quilloleander

[quilloleander]

Underneath the Golden Gaze of God - Golden Sunset (Chapter 1)

D-16 is an ordinary security mech working in the archives. Aside from his troublemaking roommate and amica, Orion Pax, his life is as mundane as it could possibly be. Although, even as a sparkling, he's always had the weird ability to sense a presence that lurks and clings to every Cybertronian… except himself - a fact that he has never acknowledged to anyone except Pax. It was a mundane solar cycle when he noticed that he noticed the presence clinging strongly onto Pax, and that seemed like a sign of the end to come, for though he didn't know what the last days were like for those who disappeared - the presence in itself felt an omen of the end. If only knew that sometimes the end, didn't really mean death.

I know… I am disappointed at myself too skskskks

This is why I need to be held accountable everytime I start a new fanfic/project because my mind wanders off skskks. I promise I'll get to the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron one-shot book sksksk I can hold myself accountable I swear lmao. But yeah, you know the drill, you can tell which AU this is from sskskks.

I decided to write about it - like an actual multichapter fic - because it's actually nearing one year since I graduated college and I promised myself that I would only give myself a year since I graduated to take a break before I went to look for a serious job. I have since gotten my certificate (cause in my country, if you wish to work in a certain field, you need a certificate proving you're capable of working in that field - at least for the field that my college course is part of) and I need to start applying for jobs soon. So, while I had the free time, I decided to write the one fic that I do genuinely want to write a multichapter of since this is the one concept where I genuinely stayed up until 5am chatting in the opmeg server because I loved it so much lmao.

So yeah, this is the Sole Survivor Prima AU… combined with the Vessel Prima AU that a friend and I talked about. If you've read the previous fanfics, you already know what the Sole Survivor Prima AU is, but for the Vessel Prima AU… I'm going to keep that one a secret since it's the one aspect of the fic that is supposed to be a mystery (let's hope I can actually nail the mystery cause sometimes I worry I don't even nail the horror in my fics skskks).

If you're new here - to my Tumblr account/my old Tumblr accounts and this fic skskksk - and you don't know what the Sole Survivor Prima AU is (I have two other fics covering it but you don't need to read those cause they're technically disconnected one-shots from this multichapter one, though reading it will give more context to what's happening), essentially it's an AU where Prima survived Sentinel's ambush, killed him and the Quintessons, and came back to rule Iacon as the sole Prime. He is very unstable after the events of losing everyone he loves and I know most fanon interpretation makes him nice but I personally don't interpret Prima that way because I based his personality off Covenant of Primus (and he's honestly a bit of a bitch there), so he may come off as cruel and cold here. This is also an AU where Megatron/D-16 is Primatronus' sparkling because I like that idea (due to people joking that Megatronus is related to Dee due to them both being bucketheads) and because this is my fanfic and I get to decide the narrative.

So yes, hopefully you enjoy this. I plan to finish this fic at least before June 23 because that is when I need to start my job applications dying inside. I'll still be writing for the one-shot book though and I will be writing more fanfic, it's just that I may not have much time anymore after June 23 skskks - we shall see but I WILL finish that one-shot book because I promised and I am not breaking that promise.

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66273385/chapters/170860012

================================================

It was a mundane solar cycle when he felt the strange shift around his amica. The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the apartment floor when Pax had come in after another shift at the archives. Dee was in the middle of preparing energon cubes for his own shift when the presence of the other mech bursting into the room startled him. He didn’t know why it did, as Pax always rushed into every room he walked in anyway, yet something about the gesture felt strangely off to him.

“Hey, guess what.” Pax sat down by the counter, his servos drumming against the metal as if he still needed to catch Dee’s attention. Trying not to roll his optics, Dee placed the last energon cube in his subspace, readying himself for whatever shenanigan Pax was about to curse his poor audials with. When it came to his amica, there was never a solar cycle where something didn’t happen in the archives. He wondered if what happened would explain why Dee felt strangely uncomfortable as he met Pax’s optics from across the room. “I’m not the newest archivist anymore, you know what that means?”

“You’ll be more responsible?” This time, Dee couldn’t help but roll his optics. He walked over to the counter, leaning against the edge as he stood next to Pax. He tried to keep the amusement out of his voice as he continued on, “Or do I still have to hide your aft every time you break into the archives during the lunar cycle?”

“You only had to help me hide once, and how were we to know that the head archivist would be giving a late night tour to Prima Prime?” Pax muttered out, his voice lowering as his optics shifted around the room. Dee couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his frame as Pax carelessly used the Prime’s designation. There weren’t any laws that forbade you from fully-mentioning the Prime, yet everyone knew to hold their glossa when they absolutely had to mention him. Only Pax, with his reckless attitude that Dee couldn’t help but be fond of, didn’t seem to care all that much. “It means I have more access now.”

Honestly, for all of Pax’s nonsense, Dee was proud of him. He’d been working as a security mech for the archives for a few cycles before Pax was ever an archivist. It had only been two cycles since Pax had started and already he was trusted enough to be given access to information only older archivists were allowed to know. Pax may sneak into the archives during the lunar cycle to read data he didn’t have a high enough clearance for, but there were some that even Dee couldn’t help him ever gain access to.

“That’s—”

“You’d like him, the new guy. He’s quiet like you and like a total rule-follower.” Pax cut him off, his excitement clear in his voice. Dee smiled, glad to know the sudden change in his work did not deter Pax from still being himself. “I think he recorded the entire orientation in his processor since he kept citing everything the head archivist mentioned when he introduced him around the archives. He’s an older mech though, said he worked in some old radio broadcast station before making the jump to the archives. I should ask Jazz if he knows him, you know how Jazz is about that old pre-Quintesson War technology. The new guy said his designation was Wave so maybe he’s some famous mech or something… even if he is, he’s friendly and keeps to himself like you. Hey! I should introduce you two.”

“Pax… no…”

Dee tried to hide the wince in his voice.

“Deeeeeeee, you’ll like him, I swear. I know you, so trust me, I know you two will get along.”

“Pax, maybe focus on your job instead of trying to meddle with my social life. You’re the only friend I need.” He placed a servo on Pax’s shoulder, squeezing the metal slightly. It’s not that Dee didn’t trust Pax, and Dee liked some of Pax’s friends well enough, but he didn’t enjoy the constant interaction. It was a miracle of Primus that he even agreed to have Pax as his roommate. “I like the way my life is structured. I don’t need to meet your new coworker.”

He could tell Pax wanted to argue, so Dee quickly left the room before he could say another word. It’s not that Dee disliked other bots, but he never felt comfortable with others. Even when Terminus was still online, Dee couldn’t help but be wary of the mech, even if he was his creator. It was… the heaviness. Strange as it was, and he’s only ever told Pax about it, Dee felt as though there was a constant presence around everyone except for him. It wasn’t a constant thing, yet there were moments where he felt as though the air had shifted. There were countless times in his life where he could remember having a conversation with Terminus, and then it would feel as though they had an invisible audience, pressing in before inevitably disappearing. He knew he wasn’t crazy, for Terminus would always shudder when it happened.

Really, it was only Pax who had explained everything to him - and that was why Dee had trusted him enough to keep him as his closest friend, eventually even his roommate and amica. Terminus never tried to tell him, though Dee didn’t know why.

In Iacon, every bot felt the constant presence. It was… a simple part of life that Dee couldn’t understand. No bot went through life without feeling watched from time to time… except for Dee. He could feel the presence around others, yet never around himself.

Pax’s theory - though he’d only ever confided it with Dee - was that it was the Prime’s doing. Dee had found it blasphemous at the time but… there are rumors. There are certain rules, not written ones, to be followed and breaking them usually leads to disappearances.

For instance, everyone knew it was best not to bring up the rest of the twelve Primes. Even mentioning any of them by designation could lead you into trouble. Dee had known many bots in the archives who had gone missing a few astrocycles after they had accidentally dug into information regarding the Primes. That’s why Dee worried for Pax a lot. He wasn’t afraid of talking openly about the other Primes and even wanted to find out what had happened to them on the surface all those cycles ago. He knew that there would come a time where Dee would never see Pax again. He’d walk back into the apartment after a long shift in the archives, and Pax would just be gone. Maybe Dee would even be arrested or disappear with him since, even though Dee knew it was dangerous, he couldn’t help but listen to Pax’s ramblings about the Primes.

Pax was curious, and Dee didn’t fault him for that. If he did, he would have called the enforcers on him during the first lunar cycle they had met. He could still remember how Pax had broken into the archives through the vents, and how Dee had nearly shot him thinking he was an intruder - which he was, but Dee didn’t want to explain to the head archivist why he had shot his newest hire. Pax had begged him not to say a word, trying to convince him that he was only there to look through a few datapads that he wasn’t allowed to look at yet due to his low clearance. He had sounded sincere enough that Dee felt bad denying him.

They’ve been friends ever since… even if Pax did stress out his processor most of the time.

Which is why… Dee glanced back into the refueling quarters, catching a glimpse of Pax as he walked around - preparing a cube of energon for himself. He stood by the door panels, hiding around the corner even though he knew from his chronometer that he only had a few minutes before he needed to head for his shift at the archives. Dee couldn’t force himself to move, a roiling feeling in his tanks preventing him from doing so. When Pax had entered the room, Dee had already sensed the shift in the air. There were times when the presence did appear when Pax and Dee were together, yet this was the first time it had stayed for so long.

Breaking his view of Pax, Dee’s optics turned to the unlit living quarters where he was currently hiding in. Over the cycles, it hadn’t changed as Dee hadn’t moved anything even after Terminus’ passing. Only a few colorful ornaments - that Pax had brought along with him when he had moved in - brought a freshness to the room that Dee couldn’t help but love. Terminus had been a simple military mech, and had kept to that habit even after he had retired. Dee never minded his creator’s lackluster decorating skills, though he was a bit ashamed to admit that he preferred the brightness and life that Pax had brought with him. Even if Pax had a terrible habit of not cleaning after himself, as evidenced by the many datapads that were displayed on the couch and on the tables that they were nearly falling off the edge, Dee preferred it like this. Ever since Terminus passed, the entire apartment had felt as though it had grayed along with him.

“Dee?” His protoform nearly jumped out of his kibbles as he turned around to see Pax at the door, a half-eaten energon cube in his intake as he looked at him with wide blue optics. He quickly swallowed down the energon cube, leaving a few crumbs of it on his face that Dee nearly reached over to wipe them off. Even with the innocent look on his amica’s face, Dee couldn’t help but shudder as the presence continued to wrap around Pax - refusing to leave even though it had never done that before, staying for too long. Dee wanted to panic. He didn’t know what happened to those who disappeared, but did the presence linger on them until they inevitably went missing? “Won’t you be late for your shift?”

“I was… thinking.” Dee ran a quick diagnostic test through his systems, mostly his weapon system. He knew from his chronometer that he needed to go now but his pedes remained where they were as he continued to look at Pax. “Pax, did you do anything recently? And I’m serious… don’t you… feel it?”

Pax stared at him blankly, his dermas set into a confused frown. From his stare, it looked as if he was more concerned for Dee. He tried not to show his agitation, yet Dee couldn’t help but place a servo against his hip plates, impatiently waiting for Pax to drop another one of his mishaps on him. Dee was used to his antics, and had even gotten him out of a few of them since Terminus had been friends with the head archivist who owed him a few favors. Dee had never needed those favors since he took his job seriously, but if it meant keeping Pax out of trouble, he didn’t mind using them. Still, if there was one consequence that Dee couldn’t protect Pax from, it was somehow gaining the ire of the Prime himself. No one who caught the attention of the Prime ever escaped his retribution… at least that’s what the rumors and the many disappearances seem to claim. 

“No… Are you sure you’re okay, Dee? You know, you could use your sick leave from time to time. You’re a hardworking mech, you could use a day off once in a while.” Pax approached him, placing a servo on Dee’s shoulder. It should have assured him, but Dee’s processor clung to the fact that Pax didn’t feel the presence - when he usually could before. He didn’t know what had changed, but Dee did not like it. He didn’t like the idea that he might leave in a few kliks only to come back a few joors later to find he was alone again… “You look like you have a lot on your processor, and at this rate, you’ll be late for your shift… We can talk about it over some Strat Ball.”

“Pax…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say. If he told Pax about the presence… Dee had never brought attention to it before while it was around… “Promise me one thing.”

“Yeah?” Pax followed him to the front door, his helm tilting to the side as he kept his servos at his side, though they were twitching as if Pax wanted to stop him from leaving. He knew how he must have looked to his amica, as if he was terrified but trying to keep on a brave face. He didn’t know how to tell Pax that he was scared he’d come back, and Pax would be gone. “You know I’ve always got your back, Dee. What’s wrong?”

“You have my commlink.” He tried to keep his voice even as he pressed the button to open the door panels. Even so, he lingered at the entrance, the sun glinting off his silver frame and illuminating the gold of his optics. “If anything happens…”

“Pssh, Dee, you know me. If anything happens, I’ll disappear so fast they won’t even be able to find me. Now, go on before you blame me for being late.” Pax gave him a little wink, wrapping an entire arm around him as he flashed him a cheeky grin. Dee tried not to laugh as the crumbs of remaining energon still clung near his dermas. 

He reached out to wipe some away, earning a blush. “Fine, stay out of trouble, Pax. I mean it!”

—

The overhead lamps had begun to illuminate the darkening streets by the time Dee had begun his long walk to the archives. As a tankbot, he knew it didn’t matter if he transformed into his alt-form as he was not forged for speed. He hadn’t bothered trying to catch the train from the Kaon District to the main heart of Iacon City, knowing that he had already missed it. As he raced down the path towards the archives, he kept his gaze forward though occasionally he looked up towards the sky. Being underground, there was only a slim chance of catching sight of the stars from the holes that punctured through the surface - yet that wasn’t what Dee was trying to catch a glimpse of. He rarely had the opportunity, since he didn’t make it a habit of running late to work and Terminus never liked it when Dee looked out too much at the windows, but he knew that it was during these times that the High Guard seekers would return to their base.

And he was right, as his gold optics caught a glimpse of them flying just overhead of him.

—

By the time he had reached the archives, the only light present was from the streetlights outside. There were red lights inside, but from an outside perspective, it usually meant that the archives looked like an imposing metal fortress. It was only during the solar cycle that it shone with all the brilliance of its architectural design - modelled after the paint colors of Alpha Trion himself and constructed by Solus Prime herself, though that was a fact that Dee had only heard from Pax since Dee had never actually seen the archives during the solar cycle due to his shift in the lunar cycle. He felt his pedesteps were loud against the pavement as he rushed up the marble steps, venting hard as he glanced around in the darkness for the head archivist. She usually waited for him before she went home for the lunar cycle, yet with Dee being late, he wondered if she had just decided to lockdown the archives and leave without seeing if he would show up.

“Inquiry: You are D-16?”

He snapped his helm in the direction of the voice, noting how monotone it was before he finally found the source of it. An older mech stood by the entrance to the archives, his arms crossed in front of him. From the little light that reflected off of his frame, Dee could see he had a blue and white paint job - though his chassis was made from orange glass. These were the details he focused on the most since he couldn’t tell what the other mech was thinking. His dermas were set into a thin line, and his optics were hidden underneath a pair of orange visors that Dee didn’t know if he was upset at Dee’s tardiness or if he didn’t care and just wanted to go home.

“Yes…” He couldn’t keep the wariness out of his voice as he approached the strange mech. Dee considered himself to be one of the bigger and taller mechs, yet he felt a bit small as he stood near the stranger. Somehow, Dee could tell that there was something peculiar in the way this other mech stood - almost stiff. Even without being able to see his optics, Dee could feel the mech’s sharp gaze on him - particularly on his face as if he was trying to commit it to his processor. He kept his stance guarded, his weapon system ready in case he needed to defend himself. It wouldn’t be the first time some crazy mech tried to break into the archives - surprisingly, it wasn’t just Pax doing it but at least Pax was an actual archivist. “Can I help you?”

“Inquiry: You are the security mech for this shift?”

“Yes.” He crossed his arms, and narrowed his optics. “Why do you ask?”

“D-16: Late. Head archivist: Tasked Wave to hand you security card.”

Before he could process his embarrassment, the older mech reached out a servo to him. In between two digits, the familiar glint of the archive’s security card caught Dee’s gaze. He tried to keep his shame out of his face as he quickly took the card from the other mech. Dee didn’t fault the head archivist for leaving ahead since he was the one who was late, and she probably had a conjunx and sparkling to get back to - yet he felt a tinge of awkwardness knowing that she had asked the newest hire to wait for him just to give him the security card. He knew it was a terrible first impression - not that Dee usually cared about that since he didn’t meet a lot of bots anyway, but it was precisely that reason why he felt so ashamed. Even moreso knowing that Pax and this new mech may become close friends and he may dislike Dee for keeping him this late.

“I’m not usually this late.” He tried, wincing at how defensive he sounded. “I promise this won’t happen again. Thanks… for waiting.”

Even though he really shouldn’t, Dee cared a lot about what other bots thought of him. He didn’t know anyone aside from his creator’s old friends, Pax, and Pax’s friends. If he wasn’t at work, he mostly kept to himself in the apartment. So it stung to think this mech may think he was incompetent at his job when Dee couldn’t even properly explain why he was even late.

Before he could begin to apologize, or maybe run past the other mech and lock himself in the archive, the quick movement of blue in the corner of his optics made him lean back. Orange visors stared down at him, as if suddenly very interested in him.

“Inquiry: Your designation is D-16?” He asked again, his dermas set into a thin line. “Inquiry: There is no deception in your statement?”

Dee felt his faceplates shift as his servos clenched into fists. He knew it was an unconventional designation, and up to this point, he never knew why Terminus had kept his designation as D-16 - which Pax had theorized may have been an impersonal identification provided by the orphanage that Terminus had taken him from. Still, he was proud of his designation and didn’t like it when people pointed it out. He reset his optics, trying to keep the impatience from his voice as he answered back, “Yes. It is D-16. You met an Orion Pax a few joors ago, he’s my roommate. He calls me Dee. My close friends call me Dee. I think he mentioned you, is your designation really just Wave or is that not your main designation?”

“Wave: Will not confirm or deny.”

An uncomfortable tension filled the air around them, though Dee wasn’t sure if only he felt it. He wasn’t usually confrontational, but he didn’t take disrespect so lightly, especially if it somehow came around to somehow insulting his creator. He didn’t know why Terminus kept him as D-16, but it was one of the few keepsakes he had left of him. A designation, no matter how strange, held meaning and love behind it - and he knew how much Terminus had loved him.

Without sparing the other mech another glance, Dee walked past him and into the archives, ensuring that he locked the door behind him as he did.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Status Report on the Ongoing Investigation Against Orion Pax

Main Investigator: Commander Soundwave of the High Guard Intelligence Division

Priority Level of Investigation: High

Subject in Question: Orion Pax

Basic Information Regarding Subject:

Current Designation: Orion Pax

Current Status: Single

Current Function: Archivist at the Iaconian Archives

Current Residence: Apartment within the Kaon Section of Iacon City, shared with another mech designated as D-16.

Main Notes of the Investigation:

Orion Pax: Guilty of Accessing Confidential Information and Conspiracy to Commit Treason

Under orders from Prima Prime, an investigation was launched against Orion Pax under the allegation of accessing confidential information, which is considered treason under the laws established by Prima Prime. Preliminary investigation has proven these allegations correct.

Current Measures to be Taken: Reconnaissance mission to further investigate the extent of the crime. Undergoing “Wave” identity as a new archivist in the Iaconian Archives to determine if Orion Pax will utilize the opportunity to delve into more restricted data.

“Wave” has established friendly connection with Orion Pax and will maintain connection until further evidence is gathered to charge a conviction.

Supplementary Notes:

During investigation, “Wave” established connection with D-16 - Orion Pax’s roommate and a security mech in the Iaconian Archives. D-16 observed to have gold optics.

Soundwave Request: Launch a separate investigation on D-16.

[quilloleander]

I... I kinda want to do a TF:One Thirteen Primes voice claim video if only cause I just want to show what their voices are like in my mind when I write/reference them...

ignore the fact I have yet to write about any other prime aside from Prima, Megatronus, and Alpha Trion skskks

[quilloleander]

A Friend Called Oreo

Prompt: How about one in the High Guard deals with Sparkling Megatron's imaginary friend phrase?

This is part of the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Book I promised to make.

This was supposed to be a fluffy/crack one-shot...

What is wrong with me? *head in hands*

I blame my friends, they're making me play Mobile Legends SKSKSKKS

Anyway, thank you to MsK29Fan for the request! I hope this is okay, I am so sorry I don't know how this went to angst...

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65467561/chapters/170688469

================================================

“What is going on here?”

Starscream shook his helm, feeling an ache in his processor as he pushed Thundercracker and Skywarp to the side. For a moment, he was about to scream at them for staring at absolutely nothing when he realized that both of them had their gazes trained to the ground. It was the muffled sobbing that finally made him realize what was distracting his trine as Starscream immediately knelt down next to the small frame that was huddled over a small hole in the ground - nothing that couldn’t be fixed, if they had the resources to spare.

“Skywarp, I thought I told you to stop teasing him.” He glanced over his shoulder, glaring at the mentioned seeker.

Skywarp’s yellow visor met his, yet even with his optics covered, Starscream could feel the indignation in his EM field. He placed a servo to his chassis, dramatically reeling as if Starscream had shot him. “Why do you think I had anything to do with this? Have some faith in me, Screamer—”

“He ‘accidentally’ dropped Megatron’s friend down the hole.” Thundercracker spoke up, crossing his arms together as he gave him a disappointed look. “He thought it would be funny.”

“It was an accident!” Skywarp raised his servos in surrender, his voice tinged with a bit of guilt. “I wanted to show the little guy how easy it is to juggle his imaginary friend and then he hit me, then I stumbled and…”

Starscream reset his optics, trying to keep his patience from snapping as those two imbeciles continued to argue above him. 

Was he surprised that this would happen? No. 

He wasn’t even surprised that out of all the bots in the High Guard, of course it had to be Skywarp who decided to take the imaginary friend seriously.

“Let me get this straight, you thought it would be a great idea to kidnap Megatron’s imaginary—”

The sparkling looked up at that, yellow optics glaring up at him. “He’s not imaginary!”

Starscream tried not to roll his optics, “Fine, he’s not imaginary. So, you thought it would be funny to steal Megatron’s very real friend who he designated as Oreo—”

He felt a pede kick against his side, doing zero damage yet surprising him all the same. “His designation is not Oreo!”

“Megatron, grown mechs are talking.” Starscream reached for him, holding the very furious sparkling in his arms.

Instead of continuing, he trained his optics on Skywarp, who had the decency to look a bit ashamed - though Starscream couldn’t tell if it was out of embarrassment for indulging Megatron’s little imaginary friend or if it was because he genuinely believed he had really dropped Megatron’s friend down the hole.

“Listen, in my defense—” Before he could finish that sentence, he quickly warped away, leaving the space where he once stood empty. 

Now, Starscream really didn’t care enough to punish Skywarp for “killing” something that didn’t even exist, yet with the perpetrator gone, Megatron’s fussiness quickly turned to wailing.

“Thundercracker.” He didn’t need to look to know that the bigger seeker was already walking off to find Skywarp. At least he could always count on him to deal with Skywarp’s antics in his place.

On any other solar cycle, Starscream may have laughed at Skywarp’s shenanigans.

But that was before they had to run to the surface.

That was before Starscream was given a sparkling to care for as if the High Guard wasn’t enough stress on his life.

He let out a tired vent, holding onto Megatron who continued to flail and throw a tantrum in his arms.

“We can get you a new, better friend.” He glanced down at the small hole in the ground, a bit impressed that Skywarp had somehow “dropped” Megatron’s imaginary friend down the one hole that was in the base. “If your friend can’t escape being kidnapped by himself then he was too weak to be your friend, do you understand? You’re a strong sparkling, you deserve someone that doesn’t fall so easily.”

Megatron sniffled, crossing his small arms as he listened to Starscream’s lecture. His dermas trembled as he tried to wipe away the cooling agent. “I don wanna new friend!��

Starscream pressed a servo to his face, unsure of what to say to that. He couldn’t even remember if he had any imaginary friends when he had been a sparkling. 

That felt like an entirely different lifetime ago.

“What makes this… Orio… so special?” He had to wonder where Megatron even got the idea of an imaginary friend, though he was blaming Skywarp for this. “Do we not pay enough attention to you? If I take you flying would that help? Don’t you want a friend that’s… strong?”

And actually real?

Starscream knew not to say that out loud though.

“He is strong!” Megatron let out an angry beep, still clinging to his old habit of beeping when he couldn’t find the right words to express himself. Honestly, Starscream couldn’t tell if he preferred it when Megatron was still a smaller sparkling and his voice box was not calibrated yet for words. He didn’t know if sparklings were meant to be so rebellious at this stage, yet he found that Megatron was quite vocal for a young sparkling his age-cycle. Starscream was kind of proud. “Sky is just big and mean! Orion could beat him if Sky just played fair!”

“Is that his designation…?” Starscream felt his voice trail off, a part of him wincing as he tried to remember that. He didn’t think he needed to though, considering Skywarp had dropped Megatron’s imaginary friend. Would they have to have an imaginary funeral for him? Is that what a creator should do in these situations? How was he supposed to help a sparkling process the death of something that was never even real? “Well, your friend is gone and in the well now… you have to learn to accept that. This is how life works, Megatron.”

“Gone? Like the others?”

Starscream vented, settling down on the ground next to the small hole. Megatron’s yellow optics stared up at him, his cheekplates stained with dried cleaning agent that Starscream tried to wipe away with his own digits. His own optics drifted towards the hole, his dermas pressing into a thin line. “Yes, gone like the others. It happens. This is the surface and… sometimes, people don’t come back.”

“Orion could come back too!” Megatron pouted, circling his little arms around Starscream’s neck cables as he tried to nuzzle into him. “He’s strong like you, and you come back all the time!”

He tried not to wince as he pressed his servos against the sparkling’s back. 

“Megatron—”

“Orion will be back.” The sparkling stated, his voice holding no room for argument, and Starscream could only relent as he held him closer. “Like you always do!”

This was his fault.

He’d never really told Megatron where some of the High Guard disappeared to when they didn't come back from their missions.

He didn’t think the sparkling was ready to understand the concept of death… even if they did need to survive on the surface.

“You’re right.” Starscream nodded. “He’ll come back… like me.”

[quilloleander]

pregatron polls round 1 poll 3 !!

[quilloleander]

Full-Time Commander, Full-Time Sire

Prompt: I would love seeing Starscream having a crisis over becoming a dad bc it's like the first time he's ever cared for something so helpless and small and cute and eugh— he would be a disaster

This is part of the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Book I promised to make.

This turned out angstier than it should have been HAHAHA

Hopefully it's okay, honestly I do actually enjoy TF:One Starscream as a character, I think the implications of his character are honestly pretty interesting cause like he was a High Guard commander so clearly he was pretty loyal to the Primes, no? Obviously, we don't know how he was before the events of the movie but I'd like to think he genuinely was a good and competent Commander. I don't like the idea that he's a "coward" who just happens to be the strongest before Dee got there. I genuinely like the idea that he was competent, plus the horror of suddenly being in-charge of an entire army once the Primes are dead is just so scary to me.

Also, thank you to blackicekills for the request!

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65467561/chapters/170607640

================================================

As a soldier, Starscream has dealt with the unexpected. As a commander, it was practically part of his job description to prepare for the worst.

He never thought it would happen, yet even the loss of the Primes was to be expected. The War against the Quintessons had killed so many Cybertronians that though it was considered the worst case scenario, the High Guard needed to be prepared for the possibility that even the Primes themselves would not survive. 

There were supposed to be contingencies.

And they all failed.

Starscream should have shot Sentinel when he first met that glitch.

He had known from the moment their optics had met that Sentinel was not all that he claimed to be. Yet as Flight Commander, Starscream had no business advising the Primes on matters such as who they hired as their aide. 

Starscream had chosen to avoid Sentinel as much as he could, no matter how much the fragger tried to charm and seduce him to his side. Yet for all of Sentinel’s conniving and people-pleasing attitude, Starscream hadn’t predicted he would turn his back on all Cybertronians by practically serving them all on a silver platter to the damn Quintessons.

Yet somehow that was not the worst crime that Sentinel planned to commit. 

Starscream should have shot him. If not when they had first met, then a few joors ago when Sentinel had tried to convince him one last time to join his side.

He didn’t know what reputation Sentinel thought Starscream had, but he would sooner rip off his wings than to even begin to process why the pit-stained son of Unicron thought that decogging a newly-emerged sparkling in front of him would somehow convince Starscream to side with him.

The very idea made him nearly want to purge.

Starscream liked to think of himself as a flawless combatant. He was capable of handling any situation he found himself in, and Sentinel was hardly a physical threat in comparison to him.

Still, it was not his finest work.

He looked down at his slightly damaged servo, having settled down in an empty room to calm himself before he had to address the rest of the High Guard. After nearly beating Sentinel into a heap of worthless scrap metal, Starscream had ordered a hasty retreat to the surface, intending to use an old outpost as their new base of operations.

If it wasn’t for Airachnid, Starscream could have offlined Sentinel. 

He would get his chance in the future.

Disloyalty will not go unpunished, and the Primes would have expected Starscream to be strong enough. He was the appointed leader of the High Guard, he needed to be strong enough.

Yet retribution will have to wait.

The High Guard needed him.

Not to mention… the sparkling needed him.

Starscream let out a vent, glancing towards the locked door before looking at the sparkling in his arms. In the panic, no one had noticed him cradling the small delicate frame so protectively.

Sparklings were difficult enough. They were demanding little beasts that preyed on your time, attention, and emotions like little sparkeaters. Starscream had never wanted one, never even dreamed of it. His career was too important to him to ever let himself be dragged down by a tiny wailing thing that needed him constantly. Yet aside from plunging the planet into an energon drought, it appears Primus thought it would be hilarious to punish Starscream.

He didn’t know how to care for a sparkling, much less one that had its transformation cog removed.

Starscream let out a groan, his wings trembling.

“You better be worth me not murdering Sentinel right where he was standing.” He hissed out, not unkindly, yet with as much contempt that he could muster for a being that didn’t understand him.

He held out the sparkling, wincing at how… gray… its frame was. If it weren’t for the tiny red and black details that stood out, Starscream would have feared that the sparkling had died at some point during the retreat to the surface. 

He didn’t know why the thought of that made him sick.

Starscream didn’t save this sparkling just for him to die so soon.

As though to give a response, the little sparkling met his gaze, yellow optics blinking up at him with curiosity before he let out a long beep. Tiny servos tried to reach for him, patting at his arms as if he didn’t understand why Starscream was keeping him at a distance. 

He winced, somewhat relieved to know from Sentinel’s inane ramblings that the sparkling was one of the many abandoned creations because of the Quintesson War. He would have felt worse if the sparkling’s creators were still online and in Iacon, unaware of what had happened to their beloved creation.

Still, it was difficult because Sentinel - and Starscream wished he had kicked him even more when he had fallen down - had held the sparkling towards Starscream, so that when the sparkling had first opened its optics, the first being he had seen was Starscream. 

Usually, a sparkling’s creators should be the first thing they ever see. It was meant to help establish creator-creation bond, even if there were already codes within their programming that made the process easier. Since the sparkling was abandoned and the codes had nowhere to attach to…

Starscream was not ready to be a single sire!

He lowered his helm, holding the sparkling closer to himself as he tried not to scream and curse Sentinel out.

He hadn’t even told anyone in the High Guard yet.

He hadn’t even told his trine yet!

As he offlined his optics, he felt little servos pat against the top of his helm, the sparkling let out a series of happy beeps as he tried to crawl over Starscream. He held onto him even more.

“You better be the most well-behaved sparkling or I swear to Primus I am feeding you to the cyberfoxes.”

Starscream can do this.

He hoped.

—

In the span of a few joors, Starscream had informed the High Guard of what they needed to do to prepare for survival on the surface, sent out scouts to return to Iacon to report on what Sentinel was planning, organized half the High Guard into reestablishing the outpost to be a base of operations and instructed the other half to find other sources of energon, and had begrudgingly reported that aside from themselves, they would have to learn to care for a newly-emerged sparkling that had attached himself to Starscream.

He had also lost the sparkling in that time.

It wasn’t his fault!

Starscream was a Commander of an army, it was not his fault that somehow Shockwave had lost the sparkling in the few kliks that he had handed him over to the Science Division Commander.

He had trusted the other mech since he had the most knowledge about Cybertronian biology among all of them. If anyone knew about the possible side-effects of decogging a newly-emerged spark, then it would be Shockwave. He had handed the little sparkling over before turning his attention to the rest of the High Guard. Somehow, Shockwave had lost him in that time.

The outpost that Starscream had led them all to was old. A remnant of a past age, and Starscream was sure that it had existed long before his own emergence, back when it was only Prima who ruled over Cybertron on his own. 

Who knew what dangers lurked in these abandoned rooms and halls?

Starscream had even instructed the High Guard not to explore alone. Now there was a fragile sparkling somewhere on its own and Starscream will kill Shockwave if the sparkling injures himself.

He could feel his frame aging by the klik. 

Is this how all creators felt?

He knew how much of a helmache the High Guard would be, and sometimes Skywarp’s antics were enough to keep Starscream up during the lunar cycle, yet this nearly debilitating fear was new. 

Starscream had flown into most of the empty rooms of the outpost before he finally found the sparkling hiding in the main part of the base: an old war room where Prima Prime had once looked over battleplans… or at least that’s what Starscream assumed. There was a large throne on a raised dais, behind it was the sparkling who had completely hidden himself among the shadows.

“There you are you little—” Starscream bit his glossa, pressing his digits to his face as he tried to tone down his temper. The sparkling may not be able to understand him, yet he wasn’t going to curse in front of him either. He knelt down, his wings blocking out the only exit in case the sparkling tried to make a break for it again. “You would make a terrible soldier. I hand you over to a commanding officer and the moment he turns his back, you disappear. If you were any older, I would have punished you for insubordination.”

As he spoke, the sparkling crawled over to him, little servos reaching up. Starscream vented, shaking his helm as he scooped the little brat into his arms. The sparkling beeped happily, digits clinging to him as he settled down. There wasn’t a single apologetic look in those yellow optics as the sparkling looked up at him. Honestly, if Starscream didn’t know any better, he would say the sparkling looked almost smug, as if he had fallen right into his trap. Starscream tried not to roll his optics as he stood up, walking over to the throne before sitting in it.

“You will be a servoful, won’t you?” Starscream sprawled himself over the throne, resting his helm against the back of it as he thought of the cycles ahead of them. 

Sentinel’s deceit… his betrayal… Starscream was no fool. It would take cycles before they could dethrone him, and with the charisma that fragger had, it wouldn’t surprise Starscream if he managed to hold onto his power for a very long time.

The High Guard will survive until they can oust Sentinel.

It was their duty to their Primes and to Cybertron.

Yet, what life would this be for a sparkling?

Starscream glanced down, his dermas setting into a thin line as he watched the sparkling cheerfully sit on his lap, clapping his servos together - completely unaware of how… violated he had already been. He felt his own tanks roil as he stared at the hole near the sparkling’s chassis, the gaping emptiness that should not be there.

If he had moved faster… If he hadn’t been so shocked at Sentinel’s betrayal… then this sparkling wouldn’t have to grow without his cog.

And how would this sparkling survive on the surface like this?

How could Starscream ever allow him to fight?

Should he be allowed to fight?

When he had first been a mere High Guard recruit, Starscream didn’t think this would be the kind of dilemma that he would find himself in.

Admittedly, the reason he had joined the High Guard in the first place was because of the prestige it would bring to his designation. The loyalty and the passion came cycles later…

He didn’t know what former Commanders had to deal with, yet Starscream was sure they’d never had to deal with a scenario where all the Primes were gone and they were all banished to the surface.

It felt embarrassing, yet Starscream couldn’t help himself.

He pulled the sparkling closer to himself, terrified and in awe of this small spark of life in his arms. How easy it would be to extinguish it, and how horrible it felt to think of a future where it happens.

There were other lives dependent on him now.

The rest of the High Guard needed him.

They needed their Commander.

Yet, it was this little sparkling that made everything that had happened all too painful and all too real.

Starscream pressed his helm against that small frame.

“What do I do?”

—

It was their first lunar cycle on the surface.

After an entire solar cycle of instructing the High Guard, Starscream had found time to consult Soundwave on how to care for a sparkling. He knew the other mech had raised some on his own before, so he was the only one Starscream trusted to help.

Even with the advice though… Starscream didn’t feel that he was ready.

He knew it was important to gain as much recharge as he could, for tomorrow brought another solar cycle of commanding an entire army that looked up to him for leadership and guidance.

Yet he couldn’t, even with his trine in the room with him, Starscream couldn’t ignore the heavy whirring of his spark as his optics remained trained on the small figure resting on his chassis. 

Soundwave had said it was fine to put the sparkling on a separate berth, yet a part of Starscream still worried that he’d online tomorrow and that gray would have truly consumed the small frame. At least with the sparkling on him, Starscream could hear him venting and feel the small spark thrumming against his own.

He kept his servo on the sparkling, just in case.

And another matter that kept Starscream up.

He’d been referring to the sparkling as “the sparkling” for the entire solar cycle. 

Sentinel hadn’t mentioned a designation, and Starscream hadn’t given him one yet.

He couldn’t help but wonder if his creators ever got the chance to actually give him one.

Starscream reset his optics, servos gently petting the small frame which nuzzled closer to him. He was never really good with designations. Thundercracker and Skywarp had made fun of him before about it.

Yet, he couldn’t just refer to the sparkling as “the sparkling” for the rest of his life.

He glanced up at the ceiling, wracking his processor for a good designation, one that the sparkling would grow into in the future.

He didn’t know who the sparkling’s creators were, yet in his own way - perhaps it was the guilt that still gnawed at Starscream’s spark for being weak and not being there when he was needed the most) - Starscream thought the sparkling reminded him of Megatronus Prime. Perhaps it was the helm shape, or perhaps Starscream was beginning to miss the Prime that had taught him everything he knew to be a good Commander to the High Guard…

“It’s a high honor to be named after a Prime.” He muttered, mostly to himself even as he looked down at the sparkling. It would be a difficult designation to live up to, and Starscream knew it may be unfair, yet it was one that Starscream felt that this sparkling deserved to have.

“No matter what may happen in the future, know that you carry a great legacy on your shoulders.” He rested his servo on that small helm, a part of him already proud even if the sparkling hadn’t done anything yet. “From now on, you will be Megatron.”

[quilloleander]

oooooooo I would love seeing Starscream having a crisis over becoming a dad bc it's like the first time he's ever cared for something so helpless and small and cute and eugh— he would be a disaster

Starscream being a dad would totally be a disaster.

I don't know maybe I'm crazy but when I first saw TF:One Starscream, my mind just screamed "he can be a dad." Would he be a good one? No. Will he be manipulating Megatron after the events of the movie? Yes. But the concept of dad Starscream is so good.

Thank you for the request! Hope the one-shot was okay!

[quilloleander]

Back in Time to Love You

Sometimes the greatest tragedy of love is loving someone too late. Orion Pax wishes he can say he knew how to love, but that wouldn't be true. Luckily Optimus is here to rectify his past self's mistakes.

I have nothing to say except, if you know the "need him pregnant" poll going around. VOTE FOR MEGATRON AND MAKE HIM WIN.

*cough* that is all, thank you.

If Megatron wins, I will do an SG OPMeg request one-shot book (and yes I will be open to Spark Merging requests skskskks).

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66132490

================================================

Optimus wishes their first time was filled with the love he had for his conjunx, yet for all his flaws, a liar he was not.

—

The life of a cogless miner was not easy. If mining energon deep within the bowels of their unstable planet was not enough of a hint to how terrible their lives were, the constant fear of being taken by a cogged bot should show how hard it was. As horrible as it was, it was just another part of the system that even they - the cogless - had to participate in. It was a well-known fact that aside from being a miner, there were other occupations for the cogless. Sometimes, they could be bought out of the mines to become personal servants or assistants to cogged bots who needed an extra servo or two to help them in their daily lives. Those were the lucky ones. More often than not, there were those who were taken out of the mines... only to become shareware or "conjunxes" to cogged bots who may or may not truly care for them at all.

So, in such a system, it was no surprise that cogless bots had to get... creative... to avoid such a fate.

One of the most common ways to "lower" one's value so that there would be less chance of a cogged bot wanting them was to spark merge with another cogless bot. While the term "conjunxes" was meant to be romantic in nature, for a cogless, it really didn't mean anything more than a business transaction. Of course, there were genuine relationships among the cogless bots and some who did spark merge because they genuinely liked the other bot, but most of the time it was merely a deal between two bots.

There were no romantic feelings or attraction involved.

There isn't supposed to be.

Dee knew that.

He did.

And yet...

It was the sound of a pebble scuttling against the ground that Dee remembered the most. It wasn't even Pax's yellow optics staring down at him from above, or the rapid whirring of his spark as Dee's digits shook, that was the detail that repeated in his processor. It was the small noise that he tried to cling onto the most, because to remember the other details would be to remember the coldness of it all. The mines were always cold, but that was nothing compared to the apathy in Pax's optics.

He knows it isn't Pax's fault. After all, Pax didn't owe him anything.

And yet...

"Well? I don't have all lunar cycle, Dee." Pax rolled his optics, his servos braced against the ground as he caged Dee against it. His dermas was drawn into a tight frown, his faceplates merging together to show how irritated he was becoming. "You were the one who proposed this little deal. If you want to back out, then say so already. I could be in the archives right now. I don't have time to deal with you and whatever malfunction has entered your processor this time. If you want a conjunx, there's plenty of bots out there who would happily agree. Be grateful I'm even considering this."

Despite the harsh words, Pax reached out a servo and started to pet at Dee's helm - and though it stung his spark to see how frustrated Pax was at him... Dee enjoyed the comfort. He knew in his own way, Pax did care for him. This was why he was here in the first place. Pax had rejected other bots who had tried to ask him to be their conjunx.

So it meant a lot that Pax had agreed when Dee had asked him.

If it had to be anyone, Dee was secretly glad that it was him that Pax wanted.

Even if he didn't like him that way.

With shaking servos, Dee reached towards his chassis, digits grasping at the seams before he finally managed to dig into them. Manually, he slowly pried it open to reveal his spark chamber, and for a moment the blue light of it nearly engulfed the yellow glow of Pax's optics. Then the brightness dimmed, or perhaps his optics had adjusted to the sudden light, and all Dee could see was the curiosity in Pax's optics as he stared into Dee's spark. A part of him felt embarrassed, knowing that this was the first and perhaps the only time he'd ever expose himself so vulnerably like this. A part of him was scared that Pax would... laugh, yet after a few more kliks of staring, Pax reached out to his own chassis. There was no hesitation in his movement as he opened his spark chamber, his servos moving methodically as if this was nothing to him.

Dee tried to hold on his gasp as green light nearly blinded him. It was a dark green spark, its presence somehow overpowering his own even as Pax had remained on top of Dee, unmoving. Dee couldn't help but stare deeply into Pax's spark chamber, trying to commit the sight to memory even as his spark whirred with pain at the thought that Pax was only doing this for the sake of lowering his value. Even so, as he stared into Pax's spark, Dee realized that perhaps it wasn't Pax's purple that was his favorite color... but rather the green of his spark... 

This is the closest he will ever come to knowing Pax.

"Hold still." Pax muttered softly, the servo on Dee's helm moving down to brace itself against his shoulder. Dee nodded, even though he knew Pax didn't really need an answer from him. He kept his optics trained above as Pax slowly lowered himself to press against him. 

It was the warmth that registered in his processor first. A gnawing heat that begun deep within his spark chamber and began to claw its way through his whole frame and into his entire system. He felt his cooling fans kick in, his intake gasping open as he tried to cycle more air into his vents. He could feel Pax's servo clamp tighter against his shoulder, the other one that was by his helm grasping desperately against the rocky ground. Through the haze, Dee could have sworn he saw smoke coming out of Pax's smokestacks, yet he didn't have time to process that as he felt his spark whirr faster - attaching itself to Pax's. A sliver of electricity cascaded down his wires and he jolted up, servos grasping onto the frame above him as he nearly pulled Pax closer. He thinks he may have screamed before the merging completely took over.

For a long moment, there wasn't a D-16 and there wasn't an Orion Pax.

They both simply... were.

Two sparks merged as one, their emotions leaking into one another, becoming one another, as their beings absorbed everything about the other. 

For a moment, Dee found himself lost within the secrets of his own spark. The love he had for the other mech, and the willingness to do anything for him. He felt their sparks whirr together in tandem, their frames turning searing hot as the feelings he held passed through the merging. Somehow, he knew he was crying, the chill of the cooling agent against his cheekplates a welcome distraction from the overwhelming heat around him. There was so much in the bond that he never wanted Pax to know. The longing. The wanting. The desperation to stay by Pax's side even when he knew the other didn't like him the same way. It choked him, nearly sending his processor into emergency stasis as the strength of his conviction towards Pax nearly overwhelmed the bond. It felt as though his very spark was pressing tightly against Pax's and refused to let go.

Then in response...

Cold.

One so painful that it overrode the warmth of the bond and shocked Dee into awareness.

Yet the merging wasn't done. He had no choice but to lay there and take everything that Pax felt for him, the way his own spark had done to Pax's. This time, Pax's spark pushed back against his own, almost as if it was rejecting him. If the heat was unbearable before, the cold was downright agonizing as though it was freezing the energon in his wires. It drowned him in its apathy. The contempt. The pity. The condescension. There was no hint of emotion in it and Dee nearly felt as if he was being siphoned out as Pax he laid there on the ground, his blue optics gazing upwards at yellow optics that seemed to stare down at him with disappointment. With each passing klik, it felt as though Pax's spark was bullying his back into his spark chamber, and that momentary bliss ebbed away until Dee felt sick. He didn't know when, but he had stopped clinging onto Pax's frame, which made it easier for the other mech to pull away once both their sparks had separated and returned to their chambers.

Pax quickly slammed his chassis close, his face devoid of any emotion that Dee nearly wanted to cry. Shakily, he got out from underneath the other mech, his servos reaching towards his chassis as he gently closed it. His spark chamber felt tender, still aching with the bond that now pulsed between the two of them.

He couldn't help it.

Dee looked up at Pax, his blue optics watering with cooling agent.

Pax met his gaze without flinching.

Then a pitying smile crossed his face, and Dee was sure he would have rather taken Pax's disgust than this.

"I'm flattered, Dee, but you're not my type of bot." Pax patted his shoulder, as if he was consoling him. "Don't take it personally, the spark bond doesn't really mean anything. We call each other conjunxes but we both know that's just to get those cogged bots off our afts. What you feel about me? It'll pass."

Pax stood up, stretching his frame and brushing off any dirt that had gotten onto the metal.

As if what they'd done didn't change anything.

As if he was going to return back to the barracks and go to recharge like nothing had changed.

While Dee felt like his entire world was collapsing in on him.

The other mech began to walk off, leaving Dee in the dark, but just before he rounded the corner, he flashed Dee a smile over his shoulder.

"If it helps, you're a pretty mech, Dee. Anyone would be lucky to have you."

And he was gone.

And all Dee wanted to say was that it didn't matter if anyone else wanted him.

Because he only loved Pax...

Even if Pax could never love someone like him at all.

—

"Careful, sweetspark, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you weren't happy to see me."

Megatron refrained from rolling his optics, his servos creaking as he curled them into fists. The dust had settled in the air between them, the light from outside lighting up the small cave they had both fallen into during their battle. He hadn't wasted a single moment, choosing to blast his way out of there with his cannon. It had been risky, turning his back on the Prime and haphazardly shooting at the fallen debris until he had created a safe way out, yet Megatron hadn't cared. If he was to die in that cave, then he'd happily take the Prime out with him. He should leave now, there was enough room for him to transform and fly back towards the Decepticon base. Yet something in the Prime's word forced him to look back, his dermas set into a tight frown as he looked at a mech that he once adored... someone he may have gladly died for.

"The circumstances make that clear, Prime." He growled out, wanting nothing more than to return back to the base. Megatron could already hear Starscream's lecture in his audials.

Yes, he was reckless.

Yes, he should not have fought the Prime on his own.

Yes, he shouldn't be indulging Optimus in banter.

"Don't be like that, Dee." Megatron startled when he felt a servo against the side of his helm, his brief irritation blinding him enough that the Prime was somehow able to move closer. The other's voice had lowered, his face mask withdrawn to show the soft smile on his face as he pressed closer towards Megatron. He took a step back, cursing internally when his wings scratched against the stone walls of the cave. The Prime took it as an opportunity to slam his servos against the side of Megatron's helm, caging him in. "Don't tell me you're still upset about our little argument? I lifted your banishment cycles ago, and yet you didn't come back to me... It's been so long since we were together alone... Now that we have the chance, why don't you tell your Prime what's keeping you away from me? Is it the High Guard?"

Megatron tried to move his helm back, yet there was not enough room. He felt Optimus' warmth near his audials, his words soft despite the threat that laid within. "Say the word, and I'll have all of them executed. Every single one. I have you now. You're safe, okay? They can't control you while I'm here. Everything will be okay, Dee. Let's get you home. I have a nice warm berth waiting for you. No more of this fighting. We both know you're too much of softspark for this war."

Optimus nuzzled the side of his helm, the servos that trapped him moved slowly down until Megatron felt himself be pulled into an embrace. He felt himself nearly choke when he felt digits try to pry at his chassis, as if Optimus was trying to—

He felt a searing anger in his spark and without hesitation, Megatron slammed his helm against the Prime's, feeling satisfied when he felt a trickle of energon against his face.

The Prime stumbled back, red optics blown wide as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Sweetspark—"

"Call me that again, Prime, and I'll rip your voice box out of you!" He snarled, the memory of Pax nearly ripping Starscream's voice box popping up in his processor. It wouldn't even compare to all the atrocities Optimus had committed these past cycles, and Megatron was done feeling guilty at the idea of harming a mech who thinks he could play with Megatron's feelings. 

He would never fault his old self for loving Pax.

D-16 was many things.

Naive. Too trusting. Too loyal. Too much of a doormat.

But Megatron would never fault him for being in love.

Never that.

"Do you think I would fall for your lies, Optimus?" He couldn't help the indignant and pained laugh that came from his staticky voice box, cycles of longing and hurt pooling out of him as he confronted Optimus with everything that he had wanted to say for so long. "I love you... I loved you... That day we became conjunxes and spark merged, even if I knew how you felt, I still loved you. It didn't matter to me that you didn't want me, or you didn't see me that way, so long as I had a place by your side, I could have endured anything so long as I got to be with you. Even if I knew you didn't really like me... even though I knew you were using me... I didn't care. I didn't care when you would pin your mistakes on me. I didn't care when the mining supervisors docked my energon quota or made me do more shifts because of you. I didn't care that all your gifts were bribes or that you dragged me into situations I didn't want to be in. I loved you enough to blind myself to everything because I foolishly thought that maybe one day you would care enough to at least... try to love me."

He'd said these words before.

Soundwave had helped him process everything... after... everything.

Yet it didn't stop the cooling agent from leaking down his face as the words poured out of him again.

Because no matter how many times he's promised himself to let go.

A part of him could never stop loving Pax.

"If you want my helm displayed in Iacon, then you'll have to find a better excuse to draw me back. You'll have to break all my limbs and drag me screaming because there is no way I am ever falling for this. You don't get to pretend to love me, Prime." He took a deep vent, forcing down all the rage and sadness he held. "You don't get to do this to me, Pax. I won't let you."

He'd never been brave enough, no matter how many times Starscream had begged him to do it.

Yet seeing Optimus pretend to want him, all Megatron felt was disgust.

A good fact about spark merges...

They were very easy to break.

He closed his optics, the bond shattering between them. A searing pain began to spread through his chassis, and he nearly purged as it tore through his system. Yet... it wasn't as painful as he thought it would be. It felt like a quick burn, the same type of agony he felt in his arm each time he used his cannon. It barely lasted for a few seconds...

And yet there was a scream.

He opened his optics, confused until he looked down to find the Prime curled up on the ground, servos grasping at his chassis as if...

He should care.

He really should.

Yet Megatron could only bitterly laugh as he looked down at Optimus.

"Oh." He wanted to die. He wanted Optimus to die. "You really are cruel, Prime. Why now?"

Megatron shook his helm, unable to bring himself to sympathize with the Prime. It didn't matter, really. They both had a war to win. What did it matter if they held feelings for one another? Megatron would never let himself be vulnerable to Optimus ever again, and Optimus didn't deserve anything from him. He turned around, preparing himself for the long journey back to the base.

He had hardly taken a few steps before he felt something slam against his back.

He spluttered, energon seeping out of his intake as he fell forward, an excruciating pain blooming against his back. His servos clung to the rocky ground as his HUD began to flash with warnings. He barely had time to read any of them before he felt another hit against him, this time against his wing panels. He screamed, desperately trying to crawl away but he felt the axe disengage from his back before slamming down once again.

He could feel the wires in his frame snap, the axe slamming over and over and over. Megatron tried to summon his weapon system, yet the pain was too overwhelming as Optimus continued to tear through him, energon coating the ground and the walls as the world around him began to darken.

—

'I loved you. I loved you. I loved you.'

It was that phrase that repeated in Optimus' processor.

It wasn't even the torture in his spark when Dee had broken their conjunx bond, though it had hurt and he felt as though he would die again.

Loved.

As if Dee was allowed to ever move on from him.

He didn't know how long he kept repeating that phrase in his processor until he finally snapped back into reality, surprised to find that at some point his battlemask had snapped back into place. He quickly sent a code to open it, venting hard as he tried to focus on what was in front of him.

Optimus was always fond of blue.

But not like this.

He let out a staticky noise, optics gazing at the blue energon that coated the walls and the floor. In the mess, he could hardly even recognize Dee underneath it all - his conjunx's white frame completely broken and stained with blue.

Optimus felt his legs give out from underneath him, his servos scrambling to pull Dee into his arms as if he could somehow stop the bleeding that way. The other mech let out a strangled gasp, frame still fighting against him as if Dee was trying to get away from him. Optimus could barely look at the axe that had fallen out of his hold, the edge of it stained with Dee's energon.

"Dee! Primus, I— It's okay. You'll be okay!" He could hear the desperation in his voice even as he tried to look through his internal comms. He didn't know how fast a medic could get to where they were, but they better get there as soon as they could, otherwise Optimus would have a new helm to display for all of Iacon to see. "Shhh, I have you Dee. I have you."

"D-d-don't." Even with his optics closed, Dee could still speak, though it came out in short bursts of static. Optimus held onto him tighter, trying to will him alive. "D-d-don't t-touch me."

"I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean to do this, right?" He could feel his vents rising in frequency, his helm shaking as he tried to convince Dee. "I would never hurt you! I didn't... You hurt me first! I... I didn't mean to do this! I would never... Dee, you know I love you, don't you?"

He paused, waiting for the other mech to do or say anything.

Carefully, dulling blue optics opened to stare up at him, and Dee only smiled as energon pooled out from the edge of his intake.

"Optimus... Pax... whoever you are..." His conjunx let out a pained laugh. "You don't love me. You don't know how to."

Then once bright blue optics turned a dull gray... the rest of his frame following after.

Optimus didn't even have time to process what had happened before he felt the Matrix thrum in his chassis.

And the world turned dark around him

—

No, Optimus knew deep down that back when he had been Orion Pax... he didn't love Dee.

He didn't know how to.

Orion Pax didn't know how to appreciate what he had.

He always wanted more.

He would never fault his old self for wanting more.

Orion Pax was many things.

Demanding. Too aggressive. Too determined. Too much of a dreamer.

But Optimus would never fault him for any of that.

But what he could never forgive himself for... was choosing to love too late.

—

Optimus startled awake, surprised to find that he was in the mining barracks once more... and yet...

He stumbled out of the berth, his large frame unable to fit the old charging berth that he'd once had. He looked around, realizing immediately that somehow... he was back in the past. He could see some of his old cogless colleagues, their faces relaxed in recharge. He didn't waste time in any of them as he quickly snapped his attention forward, his spark panicking slightly when he noticed the empty berth across from him.

It took him a few kliks to notice the huddled frame on the ground in front of it. Optimus didn't waste anytime, immediately rushing towards Dee who was curled up on the ground, letting out small whimpers as he held onto his chassis.

Optimus didn't know what was wrong, but he pulled Dee closer to himself, running gentle servos down his frame.

Dee's hazy blue optics looked up at him, unseeing as he muttered softly, "Pax..."

He gently shushed him, holding his conjunx with the intent of never letting him go again.

"I have you."

[quilloleander]

As there is a poll going on right now about getting Megatron pregnant (and if you haven’t voted, you should because we need to get our glorious Decepticon leader pregnant!), I decided to share a bit about my SG Continuity soup (which I will be making fanfics for starting June skksksks).

This is relevant because that SG continuity soup involves OPMeg sparklings and I just wanted to share all four of them because I thought it would be fun and I think the OPMeg server can use a break from my craziness so I shall put this on my Tumblr instead.

So, I based them off of the four celestial bodies that make up the Orion Sword part of the Orion constellation.

Orionis

He’s the eldest. Created and emerged before the war. He was initially an Autobot and one of the more ruthless ones at that. He was very loyal to SG OP but valued family in that he didn’t actually want SG Megatron dead - unlike Optimus who did begin to resent Megatron eventually. After the war, he becomes a neutral and chose to become a “detective.”

I’m not good with describing appearances but he has a similar frame to Optimus, his paintjob is white (from Megatron) and green (from Optimus), and he has Megatron’s blue optics.

Theta

She’s the second eldest but the twin sister of Iota. Created and emerged during the war (because OPMeg are freaks like that let’s be honest), Theta was taken in by OP and was a very loyal Autobot. She’s a medic who pretends to run a “neutral” medical base but it’s actually a trap to lure in Decepticons. Despite this though, she actively doesn’t harm neutrals.

Her appearance is that she has a similar frame to Optimus, her paintjob is blue (from Megatron) and black (from Megatron), and she has Megatron’s blue optics.

Iota

She’s the third creation but the twin sister of Theta. Created and emerged during the war, she was taken in by Megatron. Surprisingly, Megatron actually did his best to not involve her in the war so she grew up a little clueless about the ruthlessness of the Autobots and SG OP. Unfortunately, this does backfire later on because she ends up defecting to the Autobots after the war. She is also comically clumsy.

Her appearance is that she has a similar frame to Megatron’s frame (reformatted flier frame, not his old miner frame), her paintjob is purple (from Optimus), and she has OP’s red optics.

Messier

They are the youngest. Created and emerged after the war that destroyed the Earth and killed Megatron, OP kind of… cut them out of Megatron’s spark chamber so Messier kind of developed inside of an incubator instead of their carrier. While OP tried to give Messier a normal life since the war was over, Messier eventually understood the cruelties of the Autobots (literally cause the Autobots bombed a neutral planet that Messier was visiting) and ended up defecting to the SG DJD (who saved them from the bombing). They have the outlier ability to track anyone so long as they have a perfect image of the person they’re tracking. Usually it’s impossible to escape Messier’s tracking outlier ability unless you drastically change appearance. At least, there’s always a mark showing you are being tracked.

Their appearance is that they have a similar frame to OP’s. Their paintjob is white (from Megatron). They have Megatron’s purple optics (this will be explained later sksksk).

So yeah those are all my OPMeg fankids… I am ruining their lives lmao.

[quilloleander]

This isn't a request and all, but rereading the 2nd eldritch prime au of primatonus somehow made me imagine Megatron, raised in the lake and not taken, spinning around in circles like that one spinning seal video in YouTube whenever he's bored and awake, and he'll do that for hours until one of his creators noticed he's awake and put him back to sleep.

That is all, thank you for making such wonderful fanfics, the latest one with the baby d-16 and the high guards forming a successful operation to babysit him is the best, starscream and all of the high guards in a room discussing the perfect schedule with a picture of Megatron in the middle while everyone take notes is an amazing sight.

I had to search up what you meant by the seal spinning thing and oh my god that is such a funny image. Now I can't help imagine just baby merformer Megatron just spinning around in the small lake SKSKKS. He's just making little noises the entire time until Megatronus ends up having to just put him back to take a nap. I love this image ;-;

Also thank you for liking the fanfics! That's also a funny image that they're all just planning out the schedule, though originally it was actually Starscream who made the entire schedule skskks.

Anyway, I will get back to writing soon, probably starting June (where I plan to write more for the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Request Book, plus a secret other project hahaha). I got sick but I'm fine now and then for some reason our internet died and just came back right now lmaooo. I think I'm experiencing the infamous Ao3 curse right now skskks.

But anyway, thank you for the funny and cute imagery!

[quilloleander]

Hello! Just finished reading Call of the Deep and let me say that I love the concept of thr Primes being eldritch beings. Aside from the Primes that you mentioned in your story, do you have other ideas for the rest of the 13th like Solus, Nexus or even Liege Maximo?

Hi!

I'm glad you liked the story!

Hm, as for the other Primes, the Primes as Eldritches AU was conceived within the OPMeg server that I'm in. It's been a long time since we've actually talked about it in there so I don't quite recall what we decided for each of the Primes and I'd have to search through again.

However, I do remember what Solus' was since we all agreed that since her primary purpose was forging weapons, she would be some sort of lava eldritch. If you've watched Moana, Te Kā's design is kind of similar. However, I do envision Solus as still very much made of metal - however molten metal. It's a bit difficult to explain but imagine like a Cybertronian but they're in a state of currently melting due to heat, except for Solus she's actually still able to maintain a physical form - though she does leave traces of burning metal behind her wherever she goes. Currently, she's in stasis underneath a volcano pretty close by Prima and Megatronus since she and Megatronus are besties.

As for Nexus and Liege Maximo, I don't remember what they were in the original AU.

However, for my personal interpretation. Nexus is five separate artifacts currently scattered all over Cybertron. He's technically a "dead" Eldritch, in that he's completely unconscious/dead because of the fact that he's been completely severed into five pieces. However, whenever an ordinary Cybertronian ends up coming across these artifacts and touching them - they end up getting their entire selves erased because that's when Nexus comes back to "life." Essentially, these artifacts when touched will end up turning whoever touched them into Nexus (because original Nexus is a combiner who can separate into five different bots). Currently, there's only one artifact left guarded by the Senate - the other artifacts have already been found so there's technically four Nexuses running around trying to find the last remaining artifact.

Liege Maximo as the 11th Prime is similar to Megatronus in that he looks like an ordinary Cybertronian except for certain qualities. In Liege Maximo's case... he doesn't actually have a physical form. He can only appear in reflections or shadows. So like in his case, if you look into a mirror or at your shadow, there may be certain discrepancies - like maybe your reflection is smiling or your shadow is weirdly in front of you when the sun is also in front of you. He's mostly harmless as he prefers to actually trick rather than harm Cybertronians. However, you better hope he doesn't get attached to you, because if he latches on too long to someone - they end up essentially turning into the opposite of themselves (like turning into a "lie" of who they really are). Liege is one of the few that is actually awake since... the Senate can't do anything to stop him lmao and he doesn't want to play by their or Primus' rules. Luckily, due to Alchemist Prime being in stasis (Liegechemist is canon in this AU sorry skskks), Liege sticks around the area where Alchemist is (organic forest).

But yeah, hope that answered your question!

[quilloleander]

Love your stories, really sorry to hear you got sick! Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you!

I'm still sick but it will go away soon... I hope.

[quilloleander]

Could I please request a story with SG Soundwave and baby megs? I don’t have any sort of plot in mind but I really do love your sg stories hehe :3

Hi! Thank you for the request!

And thank you! I'm glad you like my SG stories since Shattered Glass is my favorite continuity/concept.

I will not lie, when writing the one-shot, I was having trouble cause SG Soundwave is not my forte (I need to practice writing him more cause he's fun, like definitely the most positive and happy character I've written for lmao) hahaha, though hopefully the one-shot is good and that you liked it.

[quilloleander]

Even Morale Officers Need a Pick-Me Up (SG)

Prompt: A story with SG Soundwave and baby megs

This is part of the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Book I promised to make.

"I'm back to writing" and then I proceeded to remain sick and have a terrible cough. My immune system hates me, but it's fine because I hate it more out of spite. Anyway, hopefully I can actually continue writing now lmao.

So, the prompt was just SG Soundwave and sparkling Megatron. As such, I didn't have a lot to work with so just have this very fluffy interaction between the two. I do admit I have a hard time actually writing in SG Soundwave's POV and dialogue because he's one of the few SG characters that I can't actually pin down skskks. He's supposed to a loud dudebro but... I am not a dudebro SKSKKS. I don't even have any friends that are dudebros, the closest I have is a guy who goes to the gym and he just likes to be fit lmao. But yeah, I tried my best with SG Soundwave and I will still try to practice writing this guy until I'm satisfied with an actual characterization of him I like.

Also AAAAAAAAAA sparkling SG Megatron... my baby ;-; (I have a clear favorite and I am not sorry HAHAHA).

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65467561/chapters/168501307

================================================

Checking his chronometer, Soundwave felt very happy that he had done his duty as morale officer for the solar cycle. Not that his job was ever done as there were many bots to still talk to and still so much to say, even during the lunar cycle.

Lowering the volume ever so slightly, knowing how some bots could get over how loud his music was, Soundwave spun around in his chair as he moved away from the broadcasting equipment that controlled the communications system of the entire High Guard base. 

All in all, the solar cycle had been pretty great.

Leaning back slightly, Soundwave glanced down at his servos, recalibrating the digits and wincing as it took a bit of time for each digit to move. Spending most of his time behind a desk did not come without a few consequences. Even before he had joined the High Guard all those cycles ago, he always had trouble with his servos and their tendency to lock up.

Being on the surface without a proper medic to help maintain his frame only worsened the condition, and now sometimes even his wristplates had trouble moving efficiently.

He hadn’t even told his Cassettes yet…

Just as he was about to stand up and head out, he heard the door panels to the room slide open. He leaned further against the chair, teetering it just enough that if he moved any further it would fully fall over with him right on it.

At first, he couldn’t see who had entered the room, then as he turned his gaze down, he found a familiar white frame come into view.

“Awwww, hey buddy. Aren’t you supposed to be having your energon, right now?” Soundwave quickly sat upright, reaching down for the small sparkling who happily reached up.

Little blue wing panels fluttered as Megatron settled on Soundwave’s lap. Now that he was closer, Soundwave noticed that the sparkling had brought an energon cube with him. Patting his helm encouragingly, he waited for Megatron to refuel. Shockwave was usually in charge of giving Megatron his energon, yet Soundwave didn’t mind if the sparkling wanted to stay with him for some reason. 

Like, he was a little envious that Starscream and Shockwave usually got to have the sparkling. Not that Soundwave minded, he knew it would be boring for Megatron if he was cooped up inside like Soundwave was.

And like, Megatron probably wouldn’t be so fond of the music Soundwave played. Most of the High Guard already complained about the music, but hey, if they wanted good music they should have brought some over before they had fled Iacon.

With one servo carefully around the sparkling in case he suddenly moved, Soundwave slowly scooted over to the broadcast system and lowered the volume even more. Sparkling audials were so sensitive. Even if Megatron was not a fussy sparkling, being so quiet all the time that it was concerning, Soundwave wanted him to be comfortable in the broadcasting room. 

Nobody ever goes inside to visit unless they needed to talk to him, or if it was his cassettes coming back to tell him what they saw in their reconnaissance missions, or if it was Starscream about to give him an order. Soundwave would like Megatron to know that he was always welcome in the broadcasting room.

He glanced down again at the sparkling on his lap, shaking his helm as he realized that throughout his internal ramblings, Megatron hadn’t taken a single bite out of the energon… which… Shockwave did teach him how to eat on his own, right?

“That.” Soundwave pointed at the energon, drawing Megatron’s attention as blue optics stared up at him curiously. He directed his digit to his face, wincing slightly as he realized that he still had his battlemask on. “Goes into the intake.”

He repeated the action, hoping that Megatron could understand him. After doing it for the third time, Megatron shook his helm, a small pout appearing on his dermas as he held up the energon. Small servos were wrapped around it carefully, as if he was afraid he would drop it.

Guess Shockwave didn’t teach Megatron to refuel yet.

Soundwave didn’t mind. He pried the energon away from Megatron’s grip, holding it in the palm of his servo so that the sparkling could see it. Instead of throwing a fit (because Soundwave could still fondly recall how his Cassettes used to be upset each time they thought he was taking their energon away from them, oh they were so cute back then, though they were still just as adorable!), Megatron looked very happy that Soundwave had taken the energon.

“Okay, little buddy, let’s take your energon, then you can play and have a good recharge later, how’s that sound?”

He moved the energon closer, hoping that would be enough to make Megatron take a bite. Yet instead of what Soundwave wanted, Megatron’s optics narrowed and a small frown took over the smile that was on his dermas. Soundwave tilted his helm, trying to think of how Shockwave or Starscream did this.

“Uh… oh! Here comes the train, choo choo!” He tried to mimic the noises of the cargo trains, as he’s seen Shockwave do this. Still, even as he tried to press the energon, Megatron did not budge and got even more upset as he glared up at Soundwave.

“Okay, little buddy, you need to like totally work with me here cause I don’t know what you want.” He handed the energon back to Megatron, who quickly snatched it away from him with a small huff. “Ah! Don’t be mad at me, little guy, I’m only trying to help you.”

Megatron shook his helm, rolling his optics (a habit that Soundwave knows came from Starscream as it practically mimicked the flight commander’s same look of exasperation) before reaching the cube out towards him. He hadn’t learned to form any words yet, so Megatron just let out a long beep.

Soundwave stared at the energon, his confusion slowly disappearing as he realized what the problem was.

He checked his chronometer.

Megatron already did refuel. Soundwave knew how meticulous Shockwave was, so of course he wouldn’t have missed Megatron’s refuel time. 

So that meant—

“OH! Is this for me?” He picked the energon up again, eliciting a beep from Megatron who pointed at the cube before reaching up to poke Soundwave’s battlemask. Soundwave couldn’t help but laugh, feeling so silly. Megatron must think he was being very, very ridiculous. “Awww, thank you. You didn’t have to.”

Reluctantly, Soundwave unlatched the battlemask. He quickly slapped the servo that held the energon to his lower face, swallowing the energon immediately before the battlemask hissed close.

Even his own cassettes haven’t seen him without it, and… Soundwave didn’t think he could show his actual face to anyone yet.

He glanced down at Megatron, who had looked away as Soundwave refueled. 

Soundwave couldn’t help it, he brought the sparkling into a hug. “So respectful! You’re never that nice to Starscream!”

Megatron giggled, servos hugging Soundwave back.

Maybe one day Soundwave could gain the courage to show his face.

But for now, he was happy as he was.

[quilloleander]

The Night Shift

Prompt: High Guard siblings AU

This is part of the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Book I promised to make.

I was prepared to write last week but then I got sick lmaooooo. Technically I'm still sick cause my cough hasn't left and everything hurts from the amount of coughing I've been doing. Hopefully I am okay now cause I do want to write skskksks.

So this prompt was made by someone in the opmeg server I'm in cause we've talked about a silly crack AU where "what if the entirety of the High Guard + Megatron are Primatronus' children."

So yeah that's the context that you need to know before reading this lmao. In that AU, Megatron is the youngest and his emergence was actually pretty violent cause he nearly died (hence the somewhat gray frame) and that emergence nearly killed Megatronus too. So because of that, the High Guard take turns watching over Megatron during recharge time cause they worry he may die at some point. Also a slight warning before getting into this, Shockwave is a little different than how he's usually portrayed because at this point he hasn't been empurata'd yet.

Also I only wrote about Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Soundwave, and Shockwave cause they're the only one I know are definitely and canonically part of the High Guard cause I was unable to recognize the others (please feel free to tell me who else is in the High Guard because I cannot actually pinpoint because I'm not that good lmao).

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65467561/chapters/169191421

================================================

Starscream arranged the watch schedule in a similar way that he organized which shifts and routes the rest of the High Guard needed to patrol the palace: with efficiency and with precision. Though admittedly, getting his many siblings to listen to him was difficult as everyone wanted a turn watching over the newest addition to the roster. He’d had to yell at a few of them before for trying to sneak into the nursery when it was not their turn. Skywarp was the worst of them all, what with his ability to warp in and out before Starscream could notice.

At least no one would attempt it this lunar cycle as it was his turn. Starscream let out a vent, standing guard by the side of the small berth. With only the moon as his source of light, Starscream’s optics tried to adjust as he stared down at the tiny sparkling that was hardly moving. If it wasn’t for the occasional twitch, Starscream may have thought Megatron was dead. The dull silver frame did nothing to help, being too close to gray - and he’d heard what the medics had said after that disastrous emergence. Megatron had actually nearly gone offline.

“For such a little grounder, you have become quite the nuisance.” He knelt down, optics narrowing as he reached out a servo to pet the sparkling’s helm. It was hardly his first time watching over one of his younger siblings. Primus knows their sire, Prima, just wouldn’t stop until they had a grounder sparkling. To think such a tiny sparkling could nearly kill their carrier, Megatronus, it sounded ridiculous if it wasn’t for the fact that Starscream had been a witness. Still, by the miracle of Primus, no one’s lives were lost. “Already upstaging us all with your emergence, huh?”

Small yellow optics were suddenly blinking up at him, and Starscream internally cursed as he realized that his monologuing had woken Megatron. Instead of a shrill cry though, the sparkling only tried to grab at his digits, tiny servos grasping and slipping. Starscream couldn’t help but chuckle. “Shame that you’re a grounder, then again if you weren’t then who knows when our sire would stop. We already have an entire army at this rate. Aren’t you just lucky you have so many older siblings who could easily take you flying in the future? Though I’m the superior flier, of course.”

As if agreeing, Megatron let out a beep. 

Starscream has had the pleasure (or displeasure, it depends on which sibling if you asked him) of seeing most of his siblings grow up since they were sparklings, and he couldn’t help but feel his spark melt each time. He felt that he should savor this, as Megatron would be the final one. He still didn’t know how to feel about that.

Shaking his helm, he leaned closer to the sparkling, a mischievous grin playing on his dermas. 

“As the youngest, you are absolutely going to hate us when you grow up.”

—

Thundercracker, despite what his designation may suggest, was the quietest among his trine. He did not share Starscream’s penchant for… screaming nor did he have Skywarp’s energy when it came to being a whole menace. He preferred the silence, even if he did care very much for his trine. It was why he enjoyed taking shifts during the lunar cycle, as there were hardly any other mech aside from his other siblings who were doing their rounds like him - though even then they tend to be loud and obnoxious. Which is why he was glad for this lunar cycle’s shift.

He glanced up from the datapad he had been typing on, taking a small break from the screenplay he was writing to glance over at the small berth. While this was a good time to focus on his writing, he could not help but glance over every few minutes to ensure that Megatron was still… alive. His optics settled on the small sparkling, who in the time he had been writing, had turned over so that he was laying on his back instead. Fortunately, it appeared he hadn’t woken up as Starscream had mentioned Megatron may wake from recharge sometimes.

Still, he slowly moved the chair closer, glancing once again at the sparkling before returning to his writing. He understood when to enjoy the silence, and lunar cycles like these were rare. Truthfully, he hoped that Megatron would grow up to be more like him and Soundwave. Unlike most of their other siblings, they were the only quiet ones and it would be nice to have another sibling he did not need to tune out. In a way, he also knew when to savor a good moment, and watching over his younger brother like this was one of those moments.

Despite Starscream’s attempts to take control of the situation, it was inevitable that everyone within the High Guard would have learnt of the disastrous emergence. If it were not for the screaming, every single one of them would have interrogated the medics anyway. Thundercracker didn’t even understand why Starscream always felt it necessary to take on that burden, considering he was hardly the eldest of them all even if he did emerge first among their trine. Thundercracker lowered the datapad to his lap, letting out a small vent as he glanced over again at the newest addition to their family. 

A grounder.

Thundercracker had to wonder how they would integrate Megatron into the High Guard. Starscream had designed everything for fliers, and Thundercracker felt bad at the idea that Megatron would be unable to keep up with them all. He even had to wonder if their creators would allow the small mech to join the High Guard on account of how weak they seem to think of him. Thundercracker preferred to keep a more neutral outlook.

After all, one could never tell what may happen in the future. Time will only tell.

For now, they should all savor the present.

—

“Good, you’re still alive!” Skywarp clapped his servos together before he quickly reached for the sparkling, doing a little spin as he raised Megatron a little bit higher than him. He felt his wing panels shift behind him, fluttering a little only to move them a bit more when he saw how much his younger brother paid attention to them. “You know, you should be in recharge, but that’s for losers. I should report this to Screamer but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him! And it’s not like I woke you up, right? I didn’t warp in that loud.”

He glanced over at the knocked over pile of metal letter blocks.

No, those were definitely like that before he entered the room.

Skywarp turned his attention back to Megatron, the sparkling still enamored with his wings as he tried to reach for them.

“Yeah, you were definitely already awake when I got here.” He assured both of them as he sat down on a nearby chair, placing the sparkling on his lap. “And you know what? Even if I did wake you, I think I’m doing you a service cause all you do is recharge. You need some enrichment.”

Honestly, Skywarp did hear the horrors of the emergence, which wasn’t hard to miss since he was pretty sure the entire palace heard the screaming, but he still thought they were overreacting. He glanced down at Megatron, who - while, yeah, he was the smallest sparkling Skywarp has probably ever seen and held - was attempting to reach for him with tiny servos. He still had that sickly dull silver paint, yet Skywarp hardly thought he was in danger of actually dying. Everyone was just so dramatic as if their carrier wasn’t the Megatronus Prime. They were all warriors for Primus’ sake.

Now, Skywarp was not a patient mech, but he waited eagerly as Megatron managed to crawl forward - stumbling as he tried to reach out to touch Skywarp’s wings that he had drawn a little closer to himself. He felt little digits press against the metal before Megatron wobbled and nearly fell off of his lap. Without much worry, he quickly caught him - careful not to hold Megatron upside down again because last time Starscream had yelled at him for an entire joor about how that wasn’t how sparklings should be held and blah blah blah - and settled him back down.

“You’re fine.” He patted Megatron on the helm, leaning back a little on the chair he was on. “You’re not as delicate as they make you out to be. They probably just don’t want to deal with another menace, but don’t worry, your older brother Skywarp is going to make sure you grow up cool and not boring like them.” 

As he continued to ramble, he was only disrupted by a tinier voice calling out.

“Sky!”

He paused, glancing down at the sparkling below him before a delighted smile crossed his face.

“Oh, I am so telling Screamer about this.”

—

Soundwave was not part of the watch schedule. 

He had his own cassettes to care for and Starscream deemed it unnecessary to place him on any lunar cycle shift for that reason alone.

No. He should not be standing guard over Megatron. It was not part of his own daily schedule.

Yet, another one of their siblings had begged him to cover for them and Soundwave had obliged as he always did.

Not without a cost, of course. 

Soundwave will consider the payment later when he needs a favor.

For now, he focused most of his attention on his duty for the lunar cycle.

With his ability, he had determined that Megatron was having pleasant dreams and so he did not need to worry that the sparkling will awaken from recharge anytime soon. He planned to check again every joor, though Soundwave expected a quiet and uneventful lunar cycle.

As such, Soundwave focused most of his energy to the reorganization of the nursery. Noting distinctly, that Skywarp must have visited a few joors before he arrived as he noticed a few metal letter blocks in disarray.

Only Skywarp tended to leave a mess.

It is why Soundwave refused to have him watch over his cassettes.

Soundwave kept his pedesteps light as he picked up toys, carefully placing them on the shelves and boxes where they belonged.

It was difficult to clean in the dark, yet he was accustomed with his own cassettes.

After he had determined everything was in order, he resumed his stance by the small berth where Megatron laid. The sparkling was still in the same position as before.

Unable to help himself, Soundwave stared down a little longer, wondering that if he looked hard enough, he may come to understand most of his sibling’s irrational belief that Megatron would die in the middle of recharge.

No one needed to say it outloud for him to know that that was the reason for the watch schedule having been implemented. 

Due to the near-offlining, Starscream had determined it best that there would be one person watching over Megatron during recharge to ensure he remained alive.

In a way, Soundwave understood their emotional reactions.

As he continued to stare, he took in the dull silver frame. If it were not for occasional small twitches, Soundwave could understand why it appeared as though the Megatron was dead.

After all…

He had heard the screams during the emergence.

He had heard what had nearly happened.

He had glimpsed it in his sire’s processor, the almost proclamation that Megatron was dead if the medic had not checked again.

Yet Soundwave did not worry so much for their creators and Megatron as the rest of his siblings did.

They were all capable and strong.

Small and sickly as Megatron may be now, Soundwave understood their family well enough to know that will not be the case for long.

Everyone in their family were stubborn lunatics and he sincerely doubted Megatron would be any different.

—

Shockwave paced the length of the nursery, fidgeting his servos together with each pedestep he took. He couldn’t help himself. In his laboratory, he was constantly on the move, going from one side of the room to the other. Yet, his laboratory was designed to be spacious for a mech like him, and while the nursery was enough for their carrier to move around in - Shockwave still felt completely trapped within the room. It didn’t help that he had forgotten to bring his datapad with him, not that he would have been able to concentrate on any of his work.

He didn’t know how long he had been pacing for, yet he startled as he realized that small yellow optics were staring up at him from the small berth. Pushing down the panic he felt, Shockwave reached down to hold the sparkling closer to himself - unable to contain the coo that escaped his dermas as he realized how small the other was. He had watched over Megatron countless lunar cycles, yet Shockwave hadn’t realized how small the sparkling really was. He practically fit within one of Shockwave’s servos. It was a fact his spark couldn’t help but whirr adoringly at.

“I’m sorry, was I loud?” He knew he should have sat down instead of pacing but Shockwave never could sit still, even if it was his assigned role. He was a scientist not a guard like the others. Still, he settled on the seat beside the berth - holding the sparkling up with one servo as Megatron beeped up at him. It bothered him a little that Megatron never cried when he was disrupted from recharge, and if he were not his younger brother, Shockwave may have tried to run some tests to understand why. “It’s too late to be awake.”

As if to protest, Megatron let out a long beep before curling up in Shockwave’s servo, pressing his helm against the palm of it as yellow optics glared at him from the dark. Shockwave nervously laughed, unsure of what to do. He thought of his carrier, remembering how he would hold Megatron close to his chassis. Shockwave attempted to do the same, pressing his servo closer to himself. The sparkling immediately moved closer, letting out a small contented croon before his optic lids shut close. Shockwave waited a few more kliks before trying to move him back to the berth.

That was a mistake as Megatron’s optics snapped online once more and he let out a series of angry beeps. Thoroughly defeated, Shockwave sat back down and continued to hold him close - not that he was complaining.

As Megatron fell into recharge, Shockwave could not help but feel worry rise in his spark the longer he stared down at the sparkling. He had been the youngest before Megatron, so he had never realized how… vulnerable sparklings could truly be. How easy it would be to crush this little life…

“Don’t worry. We won’t let anything ever harm you. I promise.”

================================================

And everything was fine, and this definitely does not lead to the events of the movie :). Sentinel definitely does not still kill the Primes and somehow manage to spirit Megatron away :). Dee definitely does not get surprised later on to find out he's not an only child and his creators did not die during the war in the Quintessons and he's actually related to Primatronus and the High Guard :).

Also if you're wondering why Skywarp was the Megatron's first word here, it's cause I think it's the easiest to say between Sound, Star, Shock, and Thunder (though I don't know maybe Shock is easier than Sky skskks).

Also about Shockwave getting empurata'd uh... in the AU, he actually empuratas himself out of grief because he looks a little too close to Megatronus. This is a lovely AU :).

[quilloleander]

Little Lord

Prompt Request: Starscream finding the sparkling for the first time and slowly growing attached to said baby.

This is part of the High Guard + Sparkling Megatron One-Shot Book I promised to make.

I am free from the basement, I say falling back into the Transformers basement lmao. But yeah I finally managed to get free time to write so I have this now.

So this prompt request is from a friend in the OPMeg server. Deery, I don't know if this was what you meant but this is what I wrote but I am sorry if I misunderstood the prompt skskks.

Apologies, by the way, if I don't respond to comments with prompts. I promise I have read them and I have a list of them, I just don't reply because I will reply once I have them checked off. This is for organization sake but I promise I see the requests and I will get to them eventually.

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65467561/chapters/168843301

================================================

“You… WHAT?!”

Fifty cycles he has kept his patience. 

Fifty long cycles of agony dealing with the entirety of the High Guard and the one time he loses leadership, Shockwave decides to take the opportunity and create a problem. 

Truly, Starscream should put the blame entirely on the former Science Division Commander, yet his spark demanded he place the responsibility on their new “Lord” who had chosen to disappear into the air ducts of the base. Starscream could not even begin to think of what to do to solve this new little problem.

And what a little problem it was…

He hardly waited for Shockwave to explain himself, turning away from the scientist before he lost his temper. He stalked down the halls of the base, pedes slamming loudly against the metal as he walked past other members of the High Guard who - to his satisfaction - avoided colliding with him by moving quickly to the side. He may no longer be leader, yet as Second-in-Command to their new “Lord” and former Flight Commander, Starscream still held some authority. Besides, Starscream was quite sure that with this latest catastrophe, the role of leadership will fall right into his servos once again.

After all, a sparkling can hardly lead.

Even if he did have a deadly cannon.

Starscream rolled his optics before directing his attention towards the ceiling air ducts. Their “Lord” could be anywhere in the base, perhaps hiding until Shockwave’s experiment wore off - if it wore off, that is. He knew deep down that if Megatron had it his way, the tankbot would keep himself out of sight until he was back to a grown mech.

Not that Starscream would allow him the dignity of doing so.

He considered it payback for nearly shooting him and damaging his voice box.

Following the path of the air ducts, Starscream made his way to one of the weapon rooms. As the door panels slid open, he jumped back as a burst of yellow light hit him on the chassis. If it had been painful, he may have let out a scream, but he barely flinched as the light disappeared in a small flurry of sparks - like a mini firework. Starscream’s optics darted to look into the empty room, hearing the soft scuffle of someone running away to hide in the shadows - though it was fruitless as he quickly found the little nuisance.

“Now, now, my Lord, don’t you think it beneath you to be acting like an actual sparkling?” He leaned slightly forward, stalking deeper into the room. With his wings, he blocked out the light that came from the hall, delighted to find that while Megatron still did have his cannon - unfortunately, he had the weapon system of a sparkling, making it utterly useless.

Making his way towards a table that held some old spears, Starscream lunged himself underneath, servos grasping at air until at last he got hold of Megatron’s leg. Without much further ado, he lifted the sparkling up.

If he hadn’t been subjected to the other mech’s aggression before, Starscream might have fallen for the weak cutesy act his “Lord” was displaying. As he held Megatron up by the leg, the smaller mech was kicking at his servo fruitlessly as his arms flailed about. Yellow optics looked up at him, a faux emotion of fear dancing in his “Lord’s” gaze that Starscream nearly felt bad. He knew this was hardly the proper way to handle a sparkling, even if it has been cycles since he’d last seen one, yet he was hardly sparing any sympathy for Megatron of—

Why was he crying?!

“What are you—?” As the wailing got louder, Starscream’s spark whirred in his chassis as he quickly held Megatron upright. The other mech had cooling agent running down his cheekplates, his little servos pitifully pulling at Starscream’s digits. “This is hardly becoming of a leader! Pull yourself together!”

Yet as the crying continued, a slow horrific realization came crashing down on him as he held Megatron closer. 

Whatever experiment Shockwave did… it didn’t just turn Megatron’s frame into a sparkling’s.

Starscream was quite sure that it had reverted even his processor into that of a newspark’s!

He barely had the time to process this new information as he held the sparkling closer, shutting down the part in his HUD that flashed ‘DANGER.’ While Megatron had been a formidable mech, he had to rewrite his code to recognize him as vulnerable now. He felt fists slam against his chassis, hardly doing any damage as he pressed Megatron’s audials closer to his spark. Starscream was a soldier, yet he’d watched creators hold their sparklings before, and he knew the fastest way to calm them was to press them close enough to hear the thrumming of their carer’s sparks.

Starscream winced, memories of sparklings crying in his arms flashing back in his processor. He never entertained the idea of settling down before, no matter how much his old friends had tried giving them their sparkling, which always ended in crying. Yet he was the only mech around, and what was he supposed to do, give Megatron to Shockwave?

“There, there, my little Lord. It’s alright.” He rocked the sparkling in his arms, petting the back of his helm with a servo as his wings fluttered awkwardly at his side. “As I said, this is hardly becoming of a leader.”

The wailing slowly dwindled down into sniffles as Megatron stopped hitting him. Starscream let out a sigh, ignoring the warmth and pride in his spark as he tried not to note this as the first time he was able to calm a sparkling. Carefully adjusting his hold, he glanced down at wide yellow optics that shone brightly up at him with fascination.

“Isn’t this better? Leave the dramatics to me, my little Lord.” He chuckled, surprised to find how genuine he sounded. He was truly losing it, and his conflicting emotions were not helped by Megatron patting at his face.

“At this state, you won’t be making any commands soon. I suppose I’ll have to reinstate myself as leader.” Unable to help himself, he lifted Megatron closer so that they were optic-level, a teasing grin playing on his dermas. “What do you say to that, my little Lord? Oh, your older self would be livid if I were to make your first words Commander Starscream… Hm, could you try saying that for me? Co-mman-der Star-scream? How far in development are you—?”

“Star!” 

His processor froze, the word echoing repeatedly in his audials as his spark practically leapt inside his chassis.

As a soldier, distraction usually led to certain death.

With one word alone, he had been completely blindsided by the enemy and as he finally returned to his senses, he realized that Megatron had found his way to Starscream’s shoulder, nuzzling happily against the side of his face.

Of course, being distracted did not always mean death. For as long as one chooses not to surrender, the battle can be turned in your favor.

Little servos clung to him and as his own optics met innocent yellow, Starscream knew—

Megatron smiled shyly up at him.

He had lost another fight.

[quilloleander]

When I saw that there's a new eldritch primatronus fic, I screamed. I really, really love it! Especially the part where Prima just comes down to see D-16 and probably goes, "Young man! What are you doing over there!?" Prima and megatronus probably did a double take too, looking at the small lake, then looking at the boat, before looking back at the small lake.

Also, question, how did they not know that their sparkling is missing? Were they still asleep when the senate accidentally got megatron out of the water? How did they not.. feel that he's not in there anymore? I wonder what they were really thinking when they see megatron out of the lake lol.

Anyway! Great story as always! You never fail to bring out the most unique and interesting stories! Like, literally, all of your stories are just chef's kiss. Also, happy birthday!

Awww thank you! I'm so glad you liked the story!!

Yeah like it's genuinely horrific when you're reading it cause these are two monsters who are extremely angry that their child is missing but like... lowkey, for them it's kinda comedic (?). Cause like they look at what is essentially their child's crib to find him missing and they're panicking right only for them to realize said child is... just kinda nearby but like on a ship for some reason lmao. Like they genuinely don't know how this happened and they're honestly more baffled than concerned by this point.

Like lowkey very funny if you look at it in this perspective, but of course we have Dee's context of being a normal mech who is about to be kidnapped by what he thinks are monsters. Meanwhile for Primatronus, they're just putting their kid back to bed skskks

So as for how they didn't realize Dee was missing. By that point, they were already asleep when the Senate accidentally removed Dee from the small lake. I didn't mention it in the fic because I was a little embarrassed but uh... so... Dee came from... an egg (god this is not funny I just have a problem) and the reason the Senate took it out in the first place is cause they legit thought it was a precariously placed boulder that might end up waking Prima if it were to be moved (even if it was within the small lake). They only realized later that the boulder... was an egg and that they fucked up. The reason why Primatronus didn't feel the egg disappear is because the Senate was very quiet and discrete when they removed it. They're only really disturbed by constant noise or movement, which is why Megatronus woke up because the boat Pax got was really loud and Dee kept splashing around in the energon.

As for what they were thinking when they realized Megatron was just... in the middle of the lake on a boat, they legit considered it as just their sparkling getting curious and playing around with a "toy." They still see him as very young. So while in Cybertronian terms, Dee is very much a grown mech with a mentally-mature processor as he grew up among normal Cybertronians, in like eldritch terms he's still technically a child to them - which is kinda understandable in this case cause they've been around even before Primus created the normal Cybertronians (I'm dropping so much lore in this ask I'm so sorry skskks). So for Prima when he came to get Megatron from the boat, he just saw it as his sparkling refusing to take his nap and wanting to continue to play with his "toys."

But yeah... I am so sorry for the word vomit SKSKKS but hope that answered your question! (I should really also focus on this AU more after I finish the High Guard one-shots book skskks).

[quilloleander]

Poor babys...😔