Fear and Loathing (in New Kaon)
Pairing: Thundercracker/Skywarp
Universe: TFA
Setting: During and after "Transwarped", no spoilers, really. References to "A Fistful of Energon" in this chapter.
"There was another you, you know," Thundercracker says suddenly, breaking the long silence. "Another purple clone of Starscream. He was a turbo-chicken just like you."
Skywarp, nestled comfortably in Thundercracker's lap (at once a scary and comforting place to be, since Thundercracker had inherited Starscream's tendancy to snap without warning), looked up at the older clone.
"I...I d-didin't know that," he says, a little concerned. "Did you say...'w-was'?"
"Of course you didn't know," sniffs Thundercracker haughtily, "I know far more than you, my memory core is superior to yours. And yes - there was another you."
The purple clone's optic twitches, and he fidgets, pressing himself unhappily into Thundercracker's chest. "What happened to h-him? I mean...me?"
"Starscream blew him up," Thundercracker says bluntly, a nasty glint in his optics. Skywarp squeaks, covering his mouth with his fists. "Our 'original copy' tricked Megatron into capturing hi- I mean, you. You were a bomb."
Skywarp wails, looking down at his own body in horror. "A-a-a-am I g-gonna b-blow up? Am-m I a b-bomb now too?"
Thundercracker laughs, a harsh cackle, then draws Skywarp back into his lap. "No, glitch," he says smoothly, "that plan didn't work once, Starscream won't try it again. I obviously knew it wouldn't work. But you see, that's why you can't trust Starscream." He plants a brief kiss on Skywarp's forehead, and the frightened seeker clicks like a sparkling at the comforting action.
"W...why can't we trust Starscream? He's our...our creator," he mumbles, raising his fists to his mouth again to hide behind them.
"Tch," Thundercracker rolls his optics, flicking a finger against Skywarp's head. "Do I have to explain everything to you? Starscream is just using us. You're not safe with him," he continues dramatically. "But with me, you're safe. Got that?"
Skywarp scrunches up his face plates, and against his self-preservation program's advice, says in a small voice, "No. Y-you use me too. S...so that means I-I'm not safe with you either."
"What do you mean I use you?" Thundercracker snarls, pushing Skywarp off his lap, and for a moment the purple clone is reminded very much of his white, lying brother.
"You j-just want me as a p-punching bag!" Skywarp says shakily, somehow growing braver and more fearful at the same time. "You just want me around to boost your ego, 'c-cause you think I'm pa...pathetic! And...and you just want compliments! If you w-want compliments the whole time you sh-should make Sunstorm follow you around!"
The blue flier regards the younger clone for a moment. "You're not as stupid as you make yourself out to be, then," he drawls. "But still...not as intelligent as I am. Sunstorm, you see, compliments anyone and everyone. Even the Autobots. But I want you" - he takes Skywarp's chin in his hands - "for just me. I may use you...but unlike Starscream, I will protect you."
"Protect...me?" Skywarp repeats, optics even wider than usual.
"Protect you," Thundercracker repeats, soft and dangerous. "You won't have to be scared...as long as you follow me. Only me."
The purple seeker considers this a moment. Then, slowly, a triumphant, wobbly smile wanders across his faceplates, making Thundercracker frown uneasily. "You need me, don't you?" Skywarp says proudly.
"What?" hollers Thundercracker, his voice echoing around the crater they've adopted as home. "I am superior to you! I don't need anyone! I'm not a sniffling crybaby that needs someone to hold their hand just to-"
Skywarp cowers back, scooting a little away just in case. "You n-need me," he interrupts, still smiling. "You...you need someone to compare yourself to. You're trying to manipulate me into being that...that mech. I'm n-not stupid."
Then, suddenly bold, quashing the fear bubbling in his processor, Skywarp crawls back into Thundercracker's lap. "It's ok, though," he continues. "I w-won't tell anyone. 'Cause...'cause I need someone too. I need s...someone to protect me. Or I g-get scared. So" - he sighs - "I'll be your punching bag, I'll make you look good. But you have to keep your word. You have to protect me."
Thundercracker says nothing, clenching and unclenching his fists. Then, finally, he growls, defeated. "...You promise you won't tell?"
"Uh-huh," Skywarp nods, settling himself against Thundercracker's chest, feeling much safer than he felt a few breems ago in the same place. "Is...is it a deal then?"
Roughly, Thundercracker grabs the purple seeker's chin and kisses him harshly, then breaks it just as suddenly. "Fine. But you're mine now, you got it? And...and I'll take good care of what's mine."
Skywarp smiles back, curling up in the older clone's lap, not feeling scared for once.