Broken

by BelethIcarus

Summary:

Starscream had been found with extensive damages to his frame in a pool of energon with a barely functioning spark. One of his wings had been ripped off and found several meters away and his throat had been torn open, exposing energon lines. The vocalizer had been badly damaged. The rest of his frame hadn't fared much better. His left optic and cockpit had been shattered and his right arm nearly torn from its socket. Not to mention the cuts all across his frame and his broken thrusters in his pedes. He had taken one hell of a beating.

Chapter 1: In Pieces

Starscream felt like he was in a weird place between being awake and asleep. Alive and dead. He could hear medical devices in the distance, which wasn't entirely new for him. He also thought he could faintly hear mechs talking, but his processor couldn't focus and give the spoken glyphs any meaning. He was also vaguely aware that he had been grievously injured, but he couldn't remember what had happened and his HUD occasionally pinged WARNINGs and ERROR messages, but he couldn't make any sense of them. His processor felt like it had been dragged through a slag pit then crushed beneath Megatron's pede. He was surprised that he couldn't feel any pain. At least not yet anyway. His mind slowly drifted back into a troubled oblivion.

—

"When do you think he'll wake up?" Optimus asked, frowning down at the mangled frame that lay on the medberth. The seeker was strapped to just about every sort of device imaginable. He'd been in the Autobot medbay for nearly a decacycle already while Ratchet and Wheeljack slowly worked on putting him back together but he was still in a severe state of disrepair.

"I'm doin' all I can, Prime. No guarantee he'll ever fully wake up." Ratchet shrugged. "The damage was pretty severe. I'm trying to keep him in stasis, but his spark is fluctuating too much. It might not be safe to keep him in stasis for much longer."

Wheeljack half-listened to them talk, focusing on re-connecting a mangled wing to the unconscious mech beneath him on the med slab. He jumped when Starscream's field suddenly flared outward. Wheeljack nearly crumpled to the ground under the sudden onslaught of negative emotions. Fear, anger, agony, pain, loneliness, confusion. He gripped the berth tightly, having dropped his tools. A steadying servo was placed on his shoulder and Wheeljack glanced up, finials flashing in alarm. Optimus stood there, a soft look in his optics.

"Are you alright, Wheeljack?" He asked. Wheeljack nodded, letting out a shaky ex-vent.

"Is he tryin' a come outta stasis again?" Wheeljack steeled himself against the berth, shaking a bit as Starscream's field evened out and he got used to the frightened feeling radiating off the mech. Starscream hadn't fully waken up yet, but his field would randomly flair outward and the machines monitoring his processor occasionally showed he was vaguely conscious and might be aware of what was happening.

"I think so." Ratchet sighed, tapping away on a scanner. "I think the damage is still too bad to bring him fully out of stasis though. I'm gonna try and put him back under again." There was a pained staticky moan that started rising into a shriek. "Scrap! Disconnect his vocalizer! He's gonna damage it more!" Ratchet's optics widened. Wheeljack nodded and quickly shoved his servos into the seeker's neck. He hated the sticky feeling of the still clotting energon against his digits. He managed to disconnect the seeker's vocal components, carefully taking his servos out of the open wound, grimacing.

Starscream had been found with extensive damages to his frame in a pool of energon with a barely functioning spark. One of his wings had been ripped off and found several meters away and his throat had been torn open, exposing energon lines. The vocalizer had been badly damaged. The rest of his frame hadn't fared much better. His left optic and cockpit had been shattered and his right arm nearly torn from its socket. Not to mention the cuts all across his frame and his broken thrusters in his pedes. He had taken one hell of a beating.

Wheeljack couldn't remember ever seeing a mech in such shape from a beating alone. A bomb sure, but not from another mech's own servos. He shuddered to think what Starscream had been feeling. He felt bad for the 'con.

Starscream's field slowly retracted as he was lulled back into stasis. Wheeljack hoped the mech hadn't realized what was happening. His engine rumbled sympathetically as he went back to work trying to reattach the wing. There were hundreds of tiny sensors and wires that needed to be reconnected and fixed. It was tiring work. He'd only gotten through a few dozen the previous cycle before Ratchet had forced him to go get some recharge and refuel. It was slow, grueling and mind-numbing work. But it offered a challenge and Wheeljack hated to see the 'con on their table in the poor condition he was in.

Optimus eventually left and the medbay fell back into silence save for the occasional beeping of the machines keeping the seeker alive.

—

"So what's the plan for when he comes out of stasis?" Prowl asked, leaning against the doorframe to Optimus' work area.

"We're not even sure if he'll fully wake up, Prowl." Optimus said evenly. He knew the whole base was on high-alert and anxious over Starscream's presence, even in such a battered state. "Let's wait a little longer for Ratchet and Wheeljack to stabilize him before we start talking about security measures."

Prowl scowled but didn't argue. "Do you at least have him chained to the medberth?" He asked.

"There's no need. He's unable to move in the condition he's in." Optimus shook his helm. "I doubt he's even aware of what's going on or where he is." Prowl narrowed his optics but didn't comment.

—

Starscream's consciousness floated back to the surface again. He wondered if he was in some sort of strange dream. It felt like someone was rooting around in his insides. It still didn't hurt. The pain receptors must be turned off, his processor supplied. He tried to make a noise, but his vocalizer wasn't responding. That made him feel panicked. He couldn't move either. He heard muffled voices and felt pressure on his arm. Was someone trying to comfort him? That didn't make much sense. His engine whined and he felt the servos in his chassis freeze.

"Is he conscious?" He heard someone ask.

"I'm not sure." Another voice answered. "I'll try and put him back under again." Starscream tried to scream but his vocalizer just clicked and stuttered. Then he was falling back into the dark again.

"How come he keeps waking up?" Wheeljack asked nervously, finials flashing.

"I'm not too sure." Ratchet admitted, a frown crossing his faceplates. "I'll try upping the sedatives in his system."

—

Later that night Wheeljack was back in the medbay at work on the seeker. He'd tried getting some proper recharge, but he couldn't stop thinking about their Decepticon patient still broken up and found himself wandering down to the medbay. He was concentrating on connecting some fuel lines in the seeker's thrusters and pedes when he noticed a faint flickering red light out of the corner of his optics. At first he thought it was his own finials flashing in concentration, but then the mech laying under his servos suddenly twitched. Wheeljack's helm shot up and he found himself face-to-face with the Decepticon Second in Command. Wheeljack's finials flashed bright red from alarm and he stumbled back. Starscream's optics flickered again and his engine made a whining noise. His vocoder clicked as he tried to say something, an irritated look on his faceplates.

"I, uh, didn't expect ya ta wake up." Wheeljack said awkwardly. "I'll get'ch'ya some more sedatives. Ya don't really wanna be up 'n awake fer this typa thing." He reached for the closest machine that Starscream was hooked to but the seeker's mangled wings shot up in alarm and he tried to scramble off the med slab. "Wait!" Wheeljack quickly pushed Starscream back onto the slab. "Yer gonna hurt yerself more!" He exclaimed, gently holding the twitching mech in place. "C'n I take my servos off ya or are ya gonna give me more trouble?" He asked, narrowing his optics. Starscream's vocoder clicked again. "Yer vocal components're disconnected. There was a lotta damage 'n-" Wheeljack started before he saw the seeker start rooting around in his own neck. "What in Primus' name're ya doin'!?" Wheeljack tried to grab at the other mech's servos but Starscream managed to re-connect his vocal components and his voice screeched to life with a burst of static.

"Where am I?" His voice was garbled and pitched too high and too loud. Wheeljack grimaced, lowering the volume of his own audials before answering.

"Yer in the Autobot medbay, Screamer, but ya really shouldn't be talkin'. Like I was tryin'a say, yer vocal components sustained a lotta damage." Wheeljack cautiously reached out with his servos. Starscream's field and wings flared in alarm and his voice made a strangled screeching noise. It sounded like metal scraping against metal and Wheeljack supposed it was possible that was what was happening because of all the damage.

Starscream was having trouble focusing on what the strange little Autobot in front of him was saying. His optics kept flickering in and out of focus and his audials weren't picking up sound correctly. He was really surprised that he wasn't feeling any pain with how many SYSTEM ERROR messages his HUD was pinging every other klik. That was making it even harder for him to focus. Plus his processor felt like absolute slag. He ran a quick SYSTEMS CHECK and got several more SYSTEM ERRORs. He made a displeased sound that came out warbled and broken and it made his own audials hurt.

He had been trying to figure out what the Autobot was doing to his frame when he'd woken up, but he'd somehow accidentally caught the grounder's attention. Starscream felt like purging his tanks. He dropped back onto the medical slab and the sound of his frame hitting the slab echoed off the walls. The Autobot winced but Starscream didn't feel any pain. He couldn't focus.

The Autobot's face was suddenly looming over his own face, bright flashing lights coming from the finials on the sides of his helm. Starscream offlined his optics against the onslaught. "Hurts." He mumbled, talking about the light.

"I can disconnect the pain receptors where 'm workin' if ya need." The other mech offered. "But I don't wanna give ya anymore pain medicine. Ya've had a lot the past few cycles since ya keep kinda waking up."

Starscream re-onlined his optics, squinting at the assumed medic. "How did I get here?" He asked. His HUD was telling him that there was an error connecting to his left wing. He tried reaching up to feel if his wing was still there but the grounder grabbed his servos.

"Ya shouldn't be movin' around so much. Yer frame is still quite damaged. I really should put'ch'ya back inta stasis."

"My wings?" Starscream asked.

"Oh, right. We found ya in quite a few pieces. Yer left wing was ripped off. I started re-connecting it a few cycles ago. There's still some wires 'n sensors I gotta reconnect. I needed a break from that so I started workin' on yer busted thrusters." The grounder motioned toward his pedes.

"Fix my wings first." Starscream mumbled, watching as the Autobot tapped away on a medical device. And soon Starscream found himself falling back into that fitful oblivion. "Fragger." He grimaced as his optics offlined and he fell into recharge.

Wheeljack waited until the seeker was fully back under the sedatives before comming Ratchet.

—

"You let him connect his own vocal components!?" Ratchet shouted once he was back down in the medbay.

"I didn't leeeet him." Wheeljack rolled his optics. "I wasn't expectin' 'im ta wake up and 'e spooked me. I tried ta stop 'im." He had started back on the seeker's wings since Starscream had asked him to.

"How was he?" Ratchet asked after letting out a long sigh.

"He seemed real sluggish. Prob'ly from all the sedatives and extra nanites runnin' through his systems." Wheeljack shrugged. "He asked how 'e ended up here 'n about his wings. He wanted me ta fix 'em up first."

"Interesting. He must have tried to run a diagnostic scan then. So his processor must still be functioning on some level. Don't tell Prowl about him waking up. He'll want us to strap him to the medslab and I don't wanna cause him any more distress than he's already in." Ratchet pinched the bridge of his nose, grimacing. "Right now he's not Second in Command of the Decepticons. Right now he's my patient."

"I agree with ya. I'd rather see him all fixed up 'fore Prowl tries interrogating him. 'Sides, it's prob'ly best to have Jazz interrogate him anyway. I think he'll be nicer about it all things considered." Wheeljack glanced back down at the sensors he was connecting. The joints in his servos were starting to jam up but he kept at it anyway, wanting to get the seeker's wings fully functioning before he woke up again.

"You really should get some rest, Jackie." Ratchet said, watching him with narrowed optics.

"Couldn't really recharge. I tried." Wheeljack gave another shrug. "'M fine. I'll try 'n recharge once his wings're all fixed up."

"Alright." Ratchet relented with another exasperated ex-vent. "Just make sure you pause to drink some energon. I don't want two patients on my servos. Comm me if he wakes up again."

"You got it!" Wheeljack's finials flashed cheerily.

—

Wheeljack startled awake the next cycle when he felt movement underneath him. His optics slowly blinked online and he realized he'd fallen asleep while working on Starscream's wings. The seeker's optics were flickering, faceplates inches from his own. Wheeljack let out a squeak and jumped up. "Yer awake again!" His finials flashed. "How'do'ya keep doin' that!?"

"Fast metabolism." Starscream mumbled. His voice sounded horrible. Wheeljack winced.

"I told ya that ya'd damage yer vocoder if ya used it." He shook his helm, letting out a soft ex-vent. He reached forward to try and disconnect it again but Starscream grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"It's fine." Starscream grimaced. Wheeljack figured it hurt to talk with that gaping wound still in his neck.

"'M almost done fixin' yer wings up. Sorry. Didn't mean ta fall asleep on ya." Wheeljack settled back down into the chair he'd been sitting in, reassessing and trying to figure out where he'd left off.

"Why are you fixing me?" Starscream asked. There wasn't any bite or threat to his voice. He just sounded tired and confused. His voice was really garbled and broken sounding as well. Wheeljack winced.

"Like I said, you were in pieces when we found ya." Wheeljack connected a few wires.

"But I'm me." Starscream frowned. His shattered optic sputtered out but his functioning one brightened a bit. "I'm your enemy."

"So?" Wheeljack shrugged. "You'd rather we'd just left ya there?"

"It's what I would have done." Starscream rested his helm back against the medslab, staring up at the ceiling.

They fell back into silence. Wheeljack finally closed up the paneling on Starscream's left wing, standing back up and stretching. "I think yer left wing's all good ta go. Wanna run a diagnostic scan fer me?" He asked.

Starscream nodded slightly and offlined his functioning optic for a moment while he ran the scan. "It just needs to be re-calibrated. I can do that myself once I'm able to fly."

"Good good. There's just some minor damage to yer right wing. I wanted ta focus on the worst one first." He moved his chair to the other side of the slab and sat back down. He flexed his servos, grimacing at the pain in his joints.

"If it hurts then stop." Starscream mumbled.

"Huh?" Wheeljack looked back at him, frowning.

"Your servos." Starscream nodded toward him with his helm.

"Oh. They're just stiff's all." Wheeljack shrugged.

They were interrupted as Ratchet walked into the medbay. His optics widened when he realized Starscream was awake again. "Wheeljack! I told you to comm me if he woke up again!"

"Well, uh, 'e actually woke up b'fore I did. I accidentally slipped into recharge at some point." Wheeljack said sheepishly, his finials flashing pink from embarrassment. "I was just havin' him run a diagnostic to check 'is left wing. It's all good to go. Just needs re-calibratin'." Starscream eyed Ratchet suspiciously with his only functioning optic.

"And you!" Ratchet turned his attention to the seeker. "You shouldn't be talking with your vocalizer that badly damaged!" He shook his helm as he walked over to them both. He checked over the medical devices. "At least your vitals are starting to look better. You should get some more rest though."

"I keep tellin' him that." Wheeljack snorted, opening the paneling on Starscream's right wing to start checking sensors and wiring.

"Tell him to rest." Starscream grimaced, nodding his helm toward the engineer. "His servos are locking up." Ratchet squinted at Wheeljack, who'd froze up.

"I told you they're fine!" Wheeljack exclaimed.

"Wheeljack, go get some proper recharge. I'll take over here." Ratchet pointed at the door. Wheeljack hesitantly got up, dragging his pedes out the door. Starscream smirked, looking victorious. "I'm disconnecting your vocalizer again. It needs time to heal." Starscream opened his mouth to protest but Ratchet administered some more sedatives and Starscream's helm lolled to the side as he fell back into recharge.

Chapter 2: Cracked

Starscream's optics flickered back to life. The visual feed from his left optic was still cracked and blurry. He forced that optic offline, focusing on the visual feed from just his right optic. That grumpy red and white medic was working on his cockpit. Starscream quickly offlined his other optic, hoping the medic wouldn't notice that he'd woken up again.

"I know you're awake."

Well, there went that. He re-onlined his right optic, squinting as it struggled to focus. His vocalizer clicked. It was still disconnected. Ratchet shook his helm and suddenly a comm invite popped up on his HUD. Starscream hesitantly accepted it.

Ratchet: You shouldn't be talking while your vocalizer heals. If you need something, you can comm me.

Starscream grimaced but sent a comm back.

Starscream: Where's the other mech?

Ratchet: Wheeljack?

Starscream nodded, wincing as his vision spun for a second.

"He's recharging." Ratchet said aloud.

Starscream: I'd rather he work on me.

"He's not an actual medic, you know?" Ratchet chuckled.

Starscream: Neither am I and I've had to fix myself up plenty of times.

"I can see that. Your frame is full of micro-fractures and old badly healed injuries. I can assume they're not all from battle?"

Starscream's vocalizer clicked and his wings twitched angrily.

"That's what I thought." The medic let out a long ex-vent. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

Starscream frowned, searching his processor for that information but the memory files were corrupted. And his frame was dedicating power to his litany of injuries that demanded more immediate attention.

Starscream: The files are corrupted. I could take a guess though.

"Megatron?" Ratchet raised an optical ridge.

Starscream: Something like that.

He flicked his wings in disgust, grimacing. He was surprised when the medic gently patted his helm. "Well you're safe here. Just take it easy and rest up."

Starscream: Safe? With Autobots? I doubt it. As soon as I'm functioning properly, you fraggers will interrogate me. Probably torture me. And do Primus knows what else.

"No one will be torturing you and undoing all the hard work me and Jackie have put into fixing you up." Ratchet snorted. "Or they'll have to deal with me. I'm sure Jazz or Prowl will want to interrogate you though. I'm making them wait until you're fully functioning." Starscream shook his helm, hating the dizzying feeling it brought him. He let his helm fall back and he offlined his optic, letting out a huff of air from his intake. "You should get some more rest." Ratchet said, softer and kinder this time. "Your frame is working hard to heal itself."

Starscream wanted to disobey, but he really was tired so he let himself drift off into oblivion.

—

"I think he likes you." Ratchet teased as Wheeljack walked into the medbay several joors later, looking less like a walking corpse.

"What makes ya say that?" Wheeljack snorted.

"He asked about you." Ratchet got up. "His thrusters are fixed but I kept them offline for now. He's still too damaged to get up and move around, but once he's fixed up better we'll need to cuff him."

Wheeljack nodded. "Got it." He checked over the recharging seeker. "He's starting to look more like a mech instead of a bunch of broken pieces." He commented.

"I'm going for an energon break. There's some energon for you on the side table. See if you can get him to drink some too when he wakes up again." Ratchet patted him on the shoulder as he walked past.

Wheeljack glanced over at the two cubes of energon, taking one and retracting his blastmask before bringing it up to his intake. After a while he noticed one of Starscream's optics flickering to life. He noted that the seeker's shattered optic remained offline. He wondered if it had stopped working or if Starscream was purposefully keeping it offline. Starscream's vocalizer clicked several times.

Wheeljack decided to open a comm link so the seeker could try and communicate. He was happy that his invitation was accepted almost immediately. "How's yer left optic?" Wheeljack asked.

Starscream: Diagnostic scanning indicates it's damaged. Visual input was subpar so I kept it offline.

"Alright. I was worried for a klik that the damage had gotten worse." Wheeljack took another sip of his energon cube and set it aside, his blastmask snapping back into place. "Do ya wanna try takin' some energon?" He asked. "What're yer fuel levels at."

Starscream: Don't feel like refueling.

"You sure?" Wheeljack asked but he only received silence from the mech beneath him. "What do ya want me ta work on next?" He sat down.

Starscream: What does it matter. I'm just a prisoner.

"Awe, don't be like that." Wheeljack patted the seeker's shoulder, receiving a glare. "Let's see, I could fix yer optic or yer arm or continue working on yer chassis."

Starscream: If you really want my opinion, fix my vocalizer and neck.

"Alright. I'll do my best." Wheeljack grabbed a few tools and scooted closer to the seeker's face. He squinted down as he got to work.

Starscream stared at him the whole time he worked and Wheeljack couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious. His helm finials flashed nervously.

"Ratchet said ya asked about me." Wheeljack chuckled awkwardly, hoping to fill the awkward silence. "And that ya'd rather I work on ya."

Starscream: That's because he's grumpy.

"Awe, and here I thought ya were startin' ta like me." Wheeljack teased, setting a tool aside.

Starscream: Well, you are easy on the optics.

Wheeljack blinked and met the seeker's gaze. There was a smirk on his faceplates. "I think yer mistakin' me for someone else." He laughed nervously. "I ain't nothing special ta look at."

Starscream: Well I think you're handsome.

"Yer just bein' nice since I'm fixin' ya up." Wheeljack grabbed another tool, trying to focus back on his work and ignore the way his own faceplates were heating up under his mask.

Starscream: Ah, so you don't believe me then? Or do you think I'm messing with you? I can assure you that I'm being serious.

They fell into awkward silence after that. Starscream's optic flickered as he started falling back into recharge. Wheeljack hummed softly as he worked, trying to be careful even though he knew all the seeker's pain receptors were turned off. He reconnected a few smaller fuel lines that had been severed and cauterized before turning his attention to Starscream's vocalizer. It almost looked like it'd been crushed. Wheeljack shuddered at the thought. He fixed it up as much as he could, but had to concede defeat after a while of no progress. After doing all he could, he started carefully closing the seeker's neck up.

Starscream's wings twitched. Wheeljack could tell he was deep in recharge. He turned his attention to the crush damage in Starscream's chassis, getting to work.

—

The next time Starscream was aware of his surroundings, there was a shouting match happening nearby.

"Why haven't you restrained him yet!?" An unfamiliar voice shouted.

"I told you, he's too weak to move. Besides, we've been pumping him full of sedatives. His processor's probably all fuzzy anyway." The grumpy medic argued.

"How many times has he woken up!? I need access to his comms if that's how you're communicating with him!"

"Calm down. The only comms he has access to right now are short-range ones. I disabled all the other ones when you first brought him in."

Starscream tried to sit up to see who the old medic was yelling at, but his vision spun again and his helm smacked back against the medslab, grabbing the attention of both mechs. He heard the sound of someone's pedes stomping over and flinched when some sort of enforcement officer invaded his vision. Starscream squinted, voice clicking.

"Prowl! You're going to stress him out!" The medic was trying to pull the other mech away. "While he's in here, he's my patient! You can interrogate him when he's fully healed and not a klik sooner!"

"You should at least restrain him to the berth."

"Look at him, he can't even lift his helm." The medic growled. "Now get out of my medbay before I call Optimus to drag your aft out!" The enforcement mech growled back but eventually left. "Sorry about that." The medic ex-vented heavily. "Wheeljack said you didn't take any energon earlier. Would you rather I start an IV?"

Starscream tried to groan in response but his vocalizer just clicked uselessly. He reached up and felt at his neck. It was closed up now. The other mech - what was his designation? Wheeljack? Wheeljack must have finished fixing his vocalizer but left it disconnected.

"Your vocalizer was crushed. Wheeljack did the best he could fixing it up, but there's still some damage. It's best that we keep it disconnected until your nanites fix it up some more. Although, I'm sorry to say it'll probably never be the same way that it was."

Starscream let his arm drop back to his side. A LOW FUEL WARNING popped up on his HUD. But he was too tired to think about it. The medic must have had some sort of scanner hooked up to him, because he grumbled something about fuel a klik later. "I'm going to give you an IV. Your fuel levels are getting too low. Just get some more rest." There was a gentle pat on his helm.

—

Wheeljack was having trouble recharging again. Starscream's vitals had taken a sudden dip the previous cycle despite Ratchet giving him an IV with medical grade energon and extra chemicals to help his frame heal. There was still a lot of work to be done on the seeker. Wheeljack wanted to go back to the medbay and check on him, but his servos were locking up too much to really tinker on the poor mech. He opted to get out of berth and check on Starscream anyway. He flexed his servos, rubbing at the joints as he walked down to the medbay. Ironhide was stationed outside, reading a datapad.

"Jackie, shouldn't ya be rechargin'?" Ironhide frowned, looking up at him.

"I was havin' trouble recharging. Just wanted ta check on 'im since his vitals weren't so good earlier." Wheeljack replied. "I'll relax a bit once he's doing better."

"Prowl keeps trying to stop by. He doesn't believe that he's as bad as y'all are saying he is."

"Yeah, I know. Ratchet thinks he's stressing 'im out."

"Well I'll keep him away as long as I can."

"Thanks."

Wheeljack waved at his friend and headed into the medbay. He could see a red light flickering. "You awake, Screamer?" He called, walking over to the poor mech.

Starscream: My designation is Starscream.

He looked grumpy.

"My bad. Sorry, Starscream." Wheeljack rested a servo on his shoulder. "How are ya doin'?"

Starscream: Could be better.

"Yeah. That's fair." Wheeljack sighed before checking his vitals. "Anythin' I can do ta make ya feel better?" Starscream squinted over at him and stared for a moment as if contemplating.

Starscream: Can you just sit with me for a bit? I don't like being alone.

"Sure thing." Wheeljack pulled up a chair, idly petting at the seeker's wing. Starscream seemed to relax a bit. "I'd work on ya some more, but my servos're lockin' up." He admitted.

Starscream: It's fine.

He reached a servo out for Wheeljack, grabbing onto his arm as if afraid he'd vanish. The usually larger than life, evil, conniving Second in Command of the Decepticons just looked small and broken and lonely. Wheeljack's spark ached for the mech. He wondered how well he'd fare himself in a similar situation. He kept petting at the seeker's wing, watching as Starscream's frame relaxed and his optic flickered offline. Wheeljack could hear the rough sound of the seeker's engine rumbling and the click of some internal mechanism that was out of place in his chassis. Wheeljack let his own engine purr softly, trying to help Starscream fall into recharge.

—

"Wheeljack, wake up." He felt someone gently shaking him.

"Hm?" Wheeljack mumbled, sitting up and rubbing at his optics. Primus, his backstruts ached. He blinked his optics online and saw Ratchet standing next to him.

"You fell into recharge in my medbay again." The other mech snorted, sounding amused. Wheeljack glanced around and realized he had fallen asleep while comforting Starscream. The seeker was still peacefully recharging.

"Ah! He was feelin' lonely." Wheeljack's finials flashed out of embarrassment. "I initially came in ta check on 'is vitals. They were doin' better than last cycle."

"That's good." Ratchet nodded, checking over the medical scanner. "He seems to be doing better." He finally said after a bit. Wheeljack stood up and stretched, his back and joints creaking. "That sounds like it hurt." He shook his helm. "If you're gonna recharge in here, at least don't do it in a chair."

"I didn't mean to." Wheeljack chuckled.

"How are your joints doing?" Ratchet asked.

"Better today, I think." He flexed his servos and rolled his wrist joints. "Yeah. Much better. I'm gonna try and get his left optic fixed up. His right one also keeps flickerin'. I'm worried there's some damage underneath it."

"Alright. You work on his optics and I'll work on his chassis." Ratchet cracked his knuckles. "Should probably wake him up though so he's not frightened at you pokin' around in his optics."

"Good point." Wheeljack gently shook the seeker's shoulders. "Hey, Starscream. You alright?" Starscream's vocalizer clicked in response as he slowly came online. "I'm gonna try 'n fix yer optics 'n Ratch is gonna root around in yer chassis. You alright with that?" Starscream nodded his helm and made a face. "Alrighty. I'ma start with yer left optic since it needs the outer casing replaced. Ya shouldn't feel any pain but it might tickle a bit." Wheeljack warned before grabbing a few tools and carefully taking out the shattered pieces of the optical casing. Meanwhile, Ratchet got to work digging around in the seeker's chassis for whatever was making that clicking sound. Starscream just sat there calmly.

"Let us know if anything feels off." Ratchet mumbled. Starscream just gave a lazy nod, still tired.

After a few joors Ratchet had found and repaired a few injuries and Wheeljack had managed to get both optics fully functioning. Starscream had slipped back into recharge at some point, fans gently whirring and engine humming softly.

"His fuel levels are still low." Ratchet frowned, checking over his vitals again. "He's going through a lot of energon. But I didn't find any internal leaks."

"Maybe 'e just cycles through fuel faster than the average mech?" Wheeljack shrugged. "Don't flight frames use more fuel?"

"Not much more than a grounder when they're not moving." Ratchet ex-vented. "I'll have to run some more tests."

"I'll try askin' him how much fuel he normally goes through when 'e wakes up again." Wheeljack made a mental note before cleaning up the tools they'd used. "I'll stay in here 'n keep an optic on 'im."

"Thanks, Jackie. I'll update Optimus on his condition."

Chapter 3: Pain of a Spark

"Your spark is displaying some abnormalities." Ratchet said. Starscream shifted on the medslab, squinting at the medic.

Starscream: That's normal for me.

"Do you have an outlier ability?" Ratchet frowned. The seeker shrugged.

Starscream: Not sure. I try to stay away from Shockwave's poking and prodding. But sometimes my spark hurts.

"Hurts?" Ratchet frowned.

Starscream: Usually when I get badly injured.

He averted his gaze but Ratchet understood the implications. "How badly?" He asked. "And how many times has this happened?"

Starscream: What does it matter to you?

"I'm a medic. I'm just trying to help you." Ratchet crossed his arms. "Would you be opposed to me doing some spark scans?"

Starscream: I'd rather Wheeljack do them.

"I've told you before that he's not a medic. He can help fix up your frame, but doing scans isn't his area of expertise."

Starscream huffed and tried to push himself into a sitting position with his elbows. His frame shook and his plating rattled as he took a heavy ex-vent and opted to drop back down onto the berth, frowning. Ratchet rested a comforting servo on his shoulder.

"Give it time, kid. Your frame took quite the beating. You probably won't be up and moving for a while still."

Starscream: When can I use my vocalizer?

"I'll check on it tomorrow, but the crush damage was pretty severe." Ratchet sighed. "I know laying down and resting can get boring, but it's what you need right now."

Starscream: I suppose I should get used to it. You Autobot slime will probably strap me to the medslab when I am able to get up and move.

There was a sneer on his faceplates and his wings gave an irritated flick at the tips. He tried adjusting himself so he was a little more comfortable but eventually gave up, letting out a sharp ex-vent.

"Just take it easy, kid." Ratchet turned his helm as Wheeljack walked into the lab. Wheeljack's winglets twitched excitedly as he waved and walked over to them.

"How's my favorite patient?" He said teasingly. "Drinkin' any energon yet?" Starscream's plating bristled but he tried to ignore him.

"He's pouting." Ratchet explained before taking Wheeljack off to the side for a moment. "I want to do a few scans of his spark. I suspect it has something to do with the amount of energon he's going through, but he said he'd only let you perform the scans."

"Do ya think it's really that necessary?" Wheeljack asked.

"He mentioned his spark hurting, which makes me feel a bit uneasy." Ratchet replied. "See if you can get him to agree to a scan and I'll walk you through it."

"You got it, Ratch." Wheeljack walked back over to the sulking seeker, patting him on the shoulder roughly to get his attention. "Ratch 'n me want ya ta drink some energon this cycle. 'N he'd like ya to get a few spark scans if yer feelin' up to it. We just wanna make sure yer spark's healthy." He slipped into the seat by the medberth. "Wha'do'ya say?" Starscream's vocalizer clicked uselessly a few times before he sent a quick comm message.

Starscream: Fine.
Starscream: But I want you to do the scans.

"Ratch'll have ta walk me through 'em." Wheeljack petted at the seeker's wing. Starscream glared at him.

Starscream: I don't want him looking at my spark. Have him explain how to do the scan and then you can do it.

Wheeljack frowned behind his mask, forwarding the comm messages to Ratchet and looking over to his friend. The medic let out a long ex-vent.

"Alright. I'll tell him how to do the scans. But we should get some more energon in your systems first."

Starscream shifted on the medberth but didn't complain any further. Wheeljack gave his wing another pet before getting up to grab a cube of energon and a straw. Starscream watched his every movement, only relaxing when Wheeljack sat back down. "Want me ta help ya sit up?" He asked. Starscream nodded so he carefully helped the seeker sit up and placed a pillow behind him. "There ya go." He held the cube out and Starscream leaned forward to sip from the straw. He made a face. "Oh yeah. It's got some additives in it ta help ya heal. Sorry if it tastes weird." Starscream shoved the cube away, glaring at him.

Starscream: You drink it. Prove it's not poisoned.

"Come on, Starscream. We wouldn't go through all the effort 'a fixin' ya up if we were gonna poison you." Wheeljack snorted but retracted his blastmask and took a big sip, also making a face at the taste as it ran over his chemoreceptors. Starscream watched him carefully before nodding when Wheeljack shoved the cube back toward him. "Now drink up. Ya need the fuel." The seeker relented, glaring at him but sipped on the energon anyway.

Ratchet watched the interaction, amused. "Alright, Jackie. I'll send you the instructions for how to scan his spark. Once he's finished a cube or two then you can do the scan. Do a couple just in case there's any anomalies. I'm going to update Optimus and Jazz." Starscream slowly sipped his energon, watching the medic leave.

"Let's try 'n get a cube 'n a half into ya." Wheeljack got up to ready another cube while Starscream watched him. "I can add something to it ta make it sweeter if ya want." He didn't receive a response so he turned. Starscream was staring at him, a strange look on his faceplates. "What?" Wheeljack frowned. The seeker just shook his helm slowly and continued sipping on his energon, pointedly not looking in Wheeljack's direction. The grounder sighed and sat back down once he had the other cube ready. "You like bein' difficult, don't'chya?" He asked. Starscream opted to make a face at him before handing off his empty energon cube. Wheeljack popped his straw into the new cube and passed it off. "Come on, just half 'a this one." He smiled.

Starscream: You Autobots sure have a lot of energon to spare for a prisoner.

Wheeljack frowned. "Do y'all not have enough energon?" He asked, voice softer, understanding. Energon deprivation could explain the reason the seeker's systems were going through energon so fast and why a lot of his older injuries hadn't fully healed. Starscream just glared down at the cube, keeping his simmering EM field close. Wheeljack could pick up the prickling of irritation in the seeker's field from how close he was sitting next to him. "If you need more, let me know, kay? I know flight mechs go through more energon than us grounders do." Starscream let out a huff, voice clicking again before he started sipping on the new cube.

"Yer in a bad mood this cycle, huh?" Wheeljack asked, talking to fill the silence and to try and comfort the other mech. He rested his helm in a servo, watching Starscream carefully.

Starscream just flicked his wings and passed off the cube when it was half empty.

"You full?" Wheeljack asked. Starscream's voice just clicked in response and he rolled his shoulders, wings stretching out behind him. "You can drink more if ya need more."

Starscream: Just scan my spark already. I'm tired. That grumpy old medic sent you the instructions, right?

"Yeah." Wheeljack gave his shoulder another pat and stood up. "Yer gonna have to open yer chassis up fer me. I'll grab the spark scanner." He rummaged through a drawer. Starscream frowned, looking down. His cockpit's glass still wasn't fixed yet but most of the severe damage had been fixed up. He reached up and felt the healing injury in his neck. His pain receptors were still turned off, but he could feel the uncomfortable pressure.

Wheeljack's optics were suddenly on him. "Hey, you okay?" He asked, pushing reassurance forward through his field. Starscream grimaced, rolling his own optics in response. He shut off the protocols that screamed across his HUD as he transformed his chassis open. Wheeljack's optics widened as he stared at the golden glow of his spark. "Woah!" He said. "It's so pretty!"

Starscream: Stop staring and scan it already.

He felt uncomfortable. Everything in him was screaming at him to close his chest up and protect his spark. Wheeljack felt that unease and moved forward, carefully putting the scanner up close to his spark, inputting a few data points into the device. His optics flickered up to stare into Starscream's spark as he waited for the scan to run. Starscream's wings twitched uncomfortably and he scrunched his faceplates up. The medical device finally beeped after a few kliks, drawing Wheeljack's attention away. He let out a hum as he checked over the information. "I'm gonna run a second scan just in case so Ratch can compare the data." He reset the scanner and waited.

Starscream anxiously picked at the medslab with his talons. Finally Wheeljack cleared his intake to get his attention. "You can close up now." His finials flashed bright blue. Starscream quickly closed his chassis up.

Starscream: Can you help me lay back down?

"Sure thing." Wheeljack helped him adjust. "You want me ta stay with ya until ya fall into recharge?" He asked. Starscream gave a tiny nod, reaching out for him. Wheeljack held his servo and reviewed the data on the spark scanner with his free servo. Starscream offlined his optics and focused on the sound of Wheeljack's engine rumbling softly.

—

"His spark is definitely giving some abnormal fluctuations and readings." Ratchet scratched at his chin as he looked over the data.

"Yeah. It looked healthy though." Wheeljack leaned back in the chair. Starscream was still holding onto his servo tightly as he recharged. "I think he might have Energon Deficiency though. The way he was talkin' kinda made me think he's not used to getting a full tank of energon."

"Hm. That would explain a few things." Ratchet nodded in agreement. "And you said his spark was a golden yellow color?" He asked, glancing up at his friend. Wheeljack nodded.

"It was real pretty. Looked like the sun almost." Wheeljack glanced back over at the recharging seeker. "I could tell 'e was real nervous about it though."

"Most mechs are." Ratchet shook his helm. "He probably has some sort of outlier ability. But his spark looks healthy overall minus a few harmless fluctuations. You're probably right about the Energon Deficiency. We'll need to make sure he's getting enough energon then."

"Hey, what's gonna happen to 'im when he's all fixed up?" Wheeljack asked, voice quiet. "It was prob'ly Megatron who tore 'im up like that, right? We can't in good conscious send 'im back."

"The Decepticons probably think he's dead anyway." Ratchet agreed. "But we also can't just let him wander around and do as he pleases. It'll be Optimus' decision."

"I just feel bad for 'im. He's all alone, ya know? In enemy territory 'n betrayed by 'is own team." Wheeljack used his free servo to gently pet at Starscream's helm. "I mean, I know he ain't a good mech 'r anything. But no one deserves to be ripped apart like that either."

"I know what you mean." Ratchet sighed. "But it's out of our servos. We're just in charge of fixing him up."

Chapter 4: Restricted Movement

After several more cycles Starscream's frame was fixed. His nanites were still in the process of helping him heal from the trauma, but he didn't need any more surgeries. Wheeljack noticed the way Starscream seemed relieved at the news. His vocal components had been reconnected the cycle before. His voice was screechier than ever and occasionally glitched or was a bit more staticky than it should have been, but Wheeljack and Ratchet carefully didn't mention it. Starscream just seemed happy to be able to talk again. The seeker was still weak and could barely sit up on his own, but he was quickly getting his energy back.

"He'll be able to get up and move around any cycle now!" Prowl growled at the meeting table. "He needs to be restrained!"

"His systems are still healing. I don't want to needlessly stress him out." Ratchet countered, crossing his arms.

"He's a security risk!"

"He's my patient."

They had already been seated here for nearly a joor and weren't getting anywhere. Wheeljack rested his helm on a servo, tapping idly on the table. Optimus was carefully taking both sides into consideration.

"His weapons and thrusters are still offline." Wheeljack decided to add. "'S not like 'e can do much anyway. 'E can hardly even sit up."

"We can't have an enemy soldier running around our base!" Prowl slammed a fist onto the table, glaring in his direction. Wheeljack was worried the cop would flip the table if he got any angrier.

"And we won't." Optimus finally cut in. "But I agree with Wheeljack and Ratchet. We should give him some liberties and freedoms. He might even be willing to give us information."

"WHAT!?" Prowl jumped to his pedes. Wheeljack scooted his chair back in case Prowl decided to make the table airborne. Ratchet stood his ground.

"That's not to say we're letting him roam freely." Optimus said, putting a calming servo onto Prowl's shoulder. "We'll give him a chaperone and keep his weapons and thrusters offline." Prowl gripped the table. Wheeljack scooted further away from the table. "I'd also like him to wear stasis cuffs to keep him from transforming. Is that agreeable, Ratchet?" Optimus asked.

"That's fine. He shouldn't be transforming in his condition anyway." Ratchet nodded.

"And who will be his chaperone then?" Prowl narrowed his optics.

"I wouldn't mind. 'E already seems comfortable with me." Wheeljack offered.

The table did become airborne. Wheeljack's finials flashed in alarm as he ducked. Optimus dismissed them shortly after that and Wheeljack could still hear Prowl trying to argue with him as he and Ratchet made their way back to the medbay.

"You sure you're alright with watching him?" Ratchet asked as they walked, concern oozing out from his field.

"Yeah. How much trouble can he really get into in 'is condition anyway?" Wheeljack shrugged.

When they entered the medbay they found Starscream laying facedown on the floor, wings twitching irritably.

"I told you that you weren't ready to be up and moving around yet." Ratchet snorted. Wheeljack ran over to help the seeker up. Starscream was grumbling under his breath. "We've got some good news for you." Ratchet added. Starscream's wings perked up but he kept his faceplates and field neutral.

"What?" He asked hesitantly.

"Once you're well enough to get up and move around, you'll be shadowing Wheeljack." Ratchet replied.

"What's the catch?" Starscream narrowed his optics as Wheeljack helped him back onto the medberth. The seeker clung to his arm for stabilization as he slowly sat down at the edge of the berth.

"Yer weapons 'n thrusters gotta stay offline fer now and ya gotta wear some stasis cuffs ta keep ya from transformin'." Wheeljack explained. Starscream seemed confused.

"That's all?" He asked, voice raising a few pitches at the end of his sentence.

"That's all." Wheeljack nodded, finials lighting up.

"No interrogations?" Starscream looked incredulous.

"I mean, 'm sure Jazz'll wanna talk with ya. But nothing crazy." Wheeljack shrugged.

Starscream stared down at his servos. He was still holding onto Wheeljack's arm. He hesitantly let go. "So I'll just follow you around?" Starscream asked after a moment, clearing his intake with a frown as his voice glitched.

"Yep! I'll be yer chaperone." Wheeljack smiled with his optics.

"Okay." Starscream mumbled. "I suppose that's a lot better than a cell."

"Great. You should be able to walk around in a cycle or two. So just keep taking it easy." Ratchet patted the seeker on the shoulder, receiving a glare. "And remember to be nice." He flicked at Starscream's wing before going off to organize some surgical equipment.

"You really won't mind me following you around?" Starscream asked carefully. His optics were searching Wheeljack's faceplates and winglets for a reaction.

"I volunteered. Figure'd ya'd be more comfortable with me." Wheeljack shrugged.

"I…" Starscream's voice trailed off and he frowned, resetting his vocalizer. "I appreciate it." He mumbled, averting his gaze.

"Yer welcome." Wheeljack chuckled, patting the seeker on the helm.

—

A few cycles later Ratchet cleared Starscream to leave the medbay. He was fitted with a pair of stasis cuffs that he wore like bracelets on his wrists. Wheeljack was a bit surprised that he didn't complain about the cuffs. In fact, the seeker wasn't complaining about much of anything. Wheeljack supposed he was just happy to be out of the medbay and fully functioning.

"Has Megatron asked about me?" Starscream asked as he watched Wheeljack work in the lab.

"Not that I know of." Wheeljack snuck a glance at the seeker as he reached for another tool. Starscream was hovering nearby but just far enough away that he couldn't get a read on the seeker's EM field. Starscream rocked back on his pedes, looking a bit bored if anything.

"He probably presumes me dead. He always did underestimate me." Starscream tilted his nose up in superiority, letting out a soft huff.

"Never good ta underestimate another mech." Wheeljack nodded slightly, focusing back on his current project.

"I'd make a far better leader than him." Starscream continued, taking a few steps closer to peek at what the engineer was working on. Wheeljack just nodded again, unsure how to respond to that statement. "You're making some sort of rocket launcher, correct?" He asked, leaning forward a bit.

"Yeah. It's just a little side project ta keep me busy. The 'cons've been quiet for a while." Wheeljack paused to glance over at the seeker. Starscream was close enough that Wheeljack could brush against his wing if he wanted.

"Hmph. Doesn't surprise me." Starscream reached for a tool before pausing. "May I?" He asked, optics flickering over to meet Wheeljack's gaze.

"Uh, sure." Wheeljack's finials flashed in confusion.

Starscream grabbed the tool his servo had been hovering over and quickly swapped a few wires on the weapon. "It would have blown up in your face if you'd tried to fire it like that." He quickly explained, handing the tool back over to Wheeljack. "You should pay more attention to what you're doing." His wings flicked.

"Oh! Thanks!" Wheeljack ran a few background calculations and realized Starscream had been right. "Yer good with numbers?" He asked.

"I'm good at everything." Starscream smirked, leaning forward so their faceplates were centimeters away from each other. There was a glint in his optics. Wheeljack's finials flashed again. "You seriously didn't think Shockwave was our only scientist, did you?" He finally said, rocking back on his pedes again, putting distance between them.

"Guess I didn't take ya to be interested in this sorta thing." Wheeljack replied sheepishly, rubbing at the back of his helm.

—

Wheeljack noticed Starscream's optics were dimming. He checked his chronometer and was surprised to find it was nearly the middle of the night cycle. Ratchet was going to kill him if he kept Starscream up all night while he was still healing. "Ready to head to berth?" Wheeljack asked. Starscream jumped, apparently having almost been in the clutches of recharge.

"What?" Starscream blinked. "Sorry, yes." He stood up and stretched his wings behind him. "What are my recharging arrangements?" He asked.

"Ironhide said he put an extra berth in my quarters. Since 'm supposed ta keep an optic on ya." Wheeljack replied. "Is that alright?"

"And here I was hoping you'd invite me to your berth." Starscream knocked their shoulders together teasingly. Wheeljack felt his faceplates heating up at that. "But that works fine for me. Lead the way, Autobot."

"Um, alright."

Once they reached his quarters Wheeljack showed him where the energon dispenser and the washracks were then pointed out the extra berth.

"Surprised you had any room in here for an extra berth." Starscream snorted, glancing around at the mess of junk and half-finished projects and scrap metal.

"Yeeeah, Ratch's always gettin' on my case about it." Wheeljack chuckled awkwardly. "I c'n try 'n clean it up if it bothers ya." Starscream just shrugged noncommittally and flopped down onto the berth. He curled up onto his side, back and wings facing Wheeljack.

Wheeljack turned off the lights and climbed into his own berth. Starscream's engine was rumbling peacefully and Wheeljack wondered if he'd already slipped into recharge.

Chapter 5: Grumpy

When Wheeljack awoke Starscream was still recharging. He could hear the seeker mumbling something in his sleep, voice crackling with static. But he didn't seem to be distressed so Wheeljack let him be. He quietly started cleaning up some of the scrap metal and miscellaneous projects he had laying around his habsuite. Eventually though he heard movement and poked his helm into the berthroom to see Starscream perched on the edge of his berth, stretching his wings and arms.

"Mornin'!" Wheeljack said cheerfully, finials flashing brightly.

"Morning." Starscream replied, standing and rubbing at his optics.

"Did you recharge well?" Wheeljack asked, walking over to the energon dispenser to get some fuel for the seeker.

"I guess so." Starscream nodded, following him. "You cleaned up a bit?" He asked, glancing around.

"Yeah. I was tryin' ta be quiet so I wouldn't wake ya." Wheeljack handed him a cube. Starscream just stared down at the energon. "Come on, drink up. Ratch said ya've gotta start refueling regularly."

"Okay." Starscream mumbled, taking a sip.

Once they'd both refueled, Wheeljack led Starscream back to the lab. "Ratch'll be by later to check up on ya. And then later this cycle I have Patrol Duty. Gotta check out the perimeter of the base. So you'll help me out with that." He explained as they walked. Starscream just nodded. On their way to the lab though, they bumped into Optimus. Starscream stiffened and his plating bristled. He pulled his field in close so Wheeljack couldn't read it. "Hey, Optimus." Wheeljack greeted.

"Good morning, Wheeljack. And Starscream." Optimus replied politely. Starscream mumbled a good morning but kept Wheeljack positioned between him and the Prime. "It's good to see you up and moving around." Optimus added. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Fine." Starscream's voice screeched a bit. Wheeljack could feel some negative emotions bleeding out from the seeker's tight EM field.

"Well, if there's anything you need, let me know." Optimus nodded to them both and continued on his way.

"You don't gotta be scared of Optimus. He's nice." Wheeljack said to Starscream with a chuckle.

"I'm not scared of him." Starscream snarled, glaring at him. Wheeljack just patted him on the shoulder and continued on his way to the lab, leaving Starscream no choice but to follow.

While he worked Wheeljack noticed Starscream was dozing off where he sat at a table. He was starting to feel bad for accidentally keeping the still-healing seeker up half the night cycle. Starscream didn't even stir as Ratchet entered the lab.

"How's he doing?" Ratchet asked, leaning against Wheeljack's workbench.

"He was a bit grumpy this mornin', but I think that's my fault. I lost track of tha time last night 'n we got to bed late." Wheeljack said sheepishly, finials flashing. Ratchet smacked him in the back of the helm, the loud clang startled Starscream awake. The seeker jumped to his pedes and glanced around, wings raised and optics wide with alarm.

"Morning, sleeping beauty." Ratchet grinned. "Is it alright if I give you a quick medical diagnostic scan?"

Starscream stared at them for a moment before he sat back down and nodded, looking disinterested as he held his wrist out for Ratchet to plug in the medical scanner. Ratchet plugged the device in, let it run for a few kliks then unplugged and looked over the data.

"Well your systems look alright. Try and get more recharge tonight and try to refuel three times a cycle. Your nanite count is starting to go down which means your frame is almost back to its normal functioning. Do you feel alright?" Ratchet asked.

"Fine." Starscream grumbled. "Just tired."

Ratchet nodded. "Makes sense. Your frame had to do a lot of healing. Don't let Jackie keep you up. You need the recharge."

"Okay." Starscream flicked his wings.

Ratchet stayed and chatted with Wheeljack for a bit before heading back to work. Wheeljack checked his chronometer. "Looks like it's about time fer my Patrol Duty. Ready to go?" He asked. Starscream stood up, trying to feign disinterest in his field.

As they walked through the halls and outside Starscream stayed close to Wheeljack, glaring at every Autobot they came across. Wheeljack pretended not to notice the seeker's standoffish behavior. And then they ran into Prowl.

"I still can't believe Optimus is letting him trail you around." Prowl growled.

"Awe, come on, Prowl. Be nice. Starscream's a good guy." Wheeljack tried to ignore the assault of Prowl's negative field blasting their way. Starscream's plating bristled for a moment before clamping down. "'Sides, he stopped me from blowin' myself up in the lab yesterday."

"Well keep your optics on him." Prowl sneered before finally turning and walking in the opposite direction, likely under orders from Optimus to not bother their Decepticon guest.

"Sorry about him. He c'n get real heated 'n opinionated." Wheeljack patted Starscream on the back. The seeker stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the touch.

"Tch, whatever." He muttered. "I wouldn't trust an Autobot to wander around our base either. Even if he was on a leash."

"Yer not on a leash." Wheeljack pointed out.

"Feels like I am." Starscream huffed. "Are we done patrolling yet?"

"Yeah. I think so. Wanna head back to the lab or do ya wanna rest?" Wheeljack asked.

"I don't care."

Wheeljack chose to lead the disgruntled 'con back to his habsuite. He unlocked the door and let Starscream in first. The seeker slumped onto the couch, offlining his optics.

"Tired?" Wheeljack asked.

"Hm." Starscream hummed in response.

"Want some energon? Ya've only had one cube this cycle." Wheeljack wandered over to the energon dispenser. "Ratch said he wanted ya refueling three times a cycle, yeah?"

"Sure."

Wheeljack got them both a cube and sat next to Starscream, making sure to keep a bit of distance between them so the seeker didn't feel crowded. He handed Starscream his cube and watched as Starscream sipped at it. "You feelin' alright? Ya've been kinda grumpy all cycle." Wheeljack retracted his blastmask and took a sip from his own cube. Starscream onlined his optics and peered over at him over his own cube.

"I'm not grumpy." He muttered in response.

"Ya sound grumpy to me." Wheeljack teased, resting a servo on his shoulder. "Ya wanna talk about it?"

"Not really." Starscream set down his still mostly-full cube and leaned back against the couch.

"Anything I c'n help with?" Wheeljack frowned.

"My wings are sore." Starscream said carefully, eyeing Wheeljack wearily.

"Did'j'ya want me ta look 'em over?" Wheeljack set his own cube down.

"If you want." Starscream made a face. Wheeljack couldn't read his expression.

"Alright. Turn around 'n I'll take a look."

Starscream turned so his back was to Wheeljack. "Just be careful."

Wheeljack nodded and gently ran a servo over his wings, checking for anything that looked amiss. Starscream leaned into the touch. "Everything looks alright." Wheeljack said after a moment, but he gently rubbed circles into the base of each wing, deciding to see how long Starscream would let him pet him. Starscream's engine purred in response and his EM field spread out cautiously, probing at Wheeljack's field. "I could get you some pillows if it helps you recharge?" Wheeljack offered.

"You'd make a good pillow." Starscream replied, glancing over his shoulder to see Wheeljack's reaction. Wheeljack's finials flashed bright pink.

"You, uh, seem ta be feelin' better." Wheeljack said awkwardly. Starscream let out an airy laugh, leaning further into Wheeljack's touch.

"Well I have a pretty little Autobot scientist petting my wings. Why wouldn't I be happy?" Starscream purred. Wheeljack paused and Starscream fully turned around, optics searching the grounder's faceplates for something.

"What?" Wheeljack squeaked.

"You don't think you're pretty?" Starscream frowned.

"I mean, uh, I know 'm not the most attractive mech." Wheeljack avoided the seeker's gaze.

"Why do you think that?" Starscream reached out and traced at Wheeljack's chassis. "I think you're pretty."

"'M just average, s'all." Wheeljack mumbled, but he couldn't help the heat rising to his faceplates. "Yer prettier than me."

"It's not a competition." Starscream tsked, shaking his helm and gently forcing the grounder to meet his optics. "But if it were, I'd say you're winning in the looks department."

Wheeljack wasn't sure what to say to that, but he noticed that Starscream's face was only centimeters away from his. He eyed the seeker's pretty lips and Starscream smiled at him.

"Do you want to kiss me?" Starscream asked.

Wheeljack nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

Starscream obliged, pulling Wheeljack closer and connecting their lips. Wheeljack could feel the excitement and charge coming off the seeker's field. It was intoxicating. Starscream's glossa invaded his mouth and he pushed Wheeljack against the back of the couch, servos exploring his chassis and transformation seams. Wheeljack gasped into the kiss, squirming happily at the contact. He let his own servos wander to hang over Starscream's shoulders and tease his wings with little pets and pinches. He let his engine rev up as Starscream bit at his lip before sneaking down to kiss at his neck cables. The seeker's talons pulled at wires close to his groin and Wheeljack tried to bite back a moan as his fans roared to life.

"You make such cute little noises." Starscream mouthed at his neck cables, fangs grazing lazily against him. Wheeljack tightened his grip around the seeker's neck, trying to drag him closer.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Starscream nipped at Wheeljack's neck again before sliding off of him. Wheeljack blinked his optics, processor still catching up as there was a second knock at the door.

"Uh, one second!" Wheeljack shouted, cursing under his breath as he sent a STOP command to his fans and snapped his blastmask back into place to cover his burning faceplates. Starscream sipped at his energon cube, looking innocent as Wheeljack scrambled for the door, opening it to see Ratchet standing there, a serious look gracing his faceplates.

"Optimus said Megatron has contacted him." Ratchet said.

Chapter 6: Pity

Summary:

Check updated tags.

"How did he know Starscream was here?" Ratchet asked, frowning.

Starscream shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing around at the Autobots that sat at the meeting table. Prowl had his arms crossed and his doorwings were flicking in an agitated manner. Jazz sat to his left, his visor and clasped servos hiding his expression. Ratchet sat to Starscream's left and Wheeljack to his right. Optimus sat at the head of the table and Ironhide was at his side.

"He claimed he had some sort of intel. But he wouldn't disclose his source." Optimus replied.

"I bet Starscream found a way to contact him." Prowl growled.

"You can check my comms." Starscream narrowed his optics. "I've got nothing to hide. I've just been trailing Wheeljack since I was let out of the medbay."

"I haven't let 'im outta my sight." Wheeljack agreed.

"Maybe the 'cons saw us pick his body up?" Ironhide suggested. "But let's focus on tha bigger question. What do we do about 'Screamer?"

Starscream frowned as all optics fell on him.

"Well, Starscream, what do you think we should do?" Optimus asked. Prowl stood to interrupt but Optimus silenced him by putting a servo up.

"Hmph. I don't know why you're asking me." Starscream flicked his wings and made an ugly face as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm your prisoner, remember?"

"Patient." Ratchet corrected.

"Well he's fully healed, isn't he?" Jazz inquired, voice neutral.

"Er, yes." Ratchet let out a huff. "His nanite count is still high though and I want to keep monitoring his spark."

"Let me adjust my question. What would you do, if you weren't our prisoner?" Optimus leaned forward.

"If you sent me back out there," Starscream vaguely motioned at the door. "Then I'd have no choice but to go back to them. And the next time you'd find me, there probably wouldn't be enough for you to put back together again."

"That's not what I asked." Optimus shook his helm.

"Then what are you asking?" Starscream sneered, his irritated field spreading forward challengingly. Wheeljack could feel the undertones of fear and anxiety leaking through the irritation and bravado.

"If you were free to stay here, would you?"

Starscream blinked his optics then scrunched his faceplates up. "I'm not becoming an Autobot."

"You wouldn't have to be one. I'm simply offering you a place to stay. Protection, if you will." Optimus replied calmly. Starscream scoffed.

"Why would you offer him that!?" Prowl slammed his servos onto the table.

"Are you pitying me!?" Starscream shouted at nearly the same time as Prowl. Wheeljack flinched from all the sudden noise. "You think I'm some poor fragging mech who needs protection!? I can protect myself!" He was shaking, optics wide and voice screeching and filling with static with every new glyph that flowed from his mouth.

"Any other mech would have been dead from the amount of damage you received." Ratchet said carefully.

"No one here would dare to pity you, Starscream." Optimus added. "We're trying to figure out what's best for you."

"Frag this." Starscream growled, storming out of the room.

"I'll, uh, go after 'im." Wheeljack hastily got up and ran after the seeker. The room erupted into shouting as he left.

Optimus sighed.

Wheeljack finally caught up to the seeker as he was nearing the base's entrance. "Starscream! Wait up!" Wheeljack shouted after him. Starscream flinched, stopping but refusing to turn around. Wheeljack grabbed onto his shoulder. "Don't leave!" He was surprised to see fluid leaking from the seeker's optics.

Starscream quickly shoved the grounder back, face twisting into a hurt expression. "What the pit do you want!?" His voice was glitched out and chocked full of static and his field was erratic and full of self-loathing. Wheeljack found it nauseating.

"To make sure yer alright." Wheeljack grabbed the seeker's servos, squeezing them. "Why don't'ch'ya stay here for a while 'n figure out what yer gonna do?"

"This is ridiculous." Starscream scoffed, trying to blink the tears from his optics.

"What is?" Wheeljack frowned behind his blastmask, inching closer.

"Autobots coming to my rescue now of all times." Starscream shook his helm. "I've been Megatron's punching bag for stellar cycles and no one cared until now. What's changed?"

"Well, I, fer one, never knew how bad it was. I think we all kinda just assumed it wasn't that bad." Wheeljack rubbed circles into the backs of the seeker's servos. "You were in pieces."

"It's not the first time." He was trying to sound tough, resilient, but it came out sounding empty and sad. Those words sent an ache through Wheeljack's spark.

"No one deserves that." Wheeljack said softly. "No one will do that to you here."

"Hah. I've heard that before." Starscream shook his helm, but didn't make a move to leave or pull away.

"Let's go back to my quarters 'n ya can sit down 'n think things through." Wheeljack gently pulled him back deeper into the base. Starscream let himself be dragged along, fluid still leaking from his optics.

Wheeljack sent a quick comm message to Ratchet and Optimus to let them know that Starscream was upset and where they were before leading Starscream over to his berth. Starscream sat at the edge of the berth, wiping at his optics. He cleared his intake and reset his vocalizer a few times, disliking the static sound that still echoed after each reset. Wheeljack sat next to him and gently petted at his wings in a calming manner, hoping to get the seeker to relax. Starscream dimmed his optics and tiredly leaned his helm against Wheeljack's shoulder.

"Feelin' better?" Wheeljack asked.

"Feeling real fragging pathetic." Starscream mumbled.

"Yer not pathetic." Wheeljack reassured him.

They sat like that for a while.

—

The next cycle Starscream was quieter, keeping his faceplates and field neutral. He dragged his pedes as he followed Wheeljack around the base. The engineer tried to start conversations and get him to talk, but Starscream remained quiet and moody. He'd also refused his morning energon. Wheeljack could feel the heavy mood that had settled over the seeker leaking from the cracks in his field.

"I think Ratchet wanted ta do another spark scan whenever yer feelin' up to it." Wheeljack tried, glancing over at Starscream. Wheeljack grimaced as his servo locked up and he dropped his tool. It bounced off the table and rolled underneath it.

"Hm." Starscream jumped down from his perch on a nearby table and reached down to grab the tool, holding it out for the grounder. Wheeljack rubbed at his servo, trying to get the joints to loosen up. "Blown up your servos too many times?" Starscream let out an airy laugh that sounded more like a huff.

"Ah, no. Just from overuse, I suppose. Wore down a lotta the joints." Wheeljack retracted his blastmask to smile awkwardly as he took the tool. "Thanks."

"You should take better care of yourself." Starscream mumbled, peering over at what the scientist was working on. "Another blaster?"

"Uh, yeah." Wheeljack's finials lit up. He was just happy Starscream was finally starting to talk again.

"Want me to look it over to ensure it doesn't blow up?" Starscream smirked, leaning over his shoulder. Wheeljack could hear the seeker's engine rumbling and internal mechanisms clicking away.

"Awe, come on. Yer soundin' like Ratch now. Not everything I make blows up!" Wheeljack shook his helm, chuckling. "But 'chya can look it over if ya want." He leaned his helm back to look up at the seeker. Starscream stared down at him, smirk still tugging at his lips.

"If you don't blow yourself up all the time, then what are all these from?" Starscream asked, tracing a few of the scars on Wheeljack's face with his thumb.

"Okay, only one of those was from an explosion." Wheeljack tilted his helm a bit, leaning into the touch. "And it wasn't one 'a mine."

"If you say so." Starscream laughed, gently pulling away.

Wheeljack smiled and spun his chair around to get a better look at the seeker. Starscream had his servos on his hips and his field brushed against Wheeljack's playfully. The mood was interrupted though as Ratchet entered the lab, a datapad in his servo. Starscream took a few steps back, looking curiously over at the medic. Wheeljack quickly snapped his blastmask back into place, the sound making Ratchet look up. "Did I interrupt something?" He asked.

"Nope!" Wheeljack said hastily.

"I was just making sure he wasn't planning on blowing himself up." Starscream snorted. "His servo locked up. You should take a look at it while you're here, medic."

"I'm fine!" Wheeljack flexed his servos. "See?" Ratchet gave him a look.

"I actually came to talk to you, Starscream." Ratchet said. "I was going over your spark scans."

"Oh?" Starscream raised an optical ridge.

"There's a few small damaged spots." Ratchet held the datapad out. "Most of them are older, but there's a fresh spot. I was wondering how many times you've sustained heavy damage to your frame before? It can put a lot of stress on your spark."

Starscream frowned and shifted on his pedes. "You mean how many times has Megatron beat me to the point of almost dying?"

"That's a more crude way of putting it. But yes." Ratchet sighed. "I can take a guess based on the healed sections of your protoform and frame, but I wanted to get an accurate assessment for your medical file."

Starscream glanced over at Wheeljack for a moment. "I'd rather talk about this alone, doctor." He said carefully. "Can you and I take this to the medbay?"

"Of course. Jackie, I'll just borrow him for a bit." Ratchet started for the door and Starscream followed, staring down at the ground. Wheeljack felt his own spark clench.

—

Starscream re-entered the lab a few joors later, scowling and holding a few cubes of energon in his servos. He dropped one down in front of Wheeljack, startling the grounder. "Ratchet said you need to drink some energon. He put something in it to help your joints." Starscream grunted before taking a seat and sipping at his own cube of energon.

"Oh, thanks!" Wheeljack retracted his blastmask and set his tools down, reaching for the cube. He made a face as the bitter taste of the medical additives ran over his glossa. Starscream snorted. "This stuff tastes like scrap." Wheeljack set the cube down.

"He said you'd say that but that you need to drink it anyway." Starscream leaned back in his chair, watching him carefully. "And I'll let him know if you don't."

"When did y'all become so buddy-buddy" Wheeljack sighed and tried to down most of the cube in one big gulp. Starscream chuckled in response.

Once they'd both finished their energon Wheeljack stood, stretching. "I think I need a break. Wanna watch a vid or something?"

"I guess." Starscream stood, wings twitching. "What sort of vids do you Autobots watch for fun?"

"Whatever old films we can scrounge up usually." Wheeljack shrugged. "I've got a couple 'a genres."

—

After selecting a movie, they both settled onto the couch in Wheeljack's quarters. Halfway through the vid Starscream was sitting in his lap, hungrily kissing him. Wheeljack's engine revved up as he pulled the seeker closer. Starscream pulled his lips away and knocked their forehelms together, panting excess heat from his mouth. "You're cute for a grounder." He breathed, optics bright with charge. "Do you want to plug in?" He ran a servo down Wheeljack's chassis, dragging his digits along his windshield.

Wheeljack nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. I do." He gripped tightly at the seeker's thighs.

"Where do you want to plug in at?" Starscream leaned down to nip at Wheeljack's neck cables, eliciting a gasp from the grounder.

"Um, anywhere is good." Wheeljack squirmed a bit underneath the seeker who was straddling him.

"You sure you're alright cabling with a Decepticon?" Starscream asked, running his servos down Wheeljack's sides and tugging at the port covers on his thighs.

"Y-yeah!" Wheeljack squeaked and let his port covers pop open. "I like ya, Starscream."

"I like you too." Starscream leaned back further to open his own port covers, pulling his cable out. "I probably would have left already if you weren't here." Starscream added as he rubbed a digit along Wheeljack's right port where he planned to plug in. Wheeljack bit back a moan.

"You, uh, you really like me enough to stick around here?" He asked, unable to stop himself from moaning as Starscream plugged in. Wheeljack was hit with a wave of charge and data flooding his systems. A folder pinged across Wheeljack's HUD and he opened it, surprised as the pics of himself flooded his vision. Starscream must have been capturing images of him since coming back online.

"Of course. See how cute you are?" Starscream asked, carefully unfurling Wheeljack's cable. "You okay with plugging into me too?" The seeker's optics flicked up to meet his. Wheeljack nodded as he sifted through all the images Starscream had sent. He admittedly didn't get what the seeker saw in him, but found it endearing all the same.

"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead."

Starscream obliged, completing the loop and soon his mouth was back on Wheeljack's, kissing him. Wheeljack could feel Starscream lazily rooting around in his processor at what he had permission to access. "You really that interested in me?" Wheeljack whispered when Starscream pulled his lips away for a second.

"Who wouldn't be?" Starscream licked his own lips, smiling down at him. "I gave you some basic access too if you want to look around. I don't mind." Wheeljack reached out through their connection and saw that Starscream had given him access to some files and data. It wasn't a lot of access but Wheeljack hadn't given Starscream much access either. There were images and thoughts that flashed across the connection. He could see glimpses of Starscream interacting with other Decepticons and even some scientific data and theories. Megatron was noticeably absent from everything he had access to.

Starscream kissed at his neck, running his servos all along Wheeljack's frame, eliciting tiny gasps and moans. Wheeljack reached up and ran his servos along the seeker's wings in return, grinning as Starscream let out a noise of pleasure against his neck. It was staticky from the damage to his vocalizer, but Wheeljack found it arousing all the same. Starscream seemed pleased at that.

Chapter 7: Antagonizing

Wheeljack woke in the middle of the night cycle to the sound of Starscream's engine rumbling above him and the even ex-vents of the seeker. He onlined his optics, making sure they were on their dimmest setting. It took a few kliks for his processor to boot up and remind him of what had happened earlier that night. Starscream's servos on him, cables plugging in and Wheeljack internally face-palmed. He really shouldn't have entertained the seeker's whims. But his spark was thrumming away happily in his chassis, pushing against his spark casing. It felt like his spark wanted to escape from his chassis and jump out at Starscream. Wheeljack supposed that wouldn't be so bad.

Starscream stirred, wings twitching as he adjusted himself, faceplates digging into Wheeljack's neck cabling. The seeker's soft ex-vents tickled. Wheeljack couldn't remember the last time he'd spent the night with another mech and done something as intimate as cuddling. Sure he and Ratchet occasionally had a fling when they became too lonely, but this was different. It felt special. Sacred almost. Wheeljack found that he didn't want to lose that feeling. He carefully wrapped his arms around the still recharging-seeker, hugging him tightly. Starscream's vocalizer clicked and sputtered some static.

"You okay?" Starscream mumbled against his neck.

"Yeah. I think 'm okay right now." Wheeljack whispered. He knew that recharging on the couch was going to make his backstruts and winglets ache the next cycle, but he felt so comfortable and safe and loved. It was a strange feeling. "C'n we do this again?" Wheeljack asked carefully, trying not to let his voice sound too hopeful.

"What, fragging?" Starscream snorted, sounding a bit more awake.

"Well yeah, but this too." Wheeljack chuckled nervously.

"Cuddling?" Starscream idly petted at Wheeljack's arm. "Yeah, I don't mind."

"'S nice." Wheeljack mumbled.

"I can hear your spark." Starscream's voice sounded quieter, sleepier.

"You can?" Wheeljack saw the seeker's wings flutter a bit then he realized that Starscream had fallen back into recharge. Wheeljack had never been good at recharging, but he offlined his optics, content to lay here and listen to Starscream's engine and soft ex-vents.

—

The next cycle Optimus entered the lab, a serious look in his optics. Wheeljack suddenly felt anxious. Starscream glanced up from the datapad he was reading, squinting at the Prime.

"Megatron has contacted us again." Optimus said carefully.

"What the frag does that rust bucket want?" Starscream growled, aggressively setting down the datapad and flicking his wings out of irritation.

"Your immediate return, it seems." Optimus sighed.

"He can go frag himself." Starscream tilted his nose up.

"He's threatening to raid our base."

Starscream froze, fear bright in his optics. "So that's what this is? You said you'd protect me and now you're going to let him take me back? So much for all that Autobot bravado and promises!" He hissed, anger and hurt flashing across his field.

"That's not what I'm saying, Starscream." Optimus stepped forward to rest a servo on the seeker but Starscream flinched, making the Prime pause, servo hanging loosely in the air. "My offer of protection still stands. I just wanted to keep you in the loop."

"It sounds like you're trying to guilt me into going back." Starscream growled.

"I promise I'm not." Optimus shook his helm.

"Your promises mean little to me." Starscream spat with venom.

"So, uh, what's the plan then?" Wheeljack cut in, finials flashing anxiously.

"We're going to up our defenses for now and keep an optic out for any signs attacks." Optimus turned to Wheeljack. "Starscream's weapons and thrusters are still offline. So he won't be able to protect himself. I'm going to have Ironhide stationed outside your lab and Jazz will be stationed outside your habsuite at night."

"Great." Starscream said sarcastically.

"Thank you, Prime." Wheeljack nodded.

Optimus left shortly after that. Wheeljack could tell Starscream was sulking.

"You okay?" Wheeljack asked carefully.

"You won't be able to stop him." Starscream grumbled.

"Who? Megatron?" Wheeljack took a few steps over to the seeker. Starscream flinched and hugged himself. Wheeljack realized he was protecting his spark. His own spark ached at the sight. "I won't let 'im hurt you again." Wheeljack rested his servos on the seeker's shoulders, gently knocking their forehelms together.

"What's a geeky little Autobot scientist like you going to do against a war lord?" Starscream snorted, but his field relaxed a bit.

"Awe, come on, a geeky little scientist like me's got a few tricks." Wheeljack teased.

"Alright, reign it in, lovebirds." Ratchet said as he entered the lab. Wheeljack jumped, nearly toppling over. Starscream grabbed his arm, steadying him.

"Wait, Ratch! It's not what-"

"Not what it looks like? Have you forgotten that my habsuite is right next to yours?" Ratchet snorted, rolling his optics. Wheeljack's finials flashed bright pink. Starscream looked smug. "I don't care what you two get up to in the privacy of your quarters, but Prowl'll blow a gasket if he finds out."

"Let him." Starscream smirked, pride emanating from his field. Wheeljack felt mortified.

"Anyway, that's not what I'm here to talk about." Ratchet shook his helm. "Starscream, I wanted to run that spark test I talked about the other cycle."

"What spark test?" Wheeljack frowned. Starscream shifted on his pedes.

"It's an outlier test. I have a couple of theories about his spark and the damage spots." Ratchet explained.

"There's no need to do the test." Starscream let out a heavy ex-vent, staring down at the ground. "I already know I have an outlier ability."

"You do?" Wheeljack blinked his optics, reaching out to hold the seeker's shaking servo.

"Shockwave did a test the first time Megatron beat me to death." Starscream's voice was shaky and staticky. "My spark burst back to life after going out. But every time it happens, it damages my spark irreparably." He held onto Wheeljack's servo tightly and clutched at his cockpit with his free servo. "That's the damage you saw on the spark scans." He grimaced.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Ratchet asked, voice soft.

"It doesn't matter." Starscream pulled away from Wheeljack, stepping back to give himself space.

"Does it hurt?" Wheeljack asked, shoving comfort forward through his field.

"It never stops hurting." Starscream's plating bristled. "It's just something I have to deal with like your servos locking up." He crossed his arms protectively over his spark.

"I'm sorry." Wheeljack said softly.

"Don't be. It's not your fault." Starscream twisted his faceplates into an ugly expression.

"Starscream, I want to bring your thrusters and weapons back online." Ratchet said after a moment.

"Going against your Prime's orders?" Starscream sneered.

"If Megatron does plan on attacking our base, you'll need someway to protect yourself." Ratchet replied, rolling his optics at Starscream's childish behavior.

"Ratchet's right." Wheeljack nodded in agreement.

"Fine, but I'm not taking the blame for this." Starscream huffed.

"To the medbay then." Ratchet motioned toward the door.

—

It didn't take long for Ratchet to reconnect the wires in Starscream's pedes, allowing him the usage of his thrusters. "Would you rather have Wheeljack plug in to re-enable your weapons systems?" Ratchet asked.

"Yes." Starscream opened his wrist port and glanced over at the engineer. Wheeljack nodded and opened his own wrist port, plugging in and sifting through Starscream's datafiles for his weapons systems.

"What are y'all up to in here?" Prowl asked as he stalked into the medbay.

"Uh, just checking his vitals and nanite counts." Wheeljack stuttered, trying to focus on his task.

"Prowl, what have I told you about bothering my patients?" Ratchet pinched the bridge of his nose. Starscream's plating bristled and Wheeljack could feel his anxiety as he input the MEDICAL COMMAND to re-allow Starscream access to his WEAPONS SYSTEMS. Then he unplugged himself and squeezed the seeker's servo reassuringly.

"Well?" Prowl asked, glaring in Wheeljack's direction.

"We're not at liberty to discuss my patients' medical data with unauthorized bots." Ratchet replied, stepping between Prowl and the other two mechs. "Now did you need some medical assistance, Prowl?"

"No. I actually came to talk to him." Prowl motioned toward Starscream. "Alone."

"Not happening." Ratchet shook his helm. "Whatever you have to say to my patient can be done right here."

"Fine." Prowl growled. "You should go back to the Decepticons." He said, turning to Starscream. "You're putting our whole base at risk. I cannot allow that to happen."

"He's not going anywhere." Wheeljack frowned, stepping in front of Starscream protectively.

"I expect this sort of insubordination from Ratchet, but you too, Wheeljack?" Prowl rolled his optics. "That seeker is going to bring our whole faction down with him. And you're just going to let it happen?"

"He's done nothin' wrong since coming here." Wheeljack narrowed his optics.

"He's done nothing but drain our resources." Prowl growled in response. "How much energon and resources did you waste putting him back together? Do you know how many of our troops he's killed alone either by his own servos or through his orders? He should have been left to die!"

Wheeljack could feel the murderous intent spreading out from Starscream's field.

"You're upsetting my patient. LEAVE." Ratchet ordered, seeming to have sensed Starscream's intentions as well.

"He's upsetting the order of everything here!" Prowl retorted.

Jazz suddenly appeared in the medbay. "Hey, what's going on here?" He asked.

"Whatever." Prowl growled, storming out of the room.

"What's his problem?" Jazz put his servos on his hips.

"He's antagonizing my patients." Ratchet growled. "Can you get him to stay out of the medbay unless he actually needs medical assistance?"

"I'll talk to him." Jazz nodded.

Starscream let out a huff. Wheeljack was surprised that he'd kept quiet during Prowl's ranting.

"You alright?" Wheeljack asked him.

"Fine." Starscream rolled his shoulders. "Perfectly fine."

"I'm actually here to check his comms." Jazz said cheerily, trying to brighten the mood.

"Why?" Starscream blinked.

"I suspect there's a leak in our intel. 'N I just wanted to clear you off the bat." Jazz smiled. It was hard to read him since his field was neutral and his optics were hidden.

"His long-range comms are disabled." Ratchet crossed his arms.

"It's whatever. He can check." Starscream rolled his optics. "I have nothing to hide."

"You suspect someone here told Megatron about Starscream?" Wheeljack asked.

"Yep." Jazz nodded, plugging into Starscream's wrist port. "I'm just makin' a copy of your comm info, Screamer."

"Whatever." Starscream grumbled uneasily.

"There we go. All done." He unplugged himself and patted Starscream on the back. "Once I've cleared you then I can start lookin' into other mechs."

"You really think he'd contact Megatron?" Wheeljack shook his helm incredulously. "You saw what sorta state 'e was in when ya brought 'im in, Jazz."

"I didn't say I suspected him. I trust you and Ratchet." Jazz grinned easily. "Just starting off with the easiest mech to clear."

That didn't make Wheeljack feel any better.

Chapter 8: Traitor

Summary:

Check updated tags --> sticky sexual interfacing this chapter after some plot stuff

Also, still new to writing smut soooo hope it's alright. X'D

"You're absolutely certain that someone from inside our base had to leak Starscream's survival and presence to Megatron?" Optimus asked, servos clasped together and a stern look in his optics.

"Absolutely." Jazz nodded. "And it wasn't Starscream. The only mechs he's commed since coming here are Wheeljack and Ratchet while his vocal components were offline. Wheeljack also insisted that Starscream hasn't wandered around without him or Ratchet at his side and Teletraan-1 shows no signs of hacking or usage by a third party." He added. "Someone had to have gone out and met up with the Decepticons to inform them of his continued functioning."

"Optimus, I think it's obvious this is all a ploy by Starscream to infiltrate our base and weaken our defenses." Prowl said, standing up. His doorwings flicked behind him in an agitated manner. "I think this is all too convenient."

"I appreciate your concern, Prowl." Optimus said carefully. "But I also think it's best we not jump to any conclusions yet. I doubt Starscream would willingly risk his life like that."

"This is ridiculous." Ratchet huffed. "And you're certain no 'cons saw us taking his frame in? You know how good that Soundwave and his cassettes are with spying."

"I was there when we dragged him in." Jazz shook his helm. "I can assure you, there were no signs of Decepticons in the area. And I suspect Starscream had been laying there for several cycles by the time we found him. You said there was some attempted repair by his nanites when he was brought in, didn't you?"

"That's true." Ratchet sighed, rubbing at his faceplates. "But that means we have to have a traitor among us."

"That would seem to be the case." Jazz agreed. "I suggest a lockdown on all communications and that mechs should only go out on patrol in groups of three. I'll also up our security around the base as well."

"And what of Starscream?" Prowl raised an optical ridge. "You still intend to keep him here despite the danger?"

"It's obvious he's frightened of Megatron." Ratchet narrowed his optics at the tactician. "And he confided in me that this isn't the first time Megatron has beaten him to death."

"To death?" Optimus questioned.

"He has an outlier ability." Ratchet explained. "Whenever he's killed, his spark finds a way to bloom back to life. But it leaves physical damage on his spark." He pulled out a datapad and pushed it over to Optimus so he could look over the spark scans. "You see those spots? That's damage and dead spots along his spark."

"Primus, there's a lot of them." Jazz said, peering over Optimus' shoulder.

"And I believe each one shows a point in time where Starscream was beaten to death." Ratchet continued.

"So he wouldn't have been afraid of dying from his injuries then?" Prowl snapped. "That just goes to show that this COULD all be a plot by the Decepticons to get into our base! He should be confined to a cell!"

"No mech would let himself be killed like that." Ratchet argued, slamming a fist onto the table. "And did you not hear me? The damage to his spark is permanent! It causes constant pain!"

"And you believe that!?" Prowl gripped the table tightly, leaning forward to growl at Ratchet.

Optimus sighed. He could tell they weren't going to get anywhere. "Jazz, continue investigating where this intel leak could have came from. Prowl, help him up the security and follow his orders. Ratchet, continue to monitor Starscream's health and keep me updated. Ironhide and Jazz will also be keeping an extra optic on Starscream just to ensure you and Wheeljack can handle him."

"You're really going to leave him in Wheeljack's care?" Prowl scowled. "He doesn't have the best track record. How many times has he blown himself up or ended up in the medbay in the last stellar cycle?"

"Hey! Don't you dare bring Jackie into this!" Ratchet looked like he was about ready to jump across the table and strangle the tactician.

"Enough!" Optimus shouted. "You're all dismissed."

—

Wheeljack and Starscream exited the lab when they bumped into Ironhide.

"Hey, 'Hide!" Wheeljack grinned behind his mask. Starscream pretended not to be interested.

"Hey, Jackie. You 'n Screamer stayin' outta trouble?" Ironhide grinned, slapping the engineer on the back in greeting.

"Of course! Although, Prowl's makin' that a bit difficult." Wheeljack let out a soft ex-vent. "He was harassin' Starscream in the medbay earlier."

"Yeah. Ratch told me." Ironhide sighed. "He's just worried, ya know?"

"Yeah, but he's being a real aft about it." Wheeljack said defensively. "Starscream hasn't done anything wrong since coming here."

Ironhide glanced over at the silent seeker. "How are ya doing, Screamer?" Ironhide asked.

"Fine." Starscream mumbled, looking everywhere but at the red mech. Ironhide decided to send a quick comm to Wheeljack.

Hide: He alright?
Jackie: He's just grumpy.

"Well if ya need anything, let me know." Ironhide smiled. "Jackie can give ya my comm info."

"Yeah!" Wheeljack nodded and pinged the contact info to Starscream who just nodded noncommittally. After a moment of both grounders staring at him, Starscream begrudgingly sent Ironhide a quick comm.

Star: There. You have my info.

Ironhide nodded. "Received!"

Starscream tuned out the two grounders as they talked. He fidgeted with the stasis cuffs on his wrists. They rubbed uncomfortably against his protoform but he understood the Autobots' precautions. If anything, he was surprised that they didn't have more. He would never let an Autobot wander around the Decepticon base like this.

"Anyway, Jazz'll be by to keep an eye on your habsuite tonight." Ironhide said with a wave. "See ya tomorrow, Jackie!"

"Thanks. See ya tomorrow!" Wheeljack waved back then turned back to Starscream. "Ready ta go 'n get some fuel and recharge?"

"Yeah." Starscream watched Ironhide walk off.

"He 'n Ratch are my best friends." Wheeljack said resting a servo on Starscream's shoulder as he started leading him toward his habsuite. "You really can ask 'im if ya need anything. I promise he's a nice guy."

"If you say so." Starscream was relieved when he spotted Wheeljack's habsuite door. He was tired of being around Autobots all day.

Once they were inside and the door closed, he practically pounced on Wheeljack, digging his talons into transformation seems and plucking at wires. Wheeljack gasped in surprise, winglets twitching in pleasure. "If you retract your mask, I'll kiss you." Starscream said, knocking their forehelms together. There was a hunger in his optics. Wheeljack complied. His mask was barely retracted before Starscream's mouth was on his. The seeker was nipping at his lips and pulling their hips together. Wheeljack's fans kicked on embarrassingly quickly.

"H-hey," he mumbled against the onslaught of kisses and bites Starscream was leaving on his lips. "Ratch hearin' us is one thing, but I don't want Jazz stormin' in here when he comes by to guard the door."

"Then you'll have to stay quiet." Starscream smirked and he dragged Wheeljack toward the berthroom. Wheeljack wondered what he was getting himself into. Starscream trapped him against his own berth, servos resting on the berth on either side of the grounder's helm and knees on either side of his hips. "What do you want to do?" The seeker asked, licking his own lips as he stared down at him.

Wheeljack squirmed under his intense gaze. "You could spike me?" He suggested, feeling the lust rolling off the seeker's field. It was contagious.

"Anything for you." Starscream nodded and bent down to kiss him again. This time it was slower. Wheeljack shuttered his optics off, enjoying the feeling of Starscream's lips and glossa against his own.

Starscream straddled him as he dragged his talons gently along the grounder's sides. Wheeljack felt his internal core temperature rising and his fans stuttered up to their highest setting as they tried to expel the excess heat. Starscream's fans had also clicked on at some point. Wheeljack was embarrassed to admit that it didn't take long for a PING to pop up across his HUD requesting him to open his interfacing panels. He obliged, letting out a hiss as the cold air hit his overheating array. Starscream paused the kissing and touching to look down curiously. "You're so beautiful." He whispered, optics bright with charge and want.

"Awe, don't say things like that. Yer gonna embarrass me." Wheeljack laughed nervously. He didn't have any fancy mods so he wasn't sure what Starscream found so beautiful.

Starscream looked him in the optics. "Well you are beautiful and handsome and cute." He gave him a quick peck on the lips before turning his attention back to his array. "Want me to stretch you first?" He asked, servos twitching eagerly.

"Uh yeah, if ya could. Repetitive motions make my joints lock up." Wheeljack said sheepishly. "And uh, could you keep kissing me too?"

"Of course." Starscream smiled. He adjusted how he was sitting on him before leaning back down to kiss him again. And Wheeljack moaned into the kiss as he felt Starscream stick a digit into his valve, exploring curiously. Before long Starscream had shoved another digit in and Primus, whatever he was doing with his digits felt magical. Wheeljack's processor felt like it was stuttering.

"H-hurry up." He said and Starscream complied, adding another digit. Wheeljack jerked his hips a bit but Starscream gently held him in place.

"You're so impatient." Starscream chuckled, rubbing at his node. Wheeljack was panting, clinging to the seeker. "Think you're ready?" Wheeljack nodded dumbly.

His winglets twitched when he heard Starscream open up his own panels and he pushed himself up a bit to get a peek. He was a bit surprised to find Starscream didn't have any real mods either. It made him feel a bit better about himself. The dark gray and red biolights definitely matched the rest of Starscream's frame though. Starscream leaned down to kiss him again before lining himself up and slowly pushing in. It took everything in Wheeljack to bite back his moan. He really didn't need word of this to get back to Jazz or Prowl.

Starscream was staring down at him, a fond look in his optics. Wheeljack could feel the happiness and arousal rolling off the seeker's EM field. It was so intoxicating. Wheeljack was sure his own field was reflecting similar emotions. "You're so cute." Starscream said breathlessly.

"And you're gorgeous." Wheeljack grinned up at him giddily. Starscream laughed.

"Too cute." He said before he gripped Wheeljack's thighs and started moving.

The seeker started off with a slower pace and it was driving Wheeljack insane as Starscream lazily kissed him while slowly pounding into him. Wheeljack admittedly felt like a bit of a mess as he moaned and gasped into Starscream's mouth with each little slow movement. Starscream seemed to be enjoying his pleasurable torment. Wheeljack revved his engine encouragingly and Starscream chuckled before starting to pick up the pace a bit. He felt like he was starting to get close, but Starscream seemed content to slowly drag his overload out of him and Wheeljack found that he couldn't really complain. He reached up and felt the seeker's wings. Starscream shuddered under the touch, his optics brightening. Wheeljack could see the reflection of his finials flashing across the seeker's faceplates. Starscream really was beautiful like this.

"Ready, Sweetspark?" Starscream asked, an evil glint in his optics.

"F-for what?" Wheeljack asked then shouted in surprise as Starscream started really pounding into him. The pace was much faster and more erratic and Wheeljack couldn't keep his vocalizer quiet. Starscream was kissing him again, holding onto his thighs so tight Wheeljack was sure that he'd be left with dents in his armor. And before Wheeljack knew it, he was overloading, screaming into Starscream's mouth and twitching. His HUD sent a few WARNINGS about his core temperature and about a REBOOT being imminent.

—

Wheeljack blinked his optics as his processor slowly came back online. Starscream was laying next to him, pressed into his side and lazily kissing at his neck. Wheeljack reset his vocalizer. It felt a bit sore. Actually, everything felt a bit sore. But the good kind of post-interface sore. He looked over at Starscream.

"Back with me?" Starscream teased, petting at his finials.

"Yeah." Wheeljack smiled.

"You're so cute." Starscream ex-vented softly and Wheeljack could feel the love in his field. He still wasn't sure what Starscream found so cute about him, but he wasn't going to complain about being complimented.

He was surprised to find that he was already cleaned up. He checked his chronometer. He hadn't been out for long. Less than a joor. Wheeljack couldn't remember the last time he went into a FULL SYSTEM REBOOT from interfacing. It was a bit embarrassing. But Starscream wasn't making fun of him. So he supposed it was alright.

"We need to refuel still." Wheeljack mumbled, not liking the idea of getting up. He was too comfortable.

"Already ahead of you." Starscream sat up, grabbing a cube of energon off the side table and putting it up to Wheeljack's intake. "I added some coolant to it." He added.

"Thanks." Wheeljack greedily chugged down half the cube in under a klik. "What about you?"

"I had some." Starscream motioned toward a mostly-empty energon cube.

"You know Ratch'd want you to finish that." Wheeljack sat up, taking his own cube from Starscream's servos.

"Yeah, yeah." Starscream rolled his optics and quickly finished his cube.

"How's yer spark feeling?" Wheeljack asked, taking another sip of his own energon.

"Fine." Starscream chuckled. "It can handle a little interface."

"Does it really hurt all the time?" Wheeljack set his empty cube down and snuggled up against the seeker's cockpit, listening to the sound of his spark thrumming away.

"It doesn't always hurt bad." Starscream said gently, petting at Wheeljack's helm.

"But it does always hurt?"

"Yeah. I'm used to it now."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Starscream shook his helm. "You didn't make it hurt. Now get some rest." He pulled Wheeljack closer, offlining his optics. Wheeljack nodded slightly and let himself be lulled into recharge by the sound of Starscream's spark and engine.