Starscream gazed in awe upon the screen Shockwave was presenting to them. Megatron gazed over Starscream's shoulder while Knock Out and Soundwave also looked on.
"So, our liege has actually been healed?" Starscream turned to look up at Megatron, who's optics were glowing gleefully.
"It appears that is so," Shockwave responded, shutting down the research tablet. It emitted a soft click as he shut the lid.
"I am happy that you have discovered this," Knock Out said. "but please ask before hacking into my medical records."
Shockwave glowered at Knock Out. "Noted," he grumbled. There was no need to create a promise; it was inevitable for all promises to be reversed.
"So this finding means this is who I really am?" Megatron clasped his hands together, as if praying this beautiful fact was indeed very true.
"Yes." Shockwave placed his tablet away in a drawer before retreating to a distant corner of the room, busily beginning a new project. Megatron's mystery had been solved.
"Well, that's our cue." Knock Out gingerly turned away before exiting to the hallway, his clanking steps slowly fading away as he traveled to the belly of the ship. Soundwave eventually abandoned the lab as well, leaving the remaining three in a cold silence.
Megatron glanced at Starscream before gesturing to the door with his head, his mouth not contorted into its usual frown. Instead, his lips were slightly curved upwards towards the sky, revealing the internal delight that was flaming in his spark. Starscream followed his liege into the deserted hallway, and the doors hissed shut behind them. The robust clanging of a lock sounded, preventing anyone from entering and irritating Shockwave.
"Some of the treaties still need to be completed." Starscream began to slowly walk away, and Megatron soon meandered along as well. "When exactly are we going to release them?"
Megatron was undoubtedly consumed with thought, and Starscream's question was unheard. He was probably analyzing what he had just heard about his own mind, but his optics were locked onto his deputy, intense and driven.
Starscream halted, his metal wings lowering. "Are you disappointed with me?"
Megatron seized Starscream's head, and the Seeker emitted a shrill shriek of terror. His wail was cut short as Megatron pressed his lips to Starscream's, his metallic flesh warm.
Oh Primus, oh Primus! Starscream fretfully thought, all of his thoughts jumbling together. His stomach churned with unease, and he punched Megatron's chest, a loud crack sounding. Megatron swiftly pulled away after landing another solid kiss on Starscream's cheek.
"What the frag was that?!" Starscream screeched, and he raised his trembling fists up, ready for another affectionate attack.
"I like you," Megatron muttered, his shoulders lowering, and his posture grew frail as Starscream did not return the fondness he showed him.
"When did these, ugh, feelings start!?" Starscream's voice rose an octave as his shock morphed into exasperation.
Megatron watched the squawking mess that Starscream had become with yearning, and the desire for another kiss kindled inside of him. "When we were working on the treaties together. You are so...adorable."
"Adorable? Adorable?!" Starscream was quaking with rage. How dare an assassin and future Decepticon leader be dubbed "adorable"! He was vicious, not cuddly and cute!
"I want to kiss you again." Megatron's optics widened as his intention leapt off his tongue.
"No! No more kissing or cuddling or hugs! I am going to help you finish these damn peace treaties and then our relationship is done! No longer leadership partners!"
Megatron was taken aback; this was not how his first kiss was supposed to end up. "I'm sorry, Starscream. I didn't realize -"
"Didn't realize what? That you don't just go around grabbing people's heads and kissing them?" Starscream crossed his arms and whipped away, refusing to lay his optics on the Decepticon lord. "My first kiss, wasted on you!"
"That was mine, too! I don't want it wasted on you, anyways! I take it back!" Megatron felt bubbles of bitterness erupting inside him, and everything started to go blurry. He had to punch something, and fast. He twisted around and lashed out on the wall, his fist making a dent in the metal.
"Looks like you haven't changed," Starscream sneered.
"I am angry. I didn't take it out on you. That's quite a bit of change!" Megatron stalked away from Starscream, off to work on the treaties alone.
. . .
Yellowish mist burst up from the ground as Thundercracker removed the floor panel. "Yeah, we got some stuff to work on," he grumbled as he observed the aging wires and tubes. The blue seeker dropped down into the golden clouds, his silhouette still visible.
Skywarp and Starscream bent over the hole, trying to assess how long they were going to be fixing the declining pressurization mechanism. It was an old machine, but it was necessary to help produce the artificial gravity aboard the Nemesis. Starscream had reached out to the two Seekers for assistance and to finally meet up with his comrades again.
"So he really kissed you?" Skywarp looked to Starscream, who was still perturbed by what had occurred a couple hours prior.
"Yes."
"I mean, was it good?" Thundercracker called up.
"It's not like I have anything to compare it to. Ugh, that's besides the point! I didn't want the stupid kiss."
"So it wasn't good." Thundercracker hoisted himself out of the hole and sat on the edge, his large feet dangling into the blonde fog. "This machine is pretty much dead; it needs to be replaced. But since resources are limited, I think I can fix it. It'll hold up for a few more quartexes, but no promises. Come give me a hand."
The three seekers entered the floor, and Skywarp fanned his face, trying to brush away some of the clouds so he could see better.
"So, how is Megatron taking your evident hatred towards him?" Thundercracker lined up his tools before opening up the pressurization mechanism, inserting his hand in and feeling around for something.
"I don't hate him, but he's not taking this well. I tried to talk to him before you two came, and he refused to discuss what happened."
Thundercracker pulled out a part, and it was corroded and bent up. "What you could do is say that you caught feelings and then you can get all the kisses you want."
"Yeah, use him. It's not like he hasn't used you," Skywarp added. "Free affection for Starscream."
"If I'm going to kiss someone, I want it to be someone I actually want to kiss," Starscream snapped, and he opened up a panel on the wall and started turning off switches. "Also, don't talk too loud. Everyone likes to listen to each other here."
"Okay. If I were you, honestly, I would cut the big guy a break. He finally has a somewhat good head on his shoulders now, and he's just trying to figure everything out," Thundercracker said as he busily repaired the part he extracted from the machine, sparks flying as he soldered pieces back together. "You told us he was very sorry for everything he has done to you, so maybe this is just his way of continuing that apology."
"Not sure about that, Thunder. He called Scream...heh...adorable." Skywarp burst into giggles, and his hearty laugh barreled and echoed around the chamber.
"I mean, he's kinda right." Thundercracker inserted the piece back in the machine before getting to work on some tubing.
"You wanna kiss Starscream now, huh?" Skywarp teased.
"I don't know; little ol' Starscream seems pretty tasty to me."
Skywarp and Thundercracker cackled, slapping each other playfully on the arms as they badgered their friend.
"You two, stop it." Starscream slammed the panel shut, furious towards the other Seekers.
"Oh, shush Scream." Thundercracker patted Starscream's shoulder. "We're just messing with you. If you and Buckethead do get together, we'll support ya."
"That's not going to happen."
"Eh, I can see a future between you two." Thundercracker gathered up some of the sparking wires and sat down on the floor of the chamber. "Alright, help me repair these and then we're done here."
