Chapter Text
The day had been long and full of activities.
It was the last day of summer for the human children. On Monday, Morgan and Robbie would have to go back to school, back to early mornings and homework.
So of course, the Terrans planned and hosted one final day of activities for them to enjoy.
A Party.
An entire celebration out in the cattle fields, full of snacks, music and activities.
And of course, everyone was invited.
Starscream had been a reluctant participant, along with a few others.
However the seeker payed no mind to his displeasure, discomfort or awkward demeanor.
His daughter, his beloved spark, had asked him to be there. She wanted him there. And he was not about to say no to his sunshine.
There was no way. He couldn't. He wouldn't.
As the party went on and the adults mingled, the Seeker entertained his sparkling and her siblings.
Much to the surprise of many.
Skywarp and Novastorm would giggle and coo whenever they saw him.
They both swore that the little terran had Starscream wrapped around her fingers.
There were a few comments here and there.
Starscream didn't care. Hashtag asked him to…
So ignoring the embarrassment, and swallowing his pride, Starscream complied.
Taking the humans on flights, playing games, dancing.
Finally the daylight began to wane and the sun set.
The final activity of the day was announced.
A film.
As everyone voted for their choice of films or settled down somewhere.
Starscream snuck off for a moment to relax and watch the sunset.
With a deep cycle, the seeker sat down by the base of a tree and sighed contentedly. Stretching his wings and legs as the warmth of the last remnants of sunlight kissed his frame.
“I thought I would find you here.”
“Hmm?” Starscream looked up, and smiled,“Hello my dearest. What brings you here?”
Hashtag chuckled and sat down next to the Seeker. Leaning against his frame and stretching out her legs, the young femme reached for the seeker's hand.
“I was looking for you,” Hashtag said, intertwining their fingers together with a sigh, Hashtag snuggled closer, “Aren't you having fun, Dad?”
The seeker purred, welcoming the touch, and wrapped his arm around the spyvan’s shoulders, “I am. But I admit I am not used to…providing so much attention to others, or receiving it. I was a little overwhelmed and needed to step away for a moment. Take a break.”
Hashtag hummed as she played around with the Seekers fingers.
“It doesn't mean I don't wish to be near you, my dearest,” Starscream said seriously, looking down at Hashtags pensive face, “I will always wish to be with you. You are so very precious to me my darling. I just need a minute of quiet every now and then. This is all new for me.”
Hashtag made a thoughtful noise, “I think I get it. Jawbreaker usually gets overstimulated if there is too much going on, and he needs to take a break of stim for a bit to calm down. Is this like that?”
“In a way, yes. Sempu just needed a break ma ‘Ite,” Starscream rumbled, keeping his gaze on the horizon, “Besides, I also wanted to enjoy the sunset.”
Hashtag giggled. Her Dad was such a weirdo, “Okay, Dad. Just don't sneak off like that without telling me OK? You worried me for a minute.”
Starscream frowned, “Oh…I'm sorry my dearest.”
Hashtag shrugged and leaned her helm against the seeker's shoulder, “Don't over think it Sempu. Let's just forget it and enjoy the sunset for a bit.
Starscream let out a concerned groan, “I still don't like to worry you unnecessarily. Your mother -”
“I'm glad you're taking lessons from Mom,” Hashtag interrupted, “But you don't need to take things so serious, Dad. Just let me know where you at next time. M ‘Kay?”
Starscream huffed as he gave up on the conversation, “Alright, Hashtag. I still apologize either way.”
“Hmmm. I've taken your apology aaaaaand,” taking a pause, Hashtag snapped her fingers, “I decided to accept! You may now follow up with hugs.”
Starscream snorted and laughed, hugging Hashtag tightly and nuzzling the top of her helm with his chin, causing the femme to squeak and giggle.
“Daaaad,” Hashtag whined, “Too tight!”
Starscream gave the femme one last nuzzle before letting go,“Sorry dear.”
Hashtag made a show of fixing the kibble on her helm but her wide smile and giggling gave the impression that she did enjoy her Mentors nuzzles. Even if it ruined her “hair.”
Finally the terran sighed and resumed leaning against the seeker and watching the sunset.
After a few minutes of quiet, Hashtag yawned and grumbled, shifting around a bit until her helm was comfortably pressed against Starscream's chest.
With a satisfied sigh the terran closed her optics and listened to the Seeker's happy purrs and steady sparkbeat.
Hashtag loved those sounds.
She would often tell her siblings that her Sempu was like a giant cat.
“I love you, Dad,” Hashtag yawned, snuggling deeper into Starscream's chest as he purred even louder.
“I love you too, my child,” the Seeker rumbled, basking in the warmth of his precious daughter's love.
He was undeserving of such, but Primus above was thankful for it. No matter what, Starscream vowed to protect this terran and be the best mentor he could be for her until the end of his days.
He was hers and she was his.
Starscream sighed and let the feeling overtake him, his optics shining bright as he looked down on Hashtag's beautiful face.
For the first time in centuries, his spark longed to do something he hasn't done in a very, very, very long time.
He remembered his Mentor, Cryak used to do something similar with him whenever they cuddled. Back when he would accompany her on her expeditions.
Before the war, he would do the same for his siblings.
Even during the war, he would do this.
Until he didnt...Until he couldn't anymore.
He’d forgotten…The importance of lullabies and the joys of song.
Taking a deep cycle, he let his derma part, and let his voice box relax.
Starscream let, for the first time in centuries - his spark speak, his voice ringing with emotions he had not expressed to anyone in centuries.
“See the pyramids along the nile…” he began hesitantly, watching his daughter's beautiful face shift. The terran smiled and hummed. Her optics glowing as her warm and fuzzy feelings pulsed through her spark and spread to her siblings.
“Watch the sunrise on a tropical isle,” Starscream continued, letting all the feelings he could muster shine through his words, “Just remember darling all the while. You belong to me.”
"See the market place in old Algiers..."
Skywarp felt her wings twitch as a familiar tune caught her audial.
“Oh!” She gasped quietly, holding the spot above her spark chamber and covering her intake. Her optics began to well up with coolant as she smiled.
“Warp? Warpie, what's wrong?” Novastorm muttered quietly, taking hold of Skywarp’s shoulder as the purple femme looked away in the direction of the forest.
“He's singing again,” Skywarp said quietly, covering Novastorm's servo with her own, “It's been so long. I forgot what it sounded like,” Skywarp sniffed quietly, smiling to herself as she closed her optics and listened.
“Just remember when a dream appears…You belong to me…”
Novastorm blinked and looked towards the forest too, her wings high and alert, picking up every pressure drop and breeze. Finally after focusing enough, she heard it too.
Blinking in shock, Novastorm chuckled to herself, “Wow,” she sighed, leaning into Skywarp’s frame and resting her chin on her partner's shoulder, “It really has been a long time.”
Skywarp laughed quietly as she listened. Forgetting the world around her as she heard her brother singing in the distance.
She never realized how much she had missed his voice.
As both seekers embraced each other and listened, they failed to notice the rest of the party quieting down.
Novastorm assumed it was because a film was about to play but she was wrong.
They all heard it too.
A steady yet melancholic melody being carried by the summer breeze, dancing away in the twilight as the dark of the night began to creep in.
The grass ruffled quietly, the cows stopped their mooing.
Even the crickets stayed quiet for a moment to listen.
“You belong to me…”
“That's beautiful,” Twitch whispered, closing her optics to focus on the sound, “who is that?”
Megatron smiled sadly at his little bird, patting her helm as he sat down on the ground next to her and Wheeljack.
“It's someone who hasn't sung in a long time,” he sighed, staring longingly in the distance.
For a moment, Megatron remembered the first time he ever heard his second sing. How the seeker would humm a tune as he worked or sing quietly to his trine at night. Or to the sick and the dying in the feilds...
And how slowly, as the war progressed and continued. As the former Gladiators ire grew. The Seeker's tunes and humms would become less and less noticable. Until it stopped all together. And finally went silent.
"What's wrong Megs?" Twitch asked quietly, "You look sad."
Megatron blinked and quietly cleared his intake, “I will tell you about it another time. For now, let's just keep this our little secret and enjoy it while it's here.”
All of the adults attending the party knew what Megatron was asking.
Some of the adults gave each other looks as all of them silently agreed to keep quiet. Now was not the time to argue or reveal old wounds. Or embarrass.
Optimus and Elita both had a silent conversation with their optics. Both agreeing to speak to the large 'Con later.
The terrans and younger Maltos did not seem to catch on. They were too preocupied with settling down to watch the movie and sharing in their sister - Hashtag's sleepy feelings.
Twitch hummed pensively as she leaned against Wheeljack, her optics glowing as she felt her sister’s emotions through their bond, “Okay. I hope that whoever they are, they keep going. It sounds nice,” she yawned.
“I’ll be so alone without you…Maybe you’ll be lonesome too…and blue…”
“Yes,” Megatron sighed, his spark feeling heavy “Yes it does.”
“Fly the ocean on a silver plane. See the jungle when it's wet, with rain.”
Hashtag sighed happily as she listened. Feeling safe in her Mentor's arms, she smiled. Her frame finally relaxing and cycles going steady as she, for the first time entered recharge.
“Just remember when you're home again.”
The sun finally set, and disappeared behind the horizon.
The world was quiet, and perfect.
“You belong…To me.”
Today was perfect.