Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 13 : Request


The sun set was truly beautiful.

The golden sphere, that brought such an exciting variety of life to this fascinating world, slowly descended below the desert horizon, spilling it's last light against the violet sky in a mosaic of red, orange and yellow. Far above the Ark, the faintest twinkle of stars slowly peeked from behind the clouds.

Earth was wondrous planet. Optimus vowed, from the moment they had awoke on it, to protect it. How could he afford to get side tracked now?

He sat alone, atop the great golden ship that jutted out from the side of the volcano, watching the light fade away to darkness and lost in thought. Two words playing through his frazzled processor over and over again like a broken record. A desperate mantra. The same question that had only a day ago been uttered from the lips of his prisoner. What now?

What now?

Prime had only wanted to help. Help. Help who? Who had he helped? The Autobots? The Earth? That creature locked away in a makeshift cell? Himself?

He had made a mistake. A large, costly mistake. While he had been fooling around with that Decepticon, who could say what kind of evil Megatron had been up too. Sure, Teletraan had not reported any Con sightings in the last three weeks but what if Megatron had another scheme just waiting to be unfolded? What if he had wasted valuable time that could have been used to find out? The only information that he had managed to gain from this....interrogation.....was that the Decepticons had some major domestic issues. Issues that Prime was now involved in. And he had only made it worse. Even if his intentions were noble, he could no longer call his actions honorable.

He had taken advantage of a helpless mech. He was no better then the evil he wished to save him from. His guilt was so great that he couldn't face the other bot and had others take his place today.

He would never forgive himself for his lack of judgment but he couldn't afford to sit around and feel sorry for himself. Or for that pitiful bot locked in the storage closet bellow. He was a warrior. The leader of the Autobots. Defenders of the Earth. He could not fail himself, or this planet, or his friends again.

What now? Well, now he should lock Starscream in stasis. He would scour the planet for any Decepticons and take Megatron and his soldiers down. He would have to continue on like nothing had happened and move on with their goals. It was expected of him.

The only thing holding him back from actually following through with all this? The soft sensation of those pretty, warm lips pressed against his war mask.

How could he lock all that away and forget about it? How could he leave him alone in stasis? A forced recharge that kept those higher level functions, that the seeker normally disabled, activated? It would bind him in his own mind and those horrible visions of the past. All those things Optimus wished to protect him from.

He couldn't. Starscream was now the biggest mistake the Prime had ever made in his entire length of function. He would have to make it right again. He would have to do what Megatron had never done. Optimus would atone for the sins he had committed by making an honest mech out of the Decepticon jet. He would ask him to become an Autobot.

Not only would Starscream prove to be a capable ally, but what had passed between them would no longer be a breach of their conditions of war. After all, it was considered treason for any to form liaisons with the enemy. If the other's ever found out what had gone on in that cell Prime would lose all respect from his comrades. He would no doubt be asked to step down from his position. If he could convince the seeker to join them, then all would be right again. Then Starscream would no longer be a prisoner that he had taken advantage of, but a member of his faction. His friends and family. Only then would his conscious be cleared.


The horizon was now a dull orange, quickly being eaten away by the impeding indigo of the night sky. Night had fallen on the quiet desert. So peaceful and tranquil that the sudden sounds of approaching footsteps dragged the Autobot General from his thoughts.

"Prime." Prowl's voice cut through the darkness, followed by the suddenly bright lights from the patrol car's headlights.

"Yes?" The semi looked over his shoulder to the approaching mech. "Is everything alright, Prowl?"

The tactician held a data pad in one servo, a small frown on his features. "I have the reports from today, as well as the ones from Ratchet."

"And?" Prime now turned from his seated position to fully regard his friend.

"Well it's all good news." Prowl's optics darted along the lines of information on the dull screen. "Energon counts for the day are satisfactory, however we may need to ask the government of this country for another shipment soon. No sightings on Teletraan 1, which means our Decepticon friends are still laying low."

He paused as he reached Ratchet's report. The one that had been done today when Jazz and himself had brought the prisoner his daily energon and the medic had performed his weekly examination. He glanced over the pad at his leader's anxious optics. It was obvious Prime didn't care about energon or any of the other useless information presented in that data pad. He only wanted to hear one thing.

"What about the report from Ratchet?" Optimus only confirmed the strategist's suspicions.

"Everything's fine." Prowl frowned again, and flipped through the rest of the data pad, deciding it could wait until later.

"That's all?" The red and blue mech pried.

"Yes, Optimus. That's all."

Prowl didn't like lying to his leader, but perhaps it was best to keep what he knew a secret. If only to spare his friend from worrying. It was about damn time Prime moved on from his little pet project and returned to being his normal self. Ever since Starscream arrived, things hadn't been right. Prime hadn't been right. Today had been the first day that the Autobot general hadn't visited the annoying Con. He didn't need to break this streak of improvement quite yet.

"Are you sure?" Prime raised an optic ridge. "You aren't a good liar, Prowl."

"It's nothing to concern yourself with." The black and white mech tried to wave it off. "His scan was clean and Jazz and I gave the pest his energon. He was a little moody, but that's all."

Optimus didn't like the way Prowl was acting. The usually thorough Autobot never skipped any information, even if it was deemed unimportant. It wasn't like him to disregard anything. Worried that perhaps Starscream had said something incriminating and Prowl was avoiding it out of disbelief or even denial, Optimus couldn't risk ignoring that sudden panic that something had gone wrong.

"Prowl. Tell me everything."

Prowl knew that tone. It meant no funny business. It also meant to tell the truth. He sighed in aggravation, putting his servos on his hips in typical fashion with a roll of optics for emphasis.

"Oh alright. I was hoping to keep you on this normal streak for much longer then a day, but I guess I have no choice."

Prime only grunted his 'thankfulness'.

"When Jazz and I went for our little visit, Starscream asked about you. Wanted to know where you went. Seemed pretty upset when we told him you didn't have time for him today."

"That's it?"

"That's it." Prowl crossed his arms, scowling. "And now you're going to worry about him, aren't you?"

Prime stood and moved towards his friend. Placing a servo on the other mech's shoulder, he looked kindly upon Prowl in a way that the black and white bot knew was a smile.

"Thank you for your honesty. I'm off to recharge."

He stepped around the mech and made his way to the entrance hatch. Spark clenching in his chest painfully, he kept all traces of distress from his features and finished his daily duties. First he had to stop by and check in on the nightshift patrol. When he was satisfied that the Lamborghini twins were settled in for their monitor duties, he said goodnight to a few straggling Autobots who had yet to go off to berth. He then proceeded to his own chamber lying down on his plush berth and staring at the ceiling, counting the hours by slowly as he waiting until he was sure all the other's were in recharge. Guilt would keep him awake this night. He knew he wouldn't be able to recharge again until he went to see Starscream.

Quietly, he tiptoed from his chamber and to the cell where the seeker was locked up. He opened the door and slid inside quickly. The light was always left on in the cell. Cybertronians did not require darkness for recharge. He didn't need to search the shadows for the jet who was already asleep, lying on his back with his servos resting on his chest. Helm tilted away from the door.

Because Starscream was sure to have his processor offline, he wouldn't be aware that someone had entered the room. Prime didn't have to sneak up on him and worry about waking him up. He sat down on the berth simply gazing at the Decepticon for a moment, remembering he had looked very much like this when he had first entered the cell three weeks ago to admire the work Ratchet and Wheeljack had done.

He was still so beautiful. So docile and silent and almost peaceful when recharging. Prime almost couldn't believe it was the same Starscream that he had seen on the battle field. Cruel shrill laughter as he blasted away at the Autobots while soaring circles around any who dared cross his path. But it was. The same mech who had once fought side by side with Megatron. Who had at one time dreamed of a union with the tyrant. The one who was betrayed by the only mech he had ever cared for. The same mech he had, only just a day ago, pinned on this very berth and ravished. Now, the mech that he vowed to save.

Remembering that day made the Autobot's temperature rise. His sparks ceased his painful clenching and fluttered in it's chamber, contented by the memories. Optimus couldn't resist reaching out and brushing his digits across that amber canopy, feeling a shiver go down his support column. Carefully, he leaned down to rest his helm on the seeker's chassis, feeling the other's spark pulse calmly beneath the red plating. It felt so relaxing. So warm and perfect.

Starscream suddenly stirred. His optics fluttered open as he turned to look upon what had beckoned him from his oblivious recharge.

"Prime?"

Optimus straightened, looking down at the Decepticon and finding those crimson optics gazing at him through a sleepy haze.

"Starscream." He could barely whisper as his core tightened sweetly, almost forgetting why he had come here in the first place and drowning in the radiance of the very inviting and enticing mech beneath him. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

The seeker shushed him by placing two blue fingers against his mask.

"You never hurt me." He whispered back.

"I took advantage of you." Prime argued. "You were vulnerable and I..."

Starscream chuckled, cutting Optimus off. "I wasn't vulnerable. If anything, you were the one who was taken advantage of."

The red and white jet reached up and took the semi's face in his servos.

"I wanted to gain your trust. I was going make you lower your guard and then I would destroy you. I thought seducing you was the quickest way to do it, and have a little fun while I was at it."

Optimus stiffened, looking down at the Decepticon curiously.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Starscream shook his head and sighed, speaking truthfully. "Because I changed my mind. I would never want to hurt you now. Not after what you have done for me."

"But..." Optimus went to pull away but the other mech held him tightly.

"Don't leave." He all but moaned, the sound of his voice keeping the Prime right where he was. "I missed you today. Stay here and make up for it. And don't tell me you can't."

It seemed Megatron wasn't the only mech to lose his head around Starscream. Prime didn't have time to think on that as the sleek Decepticon pulled him down into an embrace, kissing his mask and rolling them over so he straddled the Autobot's hips. He wanted to lose himself to the seeker again. Craving that delicious essence straight from the other's pulsing spark. But one thing held him back.

"Join us." He blurted out, making the bot above him freeze up.

"What?" Starscream withdrew from the crook of the Autobot's neck that he had been attacking with his dentals and glossa.

"Join us." Optimus repeated. "Become an Autobot. Help us stop Megatron."

Starscream regarded Prime for a moment, optic ridge quirked as he processed the strange request. Here he had just told the semi of his ruined plans to escape, for manipulative purposes of course, and the valiant fool was asking for his comradeship? Although his methods of escaping had changed, the jet was still Hell bent on getting out of here in order to return and destroy Megatron. No longer wishing to hurt Prime, Starscream was hoping the general would only go so far as to ask for assistance, letting him out of the cell so he could use his superior speed to outrun them. Although his thrusters were taken off line, his ability to fly wasn't. He just wouldn't be as fast. Fast enough, though, to leave the Autobot's in the dust.

"Are you serious? Even after I told you that I wanted to kill you?"

"Dead serious." Prime's servos hugged the Decepticon's waist.

Starscream rolled his optics, and his hips, digging his fingers into sensitive seems along the semi's shoulders. "You Autobots....far too noble."

"So is that a yes?"

"That's a maybe." The jet grinned and slyly pried at the other bot's plating. "You'll have to convince me."


"I'd sure like to try." Optimus sighed as he returned the favor, relishing the way it made Starscream shudder.

"Then I hope you don't mind me taking a turn on top." He purred as blue digits found the seam to the Autobot's spark chamber.

"Not at all." Prime all but gasped as the eager bot cracked both their plating, their cores mixing in a sweet burst of pleasure a second later.

~~~

Deep under the ocean, Megatron lay awake in his own chamber.

Three weeks had passed and not a single word from the Autobots or Starscream. Even Skywarp, and the dirty looks that he tossed his leader on a regular basis these day, was enough to force the tyrant to contemplate settling for the purple seeker. ANY seeker. Anything that was willing to challenge him.

Damn that Starscream! Why couldn't the little monster keep his mouth shut?

He had no right to speak of Prime in that manor. Megatron had already lost his chances with his second in command. He could never have Starscream the way he wanted him now. But Prime was untouched. Unsullied. Prime was an Autobot, an enemy, a mech he could never have the way he had once wanted the seeker. He could only have the semi as a prisoner. A slave. It wasn't enough to merely capture him and force him under his heel. No, Optimus Prime had to be conquered. Defeated. He had to be earned. Megatron respected Prime and this was the only way he could imagine making the Autobot his.

Having Starscream speak of him in such a disgraceful manor, especially since he was one of the Decepticon General's greatest failures, was not acceptable. It only rubbed more salt in the wound.

Perhaps it was time to consider rescuing the cretin. Best do it before Skywarp and Thundercracker rebelled. Or he got desperate enough to put them in Starscream's place.

Tomorrow, he would order his troops to assemble for a rescue mission.