Title: Enemies
Rating: K
Continuity: G1?
Characters: Megatron, Starscream, Optimus Prime, Prowl, Jazz
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Prompt: 1. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." (Quote of Sun-Tzu, Chinese general and military strategist ~400 BC)
Notes: How come it always goes back to Prowl and Jazz? *bats at bunnies*
Everyone knew that Megatron didn't trust Starscream. He didn't trust him at all, and for good reason.
Starscream wanted to be leader of the Decepticons. He made no secret of it; made no effort to hide his attempts at overthrowing the silver warlord.
It provided much entertainment for the ranks, seeing Starscream try and try and fail again and again.
However, after some time, mechs began to wonder. Why bother keeping the Seeker around, if he was just going to keep trying to kill Megatron? Why not kill him, or banish him, or get rid of him in some other fun, gruesome way?
When Optimus expressed his confusion to his Second and Third, they laughed.
"It ain't all that hard, Prime," Jazz said, smirking. "He's keepin' his enemy close. Screamer... well, not many know, but he's got an immortal spark. He ain't dyin' any time soon, an' Ah think Ol' Bucket-Helm knows that."
"He keeps him close," Prowl agreed, nodding, "because he can keep an eye on him. If he banished him, or tried to kill him, he would have no idea what he was doing, and would have no way of being prepared for him."
Optimus, after a moment of thinking it over, nodded. Then he chuckled. "You sound very... experienced in this matter."
It was one of his not-questions, leaving a way out if the mech he was "asking" didn't want to answer. Prowl and Jazz, however, kept nothing from the Prime. Or, at least, didn't keep it if he asked.
"Well... See, Ah was a thief. Master one, ya know."
"King of Thieves, he was called," Prowl said, smirking. "And I was Chief Enforcer."
The two smirked even wider as Optimus shook his helm.