X
The Royal Vosian guards were out doing flight manoeuvres. It was more of a public display that actual training, but Starscream loved the way they'd loop around each other, in perfect formation, so casually and laid back. It was more than worth sneaking out to go and watch them.
They were beautiful, tall, and proud. Everything he'd always wanted to be. He glanced at his disproportionate appendages, flexing them. He'd grow into them, one day. And then he'd be able to really fly. Just like the guards. Of course, he would never express his future career goals to his resentful sire, because the guards may look majestic and kindly, but they were evil. Pure evil. As was the sovereign they served.
But Starscream thought she was beautiful as well.
He pushed away from the side of the building he was hiding behind, watching the guards retreat in formation, leaving the outskirts and returning to the heart of Vos, where the palace and the true beauty of his home lay. He sighed wistfully.
He used to think one day, if he ever managed to finally build up the courage, he would ask one of the guards for help. Maybe they'd take him and his sire to a nicer place, a safer warmer home. He knew they weren't evil, they were too beautiful. They couldn't be.
He rushed to the next alley, careful to make sure he wasn't seen. He'd have to be quick, who knew when his sire would rouse from his drunken stupor in an angry fit -but this was the only time he could ever go out. His sire still didn't know he could hack the door panel, and he didn't intend to allow him to find out.
Starscream fled around another corner, not looking where he was going, and promptly smacked right into someone's thigh.
He fell back to the hard ground, aft bouncing on the unforgiving metal as he covered his faceplates in pain. "Hey!" he snapped before even looking up at whoever he had run into. His scowl instantly slipped from his face as he caught a glimpse of silvery white armour and red details on a tall, powerful but sleek frame.
A Royal guard.
Starscream's mouth fell open shamelessly.
The guard must have been used to being awed at; he smiled slightly before extending a large red servo to help him up. "My apologies little one, I didn't see you there."
Starscream took his servo, a shiver running through his frame as their armour made contact. He was too amazed to be annoyed at being called "little one."
"Are you alright?'"
Starscream shook himself from his trance and nodded his helm, finally shutting his mouth as he realized how ridiculous he must have looked in front of the guard. He could have stood in silence staring at the mech for hours, regardless of getting caught by his sire.
Something in the mech's handsome expression changed and his optics narrowed slightly. He leant forwards, toward Starscream.
"What's your name?" he asked calmly, but Starscream could hear some tension behind the words. He didn't answer, thinking back on all the times his sire had warned him not to give his name to strangers.
Then guard's demeanour really changed. He took a step forward, expression becoming angry, "What is your name?" he said more firmly.
Starscream shuffled, scared. Perhaps his creator had been right. Perhaps the guards weren't very nice after all. He swallowed and shook his helm, taking a step back.
And the guard advanced just as quickly, "Who are your creators?" he barked, reaching out that same red servo towards him, this time to grab him instead of aiding him.
He bolted, not risking a glance over his shoulder as he rushed back the way he came. He heard thrusters ignite and his panic reached its breaking point. He moved his legs that much faster, not daring to look behind him. He could hear how close the guard was, engines ringing in his audials.
By some Primus given miracle he spotted a drain, big enough for him and far too small for the guard. Without a second thought of the filth that might have laid in the drainage systems he flung himself forwards, scraping his cockpit on the ground as he shuffled under the gap and down out of reach.
He landed in the more spacious pipes beneath the street levels. The guard's thrusters appeared at the gap where he had crawled in and were soon replaced by his face.
"Stay there!" he called down as he spotted his tiny shivering form, "I'm coming to get you."
Starscream's optics widened in fear. He had to escape fast. He rushed down the drain, hoping he could plan his way back to his creator using his sense of direction alone.
A joor later, covered in filth, panting harshly, and scared within an inch of his life Starscream flew through his front door. Not bothering to be sneaky about it, his creator would already be awake.
"Starscream!" his sire's voice roared, as expected.
But Starscream was too relieved to be home to be scared. Tears started to stream down his cheek plates as he leant against the door frame. He was safe. His sire wouldn't let the guards get him. He was going to be okay.
"How dare you!" he creator snarled before he was even in sight. He stumbled out of his room and into the living area. He froze when he saw him, furious expression morphing into disgust. Starscream sniffed, opening his mouth to explain.
"You filthy little fragger," his sire slurred at him, servos curling into fists as he suddenly advanced on Starscream. Starscream slammed himself back against the door, realizing too late that he had nowhere to go.
The strong scent of stale high grade and used lubricant filled Starscream's olfactory sensors. "Sire!" he cried out before wincing as his wing was squeezed. Instinctively he jerked back.
"What have you been doing?!"
Starscream pushed at the large servo clutching is wing, desperately scrambling for the words he needed to tell his sire. It was important. "Royal Guards!" he gasped out, "They chased me!"
His sire froze, and the grip on his wing eased. Starscream opened his optics and chanced a look up to see an expression of fear on his creator face. It made his spark skip a beat. If it was enough to worry his sire, such a strong mech, then he should be terrified. As suddenly as it had come, his sire's expression flicked back to furious again. The servo left his wing only to be swung into his face. The force of the blow was enough to spin Starscream on the spot, before he fell to the floor.
"You stupid child!" his creator roared. Starscream scrambled on the floor to get away, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry!" he cried, desperately, "It wasn't my fault!"
His sire ignored him, stomping forward to loom over him, "How many where there?! What did you tell them?!"
Starscream shook his helm, "Nothing! I didn't I swear. There was only one! He chased me!"
His sire swept away from him, rushing to the nearest window to gaze out into the street desperately before slapping the panel next to it. Metal shutters fell down over all the windows, almost completely blocking out the light in their small apartment.
"You led him back here?" his sire accused, rushing back across the room to him.
Starscream propped himself up against the wall, shaking his helm, "No! I swear! I ran away. I climbed through the drains. He didn't follow me!" he said in a rush, panicking, "I lost him!"
His sire seemed to calm down slightly, "You lost him," he said to himself while starting to pace back in forth, "You escaped through the drainage system and lost him."
Starscream nodded his helm vigorously, "I didn't say anything to him." he repeated.
His sire stopped in front of him, and then bent down, extending his servo, "Good," he mumbled, "Good. You're a clever little sparkling aren't you?"
Starscream nodded but didn't get up; unsure as to whether it was safe to approach yet. His sire's unfocused optics seemed to glaze over as he looked at him, "Come here."
Starscream stood up, shaky slightly. The ache in his wing and cheek still throbbing painfully enough to make him hesitate, but his sire reached out and tugged him into a hug. Starscream allowed himself to relax slightly, resting his helm on the larger seeker's cockpit. The arms tightened around him painfully.
"You're mine," his sire muttered over his helm possessively, "I won't let them take you from me. I'd kill you before I let them have you."
Starscream didn't flinch at his sire's words, more than used to hearing him talk in such a way. He didn't believe him. He was just overcharged, stressed, worried… there were hundreds of reasons. He just had to try harder to make life easier for his creator, that was all. He needed to stop making him so angry. Stop disobeying him all the time.
He vowed then to try harder.
Of course his resolve was quickly turned into resentment when he found himself locked in the cupboard not three klicks later. He didn't scream. It never worked and his creator normally fell into recharge before he came to let him out again. He simply set to work unlocking the door panel as he always did, fighting back his mounting claustrophobia. His creator would have forgotten about leaving him in there by morning, anyway.
It was the last cycle he'd ever watched the guards, and the last time he ever snuck out of the apartment.
He didn't want to be a palace guard anymore.
X
The feeling of falling, despite being completely immobile, jolted Starscream awake... again.
It was a dream, or more specifically, a memory. His creator pushing him again. Whether it be to the floor, down the stairs, or out a window it always terrified him, especially when it was so unprovoked.
At this point he'd usually clamber into Megatron's berth with him. The gladiator's presence never failed to chase away the rotting memories of the mech who'd raised him; the mech whom he had no choice but to reluctantly love, regardless of what he did.
But if he wanted a rust stick that option was out of the question. He'd have to sit up and keep his mind occupied elsewhere until morning. And he'd already read all the data-pads the older mech owned. Huffing in annoyance he watched Megatron on the opposite berth, watched his colossal chest rise and fall with every deep intake, the sound filling the quiet room.
How was he supposed to go back to recharge with that noise anyway?
He crossed his arms irritably and tried to focus elsewhere. A creaking noise drew his attention back and he turned to see Megatron shifting on the berth, turning his frame to face him, one of his arms fell off the berth limply, almost as if the gladiator was unconsciously gesturing for Starscream to join him. But Starscream was too clever to fall for that trick. He wanted his rust sticks frag-it, and nothing was going to stop him from getting them.
He could, of course, steal them back but... stealing from Megatron didn't seem to have the same appeal stealing from his creator used to have. His sire used to make him so angry sometimes that he'd just take things and hide them or break them; things that wouldn't usually be noticed missing. It gave him some small sense of satisfaction, made him feel like he did have some control, some way of fighting back against his sire, even if only a little.
He didn't really want to fight with Megatron. He was a grumpy aft head that hadn't smiled once, but he really liked him. He was starting to like him more than anyone he'd ever liked before.
A wave of sadness washed over him, and he didn't know why. He really wanted to just curl up next to Megatron... but he really, really wanted some more rust sticks.
Perhaps there was a way around this.
Starscream leapt to the floor lightly, tiny thrusters clicking quietly. He glanced up at the huge mech on the berth next to him. Megatron was still deep in recharge. He hurried to the side of his berth, hoping his mere presence would be enough to wake the light sleeping gladiator. Somehow, it didn't.
Starscream scowled to himself. The one time he wanted Megatron to wake up, he didn't.
Tentatively, as he reached out and poked the gladiator's arm. At first he didn't stir and Starscream was about to reach out and do it again when his deep voice rasped out, "Don't. You. Dare."
Starscream smiled, even though Megatron's optics were closed and he couldn't see it, "Can I have a rust stick now?"
"No."
Starscream smile faltered, he'd forgotten what an aft Megatron was. "You said if I stayed in my own berth all night you'd give me a rust stick."
Megatron onlined an optic and squinted at him, "You're not in your berth now."
"But I'm not in yours either," Starscream countered and held out a servo expectantly. "I can have one... please."
Megatron quirked at optical ridge at the way the seeker had hissed the last word as if it were a dirty insult. He frowned. "It's the middle of the recharge cycle. Get back in your berth, Sparklings as small as you should be getting more recharge more than this."
He realized the mistake he'd made a moment too late, and winced in anticipation.
"I'm not a sparkling!" Starscream howled, stomping his thrusters, "And I'm not little! I'm tall for my age and my wings are almost fully developed!" he snapped arrogantly.
Megatron rolled his optics, "You look more like an underdeveloped Minibot to me." He grumbled.
Unfortunately, Starscream heard. And Megatron was probably more shocked than he'd ever been before when a tiny fist slammed into his side. He sat straight up and just stared at Starscream, mouth slightly parted, now fully awake.
Starscream glared back defiantly, but his chin was wobbling slightly.
"Did you just hit me?" he said incredulously, absently wondering why he was bothering to even ask when the seeker obviously had.
Starscream's glare faulted and he looked down in embarrassment, "No!" he lied.
"Don't lie," Megatron glared, "It's too early," he rubbed his side, surprised at how much force had been behind the punch. "Do I hit you?" he snapped at the seeker.
Starscream's mouth opened and closed and he fought for something to say, "I didn't-"
"How would you like it if I started hitting you?" Megatron growled sternly. He could deal with Starscream being a snotty little brat, disobeying him, running off and even swearing at him, but he wasn't going to let the seeker think he could get away with hitting him, or anyone else for that matter -not here where no one would take kindly to it.
Starscream's expression became fearful, and he shook his helm, "It was an accident." He claimed, stepping away from him. His optics widened as Megatron swung his legs over the edge of the berth and leant forward on his knees to glare at him.
But he didn't do anything else.
Starscream stood there awkwardly for a while, wondering whether he should ask or not.
"Well?" Megatron growled and Starscream jumped.
"What?" He said, fighting back a shudder. "Aren't... aren't you going to hit me?" he asked quietly.
Megatron's optics narrowed at the very idea of him hitting the tiny seeker, at the idea of anyone hitting him. And he didn't like how accepting Starscream seemed at the idea of being struck. "No." He answered stiffly, "Though I would have thought even someone as insolent as you knew when to apologize."
Starscream's expression changed to grumpy again, and he crossed his arms, "You apologize for calling me a minibot!"
Another growl rumbled in Megatron's chest, "In the space of five breems you have woken me up, demanded a treat for waking me up, hit me, lied about hitting me and then refused to apologize for it."
Starscream pouted; well when he listed it like that of course he was going to look bad. "You called me a minibot!" he shouted again.
"I said you 'looked like a minibot'," Megatron corrected him, "Not that you were one. And I had no intention of upsetting you." Starscream continued scowling, and Megatron realized he'd need to set a good example. "I'm sorry." He said stiffly.
Starscream blinked, anger fading from his expression, "...Sorry." he mumbled under his breath in return.
"I didn't quite catch that," Megatron rumbled.
Starscream glared at him, "Sor-ry!" he snapped in a disrespectful tone.
Megatron had no choice but to accept the small victory and move on, for now at least. "What are you doing up?" he asked, checking his internal chrono, "I was under the impression sparklings were supposed to recharge-"
"I'm not a sparkling!" Starscream shrieked. Primus! How many times did he have to say it!
Megatron ignored him, "Why are you awake?" He asked again, fixing the seeker with a stern look.
Starscream didn't answer, instead shuffled his thrusters awkwardly like he did whenever he wanted to avoid answering a question. There was a slight hint of embarrassment to the way Starscream fiddled with his fingers though.
Almost against his will, his expression softened, "Did you have another nightmare?" He asked as gently as he could.
Of course Starscream blushed, optics widening as he realized Megatron knew about his haunted recharge cycles, "I don't have nightmares! I'm not a sparkling!" He cried, panicked but Megatron continued to stare at him in that unsettlingly knowing way.
Megatron swung his legs back onto the berth and laid down, "Since nothing is keeping you up I'd suggest you go back to recharge." He closed his optics.
A few moments of silence passed before Megatron cracked them open a little again. As he'd suspected, Starscream was still there. "Right!" he growled, sitting up, "I've had it."
Starscream stumbled back as Megatron got up off the berth, "I'm not tired!" he shrieked as he tried to dive out of the gladiator's reach. Megatron swooped down and caught him around the waist, lifting him up, struggling with his kicking thrusters, and carried them three steps across the room and back to his berth. "Megatroooon!" he whined dramatically.
Megatron dropped him on the berth, glaring down at him sparklessly when he bounced twice and winced as his aft collided with the hard metal.
"And don't think you're getting any rust sticks now!" Megatron snarled nastily, stomping back to his berth.
"No!" Starscream's little voice rang out across the room, "But I didn't get into your berth!"
Megatron ignored him and collapsed on his own berth, so tired, worn out, and recharge deprived. He'd fallen back into recharge before he even heard the last of Starscream's rant.
So it shouldn't have been a surprise the next morning to wake up with the distinctly familiar weight pressed between his shoulder armour. He had half a processor to 'accidentally' roll over and crush the sparkling in his recharge, but the idea of eating the seeker's rust sticks in front of him seemed like a far more satisfying idea.
X
"I hate you," Starscream muttered across the room for the fifth time that morning.
Megatron didn't turn to look at him, still concentrating on the door panel, chewing on half a rust stick still hanging out of his mouth as he worked. He grunted in acknowledgment. Starscream sat on his berth, arms crossed and looking miserable, watching him as he attempted to rewire the door lock.
He was not a technical mech in the slightest, just as he was not a particularly good medic, which was why Axel, a freak in several ways, was an asset he couldn't afford to lose. Especially when he couldn't trust any of the other residents to repair him if something important ended up damaged. These muses aside, he found that he wasn't particularly surprised when he managed to electrocute himself.
He jolted and fell back, tools dropping from his servos with a clang as the buzz ran through his frame, stinging and singeing several wires in his servo. He shook his helm, dismissing the pain and continued with his work, trying to ignore how Starscream had sat up so much straighter on the berth.
He concentrated that much harder. He couldn't do it again now that the seeker was watching him so closely. He picked up his tool, and replaced inside the panel when-
Megatron's entire right arm went numb as another shock of electricity ran through it. He spasmed on the spot, tool flying out of his servo and into the air as he lost control of his limbs.
And Starscream burst into shrieks of laughter, falling back on the berth and rolling around.
Megatron scrambled for his tool and glowered at him, "Quiet you!" he rumbled, it wasn't that funny, "You're still in disgrace."
Starscream clapped his servos to his mouth to stop Megatron from being able to spot his grin. The gladiator grunted and returned to his work, slightly more tentative now, that last jolt of electricity had hurt quite a lot.
"I can help!" Starscream called across the room, his shout distracted Megatron and his servo slipped... again.
"Primus-frag-it!" Megatron roared, standing up as his entire frame rang with pain and threw his tool to the floor in anger.
Starscream didn't seem at all phased by his outburst, jumping off his berth and bending to pick up the discarded tool. He studied it for a moment before throwing it down again and trotting to the door panel. Megatron was too busy cradling his now smoking servo to notice, it stank of burning plastic. He'd probably need that rewired now.
Starscream studied the mangled remains of wires in the door panel and shook his helm at Megatron's shoddy work before slipping his servo in, plucking at wires and twisting them together. Megatron finally stopped muttering under his breath about his injury long enough to notice him.
"Starscream," He growled, rushing forward to drag the sparkling away, "Get your servos out of there before you electrocute yourself."
Starscream shrugged him off, replacing his servos inside the jumbled mess of wires, "I know what I'm doing!" he hissed impatiently, "I taught myself."
Megatron took a step back and tried to think of any situation that might require a sparkling needing to teach themselves how to rewire door locks. He didn't like the implications behind it. He stood back and watched the youngling, knowing that even though he had told Starscream not to, he would only get blamed when the seeker hurt himself later.
But surprisingly, or not considering the seeker's other talents, Starscream looked as if he knew what he was doing. Megatron sat back and watched him work. Perhaps there was an upside to having the seeker around, if he knew how to fix things. Maybe he could even have him trained as a medic so he could finally get rid of Axel.
And then Megatron suddenly realized something. He closed his optics at his own stupidity and slapped his forehelm, muttering under his breath, "Frag's sake."
Starscream looked up from his work, "What?" he asked curiously.
Megatron merely shook his helm. He was letting Starscream rewire the very device he planned to keep the seeker locked away with. If the youngling could rewire it to accept exit codes, he could easily rewire it to bypass or accept a different exit code as soon as Megatron left him unattended in the room.
He could never be contained.
It was hopeless. He's have no choice but to tie the youngling down somewhere, or perhaps get him a leash. At this rate it looked as if he'd need to leave the seeker with Steelstrut again tonight.
"Come on," He murmured gently, ushering Starscream away from the door panel with his undamaged servo, "We'll deal with that later."
Starscream looked up confused, "But I can fix it."
"Fix it later," Megatron said, urging him away from the open panel and slamming its cover back on with an unnecessary amount of force, denting it out of shape. He grumbled under his breath when he saw what he'd done. Starscream had the nerve to snicker. "Stay here and entertain yourself," he growled at the seeker, punching the panel until the door slid open.
Starscream pouted, "Where are you going?"
"Med bay," Megatron said casually, stepping out the door, "Read some data-pads if you get bored but stay away from the door panel."
Starscream ran over before the door slid shut, "I've read them all!" he called after him.
Megatron stopped and turned slowly, "All of them?"
Starscream nodded and Megatron raised an optical ridge. He'd already used up his only resource that had kept the youngling entertained and it had only been a few cycles. He turned contemplative optics on the seeker, thinking.
"You like data-pads?" he asked, trying to recall if there was a library anywhere in Kaon, he doubted it.
Starscream gave him an incredulous look, "Good ones." He corrected.
"I will get you some more data-pads later," Starscream smiled, "If you behave whilst I am gone."
The seeker's smile faltered, but he nodded, "Can I come?"
Megatron rolled his optics opening his mouth, "What did I just-"
"To get the data-pads," Starscream cut across him before he could be denied again, "You'll get boring ones if I'm not there!" he whined, "I know you will."
The highly irritating throb in Megatron's servo led him to nod at the seeker, relenting this one time. Perhaps taking him outside, but keeping him very, very close, would allow him to use up some of Starscream's endless energy.
"We'll see," He said, turning and walking up the corridor.
He couldn't help but smirk as Starscream's defiant voice cried after him, "But that always means no!"
X
Starscream was jumping up and down on the berth in excitement when he finally returned, and Megatron had a hard time keeping his expression stern and annoyed. Starscream jumped off the berth and onto the floor when he finally stepped through the threshold and he fully expected the seeker to start pestering him over whether they could go right now. So he was rather surprised when Starscream jumped up to get hold of his newly repaired servo, studying it intensely.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked curiously, poking at Megatron's thumb.
He pulled his servo out of Starscream's grip gently, an odd expression on his face, "No." He said quietly, confused over the seeker's concern. Or was it merely curiosity.
Starscream's disinterest immediately afterwards told him that it was in fact curiosity, "Are we going now?" he asked quickly, starting to bounce on his heels again.
"Yes, alright," Megatron groaned, already having second thoughts about taking the seeker out in public. "But I have some rules first."
Starscream pulled a face, optical ridges drawing down and mouth pulling into a thin line, "Rules?" he said disbelievingly. His sire had only ever given him one rule when he's allowed him out -which was admittedly not often. Don't go near the authorities, other than that he hadn't give a slag about what he did.
Megatron nodded, "Don't talk to strangers," Starscream rolled his optics and crossed his arms, nodding his helm, "No wandering off, you stay where I can see you at all times, and don't mess around."
Starscream pouted, "I don't mess around. I'm not a sparkling."
Megatron huffed in disbelief, slapping the door panel and gesturing for Starscream to step into the hallway, "We'll see."
Starscream trotted out in front of him, excited that he was finally going out with Megatron. He ran up the hallway, and then back down it to usher the gladiator along. Megatron frowned down at him but didn't hurry his pace. Starscream ran ahead again, reaching the stairs and bounced on the spot until Megatron caught up a little.
"Calm down," Megatron called after him, walking languidly after the youngling, shaking his helm.
"Come on Megatron!" Starscream shouted down the hallway impatiently.
Megatron increased his stride, sighing, though he couldn't deny that the seeker was at least somewhat amusing. The walk back up to the first surface level took longer than usual, with Starscream complaining for him to hurry up every few seconds, though it might have had something to do with him deliberately slowing down to upset the brat. As soon as the door was unlocked and opened into the street, Starscream lunged out, and Megatron nearly tripped over his own pedes trying to catch him before he did.
"Starscream!" He bellowed after the errant seeker, "What did I say?!"
Starscream didn't appear to be listening to him as he ran out into the middle of the street, "Where are we going?!" He called back to the larger mech when he realized he had no idea what their destination was.
Megatron didn't answer and took the opportunity to stomp over to the seekers side. Several passing mechs had noticed the seeker and were already taking an unnecessary amount of interest in him. Starscream didn't even seem to notice. Megatron's glowering and threatening snarls soon dissuaded any other curious residents, however.
He grasped Starscream's shoulder vent and tugged him close, "This is what you call staying close, is it?"
"You said not to leave your sight," Starscream corrected happily, an arrogant smirk plastered across his young face.
Megatron scowled at the seeker's untroubled demeanour, he didn't want to think what would happen if he lost track of him for even a moment, even in the middle of the cycle. They were too far down into the depths of Kaon for it to be safe. "We're going to the upper levels," Megatron informed him, "There'll be less brothels and perhaps even a library up there."
Starscream smiled up at him but this time didn't rush off, "Stay close," Megatron reminded him.
Starscream rolled his optics again and skipped forward. Megatron was content to have the seeker walking a few paces in front of him, that way he was always in his line of sight and close enough to ward off any particularly desperate or devious mechs. Starscream even seemed to be enjoying himself, until they passed one of the many brothels in the bottom layer.
Nothing was said but one of the patrons outside, just entering the building, paused as his optics caught sight of a flash of colour. He turned to spot Starscream, who was unfortunately staring right back. The large mech, a dark, navy blue in colour, started towards him, lecherous grin in place, and Starscream froze.
Whatever the mech had intended to do once within reach of Starscream didn't really matter, because the seeker should have known Megatron wouldn't let the mech anywhere near him. Starscream took a step back from the approaching mech just before Megatron came out of nowhere, standing protectively in front of him, a low, deep sound escaping his vocaliser.
The navy mech immediately backed off, servos held out in front of him, showing he wasn't willing to fight over the seeker, but Megatron remained where he was, glaring murderously at the mech until he vanished through the brothel doors.
He turned back to Starscream who was stood close to his leg. He gestured with his servo for him to go on ahead but the seeker caught his fingers instead, and squeezed them. Megatron tried to pull back but the youngling wouldn't let go, had he been an adult mech with stronger armour his grip might have been enough to leave dents. He left the seeker as he was, gripping his fingers and occasionally pushing against his leg.
They walked on, and Megatron found himself missing the happy, carefree Starscream that had been running about ahead of him, especially in comparison to the frightened youngling that kept his optics so intently downwards for fear of catching anyone's gaze that he kept tripping over things. It was better when they eventually made it to the upper levels however. The brighter light seemed to lift Starscream's spirits, his grip on Megatron's servo already loosening.
After a few inquiries Megatron was able to find somewhere that at least had data-pads, though he wouldn't go as far as to call it a library. It was a relatively nice building, as nice buildings went in Kaon, it was tall and even had steps leading up to the front door, though the effect was ruined by the amount of drunken or homeless mechs lounging about on them. It soon became clear these steps were nothing but a hindrance however. Whoever had designed the 'library' clearly hadn't had sparklings in mind.
And much to the seeker's embarrassment, Starscream really couldn't get up them. Megatron had to hand it to him, he did at least try, but not even running and jumping to push himself up into the first step seemed to work. After three attempts and it became clear the seeker was both getting nowhere and it didn't look like he was going to make himself look inferior by asking for help, Megatron took pity on him. Walking back down the steps he lifted the youngling under the arms, walking back up and then placed Starscream back on his thrusters at the top by the door. Restraining himself from smirking as the seeker pouted at him.
He pushed open the door and allowed Starscream to step through before him. Starscream rushed in, previous embarrassment forgotten as his excitement returned. "What data-pad's do you-"
"Science!" Starscream burst out before he could finish the sentence. Megatron lifted an optical ridge in surprise. He would have thought the seeker would prefer data-pads with stories, at least. Wasn't that what younglings liked?
He decided not to question it, looking up at the signs informing visitors where what was. He wasn't going to ask someone, the staff didn't look particularly friendly, but then again, it was a library. He strode after Starscream, who seemed to know where he was going, at a leisurely pace, glancing at the archives as they passed.
"Up there!" Starscream's voice drew his attention back. Megatron glanced over to see the seeker pointing up to one of the topmost shelves labelled 'Astronomy'.
Megatron stepped over, "Which one?"
"All of them," Starscream said excitedly, "And then we need to go to and get some on chemistry, and physics, and geology and-"
Megatron shook his helm, "You want every scientific data-pad?"
Starscream nodded enthusiastically.
"We don't have to get them all now," Megatron informed him, lifting some of the pads off the shelves for Starscream, "We can come back another cycle for more."
Starscream blinked, "Really?"
Megatron nodded, and bent to hand some of the data-pads to the seeker, "I'm not carrying them all."
Starscream was looking around at the other shelves though, "You're really going to bring me back?" he asked, looking at him with amazed optics, "My sire never used to take me anywhere, and he never used to get me data-pads."
Megatron paused as he reached for the shelve once more, "You'll have plenty of things to read," He told the seeker, deciding to change the subject, "But for now I suggest you satisfy yourself with Astronomy and we'll come back for all those others another cycle."
His arms now full of as many data-pads as he could carry without hindering himself or looking ridiculous, he gestured for Starscream to follow, "Come. I have things that require my attention this evening."
He heard Starscream's thrusters clicking away on the floor behind him. The seeker had done a good job at keeping his processor distracted from the events to occur later in the night. He'd have to enlist Steelstrut's assistance and have him watch Starscream. It was all very well leaving the youngling on his own when he was away training or fighting just upstairs, but he wouldn't be fighting in his arena tonight.
The more he thought about it the more he didn't want to go. He'd much rather stay in his confined quarters and spend the rest of the cycle arguing with Starscream.
He killed before, but he wasn't a killer. Or at least, he'd never thought of himself as such. It didn't matter, he was doing it. He had to. He needed the credits and quite frankly, he barely earned enough to fuel himself as it was. Clench had underpaid him for too many vorns.
"When can we come back?" Starscream asked him once they had checked out the books and were stepping through the doors once more.
Megatron juggled with the data-pads for a moment as he tried to figure out how he was going to carry the tiny seeker down the steps with his servo's already full, "As soon as you've read these." Megatron replied. And he meant it too. He wasn't stupid enough to allow the seeker to get bored. Primus only knew what he'd get up to.
The beaming smile Starscream graced him with remained on his faceplates for the remainder of the trip back to the arena, and at one point Megatron found himself almost smiling back.
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