Archive of Our Own ^beta

Stars are hot.

The one closest to Earth – The Sun – burns at 27 million degrees Faren height (or 15 million degrees Celsius).

But that doesn’t compare to the burning, seething rage bubbling within Starscream’s spark.

Once upon a time ago, he would’ve rejoiced that the human children were kidnapped. He might have even orchestrated the act himself, if it served to weaken Optimus Prime or bring Megatron’s attention back to him.

But now…

The pink phone was cracked; it was lifeless in his palm. His fingers clenched around the shattered phone. Miko’s favourite one - garish, loud, cracked from the fall. It had been tossed carelessly aside during the abduction.

The Decepticons had the audacity to snatch the children before he could pick them up from school.

He grits his teeth.

“We’re sorry Ma’am… We didn’t-”

He doesn’t let the lady at the front desk continue as he stalks away, his holoform unable to keep together. He catches a glimpse at his eyes in the glass of the entry doors, they were burning Decepticon red and not his Autobot blue.

That didn’t matter now.

What did matter was getting the kids back.

As soon as he was outside, he shifted out of his holoform and transformed into his jet mode, and he rocketed into the sky, tearing a sonic line across the clouds.

Agent Fowler would come up with an excuse for him later.

«♥»

Starscream lands on the upper dock of The Nemesis. He was still tuned into the ship even after he disbanded from the Decepticons.

He storms through the doors only to find a group of Vehicons in his way.

They freeze at the sight of him. They have never seen him this livid before. A couple of the Vehicons instinctively raise their blasters, but falter when he growls.

“Get the frag out of my way!”

They scatter like scraplets, none daring to challenge him.

Starscream storms down the corridor, heading towards the brig.

He doesn’t need a map. He’s walked these halls too many times to count.

The echoes of his footfalls are sharp, faster than the clunk of his former Decepticon comrades. No posturing. No dramatic flair. Just fury, directed like a warhead.

The hallway lights flicker as he passes, as though the ship itself recoils from the fury radiating off of him.

He doesn’t slow when he reaches the final bend before the brig.

Soundwave is likely watching, always watching, but the silent spymaster doesn’t interfere… yet.

Starscream doesn’t even bother trying to override the door controls; he just jams his claws into the doors and wrenches them open with a screech.

Inside, three small forms are huddled together in the corner of a cell: Miko, Raf, and Jack.

Starscream rushes forward and comes to a stop in front of them.

They’re fine. They’re safe.

Suspicious…

“Starscream, look out!” Miko points behind Starscream as Jack stands in front of her and Raf.

Starscream turns around sharply and comes face to face with Megatron.

“Still playing Autobot, Starscream?” Megatron’s voice is a low rumble, mocking and venomous as ever.

Starscream doesn’t flinch. Not this time.

“You have always been a traitor. But this?” Megatron gestures at the children huddled together.

Starscream glares sharply at Megatron and growls.

“What? No quips? No begging for mercy?” Megatron takes a step closer.

Big mistake.

Like some sort of rabid animal, Starscream leaps and tackles Megatron to the ground. He slashes the warlord with his claws.

“The children are under my protection!” Starscream shrieks.

They tumble across the brig floor, metal screeching against metal, blows exchanged with brutal speed. Sparks fly as claws tear, fists collide, and armour dents under raw, unfiltered rage.

“You dare lay claim to something so... soft?” Megatron bellowed, gripping Starscream’s throat and slamming him against the wall. “You were mine. My second. My creation of war!”

Starscream’s breath hitches a little, bad memories flooding his processor before he kicks Megatron away in a moment of clarity.

“I am done living under your constant abuse!” Starscream yells with renewed ferocity. “I am my own bot now! You can find another punching bag!”

“You’ve grown weak, Starscream. A protector? A nanny to fleshlings?”

“I am an Auntie, actually. If you’re going to be a hater, then do it accurately!”

Megatron charges, but this time, Starscream is ready. He sidesteps and drives a knee into Megatron’s midsection, slashing up with his claws again. The warlord stumbles.

“I will not allow you to harm them like you have harmed me!”

Megatron snarls, energon dripping from a fresh gash across his face. “You forget your place.” The warlord’s fist rockets forward, but Starscream deflects it with a screech of metal and retaliates with a vicious headbutt.

Megatron reels.

Starscream doesn’t wait - he presses the advantage, grappling with the larger mech and forcing him backward, step by agonising step.

“You were a symbol of power, of control… but now you're nothing but a relic strangling the galaxy!” Starscream's voice booms through the brig, filled with venom and finality.

“I made you-” Megatron coughs, his knee buckling under another strike.

“You used me.” Starscream raises both arms and brings them down hard on Megatron’s shoulders, sending him crashing to one knee.

Megatron glares up at him. “You can’t win.”

“I already have.” Starscream says coldly, turning slightly toward the cell controls. “Because I remembered who I am. And I am not yours.” He slams his fist into the console. Sparks fly, alarms blare - and the energy field trapping the kids flickers out.

The kids cautiously step out of the cell and look at the now crumpled Megatron, heaving on the floor, his optics narrowed with malice.

“Next time you even breathe at the kids wrong, I will end you!” Starscream picks up the three and walks out of the brig.

«♥»

“He did what?!” Ratchet sputters as he turns to face the three children.

“Yeah. It was kinda scary.” Raf whispers.

Ratchet watches Starscream from the corner of his optics. The Seeker’s optics were back to a calm blue, but every so often, they flickered to his angry red.

Starscream was licking the energon – Megatron’s energon – off his claws.

“Scary doesn’t even begin to cover it…” Arcee shivers.

Starscream licks a final streak of energon from his talon and catches Ratchet’s expression. He smirks, sharp and smug, but it doesn’t reach his optics. They’re too tired. Too wired.

“We don’t condone vengeance, Starscream.” Optimus glares at the Seeker.

Starscream’s claws curl, and he growls. “He dared to kidnap the children! I saved them!”

The tension is palpable. Jack, Miko, and Raf sit on the med bay’s edge, bandaged, bruised, but alive. Safe. Miko has her cracked pink phone clutched tightly in her hands like a totem. She hasn’t said much since they returned, but her eyes haven’t left Starscream once.

Optimus continues. “You disobeyed protocol. You acted without coordination. You didn’t notify us.”

“I didn’t have time! You don’t know what Megatron is truly capable of! I wasn’t going to wait for your approval while they were in imminent danger!” Starscream’s voice breaks.

Optimus huffs. “You are correct that I don’t know everything about Megatron, but your actions were reckless.”

Starscream shrieks. “Can you just be happy I brought the children alive and unharmed?! When will I ever be good enough for you?!”

A heavy silence followed his outburst.

The base echoed with the soft hum of equipment and the subtle shuffle of the children trying to make themselves smaller. Even Bulkhead, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and jaw clenched, blinked in stunned silence.

Starscream was breathing hard, his wings twitching erratically behind him. His optics blazed red for a moment longer before dulling back to blue, though the twitch in his jaw betrayed the storm still brewing beneath.

“I said I’d be there for them.” He mutters, voice hoarse with leftover fury and buried grief. “I don’t make promises lightly.” Starscream turns around and walks off to his quarters to cool down.