A/N: I am soooo sorry for the hefty delay. So much has been going on: Laptop was dead, personal stuff was going on, work stressing me out... And Dynasty Warriors 7 and Dragon Age II kind of stole my social life. XD; But hopefully this chapter will make up for the long wait- its a little longer.
Saying that, though, I'm not really too pleased with this one. And I hope you don't all think I'm drawing it out too much, I just like fics with build-up. ^^ Anyway, don't hold back if you feel I'm doing something wrong. Criticism makes me cringe a little, but I still appreciate opportunities for improvement.

...Now I can finally go and read the latest two chapter of nybuh's fic, need my goddamn fix. XD

Next chapter will be quicker, I promise!

This chapter is inspired by Contact, by Seabound. "You prefer to talk, and I pretend to listen. I just want to fly! I'm so glad that you can't read my mind- we spent a little time exchanging words, and maybe, what you'd call emotion..."

-/-

Contact

-/-

"For once, I actually agree with you, 'Screamer," Skywarp quipped, breaking the comfortable silence the Trine had been cruising along to. "It's pretty slag to send us off to hide in a forest somewhere... Whoever heard of Seekers hiding in a forest? Back on Cybertron, we don't even have forests..."

Starscream vented softly from where he flew at the head of the three jets. "While I'm glad you agree with me, I could do without a reminder! He's doing it to annoy me, obviously."

Thundercracker chuckled, barely loud enough to be heard over his own thunderous turbofans. "You really think he gives you that much thought? I hate to burst your plasma bubble, but there's probably method to his so-called madness."

"Oh, why don't you just stop pretending to understand that old rust-bucket! No one can," Starscream protested, realising glumly that they were nearing their designated coordinates.

"Not even you? After all you've... done?" Skywarp asked, vocaliser intrigued.

Starscream would have scowled, if his faceplates were currently visible. "We've not 'done' as much as you seem to think."

"Then enlighten us," Thundercracker prompted. "We'd love to know what psychotic mind-game is going on between our Air Commander and our Leader."

"Too bad I don't feel like sharing, then!" Starscream retorted with a short laugh.

"Aww... that's no fun," Skywarp whinged. "Please tell me that tiny little clearing up ahead isn't where we're going..."

Starscream vented again. So much for peace and quiet. "What do you think? Drop your speed to mach 1.5, and activate your landing gear. We're going down," he instructed.

Skywarp just groaned, following the SIC in a steady descent to the aforementioned patch of miserable shrubbery.

The Trine landed as smoothly as they could, all three cursing aloud as branches whipped at their frames and clods of dirt flew up around them. Starscream ground to a halt first, narrowly swerving past an oncoming tree, and transformed in the very centre of the clearing. He looked around in disdain.

What a joke.

Thundercracker and Skywarp transformed and took in their surroundings with the same amount of enthusiasm. "Well, this is cosy," the blue Seeker said dryly.

Starscream shrugged irritably, looking up just in time to see Soundwave flying by, overhead. "That aft-kisser always gets the best assignments."

"Not really. Remember the time when he had to sit outside that human base for four joors and do nothing? In a box? Haha!" Skywarp grinned.

"That's his speciality," Starscream said acridly, none too fond of the TIC at the moment. "...Jobsworth."

"I'm not a jobsworth," the purple Seeker said with a petulant frown.

"Not you, you idiot! Soundwave!" Starscream hissed, gesturing wildly.

Skywarp rubbed the back of his head. "He's probably listening right now."

"That's enough, for Pit's sake," the Trine-leader screeched, stomping around the clearing and doing his best to look busy. He was not spending the entirety of the mission like this.

Thundercracker just shook his head. "Leave him alone, Skywarp. He's still upset about Megatron."

Starscream swivelled around to glare accusingly at the blue Seeker. "I am not!"

"No?"

"No!"

"Then what are you upset about?" Thundercracker asked blankly.

"This whole assignment! It's unworthy of me!" Starscream explained bitterly, putting his hands on his hips. Why wouldn't his Trine-mates just stay quiet?

Thundercracker sighed. "Primus, you're selfish. It's unworthy of all of us. Though it's not really my place to question Megatron's orders," he added meaningfully.

Starscream ignored the remark, and turned away again. "You two are going to drive me haywire."

"Hey, I didn't say anything," Skywarp protested. "By the way, do you think we'll actually see any fighting? Because I gotta admit, I think my JDAM is messed up, I kept meaning to go and get it looked at, but-"

"For the last time, SHUT UP!" Starscream hollered, clutching at his helm in frustration.

"Oh, good one. You probably just gave away our position," Skywarp grumbled, but kept blissfully silent after that.

The tri-coloured Seeker allowed himself to relax, lowering his pitch minutely. "Suits me. I'll probably go offline from boredom, at this rate."

Skywarp tilted his helm slightly, smirking.

Starscream regarded him warily. "What?"

"I can think of a few ways to pass the time..." he said suggestively.

Starscream inwardly panicked. He'd almost forgotten about that. Slag. "We're not doing anything of the sort, Skywarp, so you might as well purge those thoughts from your processor right now!"

Thundercracker and Skywarp looked at each other, shrugged, then looked back at Starscream.

"I said no!" Starscream cried, growing increasingly more desperate. "Look, go and make yourselves useful, and scout the area."

Skywarp looked uneasy. "But Megatron said-"

"I don't care what Megatron said! I'm giving you an order! Move out to the facility Soundwave headed for, and see what's going on. I want a report on any activity!" Starscream commanded, pointing a sky-blue finger at them for emphasis.

"This is a bad idea, but... You're the boss," Thundercracker said in obvious disapproval, but he and Skywarp reluctantly began walking anyway.

"Yeah, fine! We'll go keep each other company, if we're not wanted here," Skywarp pouted, disappearing into the trees.

"I'll bet you will..." Starscream muttered to himself, feeling perplexingly jealous. He didn't relish in the idea of a three-way interface with them, but it still stung to be excluded from any Trine activity. Deep in his Spark, though, he knew they weren't actually serious. They weren't that unprofessional. He hoped.

-/-

Megatron paced across the Command Centre, patiently awaiting a status report from Soundwave. He did his best not to think about Starscream, but it was difficult to focus on much else. It was as if Starscream was taunting him- even a visual image of him was stubborn and annoying.

"Lord Megatron. Soundwave reporting," came the eagerly anticipated comm. link.

"Go ahead, Soundwave," Megatron replied with a frown.

"Autobot position: Determined. Activity: Suspicious."

Megatron nodded slowly. "They're hiding something! I can feel it in my transistors," he stopped pacing momentarily. "And what of Starscream's Trine? Are they in position?"

There was a brief pause. "Affirmative." Another pause. "Correction: Thundercracker and Skywarp have left designated area, and are circling the perimeter. Orders?"

Megatron clenched a black fist in aggravation. "That traitor! He continues to defy me!" The Warlord forced himself to calm down, despite the growing urge to crush his Second's throat cables. "No matter. I'm heading out there to see for myself. Remain undetected until my arrival," Megatron barked, ending the comm. link.

Already planning what he would do when he had his servos on Starscream, the Decepticon Leader stormed from the room.

-/-

Starscream tapped one foot impatiently as he waited for his Trine-mates to return. With any luck, they would get a chance to fight soon, and then he would show Megatron what he was capable of.

Unaccountably, the Seeker's valve gave a little throb just from thinking of the other mech, and how good it had felt to have finally experienced his Leader's sexual talents... First-hand, as it was.

Starscream sighed, for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. The whole thing was getting out of control, going so far as to distract him from his duties. That simply wasn't acceptable. Scheming about Megatron's downfall was different, however. That was entirely acceptable.

Speaking of duties, where were those two...?

"...Starscream?"

The Seeker froze before spinning around in surprise, knowing that vocaliser didn't belong to either of his Trine-mates. "You!" he shrieked, "What are you doing here? Are you stupid?" His optics subconsciously fell upon the larger jet's newly-repaired arm.

Skyfire frowned slightly. "I saw your Trine-mates sneaking around, and figured you'd be close by. We never did get a chance to talk."

Starscream shook his helm violently. "You always were too soft. Can't you see it's too late for words?" Complication after complication. He hadn't counted on seeing Skyfire again. If Megatron found out, matters were going to grow get steadily worse.

"I wonder, Starscream- What is it about Megatron that enraptures you so? It pains me to see how devoted you are to that... tyrant," Skyfire edged closer as he spoke, no doubt imagining he was doing so discreetly. "Just how deep does that turbulent relationship of yours go?"

The very utterance of Megatron's name from an Autobot's mouth sent sparks of fury along Starscream's circuitry. "How dare you! Megatron is a far more inspiring Leader than Optimus Prime will ever be!" Upon registering what he'd just said, the Air Commander stammered, "I mean... not as good a Leader as I will be, but..."

"So, you plan to overthrow him, then?" Skyfire asked smoothly, his enormous shadow now completely enveloping the smaller mech.

Starscream sneered up at the white jet, undaunted. "Why don't you just worry about petty Autobot business?" he spat, making no attempt to hide his scorn. "Speaking of which, you'd better make yourself scarce- my reinforcements will be here any moment."

"I know when you're bluffing, Starscream," Skyfire half-smiled. "I think you and I are very much alone."

Starscream took an abrupt step back, growing increasingly uncomfortable. "I... warn you, Skyfire! I won't hesitate to shoot you!" he lifted his Null Ray to prove it.

"You never used to be so nervous," Skyfire observed, reaching out to brush his fingertips over Starscream's left wing.

The Seeker recoiled with a stream of curses. "Don't touch me."

Skyfire growled suddenly, and lunged forward to grasp the smaller jet around the waist. "Why? Do you let Megatron touch you? You knew how I felt about you... That hasn't changed, even if our allegiances have."

"You liar!" Starscream wailed, struggling in Skyfire's grip. "You said you wanted to talk!"

"I do want to talk... Though I can't help that I get distracted..." Skyfire admitted, leaning closer to the Decepticon's lips.

"No! No!" Starscream cried, arms pinned uselessly to his sides. He seized up in horror when he felt their mouths connect, and a cold chill of betrayal washed over him. He wasn't sure if it was himself that felt betrayed by his old friend, or that he had betrayed Megatron.

Skyfire eventually pulled back, his optics glowing warmly despite the lack of response. "Do you remember when we used to fly wingtip-to-wingtip? But you'd always go on ahead... The fastest Seeker Cyberton had ever seen..."

Unable to resist the praise that he adored so much, Starscream's frame lost a little of its tension. He shook his helm from the guilty pleasure. "That's enough..."

"Your beautifully striking colours, drawing optics wherever you went... even Megatron's."

The smaller jet's brow furrowed at that, but he could find no bitter reply.

"The humans have a term called 'soulmates.' I once thought that could have been us," Skyfire added in a quiet, saddened tone.

"Disgusting!" Starscream protested vehemently, still crushed against the other's warm frame. "No such thing exists. And if you manage to escape online this time, at least I know you won't be popular with your comrades for abandoning your post! You stupid human-lover...!" He was growing furious now. He didn't like feeling helpless, especially in the arms of the enemy. It made the energon in his systems simmer.

Skyfire ignored the insult, and closed in for another kiss. Starscream swiftly turned his face away, and found himself yearning for the rough but passionate mouth of Megatron, instead. His frame began to quake.

"You have one nanoklik to move away before I tear a hole in your flimsy chassis," came the unmistakable, undeniable, unrelenting voice of the Decepticon Leader himself.

Starscream tore his optics away from Skyfire, gaping at the source of the threat. "M-Megatron!"

Skyfire hid his panic admirably. "So... maybe you weren't bluffing, about those reinforcements."

-/-

Megatron seethed with white-hot rage. His optics went from Starscream to Skyfire, then back again. "You have stooped lower than I ever thought possible, even for you, Starscream."

"Megatron, please!" Starscream whined, sounding genuinely distressed. "I didn't initiate this! I never wanted it! For once, you have to believe me!"

The silver mech just growled, waving a hand at Starscream dismissively. "You are a low priority right now, and I will deal with you in due time. You, however," he pointed at Skyfire, "I hope you're ready to die."

Skyfire frowned, slowly releasing the smaller jet and taking a step back.

Megatron gnashed his dental plates together, wanting nothing more than to blast the white jet's wretched head from his shoulders. How dare a filthy Autobot stake a claim on his property? He had taken that fool into his army after the Decepticons excavated him from the ice, and all along he'd been too busy to notice how nostalgic Starscream had become, or how Skyfire had a tendency to stare at the Seeker from his past, lusting after him this entire time! He should never have settled for taking his arm off, before.

"M-Megatron?" Starscream's tentative voice disconnected Megatron's mind from his angry musings.

The Warlord slowly began to smile. "I have a better idea, actually. Starscream, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. Kill this traitor and I will overlook today's defiance," he walked over to the stunned Seeker, still smirking. "Here, I'll even give you the means to do it," and Megatron transformed, landing neatly in Starscream's blue fist. He knew his rebellious Second wouldn't be able to resist the chance to use him to kill. "Prove your loyalty to me."

He felt Starscream's grip tighten instinctively. "I've proved myself to you a hundred times over!"

"Such times are few and far between, Starscream!"

"I owe you nothing!" The Seeker screeched down at him.

Megatron growled, rattling in the other mech's servo. "I'll make you regret those words, later."

"Don't do it, Starscream," Skyfire frowned, with his hands up so very submissively.

"Contraire to popular belief, I follow orders," Starscream snarled, though was unable to hide the doubt in his energy signature from Megatron.

"Do it, Starscream. That is an order," the tyrant instructed smoothly.

-/-

Starscream was in an awkward position. With Megatron literally thrumming in his hand, and Skyfire staring at him imploringly, the Seeker was feeling the pressure.

Part of him wanted nothing more than to shoot Skyfire right in the spark for his audacity, while the defiant part was furious about being manipulated by Megatron. He hated being manipulated.

"What are you waiting for?" Megatron snapped through a private comm. link. "If you don't shoot him, Starscream, I'll know that you were more interested than you claim."

That did it. Starscream aimed Megatron at the enormous jet, frowning with resolve. Skyfire was just a complication. He was dispensable. They weren't friends any longer.

The Air Commander clenched his jaw. Why was this so hard?

Suddenly, Thundercracker and Skywarp stumbled through the undergrowth, stopping dead in their tracks when they assessed the situation. They looked at each other, then at Starscream.

"What in Pit's name is going on?" Thundercracker asked, gesturing at Skyfire.

"You missed all the drama, as usual," Starscream drawled, dropping his optics meaningfully to the blaster in his hand.

Skywarp gasped, whacking Thundercracker's arm to get his attention. "Is that... Megatron?"

Thundercracker just groaned. "...A little slow on the intake, there."

"Does that mean we're all in deep slag now?" Skywarp asked meekly, wings drooping.

"Yep."

Starscream waved the gun at his Trine-mates, forgetting for a moment who it was. "Stop your asinine bickering! This isn't the time! If there is ever a time..."

"STARSCREAM!" Megatron roared, his vocaliser carrying surprisingly well throughout the clearing.

The startled Seeker regained his hold on the vibrating blaster just in time to see Skyfire running in the opposite direction. Feeling almost as if Megatron was pulling his hand up in that direction, Starscream hastily fired a shot in the general path of the escaping Autobot. The satisfying sound of a collapsing mech rang through the trees, and Starscream let out a huge vent of relief as he lowered the blaster.

Megatron took it upon himself to leap from the jet's grip, and transformed in front of him. "You're a poor shot. We'll be lucky if he's even damaged!"

Starscream cringed. "I couldn't help it! You were... affecting my sensors with all your commotion, and it ruined my aim."

"You always have an excuse!" Megatron growled, leaning into Starscream's faceplates. "Obviously, you were not as keen to redeem yourself as you should have been."

"Of course I was!" Starscream protested in frustration, returning the aggressive stance by glaring up into Megatron's optics. "But it's your fault we missed!"

"Admit it, Starscream... You were too nostalgic to kill him."

"I'll show you! I'll go and put every single one of those Autobots permanently offline, and I'll do it by myself!" Starscream cried, stomping off in determination. He grunted as he felt a strong servo take hold of his wing, and yank him back to where he was originally standing. He was spun around to face his Leader once more, and couldn't help but notice that the former gladiator had a hint of amusement playing about his mouth.

"The Autobots have already fled. Fortunately for you, this mission has gone well in spite of your best efforts to ruin everything, as always. For that reason alone, I will tolerate your insubordination. Now, get back to the Nemesis before I change my mind," Megatron ordered firmly.

"Oh, how generous of you, Mighty Megatron! It's gratifying to know our great Leader has learned the art of forgiveness!" Starscream hissed venomously.

Megatron's slight smirk didn't disappear, but his optics darkened forebodingly. "You just earned yourself sentry duty for the next five nights. Perhaps all that time alone on the flight deck will cool you off, Starscream," he rumbled. "Thundercracker, Skywarp! Escort your Air Commander back to base. We'll be right behind you," he said in half-warning.

"Yes sir!" Thundercracker and Skywarp answered simultaneously.

Starscream grumbled under his vocaliser as his Trine-mates ran over. He shot Megatron a dirty look. "I can see myself back to base, you fools!" And with that, he took to the air and transformed, soaring on ahead of his Trine.

-/-

While he was by no means happy, Starscream at least managed to curb his anger by a fraction on the journey back to base.

Only now did it strike him how odd Megatron's behaviour had been- He hadn't seemed particularly angry about finding Starscream in the arms of another mech, an Autobot no less, even though the Seeker hadn't planned on being there in the first place.

That obviously meant that the Decepticon Leader was merely biding his time until they were alone. There was no way that Megatron wasn't angry about something like that.

Starscream banked slightly left, slowing down enough to fly alongside Megatron. "If I might be so bold, Lord Megatron, you didn't seem as disturbed as I was by that mishap with Skyfire."

"Should I be?" Megatron replied simply, arching an optic ridge.

Starscream faltered. "N-no, I don't think I need to verify that it was completely one-sided... It's just that you usually-"

"Did you ever consider that I simply don't care?" Megatron sneered derisively.

Stung, Starscream wobbled slightly in the air before regaining control. "What's that supposed to mean?" he called, trying to hide the disappointment in his vocaliser. Either Megatron was baiting him, or he had simply lost interest in their 'game'.

When Megatron ignored him, the Seeker felt that glitch in his systems well up and overflow, leaving him overwhelmed with confusion and need. In that same combustion stroke, he suddenly noticed Soundwave was carrying some kind of device, presumably liberated from the Autobots: The Communications Officer always seemed to succeed in pleasing Megatron with irritating, uncanny reliability. He made the Air Commander look ...bad.

Starscream's bitterness was soon converted into reckless anger, and he found himself homing in on Megatron with an indignant screech. "Don't you cast me aside...!"

Megatron seemed aware of what his nonchalance was doing to his Second, and anticipated the Seeker's attack long before it happened. As it was, he twisted around in mid-air and fired his Fusion Cannon at the furious blur of colours hurtling towards him.

Starscream barrel-rolled out of the shot's range just in time, and launched himself at his Leader once more, this time in root-form.

They collided in the sky as the other Decepticons watched in a mixture of uncertainty and trepidation, the two battling for supremacy that would always belong to Megatron, but which Starscream would forever try to seize.

Glaring into Megatron's blazing optics, the Seeker fired up his thrusters to 129kn and they rapidly plummeted towards the ground below.

"Are you trying to destroy us both? You conceited fool!" Megatron roared, reversing their positions mid-air and plunging a fist into his Second's canopy, cracking the tinted glass and grasping the radiant spark within.

"Let go of that!" Starscream cried in protest, his afterburners dying down as his sensitive core was squeezed with just enough force to cause his sensors to weaken. The touch wasn't exactly unpleasant, either, and he was certain Megatron knew it.

Manipulating him still, even as they drew close to impact- That arrogant fragger!

Still, his actions had been hasty and brought on by rage, and in a moment of clarity Starscream realised they really did need to slow down. He changed the angle of his heels and activated his thrusters once more, despite the pleasure wracking his frame and throwing his processes off-kilter.

As a result, they hit the ground with a loud crash, but remained suitably more unscathed than previously anticipated. The same could not be said for the grassy terrain around them, which was now a large, smoking crater.

Megatron was on his feet in a klik, and immediately rammed into the Seeker, who promptly toppled over with an angry grunt. Noting with his low-priority sensors that the other Decepticons were keeping a safe/respectful distance, Starscream retaliated by leaping up and punching Megatron's faceplates, taking small satisfaction from the slight blue streak it left on his Commander's plating.

Megatron took the blow in ominous silence, before grabbing Starscream by the throat and slamming him face-down on the scorched ground, grinding his heavy foot between his wings until the Seeker's cockpit shattered completely, the sound of crunching glass especially painful to his own audio receptors.

It was time to admit defeat, which was the inevitable but frustrating reality of it all.

"Megatron, forgive me..." The tri-coloured jet uttered, his vocaliser rough with static. He heard no response from his Leader, save for a displeased snarl. "Please, my Lord, m-my spark will... will be crushed..."

"It would be more than you deserve," Megatron rumbled, sounding unappeasable. Lowering down on one knee, foot still keeping the Seeker in place, he said in a quieter tone, "The only thing keeping you online is my patience. That, and the fact that your rebellious outbursts and endless challenges make me want to impale you on my spike this very moment."

Starscream's optics flickered in surprise, before he smiled somewhat sheepishly into the disturbed earth. "...Much as I would love to oblige you," he shifted his lower extremities so that Megatron could see he was leaking slightly again, "I don't think your more loyal followers need to witness that."

"Which is precisely why you will get back to the Nemesis in double-time, and wait for me in my quarters," Megatron said firmly, and when Starscream craned his neck to look at the Warlord, he saw that his optics were once again drawn almost magnetically to his Second's aft.

The Seeker chuckled.

"That means now, Starscream!" Megatron dragged the disorientated jet to his feet and gave him a less-than-gentle shove, "To the sky with you, traitor. And remember: Double-time, or else."

Starscream idly brushed some loose shards of glass from his chest, pouting dejectedly, before turning and taking to the air. He transformed and took off at a fast but slightly unsteady pace, cursing inwardly as his audio picked up Megatron's resounding laughter.

-/-

Starscream had stopped counting how many times he'd ended up in this exact predicament: Standing attentively, if not a little fearfully, at his superior's desk as he awaited whatever punishment Megatron processed.

It always turned out the same. The Seeker doubted this particular occasion would differ in any way.

Right on cue, Starscream heard the ominous footfall of his leader and stiffened automatically. The heavy thuds drew closer, until the door slid open with a quiet hiss, and the silver mech made his ever-impressive entrance. His rigid faceplates and stance showed no signs of humour and demanded immediate respect.

Starscream decided not to show any.

"I'll save you the effort of admonishing me, oh Mighty Megatron," the jet sneered, "My little... aerial assault was, I admit, reckless but justified. And Skyfire's appearance was unprecedented, and I did nothing to encourage his actions."

Megatron stood in front of his SIC, close enough for Starscream to notice Megatron's optics scanning his features suspiciously. "Nothing to encourage them? You did nothing to discourage them, either. Fraternising with the enemy is a serious error, Starscream."

Starscream creased his nose-plating. "You don't seem even remotely as disturbed as I was by the ordeal!"

"Why should I be disturbed?" Megatron growled indifferently, not quite managing to sound utterly convincing. "Every Decepticon in this army knows you'll open your hatch for anyone. Even Autobots," the tyrant spat in blatant disgust.

Starscream clenched a sky-blue fist. "Why, you..."

Megatron lifted a heavy black servo to stop his subordinate's predictable tirade. "Allow me to remind you of something very important, as it seems your memory chip has conveniently misplaced it- You do, and always will... belong to me. Your chassis," Megatron ran the same servo over one of the Seeker's wings, "Your spark," the dark hand trailed down Starscream's broken canopy, making a light grating noise, "Your valve. They are all mine," Megatron ended his angry claim with a servo gripping between the jet's thighs.

Starscream shuddered involuntarily, but didn't squander the opportunity he saw before him. He tilted his helm and leered at the former-gladiator. "Do I detect jealousy, Megatron?"

The Warlord snarled at that, instantly pushing Starscream away in feigned revulsion.

Starscream chuckled to himself as he regained his balance gracefully. "Oh, why don't we just skip to the part where you try to dominate me like the brute you are? It's obvious you're resisting as we speak," the Seeker smirked coquettishly.

"Never on your terms," Megatron reminded him with a frown, even though his optics lingered shamelessly on his Second's frame.

"How long has it been since you overloaded inside another mech, Megatron? It must be so frustrating..." Starscream goaded, adopting a confident stance that emitted pure waves of magnetism.

And he was confident- Confident he could get what he wanted, at last.

-/-

"Unlike you, I have patience and a great deal of other things to occupy myself with," Megatron glowered, refusing to take the bait.

Starscream smoothly sidled over to his furious Commander, and trailed careless blue digits over impassive faceplates. "...Your patience is not infinite... Megatron," he practically thrummed more than spoke, as if the words came from his steadily accelerating coolant fans, and not his ever-tempting mouth.

Megatron grimaced, before taking hold of Starscream and throwing him onto his desk, promptly straddling the supine Seeker. "Correct, it is by no means infinite. Don't you think you should cease antagonising me, you failure of a machine?"

He was livid. His Second truly believed he could get away with anything, based purely on the knowledge that Megatron wanted him. He wouldn't deny that, but the Trine-Leader's audacity was drawing close to its limit.

Starscream, for his part, simply lay there with his mouth slightly open, no doubt waiting in anticipation for what he hoped would be some Commander-to-Second intimate time.

Megatron almost laughed. Much as he wanted nothing more than to pump the Seeker full of his own discharged energon and lubricant, he hated giving Starscream what he was after.

"You have sentry duty," the silver mech said after a long pause.

Starscream stared up at him in disbelief. "That's all you have to say...?"

Megatron climbed off and paced around the steel table. "No. The device we acquired from the Autobots has potential, but requires some fine-tuning for our specifications. I want you to lead the science project for it."

"Why?" Starscream sneered.

Megatron grit his dental plates together, glaring at the Seeker as he shakily stood up. "Because, much as it pains me to admit it, your skill with machinery of that calibre precedes you."

Starscream's optics brightened at that, glowing eerily red in the dark room. Megatron could feel the smugness in his energy signature from where he stood.

He snorted. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything," Starscream replied, the haughtiness creeping into his vocaliser, now.

"You don't have to, it's written all over your faceplates," Megatron scowled.

"You love them."

Megatron frowned at that, slamming a black fist into the desk. "I may love certain things about you- Your strength, your skill, your tendency to deceive and manipulate. But I do not love you, or your irksome faceplates."

"Well, good! I certainly don't love you!" Starscream retorted angrily, clearly insulted by the insinuation that his faceplates were irksome. "Or anyone, for that matter!"

"Good."

"Good!"

There was a stony silence, during which the two mechs glared at each other passionately. It was unclear who moved first, but they somehow ended up pressed flush against each other, mouths locked in a heated kiss.

Megatron's servos planted themselves on the Seeker's waist, while Starscream's coiled their way up to his Commander's helm. When the smaller of the two moaned shamelessly, Megatron pushed him away with less force than usual. He cleared his throat cables of static, and straightened his stance. "Sentry duty, Starscream. The flight deck won't guard itself."

Starscream let out a low whine of frustration, shifting from one foot to another. "Right this nanoklik?"

Megatron merely raised his optics ridges, displeased at having his orders questioned yet again.

The jet made a show of venting loudly, turning on his heel and heading towards the door. "Yes, Lord Megatron. Whatever you say, Lord Megatron..." he trailed off as he walked out the room, his mutterings heard for a further few moments, before fading away.

Megatron found himself gazing almost longingly in the direction his Second went, and had to manually stop himself from following. With a curse, he turned back to his desk. He couldn't afford to let his physical needs cloud his judgement- Starscream was due punishment, so it was only logical to send him away. If only there was a way to do so without punishing himself.

That Seeker -his Seeker- was becoming more tempting by the day. His spike, his valve and his spark all throbbed with the same turbulent need: to be merged with Starscream.

Megatron looked at the door again, processing. Starscream could beg, wheedle and whine all he liked, but part of Megatron knew that it was often a ruse to lower another's guard. For all he knew, Starscream could beg for interface, only to coyly slink away just as Megatron reached for him.

Another part, however, decided that the tri-coloured jet was a long way past that point. Now, he was desperate.

Megatron smirked. Yes. Desperate for his Leader to give him the trouncing he deserved, that no one else could possibly give. The Warlord's optics offlined as he visualised his Second in true rapture, completely submissive and wailing loud enough for Shockwave to hear, back on Cybertron.

The Decepticon Leader's smirk broadened into a full grin. As delicious as those images were, the tension between them was satisfying enough in the meantime.

Time for another self-induced overload. Megatron swiftly locked the doors.

-/-

Starscream sulked.

He was alone on the flight deck, staring listlessly up into the night sky.

He was tired of Megatron's stubborn refusal. He was bored of being rejected.

From now on, he had decided, he was not going to let Megatron have him, ever.

That old slagger would have to earn his attention, if he wanted it badly enough. There were going to be no more attempts made on his part, that was for sure. Just how desperate did Megatron think he was? He could find a willing partner in a klik, if he so chose.

The Seeker's wings drooped slightly. It was a pity that no one else had the same presence, or had such a profound effect on him.

Crossing his arms angrily, Starscream went back to his dreadfully dull sentry duties, which involved leaving his optics offline and leaning against a wall. And in the back of his processor, he plotted against his cruel Leader, just to keep himself amused.

-/-

A/N: Please R&R, gets my creative juices flowing. XD