Chapter Text
It had been several solar cycles now, and Danny was improving quickly.
Starscream would never admit aloud how tightly that knowledge had been wound around his spark, but the relief was there all the same.
The human doctor had begun leaving for longer stretches now, trusting the monitoring systems to do the rest. Cycles had passed with only the hum of machinery and the soft, steady rhythm of Danny’s heartbeat monitor.
Occasionally, Bumblebee would show up in the medbay and try to talk with Starscream again; it was obvious the scout was trying to give the seeker something to do, even though he would never admit it. At least it took Starscream’s processor off of his spinning concern.
And since Starscream regained the ability to stand on his own two stabilizers again, he wasn’t taking “rest” for an answer. He spent most of his time testing his leg and walking around the medbay. With the leg brace, of course. Sometimes he would sit on the berth again, just for a moment, to ease the ache in his joints, but he would never do it if the doctor told him he needed to.
Speaking of said doctor, he had stepped out again, muttering something about recalibrations, leaving Starscream alone with his thoughts.
Starscream hovered near Danny’s medical berth, watching the movement on the monitor with careful optics.
Suddenly, the medbay doors slid open again. Starscream shifted his weight on his brace before moving to turn around.
“I didn’t think you’d be back so soon, Doct—” Starscream cut himself off mid-sentence, optics narrowing as they fixed on the large blue and red frame now occupying the doorway, servo clutched against the frame as he leaned in.
Of course.
The Prime.
His wings twitched, sharp and involuntary, as he turned fully to face Optimus. “What do you want?” Starscream hissed, plating already drawn tight to himself. He shifted subconsciously closer to Danny’s medical berth as he levelled his optics to meet the Prime’s.
Ratchet was gone.
No witnesses or additional support if the Seeker needed it.
“Starscream,” Optimus said evenly.
The use of his name made something coil unpleasantly in his spark casing. Starscream straightened, lifting his chin in defiance even as his processor raced. He did not offer a reply.
Optimus took a few steps farther into the medbay, his gaze briefly flicking toward Danny before returning to Starscream. “Ratchet tells me Danny is recovering well.”
“That is generally what ‘stable’ implies,” Starscream snapped, already suspicious of this midnight visit. “If you came here to offer platitudes, Prime, spare us both.”
Optimus sighed, stopping in front of the seeker, though he was careful to remain out of reach, for both of their sakes.
“I’ve been meaning to speak with you about a few things,” he said.
Starscream lifted an optic ridge, already on edge. “What about?”
“Something happened in the mine when it collapsed,” Optimus continued, his gaze shifting briefly toward the berth. “With Danny.”
Starscream tensed despite himself, denta grinding together. What did the Prime know? Danny had always been deliberately secretive about his abilities. Starscream was fairly certain he was the only Decepticon, besides maybe Soundwave, that knew of the humans’ strange habits and abilities. And from past conversations with the human, it seemed Danny wanted to keep it that way.
Optimus seemed to notice the reaction. His helm tilted slightly. “Anything you’d like to add?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Starscream replied flatly, crossing his arms.
Optimus studied him for a long moment before speaking again. “Danny mentioned, previously, that you and he were involved in a similar collapse in the past,” the Prime said. “Did he... help you in some way?”
Starscream looked away, wings drawing in closer to his frame. It felt like they were circling the same subject from opposite sides, trying to discover if they both actually knew what the other was talking about.
Finally, Starscream levelled his optics with him. “He saved me,” he said. “To put it simply.”
“How did he save you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes,” Optimus said quietly. “I’m concerned. Whatever he did—whatever abilities he used—may have caused the dark energon to spread further.”
Starscream froze at that. It was… possible. Entirely possible. And if that were the case, would there be any concerns with the human body and the Energon? What could happen next?
Starscream barely understood how Danny’s abilities functioned at the best of times. He had only witnessed them in brief moments. Danny himself had been adamant that the knowledge was dangerous, that it needed to be safeguarded.
However, right now, the energon was working. Danny was healing. There was no need to introduce variables, no need to provoke scrutiny into changes that could not be undone.
Starscream steeled his expression. “I really have no idea what you’re talking about, Prime,” he said evenly. Optimus’s field shifted faintly to disappointment. Starscream ignored it. “And I suggest,” the seeker added coolly, “that you don’t know about it either.”
Optimus paused, considering. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Very well.”
He turned slightly, but did not leave. “However,” Optimus said, “there is another matter we should discuss.”
Starscream stood tense.
The Prime’s voice lowered. “I want to talk about Megatron.”
Starscream’s posture shifted slightly with surprise despite himself. That was not where he had expected this conversation to go.
“What of him?” he asked cautiously, wings angling back. “I’ve already told you that any information I have is likely obsolete. Megatron has a habit of changing plans on a whim—usually to compensate for his own incompetence.” He waved his servo to the side.
Optimus watched him closely before speaking up again. “Does Megatron hurt you?”
Starscream let out a sharp, humourless laugh. “Obviously, have you seen my frame right now?” He gestured to himself.
The Prime shook his helm. “That isn’t what I meant,” he sighed. “I mean, does he do it often. The way you reacted before… after you lashed out at me. I fear that wasn’t an isolated incident.”
Starscream snarled, leaning back as if the words themselves had stepped too close. “What is this, an intervention? You have no right to ask me these questions!” He lashed out.
“Starscream,” Optimus said quietly, “Megatron and I were once close. I knew him before I became a Prime. I saw him fight in the pits of Kaon. I believed in what he stood for, just as you did.” His voice hardened, just slightly. “But I fear he now treats his soldiers the same way the mecha he once fought against did him.”
“He dragged us all in with promises of equality,” Starscream scoffed. “Of tearing down the old order, of never letting Cybertron fall back into the hands of functionist tyrants.” His wings flared. “Yet he rules with a taloned fist. That mech is nothing like the ideal he once represented.”
“Then why do you follow him?” Optimus asked. “Why do the others? Is this no different from Cybertron under the old Primes’ will?”
Starscream’s optics narrowed. “Because dealing with Megatron’s anger issues is still better than the functionalist regime that ruled before,” he said coldly. “My trine and I would have been nothing but warframes.” His talons curled. “One job. No choice in the matter. No future. No freedom.”
“And where is your trine now?” Optimus asked softly.
Starscream growled deeply at the mech before him. “You don’t get to ask me that.” Starscream snapped darkly, venom lacing his tone.
Starscream simply glared as a sharp silence fell over them.
Optimus broke it gently. “You believe Megatron hurting you… to this extent,” he gestured toward Starscream’s damaged frame, “is worth that freedom?”
Starscream said nothing.
Optimus stepped closer, and Starscream looked up to see the Prime’s battle mask retracting. Strascream blinked in surprise at seeing the Prime’s full face plate. He had never seen it before.
“A true leader,” Optimus said at last, he reached out and placed a slow and gentle servo on Starscream’s shoulder. “should not need to use fear or pain to earn loyalty. A true leader listens to his soldiers. Protects them. Does what is best for their well-being.” His voice was thick with restrained disappointment. “And I am deeply saddened to know that this is how Megatron now rules.”
“Please,” Starscream scoffed, though it lacked its usual bite, he didn’t pull away. “As if you haven’t done the same. How else do all your Autobots obey you?” He gestured sharply toward the medbay doors.
“They don’t just obey me,” Optimus replied. “They trust me. Because I respect them, their lives hold equal value to my own.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Starscream muttered.
“Ask them,” Optimus said. “Any of them will tell you the same.” He paused, then added quietly, “I am sorry for what Megatron has done to you. And I grieve for the Decepticons still under his command.”
Starscream’s spark gave a painful lurch in its casing, he wasn’t quite sure why… The Prime’s words shouldn’t affect him in this way.
“I want this war to end,” Optimus said. “Truly. And I believe you could help make that possible. Here. With us.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
The admission tasted like rust in his vocalizer.
Starscream turned away, optics fixing on the far wall of the medbay rather than the Prime. He could not afford to look at him, not when the words still echoed uncomfortably in his processor. Ending the war. Helping the Autobots. As if those things were simple choices. As if he could even make a difference.
“I am not who you think I am,” Starscream said at last, voice low. “And I do not belong here.”
Optimus did not argue. “That may be true,” he said gently. “But you’re here now,” he gestured to the distiller behind the seeker and over to Danny. “And from what I have seen so far, you are clearly capable of change. I think you can make a difference. You just have to allow yourself that chance.”
Starscream stood in silence, unsure of how to respond.
Optimus took his servo back. “Recharge well, Starscream, and think about what I said. If you need anything, you can ask me.” He then left.