Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, it is Hasbro's.

Beautiful Tragedy

Chapter 3: Tempering Patience

Life at Kaon palace was somewhat better when you had others to talk to when you were berthridden for a few days. Optimus rubbed his sore healed wounds that had been neatly welded shut by Ratchet as light as a breeze, remembering all too well that if the wounds went deeper he would have been offline that night. It was awful merely to think about it.

After he was brought into the massive slave berth chamber to rest and recover, he really did not all that much to do except watch the activity of the other Autobots around him. Surprisingly, he had become pretty popular from his actions at the Decepticon party and from time to time the slaves going to their daily tasks passed by him to praise him for his bravery and to scorn Starscream for his cruel unjust punishment that left to recover so. Even the little Autobot sparklings and several mechlings did as the older mechs as well.

Other than that however, things were rather dull and boring not being allowed to get up and do much of anything. The semi had once tried to get up and maybe take a small walk around the slave chamber to ease the aching tedium of doing nothing all day but a highly irritated Autobot slave medic armed with a thick hard wrench that was not afraid to use it toward his helm stopped that behavior very quickly.

Despite being poor in terms of berthside manners, the truck robot noticed that the old doctor seemed to have an unusual fatherly relationship with many of the Autobots he knew fairly well now, most especially the two Autobot servants, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, that appeared at just the right moment to stop the High Priest, Starscream from offlining him. The twins themselves both arrived every once in a while just irk the old servant around for a while until his temper lashed out and ended chasing them away.

The pair also visited Optimus a bit to tell him various different rumors that had been spreading around Kaon palace as well as sneaking in a bit of animech beef, red energon wine and hardened energon cake slices they managed to swipe from the high-class Decepticons upstairs much to Ratchet's displeasure who didn't want his patient to get spoiled or to have them both punished for stealing them in the first place.

Bumblebee often hung around with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker who unsurprisingly became fast friends with the twins as he seemed to a lot in common with his fellow mechlings but always visited the large berthridden slave before going about his daily duties for the day. The red and blue mech often apologized for having him do his work for him due to being injured with the younger robot constantly replying back that it was not his fault that he had to wait and heal, but it was Starscream's.

Even though Optimus wanted to hate the bitter lithe Decepticon for his despicable actions that night, his better judgement told him the High Priest wasn't even worth the time to loathe even more. Honestly he disliked the Pharaoh more than he did the seeker for reasons he didn't know. He kept asking himself, why in Primus' great graces did he obey his request to go to that damnable Decepticon celebration. It was not a command but a request, meaning he had the rare option to refuse and Primus help him, he wanted to... so why did he do it anyway? The truck felt he would never get the answers and if he ever did get them, he felt he would most likely wish he didn't.

When Megatron woke up in the early light of dawn that fell onto his face from the purple curtains of the crushed jade windows being parted open by personal Autobot servants doing their daily tasks for him, he felt refreshed and almost satisfied from the night before. It was such a lovely little show the Autobot that he put on. It had been plaguing his mind and still was slightly. However, he did not know if what little chance he had to break through the stubborn emotional barrier the mech put up around himself was ruined. He hoped, prayed that last night did not destroy his favorite Autobot slave's possible growing cooperation with him completely from seeing the violent reaction he had when he slapped one of his Four Generals across the face then storm out in a huff.

The Pharaoh let the unpleasant thoughts pass knowing the mech was more sensible than that and wouldn't let such a tiny bad incident rule his judgement. Perhaps he thought it would be better to make his moves toward making the fiery Optimus his beautiful, willing lover. Carefully of course but it would start today whether he liked it or not. The large Decepticon could not stand not to try.

The silver mech rose off his colossal berth and headed for his personal washroom, already filled with steaming hot clear water by his Autobot bathing servants already sitting beside the water's edge, waiting for him. The Decepticon lifted his arms to allow the Autobots to take off his hefty gold usekh around his neck and various jewelry on his frame, as well as taking off his gold loincloth and long flowing violet gold-trimmed cape.

The gun robot then walked into the water until it reached up to barely touch his neck cables and sat down on one of the steps of the golden tiled pool, moaning a little at the feeling of the warm water sinking into the stiff muscle cables underneath his armor. He then felt the warm water of the pool around him being poured over his body from silver jugs from the top of a tall steel slab in the center of the pool and soft violet mesh washcloths soaked in fine polishing oil for both cleansing and polishing, being rubbed gently over his muscular metal frame by his bathing slaves that were simply doing their job quietly.

After the last rinse of water over his body from above, Megatron stood up and was toweled dried quickly and expertly, then was dressed into freshly cleaned silk clothing and his lavish jewelry put back on just as skillfully before lastly putting on a new coat of kohl around his optics, some light creme over his chassis for the light outside and a quick spray of perfume to rid of any unpleasant scents. The Pharaoh stretched after his Autobot bathing servants left just as promptly as they had come and left his chambers to began his daily patrol.

The large Decepticon felt almost as giddy as a sparkling inside of his spark as he went into the elevator downstairs, knowing he was coming closer and closer to the area he had come to know as the routine place Optimus would be at seen at, presenting his beautiful face out in the open air, showing all the emotions he concealed from all Decepticons to his little Autobot friends. He would never admit it but he was definitely envious of the slaves he seemed to know well. They were the only ones who saw the lovely semi so at open and at ease with them instead of himself.

But as he arrived on the first floor, slightly rushing out of the elevator the second it's door opened and turned around the corner to look out the long windowed hallway as he found himself doing now, he did not see the vivid red and blue mech's steel gleaming in the bright light of day outside as he had been expecting. He didn't see him... anywhere...

Megatron felt his spark suddenly clench and grow cold. Something was wrong. Where was Optimus? The yellow mechling that he had almost always seen working beside the truck robot was working all alone today, which the Decepticon had not seen since before large mech had first come here to Kaon palace.

The Pharaoh tightly stiffened and walked over to directly look out of the thick tinted glass to see if he was just a little early or that the mech was just coming outside and could not be directly because the design of the palace blocking some of the view below. Waiting to see if it was either of the cases he thought of, only to still see... nothing.

The gun clenched his slightly shivering servos into tight concerned fists as his face contorted with worry. What could have happened to Optimus for him not to be at his usual task? He had never seen the large Autobot slave ever take a day off. Not ever. The silver mech felt a hallow and empty hole grow inside his spark to not know what has happened to the fervid slave he had grown to be so greatly interested in not to be here and make him the most alive he had ever felt in all the many eons he has lived.

'Where the frag is he?' Megatron growled, baring his sharp fangs a bit before whipping around to head upstair to his Vizer's office to demand the answer, his cape swirling around behind him. The Pharaoh was more than able to go downstairs into the slave chambers if he was desperate enough but he would look quite suspicious and audacious from doing so to the other Decepticons, so doing something like that was absolutely out of the question, as much as he wanted to but thought better of it.

Reentering into the elevator and going to the second level in a hurry, the second it had stopped on the floor he wanted and the large silver mech easily pried the thick glass sliding doors open before they had the chance to do it himself and stomped out of the elevator. The Nobles walking around on the floor and talking to one another saw their Lord suddenly appearing into the main room looking strangely unsettled and hastened. Sensing this as a sign that their King was not a good mood at the moment quickly moved out of his hurried way.

Megatron did not even know why he was getting so worked up over simply not seeing the Autobot slave even just once. It was almost scary to him how much that even so much the tiniest change with the mech either excited or depressed him so but that didn't stop him from roughly shoving the golden doors to his Vizer's office at the back of the main room open, galvanizing the silently working Soundwave at his large desk, his children Rumble and Frenzy on the seats beside their carrier and their animech pets, Ravage and Laserbeak, inside.

"Soundwave!" the Pharaoh almost downright shouted toward the smaller blue mech, making the usually apathetic Decepticon express rare fear as well as the others in the room.

After a moment of complete uncomfortable silence the stereo robot finally spoke, breaking it effectively. "Uh, yes, My Lord?" he asked setting down the datapad he was reading before the sudden unexpected interruption.

The much larger Decepticon marched up to his loyal Vizer and peered right beyond the scarlet visor right into the other's optics. "What has happened to the slave, Optimus?" he demanded bluntly.

"Why do you wish to know that, My Liege?" Soundwave asked curiously, truly interested in what would create this behavior in his leader. It was the first time he had ever seen the silver mech demeanor change so drastically before, he did not know if he should honestly be worried.

Megatron snarled defensively. "That is none of your concern. Now... What has happened to him to cause him to be absent with his diurnal duties?" the Pharaoh inquired irritably, optics beginning to glow in a way of showing his patience was slowly running thin.

Soundwave was quiet for a moment considering his response carefully as to not enrage his Lord any further but seeing this new quick temperament, thought that nothing he said would not. "According to the medical report I have received from the Autobot slave doctor that works down in the slave chambers, Ratchet, that the slave, Optimus, has been assigned to stay in the berth for several days."

The larger mech blinked in slight confusion at what he had been told. "For what conceivable purpose? Is he in heat?" he asked suddenly feeling a rush of arousal in his systems if the Autobot was indeed in his reproductive cycle but gruffly pushed it aside as this was an inappropriate time for to think of such things when in front of someone.

The Vizer shook his helm, finally getting his cool, stern demeanor back. "No, My Lord. The medical data shows that Optimus will not go into his heat cycle until several weeks from now."

"Then what is it!" Megatron boomed at last at the final end of his patience, though still not knowing why it was even so thin, baring his denta a bit.

"He was injured last night, My Lord. After he had stormed out without your permission to leave I might also add." the smaller robot spoke calmly, crossing his arms at his last statement. It was still hard to believe for many of the Decepticons how much brass the robot had to do such a thing after what none had ever done before.

"What?" the Pharaoh roared outraged, slamming his powerful black hands on the desk hard, almost breaking it as well as once again frightening all the mechs in the room. "Who dared damage one of my slaves...?" he hissed dangerously. 'The filthy cretin will suffer for harming such a beauty! My beauty! Mine!' he added with a sudden incredible possessiveness in his mind that seemed to come from nowhere.

Soundwave sighed, seeing that his King was just becoming angrier, he felt there was no purpose in holding the another piece of information from him. He sighed to calm himself yet again then look up at the massive Decepticon in front of him. "It was the High Priest, Starscream, Your Lordship." he spoke as droll as he could.

The gun backed up a little with wide optics. After recovering from his surprise his face became filled with true fury. "Starscream..." he growled, clenching his fists together so tightly he was managing to draw energon oil from his raged state.

In actuality however, Megatron couldn't exactly say he was too shocked that it was him who attacked one of his slaves. The ill-tempered seeker was notorious for random brutal assaults on Autobots, even for a Decepticon. The High Priest would certainly have done something like this just get to him. Nevertheless, he certainly didn't expect him to actually do it... and to him no less!

"Why that insolent little fragger...!" the Pharaoh snarled savagely, shaking visibly in anger. "Bring him to me in my throne room, Soundwave. Anyway that you possibly could... with harsh force would be lovely..." he hissed under his hot breath which he was puffing out of his agitated systems as he turned to leave out of the Vizer's office with a swosh of his large cape.

Soundwave felt that if he did not address the logic he felt should be said he might not get too many other opportunities to do so in the future. Before his leader could leave he stood up from his seat and gently touched the silver mech's shoulder, stopping in his tracks. Whenever his Vizer touched him somewhere like he was doing right now, it was always important.

"Sire, with all due respect. Despite disobeying your command to not harm any of your Autobot slaves without your consent first, the Autobot was not fatally harmed. Besides that, the slave himself is not entirely that special. Regardless of having a vast amount of skills that do indeed make him especially valuable as a worker of many types of tasks but anything beyond that... being anything more of further worth than being just a worker to any normal sane Decepticon... I'm afraid that he is not." the blue mech said crisply, noting the barely noticeable flinch from the other.

"So, feel free to ignore what I have said to you, for it is entirely your choice, My Lord. Which in the end is all that matters to me. You simply must have known that to punish the mech in return for what the Autobot slave had been given... is simply not in the Decepticon nature." Soundwave watched every moment on his Lord's face to see every hidden emotion.

Megatron was silent as he processed the commonsensible words of his Vizer. Yes, he was quite aware of his strange behavior, however, if he was to ignore the powerful needs it stemmed from, he knew it would eventually drive him insane. Thinking over his next words decisively then speaking clearly. "It does not matter, Soundwave... I am telling the truth when I say I am fully aware of what I'm doing but do not care about what others think about it enough to stop myself... and besides... with Starscream, I have personally have had enough of his slag... It's about time for him to learn a little lesson about his place here..." he growled deeply before leaving out the door.

The stereo uttered a disappointed sigh but comm-linked to the two Decepticon guards that served as the Pharaoh's personal bodyguards when called to do so. 'Blitzwing, Astrotrain.'

The response for the two addressed spontaneously came back to him together at the same time after just a few seconds. 'Yes, sir?'

'An order has been given to me to relay to you both that His Lordship commanded that you bring the High Priest, Starscream, directly to his throne room... It should also be noted, he has requested it to be aggressively.' Soundwave mused over the link to himself.

Dark chuckling returned from the pair. 'Very well. If that what the Pharaoh desires.' Blitzwing spoke with haughtiness coloring his voice

'He will be there in a few minutes, kicking and screaming, sir.' Astrotrain said dutifully but also had amusement in his tone.

'Very good, I will leave you to complete your orders then.' Soundwave told the two acquiescently.

'Thank you, sir!' the pair of Decepticons spoke together once more before a click was heard over the comm-link that meant the other mechs signed off.

Soundwave signed off himself then went and sat down in his desk's chair, picking up the datapad he had reading earlier, hoping to himself that this time he would not have a such frightful interruption this time.

Starscream felt great the moment he had waken up on this day. Last night was one of the most incredible of his life. The damnable little Autobot slave had finally gotten what he had rightfully deserved. He had forgotten why he stopped from ending the filthy mech's miserable life right then and there at the moment, but let it go as it didn't feel urgent enough to remember right now.

The High Priest stretched and hollered for Jetfire to come to him. As soon as the large Autobot slave came rushing to his master's call, Starscream spoke to him. "Why must you be such a blundering oaf when I call you."

Jetfire flinched, believing he had upset the seeker in someway already so early in the morning. He threw his arms around the smaller Decepticon tenderly and nuzzled the side of face with his helm. "Oh, please forgive me, Master... I didn't mean to offend you in any way..." he whispered, preparing for the usual hard slap for his insolence.

It didn't come. Instead the seeker yawned, still too tried to bother smacking around the mech right now. "Oh, just shut up and get to the ship and prepare it to go back to the temple." he muttered back irritably.

"Y-Yes, Master..." Jetfire spoke softly, releasing the other robot before bowing his helm courteously and leaving the room to do as he was ordered to try to avoid getting punished as little as possible today.

When he was gone Starscream got up and left the guest room on the second floor he was staying in with his thrine brothers in the other rooms nearby. Coming out into the main room he discovered it abuzz with muttering Noblemechs, Court Officials and Army Officers, talking as if some big rumor was now currently being spread around to one another. When the high-level Decepticons saw the High Priest nearby they stopped their whispering for a moment to stare at him unbelieving before returning to their hushed talking but more rushed than earlier.

The seeker raised an optic ridge in suspicion to what that was about but shrugged it of and continued his way toward the elevator, only to find it was occupied and its occupants were not moving to give him room to board. The smaller Decepticon glared at the two daring to stand in way only to see two mechs he recognized as a pair of Decepticons that he had occasionally seen escorting the Pharaoh around as his bodyguards. He had a bad feeling about this...

The large purple mech, Astrotrain, looked down at the slender Decepticon, crossing his arms with a wicked grin on his dermas. "Well, hello, Starscream... You going somewhere?" he spoke conceitedly.

The High Priest narrowed his carmine optics before they widened a bit and his face plate paled. In just a quick instant, he recalled why he had stopped from dealing the sweet final blow to that damn little slave. It was for the fear of rousing the Pharaoh's wrath. Honestly he hoped the word of he had done would never be spread around until the Pharaoh caught wind of it but apparently seeing the two guards of the Decepticon leader here with evil slag-eating smirks on both of their faces only meant that Megatron had indeed found out and was out for mech blood. His mech blood.

Swallowing a bit of a lump in his throat tube and putting on his most convincing impeccable look before speaking as calmly he could. "I'm not exactly going anywhere my dear mechs. What is the reason for you two being here?" he asked hoping they would buy it, most of the slower processing ones did. They both continued to smirk at him, not batting an optic shutter could definitely say it didn't work on these two.

"Well, evidently the Pharaoh wants to talk to you about something, important or something." Blitzwing said clearly amused that the seeker was trying to save his sorry aft from obvious coming punishment by feigning innocence.

"Yep, he said he wants to see you, now." Astrotrain emphasized the last word he spoke by roughly grabbing one of the delicate arms of Starscream and yanking him forward into his broad thick chassis.

The High Priest grunted in pain at the slight harsh treatment. "Not so roughly, please!" he grumbled, dropping his ruse figuring it was doing absolutely nothing to help him, much to his annoyment.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Starscream. There was no specific order to be gentle when bringing you to him." Blitzwing laughed as he grabbed the other arm of the small seeker in his large hand.

The jet robot narrowed his ruby optics with contempt at the two triple changers' enjoyment. 'Stupid fraggers...' he snarled to himself as the elevator raised up to the first floor, the Pharaoh's chambers. The two large Decepticons dragged the High Priest through the main room to the throne room, with a silver mech already sitting on the luxurious seat, not looking very angry at the moment but his aura showed he really was and was simply hiding it really well.

When the two bulky guards stopped in front the Decepticon leader and bowed, Starscream took the chance to fiercely throw the two larger Decepticons' arms off his own then turn to his face his King with evident aggravation. "Apparently, you have called for me, My Lord?" he hissed through his denta moodily.

Megatron was far from being intimidated of the petite Decepticon and sneered slightly at the pitiful sight of temporary bravery. "Indeed I have... Tell me. To what lengths are you willing to sink to in order to truly infuriate me?" he asked looking at his pointed servos for a moment.

"Pardon?" the seeker asked thrown off for a moment, not expecting the coming violence to begin like this at all.

The Pharaoh's powerful optics gazed up from his fingers to glower at the High Priest. "I'm sure you recall 'punishing' a mech yesterday night, an Autobot do you not?" he tilted his helm a bit in a mockingly questioning motion.

The jet blinked in confusion at eery way the conversation was going. Whenever they typically argued at one another it quick and loud. This was... uncomfortable... "Well... Yes."

"Mmmm... And why did you punish him?" the silver mech asked, optics starting to radiate with slowly growing raged red light.

Starscream couldn't take the angry calm of the situation and finally snapped. "It's just a simple Autobot! Why must I be punished for giving what the slime what he rightfully deserves!" he screamed in fury.

"SILENCE!" Megatron boomed back more loudly, standing up in a definite aggressive stance and baring his fangs in clear threat. All of the Decepticons cringed in fright at their acrimonious Lord's roar, even the High Priest lost most of his gusto seeing the elder mech in a completely unfriendly battle position.

"It does not matter what you believe any of my Autobots deserve, it was not your place to anything to any of them! Let this be a very hard lesson, not only to you, Starscream but to all Decepticons in my empire who might possibly want to seek my wrath by attacking my slaves and servants. Be very aware that every single one of those mechs are valuable, expensive and irreplaceable workers in my palace." 'Yes, irreplaceable...' the Pharaoh thought to himself secretly before continuing and walking up to the other mech.

"I realize that you do not think of your slaves as valuably and if I must say, you have been abusing the generosity you have been given here in Kaon. However, this my domain, not your temples... and sadly I have overlooked that because of other matters, thus making you believe you could do whatever you like in my absence to your twisted spark's content. But no more..." the large silver mech trailed off ominously, putting his arms behind his back. He looked toward Astrotrain and Blitzwing still crouched on either side of the seeker, awaiting further orders. With nothing more than a simple nod of his helm toward the pair, the two Decepticon guards rose off of their knee joints and pedes and lifted their fists up into the air above the small jet robot.

Before Starscream could even brace himself, the huge clenched servos crashed down upon his armor, making him scream in pain. The two brutish mechs ignored the agonized shrieks of the High Priest uncaringly as they pummeled the much less thickly armored frame below them, easily bashing ugly dents and cutting out open jagged gashes with each hit.

Megatron watched in cold anger with a face that closely resembled a statue of an indifferent proud judge staring down at that accused that plead for mercy even though it would never come. As he watched his powerful and bulky guards pummel the small Decepticon with their large thick fists, he wondered to himself why he even still watched these punishment spectacles. For whatever reason he couldn't explain, when he watched this penalization it made him envision Optimus screaming in pain and begging for it to stop. It was strange why that even appeared in his mind and frankly disturbing.

A tiny part of him told him this punishment was very necessary as it was for Optimus' stained honor but even he felt this would not get the Autobot's favor. However, to a Decepticon it was very romantic to attack the one responsible for harming their interest. This was also not only to avenge his personal favorite but it was also to make all the other Decepticons back off from attempting anything else toward the red and blue mech. If one rose up, more would get the idea to so as well to him. It was better to stamp it out before it had even begun.

Giving his chrono a quick look to see how long the punishment had been going on. When it was about five minutes, Megatron raised his one of his hands in the air and spoke slightly loudly. "Enough!"

Astrotrain and Blitzwing immediately halted their assault at their Lord's command, bowed their heads and lifted the bleeding High Priest off of the carpet now stained with his oozing energon oil by his weakened arms.

The Pharaoh watched the slender seeker lift his helm up with some difficulty to glare at his superior looking down at him with furious glowing ruby optics. "Now do you understand, how it is truly unwise to rouse my anger by disrespecting my authority in my own domicile?"

"Disguise it as best you can, Your Majesty... but you're doing this all for a filthy, slimy Autobot whore... You're beginning to go mad..." he whispered hoarsely, raising up just enough of his remaining energy to smirk and chuckle decrepitly.

The much larger Decepticon scowled darkly and without a second more he backhanded the arrogant smile clean off the other robot's face, taking some true gratification from physically slapping the disturbed little mech.

"I repeat for you... Do you understand?" Megatron bent down and growled deeply to the other's now lowered helm.

Starscream did not answer but nodded solemnly and angrily. He did not want to say anymore as he simply did not have the energy to do so even though he certainly had many things he wanted to say back at the Decepticon leader.

"Good. Take him out of my sight." the Pharaoh fiercely commanded, wanting the little monster out of throne room before he blabbed some more.

The two guards bowed their helms and dragged the injured High Priest back toward the elevator, leaving a thin trail of cooling mech blood as they took him away.

"You'll pay for this, My Lord... I swear it..." the red and white mech hissed quietly. One day the gun was going to become too infatuated with that Autobot to hide it from the Decepticon empire and when he did at last get found out, he swore to be there when his Lord's entire world crashed down around him. A nearly demonic smile spread on his face. Yes... Revenge would be so sweet... He just had to wait... It would come... Eventually...

The seeker's thoughts were cut off when he was apparently on the first floor and was currently being hauled toward his ship waiting outside. His thrine brothers were outside of the docking opening of the ship, most likely waiting for him to show up but when they saw him their joy to see their High Priest finally arriving at the ship turned into horror.

"Alright, off you go!" Blitzwing said all but tossing with Astrotrain, Starscream's broken body forward into the arms of his thrine brothers who caught him gently as the two Decepticon guards turned and left laughing a little.

"Are you okay, High Priest?" one of his Priests, Skywarp, who was currently holding him with Thundercracker, asked gravely worried.

The jet robot's optics were blazing and wild, the beginning signs of a deteriorating worn processor. "I'm fine you scum!" he snarled shoving the concerned mechs off of him and stumbled to the best of his remaining strength into the ship, not caring about what his thrine brothers think of his actions.

Optimus woke up on the day he was said to have been healed enough for work feeling much better with the time he spent healing. Despite being stiff from the inactivity of berthrest adding the incredible boredom and the chastising from the gruff old Autobot doctor to stay, it worked out for the best for his injuries which all but seemed to vanish. Still, this the day it was said he would just fine to begin working again and he firmly decided to go back to work regardless of being told to take it easy. The ambulance growled contumaciously a few times but allowed it anyway.

After a nice long bath to wash off the dust and rust that had been plaguing his armor during his time recovering and it loosened out the little soreness he still had left in his wounds, the large Autobot slave felt as great as he did before he was attacked by Starscream that awful night.

The truck then came outside into the bright daylight and warmed his steel skin in the warm light. He could say he missed it despite being forced to go back to work. The large Autobot slave walked over to the laundry area to see Bumblebee working hard on his laundry until he felt the semi's gentle, strong, reassuring presence nearby.

The second the mechling paused in his work for a instant then looked up and he saw the semi walking up to him an adorable grin spread across his face, obviously ecstatic seeing his friend. "Hi, Optimus...!" the car robot wanted to yell out but couldn't with Barricade keeping a closer watch on him more lately.

Optimus smiled back as he took his usual spot next to his younger friend. "Hello, Bumblebee. Great to see you're still in high spirits despite your worry over my safety. It was sweet to concern yourself for my sake but it really wasn't necessary." he spoke softly as well as speaking honestly.

"Oh, stop. You made us all worry." a voice came from nearby, surprising the truck a bit. The red and blue mech turned and saw the Autobot servant, Jazz sitting nearby with his favorite lyre in his hands softly stroking the strings and had many blank datapads for writing musical scores stacked beside him.

Seeing the smaller mech outside of the palace when he usually preferred staying in cool of the indoors was certainly different than usual and it confused the semi robot. "Jazz? I didn't even see you there. Why are you outside?" he asked curious as he began his usual work when he was given a laundry urn from one of the Autobots that bring out the dirty clothes to them to wash.

The porsche looked up from his activity. "I thought it would nice to come outside and practice my songwriting. You don't mind do you?" he asked teasingly already knowing what answer would be.

The large slave withdrew his mask and gave a compassionate smile while shaking his helm softly. "Of course not." he spoke quietly, returning his gaze to the laundry urn.

Jazz smiled and began to hum certain tunes to himself, going into his own creative world as he thought of music to play to the spoiled Decepticons who most likely would not praise his hard work and dedication to music. But that didn't bother the servant too badly, he was always quite proud of music despite the fact that his listeners only liked it for the brilliant melodies and singing not for the creative.

Optimus honestly loved listening to the fine euphony being created as well as a fairly sentimental feeling of tranquility with his friends. It made the mech think of what life if slavery was ever abolished. If it ever was gone would it feel just like this.

The music stopped every once in a while as the black and white mech thought of something in his music that particularly stuck out to write down. "Hey, Optimus." the musician suddenly asked out over the soft tunes he continued to played.

"Yes?" the truck answered.

"You know that night I never knew Primus gave you the gift of song as well as beauty." Jazz chuckled writing a bit more on his datapads.

The red and blue mech rolled his sapphire optics playfully, knowing that servant sometimes liked to tease him. It was quite amusing. "Yes, what about it?" he chuckled.

"Well, do you sing of other things besides songs of seduction for drunken Decepticons?" the porsche asked leaning his the side of face onto his hand with a sassy expression on his half-seen handsome face.

Optimus had to put a hand over his mouth to dampen his laughter to not yelled at by the Decepticon overseer. "I do. What do want me to sing about?" he asked realizing that if the Autobot servant was asking things like this he was likewise enquiring ideas to write down in his newest songs.

"Mmmmm... Oh, how about sweet love..." Bumblebee spoke with a goofy face and tone just to try and make the oldest of his two friends burst out laughing.

The large Autobot was literally about burst out laughing but he knew the two were just trying to get him in trouble with Barricade who was now basically aloof and not paying to much attention once again. Old habits were hard to break the truck robot supposed.

Optimus managed to get a firm grip on his laughter after a few minutes and gave each of them a disported grin. "I can sing a little bit about the kind of love I hope for if you two twits are so desperate to know about it."

Nearby, Megatron had come outside of the Kaon palace at a time Soundwave told him would definitely be back in good health from his medical reports and would be back to his usual tasks as he normally would be. The Pharaoh was feeling tremendously relieved to hear that and was truly looking forward to seeing the red and blue mech, no matter what kind of reaction he got from seeing him. He could definitely say, to himself only, that he the leader of all Decepticons had missed a single Autobot slave badly.

The silver mech thought that he should feel more disgusted at that, but strangely simply could not force himself to. He just couldn't... Maybe he was beginning to mad? His thoughts on his possible questionable sanity for the countless time to see the open laundry chamber with, low and behold the truck beauty himself, smiling and... singing...

Moving to one of the pillars to hide from the Autobots and hear Optimus' deep voice sing better for he was singing somewhat quietly as to not get caught by his overseer.

The large Autobot slave, unaware of his newest addition to his audience continued to sing softly to his two friends. "If I had to choose... from Primus' most divine of mechs... I would choose... The mech with the most spark. A spark of passion, of honor, of sweet warrior pride. Who rain down on me with endless gifts of undying love and eternal affection, from his spark... to mine..." he sang softly.

The gun robot raised an optic ridge as he took in some of the lyrics that were still a little hard to hear. Why did he want to be given gifts? Gifts of what? Just gifts in general or something more? But if this is what he wanted...

Optimus finished his song and got big smiles from the two Autobots on both of his sides. Jazz had a large grin on his face. "That was very good, Optimus...! This will be beautiful put to completed music!" he praised the large mech, quickly grabbing one of the blank datapads to write down the lyrics he had just heard before he forgot them.

"Always glad to help..." the truck said pleasantly, his azure optics glowing with a bit of pride of being praised for his hidden talent.

Feeling this was a good a time as any to approach the semi, Megatron moved out from his hiding place. He made a face when he caught a glimpse of the vile slashes running across the Autobot's back. He never wanted to see those hideous marks that warped the beautiful carmine armor unnaturally. Still his spark twisted around in joy in its casing again simply seeing the slave again.

The massive Deception felt a smile grow upon his face as he walked up to the Autobot with of whom saw him coming to him and once again whatever smile or happiness he was showing proudly to the world, disappeared behind both a physical and emotional mask.

"Oh... It's just you, My Lord..." Optimus spoke with the usual grumpiness towards him. He was still vitriolic from that horrible night and did intend to forgive the other anytime soon if not ever.

The Pharaoh buried the feeling of sadness of being rejected before he had even begun, knowing he hadn't actually done anything quite yet. Hopefully that will change when he sees just what his master was going do for him.

"The usual greeting I take it, Optimus?" Megatron spoke with friendliness hiding his inner feelings expertly and walking up to his interest, completely ignoring he had two other Autobots also watching everything he did play out.

The truck refused to look up and become entranced by those Primus damned piercing crimson optics that would make him lose his edge of anger. "I have nothing to say to the mech who had a hand in the night that was one of my worst ever." he snapped back as calmly as he could.

Megatron's expression dropped a bit when he was reminded of his error to keep watch over his favorite slave but easily let it go as he had already decided he would from now on. Maybe forever. "I do deeply apologize for the way events of that night soured for you, but you must know that I had invited you there to see you open up a little to me." he spoke with honest truth in his tone.

Optimus' scowl darkened when he heard. Open up to him? A Decepticon famous for being cold and cruel? He'd rather kiss Unicron. "Like you care about my feelings, Master." he snipped picking up his finished laundry urn and moving toward the wringer to squeeze out the water in the clothing as well as taking a quick glance at the other Autobots. They looked as confused as he felt inside at the weird conversation he was currently having with their master.

The Pharaoh felt his patience slowly start to slip for the second time this day when he was being stonewalled by the truck. He really was getting tired of being like that from by his slave. "I care very much." he said sedately.

The large Autobot crushed the clothing in his hands a little harder than was necessary to relieve the maturing frustration in his spark. "You do not." he replied frigid.

The silver mech growled faintly, crossing his arms not liking that the red and blue mech still was not getting it that he wasn't lying. "I don't do I?" he said dryly.

"Exactly." was all the truck answered the gun robot's question with.

Megatron snorted. "That's humorous, my dear Optimus, considering I have just had Starscream punished not too long ago for his disrespectful actions to you."

Optimus blinked in disbelief before turning around to face the Decepticon to make sure he heard him right. "Excuse me...?" he inquired, accidentally looking into his master's powerful optics and regretting it for now he couldn't look away from their locked gaze now.

The Pharaoh stared deep into the other mech's beautiful lazuline optics, watching it shine in the light as if hypnotized. "Doesn't that make you happy?" he asked passionately, optics half-lidding with a benign scarlet glow.

The large Autobot slave felt his internals twist strangely with the stare they were sharing. He literally had to force himself to break away from those potent optics. "...No, it doesn't. Now the High Priest with despise me even more for being the reason he got punished for." he said quietly.

The gun mech finally could wait no longer. "Please come with me..." the silver mech moved forward and whispered into the smaller robot's audio, breathing heated air on the antenna, not caring that the other Autobot's optics widened in shock at the way this talk was going.

The red and blue mech had to use all of his willpower not to shiver against the hot vent on his sensitive audio antenna. "...No." he nearly whimpered out.

Megatron disregarded the rejection given to him and grabbed one of the mech's arms tightly in his hand. "I insist." he growled pulling him away by the arm from the laundry chamber to go inside the palace.

Optimus felt like struggling for a moment when he thought it better to obey. He honestly did not want to get punished again when his healed wounds still ached. Even though this strange Decepticon had never been seen striking any Autobots... "...Very well..." he whispered looking away from the anecdotal optics again that made his internals quiver with a feeling he did not know what to call it by.

Bumblebee's optics were wide with fear seeing his master pull the older Autobot away. Jazz had gotten up and embraced him loosely to try to comfort him.

The large slave saw this and tried to looked to him with as comforting optics as he was able to make. 'I'll be okay.' he commed one short message hoping that would sooth the mechling some more.

The red and blue mech was eventually lead into the elevator to upstairs and was brought inside with the bigger silver robot. He was brought up to the third floor. The dreaded third and top floor of Kaon palace... Ice lanced through his mech blood when he remembered the rumors about this floor.

The Pharaoh lead the large Autobot out onto his main room of the top floor with a sense of great accomplishment, like the start of a hard earned conquest that would inevitably end in glorious victory.

Optimus took a moment to see if any of the rumors were truth in any way and from what he could see most of them were true. From what he saw this was the main room or the sitting room as it was called by the wealthy Decepticons because of the many sitting arrangements for the Decepticons only, Autobots had to either sit on stools or on the floor.

There were numerous purple gold plasma lanterns were spread out on the floor giving it a quiet almost eerie color. There were several dozen large red clothed gold sofas and recliners on plush purple mesh carpets in the main somewhat large room. The walls were solid gold and filled with hieroglyphics with the main support pillars of the entire palace ending here on this floor with statues of the old deceased Pharaoh, Megatronus the Fallen in a pose that was like he was holding up the thick clear glass ceiling with stained glass designs surrounding it. Exotic rare metal plants with numerous types of flowers were both in pots on the floor's corners and hanging along the walls. There was also some large and small fountains of water flowing through designed places just for them.

The semi robot felt sick in such a extravagantly wealthy room. So much pain to create this for one horrible mech... When Optimus felt his hand was still in his master's hand firmly it jolted him from his thoughts. He wanted to yank it out but a savage low growl stopped him from doing so.

Megatron had felt the Autobot slave once again trying to hide from him. He would not have it this time. He would slowly destroy that strong barrier of iron he hid his emotions behind. Even it had to be with force to do so.

The Pharaoh softly stroked the servos in his firm but gentle grip with his thumb. Primus... How could a mech with such a hard life of work have such soft hands? And smell so nice...

"Welcome, my dear Optimus to my home." the silver mech smiled, gesturing to the room they were in, attempting to be friendly once again.

Optimus sneered at the gross display of bloated luxury. He growled throwing the hand gripping his off to wander over and sit on the floor, black plating toward his master.

Megatron frowned. The mech was sincerely trying his tempered patience like a professional when it came toward exasperating someone to the breaking point. "Why do continue to refuse to be civil toward me?" he asked exacerbated.

"Because you imprison me up here in your 'home' and continue to think I am free to act kindly to a mech who wishes to steal more of my freedom." the red and blue mech grumbled, hating the situation more and more.

The Pharaoh rubbed his forehelm in an attempt to quell growing anger at the slave's behavior. "Well, I can't have run you free and get more atrocious injures on that pretty armor of yours. So, I will take this time we have alone together to say that from now on you will be my personal slave."

The Autobot swung around and had a face of sheer ire. "What? You can not do that!" he shouted in anger at what had been requested of him. Pharaoh or not, he would never give himself to a mech who does not love him purely.

The larger Decepticon raised an optic ridge at that reaction. "Oh? Can't I?" he asked with a tone of snarky amusement belying some of his slowly growing rage.

Optimus scowled, baring his denta like an animech. "I am not a sex slave, nor will ever be. I'd would rather die than lie in the berth of a monster..." he breathed savagely, hands clenched into tight fists.

Megatron actually flinched at hearing such a violent promise spoken by the slave directly towards his own being. "No, no! That is not what I meant, Optimus." he spoke disarmingly, waving his front of him to show he meant no harm.

"Then what is it?" the semi asked loosening some of his tension at the gesture of innocuousness.

"Hear me. To the Decepticons, you are a pretty mech, so it sounds more plausible to their audios if I made you my personal slave. It would explain your absence more easily and won't raise much suspicion. However, the truth would be that you would be giving me your company, compliance and your commitment." the gun explained plainly and simply.

"...Why would do something like this?" 'For myself no less...' Optimus thought to himself, truly wondering why his master was doing something that could maybe be illegal for all he knew.

"I don't want to see you hurt again." the silver mech said softly if not a little dulcetly as well.

The red and blue mech froze at the optics gazing into his that way once more. He made a face of mild disgust and confusion and whipped his helm away from the gaze.

Megatron would fragging order the large Autobot to stop doing that annoying habit if he didn't on his own sometime soon. "Now I would like to know, why in Cybertron, do continue to act as if I'm the vile Cybonic Plague? I am doing this to protect you." he requested to know sadly.

Optimus felt a pang of guilt at the tone but let it go. It was just a ruse to get him into the berth with him. It always was... "Because I never asked for your 'protection', Master..." he hissed.

"Nevertheless, you have it and that is my final say on that matter. Instead, how about I turn your attention toward my dining chamber." Megatron spoke walking over to one of the large golden doors that lead to his personal dining chamber and gently pushed them open. He then turned to the mech still sitting on the floor and opened his arms toward the opened doors. "Come this way, my dear, Optimus." the Decepticon leader asked gently.

Optimus narrowed his optics at the offer but his body stood up on its own and walked inside. He saw the dining chamber had the same kinds of plush violet carpeting, golden hieroglyphic walls, purple plasma lanterns, metal greenery, and water flowing fountains as the main chamber did with exception of here having a massive crushed jade window that opened outside to a small roofed balcony and having a very long single purple clothed gold table in the center of the room. Autobots were also there finishing setting up a table full of hardened energon delicacies with an air of routine before leaving the two entering into the room.

The Pharaoh walked over to his large cushioned seat at the end of the long table and sat down, plucking an energon grape from a bunch nearby and placing it into his mouth.

"You know you don't have act like this is a bad situation for you, my dear, Optimus. I can give you anything you want if return for your compassion. Anything..." he hoped the offer of gifts could make the Autobot more submissive toward him as he was pretty certain that was what the slave wanted. He was singing so himself to his little friends earlier.

The red and blue robot didn't know what to say to the offer, nay more like the bribe for anything he could want materially. His tanks turned as this sounded very familiar to him. Like all of the false promises that had been given in order to make him vulnerable to an sexual attack. The truck was silent for a while before sighed then speaking. "...Anything I desire...?" he asked in a testing tone of voice.

The gun robot smiled and nodded, not knowing that the slave was gauging his response. "What would like me to give you... Just name it... and it will be yours..." he said huskily.

That was the response he was expecting. Optimus was soundless for several more minutes before pinching his nasal plate, sighing. "So.. ...you think I can be bought with mere trinkets? Is that it?" he asked slightly peeved.

Megatron's expression dropped. That... was not the reaction he wanted. And quite frankly it was ticking him off. "You know, Optimus, you are taking the generosity and possible freedoms I am giving you for granted. Careful how you choose to tread on them." he growled in warning.

The large slave walked right up to him and looked straight into scarlet optics, fearless and bold as he always on the outside but was slightly shaken inside. "I don't want your charity." he growled right back to his face.

The Pharaoh narrowed his optics slightly at the challenge. He did not like challenges toward his decisions. "I am not offering you charity. I am offering you gifts." he spoke seriously.

The Autobot's hard gaze lessened a bit but remained still strong and unwavering. "You offer me gifts?" he asked raising an optic ridge.

"Yes, gifts. Have you never received gifts, Autobot?" the silver robot snarled, slowly losing the tight grips he had on his temper as the other continued to challenge him with each word he spoke.

The red and blue mech glared rehardened and he shook his helm as if scolding a sparkling for saying something that he shouldn't have. "You poor old fool. I can never be bought with things for the greedy. I can never be bought." he said blandly as if it was obvious to anyone.

Another challenge, just as bold as before. It would be very attractive in other circumstances but now in this moment it was truly grating. "Oh? Then what do you wish? Wealth? Power? Rank? Mechs?" Megatron snarled rising from his seat to tower intimidatingly over the slave.

Optimus threw his helm back and gave a hardy cold laugh. "It is something you are incapable to giving to me. Something all Decepticons seem to be incapable of giving me." he said looking away in evident entertainment that he was not getting whatever point across he was trying to get.

A savage growl ripped from Megatron's vocal cords as the final strands of his patience, patience that not even the best fraggers could have worn down to, snapped. "Tell me! I demand to know!" the Pharaoh barked out grabbing the slave's shoulders and shaking him in frustration.

The Autobot looked back at his infuriated master's face plates and sighed, believing in his spark it was the easiest thought to comprehend. "...It's kindness. Unselfish, pure kindness." he put simply before gently prying off the Decepticon's hands from his and left to go lay down back on the floor of the main room.

The Pharaoh growled brutally at the complete and utter rejection he had been giving from his favorite slave, metal fingers curling into enraged fists. "Flee from me while you are still able, slave but you will not deny me forever..." he snarled to himself as he pushed into his personal berth chambers.

Optimus heard the telltale sound of a large door slam come from the other room. Inside his chest he felt pride at being to break down the leader of all Decepticons into storming into his private quarters like a sparkling that was throwing a tantrum for being scolded at by his parents.

However, strangely, there was also a slight bit of guilt for rejecting the Decepticon's advances, which confused him greatly. Why would he care if he declined his selfish offers to woo him closer to interfacing? It was not like a single one of those gifts were genuine in any way. But... a tiny little piece of the red and blue mech flared up from the depths of his spark and said. 'And what if they were possibly for real?'

The large slave frowned and pushed the naive part of him away again. Why should he believe those offers were real? Just because his master said he was going to 'protect' by doing this little stunt. He'd seen bigger plays for his frame before and yet this one was more... sweet.

The red and blue mech shoved the creepy new thoughts away and dismissed them as him just having been tired from going though all this drama today that he was not used to. 'Yeah... I'm just... tired...' he thought closing his optics and deciding to take a light recharge nap to clear his complicated mind.

That night Megatron refused to think about Optimus as the new larger pleasure slaves he had asked for went to the same routine as the former ones before them had done, pleasing their master in anyway the Pharaoh saw fit.

One of the slaves was currently licking his master's codpiece, brushing past his cloth easily and lapping at the sides. The silver mech grunted and shut his optics, not interested in the least with these new mechs, even though it was nice that they were slender thin little drones as the last bunch but... Only Optimus...

The Decepticon growled trying to wrestle free of the thoughts of that ungrateful robot, but was struggling hard. Why should he continue to think about that uncouth mech who didn't know how much was sacrificed for his sake and being offered with even more that he knew many would kill for.

Megatron grunted when his panel was gruffly ripped open and his already pressized spike seized into a powerful suction of a large mouth. Hissing in pleasure he wrapping his powerful arms around the equally massive Autobot's helm and squeezing hard, knowing that the thick metaled mech could handle it without any damage. He forced the image of the stubborn mech to vanish from his meta-processor. The Pharaoh refused to continue to think about the robot he felt was plain acerbic for ignoring all his attention then taking it in and spitting it back at him.

The Pharaoh despised that slave's rejection to his very core. But the thoughts began to break away from his efforts to contain them as he began to thrust into the warm wet heat devouring his cable. The silver mech bit his bottom derma as he rode his way to the needed bliss with reckless abandon. He came with a rough cry, filling the large pleasure slave's mouth with his transfluid who swallowed it all with no effort and licked up the remains.

"More, Sir?" the mech asked in a deep rough voice who had been pleasuring the sweating practically steaming gun robot, who had just come about three times already by his hands.

"...More...!" the Decepticon commanded panting almost spent, but he still hadn't had enough to rid his CPU of that damned Autobot yet with enough satisfaction yet.

The Autobot sighed and moved off of the massive berth as one of the other equally large slave climbed on top of his master and kissed him roughly, thrusting his glossa inside.

Megatron returned the rough kiss as it had been his order to not be too soft with the interfacing. He had been hoping that with enough rough interfacing he would forget about Optimus out of spite. However so far... he had kept a constant spot in his mind.

The large mech above continued to kiss him while reaching down between his master's legs to grip his re-erecting rod and pump it hard, before moving himself over the ample sized black spike and all but impaled one of his most sensitive parts of his chassis.

The Pharaoh almost sobbed in absolute rapture, panted harshly and sweated coolant furiously at the rough treatment, being drawn to the edge yet again this night and still the thoughts have not left him. Over and over he saw the semi's frame shaking in ecstasy, his thighs parted submissively, mouth open and drooling deliciously, optics glazed over to look like jewels, the slick sounds of his spike driving hard into that heavenly tight port and over and over he repeated in a voice from the Well of Allsparks. 'Punish me for my disrespective behavior, Master... Ahhh! P-Punish me to your spark's content... Use me, mold me into your most beloved lover...'

'...Frag... me...' the silver mech swore at the images he fought to get rid of, but it was just no use. The harder he fought the more arousing they became...

As the peak of existence nearing again for a fourth time, the gun mech couldn't take anymore. He allowed his thoughts to be completely released, allowing the images take form at will in his CPU. "Damn you... Optimus!" Megatron groaned, bucking upward, seeing the image of Optimus' beautiful body moving so gracefully to the notes of eccentric music. His frame heating to the equivalent of a furnace

The Pharaoh groaned loudly as the imagery morphed into an even more delicious sight of an aroused Optimus crying out in ecstasy with him as his body was penetrated by a gorgeous thick spike stretching a velvet walled valve, screaming for more, to go harder, faster into his voluptuous metal body.

The slave sensing his master's body tensing in pleasure knowing that it meant overload was approaching and that he must be stimulated harder, rocked his powerful hips as he picked up the pace.

In the next minutes, white hit his optics sensors as a wild overload barreled into him. "O-OPTIMUS!" his name burst forward from his lip components despite trying to contain it from the new pleasure slaves.

The Autobot grunted, feeling hot seed fill up his insides and overloading himself over Megatron's steaming red frame. Panting sharply he asked. "...M-More, Sir...?"

The Pharaoh could not even speak he felt so worn out and exhausted from the frantic interfacing. Instead he shook his helm lightly and waved the pleasure slaves out. They bowed out of pure obedience and then left their master alone to his frustrated thoughts.

The large Decepticon felt humiliated as he rolled to his side and pulled up the mesh purple mesh covers of his berth onto his cooling steel body. Even frenzied fragging did nothing to rid his processor of Optimus even in the slightest.

The silver robot placed a hand over his face. He could not fight this. He would just have to keep trying again and again, as many times as he could to win his affection for him. It did not matter.

Tomorrow was just another day, another chance to keep proving his worth to the Autobot slave. And he would be... Megatron would have him, he didn't care how he would do it... he would his... only his...

A/N: There you peoples, chapter 3, hot and fresh from the oven, like the chocolate chip cookies I'm eating right now. Out of curiosity, I'm wondering... where the hell is all of Megaron/Optimus Prime fics, huh? I've been seeing very violent ones and I've also been seeing instead a whole bunch of other pairings I can honestly say I don't give a flying crap for. Oh well. If nobody will help support a pairing that in my opinion is almost secretly canon, with more stories for everybody to enjoy, I will try to. Anyways, Happy Holidays, everyone and thanks for continuing to follow along and waiting patiently for updates!