Ch. 45

Starscream did his best to slow gently as he flew low and turned into a loop, dropping Bumblebee as he transformed to land. The seeker tried to catch the yellow mech, he really did, but the scout landed on top of him, making the silver mech yelp. Bumblebee was heavier than he looked. Then again, he was a ground based vehicle. Those were usually denser.

Starscream growled and rolled Bumblebee off him, catching him before he could fall into a river beside them, "Come on," he huffed, collecting a little water in his servos to splash on the scout's faceplates, "wake up."

Bumblebee sputtered and winced as he sat up, glaring around the area. He beeped quickly as he stood, asking where they were.

Starscream sighed and stood with him, "Not far from their base. I had to land. My energon levels are at eleven percent. I can guess you're in a similar state."

The scout grimaced, then nodded, whirring that he was at thirteen percent.

The seeker grumbled. Neither of them were in a position to waste a percent more.

Starscream looked around cautiously, "Can you COMM your team? Call for a bridge or some back up?"

Bumblebee nodded and tried to activate his COMM, whirling angrily when it wouldn't activate. Either he was far too low on energon or MECH had disabled it. They were on their own.

The yellow scout pointed up ahead through the forest, asking if high ground was in that direction. Starscream shrugged.

"Um, maybe," he thought aloud, "Anywhere away from MECH's torture room is better than here," he started walking, "You can follow or we can part ways here."

Bumblebee whirled loudly and ran after him to catch up, cheerfully telling the seeker that he wasn't going to let him out of his sights again.

Starscream frowned, confused, "Oh? And why not?"

The scout beeped matter of factly, saying the silver mech had to come back with him.

The seeker grumbled, "I told you... I'm not ready."

Bumblebee beeped back, saying he didn't believe him. He whirred and chirped, telling the silver mech that it was alright to be nervous about joining the Autobots, but that they were happy to have him.

Starscream shook his helm, "I can't right now. That secret? The one I have yet to tell you and the Autobots? It has to do with someone else. Someone who isn't around anymore. And I'm not ready to talk about it yet..." he sighed, "I've already said too much. I'll... promise this: when I'm ready, I'll come to you. None of you will have to go out looking for me."

Bumblebee frowned in confusion. He beeped rapidly and asked why Starscream didn't just tell them the secret; it should be easier to deal with if he just got it out into the open.

The seeker nearly tripped as he walked, remembering with a grimace at how Arcee had reacted when she had found out before... the first time... slagging future sight, "Ah... because I know it won't make things easy... In fact, it may force all of you to reconsider welcoming me. Maybe that's a good thing and maybe that's a bad thing. But I know I'm not ready..."

The yellow mech followed Starscream over a small hill and behind a line of trees that made a very nice wall. He took hold of the seeker's arm and sat him down, sitting next to him as he took a loud intake.

Starscream glared, "We need to be moving away, not settling down."

Bumblebee shrugged, beeping that they could take a few moments. Besides, MECH wasn't looking in this area. He patted the seeker's arm for reassurance.

The silver mech groaned lightly, looking out into the dark forest, "... You want me to tell you my secret."

The yellow mech nodded, but said nothing.

"What makes you think it will fix anything?"

Bumblebee beeped, telling him it didn't have to. He whirred and chirped, saying it was about healing it, not fixing it.

Starscream chuckled gently, "A young Prime in the making, aren't you?"

The scout whirled and shook his helm, sputtering a thanks at the compliment, but beeped that he could never be a Prime.

The seeker smirked, "Don't you know? Anyone is capable of being a Prime. In the days before the war, there were Cybertronians that did good deeds. They didn't need the title of 'Prime' to tell them of their kindness..." he shrugged, "But I will admit, Prime's do get better armor. And weapons."

Bumblebee bubbled a beep lowly in agreement, telling him they always had the best advice, too.

Starscream pulled his legs closer to his chest, resting his chin on his arms. He thought hard, wondering what it could do if he said something now. He hadn't exactly been as crass or proud or much of a bragger about Cliffjumper's death. It was a touchy subject, but maybe...

"If I tell you," he murmured softly, "just promise me you won't shoot me in the helm."

Bumblebee nodded, beeping that he only had enough energon for a couple shots anyway.

The seeker grumbled, mumbling the words out, "I ki... ffju...er..."

The yellow mech frowned, whirring for the mech to speak up.

Starscream tried again; this was harder than he thought, "I killed... ff...er..."

Bumblebee frowned harder and nudged him.

The silver mech frowned back, muttering softly; this was what doing nice things got you, nothing but issues, "I'm... the one who..." he waved a servo gently to help the words along, "killed," yep, another word, "Cliff...jum..."

The scout's optics slowly widened and he turned away.

Starscream turned away too, clenching his servos tightly into fists. There. It was out in the open. And he couldn't even finish the sentence.

Bumblebee's intakes came in almost as a hiss before he finally sighed loudly, looking up into the sky. He whirred gently, saying he had killed Skyquake.

The seeker shrugged, "I do believe my predicament is far more dangerous. It's not like Skyquake's twin is going to blame you for it, the fragger..."

Bumblebee whistled and chirped, asking how the silver mech knew.

Starscream flicked some dirt off his leg, "I told you, I... know things..." he glared at the yellow mech, "NOT the way Silas thinks. Not the way Airachnid thinks either. But you'll be fine... Me? I already told you..." he stood, fluttering his wings as he looked out into the dark, "I'm not too sure..."

The scout watched the seeker for a moment, then stood, taking his arm gently. He beeped that he was sad to know what had happened to Cliffjumper, but that what was done was done. He whirred a promise to let the other Autobots know as gently as he could.

"Do what you think is best," Starscream sighed, "I know Arcee will take it hard."

The seeker tried to pull away, but Bumblebee didn't let go of his arm. Instead, he beeped softly, asking him to turn around.

Starscream grumbled, "Why?"

The yellow mech beeped again with the request and the seeker sighed, turning around. Bumblebee was doing his best to smile at Starscream. He whirred and beeped that whatever had happened, it was all right; that it wasn't going to be easy, but it was going to be all right. He started to walk and the seeker followed, listening to the yellow mech beep. He went on to tell him that war hurt a lot of mechs, a lot of lives. Mistakes, no matter how large or small, happened. He chirped a little more enthusiastically, saying that Starscream had done a lot to help them and while it may not make up for everything, it still mattered. But what had mattered most, especially to Bumblebee, was that Starscream had told him the truth about Cliffjumper, and that was something far more special.

The seeker smiled a little, looking ahead, "Like I said, a Prime in the making."