A couple of orbital cycles later Starscream found himself flying over to Fracture's school. He transformed and waited, wings perking when finally he saw the large form of Breakdown walking out of the school. Beside him, Fracture skipped along, blabbering away. Wildbreak held Fracture's servo, the two so happy to see each other after being apart all orbital cycle.
"Hey, Fracture." Starscream greeted, stepping in their path.
Fracture hesitated, not sure what to do or say.
"Hi!" Wildbreak waved with his free servo.
"Hi…" Fracture said slowly.
"Next time, give me a call so I know to expect you." Breakdown grunted.
"Sorry, I just-" Starscream lowered his wings.
"It's fine, I just rather be prepared." He then turned to Fracture. "It's okay. You can go say hi."
Fracture didn't budge, but Wildbreak was there.
"Come on!" He pulled his adopted brother over. Without any hesitation, Wildbreak went straight for a hug from Starscream, smiling so proud of himself.
Fracture wasn't sure. Starscream gently pulled him over and hugged him, having both of the mechlings in his arms.
"I missed you." Starscream said softly to his son.
Fracture didn't hug back, but Wildbreak did. Starscream swallowed. At least for now he had him in his arms.
"How often is he there?!"
Breakdown vented a sigh. "He's there every orbital cycle. Sweetie, it's not a big deal."
"It IS a big deal." Knock Out snapped, putting away energon cubes with a bit more force than was needed.
"Fracture is still his son. He has every right to visit him for a few breems an orbital cycle."
"The court took away those rights."
"Temporarily. He's not entirely removed."
"I don't want him around my sparkling." Knock Out turned to his mate, his optics livid.
Breakdown started to reach for Knock Out's hips, but the speedster pushed them away. Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates tiredly.
"Is the sparkling making you this grumpy...?"
Knock Out just glared at him, then resumed putting away clean glasses and other dishes. Breakdown approached from behind, pressing his crotch against Knock Out's aft, and then slowly snaking his arms around to hug him. He didn't expect to be elbowed so hard into his chassis, and then have Knock Out spin around and forcefully shove him away.
"What is your problem?" Breakdown threw his servos up. "Am I not allowed to show affection to my Conjunx Endura?"
"I am not in the mood." Knock Out snapped.
"Please… Can't I hold you…?"
"Not. In. The. Mood." Knock Out growled.
"Can I at least kiss you?"
Knock Out turned away and resumed his work.
"I get you're angry with Starscream and what he said, but treating me like this is ridiculous."
"Oh, I'm not 'angry' with what he said. I'm livid. I'm fragging FURIOUS!" Knock Out glared at him.
"Yeah, I'm mad, too. But I'm not taking my anger out on you." Breakdown narrowed his optics.
"He mocked my son's death!"
"OUR son. That sparkling is just as much mine as he is yours." Breakdown jabbed a digit at the smaller mech.
"He meant more to me."
"How could you say that?! Are you implying I don't love our sons as much as you?!"
"I carried him!"
"Yes, but I still loved him!"
"You let that thing follow you around!"
"Starscream has every right to see Fracture!"
"HE HAS NO RIGHT TO ANY SPARKLING AFTER WHAT HE SAID!" Coolant was pooling in Knock Out's optics now. "DO MY FEELINGS MEAN NOTHING?!"
"OH MY GOD, KNOCK OUT!" Breakdown threw his arms up. "Your feelings are all I give a damn about! I have been by your side for all of the war! I have held you through everything!"
"But you won't side with me on this ONE THING!"
"BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DENY HIM SEEING HIS OWN SON!"
"HE LOST EVERY RIGHT TO THAT SPARKLING THE MOMENT HE TOOK HIM TO MEGATRON!"
"HE LOST CUSTODY, NOT VISITATION!"
"HE ATTACKED ME AND MOCKED MY SON'S DEATH!"
"HE'S AN AFT! NO ONE IS DENYING THAT! WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH A BRAT?!"
Knock Out punched at Breakdown, but the larger mech caught the fist and tightly held his wrist. Knock Out tried striking him with the other servo, but Breakdown grabbed that wrist as well. Without any difficulty, he pulled Knock Out over, glaring at him. Knock Out struggled, coolant pouring from his optics, but he couldn't get out of the iron grasp that held his wrists. He tried kicking, but Breakdown twisted his wrists, making him quickly stop.
"You do not take your anger out on me." Breakdown sternly snapped, a tone he never used on his mate. "You will not strike me, you will not treat me like this. Understand? I am your Conjunx Endura, not a punching bag." He paused. "Understood?!"
Knock Out quickly nodded, beginning to cry now as he lost control of his emotions. Breakdown released him and watched as his mate collapsed on the floor, covering his faceplates as he cried. Breakdown vented a sigh, rubbing over his faceplates. He then crouched, and lifted Knock Out's chin so the speedster would look at him.
"I know you're hurting so much, my love." He said it in his usual calm, loving vocalizer. "I know I don't know the pain you're going through as I wasn't the one who carried him… But you cannot treat me like this. We're a team. You're my best friend, and I don't want to ever be mad at you. Hey, the orbital cycle I joined with you is the best orbital cycle of my life. I love you so much. I still can't believe you're mine."
Knock Out was wiping his optics, calming down some, but still didn't say anything.
"You can't hit me or push me away like this. Talk to me. If you have to hit something, please go punch the wall, or the couch, or anything that isn't me." He then looked at Knock Out's wrists. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No…"
"Get off the floor. You're too pretty to be down there." He took Knock Out's servos and helped him stand. Then he kissed him on the lip plates. "Why don't you go rest? I got things here."
"I'm fine."
"You're five decacycles carrying. You need to rest. We'll talk more about this after you have rested."
Knock Out walked away, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince Breakdown otherwise. The mechlings watched him go up the stairs, not sure what had just happened.
"Is carrier okay?" Fracture inquired.
"Carrier is just having mood swings because of the sparkling." Breakdown explained. "Sometimes, when you have a sparkling in your tummy it makes you very grouchy. So, you yell and even hit people. Nothing to worry about, sweetspark." He smiled at him.
Fracture wasn't convinced.
"I'm going to hug carrier!" Wildbreak announced as he ran up the stairs to do just that.
Starscream approached the park bench slowly, his wings perking, then lowering.
"Hey." He greeted.
Knock Out glared only death at him, looking like if he wasn't heavily sparked he would lunge at the Seeker and tear out his optics.
Starscream quickly backed away and made his way to Breakdown who was standing by the jungle gym where the sparklings were playing.
"I'm here." He announced.
"'Sup." Breakdown gave a head nod. "Fracture, Starscream is here."
Fracture looked up from where he was standing, getting ready to go down the slide. Wildbreak was preparing to try out the monkey bars. The older mechling sat down and went down the slide, landing on the dirt below. He giggled, having so much fun playing outside.
Starscream walked over, picked him up, and hugged him tightly, his wings fluttering some. He kissed Fracture on the cheekplates, ignoring the face the sparkling made. He shouldn't have, but he allowed himself to glance over at that bench, seeing that angry speedster sitting there, arms crossed. So much rage in someone so small.
"Sire, help me!" Wildbreak screamed, nervous about how high up he was.
"I'm coming." Breakdown trotted over to him.
"How have you been?" Starscream asked his son, his engine purring from how happy he was to be with him.
"Fine." Fracture shrugged.
"Anything interesting happening?"
Fracture shrugged. "Carrier and Sire were yelling at each other yesterday."
"Oh? What were they arguing about?"
Fracture shrugged again. "Carrier was crying a lot."
"Good." Starscream hugged him tighter. "I love you."
"I wanna play on the swings."
"Oh, okay, I'll push you." Starscream said as he set Fracture down. He once again dared to glance over. Yup, Knock Out was still there, looking as jovial as ever.
Fracture quickly climbed onto a swing, and Starscream got behind him, gently pushing him. He smiled when Fracture began to laugh, enjoying this time with his son. Too bad that aft Knock Out was ruining the nice orbital cycle with his bitterness.
Starscream sat in his apartment, reading from a datapad. He was feeling good. He saw Fracture almost every orbital cycle after school and had a few nice meetings with him at the park, despite how obvious Knock Out wanted him dead. And now Prime was talking more about the hearing for his visitation rights.
Yes, things were starting to finally look up for him!
His wings perked when there was a knock on the door. He checked his comm link, but no missed calls from Breakdown, or from Prime. If it wasn't Breakdown or Prime… Who could it be?
He set aside the datapad and approached the door. He hesitated, then opened it.
He wished he didn't.
"Starscream," Megatron smiled, stepping inside without invite. "I was wondering where you had gone. And what a horrendous paintjob you gave yourself."
Starscream narrowed his optics. "You're not supposed to be here."
"I can be wherever I wish to be, Starscream." Megatron then turned and began to walk around the apartment. "Not bad. Could use some more furnishings."
Starscream closed the door, knowing that the brute wouldn't be leaving right away. "I am saving my Shanix."
"On what? What do you have going on?"
"I have a son. Remember? The one you put in me?"
Megatron just smirked, noticing the pictures of Fracture on the wall. Some had been taken by Starscream, others had been sent to him by Breakdown. "He looks to be doing well. Growing very quickly." He then tapped a picture of Knock Out holding Fracture, only Knock Out's optics had been burned out with a torch. "I'm guessing you and Knock Out are no longer together."
"My relationship with others is of no consequence to you." Starscream crossed his arms.
Megatron just smirked, noticing how bitter the Seeker sounded. He then walked into the berthroom, looking around. "Not bad." He pressed his claws onto the berth, testing how it felt. "You certainly haven't broken anything in."
Starscream flicked his wings. "Please, leave."
"Not yet." Megatron approached him. "You know why I'm here."
"I'm not fragging you, Megatron."
Megatron chuckled at that. "Do you really think you have a say?"
Starscream swallowed, his wings lowering. "Please, leave."
Megatron approached him, placing his servos on Starscream's shoulders, and then pushing him towards the berth.
"Please, leave." Starscream said softer.
Megatron pushed him onto the berth.
"Please… Don't…"
Megatron got behind him, his servos all over the Seeker's body.
Starscream froze. He wanted to fight back, but he wouldn't win against Megatron. And he couldn't risk being injured when he saw Fracture tomorrow. Knock Out would know who did it and would say something. He wasn't going to lose his son.
"Please…" He whispered, feeling his codpiece forced open. "Just leave."
He winced when Megatron forced himself inside, and coolant filled his optics when Megatron began to thrust. He grasped the berth, his optics offlining. He just needed to behave. Megatron would have his fun, then leave, and that would be it. No one would know that the tyrant had been here.
Just behave. That's all he needed to do.
Starscream approached the house, his wings lowering. Breakdown had called and told him to come here instead of the park. He pressed the call button and waited.
Breakdown soon opened the door.
"Hey," He smirked. "Come in."
Starscream hesitated but did so. He made sure to walk as normally as possible, despite how sore he was between his legs. "Where's Fracture?"
"He's upstairs." Breakdown gestured for him to follow.
Starscream did so and followed the truck all the way to the door to his and Knock Out's room. Breakdown slowly opened the door and walked in. Starscream stayed in the doorway, perking his wings.
Knock Out was recharging on the berth, next to him was a tiny sparkling, mere joors old, wrapped in a blanket. Wildbreak was passed out beside his carrier, and Fracture recharging next to him.
Breakdown quietly began to pick up Fracture, being careful not to online anyone. But Knock Out's optics dimply lit, clearly low on energon and weak.
"Wwhat...?" He groggily inquired.
"It's just me, love. Go back to recharge." Breakdown kissed him.
Knock Out faintly smiled, his optics drifting until they saw Starscream. They began to narrow, but his systems were too exhausted, and they quickly shut off as he drifted back into recharge. Breakdown quietly stepped out of the room carrying Fracture and closed the door.
"Knock Out gave birth this morning." Breakdown explained, his smile so large. "We were at the hospital almost all night. The mechlings insisted on coming with us instead of going to their sitter. Fracture was so brave. He was there for Knock Out the whole time. You should be proud of him. They stayed up the entire night until their brother was born." He then gestured to the still recharging Fracture. "Been passed out ever since."
Starscream gently took Fracture from him.
"H-how was the birth?"
"A little difficult. He tried to do it naturally again. Almost did it, but he started to lose too much energon and the doctor called it off. The sparkling turned, they almost had to do a C-section, but thankfully they got the sparkling turned around and it was all good. He's exhausted, but he's fine. Had to be on an energon drip for a couple of joors. Dead End is a good weight and no health concerns."
Starscream nodded. "That's good. Congrats."
Breakdown dumbly smiled. "Thank you! I'm so happy."
"Hopefully Knock Out will be in a better mood now."
"I don't think he will, but maybe he'll be less volatile."
Starscream slowly nodded, then turned and walked down the stairs with Fracture. He sat on the couch and held him on his lap. Fracture curled into his chassis, still recharging so peacefully. Starscream took the time to study his faceplates, noting everything he got from him… And everything he got from his sire.
"Mmmm," Fracture groaned as he began to online. "Carrier...?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Fracture gave him a confused look, then looked around. "Where's carrier?"
Starscream's wings lowered. "I'm your carrier."
"No, carrier has my sparkling brother."
"He's upstairs." Starscream swallowed. "You know you have two carriers, right? Him and me."
"Carrier was sick." Fracture continued like Starscream said nothing. "He gave birth. My brother came out of him! It was gross." He then giggled. "Carrier said bad words."
Starscream hugged him closely. He had him. That was all that mattered.
Four Decacycles Later:
"Please, don't!"
Starscream was shoved onto his berth hard. He started to try and get off, but Megatron was upon him. Starscream weakly struggled against the brute, but the much larger being easily overpowered him. Coolant leaked from the Seeker's optics as he looked up into those uncaring optics. He whimpered when Megatron entered him, and grabbed the wrist of the servo that grasped his neck, pinning him down.
All he could do was softly cry as he looked into those optics.
"Everyone is recharging." Breakdown smiled as he entered the berthroom.
"Good." Knock Out looked up at him from the closet. "What are you thinking about?" He held up a large dildo.
"For me or you?"
"Well," Knock Out tossed it back into the drawer. "I actually feel like you should be the big dog tonight."
"Oh?" Breakdown approached his mate from behind and placed his servos on the speedster's hips.
"I think I've been kind of an aft to you."
"Understatement of the vorn, but continue."
"You should totally make me respect you again." Knock Out reached up, poking his index digit at Breakdown's faceplates.
"Oh, you're feeling like that, tonight?"
Knock Out smiled as he nodded his helm, still looking up at the larger mech.
"In that case… Yes, you need to learn to respect your mate." He then reached over into the drawer and pulled out a paddle. "I think this might do the trick."
"You're evil." Knock Out feigned shock. "On my beautiful aft?"
"And those beautiful thighs. Should I use anything else on you?"
"Nothing that will online the sparklings."
"Nah, this won't online them. So long as you stay quiet."
"I'm so able to stay quiet. They have the fans on, anyway. They won't hear a thing."
"Don't underestimate how loud I'll make you scream." Breakdown playfully growled into Knock Out's audio receptor.
Knock Out bit his lower lip plate, his engine humming. "Mmm, make me beg, big guy."
"Grab that dildo again."
Knock Out did so, and Breakdown grasped the speedster's wrist. He pulled him out of the berthroom and down the stairs, making sure they would be far away enough from the recharging sparklings as to not online them.
Breakdown led Knock Out to the couch, turned around, and kissed him on the lip plates. Knock Out kissed back, his engine purring, and a ped rising up behind him.
"I love you so much." Breakdown smirked. "But you were so mean to me."
"I know."
"Oh, you're about to know." He sat down and yanked Knock Out over, eliciting a startled squeak from him.
As if he weighed nothing at all, Breakdown moved Knock Out over his lap, and made him lie so his aft was in perfect striking range. He grasped Knock Out's wrists and pinned them against his back with a single servo.
"Safe word is 'Polyhex.'" He said as he began to rub over Knock Out's aft and thighs.
"No, I don't like Polyhex. Nothing but weirdos from there."
"That's why it's the safe word." He began to pat his mate's aft and thighs, preparing him.
"You pick stupid safe words."
"Well, maybe you won't say it and I'll make you really scream tonight."
"Don't damage my beautiful frame."
"There will be significant damage to this part of your frame." He gave Knock Out's aft a hard smack.
"Mmm!" Knock Out winced. "I'm beginning to regret this."
"Gonna say the safe word?"
"Ew, gross, no."
"Okay, then shut up."
"Rude!"
Breakdown smiled, thinking how lucky he was that he, and only he, got to do this to this wonderful mech. His beautiful, wonderful Knock Out, and that beautiful, wonderful aft… Now, it was time to beat on that aft. Literally.
He raised his servo and began to smack Knock Out's aft hard.
"Mmmmmrrrgh!" Knock Out struggled, but his wrists were held tightly by Breakdown's servo. He wasn't freeing them at all. He kicked his legs some, but he was held firmly in place. "You're a fat bully! Ow! Ugh, I hate you! Ow! Why do you have to- ow! Be so cruel to me!"
"I'm barely hitting you. Want me to hit harder?"
"I'm going to say no, but I really mean yes. No!"
"Okay." Breakdown began to hit him harder and faster.
"Ow! Nrrrgh!" He kept struggling, but Breakdown's grip was not loosening.
Breakdown mercilessly slapped his aft and thighs, giving him about forty hard smacks before grabbing the paddle.
"Ready for phase two?"
"Have mercy, I beg you!" Knock Out looked back at him.
"Take back calling me a 'fat bully.'"
"Oh my gosh, no. You're a fat bully who is being a bully… And fat."
"Okay, look ahead, and stop kicking."
Knock Out did so, still trying to get his wrists free, but they weren't making any progress. Breakdown waited until he had settled down before pressing the paddle against that aft he loved so much.
"Such a shame… It was really beautiful." He vented a sigh. "Okay, time to destroy it!"
"Ow!" Knock Out yelped when the first hard strike from the paddle landed cruelly on his aft, quickly followed by many more brutal ones.
He kicked, he struggled, but nothing stopped the beating his aft and thighs were receiving. Breakdown smiled, enjoying this all too much. Only he got to do this, after all. And he could brag about it to everyone.
"You're such a bad, mech. You deserve every last strike. Naughty, mech." Breakdown said, never ceasing.
Knock Out buried his face into the couch, yelling from the pain and cursing his mate, making sure he wouldn't online anyone despite how loud he was shouting. Breakdown ignored the kicking peds and muffled screams to keep hitting that aft with his paddle, thinking about if he should frag Knock Out against the couch, or maybe the table once he was done here.
"Why are you hitting carrier?"
Breakdown froze, looking up with wide optics. Knock Out noticed the beating had ceased and raised his own helm, only for his optics to also widen.
Fracture looked very concerned as his optics darted from the paddle to Knock Out, then to Breakdown.
"Hey, sweetie." Knock Out quickly smiled. "W-why are you online?"
"I wanted energon." Fracture wrung his servos.
"Oh, why don't I help you with that?" He finally got his servos free now since Breakdown loosened his grip, and quickly got off Breakdown's lap. He took a moment to rub over his rear end as he approached Fracture. "What kind of energon do you want?"
"Blue…" Fracture followed him, glancing back at Breakdown.
"Alrighty! Let's see." Knock Out opened a cupboard and grabbed the requested energon. He poured it into a glass and handed that to Fracture. "Does my sweet sparkling need anything else?" He smiled, wishing Fracture would just go back to berth.
Fracture looked at the energon, then Knock Out. He stepped closer to Knock Out. "Is everything okay?" He whispered, very concerned.
"Everything is fine, sweetspark. Why don't you go to berth and keep that fan on the loudest setting? Hmm?" He felt like he was about to burst with how much he just wanted to drag Fracture to his room, lock him in there, and go back to Breakdown.
"Why was sire hitting you?" Fracture whispered again.
Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, then crouched down. "Carrier and sire are playing a game."
"Hitting isn't a game."
"It's an adult game."
"It doesn't seem fun."
"The fun part is coming."
"Blink twice if you're in trouble."
"What? Where did you learn that?"
"Saw it in a movie."
"I'm not in trouble, sweetie. I asked sire to hit me."
"Why?"
"It's a grownup thing. You'll understand when you're older."
"I want to understand now."
"That is a very long conversation I am not ready to give right now."
Fracture gave him a confused look. "Do you need me to protect you?"
Knock Out placed a servo over his chest. "That is so sweet. I love you so much. But no. Sire is being a good mech. Now, run along." He stood and turned Fracture around before gently pushing him.
Fracture began to walk, holding his glass with both servos. Knock Out led him to the bottom of the stairs, and then nudged him to go up.
"Go back to recharge. Forget everything you saw tonight. I love you!"
Fracture gave him a look, then glanced over at Breakdown who seemed frustrated. He looked back at Knock Out before slowly scaling the stairs. Knock Out waited until he heard the door close before venting a sigh.
"Thought he'd never leave." He moaned as he climbed over the back of the couch.
"Poor guy… He's going to be so traumatized when he thinks back on this night ten stellar cycles from now."
Knock Out gave his mate a look. "So long as none of them walk in when we're actually fragging… Foreplay is less traumatizing."
"Mhmm," Breakdown grabbed him and pulled him back into position, grabbing those thin wrists once more. "Well, due to the interruption, I have to start back from the beginning."
"Wait, what?"
"I lost count."
"You weren't even counting to begin with!"
"That's why I lost place."
"You are so evil." Knock Out groaned.
"Just wait until I'm done and am inside of you." He smiled, holding up the paddle.
"Mmmm, I look forward to-OW!"
Knock Out buried his face once more as Breakdown resumed beating his aft hard with the paddle.
A Decacycle Later:
Starscream inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly as he stood in front of the door to the courtroom. The time for the next hearing had finally arrived, and he was so anxious. He swallowed, then palmed open the door and entered.
Knock Out was there with Breakdown and all three mechlings. Dead End was sitting on his carrier's lap, chewing on some toy. The older mechlings were busy playing on a datapad between themselves, and Breakdown was saying something to his mate while a ped resting on his knee and an arm over the back of Knock Out's chair. They looked like a happy family all together.
Starscream flicked his wings. His son didn't belong in that family. That was his son.
Knock Out saw the Seeker, his optics instantly narrowing and looking so murderous. He held his youngest sparkling close, as if the Seeker would snatch him away.
Starscream sat on the defendant's side, his wings lowering. No one was on his side.
Soon, Optimus Prime entered the court room, more guards taking positions in the room as well. As if anyone here would bother attacking the Autobot leader…
The Prime sat at the judge's desk, setting aside his datapads. He then addressed the room.
"Good morning, everyone. If everyone is here, then let's begin." He looked over the gathered mechs. "This hearing is for visitation rights. Seeker Starscream of Vos is requesting visitation rights for his son, Fracture of Iacon. And Speedster Knock Out of Navitas, Velocitron and Truck Breakdown of Delta, Velocitron, are requesting he not be given this right, correct?"
"That is correct." Knock Out replied.
"Alright. Knock Out, I'll let you begin."
Knock Out handed Breakdown Dead End before he stood. "Your honor, Starscream is not capable of caring for Fracture. He also is not safe to even allow regular visits. Starscream refuses to stay away from Megatron. Megatron has already attacked Fracture once. Should Fracture be allowed to go with Starscream anywhere, his life is in danger. For Fracture's own safety, he must remain with me and not be allowed to go with Starscream anywhere."
"Starscream, do you have anything to add?" The Prime questioned.
Starscream stood up, being careful not to show he was in any pain from Megatron fragging him last night. "Yes, Prime. I have not seen Megatron since that night when I made the mistake of taking Fracture over for a visit. I've done everything asked of me. I got a job, I got an apartment in the nice side of town. I got a mental evaluation and have seen a therapist. I have been working on myself and will never see Megatron ever again. My son is safe with me."
"You can't even afford his school or energon." Knock Out snapped.
"You don't know what I can afford." Starscream glared back at him. "I can take care of my son."
"What is your job? Whoring yourself out?"
"Knock Out, don't make me hold you in contempt of court." Prime said sternly.
"I apologize, your honor." Knock Out held his servos up, sounding so innocent, but Starscream knew better.
"I have given my work info to Prime. He knows where I work and where I live."
"So why can't you share that with me?" Knock Out raised an optical ridge, a servo resting on his hip.
"I am not at liberty to share private information with you."
"And yet you know where I live and where I work." Knock Out smiled, but it was a cruel smile, like he was some villain toying with his prey.
Breakdown looked like he wanted to die.
"Knock Out," Prime interrupted. "Besides Megatron and financial liability… What other concerns do you have?"
"Starscream is prone to violence." Knock Out explained, ignore the glare Starscream sent him. "He attacked me twice, as was discussed in the first hearing. He always would attack vehicons and other soldiers of the Decepticon army should they annoy him or brought him unfavorable news. He even would harm me to punish me if I had upset him. I am concerned that should he be left alone with Fracture he would harm him out of anger. Fracture is a mechling, and like all sparklings, he can be rowdy, loud, and be annoying. Starscream does not have the patience required to raise a sparkling with love and kindness."
"I would never strike my son." Starscream flicked his wings.
"But you'd take him to Megatron to be struck instead." Knock Out coldly glared at him.
"I don't see Megatron anymore!"
"Fracture doesn't even like you."
Starscream clenched his servos into fists. "I'd like to hear him say that. Fracture, what is it like living with Knock Out?"
"You're not putting him on the stand."
"No, I would like to hear what Fracture has to say." Prime replied. "Fracture, would you like to come up here and tell me some things?"
Fracture looked at Prime, then at Knock Out. Knock Out shook his helm, but Breakdown nodded.
"Go up there and tell everyone what's it's like at home." Breakdown smiled. "Don't be shy. Just tell the truth."
Fracture nodded. He slid off the pew, paused, then grabbed Wildbreak's servo and pulled him along. The two mechlings walked up the dais and climbed onto the witness chair as a guard gestured for them to do.
Knock Out sat back down, arms crossed, only sparing another disdainful glare at Starscream. Starscream also sat down, his wings perking as he tried to ignore the speedster.
"Fracture," The Prime spoke as he turned to the little ones. "How is life with Knock Out and Breakdown?"
Wildbreak whispered in Fracture's audio receptor, then hugged him for support.
"Well," Fracture said slowly, hugging his brother back, looking down at his peds. "Sire and carrier kiss a lot. It's gross." He said it so factually. "Sire is always saying how much he loves carrier. He gets us lots of things! Toys and games and takes us to the park!"
"Does your sire or carrier ever hit you?" Prime asked.
Fracture shook his helm. "No, they never hit us… But sire hits carrier."
Knock Out's optics widened.
"I'm sorry. Your sire hits your carrier?" Prime repeated.
"Yeah." Fracture nodded. "He hits him with… With a thing really hard."
"Where does he hit him?"
"The aft. And he keeps telling carrier he's 'bad' and asking if he likes it."
Knock Out covered his faceplates and began to slowly sink off the chair and under the desk before him. Breakdown couldn't help but smirk with a face filled with some pride that it was him smacking that aft. Yes, everyone be jealous of him!
Prime vented loudly, pinching the bridge of his olfactory sensor. "When did you see this…?"
Fracture shrugged. "I got up to get energon and sire was on the couch hitting carrier. I asked carrier if he was in danger but he said no. He said adults do that. I don't believe him." He then leaned closer to the Prime and whispered. "Is sire going to jail?"
Knock Out was halfway under the desk by now.
"No, he's not. Anything else you see them do to each other or to you?"
"They sometimes yell at each other. Really loud."
"What are they yelling about?"
"Him." Fracture pointed at Starscream.
"What about him?"
Fracture shrugged.
"Carrier makes funny sounds!" Wildbreak suddenly piped up. "I hear-I hear carrier saying 'uh uh uh' real loud!" He threw his arms up for emphasis.
"Yes!" Fracture exclaimed. "Carrier makes lots of noise! Sometimes when we're in berth, and not recharging like he told us to, we hear-" He then slapped his servo against the arm rest so the metal of his hand and the chair made a loud clang clang clang sound. "From carrier's room and he's going 'uh uh uh!'"
"No, it's more like, 'oh oh huh, uhhhhhhhhh!" Wildbreak proclaimed.
"Yeah, and sire makes sounds too! He says 'arrrrrrrrrrrrbbghh!'"
Prime just rubbed over his faceplates slowly. Knock Out was completely hidden under the table. Breakdown was guffawing, slapping his knee heartily. Starscream couldn't help but laugh, trying to hold it in.
"Sometimes carrier is loud in the morning." Wildbreak continued.
"Yeah, and sire makes really big breakfast when carrier is loud in the morning."
"But your sire and carrier never hit you or yell at you?" Prime tried to bring the focus back to the subject at servo.
"No." Fracture shook his helm. "Only each other."
"Carrier calls sire fat." Wildbreak added.
"Yeah, he does." Fracture agreed.
Wildbreak giggled. "Sire is fat."
Fracture giggled too. "He is."
They both giggled, looking at each other like they were the funniest people ever.
"Knock Out clearly isn't doing enough to keep them from seeing or hearing him engage in interface." Starscream spoke up. "What makes him better qualified than me who is currently single and abstinent? "
"At least we try to make sure they don't see anything." Breakdown grunted.
"We don't know that. My son clearly saw you being kinky with Knock Out in the living room. Who's to say you didn't do that on purpose? Or won't purposefully expose him to more of your weird grounder fetishes?"
"You are into far worse BDSM." Knock Out spoke up, rising from under the desk to sit back next to his mate, but still clearly embarrassed. "I may be fine with some light paddling-"
Breakdown snorted. "I wasn't going light on him, your honor!"
"Shut up!" Knock Out shoved at his mate who was laughing. He turned back to Starscream. "You're into extreme slag, Starscream. Whips, chains, cables, gang bangs…"
"I have never had interface with more than one at once." Starscream glared at him.
"Neither have I." Knock Out snapped.
"I'm not into the things you think I'm into. And even if I was, I still would never expose my son to that."
"I doubt that. He heard you and Megatron."
"He hears you and Breakdown!"
"At least I try to cover it up!"
"So would I!"
"What, between how many mechs walking in?"
"I am not some harlot, Knock Out!"
"How many mechs have you recharged with?" Knock Out crossed his arms. "Surely more than forty."
"Excuse me?! I only have been with a handful of mechs throughout my entire life!"
"And I've only been with one."
Breakdown made a face. "That's not true. You had more than one mech friend before we started dating. There was Tapout, Crusher, Fusion, that two-wheeler with the weird helm crest…. Who was the guy you snorted circuit boosters with in med school?"
Knock Out slowly turned to face his mate, his optics filled with unholy rage and some horror that Breakdown brought this up. His claws scraped loudly across the desktop, tearing into it.
Breakdown's smile was instantly gone. He quickly looked away, hoping if he didn't speak or look, it wouldn't tear his head off.
"You did circuit boosters in med school?" Starscream snickered. "No wonder you're not a very good doctor."
Knock Out glared death at the Seeker.
"We're getting off track." Prime sighed. "Knock Out and Breakdown seem perfectly capable of raising Fracture and are not abusing the sparklings in their care. And Starscream has done everything I asked him to do and is working on bettering himself. I think it will be safe for Fracture to have regular supervised visitations with Starscream. I am ruling for a minimum of two visitations each orn. Fracture will not be allowed to spend the night at Starscream's, for now. If Starscream is denied his visits, he is to bring it up with me and I will deal with it personally." He gave Knock Out a stern look.
Knock Out slowly nodded. "Understood, Prime."
"I will now dismiss the court room. Unless there is anything else?"
"Will I be able to have a hearing for more time with Fracture? Or partial custody?" Starscream perked his wings.
"Yes. I will set up a meeting with you and we will discuss that further."
"Thank you, Prime." Starscream smiled, a genuine smile.
"Dismissed." Prime banged the gavel, then stood.
"Boys, come here." Knock Out called to Fracture and Wildbreak.
They quickly ran over to the speedster, Wildbreak grabbing Knock Out's free servo as he held Dead End in the other arm. Fracture held onto Wildbreak's other servo.
Knock Out only spared a disgusted and furious glare at Starscream before walking away with his little train.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you." Breakdown said quickly, following after his mate.
"You will be recharging on the couch for the foreseeable future." Knock Out snapped coldly, not even looking back at him. "Don't ever ask for interface ever again."
Breakdown vented a sigh. "At least it's on the record I did so much to your aft."
"You're recharging outside."
Breakdown rubbed over his faceplates.
Starscream watched them leave, then got up and walked out himself. He looked at his schedule, planning when he would schedule his visitation with his son. Now, Knock Out can never tell him no again.
Starscream approached the front door, his wings perking. He was surprised that Knock Out wanted him to do the visitation at his house, but so long as he got to see his son he didn't care where the visitation happened.
"Evening." Breakdown greeted, letting the Seeker inside. "Fracture is in his room."
"Thank you, Breakdown." Starscream nodded at him, then began his way to the stairs.
He noted that there was a pillow on the couch. Knock Out was indeed making his mate recharge there. He climbed the stairs, wings lowering when he heard Knock Out's vocalizer coming from his berthroom. He peeked and could see that the speedster was lying on his berth, holding Dead End as the little one nursed. Wildbreak was on the berth beside him telling his carrier all about something or other.
Starscream knocked on the door to Fracture's room, swallowing when he noticed Knock Out look up at him and could feel those murderous optics boring into his very being. He quickly palmed the door open and walked in.
"Hey," His wings perked, approaching his son, and then sitting on the berth beside him. "What are you up to?"
Fracture didn't put down the game he was playing on his tablet. "Just playing."
"What is it?"
"It's Darkness. You have to fight these organic monsters who have taken over the world."
"Sounds intense."
"It is."
"You know, I once fought organics. Lots of them."
"Yeah, Carrier and sire said they were in a big war and killed organics."
"Yes, I was in the same war. In fact, I was Knock Out's commanding officer. I bossed him around."
Fracture gave him a disbelieving look. "Carrier is the boss. He bosses sire around all the time."
"That may be true in this domestic household, but prior to current life on Cybertron, I was in charge of an entire army."
"I don't believe you."
"Why not? How is that so hard to believe?"
"Because… You're… Not cool."
Starscream flicked his wings. "I am very cool."
"Carrier is cool. He gets to cut people open!"
"I got to cut people open, too. I just never put them back together."
"Uh huh." Fracture turned back to his game.
"If Breakdown said I was the boss of an army would you believe me?"
"Maybe."
Starscream got up and stepped out of the room, quickly checking to make sure Knock Out was still on the berth. He was. The Seeker then walked to the top of the stairs and looked down.
"Hey, Breakdown?"
"Yup?" The truck looked up from where he was cleaning the floor.
"Could you come up here for a moment?"
The truck shrugged. He got up and climbed the stairs. The Seeker led him into Fracture's room.
"Fracture doesn't believe I was once a commanding officer of an entire army, and that you and Knock Out had to take orders from me." The Seeker crossed his arms.
"Oh, yeah, we haven't talked to him much about the war…" Breakdown scratched his nape. "But, yes, Starscream was a commanding officer and did have command over me and your carrier. But he wasn't the top dog. Even he had to follow orders from someone else."
"Yes, but you still had to obey me." Starscream piped up quickly.
"I mean… Yeah, then we did. Now we follow a new chain of command. And your carrier is at the top of it." He gestured to the invisible bar that showed where Knock Out was on this chain of command. "We do as he says, and it keeps him from laying waste to the land."
Fracture giggled. "Carrier is your boss."
"And yours."
Starscream rolled his optics. "I was his boss."
"It's in the past, Starscream. We still remember your role. Yes, sir, no, sir. But we're not in the army anymore."
"Wish we still were…" Starscream grunted.
"I don't. I've never been happier having this house and my sons, and to do it all with my best friend." He grinned broadly.
"Who is making you recharge on the couch…"
"It's temporary. Not the first time he's banished me from our berth."
"What was the first time?"
"I'm not allowed to discuss it."
"Well, anyway," Starscream turned to Fracture. "I was a commander of an army."
"Okay." Fracture shrugged.
"Just okay? Are you not impressed?" Starscream gave him an incredulous look.
"Carrier is still cooler."
"Why is he cooler than me who led armies?!"
"Carrier just is."
"I'm your real carrier. You do know that, right? You were inside of me."
"Nah," Fracture kept playing his game.
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"I've literally seen carrier push my brother out of him. We come from him." Fracture said it like Starscream was an idiot.
"I have documents from the hospital that show I am your carrier."
"Okay…" Fracture just played his game.
"You have two carriers, Fracture." Breakdown spoke. "Starscream is the one you came from and Knock Out is the one raising you."
"Can you please go." Starscream glared at the truck.
Breakdown raised his servos peacefully before leaving. Starscream rubbed over his faceplates tiredly.
"Can I have a hug?"
"Why?"
"Please? I just want a hug."
Fracture sighed loudly as he set down his tablet, then scooted over. Starscream hugged him close, but Fracture didn't hug back.
Starscream held him for a bit before slowly letting him go. He then felt death itself breathing down on his nape. He looked up, seeing Knock Out in the hallway, his optics glowing, his entire body language screaming that he was fighting the urge to not lunge and kill the Seeker. It was like looking at a wild beast that hasn't eaten in orbital cycles, and Starscream was the first prey he had come across.
The speedster was filled with so much raw, unadulterated hatred for the Seeker that Starscream could hear his cooling fans working harder, and hydraulics tightening.
Starscream began to think about what he might be able to use as a weapon should the beast attack. Definitely using a sparkling as a shield was an option.
"Carrier! Come look!" Wildbreak's vocalizer sounded from downstairs.
Knock Out's optics shuttered, and a loud exhale from his vents pierced the uneasy silence, like an angry beast snorting. He then turned and continued on his way.
Starscream didn't realize he had shut off his vents. He opened them, cycling heavily to calm himself. His wings flicked, now angry that his former subordinate would dare intimidate him like that, and actually succeed in making him anxious. Stupid, Knock Out…
"You okay?"
Starscream turned to Fracture. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… Thinking. So, how is school?"
"It's fine."
"Making any friends?"
"Yeah, I have friends."
"What's their designations?"
Fracture shrugged.
"Do they come over?"
"Sometimes."
"What are their frame types? Flyers? Trucks? Speedsters?"
"I don't know."
Starscream vented a sigh.
"If you don't stop squirming, I will beat you." Megatron growled dangerously.
Starscream whimpered. "You're hurting me. Please, don't be so hard." He looked back at the massive mech over him.
"I'll frag you how I please." He snapped, pinning the Seeker's wrists to his back with one servo as the other held the flier's hip.
Starscream winced when the brutal thrusting resumed, being made to lean over the berth, his peds on the floor. He tried to hold still, just wanting this over and not be hurt worse. He had visitation tomorrow and didn't want to miss it. He couldn't risk Megatron beating him, and the injuries be noticed by the trained optics of a medical personal who would report him without hesitation.
That stupid doctor was ready to pounce on anything he could to hurt the Seeker. If only he was the one being raped…
"Come on in." Breakdown gestured for the Seeker to do so.
Starscream walked in, trying to stay as stiff as possible and not let his legs spread apart like they were screaming to do. His valve was so sore still from Megatron fragging him so hard and long last night. He was able to cover up the scrapes and small dents on his back side from being roughly handled, but the pain in his valve was not as easy to ignore.
He felt a cold shiver run down his spinal strut. The jet looked up to see the speedster sitting on the stairs halfway up, watching him closely, his optics narrow, glowing with unholy fury. In his arms was Dead End, giggling and being an adorable sparkling, unaware that the one who held him was thinking thoughts that would make Primus himself horrified.
Starscream looked away, focusing on walking normal as he approached the couch where Fracture and Wildbreak were doing homework. He carefully sat down, making sure his face was turned so Knock Out wouldn't see him wince.
"Hey, Fracture, what are you doing?" The Seeker greeted.
"School." He replied.
"Need help? I'm pretty good with school."
"Sure."
Starscream took the homework and began to read over it, trying to ignore the homicidal doctor watching him still. Didn't he have a T-Cog transplant to perform or something?
"Hey, mechlings, do you want some goodies?" Breakdown called from the energon room.
"Yes!" Wildbreak proclaimed as he jumped up and ran over.
Fracture was right behind him, the two grabbing goodies and all-over what Breakdown was doing.
"Starscream, you want some?"
"Oh, no thank you, Breakdown. I'm fine." Starscream replied.
"You sure? We have plenty. Knock Out is eating less now." He laughed, glancing over at his mate hoping to see a reaction, but the speedster was still glaring at the Seeker.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine."
"Suit yourself." Breakdown continued helping the mechlings.
Starscream tried to continue reading the homework, but he couldn't handle that boring of hate and desire to kill pressing into his backside. He finally looked back, his wings hiking.
"Can I help you, Knock Out?" He snapped.
He heard Knock Out's engine growling ominously, but otherwise the speedster didn't react.
"I know you hate me. I hate you, too. Stop staring at me every time I come over!" He flicked his wings, his own optics narrowing.
Knock Out's jaw tightened, the wheels on his back spinning briefly. Dead End sensed his carrier was pissed off and began to look around for the reason why, but couldn't figure out what it might be.
"If you have something to say, just say it." Starscream grunted. "Is this about the hearing?" He paused, waiting for an answer. "Do you hate me seeing my own son that much?" Another pause, but still nothing. Starscream thought more, his wings flicking. "Is it because I said Primus took your dumb protoform because you stole my son?"
That got the reaction. Knock Out stood, looking like he was about to charge forward and rip Starscream's helm off, but he stopped. Coolant suddenly began to leak from his optics, and he held Dead End closer. He turned and climbed up the stairs, soon followed by the slamming of his berthroom door.
Starscream rolled his optics. Knock Out needed to let things go. It was just a protoform. How could he love it so much when he didn't even have time to get to know it? He didn't even say anything that wasn't true! It was justice. He stole Fracture, and so losing a sparkling was only fair. And Starscream wouldn't change his mind on this.
Ever.
Starscream didn't look up when he heard Breakdown ascend the stairs, and then go into his room. Not his problem. Breakdown needed to control his mate.
"Think you can help?" Fracture inquired as he sat next to his real carrier.
Starscream smiled. "Yes, I can."
Breakdown grinned broadly as he thrust into Knock Out, who was leaning over their berth. He held his mate's hips, watching the back of Knock Out's helm as it bobbed up and down.
"Enjoying this? I'm enjoying it! Mmmm! I love you!"
Knock Out moaned softly from each thrust, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Breakdown noticed.
"Hey, you haven't said anything since I started. You okay? Am I going too fast? Did you want foreplay?" His optics then widened. "I'm not losing my touch, am I? I'm still able to please you, right? Right?!"
"What? No, you're fine." Knock Out gave a dismissive wave. "Keep going. You're doing great."
Breakdown paused in his humping. "Doesn't sound like I'm doing great. What's wrong? I'm pretty sure I'm hard. I feel hard…"
Knock Out rolled his optics. "It's not you. I'm thinking."
"About…?" He leaned over.
"Did you not notice Starscream was walking funny?"
"Why are you thinking about him while I'm inside you…? You only should think about me when I'm inside you… I only think about you when I'm in you. That's the rule. We only think about each other when fragging. No exes, no celebrities, and no mailmechs."
"I have a lot on my processor." Knock Out propped himself up by his elbows as he rubbed his faceplates.
"Do I need to stop?"
"No, you can finish."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Breakdown smirked. "Okay, I'll finish." He paused. "But why are you thinking about Starscream?"
"He was walking weird. Didn't you notice?" He looked back at his mate.
"What was I supposed to have noticed?" Breakdown stroked Knock Out's side, enjoying his mate's curves.
"He looked like he was trying to hide something."
"How would walking indicate hiding something?" He scooped his servos under Knock Out's torso and squeezed his breastplates.
"He seemed to be trying to cover up that he was in pain. Like… He had been fragged really hard. You remember how he would always walk after Megatron was rough with him?"
"You think he's seeing Megatron again?" He kept playing with Knock Out's chest.
"I don't think he ever stopped." Knock Out grunted. "He's obsessed over Megatron. I told him a million times to leave Megatron, but he didn't. And he stayed with him long after the war. Why would he stop now?"
"Because Prime told him to so he could see Fracture." He then honked his horn as he gave Knock Out's breast plates two squeezes, as if squeezing them caused the honks.
"Stop!" Knock Out slapped back at him, trying to hit his aft, but only reaching a thigh. "You're going to online the sparklings."
"You like me honking your breastplates." Breakdown snickered.
Knock Out rolled his optics. "I'm more interested in who Starscream is fragging. He is definitely with someone. If not Megatron it's probably some creeps he's selling himself to."
"Why must he be selling himself? What if he found someone? Lots of lonely people out there ready to date."
"Who would ever date Starscream?" Knock Out grunted.
"There's someone out there for everyone." He then hugged the speedster. "You were meant to be mine. Starscream will also find someone."
"I'm not buying it. He's either fragging Megatron or selling himself. He clearly is fragging someone. He wasn't walking right, he avoided walking the entire visit. Why would he not go get energon when he can't be making that much? No way does he have enough energon."
"We don't know what he makes." Breakdown reached down and was now squeezing Knock Out's aft.
"I'm going to find out." Knock Out said resolutely.
"Can you think about this later?"
"I'm thinking about it now."
"Yes, but I'm making love to my beautiful Conjunx Endura. And I only want me and my big spike on your processor."
"You can continue."
"Am I not at the top of my game, tonight? It's the interface, isn't it?"
"It's not the interface."
"Well, clearly something is off if you're thinking about Starscream during our intimate moments." Breakdown grunted.
"I told you what's off. Starscream is clearly being fragged by someone." He looked back at the truck.
"I think you need to calm down about this. We have custody. Fracture is safe. Just… relax and let me make you forget everything." His engine purred lustfully.
Knock Out rubbed over his faceplates, then thought of something. "Breakdown?"
"Yes, sexy?" His servos rose to pleasure along Knock Out's sides.
"Frag me as hard as you can."
"You being serious…?"
"Yes. I want you to frag me as hard as you can. Go all out. Don't hold back."
"But… I don't want to hurt you…"
"You won't, sweetie." He looked back to smile at his mate. "Please? As hard as you can. If you hurt me I'll let you know."
Breakdown studied him for a moment, then dumbly smiled. "Okay! I can do that."
Knock Out looked ahead, his servos grasping the berth as Breakdown began to brutally pound into him, holding his hips firmly to keep him in place. Knock Out moaned, and winced from the pain, but didn't say anything.
"Doing okay?"
"Yes, keep going." Knock Out gripped the berth tighter.
Knock Out onlined quite sore that morning. He had made Breakdown frag him very roughly for three overloads, and it certainly was not easy to get through. But, now his experiment would begin.
He wrote down the time he onlined and the scale of how sore he was on a level of 1 to 10. He noted how he looked when walking, and kept track of the pain, his walk, and how he felt sitting down throughout the orbital cycle. He didn't allow Breakdown to frag him that night or the next few nights, and continued to monitor the pain level and how bow legged he was into the next few orbital cycles.
Now, he had a rough estimate of how long after a hard frag Starscream would be walking funny. He would be able to tell how often Starscream was being fragged by this mystery person, or people, based on his walk and other habits.
He was a genius. Minus the fact he had to suffer for this science, but he had his data.
"Can I go hard again?" Breakdown asked eagerly.
Knock Out rolled his optics. If only he knew he would create a monster due to this experiment.
A Few Orbital Cycles Later:
"Hey, Starscream." Breakdown welcomed him inside.
"Hey," The Seeker perked his wings. "Where's Fracture?"
"Oh, he's next door playing with his friend. I'll go grab him. Feel free to help yourself to some energon." He gestured.
"Oh, I can-" He stopped when Breakdown had already walked out of the house.
The Seeker shrugged and walked to the energon room. He grabbed a cube and began to eat it, looking at the little sparkling drawings on the pantry door for a moment before turning around. His wings lowered, then flared.
Knock Out was standing right there, his optics narrowed as they always were. Starscream flicked his wings, keeping them held high, showing he wasn't going to be intimidated by this speedster. The soft rumblings of Knock Out's engine reached his audio receptors. He growled his own engine back, it being louder as he was a jet.
Knock Out's wheels spun for a moment, then his optics did a weird brightening while widening some as he took a few steps back. Starscream wasn't sure what he was up to, so he flicked his wings again. He glanced at the door, not sure if he should step out to wait for Breakdown's return, or hold up in the energon room. But he wasn't safe going into the living room where the speedster waited… For whatever he was waiting for. Where was Dead End? Didn't he need to refuel him or something?
Starscream glared back at the grounder when he heard an engine rev. Knock Out still was watching him, but his optics weren't narrowed. They were wider, like he was waiting for something. What was he thinking about? What was this weird grounder intimidation thing? It was so much harder to tell what he was trying to silently say without wings, or a tail, or large audio receptors. How was a Seeker supposed to read spinning wheels, a weak engine, and weird optics?
Then the grounder pulled a chair out from the dining room table, sat on it, crossed his legs, and pressed his claw tips together to form a steeple. Still, those optics watched him with whatever they were thinking.
Ugh! He wanted to just go over and punch him while demanding what he wanted!
The Seeker flicked his wings, then exhaled his vents loudly. The grounder only cocked his helm slightly.
The jet straightened himself, flaring his wings to appear as large as he possibly could, then stepped out of the energon room. The grounder's optics seem to focus even more on him, his wheels spinning for a moment.
The Seeker flicked his wings, snorted through his vents, and slowly made his way to the couch. The grounder didn't move, just watching him. Starscream stopped, turning to face the speedster.
"What?" He finally snapped, no longer able to play this game.
Knock Out didn't react.
"Just say whatever it is you want to say." Starscream growled, placing his servos on his hips.
The speedster spun his tires, then stood up. He gave the Seeker a wide berth as he neared, slowly circling around. Starscream flicked his wings, watching him. Knock Out walked around the jet, servos behind his back, as if he was… studying him.
"What are you looking for? Critiquing my paint job?" He demanded of the red one.
Knock Out completed one circle around, and slowly started a second. Starscream growled his engine, but Knock Out didn't react to that. He stopped in front of the flier, glancing up and down once more, then looking directly into Starscream's optics.
"What?" Starscream snapped.
"You had interface two nights ago." Knock Out finally spoke, his voice simply stating a fact. "Who was it?"
Starscream flicked his wings, engine growling, hiding how his spark jumped a little. How did he know he had been fragged two nights ago?!
"I am abstinent, Knock Out." He growled. "Want me questioning your interface life?"
"You know my interface life. What's yours? Who are you with?"
"I'm not with anyone."
"Your frame says otherwise. You have a difference to your gait. You were fragged hard by someone. You missed some scrapes on your aft, and I can see someone was holding your hips a little too tightly. It's someone larger than you." He paused. "Megatron?"
"I'm not with Megatron." Starscream growled his engine. "Why are you so adamant about me being with Megatron?"
"Because you are either with him or are selling your body."
"I am not a slut, Knock Out!"
"The crowds of people you've recharged with say otherwise."
"Yeah? Who are they? Bring them forth with evidence."
"That is precisely what I'm working on."
"Maybe you should get laid yourself." Starscream flicked his wings.
Knock Out smirked. "Oh, I get laid plenty. By one mech." He indicated with a single claw. "Not by five, or ten, or twenty, like you. And I don't get paid for it. It's actually love making. And I have sparklings because of it."
"Doesn't seem to be enough love as one of them died." Starscream grunted, knowing it would hurt the speedster. He wanted to hurt him.
Knock Out swallowed, his optics resetting. Starscream smirked. Good, it did hurt.
"He's a good sire. A good mate. Something you'll never have. No one wants you the way Breakdown wants me." Knock Out said it so cold, his optics filling with that unadulterated rage once more.
Starscream tightened his jaw. He had unleashed the beast. Now, to see if this beast would actually sink its denta in him.
"I don't think Breakdown wants a mate who bullies him and makes him recharge on a couch all because you get a little pissed off at him."
"I don't go behind his back and frag random mechs."
"I've never betrayed any of my former partners."
"Hard to believe coming from a known liar and traitor." Knock Out leaned closer, his engine growling.
"Says the person who stole my son."
"He's better off without you. You don't care about him. You just want him as some sick trophy to show that you had been Megatron's mattress."
"Maybe the sparkling you lost didn't want to be your trophy."
"You just love reminding me of my miscarriage, don't you?"
"You love making a big deal out of it. You had a miscarriage. Lots of people do. Grow up and move on."
Something flashed in those optics. Something not of this world. It was like a demon took over Knock Out for a split second. The absolute evil and desire to kill that radiated from those optics was so raw, so hateful it caused the Seeker to take an uneasy step back.
"I'm going to kill you." Knock Out said it with a smile, so calmly, so naturally. "You won't see it coming. You won't expect it. But I will kill you."
"Get in line. You aren't the first to threaten me." He flared his wings.
"No, but I'll be the one who actually follows through with it."
"You won't do slag. If you kill me you'd be locked away and your spawns will grow up without their carrier."
"Who said anything about me killing you while they are still sparklings?" Knock Out slightly cocked his helm. "I can wait. I have lots of time."
"Yeah, you say that because you won't follow through and want me to forget this attempt at intimidation, so I don't add it to the list of all your other failures." He held up a servo and counted on his digits. "Failed to kill me, failed to be a good doctor, failed as a good spouse," He paused. "Failed to keep your sparkling alive long enough to birth it out." He made sure to especially emphasize the "it."
"Should I list off all your failures? You were a terrible commander. A terrible warrior. You sucked at strategy… But your biggest failure is being an interface doll for our 'precious' Lord Megatron rather than his right servo."
"At least I was never a grunt."
"I never minded my position."
"My position was power."
"Your position was face down, aft up on Megatron's berth every night." He paused. "It still is, isn't it?"
Starscream's engine revved, his optics glowing. Knock Out stood his ground, readying to transform his arm into a buzzsaw.
The door opened and Breakdown walked in with Fracture and Wildbreak. "Hey, sorry for taking so long. I was talking to Bolt about the neighborhood. Did you know they are opening a-" He stopped, seeing how the two former friends were in each other's faces, bodies tense, everything screaming that they were about to start a fight to the death.
The truck quickly ran over and grabbed the speedster like he was picking up an angry cat, and pulled him away.
"Stop it, you two!" The truck ordered harshly. "I'm gone only a breem and you're acting like this?!"
"Nothing happened." Starscream replied, his wings relaxing.
Knock Out pushed himself free of his mate's grip, glared death at Starscream, then walked away. The Seeker didn't look away as he watched the speedster climb up the stairs and disappear.
"Fracture, your carrier is here." Breakdown grunted. "I'm going to check on Knock Out…"
Breakdown walked up the stairs, leaving Starscream with the two mechlings.
"You okay?" Fracture inquired of his carrier.
"Yes, I'm fine. Do I not look fine?"
"Nope."
"Well, I am. Why don't you tell me about your orbital cycle?"
The courtroom scene was the best part of this whole fic. Breakdown fulfilled his dream of telling the Prime that he slaps dat aft! Not sure if that was his dream... But he's damn proud that it's now official court record that he slaps Knock Out's ass.
He protecc
He attacc
But most importantly he gives Knock Out's aft a smacc!
Look at this drama between these two gay bitches. They hate each other so much right now. They need counseling for sure...