Chapter Text
“What are you doing?” Starscream's words rattled deeply into D-16’s plating as he stalked away, trying to get away from the high guard, return to Iacon and kill Sentinel once and for all. His new vents breathed out a gust of air as he turned around, ready to tell the seeker exactly what he was going to do.
But the words faded entirely from his glossa, turning around he was met with Orion frame falling forward, he was going to land face first on the ground if it wasn’t for the nearby high guard mech catching him just in shock like he was. With D-16’s optics no longer on the seeker walking forward, Starscream stopped to look in the direction that had D-16’s full attention.
“Skywarp, what is wrong with that mech?”
“I don’t know, he locked up and started falling. His plating is kind of warm.”
That got Starscream's attention, lifting up an optic in interest he turned his full attention to Orion and Skywarp, completely ditching D-16 in order to see what was wrong with the other mech. Only when he was closer and too felt the other frames burning heat, he placed a servo on the top of Orion’s forehead, feeling it for a few seconds, before his optics drifted towards his interfacing panels.
There in the minimal amount of light they had to make sure they were not spotted by Sentinel and his gang; whenever he came up to the surface. Was the unmistakable wetness of lubricant dripping down still closed panels. He took his servo off of the mech’s forehelm before addressing some of the others in the area closest to him. “Cyclonus go and get some of our energon, Slipstream prepare a nest for the grounder.”
With their task delegated, the two high guards turned in different directions to get to their destinations.
“What about the other Starscream?” Skywarp asked, putting his arm around Orion's waist, his other arm keeping the other unoccupied arm around his neck cables to keep him upright.
Starscream eyes them wearily before flicking servo at them in a shooing motion. “They may stay if they wish. But I must ask them to stay away from the nesting area until the Grounder is fit to see anyone.”
“What, what’s wrong with Orion?” Bumblebee asked worriedly, gripping his servos together, trying to keep himself busy, and not go into a panic. Starscream swept his optics over the minibot, then to the pink grounder, then to the Gray mech who was clenching his servos tightly to his side, his plate shaking in un-filtered rage.
“He is going to be alright. Like I said, nothing bad will happen to him as long as you all don’t go near him.” He then turned his attention to the others, wings twitching to get the others optics on himself. “And that goes for any of you. You all know the rules.” There were all different voices shouting similar things. Yes, ya, alright, loud and clear- and so on and so forth.
But that didn’t stop D-16 from stalking closer to the red seeker, growling deep within his voice box; that he himself didn’t think he was capable of producing. “And why is that? You aren't exactly telling us why we can’t be near him, so start talking. Before I do something that isn’t going to be pretty.”
Starscream only took him in with an air of slight caution, wings now spread out to make himself look bigger, blocking the view of Orion from D-16’s line of sight. It almost made the gray tank panic, his spark beating fast that he could no longer see his mate. He blinked, why did he just call Orion his… “Do you really not know what is happening to your friend?”
“No we don’t.” Elita spoke up, her own engine rumbling lowly, as if in a warning. The seeker took one last sweep over the entire new cast once again, trying to get a feel of them, and what exactly was going on. That’s when Soundwave sent a private comm, sending him detailed readings on all 4 mechs/ femm that he had scanned when they were still unconscious.
“I see, Thank you Soundwave.” he said after reading over everything quickly. His optics traveled back to the bots; two who were still glaring at him, while the other looked worried.
“Listen I am only going to tell you this once, so you three best keep paying attention.” Only once he knew he got everyone paying attention he spoke up. “Your friend is going through a heat cycle. As a carrier mech; he is more likely to send any potential sire into a rut. Frankly we have no time to deal with a sudden outbreak of lustful sire’s trying to frag a carrier while Sentinel’s still a threat.” He said, looking behind him back at Orion who was now being lifted by Slipstream and taken to the designated heat nest.
“So do I make myself clear. Under no circumstances are you or your companions allowed to go near the grounder.” He watched as the three looked at each other, most likely for comfort, before D-16 growled out. “Fine.” Before stalking away, no one stopped him this time as he walked out of the entrance.
Starscream rubbed the bridge of his nose, wings downcast as the fight he had been rearing up to have left him drained. He pointed to the last two grounders and spoke. “Find them a place to rest, tomorrow they’ll be put to work. And if the gray mech comes back, escort him to his friends.”
With those last words, the lights that they had dimmed, flicking out, the only source of light being their moon, as everyone maneuvered to get back to what they were doing before the meeting. Elita and Bee followed after a mech, bringing them to familiar sleeping pods that were starting to become occupied quickly, with the others returning to get some semblance of sleep.
Starscream walked closer to the nest area. It was covered by two tarps, so they could keep any scent of the heat inside. He lest the first tarp fall down completely before opening up the second one. Inside he could see Cyclonus trying to get Orion to bite the jellied energon, but the mech clearly now too deep in his heat cycle was refusing. With a huff, Starscream lowered himself to the ground, wings twitched in irritation.
Yet he still reached out, grabbing for the truck’s servos, bringing them closer to his spark, so he could feel the pulsing of it. “It’s scary isn’t it?” Starscream spoke, trying his hardest to calm the other down. “First heats are the worst, even more so that you missed so many.” Orion whimpered into his touch, not knowing if he should push away or lean closer.
“I remember my first heat.” Starscream continued, waiting for Orion to make the decision if he wanted more physical contact. “I was scared, my frame running hotter than Helios, my frame not listening to me. I was lucky to have my Conjunx with me at the time. He made the pain go away.” His sweet words somber at the mention of his Conjunx. Cyclonus bowed his head in respect for the fallen.
“ Cyclonus and I are going to be here by your side throughout your heat, you can trust us, and the others I allow inside to see you. Only ones allowed inside are other full carriers, like you and I. You are safe.” Starscream said, rubbing a thumb over his digits.
That got Orion to nod slowly, he was semi conscious now, enough that when Cyclonus offered him the energon jelly, he took small bites. It was a start, they had about 6 solar cycles to go. Hopefully nothing bad will happen in that time.
‘Famous last words’ Starscream thought to himself, as he scooted closer to Orion, wrapping an arm around the mech, as Cyclonus stayed in front of Orion, continuing to feed him.
They were all lucky to be out of sight as Airachnid and her crew sweeped by the area, trying to find the other mechs Alpha Trion had with him. But with no such luck they returned to Iacon, not realizing that they had caught the attention of D-16, his rage still boiling ever so slowly. He was going to kill Sentinel if it’s the last thing he does.