Optronix could never believe that Megatron was capable of such… softness, he supposed he should call it, no matter that the Warlord would grumble and growl at the word, should he heard it – but yet there was definitely softness in his hard, red optics as far as the sparkling was its cause and goal. It was a strange, double sensation to feel Megatron handle him as a near equal, spar with him and ask his opinion in matters of the Kingdom and all the while be his usual, grouchy, dour, hard self – and he would suddenly turn into a puddle of goo when his optics focused onto his middle, where a barely noticeable swelling told only to the most observant mechs yet about his state of carrying. Okay, maybe a puddle of goo was an exaggeration, Optronix conceded, as he stroked the taloned servo nearest to him and smiled back to the suddenly very much not dour or hard optics.
But it was close. Optronix now couldn't ask anything that he didn't get in breems, a few joors at most if the item in question was a rarity or near impossible to find. Not that he asked for such items. Apparently Megatron threw most of the Kaonite societal rules out of the window and went to the other extreme than before in regards to Optronix and the sparkling. That it would be important, Optronix had known. That it would change his status and renown among the nobles, he had known as well and counted on it. That it would earn him Megatron's attention and care he had hoped and it was proven as such. But it all went to an extent nearly embarrassing and definitely unexpected.
Soundwave gave him advice how to deal with the less pleasant aspects of carrying – of which he so far had none but he appreciated the care all the same; and he also gave tips for Megatron about how to pamper and shower Optronix with gifts and attention. Even Dreadnought was somewhat less inimical towards him and occasionally even attempted a normal conversation, some small talk too. That he was even worse in that than Megatron didn't deter Optronix to appreciate the effort and try to make the dour warrior somewhat sympathetic towards himself.
Eventually Megatron relented a bit and let them spar – though he was straining so tense at the edge of the training mat so nervously that both of them laughed a bit and the huge warrior went easy on him. In amusement probably, Optronix conceded and knowing that Megatron would give him back every scratch that he caused on the red-blue plating. None of them was happier than the Warlord when, in a few decaorns later Hook forbade him to spar with the larger mechs in fear of an accident. Though the still tiny, half-assembled protoform was in no way inhibiting his movements yet, but Optronix acquiesced gladly, knowing that it would give Megatron a little relief from his worries. With the acid rains coming, the party season started and he gladly immersed himself into the social side of Kaon, getting to know the noble families and hoping every time that he wouldn't commit a faux pas while at it.
"Thank you, Trimesh."
Optronix accepted another cut glass of the sparking energon Megatron imported especially for him from the server mech. Since he was carrying, high-grade was out of question, but the fizzy, bubbly specialty of Praxus was perfect in parties. He noticed with some hidden amusement the Kaonite nobles trying it out, watching him as he sipped the drink from the tall, slender glass with obvious enjoyment, themselves staring at it like it was going to bite – and most of them pronouncing it undrinkable after a taste and unworthy for a warrior. Optronix refrained from laughing at them and directed the servers to offer them their favourites to wash down the taste.
"It appears a femme drink."
Onslaught, one of Megatron's generals growled thus after his taste and Optronix politely smiled up at the scowling strategist. It was still bothersome to be the smallest of the party, but he didn't let it intimidate him any more.
"Please, don't let Lord Strika hear that, General Onslaught."
Megatron guffawed loudly and slapped Onslaught's back.
"My mate has a point there, Ons! Strika would tie your barrels into a knot hearing such a sentiment!"
Onslaught quickly looked around for the formidable femme, and actually looked relieved that his thoughtless sentiment was not heard by her.
"I wouldn't call the Praxians femmes either." – Optronix added, smiling – "They may look a bit silly with those elaborate doorwings, but there are warriors there too."
He got a few nods from the collected Kaonites who stood around them in a loose circle. Praxus was not only a shrewdly maneuvering city-state in the diplomatic scene, but the Vosian sister-city was perfectly capable of defending its borders.
"Praxians are good strategists, true." – Astrotrain towered over even Kaonites and Optronix craned his neck to the tall triplechanger – "But individually… no. Break a doorwing and they are on the ground, screaming their vocalizers out."
In Kaonite parties, topics of conversation inevitably turned onto matters of wars and fighting. Optronix sighed a bit inwardly, but kept up his interested façade.
"That's why their main troops have their doorwings shortened." – Onslaught added – "and they have wingless fighters too."
"Mercenaries…"
The sneer in Astrotrain's tone was telling clearly what he thought of warriors fighting for a city-state not their own. Kaonites who did that lost their citizenships – but they were still popular as mercenaries and Praxus was a rich city, capable of allowing itself the expense of having Kaonite warriors and Vosian Seekers within its army. Optronix thought it fortunate that the two cities' spheres of interest did not clash, being on the opposite side of the planet. Still, he heard and saw plans to conquer the city – Kaonites just couldn't stop thinking about everyone on these terms, even though none of it was taken seriously. But for them it was just a pastime, like dancing was for Praxians and arts for Polyhexians…
"Iacon has mercenaries too and many of them are of Kaonite descent."
"Well, Lord Magnus…" – Megatron's tone held a barely concealed disdain as he said the designation of Optronix's Sire – "… bargained for that and I have humoured him. It's not our responsibility that he got the worst of those. The mech is a niggard."
Optronix bowed his helm a little, not answering to that. He didn't like his Sire, but it wouldn't do to join to publicly exhorting him. Megatron must have noticed that he was undiplomatic again, because he hurried to ameliorate his words.
"Well, it is somewhat understandable anyhow. Iaconians are not much for fighting… with some exceptions of course."
He held Optronix's servo in his own, giving it a small squeeze. The assorted nobles around them looked on interested. The Iaconian Prince was still very much an unknown, despite of appearing more and more state functions.
"Lord Optronix… is perhaps practicing some sort of martial arts?" – Sixshot, another of the towering and dangerously looming mechs around enquired cautiously and a little unbelieving.
"Yes, I do. Lord Megatron was gracious to spar with me until the medic forbid such activities."
There was no way to miss how proudly Megatron flared his armour and looked at his mate. The nobles glanced at each other at the new information and Optronix felt their measuring, judging glance slide up and down his frame. It was more than a bit uncomfortable, but he bore it with dignity. A low, warning growl issued from Megatron's vocalizer, the warlord subconsciously sensing the interest in his mate and reacting appropriately. Optronix nearly laughed out relieved as the red stares snapped away from him and onto Megatron.
"It is… good to hear that the Carrier of the future Heir is… capable." – Onslaught said cautiously and still a bit skeptical.
"Indeed it is… fortunate." – Astrotrain added.
Several others, standing close spread the newest tidbit of information within the court and Optronix almost felt the sudden rise in approval towards him in the general feel of the room. He couldn't help but feel proud of himself and what he felt through the bond added to his own feelings as well.
"Though it would help to be a bit… bigger…" – Sixshot said thoughtfully. It wasn't even disdaining, even Optronix could hear it from his tone, rather a true warrior's assessment of advantages and disadvantages.
"My mate can more than make up for the size-difference. You should ask Dreadnought, he can adequately describe it."
"There are some size differences one does not want to make up for." – Optronix smirked mischievously at his somewhat shocked bondmate. The innuendo was clear and he saw several lip components around draw into smirks and smiles of various mirth. Even Megatron, after the initial shock, laughed with a distinctly lewd glance, obviously surprised at the openness with what he steered clear of the topic.
"As the results clearly show." – quipped Sixshot and on this, they all laughed, before moving on to another group, where a slightly different version of the conversation repeated all over again.
In a few joors, Optronix became quite tired of making small talk, of navigating on verbal minefields and mostly of craning his neck upwards all the time. Megatron caught the feel in the bond, and nodded to him, starting to take their leave from the party. It was another successful hurdle for Optronix, another group of Kaonites who accepted him, some even respected him now. It was still hard work, to learn their designations, functions, keep in mind the Kaonite customs and try to make them more accepting of him. But it was necessary and he was doing it gladly. A thousand times more this than locked away in a secure set of rooms alone, even though Megatron would have liked to do it again, this time for the safety of the sparkling.
Because the Warlord became incredibly nervous and worried about the sparkling and its continuing wellbeing, so much so that it even caught the attention of others, mainly his brothers'. No matter how many checkups Hook did, no matter how safe he made the Consort's quarters and the places he frequented, no matter that Optronix was perfectly healthy and his line famous for bearing sparklings easily – he was, as time went by and the small bump on Optronix's middle slowly grew, increasingly paranoid of anything going bad.
"You don't have to be so tense, Megatron."
Large arms tightened around him for a nanoklik before Megatron remembered his own strength and guilt suffused his field. Optronix smiled and reassured him through the bond that nothing untoward have happened, luxuriating in the feeling of safety as much as the connection, the sharing that the bond meant. It was finally, after all, everything he had dreamed of – a loving mate, a sparkling whose first flashes of emotions they have just started to catch and the acceptance of a harsh, hard country that he came to love. Kaon, once he could see it was beautiful too; in a wholly different way than Iacon's softer, kinder beauty, but still very much to his liking.
"By the way… where is Winglord Starscream? I believe I haven't seen him at the last few receptions."
"The glitch is gone…" – Megatron answered, lazy satisfaction colouring his tone and the bond – "…and good riddance I say."
"I hope it is nothing I caused…? I wouldn't want Kaon and Vos to become enemies…" – Optronix chewed his lips in apprehension.
"Don't worry about him, Optronix. He's got what he deserved and it is nothing Soundwave can't handle."
Optronix snuggled into the embrace, his apprehension mostly alleviated. But instead, his curiosity has awakened…
"Did he go back to Vos? He appeared to be nearly living in Kaon. I wonder why…"
Megatron scowled, but held back his annoyance with the Seeker. He didn't particularly wanted to talk about the Winglord, but since they had no secrets now from each other, he could feel Optronix's innocent curiosity.
"Well… he needs a mate. A consort and offspring. He's been ruling Vos for a long time and he still has no heir. The Vosian Elders are worried, because there aren't so many nobles on Cybertron who are fliers too and Starscream made it clear that he didn't care about the eligible Vosians."
Optronix looked at him interested.
"What about his trine-mates? Are they not his bondmates too?"
"No. Not for this anyway. Even if his trinemates spark him up - or he sparks them up for that matter - those sparklings could never be Winglord. Thundercracker is only a minor noble, and Skywarp is a commoner – if not for Starscream, he would be a beggar far below the Vosian spires."
"I see… well, at least he was not snobbish to choose them as trine."
"No, he personally doesn't really care for nobility. But for an heir – he must."
"So he wanted to find a mate in Kaon?"
"Yes. Not many of the city-states have fliers, but in Kaon, most of the nobles have more or less Vosian ancestry. The two cities have always been close and intermarriages were always common. If he doesn't find a noble flier, this is acceptable for him too. The sparklings, some of them anyway would have wings at least if he gets enough Seeker coding while he carries."
Optronix nodded, understanding the unspoken – that Starscream was in Kaon first and foremost for the ruling family and especially for Megatron, like many of his ancestors, bonding with the allied city's ruling mechs.
"Like you." – he stated softly, digits drawing circles over the Warlord's chestplates.
"Like me. Or my brothers. But mainly me." – Megatron looked serious as he held his newly found mate close – "It's never worked out between us. Starscream… has no concept of loyalty or even fidelity."
"He… he cheated you?"
Megatron's snort was dark and holding a long-buried hurt. Optronix sent soothing waves through the bond and was rewarded by a small, fanged smile.
"Worse. He tried to deceive me, betrayed my trust and schemed against me. It is not a nice story." – unspoken was the plea not to ask more and Optronix acquiesced. He was curious, but he didn't want to tear old wounds open.
"So, why did you let him stay then?"
"Politics…" – Megatron's grimace told everything – "Even though he is totally unsuitable as a mate, a union between our kingdoms would still be advantageous. As my brothers all have Seeker ancestry too, he tried to gain one of their servos for a bond. From all of them, he is closest to Shockwave, as they share a passion for sciences, but their natures made that match an impossibility too. Shockwave is logical to the fault, while Starscream… is unpredictable."
Optronix could only stare and drink in the story as Megatron slowly told him, snuggling in comfortably between the large arms. He hardly even remembered his fears and hurt – Hook told him that it was a defensive mechanism and he should tell if or when anything awakened anything bad immediately. So far nothing did and Optronix didn't question his luck.
"And if not that, Kaon still have a few high-ranking triplechangers and nobles with some Vosian ancestry. As Starscream's options start to run out, he must set his criteria lower."
"But then… why did he go away?"
"After such a humiliation? He had lost a lot of face and a lot of prospects too. And he is proud. Immensely proud with a long memory. He will stay away until the story settles down and then…" – Megatron shrugged – "…either he comes back or not. At this point, I could do without his glitchy, sneaking self. It is safer if he is not plotting around."
"Or more dangerous…" – Optronix couldn't help but feel some apprehension. After all, it was him, who harmed the renown of the proud Winglord, humiliated him in front of the whole court, made his prospects of a mate next to impossible – and he had just learned that the Seeker never forgot a slight.
"He can't harm you. He wouldn't dare anyway. I won't let him!"
Megatron embraced Optronix fully, careful, as always not to hurt the younger mech. His touches slowly became more heated, stroking Optronix's side and back, detailing the red-blue form with precision and passion. Soon enough Optronix's vents picked up the tempo too, expelling hot air and he squirmed in the embrace, forgetting his questions that suddenly didn't seem important. The hold wasn't uncomfortable, not in the very least – but he, too wanted to have a go at Megatron's seams. A deep, rumbling laugh shook him to the core as the fanged, scarred lipplates descended onto his and Optronix forgot his plans in the strut-melting intensity of the deep, slow kiss.
He rubbed his panel on Megatron's frame insistently and was rewarded by it too becoming heated – and if the bond was anything to go by, uncomfortably tight. Megatron nearly purred, if such a deep sound could be called that and lifted Optronix a little, the smaller mech kneeling astride on his strong thighs. A snickt sounded from underneath him, and Optronix felt the warlord's half-pressurized spike rising between them, his own panel sliding aside in tandem, revealing his plenty lubricated valve. Megatron didn't let go of his mouth and as they continued to kiss, Optronix reached down by feel, gripping the shaft and spreading some of his lubricant on it. He felt Megatron straining not to thrust up, into his valve, but the warlord somehow held himself back, only giving in to small twitches in his now fully hardened spike.
For a fleeting nanoklik Optronix wondered how much it changed that their interfaces were fully consensual now – certainly none of their equipment changed, Megatron didn't get any smaller, himself didn't acquired a new valve – and still, since the time of their first merge, it never hurt to take his bondmate's massive spike. In fact it became better and better every time they fragged… and that was the point he got to in his musings, when his thought process was thoroughly derailed by said spike's rounded head bumping gently into his valve rim, setting off a few dozen sensors there like wildfire.
His arms now around Megatron's shoulders, Optronix gave a small roll of his hips to signal his readiness and slowly sank down. The stretch, as always, was exquisite, bordering on pain, but the slow, gentle impalement never reached that point to become hurting. Instead it lit up his valve sensors one by one until his processor spun helplessly in the onslaught of pleasure… he was panting now into Megatron's neck, their kiss ending sometime, he couldn't tell when, but it wasn't important as Megatron's lipplates closed on his antenna and ohmyprimus, his glossa swirled around the highly sensitive rod and it was pure bliss on top of the incredible pleasure from his valve…
Megatron growled and somehow, that sound travelled across his frame and grounded itself from antenna-tip down to the bottom of his pedes and he gave a small, experimental thrust upwards. Optronix greeted the thrust with a moan of his own, unable to utter anything more coherent than a wordless yesyesyespleasemore. But it was enough and in the fully open bond he felt Megatron loosening up and his pleasure slammed into him from that way too and he ground his frame down as the next thrust came and fed him back the reassurance of his own bliss…
His digits scrabbled onto silvery chest-plates, wanting to feel his mate even closer than the bond and Megatron slowed his thrusts again, opening himself up, Optronix's spark eagerly, nearly jumping out to meet the larger orb. Their energies roiled and twinned, tendrils playing with each other, sensations swirling around them as they nearly became one, feeling each other's emotions, hearing their thoughts, feeling the other's sensations… Optronix felt what it was like to thrust into a tight, silky hot, wet valve… Megatron marveled how amazing a stiff, hot rod showed up into it felt… they both groaned as their conjoined pleasure nearly became too much.
And in the midst of the mind-boggling, indescribable pleasure came the sensation of a little tendril of flame separate from their own, a small, but distinct ball of energy that rode the roiling energies around their merging sparks and its not-yet self-aware, but already curious presence soaked up their coding, their spark-frequencies, their selves – to knit them and match them and make it its own. It was incredibly precious and frighteningly fragile – even in the midst of pleasure, Optronix felt Megatron's fierce protectiveness and his own unconditional love for it that made the little flameling twist and roll with nonverbal, wordless, joyful happiness around them…
Physical pleasure peaked when the spike deep inside him erupted and flooded his constricting valve with transfluid; and their sparks flared with all the collected energies, that seemed to reach out, into all his extremities, scouring his relays and sensors with pure bliss. They shouted too, a deeper roar intermingled with a lighter scream, their sparks echoing the names within each other as they slowly, hesitantly parted. One last stroke of the small, happy bundle of energy and Megatron's spark slowly retreated, back into its chamber, its usual, dour seriousness tempered with Optronix's lightness, his joy and curiosity… just as he had left his mark on the lighter blue orb.
Slowly, they became again two separate entities, two mechs, albeit tightly embraced and conjoined still. Vents panted and spat shimmering hot air into the room. Plates cooled pinging and settled from being flared to their capacity. A blue digit doodled aimlessly on silver plating, not yet ready to move, to sit up, to slide off the now limp spike… and Megatron felt perfectly content to hold his mate in his arms, be sappy and sentimental and fluffy and… and whatever Dreadnought wanted to call it when he sneered at his brother for becoming… mushy.
They stayed that way for breems afterward, neither of them wanting to break that nearly perfect moment. It was the comm that finally broke their bubble and made Optronix rise snickering from his slumped, embraced and impaled position. It was his comm and very few mechs called him still these orns, so he was curious. He was also nearly unable to stand on shaking legs, as he discovered, when he rose and Megatron's deeper laugh joined his mirth as he tried to walk towards the communications console but managed a stumbling waddle instead, leaning on furniture heavily.
"Optronix, you'll damage yourself if you fall." – Megatron paused and his smirk coloured his tone as he continued – "… but I must admit you look a fine sight. I hope it is your Sire who calls."
Optronix snickered again and dragged himself to the chair in front of the console, nearly falling into it. Any caller should only see his shoulders and up and that should be… safe. Unless of course the berth was in the line of the pickup… but no, he checked and it wasn't.
"He would totally deserve to see it."
The call connected quickly, and Optronix was greeted with the visage of his favourite brother.
"Jazz! I'm so glad to see you!"
"Likewise, Opty, likewise." – Jazz's optics narrowed for a nanoklik and Optronix blushed, however he tried to repress the reaction. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to receive the call so quickly? Maybe he had some mark that gave away what they were up to? But Jazz just nodded his helm to the side and continued.
"Is it all right to talk now…?"
"Yes, yes, of course! I'm always happy to talk with you, Jazz! I see you little enough as it is."
"Fancy you mentioning this… because we are going to visit you soon. That's why I called, Ultra Magnus allowed it and I wouldn't miss the opportunity for a world!"
"Jazz! Ohh, really? I'm so, so, so happy! How did you manage to convince Sire? And who is coming, when? Tell me everything, Jazz!"
"I'll have to contact to Lord Megatron as to the when, but it'll be me and Hot Rod, with an entourage of course."
"Roddy! Jazz, I'm amazed! How did you convince Sire to let him go?"
"Uhm, that… he wants Roddy to catch a bondmate there too as he had refused all Sire tried to force on him. I have…" – Jazz looked faintly displeased for a klik – "… I have instructions. Who is suitable and who is not… that kind."
Though Jazz appeared to be an easygoing and carefree mech, Optronix knew that he was caring about all of them deeply, deeper than their Sire himself and he has always acted like he was the eldest instead of Sentinel, who only cared for himself.
"Rodimus is still too young for bonding." – Optronix frowned – "But I guess it is an improvement that Sire lets him find a mate instead of selling him out … umm."
"I know, Opty, I know. So that's the big news. In probably a few decaorns, we will be there and talk freely about… everything. Right?"
"Of course, Jazz. I can hardly wait to see you. And Roddy! I still can't believe Sire let him travel."
"It might be the reason that he is otherwise occupied." – Jazz rolled his optics exasperated and Optronix' curiosity rose up.
"What do you mean? Is he planning something?"
"Planning? When is he NOT planning something? But in fact it is a high-ranking guest who is taking up his interest now."
Optronix smiled slighty. The Primes being a fertile family, most of Iacon's rulers had a particular hobby of finding suitable bondmates to their various sons, cousins, nephews and such; and Ultra Magnus was no exception to this custom. The Iacon court has always been like a bonding market as much as he remembered it, with foreign dignitaries, nobles and rulers flirting and courting the various members of the abundant royal family.
"Who is it this time?" – Optronix laughed easily – "The Lord of Praxus wanting to buy his newest consort?"
"Nah, even more exotic!" – Jazz grinned – "The Winglord Starscream it is, using the new peace-treaty to prowl here. Or I should say flit around, considering what he is."
Optronix's smile suddenly froze. Though it shouldn't be anything of a problem, still a bad premonition rose in his spark.
"Who is he interested in?"
"I'm not sure yet… he is making rounds in the court, but hasn't approached any mech in particular. Sire tried to foist Rodimus on him, but he wasn't interested, and that's why he can come with me to Kaon."
Well, that was one particular worry down from his spark. Rodimus was a peculiar mech and Optimus didn't want to see him in an unhappy, forced bond. He would react explosively and it would end in a tragedy.
"Jazz, if you know anything, and I mean anything about his target, please contact me at once!"
"Sure, Opty, why not? Is he trouble?"
"He's caused trouble here already. He is sneaky and has reason to hate me. I'm sure he has a hidden motive in going to Iacon."
Jazz turned serious and nodded.
"Will do, Opty. I'll keep an optic on him… and find somemech to do so while I'm away."
"Thanks, Jazz. It is… important. And I'm looking forward to see you here!"
"Me to, kid, me too." – Jazz smiled back to him before terminating the contact.
Optronix stood and on much firmer legs went back to the berth, where Megatron awaited for him. He heard the whole conversation and had a little frown on his brow-plates too about Starscream. He hugged Optronix close and whispered into his audial.
"I'll ask Soundwave to keep a few optics on him too. We won't let him plot unchecked."
Optronix smiled back, worried, but also elated by Jazz and Rodimus coming to visit. It would be great and he wouldn't let his worries spoil the event. Nestling himself back into the silvery embrace they continued to talk about possibilities and plans of their own.