The Brat Prince of Vos

Chapter 5

Continuity: Pre- and Post-TF:A, a little bit of AU here and there
Warnings: None for this chapter
Pairings: None for this chapter, eventual Megatron x Starscream.

Customs and traditions to the pit, Megatron stood and bellowed. "WHAT?!"

Cyclonus shook his head fiercely, mouthing "no no no!", but Megatron ignored the Minister. The King turned and looked at Cyclonus with a frown.

"Oh? Cyclonus didn't warn you about this particular custom?" the King said coolly.

"Y-your Majesty, I didn't think it would come up," Cyclonus replied, kneeling down apologetically. "I was under the impression that outsiders were not permitted to bond with the Royal Family."

The King snorted. "You are young, Cyclonus, so I will excuse you this time - but it is only the King and the heir to the throne who may not bond with outsiders," he boomed, waving a hand. "Megatron, you understand I cannot simply have you waltz in here and back out again with my entire army."

"No, of course not, but I-"

King Rainmaker raised his hand dismissively for silence. "You should be honoured at the prospect of bonding with one of the Royal children. With this symbol of trust, our allegiance will be strong and sure, you understand."

The Decepticon leader faltered, looking down at the youngling on the floor. Prince Starscream sat quietly with a neutral expression, golden optics fixed firmly on the floor, as if he had already accepted this fate a long time ago. Megatron grit his dental plates. If he said no, he ran the risk of execution. If he said no, he wouldn't get Vos on his side, and more than likely wouldn't have another chance in the future to secure their allegiance. But - if he did bond with the Prince - he would be putting himself in danger. If the inexperienced youngling got himself killed in battle, Megatron would die with him. Having a bondmate would be a liability. Not to mention that the Prince was barely out of sparklinghood - what kind of strange society was this?!

"He's…he's barely a youngling, your Majesty," Megatron protested, and Cyclonus stepped forward to back the Decepticon up.

"Your Majesty, if I may also speak, Starscream is set to become the fastest flier in Vos. Despite his tactical talents he still has many years of battle training to complete. Do you really want to lose him?" added the purple Minister.

"Even better! Megatron, you would surely appreciate being bonded to the fastest flier on Cybertron," the King replied jovially.

The Decepticon leader sighed. It was obvious the King would not back down. "May I have some time to think about this?" relented Megatron grudgingly.

King Rainmaker nodded with a sly grin, and the session was dissolved. Cyclonus led Megatron quietly back down to the ambassador's quarters.

Starscream followed his siblings back to their playroom silently.

Clearsky hesitated a little, falling back to walk with his youngest brother. "Cheer up," Clearsky grinned. Starscream just shrugged, as if to say he was fine. Prince Clearsky frowned. "You should be happy, Starscream. I'd be excited to bond with an outsider! Just think, you'll be allowed to come and go from Vos as you please! Cybertron must have many exciting wonders out there for you to explore!"

"Cyclonus already takes me outside," Starscream replied emotionlessly. "I don't really care. Father was going to marry me off for political reasons eventually - I'm the last one of us to be given a fiancé. It's not really a surprise that he chose an unsuspecting outsider. Everyone in Vos knows I'm the unlucky child."

The older Prince regarded his younger brother sadly for a moment. "Megatron seems to be a powerful one, though," Clearsky pointed out, trying to be cheerful. "Who knows, maybe you'll be more powerful than Rainmaker one day?"

Starscream smiled softly up at his green brother. "Maybe."

Then came the shrieking voice of Laserwave fighting for a toy with Nightwing, and Clearsky rushed to intervene, always the most level-headed and caring of the Royal children. Starscream hovered at the entrance to their playroom, frowning critically at the colourful older Seekers. He stepped back silently, disappearing into the shadows of the corridors, and decided it was time for some decisions of his own.