Acid Rain

Author's Note- Hi this chapter is the eighth chapter of Acid Rain.

Special thanks to Starlove, Decepticon Skywhip, The-writing-Mew, fan girl 666, Kitt SummerIsle, Iwanita, poisonouswaffle'n-stuffs, Guest, Chibi Oro, NightXIV, Mavis, LittleLadyLokiStark, Alestrel, X-Eclipse, Kami Count D, Riddick and silveryn83 for your reviews and comments.

Hello this is my first fic of this dark a nature so I would ask that you read the warnings carefully before reading and no flamers please. It's AU so you can imagine it however you want.

This story was partially inspired by Kami Count D's 'Crime and Punishment' fic and I would recommend you all to read it if you have not already (also if you like Starscream/Ironhide as a pairing 'Crime and Punishment's' companion fic 'The Enemy You Know' is also a very enjoyable read).

Unbetaed.

Disclaimer- I do not own Transformers or its characters.

Warnings- Rated MA. Non-con/graphic rape, violence, perhaps some slight gore and mutilation near/at the beginning, there may be consensual slash in later chapters, Transformer swearing, angst, depression, death, trauma, mentions of masturbation.

Warnings for this chapter- Transformer swearing, mentions of previous character death (major in the Prime verse), violence, depression, trauma, hints at past rape (not described), sexual references but nothing explicit.

This chapter- Starscream's third dream: Bold and Italics- Megatron. Italics- Starscream.

Units of Time:- Astrosecond- 1 second Klik- 1 minute Cycle- 1 hour Orn- 1 day Decacycle- 1 week Meta-cycle- 1 month Solar cycle- 1 year Vorn- 1 million years

Italics- Flashbacks/thoughts/memories/link speak.

Bold- Comm speak.

Recognisable lines are borrowed/paraphrased from the 2007-2011 movies, accompanying games and other Transformers media.

I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review.

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Chapter Eight- Instincts

Starscream hovered outside Megatron's door, optics tracing the faction emblem on the massive entrance, his talons reached up to stroke the air in front of it not wanting to inadvertently scratch the symbol.

Megatron would surely notice.

His report datapad was cradled in one arm and his surprise for his leader was safely stored in his subspace. Wings flicking nervously, he closed his optics and sank his denta into the flier's lower lip component, taking deep intakes just as Hook had taught the SIC.

He will always have control of the situation but you have some influence on how you yourself react. Panicking will only anger him and distress you further so try to keep calm and focus. We will be here to put you back together again so try not to worry about anything.

Keep calm. Focus.

Breathe.

Rapping gently on the door, Starscream waited posture rigid, for the tyrant to admit him. Engines thrumming softly, the Seeker dug deeply into himself and called up a somewhat confident smile.

The Warlord's pedesteps could be heard inside, Starscream feeling the vibrations of each one through the strong metal floor. As the door opened slowly inwards and Megatron appeared in the gap created, Starscream's helm dipped, processor noting unconsciously that he possessed as much strength as a winglet compared to the older mech.

Resisting the urge to slump his shoulders and so appear even more vulnerable, fragile, than he knew his Master perceived him to be, Starscream held himself still.

A strong arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders and Starscream's spark shuddered in response. The grip, while not painfully tight, was not quite comfortable for him either; Megatron putting slightly too much of his weight onto him as the Air Commander was guided into the otherwise empty room.

The Seeker's discomfort grew at the realisation that he was alone with his Lord. While no punishment had caused serious damage as yet, the tyrant had still stolen his trinemates away from him and humiliated him repeatedly both in public and private.

And so very few gave a slag about it.

Most watched on, seeming to forget the times their Air Commander had saved their fragging worthless frames, and sniggered just loud enough to goad Megatron on without drawing his attention to them. It was great entertainment for them, Starscream was sure, and it allowed them to be absolved of all blame as the flier took it on for them.

Megatron was worryingly growing increasingly transfixed by his wings.

Though he had once said they were beautiful, in not so many words admittedly, but the message had been no different. He wouldn't truly take them away would he? Even though he had threatened to it was only because he was angry wasn't it?

He hadn't meant it, he couldn't have done…

Ordering himself not to think of such things, remembering Hook's advice on the issues that had taken root in his processor, that he shouldn't dwell on things he had no power over, Starscream allowed his wings to relax down his back as he and Megatron crossed the room and the flier was unceremoniously deposited in the chair before the older mech's desk.

One large servo reached out for his datapad across the sleek metal surface as soon as Megatron settled in the Decepticon Lord's own seat.

As soon as his report left his servo, Starscream prepared himself to at a moment's notice remove his present for his leader.

The mission was successful for the most part but the Seeker was beginning to learn that success did not always guarantee reward or indeed even the absence of punishment.

Megatron's calculating optics scanned the contents of the data presented to him then tossed the pad without preamble on the desk top and abruptly stood. Starscream froze as the tyrant rounded the desk and grabbed the back of his chair, yanking it out from under the flier and sending him crashing to his knees on the harsh floor.

As the Warlord raised his fist, one of Starscream's arms flew up to protect himself as the other dove into his subspace in frantic search of the object he had placed in their both for its own protection- Megatron may have accidentally destroyed it before realising what it was- and as a hopeful safeguard against a potential beating.

'Gift,' the Seeker yelped frantically, concealing his wings behind his back and imagining the CMO's disappointment that Starscream had lost his composure so quickly. Withdrawing the weapon from subspace he dared a glance up at Megatron's unreadable faceplates, 'I… took this back from the Autobots for you Master.'

As the tyrant took the Energon Harvester from him, a devious smirk grew on Megatron's lip components as the Decepticon Lord's optics darkened to a deep crimson. Tentatively as the Warlord studied the piece of tech, Starscream produced the plans used to create it and reached up to lay them on his Master's desk.

Megatron left Starscream's sight for a moment and the flier curled into the side of his leader's rare-metal possession. The tyrant's laughter boomed out, echoing around the room, and catching the SIC by surprise forcing a startled chirp from his vocaliser.

The tyrant's pedes quickly reappeared in the Seeker's line of vision and the scientist tentatively tilted his helm to look up at the massive mech. For a moment Megatron seemed confused as to why his subordinate was on the ground then he seemed to shrug before pulling Starscream to his pedes and clapping his second comradely on the back.

'We must celebrate, my dear Starscream.'

---

The Seeker's optics flickered open and the memory of the last time Megatron was truly kind to him- after all the tyrant had not actually laid a servo on him- dissipated as he blinked to clear his vision.

They had spent the evening drinking, Starscream not noticing that the Warlord was not sipping high grade with him, late into the night cycle.

Megatron had relaxed nevertheless, a warm smile settling into faceplates as they talked. The SIC eventually felt secure enough to boast about his achievements of the orn, relieved when the tyrant only smirked in answer.

The way the Autobots had fled in terror and their base had burned sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky that the Seekers gleefully played in, using it as cover to catch their retreating enemies unawares despite bemoaning their blackened paintjobs later.

A quiet giggle puffed out of the Air Commander's vents and his optics sparkled before darkening and closing again.

Megatron had told him to recharge, so that is what he would do, regardless of what memories his processor confronted him with.

---

'You know why I have to be so strict with you don't you Starscream?' Megatron murmured in his cowering second's audio. 'Hmm?'

He clicked in disgust when he didn't receive an answer, kicking the smaller mech cruelly in his chassis easily parting Starscream's hurried motion of wrapping his arms around himself. The flier keened in pain as his chest collapsed and one of his arms snapped inwards, collapsing to lie on his side on the floor of Megatron's private interrogation room.

'I asked you a question, Starscream.'

'D-don't…' The Seeker whimpered softly, trailing off as rancid energon rose in his throat.

''D-don't' what? You don't know? Are you asking me not to hurt you? Speak, cretin.'

'D-don't n-know Master,' he whispered, trying to curl himself into a ball once more.

Shrieking in agony, Starscream was lifted by his wings and thrown down on a metal slab, stained with the energon of Primus knew how many Autobots and Decepticon traitors and rogues.

Megatron initialised the controls with an internal order, giving Starscream no warning as clamps bound him firmly by his wrists and ankles to the cold surface. The tyrant settled comfortably beside him, servos discoloured by his second's mech-blood.

'You don't know?' He began softly, ignoring Starscream's pleading look and shallow, fearful ventilations, 'well then I shall tell you and you will have to ensure that you remember.'

The Seeker trembled as a digit travelled up and down his bared and helpless right wing, Megatron seated between him and the only exit.

'It is not because you are pitiful, though that you certainly have become. While you are clever my dear second you are a slave, much as any Seeker is, to your instincts. Sky and trine are at the core of your programming am I correct?'

The flier nodded, breath hitching as he tried to control his growing panic, spark swirling in hurt at Megatron's insult.

The tyrant leaned back in his chair, his claw never leaving his second's treasured appendage. 'I did not need your confirmation, only for you to admit it as true. Both make you weak even you must see that. Your need for the air causes claustrophobia and an easily exploitable well-known fear in you of being removed from the skies. Your trine causes you to rely on others to fight for you, to save you, when you should be doing such things for yourself. If either, or both, were threatened by the Autobots you would trade any secret you are entrusted with to protect them.'

Starscream frantically shook his helm but Megatron merely paused a moment to backhand him, giving the Seeker a warning growl to be still.

'A few disciplinary sessions with me Starscream will not do you harm, but make you stronger. You will learn to bear suffering on my behalf and so be moulded into a better warrior. I am strict with you not only to control the… defective parts of your nature but also to teach you to overcome your weaknesses.'

The Seeker's spark shrank into the back of its chamber as Megatron stood and walked into the shadows, continuing to speak almost to himself as he switched something Starscream couldn't see on and a machine came to life with a purring humming noise. With his back to the flier Megatron murmured, 'but then… perhaps I am overly focussed on you. After all, your entire kind share your drawbacks, so maybe they need a lesson as well. They need only to be taught that their sky and trine are not what they should be serving and I shall do so through you. You will help me in this, to create Seekers who are more than what they are now.'

Starscream whined softly as Megatron returned and gripped his wing, a paint stripper raised threateningly in the older mech's spare servo.

'Shh Starscream, it will all be over soon.'

The SIC's frame convulsed as phantom agony tore through his wings, the painted faction emblem on each wing being gradually removed before he had become the first Seeker to have his sensitive appendages actually branded with the symbol.

Soundwave had entered at some point to help Megatron keep him still but Starscream couldn't remember exactly when, feeling like one moment he and his leader were alone and the next tentacles were lashing him down along with the thick bindings.

Later, he had had to stand and watch as the others went through it.

Pleads to Megatron about sparing his younger warriors had fallen on deaf audios and Starscream, until the others had somehow found out about their Winglord's own branding, had been temporarily ostracised by his hurt wing brothers who believed he had offered them to the tyrant willingly.

Some even wondered if it had been their Winglord's idea.

In truth, Starscream had tried everything he could think of to get Megatron to change his mind, highlighting how much damage could be done not just to the processors of the fliers- the SIC was aware that his leader would not care about something like that- but to their physical flying ability.

There had been a moment when Megatron had seemed to waver then he'd put his servo on his second's wing murmuring that he was sure Starscream would fix any issue that may arise, and the tyrant's tone had efficiently ended the conversation.

A young flier, his trinemates and leader stationed elsewhere, had stood in line trembling violently until Starscream had approached him, stroking his wings to encourage them to relax and offering the only comfort he could.

Missing his own trinemates, feeling flickers of their own anxiety from them in their own base, the Air Commander guided the youngster up to their leader, staying in the light green Seeker's vision as his subordinate, his wing brother, was bound.

Easy young one, easy. Starscream soothed once his comm had been accepted. You'll be alright, I'll find your trinemates and get them back here for you as a reward, yes?

The younger flier seemed to calm mostly at that promise, becoming docile and still as Megatron approached him. He had screamed of course, all of them had, but he became settled quicker than most afterwards.

---

The SIC onlined again briefly, smiling slightly as he pictured the reunion between the youngest and his mates. They had vanished off to the light green mech's room kliks after meeting up and hadn't reappeared for many cycles, most of the orn in fact.

For them, the pain had been worth it.

And, for Starscream when Megatron found out he had swapped mechs around without his knowledge, the sight of his fliers content had been enough to get him through the punishment.

Strangely, Megatron did not change the Seekers back.

Starscream's optic ridges furrowed but, due to the lack of energon in his systems, he slipped back under before he could really think about what that meant.

---

It always surprised Megatron that, while the darker side of his programming was reviled by Starscream, it was also fiercely possessive of him, snarling adamantly that the Seeker was his and his alone. When he harmed Starscream it left him aching to claim his second as he would have done in the pits of Kaon.

Once it was clear that the Seeker was defeated, Megatron was constantly jarred by sudden shifts in emotion, anger at his second's perceived denial of the tyrant's ownership and superiority becoming something like concern for Starscream's injuries in the blink of an optic.

It occurred to him that he had never watched the flier recover like this before. He would visit the med-bay just long enough to make sure Starscream would survive then the Air Commander would be fixed to near-full functionality by the next time they met.

Listening to the rainfall, he watched his second huddling beneath the flier's pillow, and contemplated Hook's words.

Starscream had always been a brilliant mech. A champion flier whose scientific skills rivalled Shockwave's…

A burst of cool air expelled from his vents as he thought that, at least, that was an area where Starscream was not alone; the tyrant having come down equally as harshly on the cycloptic mech over the same issue. It wasn't the work itself Megatron objected to, being completely prepared to be indulgent if necessary, but the idealism of it.

Much of what both his scientists did was based on, to him, nothing tangible. It was all dreams and what-ifs, and if it failed or was found to be too time-consuming without enough gain, Megatron would forbid them to work on it. Moreover if he found them to be working on it even in their spare time he could be exceedingly cruel in his reprimand.

The experiments the two conducted could inarguably be very useful as shown time and again in the past, but it could also be a prime example of his two officers allowing themselves to do what they loved to excess and at the expense of the army. As such, the Warlord needed to make sure they remembered what their work should be geared towards.

They could play as much as they wanted once the war was over. Megatron having made it clear to Shockwave, though not Starscream, that once the Decepticons were indisputably in power that the tyrant would give free reign to whatever his scientists wanted to do; to see if they could come up with something brilliant if they had none of the restrictions on them necessary in wartime.

He supposed he may have been callous, but when fighting such a war as they were, no one could afford to be selfish and everything, when it came down to it, was merely fodder.

Everything was expendable but… no one ever said Megatron didn't have his favourites that would only be sacrificed if absolutely necessary.

Optimus's abandonment, he knew, while giving him the fire he needed to survive the Kaon pits, had left him jaded, had sparked off his ache for change. That he fought his younger sibling now didn't surprise him, their ideals having become radically different even in their adolescence, but it had saddened him for a time.

The now Prime had charmed the Council, leaping to the top and leaving his elder behind, Megatron falling so low afterwards in response that even Cybertron's dirt was above him. While a mech could achieve glory in the pits, he was still only a commodity for the entertainment of others, to be killed on any given crowd's whim. For that was what most had listened to when Champions made their decisions about the fate of their opponent and so very few had been spared.

It was a shame that so many potential sympathisers had been slaughtered in that manner; they could have been useful to the Decepticon cause…

Thinking of his brother, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like when he extinguished the younger's spark. They did have a sibling bond, though it was kept firmly closed on both sides, so how would it feel when that was broken?

It may ruin a moment that would otherwise be full of elation.

Still, it had to happen one orn, the war had to end somehow and the death of either leader was the only way to make sure of it once and for all. The universe, vast as it was, truly wasn't big enough for the both of them, not anymore.

Forcing his processor to the matter at hand, Megatron's thoughts returned to his second.

He couldn't be reprogrammed, especially considering that his gladiatorial nature was the only way he could face a Prime in a fight with any hope of winning, it was where his strength originated from and he couldn't give it up, not for anything.

Or anyone.

But, maybe as Hook had implied he could learn to control it, use it better.

He had never had to think about such things before, his instincts always leading him to where he needed to be to do what had to be done.

Starscream's wings fluttered onscreen, just visible beneath the flier's pillow, and Megatron sighed softly.

How he wished he had never laid a servo on those pieces of art.

---

Soundwave curled into Shockwave's embrace, the bond humming quietly between them soothing both the telepath and their finally peacefully recharging symbiotes.

What happened to Starscream affects you in no way, my love. To believe so is illogical.

Soundwave nodded slowly, tentacles pushing into his bondmate's strong servos.

Shockwave sighed inwardly, caressing his partner; this only confirmed his belief that emotions were a weakness that only troubled those afflicted with them.

Including now, it seemed, himself.

Soundwave had long ago slipped into and made a home in his spark, and the cost of experiencing the telepath's devotion had been allowing himself to be infected with the taint of emotions which had the ability to, at a moment's notice, take command of their host.

The Decepticon TIC however had always proven a most reliable and loyal bondmate, and was the scientist's greatest treasure without equal.

Unlike Soundwave, Shockwave had never allowed Megatron to get closer than he found comfortable, and so the actions of the tyrant affected his lover far more than him when they did at all. The scientist reasoned that the Warlord quite clearly did great harm to those around him, and self-preservation dictated that at least some distance was necessary.

Still, Soundwave held Megatron in such a high regard that to have the image he held of his leader knocked the way it had been was an understandable shock. It was well-known how the tyrant treated Autobot prisoners in private, but there was always an element of control there- at least enough to prevent him killing his victim until he wished to- that apparently the Decepticon Lord had lacked in his encounter with Starscream; and his last… conversation with Dreadwing must not allowed to be forgotten even if the majority of the army didn't know the full truth of the matter.

The only other time Soundwave had ever felt so insecure was after the previous second's deactivation but it had been thought that, though certainly tragic in the sense of being a blow to the army, the incident had helped Megatron in the long term. And things afterwards had settled down soon enough.

Some of the tyrant's rage had been expelled and had not resurfaced until several orns ago, and things had quietened in general as the Warlord had his new second to relieve surplus stress on.

Not that the situation had been ideal admittedly, but it had seemed a suitable solution while it had lasted.

He supposed he could understand his partner's unease, slight anxiety flitting through their bond that the Decepticon Lord may one orn harm their family in a temper.

He might not even mean to do it…

To see one's hero fall, knowing that you contributed to it, was a devastating experience even for the communications officer.

Though there may be some truth in Soundwave's buried deep fear.

There had been times, when Megatron had been particularly paranoid, that he had doubted the scientist's loyalty.

Especially when the Warlord once burnt an old lab of his to the ground.

The cold rage that had blasted through him then had been hard to contain, and even more difficult to hide from his partner. He kept quiet of course, accepting Megatron's punishment outwardly impassively and without complaint, not wanting to endanger Soundwave in any way.

And if he was even more brutal than normal with his test subjects for several decacycles afterwards who was to know?

It was one area he truly sympathised with Starscream over, destroying the life's work of a scientist was abominable.

Running his servo up and down Soundwave's helm, he tilted his lover's chin up and pressed a reassuring kiss to his lip components.

Mine.

---

Mine, Knock Out sighed through the link as Breakdown nibbled on his neck cables. Oh yes.

This was the aspect of the storm he liked. With everyone trapped indoors, there was no fighting and so no unexpected injuries or running around, flitting from one patient to the next as they were wheeled in…

No interruptions.

And Primus damn it if it wasn't something right out of those old romantic datapads he'd read when he was far more naïve, and curious about the relationships between other bots that he had yet to experience for himself.

Even if those datapads had been annoyingly fixated on relationships between mechs and femmes rather than mechs and mechs, the experience was still transferable.

Fragging, no, making love in front of an open fire with a storm howling outside…

Just, wonderful.

And a moment that didn't revolve around the war was to always be savoured as it could very well take everything from you even in the following klik.

At least the others were stable now, leaving the two medics to enjoy each other's company in peace.

Yours. Mine. The larger mech's servos ran lightly, teasingly, down his superior's glimmering red, rapidly heating plating.

Take me then, the vain mech whispered, hissed, his challenge through the link, lip components consuming his partner's.

---

Hook dozed in a med-bay berth, lazily listening to his patient's vital signs as he rested. Pride ran through his energon that he had finally confronted Megatron about his behaviour in some manner after putting the topic off for so long.

Glad to still be in one piece, the CMO's engines thrummed quietly in what was very nearly contentment.

He just needed to get his gestalt back…

A cycle later, Breakdown laid a blanket over the Constructicon while his cherry red bondmate checked over their patients.

Tomorrow? The former Wrecker questioned quietly, hopefully.

Hmm… the day after may be better, once I've completed Starscream's new paintjob. An angry sigh shuddered across the bond. It might be necessary to wait a while longer until things have calmed down. That slagger always has to ruin everything!

Perhaps, Lord Megatron will be less aggressive now, Breakdown tried to pacify, running a servo up and down Knock Out's back strut.

Doubtful, the vain mech slumped backwards into his lover's grip. Starscream believes it will happen again, and I can't tell him it won't…

Lifting his temporarily defeated mate up, the larger mech sat on a spare berth with his bondmate in his lap and began to lazily kiss him as he praised Knock Out through their link.

Feeling the crimson mech falling into recharge against him, Breakdown was surprised when the vain mech murmured I love you through the link as the smaller mech's systems shut down, talented servos resting on his partner's chassis.

It wasn't that Knock Out didn't feel that way or never said it, it was just rare for his lover to verbalise his affection first. Of course, the slighter mech had his reasons and Breakdown more than understood but still… it was nice to hear the words.

---

Starscream's form wrapped itself around his pillow, clutching at it as if it were a lifeline.

Don't leave me… Master, please…

I'm sorry! Come back!

… Please?

I've got you little one, shh… It's alright…

My-my Lord?

Hush, you are… safe now…

The flier's optics blinked open, a confused orange tinged with specks of red in colour, then widened at the sight of two datapads, one a note the other an information pad, before his faceplates on his berth. They were both a rich purple in colour and so from Megatron's own desk.

His wings felt as though they had been caressed only astroseconds before, but he paid the sensation no mind as his servo tentatively reached for them after a quick glance across the room confirmed his report was gone and he was alone.

His scanning of his surroundings also revealed two cubes of mid-grade energon waiting for him on his berth side table, which he shimmied towards across the coverlet and diligently drank before going back to his previous position beneath his pillow.

Picking the note up, oblivious to the screaming storm outside, Starscream obeyed the tacit order and began to read.

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