Fic: Unexpected - Part Six
Title: Unexpected
Authors: aprilraven and ladydragon76
‘Verse: G1
Series: None
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Soundwave/Optimus Prime, Starscream/Ratchet
Summary: Relationships can have the strangest beginnings, and become something completely unexpected.
Notes: We both (ladydragon76 and I) wrote responses to different kinkmeme prompts. Both of us received requests to continue in those verses. We both really wanted to write something together. So. Here’s this. We tweaked, combined, and wrote more together, tweaked, adjusted, poked, forgot about, wrote some more… LOL. It’s more about the relationships than it is any grand plotline, but we are glad to FINALLY be able to post it. We hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Rape, Violence, Character Death, BDSM (Real bdsm, not abuse disguised as bdsm), and Sticky Smut.
Crossposted on ladydragon76’s LJ over here.
Unexpected
Part Six
Optimus stood beside Soundwave, watching as his fingers raced over the keys, creating a new algorithm for secure contact to Cybertron. Graceful, tapered fingers that had clutched at his shoulders, slid beneath his armor, traced over his face.
Soundwave had taken to recharging with Prime, and their physical relationship had begun to evolve. They still waged their private battles of dominance and submission, but not every night. And on those other nights, like last night, Soundwave was no less receptive, enthusiastic, passionate. Optimus could feel his circuits heating just remembering.
Soundwave’s visor brightened and dimmed, his fingers never slowing over the keys, but a gentle telepathic nudge brought Prime back to the here and now. He ordered the override just before his vents would have kicked on.
Prime glanced around, all but one of his officers were busy talking to one another, not paying any attention to his lapse. Starscream, however, stared directly at him, a slight smirk on his face. Prime raised an optic ridge in challenge, watching as Starscream’s smirk bloomed into a full smile.
Smiling beneath his mask, Prime deliberately moved his gaze from Starscream to Ratchet, then back. Starscream’s dark cheeks glowed a little, but he didn’t drop his smile.
To the best of Optimus’ knowledge, it had only occurred once, and a couple weeks ago at that, but ‘Autobots superior’ had become a catch phrase, and more than a few new cross-faction friendships had come into being since.
Not that Prime would complain about that. Training was going better, arguments were settled more often without officer interference and were occurring less. There had even been hold-outs who had changed their minds.
Those few who had decided that peace with the Autobots was better than spark prison or Shockwave’s rule were watched closely. It was difficult on their keepers, but necessary.
So far, even that was going well.
Prime wasn’t naïve enough to relax and stop worrying, but he was more content than ever before.
“Connection established,” Soundwave said, breaking Prime from his thoughts.
“Well done,” Optimus said, squeezing Soundwave’s shoulder.
Starscream stepped closer, as did Prowl. “Will it be visual?”
“Affirmative.” Soundwave’s shoulder dipped slightly as he slid away from Prime to stand on the other side of Starscream.
Their relationship was no secret here on Earth anymore, but it would take too much explaining to make Ultra Magnus understand. If he ever did. Prime liked Magnus, he was loyal, strong, fair, and dedicated. He would obey even if he didn’t like the order.
Such as staying on Cybertron as Supreme Commander of the Autobots in Prime’s absence.
The static cleared and a brightly colored Autobot smiled. “Greetings Earth!” Then his optics went wide. “Holy slag!”
“Calm down,” Prime said, lifting a hand in the hopes the young mech wouldn’t panic completely. “Hotrod isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Prime you got Decepticons standing there with you!”
“I am aware. We have arranged a peace treaty. Where is Ultra Magnus?”
“But that’s Starscream!”
Starscream flicked his wings, voice bored as he said, “Oh, you Autobots build them so clever.”
“Shut up, Screamer! No one asked you!”
“Hotrod!” Prime snapped in his command voice. “You will show respect to Cybertron’s Lord High Protector. You will also obey me, and inform Ultra Magnus I need to speak with him. Immediately.”
Hotrod blinked, doubt and worry showing clearly on his face. “Yes, sir. One moment please.” He disappeared from view, and Starscream snickered.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak to an Autobot like that before,” Starscream murmured, a glint of amusement in his optics.
“I don’t often find myself needing to.”
“He leaves the twins for me to handle,” Prowl said.
Ironhide chuckled. “Better you than me.”
“Optimus Prime,” Ultra Magnus greeted as he stepped into view. His optics swept over the mechs surrounding Prime. “I think I see what had Hotrod so panicked.”
“He needn’t be, though I’m sure this is a shock,” Prime said, stepping forward a little. “Starscream and Soundwave negotiated a treaty with us, Megatron is dead with no chance of being rebuilt, and we have spent the last month integrating our forces in the hopes of reclaiming Cybertron from Shockwave’s grasp.”
Ultra Magnus remained silent for a moment, then sighed slightly and shook his head. “You are correct that it is a shock. I find it difficult to believe this is not some trick. Hotrod did say something about a treaty, but he also said ‘Lord High Protector.’ That is a term he is far too young to have learned for himself.”
Prime nodded. “We will not be returning Cybertron to the same system it suffered under before I was made Prime. The exact set up of the government can be established once we’ve removed Shockwave from control. We’ve been discussing a blend of those things that seemed to work best in the past. Lord High Protector was one such. You’ve served a number of Primes, just as Prowl has. I would appreciate your input when the time comes, Ultra Magnus.”
Ultra Magnus was quiet for another moment, then gave a short nod. “And the Autobots chose this freely?”
“We all had our doubts,” Prowl said, moving forward. “I’m transferring you video footage from around the base. It is just a sampling of day to day activities, but should give you an idea as to how real this is.” He pushed a few keys, then stepped back. “I can understand your hesitation, but this is real, not a Decepticon plot.”
Again that considering, thoughtful silence from Ultra Magnus.
Starscream shifted his weight to one leg, and crossed his arms. “Megatron is dead, but Shockwave is still in control of the Decepticons on Cybertron. He also has an army of combat drones. Something you know you can’t defeat, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. In less than three decacycles Shockwave will attempt to contact Megatron on the abandoned Nemesis, and our window of opportunity closes. We’ve been training daily here to be an effective combined force. I can take command of the seekers once we arrive. An infiltrator can shut down the combat drones. Prime wants to give Shockwave the chance to surrender. When he doesn’t, we’re going to need every mech available to subdue those Decepticons that either won’t believe Megatron is dead, or think Shockwave should have command instead of me.”
Prime frowned. Starscream was very likely correct, but he did like to hope that Shockwave would see reason.
Ultra Magnus met Prime’s optics, and dipped his chin in a nod. “When would this occur?”
“Two decacycles,” Prime answered. “Mirage will go through the space bridge with Starscream, and while Shockwave is distracted with Starscream, Mirage will shut down the drones, and the rest of us will hurry through to take positions. I will contact you as soon as I am in place.” He cast a sidelong look at Starscream. “In the rather likely event that Shockwave declines to abide by the new peace agreement, we will subdue him and imprison his spark, and any of those that stand with him.”
“I will prepare my troops,” Ultra Magnus said.
“Caution required,” Soundwave said, surprising even Optimus. “Decepticon spies in place. Transmitting known agents now.” His fingers danced over the keys, and Prime watched as Ultra Magnus’ optics shot wide for a moment in surprise. “Report schedules unknown.”
Ultra Magnus nodded, glancing to the side, then back. “Hotrod and I are the only ones aware of this communication. I will speak with Kup, and work out the particulars. Will you be in contact again?”
“Soundwave secured this transmission. Unless you see me and Soundwave present, consider any further communications a threat.” Prime paused, thinking. “We will contact you again, this same time, the orn before the incursion. If you need us for any reason, use the normal channels, request me, then close the connection. I will call you back on a secured channel.”
“Agreed. Until next time, Optimus Prime.”
Prime nodded, and the connection was closed.
“He’s thinkin’ this is a trick,” Jazz said.
Prime sighed, “I know, but we don’t have a quick way to convince him.”
“What’s that mean for our plan?” Starscream asked, propping his hip against the console.
“Nothing,” Prime answered. “Ultra Magnus will be prepared for things to go both the way I said it would, and for us all to be betrayed by the Decepticons.”
Starscream stiffened in offense, but Soundwave said, “A wise tactician.”
“He is.”
Starscream huffed, mouth still pressed into an irritated line. “I suppose he would need to be to have held out against Shockwave and his little inventions for four million years.”
Prime chuckled. “Magnus is always prepared for every eventuality. No matter how unnecessarily.”
Red optics rolling, Starscream flicked the back of his hand against Soundwave’s arm. “Tell your boyfriend to stop playing diplomat.”
Soundwave’s visor flashed, his shoulder shaking for a moment in a silent laugh with everyone else. Prime shook his head. “Dismissed,” he said waving his hand in a shooing motion. “Tomorrow is soon enough to drill our troops again.”
~ | ~
Ratchet looked up as the door opened. “There is a call button out there.”
Starscream entered, wings and a hand flicking in dismissal. “So these are your quarters now?” he asked, looking around.
The side room of the medbay was not all that large, but Ratchet only recharged in it. In fact, he often stayed in this room rather than his official quarters even before the Decepticons came. “At least I don’t have roommates.”
“And my roommates are noisy obnoxious younglings who constantly whine that their creator is off ‘facing Prime through his berth, and oh isn’t that just disgusting!”
“I think they’re rather hot.”
Starscream gave him a flat stare. “I was repeating the mechlings’ opinion. One I’ve heard entirely too many times over the last few days. At least they’ve shut up about us.”
Ratchet grinned. “Someone’s tetchy tonight.” Starscream huffed and made a show of inspecting Ratchet’s personal belongings. The strange rock Swoop had given him, the holocube that held pictures from his academy days, - it was currently off - the etched certificate commending him on having the highest marks of his graduating class. “You lasted longer than I expected,” Ratchet said.
Starscream faced him with a frown. “Lasted?”
“How’s the valve been?”
“Fine. Washracks lock.”
Ratchet chuckled and leaned back against the wall, stretching his legs out on the berth. “That they do. So why are you here?”
“I’m bored.”
Optics wide, a laugh burst from Ratchet. “Bored! Primus, Screamer, can’t you come up with a better pick-up line than that?”
“Do not call me that!”
“It’s a pet name, sweetspark. I made you scream, I’ll call you Screamer all I want.” Ratchet held up his hand as Starscream’s mouth opened. “In private, with no witnesses.”
“You will not! I hate that name! It’s bad enough I can’t get Skywarp to stop it. I won’t have my lover belittling me like that as well!”
Ratchet blinked. “Lover? Starscream, we’ve ‘faced a grand total of one time.”
“Tch! Like you don’t want to again.”
“Oh, take me, take me now,” Ratchet deadpanned. “Did you ever think to say, ‘Hey, Ratch, I want you, let’s frag each other insensate again’? I mean, it’s not like I’ve ever made it difficult for partners to get what they want from me.”
Emotions played across Starscream’s face, and Ratchet realized with some surprise that he was nervous. The wings. Always watch the wings of a flyer, he thought. Starscream’s were hitched high, a sign of anxiety, tension, or anger. Anger was out as they weren’t quivering and were swept wide to give the impression of size and dominance. It wasn’t outright fear, but Starscream was likely feeling uncertain and a need to appear stronger than Ratchet.
Ratchet tipped his head to the side and let himself relax into a slight slump. “Talk to me, Star.”
Dark lips pressed into a line, and Starscream began to pace. It couldn’t have been a very satisfying trip. The room really was rather small. “I told you I’ve been with two, well three counting you now.”
“Let three of us into your valve? Yes, I remember you saying something like that.”
“I don’t… I’ve never really liked it.”
“Until last time?” At Starscream’s nod, Ratchet smiled. “That’s because I know what I’m doing.”
“Skyfire knew what he was doing too,” Starscream snapped.
Ratchet sighed. “Look. The nodes probably haven’t settled out. We didn’t change you. We just repaired the damage. Have you used your spike lately?”
“Yes. But I can’t go to them often. I don’t want them thinking I feel something more for them, or am just using them.”
“Thundercracker and Skywarp?”
Starscream nodded.
“You prefer being in control. The more dominant role.”
Another nod. “Skyfire’s rather large, so I had to be. He could have damaged me beyond repair if we weren’t careful. And even then, we didn’t switch like that very often.”
“Who was the other?”
“Older seeker. He took my seals.” Starscream smiled. “He was good, but even then, I preferred to spike him, not take his.”
Ratchet grinned. “I have an idea.” He leaned over, reaching beneath the berth and pulled out a pair of magcuffs. Starscream’s optics went wide, and he actually took a step back. “They’re for me. Here.” Ratchet tossed the keychip to Starscream.
“For you?”
“Yup.” Ratchet clasped the cuffs on his wrists with the ease of long practice and lay back down, raising his hands over his head. “Now you’re guaranteed some control, even if it is my spike in your valve. And you know you’re strong enough to pin me down.”
Starscream stared from the keychip to Ratchet and back a few times before slipping it into his subspace. “You enjoy being bound?”
Ratchet grinned. “You would glitch if I told you everything I enjoy.”
“I’d never have thought an Autobot would be interested in such things.” Starscream came closer, smirking down at Ratchet. “Whatever would Prime think?”
Ratchet laughed, “Who the frag do you think trained him?”
“Trained?”
“Aw, that’s cute. You, the evil Decepticon, have managed to keep a veil of naiveté.” Ratchet snickered as Starscream glared at him. “Where I’m rather fond of being submissive to my partners, Prime is not. He’s very dominant. Very. Pits, I haven’t asked, but his valve may still have its seal. But he didn’t understand, he thought something was wrong. I taught him, trained him to channel that dominance while still being attentive and compassionate with his lovers.”
Starscream’s optics were huge, his mouth gaping open for a moment. “Soundwave…”
Ratchet laughed again. “Oh yeah!”
Head shaking in surprised denial, Starscream sank onto the edge of the berth. “But… but we were raped. Why would he like that? I know he didn’t like Megat-“
“No!” Ratchet cut in, and sat up. “No, it isn’t like that, Starscream. Not to mention their relationship began before Megatron raped Soundwave. And Prime would never do something Soundwave didn’t want him to.”
Starscream rose, pacing again. “I don’t…”
“Does it help to know that Soundwave started all this with Optimus? That he wanted what they have between them?”
“How do you know? Prime?”
“Soundwave.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Starscream whispered after a moment. “I don’t like that. I won’t.”
Still cuffed, Ratchet rose and stepped up close to Starscream. “I’m not asking you to.” He stroked his hands up Starscream’s chest, leaning up on the tips of his feet to kiss him. “These,” Ratchet said, holding up his cuffed hands, “are to help you feel in control. I wouldn’t offer if I thought for an instant that you would hurt me. I wouldn’t offer to interface at all if I thought you would harm me in any way.” He backed away, sitting on the edge of the berth. “Prime and Soundwave enjoy what they have, and really I don’t know all the details. Nor do I want to.”
“Yes, you do.”
Ratchet matched Starscream’s grin. “Yes I do. But that’s because I’m depraved and know how good Optimus is in the berth, and until a couple weeks ago I hadn’t ‘faced anyone in over four million years.”
“We were in stasis for much of that.”
“Believe me, with my reputation, it sounds really good that I went without, even for the few years we’ve been here on Earth.”
Starscream smirked and moved in close. “So when I called you a pleasure drone…”
“Oh, no pleasure drone will ever be as good as me,” Ratchet purred, lying back as Starscream crawled up over him.
“Of course not. Pleasure drones can’t possibly last that long.” Starscream paused, cocking his head to the side. “How many times have you had your valve relined?”
“Fragger!”
But Starscream caught Ratchet’s bound wrists and slammed them to the berth over his head. “Maybe I am better off with your spike.”
Ratchet squirmed a little, just a show of resistance to see if Starscream liked it. He’d expected someone like Starscream to pounce on an opportunity to force another into submission. His earnest declaration that he wouldn’t hurt Ratchet was a surprise. A nice one. But still a surprise.
“Good, because it’s all you get tonight. Once we have your valve nodes leveled out, I’ll consider letting you at mine.” Ratchet retracted his interface panel and let his spike extend.
Starscream leaned over him, then smirked and released his own panel. His spike slid out, but when Starscream rocked his hips down, Ratchet hissed in a breath as slick valve lubricant rubbed over the length of his spike.
“You are good at hiding your arousal, I’ll give you that,” Ratchet said, rocking up, sensation winding out in slow spirals.
“There was a rumor that I ‘faced my way to the top,” Starscream whispered, lifting enough to set the opening of his valve against the tip of Ratchet’s spike. Ratchet clenched his jaw and forced himself to remain still as Starscream slowly impaled himself. “It’s untrue, of course. But I did have to fend off many offers from those who thought pleasing me would gain them rank.” He let his weight settle comfortably on Ratchet. “Some were quite attractive and eager to impress their young Air Commander.”
“So you learned to hide your interest.”
Starscream rolled his hips, optics flickering and a little gasp of pleasure escaping. “I had to. Returned interest could be taken as permission amongst some of the less savory characters that joined the Cause.”
Ratchet rocked his hips up in time to Starscream’s grinding little rolls. “How’s that feel?”
“Better than expected.” Starscream gasped again, pace already picking up.
Ratchet moaned, relaxing a little under Starscream’s hold on his wrists. He’d wanted this for the last few weeks, but hadn’t wanted to push Starscream before he was ready. Even this wasn’t going how he’d imagined, and that was no complaint. His vents were working hard, and Starscream was panting over him, moving faster, his rhythm faltering.
Starscream went still, head falling back, valve squeezing Ratchet’s spike. He’d meant to last longer, but Starscream broke into movement again, vents hitching, optics clenched shut, mouth open in a perfect O, hands tightening on Ratchet’s wrists, locking him to the berth. Ratchet bucked up, crying out as his systems fell into overload, electric bliss pulling all of his awareness to the hot rush of transfluid pulsing from his spike.
Starscream collapsed over him, forehead pressed to the berth beside Ratchet’s head. They were silent a few moments, enjoying the hazy afterglow, letting their vents cycle down.
“Are you alright?” Ratchet asked.
“Mmhmmm.”
Ratchet chuckled. “Then would you mind uncuffing me? They’re getting uncomfortable.”
Starscream leaned up enough to smirk at Ratchet. “What do I get in return?”
“The chance to do it again?”
Ratchet chuckled as Starscream quickly unlocked the magcuffs, and climbed off him. He settled close beside Ratchet on the narrow berth, wings hanging out over the edge and drooping as he began to slip into recharge.
“Staying then?”
“Mmhmmm.”
Ratchet grinned, shifting to make a little more room for his snuggling seeker. They could clean up later.
~ | ~
He was still half in recharge, his systems reporting an interrupted cycle. He was lying against a large, heated frame, interface panel open wide, a hand between his legs. He could feel the slick of lubricant as a finger circled around his valve rim, and more trickled out. His vents hitched at the gentle invasion of his valve, a warm finger pressing slowly inward, a thumb playing around the rim, stroking and toying. Heat shimmered right up his backstruts. His head fell back. He moaned, his thighs splaying open in wanton invitation.
He protested drowsily when the fingers left off pleasuring his valve, and heard a deep chuckle in his audial; the air brushing his face held the faint odor of high-grade. He was rolled to his stomach. An arm around his waist lifted him up to his hands and knees, where he remained, head hanging down, pliant and trembling as those fingers returned to probe and play and tease his valve once more. He moaned again, rocking into the touches.
Vent fans blasted behind him, a growl answered him. A large hand held his hip plate up, another planted itself between his shoulder struts, pushing him down onto his chest.
He froze, his fuel pump twisting in a sickening fashion.
His hips were jerked back, one of Megatron’s hands pinning him, chest to the floor, the other holding him still for the imminent assault.
He whimpered at the sharp snick of an interface panel being retracted.
Megatron’s panel released, his spike extending instantly, large enough to be intimidating.
Someone was speaking, low rumble, deep voice, but he couldn't make out what was said past the roaring in his processors. He couldn't make himself protest or resist, could only let those large hands do what they wanted to him, adjusting him, lifting his hips higher, holding him. Cries for mercy, moans for forgiveness, he couldn't force anything past his vocalizer, frozen along with the rest of him.
...sobbing, shrieking... Megatron growling, his spike piercing his valve, tearing him apart... his tanks roiling, about to purge with the burning agony...
A single deep thrust, and Soundwave was impaled on that hard punishing spike once again. His valve clenched on the intruder, every shred of pleasure gone, his whole body tensed, trying in vain to draw away from his attacker. He shook, his mind screaming, pleading, begging, Please, my Lord, please don't punish me! I'm sorry, so sorry! Don't hurt me again, I beg you!
All that emerged was a helpless whimper. Laughable, pitiful, weak.
The large spike drew out. Images assaulted him. His panel torn away, all optics on him as he was pulled backwards, his legs forced apart. Megatron raping him, vicious stabs tearing him open, feeling his valve lining rip under each agonizing thrust. Fear gripped him. Stop, my Lord, please, I beg you.
The hands on his hip plates tightened. He shivered with terror, too weak to resist. The spike slid in deeply, rocking him into the berth. His valve clenched against the invasion; hands scrabbled weakly. He heard a groan of pleasure; his aft was pulled tight to the hips behind him, the large spike seating firmly inside of him.
He managed a choked gasp this time, too far gone to realize there was no pain, only the terror and violence of his own memories.
Soundwave flinched at the touch to his helm, expecting a blow, another beating. A voice behind him spoke. He knew that voice, the deep timbre that sent desire arcing through his circuits. He just didn't understand why it was here.
Muffled cursing behind him, he felt the spike ease out of his valve. He was lifted and placed on his back where he lay for a time, frame shuddering, looking blankly up at the large mech hovering over him, the shock of memories slowly fading.
"Optimus," he whispered.
"I'm here," Prime rumbled. Hands stroked gently over his trembling frame, a small sigh of air brushed his audial. "I misread you. I'm sorry."
Prime sounded appalled and deeply troubled. They knew each other so well, such miscues were rightly a thing of the past. Soundwave dimmed his optics. "The fault is not yours."
"What was it then?"
"The position. It was the same -" He tensed, trembling again when his vocalizer locked, and try as he might, Soundwave could add nothing more.
Prime stilled beside him. "The same as Megatron."
Not an accusation, just a statement of fact, but still unbearable. Everything in Soundwave screamed for walls, a weapon, some defense against the knowledge that shamed and humiliated and tortured him when he least expected.
Soundwave shuddered and turned away from Prime's gaze, visor and mask sliding into place. "Apologies," he said, monotone made even duller, flattened with pain and weariness.
When Prime spoke again, it was a deep murmur against his audial. "No, I understand." Fingers slid gently over his mask. "Keep them on, Soundwave, for as long as you need them, even with me."
Prime's hands resumed their soothing strokes over his frame. "Rest now." The heat from Prime's systems relaxed his frame, the low steady hum lulled his strained processors. Soundwave dimmed his optics, and let recharge claim him.
~ | ~
Starscream stepped out of the space bridge and strutted into the control room with customary entitlement, slapping the keypad so the doors would shut and hide the arrival of their forces.
Shockwave was already sputtering, his single yellow optic flickering.
The ninny.
When they had first met, Starscream had hated him instantly. Shockwave was powerfully built, but he was little more than a cowardly sycophant. The hatred of course had been mutual, but Shockwave had in the past cowered and obeyed Starscream.
“Megatron is dead! I am now leader of the Decepticons! Swear obedience now, or suffer the consequences.”
“Lord Megatron could not have fallen. You’ve claimed such before and been wrong.”
Starscream fired his nullray just to Shockwave’s left with a screech of anger. “You dare question me?!” He watched the smoke rise from the surveillance controls.
Shockwave cringed aside, unaware that Starscream hadn’t really been trying to hit him.
A lithe weight leaned up on Starscream’s shoulders, a whisper in his audials, “Drone self-destruct initialized. I’m opening the door.”
“I require proof,” Shockwave said, recovering just as Mirage slipped away unseen behind Starscream.
“I saw his husk grey with death myself,” Starscream sneered, crossing his arms over his chest, and shifting his weight to one leg, easily settling into his most haughty pose.
Shockwave flinched as the door hissed and slid open. “I don’t… I don’t believe you.”
“Then believe me,” Prime said, striding confidently into the Control Room. “Megatron has been deactivated for nearly four decacycles. This is your one chance to join in the peace treaty Starscream and I have drafted.”
“Lies!”
Starscream grinned as Soundwave stepped to his right side, stoic and calm, serene in the way that had always infuriated Starscream before. He opened the seeker channel. “Sunstorm, I have taken command of the Decepticons, arranged a peace treaty with the Autobots, and witnessed Megatron’s deactivation. Summon the seekers. They either stand with me and our Prime, or will be locked in spark prison.”
“Lovely hearing your voice, big brother.”
“Don’t be cute, sparkling. They have less than a klik to decide.” Starscream looked up as red lights began flashing, and the perimeter alarm sounded. “My mistake. They have no time left at all.
“Is Megatron really gone?” Razorwing asked.
“I killed him myself,” Skywarp answered. “And one way or another, Shockwave’s going down now. You gonna side with that freak, or with your own kind?”
There was utter silence over the channel with Skywarp’s declaration, and Starscream knew they were all processing the fact that Megatron’s most loyal seeker was the one that had killed him. He tuned back into the current conversation. Shockwave was demanding proof. His tone clearly stating he didn’t expect there to be any.
Soundwave stepped forward, moving cautiously toward the console. He jacked into the system directly, and on the main screen the footage he had recorded to show Starscream played.
“Primus!” Cloudrunner swore. Apparently Soundwave had turned on every view screen within his range.
Shockwave stared as Megatron’s death-grey husk slowly melted to slag with the remains of his conference table. His head was shaking, and he took a few steps back from Soundwave and the console.
“Lies,” he muttered. “Clever lies.”
“Not that I’m complaining, Star. But why is Soundwave on your side, and why did Warp kill Megatron?” Sunstorm asked.
It took Starscream a moment to answer, and when he did, his voice was hushed, but clear in the quiet Control Room and over the comm. “He raped me on that table more times than I can count.”
Shockwave’s head swiveled around, homing in on Starscream. Starscream dodged the sudden shot, but Shockwave barreled his way out another door, drones filing in to take his place.
They fell quickly, and Prowl was shouting orders.
Starscream flashed Prime a grin. “I told you so.”
Prime just shook his head, then followed his tactician down the corridor and out into the open.
The battle was already raging, and Starscream leapt into the air, hearing as his and Ramjet’s trine followed.
“How long ‘til the drones pop?” Jazz shouted.
“Three point four more kliks,” Mirage yelled back, ducking behind a broken wall and vanishing from view.
“Why the frag so long?” Ironhide bellowed, cannons mowing down handfuls of drones at a time. The strength of Shockwave’s drones were in their sheer numbers, not their armor plating.
Starscream hovered, safe for the moment as the Decepticon drones would not target Decepticons. He could see Shockwave across the battlefield, firing at Ultra Magnus’ troops, pinned between both advancing fronts.
A bright yellow seeker appeared from behind a building, cautiously staying out of sight of the Cybertronian Autobots and Shockwave both.
“Friends of yours, Screamer?”
“Mechs have been known to deactivate under friendly fire in combat situations, Jazz!” Starscream beckoned Sunstorm over. “But, yes. They’re mine.
Sunstorm flew directly up to Starscream, wrapped his arms around his neck, and squeezed. “I missed you!” he whispered.
Starscream grinned, trying to regain the lost altitude, and nodded to Acid Storm, and Lightning Storm.
“Kid’s been waiting for this,” Acid Storm said with a smile for his youngest trine mate.
“Any stragglers?” Starscream asked, giving the assembled seekers a critical once over.
“A few that didn’t want to be seen openly defying Shockwave.” Sunstorm shrugged. “They’ve been voluntarily sealed in the Aerie.”
Starscream grinned, body beginning to tingle in true anticipation. “Don’t fire upon any Autobot. Otherwise. Shoot to kill. And I do mean kill.”
He led them higher, transforming as they went, gliding into formation, and circling for the first run. Just off Starscream’s wingtip, Skywarp whooped, firing into a cluster of drones and groundling Decepticons that remained with Shockwave.
Starscream kept his sensors on Prime and Soundwave, his comm channel to Prowl open as well, leading and directing his few dozen seekers as required. Then the first drone spontaneously fritzed and crumbled. Then the next, and more and more. Mechs from both sides quickly scurried away from them as a few exploded.
Starscream could hear Shockwave’s howl of rage from well above the battlefield. He swept around, looking for the cycloptic moron, lazily firing here or there to encourage Shockwave’s Decepticons to surrender.
Many already had.
The seeker channel was full of laughter and high spirits, banter and good natured arguments over who took out the most drones.
It was then that Starscream saw Prime. He was standing near Ratchet, guarding the medic as he patched up what looked like a minor wound on Bluestreak’s arm. A purple gun barrel was aimed right at him.
Starscream banked hard, shrieking through all channels for Prime to get down.
Prime had barely begun to crouch over Bluestreak, when Starscream saw that purple begin to fade to grey. He landed hard, cannons charged, but had to dance back as Shockwave, a still smoking hole through his back, crashed forward.
Soundwave stepped out of the shadows as the final color faded from Shockwave’s frame. Light flashed over his visor, and his voice was low, unfiltered, and enraged. "Prime is mine," he growled to Starscream, and stepped past the startled Seeker to face Optimus. “Shockwave's deactivation required.”
Prime nodded, one hand squeezing Soundwave’s shoulder in thanks. “We suspected Shockwave would not see reason,” he said in a voice just loud enough to carry. “I do hope the rest of the Decepticons that fought for Shockwave do, however.”
The twenty or so mechs that still held weapons dropped them immediately, some even raising their hands in a show of surrender.
Starscream turned. “Thundercracker, help Sunstorm and his trine melt Shockwave down.” He glanced at Soundwave. “Perhaps Laserbeak could assist? There may be some who doubt this as much as they doubted Megatron’s death.”
“Laserbeak, eject.”
“Optimus Prime,” a smooth voice spoke. Ultra Magnus stepped forward, followed by a small contingent of mechs, one of whom was the bright-colored youngling Starscream had seen during their communications.
“Magnus!” Prime chuckled, reaching out to clasp arms with his First Commander. “Believe me now?”
“Had I not seen it myself, I would still have doubts.” Ultra Magnus turned to Starscream and sketched a slight, respectful bow. “Lord High Protector. I welcome you both home. May Cybertron flourish with your guidance.”
Starscream was surprised to feel his cheeks heat. He’d longed for this type of acknowledgement, and now he wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
Prime stepped seamlessly into the silence, clapping a hand to each Starscream and Ultra Magnus’ shoulders. “As much as I would love to order a party to celebrate we do still have work to do. Jazz,” he called. “Take your team and Soundwave. I want this compound cleared and safe for our use. Who knows what traps and tricks Shockwave had installed. Hound, take Bumblebee and Beachcomber back to Earth and contact their leaders. Let them know I will be in touch in a few days to further explain the new peace, but that we have many things still to discuss now with the war over. I’ll contact you at the Ark once we get a few things settled here.
“Prowl and Ironhide, please see to Shockwave’s troops. Make sure they understand what the consequences will be if they break the treaty in even the smallest of ways.” Prime faced Starscream then. “Is there a meeting room here? I would like us to sit down and fill Magnus in on everything we’ve worked out so far.”
Starscream nodded, looking around. “That building I believe.” He glanced around, almost surprised to see Skywarp standing at attention just beyond his left wing. “See to the other seekers. Comm me if there are any problems.”
Skywarp’s smile was practically giddy, but he managed to murmur a sincere, “Yes, sir,” and then executed a perfect military about face, signaling the other seekers to follow him.
“That was strange,” Prime said quietly.
Starscream burst out laughing, then led Prime and Ultra Magnus to the old meeting room.
~ | ~
( Unexpected - Epilogue )
( AprilRaven’s Table of Contents )
( LadyDragon76’s Table of Contents )
Authors: aprilraven and ladydragon76
‘Verse: G1
Series: None
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Soundwave/Optimus Prime, Starscream/Ratchet
Summary: Relationships can have the strangest beginnings, and become something completely unexpected.
Notes: We both (ladydragon76 and I) wrote responses to different kinkmeme prompts. Both of us received requests to continue in those verses. We both really wanted to write something together. So. Here’s this. We tweaked, combined, and wrote more together, tweaked, adjusted, poked, forgot about, wrote some more… LOL. It’s more about the relationships than it is any grand plotline, but we are glad to FINALLY be able to post it. We hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Rape, Violence, Character Death, BDSM (Real bdsm, not abuse disguised as bdsm), and Sticky Smut.
Crossposted on ladydragon76’s LJ over here.
Unexpected
Part Six
Optimus stood beside Soundwave, watching as his fingers raced over the keys, creating a new algorithm for secure contact to Cybertron. Graceful, tapered fingers that had clutched at his shoulders, slid beneath his armor, traced over his face.
Soundwave had taken to recharging with Prime, and their physical relationship had begun to evolve. They still waged their private battles of dominance and submission, but not every night. And on those other nights, like last night, Soundwave was no less receptive, enthusiastic, passionate. Optimus could feel his circuits heating just remembering.
Soundwave’s visor brightened and dimmed, his fingers never slowing over the keys, but a gentle telepathic nudge brought Prime back to the here and now. He ordered the override just before his vents would have kicked on.
Prime glanced around, all but one of his officers were busy talking to one another, not paying any attention to his lapse. Starscream, however, stared directly at him, a slight smirk on his face. Prime raised an optic ridge in challenge, watching as Starscream’s smirk bloomed into a full smile.
Smiling beneath his mask, Prime deliberately moved his gaze from Starscream to Ratchet, then back. Starscream’s dark cheeks glowed a little, but he didn’t drop his smile.
To the best of Optimus’ knowledge, it had only occurred once, and a couple weeks ago at that, but ‘Autobots superior’ had become a catch phrase, and more than a few new cross-faction friendships had come into being since.
Not that Prime would complain about that. Training was going better, arguments were settled more often without officer interference and were occurring less. There had even been hold-outs who had changed their minds.
Those few who had decided that peace with the Autobots was better than spark prison or Shockwave’s rule were watched closely. It was difficult on their keepers, but necessary.
So far, even that was going well.
Prime wasn’t naïve enough to relax and stop worrying, but he was more content than ever before.
“Connection established,” Soundwave said, breaking Prime from his thoughts.
“Well done,” Optimus said, squeezing Soundwave’s shoulder.
Starscream stepped closer, as did Prowl. “Will it be visual?”
“Affirmative.” Soundwave’s shoulder dipped slightly as he slid away from Prime to stand on the other side of Starscream.
Their relationship was no secret here on Earth anymore, but it would take too much explaining to make Ultra Magnus understand. If he ever did. Prime liked Magnus, he was loyal, strong, fair, and dedicated. He would obey even if he didn’t like the order.
Such as staying on Cybertron as Supreme Commander of the Autobots in Prime’s absence.
The static cleared and a brightly colored Autobot smiled. “Greetings Earth!” Then his optics went wide. “Holy slag!”
“Calm down,” Prime said, lifting a hand in the hopes the young mech wouldn’t panic completely. “Hotrod isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Prime you got Decepticons standing there with you!”
“I am aware. We have arranged a peace treaty. Where is Ultra Magnus?”
“But that’s Starscream!”
Starscream flicked his wings, voice bored as he said, “Oh, you Autobots build them so clever.”
“Shut up, Screamer! No one asked you!”
“Hotrod!” Prime snapped in his command voice. “You will show respect to Cybertron’s Lord High Protector. You will also obey me, and inform Ultra Magnus I need to speak with him. Immediately.”
Hotrod blinked, doubt and worry showing clearly on his face. “Yes, sir. One moment please.” He disappeared from view, and Starscream snickered.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak to an Autobot like that before,” Starscream murmured, a glint of amusement in his optics.
“I don’t often find myself needing to.”
“He leaves the twins for me to handle,” Prowl said.
Ironhide chuckled. “Better you than me.”
“Optimus Prime,” Ultra Magnus greeted as he stepped into view. His optics swept over the mechs surrounding Prime. “I think I see what had Hotrod so panicked.”
“He needn’t be, though I’m sure this is a shock,” Prime said, stepping forward a little. “Starscream and Soundwave negotiated a treaty with us, Megatron is dead with no chance of being rebuilt, and we have spent the last month integrating our forces in the hopes of reclaiming Cybertron from Shockwave’s grasp.”
Ultra Magnus remained silent for a moment, then sighed slightly and shook his head. “You are correct that it is a shock. I find it difficult to believe this is not some trick. Hotrod did say something about a treaty, but he also said ‘Lord High Protector.’ That is a term he is far too young to have learned for himself.”
Prime nodded. “We will not be returning Cybertron to the same system it suffered under before I was made Prime. The exact set up of the government can be established once we’ve removed Shockwave from control. We’ve been discussing a blend of those things that seemed to work best in the past. Lord High Protector was one such. You’ve served a number of Primes, just as Prowl has. I would appreciate your input when the time comes, Ultra Magnus.”
Ultra Magnus was quiet for another moment, then gave a short nod. “And the Autobots chose this freely?”
“We all had our doubts,” Prowl said, moving forward. “I’m transferring you video footage from around the base. It is just a sampling of day to day activities, but should give you an idea as to how real this is.” He pushed a few keys, then stepped back. “I can understand your hesitation, but this is real, not a Decepticon plot.”
Again that considering, thoughtful silence from Ultra Magnus.
Starscream shifted his weight to one leg, and crossed his arms. “Megatron is dead, but Shockwave is still in control of the Decepticons on Cybertron. He also has an army of combat drones. Something you know you can’t defeat, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. In less than three decacycles Shockwave will attempt to contact Megatron on the abandoned Nemesis, and our window of opportunity closes. We’ve been training daily here to be an effective combined force. I can take command of the seekers once we arrive. An infiltrator can shut down the combat drones. Prime wants to give Shockwave the chance to surrender. When he doesn’t, we’re going to need every mech available to subdue those Decepticons that either won’t believe Megatron is dead, or think Shockwave should have command instead of me.”
Prime frowned. Starscream was very likely correct, but he did like to hope that Shockwave would see reason.
Ultra Magnus met Prime’s optics, and dipped his chin in a nod. “When would this occur?”
“Two decacycles,” Prime answered. “Mirage will go through the space bridge with Starscream, and while Shockwave is distracted with Starscream, Mirage will shut down the drones, and the rest of us will hurry through to take positions. I will contact you as soon as I am in place.” He cast a sidelong look at Starscream. “In the rather likely event that Shockwave declines to abide by the new peace agreement, we will subdue him and imprison his spark, and any of those that stand with him.”
“I will prepare my troops,” Ultra Magnus said.
“Caution required,” Soundwave said, surprising even Optimus. “Decepticon spies in place. Transmitting known agents now.” His fingers danced over the keys, and Prime watched as Ultra Magnus’ optics shot wide for a moment in surprise. “Report schedules unknown.”
Ultra Magnus nodded, glancing to the side, then back. “Hotrod and I are the only ones aware of this communication. I will speak with Kup, and work out the particulars. Will you be in contact again?”
“Soundwave secured this transmission. Unless you see me and Soundwave present, consider any further communications a threat.” Prime paused, thinking. “We will contact you again, this same time, the orn before the incursion. If you need us for any reason, use the normal channels, request me, then close the connection. I will call you back on a secured channel.”
“Agreed. Until next time, Optimus Prime.”
Prime nodded, and the connection was closed.
“He’s thinkin’ this is a trick,” Jazz said.
Prime sighed, “I know, but we don’t have a quick way to convince him.”
“What’s that mean for our plan?” Starscream asked, propping his hip against the console.
“Nothing,” Prime answered. “Ultra Magnus will be prepared for things to go both the way I said it would, and for us all to be betrayed by the Decepticons.”
Starscream stiffened in offense, but Soundwave said, “A wise tactician.”
“He is.”
Starscream huffed, mouth still pressed into an irritated line. “I suppose he would need to be to have held out against Shockwave and his little inventions for four million years.”
Prime chuckled. “Magnus is always prepared for every eventuality. No matter how unnecessarily.”
Red optics rolling, Starscream flicked the back of his hand against Soundwave’s arm. “Tell your boyfriend to stop playing diplomat.”
Soundwave’s visor flashed, his shoulder shaking for a moment in a silent laugh with everyone else. Prime shook his head. “Dismissed,” he said waving his hand in a shooing motion. “Tomorrow is soon enough to drill our troops again.”
~ | ~
Ratchet looked up as the door opened. “There is a call button out there.”
Starscream entered, wings and a hand flicking in dismissal. “So these are your quarters now?” he asked, looking around.
The side room of the medbay was not all that large, but Ratchet only recharged in it. In fact, he often stayed in this room rather than his official quarters even before the Decepticons came. “At least I don’t have roommates.”
“And my roommates are noisy obnoxious younglings who constantly whine that their creator is off ‘facing Prime through his berth, and oh isn’t that just disgusting!”
“I think they’re rather hot.”
Starscream gave him a flat stare. “I was repeating the mechlings’ opinion. One I’ve heard entirely too many times over the last few days. At least they’ve shut up about us.”
Ratchet grinned. “Someone’s tetchy tonight.” Starscream huffed and made a show of inspecting Ratchet’s personal belongings. The strange rock Swoop had given him, the holocube that held pictures from his academy days, - it was currently off - the etched certificate commending him on having the highest marks of his graduating class. “You lasted longer than I expected,” Ratchet said.
Starscream faced him with a frown. “Lasted?”
“How’s the valve been?”
“Fine. Washracks lock.”
Ratchet chuckled and leaned back against the wall, stretching his legs out on the berth. “That they do. So why are you here?”
“I’m bored.”
Optics wide, a laugh burst from Ratchet. “Bored! Primus, Screamer, can’t you come up with a better pick-up line than that?”
“Do not call me that!”
“It’s a pet name, sweetspark. I made you scream, I’ll call you Screamer all I want.” Ratchet held up his hand as Starscream’s mouth opened. “In private, with no witnesses.”
“You will not! I hate that name! It’s bad enough I can’t get Skywarp to stop it. I won’t have my lover belittling me like that as well!”
Ratchet blinked. “Lover? Starscream, we’ve ‘faced a grand total of one time.”
“Tch! Like you don’t want to again.”
“Oh, take me, take me now,” Ratchet deadpanned. “Did you ever think to say, ‘Hey, Ratch, I want you, let’s frag each other insensate again’? I mean, it’s not like I’ve ever made it difficult for partners to get what they want from me.”
Emotions played across Starscream’s face, and Ratchet realized with some surprise that he was nervous. The wings. Always watch the wings of a flyer, he thought. Starscream’s were hitched high, a sign of anxiety, tension, or anger. Anger was out as they weren’t quivering and were swept wide to give the impression of size and dominance. It wasn’t outright fear, but Starscream was likely feeling uncertain and a need to appear stronger than Ratchet.
Ratchet tipped his head to the side and let himself relax into a slight slump. “Talk to me, Star.”
Dark lips pressed into a line, and Starscream began to pace. It couldn’t have been a very satisfying trip. The room really was rather small. “I told you I’ve been with two, well three counting you now.”
“Let three of us into your valve? Yes, I remember you saying something like that.”
“I don’t… I’ve never really liked it.”
“Until last time?” At Starscream’s nod, Ratchet smiled. “That’s because I know what I’m doing.”
“Skyfire knew what he was doing too,” Starscream snapped.
Ratchet sighed. “Look. The nodes probably haven’t settled out. We didn’t change you. We just repaired the damage. Have you used your spike lately?”
“Yes. But I can’t go to them often. I don’t want them thinking I feel something more for them, or am just using them.”
“Thundercracker and Skywarp?”
Starscream nodded.
“You prefer being in control. The more dominant role.”
Another nod. “Skyfire’s rather large, so I had to be. He could have damaged me beyond repair if we weren’t careful. And even then, we didn’t switch like that very often.”
“Who was the other?”
“Older seeker. He took my seals.” Starscream smiled. “He was good, but even then, I preferred to spike him, not take his.”
Ratchet grinned. “I have an idea.” He leaned over, reaching beneath the berth and pulled out a pair of magcuffs. Starscream’s optics went wide, and he actually took a step back. “They’re for me. Here.” Ratchet tossed the keychip to Starscream.
“For you?”
“Yup.” Ratchet clasped the cuffs on his wrists with the ease of long practice and lay back down, raising his hands over his head. “Now you’re guaranteed some control, even if it is my spike in your valve. And you know you’re strong enough to pin me down.”
Starscream stared from the keychip to Ratchet and back a few times before slipping it into his subspace. “You enjoy being bound?”
Ratchet grinned. “You would glitch if I told you everything I enjoy.”
“I’d never have thought an Autobot would be interested in such things.” Starscream came closer, smirking down at Ratchet. “Whatever would Prime think?”
Ratchet laughed, “Who the frag do you think trained him?”
“Trained?”
“Aw, that’s cute. You, the evil Decepticon, have managed to keep a veil of naiveté.” Ratchet snickered as Starscream glared at him. “Where I’m rather fond of being submissive to my partners, Prime is not. He’s very dominant. Very. Pits, I haven’t asked, but his valve may still have its seal. But he didn’t understand, he thought something was wrong. I taught him, trained him to channel that dominance while still being attentive and compassionate with his lovers.”
Starscream’s optics were huge, his mouth gaping open for a moment. “Soundwave…”
Ratchet laughed again. “Oh yeah!”
Head shaking in surprised denial, Starscream sank onto the edge of the berth. “But… but we were raped. Why would he like that? I know he didn’t like Megat-“
“No!” Ratchet cut in, and sat up. “No, it isn’t like that, Starscream. Not to mention their relationship began before Megatron raped Soundwave. And Prime would never do something Soundwave didn’t want him to.”
Starscream rose, pacing again. “I don’t…”
“Does it help to know that Soundwave started all this with Optimus? That he wanted what they have between them?”
“How do you know? Prime?”
“Soundwave.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Starscream whispered after a moment. “I don’t like that. I won’t.”
Still cuffed, Ratchet rose and stepped up close to Starscream. “I’m not asking you to.” He stroked his hands up Starscream’s chest, leaning up on the tips of his feet to kiss him. “These,” Ratchet said, holding up his cuffed hands, “are to help you feel in control. I wouldn’t offer if I thought for an instant that you would hurt me. I wouldn’t offer to interface at all if I thought you would harm me in any way.” He backed away, sitting on the edge of the berth. “Prime and Soundwave enjoy what they have, and really I don’t know all the details. Nor do I want to.”
“Yes, you do.”
Ratchet matched Starscream’s grin. “Yes I do. But that’s because I’m depraved and know how good Optimus is in the berth, and until a couple weeks ago I hadn’t ‘faced anyone in over four million years.”
“We were in stasis for much of that.”
“Believe me, with my reputation, it sounds really good that I went without, even for the few years we’ve been here on Earth.”
Starscream smirked and moved in close. “So when I called you a pleasure drone…”
“Oh, no pleasure drone will ever be as good as me,” Ratchet purred, lying back as Starscream crawled up over him.
“Of course not. Pleasure drones can’t possibly last that long.” Starscream paused, cocking his head to the side. “How many times have you had your valve relined?”
“Fragger!”
But Starscream caught Ratchet’s bound wrists and slammed them to the berth over his head. “Maybe I am better off with your spike.”
Ratchet squirmed a little, just a show of resistance to see if Starscream liked it. He’d expected someone like Starscream to pounce on an opportunity to force another into submission. His earnest declaration that he wouldn’t hurt Ratchet was a surprise. A nice one. But still a surprise.
“Good, because it’s all you get tonight. Once we have your valve nodes leveled out, I’ll consider letting you at mine.” Ratchet retracted his interface panel and let his spike extend.
Starscream leaned over him, then smirked and released his own panel. His spike slid out, but when Starscream rocked his hips down, Ratchet hissed in a breath as slick valve lubricant rubbed over the length of his spike.
“You are good at hiding your arousal, I’ll give you that,” Ratchet said, rocking up, sensation winding out in slow spirals.
“There was a rumor that I ‘faced my way to the top,” Starscream whispered, lifting enough to set the opening of his valve against the tip of Ratchet’s spike. Ratchet clenched his jaw and forced himself to remain still as Starscream slowly impaled himself. “It’s untrue, of course. But I did have to fend off many offers from those who thought pleasing me would gain them rank.” He let his weight settle comfortably on Ratchet. “Some were quite attractive and eager to impress their young Air Commander.”
“So you learned to hide your interest.”
Starscream rolled his hips, optics flickering and a little gasp of pleasure escaping. “I had to. Returned interest could be taken as permission amongst some of the less savory characters that joined the Cause.”
Ratchet rocked his hips up in time to Starscream’s grinding little rolls. “How’s that feel?”
“Better than expected.” Starscream gasped again, pace already picking up.
Ratchet moaned, relaxing a little under Starscream’s hold on his wrists. He’d wanted this for the last few weeks, but hadn’t wanted to push Starscream before he was ready. Even this wasn’t going how he’d imagined, and that was no complaint. His vents were working hard, and Starscream was panting over him, moving faster, his rhythm faltering.
Starscream went still, head falling back, valve squeezing Ratchet’s spike. He’d meant to last longer, but Starscream broke into movement again, vents hitching, optics clenched shut, mouth open in a perfect O, hands tightening on Ratchet’s wrists, locking him to the berth. Ratchet bucked up, crying out as his systems fell into overload, electric bliss pulling all of his awareness to the hot rush of transfluid pulsing from his spike.
Starscream collapsed over him, forehead pressed to the berth beside Ratchet’s head. They were silent a few moments, enjoying the hazy afterglow, letting their vents cycle down.
“Are you alright?” Ratchet asked.
“Mmhmmm.”
Ratchet chuckled. “Then would you mind uncuffing me? They’re getting uncomfortable.”
Starscream leaned up enough to smirk at Ratchet. “What do I get in return?”
“The chance to do it again?”
Ratchet chuckled as Starscream quickly unlocked the magcuffs, and climbed off him. He settled close beside Ratchet on the narrow berth, wings hanging out over the edge and drooping as he began to slip into recharge.
“Staying then?”
“Mmhmmm.”
Ratchet grinned, shifting to make a little more room for his snuggling seeker. They could clean up later.
~ | ~
He was still half in recharge, his systems reporting an interrupted cycle. He was lying against a large, heated frame, interface panel open wide, a hand between his legs. He could feel the slick of lubricant as a finger circled around his valve rim, and more trickled out. His vents hitched at the gentle invasion of his valve, a warm finger pressing slowly inward, a thumb playing around the rim, stroking and toying. Heat shimmered right up his backstruts. His head fell back. He moaned, his thighs splaying open in wanton invitation.
He protested drowsily when the fingers left off pleasuring his valve, and heard a deep chuckle in his audial; the air brushing his face held the faint odor of high-grade. He was rolled to his stomach. An arm around his waist lifted him up to his hands and knees, where he remained, head hanging down, pliant and trembling as those fingers returned to probe and play and tease his valve once more. He moaned again, rocking into the touches.
Vent fans blasted behind him, a growl answered him. A large hand held his hip plate up, another planted itself between his shoulder struts, pushing him down onto his chest.
He froze, his fuel pump twisting in a sickening fashion.
His hips were jerked back, one of Megatron’s hands pinning him, chest to the floor, the other holding him still for the imminent assault.
He whimpered at the sharp snick of an interface panel being retracted.
Megatron’s panel released, his spike extending instantly, large enough to be intimidating.
Someone was speaking, low rumble, deep voice, but he couldn't make out what was said past the roaring in his processors. He couldn't make himself protest or resist, could only let those large hands do what they wanted to him, adjusting him, lifting his hips higher, holding him. Cries for mercy, moans for forgiveness, he couldn't force anything past his vocalizer, frozen along with the rest of him.
...sobbing, shrieking... Megatron growling, his spike piercing his valve, tearing him apart... his tanks roiling, about to purge with the burning agony...
A single deep thrust, and Soundwave was impaled on that hard punishing spike once again. His valve clenched on the intruder, every shred of pleasure gone, his whole body tensed, trying in vain to draw away from his attacker. He shook, his mind screaming, pleading, begging, Please, my Lord, please don't punish me! I'm sorry, so sorry! Don't hurt me again, I beg you!
All that emerged was a helpless whimper. Laughable, pitiful, weak.
The large spike drew out. Images assaulted him. His panel torn away, all optics on him as he was pulled backwards, his legs forced apart. Megatron raping him, vicious stabs tearing him open, feeling his valve lining rip under each agonizing thrust. Fear gripped him. Stop, my Lord, please, I beg you.
The hands on his hip plates tightened. He shivered with terror, too weak to resist. The spike slid in deeply, rocking him into the berth. His valve clenched against the invasion; hands scrabbled weakly. He heard a groan of pleasure; his aft was pulled tight to the hips behind him, the large spike seating firmly inside of him.
He managed a choked gasp this time, too far gone to realize there was no pain, only the terror and violence of his own memories.
Soundwave flinched at the touch to his helm, expecting a blow, another beating. A voice behind him spoke. He knew that voice, the deep timbre that sent desire arcing through his circuits. He just didn't understand why it was here.
Muffled cursing behind him, he felt the spike ease out of his valve. He was lifted and placed on his back where he lay for a time, frame shuddering, looking blankly up at the large mech hovering over him, the shock of memories slowly fading.
"Optimus," he whispered.
"I'm here," Prime rumbled. Hands stroked gently over his trembling frame, a small sigh of air brushed his audial. "I misread you. I'm sorry."
Prime sounded appalled and deeply troubled. They knew each other so well, such miscues were rightly a thing of the past. Soundwave dimmed his optics. "The fault is not yours."
"What was it then?"
"The position. It was the same -" He tensed, trembling again when his vocalizer locked, and try as he might, Soundwave could add nothing more.
Prime stilled beside him. "The same as Megatron."
Not an accusation, just a statement of fact, but still unbearable. Everything in Soundwave screamed for walls, a weapon, some defense against the knowledge that shamed and humiliated and tortured him when he least expected.
Soundwave shuddered and turned away from Prime's gaze, visor and mask sliding into place. "Apologies," he said, monotone made even duller, flattened with pain and weariness.
When Prime spoke again, it was a deep murmur against his audial. "No, I understand." Fingers slid gently over his mask. "Keep them on, Soundwave, for as long as you need them, even with me."
Prime's hands resumed their soothing strokes over his frame. "Rest now." The heat from Prime's systems relaxed his frame, the low steady hum lulled his strained processors. Soundwave dimmed his optics, and let recharge claim him.
~ | ~
Starscream stepped out of the space bridge and strutted into the control room with customary entitlement, slapping the keypad so the doors would shut and hide the arrival of their forces.
Shockwave was already sputtering, his single yellow optic flickering.
The ninny.
When they had first met, Starscream had hated him instantly. Shockwave was powerfully built, but he was little more than a cowardly sycophant. The hatred of course had been mutual, but Shockwave had in the past cowered and obeyed Starscream.
“Megatron is dead! I am now leader of the Decepticons! Swear obedience now, or suffer the consequences.”
“Lord Megatron could not have fallen. You’ve claimed such before and been wrong.”
Starscream fired his nullray just to Shockwave’s left with a screech of anger. “You dare question me?!” He watched the smoke rise from the surveillance controls.
Shockwave cringed aside, unaware that Starscream hadn’t really been trying to hit him.
A lithe weight leaned up on Starscream’s shoulders, a whisper in his audials, “Drone self-destruct initialized. I’m opening the door.”
“I require proof,” Shockwave said, recovering just as Mirage slipped away unseen behind Starscream.
“I saw his husk grey with death myself,” Starscream sneered, crossing his arms over his chest, and shifting his weight to one leg, easily settling into his most haughty pose.
Shockwave flinched as the door hissed and slid open. “I don’t… I don’t believe you.”
“Then believe me,” Prime said, striding confidently into the Control Room. “Megatron has been deactivated for nearly four decacycles. This is your one chance to join in the peace treaty Starscream and I have drafted.”
“Lies!”
Starscream grinned as Soundwave stepped to his right side, stoic and calm, serene in the way that had always infuriated Starscream before. He opened the seeker channel. “Sunstorm, I have taken command of the Decepticons, arranged a peace treaty with the Autobots, and witnessed Megatron’s deactivation. Summon the seekers. They either stand with me and our Prime, or will be locked in spark prison.”
“Lovely hearing your voice, big brother.”
“Don’t be cute, sparkling. They have less than a klik to decide.” Starscream looked up as red lights began flashing, and the perimeter alarm sounded. “My mistake. They have no time left at all.
“Is Megatron really gone?” Razorwing asked.
“I killed him myself,” Skywarp answered. “And one way or another, Shockwave’s going down now. You gonna side with that freak, or with your own kind?”
There was utter silence over the channel with Skywarp’s declaration, and Starscream knew they were all processing the fact that Megatron’s most loyal seeker was the one that had killed him. He tuned back into the current conversation. Shockwave was demanding proof. His tone clearly stating he didn’t expect there to be any.
Soundwave stepped forward, moving cautiously toward the console. He jacked into the system directly, and on the main screen the footage he had recorded to show Starscream played.
“Primus!” Cloudrunner swore. Apparently Soundwave had turned on every view screen within his range.
Shockwave stared as Megatron’s death-grey husk slowly melted to slag with the remains of his conference table. His head was shaking, and he took a few steps back from Soundwave and the console.
“Lies,” he muttered. “Clever lies.”
“Not that I’m complaining, Star. But why is Soundwave on your side, and why did Warp kill Megatron?” Sunstorm asked.
It took Starscream a moment to answer, and when he did, his voice was hushed, but clear in the quiet Control Room and over the comm. “He raped me on that table more times than I can count.”
Shockwave’s head swiveled around, homing in on Starscream. Starscream dodged the sudden shot, but Shockwave barreled his way out another door, drones filing in to take his place.
They fell quickly, and Prowl was shouting orders.
Starscream flashed Prime a grin. “I told you so.”
Prime just shook his head, then followed his tactician down the corridor and out into the open.
The battle was already raging, and Starscream leapt into the air, hearing as his and Ramjet’s trine followed.
“How long ‘til the drones pop?” Jazz shouted.
“Three point four more kliks,” Mirage yelled back, ducking behind a broken wall and vanishing from view.
“Why the frag so long?” Ironhide bellowed, cannons mowing down handfuls of drones at a time. The strength of Shockwave’s drones were in their sheer numbers, not their armor plating.
Starscream hovered, safe for the moment as the Decepticon drones would not target Decepticons. He could see Shockwave across the battlefield, firing at Ultra Magnus’ troops, pinned between both advancing fronts.
A bright yellow seeker appeared from behind a building, cautiously staying out of sight of the Cybertronian Autobots and Shockwave both.
“Friends of yours, Screamer?”
“Mechs have been known to deactivate under friendly fire in combat situations, Jazz!” Starscream beckoned Sunstorm over. “But, yes. They’re mine.
Sunstorm flew directly up to Starscream, wrapped his arms around his neck, and squeezed. “I missed you!” he whispered.
Starscream grinned, trying to regain the lost altitude, and nodded to Acid Storm, and Lightning Storm.
“Kid’s been waiting for this,” Acid Storm said with a smile for his youngest trine mate.
“Any stragglers?” Starscream asked, giving the assembled seekers a critical once over.
“A few that didn’t want to be seen openly defying Shockwave.” Sunstorm shrugged. “They’ve been voluntarily sealed in the Aerie.”
Starscream grinned, body beginning to tingle in true anticipation. “Don’t fire upon any Autobot. Otherwise. Shoot to kill. And I do mean kill.”
He led them higher, transforming as they went, gliding into formation, and circling for the first run. Just off Starscream’s wingtip, Skywarp whooped, firing into a cluster of drones and groundling Decepticons that remained with Shockwave.
Starscream kept his sensors on Prime and Soundwave, his comm channel to Prowl open as well, leading and directing his few dozen seekers as required. Then the first drone spontaneously fritzed and crumbled. Then the next, and more and more. Mechs from both sides quickly scurried away from them as a few exploded.
Starscream could hear Shockwave’s howl of rage from well above the battlefield. He swept around, looking for the cycloptic moron, lazily firing here or there to encourage Shockwave’s Decepticons to surrender.
Many already had.
The seeker channel was full of laughter and high spirits, banter and good natured arguments over who took out the most drones.
It was then that Starscream saw Prime. He was standing near Ratchet, guarding the medic as he patched up what looked like a minor wound on Bluestreak’s arm. A purple gun barrel was aimed right at him.
Starscream banked hard, shrieking through all channels for Prime to get down.
Prime had barely begun to crouch over Bluestreak, when Starscream saw that purple begin to fade to grey. He landed hard, cannons charged, but had to dance back as Shockwave, a still smoking hole through his back, crashed forward.
Soundwave stepped out of the shadows as the final color faded from Shockwave’s frame. Light flashed over his visor, and his voice was low, unfiltered, and enraged. "Prime is mine," he growled to Starscream, and stepped past the startled Seeker to face Optimus. “Shockwave's deactivation required.”
Prime nodded, one hand squeezing Soundwave’s shoulder in thanks. “We suspected Shockwave would not see reason,” he said in a voice just loud enough to carry. “I do hope the rest of the Decepticons that fought for Shockwave do, however.”
The twenty or so mechs that still held weapons dropped them immediately, some even raising their hands in a show of surrender.
Starscream turned. “Thundercracker, help Sunstorm and his trine melt Shockwave down.” He glanced at Soundwave. “Perhaps Laserbeak could assist? There may be some who doubt this as much as they doubted Megatron’s death.”
“Laserbeak, eject.”
“Optimus Prime,” a smooth voice spoke. Ultra Magnus stepped forward, followed by a small contingent of mechs, one of whom was the bright-colored youngling Starscream had seen during their communications.
“Magnus!” Prime chuckled, reaching out to clasp arms with his First Commander. “Believe me now?”
“Had I not seen it myself, I would still have doubts.” Ultra Magnus turned to Starscream and sketched a slight, respectful bow. “Lord High Protector. I welcome you both home. May Cybertron flourish with your guidance.”
Starscream was surprised to feel his cheeks heat. He’d longed for this type of acknowledgement, and now he wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
Prime stepped seamlessly into the silence, clapping a hand to each Starscream and Ultra Magnus’ shoulders. “As much as I would love to order a party to celebrate we do still have work to do. Jazz,” he called. “Take your team and Soundwave. I want this compound cleared and safe for our use. Who knows what traps and tricks Shockwave had installed. Hound, take Bumblebee and Beachcomber back to Earth and contact their leaders. Let them know I will be in touch in a few days to further explain the new peace, but that we have many things still to discuss now with the war over. I’ll contact you at the Ark once we get a few things settled here.
“Prowl and Ironhide, please see to Shockwave’s troops. Make sure they understand what the consequences will be if they break the treaty in even the smallest of ways.” Prime faced Starscream then. “Is there a meeting room here? I would like us to sit down and fill Magnus in on everything we’ve worked out so far.”
Starscream nodded, looking around. “That building I believe.” He glanced around, almost surprised to see Skywarp standing at attention just beyond his left wing. “See to the other seekers. Comm me if there are any problems.”
Skywarp’s smile was practically giddy, but he managed to murmur a sincere, “Yes, sir,” and then executed a perfect military about face, signaling the other seekers to follow him.
“That was strange,” Prime said quietly.
Starscream burst out laughing, then led Prime and Ultra Magnus to the old meeting room.
~ | ~
( Unexpected - Epilogue )
( AprilRaven’s Table of Contents )
( LadyDragon76’s Table of Contents )