Archive of Our Own ^beta

Thundercracker was doing really well on his monitoring duty. He liked standing in the command centre, staring at two different screens at the same time for more than a quarter of a cycle. Real refreshing for his optics and back-struts and thrusters. Really.

Okay so maybe that’s an incredibly weak lie.
But he liked it more than being out on some falling apart planet that was more a safety hazard than anything else. Probably dusty and dirty. With dust clogging vents, getting into seams and under the armour. Clinging to the protoform, making it impossible to clean properly. While Thundercraker had no problem with washing, he did have a problem with spending hours under freezing solvent.

So naturally he was on his way out of the ship. Because nothing good ever lasted. He might have considered being uncooperative, had the order came from literally anyone else. Unfortunately Megatron demanded his presence on the mining site this instant. It couldn’t have been Starscream or Skywarp. No, the one time they’re actually busy.

He took off, soaring through the dense greenish sky. Feeling sticky and disgusting mere kliks after leaving the hanger. Maybe he could convince Skywarp to scrub him later. That at least sounded pleasant.

The flight was comforting in that way only a flight can be. Although the air resistance was slowing him down, catching on his nose cone.

The mining site came into view too fast but at the same time not fast enough. Thundercrakers orange cockpit was looking more brownish than it should, his beautiful blue paint job matted. Flipping into a transformation sequence, he gracefully landed on his pedes. He was so displeased it wasn’t after he started walking in his leader's direction did he notice there was a prisoner held between Motormaster and Bliztwing.

A seeker prisoner.

Orange wings accented with light blue triangles directed inwards from the tips. Translucent white cockpit glass. Dark faceplates making the bright optics pop out.
All so familiar
And oh so despised.

“Thundercracker?” That voice hasn’t changed a bit. Still laced with an upper class vosian accent and a subtle note of superiority.

“You know him?” Megatron's surprise bled into his tone, badly hidden by casual indifference.

“Yes, my lord” he answered. Internally cursing himself for his inability to lie under pressure. Starscream would’ve had no problem, saving them all the trouble. “Briefly. His name is Solardive.”

Solardives wings dropped even lower, almost scrapping the organic planet's surface. His mouth twitched downwards at the corners, red optics narrowing.

”Do not be like that. If the war had not started when it did we would have been a family unit by now.” Three pairs of optics flashed to Thundercraker. Burning into his plating, leaving smouldering black holes. He could practically taste Megatron's demand for more information. Unfortunately so could the other. When he spoke again there was a hint of smugness and thrill. “I am dating his trinemate.”

Megatron's helm snapped back to the captive so fast it made Thundercracker wince inside. The warlord was glaring at Solardive hatefully, as if personally offended. Which to be fair Thundercraker assumed he was. Probably thinking that ‘trinemate’ mentioned was his not-so-secret-but-also-not-official lover-not-really. If only. The blue seeker almost wished Solardive was Starscream's old fling. But he was Skywarps. And he was talking in the present tense.

Anger flared to life in his spark.

“You aren’t dating anyone” he spat. Probably as taken aback by his own reaction as the other four mechs present. Thundercracker was often the embodiment of calm, collected and apathetic. His trine however, is and always was the exception. Compassion isn’t his strong side but he found it easier to be offended on their behalf. Even if they earned their reputations as complete pricks. Still this situation was different. Solardive was disqualifying his own relationship with Skywarp.

He took a deep in-vent, relaxed his plating and turned to Megatron. Who was looking more and more annoyed by the klik. Losing control over situations was an easy trigger for Megatron's fury. Starscream used that knowledge every cycle.

“What is he doing here?”

“He was snoopin’ ‘round the mine,” Motormatser explained, jostling Solardives arm a bit.

“You cannot fault me. I am underfueled, my health has been deteriorating since the war started” Solardive grumbled although there was an edge to his voice, something almost like pleading. “I can be useful. After all, I did keep up with Thundercracker, Starscream and Skywarp in the academy. You do seem to hold them in high regard lord Megatron.”

The warlord was calculating the risk. That in itself was annoying enough, the possibility that he'll have to put up with Solardive again. But using Megatron's title was effective, and so was emphasising his own skills. They are at war. Every new warrior was important even as cannon fodder. The thought was certainly appealing.

“At least let me see my dear Skywarp one last time” the request was laced with static. Those crimson red optics seemed rounder than they really were. Eclipsing the entire face, emphasising that pathetic frown.

Thundercracker tightened his servos into fist.

“You will be granted one chance. Don’t waste it, I hear a single complaint about you from my elite trine and you’re turned straight into spare parts.” Megatron threatened, standing taller and not so subtly drawing attention to his fusion cannon.

“Elite trine?” On one servo Thundercracker couldn’t believe Solardive hadn’t heard about them. On the other, if the seeker spent the past 4 million vorns on this scrap head of a planet? Not only does it explain but also gives immense satisfaction.

“Yours truly” he took a step closer, leaning over Solardive. “Let’s make one thing clear. Skywarp has moved on. You and him are in the past.”

There was something in those optics. Annoyance, challenge, determination and defiance. But underneath all that barely noticeable there was smugness, some kind of calculating sharpness.

Sudden unease flooded him. Thundercracker felt his own optic’s narrow, wings spread out high, almost hitting Blitzwing as he straightened. Not waiting for Megatron he turned on his thruster and transformed.

Will he get slagged for this later? A very high possibility but any more time spent with Solardive is simply unachievable. Unless Thundercracker has the honour of punching him hard. In the faceplates. Crushing that stuck-up nose.

Something was wrong. Skywarp could feel it. That distinct buzz in the air, the vibe if you will, the very essence of decepticon rumour mill. He would know, as a very frequent, well updated enjoyer of everything even remotely considered a secret. Many cross him off, believing him too oblivious but there is a very fine line between not understanding and not caring, it just so happens that not many see it. He was as dependent on that gossip as that gossip was on him. Most of what the majority of his colleges know about their leader and second in command is thanks to him. Obviously he filtered it, not giving away any sensitive (in his opinion, his trine leader is overreacting) information. Screamer might be annoying beyond the stars but he was still trine, and in a way being annoying is his role. So is TC's.

The point is Skywarp knows that something has happened but not exactly what. Figures. He leaves for the mines, which by the way, rude. He isn't some kind of quick transport (his warp drive is for more important matters than warping the fresh energon ores around!). Anyway the one time he leaves this dusted old ship and he misses the excitement. Now he has to catch up like some uniformed- like Screamer! Or even worse like TC! Neither of his trinemates are interested in interpersonal happenings of the Nemesis, except Screamer actively ignores it. Thunder's somehow unaware despite being present in the air barracks whenever they're talking about it. It's actually really amusing when his lover jolts in the middle of a conversation looking panicked and asking what is going on. Slipstream says those interruptions are annoying and someone tried to exclude TC since he 'doesn't care' anyway (cough cough Ramjerk could stop being such a glitch cough) but Skywarp always found these situations made his spark fonder.

Normally he would just warp himself to the mess hall but his fuel levels were critically low for that.

Walking.

Ugh

How can they all do that? Wasting so much time going from point A to point B on the daily? That can't be normal, Skywarp refuses to believe it. Although, he supposes, his 'normal' is very different from the actual 'normal'. Being an outlier means he doesn't do 'normal'. And he's cool with that.

THIS IS TAKING FOREVER! Has the Nemesis been this big this entire time?? That can't be possible-

"THRUSTERS!"

There was an audible, long, suffering groan as the other seeker turned around.

"Can you stop calling me by a pede part?" Thrust pouted, looking deflated a bit. Which 1. incredibly funny on his block of a helm and 2. weird. It's not unlike him to give up immediately after something went wrong but he's stubborn enough to never let it show.

"Why? I think it’s fitting" the glare he received was a complete 180 from the pout. Red wings fanned out, dark grey servos crossed over the cockpit.

“What?! That doesn’t even make sense!”

'Ah, more like it' Skywarp mentally high-fived himself.

"You know what's up? Where's everyone?" he asked because he still wanted that answer. He wasn't selfless. That's for autobots scums.

Thrusters relaxed again, slouching closer to him, acting as if this was some grand obscure information and not base-wide knowledge.

"Apparently they picked someone up from the planet" Skywarp made a face at that. Whoever this was they clearly have something wrong with their helm if they survived here. "I know right. It's disgusting. I thought we'd be getting some deranged mess of corrupted code but that seeker, oh yea he's one of us by the way, he's fine."

Almost planting nose-first into the bulkhead, Skywarp couldn't believe what he was hearing. The coneheads were pretty exclusive with each other, so Thrust admitting to finding someone attractive was jarring (in the “Wait, what? You find mechs attractive beyond the two you conjuxed” way). At least Skywarp now knows what got him down, soft-spark fool probably feels bad and unfaithful. As if anyone with optics could ever accuse him of that. Whoever that seeker was, Skywarp certainly wouldn't mind looking. Nothing more though. TC would be upset.

"Yeah, you will agree with me, I know that."

"You gonna take a shot?" Nothing could stop the snickering Skywarps vocaliser was emitting. He got a frown in return and a smack on the helm. "Kidding, don't get aggressive on me. You're better than Ramjerk"

Great diffusion skills Skywarp. Keep it up and you’ll be responsible for peace talks and treaties. Not that they could possibly work out anyway.

Now time to bolt.

He sprung forward, almost kissing the floor and running into every possible corner, his lack of experience in actual running painfully obvious. Skywarp may have the layout of the Nemesis burned into the glass of his optics, but he never really used the corridors. It's even rarer for him to turn corners because he usually cuts them. At least Thrusters's growing more and more amused by this chase (he basically won before it even started), and If Screamer teaches anything it's that you're more likely to get away with lighter punishments when the anger evaporates.

The muffled voices coming from the mess hall are an incredible relief. Not because entering a cramped space is miraculously going to save him from his colleague, but because he'll be able to see the new guy. Bouncing off another corner he finally sees the automatic doors. Slowing down, which is harder than it looks on this type of pede (he might actually start admiring his fellow seekers for doing it on a day to day basis), Skywarp does his best to look presentable. No desperation, only curiosity, but not too much, he coaches himself.

Before he is close enough to open them, mare five steps away, Slipstream walks out. She is much more known than Thrust to be seen sulking, but there's something to the way she holds her light purple wings. All stiff and spread out, a clear warning. Good thing Skywarp has experience in this, thanks Screamer.

"What crawled up your tailpipe and never left?" His attempt at banter was ignored as Slipstream fumed and kept going. Well he tried the nice way, now time for his preferred one. "Have your audial been blown?" he taunted and then for better effect he added "You really deaf now, Slickstream?"

Boom! Reaction!

Slipstream was no longer moving away from but towards him, claws sharp and extended, face twisted into a murderous snarl. Oh. And Thrust is just behind her, with no intention of helping out his poor, defenceless, fuel deprived friend. Or more accurately, teammate. Decepticons don't really call each other 'friends', words like that are for fools (the sentiment is still there, but it's easier to play bad, tough warrior without acknowledgment).

“Don’t you dare-” the enraged words were accompanied by Slipstream slamming him into the bulkhead. “defile my name like that again!”

She might have had her servo wrapped around his neck cabling, but that sure didn’t stop him from giving her an amused look. Slipstream was not impressed however, her own demanding stare not withering.

Fine! So no one appreciated the creative liberties he took in creating nicknames for them all, but would they really prefer he called them by real, full designations? Well okay- now that he thought it, they probably would. Too bad he isn’t some kind of granting wishes bot from the old legends.

Skywarp pulled a triumphant expression, opened his mouth and-

And also widened his optics as Slipstream was pushed away from him. That in it of itself was weird enough, you either watched or ignored such happening on the Nemesis, but the realisation of exactly who was his saviour made him stare shamelessly, as he struggled to recall the name.

“Are you okay?” Solardive put his servo on Skywarp’s cheek, his voice exactly like the last time Skywarp heard it. Soft. Caring. And just- Solardive?!

“SOLARDIVE??!” Skywarp blurted, completely ignoring the pressure on the side of his face in favour of grabbing his shoulder plates. Slipstream and Thrust and every other decepticon that left the mess hall forgotten. Wiped off his processor. “I- What? Aren’t you like- dead??”

Instead of an answer Skywarp felt arms wrap around him and pull him into a hug. Solardive buried his helm into Skywarp’s shoulder, delicately tracing patterns on his wing with their orange digits.
“I have missed you as well, my precious.”

“Oh” was all that could leave Skywarp’s vocalizer. He did not hug back though. He stood there stiffly looking between large blue wings at the other cons. Their looks of disbelief and contempt were nothing in comparison with Thunercracker’s displeasure.

Get yourself back together, mech!

“Yeah…” he unraveled himself from the awkward hug and sidestepped the other seeker, wishing more than before that he had enough energy to simply warp out of there. “It’s nice to see you? Four million years is a looong time and you disappeared at the start. Anyway I found- I mean it’s in the past for me y’know?”

Skywarp kept on backing away, his back closer and closer to his blue trinemate while fumbling nonsense. Painfully aware of their little (big, in individual size and overall) audience. Curse the rumour mill.

Solardive’s faceplates fell, he looked similar to Starscream when Prime pulls a solution out of his left exhaust port at the last minute. But that was so brief Skywarp had to wonder if he imagined it. Now all you could see on those dark, handsome faceplates was sorrow. Optics dimmed but open at the same time. Well as open as Skywarp thinks they can be. He never really could decode Solardive’s expressions.

“Yes, I have been made aware of that fact,” the orange seeker took a step forward and kneeled before him. Wings spread low in submission and admiration, the exact position they were expected to be when you were in proximity of the winglord (back when they were alive and had any power). There were a few gasps and questioning murmurs from the crowd, no doubt other seekers recognised what they were seeing. “but rest assured of my devotion, for my spark forever belongs and spins for you.”

Skywarp found himself taken aback yet again in the span of a few decokliks. This time his astounded expression disappeared almost immediately replaced with playful amusement accompanied by his snorts. Skywarp wouldn’t call himself a romantic, but there’s something about the knowledge that someone is wholly prepared to make an absolute fool of themself for you. Like it's sort of pathetic to see and if he was looking at this from the outside he would totally start booying, but experiencing it? He almost forgot how much of a sucker he was for that kind of stuff. TC is too stoic to let loose like that and just ignore the other cons (and also they would have no life among their colleagues, gutting someone? Cool. Showing care? Oh primus what are you two doing?!) and Skywarp doesn’t mind that. Thundercracker excels in other areas.

So he keeps on laughing and almost folds himself in half because of that. Solardive looks smitten and dumb and fond and-

And there’s a servo on his wing, yanking him up.

“TC?”

“Warp us to the wash racks, I need a good scrubbing and so do you” was whispered into his audials. A promising offer. Just the thought of Thundercracker delicately cleaning his wing seams and appreciating each other's company, lazy talking till they fall into recharge, has Skywarps faceplates morph into a smile.

“I totally would, but my energy levels are too low” he whispered back. Thundercracker pulled a cube from his subspace and handed it to him. His optics softened, almost apologetic, as he started to guide them away from the others. Skywarp obediently let himself be led. Sipping on his energon, his absolutely favourite cybertronian next to him, Solardive already forgotten, Skywarp felt content.

“Soooo…”

Skywarp was fairly certain something was bothering Thundercracker. Their wash was pleasant, riding the other seeker of that weird underlying tension but only briefly. Now that they were sort of alone, in the sort of private space of the air barracks, Thundercracker held his wings stiffly again, sitting back to faceplates with him.

The thing is, Skywarp has no idea what could possibly get his reasonable, passive lover all tense and brooding. As far as he’s aware nothing happened this cycle. So TC had to leave the nemesis, that was undoubtedly something he didn’t want to do but he never acted like that before (and this wasn’t the first time he was called out despite having work, Megatron and Screamer were like that. Actually probably only Soundwave followed the schedule). The only thing different was Solardives appearance in their lives again. So what? What significance does that guy even have? He’s arrogant, uptight and only sometimes funny, because he acts like one of the old romance novel characters, with their grand gestures of love and devotion. They ended up dead most of the time though, Skywarp always assumed that was also the case for Solardive. Evidently not.

Oh.

“Are you jealous or mad at me?” He probed and literally warped out of his berth when Thundercracker turned to face him aggressively.

“Wha- Primus are you okay?” Thundercracker called to him. Expression once again apologetic. Skywarp nodded, somewhat unsure and climbed on the berth from the floor. His servos wrapped around the others and Thundercracker started rubbing soothing circles.

“Why would you think I’m mad at you?” Skywarp barely heard the question, his lover sounded so guilty which just made Skywarp feel guilty.

“I don’t. It’s just-” he looked into those crimson optics. Optics he could look into for the rest of his life and be content. Optics that reminded him of peace, love and home. Optics that didn’t get frustrated with him, instead being patient and understanding as he searched for the best way to explain. “You’re mad. Right now- this cycle, I mean. You relaxed in the wash racks but then you got back to being all this tense, stiff wings and tightly held plating” Thundercrackers thumb never stopped rubbing circles into Skywarp servo. Reassuring. “And I thought that you might be angry with me, because Solardive-”

“Is a glitch and I dislike him” Thundercracker interrupted. He squeezed their servos tighter. “But it isn’t your fault. He pissed me off because he insinuated you’re still dating.”

Skywarp pulled a face at this. He always knew Solardive was from the upper class, but that was a whole new level of weird possessive entitlement. And it was in reference to him! Creepy.

“Well screw his point of view!” He fumed, causing Thundercracker to laugh. That sweet, sincere, chuckle, nothing like his own ugly snorts or howling. Skywarp started smiling himself. “What? It’s true, he could consider himself the winglord and it wouldn’t matter! I already have the perfect companion in life”
TC’s optics widened and brightened, a small, shy grin showed on his faceplates. They leaned closer to each other and stole a quick kiss. Quick because Ramjerk showed up. Of fragging course.

“Yo! Skywarp! Who's that freak mech, treating you like the winglord?” The shout got the attention of everyone present. Great.

“WHAT?!” Yelled Acid Storm.

“When did that happen? I can't believe I missed that! Fragging mines!” Lamented Nova Storm.

“Some new guy apparently has a past with Skywarp, dropped to the winglord greeting in front of everyone by the mess hall”
The two femmes started laughing at that and Ramjerk looked too smug for Skywarps liking. So he warped out of the berth (intentionally this time) and appeared right in front of the white conehead’s faceplates.

“Careful, Ramjerk I’ve got info that your left wing finds that ‘freak mech’ ‘fine’” he quoted, giving a delightful hum at Ramjets falling expression. “And y’know? Thrusters does have a point.”
Immediately Ramjet got annoyed and punched him on the wing, but his optics shined with relief. Skywarp might like getting under everyone's plating, but he wouldn’t want to be a reason why they split up. He’d feel bad, besides they aren’t that awful.

“Soooo? Don’t keep us hanging! What’s that hot mech like?”

“I believe you’d find him pleasing to your optics, dear New Storm” all he got in return was an optic roll and a done huff, was it really his fault she is one of the youngest seekers? The nickname made itself!

“What, is that guy some sort of left wing magnet?” Ion Storm commented.

Which actually gave Skywarp a pause.
“I don’t think he has a trine? I don’t remember him mentioning anyone, ever”

All the other seekers stared at him as if he just told them he plans usurping Megatron.
He got it though, trines are the coolest. Even Starscream found one. Sometimes Skywarp wonders how (but other times he is reminded of that ‘how’).

“They sound… interesting? I think” said Nova Strom unsurely, bless her spark, always trying to give a chance. Skywarp will never understand her.

Skywarp has officially lost all of his intimidating factor. His monitoring shift was spent painfully aware of the other cons present. Or more accurately their mocking stares. Everytime he looked in the direction of Astrotrain the other would make innuendos. Gross.
Skywarp could appreciate a good interface, but the knowledge of who Astrotrain was suggesting made his plating tighten. And the bastard knew this.

Just you wait till your berth suddenly collapses during your recharge, Aftotrain. We’ll see who will be laughing then.

“Skywarp?” the calm voice startled him, which in turn led to him teleporting right next to the triple changer.

Oh primus take him now.
Solardive was looking after him with an unreadable expression. Something like hurt or displeasure, maybe? Who's to say. Then immediately his demeanour changed and he started flapping his wings around. Letting everyone who could understand that he was in love and not ashamed of it (admittedly Skywarp found these types of displays very hot, especially in the pre-war novels and plays. In real life, aimed at him? Embarrassing but still kind of hot).

“Trouble in paradise?” Astrotrain’s mocking voice was like Screamers claws scratching any metallic surface.

“Frag off, Aftotrain”

He received another glare, but Astrotrain was quick to repay him for the ‘disrespect’.

“Seriously, what have you ever found attractive in that mech? He’s practically the embodiment of embarrassment. You got weird taste.”

“One. TC is so out of your league, he can’t even see you down there, so quit being jealous. Second,” Skywarp looked straight into the other’s optics and made sure he looked back. “Who doesn’t like someone who would willingly make an absolute fool of himself for you? I understand you wouldn’t know, since you are the fool.”

“You little-” Astrotrains face radiated anger, his servos moving to throttle him.

Skywarp would very well like to stay by his side, but Solardive was starting to move and Astrotrain talking with him would most likely result with Skywarp’s swift (but painful and humiliating) offlining. So he activated his warp drive again, showed up next to Solardive and before the other could activate his vocalizer teleported them both somewhere more private. Which ended up being a closet. Small and not the best smelling, but without cameras and with probably the lowest percentage of chance someone would walk in.

“I could never get used to that” Solardive’s voice was harsh and it took Skywarp by surprise. Usually that tone was pleasant, light and happy. Skywarp doesn’t even seem to recall any time the other was annoyed at him.

“Sorry” he didn’t really mean it. Normally he wouldn’t even say it, but something was telling him this confrontation was a threat. Which is ridiculous. What threat? The mech smitten with him, holding their admiration for over 4 million years? Still no matter how much he thought that, his battle protocols were on the edge of onlining.

His voice seemed to snap Solardive out of whatever was cycling in his processor. The red optic widened as if surprised. As if Solardive forgot he was here and could hear him. Could witness that oddity in his character.
Those threat warnings popping up on his HUD intensified.

“Skywarp.”

Cold. That voice and expression. The only word Skywarp could describe it with was cold. Something was wrong, he had to get out of here. Just as his warp drive started coming online, one orange servo wrapped around his arm while the other made its way to his throat cabling.

“Do not flee from me.”

Not like he could now, anyway. Warping would bring Solardive with him and it would definitely end up with them somewhere where other decepticons could help, but that pressure on his main energon line was really tight and it was hard to focus on anything, let alone warping calculations. All he could see were those impossibly bright optics. Two red holes threatening to swallow him whole.
All odds were against him, but that never stopped him before.

He glared right back.

“What the pit-” was all he managed to croak out before energon access to his processor was limited even more.

“It would have been easier if I could just snuff out your spark. But unfortunately your outlier ability is too useful” Solardives faceplates were filled with so much disgust and fury it was uncanny. Skywarp never seen, never thought that face was able to show so much raw emotions. Skywarp’s optic feed was begging to get blurry, coolant gathering in the corners.
Everything was so confusing, he was missing something, some vital information to properly understand the sudden switch in the mech he once thought a lover.

Thinking was hard, his processor hurt, his helm was pounding, thinking was hard…

It was much easier to focus solely on those pinkish optics. Their glow is intense, barely less so than their pull.

And Skywarp came to the conclusion nothing mattered beyond them.

Beyond the mech he would do anything for.

“WHERE IS THAT IDIOT?!”

Every single seeker present winced at the screech. Starscream was reaching levels of frequency capable of breaking glass.

Ramjet was starting to feel frustrated, the only times he got to be in charge of the air force was while Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp were unable to. Either because of injuries or more commonly when they were on a patrol. Like they were supposed to be for half a shift already.

But they weren’t because Skywarp has fragged off to somewhere.
Which was probably the weirdest thing in this situation. Not Skywarp fragging off, but Skywarp fragging off when he was allowed to fly. Most of the time they were trapped on the ship, but when they landed on some planet patrols would be integrated into their schedule again. So missing it on one's own accord was unheard of.

When Skywarp was running late for the first decoklik, Starscream was forced to swap their patrol with Slipstream, Dreadwing and Skyquake. Ramjet thought that was unfair. He volunteered first but Starscream almost blew a gasket at that suggestion. So what if he got to go on two patrols and Starscream on zero? Thought luck.

But the situation wasn’t funny anymore. Almost triple the time has passed since that. And well… Ramjet wouldn’t say he was concerned. It was just unusual of Skywarp and he was scared for himself. Who knows how ‘awesome’ this prank has to be to warrant missing your only chance to fly.

“I swear when I see him” Starscream grit his denta, still having his, almost-natural at this point, monologue. “HE won’t be seeing anyone for a long time. The waste chute isn’t particularly pleasant after all.”

“What if something happened to him?” Thundercracker was constantly switching between being worried and furious. Running circles behind his trine leader, flapping wings so quickly you could get nauseous just looking.

“What could possibly have happened?! Think for once, there is no one here besides us!”

Only Dirge’s reflex saved the bulkhead from acquiring another dent curtsy of his head. It felt like he was stuck on repeat. Theoretically he could just leave, like Sunstorm, but that would mean missing the spectacle that will start as soon as Skywarp arrives. And Ramjet wouldn’t forgive himself for that.

Starscream and Thundercracker almost broke out into a full on physical fight, when the sound of jet engines caught everyone's attention.
Were they back already? WHAT WAS EVEN HAPPENING? Cutting a patrol short has never even crossed Ramjets processor.

Soon five jets landed- FIVE?!
Along with Slipstream, Dreadwing and Skyquake on the landing pad stood Solardive and Skywarp.

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!” Starscream immediately lounged in their direction. Fuming and furious and core temperature rivalling Sunstroms probably. “How dare you even- Do you have any idea- Of course you don’t! I can’t believe-”

“I was on a patrol, as the schedule says, Starscream.”

Silence.

Starscream stared dumbfounded at his left wing, Thundercracker stopped glaring at Solardive to look at his lover with so much confusion, you wondered if his circuits would get fried.

Which- fair. This was servos down the weirdest thing out of all the weirdest things that have happened recently. Probably the most un-Skywarp-like sentences Skywarp himself ever said. Thankfully, Starscream could never be quiet for long and was quick to bring back some resemblance of normality.

“What? How stupid do you think I am?” Skywarp didn’t even move an inch and that was incredibly unsettling. “Patrols are for trines, you scrap for brain modules, AND THUNDERCRACKER AND I CLEARLY NEVER LEFT!”

“Don’t be ridiculous Starscream. I changed my patrols to include me and Solardrive, instead of you and Thundercracker. You can both handle yourselves without me.”

Ramjets jaw literally disconnected from his helm. Whatever he was hearing couldn’t possibly be right- pit it couldn’t possibly be. It seemed like everyone had freezed over except for Skywarp and that freak mech.

“And who-” Starscream started, voice law and words slow. You only ever heard him like that when he was serious and at the very end of his patience. “Prey tell, agreed to such change? Because it wasn't me and last I remembered I was the one in charge of you.”

“Lord Megatron”

Two words. Not even said by Skywarp but by Solardive. He voiced them and then left. WALKED OUT with Skywarp.
When has Skywarp ever preferred walking over warping?

Suddenly Ramjet regretted not leaving when he could. Both Starscream and Thundercracker still appeared frozen. Every seeker that could, started evacuating from the danger zone. Slipstream and her trine left almost immediately for their patrol again. Ramjet could feel Dirge and Thrust pull him backwards.

A scream and an audials shattering boom.

Thundercracker took off straight upwards, yelling and setting off sonic booms. Uncontrollable. Chaotic.

Ramjet has never seen him like that before. The moments when Thundercracker loses his cool are few and far between, but they have never been of this magnitude.

Dirge pulls him harder, urging him to get moving to the exit, and Ramjet understands. If some nobody from Dirges past showed up and they started hanging together? He would probably do a lot of property damage.

“Lord Megatron?” Starscream's cold voice cut through the chaos. Everyone made a clear path to the door, moving away from the second in command in fear of making themselves a target. “LORD MEGATRON?!”

Back to shouting, anger was clear as day on his faceplates. Ramjet wonders if Megatron has just nuked his chances on any remotely positive relationship with the seeker.

“LET’S SEE HOW HE LIKES IT WHEN I SHUFFLE HIS COMBINERS BETWEEN EACH OTHER!”

The shout was emphasised by another sonic boom.

And then the landing pad shook when Thundercraker suddenly dropped down.

“How dare he? ‘Well screw his point of view’ my aft!” Angry muttering could be heard as Thundercracker passed by the white conehead on his way to the door.
Maybe Ramjet made the right decision not to leave after all. He definitely will be safer here than out there.

“Soundwave”

No answer. Megatron was seriously getting annoyed. If there was one individual he allowed himself to trust, that was Soundwave.

Who was ignoring him apparently.
Which was rare, but he was also ignoring his cassettes. Which was even rarer. In fact it was Ravage who made him aware of Soundwaves disappearance.
No. Not disappearance, more like an unknown leave.

Megatron took a step to the side, right as a knife flew through the point his helm had just been in and longed itself in his throne.

“Starscream, to what do I own-”

“GUESS YOU FRAGGING IDIOT!”

He knows he hasn’t done anything recently. No antagonising, no humiliating, no compromising tasks. If Starscream wants to play their game Megatron won’t disappoint.

“Are you feeling neglected?” He smirked, watching as his seeker stiffened. Wings rigid, plating held tightly. Megatron strode forward and reached out his hand to one of the sharp edges. The urge to grab and pull those white wings, to hear those sounds he only ever heard in his own quarters, was impossible to ignore. “Have I neglected you?”

“Don’t you dare” Megatron's servo stilled. Normally he would do whatever he pleased, no one to command him but himself. But if they were to ever move forward, to ever leave assassination attempts and brutalising each other behind, he had to go back to letting someone else command him. Which did not bode well with him, especially if that someone was Starscream.
Soundwave says that acceptance is a part of healing, whatever that means. Megatron does not need healing; he isn't broken, that system hasn’t broken him.

Yet, for whatever reason, he pulled his servo back.

They ended up staring at each other, weirdly vulnerable. In the throne room, not in the privacy of either’s quarters. Exposed. Weak.

“Is this how you perceive us?” Barley above a whisper. Quiet and soft despite that gravel voice. It’s all wrong. It isn’t the middle of the night, when they’re laying on Megatron's massive berth, sedated and satisfied. The warlord takes a step back, searching Starcreams faceplates, but all he sees is some weird emotion. Is, is that- hurt. Till it was gone, replaced with hard blankness. “I won’t let you chain me down, Megatron. Don’t intervene in my trine, for I am not yours.”

“What-” but Starscream was already leaving.

“You better reverse that stupid switch.”

And then he was just gone.

Megatron stared at the closed doors.
‘I won’t let you chain me down’
Well he won’t let Starscream play these games without consequences. As if that blasted seeker could ever really hurt him non-physically.

And why hadn’t Soundwave ever told him this was just another one of Starscream's schemes.
It appears both of his lieutenants deserve a punishment.

Skywarp waited patiently for Solardive to come back to their cave.

‘Stay put, do not move, do not touch anything. I notice even a drop of energon out of place and there will be consequences. Am I making myself clear, you anomaly?’
That was the last thing his lover told him and Skywarp has no intention to disobey. He’ll be good and maybe Solardive’ll make that wrongness in his spark go away.

There are muffled sounds coming from deeper within the cave. The other abominations and mistakes, Skywarp’s sort. That’s what Solardive says. And his lover is always correct.
Something in his spark is telling him to go to them. To Soundwave and Sunstorm. That feeling gets stronger every time he thinks about it, so he tries to avoid that. Unfortunately he's prone to malfunctioning and doing the opposite, but he can get better. All he has to do is give Solardive his warp drive, which he is willing to do right now! He’s ready to get rid of that uncomfortable pressure. If only Solardive could see that.
That just means Skywarp has to be good.

He isn’t sure how long he sits there, on the cold, dusted, rocky ground. He isn’t sure how many HUD warnings about low fuel levels he has ignored. He isn’t sure when he started walking to their guest or when he arrived, but suddenly he was standing in front of the barrier separating them.
They look at him, or at least he thinks Soundwave does. The visor makes it hard to tell.

He remembers when Soundwave turned on Solardive, attacking him as if the seeker was any danger. Thankfully Skywarp was previously informed what to do in case something like this happened. So that's what he did, grabbed Soundwave and teleported him into the barrier. Same with Sunstrom.

Solardive said he had to get all the other abominations here.
A task he was failing, his lover has expressed disappointment in that regard and Skywarp strives to do better. It’s just so hard when he has barely enough energon to power his basic functions.

“Skywarp; resist control” Soundwaves monotone voice sounded more worried, frantic then it should.
Wait, what? How could he possibly know that?

He didn’t answer. He almost touched the barrier over Soundwaves servo, but thankfully remembered that he wasn’t supposed to touch anything.
Sunstorm was easier to read. Faceplates in view, he looked mortified. Staring at Skywarp like he was wrong. Which he was. But he doesn’t get to look down on him like Solardive, because Solardive was normal and Sunstorm was not. Sunstorm was like Skywarp.

“Where are you!”
Skywarp’s wings immediately perked up at his lover's voice. He had the urge to teleport to him but Solardive doesn’t like it when he does that. So instead Skywarp started, clumsily, running to him.

“There you are. Say what were you doing in the presence of the abominations, dear anomaly of mine?” Skywarp instinctively cowarded at the stern tone and posture. Solardive was disappointed with him and that was worse than the hollow feeling accompanying his spark. The use of his nickname brought little comfort, even though Skywarp loved nicknames.

He hang his helm low, wings lower. Solardive comes closer and grabs his left wing. The pressure hurts. Skywarp can feel his cables twist and plating denting, but when he looks out of the corner of his optic his wing looks perfectly fine.

“Do not disrespect me again, could you? I only want what is the best for us. You understand, don’t you?” And Skywarp does, Solardive wants what's best for those who are normal, so he nods. “Good waste of energon.”

At the mention of fuel a cube filled in one thirds is given to him. It may not be much but it is enough to bring his fuel levels to slightly over 45%.

As he refuels, Solardive takes his chin and makes him look into those amazing pink optics. Warmth washes over him, makes him calm and content more than the energon ever could. Skywarp loves these optics. Always harsh and frustrated, but loving. Never patient, but swallowing him whole, wrapping him in safety.
Optics that take away the unwanted feeling in his spark.

“Now come, you have to catch the others.”
Skywarp lets himself be led back to the abominations.

When they enter, the visored mech turns his head toward Skywarp and the golden one backs further into a corner. Skywarp has to wonder why they look so familiar, but no designations are in his memory banks. Probably another glitch in his coding.

Solardive lets go of his servo and Skywarp activates his warp drive.

Thundercracker has been having a terrible time lately. This planet simply didn’t like him, he decided. First Solardive, then Skywarp leaves him out of nowhere and now he has to cover for Soundwave.

When has anyone ever had to cover Soundwaves shifts?! And why did it have to be him and not Starscream. Perhaps he should start having arguments with Megtron.

Long story short, he was beat. Emotionally and physically. No one was equipped to deal with anxious Rumble and Frenzy. Least of all him. Those two didn’t want to reveal where Soundwave went, no matter how much he asked. And Thundercracker had a right to know mind you. After all he was the one suffering.

He was dreading arriving at the air barracks. The annual gossip meeting was probably taking place, and listening about Skywarp’s new embarrassing relationship was something he absolutely did not want to do.

Still he couldn’t avoid his own berth for ever. He was too tired.
Stepping inside he was completely unsurprised that Skywarp wasn’t there. The purple seeker has seemed to devote all his time to Solardive. Thundercracker thought if he was just a placeholder. Never really truly loved by the other, because Skywarp seemed to express his love differently. Even though Thundercracker knew him for a long time now and this is the only relationship he acts like this. Which hold on-

“He called me Acid Storm! ACID STORM!” Nova Storm's frustrated venting could be heard as soon as he stepped inside. “Can you guys believe it! No offence Acid Storm, but we look nothing alike! How can you confuse bright green and bright yellow with each other!”

“You think that's weird?” Ion Storm cut in. “He called me Acid Storm.”

“No way!” Thrust looked at Ion Storm as if the other grew another helm. “You’re lying. I could buy confusing Acid Storm with Nova Storm, but there is no way Skywarp confused you with her!”

“I am telling you he did!”

“How?” Slipstream’s scepticism laced her tone as she ran her digits through Nova Storm’s wing seams. “He would have to be severely glitched to-”

“WHAT!” Acid Storm just now seemed to realise what the other seekers were talking about.
Thundercracker lamented his lost recharge, but with how heated this gossiping session was he had no doubt it would last long. Plus he would be lying if he said he wasn’t interested himself.

“Let me get this straight” the green femme even stood up from her place on the floor. She looked serious, a rare expression to be seen on Acid Storm. “Skywarp goes around calling everybody by my name-” well that was just a hyperbole “except me?! IS THAT HIS NEW INCREDIBLY UNFUNNY JOKE???”

“Oh primus” Ramjet wheezed. “What has he called you?”

“A green jet.”

Everybody stared at Acid Storm who just nodded vigorously. Thundercracker found it hard to believe.

Yet- recently Skywarp stopped calling him ‘TC’ and most importantly hasn’t onced called Starscream ‘Screamer’. The longer Thundercracker actually thinks about it the more he realises how unnatural it all is.

Something had to have happened. And there is only one party that could have been responsible.

“Have any of you seen Skywarp acting like himself lately?” He asked. Everyone turned to look at him, as if they hadn’t even noticed him enter.

“Yes-” started Thrust but immediately stopped. “Actually, no. He hasn’t acted around me at all how he usually does. Plus I haven’t seen him around lately.”

“Yeah, what gives? Why do I have to take over his shifts?” Dirge complained. His wings moving in annoyance, repeatedly smacking Ramjet on the helm.

No one answered him for a while and Thundercracker comes to the conclusion that they’re waiting for him to answer.

“I-” he looks to the floor. Admitting out loud that he doesn’t, that in a span of a few cycles he already lost contact with someone so dear to him hurts. And Thundercracker doesn’t want to hear this from himself, or at all.

“Okay we get-” Nova Storm interrupted herself “What the pit? Who turned off the lights?”

There were four flashes of purple and suddenly Thundercracker wasn’t in the air barracks anymore but in some cave.

After teleporting everyone he was supposed to, Skywarp’s fuel levels were once more critically low.

There were now six strangers on the other side of the barrier. But the hollowness of his spark came back. What has he done wrong? Why was it still here? Hopefully Solardive will be able to take his warp drive soon.

“Skywarp?” The blue jet with red accents askes. Expression one that Skywarp knows he knows, but can’t remember what it was supposed to mean.

“Ah. Welcome to the end of your stories, you abominations.” Solardive’s harsh tone could be heard behind him. Skywarp turned around, some part of him hoping to see an energon cube. Solardives servos are empty.

“What the pit mech?” The other blue jet asks, this one a few shades brighter. “What is wrong with you, let us go!”

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!” Skywarp flinched. There was something so terrifying about Solardive yelling and his anger. Which is weird because that’s all Skywarp has ever known from the other. He isn’t sure why he keeps expecting reassurance and gentleness. “You are the wrong ones. Freaks of primus, who somehow survived this long. Grounders had only one better thing about them and that was killing off their anomalies.”

Upon hearing his nickname, Skywarp's wings perked up, but that gesture made him nauseous deep down. Why? He always did that.

“SKYWARP!” It’s the dark blue jet again. He looks desperate. “Why are you- How could- WHY?”

The voice is laced with static, breaking on and off on its own. Skywarp isn’t even sure what the question is, let alone how to answer it. Absentmindedly he notes that he shouldn’t even want to answer.

“Skywarp; not in his mind.” The visored mech answers for him, and Skywarp doesn’t know if what he’s feeling is gladness.

The dark jet’s faceplates pull into an angry snarl and he turners to Solardive.

“YOU! What have you done!”

“Relax Thundercracker,”- Thundercracker, Skywarp knows that name- “unless you want the poison to settle in quicker.”

That sentence is met with multiple gasps.

“What? Vos might have been against killing you off, but I am not. I should probably thank you. For getting the winglord killed that is. Now I do not have to answer to anyone.”

Solardive turned his helm away from their captives to stare straight at Skywarp, with those red optics.

“Do any of you know what it is like being so close to succeeding, when out of nowhere your prize is ripped away from you?” He started walking closer. Skywarp didn’t move. “I made a fool of myself to everyone who knows me. Saying that the warp drive is as good as mine. And then suddenly-” Solardives servo cups his cheek. Skywarp leans into it. “It’s gone and you spend the next 4 million vorns looking, tracking, gathering as much information as you can.”

Solardive removes his servo, leaving Skywarp feeling cold and the- a sharp pain on that side. A yell from behind the barrier. He had to turn his helm to be able to look at Solardive again. Because it turned under the impact. Because he had been slapped. Solardive was walking away again. Skywarp stared after him.

“You have someone practically dead and the next thing you know they become one of the most dangerous mechs in the galaxy” Solardrive stops in the entrance. Through his shoulder he says :

“No matter. That warp drive is as good as mine now. Right Skywarp? Would you give me your warp drive?”

And Skywarp doesn’t have to think.
“Yes”

Devastation. 

That was the primary emotion radiating from Thundercracker. Thick, dense waves overtaking everybody's else's emotional turmoil. 

Soundwave probably wasn’t helping by focusing on that despear the most. 

He couldn’t get inside of Skywarp’s mind, the barrier effectively blocking outlier abilities. They tested it with Sunstorm’s radiation. 

Nothing on the other side had been affected. 

Soundwave suspected this place was either reinforced or made by outlier abilities. 

The fact Solardive was able to acquire them made Soundwaves plating crawl.

“Query; help?”

“Um… We weren’t alone when he grabbed us, if that’s what you mean.” Nova Storm noted unsurely. Her, Acid Storm and Ion Storm were huddled together. Acid Storm’s wings  covering her trine mates. Protective gesture, but futile against the real threat. 

Soundwave merely nodded.

That was good. Megatron and Starscream were probably already informed. Soundwave was here long enough for the poison to take a toll on him. Getting out soon was a priority. 

Everything around  them shook as Thundercracker gave his all into breaking the barrier. Sonic booms succeeding more in giving them helm-aches than damaging it.

“Do not bother, we already tried” Sunstorm spoke up from the corner, the same one he has been in for almost a cycle now. “That descendants of Unicron had used an outlier to build it.”

Instead of trying a sonic boom again, Thundercracker simply hit his fist on it. 

“He’s an outlier hunter !” Sounwave felt pain more than anger now. The poison was getting into their systems through their vents and Thundercracker had to further open his to expel the heat. But this pain wasn’t physical. This pain was guilt . “AN OUTLIER HUNTER! I can’t believe I allowed him to get this close to Skywarp! What has he even done to him?”

Despite feeling all of Thundercrackers emotions, seeing the coolant drop down his faceplates surprised Soundwave. Or more accurately made him realise the weight of Skywarp and Thundercracker’s relationship. Soundwave doesn’t have that, never did. Empathy is simply something he can’t do. He has his cassettes, but that is a completely different type of interpersonal connection. Of course he cares for them, would and had killed for them. The unease when they’re the tiniest bit hurt. But Soundwave has never loved before, he’s incapable of that. Megatron thought he understood, as did Soundwave, but it turned out they were different. Megatron, while tarnished by the upper classes just like Soundwave, both made toys to entertain the sociopathic rich, is capable of emotions. Is capable of feeling.

The only one who understands is Shockwave. But he had been stripped from emotions, and Soundwave was programmed without them.

“Solardive; possess ability to transfer outliers” His words hang heavy in the silence. Soundwave could feel terror from everyone, including himself. “Possibility; processor manipulation.”

“So he’s fragging mind controlling him?” Ion Storm hissed. “Frag that mech.”

“Taking away ones ability to make their own choices? May primus punish him accordingly” Sunstorm agreed.

Again silence settled between them, broken only by laboured vents. The more time you spend in the poison's presence the harder it becomes to properly function. It raised your core temperature, resulting in wider opened vents, allowing more poison to settle in your fuel lines. It was a self-fulfilling circle.  

“I’m sure Dirge or Slipstream, or anyone has already notified Megatron and we’ll be out of here soon” due to the silence everybody heard her, even if Acid Storm’s words were directed to her trinemates. 

“How will they even find us? We haven’t exactly explored this planet!” Thundercracker’s pessimism killed the attempt at reassurance. Soundwave felt Acid Storm’s annoyance and Nova Storm’s increasing fear. “For all we know by the time they find us, our sparks will no longer spin,” he spat “and Skywarp will lose his warp drive, and die a horrible, painful death. And then Starscream-”

Soundwave felt the moment Thundercracker started to spiral. Unfortunately, he couldn’t provide comfort. Another hole in his coding.

“Solardive won’t kill me.” 

At the sound of Skywarp’s voice all of them snapped their helms in his direction. Because of the barrier Soundwave was not able to feel him, and it wasn’t till he spoke that Soundwave released the other had never left after the hunter. 

 “He’ll fix me.”

Another crash of terror mixed with devastation. 

Soundwave thinks back to the cycles he shared such a mindset. Cycles before he met Megatron. Before he met the one capable of showing Soundwave his own worth. Soundwave strives to repay Megatron to this cycle for that. 

“No he won’t,” quiet, but steady. Thundercracker looked tired, his mind was tired and a mess of negative emotions, yet there was hope. Hope fuelled by what Soundwave could only assume was love. Which was weird because Soundwave himself could, and often did, feel that way. Perhaps the influences from his past were losing their hold on him. Perhaps he was beginning to free himself. “Because there is nothing that needs fixing .”

“The anomaly in my coding-”

“Is what makes you you. It’s what I fell in love with.”

And Soundwave might be wrong, but he could have sworn he felt Skywarp .

Instantly Skywarp forgot about everything around them. All that mattered was the other. Red accents matching with optics, popping out on the dark blue plating. 

‘It’s what I fell in love with’ 

That couldn’t be right. The cobalt seeker is a stranger. How could he possibly fall in love with Skywarp? And why does something in him, his spark, jump in delight at that? 

He should leave, but those crimson optics. They captivated him, made him feel almost the exact opposite emotions to when he was looking into Solardive’s. So he stays. 

“You…” he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say. He wasn’t sure why he had this desperate need to say something, to keep on hearing the others' voice. “I- What is your name?”

Those handsome faceplates fell. Thundercracker’s optics were so full of agony, his lips turned in a sorrowful frown. Skywarp felt so guilty for causing that. But he didn’t know what to say to lift the blue seekers mood.

“I’m sorry” was what he ended up blurting out. Those faceplates softened, gentle in such an intimate way, Skywarp had never seen.

“It’s not your fault” voice so patient, it felt impossible. That someone could use it for him. Not because they were treating him as if he would fall apart, but because they genuinely cared . “Nothing that happened so far was your fault, okay? So when I get you back please don’t close yourself off”

“Okay”

“Thank you.”

  ‘Thank you. ’ Just a ‘thank you’, not ‘anomaly’ or ‘waste of energon’ at the end. Skywarp felt like crying. Thundercracker was always so gentle.

“Thundercracker” his voice broke with static, probably making his word ununderstandable. But Thundercracker brightened, he was practically radiating with relief. It made him want to laugh for some reason. 

“You remember?” Skywarp had to look towards the floor. He couldn’t bare the thought of seeing Thundercracker disappointed again. “Hey, hey, look at me, please.”

Raising his optics, still having his wings low, Skywarp looked into those crimson red optics again. All he saw was understanding, patience and- 

Love.  

“It’s okay, remember?” Skywarp did, so he nodded. “You are right, my name is Thundercracker-”

“And I love you.”

Skywarps wings shot upwards. He heard this already, but it still felt unbelievable. Even if the hollowness and wrongness in his spark disappeared a bit more every time Thundercracker said it. And Skywarp still had his warp drive. 

Thundercracker laughed. A beautiful sound, graceful and sincere and sweet. Skywarp could get used to lisening to it for the rest of his life. 

“We started dating a few orns after the war started. And it hasn’t been boring for even a klik” another chuckle. “Do you remember when we had a night shift on the bridge together? We ditched half way through and you led me into the throne room, carved our signatures in vosian on the back. And when Megatron found out we ditched he put us on separate shifts for half a vorn.”

Skywarp didn’t remember, but he started laughing too. Small unsure at first, but growing in volume. The hollowness in his spark was filling with warmth. He could only imagine that it was actually Soundwave who persuaded Megatron to punish them. As a means to prevent others from doing the same.

“Did they find the signatures?” 

“No” a simple answer, but the mischievous grin on Thundercrackers faceplates told Skywarp that this wasn’t the only decoration the both of them had put on the decepticon throne. “There was also the time you were messing around and one of your pranks hit Megatron, so we both panicked and blamed it on Starscream’s assassination attempt. AND IT TURNED OUT STARSCREAM WAS PLANNING ONE! He got so mad the entire air force hated us for at least 4 orns”

The wrongness disappeared. 

Snickers so powerful they made Skywarp fall at the waist. Yeah he could see that, Starscream was pissed. Ramjet and Dirge hadn’t let them live for almost 5 orns. A terrifying experience but so worth it. Megatron was so dumbfounded, Skywarp used the shutter from his optic feed to make it into a wallpaper on a datapad and gave it to Screamer as an apology. 

“That was not cool. ” Ion Storm cut in harshly, clearly still pissed about that. Skywarp became aware of everything again. Ion Storm, Acid Storm, Nova Storm, Sunstorm, Soundwave and of course TC. They were trapped by a barrier made by a plasma maker, stolen from some poor outliers. Just like his warp drive could have been, almost was .  “Just because you both can keep up with such brutal manoeuvres and training, doesn’t mean the rest of us weren’t suffering immensely. MY THRUSTERS WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF I SWEAR!” 

“First off, that situation was hilarious. Don’t regret, wouldn’t change a thing. Second-” the delight on TC faceplates was probably tangible for everyone (not only Soundwave). “How do I get you out?”

“Skywarp…” yeah, the way TC said his name was his favourite sound, or maybe a close second to Thunder’s laughter.  

“Hey TC”

“Skywarp; deingage the device” Soundwaves monotone has never brought so much relief, in probably ever (cassettes not counting, they probably found it comforting. Weird little guys). Following Soundwaves servo, Skywarp locates the box. 

But as soon as he tries moving, his HUD gets flooded with warnings. 

‘Low energon levels: REFUEL IMMEDIATELY’ 

‘EXCESSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE’

‘FUEL LINE CONTAMINATION: seek medical attention’

If that wasn’t enough to make his helm spin, the nausea, the pounding helm-ache and the blaster wound to his back were. 

“What are you doing, me dear?” Solardive.

“Frag you, you freak” he spat. As well as energon, that was now dripping down his chin from his intake. His optic feed was glitching, a sign he was going to go into a stasis lock soon. 

“How did you break the spell.” The rifle was now touching his back, not that Skywarp could have gotten up before, but now it was definitely impossible. 

“Don’t you dare.” Thundercrackers voice was low, harsh and could rival Starscream in how terrifying it was.

“Or what?” Solardive mocked, pressing the rifle harder, but turning his helm in the direction of his captives. “You are there and I am here. You are powerless and I am not . A shame I will not get the warp drive as a working device, but achieving the goal of ending this pests life is a good enough reward. I will still get to show everyone my newest addition to my collection.”

Skywarp had the feeling he should be offended, but he didn’t have the energy for that. Pain was overtaking all of his functions. The smell of energon was strong, the puddle forming beneath his faceplates was growing rapidly. 

The blaster was taken away from his back briefly to hit him on the helm, before it was back in its original position. 

Everything was spinning, but at the same time it wasn’t. As if something was forcing it to still. 

“See? I can do anything I want. Like I could before and like I will be able to do till I die” Solardive boasted. Skywarp could hear Thundercracker responding, but what he said was lost to the ringing echoing in his audials. 

“You all long for things out of your reach. It is as simple as that. Believing yourself equal to those who are normal. Believing resources like fuel should be wasted on you” the blaster started heating up. “ But you are wrong. The first mistake I ever rid the world of, had this unique ability to influence processors of others. She was dangerous, and I understood that. I tricked her into giving up her power, into transferring it to me , and then I killed her. That terror was an incredible sight. I strived to free more of us from this glitch. And I did. It was stupidly, almost embarrassingly easy. All I had to do was dangle fake romantic interest, and they all were drawn to me. As I said, longing for things you could never have.”

Solardive laughed. An ugly sound, gritting on Skywarp’s abused, hurting and ringing audials. 

The heated rifle was pressed harder to his back, making a painful circle of slightly melted plating.

Skywarp screamed.

“And then you go and start a war, snatching my best prize right from my grasp” Solardive seethed, stomping his pede on Skywarp’s wing, visibly crushing it. Skywarp’s howl of pain cut off with static, but a scream could still be heard. TC . Thundercracker was screaming. “And worst of all- YOU made it all so much more complicated. You made the spell less effective, but also more painful. It is all your fault Thundercracker. ”

“Get infected with rust plague” was Thundercrackers answer. 

Skywarp thought that he was way too aware of what was going on this entire time. The pain was intense and still he knew what was going on. His optical feed was looking weird, half-spinning, half-not. Blurry but sharp at the same time and it was worsening Skywarps helm-ache. 

His focus moved to the plasma device creating the barrier, which was weird because he completely forgot about that thing. 

Something urged him to blast it with his null-rays and Skywarp came to the conclusion Soundwave was using his telepathic powers or something (Skywarp never really understood how they work exactly). 

So while Solardive was taunting TC and distracted, Skywarp directed all his remaining energy to the null-rays. Ignoring the HUD warning telling him that his fuel levels are too low for that and it was extremely dangerous (like he didn’t know that ), fired. The blast hit the side of the device but it was enough to disrupt the barrier. 

Few things happened at once. Thundercracker launched at Solardive with a fury Skywarp found incredibly hot. Soundwave seemed to have contacted someone (has the barrier been blocking communications as well?), Nova Storm ran to him along with Acid Storm who started to examine his right wing. Ion Storm joined Thundercracker and they managed to disarm Solardive or at least Skywarp thinks they did. Soundwave wasn’t making an effort to still his feed anymore and they were moving way too fast to follow for him. Besides, he was tired. A quick deactivation of his optics will-

“No no no no! Stay awake Skywarp!” 

Ugh. 

Whichever of the femmes that was, Skywarp did not plan on listening. A sharp, pointed pain caused him to yelp and online his optics back.

“ Acid Storm! ”

“What? He can’t fall into a stasis or who knows when he’ll wake up next!”

There was a growing sound of an engine, a screech and a ball of red slammed into Solardive. Throwing him into a wall. Skywarp felt a smile forming on his faceplates. 

Screamer.  

He’ll never admit it, but there was unlimited comfort to be found in Starscream protecting him. To know that underneath Starscream's issues, he did care. 

Well if that’s taken care of, surely Skywarp can recharge now. 

There was panicked shouting from the two seekers next to him, more engine sounds, a shout of pure agony and peace.

Solardive was bloodied and broken, sitting inside a cell in the brig. Labourd vents, shaking wings, half of the right arm missing.

Starscream found he rather liked this sight. 

It was everything that fragger deserved. 

How dare he target both of his trinemates! How dare he land his left wing into the madebay in critical condition!

Skywarp was lucky . That’s what Hook said. If Soundwave managed to make Skywarp shoot the box a few kliks later, if it took Thundercracker a bit more to break the mind control. If anything happened with a delay there would be no more Skywarp .

Starscream couldn’t bear that thought. He lost enough important mechs in his life. Granted there was only one, but Skyfire had been his everything . At least with Skyfire he showed him his appreciation. Thundercracker and Skywarp got none of that. Starscream was incapable of showing, of expressing his feelings anymore. His excitement resulted in brushing off the warning signs, in ignoring the risk. Resulted in his biggest failure. Closing himself off was the easiest and least painful thing he could’ve done. When he returned to Vos and entered the war academy he had already forgotten how to interact with others.

And Thundercracker and Skywarp ended up his wings either way. He did nothing but push them away and they pushed back . No one did that. They all left instead, saying how they didn’t want to be surrounded by his unpleasant personality. But those idiots didn’t.

And Starscream hasn’t shown them once how much that meant to him. 

He still had a chance to.

If only he was capable of maintaining his relationships. Capable of not destroying them.

“Will staring be the only thing you do?” 

Like he nuked his chance with Megatron. Believing Solardive, accusing Megatron. It was just too easy. Throughout their whole thing, he’s been waiting for Megatron to reveal how little he cared. To hurt him, and remind him how terrible he is. For closing off, for all his flaws. His selfishness, egoism, cowardness. Everything that is wrong with him. Starscream craved that feeling, and Megatron, who needed control over his own choices, always delivered. But through their twisted needs, they grew dependent on each other. Their relationship morphed into something-

And all Starscream could think about was the inevitable fall out. Even if some part of him hoped to never live to see that. 

“I want him to starve,” he replied simply. If Megatron noticed how long it took him to reply he didn’t make a comment about it. Instead he hummed.

“That does sound fitting.”

They stood next to each other in silence. Staring at a broken, beaten form. No doubt delirious and with infection. 

Well Starscream was admiring his work more than anything, and he had a feeling Megatron was too. 

“You did well.” 

The praise caused Starscream to look away. Why was Megatron acting like this? Like Starscream hasn't bitten open an old wound the last time they spoke. Accusing Megatron of the same thing those of richer origins did. Of abusing his position of power.

“Shall I see you in your quarters tonight?” He’s risking it. He knows. Yet he said it either way.

“If you find it acceptable.”

With that the warlord leaves. Once again it’s only Starscream and the prisoner he gets to decide the fate of. 

There are no apologies. Not for letting Solardive into the nemesis and not for speaking things they shouldn’t. 

But they never apologise. Not in words, not in acts. 

They aren’t there yet and perhaps they never will. 

“Hi” Skywarp croaked out. 

“Hi” Thundercracker replaid. 

Laying on the medical berth, all patched up, wing in a sling Skywarp felt pretty uncomfortable. But he couldn’t move and there were benefits like not having to work. 

Oh and TC was there (that was the biggest benefit). 

“Hook says your cabling was a mess. Crushed internally” Thundercracker spoke slowly, quietly. Optics looking to the side. “He said he never saw something like that.”

Skywarp tries to pull TC’s helm towards him so that he can see Thundercrackers faceplates, but he has only one servo functioning right now and it’s on the opposite side. Thundercracker chuckles at his attempts, but does obediently make optic contact.  

“Soundwave speculates it was another outlier he stole.”

Skywarp knows he should take it seriously. Thundercracker is worried out of his mind. Pit, he’s literally in the medbay and Primus knows when he’ll be discharged. Despite all of this there’s only one thing on his processor. 

“Soundwave is definitely going to check the throne for our art.”

TC stares at him as if that had just occurred to him, which in turn caused energon to rush to his cheeks (and wasn’t that one of Skywarps favourite sights).

 Skywarp giggle, a real giggle. Oh, whatever sedatives they gave him were strong. He NEVER giggles. He snorts and snickers, y’know the ugly laughs. 

Thundercrackers blush grew and his expression softened into a mischievous smile. 

“Yeah, he definitely will.”

“You made a fool out of yourself, with all that sappy nonsense you said back there. The whole base has probably heard it by now” Skywarp noted, somewhat worried. Thundercracker didn’t like to be the centre of attention and he didn’t like gossip even more. 

But Thundercracker only blushed harder (Primus how does he do that? So incredibly hot!) and leaned closer to him.

“Well… I heard you like that in a partner.” 

Oh.

Oh

OH MY PRIMUS TC JUST GOT LIKE 100% HOTTER!

“Hmm… I do, but” he tried to lean forward too but it was way harder than it normally was. With a chuckle Thundercracker connected their forhelms. “I do seem to like it more when it’s you making the fool out of yourself” 

They stared into each other's optics again, forhelms still touching, noses brushing. Skywarp could get lost in those crimson skies for forever, a never ending flight of comfort. 

“AUGH! Not in my medbay!” At the sound of Hook’s voice Thundercracker shot away from Skywarp, catching on some wire going into Skywarp’s lines, almost pulling it out. “AND BE CAREFUL WITH THAT! You don’t even know how long that took!”

“Actually I do. I’ve been waiting for the entirety of the operation” the look Hook gave TC made him backtrack. “Um- I mean… Sorry”

Skywarp giggled again, sheepish TC was definitely his favourite sigh (mech he had a lot of those). 

Hook shook his head, turned back to their faceplates and dragged curtains around the berth for some vogue imitation of privacy. 

TC kept staring at where Hook disappeared for a little while longer. Way too long in Skywarp’s opinion so he nudged him. When that failed he whined. 

Thundercracker snapped to him and smiled. A sweet, happy, loving smile. 

And then he leaned in, properly connecting their lips.