A/N: minor trigger warning! Non-consensual touching!
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"If he's all good, then what're we doin' with them?" Brimstone asked. He wrenched one of his arms free from Cannonball's hold and pointed to Knockout, Bumblebee, and Steeljaw.
Thundertron eyed his subordinate with a glare, but he didn't verbally reprimand him. Humming in a gravelly voice, the Captain turned to face the three mechs before him, restrained and completely at his mercy. His optics scanned their frames with great intensity.
Knockout would have flinched, if he wasn't paralyzed from the neck down.
"I assume you all know a mech by the name of Megatron," Thundertron said. "I want to know where he is."
Bumblebee and Knockout shared a brief look, one that did not go unnoticed.
"Ah, they know somethin'," Brimstone mused.
"I can see that!" Thundertron snapped, then calmed down. "I suggest you tell me what you know."
"Not much," Knockout replied, the words tumbling out of his mouth of their own accord. "Last anyone's seen or heard from him was when he disbanded the Decepticons at the end of the War."
The room was silent for a moment.
"Well, at least he's still alive," Thundertron rumbled, stroking his beard. "Assuming, you're telling the truth."
"Why would we lie?" Bumblebee questioned.
"Why is an Autobot traveling with an unrestrained Decepticon?" Starquest countered from his new spot next to Steeljaw.
Knockout and Bumblebee nearly jumped out of their plating. They hadn't heard or noticed the raven-like pirate version of Soundwave approach them. They certainly weren't expecting him to talk, either, but they will admit, his low, even tone of voice is fitting.
"And how's can you tell he's a 'Con?" Brimstone demanded.
"The insignia is engraved on his shoulder plates, although I do not know why they have been slashed," Starquest answered.
"Slashed, you say?" Thundertron repeated, walking over to Starquest and Steeljaw.
"Yes, and by the looks of it, he did it with his own claws."
Starquest backed off when Thundertron approached. Knockout couldn't see very well from his spot, but it was just enough. Steeljaw appeared uneasy with the Captain's close proximity.
"Interesting," Thundertron rumbled, running a servo over one of the destroyed marks. Steeljaw instinctively flinched away from the touch, amusing the one touching him. "Don't like that, do you? Well, hate to disappoint you, but there's more where that came from, and I promise, it won't be gentle."
Suddenly, Steeljaw lunged for the servo running along his side and sunk his fangs into it.
"GAH!"
Thundertron retreated, clutching his leaking servo with bellows of anger, frustration, and a little bit of pain. Starquest and Sandstorm rushed to his side. Brimstone and Cannonball remained where they stood, optics unblinking with clear shock and surprise. Knockout, Bumblebee, and Starscream/Dust Devil wore the same expressions, but they weren't looking at Thundertron.
"Steeljaw, what were you thinking?" Bumblebee whisper-yelled.
"His servo was starting to wander! What did you think was going to happen?" Steeljaw snapped.
"He does have a point," Knockout admitted.
"Not helping!" Bumblebee hissed, turning on the red medic.
The mechs immediately shut up when Thundertron stormed back over to them.
"You little glitch, you'll pay for that!" The Captain reached down and grabbed Steeljaw by the neck with his good servo, then lifted him into the air. "But, I won't kill you. Not yet. Unless you prove to be useless, then I'll gladly kill you. So, I suggest you cooperate, if you want to live. Understand?"
Thundertron didn't give Steeljaw a chance to answer before he let go. Steeljaw landed on the cold, hard ground, his vents attempting to get back to circulating in a normal fashion after being held in a brief yet painful chokehold.
"Let's start where we last left off. I don't need to repeat myself, do I?"
Steeljaw regained his bearings and glared at the mech standing above him. He hated answering to others, especially those who see themselves in a higher position of power than him…
But his need to live outweighed his want to defy.
"The Autobots placed a tracker in me, so that if I ever escaped their custody, they could track me down and recapture me," Steeljaw answered.
"And you found this out on your own? Clever, aren't you?" Thundertron commented in an almost taunting manner.
Steeljaw laughed, confusing everyone.
"Please, while I am not denying that I am clever, even the thickest of processors would have figured it out almost immediately. It was the Autobots' idea to place the trackers in the most noticeable place on a 'Cons frame. You honestly think the Autobots are that smart?"
"Smart or not, they still managed you Decepticons quite efficiently," Thundertron retorted.
Steeljaw didn't respond. He just shrugged his shoulder plates.
"Although, that does bring me to another question, and I highly doubt it has anything to do with loyalty," Thundertron continued. He stalked around the mechs, unsettling them even further.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Steeljaw growled, his defenses building-up. He tensed when he felt the Captain's presence right behind him.
"Mmm… aren't you the defiant one?" Thundertron rumbled. He kneeled down and harshly grabbed Steeljaw's arm, dragging him back slightly.
Knockout, and least of all Bumblebee, couldn't believe what was occurring. They wanted to look away, but couldn't. Their optics were glued on the mechs beside them. Neither of them would have ever thought in a millennia that Steeljaw would be dominated physically by a larger, more powerful mech like this. Not to mention, not having the power to do anything about it.
"Just ask the question… and stop touching me!" Steeljaw demanded as he attempted to escape.
"Leave him alone!" Bumblebee yelled, jumping to his pedes. Despite his bound servos, he felt his rage at the ongoing scene would be enough to at least get one good hit in.
However, it was not to be. Cannonball finally released Brimstone, and rushing over with tremendous speed, caught Bumblebee before he could do anything to Thundertron. Knockout, still paralyzed, and Starscream, in disguise as Dust Devil, could only watch.
"Oh, so you care for this mech?" Thundertron mused, looking between Bumblebee struggling in Cannonball's arms, and Steeljaw being held in his own tight grip.
"I care about my team-mates," Bumblebee said. "And whether he likes it or not, Steeljaw is a part of my team. So of course I'm going to try to protect him!"
"Try being the key word," Brimstone chuckled, walking up to the group.
For once, Thundertron wasn't irritated by Brimstone, and while Cannonball didn't understand what was so funny, he laughed along, too.
"I hate to break this up, but I have a ship to pilot, and I'm sure everyone else has tasks to get back to as well," Sandstorm interrupted. He didn't wait to be dismissed as he turned around and walked away.
"I agree with Sandstorm," Starquest said after the other mech's departure.
"Very well," Thundertron vented. "Take Dust Devil with you and get him started on something."
Starquest bowed and gestured for Starscream/Dust Devil to follow him. The Seeker in disguise spared his comrades a subtle look before leaving with Starquest.
"Cannonball and Brimstone, take those two to the brig, then join me in the Chamber."
Bumblebee and Knockout's Energon ran cold from the way Thundertron was looking at Steeljaw; like a bounty hunter looking at a target that intrigued them more than anything, but not in a good way.
"I have the feeling you two will have some fun putting your expertise to the test with this deceptive spark."