★彡[ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʟᴀxʏ]彡★ Short Drabbles

Unresting Grief

Drabble takes place in the Starscream AU. You can find information about the AU in 'Across the Universe'. Fully advised you to read that first before this.

Warning : Death

***

The warship is in the absence of the usual noises of the Vehicons' activity as night came. Everyone had retreated to recharge, except for a certain medic. The only sounds in the medbay was Knock Out tapping away at the datapads. He was unusually absorbed in his work. He had not heard the entrance door opening when Starscream entered the medbay, not until the seeker said his name. The doctor immediately whipped around, as if scared of something dangerous lurking nearby, and dropped the datapad which was in his servo.

" Primus, Starscream, " he said, " I didn't realize you came in. Aren't you supposed recharging? It's late. "

" I could say the same to you, Knock Out. "

" I couldn't recharge. So I decided to finish some uncompleted tasks, " he picked the datapad off the ground and resumed his work, not looking at Starscream anymore, " What about you? "

" Couldn't recharge either. Went out for some air. Noticed you weren't in your hab suite, so I came to the assumption you're in the medbay. I brought some energon cubes. "

The flier had two energon cubes in his servos. He put one of the cubes onto the table next to the red medic.

" I do not need to refuel, Starscream. I am fine. "

" Knock Out- "

" I said I'm fine, Starscream. Now stop bothering me. Can't you see I'm busy? " In spite that Knock Out didn't glare at him, his voice sounded bitter, " Go back and recharge. Please. "

" Knock Out, look at me. "

" For Primus's sake, Starscream- "

Before Knock Out could react, Starscream snatched the datapad from his servo. The medic tried to take it back when he set it down on the table, but Starscream grabbed his servo.

" For fragging sake, Starscream! Can't you listen to me for once! "

" KNOCK OUT! "

The medic froze when Starscream suddenly snapped. His sharp red optics burnt into his warningly. However, Knock Out was not going to give in. He tried to pull his servo away from his commander's grasp.

" Let go of me, Starscream! " he demanded.

" I know you're completely devastated by Breakdown's death, Knock Out. "

" Do not remind me of the incident- "

" I am also devastated, Knock Out. I care about Breakdown as much as you do. I wish I'd done something back then, to stop him from being killed by Airachnid. I regretted it. A lot. "

With that, Knock Out was at loss for words. He... had not expected him to just pour out his feelings like that. Starscream was always so secretive. He wouldn't allow himself to show a single emotion, let alone frustration of not being able to terminate Megatron. No, he wouldn't allow that to happen, but he did. The medic stared at him silently. The flier sighed, slowly holding Knock Out's servo in his two servos.

" What I'm trying to say is that you don't have to face this alone, Knock Out, " he said, " It... hadn't been easy for me either. I wish... how much I wish I had done something back then. Maybe... Just maybe... "

" Starscream, " Knock Out spoke softly, gently placing his other servo on his companion's, " It's not your fault. None of us knew it was going to happen. "

" But I should've retrieved his body at least, " he said, " If I had, that pathetic human wouldn't use him for his own selfish needs. His body wouldn't be so rotting away than it should. "

Starscream casted a side-glance over at the sturdy body that laid on the operation table. It was almost eaten away by rust, and littered with dents and scratches that aren't minor injuries. The chest plate was opened, revealing a pod but there was no user inside. Not anymore. Knock Out looked at what Starscream was looking and grimaced.

" It hadn't been a pleasant experience to remove that worthless human out of Breakdown, " he admitted, " But I'm glad that's over. However, Starscream, don't pin the blame on yourself. If it was you, I would have you dead long ago. We wouldn't be talking right now. "

" Indeed, " Starscream said thoughtfully.

The two slowly sat onto the ground, leaning against the table. Knock Out picked the energon cube which he initially turned down and took a slow sip. He was restless but now that he stopped his work, he realized how fatigue he was. He settled the cube on the ground beside him.

" Now that Breakdown is gone, I don't know what I'm doing anymore, " Knock Out said quietly, " It just felt so redundant to continue, but I had nowhere else to go, " he rested his helm on Starscream's shoulder, " Is this war going to end? "

" I don't know, " he said, " I don't know to be honest. But I can assure you. I will find a way. For us. We'll get out of this one day. That's a promise. "

They didn't say a word after that. Silence shared only by the two of them. Knock Out eventually drifted into slumber, resting against the flier who has not yet slept.

I'm sorry, Knock Out, he thought, I cannot tell you the truth. Not right now. I fear you may face severe consequences if Megatron finds out you knew I was working for the Autobots. We've already lost Breakdown. I could not afford to lose another.