(COMMISSION) A Speedster and His Seeker

by The Robotic Dragon

Starscream is accidentally sparked by Megatron, which leads to him being kicked out. In desperation, he moves in with his old friend, Knock Out. But after putting his son in danger, Starscream finds himself in a nasty custody battle with Knock Out over the sparkling. Good friends become nasty enemies, which leads to pain and drama for the both of them. (THIS IS A COMMISSION)

8. Starscream Moves In

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

"You will take two of these every orbital cycle for an orn." Knock Out instructed as he held up a small container. "You will also use this on your spark once an orbital cycle." He held up a small device. "One pulse directly onto the spark. This is long term. Do not stop doing it… Forever."

Starscream stood looking at the medications and everything Knock Out was discharging him with. "I feel like this is… A lot."

"You're the idiot who chose to interface a bunch of vagabonds."

Starscream flicked his wings. "Why are you releasing me if I'm clearly still so sick?"

"You're not sick enough to stay in the hospital. You can take all of this medication at home. And you better take it. Not doing so you'll get sick again."

"Just replace my parts…"

"Seeker parts are far and few in-between. Maybe if your kind didn't almost get wiped out we might have some donors. And how much I would love to be able to use organs from trucks, shuttles, and other such frametypes, they are far too large to fit inside of your frame. And many of your parts are not even identical to my own parts. So, you will quit glitching, you will take the medication as instructed, and you will self heal and survive. Understand?"

Starscream didn't appreciate the condescending tone of the one who once was his inferior. He flicked his wings again. "At least I'll be away from you…" He finally grumbled.

"A blessing from Primus." Knock Out grumbled back.

Starscream only flicked his wings.

The Seeker soon had all his medications and was fully discharged from the hospital. His wings drooped as he made his way back to his apartment. He put in his code and entered, suddenly feeling so alone. At the hospital he was visited often by nurses, Knock Out, and when Fracture had come by. Here… No one ever visited but Megatron and Grit a few times. Two slagheaps who had hurt him both emotionally, and one physically.

The apartment was exactly as it was when he was taken to the hospital. The cabinets still open in the energon room, his vomit dried on the floor… Everything a mess….

He vented a sigh, not having the energy to clean anything right away. He sat on the couch, set his medications on the small table, and turned on the vidscreen.

He couldn't pay attention to what was on the vidscreen, only thinking about how alone he was, how he didn't have Fracture with him, how he still wasn't given custody of his own son… And how Grit, someone he thought actually liked him, abandoned him in his time of need. He needed someone to talk to and hug, but Grit couldn't even give him that!

What was the point? He would never have his son back, and Fracture didn't even love him… Fracture would never accept him as his carrier and probably never see him when he was an adult and no longer required to spend time with him.

Knock Out had won… He had lost… Keeping him alive to continue suffering was just another cruel joke from the universe, and more revenge from that stupid speedster.

He looked at the medicine on the table, then vented a sigh. He just didn't need to take it… It would be that easy. And then his suffering would finally be over… Fracture wouldn't even notice he was gone… And maybe that would be for the best.

The Seeker covered his faceplates as he cried, feeling so hopeless, alone, and just exhausted.

---

Five Orbital Cycles Later:

Breakdown checked his chronometer and raised an optical ridge.

"Hey," He turned to Knock Out who was lying on the berth, having just gotten back from work and was exhausted. "Starscream has missed another visitation with Fracture. That's two in a row. He never has missed one before…"

"He's probably still tired from being sick." Knock Out grumbled, his optics offline, wanting to recharge. "He'll come when he feels up to it."

"He would come see Fracture despite being ill."

"He doesn't care about Fracture…"

"I don't feel comfortable about this, Knock Out."

"Mmmm…" Knock Out rolled onto his side, optics still offline. "He's fine… I'm going to recharge… Cuddle with me…"

Breakdown bit his lip plate. "I would love to, but… I'm going to do a wellness check on Starscream. I just don't feel right."

"Fine… Be safe."

Breakdown walked over and gave his mate a kiss on the lip plates before walking out of the room. He went over to Fracture's room.

"Hey, Fracture, I'm going to step out for a bit. Your carrier is taking a nap. You're in charge until I get back. Online carrier only in an emergency."

"Got it!" Fracture said as he played a videogame with Wildbreak, Dead End watching them.

The truck left the house, transformed, and drove to where the Seeker lived. He entered the apartment building and made his way to the apartment where Starscream resided. He knocked on the door.

"Starscream! It's Breakdown! Hey, you home?!" He paused to listen, but no answer. "Starscream! You've missed two visitations with Fracture. I'm concerned for you. You okay?"

Still nothing.

He pulled out his communicator and called the Seeker. He listened and heard it ringing inside. The Seeker had to be home. Was he hurt? Had Megatron come back?

Breakdown hesitated, then vented a sigh as his servo transformed into a hammer. Better be safe than sorry.

He smashed his hammer against the door, denting it severely. He struck it a couple of more times until it was dented enough to begin to bend away from the wall. He wrapped his digits inside, and then pulled, tearing the door out of the way.

He entered, immediately seeing the Seeker on the couch, curled up, and unresponsive.

"Slag." He trotted over, transformed his hammer back into a servo, and shook the Seeker. "Starscream! Hey, online."

But the Seeker didn't.

Breakdown grabbed the small device Knock Out had given Starscream, then pried open the Seeker's chest plates. He pressed the device to Starscream's dim spark and pressed the button. A bolt of energy shot out, and the spark flared. He pressed it again.

Starscream softly groaned.

Breakdown subspaced the medicine, picked up the Seeker bridal style, and left the apartment. He raced back home and carried the jet inside.

"Knock Out!" He shouted, laying Starscream on the couch. "There's an emergency! KNOCK OUT!"

The speedster startled online and leaped to his peds. He raced downstairs, ignored the mechlings who were poking their helms out the doorway of Fracture's room.

"What is it!? What happened?!" The doctor demanded as he skidded over, but then stopped when he saw Starscream. "Why is he here!?"

"He's unresponsive. I gave him two spark shots." Breakdown explained.

"Why is he unresponsive? I fixed the bastard!" Knock Out grabbed Starscream's helm and looked at his optics. He then unsubspaced a scanner and ran it over the Seeker. "Idiot…" He grumbled. "Of course, he would ignore my instructions…"

"What did he do?"

"He didn't take any of the medicine I gave him and now his spark is shutting down." Knock Out began to unsubspaced equipment. "Open your chestplates."

"Should we take him to the hospital?" Breakdown asked as he folded away his chestplates.

"If I get his spark jumpstarted then he won't need to go." Knock Out clamped two cables onto Breakdown's spark casing, allowing them to be pressed against his spark. He then turned and did the same to Starscream's spark with the other ends. He took a third cable and clamped one end to Breakdown's engine, then the other end to Starscream's. "When I say so I need you to rev, babe."

"Yes, sir." Breakdown nodded.

Knock Out pressed a device over Starscream's spark, then stepped back. "Now!"

Breakdown revved his engine has hard as he could, forcing his spark to flare. The energy from his spark and engine surged into the cables and into Starscream's spark and engine. The device over the Seeker's spark amplified the energy, sending a powerful wave of spark energy into his spark, while his engine received a shock of electricity.

"Ah!" Starscream cried out as he jerked online, his back strut arching, feeling the energy surging into him, and burning his spark painfully. He clawed at the couch, growling from the pain, but too weak to move much.

"That's enough." Knock Out said.

Breakdown ceased revving his engine, allowing the circulation to decrease. Knock Out removed the clamps from both mechs, and Breakdown closed his plates. The doctor examined Starscream's spark and vented.

"You're an idiot." He glared at the jet. "All you had to do was follow my instructions, but I guess you're too stupid to do that…"

Starscream didn't speak, slowly realizing where he was. He swallowed, feeling so weak, his spark burning.

"You'll live, unfortunately." The doctor continued. "Your spark was so close to shutting down. And if it had, a spark jump wouldn't have saved you. Now, you must take the medicine I gave you if you expect to not almost die again."

"That's fine…" Starscream said barely louder than a whisper.

"Is what fine...?"

"Dying…"

Knock Out rolled his optics. "You… Idiot." He almost wanted to smack the Seeker. "I worked so fragging hard to save your life and now you want to waste my work!?"

"Knock Out…" Breakdown placed a servo on his mate's shoulder, but the speedster shoved it off.

"You go on that all you care about is Fracture and being there for him, and this is what you do?! You're an idiot. A selfish idiot."

Starscream didn't speak, didn't look at the speedster.

Breakdown grabbed Knock Out by the arm and pulled him away.

"Sweetie, I know you're mad… But Starscream clearly is having a mental crisis." Breakdown said it so gently.

"Yeah, so have I for the past 8 stellar cycles, but I haven't tried killing myself." He snapped, his optics narrowed and glowing.

"Yes, but you have me there to support and love you. Starscream clearly doesn't have a Breakdown."

"Sucks to be him…" He grunted.

"Sweetie… Maybe it's best Starscream stays with someone."

"Who would take him? He's an idiot, a brat, and a burden on society."

"He is a pain in the aft, I concur, but… He is the carrier of our dear Fracture."

"You better not be suggesting he stays with us… He attacked me."

"He wasn't sick then."

"I was both times."

"Where else could he go? He can't stay by himself. He'll kill himself."

"Good."

"How about I clean out the downstairs berthroom, and he can move in there."

"That's going to take forever to do."

"He can stay on the couch until I'm done."

"I don't trust him around the mechlings."

"I'm home all orbital cycle. He would never be alone with them."

Knock Out glared at his mate. "I'm guessing I have no say in this? Just like half the things in our joining?"

"Oh my god…" Breakdown rolled his optics so hard.

"You know what… Since you're the one in control of everything and clearly know so much more than me… Fine. Keep the glitch." Knock Out threw his servos up. "But don't you dare fragging ask me for interface!"

"Primus, help me….." Breakdown muttered as he pinched the bridge of his olfactory sensor.

"No, fine, he's your responsibility!" Knock Out jabbed a claw at his mate. "You clean him, refuel him, take him out for walks, whatever! In fact… Recharge on the couch with him. I'm done." He then turned and stormed off.

Breakdown flinched when he heard the door to their room slam shut. He vented loudly.

"Well…. At least he didn't cry and call his carrier to scream at me." The truck then turned to Starscream. "If you get me divorced…"

Starscream swallowed.

Breakdown walked over and helped the Seeker sit up. "You're going to do as you're told. You're going to drink energon, take your medicine, and behave. If you act up… If you lay a single claw on me or Knock Out… I will dump you in a ditch. Understand?"

Starscream slowly nodded.

"Good. I'm going to get you energon, and then you're going to rest. We'll talk more in the morning." He then handed Starscream the container with the medicine. "Take it."

Starscream looked up at him, then opened the container and did as he was told.

Breakdown went to the energon room, grabbed a cube, and brought it back to the Seeker. Starscream ate the cube, and then settled on the couch for recharge. Breakdown tossed a blanket over him, then went upstairs.

Starscream swallowed, not sure what was happening. Was he actually staying here in his enemy's house? Would Knock Out murder him?

But Fracture was also here. If he was living here with his son…

Starscream bit his lip plate, uncertain of what the morning would hold for him.

---

Starscream onlined the next morning on the couch, feeling exhausted despite recharging for plenty of joors. It took him a moment to remember what happened last night, and then realizing the voices he heard weren't his imagination.

"But why is he staying here?" Fracture inquired as he got his morning energon.

"He's sick and was having trouble taking care of himself. He doesn't need to be in the hospital anymore, but he's not well enough to be on his own." Breakdown explained as he helped Dead End with his energon.

"But carrier hates him." Wildbreak grunted, sitting on the counter with his energon cube.

"He does, but carrier is also no monster."

"Carrier is still going to be pissed." Fracture commented as he poured energon in a bowl for Diesel.

"I WAKE CARRIER!" Dead End shrieked before starting for the stairs.

"Hey!" Breakdown called after him. "Carrier is resting still. Get back over here."

"But carrier!"

"Dead End, seriously, carrier needs his recharge. If you leave carrier alone I'll give you goodies."

Dead End thought about it, then accepted the deal with a nod of his helm. He hobbled back over and held out his servo expectingly.

Breakdown handed him some energon goodies, then turned back to the older mechlings. "I'm going to clean out the downstairs berthroom and that will be Starscream's room. He'll also use the washroom down here. You guys don't have to interact with him, but if you do be nice. And, please, don't encourage your carrier…"

"I bet carrier would win in a fight." Fracture snickered.

"No one is fighting anyone. Finish your energon and get your pads. I don't need you late to school."

Dead End hobbled over to the couch with his energon, awkwardly climbed up, and sat beside Starscream. He studied the Seeker for a moment, then grabbed the remote, turned the vidscreen on, and munched on his goodies.

"Dead End, don't bother Starscream." Breakdown said as he approached with his own cube of energon.

"I'm not!" Dead End then stuffed more energon into his mouth.

Breakdown noticed the Seeker was online. "Morning, Starscream. I'm sorry if we onlined you. We'll be going to school, soon."

"It's fine." Starscream said softly as he sat up.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright."

"I'll get you some energon."

Starscream watched him walk away, then turned to the vidscreen that was showing cartoons. Dead End was giggling at what he was watching, but Starscream failed to find the humor in it…

Breakdown returned and handed Starscream some energon. "Make sure you take your medicine." He then leaned in closer and whispered. "Do not kill yourself in front of my sparklings, understand? You will take your medicine, you will live, and you will not traumatize any of these mechlings."

Starscream quickly nodded, not wanting to piss off Breakdown. It was rare when he was pissed, and when he was, it was terrifying.

Breakdown smiled and turned to his youngest. "Hey, what are you watching?"

"Captain Cosmos!" Dead End exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh, is it good?" He said it as he stepped in front of the sparkling, blocking his view of the vidscreen.

"NOOO! SIRE, MOVE!"

"But this is the best view of the vidscreen!"

"YOU'RE BIG AFT IS IN THE WAY! MOVE!"

"Have you tried asking me nicely?"

"I'M GETTING CARRIER!" Dead End slid off the couch and started for the stairs.

"No, don't online carrier." Breakdown quickly grabbed him and put him back on the couch. "I'll move." He stepped aside and looked at Starscream. "This is the ruler of the house." He pointed at Dead End. "If you don't do as he says he will get the supreme dictator of the house. Don't piss off the supreme dictator…" He grunted the last part.

"Duly noted." Starscream replied.

Breakdown returned to the energon room to finish his energon, and then clean up the glasses left behind by the older mechlings. They were packing their bags with their school supplies and whispering to each other. Starscream assumed they were talking about him.

"Okay, everyone ready?" Breakdown asked a breem later as he walked to the door.

"Yup!" Wildbreak smiled, holding his bag over a shoulder.

"Dead End, come on, time to go to school!"

Dead End hopped off the couch and ran over. Breakdown opened the door, waited for the mechlings to step out, then closed the door.

It was now quiet in the house, minus the clacking of dull claws on the floor as Diesel walked from the energon room, then to the couch. He hopped up, spun around, and lay down, venting loudly before offlining his optics to recharge.

Starscream grabbed the remote and changed the channel. He looked at the medicine, sighed, and grabbed it. He quickly took it and used the device to give his spark a jolt of energy, then resumed watching TV.

It was a couple of joors later when he heard pedfalls upstairs. He swallowed, remembering Knock Out was still home. Where was Breakdown?

He lowered the volume and listened, hearing the speedster's peds as he moved around his room, then in the washroom. Eventually, they left the berthroom and he heard them on the stairs. Diesel hopped off the couch and trotted over.

"Hey, Diesel! Who's a good mechling?" Knock Out's vocalizer spoke so happily as the obvious sounds of him petting Diesel were also heard. "Come on, help carrier get some energon."

Starscream listened to them walking behind him as they made their way to the energon room. Knock Out got himself some energon, drank it while he stood by the counter, and then double-checked Diesel's bowl to make sure he had been fueled. He then gave Diesel some energon goodies while telling him that he was the best behaved mech in the entire house.

Starscream froze when the pedfalls approached him, going back towards the stairs, but then they stopped. He heard a slight rev of an engine, then grumbling. Diesel trotted over to the vidscreen, grabbed one of his toys from the floor, and returned to Knock Out, loudly squeaking it as he chomped repeatedly.

"No, Diesel, I'm fine. Just annoyed with your sire. He let in a stray last night I wish was back on the streets…" He grunted, making sure Starscream heard it. "Come on, help carrier upstairs."

Starscream listened to the sound of them both going upstairs, Diesel still making his toy squeak. He vented a relieved sigh. Knock Out didn't come around the couch to torture him or degrade him…

Breakdown returned a couple of breems later carrying supplies. "Babe! I'm home!" He called out, setting everything he had bought on the dining room table.

Diesel was the first to race downstairs, and jump on Breakdown, barking excitedly.

"Hey, there, Dees! Where's your carrier? He isn't burying Starscream's body in the backyard, is he?"

Knock Out came down the stairs. "Thought about it..." He grunted.

"Hey, sexy. How much longer are you here for?"

Knock Out approached his mate and they kissed each other on the lip plates. "I have a couple of more joors before I need to go in. Why? What naughty things are you thinking about doing to my body?" He purred; his arms wrapped around Breakdown's neck.

Breakdown giggled. "I want to kiss you, and hold you close, and frag your aft off, and then beg you to suck me."

"Not too rough. I need to be able to walk at work."

"You'll be able to walk. You may not be able to sit." He then snacked Knock Out on the aft, making him yelp.

Diesel growled, then barked at Breakdown.

"Diesel, it's okay, sweetie." Knock Out calmed him down. "Your sire is just a rude bastard." He glared at Breakdown.

"You are so mean to me. I love it." Breakdown then kissed him on the lip plates.

Starscream made a disgusted face, having to hear all of this.

Knock Out purred his engine as Breakdown trailed kisses down his neck and then chest plates. The speedster looked over at the contents on the table.

"Babe, what did you get?"

"Stuff." Breakdown said between kisses.

"What kind of stuff?"

"Stuff to fix up the downstairs berthroom so Starscream can stay in it."

"You better not have spent a lot… He's not worth it." Knock Out glared at his Conjunx Endura.

"The room needs to be fixed, anyway. I needed to get this stuff if we're ever going to have this house finished."

"Still…"

"Still," Breakdown placed his servos on Knock Out's hips. "We need an extra room. We are having another… right?"

Knock Out bite his lower lip plate. "I-I… I don't know if I can…."

"You can. We're having a femmling, remember?" Breakdown smiled.

Knock Out's optics soon had coolant pooling in them. Breakdown's smile vanished.

"Knock Out… We won't lose another."

"You don't know that…"

"I know that you're an amazing carrier, and you're strong, and brave… And you can do this. I'm with you every step of the way. No matter what may happen, I'll always be with you."

"Even if I have another miscarriage…?" He asked so softly.

"Till death do us part, and only death." He paused. "You won't have another miscarriage. I promise."

"You can't promise that."

"I just did."

"I can't, Breakdown. I'm not ready…"

"I'll be here when you are. Besides, I still need to fix this berthroom before we can even make our daughter." He kissed Knock Out on the cheekplates. "You messed up your optic liner. Didn't I get you a coolant proof one?"

"I ran out." Knock Out wiped at his optics.

"Come on, let me clean you up."

Starscream listened to them go up the stairs and into their berthroom. They were talking, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. It would be a couple of breems later when he did make out the pleasured moans of Knock Out and their berth squeaking. He rolled his optics, not having missed that when he had lived with them before.

Diesel at least was with him, recharging on the couch. The only one who didn't hate him in this house…

Eventually, Knock Out did come back downstairs, only to leave the house to go to work. Breakdown came down and took Diesel outside for a walk. They were gone for a few breems before Breakdown returned to drop Diesel off before leaving again. Of how tempted Starscream was to snoop around the house while alone, he was too weak to move much. He also wasn't sure how long the truck would even be gone.

Breakdown returned home a couple of breems later with Dead End, as the younger one didn't have as long of school time as the older mechlings did.

"CARRIER!" He shrieked, running to the stairs, carrying something he had made in class.

"Carrier is at work." Breakdown apprised his youngest as he began to go through the things he had bought earlier.

Dead End stopped, looked over at his sire, then bolted for the couch. He put his craft on the couch, climbed up, and crawled over to Diesel.

"DIESEL!"

The cyberdog lifted his helm and growled.

"Don't touch Diesel, Dead End."

"I'm hugging him!"

"Diesel doesn't like you hugging him. Come over here and help sire."

"BUT I LOVE DIESEL!"

"If Diesel bites you again, I'm giving him your energon goodies."

"NO!"

"Yes! He is telling you to leave him alone. Respect his personal space." Breakdown started to walk over.

"But Fracture hugs him!"

"Fracture doesn't piss him off. Get away from Diesel or else I'll tell carrier you were bad."

"NO! I'll tell carrier YOU were bad!" He pointed a digit at his sire.

"Carrier likes me more."

"NO!" Dead End then began to cry and throw himself on the couch.

"Is this a daily occurrence?" Starscream grunted, watching the sparkling writhe around as if he was on fire.

Breakdown rolled his optics as he picked up his youngest. "You have no idea…."

"I suppose keeping me here really is to punish me by exposing me to constant screaming." The Seeker gave the truck a look, positive this was his punishment.

"He behaves better when Knock Out is around." He set Dead End on the floor. "Stay away from Diesel. You're going to help sire. I need you to be a big, strong mechling and assist in moving things out of the berthroom and putting it into the dining room. Then, you can help me paint."

"Carrier says I'm not allowed to paint."

"You're going to paint the walls, only. So long as you don't paint carrier again, we will all be good."

Dead End then snickered. "Sire is disobeying carrier. I'm telling on you!" He then snickered like a little villain as he ran to the stairs and climbed up them.

Breakdown vented a sigh. "I have no idea how I raised a snitch… He will tell Knock Out everything. So, watch your back."

"Duly noted."

Three joors later and Breakdown left with his mini snitch. They returned a few breems later with the older mechlings.

"Hey, Diesel!" Fracture greeted the cyberdog as Diesel jumped on him and Wildbreak.

"Diesel!" Wildbreak hugged the canine.

"CARRIER!" Dead End shrieked, running to the stairs.

"He's still not home, Dead End!" Breakdown shouted after him.

"YOU'RE NOT HOME!" The tiny one screamed as he continued up the stairs.

Breakdown just shrugged. "I guess that means I can leave."

Fracture and Wildbreak ran over to the couch, pausing to glance at Starscream, then continue to get their game set up. Starscream perked his wings, his spark pulsating a little faster as he grew excited.

"How was school, Fracture?" The Seeker asked.

"Hmm?" He looked up at his real carrier. "It was fine. Same thing all the time." He then sat on the couch next to the Seeker.

Starscream hesitated, then pulled Fracture closer, hugging him. Fracture rolled his optics, not sure why this guy always wanted to hold him. He allowed it though, concentrating on using his controller as he played his game.

Starscream held his son close, not wanting to ever let him go. He might be ignoring him to play his game, but he was here, with him. That was all that mattered.

Breakdown came by to give everyone, including Starscream, some energon, then went to work in the downstairs berthroom. He removed boxes and other stored items, and moved the only furniture in the room, a desk, to the center. He then began work on smoothing the walls from dents, and welding new metal where there were holes. The house had survived a war so had been damaged. They fixed up most of it before moving in, but some parts, such as this room, they hadn't finished.

The mechlings played their game for joors… Joors Starscream had holding his son. Fracture was too busy to talk to him, but he was still there with him.

"Okay, you guys need to do some homework then go to recharge." Breakdown ordered the mechlings.

Wildbreak got up to turn off the game, but Fracture couldn't move. He vented a sigh as he felt Starscream hold him tighter.

"Must you? I have homework to do." He grunted.

"I'm sorry." Starscream slowly let him go.

Fracture stood up, rolling his optics at the Seeker. He put away his controller, then he and Wildbreak ran upstairs with Diesel following them. Starscream swallowed, pulling the blanket over him as he felt static in his optics.

Breakdown walked over to give him more energon.

"He'll be back in the morning." The truck said gently. "He literally lives here."

"I wish he knew I was his carrier." Starscream swallowed, accepting the proffered energon.

"He will soon enough. It's complicated for sparklings. Do you need anything else?"

"No… I-I'm fine."

"If you need anything you know where I am."

Starscream listened as the truck went upstairs. A few joors later he heard everyone go to recharge. The Seeker turned off the TV and settled down himself, telling himself that Fracture literally was in the other room, so close to him. He was recharging in the same house as his beautiful son.

He onlined a couple of joors later to Knock Out coming home. He offlined his optics, not wanting to be bothered by the doctor, hoping he would just go upstairs. He listened, hearing the pedfalls walk around the couch and approach him. He didn't move, wanting Knock Out to think he was recharging.

He felt the blanket move… And cover over his shoulders, then adjusted along the legs. He then felt the gentlest servos touch his wing and fold it down so it would be comfortable as he recharged. He heard a scanner go off, Knock Out checking his spark's health.

Then the doctor walked away. Starscream listened to him go up the stairs, into his room, and that was it. The Seeker onlined his optics, looking down to see that indeed the blanket had been adjusted to cover him completely. He bit his lower lip plate, not sure what to make of that. Why didn't Knock Out stab him…?

He offlined his optics, too tired to dwell on this for tonight.

---

The next few orbital cycles were the same. Starscream onlined to the mechlings and Breakdown getting their morning energon, and Breakdown gave him some. Starscream would take his medicine, and the mechlings left with their sire to go to school. Breakdown would come home, take Diesel for a walk, then work on the downstairs berthroom.

Knock Out usually online when Breakdown was working and either left right away or stayed long enough to talk to Breakdown about how the room should look.

Breakdown would go pick up Dead End from his school around noon, then keep working on the room while Dead End watched TV or played with toys. Then, Breakdown would leave to get the older mechlings, taking Dead End with him. When the older mechlings got home was Starscream's favorite part of the orbital cycle. They usually would sit on the couch to play videogames allowing Starscream to hug his son.

The older mechlings would play their games, have their dinner, do homework, and then everyone would go to recharge.

Knock Out would come home in the very early joors of the morning, usually 01:00, and go straight to recharge. But, he always stopped to check Starscream's spark with the scanner.

But this morning wasn't like the other mornings. This was a no school orbital cycle, meaning the morning was a bit more chaotic than usual.

"Stop killing!" Wildbreak shouted.

"I'm not doing anything!" Fracture screamed back.

Starscream sat on the couch watching them play their videogame, as they always did. Breakdown was working in the berthroom, and Dead End was running around with a screwdriver pretending it was a sword he was using to defeat some invisible enemies. Knock Out, by some miracle, was able to stay recharging upstairs despite the noise.

"Are you guys going to play this all orbital cycle?" Starscream inquired, already bored of what it was they were doing.

"Yes." Fracture grunted.

"It's more fun when you're actually the one playing it." Wildbreak replied sagely.

"Hmm, my taste in entertainment differs from yours." Starscream said as he crossed his arms.

"I'm sure you're into whatever it is old people are into." Fracture grumbled.

"You will be old before you realize it."

"Not as old as you…"

"Not as old as me for a while at least, but you'll get there."

"Mhmm." Fracture didn't care about the conversation, only wanting to play his game.

Starscream sighed, then stood up. He was doing a lot better after resting and taking his medicine. He still didn't feel well enough to transform or to fight, but he could get his own energon and walk around just fine.

He walked to the berthroom where Breakdown was busy installing a new floor, and stood in the doorway. "It's looking good."

Breakdown looked up at him and smirked. "Thank you. Knock Out picked out the floor. I think I'll replace the window, too. I can feel a draft. Probably easier to replace the whole thing than try and patch up all the holes."

"Are you going to decorate it?"

"Maybe a little. I'm actually getting a berth in a little bit. It'll go right there where the floor is finished. This side I'm working on I'll move the desk back in and put a vidscreen on that wall. The closet needs some shelves put in."

"How much longer do you think it'll take?"

"Eh, if I finish the floor today and get the furniture put in, then the window, closet, and shelves are the main things to finish. So, three or four more orbital cycles. Then, you can move in and have some privacy."

"I don't mind being on the couch with the mechlings."

"I know, but sometimes Knock Out's creators visit and, trust me, you want a place to hide from them…" He rolled his optics.

"I appreciate it. Really, I do."

"Just be nice to my mate and you're welcome to stay however long as you like."

"I will." Starscream lowered his wings, not sure how nice he could be to Knock Out when the doctor was mean to him.

The Seeker went to the energon room and got himself a cube. Diesel followed him and gave him an expecting look. The Seeker perked his wings, having learned what that face meant. He grabbed a couple of energon goodies and gave them to the dog, smiling a little when he saw the tail wagging. At least someone liked him….

"Hey, Fracture," Breakdown said as he walked over to the couch. "I need to go get the new berth. Only online carrier if it's an emergency."

"Okay, sire!" Fracture replied without even looking back.

Breakdown walked to the door, but turned to Starscream. "You behave. Dead End will tell me if you didn't."

And with that, the truck walked out the door. Starscream returned to the couch and sat beside his son. Dead End was still running around playing with his imaginary foes, which he did for a couple of breems before running to his brothers. The youngest one threw himself at Fracture's lap and started to bounce.

"Play with me!" He demanded.

"No, Dead End." Fracture snapped.

"I want you to play!"

"Dead End, I'm playing a game. Go watch cartoons in your room."

"NO!"

"Stop screaming!" Fracture snapped at him. "Why are you the most annoying brat in existence?!"

"I'M NOT A BRAT!"

"Shut up, Dead End!" Fracture pushed him away.

"Fracture, be gentle with him." Starscream said quickly, sitting up.

"Why are you even here...?" Fracture rolled his optics. "You can frag off, too."

"Fracture…" Wildbreak said slowly. "Sire said to only use bad words if you aren't hurting someone's feelings."

"Sire isn't here."

"I'm here and you need to be nice to Dead End. He looks up to you." Starscream grunted, his wings flicking.

Fracture rolled his optics, ignoring Starscream.

Dead End, while they had been speaking, stormed over to the console, furious that he had been pushed. He grabbed the power cable for the console and yanked it out, shutting off the game.

"WHAT THE FRAG?!" Fracture shouted.

"Not cool, Dead End!" Wildbreak threw his servos up.

"YOU'RE MEAN!" Dead End pointed his little claw at Fracture, his optics narrowed.

"UGH! You need to be left at an orphanage! Stupid brat!" Fracture threw his controller at Dead End.

"Hey!" Starscream grabbed Fracture's arm. "Do not throw things at him!"

Fracture shoved him back as he stood, his engine revving. Dead End was crying, the controller barely missing his helm. He bolted for the stairs.

"Dead End get back! Carrier is recharging!" Fracture shouted after him.

But Dead End didn't listen. He ran up the stairs and opened the door to his creator's room. Everyone downstairs could hear him crying for his carrier, then the sound of Knock Out getting up.

"Carrier is gonna be pissed." Wildbreak grunted.

Fracture ignored him to plug the console back in and get it back up and running. "Why do they have to keep Dead End…? He's a nuisance."

"He's a sparkling, Fracture. All sparklings are nuisances." Starscream grunted. "You also acted up when you were his age."

"I wasn't screaming to carrier over everything."

"You learned quickly. You take after your real carrier."

Fracture just gave him a look like he was weird.

They paused when they heard Knock Out walking out of his room, and then down the stairs, the little pedfalls of Dead End beside him. Diesel ran over excitedly, knowing he never was in trouble.

"Explain to me why the frag I am being online by a crying Dead End saying Fracture threw something at him and called him a 'brat?'" Knock Out ordered in a tired vocalizer, obviously having not gotten enough recharge from his long shift last night.

"I had no part in it." Wildbreak piped up quickly.

"Dead End was being annoying and unplugged the console. So, I yelled at him and then he ran upstairs." Fracture grunted.

"Did you throw something at him?"

"Yes. But I missed."

"He also told Starscream to 'frag off." Wildbreak added.

Fracture glared at the snitch.

"Fracture, go to your room. I think you've played enough games for the orbital cycle." Knock Out rubbed a single servo over his faceplates tiredly.

"Dead End is the one being a brat! Why do you always side with him?!"

Knock Out glared at him. "I do not 'always side with him.' You can not throw things at him or call him names. You, as his older brother, should be guiding him on how to behave, not treating him like he's beneath you. All you've done is shown him it's okay to call people names and throw things at them should they annoy you. Is that what I should do to you because you are annoying me very much right now. I am exhausted, Fracture. I stayed at work for an extra three joors last night because someone was dying on me! I was covered in his energon feeling his spark fade away because he also got angry with someone, and that someone had a gun, and that someone kept shooting him until he wasn't moving. Is that what you want your future to be? Getting pissed off at people over minor inconveniences until they shoot you and I have to try to save your life? You want me to be covered in your energon as I watch your spark fade away?"

"…No…" Facture said slowly.

"Then stop fighting with your brothers and learn some self control. If Dead End is bothering you, give him something to distract him. He forgets everything if you give him something shiny!"

"I WANT SHINY!" Dead End piped up, hugging Knock Out's leg.

"See?" Knock Out vented a sigh. "Go to your room. We will talk more later. Don't make me say anything more right now because I am not up to it…"

Fracture rolled his optics as he stomped away and up the stairs. Knock Out glanced at Starscream, then turned to Wildbreak.

"Where is your sire?"

"He went to get the new berth." Wildbreak said as he petted Diesel who had hopped onto the couch. "Do you need a hug?"

"I'm okay, sweetie. I'm just tired."

"You're always tired…"

"My job is stressful."

"Should get a new one."

"I don't know what else I'd do. It's what I've been doing since I was 25 stellar cycles old…"

"Sire should get a job."

"Sire has no skills that would pay like my job. He's just another sparkling according to my bank…" Knock Out grunted.

Wildbreak giggled. "Sire's a sparkling."

Knock Out nodded with a face that said, "you have no idea." He then walked to the energon room.

Starscream bit his lip plate, not sure if he should go upstairs and check on Fracture or give him space to cool down. But he did appreciate that Knock Out's parenting didn't include any yelling, threats, or abuse. He wasn't sure what he should have done… He had never dealt with a sparkling of Fracture's age before.

Knock Out got himself some energon, then sat on the couch beside Wildbreak. Wildbreak hugged his carrier, and Dead End quickly climbed up to also hug the speedster. Starscream swallowed, wishing his own son would hug him so willingly like that… Instead of telling him to frag off.

The speedster drank his energon as he chatted with his sons, the two talking about nonsense with their carrier, making him smile. Starscream wanted that… To just talk to his son and Fracture actually want to talk back to him.

A few more breems passed before the door opened and Breakdown came in holding one end of a berth.

"Tilt it just a bit." He instructed someone at the other end of the berth. "Yeah, ready?"

He backed up carrying his end, and soon Grit appeared holding the other end. They got the berth inside, closed the door, and carried it to the berthroom. They managed to get it through the door and into the room.

Starscream's wings perked, then flicked when seeing the speedster. His optics narrowed, hoping Grit wouldn't come over and speak to him.

Grit walked out of the room, smirking his usual smirk, and trotted over to the couch.

"Hey, little bro! You look awful."

"I'm just tired." Knock Out grunted, Dead End now recharging on him.

"Breakdown really gave it to you last night?" He laughed.

Knock Out glared at him. "Don't talk about interface in front of my mechlings."

"You're always so grumpy. Where is Fracture?"

"In his room. He's in trouble."

"What he do?"

"He got into it with Dead End."

Grit chuckled. "He takes after his carrier, doesn't he?" He then looked over to Starscream. "Speaking of, look at you, sweet plates! My brother fixed you up good! Did he use his cosmetic training to add a little extra to your aft so there's more plate to smash into!" He then humped the air a couple of times as he laughed. "Need some hips for me to hold onto!"

Starscream's engine growled, his wings flicking. "Go away, Grit." He growled.

"You don't like talking about fragging in front of the mechlings, either, eh? Wanna go somewhere else and 'talk' about it?" He laughed.

"I don't want to talk to you! Leave me alone." He flicked his wings again.

"What has you all worked up? Angry because you haven't been laid in orns?"

"I'm angry with you."

"Not my fault I couldn't stick you in a hospital…"

Starscream stood up, wings flicking again. "I wouldn't have been in the hospital had you actually come by when I needed you! I needed someone to talk to after the hearing, and you abandoned me!"

"Whoa, hey, we weren't together to begin with. We're not a couple. Ah!" He yelped when Starscream suddenly slapped him across the faceplates, leaving 4 cuts from his claws. Grit touched the cuts, noticing energon on his digit tips. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"I lost it when I ever thought you cared about me!"

"I told you I don't do relationships, you stupid Seeker!"

"You didn't need to date me to offer me some comfort!"

"You with the mixed signals! You're insane…" He turned and started to walk away. "No wonder you lost custody, you psycho."

Starscream flicked his wings, glaring as he watched Grit walk away. He then lowered his wings, feeling coolant pooling in his optics. He sat back down, wiping at his optics.

"He deserved that." Knock Out grunted. "You also deserved the pain for using him to hurt me. Justice."

"I don't want to hear it…" Starscream's vocalizer was brittle, trying not to cry.

"Don't cry over Grit. He's not worth it." Knock Out said a little softer. "Seriously, don't cry over him. He's been fragging someone else ever since you were hospitalized. You were just another notch on his score card."

Starscream swallowed, feeling his spark aching. He couldn't hold it in anymore and covered his faceplates as he cried, his wings drooping.

Knock Out watched him for a bit before gently setting Dead End on the couch and sitting up. He scooted over to be beside Starscream, unsubspaced a cloth, and wiped at Starscream's optics and cheekplates.

"Don't cry over him." He said it quietly, but sternly. "He's not worth it. Don't let afts like him make you cry. He's a good brother, but a terrible partner. There are many like him, and not a single one should leave anyone in tears."

Starscream swallowed, working on calming himself down. "I… It just hurts." He whispered.

"I know. Trust me, I know."

Starscream looked at him, but the doctor didn't elaborate further, simply worked on cleaning the Seeker's face of all coolant. He then unsubspaced his box of beauty products, and soon was applying optic liner on Starscream.

"Now, you can't cry anymore because this isn't coolant proof." He said it so matter-of-factly, like the optic liner would ensure that the Seeker couldn't possibly cry while wearing it. "You also can't cry because this wasn't cheap. It was 40 Shanix."

"That's ridiculous."

"Seriously." Knock Out rolled his optics. "This is why I have to be a doctor. Can't afford this slag on anything less."

"Maybe Breakdown needs a job."

"Breakdown wouldn't be able to handle being away from the mechlings." He said as he put away his optic liner and subspaced the box. He then noticed Breakdown was watching them, smirking. "What?"

"Nothing." Breakdown continued smiling as he turned and walked away.

Knock Out rolled his optics. "He better not be thinking about interface…."

"Are spike dominants really able to think about anything else?" Starscream grunted.

"Seriously…"

Knock Out got up and went up the stairs. Fracture soon came back downstairs and went to hang out with Grit, freed from his banishment to his room. Starscream flicked his wings, wishing his son wouldn't interact with Grit.

---

An Orn Later:

Breakdown had finished putting the berthroom together and helped Starscream pack his belongings in the apartment and move them to the new room. The truck also had Starscream's lease ended, as it wasn't safe for him to go back there anyway since Megatron knew of the place. For now, the only place Starscream had was Knock Out's house. He didn't even have a job anymore as he was terminated while in hospital after missing so many orbital cycles of work.

But he still had his savings and was holding onto those close. He would heal then find another job and move out. Until then, at least he was close to his son.

It was pretty boring, as the mechlings either were at school or playing their games, or hanging out with their friends. The same routine as always with them. Only thing that would change was Knock Out's work schedule. Sometimes he worked evenings, somethings the night, sometimes he would be gone all orbital cycle. So, Starscream didn't see him too much. And when Knock Out did have the orbital cycle off it was always when the mechlings didn't have school so he would be able to be around them. And Knock Out behaved when the mechlings were around.

It was one of those orbital cycles when everyone was home that Starscream was on the couch with the older mechlings, Knock Out was working at the dining room table, Breakdown was upstairs doing his hobby of scrapbooking, and Dead End was playing with toys on the floor.

"If he needs a new leg then build him a new leg. It's not worth trying to repair damage like that." Knock Out spoke on the communicator as he looked at his work datapad. "Yeah, if you could send me an image that would be great." He waited for the file to be sent over, then saw he received a message on his datapad. "Yeah, just got it. I'm opening it now."

He clicked it, and an image appeared. Knock Out's spark felt like it was stabbed. The image was of a protoform… Dead and covered in energon.

"Oops!" The person on the communicator said. "I'm sorry, I sent the wrong one. That's an earlier case we had this morning. Here, this is the correct file. Sending it over now." He paused. "Knock Out, did you get that one? That's of the leg. Can you see the wires I'm talking about?... Knock Out?"

Knock Out was frozen, looking at this sparkling, his spark hurting him. The file description read that he died in an attempted murder of the carrier, but that didn't matter… Knock Out only saw his miscarried sparkling.

Knock Out dropped the communicator and stood. He was only able to take three steps before his legs gave out and he fell to his knees. His spark felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed, again and again, as it pulsated faster. His intakes quickened, his servos were trembling, he felt like he was losing control.

Starscream looked over the back of the couch when he heard Knock Out crying loudly. His wings perked.

"Knock Out?"

The older mechlings looked back, noticing the panicked cries of their carrier.

"Carrier, what's wrong?" Wildbreak leaped to his peds and ran over.

Fracture stood there, not sure what was happening. Dead End noticed and raced to his carrier.

"CARRIER! Don't cry! I'm here!" He instantly hugged his carrier.

But Knock Out couldn't calm himself in the midst of his panic attack, covering his faceplates as he cried.

Starscream got up and cautiously approached. He hesitated, then got down on his knees, sitting on his ankles, and carefully touched Knock Out's shoulder.

"Knock Out? What's happening? Do you need medical?" He perked his wings.

"I'm getting sire!" Wildbreak bolted up the stairs.

Starscream looked back at the table to see why the doctor was like this, and noticed the image on the datapad. His wings lowered, figuring out what was happening.

Breakdown quickly came down the stairs with Wildbreak behind him. He trotted over to his mate, and got down on the floor.

"Knock Out, hey, I'm here." He said so gently, clearly having dealt with this before. "You're having a panic attack again. Wildbreak, Dead End, and Fracture are all here for you. We even have Diesel. Want Diesel?" He then reached over and grabbed Diesel who was standing by them, not sure what was happening. He then shoved Diesel into his mate's chassis. Knock Out slowly hugged the dog, his intakes still fast, but his sobbing beginning to subside. "There, see? Diesel helps. He's a good mechling."

"I'm a good mechling!" Dead End proclaimed as he hugged his carrier tighter.

"See? You have two very good mechlings with you."

"I lost a-a good mechling…" Knock Out managed to sob out.

"Hey, no, not thinking about that. Let's think about happy things. We have Diesel, and Dead End, and Fracture, and Wildbreak… You have me. I'm here for you. Hey, look, even Starscream is right here for you." He gestured at the Seeker. "We all love you. It wasn't your fault… Sweetie… It wasn't your fault."

Knock Out only continued crying, squeezing Diesel a little too tightly. Breakdown stood, and picked up Knock Out, who still held Diesel, and started for the stairs.

"You guys keep playing. Carrier needs some time alone."

"Is he okay?" Fracture asked slowly.

"He'll be okay. Just another panic attack."

Dead End followed Breakdown up the stairs, refusing to be separated from his carrier. The older mechlings and Starscream watched them, only speaking once they heard the berthroom door close.

"Maybe I should get carrier energon." Wildbreak said.

"No, let sire handle it." Fracture ordered.

Starscream walked over to the table, looked at the datapad, then turned it off. He bit his lower lip plate, not sure how to feel. Knock Out had taken his son from him, but Knock Out also had lost a sparkling… And his loss was permanent. He had never seen the doctor have a panic attack… For him to break down like that… He was really hurting.

Starscream went into his room, needing to think away from everyone else. Him and Knock Out both were miserable. It made him feel a little bad about using the miscarriage to hurt him… But was Knock Out actually sorry about taking Fracture away? He did save his life in the hospital… And allow him to move in with him…

Starscream didn't know what to think. He was still angry with Knock Out after all he did to him, but he also understood that Knock Out wasn't the same person he had been during the war…

Why couldn't things be simpler?

---

A Few Orbital Cycles Later:

Knock Out held three datapads as he and Breakdown walked to Fracture's room. They had just put Dead End in his room to take a nap, and now were preparing for something they weren't sure they were even ready for.

"Hello, my beautiful mechlings." Knock Out greeted them as he entered the room.

Fracture and Wildbreak looked up from where they sat on the berth doing homework. Knock Out sat on the berth next to them while Breakdown sat on the chair by the desk.

"What's going on?" Wildbreak inquired.

"We're not in trouble, are we?" Fracture asked slowly.

"No, never my loves." Knock Out reassured him. "We are here because the time has come for you to have a very important conversation that every single sparkling must have."

"What is it?" Fracture raised an optical ridge.

"I am going to tell you where sparklings come from…"

"They come from carriers." Wildbreak said it like the answer was obvious.

"They do. But I'm going to tell you how they get inside of us. It's not as simple as you might think."

"It's nanites making a protoform." Fracture spoke up. "In school they told us. A sire nanite connects with a carrier nanite, and they create the protoform that then grows into a sparkling, and then the carrier gives birth."

"Yes, that's how a sparkling is made once inside a carrier. You are correct. But I'm going to tell you how that sire nanite gets inside the carrier."

"Okay…" Fracture eyed him quizzically.

"So," Knock Out onlined one of the datapads he held so that it showed an image of a standard speedster mech. "This is a mech, just like you two. He has a spark, T-cog, all of that. Just like everyone does. He also has something called a spike." He zoomed in to the crotch area of the mech. "This is the codpiece. The codpiece protects the spike. If we fold away the codpiece," He tapped the screen which made a small animation of the codpiece folding away. "We see a spike cover. This is a secondary plating of protection for the spike. You guys probably have noticed it when you bathe. Now, let's fold that away." He tapped the screen again, causing another animation to have the spike casing fold away, and then the spike come out. "See this funny looking thing? That's a spike."

"Yeah, I've seen that." Fracture said. "When I shower and I'm cleaning it'll fold out."

"Yes," Knock Out continued. "This spike is actually what gets the sire nanites into the carrier. The spike has these two tubes inside of it that go up inside of you to the nanite production units." He tapped the screen which displayed the same mech but now his front plating was missing, revealing all his organs. "See these? Those are the nanite production units. The sire nanites are made inside of them. They go into the spike and shoot out when something called 'overload' or 'climax' happens.

"But in order to get those nanites to shoot out and go inside of the carrier, the mech must do something called 'interface.'"

"Interface is shooting nanites?" Wildbreak asked slowly.

"Let me explain." Knock Out turned back to the datapad. "The spike goes inside of the carrier. See, everyone also has something called a valve under their codpiece." He showed it on the datapad. "See this panel just under the spike? Let's tap that so it moves. See how the panel revealed this funny looking hole? That's a valve. It's lined with many sensory nodes, which you can see a few here." He pointed. "The spike goes into this hole." He then showed an illustrated drawing of just that, which also showed how far the spike went inside of the valve. "The valve is connected to something we call the 'birthing tube.' This tube is connected to the gestation tank. Which, you've learned is where the sparkling grows. The gestation tank is connected to its own nanite production unit, which there are also two. They are connected on either side of it.

"So, when a carrier and a sire want to make a sparkling, the sire puts his spike into the carrier just like this. But, the spike doesn't instantly shoot the nanites inside of the carrier. He has to perform interface. That means stimulating the spike. The sire will move back and forth, moving the spike in and out of the valve, and will do this for a few kliks. The spike and valve have a lot of sensory nodes, and it feels really nice to have them rubbed against. This nice feeling causes the spike to eventually ejaculate, which is the word for shooting out nanites. The nanites go into the birthing tube, all the way into the gestation tank, and then fuse with the gestation nanites.

"Now, there's a second part where the carrier and sire must spark bond." He showed a picture of that on the datapad. "The sparks share CNA with each other, and this fusion causes a spark to be created. The spark stays inside of the carrier's spark chamber, feeding off the carrier's spark until it is strong enough to migrate down this tube," He showed another image. "And go into the protoform in the gestation tank. The time period for when this happens is different for everyone, as everyone has different sparks, but usually it happens orbital cycles before labor, giving birth, or around five decacycles."

"So, interface is just people making sparklings…" Fracture said slowly. "Then why do I hear Starscream say he does that, and he doesn't have sparklings…?"

"Well, that's where the more difficult part of the conversation comes up." Knock Out set the datapad down. "Interface is supposed to make sparklings. Yes, that's its biological purpose… But because it feels so nice, it's also used for bonding and for fun. Many people will interface just to enjoy the feeling. And for mated people, like sire and I, we do it a lot to grow closer. You can prevent having a sparkling by either not spark bonding, or disconnecting certain wires that activate the nanite production units for the spike, or use this clamp on the top of the birth tube that prevents nanites from going into the gestation tank. Those are the most common, but there are some other methods.

"Now, that being said, you shouldn't just go interfacing anyone. There are certain diseases that are only spread by interface. So, if you're not careful you can catch them. Several are deadly if not treated. The rest just make you miserable if not treated.

"There's also something that is called rape… Which… When you are being penetrated, which means a spike goes into your valve… It can hurt. Especially if the person doing it is not gentle or kind… You have to want interface and the person you're doing it with has to respect your boundaries and listen to you. If not, it hurts. But some very bad people don't care about your boundaries. They want to interface so they, and only they, enjoy it. So, they hurt people simply so they feel good.

"Interface has a good and bad side. Good side is like what sire and I have. We bond with it because we love each other, and we use it to make beautiful sons we love. But then the bad people use it to hurt others.

"Now, all this being said, just because you know what something is don't go and do it. When you lose your virginity, which is when you have never had interface, you want to lose it to someone who really cares about you. When you lose it to someone who never cared about you… It can really make you sad and have many regrets. I lost mine to someone who really hurt me. And it bothers me still to this orbital cycle. But your sire here lost it to me and he's the happiest mech alive."

"Damn right!" Breakdown smiled.

"I got you two a book on interface." He handed them each one of the other two datapads. "This book is for mechlings of your age, and will explain to you more about interface, about the diseases you can catch, and also about the changes in your bodies. You are about to hit puberty, which is when the body prepares itself to be able to make sparklings. You're going to have some aches in your belly, you'll get cranky, you'll feel weird between the legs, but that's because your body is becoming an adult body. The book explains it all. But if there is anything that the book doesn't answer for you just ask me."

"And don't ask me." Breakdown said quickly. "Carrier is the doctor. He can explain this all better than me!"

"I also would prefer you not talk about this to Dead End. He's still too young to understand this stuff."

"Ew…" Wildbreak said as he was looking through the datapad. "People do this interface for fun and get this disease?! Are people stupid?"

"Yes, people are very stupid." Knock Out grunted.

Fracture giggled as he looked at his datapad. "Some people have tiny spikes and are bullied for it? That's funny."

"Yeah, it is." Knock Out faintly smiled at him, then his smile faded. "Which brings up another thing I have to discuss with you."

"What?"

Knock Out vented a sigh, not wanting to do this. "Your sire and I had interface to make Dead End… And Wildbreak… But we didn't for you."

Fracture raised an optical ridge. "Then how did I get inside your belly?"

"That's the thing… You never were in my belly. Fracture… I'm not your actual carrier."

Fracture looked at him like he had lost his mind. "You're joking. Sire jokes enough, I don't need you always joking."

"I'm not." Knock Out swallowed, feeling coolant in his optics. "I wish you were mine. I wish so much that I carried you… But I didn't. I got custody of you because your real carrier couldn't take care of you, and you got hurt. There's a reason we have those custody hearings…" He paused. "There's a reason Starscream is always visiting you." He reached over and took Fracture's servo in his. "Fracture… Starscream is your real carrier. I helped deliver you from his belly. He was living with us when he was sparked with you. He made you."

Fracture just stared at him, not sure if he was lying or not. "Y-you're still joking, right?" He paused. "Right?!"

Knock Out took his datapad, messed with it, then pulled up the birth certificate. "This is your birth certificate. You can see that Starscream is your carrier. My designation is down here as one of the doctors who helped deliver you. You were born in the hospital I work at."

Fracture swallowed, not sure how to take this. "W-why couldn't he have me…?"

"Starscream was struggling." Breakdown spoke. "He didn't have a place to stay. He was living on the streets because the person he had been living with kicked him out. He was scared, he was alone, and he came to us. We knew him from the war. He knew he could trust us and moved in. He gave birth to you, and you stayed for about a stellar cycle, the time carrier was sparked with Wildbreak. After Wildbreak was born, literally the orbital cycle after his birth, Starscream and carrier got into an argument and Starscream left believing that we didn't want him here anymore. He went back onto the streets with you. We were scared for your safety and asked the court to give you to us to care for while Starscream focused on himself and finding a place to live. We got custody of you and have raised you as our own."

"Why would he leave to live on the streets?"

"Because," Knock Out spoke now. "The reason we got into an argument is because he went to visit your real sire. Your real sire is… Not a good mech. He has done terrible things. He has horribly abused Starscream a lot. Starscream has had a hard time getting away from him. And when he took you to see your sire… Your sire hurt you very badly, and also hurt Starscream. That's why the court granted you to us so quickly. We were all scared that you would be killed by your sire. He has done such horrible things… He has killed thousands. He was one of the most evil people during the war. You weren't safe."

"And Starscream can't even take care of himself." Breakdown continued. "He struggles a lot. Being a civilian after fighting in a war for so long... It's hard on many. Lots of people are still struggling to make the transition. He was getting better for a while, but then he got sick…"

"I don't know what to say…" Fracture said slowly. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I was fighting with Starscream over you, and I selfishly wanted you to love me and not him." Knock Out explained softly. "It was wrong of me to do that, and I apologize. You should have been told he was your real carrier always."

Fracture was silent as he thought. "What do I call you then?"

"You can still call me carrier or Knock Out. It's your decision and I'll stand by whatever you choose." He paused. "No matter what you choose, I still love you like you're my real son. It feels like I did give birth to you. I will always be there for you, and care for you, and help you no matter what."

"Same here." Breakdown said. "We may not be your biological creators, but we will always love you like we are. It doesn't really matter if we share CNA. Many biological creators are terrible people to their creations… What matters is that we love you and you know you are loved by us."

"The court gave us custody over you, so no matter what, you're with us until you become a legal adult. But even after that time, we will continue to support you."

Fracture looked over at Breakdown, then back at Knock Out. "Who is my real sire?"

Knock Out vented a sigh. "I don't want you to know. He's so awful… I don't want you to feel ashamed of who you are and think you're bad. You're not him." He swallowed. "But I can't stop you from asking Starscream. If you really want to know… It's Starscream's place to tell you that."

"No wonder he doesn't have yellow optics." Wildbreak finally spoke up. "Me and Dead End have yellow optics like sire, and Fracture doesn't even have red optics like you." He pointed at Knock Out. "He's adopted like Diesel!"

"Yes, in a way…" Knock Out adjusted himself on the berth. "And just like Diesel, he's still family and is loved despite not being energon related."

"Is that why I have nightmares about a big mech attacking me?" Fracture looked up. "Because it was my sire who attacked me?"

"Yeah… That's why." Knock Out wiped at his optics as fresh coolant began to leak out. "I wish I could have stopped him and prevented you from ever going over there. You could have been killed. That's why I'm so protective of you."

Fracture scooted over and hugged Knock Out. "I'm here, carrier. You did save me. And it's okay if you didn't tell me before. I want you to be my real carrier."

Knock Out hugged him back, holding him close. "That makes me so happy, Fracture. I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

Breakdown gave them a moment before speaking. "Fracture, you should still talk with Starscream. He may not feel like your carrier, but he is. And you two have a lot to catch up on. He does care about you. He's made some stupid mistakes, and he clearly regrets them. He wants to be your carrier. I'm not saying you have to love him more than Knock Out or whatever. But just… Talk with him and accept he did give birth to you, and he has tried to work on himself because he wants to be there for you. Not everyone has a carrier who will do even that for them."

"You can process this new information for however long you need to." Knock Out added. "It's a lot to take in, and if you need to think about what you're going to say or ask, do so."

Fracture nodded.

Knock Out kissed him on the cheekplates, then did the same to Wildbreak. "I love you two so much. I'll give you some space so you can look at your datapads and think about what we said. Don't hesitate to ask me questions."

"Again, ask him, not me." Breakdown chuckled. "I'd just confuse you more!"

"Okay, carrier!" Wildbreak smiled.

"Yeah, thanks carrier and sire." Fracture held his datapad close.

Knock Out and Breakdown walked out of the room and went into their own berthroom. The speedster turned to his mate, biting his lip plate.

"You think we did it right?"

"I think we did it the best we could." Breakdown cupped his mate's cheekplates and kissed him. "Hey, don't cry. He still loves us. Be proud of yourself. You told him the truth, and you did it without bashing Starscream. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm just scared he may look at us differently…"

"He won't. That mechling loves you so much. You'll always be his carrier, and I'll always be the sire who annoys him with my bad jokes."

Knock Out faintly smiled at that. "I know you're right."

"Of course, you do. Now, I'm going to love on you and not allow you to escape my loving."

"Oh no…"

"Oh, yes." Breakdown then began to kiss his mate as he held him close, despite the speedster weakly struggling to get away.

---

Fracture walked down the stairs and approached the berthroom where Starscream was. He hesitated, then walked in.

"Hey."

Starscream looked up. "Hey." He set down the datapad he had.

"Can we talk?"

Starscream perked his wings. "Yeah, of course. What's up?"

Fracture walked over and sat on the berth beside the Seeker. "So, yesterday carrier talked to me and Wildbreak about what interface is…"

Starscream's optics widened some. "Knock Out might be better to ask questions. He's a doctor…."

"No, it's not about that… Well, I guess it kinda is… I don't know… He told me that… You're my carrier. That I came from you. And he showed me my birth certificate… And explained why I live with him and not you and why you visit… But he wouldn't tell me who my real sire is. He said my sire is a very bad person and I'm better off not knowing… But if I did want to know I needed to ask you because he can't make himself say it… So…" He shrugged. "Who is he? Is he that bad?"

Starscream drooped his wings, contemplating. He was surprised that Knock Out had told his son the truth. He never thought Knock Out would tell Fracture who his real carrier was.

"What did Knock Out tell you exactly why I don't have custody of you?"

"He said… That you were living with my real sire, and he was really mean and made you homeless. And you came to carrier for a home. And then after Wildbreak was born you visited my real sire and he hurt both of us. So, you and carrier argued, and you left, and he was scared I was going to be hurt again… Or killed. So, the court gave me to him."

Starscream slowly nodded. "Yes, that is what happened. I foolishly visited your sire and he hurt both of us… And I was too stupid at the time to realize how much danger I had put you in because I was a selfish idiot…" He swallowed, hearing himself say out loud that Knock Out was right cemented in him that… Knock Out did save Fracture's life.

"Why did you put me in danger…?" Fracture asked quietly.

"How much about interface did Knock Out tell you?"

"He gave me this." Fracture showed him the datapad he had been given. "I've been looking through it. ITVs, how sparklings are made inside of carriers, how interface works, how to not get sparked, how the body reacts, and this funny word: Masturbation." He giggled at that.

Starscream faintly smiled at his son's innocence. "Yeah, that is a funny word." His smile vanished as he sighed. "So, it does not sound like emotion has been explained to you…"

"He said interface between mates also is done for bonding. Make them love each other more. That's emotion."

"Yes, well, it is. You're right. But there's other emotions involved with interface. Emotions you haven't felt yet because you're so young." He paused, thinking about how he would explain this. "So, we all have programming in us, right? Programming that helps us with basic survival needs. Like… Nursing. A sparkling is born knowing how to nurse because that's a program they are born with. Being scared of monsters would also be a survival program. You already know that you should run away from anything big and scary. There's another programming that is in us, but it takes a little longer to activate. This programming makes you want to interface. Because interface is primarily about breeding. And we must breed to keep our species alive and not go extinct. But sometimes… Emotions get involved. We feel the need to interface… But to be… Cherished. Because if we are cherished by the one we want interface from we are more likely to interface them and thus breeding.

"I guess what I'm trying to explain is… Sometimes people are really desperate for a mate… And our programming tells us to mate with this person and interface them to be cherished by them… Even if that person doesn't actually love you back. And I made that mistake with your sire. I thought he loved me back… I thought all I needed to do to make him want to cherish me was to interface him. And that…. He would become my mate and I would have the relationship Knock Out and Breakdown have.

"But… He didn't want to love me… He wanted to interface me because it made him feel good… And I ignored the abuse because I stupidly thought… He would eventually love me…" He looked at his son. "I took you back to him because he told me he wanted to interface me again and that he… cared about me. I thought I had finally won over his affection. So, I went… And he did what he always has done… He used me, abused me, and threw me away… Only that time he also hurt you…" He bit his lower lip plate as he remembered. "I-It has taken me some time to really take in how wrong I was… And how close I came to losing you forever…" He looked at Fracture again. "I'm sorry. I know my words mean nothing to you, but know I am so, so sorry for what I did. I-I won't admit it to him… But Knock Out was right to get custody of you. I'm not a good carrier. I'm not ready for this responsibility. I've been watching how he treats you and I see he is a good carrier. He is ready, and responsible, and he's doing a better job than I ever could."

Fracture studied Starscream a little closer before speaking. "My optics are like yours."

Starscream perked his wings. "You also have my chin."

"So…. If I'm understanding this correctly… You thought my sire would love you and join you because you interfaced him… And then carrier – I mean, Knock Out – got custody of me to protect me… But why did you make me? Knock Out said you can interface without making sparklings."

"Sometimes… You make a mistake. You don't unplug nanite wires, you don't use a clamp, you don't… do whatever and… You make a surprise sparkling. I did not plan on having you. I was shocked when I realized I was carrying you."

"Were you mad…?"

"No… I was just shocked…. But now I'm happy." He stroked the top of Fracture's helm. "Your sire was the angry one. He didn't want you. He wanted me to… Not give birth to you. But I told him no. I wanted to carry you and give birth to you. Partially because I thought he would love me once he saw you, and also because… I was kind of excited to have a sparkling. I've been alive for a very long time. Being a carrier was a new adventure for me. I fragged it up…. But I am glad I still went through with it."

"But who is he…?"

Starscream cupped Fracture's cheekplates with one servo, studying those faceplates…. He could see the sire in them. He vented before speaking. "Your sire is Megatron of Tarn, leader of the Decepticons… The Slagmaker… And my superior during the war. I was his right servo during most of it."

Fracture gave him a look. "The guy we've been learning about in history is my sire…? No… You're slagging me."

"Have you learned about me in your history class?"

"Um, well, yeah, some." He shrugged. "But you weren't Megatron's mate… The datapads don't say anything about you guys being together."

"That's because you're reading the datapads for sparklings, not for gossipers… Wait until you go online…."

"You're serious?"

"I am." He hiked his wings.

Fracture looked away, finding this hard to believe, then he turned back to the Seeker. "Is that why I'm mean….?"

"What? No, you're not mean. Megatron has no influence on your processor. Just your physical attributes. You're probably going to be huge when you're fully grown. But you won't be an aft like him."

"Then why am I mean…?"

"I think you're just moody because you've probably felt something was off but never could figure out what it was. Now, you know."

Fracture looked at his datapad, thinking, then looked up at his carrier. "What do I call you? I call Knock Out carrier, but you're my carrier… But I'm use to calling you Starscream…"

"Whatever makes you happy. We both are your carriers. I'm the carrier who gave birth to you, and Knock Out is the carrier who raised and protected you from my stupidity."

"I can do that." Fracture nodded.

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?"

"Yeah… Carrier – Knock Out carrier – also told me and Wildbreak about rape…. In the last hearing you said Megatron was raping you… He made you interface him when you didn't want it? Did it hurt?"

Starscream did not expect that. His wings drooped. "Yes… Megatron would… Frequently demanded interface from me even when I wasn't in the mood. It didn't… always hurt. Sometimes it was okay… Sometimes it did hurt… Most of the time he hurt me he just…" He wrung his servos. "H-he would hit me… With things…"

"Like sire does to carrier?"

"No, what they do is consensual and isn't that hard…. What Megatron would do to me… I would be so dented I would leak… Sometimes I couldn't walk… Other times… I-I'd be in the hospital and not even be conscious… Knock Out would fix me many times from Megatron's beatings… He would take care of me…" He swallowed, thinking about those times and his most recent time in the hospital.

"Like he took care of me…?"

Starscream nodded, feeling coolant pooling in his optics.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine…" He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. "Knock Out is a good mech… And I'm just very thankful for him… Even if he's an aft."

Fracture hugged Starscream, which the Seeker did not expect. "I'm not mad at you."

Starscream hugged him back. "Thank you… I needed that." He felt more coolant leaking out now as he squeezed his son.

"If Megatron wasn't mean and you did mate him… Would you have more sparklings?"

"I don't know… Maybe…"

"I rather be an only sparkling…"

Starscream faintly smiled. "I like you being my only sparkling. I love you, Fracture."

Fracture didn't say anything, not sure if he loved Starscream back. Maybe not now, but some orbital cycle he might feel differently.

Starscream didn't expect to be told he was loved, but this was huge progress in itself and he happily accepted it.

---

And now Fracture knows 100% that Starscream is indeed his momma! Will they become closer? Will Fracture distance himself from Knock Out? Will Breakdown ever lose his fat?! The world may never know.

Bet y'all also didn't expect Starscream to move in with Knock Out. My friend wanted this to happen. She really wanted Starscream to get super sick from the STDs so he would be unable to care for himself and need someone to care for him. But who would want to care for that asshole? Well, Knock Out, that's who! Who you can see still cares about Starscream. He may be mad at him and hate him for what he's done, but deep down inside of him he still wants Starscream to be safe and be not dead.

Dead End is a little shit, ain't he? I also told my friend that Starscream needed to see that Knock Out is a good mom to Fracture and the other kids. That Fracture has never been in danger and has been truly loved. So Starscream can better understand he wasn't ready at the time to be a parent, and to learn to trust Knock Out more. They might be fighting, but Knock Out gave Fracture stability and love, ensuring he grew up safe and happy. Something Starscream simply couldn't give at the time due to his infatuation with Megatron and struggling to become a citizen. Which is actually not uncommon for real life soldiers to do who served many terms. Imagine being a solder, a military commander, for literally MILLIONS of years. It's not going to be easy to turn that off one day and be a mother with a job and doing housework.

Starscream also needs to see Knock Out is also struggling. He's having panic attacks over losing his baby, the grief and guilt. Knock Out is not doing well despite having the husband, house, money, and kids. He is also only hu-ROBOT, and is having his own battles. When Starscream can see Knock Out's pain, and Knock Out sees Starscream's pain, they both can better understand that this fighting is stupid. They need to help each other because in the end no one is winning. They are both just hurting and need each other.

The abortion industry sadly has put a lot of misinformation out there about not just abortion but also miscarriage. Having a miscarriage is very hard because your baby died for many different reasons. Sometimes you can figure out why it happened, sometimes you can't. But women suffer a LOT of depression, guilt, etc. after a miscarriage, and some become suicidal, some suffer PTSD, etc. And like an abortion, it not only causes guilt, but can cause hormones to get out of balance leading to more depression or other issues. And so Knock Out probably will never be healed from this miscarriage. He clearly has PTSD from it that causes severe panic attacks, he has guilt believing he did something wrong that killed his baby, and he is suffering depression. Not to mention his PTSD makes him scared he'll have another miscarriage, and his guilt makes him think Breakdown hates him. People get divorces over miscarriages usually due to such guilt and the arguments it causes.

But, Breakdown loves his waifu so will be there for him always. Unlike the abortion industry that throws away women suffering from these feelings...

Anyway, this is real and women, and fathers, who have experienced miscarriages need respect and love. It's not easy, it's not talked about enough, and they are people in mourning. That was their BABY, not a "clump of cells," but a baby they loved and lost.

And I have SCIENCE here if you want to read more about it (embedded links available on the AO3 upload of this fic):

www . washingtonpost health/after-miscarriage-i-was-rocked-by-depression-like-many-other-women-i-didnt-get-follow-up-care-for-this-loss/2019/11/29/bd3dcff0-0729-11ea-8292-c46ee8cb3dce_

www . . edu/news/story/women-who-miscarry-have-long-lasting-mental-health-problems

womensmentalhealth posts/postpartum-depression-miscarriage/

www . .nih . gov/pmc/articles/PMC4468887/

www . healthline health/depression/miscarriage-depression

See, I took a commission from a friend who wanted two bitchy robot boys fighting and made it speak out against the abortion industry and to care for women who have miscarriages. I also snuck in adopting puppies and Soundwave having all the kitties encouraging rescue! And you guys thought I couldn't get vegan messages into EVERY story I will ever write. :P

Anyway, yes, both Starscream and Knock Out are sad bitches, with much depression, and need to hug each other and get over their fighting and raise their babehs and yeah...

I'm also really sad right now because a foster kitten I got really close to got adopted. She went to her new home today with another foster kitten I had that she had bonded with. Regina was so sick when I got her, she almost died. She was with me 10 months, so her leaving... I'm just sad and crying a lot. I hope she is so happy in her new home. She deserves the world.