Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It all began with dust, rust, and a dull ache behind Starscream’s optics.

The war was over. G.H.O.S.T. was gone. decommissioned for their crimes against Cybertronians. The Autobots had reluctantly lent the Decepticons an old G.H.O.S.T. facility to rebuild what little they had left. It was cracked, run-down, crawling with human-sized junk and sharp-edged memories, but it was something. A start. Starscream had made sure of that.

He was in the middle of clearing out the command center, helm pounding like a loose bolt in a jet engine. Every movement echoed in his frame, but he kept going, sorting through piles of debris and salvaged equipment. No time to slow down. No room for weakness.

Across the room, Novastorm and Skywarp were digging through a mess of crates and half-melted consoles.

"Can’t I just use my sonic boom to clear the space?" Nova grumbled, kicking aside a monitor. "I’m not stepping on another human dollhouse."

Skywarp rolled her optics, crouching to pick up a shattered PC. "Of course! And let the ceiling cave in again? Do you ever think these things through, Nova? I’m not dealing with another cave-in because you got lazy."

Their voices buzzed like static in Starscream’s processor.

"Could you two not bicker for once?" he snapped, sharper than intended. "Some of us are actually trying to work ."

His vents stuttered. He took a step, then staggered, servo catching the wall as the room spun. The small pile of equipment he’d been carrying clattered to the floor.

Nova turned, expression dropping from annoyance to concern. "Whoa, Screamer… you good? You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You can take a break, you know. It’s not all on you."

She reached out, but Starscream brushed her hand away.

"Oh, but it is . I am the new leader of the Decepticons. I don’t get to rest. Not until this place is functional again."

Skywarp, quieter now, stepped behind him. "You look like you're about to collapse. Maybe just sit down for a few clicks?"

"I'm aware , Warp. But there are priorities. I want this done. Then I'll rest. Just let me finish my work."

He pressed his palm harder into the wall, bracing himself. The helmache hadn’t stopped since yesterday. If anything, it was growing.

But he couldn’t stop. Not yet. Not until the Decepticons were stable again. They needed working medbays, rations, flight tech, and training rooms. They needed a future. And if they ever wanted to get off this planet, they'd need a plan.

He just wanted to go home.

“Oh, Primus, we’re finally done!” Skywarp dropped her arms dramatically against the doorway, vents hissing as she leaned back. The new command center was cleared. What was left was booting up the console and resizing the space so it could actually fit a group of full-sized Decepticons.

Novastorm stepped in a moment later and gave Starscream a light elbow to the side. No reaction.

“Star?” Her tone shifted. “You good?”

He didn't answer right away. His optics dimmed slightly before he blinked them back to focus.

“Yes. I’m fine,” he said, too quickly. “I was just... checking something.” A beat, “I’m supposed to visit the Terrans. Hashtag said she wanted me to see something.”

He brushed off some dust from his plating and turned to the exit. “You coming with me?”

“Meh. Nah. I don’t feel like moving.” Nova replied, plopping down in front of the console and booting it up. “Just comm us if you need anything, though. I’m catching up on that weird show Hashtag showed us.”

Skywarp followed without hesitation, flopping into the chair beside her. “Yeah, same. Not moving again for the rest of the cycle. Sorry, Star.”

 “Whatever. Suit yourselves. I’ll be back later.” He waved them off and exited the room without looking back.

“Okay! Don’t forget to ping us if you get emotionally compromised or whatever!” Skywarp called from behind, her voice echoing down the hall.

He paused before continuing to walk out. He’ll get back at her for that later.

“I still can't believe you invited Starscream over.” Thrash paced at the bottom of the ramp, arms crossed and shoulders tense. “Everyone knows he’s one of the worst . Like, literal Decepticon commander worst! How can you trust him, Hashtag?”

Hashtag was lounging casually on the edge of the skate ramp, kicking her legs as she looked out at the clearing where Starscream was supposed to arrive. She didn’t even flinch.

“Well, Megatron used to be bad,” she replied, voice steady but casual. “And the Autobots gave him a chance. What’s so different about Starscream? Can’t we at least try to give him the benefit of the doubt?”

Thrash scoffed, but Hashtag went on, quieter now.

“He’s not that bad once you actually spend time with him.”

The words felt weird coming out, honest but uncertain. Because even she didn’t totally understand it. Why did she trust him?

Maybe it was the Dweller incident. That hadn’t been some act, right? Starscream had nearly died helping them. No one pretends that kind of fear. No one fakes that kind of self-sacrifice.

And after the Mandroid thing, he’d always picked up when she called. He listened . When she was angry, confused, or upset, he never interrupted. Never brushed her off. He just let her talk, even if he barely said anything back. That had to mean something.

Didn’t it?

A low rumble echoed from outside the homestead. soft at first, but unmistakably the sound of Seeker thrusters descending.

Hashtag perked up instantly. “That’s him!”

Thrash groaned. “Great. Time to greet the grim reaper himself.”

But despite the sarcasm, he followed her as she leapt down the ramp. Nightshade and Jawbreaker were already heading for the front steps, with Mo bouncing after them.

Inside the homestead, Alex stood at the window, arms folded tightly as he watched the sleek, silver and red figure touch down in the yard.

“Are we sure about this?” he muttered under his breath. “This is Starscream we’re talking about. Like, historical war criminal Starscream.”

“I’ve got Megatron on speed dial,” she said plainly, showing her comm screen with a flick of her thumb. “If anything goes sideways, we’ll have backup in under five minutes.”

Dot joined him at the window, slipping her comm into her vest pocket. “I get it. I really do,” she said. “But he’s trying. That’s more than most ever expected of him.”

Alex hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yeah. I just hope the kids remember that trying doesn’t mean perfect.”

Outside, the Terrans were already racing across the yard to meet their guest, voices raised in excited greetings. Starscream powered down his thrusters and stepped forward, his usual sharp angles softened by fatigue, but still, he stood tall.

“Hello…” he greeted, voice dry but not unkind.

“Starscream!” Twitch squealed, rocketing forward and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

The seeker stiffened, optics wide as the unexpected contact caught him off guard, for the second time. He flinched but didn’t shove her away this time, instead awkwardly placing a servo on her shoulder to gently pry her off.

“It’s a delight to see you, too,” he muttered, voice dry but not unkind.

Twitch grinned up at him. “Sorry! I just uh, you know, Mandroid fight memories and all.”

Starscream grumbled something under his breath about “overenthusiastic Terrans,” but his wings twitched in amusement.

“I gotta hand it to you, Starscream,” Hashtag said, leaning against the fence post with her arms crossed. “Didn’t expect you to show up this fast.”

He smirked, proud. “Of course I did! I’m the fastest flyer on all of Cybertron. I don’t keep people waiting.”

The Terrans exchanged impressed looks, and Twitch’s optics lit up. “Oh yeah? Then I challenge you to a race!”

Starscream tilted his head, amused. “A race?”

Jawbreaker raised a browplate. “I don’t think you’re a match for him, Twitch.”

“I don’t expect to beat him,” Twitch said, crossing her arms. “I just want to see how fast he really is!”

Starscream chuckled. “Bold. I like that.” But his tone softened as he crouched slightly, bringing himself closer to their height. “But another time. I’m here because someone said there was something ‘very important’ I needed to see.”

He turned toward Hashtag, wings flicking. “So? What is it?”

Hashtag’s smirk faded. “Well… I don’t really have something to show you per se…”

Starscream narrowed his optics. “What?”

She glanced aside, suddenly sheepish. “Sorry, but I kinda tricked you into coming over…”

Starscream straightened, his expression unreadable. “Tricked me?”

The others went quiet. Hashtag stepped forward, wringing her servos together.

“I did want to talk to you, that part’s true—but mostly... I thought you could use a break,” she admitted. “You’ve been running on empty since the base repairs started, and… I figured if I just asked, you wouldn’t come. So I said it was important. I guess… I lied. A little.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Starscream did something unexpected.

He chuckled—low and amused—and looked down at her with something almost like approval. “You deceived me?”

Hashtag blinked. “Uh… yeah?”

He tilted his head, wings folding behind his back. “Not bad.”

She gawked. “Wait—you’re not mad?”

“Oh, I’m furious, ” he said theatrically, placing the back of his servo against his forehead like a stage performer. “Utterly betrayed.”

Then he dropped the act and smirked. “But… it’s clever. Deception has its place. Especially when used tactically.”

Nightshade raised a brow. “You’re proud of her for lying to you?”

Starscream nodded. “I’m a Decepticon. It’s in the name.”

Hashtag laughed, the tension breaking. “Okay, okay, maybe not my best moment. But… you do need a break.”

Starscream sighed, glancing up at the sky. “You’re probably right. Just… no more tricks, alright?”

“No promises,” Hashtag grinned.

Chapter Text

Twitch practically vibrated in place, wings twitching with excitement. “Okay, okay, now that that’s settled… can we race now?”

Starscream blinked, mildly amused at her energy. “Race?”

The moment he stepped into the open clearing behind the Malto homestead, the Terrans had swarmed him like eager turbofoxes. Now they all looked at him expectantly.

“You said you were the fastest flyer on Cybertron, right?” Twitch grinned, already fluttering up a few feet.

Starscream raised a brow ridge, wings flexing behind him. “I am the fastest flyer on Cybertron.”

“Then I challenge you to a race!” she announced boldly, hopping backwards toward the edge of the clearing where a rough ‘start’ line had been scuffed into the dirt. “To the ridge and back!”

The others lit up with excitement, Thrash let out a loud cheer, Nightshade fished out his datapad to time the race, and Hashtag crossed her arms with a smirk. “You walked right into that one.”

Starscream hesitated, glancing up at the sky. A dull pulse still throbbed behind his optics, a reminder of the persistent helmache he’d been nursing all day. Still, something about their enthusiasm was… oddly contagious.

He muttered to himself as he stretched his wings. “My helm still aches… but it won’t kill me to indulge a little.”

Then, with a dramatic flare of his wings, he strode toward the starting line. His expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of pride behind the sharp lines of his faceplates. “Very well. Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Twitch crouched at the line in a stance she must’ve seen on a human sports show. “First one to the ridge and back wins! And no mid-air tricks to slow me down!”

Starscream scoffed. “As if I’d need tricks to win.”

“Alright!” Thrash raised his arm dramatically. “Three… two… one—GO!”

With a burst of energy, Twitch launched into the sky, wings buzzing as she pushed herself forward. Behind her, Starscream remained perfectly still, arms crossed.

“One… two… three… four…” he counted aloud, wings twitching ever so slightly.

“ Five. ”

In a blink, he surged forward, leaping into the air and transforming mid-stride. The shriek of his thrusters echoed across the valley as he tore through the sky like a missile, leaving a sharp blur of silver in his wake. He shot past Twitch in an instant.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he called over the roar of the wind, his voice trailing behind him like vapor.

By the time Twitch had rounded the ridge, Starscream was already on his way back, cutting through the sky like a blade.

Then, just before reaching the finish line, he veered upward, straight into the clouds. The Terrans below craned their necks, shielding their optics from the sun.

And then he dropped.

His thrusters cut out, and for a moment, he was in freefall, a glinting figure plummeting from the heavens like a falling star. The wind howled around him, pulling at his wings as the ground raced to meet him.

Just before impact, his thrusters ignited with a deafening boom, flames kicking up dust and leaves. He rocketed into a flip, transforming midair, and landed with a powerful slam, both pedes planted firmly on the ground, wings flared high behind him.

The clearing exploded with noise.

“ WHOA! ” Robby shouted, leaping up and throwing his fists in the air. “Did you see that landing?! That was insane!”

“That was incredible! ” Nightshade added, scrambling to pull up their datapad. “I’m giving that a perfect ten for style, power, and sheer audacity!”

Twitch skidded in for her landing seconds later, panting but wide-eyed with excitement. “That was so cool! You just dove from orbit! You didn't even flap! That was like- like something out of a comic!”

Starscream straightened, folding his arms, trying (and failing) to hide the slight smirk on his face. “A little showmanship never hurt anyone.”

Hashtag whistled. “Okay, yeah, I get it now. Fastest flyer on Cybertron and dramatic flair. Respect.”

“I almost thought you were gonna crater yourself!” Jawbreaker said, walking up beside Twitch.

Starscream chuckled lowly. “ Almost. But what kind of Seeker would I be if I didn’t know how to make an entrance and an exit?”

Twitch’s optics sparkled. “Do it again!”

Starscream laughed, shaking his head. “You’ll have to wait. My thrusters need a cycle to cool… and my helm needs a break.”

Hashtag moved closer, nudging him lightly with an elbow. “Okay, fine. No more stunts. For now.”

They all returned to the barn, the buzz of excitement slowly settling into a lazy calm. The sun was beginning to dip behind the ridge, casting long golden shadows over the field. Twitch and Thrash raced ahead to the fence, still energized, while Starscream trailed behind with a slower, more calculated pace.

“Mister Starscream,” Mo piped up, sitting on the fence with her legs swinging. She sipped from a juice box, then offered another to Robby beside her. “Where did you learn how to fly like that?”

Starscream exhaled slowly, folding his arms and leaning against a nearby apple tree. The bark was rough against his plating, but he didn’t mind. It helped him stay grounded. Literally.

“Hm,” he mused, optics narrowing slightly. “That’s… a long story.”

“Could you tell us then?” Jawbreaker asked, hopeful and curious as ever. He crouched down beside the others, clearly eager to listen.

Starscream’s optics dimmed for a moment, gaze drifting toward the horizon. “Maybe another time,” he murmured.

‘Fragging helm hurts like aft…’ he thought bitterly. The throb had grown worse since the race, less a simple ache now, and more like a low, constant pressure burrowing behind his optics. His joints felt stiff. His balance, off. It reminded him of the early signs of energon deficiency, but his internal readouts still hovered at 75%.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision as it began to haze at the edges.

Everything felt… too bright.

The sound of the Terrans laughing faded in and out, like a comm signal with interference.

He shifted his weight, one servo gripping the tree trunk for support. His vents cycled harder, slower, dragging in air like his intakes were struggling to stay synced.

“…Starscream?” Hashtag’s voice cut through the static in his head. She must’ve noticed him slipping.

“I’m fine,” he answered too quickly, waving her off with a half-hearted flick of his fingers. “Just… low on recharge. Too much work. Nothing serious.”

But it was getting hard to focus. His HUD flickered with warnings—ones he ignored out of habit. Error codes blurred together. His internal clock skipped a second.

The world tilted.

He staggered slightly, catching himself against the tree, but even that anchor felt distant now. The sensation of pressure grew sharp, almost painful, drilling into the back of his helm.

“Starscream?” Hashtag was closer now, stepping away from the fence, concern etched across her face.

He wanted to respond. Wanted to tell her not to worry. That he just needed a recharge cycle.

But then everything dropped.

His legs buckled.

His wings faltered.

And then, he hit the ground.

Hard.

Everything went black.

Hashtag’s spark jumped into her throat.

One moment, Starscream was leaning casually against the tree. tired, a little snarky, but still himself. The next, his legs buckled beneath him, wings twitching uselessly as he collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.

“Starscream?!” Her voice cracked as she dashed forward, heart pounding.

The impact was heavy, too heavy. Dust and loose soil kicked up around him as his shoulder hit the ground, limbs slack, optics flickering dim.

“Guys!” Hashtag’s panic broke through. “He’s not moving!”

The Terrans scrambled to her side, their confusion snapping into alarm. Twitch hovered anxiously, scanning Starscream’s vitals with quick, worried movements. “His readings, they’re... off. Something’s wrong. Really wrong.”

Jawbreaker shifted nervously, voice low. “He was just fine a moment ago. What happened?”

Hashtag dropped beside him, fingers trembling as she hesitated over his plating. “He said he was fine… I thought he was just tired, but, he always looks tired, doesn’t he?”

Her mind raced. He’d been pushing himself too hard. And she’d tricked him into coming over, just to talk… to check on him after everything with G.H.O.S.T. But now this?

“We need help,” she whispered, her voice barely steady. Then louder, “Someone call Mom! Call Bee!”

Twitch quickly went to her parents, who were at the house. She burst through the back door of the house, wings twitching with panic. “Mom! Dad! We need help, now!”

Dot looked up from her tablet, immediately setting it aside as Alex stood beside her. “What happened? Did Starscream hurt someone?” She was already reaching for her radio.

“No! It’s not like that! he just collapsed! We were talking and then he- he just fell over and now he’s not waking up!”

Dot’s expression shifted from alert to alarm. She quickly pressed a hand to Twitch’s shoulder. “Okay. Okay. I’ll call Megatron and get help. Go back to the others and stay with him.”

Twitch nodded and flew back outside, leaving Dot and Alex exchanging a tense glance.

Dot lifted her radio and switched channels.

::Megs, are you there? We need medical assistance. Urgently.::

There was a beat of static before the familiar voice crackled through. ::I’m here. What’s going on, Dot? Who’s injured?::

::You’re not going to like it… It’s Starscream.::

::What? What is he even doing there? Has he hurt any of the Terrans?::

::No, no- nothing like that. The kids invited him. He’s been with them all day, and just now he collapsed. Completely offline.::

::Dot… You know Starscream’s not exactly above playing dead to get what he wants. This could be one of his games.::

::I thought that too. But this isn’t like that. He looked awful. he’s not faking this. The kids are scared out of their minds, and honestly… so am I.::

There was a long pause before Megatron answered again, this time with less suspicion and more concern. ::Alright. I’ll bring help. Just be careful, Dot. Starscream may be many things but predictable isn’t one of them.::

::Understood. We’ll be waiting.::

The heavy roar of thrusters echoed overhead as a large aircraft descended over the Malto homestead. The moment it touched down, Megatron transformed mid-stride, metal shifting with practiced ease. Behind him, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Wheeljack followed close, optics sharp with concern.

“Where is he?” Megatron called, his voice low but urgent as he scanned the clearing.

“Over here!” Twitch’s voice rang out near the treeline. She hovered just above the ground, wings buzzing as she waved them over. “Hurry!”

Megatron moved quickly, crossing the space in a few long strides. Twitch didn’t wait. she flew up and tugged on his servo, pulling him toward the still figure lying in the grass. Starscream’s form looked almost peaceful in the shade of the tree, but the way he wasn’t moving made her spark pound harder.

Megatron crouched beside him, frowning as he took in the slack wings, the dimmed optics. “What happened?”

Jawbreaker stepped forward, rubbing the back of his helm. “He said he had a headache earlier.”

“And he still raced us,” Twitch added, tone tight with guilt. “He even showed us a few aerial tricks. It was cool at the time, but then he sat down, said he was fine, and—”

“He just collapsed,” Hashtag finished, arms wrapped around herself. “Said it wasn’t something we should worry about. Then he tried to stand and just went down.”

Megatron didn’t say anything at first, but his expression shifted. subtle, unreadable. Then he reached down and carefully lifted Starscream into his arms. “He’s burning up,” he muttered. “His systems are overheating.”

“Alright, everyone. Take deep breaths,” Bumblebee said gently, ushering the kids back a few steps. Give the adults room to work.”

Wheeljack stepped in, scanners already buzzing in his hands. “Megatron, can you carry him down to the dugout? I’ll need to do a full systems scan, see what exactly’s going on.”

Megatron moved forward, slow and deliberate. He crouched beside Starscream and lifted him without a word, careful but far from gentle, like he wasn’t sure if this was real or just another one of Starscream’s dramatics. His expression stayed unreadable, optics narrowing slightly as he studied the unconscious Seeker. The others followed in silence, the tension thick as they made their way toward the dugout.

The Terrans stood in a quiet line, watching him go, worried, wide-eyed, and uncertain.

They were all gathered in the dugout, the air thick with unease. The Terrans sat in a loose circle, quiet, fidgeting, the occasional worried glance cast toward the hallway where Wheeljack was still scanning Starscream.

No one said it out loud, but the guilt hung over them like storm clouds. It wasn’t every day a Decepticon, Starscream of all bots. Just collapsed mid-conversation. Even if they hadn’t caused it, it still felt like they had .

Twitch sat down heavily, her wings drooping. She stared at the floor, thinking before she finally spoke. “Do you think... the race did it? Like, did I push him too far? He was already tired, and I basically dared him to go all out.” Her voice was quiet, guilt threaded through every word.

Robby sat beside her, offering a gentle look. “Hey. Mom said it wasn’t anyone’s fault. We couldn’t have known something was wrong. Don’t beat yourself up, okay?” He gave her a small, reassuring smile.

Twitch glanced at him, expression tight with doubt. “Yeah, but… what if I hadn’t said anything? What if he was fine until then? He didn’t have to go so hard, but… I think he wanted to prove something. Or show off, maybe.” She sighed, folding her arms.

Robby shook his head. “Maybe. But ‘what ifs’ aren’t gonna help him now. All we can do is wait and hope he’ll be okay.” He gently patted her on the back, trying to offer a bit of comfort.

“He’s right,” a familiar voice added from behind.

It was Bumblebee, who crouched beside them with a tired but understanding smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong. None of you did. You didn’t know. And neither did he. Bots like Starscream… they don’t always say when something’s wrong.” He gave them each a look. “But you’re helping just by being here. Just keep hoping, alright?”

The Terrans nodded quietly. There wasn’t much else to say. But the silence felt a little less heavy now….