Chapter Text
The Present
“Are you serious?” Breakdown let out, his optics wide in shock after Skywarp told him about Prowl shooting Starscream.
“Don’t worry,” Nova Storm said quickly. “Shockwave said he’s patched up and fine now. The Terrans like Starscream, so they’ll keep him safe from the Autobots.”
Breakdown shot her a look like she’d fried a circuit. “You’re seriously trusting anything that’s coming out from the bot who’s been glitching out for months?” He gestured to the cave corner, where Shockwave sat eerily still, his single optic staring blankly at the wall. Soundwave knelt beside him, carefully working on his battered arm again. Ravage sat by them, watching.
“He’s got a point,” Swindle said, standing by the group. “And Shockwave’s only getting worse.”
“That’s why I said earlier we should get him help,” Breakdown muttered, arms crossed. “But after hearing an Autobot shot Starscream, well, forget it. I can’t believe Bee hasn’t told me a fraggin’ thing about it. And I can’t believe no one has even bothered to check if our leader is okay. Man, feels like everything’s going into slag.”
“Don’t worry, guys. I can totally fix Shockwave!” Frenzy grinned as she walked over while carrying her guitar - Laserbeak following right behind. “I’m gonna play him some kick-ass songs to knock him back to normal. I learned that some humans use music to help others who are going through some mental stuff or whatever.”
“That’s gotta be the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard,” Swindle snorted.
“Hey, at least she’s trying to think of something,” Laserbeak retorted.
“Maybe we should ask Starscream when he gets back,” Skywarp suggested.
“If he gets back,” Swindle muttered, earning a sharp elbow from Nova Storm. “What? I’m just saying - maybe the Autobots killed him and made the Terrans lie to Shockwave as part of some evil master plan they got. And we’re all just sitting here, falling for it.”
“Hashtag wouldn’t lie to us, especially about Starscream,” Skywarp said firmly.
“That’s what they want you to think,” Swindle said, waving his servo dramatically.
“No, she’s right,” Breakdown interjected. “The kids don’t have a reason to lie us.”
“Except maybe you, Swindle,” Nova Storm pointed out. “Didn’t you threaten one of the Malto kids after conning two of them into some shady scheme of yours?”
Swindle rolled his optics. “It was one time! And I made up for it by helping ‘em against that nutjob human, didn’t I? Pretty sure they’re over it by now. And hey! I’m not the only one who’s attacked those Terrans either.” He narrowed his optics at the seekers.
Breakdown sighed, shaking his head. He turned just in time to see tremors running through Shockwave’s frame.
Before he assumed something terrible was going to happen, Ravage moved closer to Shockwave, nudging her head gently against his good servo. The touch seemed to snap Shockwave out of whatever was troubling him. He looked down at her for a moment before resting his servo on her head, patting her lightly.
Soundwave froze at the sight, staring at the small, unexpected interaction.
“Uh… you’re all seeing this too, right?” Skywarp asked quietly as the group watched Shockwave’s uncharacteristically gentle gesture.
“Yeah, we are,” Breakdown said, surprised, as Ravage purred softly under Shockwave’s touch.
Dorothy’s request to speak with him and Starscream caught Megatron off guard when she arrived with Elita-1 and Optimus. When he asked for an explanation, she simply replied that it was time for the two of them to resolve some differences and address some things - which he wasn’t sure what she meant by that.
Before irritation and anxiety could rise within his spark - he didn’t want the possibility of losing his temper in front of Dorothy because of Starscream - Optimus assured him he would be present during the conversation. Elita-1 also offered to join as well, which, truth be told, Megatron was relieved to hear. Because he couldn’t trust Starscream. The Seeker would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to provoke him in front of Dorothy. And after their earlier interaction that day, Megatron had a feeling the next one would end up with him bashing Starscream’s helm in, which wouldn’t be good for him.
He hoped with Optimus and Elita-1 present, they would at least keep things from escalating, help him stay in control over his emotions; the two knew how to keep him grounded, so he was grateful they would be there for him.
Even so, Megatron was on edge. He had wanted to rush into the barn and through the tunnel to find out what happened in the underground lair. Starscream was plotting something involving Mo. The fact Hashtag had wanted Mo to come down alone had raised alarms for him and the other Autobots. Even though the other Terrans tried to reassure them that everything was okay based on what Hashtag had said, Megatron couldn’t shake his doubts.
But he stayed with the others, arms crossed over his chest plates, seething as he waited.
Eventually Starscream stepped out with the others and Megatron glared daggers at him after his optics scanned Mo and the other children for any sort of damage, any signs of distress. He didn’t find anything wrong with them and he couldn’t help but notice the exhaustion dragging the Seeker’s faceplates; his usually bright blue optics were slightly dim. Still, Megatron dismissed Starscream’s tired state as one of his manipulative acts. The Seeker loved to play the victim to elicit others to pity him, which, in turn, he would use it to his advantage.
When Dorothy told Starscream what she wanted from him, the Seeker looked baffled at the request. Megatron’s glare only intensified, a silent warning that Starscream had no choice but to obey. And it seemed to have worked since Starscream’s faceplates turned completely blank, as they always did when he was going to do as he was told, like the obedient soldier he should have been during the war.
Meanwhile, Hashtag wasn’t having it.
“Mom, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, still frowning.
“Yeah, I gotta agree with Hashtag on that,” Thrash suddenly spoke up awkwardly while he stood there, making sure to avoid eye contact with the adults. He wanted to say more but decided to keep his thoughts to himself and a good distance away from Megatron.
“And I know he’s supposed to stay a few more days with us, but he really needs to go check on the other Decepticons,” Hashtag added, trying to help the Seeker leave without any problems, especially since he was standing completely silent next to her. After everything that had happened with Starscream the past two days, he was definitely not in the right state of mind to talk to Megatron. And she assumed Starscream was still blaming himself for accidentally hurting her.
There was a good chance Megatron and Starscream had already clashed earlier when Thrash took him into the woods - another reason they shouldn’t speak again, at least not on the same day. She made a mental note to ask her brother what went down in the forest.
“Hashtag,” her mother said, giving her an understanding look. “I get you’re just trying to look out for your friend, but if he’s going to visit our family in the future, we’ve gotta work some stuff out with him and Megatron first.”
“Can’t this wait until, I don’t know, literally any other day?” Hashtag asked, almost pleading.
Her mom shook her head. “It’s better to handle it sooner rather than later.”
“Don’t worry, Hashtag, Optimus and I will be there to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Elita-1 reassured her with a reassuring smile.
Hashtag glanced up at Starscream, who was still staring at Megatron with a blank, almost eerie expression. It unsettled her; Starscream was usually full of expression. Acting on impulse, she grabbed his servo.
Starscream had been feeling numb, and felt as though everyone and everything had been too far out of reach from him, but her hold snapped him out of his trance. He looked down at her, confusion flickering across his face.
Then for a second there, he thought he could see the dent again on her faceplates, almost causing him to panic.
“Hey, you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” she told him firmly, in a serious tone.
Starscream’s helm was starting to ache, just like his spark. But the grip on his servo at least kept his mind from spiraling out of control.
“Hashtag…” Hashtag’s mom sighed.
“No, seriously, if you want to leave, you can,” Hashtag insisted to the Seeker. “They literally can’t force you to do anything you’re not cool with.”
“She has a point,” Nightshade said as they stepped on Starscream’s left. “It wouldn’t be right to make you do something you’re uncomfortable with - especially when you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Starscream’s tanks churned at their words. The truth was, he had done something wrong. What he had done to Hashtag was unforgivable and it continued to plague him with guilt.
Yet, he didn’t want to stay any longer around the Autobots and Megatron, especially with Prowl likely out there somewhere, watching, waiting, and planning, coming up with whatever his cold spark could think of to get his servos on his. But Megatron’s threatening glare kept him in place as if it was physically chaining him down. He loathed how the former Decepticon leader still had some power over him, even now, even after he had betrayed him and his people.
While Hashtag and Nightshade told him he could leave if he wanted, he felt as though he couldn’t without making the Autobots and Megatron suspicious that he was hiding things from them.
Then again, maybe he didn’t have to worry about anyone else finding out at this moment about the allspark’s presence inside of him. Optimus had to have a reason why he hadn’t told Megatron about it and he was most likely going to keep it that way.
Either way, he had no choice but to give in to the woman’s demands. And the sooner he complied, the sooner he could fly off and hide from everyone to protect his spark before he could plan his next steps.
For now, he did his best to appear calm, even though he was internally panicking. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with…” he said under his breath, avoiding everyone’s gazes.
“Starscream…” Hashtag let out with concern, her servo gripping his tighter. Then her optic ridges narrowed. “Then I’m coming with.”
Starscream turned to her quietly.
“I’m not letting you deal with this alone,” she added firmly.
“I’m sorry Hashtag, but this is something that’s more for the adults to handle right now,” Dorothy said gently.
“But mom,” Hashtag tried to argue.
“It’s fine, Hashtag,” Starscream said, his voice quieter than usual and he offered her a small smile, as a trace of gratitude flickered in his optics.
He still couldn’t understand how, even now, she was trying to help him after he had struck her. But he appreciated having someone that reminded him of Skyfire.
Though, now that he realized how protective she was like the Shuttle was, he couldn’t help but feel sick as Skyfire’s lifeless optics flashed in his mind for a second.
He quickly pulled from her servo and followed Dot and the others into the forest, while Hashtag and the others stood behind with concerned plastered on their faceplates.
“This is gonna end so bad, I just know it,” Thrash muttered once Starscream and the others vanished into the forest. He was nervously rubbing his arms, unsure what else to do with his fidgety servos.
“It’s going to be fine, Thrash. Don’t worry too much,” Bumblebee said, trying to assure the Terran. “Optimus and Elita-1 are there to makes sure nothing bad happens.”
Thrash shot him a skeptical look.
“Work-case scenario, Megatron and Starscream start throwing punches, and Optimus and Elita-1 have to break them up,” the veteran said with a shrug as if it was no big deal.
The Terrans and Mo now stared at him with wide eyes.
“Wait, why would they get into a fight?” Jawbreaker asked with utter confusion before panic set in. “I thought they were just talking.”
Bumblebee winced, realizing his mistake when the Terrans were looking at one another anxiously. “Um… forget I said anything,” he said awkwardly while he rubbed the back of his helm.
“Kind of too late for that,” Arcee sighed as majority of the children were looking more concerned by the second.
“Now that you mention it…” Nightshade said, taping their chin thoughtfully, gathering everyone’s attention. “Remember when Starscream said we don’t know the real Megatron and said Megatron ruled the Decepticons through fear and intimidation?”
“Yeah, I remember that,” Twitch said.
“I mean, Megatron was a bad guy before,” Jawbreaker reminded them. “So, maybe he was really mean to his own team too?”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Nightshade said.
“I think he was more than just mean, especially to Starscream,” Hashtag said quietly, her servos curling into fists.
“What do you mean by that?” Jawbreaker asked softly with hesitation.
“You don’t think he…?” Mo trailed off, her gaze flickering to Bumblebee, whose optics were now darting away uncomfortably. Arcee stood with her arms crossed quietly with a somber expression. “Did Mr. Megatron hurt Mr. Starscream, Bumblebee?”
“I shouldn’t really answer that,” Bumblebee said. He then noticed some of the kids were glaring at him for avoiding the question. “I mean… it’s a bit too complicated for me to talk about.”
Hashtag let out a deep vent, stomping a little as she took a few steps towards the direction her mom had taken Starscream. “I should be there with Starscream. I mean, sure, he helped us take down Mandroid, and now there’s like, this unspoken truce between the Autobots and Decepticons, but he still doesn’t trust the Autobots, which I don’t blame him for, especially after that Prowl guy shot him yesterday. He’s probably feeling super unsafe ‘cause he’s basically surrounded by his ‘enemy’.” She glared down at the ground, her spark churning anxiously, recalling how quick Megatron was to attack Starscream months ago. “I know Optimus, Elita-1, and Mom wouldn’t hurt him, but… Megatron probably would.”
She turned to Bumblebee, her optics narrowing. “Mom seriously thinks I shouldn’t be there ‘cause I’m still too young. Which is totally not fair. My siblings and I have fought our own battles. We should be able to stand by Starscream while he talks to Megatron and Mom. He shouldn’t have to do this alone with people he doesn’t trusts.”
“Hashtag, but what if they’re going to discuss about things that Mom knows Starscream wouldn’t want us to hear?” Nightshade countered calmly. “Mom probably has a feeling Starscream would hold back from saying something important to Megatron if you’re there. You’ve told me before that he barely opens up to you, and even when he did that one time, he didn’t go into much detail. I really think Mom understands what’s the best in this situation, and maybe we should trust her judgement,” They offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
Hashtag’s lips twisted with frustration.
“And just so you know, Starscream isn’t just an innocent victim either,” Arcee cut in with a sigh. “He’s hurt Megatron as well.”
“And Megatron’s hurt Optimus, so what’s the big deal if he hurt Starscream too?” Thrash added, though he didn’t actually believe in his own words.
“It is a big deal because Megatron and Starscream were on the same side,” Hashtag said with annoyance bubbling in her spark.
“Well, I think we should be making a bigger deal about how Starscream almost killed Mom,” Thrash blurted out, his frustration slipping through - until his optics went wide, and he slapped his servos over his mouth, realizing what he’d just admitted.
Everyone fell silent. Nightshade, Jawbreaker, Twitch, and Hashtag stared at Thrash in shock, their optics impossibly wide.
Mo sighed and pressed her palm to her forehead. “Thrash…”
“What do you mean Starscream almost killed Mom?” Twitch asked quietly, unable to believe what she just heard.
“Well… he almost… during the war,” Mo explained, her tone uneasy.
“Wait, you knew about this too? Does Robby know? How come the rest of us didn’t?” Twitch threw her hands up with annoyance after noticing how her other siblings looked taken aback from the unexpected news concerning their mom just like she was.
“Yeah, Robby knows,” Mo admitted. “And, uh… we just found out last night from Prowl.”
“Starscream’s the reason Mom’s missing a leg,” Thrash added with a frown.
“And… he never told us…?” Jawbreaker let out, sounding hurt and betrayed.
Even Hashtag looked lost, unsure how to react that Starscream had hurt their mother and kept it a secret from her.
Bumblebee rubbed the corner of his optics - the last thing he wanted was things from escalating any further than they should. “Okay guys, listen. I don’t think Starscream knows he almost killed your mom. He fired some missiles during the battle, and she was there helping the Autobots. It wasn’t like he was targeting her specifically.”
“Actually, he does know he hurt Mom,” Thrash said, looking away. “At least now he does... I told him earlier when we were talking.”
“Was he sorry?” Twitch asked, sounding hopeful.
“Nope,” Thrash admitted, crossing his arms over his chest, causing his siblings look as if their tanks dropped from their frames. “But… he did say he’d never hurt Hashtag or our family. And I guess he probably meant it starting now he wouldn’t.”
Twitch, Nightshade, and Mo exchanged uneasy glances, all carefully avoiding giving out any hints to the others concerning what they knew about Starscream and Hashtag’s earlier incident.
“Starscream may have been a bad guy, just like Megatron,” Nightshade said after a moment, as they looked up at the bright sky. “But… he’s really trying to turn things around now. I mean, look at what he’s done with us over the past couple of days - it’s clear he’s making an effort. Yeah, he hurt Mom, and that’s not okay, but from what I can tell, she’s giving him another chance. She’s helping him sort things out with Megatron, maybe even with the Autobots, so he can come see us without it being a big deal. If Mom isn’t holding the past against him, I don’t think we should either.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Hashtag said with a curt nod of her helm. “But Megatron doesn’t think Starscream deserves another chance, and that’s a problem.”
“Yeah… he, uh, really seems to hate Starscream,” Thrash admitted, shifting uneasily.
“So, why’d you trick Starscream into talking to Megatron earlier?” Hashtag asked with a frown. “Look, I know you don’t like Starscream, but what you did was totally not cool.”
The others turned to Thrash with puzzled expressions.
“Wait, you did what?” Twitch asked her brother in disbelief.
“I didn’t trick him!” Thrash said, throwing his servos up defensively. “I just wanted to talk to Starscream alone about some stuff, but then Megatron showed up out of nowhere. And then, well… Megatron started saying terrible things, and then Starscream said terrible things back, and… they were just arguing.” He groaned, running his servos down his faceplates. “I tried to calm them down before things got really bad. It was a good thing Starscream walked away because Megatron was looking very scary for a moment there...”
Hashtag narrowed her optics at him before spinning around and heading in the opposite direction from where their mom had taken Starscream and the others earlier.
“Hashtag, where are you going?” Bumblebee sighed, already sounding tired from all the drama.
She didn’t answer, and just continued without looking back.
“I’ll go after her,” Twitch offered.
“I’m coming too,” Mo said as the two followed after Hashtag.
Once the three of them walked into the forest, Hashtag glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one else had followed. Satisfied they were alone, she turned to her sisters. “Okay, don’t tell anyone about this, but—”
“You’re totally about to spy on them, aren’t you?” Twitch interrupted with an optic ridge raised, her arms crossed on her chest as she was hovering off the ground.
“I’m not spying on them. I’m just gonna make sure nothing bad happens to Starscream,” Hashtag clarified.
“Yeah, I don’t think you should do that,” Mo said with concern in her voice.
“Unless…” Twitch added, with an amused smile, “you bring us along.”
“Twitch, I’m serious! If Mom finds out, we’re all getting grounded forever.”
“That’s only if she finds out,” Hashtag countered with a firm tone before giving Mo a pleading look. “Come on, Mo, you saw how shaken up Starscream was earlier in our underground lair. And it was even worse before you guys showed up. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. What if he needs us…?”
Mo hesitated but thought it over. She recalled how her cyber-sleeve had felt drawn to Starscream while she was healing Hashtag. There was definitely a mystery there she had to solve herself.
“Well…” Mo finally said, her lips curling into a small smile. “If we’re doing this to help someone, I guess there’s nothing too wrong about it, right?”
Twitch and Hashtag exchanged satisfied smiles before looking back at Mo.
“Okay, then let’s move quietly so no one notices us,” Hashtag said before her sisters nodded with determination and followed her as she took the lead through the woods.