Hope's Return

Starscream

"Breakdown! Where is my buffer?"

Starscream groaned and tried to block out Knockout's voice. The medic was soon drowned out by the noise of the bluffer.

Sighing, he turned to the window and looked out on the wilderness.  He had been surprised when Knockout and Breakdown had invited him to live with them, but not as surprised as they were when he had accepted.

Still it had been a generous offer and they had been roommates as the humans called it for several years. He supposed that he had been lonely with Megatron gone. The big metal idiot had exiled himself after the regeneration of Cybertron.

Did he even consider how his leaving would affect Starscream? Of course not the fragger. Still, Starscream mused, he hadn't severed the bond so there was still hope for his return.

Muttering a little to himself, he stepped down from the window ledge. Following the sound of the buffer, he found Knockout finishing up his daily grooming routine.

"Ah Starscream, come to polish up your finish?"

"Of course not, I'm not as worried about my paint as you are."

Knockout just shrugged, to used to Starscream's personality to take offense. He knew the real reason behind his bite. He missed Bumblebee like Starscream missed Megatron.  The only difference was that Bee had no idea of his affections for him. Still, it didn't lessen the longing.

Life had been much simpler back at base before the loss of Optimus and Hope. Oh how he missed her sparkling personality.  She had been the warmth that drew Autobot and Decepticon together. Even Soundwave and his cassettes had been fond of her and they normally just tolerated other bots.

Lost in thought, he failed to see that Starscream had returned to his window seat at the back of the bunker. What did grab his attention was a loud knock on the bunker door.

"Now who in Primus could that be?"

He watched Breakdown walk over to the door and open it before standing there in shock. Raising a brow, he hurried over to see what the issue was. Ducking under Breakdown's arm, he stopped for a brief moment in shock before flinging himself into the femmes arms.

Hope smiled at the flashy mech and his best friend.  Behind her, Megatron shuffled in place, unsure of what to say or do.

"Sweet Solus Prime, how is this possible? You were off lined! Your signal disappeared!"

"I suppose that's the reaction I'm going to get for a while. Primus brought me back once Cybertron was fully healed. Until than, I guess you could say I was deep within the All-Spark."

Knockout's helm snapped up as he realized who was standing behind her. Nudging Breakdown,  he nodded to Megatron.

"Lord Megatron,  welcome back to Earth."

Taken back by their reception,  Megatron could only nod his helm in response.  Absentmindedly he rubbed a circle over his now burning spark. Knockout noticed the motion and thinking quickly, invited them both inside.

Leaving Breakdown to reacquaint himself with Hope, he pulled Megatron aside and spoke quietly before pointing towards the back of the bunker. The warlord was on his way the instant Starscream was mentioned. Knockout merely smirked before returning to the main living area.

*****************

Megatron slowed as he came closer to the window ledge that the seeker was on. His spark pulsing, he could only stare at his sparkmate who had yet to acknowledge him. Starscream seemed to be lost in thought, his servo tracing his chest plate like Megatron had earlier.

Megatron cleared his voice box, causing Starscream to look down at him. To his astonishment,  the seeker merely sighed before returning to gaze out the window again.

"Great. Now I'm hallucinating that you're here. Blasted fragger."

Taken back by his reaction, Megatron could only stare in shock when the seeker groaned in frustration and looked down at him again. Dropping down to the floor, he moved as if to walk through Megatron before clanging into warm metal.

Sitting down in surprise, he could only stare up. Was it possible? His spark warmed with laughter as he was pulled up into the warlords arms. He looked up and gasped before bursting into tears and wrapping his arms around Megatron and burrowing into his chest plate.

"Now do you believe I'm here?"

Starscream just clung tighter and continued sobbing. The years of pent up emotion bursting out. Megatron simply waited until the seeker had exhausted himself and gone limp in his arms. Bending forward, he touched his helm to Starscreams.

"I will never leave you again, my seeker."

Starscream's response was a watery hiccup before he shakily nodded his helm in agreement then striking Megatron lightly on his shoulder.

"You blasted fragger. I've missed your slagging aft."

A slow clap made the two turn around to see Knockout and Hope standing behind them beaming. Knockout pretended to wipe a tear from his optic.

"That was beautiful, don't you think Hope?"

Hope grinned back at him and slung her arm around his shoulders.

"Oh yes, my favorite part was when he said that he missed his slagging aft."

Megatron just shook his helm at them before bursting into a deep laugh. It was good to be reunited with family again.