"You've, uh, got tasty energon here," Skywarp said to the wide-opticked Aerialbots. They watched him in wonder as he sipped from his cube again.

"He drinks just like we do!" one of them whispered not-too-quietly.

Skywarp arched an optic ridge and twitched his wings.

Starscream watched from the couch, smiling. The Aerialbots had been adorably following them around since they woke up and emerged from their room to get some fuel. Right now, they were fascinated with Skywarp's antics, and as much as he seemed unnerved, Starscream could tell he relished in the attention.

Thundercracker was seated beside him, watching with amusement as well. "I always wanted to talk to them more," he said quietly. "They were created so late in this war to counter us in the skies and combiners specifically, and even though they aren't exactly seekers, they still feel like kin."

"We could always stay here to get to know them better."

Thundercracker's smile faded a little. "I wish we could. But I think that would be inviting disaster on them."

Starscream frowned and then leaned his shoulder against Thundercracker, seeking closeness. "Megatron won't let us go like the Autobots let them go?"

Thundercracker wrapped an arm around his waist, gently petting the plating on his side. "No. He would brand us traitors and try to get rid of us for betraying him. We only just managed to get out of the base on a long-term patrol to keep where we were going secret. Ramjet and his trine are covering for us, but we do have to go back soon."

Something in the way Thundercracker was talking sent off some alarm bells in Starscream's helm. Thundercracker was avoiding meeting his optics, and his shoulders were tense. "Did something happen?"

Thundercracker turned his helm quickly, his beautiful lips opening in surprise. He softened a little and smiled fondly. "You need to stop doing that."

"What?"

"Reading me. Reading us," Thundercracker said, chuckling. "You are far too smart for your own good. Always have been, but now it is particularly annoying."

Starscream grinned. "I make use of my many gifts. You can't fault me for using them to my advantage," he said, smirking.

Thundercracker huffed a laugh and pulled him closer. "No, I suppose not."

Starscream loved being so close to him. It reminded Starscream of slightly happier times when he had first come online, and he was experiencing everything for the first time, including the affectionate but wary touches from Thundercracker.

Starscream leaned his cheek against Thundercracker's chassis and sighed. "But you didn't answer the question."

Thundercracker sighed. "Megatron is the most unstable I have ever seen him. That worries me."

Starscream watched as Skywarp tried to extricate himself from the interrogation he was undergoing from the curious and excitable Aerialbots. He kept looking over at Starscream and Thundercracker for help, and Starscream gave a flirty little wave as if to say, sorry, you're on your own. Skywarp frowned in agitation.

"Unstable," Starscream repeated. "What does that mean, exactly?"

Thundercracker stared off into nothing for a moment. "He's making strange decisions that suit his fancy rather than a strategic goal. He's hurting his soldiers rather than listening to them. He's obsessed with… things." Thundercracker's hesitancy made Starscream question how he really wanted to end that sentence.

"Is that different than normal?" Starscream asked, perhaps with a little bit of an edge.

Thundercracker sighed. "Perhaps not." His servo had stopped petting Starscream's side. He turned his helm and pressed a kiss to the top of Starscream's helm. "I guess I just didn't see it before."

Starscream indulged in the sensation of the kiss, and his spark happily thrummed. "Why do you follow him?" Starscream asked, remembering Bluestreak asking him the same thing. "This war makes very little sense to me, and both he and the Prime are looking less and less worthy of leading anyone to me."

"It is complicated."

"It always is."

Starscream knew he was being a little petulant, but he thought he might deserve a chance to be childish for a moment. Right now, he had a kind of contentment he had been seeking all his short life. He had his lovers, new friends, old friends, friendliness, warmness, closeness, safety- and the war that he could only ever watch at a distance was nonexistent here. He didn't want to give it up to obey the whims of a mad tyrant.

Thundercracker smiled fondly. "I wish the situation were different. No Megatron, no Prime, no war. There would definitely be a lot less violence, and you would be safer."

"What if we could end the war, though? I think it is more of a possibility than any of you are thinking."

Thundercracker's wings twitched. "It's really hard to see, Star. I honestly wonder if the only way to stop it is if we're all dead."

Starscream stilled. Thundercracker sounded so bitter and lost, and Starscream wanted to ease that somehow. "I'll find a way to stop it," Starscream said quietly. "I can't lose you."

Thundercracker gave an annoyed huff of breath, "Slag, I'm sorry, Star. I'm just not in a good mood- I didn't mean-"

"Hey- yes, younglings, yes, okay, we'll go flying-" Skywarp was saying over his shoulder. He reached the couch and completely ignored the strange mood affecting Starscream and Thundercracker, and he reached for Starscream and pulled him to his pedes. "Come on, please, you have to help me!" he whispered loudly. "They are driving me crazy."

Starscream laughed, pushing mirth to the forefront of his emotions, trying not to let Thundercracker's words get to him. "But they like, you Skywarp!"

"Primus knows why," Thundercracker snarked, earning a flick to the side of the helm from Skywarp. Thundercracker winced but smirked. "It's because they don't know any better-"

"Alright, enough out of you," Skywarp huffed, gently pushing Starscream in the direction of the Aerialbots. "Please, distract them with your cuteness."

Starscream arched an optic ridge. "I'm not-"

"Adorable," Skywarp cut him off fondly.

Starscream scowled but then rolled his optics, walking off towards the Aerialbots, who eagerly welcomed him into their conversation.

Skywarp watched him go and clenched a fist. He gave Thundercracker a pleading look over his shoulder and opened his mouth to say something, but Thundercracker cut him off with a short, "Don't."

Skyfire was sitting at his desk, looking over some plans for a new generator. He thought he had finally figured out that fine line between reliability and output, and he hoped to implement the changes soon. It was difficult on this remote island. The humans were kind enough to trade with, but they were confused as to why he wasn't going through the official channels set up by the Autobots. Skyfire had realized quickly, not to mention he wasn't an Autobot anymore. It seemed humans had more trouble recognizing neutral sides to war than he had thought.

"You purposely stacked my choice against what you want." Starscream's voice floated from the doorway. "Bringing Skywarp and Thundercracker here was unexpected but appreciated."

Skyfire smiled without looking up. "I think I just gave you more pieces to make a more informed decision."

Starscream sat down heavily on the chair in front of him with a huff. "You are the opposite of manipulative. I don't know what that is. Self-sabotaging?"

"Maybe," Skyfire said, smiling wider and looking up. "Earnest to a fault?"

"Ah, yes, that's what it is," Starscream replied.

It was too easy to slip into familiar banter patterns with him. The new Starscream didn't quite have the same acerbic glossa that his predecessor did, but it was there, just lingering under the surface.

Starscream stared at Skyfire for a few moments and then took a deep invent. "Look, I… don't know what the future holds. I don't know if I am going to regret this, but I think I want to stay as I am, as my own person, without my old memories."

To Skyfire's credit, his smile didn't fade. "I knew you would make that decision. It is frankly the only one you should make."

Starscream worried on his bottom lip. "I am so sorry."

Skyfire stared for a few moments, casting his gaze down at his folded servos on his desk. It was a small thing for him to say that, but it was appreciated. He was also the only other person in the universe that understood what Skyfire was going through. This was like losing Starscream, yet again, even though he was tantalizingly within reach.

He smiled wryly to himself. That was about how the seeker had always been for him.

Skyfire knew he had done the right thing, but it still killed him a little his plan to soothe Starscream had worked. Skyfire had recognized it immediately; Starscream missed the ones he loved, and he ached for their comfort and guidance, and he was lost without their presence. Part of Skyfire wondered if this was the kind of separation that had turned Starscream into the cynical, cruel version of himself. Without the moorings of support, would this new Starscream have become like his old self?

He took a deep breath and nodded. "I appreciate the sentiment. I suppose I should destroy his memories then so that you can rest assured that no one will ever take this choice from you."

Starscream's vents stilled. He seemed so surprised, and Skyfire wanted to frown. He was already so amazed when someone listened to his choice and stuck with it.

"There is no need for that," Starscream replied slowly. "I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I want you to keep them. Please."

Skyfire was confused. "Are- are you sure?"

Starscream nodded. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I don't know what is possible, but there is a chance for you as long as his memories exist. If there is a way that you can have your Starscream again, I want you to pursue it."

Skyfire was momentarily speechless. Something that was wrapped around his spark was uncoiled, and he relaxed his shoulders. There was a long pause that stretched between them, and then finally, Skyfire nodded. "Thank you, Starscream."

Starscream shrugged. "It's the least I can do. You have been extremely kind to me, Skyfire. I count you as a dear friend, and I can't thank you enough for all that you have done for me."

It was odd to hear him with such gratitude. The Starscream he had known at the academy had never been so polite. "I will always and forever be your friend. I'm afraid despite your attempts to get rid of me over the years, I keep coming back. Seems to be a trait of mine."

Starscream smirked. "I can see why he liked you. You are also a survivalist."

Skyfire stood and walked around his desk to sit on the side closer to Starscream. "What are your plans now?"

"I believe we are returning to the Decepticons, but I can't seem to get a straight answer from Thundercracker and Skywarp as to when. They are oddly evasive."

Skyfire thought he could guess why, but he didn't want to interfere. "I'm sure they just wanted to give you a chance to catch your vents. A lot has been happening for you lately."

Starscream gave him a curious look but shrugged. "I'm sure that's it."

Skyfire nodded. "While you are here, I wondered if I could get your opinion on these mechanisms in the generators. I can't seem to make them work for more than a few days."

Starscream furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure how helpful I will be given my limited experience."

"I'd still like to run it by you regardless if you'll humor me. I'm pretty sure your brilliant mind and ability to think outside the box are still there even if your memories are not."

Starscream seemed pleased at the compliment, and his wings twitched. "Far be it from me to deny you my brilliant mind, then."

Skyfire smirked, beckoning him to follow him down the hallway.