Ch. 170

A tickle of wind danced between Starscream's wings, making him shudder. It had been a couple of hours since Megatron left and the seeker still had done nothing to show any sort of gratitude towards the Predacon. The beast who had killed him... had saved him.

Predaking yawned pitifully from in front of the lifts, stretching out and huffing softly as he curled in to rest. Neither had been given a ration of energon that morning and it was slowly creeping into midday. The Predacon couldn't be too choosy about energon, either; he was a larger mech after all. Starscream was being selective about when he refueled based upon who brought it to him. Anything delivered personally by Megatron was left untouched.

As if someone had magically gained the ability to read minds, the lift doors opened to reveal C.Y.L.A.S. and Hardshell, arms both stacked with energon cubes. Predaking's helm lifted quickly and he growled, sniffing at them carefully. His optics turned to Starscream, whose fear and demeanor were neutral, and the Predacon settled for a huff, standing to glare down at the two new mechs.

"Well, well, so you have it working for you now," C.Y.L.A.S. smirked as he walked passed Predaking; two of the three cubes he was holding were set beside the beast, but the third was smaller and he carried it to the silver seeker, "I have to admit, I was surprised to hear it reacted in such a way towards his master. Shockwave may have made it, but Megatron controls it."

Starscream had to inwardly sneer as he stood to meet the disfigured mech, his expression grim, "You really know nothing, do you?"

C.Y.L.A.S. handed the cube to the silver mech, shrugging, "Animals? Monsters? In my human life I had time for neither, only discipline and hard work. So Predaking is somewhat of a mystery to me. That doesn't mean I want to get to know it any better."

Starscream hummed as he set the cube on the ground and glanced at Hardshell, "And him?"

The Insecticon placed his stack of cubes beside Predaking, hissing when the beast growled at him.

C.Y.L.A.S. frowned, "He and some of the other Insecticons have taken to following me around. I'm not complaining, but it is odd..." he smirked, reaching out to touch Starscream's faceplate with the same fervor as Megatron, "Why? Have anything to sha-"

The silver mech snarled and slapped the black mech's servo away, the sound making Predaking rise up and roar. C.Y.L.A.S. scowled and backed away from the seeker, watching the beast carefully.

"Another time then," he huffed, gesturing for Hardshell to back up as well.

The pair cautiously made their way to the lifts and entered, leaving Predaking to guard over his charge. Starscream waited until after the lifts had clearly descended to sigh and let himself sit again. He stared at the cube beside him and turned away. His fuel levels were low and he knew he needed the energon, but his tank hurt with all that he had been through. He didn't want to risk losing more than he was taking in.

A low, rumbling noise caught his attention and his helm snapped up, his bright optics locking with Predaking's form as the beast called to him softly. The Predacon saw the attention and carefully took a cube of his own from his pile, walking half way between the pair to set the cube down and back away. He let out a sound akin to a bark and rumbled again, making a gesture to the cube.

Starscream fidgeted and stared at the offering. This... Predaking was different. Granted, he hadn't had the same introduction or reaction to the creature as before, but maybe it helped that Megatron was treating the seeker so poorly. And that the Predacon was bearing witness to something so horrid... It was a sad thought.

Predaking barked again and went over to the cube, pushing it gently towards Starscream. The seeker watched, standing before the Predacon could back away. His fear towards this creature wasn't needed, not anymore; his effort needed to be put elsewhere. So with what little strength and will Starscream had left he walked forward, clenching his bound servos tightly to steel himself.

Predaking let out a confused purr and backed himself into the hangar as the silver mech walked passed the cube and to him. The Predacon turned his helm away, trying to seem disinterested, and snorted quietly.

Starscream took a soft intake, "... Hello."

Predaking huffed, but still refused to look at him.

The seeker groaned, his shoulders slumping, "Oh, don't give me that. I know, I've been pretty awful, but if you knew what I'd just gone through-"

The Predacon stared down at the smaller mech, his helm cocked to the side. He wasn't screaming, he wasn't shrieking... he wasn't shouting orders or talking slowly so he would 'understand his commands'... It was different in any case.

Starscream whined and leaned away, "... I'm sorry, am I doing this wrong? Do I need to start over or...?"

Predaking leaned his helm down slowly and rumbled, sniffing at the seeker. The fear was quickly present in the way he flinched and smelled... but he wasn't making any horrid noises.

The seeker shook terribly as he slowly raised his servos for the beast to smell and inspect, holding back a squeal when Predaking nudged at the black, imbedded metal braces that bound his wrists together. The Predacon's outer mandibles tapped at them gently and he hissed, looking to Starscream for whatever explanation he could give.

The silver mech looked away, letting his arms fall back down, "I don't like them either, but I didn't have a choice when they were... given to me. Megatron finds them useful, I suppose."

Predaking growled and it took a wince before silence to make Starscream realize the sound wasn't directed at him, "... Oh... Oh, something we can agree on then."

The Predacon cocked his helm again and the seeker sighed, "I guess I'll apologize again. I'm putting a little too much on your plate right now..." he walked back out onto the deck and went to his cube, sitting and patting beside him, "If you're not too high and mighty with yourself, oh P..." he was struggling again, but he sighed softly and spoke more gently, "Predaking..." the name didn't come to him easily, but the next part did, "would you be so inclined as to sit with me? You're possibly the only friendly faceplate I have on this ship. It would be nice to have some company..."

Predaking blinked slowly and stood, taking a cube from his pile as he walked over and sat, not too close, to the treasure he had taken from his master.