"Can you take that to Knock Out?" Breakdown asked as he handed a cube to Fracture.
"Okie dokie!" Fracture sweetly replied before hobbling out of the energon room and over to the couch where Knock Out sat with Wildbreak. "I gotcha cube!" He proclaimed for the world to hear as he held up said cube.
"Aw, thank you sweetie." Knock Out took the proffered cube. "Come up here."
Fracture climbed up and sat next to Knock Out, snuggling against him. He looked over at Wildbreak who had onlined his optics, bright yellow like his sire's. The little one was contently nursing on the feeding tube, his tiny servos clutching at Knock Out's chest plates.
"Wut dis!?" Fracture inquired as he poked at Knock Out's spark casing, seeing it through the open chestplates.
"That, my observant sparkling, is my spark casing." Knock Out explained.
"Spark cussing?"
"Casing. Yes, my spark is inside. That's the thing that makes you you. It makes you alive, your own individual. It's who you are."
"I have one?"
"You do. We all do. Even the birds have sparks. Everyone born on Cybertron, or the colonies, have sparks."
Fracture looked down at his own chest for a moment before leaning back over Knock Out's chest. "Wut dis!?" He poked at something a little deeper.
"That is a piston. It helps me move. Don't put your servo too far inside of there."
"Wat dis?!" He poked another part of the speedster.
"That's the top of my fuel pump."
"Wut DIS!?" He shouted.
"That is my cosmitron."
WUT DIS!?" Fracture giggled, poking something else.
"Those are wires, you silly." Knock Out smiled at him.
"You silly."
"Oh, I'm the silly one?"
"YESH!"
"I love you. Can I get nuzzles?"
Fracture stood on the couch, wrapped his arms around Knock Out's neck, and nuzzled his face against Knock Out's.
"Can I get in on that?" Breakdown playfully smiled as he sat on the other side of Knock Out.
"Yes, you can." Knock Out smirked up at him.
Breakdown leaned over and kissed Knock Out on the lip plates. Fracture watched them closely.
"Why you do dat?"
"Hmm? Why do we kiss?" Knock Out turned to him. "Because it's how you show love. Grownups kiss each other on the lip plates, while sparklings get kisses on the cheekplates."
"All grownup kiss each uddor?"
"No, only the mated ones. The ones who are carriers and sires together."
"Cuhreeors?"
"Yes, carriers are people who give birth to sparklings. So, I'm a carrier. Sires are people who help carriers make sparklings. Breakdown is the sire."
"You're a cuheeor, too!?" His optics widened; his little mind completely blown.
"I am. To this little guy." Knock Out gestured to Wildbreak.
"And to you." Breakdown added, gesturing to Fracture.
Knock Out gave him an uncertain look, not sure if he should take that title from the real carrier.
"Me?" Fracture looked up at Breakdown in confusion.
"Yes, to you. We are also your carrier and sire."
Knock Out whispered. "You really think he should call us that?"
"We're adopting him, are we not?" Breakdown whispered back.
"Is that the plan?"
"It is if you so say, my love." Breakdown kissed his mate.
"He's going to come after us."
"Let him. He won't ever convince a judge to let him have custody. You know he can't get away from Megatron."
"I guess we already committed to this."
"So long as we're together we can do anything." Breakdown held Knock Out's servo in his.
Knock Out smiled at him. "It's like giving birth to twins."
"We can handle it."
"I know, but two already… Plus however many more…"
Breakdown's optics widened. "We're having more?"
Knock Out rolled his optics. "You said we were starting a family. Of course we're having more. I love you so much."
Breakdown giggled excitedly.
Fracture then shoved his arm down Knock Out's open chest. "WUT'S DIS?!"
"AH!"
"No! No, no, no!" Breakdown quickly, but carefully extracted Fracture's arm from his partner's torso. "We don't do that to carrier. It hurts him. He's very delicate. Like a crystal flower."
Knock Out rubbed over his chest plates as he closed them, ending the fueling time for Wildbreak. "Of course, that would happen when I said I'll have more sparklings…" He grumbled. "I'm fine. Breakdown, stop, I'm fine." He vented a sigh. "Go show him an anatomy datapad… I'm not a cadaver… If I was, I'd be the most beautiful one."
Starscream was pacing in his apartment, his wings flicking, claws twitching, and his denta clenched. He was going through all the different ways he was going to murder Knock Out. Tear off his helm! Smelt him and turn his corpse into waste disposals! Throw him into an active volcano! Throw him out an airlock in deep space! Feed him to Predacons! Feed him to Terrorcons! Tie him down and sodomize him with a metal rod with nails until he leaks to death! Lock him in a room with scraplets! Throw him in a vat of acid! Throw him in a pool of sharkticons!
DO ALL OF THOSE!
Why was he just thinking about doing these things? He's a fragging Decepticon officer! The Air Commander! He has every right to simply order Knock Out to hand over his son or else face the consequences! He would do just that. Go over there, demand for his son back, and should Knock Out refuse… Well, this time he'll ensure Knock Out will never be in the way ever again.
With that thought, Starscream stomped out of his apartment, transformed, and flew over to Knock Out's house.
He transformed and landed outside of it, stomped to the front door, and began to bang his fist against the door.
"KNOCK OUT!" He screamed furiously. "OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR AND GIVE ME BACK MY SON BEFORE I KILL YOU!"
Knock Out was still sitting on the couch with the sparklings on his lap. He startled at the loud banging, immediately hugging the youngling close to him.
"Breakdown?" He turned to his mate.
Breakdown narrowed his optics, then stood. "Lock yourself and the sparklings in the berthroom."
"I'm not leaving you alone."
"I'm not arguing with you, Knock Out." Breakdown said it firmly, a tone he rarely used with his mate.
Knock Out knew he wouldn't be winning against Breakdown in this argument. He stood, holding the sparklings close to him, and made his way upstairs. Breakdown waited until he heard the berthroom door lock before unsubspacing his gun and approaching the door.
Hesitantly, he cracked it open.
"I suggest you back away." He ordered Starscream.
"Or what? You gonna shoot me?" Starscream sneered.
"That's exactly what I'll do."
"What happened to the whole 'Decepticons fight' thing?"
"That was before you literally lost your mind and threatened my mate." Breakdown grunted as he opened the door fully, looking so much larger in the doorway with his weapon and unyielding stance.
"That is my son you two slagging grounders stole." Starscream hissed.
"You put Fracture's life in danger. We are protecting him from your stupid decisions."
"I NEVER PUT HIM IN DANGER!"
"The court decided otherwise."
"A court run by Autobots and grounders!"
"You implying something?"
"He was taken from me solely because I'm a flier and a Decepticon! It had nothing to do with my ability to be a creator!"
"And that's your problem! You blame everyone else for your mistakes instead of owning them and doing better!"
"The slag is that supposed to mean?!"
"You know exactly what it means, Starscream."
Starscream flicked his wings, his optics glowing with so much fury. "Even if I made a mistake, you still have no right to take my son away!"
"If you want him back you have to go through the court, Starscream. Take it up with the Prime." Breakdown snapped.
Starscream crossed his arms. "I will take it up with the Prime!"
"Good!" Breakdown pointed the gun at Starscream. "Now, leave."
Starscream glared at him, furry filling his thin frame. He finally turned around, transformed, and flew away.
Breakdown watched him leave before subspacing the gun, stepping back inside, and locking the door. He vented a sigh, rubbing over his faceplates, then proceeded up the stairs. He opened the door to his berthroom to find Knock Out sitting on the berth with the sparklings.
"What happened?" Knock Out inquired, hugging Wildbreak close as Fracture stood behind him, holding his wheels, and bouncing up and down using the wheels to try and elevate him higher into the air.
"He wanted to see Fracture." Breakdown answered calmly before leaning over and kissing Knock Out on the cheekplates. "You doing alright?"
"I'm fine. It's you I worry about."
"Don't worry about me. It's my job to protect you and the sparklings."
"And I protect you."
"That's cute." Breakdown smirked before kissing his mate again. "I'm going to carry you back to the couch and you are going to rest all orbital cycle."
"I can walk. I feel much better."
"You can walk on your own when I'm dead." Breakdown said as he picked up Knock Out bridal style.
Fracture held up his arms, wanting to be picked up too, giggling loudly as he was boosted onto Knock Out, and Breakdown carried the three of them out of the room.
It took a while, but Starscream managed to find where the Prime was working from. Getting that intel wasn't easy as he had to revisit someone he hated.
"You don't have to make this difficult." Starscream growled, his arms crossed, and wings flared. "Just tell me where he is, and I'll leave. Isn't that what you want? Solitude?"
Soundwave cocked his helm, his face hidden behind that damn mask of his. In his arms was a cybercat, loudly purring. All around him were cybercats, and a cyberdog, and quite a few birds perched on the branches of the tree they stood under.
"What do you want from me? You seem plenty happy with your… Menagerie of critters."
"You – critter – difficult." Soundwave repeated the words Starscream just spoken with his recordings.
"Megatron isn't around to protect you! I can just force the information out of you!" Starscream shrieked, his fists at his sides and wings flicking.
Some recorded laugh track sounded from the former spy as he crouched to pet another cybercat.
"Fine. Be a lonely creep. I'll get the info myself." Starscream pivoted on a stiletto heal and began to walk away.
"Really, Starscream?"
Starscream stopped, hearing Knock Out's vocalizer. He flicked his wings, jaws clenching, and his optics narrowing.
"I'm always – better – than – you. Jealous?" The clips of Knock Out's recorded vocalizer continued.
Starscream looked back. "Why are you using his vocalizer?" He growled.
"Soundwave knows everything." Someone else's vocalizer spoke. Then, the recording of a sparkling crying erupted from the silent being. "Not yours." Another voice spoke. "You failed, Starscream!" Megatron's vocalizer this time.
Starscream stomped back over, almost kicking a cybercat on his way. "You stay out of my private life, you miserable, slagging, aft kissing bastard!" He shouted furiously as he jabbed a claw into Soundwave's chest.
"Did I say – too much? Starscream – lost his – sparkling. Knock Out – has – custody – of the – sparkling – because, Starscream – incapable -of being – responsible. Starscream! – Needs – to – fix – himself. Sparkling – better off – without – that bumbling idiot!" Various voices all spoke.
"And what if someone just took one of your dumb cats?! Would you give up?!"
"Soundwave – not – that bumbling idiot! Soundwave – superior. Soundwave – intelligent – Soundwave – not – Starscream!"
"I don't need this from some homeless moron who recharges with filthy animals…"
"Soundwave – does not – recharge – with – you."
Starscream raised his servo to smack him, but managed to stop himself. He ignored the laugh track playing again. He flicked his wings, turned, and stomped away.
Soundwave cocked his helm. "Optimus Prime is! – currently – in – Iacon. The government – building – is his – office space – He's there – most orbital cycles – 24th – floor – down the – right – corridor. Guards are stationed – outside – doors – Not advisable – Autobots surround – all entryways – Starscream! – will never – see – him – Give up – on the – sparkling – you – bumbling idiot!"
Starscream looked back at him. "And you choose to share this why?"
"Soundwave -enjoys a good show! – I look forward – to seeing – Starscream! – get the slag – beaten out of him!" The laugh track sounded again.
Starscream flipped him off with a rude Vosian gesture. "Die alone." He snapped before resuming his departure.
"YOU'RE AN IDIOT, STARSCREAM!" Megatron's voice sounded. "Sparkling – is – better off – with – Knock Out. Soundwave knows everything."
Starscream transformed and flew off, not wanting to hear anymore.
The cat creep was right… The government building was heavily guarded. No way he would be entering it through the front door.
So, instead, Starscream flew straight through a window on the 24th floor. He transformed and quickly ran down the hallway, knowing that someone must have been alerted to the break-in and are on their way. He found the office he was looking for, took a moment to collect himself, and barged in.
He kind of expected the gun in his face.
"Another step and I'll pull the trigger, Seeker."
Starscream held up his servos peacefully. "I am here to speak to the Prime." He tried to say it peacefully.
The gun was pushed against his cheekplates. "Decepticons are never peaceful."
"Prowl, lower the gun." That deep vocalizer spoke so calmly.
Prowl slowly did so, his cerulean optics boring into the Seeker with such disgust and hatred, it was almost like Megatron's optics.
Starscream turned to the one who had spoken, his wings lowering some. "Ahem, yes, Prime, I have come seeking an audience with you."
"Ya coulda filled out a form, man. None of this breakin' an' entering' need be done." Jazz commented as he leaned back in a chair much too large for him, his peds resting on the Prime's desk.
Optimus sat behind his desk, elbows resting on it, as his digit tips pressed together to forming a steeple. "I am sure Starscream has his reasons for the dramatics." The Prime spoke in that same monotone vocalizer that demanded attention.
"Yes, I have an urgent request." Starscream quickly stated, taking a step closer to Jazz to distance himself from the Petrexian. "I am demanding that my son, Fracture, be returned to me at once! And the court order from your stupid judge thrown out!"
"You're a creator?" Jazz said it such disbelief before smirking. "Dis I gotta see, man!"
"Always a pity when they breed…" Prowl grumbled as he leaned against the wall.
"I apologize, Starscream, I am not familiar with what you are referring to. If you might elaborate further…" Prime gestured for him to do so.
Starscream flicked his wings, giving Prowl the nastiest glare that he could, then turned back to Prime. "I gave birth to a son a little over a stellar cycle ago. He was recently taken from me after that idiot Knock Out and his mate took me to court falsely claiming my son was 'in danger' with me. The judge ruled against me and gave full custody of my son to those idiots! I am not going to wait around for a discriminatory judicial system to screw me over again and again as I try to get my son back! So, I am requesting you, being the one in charge of this Autobot monarchy, throw out the order and have my son returned to me at once!"
"Why was it ruled against you? What was the deciding factor?"
"The factor was I'm a Seeker."
"Surely that wasn't it."
Starscream vented a frustrated sigh. "And the fact Megatron is the sire… And apparently, him being the sire instantly means I would have my son around him and therefore put him in danger!"
"Did you?" Prowl inquired, an optical ridge raised.
"Why are you so short? Does your bigotry weigh you down?" Starscream snapped.
"I'm not the one who isn't safe around sparklings."
Jazz snickered at that.
"Prowl, shut up." Prime ordered abruptly before turning back to Starscream. "Starscream, if you bring me a copy of the case files, I am more than willing to investigate."
"You're not seriously going to give him back a sparkling for him to abuse?" Prowl spoke.
"Don't you eat sparklings?" Starscream retorted.
"He does, actually." Jazz piped up, eliciting an icy glare from the tactician.
Optimus rolled his optics. "Starscream, get me those documents and I'll review the case. That's all I will say at this time until I have further information."
"Fine, I'll get you the case files." Starscream turned to leave, giving Prowl one last glare.
The Autobots watched him leave.
"The hell is security?" Jazz raised his servos incredulously.
Starscream flew to the courthouse, demanded the case files, and was promptly handed them. He went through them, wings flicking when he saw the copy of the report Knock Out had made. The miserable grounder literally wrote, "Starscream poses a significant danger to Fracture due to his close relationship with Megatron."
Oh, he'd show Knock Out what a "significant danger" he could be…
The Seeker added his own notes about what a good carrier he was and would never see Megatron again, before flying back to the Prime's office.
"Thank you. I will look over this." Optimus spoke as he took the datapad, standing by the second window Starscream chose to crash into.
"How soon will you make your decision?" Starscream demanded.
"I will call you in a couple of orbital cycles."
"A couple of orbital cycles?! No, tonight!"
"I need time to review this properly, and to speak to the other parties involved."
"So, my word is not good enough?"
"Ya crashed through two windows today, man!" Jazz exclaimed as he gestured to the Seeker's newest victim. "We need a lot more than jus' ya word."
"I will speak to you when I am ready to." Prime said it a bit sterner.
Starscream vented a frustrated sigh before stomping away and leaping out the open window. He transformed and flew away.
And so Starscream waited… And waited. And waited some more!
It was after an orn of still not hearing anything from Prime when he decided he would need to take further action.
"These are reports from Kaon." Prowl spoke as he and Optimus walked down a hallway together, showing the truck a datapad. "As you can see, the city has been-"
The both of them jumped and spun around when a window was crashed into, followed by the sound of someone transforming.
"Primus-dammit, Starscream!" Prowl shouted, gesturing his servos at the third window victim. "Use a fragging door!"
"Have you even read my case?!" The Seeker ignored the furious tactician.
"I am reviewing it still. I am speaking to witnesses, now. Not everyone's schedule is immediately free." Prime intoned slowly.
"Well, make them free it! I haven't seen my son in a decacycle!"
"I'm sure he's relieved." Prowl grunted.
"Prowl." Prime gave him a hard look before turning back to Starscream. "I understand you're frustrated, Starscream, but these things take time. Rest assured I am seeing to it."
Starscream wanted to say something more, but didn't want to piss off his chance at getting his son back. He lowered his wings, turned, and left. He also didn't want them to see him get emotional at the thought of not holding his son in so long.
He needed to hold him again.
"You can scream my designation. I know you like this."
Knock Out rolled his optics. "I do like it, big guy." He looked back at his mate as he leaned over the berth. "But I'm, hah, not going to risk onlining the sparklings."
"They aren't going to hear us." Breakdown smiled as he began to thrust harder into the smaller mech.
"Oh! Primus!" Knock Out grasped at the berth top, moaning loudly as Breakdown grasped his hips firmly.
They didn't even notice someone was outside the window.
Starscream peaked through it, seeing them distracted with their fragging. They wouldn't even know! He carefully climbed along the side of the house, making his way to the window that used to be his room. He peaked in, his wings perking. Fracture was there, recharging peacefully on the berth, the door closed and a fan on so he couldn't hear the adults in the other room. The little one had a blanket over him and was holding a stuffed toy.
Starscream checked the window. It was locked. He could break the glass, but the sound might startle Fracture causing him to cry which would then alert the idiots in the other room. No, he would need to do this discreetly.
He unsubspaced a small welder and began to use it along the edge of the window. It wasn't fast, but eventually he would be able to pop the entire window right out.
Knock Out and Breakdown overloaded a couple more times, then began to kiss and hug each other.
"Ready for recharge, gorgeous?" Breakdown smiled, his brow pressed against his beloved's, as his servos rested on Knock Out's hips.
"Absolutely. But let me go check on the sparklings. Then, I want all the snuggles!" Knock Out giggled.
"And I will give you all of them." Breakdown kissed him.
"I look forward to it." Knock Out released him and walked out of the berthroom.
He first checked on Wildbreak who was recharging in the crib in the berthroom right next to theirs. The berthroom was now a nursery, with the walls painted with cartoonish animals, stuffed toys, and everything else little sparklings needed. Knock Out adjusted Wildbreak's blanket, kissed his cheekplates, and took a moment to look at him with absolute pride and love. His little sparkling, so perfect, and all his.
He finally pulled himself away from his son and walked to the other berthroom. He slowly opened the door.
Starscream saw the door opening and immediately ducked so that he couldn't be seen. He carefully watched as Knock Out approached Fracture. The doctor adjusted Fracture's blanket, then lovingly caressed the back of two digits along Fracture's cheekplates. He smiled at the peaceful sparkling, feeling like this one was his son, too. He loved him so much. He leaned over, kissed Fracture on those chubby cheekplates, and whispered, "I love you," to him. Fracture faintly smiled in his recharge.
Knock Out turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open.
Starscream waited a klik, making sure Knock Out wouldn't come back, then resumed his work. It took a couple of more breems, but he finally cut through the frame of the window all the way around. He subspaced the welder, hooked his claws into the right side of the frame right where he cut through, and carefully popped out the window. He threw it onto the dirt, deafening the bang. Then, he pulled himself through the open hole. He quietly crept to the door and closed it, then locked it.
He turned to Fracture and picked him up. Fracture slowly onlined, not sure what was happening.
"Cuhreeor…?" He groggily asked, his optics lazily onlining.
"Yes, I'm here." Starscream whispered.
Fracture's optics widened. He looked up at Starscream in shock and… Fear. "NO!"
"Shush!" Starscream whispered loudly at him. "Be quiet!"
"PUT ME DOWN! CUHREEORR!" He then screamed, struggling best he could.
Knock Out's optics lit up as he startled online. He heard another scream and immediately leaped out of berth. "FRACTURE!"
Knock Out palmed the door but it wouldn't open. He tore his claws into the edge of the door, desperately trying to pry it open, not even noticing that how hard he was pulling he dented and tore his claws causing energon to leak out.
"What's going on?!" Breakdown was beside his mate, confused and worried.
"I don't know! I can't get in! My sparkling!" Knock Out quickly screamed, still desperately trying to tear open the door.
"Step back." Breakdown pushed him aside as his arm transformed into a hammer.
Starscream jumped when the door was immediately smashed open, and Breakdown charged in like some massive beast about to maul him.
"Cuhreeor!" Fracture reached out for Knock Out.
"Starscream!" Breakdown roared, raising the hammer again. "Put Fracture down this instant or else I'll find out what your brain module looks like splattered on the wall."
Starscream swallowed. A real threat from Breakdown was quite serious.
"I am simply checking on my son." Starscream flicked his wings.
"YOU BROKE INTO MY HOUSE!"
"Yes, well, it may appear that way…"
Knock Out stepped between them. "Starscream, please, put Fracture down." He held out his servos for the little one, only now noticing how much damage he caused to them.
Starscream glared at him, all his rage and hatred returning. "You stole him from me." He snarled.
"I'm trying to protect him. Please, set him down." Knock Out's vocalizer was softer.
Starscream flicked his wings and growled his engine. "He's mine." He growled.
Fracture began to bawl, reaching out desperately for Knock Out. "Cuhreeor!" Coolant poured from his optics, his tiny body beginning to tremble from how scared he was.
"I'm your carrier!" Starscream snapped at him.
"Starscream, please! Set him down."
Starscream looked over at Breakdown when he heard his arm transforming back into a servo… and unsubspacing his shotgun. He swallowed, seeing the barrel aimed right at his face.
"Put him down." Breakdown said it in a vocalizer rarely ever heard from him.
Starscream lowered his wings, then looked down at Fracture. He wouldn't even look up at him, just kept reaching out for Knock Out, pushing against Starscream, trying to get away. Starscream felt his spark dropping.
He slowly set Fracture on the ground, and watched as Fracture ran without hesitation to Knock Out. The speedster scooped up Fracture in his arms and held him close, as Fracture buried his face into Knock Out's neck and cried. He clung to Knock Out so tightly, his body no longer trembling from fear, already feeling safer just being held by Knock Out.
Starscream bit his lower lip plate seeing that.
Knock Out retreated behind Breakdown, trying to comfort Fracture.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Breakdown shouted furiously. "Breaking into my house at night and trying to abduct a sparkling?! WHAT THE FRAG DO YOU THINK WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?! I AM THIS CLOSE TO SHOOTING THE STUPID RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE! DON'T LOOK AT KNOCK OUT, HE'S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU! PRIMUS COULD WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR RIGHT NOW AND NOT EVEN HE WOULD SAVE YOU FROM ME!"
Knock Out placed his servo on Breakdown's arm, trying to calm him down. Breakdown only reached back to ensure Knock Out stayed behind him.
"I just wanted my son…" Starscream said it pathetically.
"THEN GO THROUGH THE COURT, YOU IDIOT!"
Fracture cried louder, now terrified of a furious Breakdown.
"Babe," Knock Out spoke up. "Calm down. Fracture is safe."
Breakdown didn't look away from Starscream, his intakes beginning to slow down as he worked on calming himself down. Knock Out stepped out from behind his mate so Starscream could see him.
"You're an idiot." Knock Out said it with a forced smile, trying to look calm for Fracture's sake, but coolant tears betraying him as the emotions of almost losing Fracture took over. "Just… Breaking through a window and trying to steal Fracture. Didn't even think how he would feel about such a traumatic event as this."
"Traumatic event… YOU took him from ME! His REAL carrier!" Starscream flicked his wings, his engine growling louder. "You have him calling you that to keep the illusion that what you did was somehow 'right?'"
"He chose to call me carrier. I never told him he had to." Knock Out looked down at his broken claws, still leaking from them. He glared back at Starscream. "I have been a better carrier to him than you." He made sure Starscream saw those broken digits.
Starscream clenched his fists at his sides. "You steal him from his real carrier and deny me ever seeing him! You are not a better carrier! What lies about me have you been feeding his processor with? Hmm?"
"None." Knock Out snapped. "I never took him with the intention of making him hate you, Starscream. You put him in danger! You're not able to even care for him, let alone yourself! You don't have a job, your place is surrounded by circuit users, you don't even know how to be a civilian! All you know is making others obey you. You're not ready for this responsibility!"
"I am ready!"
"The court decided otherwise!"
"The court hates Seekers!"
"No, they hate liars who take their sons to homicidal maniacs for interface!"
"IT WAS ONE TIME!"
"That's one time too many! And it wouldn't be the last time! I know you, Starscream. For the entire war you were recharging in Megatron's berth! I begged you to stay away from him more times than I can count and you ignored me! I-" He looked away, biting his lip plate, so filled with rage. Then he threw a servo up, the other one still holding Fracture close to him. "I-I give up on you, Starscream." He said it with that forceful smile again, almost like he was about to lose his mind. "I tried and I tried, and I gave you my home and love and everything! And you throw it all away once more because of him. Couldn't give him up even for your own son."
"It was one time." Starscream growled.
"You are so delusional it hurts. I just… ARGH! I want to slap you so hard!"
"Do it! Show Fracture you're no different from me!"
"I'm not perfect, Starscream, but I put my sons before myself and my sexual desires. If Breakdown ever hurt me, I would leave him and never look back. For the safety of my creations."
Starscream flicked his wings, noticing the plural usage. "He's not your son."
"He's more my son than yours."
Starscream lost it. He lunged forward, but Breakdown moved faster than he ever had before. He grasped Starscream's wing and flung him into the wall. Fracture screamed, resuming his crying as he clung to Knock Out.
"Call the police." Knock Out said quickly, backing into the hallway as he tried to comfort Fracture. "I'm done with him."
Knock Out went into the other berthroom and picked up Wildbreak who was softly crying from hearing all the commotion. He then took the sparklings into his berthroom and locked the door.
Breakdown kept his gun aimed at Starscream as he dialed the police. Starscream stood up, flicked his wings, and walked out of the window, transformed, and flew off.
Breakdown subspaced his gun and went into his berthroom, finding Knock Out sitting on the berth hugging both the sparklings. He sat down beside him and hugged him.
"Hey, it's going to be alright." He soothed his mate.
"He's not going to stop. He's lost his mind." Knock Out didn't even look at Breakdown as coolant leaked from his optics.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm just… really upset! He breaks into my house and almost takes Fracture away. W-where would he take him? Would he have gone into hiding and we never find him again? Would he go to Megatron and Fracture is-"
"He didn't get away with him. For now on… We do better. In the morning I'll get a security system."
"I'm terrified of going back to work and leaving you alone."
"I can handle Starscream." Breakdown said firmly.
"But what if he gets help? What if he convinces someone to help him o-or he pays someone-"
"He doesn't have Shanix."
"He can pay with something else. He's a slut." Knock Out grunted.
"What's a slut?" Fracture inquired, no longer crying as he sat on Knock Out's lap.
"It's what people like Starscream are…"
Breakdown gently took Knock Out's servo and inspected the damaged claws. He then lovingly kissed each knuckle before clasping his much larger servo around it. "You're an amazing carrier. These mechlings are so lucky to have you."
"I know what you're doing. Can't I be upset?"
"No." Breakdown kissed him. "You're never allowed to be upset when I'm around."
Knock Out looked down at Fracture who was looking up at him with those large, round, adorable optics. "Did we make a mistake?"
"Mistake in what?" Breakdown said as he unsubspaced a cloth and began to clean off dry energon from the servo he still held.
"Letting him move in with us? If we hadn't let him in-"
"If we hadn't let him in he would have died on the street… And we wouldn't have Fracture."
Knock Out vented a sigh. "Can we please make him pay for my manicure? This is his fault."
Breakdown snorted a laugh. "Yes, dear. I'll add that to the demand."
There was a knock at the door. Breakdown stood up.
"That must be the police. I'll let them in."
A Couple of Orbital Cycles Later:
Breakdown opened the door, taking a moment to remind himself this was happening.
"Come in, Prime." He gestured, allowing the Autobot leader to enter with two guards.
"Hello, Breakdown." Prime greeted calmly. "Is Knock Out ready?"
"He is. Right this way."
Breakdown walked him over to the couch where Knock Out sat holding Wildbreak, and Fracture was sitting beside him playing a game on his datapad.
"Hello, Prime." Knock Out said as he looked up at the truck. "I would stand to greet you, but I am feeling ill."
"Is it a bad time?" Optimus inquired.
"No, I had a difficult carrying with my son, and I appear to still be recovering from it. I'll be fine. Please, sit. Make yourself at home." He turned to Breakdown. "Sweetie, please get our guest some energon."
"There is no need."
"I insist, Prime. You are seeing to this matter personally. At least let me make it a bit easier for you."
Optimus sat on the couch opposite of Knock Out, unsubspacing a datapad. "Congratulations on the sparkling. What is his designation?"
"Wildbreak." Knock Out smiled. "He looks just like his sire, doesn't he?" He held up the little one who was busy stuffing three digits into his mouth. "Has his appetite, too."
"And this is Fracture?"
"Yes, this is Fracture." Knock Out stroked a loving servo over Fracture's helm. "The entire reason we are going through all of this."
Breakdown handed the two guards some energon before offering a cube to the Prime, who accepted it. He then sat beside his mate with a bowl of goodies. Fracture set aside his game and crawled onto Knock Out's lap so he could reach over and eat some goodies too.
"He appears to be comfortable with you, both." The Prime commented.
"He's very happy here. He's lived here all his live." Knock Out explained. "When Starscream was sparked with him he came here looking for a place to stay."
"He was homeless?"
"He had been living with Megatron." Knock Out grunted. "When he became sparked Megatron kicked him out. He had no job, no Shanix, so he moved into a homeless shelter. He was miserable there and got attacked, so he finally came crawling to me. I let him stay because he was sparked. I'm not going to let a sparked mech be homeless. I was there for him for the carrying, the birth, and helped him with everything for a stellar cycle that he lived here. I got sparked shortly after Fracture was born. It was a bad carrying, I was moody, we had some fights, but he was there for me when I gave birth.
"It was shortly after I gave birth that he took Fracture to spend the night with Megatron. It was a booty call. He wanted interface, and so he, like the idiot he is, took Fracture with him. And whatever happened there… Megatron ended up beating him with a cable, bad enough his entire backside was covered in dents and he leaked in several spots. And Fracture was at least kicked by Megatron. I don't know what else happened there. Fracture won't talk about it. He is completely traumatized by it.
"When they got back, I confronted Starscream. I was very sick from just giving birth, I could barely stand. We got into an argument, and it became physical. Starscream left with Fracture. Breakdown and I were terrified that he was going back to Megatron and Fracture would be killed or hurt. So, that's when I filed the emergency report to get custody of Fracture. And, you know how that went."
"Yes, I have read through the entire case." Prime spoke. "What has he done since this decision? I heard he broke in the other night and tried to steal Fracture?"
"He did. He removed the window and locked the berthroom door. Breakdown had to break down the door just so we could get in. When we did, Starscream was holding Fracture and was about to jump out the window. Fracture was terrified and crying for me. We were able to get Starscream to hand him back, but he did try to attack me. If Breakdown hadn't been there he would have gotten away with Fracture and… I don't know." Knock Out stroked Fracture's helm, reminding himself that he was still here and safe. "I'm beyond terrified that Starscream will take Fracture and run away with him, and we will never see Fracture again. Either he'll be killed by Megatron, or whatever homeless bums Starscream is living with… He knows Fracture is safe here, but can't even wait to go through the court to do things right. He is desperate to get Fracture back, even if it means traumatizing him.
"Fracture won't go back into his room. He only recharges with me. He cries if he's left alone for any amount of time. My maternity leave will be ending soon, and I don't know how he will handle me being gone at work all orbital cycle."
"Do you think Starscream would hurt Fracture himself? Hit him or otherwise harm him with his own servos?"
Knock Out didn't answer immediately. "Yes. I think Starscream is not able to control his anger. He's attacked me twice, almost three times. When he was Megatron's first lieutenant it wasn't uncommon for him to strike subordinates who pissed him off. He… Has not been able to transition into civilian mode. Mentally, he is still a commander of an army of brutes who you need to out-brute in order to not be beat up by them. And not only that but his mental health is all over the place. He has depression and PTSD, and who knows what else. He can't do it, Prime. He's not ready. Even if he got a job and an apartment, until he fixes his processor, he is not in a position to care for another life. He has to concentrate on himself."
Optimus was busy writing notes on the datapad. "Would you be open to visitations?"
"Only if they are supervised. But I don't know how soon he would be ready for that."
The Next Orbital Cycle:
Starscream paced nervously outside the door to the office of the Prime. It eventually opened and a guard ushered him in before taking post outside the door.
"Morning, Starscream." Optimus greeted, only he in the office. "Please, sit." He gestured to the chair before him.
Starscream did so, his wings lowering. "So, um, do you have a decision?"
Optimus set his datapad down, then rested his elbows on the desk, his digit tips pressing together. "I have. After speaking to Knock Out and other witnesses, and reviewing the case files… I do not believe you are capable of having custody over Fracture."
Starscream's lower lip plate trembled, his spark dropping inside of him. "Y-you don't-"
"But," Prime continued. "I do believe that maybe you can have visitation rights."
"V-visitation?"
"Yes, if you do what I say. You need a job. A real job. You need an apartment or house that isn't dirty, you need to stop seeing Megatron, and you need to take a psychological test. Your behavior is not normal, and not safe for a sparkling to be raised by. You need professional help."
"H-how am I not safe for my own son to be around?" He asked in disbelief.
"You broke into someone's house to try and steal him."
"He's my son."
"Starscream, this is my ruling: Do these things and I will preside over the next court hearing, or…. You go to jail for breaking and entering, as well as sparkling endangerment."
Starscream swallowed. "H-how much time do I have?"
"I will not put a time limit on anything so long as you begin work on finding a job, a psychiatrist, and proper living accommodations right away. I understand it takes time to achieve those, so you may take however long as needed. However," He raised a digit. "If you try to steal Fracture again, you will go to prison. For now on, you do it the legal way, or prison." Prime said it sternly.
"Understood." Starscream swallowed. "I-if I do all of these things… The house, the job, the evaluation… Will I get him back?"
"We will start with visitations and see from there. I also will have you made aware that Knock Out has my frequency, so should you threaten him or visit without invitation, he will call me and apprise me."
"If I get the job… Can I get a visitation? Or must it be after a court hearing?"
"Inform me when you have the job, or gotten the evaluation, and I will speak to Knock Out. He is open to allowing you to visit Fracture, but only supervised visitations. But as for now, I do not believe I will give you full custody of Fracture. I do not see you being prepared for raising a sparkling within the timeframe before he is an adult."
Starscream slowly nodded. "I-I'll… I'll get started on those applications."
"Dismissed."
Starscream stood up and quickly exited the office. He ran out the open window, transformed, and flew off. He transformed as he landed on top of a building, collapsed, and cried.
Getting a job would not be easy for a hated Decepticon, especially brass. He couldn't apply as Starscream, the Seeker well known across the galaxy and hated by all. He would need a new identity.
Starscream bought some paint and spent the next orbital cycle painting himself, putting on a new layer of primer and waxing himself. He had known many Seekers throughout his life, so picking one he knew was dead wasn't hard. He remembered that Seeker's paintjob and some of his backstory. He would just copy it. Not like anyone would know who he was…
His new paint job was mostly a dark blue over his torso, lowers arms, and lower legs. He was white elsewhere with some red highlights. He hated the look, but he didn't look like Starscream anymore.
The next orbital cycle he went out and started to apply at whatever place he could. First it was at the lab, but he was rejected because he was a Seeker, and those don't do science. He tried a university job, but denied for the same reason. He started for secretary positions, but no interest.
For the next two decacycles he went from place to place trying to get a job, but all rejected him because he was a Seeker, or because he was a Decepticon, or just because they didn't think he could do it… which probably meant because he was a Seeker.
He couldn't even get a security job because he was "too dangerous" to be given weapons…
Then, finally, he found one.
It wasn't a job he was proud of, but better than prostituting himself… He was able to secure a job at the local recycling plant. Mostly was sorting scrap metal from the destroyed buildings that was being collected. Sort it out so it could be melted down and turned into new things for the new buildings being built. All part of rebuilding all that had been destroyed in the war.
It wasn't a job he was proud of, but at least he wasn't selling his body, or working in filth, or being worked to death. It paid enough. Which meant he could start looking for a better apartment. But, for now… After over two decacycles, he could call the Prime.
Starscream entered the Prime's office. He had been working his job for nearly a decacycle now, after being told he had to wait to see the Prime to make sure he stayed with the job. Over three decacycles since he had last held his son…
"Hello, Starscream." The Prime greeted him. "You have a job, now?"
"Yes!" Starscream quickly handed him a datapad which contained the evidence of his employment. "A-and I'm working on finding a new apartment, now. I have also begun research into the psychological testing."
Prime handed the datapad back once he finished recording the info on it. "And have you refrained from seeing Megatron?"
"Yes, sir. I have not seen him, visited him, or otherwise communicated with him at all. You can view my call logs!" He quickly held up his wrist to show it.
"Very good." The Prime intoned. "Then, I shall give Knock Out a call and see if he would be willing to allow you to have a short visit with Fracture."
Starscream's wings fluttered.
Five Orbital Cycles Later:
Starscream was trembling with excitement as he approached the house. He swallowed, then rang the bell. Breakdown soon answered it.
"Hey," He greeted, not as cheery as he normally was. "Come in."
Starscream slowly entered, noting that Breakdown had his shotgun in his servo. They certainly did not trust him. His wings perked when he saw Fracture sitting on the couch watching TV next to Knock Out.
Knock Out glared at him. "Fracture, look who's here to see you."
Fracture looked up, then swallowed. "Why's he here?" He quickly asked the speedster.
"He's here to visit you." Knock Out adjusted Wildbreak who was on his lap.
"H-hey, Fracture." Starscream faintly smiled at him, carefully approaching. "I've missed you."
Fracture shrunk back against Knock Out. Starscream drooped his wings, hesitated, and then sat on the couch.
"I just want to be with you." Starscream tried again.
Knock Out stroked Fracture's helm. "It's okay, sweetie. Your sire and I are here. Starscream won't try to steal you."
"You used to hug me… And say you loved me…" Starscream bit his lower lip plate.
"You scared me. More than once." Fracture said it with a bit more confidence now. "You took me to the mean mech! He hurt me!"
"I-I know, and I'm sorry! I'll never do that again! I made a mistake. I'm sorry."
"You tried to take me from carrier!"
"Fracture, I'm your carrier. You were inside of me." He placed a servo over his abdominal plates. "You came from here."
"No, sparklings come from carrier." Fracture then jabbed a digit at Knock Out's abdomen.
"Actually, he is right." Knock Out gently corrected. "You did come from Starscream's belly. He is your carrier biologically. I'm your carrier by adoption."
"But you have a sparkling!" Fracture exclaimed, pointing at the speedster's belly once more.
Knock Out placed a servo over his abdominal plating and rubbed it slowly. Starscream's optics narrowed.
"Yes, because there are many carriers. I am one, and so is Starscream."
"Why are you sparked, again? You just gave birth." Starscream grunted.
"Because…." Knock Out looked at him. "We made a mistake. I didn't want to put the groundings back in because I want to have another. So, we were going to have Breakdown just unplug his nanite wires. Made the mistake of not checking them." He gestured to his abdomen. "A happy accident. I'm a decacycle along."
"You're going to be sick having another carrying so soon."
"I was sick with the first one." Knock Out grunted. "I'll be fine. Do I not even get a congratulations?"
"Was I supposed to congratulate you on also taking my son?"
Knock Out narrowed his optics. "I'm not going to start with you. You're here to visit Fracture, not argue with me."
Starscream flicked his wings, then turned back to fracture. The sparkling was now hugging Wildbreak, who was hugging him back.
"Fracture, can I get a hug?" The Seeker tried again.
Fracture shook his helm.
"Why blue?" Knock Out suddenly interjected.
"What?"
"Your paint. I was told you had a new paintjob, but… Why blue?"
"Why not?"
"Just looks… It's not the color I would have chosen."
"I'm not you." Starscream snapped.
"Thank Primus for that."
Starscream glared at him. "I would ask if you were eating enough, being sparked so soon, but your thighs tell me enough."
Knock Out's optics widened. "I have not gained weight!"
"I doubt any scale that Breakdown uses is working…"
"Ladies, please, stop." Breakdown quickly ordered, snapping his digits to get their attention. "This is time for Fracture to see his carrier, not for you two to try and insult each other. In the end, only my opinion matters." He said the last part like it was a fact.
Knock Out glared at his mate, but otherwise remained silent.
Starscream hesitated, then reached over and grabbed Fracture. He carefully pulled him over and onto his lap, hugging him. Fracture struggled some, looking desperately at Knock Out, then Breakdown. Seeing them not do anything or act scared helped him calm down some, but he still didn't feel safe.
"I just want to hold you. Please, let me hold you." Starscream softly pleaded with his son.
"Don't take me away from carrier." Fracture swallowed.
"I'm not taking you away. I'm staying right here."
"He's not going anywhere, Fracture." Breakdown replied. "You're safe."
Fracture looked up at Starscream, his optics so wide and bright. Finally, he reached up and felt along his carrier's chestplates, studying this new paintjob.
"Why did you change your colors?" The little one inquired.
"I needed to look different for my job."
"Which is?" Knock Out raised an optical ridge.
"An honest one." Starscream grunted.
"Love, behave." Breakdown gave Knock Out a look.
Knock Out gave him a look right back.
Fracture studied his carrier's new look, then looked at his servos. He suddenly giggled.
"What's so funny?" Starscream asked.
"You have big servos like sire."
"Not quite…" Starscream grunted.
"Sire has the biggest aft. Carrier says so." Fracture giggled again, covering his mouth as he did so.
Knock Out rolled his optics. "He hears everything I say."
"Wildbreak is my brother, but he doesn't say much." Fracture continued. "He cries a lot. He falls down and cries! He… Hit his head right there." He pointed in the direction where the incident transpired. "He was trying to walk like me but he fell and hit his head." He indicated the spot on his own head. "Carrier had to kiss him to make him better." He then leaned in closer to Starscream and whispered. "Carrier doesn't kiss sire when he gets a boo-boo. He says he'll live." He then nodded quickly.
Starscream smiled, stroking Fracture's helm. "Does he now?"
"Yeah… Sire's clumsy… He fell down, too. Over there." He pointed.
"What else does he do?" Starscream hugged Fracture close to him, enjoying hearing his son blabbering away.
"Sire eats a lot, and carrier says he eats too much. Wildbreak eats a lot, too. He cries when hungry. I don't cry when hungry. I just ask carrier. But, sometimes carrier is gone at work, so sire gives me energon. I like it when carrier gives me energon."
"Why is that?"
"Carrier is better."
Knock Out snorted a snicker while Breakdown looked hurt. "I love him so much." The speedster laughed.
Fracture giggled at the sight of Knock Out laughing, which encouraged him to keep going. "Carrier is funny. One time! One time, he hit sire on the aft and told him 'you're blocking the whole house!'" He laughed again. "Carrier is funny."
Starscream forced his smile, but also wanted to cry. He was his carrier, not Knock Out. He held his son close, savoring this time with him and all his sparkling innocence.
Eventually, Starscream had to leave Fracture and return to his own apartment. But he had him. He was getting closer to having him more. He had to just keep doing as the Prime said to do. He had the job, now to get that better apartment and get tested. He could do this.
He had been looking at apartments before, but now all his attention was finding the perfect one. Something high, with a balcony so he could just fly to it and avoid the ground. A proper Seeker home.
Most places were still being built or fixed up, but he eventually found a good one. It wasn't as high up as he had hoped, only the fifth floor, but better than the ground level place he had been at. He spent the next decacycle tidying it up, replacing old furniture, and making it look like a proper home.
Then, he focused on getting tested. He had found a place to do it and was waiting for his appointment. Finally, the orbital cycle arrived and he went. It was mostly asking questions, looking at ink blotches, and simple stuff like that.
And orn later he had his test results and went to see Optimus Prime.
"Well?" The Seeker perked his wings as he sat on a chair in front of Prime's desk.
Optimus had been reading through the test results. He finally looked up at the flier. "Did you read through this?"
"Yes, I did."
"And your thoughts?"
"I mean… I guess the PTSD, anxiety, depression makes sense."
"Did you read the recommendations?"
"Yes, they suggested therapy."
Prime set the datapad down. "I am concerned that due to your mental health you might not be ready at this time to care for a sparkling full time. I believe you should do as the psychologist recommends and see a therapist. After you have been seeing one for some time, we can revisit and schedule a hearing for visitation rights."
"For how long should I see this therapist?"
"More than a stellar cycle."
Starscream swallowed, but slowly nodded his helm. "I… I got the apartment."
"I saw that. And Bluestreak reported back to me what it looks like. I have accepted it. That being said, the only requirement left is you remain away from Megatron."
"I have. I have not spoken to him nor visited him."
"Keep it that way."
"I will." Starscream paused. "Can I see my son, again?"
"I will give Knock Out a call."
Starscream quickly walked over to the front door and pressed the doorbell. He hadn't held Fracture in two decacycles and couldn't wait any longer!
The door finally opened. "Hey," Breakdown greeted softly. "Come in."
Starscream noted that the truck was off, but he didn't want to ask about it. His son came first. He entered the house and approached his son, who was playing a game with Wildbreak on the floor in the living room.
"Hey, Fracture!" Starscream greeted cheerfully, wasting no time in picking up the sparkling and hugging him.
Fracture was surprised by this but didn't fight back. He allowed his carrier to hold him close, and even give him kisses on the cheekplates, which he quickly wiped away.
"How have you been?" Starscream asked.
Fracture shrugged.
"Nothing happening?"
"No, lots happening."
"Like what?"
"Carrier was at the hospital at night. I didn't get recharge."
Starscream raised an optical ridge. "What do you mean? Why was he at the hospital?"
Fracture shrugged. "He got a bad tummy ache, I think. I don't know. Wildbreak doesn't know either."
Wildbreak was busy trying to eat a toy car. Yes, he certainly knew nothing, Starscream thought.
"Well, I want to talk about you. And how cute you are, and how much I love you." Starscream nuzzled him.
Fracture didn't react to the nuzzling, instead he looked down at Wildbreak. "I got a new car!" He then squirmed to be put down, which Starscream did. The sparkling quickly grabbed his new car and held it up for Starscream to see. "Look! See? It's purple." He then giggled.
"Yes, but do you have any jets?"
"I got a bird." Fracture reached for his bird toy. "Caw! Caw!" He made the bird toy "fly" over and poked Starscream's leg with it. "It's pecking you." He snickered.
"I see that. What other toys do you have?"
"I have this one!" He held up a shuttle toy. "And, that one." He pointed to a mech toy that was being chewed on by Wildbreak.
"Do they have names?"
"Umm…"
"There he is…!"
Starscream looked up to see Knock Out coming down the stairs, one servo holding onto the banister as the other held a bottle of engex. He was a little wobbly, obviously from drinking from that bottle.
"Knock Out?" Starscream raised his wings. "Why are you drinking? You're carrying."
Knock Out snickered. "Not anymore." He waved a single digit at Starscream. "I lost him."
"Lost?"
Knock Out made it to the bottom of the stairs, took another swing of his bottle, and paused. "Yyyyyeeeeup! Lost him…. I had a fragging miscarriage!" He started to laugh, but coolant was coming from his optics. "He had servos… And optics… But my body killed him."
Breakdown came from the energon room. "Sweetie, please, go back to our room. You need to rest. You lost a lot of energon this morning."
"SHUT UP!" Knock Out shouted at him. "I lost my sparkling!" He then glared at Starscream. "Not that you care."
Starscream narrowed his optics. "No, I don't care."
Knock Out raised the bottle to throw it at Starscream, but Breakdown caught his arm and snatched the bottle away. Knock Out glared at his mate, and tried to reach for the bottle, but Breakdown simply raised his arm higher.
"Of course, you don't care." Knock Out snarled at Starscream, jabbing a claw at him, while his other hand instinctively went over his abdomen. "You never cared about sparklings. You almost got Fracture killed by Megatron."
Starscream flicked his wings. "You're drunk."
"Only a little. Because I actually care about my creations. I get sad when they die oooor are hurt. You don't care at all what happens."
"I care what happens to my son."
"The court says otherwise."
Starscream growled his engine. "You stole my son from me, and now the universe steals your son. Seems fair, don't you think?"
Breakdown gave Starscream a look that could kill. Knock Out's engine revved.
"You're a miserable, cock sucking slut! All you've ever done is hurt everyone around you!" Knock Out shouted.
"Oh, stop acting like you're some saint, Knock Out! You have killed and hurt so many people over the vorns! You take my own son away from me!"
"To save him from your stupidity and selfishness!"
"And Primus did the same for your ejected spawn."
Knock Out trembled with rage. "I want him out!" He pointed at the front door.
"I get my joor with my son!"
"SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! MY SPARKLING IS DEAD AND YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT?!"
Breakdown grabbed Knock Out's arm and pulled him to the stairs. "Go to our room." He ordered.
"I want him out." Knock Out snapped.
"I'll handle Starscream. Go."
Knock Out reached again for the bottle of engex, but Breakdown moved his arm away. The speedster glared at Starscream once more before making his way up the stairs, coolant streaming down his cheekplates. Breakdown waited until he heard the berthroom door close before he turned to Starscream.
"Finish your visit, then fragging leave my house." Breakdown said it in a tone rarely ever heard from him. So much anger and pain in it.
Starscream swallowed but didn't remove his angry expression. He picked up Fracture, who had been hugging Wildbreak, and held him close. His wings lowered some when he heard Knock Out crying upstairs. Maybe he had been too harsh… But these two were the reason why he didn't have Fracture with him. No, he was right! They deserved to lose their sparkling in a miscarriage. They were stupid to have another one so soon, anyway. Serves them right for stealing his son and showing off they could just have more if they wanted to.
Stupid grounders.
Starscream tried to schedule another visitation, but Breakdown would not answer his calls. And he wasn't going to call Knock Out… He tried talking to Prime, but all Prime would say was that he was talking to Knock Out and Breakdown about the next visit.
He was becoming worried. Why wasn't he allowed to see his son? He was doing everything right…
He kept trying to call, to get something to happen, but time went by. He tried focusing on the therapy, but he didn't really care for it. So long as it was down on paper, he was talking to someone, that's all he needed. He needed to prove to this court that he could care for Fracture.
Decacycles turned into stellar cycles, and he was growing more and more anxious. It was almost three stellar cycles since he last saw Fracture that he finally got a call from Breakdown.
"Hey." Starscream answered the call, his spark pulsating faster.
"Hey," Breakdown greeted, nothing unusual in his vocalizer. "Fracture starts his first orbital cycle of school tomorrow. You should be there."
Starscream felt the coolant pooling in his optics. "W-which school?"
"I'll send you the address. Can you be there at 8?"
"Yes."
"Good. We'll see you then." He then hung up.
Starscream trembled with fear and excitement. Finally, he would see his sparkling again.
The Seeker transformed and landed at the designated meeting spot. He perked his wings, anxiously looking around. He was far earlier than the agreed upon time, but he wasn't going to miss a single nanosecond with his son.
After a breem, he finally spotted Breakdown, and quickly made his way over. The look he got from Knock Out was colder than space itself, but the speedster stayed silent.
"Hey, Fracture." Starscream smiled at him.
Fracture held onto Knock Out's servo, looking at his carrier for a moment. Then he waved before quickly hiding behind Knock Out's leg.
"What's wrong?" Starscream lowered his wings.
"He's become shy." Breakdown explained as he held Wildbreak.
"But, he knows me."
"Not that well."
That hurt Starscream. He had been away from his son for far too long, all because Knock Out had to be a drama queen about losing that dumb sparkling of his…
"Fracture, you remember me, right? I'm your carrier." Starscream crouched to be optic level with his son.
"This is my carrier." He hugged Knock Out's leg.
"I'm your real carrier."
Fracture shook his helm.
Knock Out vented a sigh, stroking Fracture's helm, which he could now do without having to bend down due to how tall the sparkling had gotten. "He is your carrier as well, sweetspark. You should go say hi to him."
"Hi!" Wildbreak greeted, waving at Starscream. "See, I said hi, Fracture! You can too!" He then giggled and hugged Breakdown around the neck.
That helped. Fracture handed his backpack to Knock Out, then slowly approached Starscream. The Seeker perked his wings as he held out his arms. Fracture hesitated, then held his arms out, too. Starscream hugged him close, his optics offlining as coolant pooled in them. Finally, he had his son again.
"He's a good sparkling." Breakdown said, setting down Wildbreak.
"Why wouldn't you let me see him?" Starscream looked up at the truck, not letting go of Fracture.
"Gee, I wonder why." Was the sardonic remark from Knock Out, not even looking at the Seeker.
Starscream glared at him. "He's my son, not yours. You didn't even send me pictures of him! I have missed out on so much of his life!"
Knock Out rolled his optics, still not looking at the Seeker. A servo rested over his abdominal plates, slowly circling.
"I'll send you all the pictures and videos we have." Breakdown said quickly, not wanting a fight to break out.
Starscream noticed Knock Out's servo. "Are you sparked again?"
Knock Out finally looked at him, his optics so cold, looking only like another enemy of Starscream's. He only growled his engine.
"Four decacycles." Breakdown spoke up. "A mechling. Our first since…. You know."
"He doesn't need to know anything about my sons." Knock Out growled, his jaws set so firmly it was a miracle a hydraulic didn't snap.
Of how much Starscream hated Knock Out, he didn't want to go another three stellar cycles without seeing Fracture again. "Congrats, Knock Out." He paused. "I mean that."
Knock Out didn't look at him.
"Carrier is fat!" Wildbreak giggled, running circles around Knock Out, not noticing how tense the moment was.
"Carrier is fat." Fracture snickered, still being held tightly by his actual carrier.
Wildbreak hugged Knock Out's leg, his optics so large, far too large for his pudgy face, and so bright. He watched Starscream holding Fracture, then ran over and hugged Starscream.
"I want hugs, too!" He proclaimed.
Starscream couldn't help but smile at that, and allowed the other sparkling to be held by him, too.
"That's the crazy one." Breakdown smirked. "Fracture is shy and avoids people, while Wildbreak believes everyone is his friend. He's going to get kidnapped…"
"I like naps!" Wildbreak proclaimed.
"Yes, you are very good at that."
"Why you crying?" Fracture inquired when he saw the coolant leaking down Starscream's cheekplates.
"Oh, I… Just really missed you. I haven't seen you in so long." Starscream wiped at the coolant.
"You need hugs!" Wildbreak shouted before hugging Starscream even harder.
"We probably should go inside." Breakdown gestured to all the other creators entering the school with their own creations.
"I don't think Seekers are allowed." Knock Out's vocalizer was simply ice. Even Breakdown had to double take from how sparkless his mate sounded.
"Um, I don't think that's true…" Breakdown said slowly. He flinched at the evil glare his partner gave him. "Sweetie, you're scaring me."
Knock Out rolled his optics. "Wildbreak, come with me." He snapped.
"Okie dokie, carrier!" Wildbreak released Starscream and trotted after his carrier. He quickly took Knock Out's servo and skipped beside him.
Starscream looked up at Breakdown. "Is he going to murder me?"
"Probably." Breakdown said it like it was a fact. "You did say some pretty horrible things about us losing our son."
Starscream looked away, not saying anything.
"There it is. Still no apology." Breakdown smiled in almost disbelief. "Oh, Starscream… You have such a long way to go until you're a decent person. I'm still holding onto hope, but… That's slipping away more and more each orbital cycle."
Starscream stood and took Fracture by the servo. He slowly walked towards the school's door, listening to Breakdown's heavy pedfalls closely behind him.
He entered the school, wings perking, and saw Knock Out talking to someone. He cautiously approached, not releasing Fracture's servo.
"Yes, the court documents only give me and my mate authorization to pick him up from school." Knock Out was saying, still holding Wildbreak's servo.
The other mech was looking at a datapad. "Ok, I will need to have your IDs on file to ensure only you two pick him up. Who is the sire?"
"This is my mate." Knock Out pointed to Breakdown. "He'll be the primary one picking up Fracture as I work.
Starscream picked up Fracture and hugged him close. Knock Out was always ahead making sure he had zero rights to his own metal and spark…
"I wanna go to school!" Wildbreak piped up, jumping up and down as he still held his carrier's servo.
"You will." Knock Out grunted, his free servo rubbing over his abdominal plates.
Starscream silently watched as Knock Out and Breakdown filled out the paperwork to make sure only they could pick up his son, and that he wasn't allowed to be with Fracture unless they were present. He wiped at the coolant and hugged his son closer. At least he was going to school, now. He would be getting an education and be able to make some friends.
"You cry a lot." Fracture commented.
Starscream slowly nodded. "There's a lot to be sad about."
"Is he allowed to be present for teacher-creator meetings?" The mech inquired.
"No." Knock Out said quickly.
"He can be." Breakdown replied, which earned him another cold glare from Knock Out. Breakdown winced from that look, but bravely continued. "The court doesn't say he can't be present at a teacher-creator meeting. So long as we're there it'll be fine."
Knock Out rolled his optics again, looking like he was doing everything he could to not punch his Conjunx Endura.
"You alright?" The mech asked Knock Out.
Knock Out forced a fake smile. "Yes, my back is just sore. I'm four decacycles along with my youngest."
"Do you need a chair?"
"That would be great, thanks."
Once the mech left to retrieve a chair, Knock Out spun around to face his mate.
"We talked about this." He growled.
"Did we?" Breakdown raised an optical ridge.
"He has NO say in Fracture's education."
"Babe, sweetie, come on… He's an aft but Fracture is still his son. He still should be around for at least this." He flinched when Knock Out clenched his fist. "Don't hurt me, I love you."
"Only reason you're still alive." Knock Out growled at him. Then turned around and smiled as he was given the chair. "Thank you." He said it in such a sweet, innocent tone, sitting down and pulling Wildbreak on his lap.
"Trouble in paradise?" Starscream grunted quietly.
"It's just the sparkling." Breakdown gave him a dismissive wave. "You remember how mean he was when he was sparked with Wildbreak."
"He was mean, yes, but he didn't look at you like that…"
"I hid all the knives and guns so I'm fine."
"He hasn't put a life insurance policy on you, has he?"
Breakdown's optics widened.
Knock Out finished the paperwork and handed it back to the mech. The mech looked over it, then turned to Starscream.
"I need you to fill out some information, too. You are not allowed to pick up the student from school, but you still are a contact for him, as well as allowed to be present for meetings with his teachers. I just need your designation, address, and everything else this form asks for."
Starscream took the datapad, juggling it while also refusing to set down Fracture. He went ahead and put down his real designation. This was his son, and he didn't want to risk any chance of not being there for him with his school.
"Are you tired?" Breakdown quietly asked his mate.
"No." He snapped.
"You seem tired. Is it the sparkling?"
"Ask me another stupid question and I'll tear out your glossa."
Breakdown quickly retreated.
Starscream finished the form and handed it back. After a moment the mech spoke.
"Okay, Fracture is good to go! Would you like to walk back to his classroom?"
"Yes, that would be great." Knock Out spoke so kindly, as if he wasn't secretly plotting on murdering Starscream and his mate. He slowly stood up, taking a moment to hold his abdomen. Breakdown reached over to try and help him, only to be shoved away. Knock Out took Wildbreak's servo and followed the mech.
Breakdown vented a sigh, then gestured for Starscream to follow the homicidal speedster. The Seeker did so, holding Fracture so tightly, knowing he was going to be saying goodbye soon.
They walked down a couple of hallways, passing many other creators and their sparklings before they finally arrived at the classroom.
"This is his classroom, and his teacher is Chevron." The mech gestured to the other mech that was in the classroom helping students.
Starscream noticed that every student was a grounder. He bit his lower lip plate, beginning to realize that he hadn't seen any fliers. Of course, Knock Out would put his son in a grounder school.
"Ready for your first orbital cycle of school Fracture?" Knock Out smiled, again speaking in that sweet tone of his.
Fracture nervously looked around, then shook his helm.
"It's okay, Fracture. You'll be great in school." Starscream smiled at him.
"I want carrier." Fracture said softly.
"I'm your carrier."
"I want carrier!" He reached out for Knock Out.
Starscream swallowed. He squeezed Fracture one last time and gave him a kiss on the cheekplates. He then handed him to Knock Out, noticing the sly smirk on his faceplates. If they weren't in public he would claw that smirk right off those stupid faceplates.
"Hey, sweetspark." Knock Out held Fracture, speaking in such a loving tone. "You're going to have so much fun! I loved school so much I did extra school. So much extra school! That's why I am now a doctor. You're going to have fun, and do amazing, and make so many friends."
"I don't want to make friends. I want to stay with you!" He clung to Knock Out.
"I wish you could stay with me, too. But carrier has to work, anyway. I'll see you again in a few joors." Knock Out kissed in on the cheekplates. "My handsome, mechling. Carrier loves you!"
"I love you, too!" Fracture proclaimed, kissing Knock Out on his cheekplates.
Knock Out carefully set him down, having to place a servo on the wall for balance due to the carrying.
"Here's your bag, sweetie." Knock Out handed it to him, then turned him around and gave him a gentle push.
Fracture looked back, coolant pooling in his optics. He couldn't do it. He turned back around, crying as he hugged Knock Out's leg.
Wildbreak saw Fracture crying and began to cry himself. Knock Out exhaled loudly.
"Hey," Breakdown crouched. "After school I'll take you out to get a treat. Sound good?"
Fracture wiped at his optics and nodded.
"Just for you." Knock Out grunted. "Your sire doesn't need any more sweets."
Breakdown gave him a look as if to say, "uncalled for."
Fracture took his bag, hesitated, and walked into the classroom. Knock Out watched him as he got settled, then turned to Breakdown.
"I'm going to work. I'll see you tonight." He grunted, beginning to walk away.
"I hope you don't treat any of your patients with the same care you have to me all morning." Breakdown grunted.
Knock Out looked back at him with a glare that would have instantly murdered any being lesser than Breakdown. The speedster then gave the same evil glare at Starscream before stomping off.
"Well," Breakdown picked up Wildbreak. "I will probably recharge in another room tonight." He turned to Starscream. "I will call you for the next visitation."
Starscream's wings perked. "When will that be?"
"Well, if Knock Out doesn't murder me, I'm thinking within an orn. Send me your schedule."
"I will. Thank you."
"Only doing this because you're the carrier." Breakdown grunted. "Still waiting for that apology."
He then walked away with Wildbreak, tossing him up in the air, something that normally gets him yelled at by Knock Out, but he wasn't around now.
Starscream peeked back through the door and saw Fracture already talking to another sparkling. He was giggling, sitting on his little chair, and already coloring on a datapad. The Seeker vented a sigh. He would be alright. He was a good sparkling. He'll be fine in school.
Starscream managed to pull himself away and left the school, anxious about when he'd see his son next.
Knock Out having the miscarriage was my idea. Originally, my friend wanted not only that Starscream never lost Fracture, but also he worked as a stripper. But I told her it would be more interesting if he had a normal job (as no one would give him custody if he had a sex related job) and the main drama was between Starscream and Knock Out.
The miscarriage will play a big role as you keep reading. Miscarriages are really hard. Unborn babies are alive, and losing your baby is not easy. Females of any species that experience them do suffer depression, hormone imbalances, and feelings of regret and self hate. And to be told your baby didn't matter (like what abortionists do) or that your baby was killed because you deserve it is just cruel. So, yeah, Knock Out HATES Starscream right now.
My friend really liked how I had Starscream crash through the windows. Honestly, every Starscream would. They are a chaotic species of gremlin.
Soundwave, every version of him, also always becomes a cat rescuer of sorts. Let the man have his kittens!
Y'all enjoying the hostility between the now former best friends? XD