Work Text:
Work. piles and piles of data pads stacked up on the desk and the numbers keep growing, some would call the office a mess but as long as he knew where things were it didn't matter. Starscream had been glued to his office for the past few cycles, barely getting enough recharge (he had passed out on his desk for a couple breaks before awakening embarrassingly) though the city and its issues never sleep. Venting out in frustration, the leader could only scowl at the data pads before the doors to his office bursted open, heavy (and clearly angry) footsteps made their way to his desk, not bothering to look up Starscream knew who it was, only one person Rattrap let waltz in whenever they wanted (Starscream still needed to discuss that problem with him anyways)- an energon cube was placed on his desk in front of him then pushed in his direction.
“Drink.” without turning his head Starscream had continued to scan the data pads,
“Can’t you see i’m working” it wasn't a question. No, this was Starscream telling him to frag off but this mech wasn't so easily swayed. Pushing the cube closer, almost pushing the data pads around, starscream finally looked up only to be met with angry yet slightly worried (?) blue optics.
“You haven’t left this office in cycles, let alone get any proper recharge i assume, now i’m having windblade tell me that you haven’t been properly fueling yourself? Drink starscream.” The prime spoke with such authority the seeker almost listened. Almost. One of the many known traits about Starscream is that he is stubborn. Ignoring his low fuel warnings, Starscream turned his helm back to the data pads, there was no time for this, he had work to do, a city to tend to.
“I have work” the tone was sharp making Rodimus wince slightly. “Unlike you (another wince) i have a new city to lead along with the growing demands of the council-”
“No.”
“No?” Starscream snapped his helm, his blazing red optics locking with assertive blue ones.
“Who are you to tell me no?” the seeker sneered yet the autobot didn’t falter if anything Rodimus had puffed out his chassis more looking more determined (typical autobot behavior)
“You can’t lead if you’re working yourself to death starscream. The council can wait a few breems if it means you have to refuel or recharge… you have to take care of yourself” there was a tone that made the seekers wings twitch [caring/want] no. it wasn't that.
“Why do you care?” he hissed, the prime visibly flinched as hurt flashed through his field. The look of disbelief struck across his face but the flame colored bot recovered quickly, taking a step closer to the desk leaning real close to the tri-colored seeker.
“You can't take care of the people if you don't take care of yourself first. Believe me I know.” the primes words held a lingering tone [guilt/regret] their optics locked- challenging another till one caved, which one did. Venting, as much as he’d love to play this little game of theirs, Starscream had work to be done and it was smarter to give the prime what he wanted- primus knows he's just as stubborn as he is- turning his helm once again back to the data pads, only this time swiping the cube in one servo while the other held documents, satisfaction flowed from Rodimus’s field as he crossed his arms around his chassis, the smug look on his face was missed but not unknown- you can practically feel it in his field- holding the cube to his lip plates, Starscream took a big swig, man he was depleted, only to freeze midway. ‘what in the slag-’ Starscream thought optics shooting open in shock,
“Do you like it?” by now Rodimus had gone back to leaning over his desk once more, his face lit up like a sparkling waiting for validation, Starscream still hadn’t spoken a word due to the struggle of trying to swallow whatever it is Rodimus had put in the energon-
“I made it with my favorite topping- gold flakes!” Oh. That was it.
“It always helps me refuel better,, so i thought maybe it would help you too..” Rodimus had now leaned in closer, optics glowed with anticipation. Starscream could only stare back because one, his processor, was still trying to comprehend the words he just heard and two, Rodimus had gotten extremely closer than he thought (why was he so close- he shouldn’t be that close). You see, starscream hated gold flakes. It never sat right in his tank, maybe it was his build, maybe it was just his personal preference but everyone knew that wasn't to his liking. Well- he thought everyone knew. Guess he was wrong. Any other day he wouldn’t hesitate to scream their audio receivers off- but maybe it was because his fuel levels were screaming at him to have more or maybe it was because his recharge deprivation had finally gotten to his helm (he really needed to fix his recharge schedule) because his will to argue back seemed not worth it.
The silence had been very loud as the primes question had lingered around the room, the light slightly dimmed from those blue optics as rodimus started to lean further back (wait no.) before the seeker downed the rest of the energon leaving the empty cube on the desk in front of the prime, granted the flavor was very much not to his liking, it did do the job well and starscream was at half tank, much more energized then he was previously a few breems ago. The primes face had beamed instantly, he clearly had gotten the wrong signal from that action but something in the seeker had stopped himself from correcting the autobot. Something was really wrong with him today.. Maybe he really did need a cycle's worth of recharge.. Satisfied with the empty cube, Rodimus grabbed it before spinning on his peds and walking towards the door before Starscream could even say a word.
“I’ll leave you to your boring work! See you later Star!” and with that the young prime was out the door in a flash. ‘See you later Star’ oh how familiar yet so nostalgic that nickname felt. He should be angry. He should be mourning. Flashes of his past trine clouded his processor. It still hurt like a bleeding wound, the broken bond still fresh in his spark. ‘There's nothing that can bring them back now’ Starscream grimaces, yet something about that autobot stops him from completely falling apart. For once he is left speechless as many mixed confusing emotions come to light. another problem for another cycle.
From that moment on Rodimus had brought gold flaked energon every cycle and stayed until Starscream emptied the cube, something had continuously stopped the seeker from telling off the prime for the disgusting topping, maybe it was the look of fulfillment the speedster wore every time he placed the cube on the desk, (maybe because this was a literal act of conjux ritus whether it was intentional or not the seeker cannot fight or deny the coding) who knows. Every time Starscream emptied the cube quickly and Rodimus had left with a smile.
No one said anything about it. But why was the prime always walking out of the unlikeable leader's office with a huge smile plastered on his face?