The first negotiation.

It was the first negotiation.

It was the first negotiation and Miko was on the same side as Megatron. She felt somewhat sick by the fact. But she just stayed quiet, she had not been allowed outside her cage for this. Miko was hugging herself as she leaned against the glass. The Decepticons were waiting for the Autobots to call. Miko glanced back at Megatron who had his arms crossed behind his back. Soundwave was working on decoding Iacon relic coordinates. Dreadwing was to the side, every time she looked at him, he'd smile at her. She'd smile back. She had been with the Decepticon's for two days. She had been in the same clothes for two days. Everytime she'd need the bathroom, she'd be rudely tossed through a Groundbridge to some closed public bathroom and then after an hour the Groundbridge would reappear and she'd go back. The bathrooms always smelt a bit funny, were always pitch black and the electric hand dryer was never on. So she'd sit there with wet, cold hands until they dried naturally. She had gotten used to it and decided to keep the bathroom usage to a minimum. She had also kept the food consumption to a minimum. She wanted to make it last. She glanced back at Megatron, she had been sharing a room with him.

Well, 'sharing a room'. On the first night, he took her cube to his quarters. She had been greeted by a sitting room suitable for a master of a warship. It was a large lounge-like room, with two doors on either side of the further walls not including the entrance. There was a huge T.V on the wall and a couch. Miko got taken into one of the doors and was greeted by Megatron's bedroom. It had a window that looked down at Earth. He had a windowsill on it. On her request, he put her cube there. He then went to his berth and slept. Miko slept after a while, silently crying herself to sleep while she looked at her home planet. The second night she did not cry. No, she and Megatron had stayed up some and talked about her predicament. It was mostly her ranting…

"Does it scare you?"

"Of course it does! I'm not ready to give up my freedom to be someone else's second mother."

Miko closed her eyes. It was odd she was able to talk to someone and that someone was Megatron. The mech was a good listener in private. She had been able to vocalise her deepest fears as she stared at the grey metal ceiling. It was easy to tell everything to a mech who she'd never see again. His opinion didn't matter because they'd never speak to each other again. She wanted to vocalise some of these fears to Bulkhead one of these days. At least she had practice now.

"We met what? During an end of year school party? That was the only real time I spoke to him."

"How do you swear yourself to a stranger?"

"You- I can't! Holy shit I cannot!"

… The view had been beautiful that night.

Miko jumped up, her cheek and forehead red from being pressed against the glass. She wiped some spit from her lips and then some spit off the glass. She was taken out of her memories as the alarm sounded. They were being contacted. Megatron nodded to Soundwave, the third-in-command nodded back and the alarm went silent mid-blair. The screen came to light with a picture of Optimus and a soundwave tracker beside it. Megatron glanced at Miko and then smirked. The human was happy that there was no camera. She was in a lavished terrarium but looked a mess. The mech was disappointed he didn't get to really rub salt into the wound. Miko took a deep breath, preparing herself for this. She stumbled as she forced herself to stand. She kept her hands leaning against the wall. Megatron cleared his throat as Optimus spoke. The Prime's voice was a welcomed treat for Miko. She missed the Autobots and the Autobot base. She missed Bulkhead. She really wanted to talk to Bulk, she wondered if he was standing beside Optimus, waiting to hear her.

"Megatron, I thank you for answering our call." Optimus was so calm, he sounded so diplomatic. Miko shifted as she glanced back at the metal titans that surrounded her. The dark purple of the Nemesis covered them. It made her shudder and so she just turned to the familiar sight of Optimus. Even if it was just a photo.

"Of course Optimus! Me and my pet are excited to speak to you this day." He explained. Miko eyed him. He just chortled as he looked at her. She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. Miko, with all her strength called and shouted over the glass and background noise.

"Ignore buckethead! Are you guys okay!?" Miko called. She didn't notice some of the other Decepticon's chuckles at this. Megatron snarled as he looked at her. He would speak to her about the 'nickname' after the call. They heard Optimus chuckle and sighed.

"We are well, but we're all very worried about you. Are you hurt?"

"No! No Optimus. I'm okay. I'm not hurt. Where's Bulk?"

"He is on a scouting mission currently, we didn't want his emotions to get the better of him."Miko deflated, she visibly deflated. Megatron arched an eyebrow at this. Her heart was breaking. So Bulkhead had been sent away? She had waited for so long to speak to him! She moved away from the glass wall and closed her eyes. She wanted to tell him she was okay. She wanted to hear that he was okay. She frowned and went quiet. Megatron tutted and looked back at the screen.

"Well then Optimus. We have come to negotiate! I am aware of how desperate you are for the return of your pet." He gestured to Miko. She rolled her eyes but then froze as Megatron continued. His voice was a pleasant hum, like melting candle wax or warm honey. She felt sick at how good it made her ears feel.

"And Miko has informed me of her parents' wishes for her,'' That hum made that sentence seem even more sick. Optimus was quiet as Megatron spoke. Miko hugged herself. She felt so guilty for confiding in Megatron. She felt like she betrayed the Autobots. Megatron was the enemy, he was the warlord of their enemy.

"Would you just say no?"

"You can't say no to things like that! You're forced into it."

She hugged herself tight, she felt like she could throw up. She might. She looked around, trying to see somewhere she could throw up without dirtying the entire cube. Megatron took no note of her change in demeanour, he just stared at the screen.

"So we have agreed to a truce. I will release her once you agree to both terms, mine and hers. So Miko, would you like to explain your terms?" Megatron turned to her. She jumped up, not ready to be called on. She took a deep breath and thought of her argument. Thought of what she wanted. She sighed and was about to speak but Optimus did first.

"Megatron. Miko's personal business has nothing to do with you! Do not use her tragedies for your gain." Megatron snarled at the acquisition. Miko stood up straight. She grimaced too. They both realised it would take some time to convince Optimus Miko was doing this of her own will. She looked at Megatron who glanced down at her. He gestured with his helm to her to speak. Miko took a deep breath, she frowned as she looked at the glass. She yelped as Megatron picked her up by the back of her shirt. He held her up by the shirt, close to the screen so she was clear to hear. Miko grunted as she side-eyed him. She huffed and then looked back at the screen.

"It was my idea to get Megatron involved. I'm sorry Optimus but… I can't get married. I just can't do it… I'm not coming back until I know it's safe!" Miko shouted at the end, her emotions getting the better of her. She felt hot tears leak down her cheek. Megatron put her down. She paused as she was put down outside her cage. She sat beside the keyboard. She heard Optimus sigh and then there was a moment of silence. Megatron took this chance to speak.

"So. My terms are two relics of minor power or one of major power. Miko's terms are a safe haven to protect her from the arranged marriage, yes?" He turned to Miko.

"Y-Yeah." Miko stuttered. There were a few moments of quiet as they waited for Optimus to answer. Miko hugged herself tight as she waited.

"I'm sorry but I cannot agree to those terms. We cannot interfere with human affairs and we cannot release a relic to you. Are there any other terms we could come to agree with?"Miko felt her heart shatter. She fell back, falling to sit on the keyboard. She stared blankly at the screen. Optimus wouldn't agree to keeping her safe and free? She sniffled and covered her face with her hands. She felt a movement behind her. She frowned as she glanced back to see Megatron had placed his servo down behind her. Her hands were shaking really badly.

"If you want to abandon your human pet, then I'm sure I can come up with new terms. I'm sure Miko will get used to her new home."

"New home?"

"Of course! Her new terrarium, at my side." Megatron teased. Miko froze as she looked at him. A part of her had hoped it was teasing. But she realised that it wasn't, not anymore. Megatron was truly playing with the idea of keeping her captive, "I'm sure after some time, she'd happily give me the location of your base." Megatron snarled it out. Miko swallowed and turned away. No, never. She'd never tell him where the base was.

"I cannot influence Miko's parents or reveal our existence to any more humans. But I can have Fowler pull some strings, surely we can negotiate these terms of yours?"

"That is exactly why I'm even humouring your call! Now, I'll give you time to digest our terms. Farewell." Megatron said it in such a sing-song way. Miko looked away, she didn't want to admit how badly she wanted to curl up in her cage and die. But she was not in her cage. She was out in the open and vulnerable. Well, at least Optimus was okay with assisting her somewhat with her arranged marriage. Just not to the extent she hoped. A part of her was hoping for something extravagant and powerful.

'I am Optimus Prime and those who try to marry Miko will be struck with the power of Primus and burn into a thousand pieces' kind of thing. But she guessed that was far from reach. Now here she was, negotiating with Megatron on her side. The mech groaned. He looked down at her, tilting his helm to get a better view.

"Well, we know Optimus's opinion on your situation. Your input is not needed." Megatron picked her up and put her in the cage again. Miko cried out, she stared. The implications of his statement frightened her. She stood up.

"What do you mean!?" She pounded her fist against the glass. Megatron picked up the cage and sighed. He tapped the glass back, the sound and vibration made her body shake. Miko fell back and stared up at him. The terror was sitting in as he examined her. She felt like she was being pulled apart by his gaze.

"My dear, your knowledge on how to negotiate is far limited compared to mine. So I can tweak the deal more and more to our favour." He glanced at the other Decepticon's, he then leaned in close to her and whispered, "And you are far too emotionally in your current state." Megatron grunted. She hated to admit that he was right. She was too emotional. She couldn't think of her situation without shedding tears. She paused and touched her face to find she was already crying again. She wiped away at her face furiously. Megatron watched her.

"Mh! Fine. Just don't mess me up on this!"

"You'll still be here, but just rest instead." He placed her back down, setting it down. Miko watched him turn her new living space in a way that she could watch the wider room from the comfort of her sheltered area. She grabbed one of her blankets, her first one that Megatron had gifted her. She wrapped it around herself. She hugged one of the larger pillows and just began rocking. She gently rocked herself back and forth. It helped calm her down. She listened to the Decepticon's conversations as she tried to calm herself.

Megatron and Dreadwing were debating tactics to sway Optimus. She'd cringe every time they referenced her. If they put more urgency in her being in danger on the Nemesis, maybe that'd put pressure on Optimus. They wondered if they faked an injury on her, would that hasten the negotiations. They'd glance down at her every so often. Miko just kept rocking herself. She took no mind of them looking at her. She just tried to comfort herself. She listened as they debated where to continue to hold her, Megatron was adamant she would remain in his care. Dreadwing suggested Megatron could spend his time better, he was the leader of the Decepticons of course. But Megatron made the point that Soundwave was too busy with decoding the relic coordinates, Dreadwing was managing the mines and Knockout could not be trusted. He went quiet for some time, he was just staring at Miko. He finally spoke, he spoke that Miko had started to become accustomed to him and his schedule. Miko shuddered at that. She was like a pet, getting used to when their master was waking up and doing his work. She hated the thought. Megatron and Dreadwing continued to talk, about the relics, about this whole thing. Miko tensed up as Dreadwing talked about the arranged marriage. If Optimus would allow it. Megatron struggled not to smirk, he knew Miko was listening.

"Optimus will do what he must to keep the majority happy, even if it means sacrificing a few of his own." He glanced over at Miko. She had gone tense. She shook her head and wiped her tears away from her face. She was kept in the box till the sun was setting. Megatron said goodbye to Dreadwing and Soundwave, he scooped up her cage and they began to walk back to his room. Her hands were shaking as she didn't come out from the cover to talk to Megatron. She didn't speak at all. Megatron took note of this. She usually attempted even a little bit of small talk. Megatron frowned as he entered the apartment and then entered the bedroom. He set her down beside the window. He sat down on his bed, his elbows resting just a bit back from his knees. He rested his chin on his clasped servos, he just watched her. She sniffled and then began to cry. She cried almost every night. She would succumb to the loneliness and the direness of her situation. She covered her face with her hands as she sobbed. She cried and cried.

He closed his optics and spoke, "What we talked about last night, what do you actually know about the Riku boy?" Miko sniffled. She didn't even bother wiping away her tears. She inched towards the open area of her cage. She didn't expect Megatron to want to continue her conversation. She took a deep breath, held it and then sighed. She did this a few times, taking deep breaths and exhaling them. She hugged herself tightly. Miko swallowed as she thought of her answer. She scrunched up her nose as she tried to remember.

"He is becoming a Doctor, I think that's a big thing for my parents. He was famous for tripping himself on purpose so he'd fall under girls skirts… He was really, really into Power rangers. Like, he even had a rangers lunch box. It was a whole thing. He never helped with the after school clean up. I don't know why he'd want to marry me!" Miko ranted. It felt so good to let it all out. She had the same thoughts, same questions and same answers plaguing her mind over and over again. She was glad to finally be able to let it out. Even if it was to Megatron. She took a deep breath as she finished. Megatron grunted as he considered her answer.

"So your strangers, more or less strangers. Does he want to marry?" Megatron leaned back. Miko shrugged. She sat on the edge of the glass.

"I have no idea. I guess he does. I mean, usually the guy knows when it's going to happen." Miko pressed her head against the glass. She sighed. She hated being in the cage. She knocked her knuckles against it. A glass cage, an illusion of freedom. Just like her life now. She wiped at the tears that didn't even appear yet. Megatron took note of this.

"Are you alright?" The question was odd. It wasn't odd actually, it was a perfectly simple question, a straightforward question. It could be easily answered. Miko closed her eyes and just silently cried. Her throat hurt from sobbing. She hurt from crying so much. It drained her energy and she could feel a cold coming on. Her body was too weak to fight the illness off. The question held a lot of weight in her mind. Was she alright? She didn't want to appear weak, she didn't want to appear stupid. But she felt like all of it. She felt stupid, she felt useless, she felt used. That was the word she felt used. She felt used by her parents for gain. She felt used by the other family to just give their son a thing to boost himself. She felt used by the Autobots, they didn't even try to rescue her. If they did, they would have gotten her. Just like they would when Jack got captured or Raf. She felt used by the Decepticons, being used as a pawn, as a bargaining chip. She was just a thing to be used, passed along to person from person.

She went quiet as Megatron stood. He marched to her, she scrambled away from the position of her cage. She moved back towards the shelter. Megatron huffed as he watched her. He just stood over the cage as she stared up at him in fear. Had he had enough of her? Was he going to hurt her? Silent her like he did Bumblebee?

She covered her head with her arms, curling into a ball. She prepared herself for pain.

He scooped her up with both servos.

Miko shuddered as she felt the cold metal surrounding her.

She was really going to die!

She was dead…

Dead…

Miko winced as she fell, something soft yet latex-like caught her fall. She was a curled up, stiff ball. She didn't unwrap her arms from her head. She just could sense some coldness leak through her trousers and socks. Whatever soft thing she sat on, it was cold. Megatron was moving around her, she heard things drop around her. She peaked out from her cover to see some of her pillows and blankets surrounding her. She frowned as looked around, lowering her hands aways from her head. She was on a pillow, on his bedside table. Whatever the latex material was, the Cybertronians obviously found it comfortable. She could see why as she readjusted herself. It reminded her of the fake leather material that you'd sometimes find in cars. Somewhere between latex, plastic and leather. She looked around, there was nowhere really for her to go from the pillow. The other side of the table was taken up by a lamp, and the edges of the table were either straight to the floor, onto Megatron's bed or it was pressed against the wall. But she was not in the glass cage. Megatron chuckled and sat on his bed. He clicked his claws and the main lights turned off but the lamp came on. It was a dim mood light. Megatron watched the way she reacted. She was sitting up and she was alert. She was like a cat, curious about everything. Megatron looked down at her, he tapped his claws beside her, that worked how he wanted, her head snapped up to look at him.

"Tha-thanks for taking me out of the cage… Er- Erm, why am I here?" She gestured down, pointing to the pillow. Megatron tilted his helm back as he looked down at her. She grabbed some pillows and made a nest of them. He smirked and watched her get comfortable.

"Your emotional distress will bother me in my recharge, especially if you wake me with your sniffling." He explained, he chortled as he bowed his helm down to her, "So please, tell me. Are you alright?" He outstretched his servo, gesturing to her. Miko took deep breaths. She continued this exercise until she was able to answer.

"I feel dumb, I feel weak. I feel like I'm just a pawn in everyone else's plans. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know if I even want to go back to the Autobots, I don't know what I want at all." Miko explained. Megatron grimaced. He nodded as he took in her answer. It was an understandable answer seeing the condition her life was currently in. Megatron could only bring himself to be somewhat sympathetic. She was a human. Stupid, fleshy, unsophisticated organic. She was below him. But humans were sympathetic to animals and Cybertronians were the same towards humans. He really only cared about how badly he could warp the human tragedy to his advantage. He could use her as leverage.

"Then let me decide for a while, mh? We both know I'll be negotiating on your behalf anyway, so why not trust me with the rest?" He hummed. Miko cursed, he sounded so genuine. So kind… His voice was so soft on her ears. Miko looked up at him. She had a bit of a hunch, that he was doing this… To make her feel like a pet. A pet of Megatron, like he had said closer to her first day. Miko hugged herself as she looked up at the mech. Her mind was so tired, she was so drained. She didn't have the energy to do it.

"Okay, thank you Lord Megatron. I think I might sleep now." Miko gestured down to the blankets and pillows. Megatron nodded with a smile. They both knew she only called him 'Lord' to be polite, Dreadwing had been reminding her to do it. Megatron nodded, he leaned over and turned the lamp off. They were plunged into darkness, only slightly illuminated by the light from the window. Miko rolled onto her side, she faced away from Megatron and stared out of the window. She watched Africa and Europe slowly turn past them. The sun was behind them and so there was no need to worry about it blinding them. Megatron laid down and rested his helm on his two remaining pillows. He watched her. She didn't snore or talk in her sleep, sometimes she hummed in her sleep. He didn't mind it, she had a nice voice. He wondered if she could sing.

Miko was an aimless little thing. She was a pet that needed a master. He frowned as he reflected on his own plan. He had gone to Unicron to become a great messenger for a greater God. He had failed. He needed a different way to rise. To complete his empire. He frowned as he closed his optics. The talk of marriage had caused him to be quiet and think. The idea of a Queen was an idea he had played around with for some time. The lack of femmes put doubt in his processor. He frowned, the idea of getting a Queen would wait. He looked at Miko, for now he had to use the Autobots' own human pet against them. He needed the leverage.

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The third negotiation was going on for too long, Miko decided. It had been about a week. She had been given a new set of clothes, baggy, grey and patternless sweatpants and hoodie. Miko couldn't be sure Soundwave and the Vehicons hadn't just stolen prison clothing. Dreadwing was taking notes as Megatron and Optimus debated. Miko had been let out of her cage, she was sitting on the edge of the keyboard, if she leaned back anymore she'd fall off the entire console. Megatron seemed aware of this and positioned himself accordingly. So if she did indeed lean back, she'd fall some but then hit his stomach plating. Miko yawned as she rubbed at her eyes, she had barely gotten time to eat breakfast. Wherever Megatron went, it seemed she was forced to follow. Her cage was on the ground beside the base of the console. Her hair was getting greasier and greasier. Sometimes she debated dunking her head into the bathroom sink, whenever Soundwave sent her to one. Though most public bathroom sinks are not made in a way that'd be easy. Optimus was calm as they were negotiating on whether the phase shifter or immobiliser was a better relic to give Megatron. Miko didn't care. She couldn't bring herself to care, she just waited for the subject to shift to her release. She frowned as she remembered the morning. Her and Megatron had continued discussing different outcomes and possibilities of how this would end. If she was forced to marry anyway, if her parents would just go find a different man for her to marry. If the Autobots would have to risk revealing themselves to protect Miko, would the Autobots be open to doing such a thing? How much would they risk for her?

It made Miko shudder and squirm with disgust. She hated how much Megatron was getting to her. How she could feel him slip past her defences. She hugged herself tight and perked up as she heard Opitmus speak her name.

"Miko's time is running short, if she is in your custody for any longer we will be forced to tell her parents of her being missing. Her host parents have already tried to contact the local police to report her missing." Miko cringed at this. Oh yeah… Right. Them, all of them… Of course she'd be reported missing. But she wasn't missing, sort of. She didn't think she was missing. Megatron glanced at Miko, he hated to admit he forgot about that aspect too. The time that Miko's parents were blissfully unaware of the war their daughter lived in, it was coming to an end. Miko closed her eyes as she rubbed at her forehead. Megatron grunted.

"Understood Optimus. Best if you start agreeing to our terms." Megatron teased. Miko snorted and found herself laughing.

She frowned and paused. Did she just laugh at one of Megatron's jokes? She rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. She wouldn't let the mech squirm his slimy way into her head or heart. She just made herself serious. She kept her mouth pressed into a straight line. She kept her eyes focused on the screen.

"Not yet Megatron. Your asking prices are still too steep. Surely you do not expect such powerful relics to be a fair price."Optimus reasoned. Indeed even Miko was shocked by how much Megatron thought she was worth. The immobiliser was shattered but still could easily be reverse engineered and fixed. Especially with the Decepticon's extensive resources. He was also asking for a second relic. The immobiliser was very powerful and then a second relic? The advantage that 'Cons would get if they have both. Miko shuddered. She had a feeling neither would budge from their position. Optimus would never agree to that price and Megatron would never agree to something lower than that price. Meanwhile Miko was just stuck there, waiting and watching. Her freedom being played with. Metal titan Gods not caring for her fragile mortality, they cared not for the fact the debates and negotiations could surpass her in time. She wondered how long a Cybertronian debate could go on for. Miko wondered if she'd be forty or maybe even fifty-eight by the time they were done.

"Well I expect you to care for your human! Surely her safety is worth such prices." Megatron teased, he had a smile on his faceplate. She could see the sharp, dangerous teeth through his grin. She could see the way his optics narrowed as the grin turned venomous, his expression steeled as his digit hovered over a button, "But my patience is running thin, I'd advise you to choose quickly before I lose it and well… Miko will have a first row seat to what I can do if pushed." He snarled. He hung up on Optimus. Her heart sank, she was scared. Miko backed away slowly from the mech, she felt her heart beat rise. The idea of being tortured, of being ripped apart by the mech- It petrified her. Megatron exhaled and closed his optics. He seemed so relaxed. That frightened her even more. Megatron chuckled, a dark wild cackle.

He threw his helm back, his back bent as he cackled. Miko wished to be inside her cage so badly. She wanted to hide. But her cage's walls were high and smooth. It stopped her from climbing in or out. Dreadwing and Soundwave were emotionless, they just stood at attention and watched. Megaton finally turned his helm back to her, he looked down at Miko. His dark red optics bore into her mind. Her resolve was shaken, her bravery scarce. Megatron grabbed her from the back of the shirt, he picked her up and lazily tossed her into the cage. Fell about ten feet downwards, whimpering as even falling into that many cushions caused pain. She hugged herself as her back ached and shoulders went numb. Miko took a deep breath as she laid there. Megatron turned back to his commanders and barked orders. Miko wasn't listening, she was busy trying to catch her breath. But then he grabbed her cage and they were off.

Miko was quick to run to her cover, she hid under a nest and pile of pillows that she had constructed. The darkness was a comfort, the warm pressure and weight of her cave. The pillow fort was under her blanket roof. She made a door from a blanket, she curled into a ball. Her stomach pressed against the ground, her legs tucked up and her arms tucked near her shoulders and head. She whimpered as she felt the cage jerk and move. It was finally set down, Miko didn't dare move. She barely breathed. She just listened to the outside world. There was no noise, no fans and no engine. It was eerily quiet. She knew the only place that was this quiet was Megatron's room. But she couldn't hear him walk around. She couldn't hear the usual bed creaks, him grunting while he adjusted in his bed. Then she heard a small tick. A tick, once every four seconds. Metal tapping glass.

Megatron was holding the glass box. He was waiting for her to appear. Miko decided pretty quickly she would not be coming out of her pillow fort. She would wait it out, even if she felt her body beg for food or to use the bathroom. She would stay in the fort, the fort was safe. She heard the glass tapping get more and more aggressive. Miko just curled up more and more. She was hiding, she wanted to hide forever. Suddenly the tapping on the glass turned into a knock. Miko yelped as she rolled. Her pillow fort came undone from the knock, the jerk of the box. She laid on her back. She looked up and all she could see was those dark red optics and devilish grin. His grey faceplate was covered in shadows. She felt her heart freeze. Her body was stiff. Half her torso was covered in the blanket. Patches of her leg were covered in pillows. Her hair was a mess, scruffy and greasy, it splayed outwards from her head. She could feel more tears, how could she still make tears? Hadn't she cried enough during the week? Miko closed her eyes and turned her head away from Megatron. The Warlord grunted. Miko realised that his 'nice guy' persona was coming away. He was still a torturing warlord, a cruel, vicious mech.

Megatron was silent as he watched her. Miko hated the silence, she hated the tension. She opened an eye to look back at Megatron. He smirked as he noticed her looking at him.

"You're quiet, did my threat scare you?" Megatron teased her. She grunted as she sat up and stared up at Megatron. Her defiance was quickly returning. The defiance Megatron loved to see. He liked watching her bark and bite. Miko frowned as she looked at Megatron. She was trying to read his emotions. But she couldn't, she envied him because he could. He could easily read her emotions, they both knew it. She envied him and he could tell.

"If your going to torture me, just torture me." Miko spat. She narrowed her eyes up at him and he just snorted. He lifted his helm away and narrowed his optics. He seemed to be debating what she said. Miko wondered if he was considering the option. She hugged herself and waited for her fate. Megatron then chuckled.

"Oh sweet pet, did the Autobots not teach you about bluffing?" That made Miko pause. She felt relief, she felt so much relief. Her body visibly deflated and relaxed. She sighed and rubbed at her face. Thank Primus. He was just bluffing to freak out the Autobots. She paused as she realised what he called her.

"I am not a pet! Or sweet! I am free and very sour!" Miko corrected. Megatron chuckled at this, he grabbed her by the torso and arm. Miko winced in pain and then she was dropped onto her pillow bed. She perked up as she looked around. Megatron grunted and tilted her cage as he examined the now empty box. He grunted as he gripped one of the walls and started to pry. Miko watched as he pulled at it. Once he realised that was not going to work, he put his fist in the inside of it. His cannon glowed, it was heating up his arm. Miko squeaked as his blade was quickly unsheathed. It was heated, slicing through the glass. Megatron smirked as he pulled the blade away and the new wall was revealed. It was opposite to her roofed area and was quite a bit lower than the other walls. If Miko took a running jump she could easily clear it and get out. If she wanted to get back in? That'd be more of a trial. Miko paused as Megatron picked her up and tossed her back into the cage. She blinked and looked back at him. He took back his pillow and put it in its proper space.

"There, now I won't have to pick you up every time you scream and whimper." Miko frowned as he looked back at the mech. She didn't scream and whimper… She huffed and put her pillows and blankets back the right way. She sat down, taking her socks off and she grabbed some of her blankets. She wrapped them around her shoulders, like a cloak. She shuddered and enjoyed the warmth. The Nemesis was cold most of the time, it was high up and needed no heaters. Which made it miserable for the human. Megatron frowned as he watched her. He turned off the lights but did not put on the lamp. The room was dark but Miko could see the illuminated faceplate of the mech. His red optics were red and bright. She stared up at him, staring at the light. When he blinked, for that split second the room was truly dark. He was looking back at Miko. The white halos in his blood-like optics were twitching up and down. He was examining her. She laid down, propping her head up so she could better watch the mech.

"If you didn't have this connection, could you avoid the marriage in other ways?"

A shrug as she rolled over onto her back.

"If I was somehow unmarriable, like had a kid or had a surgery that's left me scarred. Stuff that makes me ugly!"

There was a grunt as Megatron adjusted himself in his berth.

"Humans and your pathetic beauty standards."

"Ha! If I was already married obviously or if I was already dating someone. I guess."

"You really can't just say no, can you?"

A silence filled the room. Miko took a deep breath, she would not cry. She couldn't anymore. She couldn't be weak anymore. She had be stronger. Miko closed her eyes and let the breath go. She continued this, taking a deep breath, holding it and then let go.

"No, no. I can't do it…" Miko's voice still trembled. Megatron nodded as he looked at the ceiling too.

"You know? When I was little I had these glows in the dark stars that covered my ceiling." Miko held a hand up, she smiled as she remembered. She loved her childhood bedroom. She would adore to recreate it, a more mature version perhaps, but still with the key features like those stars.

"It must have been nice. Come now, sleep." Megatron closed his optics. Miko nodded and covered herself with her blankets. She rolled onto her side, staring out the window. Antarctica never went out of view but the Americas was just about to go out of view. Miko frowned, she closed her eyes.

Another night of uneasy rest…

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"We have made Miko a cover story but they wish to speak to her, I can only keep them delayed for a little time…" Spoke the Prime. That had been six minutes ago but…

Miko covered her ears with her hand. Her parents' screams were filling the Bridge. She never knew they could get so angry. They were angry at her. Miko felt some tears prick at her eyes. She wasn't sure if they were angry at her or cared for her so much that they were angry.

It had been one and a half weeks. Megatron glanced over at her, an arched eyebrow. He had been told Miko's parents were loving and caring. They seemed anything but. In fact they had done nothing but shout in their native tongue. Miko had said nothing, she glanced at Megatron.

"I can't even understand a word." She admitted. They were talking too fast, over each other, at odd volumes. Megatron nodded as he narrowed his optics. Miko sighed, she wondered if this cover up story was worth the shouting it caused. Miko, apparently, according to a panicked Fowler and much calmer Optimus, had run away from her foster home to stay with friends. Optimus intended the friend to be Jack so June could speak up and her niceness and sensibleness would calm Miko's parents. Not even the Prime could anticipate her parents anxiety though, and so that plan was slowly coming undone. Miko gripped the end of her shirt as the shouting continued. She felt like a child, waiting for the bickering end to tell her parents she had thrown up. Megatron was growing more and more irritated. They just had to wait for it to end.

It took a while, but it did eventually, Miko's mother spoke up first, "Do you have anything to say for yourself!? We've been worried sick!" She spoke in English. Miko took a deep breath in relief at being able to understand her and also the fact the shouting was done.

"I'm sorry mama! But my foster parents are a drag! They tried to make me go to Church and pr-" A scream was suddenly heard. Miko's parents had a new thing to be mad at. Miko winced as she wasn't sure what they were mad at. What she said was true, her foster parents were always nagging her to go to church. She hated it. Then her father, who was much calmer, spoke.

"Your mother is fine, I think, but why didn't you tell us this sooner? Your Aunt could have come up and got you."Miko winced, oh yeah… She should have told the Autobots she had an Aunt who lived in America. Well, not technically an Aunt. Her dad's brother's wife, she travelled from Japan to America a lot because of work. Holes in the plan, there were so many holes in the plan. Miko cringed as she closed an eye.

"I'm sorry it's just that it's a little more complicated than that!" Miko reasoned. She bit her lip the minute she realised what she was saying. She was no good at lying. She looked at Megatron like he could help her. But he had to remain silent. He just gestured with his helm for her to continue. Miko was about to continue. But her mother's voice came back. There was a small struggle and suddenly all you could hear was her mother's voice.

"Drugs!? Is it drugs? Are you doing the cocaines? Herin?" Her mother cried out. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. Miko's face paled and her eyes widened. The fact her mother called herion a bird aside. The silence that came over everyone on the call was unbearably stiff. Miko blinked as she tried to wrap her mind around it.

"What!? No mama! No! I- No. It's not substance related, I just…" Miko's mind was in a blur. She couldn't figure out what to say. What was a good excuse? How could she explain why she had gone missing? Why was she answering the phone from an unknown number? She cringed as her mind kept searching and searching. She remembered what she had been discussing for the past two weeks. In that dark bedroom, in between negotiations. Negotiations that were going nowhere… She groaned and her mind kept working, almost leaking smoke out of her ears.

"You're coming home!"Miko's mother shouted. Even Megatron's faceplate lost colour. No! She couldn't go home! If she went home… "And once you're back we can concentrate on the wedding, yes?" Miko's mother laugh was tired as she fantasied. Miko shook her head, tears leaking out of her eyes. No, she couldn't get married. She looked at Megatrron who was frowning. Not even he knew how to escape this scenario.

Even Miko heard her voice cracking and trembling as she spoke.

"No mama, papa. I can't get married, I can't!" Miko pleaded.

"Why not Miko? It's obvious America is doing no good."

Miko closed her eyes. She couldn't go back to Japan. She couldn't lose Bulkhead, the Autobots… Her freedom. She couldn't become a submissive housewife. She wouldn't! She felt her heart tearing apart. Miko felt her hands shaking. She couldn't become a caged bird. She wanted to have fun, she wanted to finish her education. She wanted to date before marrying! But she knew her parents would never take a no for an answer. No, her answer had to be something else. She frowned, she tried to recall all the reasons why the wedding may be called off? She couldn't scar herself. She didn't want to think of the pain of having stitches for however long. She rubbed at her face as she looked at Megatron. A part of her wished she could be like him, he'd never wilt like this. He'd know what to do… Miko frowned as her eyes were trained on him. Then she got an idea.

"I can't marry Riku!" She suddenly shouted. An excitement in her voice.

"What!? Why?" Miko's father called. There was a tense moment as Miko thought. Her mind was rushing. Her eyes landed on Megatron and she spoke before she thought.

"I already have a boyfriend!"