Yes, I skipped one. That's because /this/ has been written for awhile, and I really like it...and to me, it fits the prompt. This was co-written by Katea-Nui and is pre-war, describing how our lovely command trine got together. She is doing her own 28 focusing on the Twins, so give that a look as well!
Slashy overtones, relatively strong ones at that.
Not mine but oh my Primus I would love to have my own trine of Seekers.
Review, please? *turbopuppyoptics*
-5- Daring "When I decide I want something, it's mine."
Starscream scowled at his reflection in the specially imported glass mirror in the wall of his berthroom. There was a huge smudge on the left side of his wing, and he couldn't reach it for the life of him...how /annoying/, when he had to look his best this time, regardless. He frowned, realizing that he had less than no idea where Skywarp was this morning. Frag. Just..frag. This was /not/ the way to start the first day of the first Air Festival in a very long time.
A purple flash of light heralded said missing flier as a weight suddenly draped itself across his back. "You almost ready, Scree? I don't want to miss all the good vendors because you were in here primping."
Thundercracker sat in a small cafe that was quickly getting crowded with patrons. The Air Festival was eliciting all sorts of excitement, and he himself was not above it. He was actually looking forward to teaching Skywarp a lesson today. With a small grin and after turning down two or three queries about perhaps going on a date from a few strangers, he settled in to wait until it would be time to move to the Flight fields.
"I have a spot on my back, Skywarp." Starscream said irritably. "And it will show up in the sky like nothing else, and regardless, I intend to fly today!" He did, too. He'd be slagged if he was going to let everyone else enjoy themselves while he was stuck next to dusty old Seekers who couldn't get up to speed if they drank ultragrade nonstop. He shoved a cloth into Skywarp's hand, obviously demanding assistance. He always got like this, but only in front of /his/ people...
Skywarp pouted but complied if only to get them out of there faster. He didn't see anything wrong, but one never knew with Starscream. He wiped down his wingmate's back quickly. "There. Done. /Now/ can we go?"
Star looked at his back critically, and indeed it did seem as if Skywarp had gotten it off. "Yes." he said, a bit more softly. "I'm just..." He doesn't finish the thought, instead heading down the steps to the outside world, schooling his expression into his 'public persona' so that he could be that which the city needed- a strong, capable ruler. Not a spoiled brat like some called him. He looked back at Skywarp. "Where to first?"
Skywarp's optics were lit up like a sparkling in a goodie store. "The vendors! I need me some rust sticks!" He said, getting ready to take to the air.
Starscream snorted but nodded, taking to the air himself. Today was going to be a good day, slaggit. He demanded it. He followed Skywarp to the vendors' area, where all manner of...things, he supposed, were being sold and traded. There was a cafe nearby with actual seating, and he hurried over there to wait for Skywarp to get whatever he was after, watching the crowd aimlessly. It was so busy some didn't even seem to recognize him, which was a rarity in itself.
Thundercracker had about the only table to himself, the many mechs and occasional femme finally having given up for the moment on trying to engage him. This was a huge celebration and many a Seeker was searching for their possible trine. Thundercracker was keeping an optic open as well.
Starscream sat down in the first unoccupied seat he found...which also seemed to be the ONLY unoccupied seat in the place. He didn't even look hard at his tablemate- that sort of thing was unimportant now. He tried to keep an optic on Skywarp, but he'd vanished some time ago, so Star sighed deeply...he was going to be here forever...
Thundercracker startled out of his reverie as another mech sat at the table across from him and he turned to ask them to leave him alone when the words halted on his glossa. "Starscream." He greeted with some surprise.
Star turned his head. That voice was somewhat familiar...and then he glanced over more fully. Oh, it was /him/. The Academy instructor who'd gotten stuck in that fragging Pit of a city. "Thundercracker." he said neutrally. "I didn't even notice who was sitting here. There are so many in here I fear for my wings." Indeed, someone moved past Starscream and banged the wide plane into a chair, and Starscream glared at the Seeker, who literally jumped through himself apologizing until Star dismissed him with a wave.
Thundercracker rolled his optics. His own back was to a wall so he hadn't had any issues. "It is rather crowded. There is a wonderful turn out for the festival."
"It's the first one in a very long time." Starscream said softly, an unreadable look in his optics. "It /will/ go well." He turned to the blue flier. "Are you prepared for your match against Skywarp?" He looked the flier up and down. He wondered who would win that one. Hm.
"I feel sufficiently prepared, yes." The large seeker acknowledged. "However that does not mean that Skywarp will not surprise me. Despite his general predictiveness, his instinct is impeccable. It can go either way."
Starscream just stared at Thundercracker. Surely he wasn't as boring as he sounded. He felt like he was sitting in front of a winged version of that aftshaft from Iacon. "I'm pretty sure Warp's going to win that." he said, deliberately watching his reaction. "He's the best flyer in Vos except me."
Thundercracker's lips twitched a bit and he leaned back in his seat. Typical Starscream. He hadn't changed since the Academy much. "We will see. I did teach him a lot of what he knows." Despite himself, his wings rose a little higher on his back in clear pride.
Starscream glanced over with half-shuttered optics. "Yes, we will." because, unknown to anyone, Starscream himself planned to challenge the winner of that little contest. He needed to know who was the best of the best. This was the only way, whether it was traditional or not. Traditions had to start somewhere, and this was to be his.
"Huh." Thundercracker said suddenly, having glanced out the window. "Looks like the first trine of the festival has been formed." He said with an oddly wistful note to his vocalization.
Starscream's head whipped around, wanting to see as well...and he smiled, his face looking both wistful and sad...as well as pleased. "I never asked you...is that part of your plans as well?" It wasn't an impolite question at this time; many asked of another status, as part of this entire thing was to meet others for various kinds of alliances.
Thundercracker smiled slightly. "Hopefully. Another thing that I cannot predict for sure."
"You don't have to predict everything, Thundercracker, sometimes things just happen." he said with only a hint of irritation. One did not need to plan out every instant of their lives. That reduced the chance for those moments that were truly unexpected. Star stared towards the busy marketplace, not even a glimpse of violet and black on the same form. "Fraggit, Warp..." he muttered.
Today seemed to be a 'speak of the devil' kind of day as Starscream's comm went off. /Screeeamer! where'd ya go?!/
Thundercracker shrugged. He knew what Starscream meant. That didn't mean he had to like it.
Starscream sighed and answered the comm. /Away from the confusion- the cafe near the edges of this chaos fest./ He decided NOT to inform Warp of who his table companion was. It was much more interesting this way. He then gave the dark blue Seeker an appraising look. If only he'd get out more, and perhaps surgically remove the pole from his aft, he'd be a fine catch indeed. Unfortunately, Starscream didn't think he was able to do either.
/... Can I get coordinates?/ Skywarp asked sheepishly.
Starscream facepalmed and provided them, wondering how Skywarp would possibly get around if he couldn't fragging teleport.
Moments later, patrons were stumbling out of the way and shouting indignantly as Skywarp appeared with a loud pop of displaced air and a flash of purple light and much smacking of helms with wings. "Heya Screamer! I brought rust sticks!" He paused and then his lips curled into a scowl. "Speaking of sticks..."
Thundercracker looked extremely... Amused by Skywarp's reaction.
Starscream reached up and tweaked Skywarp's wingtip. "At least pretend to be nice today, Warp, okay?" He stood, tilting his head. "We will see you later, Thundercracker. Be ready." With the ghost of a grin, he gave a nod of respect and dragged Skywarp away before he could be rude enough to cause a scene.
Thundercracker stood tall and proud on the edge of the Flight Fields as other mechs facing challenges gathered. Some were his students and they were looking forward to seeing their teachers have at each other. His wings flexed as he observed the sky and mentally plotted as many routines as he could when his opponent was as unpredictable as Skywarp.
Skywarp snorted. He knew he was gonna show that fragger up in front of the entire city, whether he liked it or not. He watched Starscream, who seemed to be lost in watching the fliers above him, the look on his face rather undefinable. "Star, I'm gonna kick his aft."
Starscream just gave Skywarp a secretive smile. "We'll see. Today is a day for many surprises."
Thundercracker stared at the sky, waiting for his time when a heavy handed smack on his back made him oof and his wings flared as he turned to glare at... A fellow teacher and a surprisingly good friend he'd known for vorns. "Skyhigh." He greeted, his face sporting an uncharacteristic smile. The white and orange seeker smiled at him.
"Heya TeeCee. You ready for today?" The jovial seeker asked. Thundercracker grinned. "As well as I can be."
Skywarp just tossed his head and ignored Starscream for the moment, running his own flight patterns...if you could call them that... through his meta. He flew erratically on purpose in things like this. It made him almost impossible to track, let alone keep up with. Star knew how, but Star had known him forever, literally... The teleporter grinned, watching his opponent talking to some hideously orange Seeker not too far from where he was. He wondered if that was his /special/ friend. Everyone had one, after all!
"Warp, stop staring at Thundercracker and come here for a moment." Starscream said, breaking thrugh his reverie.
Skywarp huffed and turned. "What, Scree?"
"You /do/ realize that if you lose, you're going to be forever considered as less of a flier than /him/, right?" Starscream reminded him. White wings twitched at just the thought of it. "I'm also looking for our third here...in a less direct way than /your/ method, but still."
Skywarp's wings rose in outrage. "No way! Like slag I'm gonna let 'im outfly me!"
"Sometimes there's no letting. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes, even sometimes, they're better." Starscream touched Skywarp gently on his arm. "I don't think he's better than you, but don't underestimate him either, all right? You tend to get overconfident, and that's when you frag up."
Skywarp snorted. "Yeah. Whatever." His attention was grabbed by the roar of the crowd as one air challenge came to an end. His lips twitched up in a smirk. "Watch me wipe the sky with this slagger."
"Of course I'll be watching. You're my favorite wingmate." Starscream leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek, not particularly caring who was watching. "Go kick some aft, Warp."
Skywarp huffed, unable to stay irritated with Starscream for long. "Good. Now watch me win." He grinned confidently, stepping out to meet the challenge. On the other side of the field Thundercracker did the same.
Starscream setlled himself to watch- this promised to be interesting.
Skywarp strode out, unselfconscious. Why would he give a flying turborat's aft who was watching him? He looked good and knew it, and he certainly looked better than that dull blue...he really wasn't dull today, was he. Skywarp shook his head. Now was NOT the time, slaggit. It really wasn't.
His characteristic grin quirked his lips as he offered his opponent a flowery bow, his voice carrying. "Skywarp, of the Spire, challenges you." he said formally, just like he'd been taught. The title was recent enough; before, he'd been Skywarp of Pretty Much Nowhere.
The blue seeker offered a bow back, wings stiff and respectful on his back as he met his opponent. "Thundercracker of the Flight Academy accepts. May the wind be kind and carry you far." He said, a small surprisingly attractive smirk on his face that spoke of his confidence.
Why did he have to look good? That wasn't fair. Skywarp didn't let those thoughts creep into his expression, though, only offering the blue flier a salacious wink, trying to throw him minorly off-guard. His own wings were relaxed one moment, twitching eagerly the next, and held high and stiff the next, showing his normal chaotic state. "Same...but it's gonna carry /me/ farther." The smirk the teleporter offered Thundercracker was almost teasing.
He watched for the sign to take off, all but dancing in place.
Thundercracker raised an optic ridge and chuckled. "If you say so, Skywarp." He braced his feet and then the bell went off. Thundercracker took off, shooting straight up.
Skywarp leapt into the sky, and winged not straight up, but at a slight angle- wind resistance was gonna happen whether he liked it or not, and as proud as he was of being able to 'port it really wouldn't look good if he did it too much. It felt /good/ to let himself go all-out- not something he did often, and even though TC was a fading blue speck way the Pit up there, he knew he'd get there soon. He kept his path relatively straightforward, this time; he'd save the crazy tricks for later, when the older Seeker started to wear down.
Thundercracker kept his focus on the sky twisting down suddenly and into a dive, headed straight for the oncoming Skywarp. He was prepared to roll left or right as he needed.
Skywarp saw him coming almost too late. He could read the slight movements that indicated TC's readiness but he doubted very seriously he'd anticipate this... instead of moving left or right, he made a downward loop, losing a LOT of altitude, hopefully coming up somewhat behind and below the other flier.
Thundercracker was not expecting that, seeing as it was extremely difficult to pull out of a move like that, but that was Skywarp. He struggled to pull up as well, forced to veer to one side before he could gang altitude again.
Skywarp couldn't care less how hard it was supposed to be; this was where he could use the skills Primus had blessed him with. With a flash of violet radiation he disappeared, reappearing in almost the same movement some distance away from Thundercracker...straight up. Now /he/ had the altitude advantage, and he smirked down at the blue Seeker for just an instant before beginning to lay his trap.
Thundercracker's face held an expression of extreme concentration as he put on his afterburners to catch up. He had lost the advantage, but that did not mean he could not regain it.
Skywarp hummed in midair, seemingly flying right along without a care in the world. He knew people thought he was stupid, and he used that at times. He put off every impression of not giving a damn where TC happened to be, even as he circled slowly, the majority of his processing power geared to jump if the mech got within reach.
Was he seriously not taking this seriously. Thundercracker sped up, his fingers reaching for plating.
Skywarp snorted and disappeared again, this time not far at all behind the other Seeker. Despite all appearances, he couldn't keep that up indefinitely, and his systems pinged him, warning him that he really shouldn't do that too many more times at all. He flew toward Thundercracker, wondering who was more agile in close...him, with his smaller form, or surprisingly the bulkier form ahead of him.
Thundercracker suddenly whirled, a large grin on his face. He hadn't been entirely prepared for Skywarp to reappear so close, but he had been expecting him to warp at some point. His wings and arms spread as his sonics hummed online.
Skywarp backwinged sharply. Fragging /pits/, almost too close. And just /what/ was that odd feeling in the air? He had no idea, but he moved parallel to Thundercracker, waiting for a chance to dive in when he least expected it.
Thundercracker made a feint to his right as if to intercept Skywarp and spur him into action. The moment Skywarp tried to warp or charge him he would let loose with his sigma.
Skywarp's optics narrowed. He though he saw something...and he had at least two jumps left in him. He prepared to disappear again to put himself directly behind Thundercracker to grab for those admittedly pretty wings...
Thundercracker closed in on Skywarp, arm reaching for him once more.
Skywarp did as his name suggested and he disappeared once more, reappearing almost within touching distance of Thundercracker in midair.
Prepared this time, Thundercracker spun the moment Skywarp disappeared. As soon as he saw the flash that heralded Skywarp's reappearance, he grabbed out, wrapping his arms around the smaller and lithe seeker before setting off a low frequency sonic boom to knock Skywarp half off line.
Skywarp cried out as he was hit by something that scrambled his equilibrium, and his vision actually greyed out momentarily before he knew what had happened. "Primus FRAGGIT frelling damn scion of a two-cred cheap drug-addled cassette and a blender!" he howled.
Thundercracker just held on tighter as the bell sounded. "Face it Skywarp. You lost fair and square. But good moves out there."
"Frag yourself with a rusty pinion." Skywarp mumbled, obviously upset. Stars was gonna be so mad...
Oddly enough, Thundercracker didn't release Skywarp until they were on the platform again although the reason for that became clear when he set the Seeker on his feet and he had trouble standing straight. "Careful, I think I knocked you equilibrium offline for a bit."
Skywarp put one palm to his head. "I think you did. Fraggit." He tried to step away, then abruptly grabbed on to Thundercracker's arm to keep from falling on his aft.
Starscream made his way up to the platform. he'd had an inkling this was going to happen, and he was prepared. The look on his face was dead serious.
"Thundercracker, after you have refueled yourself... I challenge you."
Thundercracker steadied Skywarp, letting his fellow instructor lean on him until his equilibrium balanced out. "It should right itself in a few kliks." He assured, sounding slightly apologetic. Then Starscream landed and announced a challenge and... Wait. "What?" He blinked, absolutely thrown for a loop.
"I didn't stutter, Thundercracker. You. Me. The sky." Starscream said, hands on his hips, unconsciously displaying himself to full advantage as he generally did before an audience...and there definitely was one now if not before. "If you're able to beat the one who I have deemed second only to me... I need to test myself against you." *To see something, to see if you're worth it.* he thought. Walking easily past the Seeker, he gave him a wink...even as his right hand snaked over to pinch TC on his aft as he collected his wingmate. "I expect to see you in a joor or so."
Thundercracker's entire frame went stiff and his wings hiked high as heat rose to his face. "O-of course, Winglord." He managed even as several jealous looks followed him as he almost fled the platform. What the frag had just happened?
Skywarp had seen it all and he virtually howled with laughter even as he clung to Starscream's arm. "The /frag/, Stars, you sure got HIM!"
"Wasn't doing it to 'get' him." Starscream said. *Not in the way YOU think, anyway.* "How the pit did you get caught in that? Dd you forget his sigma?"
"Ugh, I didn't think he'd find an opening to use it." He muttered. His equilibrium was beginning to straighten out and as it did he tried not to wish for those strong arms supporting him again. "Frag... I really screwed up."
"Yes, you did, but all is not lost. "I'm going to shred the sky with him, you know." Starscream was certain of this. It would mainly be a matter of how he was able to handle it.
"Good. Fragger. Even if he wasn't today..." Skywarp muttered as he finally stood on his own.
"Let's get you some energon so you don't fall flat on your face later. Three warps in five kliks. Warp, really?" His tone wasn't angry, though...it was concerned exasperation, with a lot of caring mixed in.
Skywarp grinned wryly. "Hey. I put on a good show."
"You always do, Sky." Starscream grinned widely, letting him take that however he wished.
Starscream directed Skywarp to what was usually his own place, a seat carefully set aside and positioned so that everything could be seen clearly, providing the competitors didn't fly too far away. He looked confident and sure, his wings flared proudly, as he waited for Thundercracker to approach him. The Seeker was... a lot taller than he was, he noted idly. The contrast was compelling. He made himself push that out of his mind, though. He had to prove a point today, not try and court him...though that, too, was part of this, and he doubted that even TC would realize it.
Thundercracker invented deeply to calm himself before setting his wings proudly. He was facing the Winglord in an Aerial Challenge. He would not backdown and dishonor himself. He stepped onto the platform actually having to tilt his head down to stare Starscream in the optics.
Starscream looked up, the fire in his optics unmistakable. "I wish you luck, and a good flight." he said simply, offering a nod of respect. His wingtips twitched, echoing the sentiment.
Thundercracker bowed deeply, his own wings echoing Starscream's gesture of luck. "May the winds carry you far." He murmured, almost not heard in the roar of the crowd.
Starscream waited for the signal...waited...waited...and when it was given, he was up and /gone/, his flight taking him straight up much like Thundercracker's had gone before. No deviations, just up, and fast at that.
Frag he had almsot forgotten how fast Starscream was. He himself was surprisingly fast for his bulk, but Starscream was built for speed! He would have to play this smart. And not burn so much energy. He slowed down purposefully and tracked Starscream's likely trajectories before darting for the northwest quadrant. Even if Starscream darted another way, he was at a safe distance to engage in a charge-feint and hopefully throw him off-balance long enough to nail him with a well placed blast.
Now that he was up here, he could wait at relative leisure. Unlike Skywarp, Starscream knew well what the range and effects of Thundercracker's sonics were, plus several possible applications of it that the mech himself might not have considered. He did his research; that was a bad habit he'd developed after the Science Academy. He may not have had the ability to teleport, but speed was on his side...and so was the null ray he kept on his left arm. He didn't want to use it, but he /wasn't/ going to lose, even if he had to help land the oversized glitch because he had to shoot him. He circled widely before catching sight of dark blue armor gleaming brightly. Finally. He angled sharply, not losing much altitude, but giving the Seeker a chance to see him, at least.
There. Thundercracker saw him angle for a loop and waited until he reached the top of his arc, bringing him closest to himself, and then activated all his speed, rocketing for the smaller flier. He wouldn't resort to sonics just yet, just catching Starscream offguard could work... Easier said than done.
Starscream gave Thundercracker a dazzling smile and then kicked on his thrusters for a burst of speed, moving both back and up with a little handwave. Yes, he was toying with him for now. He was made to be efficient even at high speed for long periods of time, and Thundercracker probably was not. Still, he refused to let TC get behind him, because the half-klik warning he'd have before he got buffeted with a sonic boom was simply not enough.
Starscream was a smart glitch. This was turning out to be extremely difficult. Which was more or less what he expected. He thought furiously before shooting straight up, ignoring Starscream completely on favor of gaining altitude... And having the light of the artificial sunlight at his back.
Starscream's optics narrowed as he saw where Thundercracker was headed. No way was he going to allow himself to be flash-blinded or whatever it was that TC was planning, so he kept pace, climbing as well, moving to turn the flier's own trick against him. He quickly altered his optical sensors to be less sensitive to light, using a subroutine he himself had created for something very different- in space, the light polarity of certain stars could be harmful even to a Cybertronian's optics, and so he'd modified himself. He made the crimson lenses more reflective as well, following the Seeker up.
Thundercracker heard the oncoming engine and knew there was no way he would out race Starscream. So he change tactics, pulling a dangerous (if not slightly desperate seeing as he was getting low on energy from keeping speed so long) move. He spun midair and cut his engines, going into a freefall, arms open to ensnare the seeker rapidly approaching.
Starscream narrowed his optics and tucked his legs up, rolling /over/ the top of Thundercracker's head, the wind screaming and his wings vibrating as he pulled a maneuver even he should have known better than to try. His frame held...mostly...and he ended up directly behind Thundercracker, and he dove forward, catching the Seeker around the waist, burying his face in those proud blue wings. "Mine." he said, purring.
Thundercracker had to reengage his thrusters quickly to avoid dropping them both like a stone. Starscream was fast but even he couldn't keep their combined weight airborne on his own. The bell sounded and he sighed, dismissing the low energy warning as they came in for a landing, Starscream still attached.
Starscream didn't let go even after they landed, only repositioned himself. He had a very serious look on his face. "Thundercracker." he said, almost as a question.
Thundercracker was stiff, both from the loss (yes he does have a bit of hurt pride) and the continued and completely unexplained contact. Not to mention that optics that wide and curious did not herald good things with a calculating glint to them. "Yes Winglord?" He managed.
"You'll be my Second." he said softly, the words sounding like a command, but they're really a question, and the look in his optics is prepared for a denial, for him to completely shut down after being publically beaten. Second, because he's beaten the previous one. Skywarp never cared about rank, this wouldn't bother him.
Thundercracker was now completely stunned and all he could do was nod even as his processor struggled to catch up. "Yeah."
The smile that touched Starscream's lips made him look almost...radiant, and far younger than a Winglord ought. "Thank you." he whispered, burying dark faceplates into his chest armor for a moment before letting go, pitching his voice to be heard, and heard far.
"Though this festival is far from over, and though I have defeated Thundercracker in flight...as I should..." -he smiled at this, and there were those in the crowd who nodded and whistled- "...the purpose of this was to bring together our people in bonds of friendship, community...and the most sacred of bonds that we have...the choice of trinemates. In this, I have found the match for myself and my wingmate Skywarp...Thundercracker, of the Flight Academy." He took the dark blue Seeker's hand and gestured for Skywarp to join them, and uncharacteristically, the black and violet Seeker shook his head before someone shoved him that way, and he took Starscream's other hand in front of the crowd.
Thundercracker was numb, the announcement ringing in his audials. Wait. /What/ exactly had he just agreed to?! Oh frag. Well... He looked down at the radiant seeker grasping his servo like a lifeline and smiled some himself. Perhaps he was jumping to conclusions. It was what he wanted and despite all the cameras and seekers and politicians that would be prying into his... Personal... Life... Thundercracker stood absolutely still as the full reality weighed down on him... And coupled with his energy which finally bottomed out, he collapsed backwards, completely out cold.
Starscream's arm jerked down unexpectedly and he let go to keep from falling on his own aft as Thundercracker seemed to glitch suddenly and fall to the platform's floor. Skywarp sagged under the weight, not expecting that, and they both just stared at their future trinemate in a mixture of concern and more than a little embarrassment.
"Warp, go get a medic. Now!" he said when Skywarp didn't move quickly enough.
Skywarp had started to laugh even as he headed off to do just that, congratulating Starscream for glitching the old glitch, finally.
"TC, wake up. Wake the frag up. Oh, why are you /doing/ this now?" he said softly, pinching one cheek.
Skywarp returned with a femme medic called Triage who had been in the stands with her own trine. She bent over the unconscious seeker, checking him over quickly, hands completely clinical in their movements. "He will be fine, Winglord. Merely in stasis due to drain. His engines are not meant to be as quick for as long as yours." She informed him.
Starscream nodded. "Skywarp, do you think you can help me carry him?" He was doubtful they'd be able to manage it, though. He wasn't physically strong at all, and TC was /heavy/. "Thank you, Triage, for taking the time from your own festivities to aid me."
"My pleasure Winglord." She answered with a smile, bowing. Skywarp grumbled to help when a voice chimed in, "I'll help." He turned and there was the orange and white seeker... Skyhigh, he remembered from school. The cheerful Seeker nobody spoke ill of.
Starscream looked up...he was always doing that, it seemed, and he saw an instructor he really didn't know well. "Thank you." he said uncertainly. He grabbed Thundercracker's arm and looked at the others to heft him in a smooth movement, wanting to get him out of the public eye, at the very least.
Skyhigh got underneath, using his back to help support him. "Better get used to this, Sir. He tends to overwork himself to this state often. He's a dedicated mech." There was a slight edge to the Seeker's tone that was hard to identify.
"I'll whack him in his glitched-up helm until he quits." Starscream muttered, perhaps not loud enough to hear. "Your name is...?" he asked, grunting under the weight. Frag, how did he fly so fast with all this plating?
Skywarp answered for him. "That's Skyhigh. What do you teach again?" Warp asked, his memory not the greatest even at the best of times.
"Ah, I teach the supplemental classes. For the students who can't quite keep up." He answers pleasantly enough. "TeeCee and I have been friends for vorns so I end up getting the students from his classes more likely than not. Where exactly are we taking him?"
Starscream nodded, distracted. "Someplace out of view, where he can fuel up and...and let me figure out why this happened to begin with." He was confused. Did he not refuel as Starscream had suggested before the flight?
"If you two can handle him, I'll go get somethin'." Skywarp said, seemingly in a hurry to get out of there. Starscream figured that they could, so Skywarp took off in search of some decent energon.
"Alright, this little alcove looks great." Skyhigh suggests before setting his large friend down. "Make sure he actually refuels when he wakes. Sometimes he won't. I must be going. Congratulations Winglord."
Starscream gave Skyhigh an odd look. "Are you...all right?" he asked quietly. He seemed awfully short with him. Star glanced down at Thundercracker to ensure that he was still out cold and he pressed the matter. "Tell me what's bothering you. I don't know you, you don't know me, and whatever you say will go no farther than here."
"Ah! Oh, nothing's wrong." Skyhigh said with a laugh. "I guess I'm a little jealous of TeeCee. I was hoping to find my trine before him." He stands and bows. "I really must be going, sir. I have my own challenge." He waved as he departed quickly with one last almost longing look at Thundercracker.
Starscream nodded. "I wish you luck in your challenge, and that you find those who are your true match." He then sits on the ground, waiting for Skywarp to return. He watched Skyhigh leave, and then saw the look...his optics narrowed, but he said nothing. He regretted the words that had just come from him, though...
Skywarp returned some minutes later and tossed two cubes at Starscream. "This is seriously cutting into my partying time."
Starscream gave Warp a dirty look. "Then go party. I'm making sure he didn't glitch out permanently." He stopped for a moment. "Warp...I really should have asked you, but...he really is the best match for us."
"Whatever." Skywarp muttered and walked away, drinking from his own cube.
Starscream sighed. He was so good at fragging things up. He shook his head, wings drooping low, and considered the big mech next to him. He hoped that this wasn't a mistake. One arm tilted under his helm to lift him, the other started feeding him energon slowly, hoping that this would work.
The cube was about halfway before Thundercracker's systems began to switch over from idle. His optics flickered and he groaned, optics onlining completely... and widening in surprise when he realized whose lap his helm was situated on. "Uh... Hi." He said almost shyly. His... Trinemate. Or soon to be at any rate.
"Hi." Starscream said, almost as shyly. It was different now. It wasn't a question of rank...he'd almost equalized them in front of the entirety of Vos. "How are you feeling?"
"... Pretty drained." He answered, grunting as he sat up.
Starscream proffered the second cube; he figured he could go get another for himself later. "Here's another, if you need it. I didn't realize you were so low." he said, concerned.
"Nor did I, or else I would have done something about it." Thundercracker said softly, accepting the second cube and drinking it gratefully. Starscream's head tilted. "Are you going to be all right?" he asked, unused to caring about Thundercracker more than he would any other flier. It would be different.
"Yes." TC said, staring at the crowd that was milling about not all that far from them.
"You are the best choice, you know. Skywarp will eventually recognize that as well." Starscream said, the determination in his voice clear. "When I see something I want, I reach for it. Is it going to pull away from me?" he asked, optics lit with an almost queer light.
Thundercracker glanced at his trinemate to be and shook his head slowly. "No. No, I do not believe that it will."