The Brat Prince of Vos
Chapter 12
Continuity: Pre- and Post-TF:A, a little bit of AU here and there
Warnings: None, really.
Pairings: Megatron x Starscream, but nothing too slashy yet.
Megatron woke the next morning with the datapad still turned on in one of his hands, Starscream lying peacefully asleep on top of him.
He stretched as best he could with the youngling still on him, turning off the datapad and putting it back in his subspace. Soon, he heard footsteps outside - then, the clink of locks and keys, and the heavy door to the bonding chamber was opened. The noise woke the youngling, and the Prince yawned sleepily, rolling off Megatron.
The King was the first to enter, with Cyclonus at his side. "Congratulations to the both of you!" he boomed, and Starscream winced at the noise, raising his claws to his audios. "Come, Megatron - I am sure we have much to discuss with our agreement now in place."
"Of course, your Majesty," Megatron replied, and after ghosting a hand over Starscream's wings one last time, followed the King out of the chambers.
Cyclonus looked down at the Seeker with a frown.
"What?" Starscream grumbled, looking very much as if he'd like to go back into recharge.
"Your paintjob. Not a streak of silver anywhere. Either Megatron was very gentle with you indeed," Cyclonus said quietly, "or you didn't bond at all."
Starscream stared up at his guardian, red optics wide. "He…he was very gentle," the Seeker lied hurriedly. "He said I was still small so he was very nice to me."
The purple Minister eyed the Prince once more, utterly unconvinced. "Hmph."
Starscream wandered back down to the Royal children's bedroom, intent on going back to sleep. His wings still ached from the new brands.
"Move that out there, yes - get rid of it. He won't be needing it anymore," came the voice of Dreadwing. Starscream froze, flattening himself against the wall of the corridor. He peered around the corner to see what was happening.
His berth was out in the corridor! And two of the Royal Guard were - removing it?!
"What's going on?" he demanded, rounding the corner furiously.
"Dear Primus, Starscream!" Prince Dreadwing gasped, recoiling. "What on Cybertron have you done to your optics? Why are they red?!"
The younger seeker snarled, stretching his claws menacingly. "All Decepticons wear red optics, Dreadwing. You will soon, too. What are you doing with my berth!?"
"Please," Dreadwing laughed cruelly, "you don't actually think you're staying in here anymore? You're bonded now. You'll be sleeping in the same berth as Megatron from now on, little glitch." And with that, the cerulean Prince slammed the doors in Starscream's face.
"Who was that?" one of the Princesses asked from inside, loud enough for anyone outside to hear - either Stormcloud or Raincloud, they sounded so similar.
"Starscream. Poor sparkling thinks he's still sleeping in here," cackled Dreadwing.
"We should be nice to him, really," Prince Clearsky commented. "After all, we'll be rid of him as soon as Megatron leaves."
"Unless Megatron leaves him here with us," Princess Nightwing pointed out nastily in her nasally voice. "He left him here for a whole century last time. Who's to say he won't just slag off with our army and leave Starscream here?"
Outside, Starscream grit his dental plates together, restraining himself from bursting in and attacking all of them. Instead, he pressed his audios to the door, trying to hear what they said next.
"Father won't allow it," Rainmaker said evenly, staying out of the petty commentary, as a future king should. "Starscream has always been trained to become a warrior. Father will insist on Megatron taking Starscream out to battle. It is only natural he continues his education in a real environment."
The rest of his siblings murmured in agreement, and the youngling stepped back from the door. He knew that once Rainmaker had given his opinion, the conversation was over - that was just how it was. He walked silently back down the corridors, down the spiralling staircase of the palace's central shaft, and picked his way into the ambassadorial chambers, where he waited quietly for Megatron.