War Paint

by Zsocca

Three Neutral femmes run into Team Prime on Earth. Getting friendly with the Autobots turns out to be a bad idea because they get stuck on the Nemesis by accident. Now they are forced to pick a side. They think they can survive among their manipulative Decepticon hosts, but will they? - TFP canon-divergence (SWxOC, SSxOC, KOxOC)

15. Stay

More drama to come, because why not! Enjoy!

Warnings: Possible bad grammar, misspellings…etc. I do NOT own TFP or its characters, I only own my OCs!

---

Chapter 15: Stay

….

Crossflare POV

Knock Out locked himself in the med-bay after he returned from his talk with Dreadwing. Something changed in his optics. Drastically.

When he ordered us out - pained and angry - he felt like an entirely different person.

It hurt to see him like that.

He shed no tears, he showed no mourn - it was frowned upon among the Decepticons. Grief was a private matter inside these walls. And a heavy burden one had to carry alone.

Knock Out was furious because he couldn't be anything else.

His reaction scared Mercy more than any of his previous dramatic episodes.

"Will he be okay?" Mercy hiccuped once we were already in our berthroom. I've been trying to calm her ever since she brought us the news. She was easy to comfort because she accepted the help offered. But I had no idea what to do with Knock Out when I saw him again. When we would meet, I had no clue because we were locked out of the med-bay for an undefined time.

I could only hope that he won't shut us out completely. I knew he needed someone to lean on now. Even if his Decepticon pride told him otherwise.

But I didn't expect to find the med-bay the way I did that afternoon when I went to check on him, hoping to find the doors unlocked. Indeed, they were unlocked, but Knock Out wasn't in there, and what he left there made my fuel tank twist and turn.

Fresh energon dripped from the dissection table. It covered the floor, it was splattered on the walls, the computers, the equipment. Several body-parts lay scattered across the room, inner organs laid bare on the table with torn and scrambled circuits in between, smoking.

The Vehicon who we'd patched up….he was torn to shreds.

Optics wide, I stumbled backwards, vision blurring for a moment as I tried to regain composure. The sight sickened me. I needed to get away.

The doors shut behind me with a hiss and I felt relieved to be out in the hallway. My thoughts were a white noise for a while before I finally came back to my senses.

I tried to make sense of what I've seen but found no words. I couldn't for the sake of Solus come up with anything other than….Knock Out has lost his mind.

The thought made my spark ache. I wanted to scream. Wobbly but standing, I found purchase against a wall.

Calm down Crossflare. You can do something. You have to do something. He can't go down that path….he can't lose his mind. He has to be alright….you have to help him!

Like he helped you.

My pedes moved by their own will. It was certain that I wasn't thinking clearly. But I worried for what state Knock Out was in at the moment mentally, so I hurried, unsure and upset but still more concerned than scared.

I wanted him to be alright.

Courage almost left me in front of his door. I've never come to his room before. It was close to the med-bay, just over the corner. He always complained about not having enough space between his job and his private life. Breakdown used to be his roommate.

Used to be.

Oh Solus….

My spark ached with a familiar pain. Pain for a loss, but this time it wasn't my own. It was someone else's. And it still hurt. It still stung.

I pushed the bell button on the side panel, hoping that he wouldn't reject, yet I had no idea what exactly I wanted or could do for him.

It took a minute but the door opened, revealing his perfect figure, haunted and dark.

His optics took me in with a cold, frustrated look.

"What do you want?"

His words stung. But I knew his pain.

"Knock Out, I'm just here to…"

"No need. I'm fine," he replied curtly, almost hissing.

Frowning, I stepped towards him.

"Don't give me that slag. I know you aren't."

"I'm grateful for your concern, but I'd like to be left alone now."

"Knock Out…."

"I don't think I was stuttering, Crossflare," Knock Out raised his voice, optics staring at me menacingly now. It sent a shiver down my spine. "It would be best if you remembered your own words and stopped acting like you actually do care about me more than a fellow colleague."

He knew how to slice with words. It was coming out of spite. He thought hurting me would deter me.

"Surely you know that you are more than that!" I snapped back, now desperate to reach him. I had to let him know. He didn't have to be alone.

Knock Out was taken aback for a moment. Then his initial surprise turned into a mocking scowl.

"Is that so? What's the cause of the sudden change? Now that I've also lost someone I'm one to enjoy your pity-party?"

"This is not pity, Knock Out!"

"Then what is it?!"

We stared each other down. There was fury in his optics, but I also noticed the helplessness, the pain and the need for comfort. He was telling me to frag off but he wasn't making a move to close the door.

He wanted me in, but he didn't know how to invite.

Sighing, I gathered courage and stepped up to him. I took his servo, and upon finding no rejection just surprise, I led him inside and closed the door behind us.

If he really wanted to, he could've kicked me out.

But he followed me in, quietly, resigned, and his fury dissipated like a puff of smoke.

I sat him down at the edge of his berth and took a seat beside him, still holding onto his servo. His grip on mine tightened.

There were no words between us for the first few minutes. It felt like there was too much to say and yet no correct words to use. I didn't want to pressure him any more than I already have so I waited. I waited, and hoped that he would confide in me like I had in him.

"Breakdown…he was…." he finally spoke up, barely whispering, then buried his face in his other servo, his voice breaking. "I don't have anyone left."

I didn't tell him it's not true because I couldn't fathom the depths of his emotions, so I just held his servo and let him continue.

"We did everything together. Through good or bad, we traveled together. We even joined the Decepticons together. We…."

Knock Out shook his head.

"Forget it….There is only me now."

My spark ached for him. Seeing him, the usually snarky, proud, confident mech in such a crumbled state…. I saw my reflection in his image. His pain in my pain. Not the same, yet still unsettlingly familiar.

I gently squeezed his servo and drew closer.

"Tell me more," I said quietly, encouraging him to talk.

Knock Out finally looked up, his optics meeting mine, helpless, confused, unsure.

"Tell me more about him. About the time you spent together."

He seemed to wonder why I would be interested, so I added:

"I'm willing to listen. You're not alone in this, Knock Out."

"Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

I thought of an answer. There was no certain reason, just a feeling, an instinct, a strong emotion and a strong urge to comfort him, to be by his side.

"I…"

"You know what, don't answer that," he shook his head, sighing.

"Knock Out, I…"

"No please, like I said, I don't need an explanation."

"I'll stay with you," I stated firmly, annoyed by the way he kept interrupting me.

He blinked in confusion and surprise, and with something like a flicker of hope in his optics.

"You mean…?"

"I'll stay with you for however long you need me."

---

Halo POV

"Up there!" I pointed at a little crystal above us, stuck between the rocks that made up the inside of the cave.

"Too small..." Starscream pouted, displeased.

"Better than nothing."

With our resources completely depleted yet again, we were back to seeking energon crystals. Starscream was acting grumpy all the way, probably because walking on pedes for days was finally getting to his neural-circuits. I couldn't blame him.

"Argh, this is so annoying!" Starscream growled then began his climb. I watched him struggle for a few minutes and tried to lighten the mood by annoying him to no end.

"Whoa Star, what a view! You have a nice aft!"

"Stop staring and start being useful instead!" he muttered and pulled the little crystal out.

I giggled, but was then whacked in the head by something. Staggering back, I barely caught the small glowing crystal he threw at me.

"Hey!"

"It's not like you didn't deserve tha-Aagh!"

Starscream's hold slipped and he fell down with a heavy thud. I stepped away just in time before he hit the ground and grinned as I leaned over him in satisfaction.

"We're even I guess?" I offered a servo which he reluctantly accepted and helped him up.

"Argh, it was a waste of effort because it's not enough for us both!" Starscream sighed and rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled with our situation.

I was about to say something cheerful when a distant noise caught our attention. Footsteps. We looked up and saw a large shadow pass by towards a narrow tunnel. The shadow was emitting the sounds of...a giant undefined creature. Creepy.

"What was that?" I straightened up, now alert.

"We should check it out," Starscream dusted himself off then began walking in the direction where the shadow left.

Oh great, a bad idea again! We should just simply leave and forget we've ever heard that thing! What if it's a monster?!

As we approached it, Starscream carefully peeked out from behind the corner and I did the same from behind his back.

What the...?!

A huge bug-like creature stood there, menacingly. Isn't that….?

"An Insecticon? On Earth?" Starscream raised an optic ridge in awe.

No way, an Insecticon? We are slagged! I've never met one before but I've heard stories. They are not to be messed with.

The enormous creature dug into the wall and threw the smaller rocks away. It was searching for something. Then it grabbed a good-sized chunk of energon crystal and pulled it out. Wow, it can detect and dig up hidden energon!

Starscream suddenly stepped out into the open and headed right towards the bug. I gaped in fright. What is he doing again!

"Starscream!" I hissed, trying to get him to turn back, pointlessly.

Idiot.

"You there, scavenger! Deliver that energon to me!" he pointed at the Insecticon, issuing an order with his natural air of arrogance. Did he really think that thing would obey him?! What's wrong with his processor at times like these?!

The bug turned to look at him, then turned away, ignoring Starscream completely.

I was about to follow and stop him from annoying the creature any further, but he suddenly snapped:

"You dare turn your back on a superior life-form?! I am Commander Starscream!" Starscream abruptly whacked the Insecticon and I knew at that moment that we should have just run away when we had the chance.

The Insecticon whirled around and growled, extending its disgusting bug-like arms threateningly.

Realizing his mistake, Starscream was the first to run for his life. Great. Heroic as usual!

"Wait for meeee!" I wasted no time running after him.

To my horror, the creature decided to chase us with an energon-chilling shriek.

"Where to?!" I yelled after Starscream who was looking around feverishly, trying to find a way to shake the Insecticon off.

Then he noticed a small crevice in the wall. Barely enough to fit someone in. Uh-oh.

Starscream didn't hesitate to dive into it, and I followed his example, having no other option. It was too small for the both of us but we squeezed together and tried to move away from the bug's claws.

"Move aside!"

"Get your wing out of my face!"

"Wah! Watch out!"

"I don't wanna die this young!"

The bug almost caught one of my pedes but I clung to Starscream who pulled me closer just to squeeze us even more against the wall behind us. Suddenly he snatched the crystal from my servo and pushed it between the bug's jaws, then he kicked it square in the face.

"Keep the energon you monstrosity! I hope you choke on it!"

The creature howled in pain but instead of clawing towards us again, it suddenly stopped and retreated.

We only watched, panting, sparks hammering in fear and confusion. It simply backed away from the crevice and walked off as if nothing happened.

There was a moment of stunned silence after the whole ordeal.

"You did it again! I knew it was a bad idea!" I hissed furiously once I snapped back to reality, "It could have killed us!"

"You could've helped out! Distracting it while I got away!"

"Oh so you could make an escape and leave me here?!"

"I can't fly but you can, so you could've escaped easily after I was out of sight! Stupid femme, think for once!"

I was about to retort but then my mouth just shaped a surprised 'oh' once I realized he was making sense.

"Well… I had no time to think that deep into it!" I decided to say with a huff. Then I looked around and realized the position we were in.

"Star, you're actually hugging me now?" I smirked in his face with mirth.

"N-no! You were the one clinging to me first!" Starscream immediately pushed me away in embarrassment and quickly scrambled out of the crevice.

I continued to laugh as I followed him out, but was instantly shut up by the scene in front of us.

A certain lot-legged lady was sitting on a piece of rock in the center of the cave, like a queen at her throne. Airachnid, ugh. Why here? Why now?

One of her spider-legs leaked energon. Oh, so she was injured. The Insecticon which attacked us stood rather peacefully beside her as if it was waiting for orders.

"What?! You reject a commander but grovel at the feet of that wretch?!" Starscream immediately took the Insecticon's attitude as a personal offense.

Airachnid chuckled with a dark smile.

"Starscream. Don't get your turbines in a twist. After all, the beast and I are somehow related. You might even say we are of one mind."

What the frag was she going on about…?

"Why are you here?" Starscream put his servos on his hips, straightening his back and wings, "Decepticons never return to stripped mines."

"You are not the only rogue Decepticon in need of energon," she pointed at her injured leg, then her gaze fell on me as I approached.

"And look at that, she is still with you."

Starscream glanced back at me and I stopped by his side, raising an optic ridge at him, silently asking 'now what?'.

"Sweet isn't it? She follows you around like a lost turbofox-puppy."

"Hey!"

"Quit provoking her," Starscream snarled in annoyance, "Now tell us what happened to you. Was it a run-in with the Autobots? Or did Megatron invite you on one of his field trips?"

"Megatron was otherwise engaged. But you should see his lackey," Airachnid flashed a wicked smile.

I didn't like the sound of that. What happened? Has she been cast out? For real? But why? And how? Who did she kill?

Starscream seemed to have a new idea.

"You know Airachnid, as fellow outcasts we should consider putting aside our differences. With this creature under your control and at our disposal we might employ it to terminate Megatron, allowing us to rule the Decepticons!" Starscream pointed at the Insecticon confidently, with that familiar smirk he wore every time he thought he was coming up with a genius plan.

Oh no, here we go again…

"I don't think that's a wise approach," I shook my head.

"Shut up Halo, this is going to work!"

What did he just say?! I stared at him in offense.

"You mean, together?" Airachnid asked with a tilt of her head, considering. No way!

"We would simply need to lure Megatron here, away from his support systems. So that we might catch him," Starscream continued presenting his new plan, excited, and completely ignoring my logical complaints.

"With his guard down," Airachnid added, still looking like she was actually considering the idea. Then she smirked forebodingly:

"An intriguing proposal, if ruling the Decepticons or spending any length of time with you were of the slightest interest to me."

Starscream turned around and gasped in offense as he tried to find the right words to convince her. Heh, well-deserved.

It's not like Airachnid has ever enjoyed our company to begin with. Our goals would never align.

"See? I told you. She is not worth our time. Let's just get out of here," I turned around, beckoning him to follow but he did not.

Ugh, this stubborn piece of scrap!

"Of course you had me at terminating Megatron. Payback would be sweet," Airachnid intertwined her fingers in her lap as she gazed over us with a calculating look. A chill ran down my spine as I looked back at her.

She was plotting murder, I could see it in her optics.

"However you wish to spin it," Starscream backed off, finally realizing where this conversation was going. I grabbed his wrist.

"I would need to ensure my assassin is up to the task. Perhaps a test run is in order," her smirk widened viciously and I didn't wait for her to finish her pretty little speech.

"Out of here!" I yelled at my partner and pulled him after me. Starscream staggered after me, trying to keep up.

"Eviscerate them!" Airachnid ordered from behind us and we heard the Insecticon howl as it jumped to the chase.

Frag, frag, frag!

We ran back to where we came from and hoped that we would get out of the cave before the Insecticon caught up to us.

"This is your fault! Again!" I yelled at Starscream and pushed him forward. He didn't need more encouragement, he ran a hundred times faster now that he had to save his own aft. Typical of him!

We mistook the direction though, and realized belatedly that there is only one narrow crevice leading outside from the small room we ended up in.

I cursed loudly. Slag, this day was just not my day!

We ran up to the opening and noted that we could squeeze through. But it will take some time. Someone has to cover the other while doing so.

"Go and get out! I will distract it!" I pushed him towards the crevice and spun around to face the enormous monstrosity.

Solus above….This will be my first real fight. I have to be smart because my brawn won't matter here. I would only end up breaking every limb if I charged against this brute like an idiot.

"Stupid! It will kill you!" Starscream called back to me but I didn't turn around.

"Just shut up and go!" I yelled back over my shoulder and transformed my arms into blasters. Opening fire, I ran in a circle to avert the Insecticon's attention from Starscream.

I saw the Seeker's form disappear through the opening and I noted in relief that he was out of harm's way. Okay, the next one is me.

I have to make it quick.

I shot the ceiling, making debris fall and dust fill the air for a moment, a distraction enough for me to zoom to the crevice and squeeze myself through it.

My upper body was out in a moment, and I kicked with my pedes to move forward, only to get caught by sharp steel fangs.

"Ack!" my optics widened as a painful gasp left my mouth. My joints were being crushed between jaws and I could do nothing but shriek and claw into the rocks.

Starscream turned around in shock, still on the ground from falling over after he made it through. He was frozen for a moment and I saw an unmistakable thought cross his optics.

He was measuring the risks. For Solus' sake, he was considering leaving me behind!

"Starscream!" I cried out, now desperate. Don't dare you leave me behind! Don't dare you run away now! You coward! You cursed piece of scrap!

Then one servo reached out and grabbed one of my wrists. With one incredibly powerful pull, I fell through the opening, the Insecticon's jaw slackening as it was left on the other side of the wall. It howled in fury, trying to reach after us, but he was too big to get through.

I fell on Starscream as we both hit the ground loudly. I whined, trembling all over and in pain. My ped was mauled and my circuits were on fire. I reached a shaking servo towards the injury but it was swatted away by Starscream.

"Don't!" he sat up, helping me move with one servo holding me, "You can make it worse!"

I bit into my lower lip and tried to muffle the pained sounds. It ached like slag. It burned, it hurt...I wanted to rip my ped off just to make the pain go away.

"You stupid...!" I hissed weakly and fell back against his frame, entirely spent, "Why did you have to do that?! You know you can't trust that wretch! Why don't you realize that I'm your only ally?! Argh!"

Starscream didn't answer. Maybe he was too stunned or too tired to speak, I didn't really care. I just wanted him to finally admit that he was stupid and this was his fault.

"It leaks too much energon," he said after a few clicks, moving so that he could get out from under me.

I hissed in pain, clawing into the dirt under me.

"We have to get away from here," he added, then slid his servos under me and lifted me up carefully, much to my surprise. Gentleness wasn't the word I associated with Stasrcream.

Balancing me in his arms with caution, he stood and took a look around before he started in a direction.

He walked in silence and my head lolled against his shoulder-plate. For the first time, I had nothing to say. I did not try to make fun of him or talk nonsense just to lift the weight of the situation.

I was in pain, but in spite of that, I felt relief washing over me. Starscream didn't leave me behind when he had the chance. He usually did not have to think twice about running for his life and not looking back. So the fact that he did, filled me with happiness.

Yes, I was angry with him, but I was still happy.

I'll thank him later.

---

Crossflare POV

It was peaceful. Well, as peaceful as it could be. I was just relieved to see Knock Out looking better. I kept rolling a tire on his back and he didn't mind. It helped him relax and the tension in his frame lessened.

It was odd, the feeling of lying next to someone else again. I have always recharged in my alt-mode since Sidewire died. I couldn't stand looking at the empty side of my berth.

Now Knock Out filled in the view. It was wrong and not at the same time. But I didn't dwell on such questions now, I was more focused on making him feel better.

In any way I could.

So I was surprised he only asked me to stay with him for a while. It was an easy to fulfill request. But it meant much to him so I obliged.

At first it was just him looking at me with undefined emotions, then he spoke again, and recited tales of his past. With and without Breakdown. Some of them I'd already heard, yet I still listened quietly.

Talking seemed to quench his anger, and before he knew he was getting tired.

"Rest, Knock Out."

"Will you stay?"

"Of course."

He managed a small smile, easy to miss. Then he reached a servo over my waist and pulled me slightly closer. I did not resist, even if my spark ached because of the proximity.

"Wake me in about an hour, will you sweet cherry?"

I stifled a smile at the nickname I banned him from using.

"As you wish."

And so I watched over him, worried and anxious, yet also oddly calm in a sense that now I knew without a doubt that I cared about him more than I let myself admit before.

Even if I denied, my spark was telling me the opposite. I did not want to see him hurt, I wished I could make him happy.

I wished I could just claim all the pain in his spark and encase it in my own. There is not much else left in mine anyway, a little bit of hurt I could still endure, if only it would help him forget the grief.

Things didn't work that way though.

I woke him an hour later, and he muttered something before opening his optics. I sat beside him and rolled his tire once more as I offered him a sad but understanding smile.

"Ready?"

Knock Out chuckled, far from his usual carefree chuckle, yet still charming, even if filled with sorrow.

"I could get used to you waking me up."

Rolling my optics, I patted his shoulder-armor and moved to get off the berth.

He made a displeased sound but didn't call after me. It was time to get up, so he did with a reluctant face.

"To be honest, I don't feel like being a medic today. I think…I think I need to feel the asphalt under my tires."

"We can go racing if there is no one in need of medical attention….but um, we should probably clean up the med-bay beforehand…."

Knock Out glanced up with a raise of an optic ridge, then realization dawned on him and he put a palm against his face with a grunt.

"Oh slag, no! I was out of my mind! Now I have to clean it all up! Ugh!"

At least he was feeling slightly bad about it. I didn't dare inquire more. It's better if we leave this episode of him in the dark and hope it never resurfaces again.

---

Halo POV

How much time has passed, I have no idea, but the next thing I remember was the way Starscream put me down, positioning me against a giant rock in a forest. The place was oddly familiar. Without saying anything, he examined my injury from closer, careful not to move it too much.

"Press your servo on it!" he ordered, then stood up and reached for his comm-link and walked away.

Doing as he said, I placed a servo over the injury and cursed quietly. Uh, this hurts, dammit! I forced down a groan. A minute later he returned and lowered to one knee next to me.

"Who did you call?" I asked, trying to sound normal while averting my attention from the pain.

"I asked Ratchet to come," he answered with a small frown.

"What?!" I snapped, "Last time he wasn't very accommodating!"

"He will have to do. I still can't call Knock Out for obvious reasons, can I?"

Before I could retort, a portal was opened in front of us. First Bulkhead, then Ratchet walked through.

"Huh?" both of them blinked in surprise at the sight of our duo.

"I thought it's you who needed medical help," Ratchet raised an optic ridge at Starscream, then his gaze scanned over my frame and stopped at the injury.

"Hey guys!" I waved a servo and winced when pain shot through my body.

"Well, isn't she a more welcome patient?" Starscream straightened as he gestured towards me with a wide grin.

I tried to force an innocent smile too.

"I would argue with that," Ratchet shook his head and put his servo on his hips. "First is the information. What do you know?"

Starscream grunted, and cleared his throat before he offered:

"It would appear that, like ourselves, Airachnid has gone rogue."

"What's it to us?"

Uh-oh. That was the best he could come up with? I'm slagged.

It seems the Autobots were not impressed either. Come on, I'm dying here!

"She is planning to retaliate against Meg-erm, mankind. I can provide you with her current location."

Dear Solus, this mech lies so horribly!

"I don't believe you," Ratchet said coldly, unimpressed.

Fragging Autobots. Can't you be nicer? Ugh, all that crap about morals when all you do is being difficult when a seriously injured patient is right in front of you! Thanks a lot!

"Why wouldn't you? I directed you to the location of the Decepticon space bridge so you could rescue Orion Pax, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but then you helped MECH steal Bumblebee's T-cog," Bulkhead growled in frustration.

"So? He got it back, didn't he? And anyway! I'm not the one suffering here!"

"Yeah, come on Bulk! Ratchet!" I spoke up, tired of waiting for them to feel merciful. "I expected more empathy from you guys. I swear Knock Out would have already patched me up by now!"

Ratchet narrowed his optics, then I guess medic-vanity had won because he sighed in resignation and brought his medical kit as he knelt down next to me.

"Fine. But this is the last time I patch you up!"

"Ah, how kind of you!" I grinned, and gestured towards my aching injury.

Ratchet rolled his optics and got to work under Starscream's and Bulkhead's watch. The two occasionally glared at one another.

There was a palpable tension in the air. I figured it's time I speak up again.

"Anyway, how is Miko? Rafael, Jack? It's been a while since I last saw them."

Ratchet only raised an optic ridge, but Bulkhead scratched his head and eventually answered:

"You know Miko. She is….energetic."

"Haha, figures."

"Rafael is fine. Jack too…..Bumblebee and Arcee take care of them well."

"That's good I guess. Tell them I said hi!"

Bulkhead nodded, a bit unsure. We weren't on the best of terms but we weren't exactly enemies either.

Starscream rolled his optics.

"I will never understand how you Autobots can stand those pets running under your pedes. Ugh."

"No one asked you Starscream," Bulkhead shot him a glare.

"Humans - I mean some of the humans - aren't that bad once you get to know them," I pointed out while looking at Starscream's displeased frown.

"They are tolerable. Sometimes," Ratchet muttered quietly.

"Hey, um, Halo? Have you maybe reconsidered joining us? You know, Miko would be happy to have you back."

Starscream gasped in offense as soon as Bulkhead put up the question, and the Seeker jabbed a threatening sharp claw against the larger mech's chassis.

"You might want to spare your attempts, Autobot! You are no better than the Decepticons! We went Neutral for a reason!"

"Halo never wanted to join you in the first place, she and her friends came to us first!"

Starscream growled in agitation and I quickly interfered before things could escalate:

"It's fine Starscream, I don't intend to leave you."

He glanced over to me with narrowed optics, doubting me.

"True, the girls and I have chosen the Autobots initially and that little show Soundwave made tricked us into joining the Cons. But now that I've witnessed both sides, I already know that Crossflare had been right before I walked into this mess: Neutrality wins. So rest your spark, I won't be easily convinced by anyone."

"Once a Con, always a Con," Ratchet muttered, finishing up his work.

"So you say neither side is good, but you still want to stay with Starscream? He is the worst! Do you know how many bots he offlined? Both Autobots and Decepticons?" Bulkhead gaped at me while Starscream gasped in offense once again.

There were many things I didn't know about Starscream yet, but one thing I did: his trust was expensive and I managed to earn a little bit of it. There is no way I would dance back now just because he had an ugly past. Who doesn't in the military? That's what war is about.

"I guess," I shrugged.

"Leave it Bulkhead," Ratchet packed his tools away and stood, finished with treating my injury. It was just numb pain at this point. "If she is fine with being used as his tool, then let her be. It's none of our business."

I frowned and Starscream was about to voice his opinion, when Ratchet turned towards me again:

"How did you get that injury?"

"An Insecticon tried to eat me," I huffed.

"An Insecticon? Here?" Ratched frowned in disbelief.

"How?" Bulk exchanged confused looks with him.

"Dunno. It just appeared and cornered us," I shrugged.

"Why didn't you fly away? You have wings!" Bulkhead asked.

"Starscream is missing his T-cog so I had to stay on the ground to protect him."

"You are grounded?" both of them looked at Starscream in surprise.

"Y-yeah. So I'm not much of a threat to you at the moment," Starscream tried to hide his discomfort but he didn't forget to shoot me a glare.

"Hm. Is this all related to what you told us about Airachnid?"

Starscream and I nodded in unison.

"Then tell us Airachnid's location."

"She is in an old Decepticon mine, two miles from here on the south," Starscream pointed in the correct direction.

"Sure?" Bulkhead glanced over to me, having more trust in me than him.

"Sure," I nodded, "Also, she is injured."

"Good. We will tell it to Optimus," Ratchet reached for his comm-link and asked for a ground-bridge.

They were about to leave when Bulkhead asked once again:

"Hey, still sure you don't wanna come?"

Starscream growled and curled his sharp claws, daring the Autobot to ask it one more time. I simply waved a servo and sighed.

"Yes, Bulkhead, I'm still sure. Have a nice day!"

"Fine…take care!" there was disappointment in his voice as he retreated and passed through the portal with Ratchet.

"I hate the Autobots!" Starscream hissed in annoyance once we were left alone.

Grinning, I folded my arms over my chest-plates and cocked my head to the side as I looked up at him. He was still tense, his posture promising a fight.

"Aww, don't be so worked up just because they almost won me over!"

Starscream snapped his gaze to me in alarm.

"Almost?!"

"Come on, Star! I'm joking!" I giggled. "You don't have to worry! I've already told you that I won't leave you alone! How can you even assume that I would do it?"

"I-I don't care whether you come or go! None of my business!" he denied instantly, flustered. How adorable. His wings always twitch when he is embarrassed.

"Oh, but the way you got upset and was ready to start a fight with Bulkhead clearly told the opposite! Be less obvious next time, dear!"

"Can't you just heal faster and chat less?" he whined and promptly turned away.

I chuckled but left it at that. He still wasn't ready to admit that he liked my company. No worries, we had all the time in the world. Sooner or later he will slip up eventually.

We waited for a few minutes before I finally got to my pedes. It was easier than I expected and I only nodded when Starscream looked at me questioningly, wondering if I was truly ready to move.

It was a tedious walk, but with him offering me a shoulder, it wasn't exactly a nightmare tour back towards the mine where we escaped from.

"You have something in mind, don't you?" I pouted once I realized he already had something planned.

"Do not worry, we will be only spectators. If my calculations are right, Megatron, Airachnid and the Autobots are currently busy eliminating each other. I want to see who comes out victorious. Don't you?"

A small smile was my answer.

I guess I did.

---

Mercy POV

After Megatron and Dreadwing returned from their trip to kill Airachnid - which news was still a shock to me - our leader was sent to the med-bay immediately because of serious injuries. What happened to him?

I stood beside Soundwave and watched Megatron leave the Command Center after he announced that Dreadwing is the new second in command from now on. I felt relieved. At least a reasonable mech will rule things from now on and not someone like Starscream or Airachnid.

I still felt a little ashamed about running away and crying like a sparkling after learning about Breakdown's death though. Decepticons were known not to show grief and sorrow. One had to honor the dead by getting revenge for them but I had no such intentions. I was just sad that a friend died.

Soundwave didn't make a note of it. He didn't ask, didn't comment. To be honest, our communications were limited to the work we did.

Knowing how well we used to get along, this current predicament hurt my spark. I wanted to understand what went wrong and caused this sudden change, and this distance.

Soundwave ignored me. Did I hurt him that much when I pushed him away and ran? But...what was I supposed to do? I just couldn't wrap my head around it!

I bit my lower lip and returned from my deepest thoughts to concentrate back on work. I needed to focus!

Suddenly a tall shadow fell on the computer panel and made me turn around to see Dreadwing standing behind me with a guilty expression on his face.

"W-what can I do for you, Commander?" I asked, bowing my head a little in respect.

"I came to apologize," he started, casting his optics down, "I'm sorry for not being able to recover Breakdown's remains."

I stared up at him in surprise. He was worried about that? He thought he needed to apologize to me? But why? How strange of a Decepticon to think about others' feelings...

"I assume you were in a close relationship with him?" he asked, seeing my stunned expression.

A small, sad smile curled at the corner of my mouth.

"We were…friends. We'd spent lots of time together."

"I see. I assumed so since you were quite shaken by the news of his passing. My condolences," Dreadwing bowed his head slightly, and I was surprised by the sincere empathy in his voice.

"Thank you…Commander."

He simply nodded, then stepped back and left as he came.

I watched him leave the Communication's Room and wondered what to make of him. His words warmed my spark. This was the first time I actually witnessed a Decepticon care about his comrades aside from Knock Out and Breakdown.

Then I felt something prick my spine. As if someone was watching me intently. I turned around slowly, now alert and nervous.

Soundwave was staring in my direction with full attention. Oh.

He glared at me in a way I've never seen him before. Laserbeak nervously chirped and I retreated a step.

"Um, yes? Did I do something wrong?" my mouth opened from instinct.

My processor was a mess as I tried to see the error of my ways. But I just couldn't understand him! Before this whole mess it was always clear what he wanted. Now I could only guess. Why? Why was he doing this? He was confusing me! Why won't he do something!

"Soundwave?" I called out a touch desperately, craving for an answer or just...just a sign, anything, "Please tell me what's wrong! What did I do? I don't understand! Answer me!"

He didn't respond. Frustrated tears welled up in my optic. Oh not again! I can't cry over everything! Crossflare would stand strong and Halo would demand the truth. I have to be stronger too!

Then he suddenly moved and a servo of his caught my wrist. Startled, I gasped and stumbled after him clumsily as he pulled me away from the computer panels and out of the room.

Laserbeak chirped worriedly and I was no better at guessing what Soundwave wanted. This was the first time he touched me after the incident. My wrist burned under his slim fingers. Yet I braced myself and followed him, willing to sort things out if that's what he made up his mind about.

He led me to the closest energon storage room and checked if anyone else was there before he turned back to me and let go of my wrist.

Spark hammering, I stared up at him in anticipation. Now what? Will he finally clear the misunderstandings? Will he apologize?

Laserbeak chirped again and Soundwave put a servo on his minicon before he deployed the small one. Oh. Why did he do that now?

Laserbeak made a few circles around us and kept repeating: "Doesn't remember!" before Soundwave ordered him silently out.

Laserbeak reluctantly left through the door and so we remained alone.

I felt my pedes tremble but I clenched my fists and straightened myself. I can't back away now. Here is the chance to settle things! This is what I wanted!

"Soundwave, I feel like there is something you're not telling me and unless you do, I won't understand. What you did last time…you know what, it surprised me! I was caught off-guard! I don't know how else I should've reacted but…."

"Remember," Soundwave interjected through a recording.

"But what, Soundwave? What did I forget?"

He remained silent for a minute, not easing my anxiety at all. I wished I could see his expression at times like this. I missed the red optics I have only seen for mere seconds.

Then he moved. I flinched when he extended an arm and slowly pointed towards my chest. Millions of thoughts rushed through my head, trying to decipher what he was trying to say. I decided not to move for now. I might get the explanation I'm hoping for.

Then he pulled his servo away and this time touched his own chest, making me even more confused.

What was he trying to convey?

"Me and you?" I tried.

Soundwave nodded and he now raised both servos, imitating a movement similar to opening a box. He gestured towards his chest and repeated the action.

Oh. Oh. Was he….?

My whole body shivered, now not only anxious but suddenly scared. What did he mean by that?! Does he mean he wants me to open up? But why? And why would I…why would he…?

I took a step back, afraid. Upon seeing my reaction he replayed another recording:

"Nothing to fear. It's only an experiment."

It was Knock Out's voice.

I shook my head, still unconvinced.

"Please," it was an Autobot's voice this time.

I stared at him with wide optics, shocked. Was he actually begging me? But why? What would be the point…

I cast my gaze down, biting my lips. Should I or should I not?

Then my inner battle was interrupted by the noise of plates shifting. I lifted my gaze up in shock to watch as Soundwave revealed his own spark-chamber under all the dark armor and pretty biolights. I shouldn't have looked, yet I couldn't tear my optics away from the sight of the pulsating bright orb. Without realizing I stepped closer in awe, noticing how a small part of it was not purple but a faint green color. A multicolored spark?

Where have I seen such a….Oh. Crossflare's spark. She used to have two colors as well. Her bondmate's color mixed with hers. So this must mean…Soundwave has a fracture bond?!

A small part of me ached from the thought.

Then I….

Stepping back, I took a deep intake before I also let my plates shift aside. I don't know what he wished to know, but upon seeing him open up like that this is the least I could do in return.

Mine was much smaller, more delicate, yet bright just the same, but only with one color, mine.

Shyly, I glanced up at his visor. I observed his reaction as he watched my pulsating spark. There was something very intimate about opening up like this. If only he explained why he wished to see mine, and why was he willing to show me his…

He stared in silence. I wondered what he saw, what he thought.

I hadn't got the chance to ask about it though because Megatron comm-linked us to report at the Command Center. What timing!

Soundwave closed his chest and I followed suit. Laserbeak flew in through the door in a hurry and reattached immediately. Our odd rendezvous ended on this note, unfinished.

We left the room to present ourselves in front of Lord Megatron as quickly as possible. He didn't like to wait afterall.

But my thoughts were wandering. What was this all about? What should I've noticed? What did Soundwave want to tell me? And why do I feel so disheartened now that I know that he has a fracture bond?

---

Halo POV

Exhaustion couldn't describe my current state. It was a torture tour but after what felt like eternity, we finally reached our destination: the Harbinger.

The place where our rogue days started. I couldn't deny the flutter in my spark at the memory.

Back then I was a weak, but determined rookie searching for fun and ways to annoy a certain Seeker, on the other servo, Starscream was the Commander of the Decepticons with a badly hurt pride. We both ended up betrayed and left behind by Airachnid, then found by the Autobots and were kicked out by Arcee.

Since then, we have been hanging out as a duo. Months have passed since those events. That point in time felt so far yet so close at once. Maybe because of the ton of things that happened to us during that time.

"Ah, just as I left it, the Harbinger," Starscream smirked in satisfaction at the sight of the crashed ship among the stones.

"You?" I put a servo on my hip with a hint of challenge in my voice.

"We," he corrected himself while rolling his optics in annoyance, "Things are finally looking up at least."

We entered the ship and went our separate ways in mutual agreement. The plan was simple: we searched through the place for hidden energon reserves. The one who finds something comms the other.

Fortunately the ship wasn't too big, so I wasn't afraid of getting lost or not being able to contact my partner. Starscream was in a reachable distance and that was enough relief for me. What harm could he run into here? Well, he surely was a trouble-magnet but this place was deserted so I didn't worry too much.

But knowing him, he would eventually find a way to do stupid things even in such a place! Little did I know how right I was.

Only a few hours passed and strange noises from the other side of the ship caught my attention. The thought that something was happening and I wasn't there made me uneasy so I reached to my comm-link and made a call. No response came, because he didn't pick up. He just ignored me?

Quickening my steps, I headed back while preparing myself to see something horrible. When it came to Starscream, there was one certain thing to remember: if you leave him to his own devices he will come up with something stupid to harm his own self.

I needed a little time figuring out which room the sounds were coming from. Some kind of machines were running. Did Starscream manage to turn on the machinery? And….talking? Who was he talking to?

It sounded like he was talking to himself. Maybe he truly was...he often did that anyway.

I finally entered the room which looked like a laboratory at first glance. That's an explanation for the machine sounds. But the interior wasn't the thing that crept me out.

I staggered back at the sight that welcomed me. What the slag?!

"Starscream?!" I gasped in panic. Yes, I was in panic. Were my optics or my processor malfunctioning? I saw six of him! Six!

The closest one who stood in front of the others glanced back at me in surprise.

"Oh, just you..."

"What is the meaning of this?!" I pointed at the many versions of him.

And they looked back at me! My servos were trembling now. I was freaking out. One of him was more than enough! Why five more?!

"Have no fear, these are just clones," he introduced them to me with a proud smirk, "Look at my new beautiful armada! With them I can take my revenge on Megatron!"

I blinked several times, too stunned and freaked out to speak, then I finally processed what he'd said and snapped in fury.

"Again! You idiot!"

He tilted his head in confusion.

"Why the pit would you make more of you! As if you alone weren't stupid enough!"

"How dare you speak about us like that?!" the other Starscreams gasped in offense, now glaring in my way.

I backed off immediately, frightened. I was really scared. They looked like him but they were not him. It may sound crazy, but they felt like aliens to me. Not the Starscream who I called my partner.

The true one seemed to notice my fear and stepped over to me.

"They are only clones, Halo. There is no need to be afraid. They are also me..."

"No!" I cut in, "They are not you! I'm not even sure that you are the real you now! I want the real Starscream and him alone! My Starscream!"

My outburst left him stunned, unable to speak up for a moment. I didn't even give him or his clones a chance to speak a word. I stormed out of the room and shouted back:

"I can't stay in one room with them! Get rid of those clones! I won't show up until they are gone!"

The ship was large enough to hide. I found berthrooms and chose one to stay in until Starscream does something with those…things of his. Just the thought of having more of him crept me out.

I sat in anxiety, trying to avert my thoughts but my efforts were in vain, I couldn't shake this bad feeling off.

One. I loved only one.

I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking slightly. What a crazy femme I am! In a way very pitiful too. Falling in love with such an idiot. Really, weren't there plenty more normal guys out there?

No, I had to choose this jerk.

My face suddenly heated up. Wait a second...when have I ever admitted that I loved him?

Rubbing the sides of my face, I tried to shake off the realization. No, surely not. I can't be this stupid…or wait, maybe I am.

I loved that idiot. I really did.

But now that there were six of him, I kind of got scared. I didn't want any copies. I didn't want him taking pointless revenge. I didn't want him plotting anything that could harm him. Why couldn't he just focus on me instead? I was the best thing that could happen in his life. (Slight exaggeration.)

Surely he feels the same! He just hides it well.

If he is not willing to face his own feelings, I will force him somehow. And even if he isn't in love with me, I will make him fall. He had no choices here. I made a decision and now I was determined.

With this newfound fire, I stood up and walked outside to have some fresh air to cool myself down. To my surprise Starscream was out there alone. If it was the real him.

"Um...are you my Star?" I asked carefully.

He turned around and raised an optic ridge.

"Yes, it's the real me. Though I didn't expect you to come out so soon."

I eyed him doubtfully.

"Prove it to me."

Starscream frowned, then rolled his optics and pointed to the scar on his right cheek.

"Only I have this. The clones have a complete, healthy body. They even have T-cogs."

That convinced me and I nodded in relief.

"They flew off then?"

"I sent them to terminate Megatron. I hope they won't fail."

"Hhh, I wonder when you will accept the fact that you are not enough to take Megatron down..." I sighed while rubbing my forehead.

"Tch. I will prove that's not true," Starscream huffed in annoyance and folded his arms over his chest. He pouted for a while, then his optics brightened again and he clenched his fists excitedly, "You'll be surprised! I cannot wait to savor the vivid details of Megatron's demise! My clones are close!"

"Yeah, I would like to see that..." I mumbled sarcastically.

Suddenly Starscream staggered with a pained yelp as if he was hit in the face. I flinched and stared at him in confusion only to see him looking back at me with a similarly bewildered expression.

"What is happening?!" he looked over his servos and body and then it happened again, and he clutched his head in pain and fell on his knees.

"Starscream! What is going on?!" I knelt beside him worriedly and touched his shoulder carefully, afraid of hurting him even more.

"Slag! My genetic code provides my clones with a T-cog I no longer possess and all I get is their agony?!" he gritted through his denta.

Angered yet again, I yelled at him:

"See?! This is the result! You never listen to me!"

"You blaming me won't help me in this situation!" he whined pitifully.

I had enough and slapped him in the face. He stared at me with a baffled expression as if struck by lighting.

"Enough! Get yourself together! You invented this operation, so get over it and bear the consequences!"

Starscream rose to his pedes and shrugged my servos off.

"I don't need your...AAargh! Wah! What is going on up there?!"

I watched him agonizing, and stepped back with folded arms, refusing to give any help. This was his fight. A new lesson to learn.

But then I also realized: he never learns. Not in the traditional way at least. Maybe a little pain will help him see things from a new perspective.

After the seizures were gone, Starscream lay in the dust like a broken doll. I could tell he was greatly damaged through his clones even if no injuries showed up on his actual body.

So finally, I stepped over to him and decided to help. I wrapped my arms around him and dragged him back to the ship. Not knowing where to leave him, I made Starscream sit down in the laboratory.

He groaned but I ignored his whining.

"Wait here, I'm going to look for a little energon for you," I ordered, then quickly left the room. In the lowest part of the ship I found a few cubes of energon which immediately cheered me up. At least we won't die from hunger today.

"Be happy, I have fuel," I entered the laboratory with a wide grin but then halted immediately when I realized that there were two of him in the room. And one of them was ready to launch his missile at the other.

"NO!" my spark missed a beat. I dropped the cubes and I jumped at the mech, grabbing his arm, effectively hindering him from firing at the other.

The other Starscream turned around with a murderous expression and pointed his own missile at the former.

"How sly of you trying to terminate me!"

Now I had to think. Which one is the real one? I snapped my gaze from one to the other. The other one realized my confusion.

"I'm the real Starscream, Halo. Step aside and let me finish this pitiful clone!" he ordered.

"No! I'm the real one! Don't believe him, he is trying to deceive you!" the former, which I was still holding down, retorted.

They began arguing and I was only more bewildered with each argument thrown into the air.

"Enough!" the one I clung onto suddenly yelled and shook me off. Using my moment of surprise to his advantage, he wrapped an arm around my neck and transformed his other into a blaster. The mech squeezed me to himself while aiming his weapon to my helm. I gasped in shock and fright, realizing just what kind of situation I got myself into. I didn't dare make a move.

"Lower your weapon or else I will kill her here and now!"

The other Starscream frowned angrily but didn't obey. They eyed each other silently for a minute and I desperately stared at the other one.

Oh, the scar! He was truly the real Starscream!

"You wouldn't dare," the real one spoke firmly.

I wasn't so sure about that and panicked a little more, scared of being shot if my real partner angers the clone.

Another silent minute followed the statement and my sparkpulse wildly increased. Then the clone had enough of waiting and shoved me away to raise his arm and launch his missile. But the real one was faster than him.

I fell on the floor and the clone almost flew across the room with a boom. It fell with a burned chest, seriously damaged. It tried to move but Starscream stepped on it with a pained expression.

My eyes widened at the sight. Is he really going to kill off...himself?

The clone whimpered weakly. For a moment I pitied it.

Starscream clutched his aching chest with a servo but tried to ignore the pain and raised his left arm mercilessly.

"I feel your pain. Really I do," with that he launched his missile and it blew up the clone's spark entirely. The real one screamed so loud that my audio receptors almost went dead, "AAAaaah, scrap that hurt!"

He staggered and fell back, limbs spreading on the floor. Only his heavy panting told me that he was still online. I climbed over on all fours to Starscream and curled up beside him in exhaustion. We remained like that for a few minutes until I quietly spoke:

"Don't ever do anything like that again. You almost killed yourself."

He huffed, irritated, but didn't answer.

"Anyway, did you really know that he wouldn't shoot me or were you just gambling with my life?"

Starscream glanced at me from the corner of his optics, then averted his gaze with a frown.

"The clones shared my memories, emotions and thought process...and I just don't have the spark to harm you intentionally."

My sparkpulse quickened and my optics widened. I stared at him in stunned silence. Did I hear that right? Did I?! I couldn't help myself, a silly grin crossed my face. I was right! He does like me afterall!

Starscream made advantage of his own weakness to win this fight. And that weakness was me. Or rather, the way he felt about me. Even if it was not love but something else I was still happy to know that something was there at least. It seems I just have to wait until he finally breaks...

I shuffled closer in joy and threw an arm over him as I snuggled up against his frame.

"H-hey! No touching! Argh, why are you always like this!" Starscream pushed against me, trying to shove me away but I clung to him with more determination, giggling.

"Ugh, fine, I'm too tired for this!" he relented at last, and my spark soared.

---

Crossflare POV

I was busy dealing with the wounded Vehicons - who were damaged by Starscream's clones - when the crash happened. The tool fell out of my servo and I lost balance as the ship tilted out of balance. The patient fell off the table with a painful groan but I managed to grab onto something before I could have hit the floor as well.

"Scrap! What's going on?!" Knock Out hung onto the computer panel in panic.

Did we collide with something? Were we under attack? Usually the med-bay was a safe place and information leaked in only long after something had happened - like the news that a dozen Starscreams came aboard - but now we could experience first-hand what was happening.

As if it weren't enough that Starscream suddenly appeared from nowhere and killed off many of the crew just today. No. Here was something else going on! Let's add to the fire!

I struggled to help the patient into a more comfortable position and to stop the energon leaking from his upper arm, but it was almost impossible while the only solid ground under my pedes was shaking and we were thrown around the interior like dolls. Then it stopped altogether and the ship finally came to a halt.

"Are you okay?" I asked, worriedly helping the Vehicon sit up. He coughed and his plating seized in agony. The damage on him worsened and I let out an irritated growl. Great. All my hard work has gone to waste.

"Crossflare, are you hurt?" Knock Out knelt beside me and offered a servo. I gratefully took it but I shook my head as we stood together.

"No. Help me get him back to the table," I asked and the Vehicon was laid back with our help.

After we settled him, I glanced over to Knock Out questioningly, "What happened? Did we land?"

"Yeah, it seems like it. But we never land without a good reason. We should check out what's going on."

"It must have been an attack. But we are full of patients at the moment and many others are still waiting. I can only hope no one got injured in this new incident."

"Don't have your hopes up, today seems to be a very eventful day."

The Vehicon groaned in pain and my mind immediately shifted back to work. I stepped to the table and offered a few calming words before I restarted my work.

Knock Out pouted with jealousy written all over his face but I shot him a 'do your work' look and he rolled his optics as he did as I suggested.

Working these last days has done a good job of calming him. We even sneaked out to work our tires. He was beginning to loosen up, returning to his usual self. The grief still haunted his optics, but he wasn't consumed by it anymore.

I was proud of his progress. But I also needed him to focus on work.

Later it turned out that we had to land because the ship was so badly damaged that we couldn't stay in the air without risking a crash.

Megatron was furious. Many patients were waiting in line but Knock Out was called away for another assignment and I belatedly noticed that the number of our army fearfully increased in just a day.

Our new hires were, to my shock, Insecticons. They showed up from nowhere and joined us under the lead of Lord Megatron. Those bug-like creatures scared me to the core and Knock Out also warned me not to approach them. As if I needed a warning!

I gladly stayed in the med-bay, accompanied by Mercy, who tried to help me treat the patients while also avoiding Soundwave for some reason.

It seemed like the two weren't on such good terms anymore. Has Soundwave done something? Or has Mercy realized that I was right?

Whatever happened, she wasn't talking about it and I didn't pressure her. The fact that she wasn't so enamored with him anymore was enough to calm my spark.

Just as we were almost done with work, the lights in the ship suddenly changed color. We both glanced up at the ceiling. Purple...?

"What was that?" Mercy asked, uneasily observing the new tone coloring the med-bay.

"Who knows? Maybe Megatron was bored of red," I shrugged and didn't give so much thought to it, however Mercy wasn't convinced.

A few minutes later the ship took off. Finally, was all I thought but then an unknown deep voice echoed through the whole place, making us freeze.

"Who was that?" we exchanged concerned looks.

The voice was threatening and it didn't seem to like Lord Megatron. I wondered what that actually meant. Were we under attack?

"This can't be good," Mercy worriedly reached to her comm-link, "Soundwave! Can you hear me? What happened?"

There was dead silence. He wasn't picking up.

"I-I can't comm him..."

"Don't worry, I'll call Knock Out," I placed a servo on her shoulder and called the medic with a hint of anxiety in my spark. Something wasn't right.

"Um, sweet cherry, it's not really a good time for chit-chat..." he responded, and I sighed in relief.

"What is going on? Who was that voice just now?"

"Please listen Crossflare. We are in great trouble..." he whispered and that planted worry in me as well, "The ship's consciousness awakened on its own. Stay in the med-bay and don't touch anything. I will come as soon as we have found a solution."

"But-"

"No. Stay there. It's safer."

He hung up and I couldn't hide my shock when I looked at Mercy.

"The ship is alive...and Knock Out told us to stay here until they stop it from controlling itself."

"And Soundwave?"

"I'm sure he is doing his best at the moment..."

We were confused. We had two people on this ship who we cared for and now that we weren't allowed to leave our current spot, both of us just walked from left to right with increasing worry. Nothing changed, the lights were purple and we heard screams from the outside.

"Argh! I can't wait anymore! This is like a bad horror movie!" I snapped suddenly and commed Knock Out again. But he wasn't responding this time. My optics widened in shock and my spark was about to jump out of its chamber.

"We have to go," I stated and ran out of the med-bay without a second thought. Mercy followed me in panic and we both gasped at the sight of the hallways.

Frozen soldiers and Insecticons stood everywhere, motionless.

"What happened here?" Mercy shuddered at the thought.

"The ship seems to be able to put anyone in stasis-lock. We have to be careful, Mercy. Come, I'm sure Knock Out and Soundwave are victims as well!"

I started running again but soon came to a sudden halt because I noticed something tiny just ahead on the floor.

The tiny beings also stopped in shock, staring up at our giant figures. Mercy peeked out from behind me and she gasped in surprise:

"Miko? Jack? Raf?!

The three kids seemed to be just as stunned as us,

"Wow, you really are Decepticons!" the kids gaped at our insignia. Oh right, we haven't met them since….

"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you guys caused the ship to malfunction!" I knelt down with a scowl.

"No, but we are here to solve the problem!"

"Do you know how to stop the ship?" Mercy immediately had her hopes up.

"Ratchet told us how," Raf nodded again and pointed down the corridor, "But we need to go. Will you help?"

"Of course! Lets go! Come on kids!" Mercy giggled and scooped them up in her palms.

They showed the way while Jack informed Ratchet about us through the communication device on his ear.

"What? Mercy and Crossflare are helping you?"

"Yep! They are super nice!" Miko added in.

"We are here," Raf stated as we entered a giant chamber. Megatron was holding the handle of the manual shifter of the warship's energon infuser. But he was paralyzed.

---

Halo POV

I acted like an excited little youngling having a sleepover when I managed to push my will on Starscream and have us sleep in one room.

He was very determined to reject my idea first. Privacy problems, recharging habits and blahblahblah, all excuses. We have been recharging next to each other in the wild. Surely this wasn't that much of a change!

And besides, we can watch out for each other if we are close.

That shut him up.

So finally, we had our own room. Our place to live. A home.

The place where we were hidden, safe and where I could return to from my little energon seeking missions.

Starscream made a schedule for me and he portioned all rations strictly.

My duty was to find energon since I was the one with a working T-cog while he stayed home and spent his time doing scientific research. He also scavenged an energon-refiner and began fixing it.

I admired the schematics he sketched onto the walls. He was smart.

After arriving back from my missions which were sometimes fruitless, I always made time to watch him work and create something amazing from the scraps of the ship. He was indeed a genius.

"Is staring really that entertaining? You haven't made a move since you arrived and you aren't helping either," he sneered once he glanced up from his work for the first time that day. But then his attention was already back on the circuits which he handled with care.

"Sorry, but it's just too interesting to watch you do these things. I admire your handwork. I never imagined you being such an expert in these kinds of things," I smiled, still hugging my knees to my chest while keeping my gaze on him.

He chuckled slightly.

"You still don't know a lot about me, femme."

"Then tell me! I'm curious. I want to know you better."

"And why would you be?" he mumbled but didn't look up.

I fell silent for a second before answering:

"I do love your stories. Even if you exaggerate a little."

"Hhhh, you are quite the pushy one, aren't you?" Starscream shut down the side-plating of the machine and tried to turn it on for the third time. It made strange noises and I leaned closer with a hint of joy in my optics.

Yes, it's working! It's working! The machine roared to life and Starscream proudly puffed his chest out as he stood and dusted himself off, "And here I prove again how much of an idiot Megatron is for firing me!"

"You fired yourself dear," I corrected him with a grin.

"Oh, could you not ruin my moment of victory just once?" he pouted, but not nearly as offended as he pretended to be. He was only teasing me back. I liked it when he did that. He could be very playful when caught in a good mood. Grinning, I walked up to him and made a slow circle around him, raising a suggestive optic ridge as I traced the edge of his wings, making him flinch and stare at me with confused, questioning optics.

He knew I was up to no good.

"Don't worry Starscream, I will always be there to ruin the moment. You can't shake me off, you see. There is no cure for this one illness called 'Halo of Uraya' afterall," I shot him a naughty smirk, then I made my way out of the room without a glance back.

I liked the sound of his cooling fans kicking in just a moment after I left. It seems like he was catching onto my drift. And he seemed to be at a loss of what to do. No worries, I'm a patient femme.

Then another day, I was surprised when I couldn't find Starscream on the ship. He just vanished like thin air. While trying not to panic I ran up and down the ship in a hurried search of him until I found my little idiot on the highest spot of the crashed ship, outside. He stood on the top and just stared at the sky. His wings were lowered, his expression and posture reflecting his inner melancholy.

I climbed up to him but he didn't seem to notice me until I called his name.

"Starscream..."

He glanced at me for a moment and then straightened himself, trying to put up a tough front. He folded his servos behind his back and stared back at the landscape, not responding to me.

"You miss the air, don't you?" I asked, still too stubborn to give up questioning.

His wings twitched for a moment but he kept silent for a while before giving a response.

"Have you ever heard of 'sky-hunger'?"

I shook my head, but I could guess what it meant. Starscream looked up at the cloudy sky and started explaining:

"Jets were obviously created to fly. We love air more than ground, it's limitless. Flying is almost as essential to us as humans need breathing. They can withhold their breath for a while but if they keep it up too long, they will die. Seekers like me, who are grounded for too long soon develop symptoms of sky-hunger. It's natural, it's an instinct. But the side-effects are rather unpleasant."

I worriedly stepped next to him, trying to read his expression.

"But you won't die, will you?"

"No. I may just feel a little more frustrated than usual. On a constant basis."

"That's not better!" I snapped. If this 'sky-hunger' thing is that serious, then I have to do something to erase it somehow. But how? Starscream doesn't have a T-cog. I can't give him mine because I don't know how to take it out.

Think, Halo, think!

"Would anything similar to flying help?" I asked carefully.

"And what would that be?"

"Hm..." I backed off a little, having an idea in mind but hesitating to do it at first.

"What are you doing?" he turned his head in my direction with a suspicious expression and yelled in surprise when I ran at him mid-transformation.

"WAAAAH!

I knocked him over with the impact, making him land in a sitting position on my jet form as I took off. He screamed and yelled as he tried to hold onto something and accidentally clawed into my wings. I hissed but tried not to pay attention to the stinging pain because gaining my balance back was much more important.

"What are you doing you crazy femme?!" Starscream shouted as I finally managed to get my form straight. Oh, he had quite a weight! Who would have thought, he was so skinny afterall!

"I'm trying to help! Just sit and grab onto me and maybe your sky-hunger goes away!" I shouted back.

Starscream shut his mouth, too stunned to speak. He held on as I flew.

If anybot saw us without knowing the context they would think that we are crazy. Or stupid. Why would a Seeker use another flier as a plane?

After a few minutes I checked on my partner and saw him sitting pretty comfortably with his optics shut. Oh, he had a slight smile hidden at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to be enjoying the familiar feeling of harsh winds caressing his sides.

To make it even more real I made a few turns carefully but fast enough, then changed the height a few times, slowly rising then descending again. He didn't say a word but it was okay that way.

My destination wasn't random. I had a good place in mind which I discovered a few days ago and I liked going back there. It was beautiful and I wanted to show it to him before we would turn back.

Among the fields there was a colorful spot, an amazing but little paradise of wild flowers. The whole hill was covered in various flower-types which bloomed just now and I was happy to have come across them.

I assumed that Starscream probably doesn't even know what a flower is so I guess it's time for a little biology lesson!

"Where are we going?" Starscream asked when I prepared for landing.

"There," I flew above the hill and made a circle.

"What? Here? Why here? I can't see energon anywhere!" he frowned.

"It's not energon that you should see!" I retorted and made a flip back, sending him to the ground with a loud thud and a surprised yelp.

"Ah...that hurt!" Starscream lay flat on his back with his wings spread behind. He shot me a mean glare as I transformed and walked over to him, leaning into his view with an innocent grin.

"Don't be so upset, you have fallen from high many times before!" I dropped my aft down next to him and extended my pedes, stretching them with a pleased sigh. Geez, he was really heavy.

Starscream sat up while raising an optic ridge and he had a curious but also confused look on his face.

I pointed over the hill around us enthusiastically.

"Well? Don't you think this is beautiful? I bet you have never seen anything like this on Cybertron!"

Starscream looked around and shrugged.

"Crystal City in the sunset is much more beautiful than this. But…what exactly are these little colorful things?" he touched some of the flowers next to him and frowned when their petals fell off upon touch.

I giggled at his reaction.

"These are flowers. They are organic like humans but even more fragile!"

"No doubt," he pouted, "Why are you so fascinated by these fragile organic things?"

"Am I fascinated?"

"You have that glimmer in your optics. I just assumed."

My smile widened. Oh, he notices things like that? Only if he knew that this glimmer is not meant for the flowers but for him!

"Well, I guess it's because of the colors and the sheer size of the area they grow in here."

Starscream didn't seem to understand my point of view but nodded in sign of accepting my opinion.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, then he finally put up the question:

"Why did you do that?"

I knew what 'that' meant. With a thoughtful smile on my face I lay back, enjoying the softness of the flowers as the wind caressed my features and I stared up at the clouds.

"Hm. Maybe because I don't like seeing you suffer?"

"Why?"

"Why? What a stupid question!" I laughed, "You are my partner Star! I try to help those who I like, it's just natural!"

"Why do you like me?" he asked with a doubtful frown. He was genuinely curious.

My smile softened as my gaze wandered from the clouds to his face.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Starscream stared at me in bafflement.

I giggled at the reaction.

"Ok, fine, I'll tell you. Now that I got to know you a bit better, I kind of admire how smart and resourceful you can be. If only you calculated the risks better! Anyway, you do magic in the air, and I like watching you fly, and I kinda envy you for your skills. But your persistence fascinates me the most out of all your traits. You keep going on, even at times others would've already given up. I admit, watching you struggle for victory also motivates me on a personal level."

Silence followed my confession. I guess he wasn't used to hearing something like this too often. Starscream quickly averted his gaze in deep thought, wings twitching uneasily.

I gazed upon the clouds and recalled all the decisions I'd made recently. I mean, I would have never gotten to know Starscream if I didn't befriend the Autobots. Much to Crossflare's chagrin. A wide smile crossed my face at the thought of my amica endurae.

What could they be doing now?

"What's with that creepy smile?" Starscream asked with a snort.

"I just thought about my friends," I grinned.

"Oh…those two. You're awfully attached to them."

"They are my amica endurae for a reason!"

Starscream rolled his optics.

"Endurae are overrated."

"Because they are rare."

"Amicas are quite common."

"Yes, but not every one of them shares a bond."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yep! With both of them!"

Starscream scoffed.

"Troublesome."

"It's not. They are important to me so carrying them in my spark gives me peace of mind."

Starscream thought for a second, then noted offhandedly:

"I admit the purple one is fine. But the white one is suspicious to me."

"How so?"

"She has no data to her name. She is not skilled in anything but languages, and her personality…ugh. What kind of function did she have before the war?"

"She was a public entertainer trainee."

Starscream raised both optic ridges high and some kind of understanding befell his expression.

"Oh. Now I understand everything."

I didn't know what he meant but I shrugged it off and waited a few nanoclicks before I carefully asked, "Do you have any close friends?"

Starscream fell into silence and I was surprised to see how his wings twitched in unease again.

I thought he wouldn't answer, but then he spoke up:

"I had my trine."

The painful edge to his voice didn't escape my attention and I immediately understood that it hurt him to speak about them. What did he feel when remembering them? Mourn, regret, guilt? Maybe all?

"Trine?" I questioned. Was he talking about Thundercracker and Skywarp whom Knock Out has mentioned?

"They were my wingmates."

Oh, that term again!

"And that means…?"

"We took care of each other. We also shared a split-spark bond, so we looked quite similar."

"Oh, so you are basically brothers!"

"Were," he corrected and I nodded apologetically.

"You are talking about Thundercracker and Skywarp, right?"

Starscream blinked at me in surprise.

"H-how did you know?"

"Knock Out mentioned them. You guys were the Elite Trine, I recall?"

"Indeed," Starscream mumbled, still a bit stunned and searching for words, "We were the most skilled fliers in all of Vos."

"So the stories are true!" I beamed, grinning. "Wow, you three were surely popular back then!"

"We had quite a reputation, yes," Starscream puffed his chest out slightly, but his voice still had that pained edge.

"What were they like?" I leaned closer with a curious but soft expression. If he wanted to, he could have refused to answer. But he scoffed instead and a small smile crept to his face.

"They were idiots. Thundercracker, always the smartaft and the noble spark, was the one with a scientific answer to everything. He could be such an annoyance! Skywarp on the other servo, he was a dumbaft. A complete bolthead. He had this flashy ability to teleport anywhere he wanted and bragged about it. Such an irritating little prick!"

I couldn't help but giggle at the way he spoke about them. It was clear he liked them even if he spewed insults about them after their deaths.

They must have been a chaotic trio of brothers. But then again, how did they disappear from his life? Is it true that Megatron is the one secretly responsible for their deaths?

"What happened to them?" I asked hastily and immediately regretted it when I saw him stiffen and frown, wings lowering behind his back.

I looked at him with a softer, understanding smile, shaking my head.

"Sorry, it's okay if you don't want to tell."

"The war happened to them. And me," Starscream rubbed his forehead, clearly struggling as he tried to gather his words, "The Quintessons killed Thundercracker. I wasn't even there. But Skywarp…that's my fault. He was on a mission issued by me but… If I...If I didn't..." he clenched his fists helplessly, guilty and furious at the same time, but then his voice trailed off and I finally understood why it was so hard for him to speak about this.

It seems like we have more things in common than I had expected.

"Sometimes, we make bad decisions. We are just not enough. It's alright. I also failed my guardians," I spoke quietly, casting my gaze down as I recalled the day Uraya was set on fire.

Starscream looked at me in curiosity and confusion.

"I was out of town when Uraya was ambushed. I knew that my guardians were in danger and in need of my help if they wanted to get out of there. But…but I was too scared so I ran. Alone. I told myself that they'll be alright and they can escape on their own. But I never saw them afterwards. It was selfish of me to think the way I did. I believed that I was a bad person because of that for a long time…maybe I haven't changed. I don't know. So I understand where you are coming from. You are not the only one with a guilty conscience," I shrugged, trying to act like remembering that part of my life wasn't affecting me anymore.

Feeling slightly insecure, I glanced up at Starscream and was surprised to realize he was looking at me with a small smile and a raised optic ridge as if doubting my credibility.

"I never took you as a coward. You always jump into the fray head-first."

My spark burst in joy upon hearing his words and I chuckled with glimmering optics.

"Thanks, Star."

Starscream cast his gaze aside and pretended to cough. We sat in silence for a while, thoughts wandering back to the conversation we just had, then Starscream's gaze fell on the fresh scars on my wings. He frowned at the sight.

"It was accidental. I didn't intend to hurt you," he muttered as he pointed at them.

I glanced over my shoulder, taking in the damage caused by his claws. The injury stung but it was nothing serious.

"I know. I'm not angry if you are worried about that," I smirked and raised a suggestive optic ridge, to which he only rolled his optics in response.

Him? Worried? Oh please...

"Hey, hey, Star! You can make up for it if you treat my wings like you did last time when I had that flight-paralysis! How about we become wingmates, hm?"

Starscream gaped and gasped, fishing for words flusteredly.

"In your dreams!"

"Naah, don't be difficult! I will take care of your wings and you take care of mine! Fair trade! Or is it that you are shy?" I leaned over, wiggling my optic ridges.

"N-no! I already told you that I don't need a new wingmate!"

"Yeah, sure, you have me convinced," I shook my head in clear doubt as I grinned at him wickedly.

"Why are you so adamant about this?!"

"I wanna touch your wings! I'm kind of obsessed with them actually."

Starscream stared at me incredulously.

"Now I have even less inclination to let you near them! I will not entertain your weird fetishes!"

"Oh come on! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Then how am I supposed to interpret that?!"

"Okay now listen here, it's just that…." and I started a long rant about how much I've been envying airborne bots all my life and how I developed an obsession with wings out of pure admiration.

---

Crossflare POV

Mercy was wringing her servos nervously beside me while we were listening to Megatron's furious lecture.

The ship was saved, the crew was alright but because we let the three human kids escape with secret information, Megatron was beyond mad.

Letting the enemy go out of gratitude was not a commendable act in our leader's optics.

I tried to explain the situation to Megatron, telling him that we needed the kids to save everyone, and that we let them go in the belief that they were leaving immediately. But Megatron kept fuming.

He threateningly loomed over us, his crimson optics promising pain as he backed us against a corner and roared our heads off:

"If you ever let the enemy go like this again, I won't hesitate to find due punishment for you two! Am I understood?!"

We were happy to get away with only threats and no actual beating. I tried to shield Mercy as much as I could in case things turned ugly.

But Megatron quickly turned away from us to bark orders at the other officers and he was busy regaining control and order in the ship afterwards.

We returned to the med-bay with defeated sighs.

"That was dangerous! You two are lucky he didn't punish you. Don't team up with those humans ever again!" Knock Out reprimanded us once he returned from the lecture he received for also letting the humans slip out of grasp.

"They are kids. What should I have done?" I shot him a glare.

"Step on them! What else?"

"Knock Out! I told you they are kids! Would you ever kill a sparkling?"

Knock Out didn't answer, just scoffed, shaking his head and muttering something under his breath.

Maybe it's best I don't know his answer to that question.

"Nevermind. Without them the ship would have killed us all. That's the main point. It's easy to judge us after everything is resolved."

"I understand, but still...you should be more careful, sweet cherry. Megatron won't be so generous next time," Knock Out offered me a glass of energon he stored in a nearby cabinet and flashed me a relieved smile before he stepped to Mercy and put a cube in her servos as well.

Mercy glanced from him to me with a questioning, curious expression but said nothing as Knock Out raised his own glass.

"Let's drink after this terrible spark-attack, we deserve it!"

We couldn't help but chuckle as we raised our glasses and clinked with cheers.

---

Halo POV

After that day Starscream started acting, well, differently. He seemed to randomly get uneasy and would make up excuses when asked what's wrong. I didn't understand.

I was sure that we have been on the same page ever since I declared how much I liked him for the twentieth time, but whenever I tried to look into his optics he glanced away. What the hell has gotten into him?

Was he second-guessing? Or was he planning something stupid again?

When I tried to tease him, he didn't respond the same way he used to. Now what? Did I do something wrong? Did I say something wrong? It was so confusing...

Until a few days later... I yawned loudly like usual when I awakened in the mornings. I stretched my arms over my head but paused mid-movement when I felt something soft scatter around my body.

"Huh?" I blinked several times as I glanced over myself. My optics widened in awe at the sight of my berth covered in...flowers.

Tiny petals flew all around me as I sat up. I just couldn't believe my optics. So many! I was practically showered with them!

When my processor finally asked the question of 'how', I immediately knew the answer. There was no other possible explanation: Starscream collected all the existing flowers nearby to surprise me.

My spark sang in joy as I touched the blanket of flowers with a silly grin on my face, still trying to believe that he would even consider doing something like this just for me.

For me...

Sensing another presence, I glanced up and spotted him standing in the doorway of our room, casually leaning against the doorframe. Oh...was he there the whole time?

Starscream watched me with his arms folded over his chest, clearly deep in thought.

" 'morning?" I mumbled with flushed cheeks. Okay, we've got an interesting situation here. Should I ask him about it directly, or tease him, or just straight-up confess? I wanna kiss him actually. What would be the right course of action? Would he freak out if I just kissed him?

" 'morning," he nodded, still not moving his intense gaze away from my figure.

"Umm…is this your doing?" I asked clumsily. Stupid question, the answer was obvious.

"Unless there's someone else on this ship I don't know about, then yes," he pouted, clearly unamused.

It seemed like he was expecting a different kind of reaction.

Before I could have said something even more embarrassing, my teasing side took control and I chuckled in mirth as I leaned back.

"Aww, Star, you surprised me! I almost can't believe it!" I laughed wholeheartedly, then a seductive smile crossed my lips, "So what now? Did you intend to just stand there or did you want to join me?"

I merely intended it as a tease yet when I saw him tense up and his wings perked up, I realized he was actually…He was considering it dammit!

Scrap, scrap, I'm not ready yet! I was just joking!

Then, to my surprise and relief, he quickly snapped his gaze away and turned sharply around to leave. He seemed to be upset and I realized I might have offended him.

"Starscream! It was just a joke! Hey! Wait!" I hopped off the berth and followed him. Maybe I shouldn't have teased him…not about such a thing.

"Hey! It was just a joke, I swear!" I caught up to the Seeker and I concernedly looked for his attention but he avoided my gaze with a sulking expression.

"Leave me alone!" he muttered, clearly frustrated.

"I'm sorry! I didn't intend to offend you! I was just teasing…"

"I told you to leave me alone!"

"But Starscream..."

"Can't you leave me alone just for a nanoclick?!" he snapped at me as he suddenly stopped in his tracks, and threateningly loomed over me.

I stepped back in surprise, unsure about how to react or what to say to pacify him.

"What has gotten into you?" I asked in confusion, raising my servos in a placating way.

"It's your fault stupid femme! I can't even think rationally because of you! Give me some space!" he growled, fury radiating off him like a dark aura.

I backed off slowly. The way he made a 180 degree turn from nice to douche was astounding. His behavior confused me.

Why was he such a jerk now?

"Fine! Enjoy your alone time!" I puffed my cheeks up and turned on my heels with an irritated huff. I left him in the hallway and made my way outside to have some fresh air.

I didn't intend to start the day like this, but he wasn't exactly accommodating right now!

Starscream was always unpredictable, but his emotions were usually under control, even when he was angry. He rarely snapped like this, at least in my presence.

But now, I just couldn't put two and two together. What did he want to achieve by surprising me? Wasn't that his way of saying 'I like you but I don't wanna say it out loud so here have this instead'? Or am I the one thinking too much into it?

But then again, I was just teasing him back there. Without bad intentions. He could have played it off, teased back, or anything. So why didn't he? I'm surely not the one who reacted the wrong way!

I was getting angry. Really angry. Does he want my company or not?! His mixed signs are confusing! He should really get his processor straight about this!

Maybe some alone time would really help him think about a few things.

Suddenly it hit me. A genius idea.

I switched off my comm-link so that he wouldn't be able to call me and cloaked my energy signature so that he couldn't track me.

Heh, your fault, idiot. You wanted to be left alone, so you'll get what you want!

I'm curious how he would react to my disappearance.

My plan was simple: fly around for a few hours, stop somewhere far and wait, then go back, hide and watch him get frustrated.

An evil smile crept to my face. I'm a genius!

I took off immediately and flew far enough not to be seen or heard. Then I counted the hours. They went by awfully slowly and I wavered in my conviction a few times. Then I made my way back during the afternoon hours on pedes, carefully examining the nearby area before I slipped back through the ship's airlock entrance from the back.

I hid well and noticed no sign of Starscream for a good while. Then I realized that he went out. Maybe he noticed my lack of presence and decided to search the area.

Hours passed and it was already dark outside when I heard him reenter. He was cursing loudly and talking to himself as he strolled through the hallways.

"Stupid femme! Where the pit did she go?!"

I'm right here dumbaft.

"Hmph, all that crap about staying with me was just talking big I guess."

That's not true!

Starscream walked up and down restlessly as he listed possible reasons for why I haven't returned yet. He was making up all kinds of excuses.

But the more he talked the clearer it became that he was trying to convince himself that even if I didn't return, he would be fine.

"I don't need her anyway! She was so annoying!"

Ouch.

Then he fell into silence and lowered his wings. He looked over the laboratory and picked up some tools and went to fix something absent-mindedly. A few minutes later he angrily dropped the tools and stood with a growl. He went out and stomped into our berthroom. Seeing no sign of me but noticing that the flowers were still there, Starscream's mood shifted to melancholy again.

He stared at the berth for some time then turned around and left to go outside once more.

I watched from the shadows carefully, silently, wondering if he was truly missing me or was it just loneliness that came to bite him.

Starscream sat down on a larger rock, and released a long sigh before he raised his gaze towards the stars.

"Where could she be?" he muttered, but I couldn't hear clearly from a distance.

I remember watching him for some time until I accidentally fell asleep in the ventilation system.

I awoke in the morning and hit my head against the narrow tunnel wall. Scrap! I forgot that I was in here!

Where is Starscream?

Looking outside, I spotted him walking up and down, muttering to himself as he did so.

Oh. He was still out there, waiting?

There was a painful guilty sting in my spark. Maybe I was taking this too far. Maybe he isn't as much of a jerk as I took him for…He was looking genuinely distraught.

Making up my mind, I exited the ventilation system and jogged back to our quarters. Sighing, I unmasked my energy signature for him and reconnected my comm-link.

Surely, he would pick up on it soon.

So I leaned against the side of my berth and waited. It didn't take too long. A minute later he was storming in like an agitated animal.

"Where the pit have you been all this time?!"

Putting on a poker face, I just shrugged.

"You wanted some alone time."

"You should've informed me! And why did you cloak your signature and shut down communications?! I thought something has happened to you!"

Raising an optic ridge and allowing myself a small smile, I asked:

"Were you worried about me?"

Starscream stuttered but didn't answer immediately, then he straightened his back and looked away with a pout.

"N-no! I was worried I would have to search for energon myself!"

He was being difficult again. But I was having none of it.

I pushed myself away from the berth and stepped to him, leaning close with a knowing look. He blinked at me, tense with anticipation.

"Would it kill you to be honest for once?"

He had no answer to that and I rolled my optics, then closed the distance between us with a hug.

Starscream flinched, frozen on the spot as I embraced him tightly, too shocked to move or make a sound.

"Just admit that you missed me."

Starscream opened his mouth then closed it, unsure and nervous, then - to my biggest surprise - his arms came around me and I was embraced back, making my spark burst in elation.

Am I hallucinating? Is he really hugging me back?!

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" Starscream mumbled over my shoulder-plate, with a hint of fondness in his annoyed tone.

I grinned against his chest and squeezed him tighter.

"You are pretty sly, femme."

"You mean, pretty and sly?"

Starscream grumbled in irritation.

"Oh, come on. You were totally ogling me yesterday morning."

Starscream gasped flusteredly and was about to release me right away but I looked up and held onto him with a knowing smirk.

"What's wrong, my dear Star, have I stumbled upon your dark little secret?"

He was about to deny but his cooling fans kicked in and I grinned in triumph. Starscream was dying of shame, fumbling to come up with an excuse.

"Hey, no worries! I find you hot too!"

Silence followed my statement as he stared at me with wide optics, disbelief and embarrassment written all over his face.

"Oh, I just said that out aloud? Erm, well, how about we do something about it, hm?"

His initial surprise turned into amusement as he chuckled, shaking his head.

"You are something else, Halo."

Something changed in his optics and I felt his servos come to rest on my hips as he looked down at me with a new, thrilling expression. I liked it because it sent shivers down my spine. It got me excited.

"I have no idea how you feel zero shame while voicing such things, but now that you've offered, I suppose I shall entertain you."

"As if! I'll be the one to entertain you!"

"Do not underestimate me, Halo."

"You shouldn't underestimate me either!"

We stared each other down in a silent duel, then I grabbed his shoulder-plate and pulled him down to my level and kissed him.

His shock lasted only a second because he responded with a wild whirr of his engine, his claws gripped my hips tighter and I was thrust backwards until my back bumped into something.

Ah, this is going to be interesting.

---

We finally got to this part, huh? I hope you enjoyed the ride! As always I try to keep the T rating rules but Halo makes it quite difficult. XD

See you next time! ;D