Starscream had never seen Skywarp so happy. As days passed, the two of them became even more inseparable, holding hands like they would never let go, kissing each other, talking in baby voices…Skywarp held doors open for Moonbeam, carried her around, bought her flowers, jewelry, presents, anything she asked for.
If anyone so much as looked at Moonbeam, Skywarp would take out his weapons and prepare to fight him. As far as Starscream could tell, they were 'facing at least once every day. On the few nights when Skywarp actually joined his brothers in the room they all three shared, all they would hear was his dreamy voice, whispering her name: "Moonbeam this…Moonbeam that…"
On the other hand, Starscream had never seen Thundercracker so unhappy. Thundercracker insisted he had no feelings for Moonbeam; she was Skywarp's femme exclusively. His only defense for his actions was that Skywarp was just "being stupid".
"Do you want to come flying with me, Thundercracker?" Starscream asked, approaching his brother one afternoon. Thundercracker was sitting on the couch next to Skywarp and Moonbeam, who were making out furiously again. There was a deep scowl on his face.
"Anything to get away from these fools," he muttered, jumping up. Moonbeam knocked Skywarp backwards onto the couch and wrapped herself around him, squealing his name.
"Seriously, TC, what's bothering you?" Starscream whispered.
"They're being disgusting!" Thundercracker hissed. "Why don't they go make out in the bedroom?"
"They're happy," Starscream said back. "Leave them ALONE, will you?"
"I thought you invited me to go flying," Thundercracker snapped. "Not to just lecture me."
"Sorry," Starscream muttered.
Part of the reason why Starscream was inviting Thundercracker to practice flying with him was because he was sure it would improve Thundercracker's mood. After all, flying had always cheered him up when he was upset over something. Starscream still thought Thundercracker had a thing for Moonbeam, but he couldn't get him to admit it.
Once they were both in jet mode, up in the sky, Starscream turned his thrusters on full blast and soared past Thundercracker, who barrel-rolled in the sky and jokingly bumped Starscream's wing. Starscream bumped him back then turned around the other way, inviting Thundercracker to chase after him.
It reminded him of when they were sparklings—playing in the sky all day was their favorite game. Thundercracker must have been thinking the same thing, too, because his mood seemed to lift as he lowered closer to the ground and dove under Starscream, then shot ahead. They kept this up for hours, until finally Starscream got a call on his com. link. As he changed himself back to robot mode and lowered to the ground, he saw that the call was from Skywarp.
"THUNDERCRACKER!" Starscream shouted, gesturing to Thundercracker, who was looking down at him, curious as to why he had suddenly landed.
"What?" asked Thundercracker, quickly touching down.
"Skywarp called us." Starscream was sure Thundercracker would be happy that Skywarp was finally choosing to talk to his trine, rather than just virtually ignore them, as he had been doing for about the past week. (Most likely, it was unintentional, but he had been almost entirely focusing his attention on Moonbeam.)
"Let me guess, more babbling about that pretty little medic?" said Thundercracker sarcastically, crossing his arms.
Ignoring this, Starscream answered the call. "Starscream in. What's up?"
"Well, I know we haven't been spending much time together lately," Skywarp told them regretfully. "So I wanted to make it up to you guys. How about we three go out tonight and have a mechs' night out—my treat?"
"Sounds great!" said Thundercracker. "Why don't you come talk to us in person?"
Skywarp nodded, and the next thing they knew he was outside with them. "The only problem is, do you think Moonbeam will be okay with this?"
"Did you have anything special planned?" asked Starscream. "Besides the obvious, I mean."
"Well, no," said Skywarp, "but…"
"You know, you don't need her approval for everything," Thundercracker reminded him matter-of-factly. "Remember, you'll never be a mech if you let a femme tell you what to do."
"Moonbeam makes me feel all…fluttery," Skywarp whispered, looking up at the sky. "I love her."
Skywarp looked like he was about to melt into the ground, but Thundercracker's red eyes flashed with anger.
"Don't speak too soon, 'Warp," he said firmly. "Let's just go out tonight, and you can forget about her."
"So, where exactly are we going, then?" asked Starscream.
"Wherever you guys want to go," said Skywarp, putting his arms behind his back and swaying from side to side, looking lost in another world.
"I know somewhere we can go," Thundercracker told the other jets confidently, his arms folded across his chest, a grin on his face.
…
It was a place 'cons went to for extra money, femmes that is. The mechs were the ones who paid for the entertainment. Most likely, no Autobots knew it existed. It was located out in the wilderness, with a hologram making it look like nothing was there.
On the inside, though, past the hologram, it was anything but. It was a sort of replica of the Decepticlubs back on Cybertron, because (as some put it) mechs on Earth had their "needs" too. Drinks were available, of course, and weapons were encouraged, but it was mainly a smoky little place where mechs paid high prices for high entertainment. It was known as the Cybertronian Mechs' Club.
"Hey everyone!" said Starscream, bursting through the doors. "The Command Trine is back!"
Of course the jets had been there before, because most 'cons thought it was the best place to party, especially on Earth, where entertainment was hard to find. Skywarp, as promised, paid for their drinks and all three began to drink themselves into a stupor. Most of the energon was pretty strong, so that basically took care of itself.
For some reason, although Starscream and Thundercracker seemed to be perfectly willing to pay some high prices, Skywarp was just sipping some high-grade with a straw, watching with what could only be described as disinterest.
"How much for extra services?" Thundercracker asked one of the dancers, leaning across one of the tables.
"Don't be silly, cutie," she said sweetly, sitting down on his lap. "Here, your kind gets it for free."
Thundercracker and the femme started to make out, while Starscream (also high) was cheering and throwing money onto the stage. Skywarp, quickly finishing his energon, went over to the table with the drinks for another shot—and was interrupted by one of the performers.
"For someone as hunky as you are, I can give you quite a deal," she purred, stroking one finger across his wings.
"Um, n-no thanks," Skywarp stammered, looking a little startled. "I-I mean, my girlfriend back at base, she…I don't think she'd really…"
"What she doesn't know won't hurt her," the femme cooed. "Come on, you know you want to."
"I'm sorry, miss, but I really DON'T need your services," Skywarp insisted. "How's about I just buy you a drink instead?"
"Trying to get me high, huh?" she giggled. "Well, have it your way."
"I wasn't trying to get you high!" Skywarp told her. "I was just trying to be polite!"
"Look, hon, I can find another mech to do me in nothing flat," she said, crossing her arms. "You want this, or what?"
"No, sorry, I don't." Skywarp patted her shoulder and left.
"Did you see what you just turned down, moron?" Starscream whispered in his ear, turning away from the stage for a moment. "You must be crazy!"
"I was remaining faithful to Moonbeam, friend," Skywarp said sharply. "How can you not respect that?"
"All right, all right," Starscream mumbled, taking another sip of his drink.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER…
Of course, the Decepticlub was open 24/7, but eventually, the Command Trine (all high by now) got tired and had to stumble home. Starscream and Thundercracker had both gotten some that night, but Skywarp's pure love for Moonbeam had kept him staying at a table only.
Unfortunately, Moonbeam herself was the first Decepticon they saw after Skywarp teleported them back to base.
"Wherehave you been?" Moonbeam demanded, hands on her hips.
"Cybertronian Mechs' Club, hon," Thundercracker slurred, grabbing Starscream's arm to keep himself from collapsing onto the floor. "We had a mighty good time, too."
With that he slapped her on the aft, mumbled something about seeing her in the morning, and stumbled off to bed. Skywarp and Starscream, though, stayed put.
"YOU WENT TO A STRIP CLUB?!" Moonbeam screeched, eyes shut, hands clenched into fists.
"Please, baby, it's not what you think," Skywarp tried to tell her, though he was having a little bit of trouble talking.
"I can't believe this!" she screamed. "You and your idiot pack disappear without telling me, go to a strip club, and come home high on who knows what! What do you have to say for yourself, Skywarp? Did you have fun with the whores there?"
"Really, Moonbeam, I—" Skywarp reached out for her, but she dodged.
"No 'facing for you tonight, you worthless piece of scrap!" Moonbeam slapped Skywarp, then shoved him aside. For a second he paused, then ran from the room.
"What was that for?" Starscream demanded.
"You hush up!" she told him, and gave him a slap of his own. "You're a total wuss, the blue one is an obnoxious aft, and Skywarp acts like a moron whenever he's with you two! Don't you even talk to me!"
With that she stalked away, leaving Starscream frozen there, mouth open, shocked beyond belief.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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