#don't get me wrong i really want autobot! Thundercracker

[transingthoseformers]

I'm campaigning pretty hard for autobot / defected! earthspark Thundercracker, but I'm currently thinking about the "Thundercracker and Novastorm transitioned and swapped places" idea and I'm imagining the hilarious idea that the rainmakers and the elite trine proceeded to gaslight everyone into thinking nothing happened.

Megatron: is it just me or were you blue before?

Now Novastorm: no, it's just you(lying)

[nevis-the-skeleton]

What if TFP Autobot Starscream (who helped Miko), bonds with Arcee over their lost loved ones... ❤️ Star talks about losing Skywarp, Thundercracker + Skyfire... Arcee talks about losing Tailgate + Cliffjumper... Star is both horrified and filled with guilt, when he learns Cliff was Arcee’s BFF...💔 (Autobots don’t know that Star destroyed Cliffjumper...) 

Wow… I think if Arcee ever finds out the truth it could be really dangerous for Starscream ^^; … I feel it's going to be between cute and super sad (TvT)… Thanks for your request sweety anon ^^! Besides, it's funny, but I wrote a somewhat similar scene in my story "The Polar Star" X), the difference is that Skyfire is alive, and Arcee already knows the cause of Cliff's death.

~~~

Arcee was in the medical bay with Ratchet, after a mission during which they came across Airachnid. The Autobots were lucky to have Starscream with them, as he was quite responsive, and saved the warrior from dying at the hands of the Triple-changer.

The motorcycle was not looking at Optimus, while the latter was quite disappointed with her behavior. Arcee put herself in great danger, and the mission could have gone horribly wrong. The doctor continued to repair the injuries of the motorcycle, and said:

“You should thank Starscream, it's thanks to him that you're still alive."

The Seeker watched all this from afar, and decided to move closer, not really looking for a thank you, but wanting to make one thing clear.

"I hope next time you don't have the same stupid idea like running right into your enemy!

- Mind what concerns you! the warrior got a little annoyed.

- It concerns us all! Because of you, we almost failed this mission!

- You really only think about the mission, huh?!

- Of course! What exactly do you think about when you go into battle?!

- …!

- The principle is to don't die, Arcee! So why are you going into it?!

- Stop arguing! Ratchet growled. Arcee you thank him and we move on!

- … Before that, I would like to know what got into her!

- Starscream, don't insist.

- No, I want to know if I should expect an event like this again or if it was exceptional!

- It's not the first time… admitted Bulkhead in the distance.

- Bulkhead! Arcee was indignant.

- I think he better know. It really surprised him you know.

- No wonder, since he follows orders like a little Turbofox!

-…?!! Pardon?!!! Starscream get angry.

- If Optimus ordered you not to move, you would! You're so afraid of not satisfying that you forget your own dignity!

- And you?! You think you're have dignity when you answering Airachnid's taunts?!

- …!

- You are predictable for her! She knows how to piss you off! I don't know what she did to you exactly, but it would be nice if it didn't make you forget your team!

- As if you knew what teamwork was!

- Well, apparently I know it better than you!"

The Autobots and the children watched their confrontation from afar, unsure how to intervene. The two robots continued their argument, and Arcee cried out:

"OK! You wanna know the fragging reason?!

- Well yeah! replied the jet.

- She murdered one of my friends in front of me! She deserves to die!

- So you're doing this for revenge?!

- I want to do Tailgate justice!

- Is it really worth losing your life?!

- What do you know anyway?! You never loved anyone but yourself! You can't understand ! You don't know what it's like to lose someone you love!"

Starscream's wings flew up in indignation, and he angrily replied:

"Shut up! You don't know me! Frag!!"

Everyone looked at the Seeker with surprise, while the latter had the wings high with rage, and the body tense. The jet looked away, a mixture of shame and anger crossing his face. He clenched his fists, and quickly turned his back on Arcee, rushing for the elevator to the roof of the base.

~

Starscream was on the edge of the roof, and really wanted one thing, and it was to sink into a hole, or else become invisible… He wanted to disappear, to flee… he didn't want to see the Autobots again… it was too much shame… What a stupid reaction! Why did Arcee's words hurt him so much?! What did he get out of getting upset like that?! It was useless... really useless...

The Seeker lifted his wings in spite of himself when he heard the elevator door open, but he didn't turn to see who it was. He really didn't want to see anyone, so he preferred to ignore them. Was it too hard to leave him alone for five seconds?!

"Hey, Starscream." said Arcee.

The jet clutched his wings behind his back, and scowled at the warrior's voice. He did not look at her, and replied curtly:

"Don't you have other people you want to be mean to?!

- The one who is currently mean is you!

- …”

The motorcycle sighed slightly, and scratched her head, before declaring:

“I came to apologize.

- Is it on your own initiative, or did you "stupidly" listen to an order from Optimus.

- Actually, it was from Ratchet."

Starscream finally decided to look at Arcee, who continued:

“But he's right, what I said wasn't nice. I can see that upset you.

- Not necessarily…

- So what are you doing there, sulking on the roof?

- Maybe I didn't like how you surrounded me so well!"

The warrior could hear the sarcasm in the Seeker's voice, and she stepped forward before sitting down next to him. The jet grunted a bit nastily and moved, which upset the bike.

"I don't have Rust! Arcee exclaimed.

- You're too close."

The warrior raised her optics, telling herself that Starscream really had a serious problem. She wasn't that close!

“I haven't heard a single excuse yet." finally said the Seeker.

The motorcycle sighed with a smile, and answered:

"No, it's true.

- What are you waiting for then?

- How impatient you are!

- It's my trademark!

- I wonder what your friends could think of it!

- …I never had any friends…

- …”

There was a silence, before Arcee spoke again.

"Liar."

The jet said nothing, and no longer looked at the warrior, returning his gaze to the desert horizon in front of them. The motorcycle did the same, and sighed softly, before declaring:

“I had a great friend at the time, his name was Tailgate.

- The one that Airachnid killed?

- … Yeah…

- How was he?

- Hm?

- Well, he was a good friend…?

- Very…"

Arcee said nothing more, talking about it seeming to be quite difficult for her. Starscream looked back at the warrior, he hesitated and flapped his wings, then said:

"You're right, I lied to you...

- About?

- My friends…

- Where are they now?"

The Seeker didn't answer, but his drooping wings spoke for him. The motorcycle made no remark, until she smiled:

“Tailgate loved to joke, even though he was really lame at jokes.

- Ha! Surely he would have gotten along well with Skywarp! Even if his thing was more pranks!

- Who is Skywarp?

- He was a member of my trine. He wasn't very smart, not to say completely stupid sometimes.

- Hey! That's not very nice for him!

- But what?! It's true! He always managed to put himself in the some scraps, you always wonder how!

- It's your it's your doppelgangere in this case! laughed Arcee.

- I won't allow you! the jet indignantly smiled.

- Birds of a feather flock together as they say!

- Oh no! The difference is that when he found himself in scrap he always managed to get out of it!"

It was then that Starscream quickly lost his smile, and he lowered his head, before adding weakly:

"Until he couldn't find a way to do it…

- It's a bit the same for Tailgate…” sympathized the warrior with sadness.

There was a bittersweet silence, and the motorcycle asked:

"And the other member of your trine, what's his name?

- His name was Thundercraker.

- How was he?

- … Big?

- But no ! In character!

- I said it! Big! He thought big! Always looking far into the future, as far as he could!"

The Seeker had the optics shining with love when he spoke of his trine, as if they were still alive, despite the fact that he spoke of them as the distant past. But that look was quickly dulling, as the realization of their disappearance always came back eventually… The jet sighed with sorrow, and shook his head, before saying:

"I'm bothering you with my stories...

- Not especially… "

The flyer gave Arcee a grateful look, before looking at the horizon again. The warrior swung her legs above the void, before saying:

"I'm sorry I said you didn't love anyone… I realize how wrong I was…

- … You weren't totally wrong…

- …?

- … Before I met TC and Warp, I was friends with another robot…

- Who was called?

- His name was Skyfire…

- …

- He died before the war, and I was so sad, that I had decided never to love anyone again… Until I met my Trine… but, again, it was a huge mistake…

- …I can understand how you feel…"

Saying those words Arcee turned to a rooftop burial, which the Seeker hadn't actually seen when he came up. The warrior smiled sadly, before losing it completely, then declaring:

"After Tailgate, I swore to myself that I would never have a partner again... I didn't want to lose anyone again..."

It wasn't long before the jet saw the horn on the grave, and his Spark froze in his chest, as he realized who it was!

"It's... the flyer stammered.

- Yes, it's Cliff…

- …

- He's the one who allowed me to reconnect after Tailgate… He helped me all along…! But... I ended up losing him too...

- You… you loved him…?

- He was my best friend… Maybe even more…

- …

- The Decepticons killed him…! Like they killed Tailgate!

- …This is war, Arcee…

- They treated him like a test subject…!

- …”

Starscream didn't know what to answer, as a multitude of devastating emotions lacerated his Spark. Finally, he found the words to say, that came out on their own:

"I'm sorry…

- Why are you apologizing?

- Well… uh…

- You're not a Decepticon anymore, Starscream.

- …

- It's not your fault.

- …”

The Seeker wanted to admit it, to say it was really his fault, to confess his crime… But, no matter how hard he tried, nothing came out… His selfish wish that they had a possible friendship was stronger than the truth… Arcee got up, and put a comforting hand on the shoulder of the jet, before saying:

“Again, I'm sorry for what I said. I'm waiting for you downstairs, the others are worried, you know?"

She ends up walking away, not even giving the flyer time to answer. Starscream eventually found himself alone on the roof, at least, not totally alone, as Cliffjumper's grave was still there, seeming to tower over him in its shadow.

The Seeker rose in his turn, and advanced hesitantly towards the tomb. He never quite got to look at it, even when he found himself face to face with it. The jet lowered his wings, not knowing himself what they were trying to express, as far too complex emotions raced through him. Starscream finally had the strength to speak, and asked in a voice broken with grief:

"Say…? do you really think i belong somewhere…?"

But, of course, to this question, he received no other answer than silence…