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Canada was quite cold, not too cold for a Cybertronian. Though the Arctic nearly killed Optimus Prime and Arcee, and that ring of freezing nightmares was not that far away.
Starscream came prepared for the cold, being sure to not let the chill freeze the energon in his tanks or his sensitive wings, he wore a blue puffer hoodie with warm wool lining and folded his wings inwards. Despite wearing the hoodie, he felt naked without his wings behind him.
Starscream was sitting on the snowy bank of a frozen lake watching some moose graze on frozen leaves when he saw a familiar burst of green light. He stands up and readies his missiles, but he groans and lowers them when he spots the Autobots’ humans.
Jack shivered and rubbed his hands together, breath misting in front of his face. “Okay, I know we wanted to see real snow, but we might have underestimated just how cold it is in Canada.”
Miko, ever the enthusiast, was already kicking up powdery fluff with her boots, her fingers turning pink despite her fingerless gloves. “Pfft! This is nothing. A little cold never hurt anybody!”
Raf, bundled up in a thin hoodie, pushed up his glasses and tried to suppress a shiver. “Technically, hypothermia starts setting in when your core temperature drops below 95°F. So, uh… yeah, it could actually hurt us.”
Jack huffed, wrapping his arms around himself. “And we didn't exactly plan for this. Maybe we should head back.”
The kids turned around to see that the ground bridge had closed behind them.
Starscream couldn’t help but notice that the children had come without their guardians. What were they thinking? Maybe they weren’t.
Just what he needed. To babysit. Again.
Starscream walks over to the kids and stands over them with a disappointed look on his face and clears his throat. The kids turn around, Jack and Raf yelp in fear, but Miko waves at him.
“Hi, Starscream! Enjoying your vacation?” Miko rubs her arms.
“I was but then you three decided it would be fun to die from the cold.” Starscream sighs.
“Can you help? You got anything in your bag of tricks?”
Starscream huffs and searches through his bag. “Idiotic humans…” he grumbles. “I guess I have some spare cash. But I wouldn’t trust you with a singular cent of it.”
“Hey! We’re not that irresponsible!” Jack exclaims.
Starscream raises an optic ridge and gestures to the underdressed kids and then to the winter wonderland around them.
“Why are you even helping us?” Raf asks.
“Because someone has to be the responsible one. Unfortunately, that job has fallen upon me.” Starscream takes off his hoodie and puts it into his bag before zipping it up and dropping it to the ground. “Alright, kids. Prepare yourselves to witness a marvel of Cybertronian greatness.”
The three look between themselves before glancing back up at Starscream who was… folding in on himself and… shrinking?! They watch in amazement as Starscream shrinks from his usual towering height to a humble six feet tall. And then, a flicker of light… and he’s human. Or well, passes as human. He still had those piercing red optics… eyes. He was tall, and lanky, with sharp features and mid-length platinum blond hair. He was wearing black jeans, a black blazer… and of course he was in heels.
“What kind of magic is this?!” Miko exclaims as she circles Starscream curiously.
“What you see before you is a holoform. An avatar, if you will. They’re used to mimic species so as to not cause panic.” Starscream poses proudly.
“And the shrinking?” Raf wipes the fog from his glasses.
“Mass displacement. It’s how we Cybertronians can switch into our Alt Modes better. Now enough with the chatter, we have to bundle you three up before you freeze to death. Your Autobot buddies won’t let me hear the end of it.” Starscream picks up his bag and swings it over his shoulder. “Come on, there’s a mall this way.”
Miko eagerly follows along, dragging the boys behind her.
«♥»
Miko was the first to find a coat, one so obnoxiously bright it hurt Starscream’s optics. Raf ended up with a heavy parka that seemed to swallow him whole, while Jack picked something practical but stylish.
“And gloves.” Starscream reminded them, crossing his arms. “Scarves. Hats. The works.”
“You sound like a mom.” Raf snickered.
Starscream bristled. “I do not—!” He cut himself off with a growl.
“More like a wine aunt.” Jack chuckles.
“Don’t start calling me your aunt!” Starscream crosses his arms.
“Aunty Starscream!” Miko exclaims.
“Eugh. Kill me.” Starscream facepalms.
As annoying as the children can be, they’re not that terrible. Starscream hates that he’s starting to actually care about them. He can’t remember the last time he laid eyes on a youngling of his own species.
When the four eventually made it outside, the kids were quick to start making snow angels and snowmen.
Starscream simply stands against a tree watching them. And then he is hit with a snowball. His wide eyes snap down to look at a smirking Miko.
“Oh, you’re in for it now!” Starscream ducks down and makes his own snowball before throwing it at her.
Miko shrieks and dodges, but the snowball clips her shoulder. “Oh, it’s on now!” she yells, scooping up more snow.
Raf and Jack exchange glances before ducking for cover behind a bench. “We should probably-” Jack starts, but he’s cut off as another snowball flies past his head.
“What’s wrong, humans? Afraid of a little snow?” Starscream taunts, already crafting another missile of frozen fluff. His competitive streak flares to life, and before he knows it, he’s in a full-on battle with the three kids.
Jack retaliates with surprising accuracy, nailing Starscream in the chest. Raf, ever the strategist, pelts his legs to slow him down. Miko is the wildcard, darting around and flinging snow from every angle.
For a moment, Starscream forgets about the war, forgets about Megatron, forgets about the Autobots. He’s just… playing.
Then a familiar swirl of green energy opens just a way in front of them, Starscream stands in front of the kids in a protective stance despite still being in holoform.
All four relax when Bulkhead and Arcee step out of the ground bridge instead of a swarm of Decepticons.
“Uhh… Who’s your new friend?” Bulkhead asks.
“You wouldn’t believe us if we told you.” Raf rubs his neck awkwardly.
Starscream sighs and shifts out of holoform, standing back at his 25-foot-tall height. “Seems the party’s over…”
Arcee and Bulkhead stare in shock at the sight of Starscream.
“Aww… But we were having so much fun!” Miko pouts.
“I’d rather not have my spark extinguished like a birthday candle, sorry.” Starscream rolls his eyes with a shrug before glaring at the Autobots as he puts his winter coat back on. “Without my help, your humans would’ve frozen to death. Please keep proper tabs on them for the sake of your sanity and my own.”
“Noted.” Arcee nods.
“Later hater!” Miko waves to Starscream before hopping into the ground bridge. Jack and Raf also wave goodbye to Starscream.
“Yeah, whatever.” Starscream mutters.
“Thanks for looking after them, Starscream.” Bulkhead says.
Starscream waves him off before walking into the forest to hopefully get some peace and quiet for once.