Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! I hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Language, sexual content.
A knock at the doorway into Megatronus's hab pulls Orion away from the large silver mech's derma. They have been lounging in the berth all morning cycle, but Orion knew that the time for Megatronus to leave for his first match was going to begin soon, if the growing sound of thunderous applause and the stomping of pedes on the stands above that has steadily been growing louder since they both emerged from recharge, was any indication. From Orion's understanding, Megatronus - the Champion of Kaon - was to start and finish the festivities.
"I think I'm going to earn my freedom and remain as a trainer so that I can maintain my relationship with my fellow gladiators and keep working from the inside," Megatronus told him. Orion blinks, surprised at the sudden admittance. Before he can ask anything, Megatronus turns primarily red optics to the door, sending permissions to open with a simple, "It's Soundwave."
Orion glances over at the door as it slides open and Soundwave's tall, lanky form slips in as the door hisses shut behind him. If he has any feelings on seeing the two of them untangling from one another, he says nothing, nor does anything reflect in his field. In slightly better light than the hallway, Orion can now make out that the other bot was shades of purple and blue. He was all angular and sharp points. The only thing off that Orion hadn't noticed before were arm gauntlets, bracers if he had to guess, one that blended in pretty neatly to his purple plating with a touch of gold, but the other one was black with a touch of red.
"Orion made treats," Megatronus tells the purple gladiator as he moves to his pedes, pulling Orion from his observations. "He made them sparkling safe if you want to give any to Laserbeak or the twins."
Orion flushes when that stoic mask turns towards him. "Just in case," he manages. "I know new carriers are extremely protective of their newsparks, especially a budded one, but I wanted to make them safe for her - just in case."
Soundwave stares at him for a long moment, making the archivist fields flood nervously, praying that he didn't insult Megatronus's family by being so presumptuous, but before he could fret too much, the intricate arm guards up the spindly limbs of the gladiator unfold and transform into the two cassette twins.
"Treats? For us?" One of them says, red visor bright.
"Gee, thanks! You ain't so bad, Iaconian!" Says the other.
Orion crawls off the berth and goes down to a knee, pulling out a handful of treats from his subspace for them to take after getting a subtle nod from Soundwave. The twins greedily take them all, optics bright behind identical visors as they stuff their subspaces full making Orion smile, fields fluttering in joy. He imagines a small sparkling that was a gentle blending of both Orion and Megatronus, happily eating his grandcarrier's recipe, little optics bright with the same joy the two cassettes have. He wasn't thrilled about being stiff-armed into a sparkling at the moment, but he is warming up to the idea of having one now instead of waiting. They would be loved no matter what - even if it was sooner than he thought. And it wouldn't be so bad now, the more he considered it. He's not taking off in his career, so his work schedule is more flexible and he's certain he can convince Alpha Trion that he'll be able to both keep up with his work and a sparkling.
Soundwave tilts his helm while Megatronus rolls his optics.
"You're going to spoil them, Orion," Megatronus grumbles, but there is a smirk pulling at the corner of his derma as he sends a look to Soundwave.
"Don' listen to ol' Megsy," one of them says. The mostly black and red one. "We deserve a bitta lovin', ya know?"
"Yeah, yeah!" The other says excitedly, bouncing on his pedes. "Frenzy knows what's up! The boss says it was fine so it's fine!"
Orion lets out a laugh. "'Ol' Megsy'?" He sends a quick look up at the silver gladiator who rolls his optics again, muttering something decidedly not so kind while the twins share wolfish grins, munching happily on some of the treats, their fields fluttering in pleasure.
"Oh! Yeah! The Champ here likes ta pretend that he don' like us, but he loves us!" Frenzy snickers, red visor bright in amusement. "Right, Rumble? Boss says so!"
Rumble nods eagerly. "Uh-huh! And wha' the boss says is so!"
"Lying to your cassettes, Soundwave?" Megatronus tuts. Soundwaves spares him a look before turning back towards the twins, helm tilted as Orion chuckles softly.
A small chirp makes Orion freeze, optics darting around as the armor covering Soundwave's spark shifts and a tiny helm turns to look at Orion with beady little red eyes.
And if she wasn't absolutely beautiful to Orion. Her back plating, at least, matched that of her carrier perfectly. Orion doesn't know if it was accidental, intentional, or simply a way for budded creations designed to attach to their creators are made so that they blend in, but she does. Her plating color and the curve of her wings are similar enough to Soundwave's plate color and his spiked plates that she's hidden in plain sight. If she hadn't moved, Orion wouldn't have realized that she was even there. Logically, he should have suspected, seeing as cassettes are rarely without their Carriers, but being as young as she is, she would have definitely still been with Soundwave, and he simply didn't notice her the first time.
"Looks like she woke up from her nap," Megatronus croons, smiling down at the little helm swiveling over to look at him. She chirps again before looking at Rumble and Frenzy, wings fluttering a bit as she clicks in bitty speak and Orion immediately melts at it. Okay, maybe he wants a bitty more than he thinks.
"She smells energon," Rumble says.
Frenzy giggles, holding out his arms to the tiny femme. "Come 'ere, Beakers!"
She chitters, wings wiggling in excitement. She looks up at Soundwave, who hesitates, glancing over at Megatronus, before tipping his helm ever-so-slightly. Laserbeak turns, slightly, still gripping tightly to Soundwave's chest, before doing a little wiggle and launching off of the holds in her carrier's armor. She teeters a bit, unstable, drifting down towards Frenzy, landing in his arms. Despite the cassette being small enough to barely go up to just past Orion's thighs, the beastformer is still small enough to fit safely in his servos.
Respectfully, Orion keeps his own servo away from her but offers Rumble to take some treats from him. The purple twin does, breaking them into tiny pieces and holding out a palm for her to take them from. Her tiny little servos pick up the crumbs and nibbles.
She chirps so happily, small field spreading out in sparkling joy. She carefully picks through the crumbs, grabbing the sweetest pieces and nibbling on them.
Frenzy holds her easily as Rumble asks, "Ya like it, Beakers?"
She chirrups, reaching forward for another piece slightly larger than the others and tries so hard with her little servo to break it but can't. She squeaks, distressed and holds out the piece for her carrier. She squeaks again. Her field ripples in distress as she shifts back and forth as much as she can in Frenzy's grip. Beady, bright red optics stare up at her creator, filling with lubrication, upset about not being able to break the treat into a smaller, more manageable size for herself. Another, pitiable squeak to her carrier.
Soundwave holds out a long, spindly servo, letting her place it into his palm, shivering in delight as he carefully breaks it smaller and holds out his palm for her again. She takes both pieces and starts nibbling through one piece, then another before she does a full body shake turning beady red optics back to her carrier, no longer wet. She lets out a happy chirp, wiggling her wings and jumping onto his servo. Orion has no idea how Soundwave could keep such an empty field while he's over here dying, wishing that he could give the beautiful bitty femme the whole world.
"Are you done?" Rumble asks, collecting some of the larger pieces while dusting off his servos, letting the crumbs fall to the floor. Megatronus watches the action silently with a curl of disgust to his derma, which Orion huffs a laugh at.
Soundwave brings her up to the space above his spark, holding her steady until she can grab hold and settle in place before using the side of a finger to lightly caress a cheek as she chirps at him, tilts her little helm as if listening to something, then chirps again.
It could either be the Cassette bond with her host Carrier, or her creation bond with her carrier, but she seems to be listening to him while chirping aloud, unable to reciprocate through the bond at the moment.
The twins seem to notice the look on Megatronus's face and grin mischievously. They both move over to stand by Soundwave's pedes, reaching to grab hold of his digits before tilting their helms and looking over at Orion, Rumble having jumped up to dangle from Soundwave's right servo. He kicks back and forth, swinging as much as Soundwave allows his arm to sway.
"Thanks!" They both say before transforming back into the bracers once more, wrapping up Soundwave's arms.
"You're welcome," Orion says, still smiling happily. Laserbeak turns a little on her carrier's chest to look at Orion. She chirps and Orion just melts. "You're welcome, bitty." She chirps again before pressing up against her carrier's spark and going still, once more blending in wonderfully. He feels her little field, content and happy, brush up against Soundwave's armor, pressing tight to it, like a hug for her creator. As if saying thank you for letting her have some treats.
Soundwave turns to Megatronus, tilting his helm just slightly as if to meet the silver bot's optics with his own, even behind the visor.
"I know. I'll get Orion set up and then I will meet you in the prep station," Megatronus says simply. Not a single word need be spoke by the purple mech, it seems.
Soundwave nods, turning back towards the door leading into the hall. He makes it a step before pausing and looking over at the rising red and blue bot. "Orion Pax."
The archivist freezes, shuttering optics at the tall, quiet bot. "Oh! Um, yes?"
"Treats: appreciated by cassettes." He takes a few more steps, then stops once more but this time, he doesn't look at Orion. "And by Soundwave." Then he leaves the red and blue bot stunned in his wake, not waiting for the door to hiss shut before heading off down the hall.
It's not until the door is hissing shut that Orion remembers his manners and calls out, "Oh! You're welcome!" It's too late and Orion is flushed by the time he's looking at a softly smiling Megatronus. "Please don't say it. I know I made an aft of myself."
Megatronus shakes his helm. "Not at all. Soundwave likes you, which is a rare thing. Well, he tolerates you, which is almost the same thing. He doesn't really like anyone outside of his cassettes."
"He likes you," Orion points out, good-natured.
Megatronus grunts, a smirk pulling harder on one corner of his derma than the other. "Correction. He loves me. He doesn't like me all that much. When you've been through what we have, and been together as long as we have, it comes with the territory."
Orion smiles, moving over to take scarred servo in his own. "I don't think that's true. But so long as he doesn't think I overstepped, I'm good to leave it as it is."
Megatronus presses a kiss to his forehelm. "If you overstepped, he would let you know. Now, I really should go. I do hope you brought something to occupy yourself. I don't spend a lot of recreational time here, but anything you can find, feel free to utilize to your sparks content."
Orion catches the gladiator's derma with his own. Chaste and sweet. "I brought plenty of datapads to occupy myself with. Just... please be as careful as you can be. I'll be here waiting for you once the match is done."
Megatronus grins. "And that's all the motivation that I need."
Not long after Megatronus left to get ready for his match, Orion, curled up on the gladiator's berth with a datapad of the story he was reading, feels Teletraan brush against his processor.
"Hi," Orion says, looking up from his datapad.
"Hello, Orion," Teletraan says. "I have news. About Terminus."
Orion perks up. "Really? What?"
"I have located him in the Tarnian mines and have put in place the necessary measures for his release. I had to utilize your authentication number to act as his release contact so he will be released to your custody once he makes it to his promised destination."
Excitement bubbles up in his fields, not at all angry about this. "Okay! Okay. So, um, when and where?" He moves from how he was lounging against the pillows up into a sitting position, crossing his legs.
"He will be escorted via Enforcer to Kaon where he will officially be released into your custody. But I did schedule an emergency layover in Iacon so that you can bring him to Ratchet to be overseen," Teletraan's voice is even - as usual - but there is a softness that brushes against Orion's audio. His friend is pleased that Orion's so happy, he can feel it.
Orion's processor begins spinning, trying to plan out how request additional time off with Alpha Trion - and how was he to even explain it, as he never actually met this Terminus before but if Megatronus cared so much for him, surely, he can't be so bad. He's sure that if he explains that it'll just be for an orn or two, Alpha Trion will be willing to let him make up for the work that he misses.
"I have just gotten confirmation of the Enforcer's arrival in Tarn and check in at the miner facility directory, so it should only be an orn or two before they leave and make their way to Iacon," Teletraan explains.
"Okay... okay..." Orion says slowly, trying not to let his excitement overwhelm him. "Good. So, they should arrive while I'm already in Iacon. That was excellent timing, Telatraan." He's a bit relieved that he won't have to make more work for Alpha Trion. His boss has always been so kind and generous to him, and he hates the idea of abusing any trust that he might have earned from the wizened mech.
Teletraan preens, brushing against Orion's processor with pride. "Thank you. I do hope you don't mind that I went ahead with what I thought was best."
"I don't mind," Orion murmurs, brushing back against his friend with adoration and faith. "Thank you for doing this for me."
"I am most pleased to serve, Orion. I will alert you of the progress as I learn it."
"Thank you, Teletraan."
"You are most welcome, Orion."
Orion fiddles with his datapad, transferring the weight back and forth from one servo to the other, debating what to do next while excited about the future. After the foreboding end to their night cycle the orn prior, Orion is relieved to feel like the entire world isn't crashing down around them. That while he feels a bit constrained, he doesn't feel suffocated. He can still operate. He can still act. After a few kliks of silence from Teletraan, Orion turns his focus to his comms, reaching out to Ratchet, deciding that would be the next best move to make.
Ratchet doesn't answer and Orion leaves a message for him that it wasn't an emergency, just to talk about the next few orn and that whenever he had time to reach back out but there was no rush. If he's not careful with his messages, his friend always fears the worst. Best not to get him all riled up before asking for a favor. Orion knows that Ratchet wouldn't turn Terminus away, even if it was simply to ensure that he was doing alright, but Ratchet can be a bit... ornery on the best of orn, it's better not to put him in a foul mood if Orion can help it. And making Ratchet worry needlessly is one of the fastest ways to get on the receiving end of his infamously bad temper.
Orion moves to his pedes, walking from one end of the room to the other, already planning for both what he was going to say to Ratchet, and what he was going to do about Terminus. He was so excited to bring him here to Kaon to see Megatronus. He hoped that the silver mech would be happy with this. It doesn't occur to Orion until now that this could be overstepping. But it's too late not, and he's not going to just send the mech back to the mines. He'll do what he can, and if Megatronus is upset in any way, he'll face that when it happens.
He rocks back and forth a bit from pede to pede, cradling the datapad when he hears his comm going off. It's Ratchet.
"Are you okay?" Ratchet asks, voice stern, annoyed. Oh, great.
"I'm fine, Ratchet," Orion says, trying to keep his voice even. He moves to sit back onto the berth. "I just wanted to ask you for a favor, but I didn't want to surprise you the day of."
"Oh," Ratchet says, then a deep sigh, as if he was sitting down. "Well, ask it."
"I have someone coming in from the Tarnian mines within the next few days. To Iacon, I mean. Would you be willing to take a look at him before I bring him to Kaon?"
Ratchet is quiet for a moment, then sputters a bit, then asks, "What? Wait, slow down. Okay, so who is coming to Iacon?"
"His name is Terminus," Orion explains. "He has been living in the Tarnian mines for... well a very long time."
"Records show that he has been in the mines for approximately five hundred and twelve vorn. His file shows that he was convicted of anti-functionalistic movements. It appears as though he wrote a few manifests and tried to share them with his fellow archivists, but a number of his colleagues spoke out against him, and he was found guilty," Teletraan supplies, surprising even Orion.
"He was an archivist?" Orion asks, a sinking feeling in his gut at all of this. And he was anti-functionalistic? And they threw him into the mines for his beliefs?
Ratchet makes a scoffing noise. "Barbaric," he grumbles, then sighs. "Okay, so he was talking to the wrong people and got fragged for it. How long did you say he was in the mines?"
"Approximately five hundred and twelve vorn," Teletraan reminds them.
Orion's spark hurts at that. So long? For simple words? And his colleagues turned him in? Orion isn't close to his colleagues, but he couldn't ever imagine them being so cruel. To have criminal charges brought against him - for words? For being unhappy about how things are run? They would throw him into the mines to starve and fight for his life every orn... for over five hundred vorn. That's over twice as long as he's been functioning.
Orion is sickened. Words?
"Our justice system is a joke," Ratchet snarls, then sighs again. "Yes, Orion, you can bring him to see me. Now, explain to me again, how do you know him?"
"He... he helped raise Megatronus." And perhaps imbued into him the sense of justice and his belief in equality, it seems.
Ratchet is quiet for a moment. "Megatronus? Oh, the friend you made? The gladiator?"
Orion doesn't correct him just yet still wanting to tell Ratchet the full truth in person, not over comm. He knows he's going to have to talk Ratchet off a ledge with this one and he would rather have it there in Iacon, and not here, where Ratchet can have readily access to Megatronus - and his infamous wrench. He does, admittedly, feel a little deceitful for not having come right out and told Ratchet, but he didn't want it to be so impersonal.
"Yes," Orion finally says. "Megatronus is a cold construct from Tarn. He was sold to the pits over a hundred and forty vorn ago."
Ratchet hums. "Yes, I do remember you saying that." He heaves another sigh. "Hold on, Orion. My patient is fighting sedation."
"Go ahead," Orion murmurs, never risking getting between Ratchet and his patients. When he returns, Orion asks, "If everything okay?"
Ratchet sighs. "Yeah. Syk is tearing Dead End apart. Seven overdoses in the last five orn. This one's lucky. Got high and met the business end of some local bangers. They beat his frame bad before a good Samaritan found him and brought him here. I've spent the better part of the last few groons just trying to both keep him from overdosing and from succumbing to his wounds. We've been in and out of surgery all orn. I've got him under so that his frame can rest before we keep going." He lets out another sigh and Orion can just see him rubbing at his forehead.
"I'm sorry," Orion murmurs softly. "That can't be easy."
Ratchet lets out another sigh. "It's not. But what can I do? I'm just glad that the community is trying to self-regulate. You can't trust the Enforcers out here. They are just as bad as the gangbangers."
"That can't be," Orion says automatically, before he can stop himself. Then he thought about the Enforcers that were wandering around the upper levels, armed with rifles and watching over the gladiators. How that one Enforcer that was standing guard over the door to the tunnel that led down here... how mean he was. What he had said about Megatronus, what he insinuated about Orion. But that could have just been them. It wasn't a staple piece for all Enforcers - could it? Yes, it would have to be. Not a bad position, just bad people. "At least," Orion quietly amends. "Not all of them."
"Fair enough," Ratchet acquiesces. But it seems like he mostly is doing so because he's tired and not because he actually agrees.
"I'm sorry, Ratchet," Orion says. "I really should let you rest while you have the time. I'll let you know when I'm in Iacon, so let me know if there is anything you would like me to pick up on my way over."
Ratchet grunts. "Okay. Also, just forewarning, Ravage has been skulking about and he's not happy with you."
"I know," Orion admits, and he does. He knows his sire is going to be really upset with him when they talk. He also knows that his sire is like him. His sire would wait until they were in front of one another before they hash out their issues. "He hasn't said anything to you, has he? Surely he knows that you helped me move."
Ratchet chuckles, dryly. "Ah yes. The infamous Ravage lectures. He does sure like his soap box. I mean, yes, I understand where he's coming from. I didn't want you to leave Iacon, so he's not alone in that regard, but to him, you're still his little bitty. Full grown, working and sustaining yourself, yet still his itty bitty."
Yep, that was him. His carrier's starlight, and his sire's itty bitty.
"I'm not so young anymore," Orion argues. "I had my final adult upgrades fifty vorn ago."
"I know," Ratchet murmurs, "I was there. But love is irrational, dear Orion." Another sigh. "I don't have any sparklings of my own, and we both know how protective Ravage is, so I'm not going to get in the middle of that. Yes, I did talk with him, and yes, he's as angry as I'm sure you imagine he is. But he loves you and for as angry as he is, he'll get over it. Just know that the chances of you making it through this trip without seeing him is definitely not going to happen."
Orion gives a little huff. "Noted." He lounges back onto Megatronus's berth, listening to the roar of the crowd above. It feels like it's shaking the very foundation of the arena. "I'll let you rest, Ratchet. Do let me know if you need anything, otherwise I'll let you know when I get to Iacon."
"Sounds good," Ratchet says. "Was that request all you wanted to talk about?"
"For now," Orion admits. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Ratchet hums. "Sure. Comm me if you need anything."
"Of course. Take care, Ratchet. Good luck with your patient, I do hope all goes well."
"Thank you."
Orion gasps, tossing his helm back, turning his face plates into the soft pillow as Megatronus thrust into him, nibbling into the cables on his neck. He wanted to run his servos over that superheated frame pressed into him, but Megatronus was gripping them just tight enough together over his helm with a single of his own. They've been going at it for groons, after Megatronus's last match. After the first one, Megatronus had been energized, but they were able to sit around and talk some more. The gladiator had been thinking extensively about what he wanted their future to look like, and he wanted Orion's opinion.
He had so many plans, taking himself up in excitement, and they talked around all sorts of possibilities for their future together. At some point, they got a cube of energon and ate the snacks that Orion had made. All the way up until Megatronus's final match. Orion went back to reading while he waited. He heard the great thunderous applause when the match came to an end, and Megatronus returned to the hab after a fresh visit to the wash rack to clean off the match - Orion didn't ask about that - only to toss Orion back onto the berth and ravage him when the red and blue bot got up to great him upon his return.
Megatronus was overcharged from the match. He was pawing at Orion's interface panels and whispering sweet glyphs into his audios while kissing every place within derma range. Orion's calipers clench around the spike burrowing inside of him, trying to drag it further in. It drags so deliciously across all the nodes in Orion's valve, making him pant and writhe, pressing his chassis up against Megatronus's, staring through wet optics as Megatronus presses their forehelms together. He thrusts slower, harder, making Orion choke out a sob as the tip of Megatronus's spike presses so deliciously hard against Orion's gestation chamber.
Orion gasps, squeezing tightly to the spike inside of him as it runs along all of the nodes leading up to the one positioned right by his gestation tank. Orion moans, pressing into Megatronus, pressing his pedes into the gladiator's lower back strut meeting his thrusts in blind fervor. They both chase their pleasure, derma meeting as finally - finally! - Megatronus releases Orion's wrists, letting his arms loop around the gladiator's neck to keep them pressured flushed together. The pleasure mounts higher and higher, static clinging to their frames, crackling like lightning.
"Mega... Megatronus...!" Orion gasps against Megatronus's derma. "Please! Please! I'm right... I'm there!"
Megatronus purrs, striking Orion's ceiling node hard enough for Orion's processor to glitch. He squeezes his calipers in time with Megatronus's thrusts, making the gladiator groan. "Yes, my love. Overload for me, I want to feel you squeeze my spike one more time before I join you." For a moment there, Orion was split. He could open his chest plates now, reveal his spark, and together they could merge. Or he could open his gestation tank, and they could practice filling Orion up to better increase their chances, but he wasn't going to suggest either, even with the spike of arousal flooding their intertwined fields. Just thoughts in the heat of the moment.
"I... I love you, Megatronus."
"I love you, Orion Pax." Megatronus grins, thrusting hard into Orion's ceiling node. Once, twice, three times before Orion overloads, frame going rigid as the rippling in his valve pulls Megatronus over the edge with him. Their combined charge too much for Orion, knocking his processor offline.
He comes to a while later, feeling Megatronus's spike still inside of him, throbbing dully. His gladiator is still, his venting slow, as he kisses gently at Orion's face. He tries to kiss back but it doesn't really connect until Megatronus kisses his derma softly. He mumbles something incoherently, shifting his sore hips as much as he can with Megatronus still so deep inside of him.
"You have to let me go, my Orion. Unless you want to go again."
Orion's optics flicker but remain offline, feeling his legs still locked tight around the gladiator, tripping his hips between the truckformer's. He sends commands to his aching joints to release Megatronus, and after the third order, his legs comply, falling open and releasing his champion. He groans at the ache in his valve and hips, feeling Megatronus's transfluid slipping out of him, but before he can even think to complain, Megatronus is up and heading for the door, already tucking his softening spike back into its housing.
"Stay," Megatronus commands, grabbing some towels off the counter and disappearing out of the hab. As if Orion had the strength to even close his legs properly. He's thoroughly debauched. He keeps his valve cover open while pulling his knees together, knowing that Megatronus will be back soon to help him clean up.
Pleasantly sore, but very satisfied, Orion drifts until he hears the hab open, close, then lock, before Megatronus's heavy satiated field rests over the top of him. The gladiator opens his thighs again, humming pleased at what he sees, before helping to gently wipe him down, being as gentle as he can, despite very much leering at Orion's valve.
"If I'd known you would be so charged after a match, I would have insisted on staying over sooner," Orion teases, smiling loosely as his optics flicker on just enough to see the other mech clearly.
Megatronus grins at him salacious enough that he almost considers a fifth round - or is it sixth? Seventh? He's completely lost count. "This was a good fight," Megatronus admits. "Very good. And I'm glad you were here to help me work out the rest of my charge. My hand and your voice simply wouldn't have left me this satisfied."
"You wouldn't have sought another?" Orion asks, which makes Megatronus pause, glancing at him with bright red optics. He tilts his helm, studying Orion's expression in the low light of the hab. "It's not a trap," Orion insists after a moment. "Bonded pairs seek relief outside of the relationship all the time. That's what happened with my CNA donor. He was bonded to another and if his bonded hadn't been... I don't know, a stickler? I don't actually know why that was. But anyway, he would have taken my carrier back with him to wherever it is that he lived. My carrier didn't want to go and was relieved to be left behind, even though my CNA donor promised to come around, as far as I know he never came back. My sire would never have let my carrier be taken from their hab, and that was before they learned that my carrier had miraculously sparked with me."
Megatronus is quiet for a long klik, still gently tending to the mess between Orion's legs, slapping at his servo when he tried to help. Finally, so very quietly, he asks, "Do you want to have an open relationship?"
"No," Orion admits without hesitation. "I know that some do, but it's not something I envisioned for myself. I don't know how I'll feel in fifty vorn, or a hundred, a thousand, a million, but how I see myself now... no. I don't. But I wouldn't blame you if you did. We aren't the same mech. We have the right to feel however we do on whatever we do."
Megatronus meets his optics, laying down the slightly damp cloth and gently rubs at Orion's thighs, lovingly. "I agree with that statement. We don't know who we will be. But I too don't see myself with anyone but you. This thing we have, this connection, it's special, Orion. I firmly believe, if Primus truly is real, that he made you to be mine. And me to be yours."
Orion's spark flutters at that, so relieved that they were of the same mindset. Just because he couldn't blame Megatronus for seeking relief elsewhere, it doesn't mean that he wants him too. When bonded together, Orion would always be number one because of that, but he doesn't want to compete for his champion's affections. He doesn't want to share this beautiful mech with anyone else in this way. Past lovers aside. It was them now. And like Megatronus said, they were like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together. He too believed that their connection was something incredible.
Their fields tangle together in understanding and love. "I'm glad we spoke on this," Orion murmurs, reaching out to lightly caress the chassis of the mech between his thighs, feeling the light hum of a powerful engine and unflinching spark beneath his fingertips. "We should always try to come to a resolution whenever we encounter a possible divergence in belief."
"I told you that I would never lie," Megatronus murmurs, grabbing the servo at his chassis and bringing it up to his derma to kiss. "But myself as well. I'm glad we are able to be civil."
With that, Megatronus finishes cleaning him up, they change out the sheets before curling back up into the berth together in each other's arms.
Leaving Megatronus was harder than Orion thought it would be. But now he has to think that this is how his gladiator felt every time he had to leave Orion's hab. With a heavy spark, after spending the entire next orn together, with the exception of few groon in which Megatronus stepped away to work and then had to begin putting his plan into place to achieve his freedom, and a short lunch with Soundwave and his cassettes - Rumble and Frenzy very amenable to more treats and sharing stories of "suckas from the lower districts" and Laserbeak, who had a bit of sweets but then drank from a line directly from her carrier's finger until she fell asleep laid out in his arms - they spent the whole orn together, just the two of them.
They talked, interfaced again, and talked some more about anything and everything. Orion admitted to still being anxious and not knowing what to do to better help Megatronus and their people, but his gladiator was so certain that Orion would be invaluable in due time, and sympathizing, at this stage, was enough for now. They discussed a reading plan for Megatronus, so that he could start learning to read all on his own in due time, but they also spoke about the Ritus that they would be going through once Orion made it back to Kaon.
Bonded. Conjunx Endura. It left a zip of excitement through Orion that he didn't care to hide from his warm and loving gladiator, who grinned at him when he felt it in the archivist's fields. And while the orn ended too soon, even curled up in each other's arms after a heavy make-out session, Orion was sad the following morning cycle to leave Megatronus, but admittedly, he was excited to go back to Iacon to see Ratchet and Ravage. To see Ariel and Dion. He even planned to stop by the Archives to see Alpha Trion. He was excited to see everyone, but he could already feel the hollowing ache building in his spark every time he thinks about leaving Megatronus behind.
With numerous promises to comm every orn - as if they didn't already do that - Megatronus walked Orion as far as he was allowed to go, which was the end of that long hall leading up into the arena, before they finally parted ways. Orion swung by his habsuite on his way to the gate, making excellent time, to grab some things he would need for his stay, which was already packed and waiting to be subspaced, before heading out. Unluckily the gate to Iacon was on the edge of the city, so instead of walking, Orion transformed and drove there. He usually liked to take in his surroundings at a leisurely stroll, but that wouldn't be the case this time around.
Without complain, Orion made it to the terminal and checked in, going through long lines and the tedious process of ensuring there was no illegal smuggling going on. The terminal from Iacon to Kaon is a lot laxer than it is going in the other direction, which Orion thought was a little strange.
"They aren't as worried about what can be brought to the riff-raff in Kaon," Teletraan tells him. "But it's heavily restricted on what could be brought into the great city of Iacon."
That makes Orion sad. It also makes him wonder if that was another sign of the depth of the issues going on with their world. Why should the stringent standard be the only one? Everyone deserves to have the same level of protection and security, whether they live in Kaon or Iacon.
Teletraan brushes against Orion's processor in agreement.
The only hiccup that Orion ran into before getting to his gate was that his fifth - and final - security check before the gate, was done by the same Enforcer from the other orn. He leered at Orion and sugary sweet, thanked the red and blue bot for helping Megatronus "give one slaggin' good show". The way his servo ran across Orion's plates made him feel like he needed a couple of runs through the wash rack afterwards, but he was let go not long after and had just enough time to wait around for almost a groon before his gate was called.
The transport arrives and they pile into their assigned seats before it takes off. Orion was fortunate to sit next to a youngling, probably in his third or fourth upgrades, who kept him well entertained by telling him all about his lessons, all while his sire beside him kept insisting that the mechling leave Orion alone, but the red and blue bot was more than happy to entertain the young mech and be entertained in return. The train left the station, picking up speed going faster and faster and faster until the view outside is just a blur and the city of Kaon is left as a speck in the distance behind them. Once it reached maximum speed, it rocketed them towards the massive land gate ahead of them.
"This is my favorite part!" The mechling gasps, leaning over his sire to watch as the massive gate stretches up into the sky, waves of blue, green and white energy pour from it, reaching out like tendrils towards them.
"Mine too," Orion agrees, optics bright as the lights flicker overhead before the gate pulls them in and they bask in its starburst of color before spitting them out on the other side. Iacon gleams in the distance as the train barrels towards it. Tall gleaming skyscrapers, the large senate dome, even the Archives could be seen from here. Orion's spark picked up as his gaze turns upwards. The Ark still hangs in the sky above Iacon, ships flying to and from it. Some of the lower levels within the Ark were accessible by the scientists of Iacon, but most of it was still locked up, behind miles worth of security and other defenses.
"You know," the little mechling says, optics turned up towards the Ark as well, "they say that when it first appeared, it sent out a pulse of energy that shut down Iacon for a whole chord!"
"Inaccurate," Teletraan says in Orion's processor. "It was after the Cybertronians tried to gain access to level five that I was forced to discourage them for trying to break protocol. Only those directly designated by the Prime can gain access to anything above level five. They would not listen, so I was forced to teach them not to defy again. And while it was approximately a chord, it wasn't right after your emergence, it was almost a vorn later."
"Oh?" Orion says, doubling it to both Teletraan and the little mechling. He had heard this before. Level five and above was supposed to be for the Prime's retinue and chosen crew. Why Sentinel Prime never went up there himself, Orion won't understand. Then again, it's perhaps not smart for their Prime to just go walking into a strange alien derelict without knowing if it was truly safe or not."
"From a different era, perhaps," Teletraan says, brushing in chastisement against Orion's processor, "but not alien. Not really." It looked nothing like their ships now - too big, too intricate, too covered in massive guns - so it might as well be alien as far as their people are concerned, but Orion won't argue the point. Their scientists have deduced that the Ark is ancient Cybertronian, dating back to around the time of the first Cybertronian peoples.
The train slows as it gets closer to the terminal for Iacon, screeching as the breaks are applied. And once they reach the terminal, Orion patiently waits for his turn to exit, thanking the mechling and his sire for their company before stepping out onto the busy room. It's a lot more packed here than it was in Kaon, and with that, Orion must once again go through another seven security checkpoints that grow more and more invasive until he's finally deemed worthy of stepping foot into the beautiful city of Iacon. Orion had truly forgotten how much he missed his home. It hadn't been all that long since he left and yet still there is an ache in his spark for the place that he left behind.
Once he finally left the terminal, he came to a complete stop down on the busy street, optics wide as the flow of pede traffic well known in Iacon's busy streets is broken up like a stone in water, and the stone is Ravage, sitting unbothered at the foot of the descending stairs with red eyes narrowed and his tail lashing angrily behind him. The people of Iacon offer him a wide berth, giving him strange looks at why a beastformer was there. Or it could be the anger rippling off of his field in waves, but either way, none dare get too near the fuming cybercat.
"Hello, sire," Orion says carefully, descending the steps until he's in front of the waist height felinoid.
"Hello, bitty," Ravage responds, deceptively calm. Orion flinches, knowing that he's in deep trouble at that. He might be Ravage's itty bitty, but he hasn't actually been called that in a long time.
Orion cringes but lowers down to a knee so that he's eye level with the bot that raised him. "Sire, I know that you are upset with me - " he stops, waiting. Ravage stares back at him, scarily unblinking.
"Go on," Ravage says after a protracted silence.
"I... sort of thought you were going to cut me off," Orion admits.
Ravage tilts his helm, still staring with that eerie intense focus he's well known for. "Oh no, Orion, I would very much like to hear this without interruption." Orion flinches again. He chews on his lower derma, trying to decide which glyphs will be the least likely to get him a glossa lashing. "Let me help you, my bitty. You said, I know that you are upset with me..." He tilts his helm a little more, finally blinking slowly. Yet somehow that doesn't make Orion feel any better and Teletraan is unhelpfully quiet.
"But..." Orion starts slowly, "...it was something I felt I had to do. I know that you're worried about me, but I'm okay. I promise that I am."
Ravage curls his derma, red optics flashing. "Your physical wellbeing perhaps is fine, but for how long? The company you keep is dangerous, Orion."
Orion frowns at that. "What do you mean?"
"Do not make me say it," Ravage says, tone cold. "Not here where the walls have audio sensors. You will not be returning to Kaon, Orion. And that is that."
"What?" Orion jolts in shock, shooting up to his pedes in disbelief. "Why?"
"Gladiators, Orion? Disgraced senatorial pets? Institution failures? You think I don't see? I see everything, Orion," Ravage snarls, voice so low Orion can barely hear it. "I know all that you do. I have contacts everywhere. I have walked the surface of Cybertron for almost three million years. You don't think I don't know every move you make? You don't think I don't see how the tides are turning?"
Orion stares at his sire stunned by the venom in his voice.
"This Megatronus will get you killed, Orion. I won't let him. I will sooner tear his little revolution," he spits the glyph like it burned him to say, even still keeping his voice so low that Orion can barely hear it from right next to him, "to shreds long before he even has a chance to get it off the ground. To the pits will I let the last piece I have of Prima get defiled - or killed - by the asinine plan of his."
Orion's not sure which part he's more surprised by. The vehement at the revolution. At Megatronus. At his view on the plan. How he even knows as much as he does. Or the use of his carrier's designation. Orion hasn't actually heard his carrier's designation... in a very, very long time.
"You can't..." Orion murmurs, his derma feeling numb to him, much like the rest of his frame. "Megatronus is just trying to help us all. You don't know... you don't understand..."
Ravage tilts his helm, derma curling again. "I understand, Orion, more than you know. What he seeks, what this gladiator wishes to accomplish, it can never be. He will do as so many others have. He will trust the wrong bot. Say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or just hit the pitfall in the road, but it will all come crumbling down. Megatronus will die for what he's doing, and I will be damned to the lowest level of the pits before I ever allow him to drag you down with him."