Lesson in Living
Chapter 9
By Starath
Author's Note: This chapter is almost two years in the making, and was one of the hardest things I've had to write for a while. Thanks for your patience, everyone. Also thank you to my wonderful proofreaders: Crab, Lesselsnowstar, Spark and Scourge. I couldn't have done it without you!
Casey had to set her phone aside until she finished another coughing fit. She blew her nose loudly and tossed the wet tissue into an already overflowing trashcan. She buried herself into a pile of blankets and retrieved her phone.
"Sorry. You were saying?"
The soft voice belonging to Faye, her classmate, sounded concerned. "No wonder you didn't come to class today. Are you taking good care of yourself?"
"Sort of."
"What about the friends you said were visiting you?"
"They help out. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"Like throwing a watering can on a house fire."
"I see." Casey heard paper moving about. "I have the biggest chunks of our marketing project done. When I come over later I'll bring you some cough medicine and green jello."
"You don't have to."
"Which is why I should. Somebody has to take care of you."
Casey smiled. "Thanks Faye. I'll tell one of the boys to let you in when you get here. I might take a nap before then. It'll probably be Jake or Elwood. Don't let them alarm you when you see them."
"Alright. Get some rest, Casey. I'll see you in a few hours."
"Yeah. Bye for now."
"See ya."
She snapped her cell phone shut and gently tossed it on top of her dresser. The common cold had not been kind to her. Within twelve hours of first feeling sick the illness had knocked her flat in all senses of the word. It was all she could do to stay warm and hydrated. She had no patience for dealing with the Decepticons right now, either. Although Frenzy was eager to help her, she found it was easier to do things herself. The alternative was trying to explain what she wanted done and how, two things she simply did not have the brainpower for right now. To top it off, Starscream had been missing since last night and Megatron was in a terrifically foul mood.
She adjusted her blankets and stood up woozily. She made it to her bedroom door and cracked it open. "Hey Frenzy?"
He immediately came into the hallway. His face creased in a frown. "Yeah Star? Can I get you anything?"
She suppressed a smile. He was so cute when he was worried. "No. My friend Faye is coming over later so we can work on a school project together. Chances are I'll hear the doorbell buzz, but you boys can let her in if she comes and I'm asleep, okay?"
"Sure thing. Are you feeling better yet?"
"Not yet. Still the same."
He shuffled his feet. "When will you be repaired?"
"When my body fights off the germs, Frenzy. It takes time. Try not to worry. I've been sick before."
His shoulders slouched. "Okay…"
"Tell everyone to be nice to Faye when she comes. She's a good person." Casey reconsidered her instructions. "In Megatron's case, tell him he just has to pretend to be nice."
"I heard that," came a growl from the kitchen.
Frenzy caught Casey's wink and giggled along with her. She shut the door and went back to bed.
Faye pushed the buzzer to room 348 and stepped back. She adjusted the grocery sack in the crook of her arm so it would rest on her chest. At the same time she shifted her weight so her backpack would stay on her shoulder. Sometimes college life really was a literal balancing act.
A young man's voice came through with static on the intercom. "Who's there? Identify yourself."
Faye thought he sounded like a punk wannabe. "It's Faye. I'm here to see Casey."
"Affirmative on that. Come on up."
Who says 'Affirmative' these days? She wondered. As Faye took the stairs to the third floor, she thought about what Casey had told her earlier. Why would she be alarmed when she saw Casey's visitors? She huffed and wished the apartment building had an elevator. Well, whatever the reason, Faye was about to find out. She set down her grocery bag so she could knock on the door.
"I got it, Bro!" said a muffled voice.
The beefy teenager who opened the door looked normal enough. He was wearing sunglasses indoors, though. For all she knew it was a fashion statement.
"Hi." He looked her up and down as if giving her a military inspection. She must have passed because he stepped aside to let her in. "Name's Elwood. My bro Jake is getting Casey for you."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Faye." She bent to retrieve her grocery bag and wobbled when her backpack slid off her shoulder. She half-expected him to offer her help, but he didn't. She replaced her backpack and snatched up the bag.
"What ya got in there?" he asked.
"I got some stuff for Casey since she's sick. Can you put this in the kitchen?"
He nodded. "Oh, sure."
Faye followed him in and deposited her backpack on the couch. An older man with silver hair and black eyebrows watched her from the recliner. She shivered. Something about him made her immediately uneasy. Maybe it was his unusual eye color? No, that was only part of it. Something was unnatural about him. He sat in the recliner as if it were a throne.
"Hi, I'm Faye."
"I heard. I'm her Uncle Mike." He paused as if he had to think about it. "Mike Panzer."
"Oh, I've heard about you, Mr. Panzer. Nice to meet you."
A dark eyebrow perked into an arch. "Good things, I hope?"
"Pretty much." So this was the man Casey complained about the most. Even still, Faye already understood why her friend seemed to admire him, too.
"I woke her up for you." said Elwood as he came out of the hallway. No, wait. He hadn't been wearing a red shirt a moment ago. Faye blinked and cleaned her glasses on her sleeve.
"Weren't you just in a blue shirt?"
"Huh? Oh. Nope. I'm Jake." He pointed behind her, in the kitchen. "You already saw my brother."
She turned around, putting her glasses back on. There were two of them, practically identical. No wonder Casey had warned her. Good thing they were color-coded or this would get confusing.
"And that's our Dad." He pointed to the windowsill.
Faye started with a gasp. How could she miss a man that big sitting there? She politely waved. He tipped his cowboy hat in her direction.
Rumble and Frenzy did their best not to laugh aloud. Clearly they had baffled this new human. One warning glance from Megatron convinced them that laughing was a bad idea.
Casey came out of her room. "Hi, Faye." Her voice was rough from sleep.
"Hey Casey. How are you feeling?"
"Like a Dinobot ran me over, but I've felt worse. I'll hug you in a minute; give me some time to wake up."She shuffled toward the bathroom.
Megatron transferred his attention from Faye to Casey. Her usually perfect hair was in complete disarray. She blinked often, as if she was constantly being surprised by something. She was wearing her fuzzy bunny slippers and mittens. Mittens? He remembered her explaining why she had them on earlier— because she was cold. His frustration for everything wrong in the universe melted a little. Her illness hadn't treated her well, but right now, so sleepy and vulnerable, she looked… adorable. Megatron caught himself smiling. NO! What are you thinking? He scratched the back of his head and exhaled, growling.
"While she wakes up I can make her a treat." Faye went into the kitchen and emptied out the grocery bag.
"A treat?" Frenzy picked up a bag of clementines and turned it upside-down so they would roll around inside. "Will it fix her so the germs go away?"
Fix her? That's one way to put it. "It won't cure her, but it'll taste good and make her feel better."
"Can I help?"
"Sure… Uh, which one are you?"
"I'm Jake."
"Right. I need a big bowl and a measuring cup."
Frenzy found them for her. "By the way, don't sit in the side chair without checking it first. That's Ravage's spot."
Faye had heard about Casey's new cat too. Of course he would have a Transformer-related name. She glanced in the chair. "Hi kitty."
Ravage meowed and hopped onto the tabletop to investigate what was going on. Faye pulled a pot from the drain rack and dumped in several cups of water. She set the pot on the stove.
"So… What're you making?" asked Frenzy.
"Green jello." She ripped open a small box to retrieve the pouch of jello mix.
"What's jello?"
Her mouth dropped open. "You don't know what jello is?"
"Nuh uh."
Faye frowned. Who could have made it through childhood without running into jello at least once? How odd. "It's like pudding, only it's see-through, keeps its shape and wiggles."
What's—" Frenzy received a mental message from Soundwave and stopped short. Instead, he nodded. "Oh yeah. Yeah. That stuff. I forgot."
Faye thought he was a terrible liar but kept the observation to herself.
Casey entered the kitchen, now mostly awake and cleaned up. She and Faye shared a brief hug. Ravage demanded attention by jumping into her arms as soon as she'd stepped away from Faye.
"Ravage! You're not subtle, are you?"
The cat rolled over onto his back and offered his tummy.
"Okay, I'll scratch you, but only for a bit." Casey peered into the pot of boiling water. "Water's done. For jello, you said?"
"Uh huh. I thought you might like some."
"Ah, thanks." Casey set Ravage on the floor. "That's enough. Go see Soun— er, Walker."
He obediently left the kitchen and vaulted into Soundwave's lap. The large man's face cracked with a tiny smile as he scratched between the cat's ears. Ravage pawed at him and licked his hand in return.
"There." Faye finished adding cold water into the jello mixture. She set it in the refrigerator and frowned at the dishes piled on the counter.
"It's not like you to let dishes sit, Casey."
"Yeah, I know. I've been coughing too hard to wash them."
Faye raised her eyebrows. "You have four guys here who are perfectly capable of doing dishes."
A loud cough came from the living room. "As if I would," said Megatron.
Casey sighed. "I don't expect them to."
"Have you asked the others?"
"No."
"Jake?" called Faye.
Frenzy stopped petting Ravage and put the cat back into Soundwave's lap. "Yeah?"
"Could you do the dishes for Casey since she can't today?"
"Uh…" He shifted from one foot to the other, then shrugged. "Sure."
Across the room, Rumble snickered. "Aren't you the good boy for helping out."
"Elwood," said Faye, "Could you help with drying them and putting them away?"
His snickering immediately stopped. "Me?"
"Yes, could you please?"
"What is this? Are you ordering him about?" Megatron set aside his Classics Transformers toy namesake, turning to scowl at Faye. Taken aback by his tone, she shook her head.
"No, not at all. It would be nice to help Casey out, that's all."
"Then why don't you do so?"
"I'm here to work on a school project."
"Then the state of this household is none of your—"
"Uncle Mike!" Casey interrupted. "She's just trying to help me out. Don't make a big deal out of it."
He snorted. So much for her looking vulnerable and cute right now. "I give orders here, no one else."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Casey paused to get through another coughing fit before asking Rumble, "Could you help, please?" She tried not to cringe when Frenzy banged one of the plates in the sink.
Unsure of what to do with himself, he appealed to Megatron. "Boss?"
Megatron waved a hand, disgusted. "Go help before he breaks something."
"Er, right."
Open-mouthed, Faye watched Casey grab her backpack off the couch and silently followed her to her room. Moments after the bedroom door closed, Faye threw her hands up.
"What was that all about?"
Casey went about cleaning up her room so they had space to work on a large poster board. She swept a pile of tissues into a Wal*Mart bag and scattered everything lying on the floor alongside her closet. The delay gave her tired mind time to think. She caught a stack of books before they could fall and shoved them against her desk harder than she needed to.
"Uncle Mike doesn't like it if someone else thinks they're in charge."
"I was just asking the boys to help!"
"I know. That doesn't matter. It's just the way he is. It's one reason why I hadn't bothered to ask in the first place."
Faye started unpacking her backpack. She pulled a hair binder off the poster board and unrolled it. Casey helped her pin it down on the floor with books, a shoe and a teddy bear.
"Just one reason?"
"Getting them to do anything but eat, sleep, or occupy space is like twisting an arm. The twins keep themselves busy with singing in the park and helping out sometimes, but the other three don't."
"Three? There's only two other guys here."
"There's a fifth one. I think he's moved downstairs to get away from Uncle Mike. They had a fight last night."
"Silvia?"
"Silvia."
"That woman goes through guys like I go through socks."
"Yeah, I know. He'll learn." Casey pulled out her class notebook and slid into her desk chair. "I've got our intro, method explanation and focus group data typed up. We have to write out the interpretations of our research and a conclusion yet. Nice job on the pie charts."
"Thanks." Faye laid the colorful charts out on the poster board, estimating where they should go. "So let me get this straight. You've got three grown men living with you plus two teenagers, who take up your time, money and food, and you don't even ask them to help out?"
"I tried when they got here. It's not worth the effort anymore. Uncle Mike doesn't care, and the others follow what he does. Walker shares his income with me though, so that helps."
Faye sat back on her heels and took a good look at Casey. Her friend sat hunched over her computer keyboard, squinting to see the monitor screen through exhausted eyes. Over the course of a few weeks she had become a wilted flower, well on its way to dying.
"No, that doesn't 'help'." Faye got up and straightened the blanket on Casey's shoulders. "Look at you! I've never seen you so run into the ground, even after your Mom died. And you're not telling anyone!"
"Do you want this in 14-point font or 16?"
"I don't care about that right now. You really should be sleeping, or curled up watching silly movies."
"16-point font it is."
"Casey!"
"What?"
"Are you listening to me?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. We need to get this project done."
Faye pointed at the door. "Those guys are mooching off you. You're going to wear down into nothing soon, and you know that. Why don't you tell them off?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"They need a place to live. I'm it because we're family. It's complicated."
"I don't know about you sometimes, girl." Faye hugged Casey from the side. "You're such a giving person, but this is hurting you."
"Maybe karma will be kind to me."
"Casey…"
"Look, I get what you're saying." She stopped typing long enough to hug back. "But the situation can't be helped. I just have to live with it until they leave."
"I'm not sure I could live with your Uncle Mike. He barks like an old war general. And he plays with your robot toys. Does it run in the family?"
"You could say that. And yeah, I know. You get used to him. It's just because he's old." Casey giggled.
"Did he get discharged from the military or something? Is that why he's here?"
"No, he just thinks he's an evil warlord. He's used to giving orders, not taking them."
"Obviously." Faye finished straightening the long strip of paper that announced their project's title. "Okay, after we finish this, you're going to rest while I see about getting your house cleaned up."
Something shattered in the kitchen. Both young women heard a loud "Oops!" followed by an argument between the twins.
Casey rested her face in her hands, laughing with a wheeze. "Yeah, good luck with that."
Faye made sure Casey had a bowl of jello before leaving her room. She surveyed the kitchen. Any evidence of broken dishes had been moved into the garbage can. The twins sat at the kitchen table, grumbling to each other. They had fresh cuts on their hands. She retrieved the first aid kit from on top of the refrigerator and passed out some band-aids. Frenzy wrestled them out of the wrappings while Rumble sucked on his thumb.
"Everything's done," Rumble muttered.
"I see that. Thank you." said Faye.
"And we cleaned up the broken stuff," said Frenzy. He successfully peeled apart a band-aid and gave it to his brother.
Faye put the first aid kit back. "Did you sweep everything just in case?"
"Sweep?" asked Frenzy.
"Where do you think we got these injuries from?" snapped Rumble.
"Okay, okay." She pulled the broom out from its hiding place in the corner, alongside the short wall. "Stepping on glass is a hazard, is all."
"So's handling it." Rumble snorted and plastered the last band-aid across his palm. He joined Soundwave at the windowsill and sat down with his back to the wall. Soundwave casually dropped his cowboy hat onto Rumble's head and tweaked his ear.
Faye rummaged under the sink. She found a spray bottle and an old rag. "Jake, would you mind helping with something else?"
Frenzy glanced at Soundwave and Megatron. Neither looked pleased, but said nothing. He finished wrapping a band-aid around his index finger. "What'd ya need?"
She set the cleaning supplies in front of him. "Could you disinfect everything? It'll help prevent everybody else from getting sick too."
He started to ask how, then thought better of it. He laboriously read through the instructions on the spray bottle. "Does 'every horizontal surface' include the cat?"
Faye halted in mid-sweep. "No."
"Ha, ha." he said weakly, "It was a joke. Really."
Rumble just shook his head. It had been an honest question.
While Frenzy busied himself with spritzing and wiping, Faye found errant glass fragments under the kitchen table. She straightened up and took a deep breath.
"Mr. Panzer, may I ask you something?"
Megatron's eyes flew open. She'd caught him dozing off. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Proceed."
"Why are you all here?"
Frenzy paused in his cleaning. Soundwave stiffened and Rumble peeked out from under the cowboy hat. They waited for their leader's reply.
"I'm on military leave."
"All of you?"
"Walker is my Communications Officer. He came with me."
"Why are all four of you staying with Casey? Couldn't you have found a hotel?"
Megatron's patient tone became strained. "The circumstances of our arrival did not make that possible."
"Why not?"
"That does not concern you."
Faye banged the dustbin in the garbage can to empty it. "It doesn't concern me?" she echoed, and threw the broom back into the corner. She marched into the living room with hands on her hips. "Of course it concerns me. You're mooching off my friend."
Megatron frowned, puzzled by the word and Faye's sudden hostility. "Mooching?"
"Freeloading. Exploiting. Leeching. Being a lazy bum while Casey does everything for you—"
"Enough!" Megatron arose from his chair and approached her. He stared her down. "Are you implying that I am mistreating her?"
"You got it, big guy."
"You are misunderstanding the situation."
"How can I 'misunderstand' when I see my best friend so sick, and not one of you has lifted a finger to help care for her or her house?"
At this Megatron froze. "Why should I?"
"She's your niece! Her hospitality and health is shot from taking care of you guys. I don't know how it works in the military, but where I come from, if you don't work, you don't eat."
"No, I mean—" he gritted his teeth in an effort to keep his temper. "Casey is perfectly capable of caring for herself. Our situation cannot be helped."
"You know how to do dishes, don't you?"
He snorted. "As if I would."
"What?" Faye stared at him. "Just who do you think you are? Are you that self-important?"
Unable to help himself, Megatron balled up his fists. "I am Megatron, and I will not be spoken to this way!"
Frenzy slinked alongside Rumble, wringing his cleaning rag in both hands. Soundwave motioned them away from the windowsill so he could stand up. Maybe Faye would have the good sense to stop now.
She didn't even blink. "And I'm Optimus Prime! Nice to meet you! Now that we've got that out of the way—" she poked Megatron in the chest. "I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't matter who you think you are. I see an elder family member neglecting his niece, and he thinks it's perfectly okay. Why aren't you taking care of her? Did the military unhinge you or something?"
Sparks gleamed in Megatron's eyes. "Who are you to judge me? How can I when I don't—"
"Commander." Soundwave interrupted, placing a hand on his shoulder. "This conversation has degraded into argument. Further engagement is not advisable." He fixated Faye with a glare she could feel despite his dark sunglasses. "I suggest you find other chores to perform, or leave."
Megatron shook off Soundwave's grasp and stomped away from them, into the kitchen. He occupied himself with getting a glass of water. Faye watched him with distaste.
"Is he abusive?" she asked Soundwave.
"Negative. Just temperamental."
"I hope that's all, for Casey's sake." She spotted a pile of clothes next to the couch. "When was the last time you did laundry?" She noted his blank look. "You have two teenage boys. Please tell me you know how to do laundry."
Soundwave didn't, but he knew an opportunity when one showed itself. He gestured to his Cassetticons. "Gather all soiled clothing. Operation: Laundromat. You will assist us," he said to Faye.
She sighed. "At least it sounds like you know what you're doing."
Silence settled into Megatron's ears after Faye and the others left. He downed a third glass of water and belched. He held up the glass to contemplate his reflection. Why was he drinking something, anyway? Somehow he'd developed another human habit to add to the list. He heard Casey's bedroom door open. She appeared in the hallway wrapped in a blanket decorated with teddy bears. She coughed and sneezed. She pitched an empty tissue box into the recycling bin.
"Hi," she muttered, her voice hoarse.
"Greetings." Megatron got out of her way as she moved to the cupboard. "Have you recharged decently?"
"I would have, if your yelling hadn't woken me up again."
"Your friend saw it fit to scold me like a sparkling. I disagreed."
Casey found another tissue box and slammed it onto the counter. "So what if she did?"
He briefly examined the ceiling to find inspiration there. What was it with human females today?
"I do not take kindly to being told how to go about my business."
She ripped the box open. "Obviously."
"Do you have something to say to me?" He demanded. "The suspense is killing me."
"Me? Oh no, not at all! Faye said it all for me, and the result was exactly what I knew would happen. Why should you take care of me, Megatron? I don't matter to you."
"I did not say that."
"Like you told Starscream last night, humans aren't worth the time and effort, right? But it's totally acceptable to drain them of their energy and good will!"
Megatron pressed a hand to his forehead. "I was not referring to you—"
"Really? You could have fooled me with that generalization, because guess what, I AM one! I don't have the privilege to be something great like you and not give a damn." Casey stopped long enough to get through a fresh coughing fit. "Just what makes Decepticons so superior anyway, Megatron? Why are you better than humans and can't be bothered to care for one, you or your comrades, despite everything she's given to you?"
His jaw worked, but nothing came out. He snapped his mouth shut and turned away. Behind them both, Starscream watched the exchange. He had teleported in to grab another set of clothes. He recognized Megatron's tense posture and decided to stay. He had to smirk; usually he was the one causing aggravation. It was not as though Megatron didn't deserve this. He momentarily admired Casey, but worried for her too.
When Megatron didn't reply, Casey pushed herself in front of him and supplied her own answer. "Oh, I know. It's because you're all cold. Heartless. Machines. And you're leader of them all, the best of the worst."
A growl rumbled in his chest. The cup he held began to crack.
"Don't like it?" Casey continued, oblivious. "Well that's generalization for you! And another thing—"
"Silence!" He roared, black fury contorting his face. The glass shattered on the wall. He backed Casey up against the counter. "You know NOTHING!" His fist smashed against the countertop, breaking it. "I should send you into oblivion!"
For a moment, Casey saw the real Megatron standing before her. The silver-haired man's silhouette transformed into the square-shouldered, powerful frame that defined Megatron's figure. She stared down the barrel of his lit fusion cannon. Terror grabbed her heart and squeezed until she couldn't breathe. Her hair wafted back from the heat of a coming fusion blast. She swallowed, looking into his face. His optics held no mercy.
"Megatron, stop!" Starscream's voice came from afar. A human replaced the Decepticon tyrant. Casey saw Starscream grab Megatron's arm.
They vanished.
Casey choked. Her knees gave out and she slid to the floor. A piece of countertop broke off and landed next to her, making her jump. She began to cry.
Starscream blinked in the sunlight. He let go of his leader and stepped away. A quick breeze pulled open his flight jacket and tussled his hair. He'd brought them to the roof of the apartment complex. Below, cars honked and rumbled along the streets. Someone in a nearby building spotted the two men and wondered how they got up there.
The abrupt change in location had stopped Megatron in mid-movement. He stood in the pose he took when using his fusion cannon. He grabbed at his forearm, convinced it had just been there. His chest heaved in angry, ragged gasps. He realized Starscream was in front of him instead of Casey. The Air Commander beckoned him with both hands.
"If you have to hit someone, Megatron, hit me. Don't take your anger out on a sick girl."
Megatron's fury ruined his aim; he tried three times before nailing Starscream in the left cheek. The Seeker struck the ground, bounced, and skidded across the gravel roof. He dented an air ventilation pipe when he stopped. His ears rang as he stood up, adjusted his chin, and brushed himself off.
"Been saving that one for awhile, have you?"
Megatron snarled in response. Starscream chuckled. "Usually that makes you feel better."
"The Pit take you, Starscream. I am beyond consolation."
Starscream's amusement faded. He cautiously approached his leader. His shadow merged with Megatron's. Briefly, it had wings. "This isn't like you. You who value control and power, the mightiest of all Decepticons, become fury unleashed from your cannon. What is happening to you?"
"Why should you care all of a sudden?"
"Because, although it chafes me, you are my leader. I am concerned."
"Concern? From you, Starscream?" Megatron harshly laughed. "Truly this world has gone mad, and myself with it."
Starscream shrugged. "We are changing, that much is certain. You're heading for a fall, Megatron. What is bothering you?"
Megatron began pacing, his anger rising again. He kicked at a scrap of metal. It flew into the distance and faded out of sight. Unsatisfied, he looked for something else to destroy.
"That human friend of Starflight's accused me of negligence toward her, saying we abuse her hospitality and resources. What could I say? I couldn't explain the situation! Then she mocked me outright. 'Who do I think you are' indeed! I can only do what I know to do. Starflight does not ask for assistance, so how can I be responsible for not giving it? She can take care of herself, surely, it's not like I know how!"
Starscream folded his arms. "When she has asked for help in the past, we have given it. You do not. It was only a matter of time that she stopped asking. She wants validation from you. We recognize her value to our situation. Do you?"
"Are you saying I brought this upon myself?"
"That, and insulting humans within audio range of the one aiding us does not help your case."
"Decepticons need no one!"
"We need her. Humans are not unlike us. They are just as driven, independent, and adaptable. They're just more fragile."
Megatron scoffed. "You say this because you are attached to that Silvia female."
"No, I say this as an observation made by a scientist, seeing as that was my previous vocation. And from what I observe of you, leader, you are being held accountable for things you are oblivious to, and Primus forbid, being yourself. You have a habit of disrespecting your allies." Starscream shrugged again. "But then again, what do I know?"
Megatron's shoulders slumped. He couldn't deny Starscream's words this time. "I cannot help her because she does not let me, and I don't know how in the first place. Then I am reprimanded for it. It makes me feel so…. so…"
"Powerless?"
He turned away.
"Now you know what it feels like. You had better get used to it if you don't learn."
"But I am Megatron! There is nothing I cannot do!"
Starscream threw his hands up in exasperation. "Fine, then be Megatron! Do what you do best: Think you know everything and don't take no for an answer from anybody. See how far that gets you."
Megatron faced him. Starscream braced himself for another punch. To his surprise, Megatron clapped him on the shoulder. The fine lines around his eyes suddenly made him look old and tired, even though he was smiling. "You always tell it as it is, don't you Starscream? You are correct. This time."
"I'll be sure to put that in my data records so I can gloat about it later. Not that anybody would believe me." Starscream smiled back. "Are you ready to go inside?"
Megatron took a deep breath. He shook himself to release the tension in his body. "Yes, I suppose so."
Starscream teleported them back into Casey's living room. They found her sitting at the kitchen table, crying. The Decepticons shared a glance between them. Megatron waved him away. Starscream nodded, gathered his things, and disappeared. Megatron quietly approached the kitchen. A messy pile of tissues made a small mound in the middle of the table. Some of them were stained red.
"Are you injured?" He asked.
His voice startled her. She bolted out of the chair, away from him. Although obscured with tears, Megatron could see a true understanding for who he was mixed with utter fear in her eyes. He should have felt proud of that, or satisfied at least. He didn't. He waited for her to answer. Her string of coughing sobs ended in a hiccup.
"I t-tried cleaning up the cup you th-threw and hurt my h-hand."
Her newest tissue fell away. A cut below her first two fingers immediately welled up with blood. Megatron growled, anger warring with guilt. Casey darted further away when he went to get the first aid kit and turned on the kitchen light. He shooed Ravage off the chair he wanted and sat down. Casey shook her head.
"Oh, no, you don't have to—"
"I will take care of it. Sit."
"No, really—"
"Sit."
She sat.
He lowered his voice. "Tell me how."
She swallowed, searching his face. His expression had determination and… something unfamiliar. "Um, get an alcohol swab and dab it on my hand. Some pressure will help stop the bleeding."
The alcohol swab stung when he touched it to the cut. He held it in place firmly when she tried to pull away. She wouldn't look him in the eyes.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you," she said softly.
Megatron tried to think of what to say. He couldn't remember the last time someone said 'sorry' to him and actually meant it. "I accept your apology." He finally said. He set the alcohol swab aside and attempted to open a band-aid wrapper. He swore in frustration. Casey flinched. He dropped it. "It is my turn to apologize. I am apparently not intelligent enough to operate an injury repair package."
Casey weakly giggled and hiccuped. "Peel it apart from the top."
"So that's the secret," he grumbled, and applied the band-aid to the wound. "In the future, Casey, I will give you assistance whether you want it or not. But I would prefer if you told me when you needed it."
She clasped her hands together and shyly met his eyes. "Okay."
Megatron snapped the first aid kit shut. "I suspect Soundwave and the Cassetticons will return with your friend soon. You may want to recharge while you can." He stood up.
"Okay." Casey stood up too. Before he got too far away, she hugged him around the middle. She stayed longer than she intended to, surprised to find he was warm and comfortable. "Thank you."
Caught off-guard by the affectionate gesture, Megatron froze, unsure of what to do. After an awkward moment, he cleared his throat and inspected the kitchen tiles. "I have a reputation to keep, you know."
Casey let go, blushing. "Right. Sorry." She hurried to her room.
That night, Rumble couldn't sleep. He stared at the pattern the streetlights made along the living room wall, listening to Megatron snore. Beside him, Frenzy had curled up under their shared blanket. Rumble glanced at the empty windowsill. He left his beanbag chair and grabbed his sunglasses from the side table.
He found Soundwave outside Josie's Night Club, guarding the entrance from the underage and overly intoxicated. An eyebrow lifted above his sunglasses when he saw Rumble approaching on the sidewalk.
"Reason for late-night excursion?" asked Soundwave.
"Couldn't sleep." Rumble stood next to him and folded his arms, a smaller reflection of his father. Neither said anything more. Fifteen minutes later, a car drove by. Its passengers leaned out the windows and shouted drunken greetings to Soundwave. He tipped his hat to them.
"Star's not one of us, is she?" asked Rumble.
One of the muscles in Soundwave's jaw twitched. "Affirmative."
"Thought so." He sighed, and left it at that.
Rumble followed Soundwave home when the bar closed. He wondered one thing over and over: How was he going to tell this to Frenzy?
To be continued…