Ch. 185
"Don't huff at me, just do what I'm asking. Honestly, why is it that when I ask anyone to do anything, they act like they're being gouged?"
Predaking snorted and bellowed in a mock of laughter, causing Starscream's wings to perk.
"Oh, oh, is that how it is?" he scoffed, waving a servo at the Predacon as his other wrist lay limp and bound, "Well, you can't even speak yet, so who's the one who should really be laughing here, huh?"
The beast fluttered his wings, turning back to the mech as he sat and slowly held up both of his front paws, flexing his claws proudly.
Starscream glared, "Don't rub your freedom in my faceplates. That's rude. Who taught you manners, the scum on Hardshell's peds? Never flaunt that kind of thing. It's cruel."
Predaking cocked his helm and grumbled softly as he settled back down.
The seeker shrugged, "Fine. But only this time. My capacity to forgive is at an all time low. Don't expect this kind of treatment from any of them, I can at least guarantee that," Starscream moved to sit on the floor and was pleasantly surprised when the larger mech snuck his arm under him, giving him a place to rest, "Ooo, my own little perch. Is this to make up for the whole 'my servos are free and yours aren't' thing you just did?"
Predaking shook his helm, the tremor going down his back to his tail, and bubbled a growl. With a few more huffs and a snort, the beast then bobbed his helm as he made a throaty purr and crowed upwards. He was trying to communicate with the master's treasure, he was trying his best, but he knew the more complex messages he was attempting to create were most likely... lost to the silver mech.
Starscream had a kind look in his optic however; the seeker smiled, "Whatever you're trying to tell me, I appreciate the apology. And I shouldn't be pressing you so hard. Yes, you've had time to learn to make your own decisions, but you don't know everything. Maybe I should be dedicating my time to educating you instead of humoring Megatron's little arrangement for us, huh?"
Predaking tensed at the mention of the warlord's name. The more he smelled of him, the more he loathed him. The more he heard of him, the more he wanted to be sick. The more he saw of how the screechy seeker was tormented by the larger mech... the more he wanted to tear him to pieces.
Starscream frowned softly at the very evident glare on the Predacon's faceplate and tapped his cuffs against the beast's arm gently, "Hey, don't do that to yourself," Predaking looked confused until the smaller mech began speaking again, "I know what you're doing, you make that look every time you're thinking about him. Don't do that. You don't deserve to feel that way and he doesn't deserve even that much attention from you..." Starscream blinked and smiled a little as he shuddered, "Primus, is this what Optimus was doing for me? Gah, he made it look easy. And here I am, trying to help you like he helped me and I can't even get that right. Good thing I wasn't a Prime, I'd've mucked that up too..."
The Predacon leaned down to sniff at his charge and Starscream took the opportunity to take hold of his muzzle playfully, "Don't start. Until you start actually talking back, I'm left to guesswork and wistful conjecture. Do you know how hard it is for me to be positive in all this? It's fragging difficult. And on top of that, I still have to get myself out of this mess. It's so hard to plan when you're always being tossed around from one spot to another. And not allowed private accommodations. Maybe once you've figured your whole..." he gestured to Predaking's chassis, "self out, you can assist me. That will be entirely different. That would take some getting used to..."
The beast exhaled a warm intake against Starscream's frame and rumbled softly.
"Yes... I suppose a lot of what I say is confusing," the seeker admitted, "but really, don't fret. You'll figure it out soon enough. You're very intelligent, so don't let anyone try to take any credit from you. Understand?"
Predaking knelt his helm down carefully to the small mech, nuzzling against his charge; Starscream cooed gently in surprise to suppress a small scream, "Ooo... more affections for me? I like this, I appreciate this very much..." he was cautious as he stroked the Predacon's horns, sighing when his lack of range due to his binding prevented him from offering more, "I'm sorry that this is the best I can do right now. Stupid cuffs-!" he hissed, pulling back to struggle with them.
Starscream twisted his wrists as much as he dared, trying to get a sharp digit in between the connection to disrupt it. His left ped for a little freedom. He was very near to even entertaining the thought.
The seeker pouted and twisted more, wincing in pain at the different angles he stressed, when he felt the arm beneath him move just enough to make him pause. Predaking stood suddenly, sending Starscream to the floor with an irritated yelp, and the beast towered over him, watching.
"Uh... P-Predaking?" the silver mech asked tentatively.
The Predacon growled lightly and settled on his hind legs, his large claws reaching down to grab the seeker by his bound arms. Starscream's optics widened.
"W-what are you doing?! Put me down, put me DOWN now! STOP!"
Predaking ignored the loud and screechy pleas as he lifted his charge up from the floor and sniffed at the cuffs once more, growling at them.
Starscream gulped as he trembled, "A-alright, Predaking? I know you don't like them, but you're much bigger than me. You could really hurt me if you're not careful. If Megatron found out, you'd be killed. Brutally. Please. Just set me down... I know I'm upset with my restraints, but there's nothing I can do about it right now-"
The beast huffed and used his other large servo to grab the silver mech around the waist, being careful not to crush him. Before Starscream could protest further, Predaking slid a claw between the seeker's bound arms, making the silver mech cringe and whimper, and pulled it forward against the connection of the cuffs. The Predacon growled when it didn't disengage at first and tugged again carefully, almost crowing in victory when the black cuffs created sparks with the contact of his claw and then fell away from each other. Starscream stared in shock and held an intake.
"Th... they never assumed you could do that... did they?"
Predaking hummed and set the seeker back on the floor, sniffing at him; the silver mech trembled, "Y-your Decepticon signature... it let you do that. You just freed my servos..."
The beast grumbled and tapped his mandibles against the cuffs, but Starscream just smiled, "Fine, you severed their connection at least. I'd have to have these removed by a doctor to really be free..." the seeker sighed and rested his forehelm against Predaking's, "Thank you."
The Predacon hummed again, softer this time, and purred when the seeker started scratching around his horns again, "So," the silver mech began, "care to be a part of my major escape plan?"