Thanks again for all the comments. To put your minds at ease: this fic is finished and needs only minor edits. I don't like sharing unfinished work.
Part 3
Prime was too jittery to get much work done, watching the breems tick by while trying to anticipate every question the PR mech might have forgotten in the briefing.
Finally, Prime made his way to the atrium, where seemingly every Cybertronian that owned a media ID was gathered. Backstage, the PR mech (Twist or Tweak or something) was doing more last breem briefing.
Once the guards gave their all clear, they walked out and sat at the table that had been set up. Prime and Starscream were to sit next to each other, Starscream on Prime's right. On a whim, Prime stopped to draw out the chair for his intended, as etiquette demanded from the larger mech of a couple. It earned him a brilliant smile, too.
Xaaron made the initial announcement, rambling about how Starscream and Prime had agreed to bond for the sake of understanding and how noble this was and that he was sure things would work out to everyone's benefit. Shockwave added that it had been Starscream's idea in the first place and that said mech had volunteered himself for the experiment. The command element had had some misgivings about the plan. Therefore, he was glad to know Vos's brightest mind was happy with the Autobots' choice.
It could have been worse, but Prime still wished fervently to be somewhere else. He also had the impression only Shockwave felt marginally comfortable where he was.
Eventually, it was over and they could retreat. Prime made sure to get Starscream's chair again and barely refrained from jumping when Starscream wrapped an arm around his waist. Prime failed at a glower, and Starscream just grinned back cheekily. "Just so they'll have a proper picture," he whispered.
Prime sighed and let himself be steered backstage.
Xaaron wasn't too happy about the display, while Shockwave encouraged them. "You should consider being seen in public more often," he said to Starscream when Xaaron was distracted by a guard. "Attend some functions, charm their plating off."
Starscream snorted. "I'm not particularly good at being charming."
"That's not true," Prime protested.
"You're certainly not as good as Megatron was," Shockwave amended, "but you are better than most of us."
"Heh. This only goes to prove how bad we are as diplomats," Starscream said.
"Just consider it. I don't expect you to win the mech of the vorn award anytime soon."
"Yessir." Starscream saluted playfully.
Thinking of work was out of the question after that, so Prime invited Starscream over, where they cuddled on the couch in front of the screen and had a look at what was being said about them. The sources were mostly puzzled as to what the news meant. Some of the more populist ones were appalled that there was a Seeker involved, and even more so that Prime seemed happy at the prospect. Someone else called them cute.
They tired of the ever repeating analyses rather quickly, and used the couch for a make out session that left Prime wishing Starscream weren't so determined to wait. He was somewhat gratified that Starscream seemed to regret that particular vow, too. Nevertheless, Prime walked his intended home as per usual.
xxx
The next morning, Prime found his desk buried under a slew of more or less formal invitations. It seemed that every mech with some rank in the Palace wanted to meet Starscream as soon as possible. Prime sorted them into piles – the bulk he dismissed outright, as they were from mechs he didn't like or know. Bluestreak would spend most of the morning writing polite notes about how sorry Prime and Starscream were, but they had a prior engagement. The small rest went into an extra tray. He'd ask Starscream's opinion about those before answering.
Then, Prime did some actual work and had a conference call with the respective commanders from Tarn, Praxus and Altihex about the border situation. All was quiet, what a surprise.
Then, he hoped to find Starscream in the archives. A helpful spark told him Starscream had taken his work outside half a joor prior.
Starscream had spread his datapads across an entire bench while a guardsmech Prime didn't know shifted his weight in the shadow of a tree. The sunlight was near blinding today, but Starscream didn't seem to mind. His paint gleamed, and if Prime hadn't been watched, he would have stopped to ogle for a breem or two.
"Optimus." Starscream stood to place a small kiss on Prime's cheek. "What brings you here?"
"I need your opinion on a few invitations I- we received."
"Only a few?" Starscream raised an optic ridge.
"The other hundred or so have never bothered to invite me while I was still single, so I dare say they aren't high priority."
Starscream nodded. "Just let me collect my stuff."
Prime dismissed the guard while Starscream tidied up his bench. They ambled back to Prime's office, where Bluestreak handed over a new bunch of invitations with an apologetic air.
Leaving Starscream to look at the already sorted pile, Prime waded through the newer messages, which were uninteresting as a whole.
"Do you always get this many invitations?" Starscream asked eventually.
"I could attend a social function every night, yes."
"But you don't? We've been seeing each other for a while now and you've never mentioned it."
Huh. "I usually make a point to attend some party or other once in a decacycle, so that people don't forget what I look like."
Starscream laughed. "Good. Now. Is there some kind of system so I can actually know what to expect?" He waved one of the cards for emphasis.
Oh dear. Starscream obviously had no idea how to sort formal from informal and suchlike, so the entire exercise had been a waste of time and hopefully hadn't intimidated Starscream.
Prime took the various invites and spread them out on his desk. Mirage's handwritten note on the one end, some big charity on the other and everything else in between.
"So?" he asked when he was done explaining.
"He's a friend of yours?" Starscream tapped on Mirage's note.
"A good acquaintance, as of now. I told you about him and Jazz, didn't I?"
"Hmm. I like his tone."
"It's tonight," Prime pointed out. Ostensibly, they would have to fill in for Mirage's ever busy brother and his mate.
"So what? We're going to have to face the world sometime."
"Alright, then." It was going to be small, with very little actual nobility attending. "Anything else?"
"Is there somewhere you'd like to go?"
"I had planned for this," Prime pointed at one card advertising a fundraiser for the destroyed Praxus Academy and Archives, "even before we met."
Starscream blinked at the card as if it had personally offended him.
"I'll get the tickets for both of us and you can pay me back later," he offered.
Starscream glared at him. "Right. Because being your bondmate is a paid job."
"I figured you'd be making some credits with your publishing eventually."
"Hah. Sometimes I really wonder if we're even living on the same planet. This," he balled up the offending card and threw it at Prime, "this is the equivalent of ten vorns of work for a trine leader. Back when we got paid, mind you. And I know from personal experience making money from publishing science isn't quite that easy. So if you can wait for ten vorns or so and won't drag me to another such event in the meantime, yes, I might be able to pay you back."
Well. Obviously his had been the wrong approach. Prime blinked, at a loss. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."
"I know." Starscream sighed explosively and leaned back in his chair.
"However, we won't be able to avoid charities altogether."
Starscream pouted.
"If I promise to reduce the frequency at which I attend this kind of function, will you promise not to fuss and let me pay for you?"
"I- you can't just give me things like that on a regular basis."
Starscream obviously valued his independency.
"You will be my bonded mate. What is mine is yours. I wouldn't want any form of compensation other than the fact that you learn to accept this kind of gift."
"But," Starscream hit the armrest of his chair, "I already feel like a charity case myself. It's wrong."
"I told you I don't want gifts back or favors or whatever you currently fear. I can't not show myself, I won't be able to go alone once we're bonded, so you'd do me a great favor by accepting the deal."
"Hmm." Starscream looked at him. "If you say you will reduce the frequency, how many of these things per vorn are we talking here?"
"Ten or so."
"Three."
They haggled for a while until Starscream agreed to six with much grumbling.
Decisions about the other invitations could wait until Starscream after this night's get-together. Prime called Mirage, apologizing for the lateness of his answer, but was waved off with the usual geniality.
"I can imagine mine was not the only message waiting for you this morning."
As the orn before, Starscream then tried to work in Prime's office. It went marginally better than the previous experience, as in, Prime sometimes managed to go through an entire report without staring at his intended who was impossibly cute when he was concentrating.
Occasionally, they would catch each other looking and then an entire breem could pass before one of them managed to tear their optics away.
xxx
But the afternoon did end eventually. After a quick trip to the washracks, Prime fetched Starscream at the guest quarters and they walked towards the Senators' residences.
The corridors here had rich, dark blue carpeting, which seemed to fascinate Starscream. "It's soft enough to sleep on," he said, testing the give of it with a heel. "Such a waste."
"It's some sturdy polymer, I'm told, to muffle footsteps. There are sparklings living here and anyone who likes to recharge late probably appreciates it."
Starscream gave him a smile, but didn't comment further. He probably didn't realize that the art displayed in the office wing or the imported stone lining the walls in the red conference room were a lot more expensive than the Palace's entire silicone-based carpeting.
Most likely, this was the first time Starscream saw wall-to-wall carpeting at all.
Prime held out a hand and together, they walked the hallways to Mirage's quarters.
They had to wait a bit after ringing the door chime, until Mirage opened, looking flustered.
"I'm afraid my guest of honor isn't very pleased to relinquish his VIM status to you," he explained.
"We'll try to be unobtrusive," Prime promised, but felt Starscream's hand grip his a little tighter. He squeezed back.
They followed Mirage into his living room, where two white mechs were carrying on a conversation while the other three seemed too tense.
Mirage cleared his vocalizer and managed to sound unconcerned while introducing Senator Meridian, his bondmate Livewire, and Livewire's brother Wheeljack to Starscream. The other two mechs Prime only knew from pictures: Sunstreaker, the up and coming painter, and his twin, Sideswipe.
Prime tried to ignore their glowers and asked what brought them here from Praxus.
"We're here for the fundraiser next decacycle," Sideswipe said. "We figured being early and doing some advertising couldn't be amiss."
Prime nodded, guessing at the event. "We planned to attend, too," he said. Next to him, he felt Starscream tense.
"Right," Sunstreaker said before Prime managed to elaborate. "Because the sentiment's so sincere."
"It wasn't exactly our fault that your city's defense barricaded themselves in the most precious building you had," Starscream snapped back.
"You could have just left us the slag alone," Sideswipe pointed out.
Starscream's look became pinched. Prime fought the urge to grab his intended, carry him outside and declare it a failed experiment. But Starscream shifted his weight ever so slightly. "No, we couldn't have. Whoever controls Praxus controls the Polyhex plains as well."
Sideswipe blinked. "You mean overrunning us was actually a strategic decision?"
"Yes. And in case you didn't notice, we did less damage coming in than the Autobots did when they tried to get us out."
"That is correct," Wheeljack offered cheerfully, ever unhelpful. Indeed it was true – Praxus had been annexed within an orn and was still relatively intact, unlike the Kalis outskirts or most of Tarnian territory. But shifting blame was useless.
"You know," Sunstreaker turned to Prime, "I do remember the mumbo jumbo from the news back then. You could have just let them have the South. It's not like there's anyone but them living there."
"Yes," Prime admitted. Attacking Praxus had been a preemptive strike, in hindsight. "Unfortunately, both my predecessor and the Council had other ideas."
"Of course they had other ideas," Meridian intercepted. "Cybertron's unity is holy. The two state solution can only be temporary."
Starscream considered him. "Prepare to redefine temporary, then."
"If there is peace and mutual respect, I don't think diversity will threaten Cybertron's unity," Mirage said.
"Mutual respect is a few vorns away," Starscream observed. "Most of you don't even accept that we had a right to fight in the first place, and Megatron wasn't the most intelligent choice when it came to figureheads."
"There was a lot of deliberate miscommunication," Mirage said, ignoring the last comment. "But you are a mech of public interest now, so perhaps one of the major news agencies would be interested in a detailed interview or an essay or so."
Starscream looked at Prime as if asking permission.
"It's a good idea. Sentinel didn't actually leave notes on how bad you were being treated, and it took me awhile to figure out why so many of yours were proclaiming liberty or death."
"I'll think about it."
"Wonderful." Mirage beamed. "Now, Sunstreaker… how did your visit with Argon go? I hear he wanted you to show at his gallery."
Just like that, everyone relaxed. The rest of the evening passed with small talk. As expected, Starscream was having difficulties, having no reference points for the gossip and generally not being very good at socializing. Also, while he did have his stint at an Academy, and it had smoothed his Vosian accent, he lacked a broader education that included art, literature and other such fine things. He was probably out of his depth, but he wasn't showing it much.
However, he did start fidgeting as the third joor rolled around, and Prime took that as their cue to leave. "It's been a nice evening, but I'm afraid we've had a busy orn. If you'd let us retire for the night?"
Mirage did, of course, and after a round of farewells, Prime and Starscream were back outside. Prime offered his hand, but Starscream ignored it in favor of leaning against Prime for a moment.
"I didn't think them that exhausting," Prime joked.
"I swear I've never sat through so much inane chatter."
"Socializing isn't inane. Don't tell me you've only ever had deep conversations."
"No. But they were more to the point."
"Mirage and Meridian were brought up to know how to talk circles around everything. But I guess that it might have turned out differently if you weren't who you are."
Starscream looked up at him, optics narrowed suspiciously. "And I am who?"
"You are Starscream." Prime nuzzled Starscream's helm. "But they mostly see the enemy, a social upstart and my intended, and I believe these implications are hard to work around."
"Smooth." Starscream grinned at Prime.
"Thank you." Overcome with the sudden urge to kiss Starscream, Prime did just so.
xxx
The orns until the fundraiser passed quickly, if uneventfully. The peace talks were apparently drawing to a close, so Xaaron had seen fit to choose a date for the ceremony. Soon after, Manners sent the provisional guest list so Prime and Starscream could check it over.
Prime invited his creators to tell them the news himself, and it was another exercise in awkwardness.
"Doesn't it hurt?" asked Starscream once they had seen them off.
Prime shrugged. "It's going to take some time to fix this."
"That wasn't what I asked."
"It stings," Prime allowed. "And it will continue to do so until Override apologizes."
"Mh. I don't know if I could stand this." Starscream had that faraway look on his face again, as always when his lost sparkling came up.
"I became used to it."
"I don't think this is something you should get used to."
Starscream went silent and broody for the rest of the evening.
xxx
As Starscream had predicted, there were questions about what they were expecting as gifts as soon as the invitations had made it to the respective addressees. After wracking his brain for a joor, Starscream came up with 'some more datapads and some free book downloads', and Prime couldn't think of anything. Being Prime meant he got spoiled as it was, he didn't need more clutter to collect dust on his shelves.
In the end, they decided to ask for credits. They'd put some of those into a fund – if they ever had a sparkling they'd need it for the bitlet's education – and the rest would go to various charities.
Other than that, Prime was still trying to get used to the fact that he was sharing his office with Starscream now. They both probably would have been working more effectively on their own, but Starscream's occasional mutterings and the regular tap of a stylus on a datapad were comforting in their own way.
Starscream, after considering Mirage's idea, had opted to start a public diary on the net. The interest was overwhelming, so he'd locked the comment option on the Palace's net admin's insistence.
It was something of a surprise for Prime that Starscream was good at writing essays.
Starscream never offered personal details, but somehow, seeing the facts of his life in writing was intimate knowledge anyway. At least Prime got to see the drafts before anyone else did, and didn't feel quite as deprived as he would have been otherwise, upon learning those things by proxy.
Like that Starscream had never had a room to himself until he was placed in that too small guestroom. How he marveled at the many windows, because in Vos you had to bribe or interface your way into quarters that had them. How he'd met an apprentice archivist who seemed so much younger than he was, only to learn the mech was half again Starscream's age.
From those small observations, you could piece together a drab, hopeless existence. After reading the third, Prime had asked, "aren't you afraid to share that much with the world outside? It seems… very private."
"It's not. There isn't a mass produced soldier or miner who wouldn't have the same experiences. I'm merely giving them a voice."
Prime had nodded and felt his insides twist in shame. He have actually thought about the data to which he had had access as an archivist. It had been such convenient reasoning to keep some of their own as mere slaves without ever calling them so, and the economic damage had been enormous when the slaves had finally rebelled.
Starscream had looked at Prime oddly, as if knowing what he was thinking, and had risen to hug him a little. "It's not your fault," he had insisted.
Prime had held on a little tighter, wishing it were true, that it hadn't been the laziness and thoughtlessness of people like himself who had let it go on as long as it did.
xxx
There was no real way to prepare Starscream for something as big as the fundraiser. Prime made a point to invite Mirage twice for some energon so that Starscream would have at least one more familiar face there. They got along well, and Mirage had the gift of not making things awkward.
In the end, the evening of the party rolled around. They took a transport to the Constellation, Iacon's most expensive hotel, with Ironhide and some broody red minibot as bodyguards. Starscream was fidgeting the entire way.
"Having second thoughts?"
"I'm just missing my nullrays."
Prime nodded. Out here was former enemy territory.
They arrived to a flurry of media mechs and their entreaties to pose here and look there and smile, please. The inevitable, but thankfully small crowd of curious onlookers clamored for autographs and pictures until the next semi-important guests arrived and were pounced.
Mirage was waiting for them in the lounge, complimented Starscream on his waxing and then dragged them off into the hall.
It was decorated in Praxian style for the occasion. Almost indecent amounts of sculptures, made of the crystals the city was famous for, crowded every available niche. Some of these would be auctioned off later. A giant tapestry hung from the back wall, displaying the proud V-shaped sigil of the city's emirate.
Starscream seemed dazed by this pompous display, but didn't have time to ogle. Mirage tugged at Prime's arm and made them follow him to the nearest group of people they absolutely had to meet.
It went well for about ten breems. Then, a scandalized voice behind Prime said, "How could you bring this abomination here."
Starscream twitched, and Prime caught his upper arm. "I don't see any abominations. Do you?" he murmured into Starscream's audio.
"Prime," the voice continued.
Prime turned and nodded his head. "Emirate Insight." That little busybody. "I don't believe you've met my intended yet? This is Starscream."
Starscream nodded, a smirk on his face. "Emirate. We meet at last."
Emirate Insight frowned.
"I would have expected you to be there when we negotiated with the defenders of Praxus," Starscream explained.
Ouch.
The crowd seemed to think so as well. Mutterings spread, reminding everyone that the Emirate had been the first to flee and the last to return.
For a moment, Insight just bristled. "Praxus wasn't defensible at the time. There remains the question of you pretending sympathy with us."
More mutterings, supporting Insight this time.
"The Vos and Kaon Academies were destroyed a long time ago," Starscream said. "I know exactly what you are missing."
"As if war machines and mining drones need an education", Insight scoffed.
All noise in the hall stopped.
From the silence, a familiar hum-growl rose like on the advent of a battle. Prime noticed belatedly that it was Starscream making the noise.
"I should kill you," Starscream spat. "Kill you and mount your parts on the walls of Vos, for belittling our culture so."
"I'd call that barbarism, not culture."
"Broadcasting someone's execution on the net so that their sparkling can watch them being tortured isn't barbarism?"
Primus. They'd never learned the mech's name. He'd been shot down at a battle over in Tarn, and wouldn't even divulge his designation. But the medic had reported a relatively new fissioning scar, so Prime had ordered for him to be held captive until a prisoner exchange. The then Emirate of Tarn had had other ideas, and somehow a video had made it onto the net.
Emirate Insight mouthed silently, as if testing several sentence-starts.
"Enough," Prime said. "In case you didn't notice, Emirate, it was an attitude like yours that started the war. We have never been the wronged party."
"But Prime…," someone spoke up. "They attacked us first."
"Vector Prime turned an entire people into slaves," Prime said. "It's unfortunate we never managed to make amends before it was too late."
He found himself being stared at by hundreds of blue optics. He'd said the s-word, the exact word the council and senate had always been so careful to avoid.
"Um." As ex-special ops, Mirage was used to quick thinking. "This is an interesting lookout on history. I know you were an archivist once. Why is this version of events new?"
"It's not new," Prime said. "It's only never mentioned outside the archives. Apprentices are encouraged to avoid the topic if they ever want a promotion. Starscream is currently doing a survey on the data we have."
"Oh?" Mirage turned to Starscream, asking a barrage of questions, and slowly conversations around them resumed, while Emirate Insight stalked off to seek comfort from his courtiers.
The rest of the evening was bearable. Both Sideswipe and Sunstreaker bothered to say hello and made a bit of small-talk, until Sunstreaker came out with a request for Starscream.
"I'd like you to sit for me."
"Excuse me?"
"I'd like to paint you," Sunstreaker rephrased.
"Why?"
"To figure out the attraction. We were taught to abhor Seeker builds, and now I keep wondering how they managed to make us find you ugly."
Starscream's optics narrowed. "If this is a joke, I'm not laughing."
"No. I just can tell that there are some who look at you the old-fashioned way, and some who don't, and I want to know where I made the transition." Sunstreaker floundered at having to explain his wish.
"You do realize that he is my intended," Prime cut in, insides bursting with suppressed laughter at Sunstreaker's mortified look.
"I- it's not that…"
"I know." Prime looked at Starscream. It was his decision.
"I want to see some of your other portraits first. And I might ask for a favor in return."
"Anything."
Starscream laughed. "You need to be careful with such promises."
Again, Sunstreaker was at a loss for an answer, until Starscream waved it off. "I know what you meant. So. You did say you were going to show here in Iacon?"
Thus Prime found himself invited to a vernissage, which was new, even for him.
xxx
The new orn brought an avalanche of headlines (Prime a 'Con sympathizer?), and an order to meet the Council in a joor.
While Starscream used the console in Prime's office to read all the articles he could find, Prime was tired of the same stupid assumptions after skimming the first two. Instead, he reviewed statistics to build his case later.
"You've really confused them," Starscream remarked some time in. "The poor dears are so proud of their correct facts and unbiased reporting, and now you caught them off guard."
Prime grunted. "They're believing in the official sources too much."
Starscream looked at him oddly. "You do realize you're also an official source?"
Ah. Prime blinked. He was, wasn't he? He was the slagging Prime, after all, and an archivist.
Starscream offered one of his lopsided smiles.
"I'll just have to make my opinion official, then."
Prime went to check the interview requests. He agreed to one from the most serious network he knew and didn't bother to consult the Council first.
"They'll be here in the afternoon," Prime said when he'd sent his note.
"Good. It's time you started using them as they're using you."
"I've not quite reached the mastery of manipulating them like you do."
Starscream chuckled.
xxx
Once again, Prime had been ordered to the round room for the dressing down.
"So," Xaaron said, pacing under the highlight. "Would you care to explain why you deemed such an unpatriotic statement necessary?"
Prime stood to attention, his hands clasped behind his back. This was worse than he'd expected. "I wasn't aware telling the truth was unpatriotic."
"You've undermined your own pledge by hinting the Decepticons' war was just!" Xaaron stopped to let his spiky armor bristle.
"I said they had a just cause, but I don't think I said their war was just. I will elaborate on this in public, though, given that people obviously have the wrong impression."
"You obviously have the wrong impression, Prime. If you issue any public statement, it will be to renounce your accusation."
What? "With all due respect, Councilor, I refuse to lie or employ euphemisms any further."
"Both the miners and the jets were public servants and being paid," Xaaron said. "You have no right to call them slaves."
"What else do I call them, then? They were sparked into adult bodies, put to work immediately and never given a choice as to their occupation. The only mech from Vos or Kaon who ever made it into an academy is Starscream. We might have paid them, but in lower wage classes than willing public servants and military. Also, we deducted the insane portion of ninety five percent of that for room, board and medical assistance. Which was abysmal. I found a statistic saying that three times more Kaonian miners died from severe work injuries than those over in Tarn, even though the injury rates themselves were almost the same. What do I call them if they weren't slaves?"
Xaaron didn't respond to that, just stared at one of his fellow councilors in the shadows, maybe in silent communication.
"What's more, Councilor, is that I will be bonding to one of those former slaves, and we are currently trying to earn their good graces. If either Shockwave or Starscream feel that we disrespect them, or if we deny that they even had a reason to want freedom, I can see them not signing that peace treaty."
That would create an uproar which would make this one pale in comparison. After nearly twenty vorns of constant fighting, people just wanted their lives back. If the war continued, the government would have to issue a draft, too, and that wouldn't go over well at all.
"I'd like to pretend you actually thought about this beforehand, but as I know you, it was probably more your belligerent attitude towards this entire thing that spurred you on," Xaaron spat.
"My intended was being insulted by a noblemech who should know better," Prime said. "I chose to put matters right instead of resorting to name calling like Insight did."
Xaaron harrumphed. "We have already implied that we acknowledge the justice of their cause by accepting peace talks with them, unfortunately. We will not go so far as to apologize."
They weren't, maybe, but Prime had seen and heard enough to do so. "With your permission, I will correct some of the misunderstandings of last night. I do not condone war, and neither do I concur with Megatron's objectives, so I don't want any mech to think so."
"Permission granted," Xaaron said. "Try to keep your oath in mind while you do so, Prime."
"Always," Prime said and bowed. "Councilors."
Xaaron jerked his head. Maybe, just maybe they realized they'd been played.
Prime had the suspicion they'd agreed to the bonding because they'd assumed the Decepticon's loudmouth candidate was also mentally unstable. They would have hoped Prime's calm and sense of duty would turn Starscream into a docile advocate of the bad old ways.
They'd been wrong on all counts.
xxx
Starscream was waiting for Prime back in his office, reclining in Prime's chair, feet on the desk, obviously trying to look cavalier about the entire thing.
Prime tutted and ran a finger along the inside of one thruster. The foot twitched.
Heh. Ticklish, were we. Prime tried again. And again, the foot twitched.
"Stop that." Starscream sounded quite put out, so maybe it was a weakness that would better be exploited in private. Starscream wouldn't appreciate being reduced to giggles in full view of Bluestreak.
"So… I dare say they'll let you live," Starscream observed once he'd regained his dignity.
"Not only that. Xaaron finally admitted that maybe you had a reason to want things changed."
"And the planet still turns?" Starscream deadpanned.
"As far as I know. So, oh wise occupier of the Prime's desk chair, do you have any advice on how I should handle the interview? Is there anything you want mentioned or clarified?"
Starscream lifted one corner of his mouth. "You could just include me in the interview. I'm sure they would love it."
Prime blinked. "Would you?"
"Given the fact it's only eleven more decacycles until that point will be somewhat moot?"
Only?
Starscream laughed and finally put his feet off the desk to stand and hug Prime. "Did you really forget it was this soon?"
Prime nuzzled Starscream's helm. "I'd say it never sounded this soon before."
"Well, it never was this soon, given how time can't be stopped."
Prime chuckled, caught Starscream looking at him and just had to look back for a while. Eventually, Prime kissed him just to feel a little less foolish.
xxx
The media mech turned out to be Edgewise, a spindly silver bot with a surprisingly smooth voice. Prime had met him before, and Edgewise had struck him as a distinguished and smooth professional.
Prime took them to a small meeting room near his office where they left the guard outside, much to Edgewise's relief. Prime offered some goodies he'd had the kitchen place there.
"I'm somewhat surprised to see you both," Edgewise started once he'd set up his small recording drone on the table.
"It was a rather spontaneous decision. But in the end, he has first hand knowledge about how things were. Unfortunately."
Starscream shot him a little smile. "It's over now."
"That it is," Edgewise said. "But for the sake of the audience, let's start at the beginning. I'm told things escalated last night when Starscream threatened Emirate Insight."
"It started when Insight called my intended an abomination and a war machine. Starscream had every right to defend himself."
"Heh. It wasn't the best shot at a defense, though," Starscream offered. "A long time ago, mounting the shells of formidable or powerful enemies on the walls was done to strike fear into the sparks of eventual attackers. Insight is neither formidable nor powerful. Besides, we haven't done this in a while and we're hoping we'll never be in a position again where we have enemies."
And so on. Prime repeated his speech on slavery. Starscream added details.
In the end, it seemed as if Edgewise's professional distance was slipping.
"If this is the truth…" he said.
"Not if," Starscream said. "I have no reason to exaggerate. With less repressing circumstances, we might have continued as it was."
"My data is correct," Prime added. "It can be viewed in the archives by anyone who is looking. Only it appears the looking was done far too late. For which I am sorry."
"So you're saying the Decepticons were right?" Edgewise latched onto that.
"It would depend. Do I agree with Megatron's urge to destroy or conquer all enemies? No. Do I condone warfare? No. If Megatron had been after the rights of the people he was leading, he could have stopped after Praxus. He had the military advantage and was in a position to negotiate."
"Yes. Unfortunately, he was immune to this kind of counsel, and rather charismatic," Starscream said.
"Ah. I do have to agree he had a knack to give speeches," Edgewise said. "So now that your positions are made clear, would you grace the audience with an answer to one personal question?"
"That would depend on the question," Prime said.
"Of course. As you have indubitably realized, there is some talk about you two referring to each other as your intended, whereas Councilor Xaaron made it look as if you had been asked to bond?"
"It's complicated," Prime admitted. "But Starscream asked, and I accepted, and that's all that matters." He smiled at Starscream, who smiled back, for once totally unconscious of the camera. Prime just had to look.
Edgewise cleared his vocalizer and left after thanking them profusely.
xxx
Later, they sat on Prime's couch and watched the interview as well as Edgewise's commentary on it.
It was interesting to hear Edgewise had been apprehensive about the bonding. While he didn't think Starscream to be a mindless drone, he certainly considered him a ruthless killer without any capacity for emotions beside hate or anger. "But it's clear they're both smitten. According to popular opinion, Starscream shouldn't be able to fall in love. He shouldn't be able to summon the dry wit he's showing. But he obviously does, so this part of the information was wrong, and I find myself wondering which other parts of those so-called truths are correct."
"Heh." Starscream wriggled his nose. "Good choice there for an interview partner."
"Thank you," Prime said. "People used to trust his judgment. I hope this doesn't change."
"Hey." Starscream kissed him. "Wasn't I supposed to be the pessimist here?"
xxx
Apart from a few love letters and death threats, two decacycles passed in relative calm.
Northern media finally overcame age-old fear and trickled into Vos and Kaon. The sheer novelty of heretofore assumed near-drones organizing themselves and actually succeeding caused a flurry of reports and documentaries, and eventually questions. If an entire population of uneducated mechs was able to elect a working government and senate, why were there rules banning exactly this kind of mech from elections in the north?
They were careful questions but they were there, under the surface, always.
xxx
Sunstreaker's vernissage rolled around and brought a flurry of unfamiliar faces. Mirage was there, though.
A surprise guest appeared at Prime's elbow when Mirage was talking to someone else.
"Fancy meeting you here, boss-bot."
"Jazz." Optimus smiled. "I wasn't aware you'd been invited."
"Well… given how you two remain somewhat elusive, I've decided to introduce myself."
Prime quelled a short bout of guilt. "You haven't met Starscream yet. Starscream, this is Jazz."
Starscream nodded. "You're the mech who made us face the public."
Jazz offered his long-perfected look of utter innocence. "Me? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"We're not angry," Prime said. "The positive outcome outweighs the minor discomfort we suffered."
"Good to hear. So, what are you two doing here? Optimus isn't exactly a connoisseur of the arts," Jazz added in a stage-whisper to Starscream.
"We were invited. Sunstreaker was present at the infamous evening," Prime explained, ignoring the jibe.
"Really? That can't be all."
"He wants me to sit for him," Starscream said, apparently still somewhat amazed at the request.
"Yeah. I can see the appeal of getting to look at you for orns on end."
"Stop being crass, Jazz," Mirage's smooth voice interjected. A nanoklick later, he shimmered into visibility.
"I was just being friendly. As you would have noticed back in the time when you didn't have a pipe shoved up your exhaust."
While Mirage was busy spluttering, Prime caught Starscream's optic. They both weren't really keen on being dragged into this particular fight.
"Are you two sure you wish to have this discussion here?" Prime ventured.
"If we don't have it here, where he can't run off, we're not gonna have it at all," Jazz said.
"I believe there is nothing to be discussed," Mirage huffed.
"See," Jazz said. "What did I tell you?"
Prime sighed.
Starscream made a show of clearing his vocalizer. "Seeing as you both still have the capacity to hurt each other, the discussion might even have a positive outcome."
They both blinked at Starscream.
"I maintain that the time for discussions is long over," Mirage said.
Jazz scoffed and walked off.
For a moment, Mirage looked like he wanted to grab Jazz and stop him from leaving.
"You still want him," Starscream said. "You're hurting just as much as he is. Why did you dump him?"
"That's none of your business," Mirage snapped, then looked taken aback by his own tone.
"First Jazz used me to draw your attention, then you decided to break loose an argument over it despite your assurance that you don't care anymore. If you two drag me in, then it is my business."
"It wasn't my intention to-"
Starscream sneered. "Of course not. But I'd like you to consider something. Your own Prime is going to bond to some lowlife Seeker scum, namely myself."
"You're not scum."
"But it took you a while to realize that, no? Anyway, people seem to be coming to the same conclusion as you, given how I wasn't insulted even once this evening. When is the time to have courage if not now?"
Mirage shook his head, then fled, citing some new arrival he absolutely had to greet.
"Primus save me from idiots," Starscream said to Prime. "Those two are worse than TC and 'Warp when they're having a spat. I've spent vorns trying to not let them make me choose sides. It's very annoying."
"I can imagine. Though I am inclined to take Jazz's side here."
"Hrrm. I don't know. That mech can be pretty crude when he sets his mind to it. It might be part of the reason."
"Jazz wouldn't embarrass Mirage that way."
"Does Mirage know that? They weren't exactly official, as you told me."
"Hmm." That was true.
"They do need to have that discussion."
"You are thinking of matchmaking."
Starscream just grinned.
The rest of the evening passed in mostly pleasant socializing.
In the end, Starscream agreed to Sunstreaker's request, which meant that for the next three orns, he was busy standing in an archway of the older part of the Palace and being absolutely still.
Starscream ranted a little, because he'd been asked to sit, not stand, but the result was well worth the discomfort. Starscream wasn't sure why anyone would want a painting of him, even after seeing it, and outright dismissed the idea when Prime tentatively mentioned that he would buy it if Starscream wanted to keep it. Prime himself found that he didn't need to be reminded that Starscream was proud, intense and beautiful.
It went to the gallery, caused another media hype, garnered Sunstreaker a death threat and sold pretty quickly to the Academy, due to its historical value. That made Starscream preen.
xxx
More time passed, and sometimes Prime would get a stirring in his fuel tanks as the ceremony's date was growing nearer and nearer.
A decacycle after the nearly disastrous vernissage, Prime invited Jazz over, trying to make up for his earlier neglect. Starscream got along well with the special ops mech after ranting at him once to stop his flirting.
"Your intended is something else," Jazz said when Prime accompanied him to the gate.
"Really."
"Shrewd and resilient. I think you're lucky that he likes you."
Prime made a noncommittal noise. If Starscream disliked him, he wouldn't have come up with his scheme in the first place. "He's not above using people, but I think he's doing it less than he wants others to believe."
"Maybe. He's subtle. He landed himself a place here, and that alone is guaranteeing change."
"So you think he does have a place here."
"He made himself one, more like."
"With a little of your help."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Optimus. Though I'll admit I miss the more hands-on aspects of my job. Nowadays, I'm lucky if I can leave my desk."
Prime smiled and remembered Starscream's decision to matchmake. "Hmm. Did you know that Councilor Arcane is going to enter his thousandth vorn in the office the orn after next? There's going to be a reception in the main hall, lots of nobility from all over the planet, endless speeches… you know the deal." Lots of guards, too, to challenge Jazz.
"Yeah… you poor bot," Jazz teased. "You'll skip the socializing, I gather."
"Of course." He'd be home early, and it was all the incentive Jazz needed to consider it an invitation.
xxx
For all that Arcane was the youngest of the councilors, the reception was just as portly as something for Xaaron would have been. Even the delicious energon and the goodies didn't make the speeches more bearable. Prime had been expected to add his two credits, but he'd tried to keep it short, as he always did.
"I'll be obliged to attend all of those things if you're invited, won't I?" asked Starscream miserably as the so-called official part drew to a close.
"Think of it as supporting your bondmate in times of dire need."
Starscream laughed.
Some heads turned, which made Starscream sober up and stare back coolly.
"If I may," Mirage said, approaching them, "one wouldn't expect you to be in such a good mood."
Starscream raised an optic ridge. "Well. I'd rather not be tonight's entertainment. If you two will excuse me, I'll find my assigned watchmech and retire for the night."
"Of course" Prime hadn't expected Starscream to bow out this soon and this gracefully. "Good night."
"Night." Starscream offered a peck on Prime's cheek and was off.
"I hope I didn't interrupt any plans you had for tonight," Mirage said.
"No, not at all. I'm mildly surprised he didn't nod off for the speeches… but I guess other people's bad manners are a better excuse than plain tiredness."
Mirage chuckled. "Indeed. He's really quite different from what I thought he would be."
"Oh, yes," Prime said. "He continues to surprise me."
"May I ask how?"
"You may. You and I haven't really talked in a while, have we."
"No."
"If you'd be amenable to some high grade at my place, I might answer that question on the way."
"Of course. I don't think we'll be particularly missed in this throng."
They sneaked off and walked the garden in silence for half a breem before Mirage gently prodded for his answer.
"Oh yes," Prime said. "I never expected him to be agreeable, or even polite. He's put a lot of effort into pulling himself together and making a good impression. I don't know how he does it, but he shouldn't be this… sane, actually."
"He has issues?" Mirage shot Prime a look, but didn't sound particularly surprised.
"He's good at hiding them. He doesn't trust lightly, and he's very sensitive about money."
"Something tells me that's not the extent of it."
"I don't presume to know the full extent. And most of what I know is so private that I shouldn't share it without his permission."
"Hmm." Mirage was silent for a few steps. "So despite being mistrustful, he trusts you with his issues."
"Yes. That was part of the surprises." Prime cycled air for a sigh. "He trusts me. And he does have feelings for me."
"It's the only thing that is plainly obvious about him," Mirage said.
"Is it?"
"Of course. It surprised a lot of people initially. No one thought he could summon that kind of feelings. So I'll revoke my earlier statement. You two are a probably not a match made by Primus, but you're complimenting each other and you're treating each other with respect. It seems to be a healthy foundation for a bond."
"Thank you. It's more than I dared to hope for when you gave me the news."
"It's more than anyone should dare to hope for." Mirage sighed. "I certainly don't think I'll ever find someone like that."
"Jazz seemed to have fit the qualifications."
"I don't know. We existed in a bubble. It wasn't real, Optimus."
Ah. Starscream had been right. "Wasn't it? I understand you couldn't make it official when you both were enlisted. But now you aren't his subordinate anymore. You could have given it a try."
Mirage stopped. "I know he's your friend, Optimus, but are you blind? You know how he's acting in public. Flirting with everything that has legs. The innuendo, his love of dubious card games-"
"Mirage," interrupted Prime. "Jazz is our head of special operations. Do you know why Sentinel hired him?"
"He never even told me it was Sentinel who hired him," Mirage said in a small voice.
"He was hired because he is so adaptable. He's not nobility, but I understand he was raised in a wealthy household, then hit some rough spots. It means he can integrate anywhere smoothly, which is a good quality in a spy."
Mirage didn't answer, so Prime offered his arm as a support and steered Mirage towards his home.
As they entered, Mirage looked about the hall, his mulling obviously abandoned.
"He's not moving in yet?" Mirage asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Starscream. I notice you haven't made any changes to accommodate his tastes."
"He hasn't moved in yet, no. I doubt it will take long, though."
"Really. You know I'll help if you need me, or if he requires a shuttle. I expect he'll want to bring at least some of his furniture."
Prime sighed. As far as he could tell, Starscream didn't own any furniture. "The offer is appreciated," he said anyway. "Now, I remember I promised you some high grade…"
Hoping things wouldn't fall apart from here, Prime opened the door to his sitting room and commanded the lights on.
Jazz was reclining on the couch, grinning and nursing a cube.
"I can't say this is a surprise," Prime said.
"What isn't a surprise?" Mirage asked from the hall.
"I seem to have acquired an uninvited guest." Prime moved aside to let Mirage see. "Good evening. I know I shouldn't have mentioned that reception to you."
For a pico-klick, Jazz's face said that he didn't appreciate Prime's ploy. "Anything for a true challenge."
"Breaking and entering is a challenge to you?" Mirage snapped.
"It was once for you, too. Given your unique talent."
Mirage made an impatient noise. "I think I'll have to turn down that offer, Optimus. I don't wish to spoil your evening."
"No."
"Excuse me?" Mirage raised his optic ridges.
"Given the opportunity, I think I'll both lock you in there until you've explained to Jazz why you really left him. He and I were both laboring under assumptions that turned out to be wrong."
"You can't-"
"I don't care. Both of you are moping for reasons that don't exist, and quite frankly, it's driving me crazy. I won't expect you to kiss and make up, but I expect you to be honest."
With that, he shoved Mirage inside and made a hasty retreat.
He waited in the hallway, but no sound was coming forth, which meant that they were actually conversing at a low level. The door wasn't soundproof, but it only let yelling through. Prime had discovered that on the one occasion he had had Ironhide and Ratchet over, who were very fond of gratuitous arguing.
A joor passed until Mirage opened the door. "Jazz left via the windows," he said in a conversational tone. "He didn't like how you set us up."
"I'll have to apologize to him, then. I'm also sorry for forcing you into this situation and making you uncomfortable, but something tells me I won't regret it."
Mirage offered a secretive little smile. "I'll need to think about this. So, if you'll excuse me…"
"Of course." Prime opened the front door for him. "Good night."
He stood in the doorway and watched as Mirage's retreating figure was joined by another pale shape somewhere in the distance.