joint. "I have to put it in my data, record the subject and their capabilities as well as their health."

"I'm twenty-three. I turn twenty-four at like... March twenty," Persephone said as she closed her eyes. "Back in my timeline it's twenty-twenty two, around July. I haven't checked my phone, but at least the internet works there!" She yelped at the sensation of being stabbed on her arm.

She instinctively looked away and looked at Starscream, instead.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm alright," She mumbled, closing her eyes as she resisted the urge to puke. "I uh... I'm originally from the Philippines so basically I'm a Filipino. I like chocolates and I also like alcohol."

"When was the last time you had mated or if you had at all?" Shockwave asked, glancing at her. "Do you have a mate?"

"No, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm... I don't think a relationship is worth my time. I'm sure there are others who are lucky to find their forever," she smiled sadly as she opened her eyes, "I've been... very unlucky. So, there's that. I've had a few one-night stands. The last time I had sex was like two weeks prior to my arrival here."

Shockwave nods his head at the information she gives him.

Did it feel awkward? Not really.

The professionalism in his voice set her at ease and if she didn't know any better, Persephone would have thought he was actually a doctor.

She smiled at him before her eyes landed on where he extracted her life source from her body.

Persephone watched the syringe slowly be filled with blood. The red liquid that filled it inch by inch mesmerized her as it had disturbed her.

Shockwave's eyes were red... like her blood.

That didn't help.

Not one bit.

"You look a little pale, femme. Shockwave, are humans suppose–" Persephone hears the seeker say, his words disappearing for a moment. "– when you extract their energon?"

"Not really–" Shockwave's voice fades in and out after. "–gon on her blood–" Blood? She hated the sound of that, oh god. "–urns the color of mulberry. Look it has purple streaks to it... fascinating."

"Stop that–" Persephone forced herself to open her eyes, the world spinning. "–ight damage her!"

She immediately closed her eyes, fighting the urge to puke. Persephone took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Breathe In.

Breathe Out.

Breathe In.

Breathe Out

Breathe In–

Persephone blacks out.


There's a coldness that pressed itself against her cheek. It was soothing, making her instinctively lean into the harsh metal feeling.

Her eyes snapped open as the sound of cackling fire reached her ears. Persephone opened her eyes, seeing the metal digit that held her head so gently. Her gaze trailed up only to see the alien warlord looking back at her.

Ah, right. I fainted.

"Megatron!" She yelped, snapping out of the sleepy haze she was in as she pulled away from his touch. "Welcome back." Persephone mumbled, averting her gaze.

She tried to look for Starscream, but saw that he wasn't around. If anything, no one was around except for Shockwave and the sparklings, but even then they were far enough to not hear their conversation.

"If you are looking for my Second-in-Command, I am afraid I would have to disappoint you for I have sent him out on a mission," Megatron huffs. "If I am not mistaken, it seems you and Starscream are getting... closer to each other."

She was silent for a moment before Persephone said, "Yeah. He and I are getting along well. I made a friend."

"Am I not your friend?" Persephone hears the frown in his voice and—maybe she was delusional enough—she could hear a slight tinge of sadness.

"Friends don't usually own each other. Basically I'm your pet now... so that speaks for itself."

Digits holds her face gently, so gently that Persephone finds herself melting into his touch as he makes her look at him. "You were the one who had asked me to be my pet."

"I know," She sighed. "If I am honest, I... I don't know if I even want to be your pet. It was a spur of the moment. It was a moment of weakness."

His eyes were red, like hellfire that burned the souls of the damned and yet... and yet they seemed to hold a sense of sadness. "What had compelled you to ask me in the first place?" He hesitantly asked.

What didcompel her?

She didn't know.

No.

Persephone knew why.

Deep down, she knew why but she pushed it away and conjured a lie. It won't last, but it willbuy her time.

But when Megatron looks at her like that... as if he was actually genuinely concerned for her, she couldn't help the way her heart skipped a beat.

"I grew up... living for others," Persephone forced the words out of her mouth with a shaky breath. "Every time I did so, I am motivated to move. To breathe. To live. I step out of line, I am... reprimanded." She tries to control her breathing, trying her best—miserably failing— notto cry. "I don't know what to do... I feel lost, you know?" Her voice shaking as the words come out of her mouth.

He lets go of her face, materialising in front of her. Megatron towered over her still and he all but leans down to place both of his hands on either side of her cheeks, gently holding her once more.

"You lack purpose," Megatron says softly at her. "I understand that you feel lost. As if you are stagnant in whatever position you are in your life, no?"

And whatever strength she had to stop her from crying had disappeared. The tears falling from her eyes like waterfall as she pressed his hands on to her face more, as if she was imprinting them on her skin.

He put her feelings into words when she couldn't and maybe that explained to her why she was feeling that way. Maybe that's why she didn't know where her life was headed before she found herself here.

Even so, she found nothing to do here at all.

No friends to hang out with, no family to be with, and definitely no one knew of her existence but him.

And yet at the same time it didn't feel like that. There were times when she didn't need someone to tell her what to do so she could feel something.

Then again, Persephone didn't exactly understand what she felt. She thought of it as something that is normal. If she feels something, whether it be positive or negative, then surely everyonehas felt that.

Right?

"Yes?" Her answer came out more of a question. "I... I don't know? Maybe? I'm not sure–"

"Oh, but you dolack purpose," He insisted softly, cooing almost. "You wish for someone to tell you what to do so that you may function on an order." And when he leans down to press his forehead against her, Persephone crumbles. "That is what you have been feeling, you poor thing."

And maybe he is right.

It was better to trust his judgement.That was better than her having to grasp what she was feeling or whatever it is that settles in her head.

But her mind tells her he was wrong. At some point in his words he was wrong.

"You don't know that," She said through shaky breath. This was wrong."You don't know how I feel."

She needed someone to be there for her.

Anyone.

Their eyes locked and whatever words she wanted to say next had disappeared as she was taken aback by the intensity in his gaze.

"Oh, but I doknow how you feel." The warlord declared, and her heart skips a beat; and the stupid heart monitor did nothide that one bit.

"No," She weakly says through a sob.

" Yes.I knowyou feel small because why else would anyone have taken advantage of you? I knowyou feel worthless because those around you had carved it into the crevices of your mind, making you feel unworthy of anything. I knowyou feel as if no one would ever stay within the same place as you because you thinkthat they would grow to despise you one way or another. I knowyou feel lonely, as if you have no place on this Earth—as if you have no place in the world. This planet is filled with billions of disgusting, worthlessinsects scuttling out and about with no regard for anyone but themselves. You all want to feel 'special'. You all pride yourself from your individuality—your so-called 'uniqueness'—without even realising that all of you are the same selfishcreatures. Admit to yourself that Iease your pain, one way or another. Why else would you throw yourself at mycompany? At mymercy?"

He's torn her down.

She didn't even know what to say or respond to him at all.

Persephone closed her eyes, shaking her head. " No. No I can't do that! You have no idea how humiliatingit is–"

"Why bother withholding anything anymore, when it only serves to hurt you?" Megatron growled and she could hear the sneer in his voice. "Why bother about hiding what you feel when it doesn't even matter?"

"I can't!" She whined.

And the coldness on her face disappears as he ripped himself away from her. Persephone whined at the loss of contact and looked up at him.

Her breath hitches as he looked down at her. Persephone felt her heart crumbling to pieces when she saw his gaze—looking at her as if she was a lowly being.

He never looked at her like that before.

Why would he do that?

Megatron frowns at her with disdain and says, "Pathetic."

And with that, the holoform in front of her disappears as Megatron's real body stood and turned around.

He just... walked away.

"I am not interested in any human. Your kind can mimic each other, I'm sure there are plenty of humans who are exactly like you, however; I am interested in you ."

Liar.

He was a liar.

How could he just make her feel special, then get up and leave the next? No, it's fine. Megatron wouldn't do that, right?

He has to turn around at some point to look back at her and see her reaction.

That's what they all do, anyway.

Persephone knew that trick better than anyone else and she knew just how to play them at their own game. She just needs to wait it out.

He continues to walk away, without even glancing at her.

The distance between them grew farther and farther, and he didn't stop to turn to her or throw a glance her way.

Her breath hitches as her hands reached out to him. Persephone felt her chest tightening at sight of him walking away as if he didn't just claw his way into her very core and ripped it from the confines of its safety.

He was really going to leave.Megatron wasn't manipulating her, he was really goingto leave.

It's fine.

No, it's NOT fine!

Persephone pushed the thoughts away, but she miserably failed. Remember what happened when you didn't stop them? They left! Every single time you didn't give in to them, they would leave! What makes you think he'd be different? You're worthless, easy to replace. In the end you'll only have wretched self to be with–

"NO!" Persephone cried out, but the warlord ignored her. "MEGATRON, PLEASE!WAIT!"

And that made him stop as she cried and sobbed, wiping the snot off of her face with her sleeves as she curled in on herself. Her hand dropped to the edge of her bed as incoherent of pleas for him to not leave and apologies fell off of her lips.

"Come back..." Her voice cracks, unaware of the metal titan approaching her. "...Please. Please, stay... I don't want to be alone anymore." Persephone could feel the grasps if despair dragging her into to the deepest part of its sea

She can't win this game, and Persephone doesn'teven want to play it.

Persephone sobs hard into her hands, vulnerable as ever, and she thinks how patheticshe must appear to him. Besides her own sobs and cries, it's completely quiet, and it'skillingher.

"Cease your cries," and she didn't expect the feeling of relief when she hears him murmur, a stark contrast to what power his voice was capable of, "Humans... so emotional."

She doesn't move, opting to stay like that when her body feels so heavy. Metal fingers nudged her to move.

He was... surprisingly gentle, considering the emotional turmoil he just put her through. Persephone doesn't have the heart to look at him, afraid of what she'd see—afraid that he would look at her as if she was some lowly being.

"Look at me, little one," The fondness in his voice makes her weep more. "Let me see those optics of yours.

"I cant." She feels crushed at every single thing that just transpired.

"Of course, you can."

Such a simple statement and yet it fills her with enough strength to move. Wrapping her arms on one of his fingers like her life depended on it. Persephone lifts her eyes, an unreadable look on his face. "Don't leave me... please." She finds herself begging. "I don't have anyone anymore. I have no one."

"How so?"

"When I came here, I died... I lost my family, my friends... I have no one–"

"Then forget about them." His voice filled with the sweetest honey one could hear as he wiped the teas from her eyes. "Forget about them. Iwill give youpurpose, little one," Megatron's voice makes her putty in his grasp which compels her to lean into his touch, "You are my pet. Therefore you are mine.You have no one else, but you need no one else. I am carrier and sire to you now. I am friend and ruler I am your sickness, and your cure."

There's a look of adoration in his eyes, as if he wanted nothing more but her and her alone. She thinks to herself that maybe this was the right way.

Persephone has died and she wakes up into this world. No family or friends and if she was honest she was sure that Starscream had befriended her out of pity, so basically she really did had no one.

But Megatron was there. He was there to wipe her tears and maybe that in itself was enough. "Then... so be it," Persephone says as she presses her lips on his finger, giving a soft kiss.

"My, my, what an affectionate creature you had become."

She averts her gaze, turning her head to hide the blush that blooms on her cheeks. "I want to know more about you," Persephone suddenly says.

"What more is there to know when you already have the knowledge of whoI am?"

"I want to know you."

Maybe this was her chance to turn things around, to sweeten whatever it was that made things sour. "Soon," The warlord chuckled at her and then he said, "Ah, the lunar cycle has grown deep. I wouldn't be surprised if our ... conversationhas tired you. You need sustenance and then you must rest."

"I'm not hungry." To her horror, her stomach growls against her words making him laugh.

"Perhaps you should listen to the wisdom of your stomach." Megatron smiled at her. "Would you like your usual Champorado?"

"Yes, please," Persephone responds.

He withdraws his touch and she reluctantly lets him go. The warlord materialized in front of her, his hand finding their way on top of her head and... pets her lovingly.

Persephone leans into his touch as her eyes flutter close.

Butterflies erupt in her stomach and flutter all the way up into her chest, into her throat.The heart monitor beeping rapidly and she blushed.

As he stepped away, a shaky breath leaves her at the familiar feeling of her heart beating in her chest.

Without a doubt, she knew...

Persephone knew she loves him.


End of Chapter XIII


Translations:

Gago ka. Sana madapa kang puta ka. - You bastard. I hope you trip you son of a bitch.

Mga punyeta kayo! - You assholes!