Author's note. If anyone has any suggestions for this story, I'd love to hear them.
Enjoy and please review.
Ironhide opened his optics and glanced down at the Mech currently cradled in his arms. Their evening had progressed peacefully enough; Starscream had spent a very long time in the wash room. Law and Order had just began when the Seeker finally emerged, Ironhide had already watched two other law enforcement type shows and was just starting to wonder if Starscream would ever show himself.
Starscream looked utterly pristine; his armour was spotless and completely waxed. However, despite the care he'd taken with appearance, he didn't walk with quite the usual swagger, as though his Spark wasn't in it. He'd walked over to his berth and lay down, grabbing a nearby datapad, making it clear he didn't want to talk. Earlier, Ironhide had opened the curtain half way in case Starscream did want to interact while still having a sense of privacy.
He felt an enormous sense of pity towards the Seeker but didn't want to force his company on him. Sometimes, you needed to be left alone to recover, at least for a while. Starscream had Ironhide nearby and that was enough for now. Ironhide continued watching shows, just in case Starscream did need some interaction. However, all Starscream did was sulkily ask how to dim the lights.
"There should be a panel just above yer berth," Ironhide told him and Starscream immediately looked and found it, turning the lights completely down.
"Ah just wanna see the end of this and then ah'm gonna bed too," Ironhide had then told the Seeker, who just shrugged, his back to Ironhdie.
It hadn't lasted much longer, just twenty minutes and then Ironhide dimmed his own lights down until the room was bathed in semi darkness. He'd stayed awake of a bit, mulling over how life had changed so much for him and the Seeker. Worry over Megatron and his eventual reaction to Starscream's desertion, kept him from falling into recharge but eventually, tiredness had overcome him.
However, he did not recharge through the night, he was woken by the sound of whimpering. For a moment, he was confused and didn't full come awake until the sounds of distress were much closer. Opening his optics and squinting upwards, he beheld the shadowy figure of someone standing near his berth. A moment later, he realised that Starscream was crying and had come over to Ironhide in search of comfort.
The Seeker didn't say anything or even make a move to get nearer, but it was clear that he wanted reassurance. So Ironhide shifted slightly, opening his arms as he silently offered what Starscream desperately wanted. The Seeker had immediately clambered onto the berth, tumbling into Ironhide's arms and hugging tight. The red Mech had gently stroked the Seeker's back as he brokenly sobbed into his armour.
No words passed between them and they remained this way long after they both fell into recharge. And now Ironhide was awake but he could tell Starscream was still recharging as the faint hum of engines could be heard. He sighed and lightly stroked Starscream's head, wanting peaceful recharge to continue. The Seeker moaned and buried his face against Ironhide's warm armour.
"Ah'm sorry," Ironhide murmured before realising he had received an internal message in the night.
Recognising Prime's signature, he opened it and froze as he read its contents. Megatron knew that Starscream was in the Ark and had issued an ultimatum. He had also made it clear the consequences if the ultimatum wasn't met. Ironhide felt his fists clench, that slagger was still planning on raping the Seeker. How was he justifying this, was Megatron truly evil enough to not feel a single bit of regret for what he was doing.
Megatron had killed countless bots, both Mechs and Femmes, ravished cities to the ground and showed little to no remorse over who died in this war, even Sparklings. Whatever goals he might have had when he was simply trying to earn rights for his fellow workers were long gone and replaced with a thirst for power. His focus was now on draining this planet of energy without even a thought as to what would happen to the inhabitants.
Ironhide resisted the urge to growl or make any angry movements; he didn't want to wake Starscream. He would have to tell the Seeker what had happened, he was not going to allow Megatron to gain any advantage. If he hid this from Starscream, all it would take for Megatron to plant a seed of doubt in Starscream's processor would be to say he offered the Seeker a free ticket home but the Autobots hid this.
Ironhide knew it was going to be as difficult as slag telling Starscream this, the Seeker would probably try to go back to the Nemeis but it had to be done. He had somehow gained Starscream's trust and there was no way he was risking losing it.
With nothing else to do but hold Starscream until he woke up, he decided to contact Prime. He knew his leader would be up by now, Prime always got up early and went to his berth late, one of the trials of being the Autobot Prime.
"Ironhide," came the response once the Prime had recognised his soldier's comm. signature. "You received my message?"
"Affirmative, Prime," Ironhide grumbled over the comm. "Ah just got it now, Starscream's still asleep."
"When will you tell him?" was the gentle response.
"Ah dunno, maybe after he's had his Energon," Ironhide said with a heavy sigh. "Ah don't want tah avoid it and ah'd rather deal with the fallout now rather than later but..."
"I understand," Prime replied. "It will be difficult but I firmly believe Megatron will hurt him whether he comes back willingly or otherwise. Megatron does not like being defied and he will take steps to ensure Starscream never does so again."
"Ah know," Ironhide said softly. "Ah know how tah tell him logically but...Primus damn it, he's so fragile. He's nothing like he was a few weeks ago, he's barely sneered at meh once. Talking about humans...he made insulting remarks but ah've heard worse from tha twins. He's just so...so..."
"Defeated?" Prime offered and Ironhide nodded, while saying.
"Yesh, yah got it. Somehow, ah think that's why he's accepted this situation, he just can't fight anymore. Even scrubbed up, he can barely hold himself up...it's like nothing ah've ever seen before."
"Perhaps for the moment, it's for the best," Prime said slowly. "The old Starscream would not allow anything to stop himself from getting back to the Nemesis. Defeated, Starscream will not try anything, as much as it pains me to say that. But I still believe you can build him back up again, Ironhide."
"Yeh," Ironhide sighed, hating the fact that Starscream was so broken but also grateful he didn't need to worry so much about Starscream running away. "Thanks for telling me sir...have yah spoken to the others yet?"
"I planned to this morning," Prime said. "Jazz and Prowl need to be told so that we can all plan this situation out carefully."
"Yeh...," Ironhide began before a sudden thought occurred to them. "Prime, yah think Megatron will be expecting Starscream to return. That he won't attack until the time is up?"
"I believe that is likely," Prime replied in a curious tone. "He will think Starscream will panic and return, especially as time goes on. Why?"
"Well, one thing that might make Starscream happier here is if he's got all his possessions here," Ironhide explained. "If we could really make this his home, not just a glorified shelter but somewhere he really wants to stay...what yah think?"
There was a pause; Prime was mulling this idea over.
"It would be difficult but your plan does have merit," he said at long last. "I shall suggest it to Jazz, and perhaps you could ask Starscream for any codes that might help with the mission."
"Ah'll do that, though ah think ah'll say we're planning something tah keep Megatron occupied, that'll set his mind at ease," Ironhide said, relieved that his leader was willing to consider the idea.
"Good," Prime said firmly before saying. "I need to go Ironhide, I will contact you later. Prime out."
Ironhide disconnected the link, glancing down at the Seeker who still hadn't woken him. After a few moments, he decided to switch the TV on at a low volume. If Starscream woke up to find him occupied, he might be less distressed about being in such an intimate position. Although so far, he hadn't acted too embarrassed, Ironhide still wondered if the old Starscream spirit would reappear.
Eventually, Starscream did wake up but it was quite late in the morning when he did. Ironhide felt him shift and sighed in relief, he was starting to get hungry. There was some mumblings and moans as Starscream came awake, although he was still clinging rather tightly to his protector.
"Morning," Ironhide greeted with a neutral expression as Starscream blearily lifted his head.
Starscream stared at him for a moment before data files of the previous night flooded his processor and he buried his face against Ironhide's armour, his face contorted with shame. Ironhide gently stroked his back, saying.
"Hey, its okay ah'm glad yah slept okay. Yah don't have tah be afraid of coming tah meh if yah need tah."
"So stupid," Starscream mumbled, refusing to look up.
"Yer not stupid Starscream," Ironhide said firmly. "Ah'm glad yah let me help yah."
Starscream just trembled all over, refusing to move or lift his head up. Ironhide mentally sighed but just kept stroking the Seeker's back, hoping he'd relax. He continued watching a bit of TV but barely paying attention to it. Finally, Starscream seemed to calm down a bit and Ironhide asked.
"Yah need any Energon?"
"Yes," Starscream mumbled.
"Want meh to get yah some?"
"Yes," Starscream said even quieter.
"Okay, yah just scoot over a bit and we can have some Energon."
Starscream did as he was told, looking very deflated, his wings were drooping as low as they could go. Ironhide quickly filled three cubes, remembering that Starscream needed extra fuel. Of course, at the moment Starscream wasn't flying but he still wanted to make sure he got enough Energon. The Seeker eagerly grabbed the offered cubes and started gulping them down as Ironhide sat beside him.
"Anything yah want tah do today?" Ironhide asked softly as Starscream snuggled beside him.
The Seeker shrugged, still drinking his Energon. A moment later, he said nervously.
"H-has there been any word from the Nemesis?"
Ironhide froze; he hadn't been expecting Starscream to ask but now was the perfect opportunity.
"There has," he said softly. "Megatron contacted Prime last night."
Starscream jerked in shock, staring with wide optics at Ironhide. He swallowed heavily before asking.
"W-what did he say?"
"He wants yah back," Ironhide said gently. "He's given yah three days tah return. And...he's made it clear what'll happen if you don't comply."
Starscream's whole body began to tremble, especially his wings which were moving so fast, Ironhide wouldn't be surprised if they lifted the Seeker off the ground. His hands clenched and unclenched, while his optics were wide and wild. Before he could descend into a full blown panic attack, Ironhide reached forward and gently placed a hand on his arm.
"Ah won't let him anywhere near yah, Starscream, yah have my word. And Prime won't let Megatron anywhere near yah either."
"But he won't give up," Starscream said hysterically. "He'll come for me and then he'll...he'll..."
"Ah won't let him," Ironhide said fiercely. "He wants yah scared and he wants yah tah come back but he's gonna punish yah whether yah go back freely or by force."
"I...I have to go back!" Starscream shrieked, lunging for the door but Ironhide was right behind him.
"Yah ain't going back, he'll destroy yah Starscream," he said firmly, holding onto the Seeker's waist tightly.
"I have to...," Starscream whimpered as Ironhide gave him a little nuzzle as his hands were full.
"Yah don't," Ironhide said firmly. "Please, trust me Starscream, being here is the right choice. Ah'll teach yah tah fight Mechs like him, so he can't hurt yah again."
Starscream looked at him with watery optics and whispered.
"I don't want to be raped again."
"Ah know yah don't," Ironhide said soothingly. "No one here wants that either."
Starscream whimpered, his body sagging against Ironhide's.
"Hey," Ironhide said encouragingly. "Ah had an idea earlier. What if we gave Megatron a few distractions at the Nemesis, take his processor off yah."
"H-how?" Starscream questioned and Ironhide grinned.
"Ah was gonna leave that up tah Jazz but if yah've got any idea, ah'd be happy tah hear. Why don't we talk about what ideas we can give Jazz for his little expedition. Whada say?"
Starscream gave the door a long look of longing, his face twisted with indecision. His instinct was to return to his master but he also desperately didn't want to be violated again. In the end, his body slumped completely and Ironhide lifted him into his arms and carried him back to his berth. Laying the Seeker down, he lay down beside him and took Starscream into his arms.
"Ah know it's hard as the pit but yah can get through this," Ironhide murmured gently to him. "Yer not alone, yah've got me and yah'll have other friends soon enough and they'll help protect yah."
"No one will want me," Starscream muttered bitterly. "Have you any idea what r-rape means in the Seeker culture? I an unworthy now, I can never hope to find a mate especially as it was a grounder who did it. I am unclean, dirty..."
"Yer not any of those things," Ironhide cut in sternly. "And if yah find yer Spark mate, they won't care what happened, they'll only want tah look after yah. Ah'll help yah grow strong again, so that yah can feel worthy again."
"Promise?" Starscream whispered and Ironhide nodded.
"Ah promise. Now, why don't we talk about those ideas?"
Starscream nodded and slowly started making little suggestions. Ironhide listened, nodded and threw in his own as they talked. He was glad that Starscream had given up on running but his lack of spirit was very worrying. Somehow, he had to bring the boisterous Starscream back but had no idea how he could do that.
Author's note. Ironhide and Starscream have some visitors but who are they? Find out next time, until then.