The Brat Prince of Vos
Chapter 13
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.
"Welcome aboard, Air Commander Starscream," Shockwave said with a salute. "I am Shockwave, head of Intelligence and Espionage."
"'Air Commander'?" Starscream repeated as he walked on board the small Decepticon ship.
"Ah, Megatron didn't tell you?" Shockwave faltered, single optic blinking in confusion. "You will be leading our aerial forces once Lord Megatron is satisfied with your abilities."
"'Lord' Megatron?" Starscream repeated again, scratching his helm with bewilderment.
"Yes, Lord Megatron of the Decepticon Empire," Shockwave said irritably. "Please stop repeating what I say." Starscream stared at the Intelligence officer for a while, before turning his attention to the ship, looking about worriedly. Shockwave cleared his vocaliser. "I suppose you will be sad to leave your home?" he asked, attempting small talk as best he could.
"…No," Starscream replied, expression darkening. "I'm quite happy to leave. In fact, I couldn't care less where I am, so long as I am away from Vos."
"Oh…I…see. Well then," coughed Shockwave awkwardly. Fortunately, Megatron landed on the ship just then.
"We are ready to go, Shockwave. Set a course for our base in Kaon," he ordered.
"Megatron, am I really supposed to be an Air Commander?" Starscream asked anxiously.
The Decepticon leader chuckled, patting the youngling's helm gently. "Not yet, Starscream. One day you will be. But come - I will show you to your room, and you can settle in."
The youngling followed obediently after Megatron. "Aren't I staying in your room?" Starscream asked, frowning.
"No, Starscream," Megatron said smoothly, continuing down the hall. Starscream stopped, before running in front of Megatron and halting the Decepticon leader.
"Dreadwing said I'm supposed to share a berth with you. Why aren't I staying in your room?" demanded the youngling, staring up at Megatron intensely. "I'm still your 'bondmate'!"
The Decepticon leader pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "Starscream, in the real world, things are not always how you want them to be," he explained, trying to be patient. "This is particularly so when we are on the verge of all out war. I cannot have everyone in my army knowing that you are supposed to be my bondmate. As soon as this becomes public knowledge, you will have snipers and assassins after you every waking moment - they'll assume you are weaker than me, and try to target you in order to kill me."
"But…but why can't I stay in your room?" Starscream protested again.
"Because, mechs will get suspicious if you are sharing my berth!" growled Megatron. "Not to mention your age. As I said before, you are still far too young to be bonded in the world outside of Vos. I want to be feared, not thought of as sick and twisted. There will be no mention outside of Vos that you are my intended. From now on, you are simply my newest, talented recruit."
The youngling gaped silently. Then, his mouth twisted into an ugly grimace, his new red optics narrowing in fury and indignation. "It's not fair," he hissed quietly, but his words soon became an all out scream. "IT'S NOT FAIR!"
"No, it isn't," Megatron replied firmly. "You can either accept it, or I can tell Shockwave to turn this ship around and take you back to Vos."
Starscream screeched wordlessly, twisting on his turbine heels to storm down the corridor. He punched open the door to a room - any room, he didn't care - and marched inside it.
"You said you liked me, Megatron," he snarled, before punching the controls once more, the door to the room sliding shut and locking.
The Decepticon leader rubbed his face wearily, before leaning against the door and speaking through it. "Be reasonable, Starscream," he sighed irritably. "You've led a pampered life. You'll have to come out of there and face the real Cybertron sometime."
And with that, he walked back down the hall to the command room of the tiny ship.
"It's been hours, my Lord. Would you like the override codes to the utility closets?" Shockwave asked.
Megatron looked up from the report he was reading from Oil Slick. "I suppose so," he sighed. "Just override all the locks and I'll go deal with Starscream." The Intelligence officer nodded and did as he was instructed.
When Megatron opened the closet Starscream had shut himself in, he found the Seeker curled up in a small ball, recharging. His optics were stained with cleansing fluid - a sure sign the Prince had been crying. "Oh, Starscream…" murmured the Decepticon leader sadly. He reached into the closet and picked the sleeping youngling up.
"Mhmf…Megatron?" mumbled Starscream sleepily as he was lifted.
"Shh, little Prince," Megatron soothed him, walking towards the youngling's new room. With a yawn, the fuchsia Seeker wrapped his arms around Megatron's neck, sniffling quietly. "Now, now, don't cry. Brave Decepticons don't cry." Starscream nodded slightly, burying his face in the silver mech's neck cables.
The Decepticon leader opened the door to the youngling's room, laying the Seeker on the berth inside. He sat down next to Starscream and began to stroke the grey-blue, striped wings softly. "I know you just want to be liked, Starscream," Megatron sighed. "I do like you. You have to remember that. I do these things that make you unhappy because I like you - I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to die a youngling. Do you understand?"
The Seeker nodded a little. "Sorta," he sniffed. "But it makes me sad."
"I'm sorry, Starscream," Megatron murmured, kissing the Seeker's forehead gently. "Would you rather have everything your way, and have me not like you?"
"No," the youngling said quickly, shaking his head violently.
"Then you'll just have to get used to it, little Prince. Now, recharge properly. You'll need it," Megatron said, standing up to leave.
"Megatron?"
The silver mech turned. "Yes, Starscream?"
"Will you stay with me just for tonight? Just one more night? Then I'll be good, I promise. I can be patient, too," Starscream said earnestly.
The Decepticon Lord chuckled, lying down to cradle the youngling in his arms. "Just tonight, then."