The Brat Prince of Vos

Chapter 6

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.

I feel like a fanfiction steamroller lol! This chapter was fun to write, I hope it's fun to read too.

The first thing Megatron did, alone in the safety of the ambassadorial chambers, was put his cannon back on. He felt off-balance without it, really - the weight of it on his arm was comforting to him, and he carefully latched it on, connecting the appropriate wires and hooks to his right arm.

He threw himself down on the recharge bed, groaning. "Why me…"

This was not at all what he had been expecting. Some sort of strange ceremony of allegiance, perhaps, but having a youngling pushed at you and being told to bond with them?! The City of Vos, he reflected, could do with some updating after all. In Iacon it was a criminal offence to bond with a youngling, the government considering them too unstable in their small shells. In his home city Kaon, well, nothing was illegal in Kaon, but there were taboos and traditions just like in Vos, all of which declared Starscream at least a century too young.

Megatron groaned again, rubbing his faceplates.

"Do you like me?"

The Decepticon leader almost fell off the recharge bed in shock, aiming his cannon automatically at the source of the scratchy voice as he scrambled to get up and into a defensive stance. Once he had regained his bearings, he realized he was pointing his weapon at the very source of his troubles - Prince Starscream sat placidly on the table in the middle of the room.

Quickly, Megatron withdrew his weapon, kneeling down - Cyclonus had warned him not to point weapons at the royal family.

"Your Majesty, I apologize, you-"

"Stop kneeling," Starscream huffed in his lilting voice. "And don't call me 'your majesty', either."

Megatron stood, staring at the youngling in confusion. The youngling didn't seem frightened or suspicious of him at all - it irritated the Decepticon. Grown mechs ran screaming from him in the streets of Kaon, yet this golden-eyed youngling just stared at him curiously.

"How did you get in here?" Megatron asked irritably. "I'm sure you're not supposed to be in these chambers."

The youngling's expression turned sour. "I can pick a lock good as anyone. I'm young, not stupid," he replied, voice hoarse.

The Decepticon leader frowned, and decided to move over to the table where the Prince sat. He sat down on a chair near it. "What's wrong with your voice, little Prince?" he asked, blood-red eyes staring down critically at the youngling.

"'S always been like that," Starscream said merrily, picking at a chip on the table. "Cyclonus says one of my siblings broke it when I was still a protoform. I think it was Stormcloud. She doesn't like me. Do you like me?"

"I don't even know you," Megatron replied honestly. "I can hardly form an opinion on you."

"Oh…" the youngling looked back down at the floor, seemingly disappointed. Starscream looked up again hopefully. "Are you going to bond with me?"

"I…" the Decepticon leader faltered under the gaze of the youngling. "I haven't decided yet. Maybe. Do you want to bond with me?"

Starscream grinned and cackled. "I dunno what bonding is. Cyclonus says I'm not allowed to ask until I'm older." Megatron's optics widened in horror. "He says it's something grown-ups do. But you're an outsider. Can I ask you? What's bonding?"

"Absolutely not!" Megatron bellowed, a little flustered. Starscream shrank back in surprise. "Uh, I mean - no. If Cyclonus said no, then you can't ask me."

The youngling pouted and continued picking at the chip on the table sulkily. The Decepticon leader wasn't sure what on earth to do, not having much experience with younglings, so the two sat in silence while Megatron stared dumbly at the youngling.

"I liked your speech," Starscream said suddenly, staring intensely at the older mech again. "I bet you're good at telling bedtime stories."

Megatron gaped. This conversation was getting more and more bizarre for him. "I…don't know any bedtime stories, child."

"Starscream!"

The two looked towards the door, where Cyclonus stood radiating with fury. "What in Primus' name are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you!" the Minister scolded, marching forwards with a hand outstretched to grab the youngling.

Starscream ducked out of the way - he was lighter and faster than Cyclonus. The Minister snatched forward, but the youngling managed to dodge every time, until Cyclonus finally chased Starscream out the door.

The Minister turned before leaving. "I apologize, Megatron. I will leave you in peace to make your decision."

Cyclonus transformed and left, leaving a rather bewildered Decepticon behind him.