capeandcowl | ✈ Video ✈

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† n/a | starscream

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[For a change, Starscream is sitting at his desk in his robot form. He's looking pretty run down, and every so often, clicking deftly at the keys, he stops to glare at the comm. He knows it's on. He's just not talking.

type type type and then suddenly he reaches and casually shoves the computer crashing into the ground next to his desk with a horrendous sound, snatches up the comm with blazing red optics and snarls]

I would appreciate it if you stopped making my job impossible. You. Cretins.

[and then he cuts the connection.]

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What good is working this hellacious job for these people--[Edward Nygma]--if you can't enjoy the product of my labor, hmm?

You work hard, as well. Surely you deserve some recompense.

Starscream...

[Sigh.]

Okay. We'll go out. But will you come home after?

...We don't have to go out.

[suddenly realizing this is unsteady ground--he's on his way out the door with a quick word to the janitor that there's been a terrible mishap and clean that up, Steve--and then he's leaving because it's after hours anyway and he's not locking up, frag that scrap]

I merely wanted to give you something in return for - everything.

It's just that-

I'm really awkward to have in public. My size... and. People stare.

Can we maybe go flying instead? Is that okay? Or.

Or something.

Maybe we could just sit and you could scratch my hair?

[it hits him right away that it should have been obvious, especially with the negative atmosphere only growing--that Skyfire wouldn't be comfortable with it and wouldn't be aggressive enough to call it out and would just suffer, and that even his concession to Starscream's attempted gift was just that--a concession.

His secret fear of the unworthiness of this affection enhanced, sharpened itself against the softness of his spark and hastened his flight home.] Yes, yes. I should have offered something more suited to your desires. Just--give me a moment.

[He landed outside and made his way upstairs, retaining his robot form for comfort's sake right to the second he hit the door and permitted his human form to melt in, letting himself in with his key and calling out.]

Skyfire?

It's okay. I'm uhm. I'm flattered.

[Confused. Did Starscream just ask him on a date?]

[When he hears the door click and his name, he emerges from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a rag, just finished re-potting some of his flora samples.]

Hey.

[Eyes cast that eerie blue LED glow at his feet.]

[he has just enough time to consider how he's going to try scritching the head of somebody who is taller than him, and he squints up at Skyfire for a second dubiously before he notices the atmosphere that isn't solely coming from him for a change.]

...I think it may be easier if you're sitting.

[He shifts his weight from foot to foot, looking around helplessly before he just darts in and scoops Starscream into a hug.]

I'm sorry I hit you. I'm not... I'm not usually like that. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

[SQUEEZE.]

[baffled by the apology (Megatron never apologized, and Starscream eventually accepted that being struck was a consequence of a number of actions), but even more baffled by the hug, he presses his hands up against Skyfire's chest and gets that unnervingly reassuring beat of his heart.

And for a second he lets himself believe the fantasy that he could someday earn this privilege, of being loved unconditionally.]

There's--no reason to apologize, Skyfire, I certainly reacted badly.

No, it's never okay to do that to anyone. No matter what they say or do.

[You're getting the full on cuddle, Starscream. He practically picks the Seeker up and flops down on the couch with him.]

[dsGDFNgdfg superior size and strength trump sudden uncertain squirming as he's in unfamiliar territory, close and warm--human bodies were so soft and fluffy and completely alien to his experience, so if he happened to just end up in Skyfire's lap, well, that was hardly his fault he barely knew what was going on at the moment.

He swallowed and tried to resume command, his hands moving up Skyfire's chest to settle on his shoulders as he looked up into that kindly and giving face and contemplates what he'd do if he had a mind and absolutely no consequences. And no fear of rejection.]

Skyfire. [a slow, spreading smile.] Don't concern yourself, mm? Everything's fine now.

I... alright.

[He pushes forward,hesitantly pulling Starscream tighter against him, one hand moving up to gently stroke down the spot where he'd slapped him.

Vector Sigma, he still feels awful.]

[it's strangely comforting, and it brings back memories he hasn't indulged in for eons, of a pre-war existence where not everything was about fighting or fleeing, or the rare gasp of pleasure snatched from between the two former states of being.]

I really don't understand you.

[that confession from leaning against the hand, hungry for the affection, wary of trying to display that hunger.] Perhaps someday...

I'm just glitching, that's all.

[He sighs, thumb following the sharp line of Starscream's jaw, the blue light from his would-be optics fuzzing over the Decepticon's face. Distant. Observing.]

If you want to put up with me that long.

Mm, that's one word for it. [Affection of any kind is dangerous enough to warrant being called a serious error in programming, but somehow with that thumb delicately stroking his jaw, he can't exactly bring himself to care about how potentially dangerous this is.]

Hmf. "Put up with", don't you talk a heap of scrap sometimes, Skyfire.

[after a moment he was reaching up to touch the hand against his face, unsure of his position or protocol, but willing to risk reprisal for the privilege of soft stroking, if only for a moment.]

...Skyfire, ah. Have you ever thought about a--vastly superior, competent and charismatic boyfriend?

[famous
last
words]

[Silence.]

[What does one even say to that? He has a sinking feeling he knows where this is going and he'll probably get very hungry and eat every word he's ever said on the matter.]

Um...?

[Ahh yes. Well-versed in talking about our feelings.]

What... do you mean?

[well short of bussing someone, there's really nowhere to go with this but the one direction. His severe expression remains because he expects he's about to get dumped off this lap and hit with a resounding you know I've tried this before or something similar.]

Let's not deceive ourselves. Our interactions with each other are - far different, than either of us with other individuals.

Oh.

[He looks scrubs a hand through his hair, looking moderately uncomfortable.]

Starscream I slapped you. In the face. Are you sure you should be...

You know.

Asking me out?

Yes, well. I haven't noticed many people capable of provoking that sort of response from you.

Surely that means something.

Starscream.

You don't. Do that. Because you love someone.

[the veneer slips and suddenly he's a little desperate, a little begging.]

Please don't be angry with me, I-i'm just--I'm trying to do this correctly, that boy was completely unhelpful, I don't--I just think we should--

[he shifts in his lap, far too comfortable for his own liking] ...don't be angry.

I'm not angry. I just-

I find it concerning. I'm flattered- really. I just... that's not how things are supposed to be. You don't hurt the people you care about.

[He pulls Starscream into a tight hug.]

Nggf! You're conveniently forgetting I had you at blasterpoint. [and he was conveniently reminding him. Whoops.]

...War helps us to forget how to behave in peacetime. [honestly, he personally didn't need the excuse, but he could tell how much it was bothering Skyfire, and milking for sympathy seemed the absolute wrong approach--this time.]

That's not exactly a good basis for a relationship, Starscream.

[He wishes he could just scream into one of these pillows, that would be nice.]

[He was leaning his head against Skyfire's arm, looking down with that air of abrupt confidence born of the illusion of his own cleverness. Wrapped up tight in Skyfire's arms like this, it was hard not to feel good, regardless of whatever else was going on.]

Hmm. Well. I'm not rescinding my offer, so if you'd like time to think it over...

[as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached up with his other hand to scritch lightly at the back of Skyfire's neck, a slow and deliberately coaxing motion. It feels good to whet his teeth against a problem that's different from the problems City Hall is full of - a problem he actually has a hope in hell of personally affecting.]

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