PREDATORY (Megatron x Starscream)

Chapter 13

The vehicon looked as uncomfortable as she felt. Its presence was a very unpleasant reminder for Starscream, more specifically the rather noticeable box of tools it had anxiously handed off to her, narrowly missing as his optics were decidedly elsewhere. She set it on the ground and popped open the clasp with her digits, finding the arrangement of cleaning supplies she expected. Normally, she would be happy to see these. Her personal sander, buffer, and vial of special polish were associated, in her processor, with the pleasant privilege of relaxing after a long day of arduous orchestrating and other general bullying. Typically , cleaning was a positive psychological trigger for her. But these were far from her personal collection, and much farther from relaxing. Their size alone was brutally archaic.

"Great," Starscream murmured. Megatronus was still sitting. He resembled his beastly self much more now; not because he was intimidating, quite the opposite, rather. His audials swiveled forward, his optics cleared like they were filled with clouds that had just began to part, and his lips slightly opened as if he'd simply forgotten to close them. His alertness, once again, evaded Cybertronian conduct for her. It was almost cute.

"My liege?" Starscream heard the vehicon eek out. She turned to look at him.

Before she could ask, his chest compartment opened a second time, and he handed her a bright blue cube. The tangy aroma of high grade invaded her receptors.

"Oh. Right." Once she'd returned to her full height, Starscream took it gingerly from his servos. "Thank you."

"May I... um..?" He was already backing away when the words escaped him. Starscream flashed a pitying look at the Vehicon. She didn't blame him, of course. She realized how potentially insensitive this was, cooperating with the thing she'd just watched devour several of her men, completely indiscriminately. At least, she'd probably feel a bit offended. But she had put herself at risk too, and she'd gotten over it... somewhat. They'd learn to live with it. Er, not the eating part, she wanted to get that sorted out, but the being around him part. She did draw the line in certain situations.

"Yes. You're dismissed." She'd barely even finished her sentence when he was back on four wheels, starting so fast the spin of his tires caught on the earth and spun dirt at her for several seconds. She yelped in alarm and fended off the attack of grass with raised gauntlets. "Hey! Watch it!" Starscream snarled and glared as his traction finally sank and he sped away. Now there was a reddish, brownish smear on the front of her chest... great. She dusted herself off as thoroughly as she could, at least until she finally gave up and resolved to figure it out later. A deep clean would probably be necessary after all this. At least that was something to look forward to.

Starscream sat down next to her tools and contemplated for a moment. They smiled up at her almost insultingly. The buffer was the worst of them. The little wiry hairs curled wryly and suggested judgment. She avoided that one for now, settling on a handheld lighter and belt sander.

When she looked over, she was surprised once again as the Predacon looked at her, right before immediately falling onto his back. The shockwave wobbled her a little. Primus, he's so heavy... She appraised him with an extremely odd look, no longer meeting his gaze, but having to peer over his chassis and chest.

"Um... what are you doing?"

"I'm laying down," He stated, matter-of-factly, "So you can clean me more easily."

"Oh." She pursued her lips together. "Um... you don't have to..." Something about the whole situation felt a little wrong.

"It's much more convenient. I can just roll over when you need to do my back."

"...Fine." She would have protested more, but anything to make this ordeal shorter was Primus' blessing. She shoved the box closer and shimmied herself right up next to him, so her leg was flush against his flank.