(A/N: I apologize about the weight. Several reasons for why it has taken so long... But I won't bother giving any lol. Please enjoy.)
Breakdown was delighted when he onlined to half a cube of energon all for himself, the sparkling holding it close in a possessive way as he grinned up at his older sister. "I love Megatronous! He's so cool and nice to me!" He stated allowed, the slim femme smiling slightly at him. "He certainly was." She answered.
No matter how hard she tried, Lightstar just couldn't wipe the images that kept popping into her processor as she stared at her little brother… Had Megatronous not intervened on his behalf, Breakdown could've been taken and sold off as a slave, raped or even worse. She shuddered at the thought.
The alert blue sparkling frowned when he saw the tremor pass through his sister's frame, frowning as he cocked his helm and stood up on his chair, leaning in close to her. "Are you ok, Lightstar?" He asked, a small pout-like frown creasing his lip components.
Looking up at the sparkling, Lightstar couldn't help but laugh softly at the expression on the blue mechnling's faceplates. "I'm fine, Breaky." She teased, tapping a digit on his olfactory sensor, venting softly. "I'm just so happy that Megatronous was able to get you away from those awful mechs." She explained.
Breakdown frowned and sat back down. "What would they have done to me…?" He asked, an expression of fear on his faceplates.
Spark clenching at the question, Lightstar shook her helm. "Those were bad mechs, Breakdown… They could've done awful things to you." She answered with a vent, tone serious and filled with worry as she continued. "Which is why you must never enter the pits without Megatron or Soundwave there to escort you." She added.
Yellow optics wide, Breakdown nodded his helm hurriedly. "I won't ever go inside without them!" He answered, voice high pitched in a near squeal.
Lightstar was saddened by how frightened Breakdown seemed of the very suggestion that he go inside the Pits on his own without one of the top gladiator's escorting him… If they had been of higher caste, this never would've happened… Breakdown would be able to live, play and explore like any sparkling wished to… Here in Kaon, however, sparklings had to be taught from a young age that there were bad mechs that could kidnap them and do terrible things to them… Even with these preparations, some sparklings still went missing, more often than not.
The femme shook her helm… A life without her little brother wouldn't be a life worth living… Even just imagining-
"Can I go now?" Breakdown asked, pedes kicking as he looked at her hopefully, wanting to get to the Pits to see Megatronous or Soundwave as fast as his little legs could carry him. The hopeful expression on his faceplates made Lightstar smile faintly. "You may." She answered softly, the sparkling running from the room before she had even finished her sentence.
Venting softly, Lightstar collected the two cubes, putting whatever was leftover away before pulling out a datapad. It was a list of customers she would have to meet and pleasure in order to receive funds… If they were feeling generous enough that is.
Breakdown reached the pits without incident, and grinned up at the visored mech waiting for him. "Hi!" He chirped cheerfully, cocking his helm when the tall mech held a slender digit before his faceplates, as if to motion for silence.
Confused, Breakdown looked up at him as Soundwave leaned in close. "Owners: Must never see sparkling here… If they do, they will take the sparkling and turn him into a gladiator… Or worse." He murmured softly.
Yellow optics widening, Breakdown made a zipping motion with his digits to show that he understood, the taller mech giving a short nod before turning and making his way into the building, the chunky little sparkling toddling after him.
Breakdown followed Soundwave through the weaving halls of the pits, happy and content with just being around the taller mech, but questions swarmed his processor and it was difficult for him to keep from speaking up.
Finally, Breakdown was led into a room and the door was closed behind him. "Now you may speak." Soundwave murmured, moving away from the door.
Needing no further goading, questions spewed from between red lip components. "Where's Megatronous? Is this your room? Do you have simbiotes? Can I play with them?" He questioned, shifting from one pede to the other in his excitement, grinning up at the bigger mech.
Soundwave's visored face tilted down to look at him, not at all used to someone talking so quickly, especially talking to him. The silent, feared gladiator that was second only to Megatronous. "Megatronous: training. Room: Megatronous'." He responded eventually, hesitating before speaking up again. "Simbiotes...Disengage." He ordered.
Breakdown watched in the awe that only a sparkling could possess as parts of Soundwave's armour fell away, leaving the larger mech much skinnier than he had been a few moments before. The fallen pieces forming the simbiotes that the sparkling had heard so much about.
Getting down on a knee joint, Soundwave motioned for Breakdown to come over, the sparkling obeying excitedly. "Ravage." The visored mech stated, placing Breakdown's small servo over the cybercat's helm, who purred deeply. "Rumble and Frenzy." The gladiator motioned to two nearly-indentical mechs. "Ratbat, Buzzsaw and Laserbeak."
Introduced to each one, Breakdown looked at them all in awe. "Wow." He gasped out as he looked from one to the other, then back up at Soundwave. "Can I play with them?" He asked, Soundwave giving a short nod. "Soundwave: Needed elsewhere. Breakdown: WIll remain with simbiotes until Soundwave or Megatronous returns." He answered, moving over to the door and vanishing, the door sliding shut and locking in place.
Looking after Soundwave for a few moments, Breakdown then turned his attention onto the simbiotes, grinning shyly now. "Hi."
Buzzsaw squawked loudly before flying up high to rest on the window, Ratbat following silently. Laserbeak flew little circles around the blue mechling's helm, chirping inquiries.
"'Beak wants to know what you're doing down here." Rumble spoke up, studying the sparkling curiously, interested in meeting a mechling about his age, even though Rumble knew a lot more about fighting and death than Breakdown himself did.
Breakdown shrugged. "Megatronous saved me… And he lets me come in here if he or Soundwave are with him… Are Soundwave and Megatronous friends?" He asked curiously, deciding that he liked that idea.
Frenzy snorted in amusement. "Eh… You could probably say the boss bot and Megatronous are a little closer than plain ol' friends." He answered suggestively, confusing the bulky blue mechling who frowned at the twin simbiots. "How so?" He asked.
The two mischievous sparklings grinned at the other mechling. "Well, you see, when it's dark and every bot has gone to their berths to recharge, Megatronous finds his way into-Ow!" Frenzy yelped when Ravage batted him upside the helm with a heavy paw, growling lowly as his victim rubbed his helm and pouted. "No need to be so harsh, Rav!"
The cybercat snorted and moved away, hopping up onto the berth and curling up, yellow optics closing as he rested, tail flicking occassionally.
"So… Where are Soundwave and Megatronous now?" Breakdown asked curiously, looking at the twin simbiotes… They were the ones speaking the most, so he decided they'd be the ones with answers they were willing to give.
"Eh." Rumble shrugged. "Boss bot is probably out training with Megatronous. There's gonna be a match happenin' tonight, so they both gotta prepare." He responded, jerking his helm in the direction of the door. "Anyways. You wanna play?" He asked, a glint in the red visor.
Breakdown lit up at that proposition, nodding eagerly. "Sure! What're we gonna play?" He asked, the twin simbiotes grabbing his servos and dragging him over to a grate in the wall, pulling it loose and setting it aside. "Let's go and spy on the other gladiators." Frenzy grinned.
Recalling his close call with the dangerous mech's, Breakdown frowned, unsure. "I don't know… Megatronous isn't around if something happens this time." He stated, shifting.
Frenzy and Rumble glanced at each other then laughed. "Don't worry about it. You're with us. What could go wrong?" The twin with red markings, Rumble, responded.
"How about everything?" Laserbeak asked from her perch above them, watching the three youngest mechs in the room. "You know that Soundwave won't approve, especially since the mechling is under his protection." She added, Buzzsaw chirping in aggreement from where he and Ratbat were grooming each other.
"Aw c'mon, 'Beak!" Frenzy responded, the blue and black mech crossing his arms and frowning up at her. "He won't get into no trouble when he's with us." He added, Laserbeak letting out a low croon of disaggreement while Rumble wrapped an arm around Breakdown's shoulders. "You know, Breakdown. It don't matter if you're a soldier or a gladiator or a creation of some couple. You gotta understand that rules are for breakin'."
Breakdown grinned at Frenzy and Rumble, finding himself extremely comfortable in their presence. "Fine… You guys go first though." He answered, the twins laughing and high fiving each other before crawling into the vent, Breakdown following after them.