A/N: This one is by Canti.

WARNING! Character death. You have been warned.

Megatron/Starscream (TF:A)

"One Last Kiss to Bid You Goodbye"

Blood seeped between his fingers, oozed down the back of his hand and onto his wrist, staining his flesh. His fingers tensed to clutch the wound on his chest even tighter. A horrible ache rattled his nervous system, and he dragged a groan from his throat. His entire form trembled – too weak to continue. Panting for a deep breath, he eased himself against a tree.

He forfeited to death.

There was nothing he could do.

Starscream pushed out another groan, and the quiet sound faded off. He forced his eyelids up, turning his blurred gaze to the skies. It was getting dark. He could still hear gunfire in the distance, Autobot voices…but no sign of his own faction.

They just left him to die...

"Uhnnn," the groaned in pain again.

He coughed, tasting blood in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he swallowed, laying his head against the ground.

He waited to die. He wondered how it would feel.

Then, footsteps. Approaching him.

As much as he wanted to lift his head to look, his body would not allow him to do so. Instead, he clawed at the earth, hopeless.

If it were an Autobot, he braced himself for death.

What if it were a Decepticon?

Starscream didn't lift his hopes. He was sure they would just leave him.

Someone's hand – it was large, yet tender – cradled his jaw and turned his face. A second hand fell against the gentle groove of his side, shifting him onto his back with caution. Starscream forced his eyelids upward, once again, struggling to sharpen his gaze. It sharpened, and blurred, in and out of focus.

He mustered to make out a little. He saw dark hair tussled over blood red eyes, such a handsome face looking down at him with an unfamiliar concern. Such masculine beauty was instantly recognizable. He turned his face away, only to nuzzle his cheek in Megatron's palm. He sighed slowly.

"…Get out of here," Starscream struggled through a groan. "Just get out of here..." A pause. "Wh-Why did you come back…?

Megatron's eyes fell over his Second's wound, examining. He didn't respond for at least a cycle, instead slipping a hand against Starscream's chest. He pressed inward. "I couldn't leave just yet."

Starscream shivered at the touch. He listened to breaths quivered in and out of his mouth. "…What are you d-doing?"

Megatron felt it.

It was weak, but nonetheless, there.

A faint heartbeat against his palm. Starscream's lifesource struggled to pump sufficient amounts of blood through his system, and it wouldn't be for much longer. His hand slid away.

"Your lifesource...it's weak. This wound barely missed it..." He paused. "…You shouldn't have ventured out on your own, Starscream," he told him firmly, softly. "You wouldn't be like this if you listened to my orders."

Starscream eased his cheek deeper into his leader's hand. "I thought I could take that Autobot on my own," he uttered weakly. "…I was wrong, my liege…I-I'm sorry."

A thumb brushed across his cheek. Megatron didn't answer. His eyes studied the pain etched in Starscream's handsome features and leaned in a little.

"N-No...Quiet," he hushed him.

A part of him told him to leave, leave Starscream to die. Yet, the other half told him to stay. He would miss him, a voice in his mind said. Sure, life without Starscream's insubordinate attitude would be somewhat heavenly. But then again, life without all of that seemed so…empty. Megatron had grown so used to it, and perhaps a little fond.

The weak plea came again. "Commander, I'm sorry...F-Forgive me."

Megatron shook his head. "Don't be sorry, Starscream," he murmured. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have kept my eyes on you…"

Starscream's eyes started to cloud. Megatron couldn't tell if those were tears, or if Starscream was losing life faster than he thought. Seconds passed before anyone spoke. Finally, Starscream turned his eyes away. "Just go…G-Go back to headquarters," he insisted. "There's nothing you can do."

Megatron shook his head. "I'm not leaving you."

A tender hand brushed the hair from across Starscream's forehead as he leaned closer. His lips hovered.

"Nnnn..." Starscream groaned into his master's mouth. "Megatron..."

Megatron looked into his Second's clouded eyes. "...I'm almost sorry for loving you."

At this, their lips met.

Starscream let his eyelids fall. A groan – one of pain and pleasure – flowed into his master's mouth. He felt a tongue massage against his own, felt beautiful lips passionately kissing his own.

Megatron moaned, savoring the faint taste of the blood that stained Starscream's tongue and teeth. He lapped at every trace of the liquid. Pulling his mouth away, he felt pants hit against his cheeks and send chills down his spine. Starscream gasped for a breath, groaning up for more. Megatron didn't hesitate to obey.

"I'm sorry," Starscream breathed between kisses. "I'm so sorry. I should have listened, my liege." The guilt was all to evident in his voice.

Megatron groaned and shook his head. "Don't say that." He kissed a little harder.

Starscream bucked. The rough kiss shot an ache through his system, again. He cried out a noise of pain into their kiss. Instinctively, Megatron gently broke their kiss with his cold eyes alive in concern.

He cradled Starscream's form in a tender embrace and lifted him from the ground, brushing flecks of dirt from his hair. A hand slipped behind his head and supported, running loving fingers through a soft mane. He listened to the groans of pain and struggling breaths, cringing only faintly.

"Megatron," he heard his name so softly. "...I-I love you."

The Decepticon Leader brought his comrade against him, holding him close against his form. He felt another heart beat on top of his own. It slowed to mere thumps here and there, uneven, skipping…

In seconds, it was nothing but a memory.

Starscream grew too lax in the embrace. Megatron pulled away, scanning his eyes over such lifelessness and eerie serenity in his love's features. He laid him on the ground once again and stood to leave.

He didn't look back, and there was nothing to say.

Every word he ever wanted to say had been uttered through love.

--

Moony: I cried at the end of this, and I never cry for ANYTHING. I guess I just love Starscream too much.