#my headcanon for how tf one Bee loses his voice

[tracklessreason]

Check One-Two

A post tf one story in three parts:

Megatron really liked that trick he'd pulled with Starscream. Say nothing of the bloodlust, the rage fueled euphoria of crushing a bot's throat with your bare hands; it was a hell of a power move, and he'll never forget the looks from everyone in the room when he did it. Especially Orion. The realization in his eyes, the turn from concern to disgust and fear. It drives Megatron, fuels his nightmares. Orion didn't even know Starscream, but his reaction was so visceral. Imagine the potential, what kind of gut wrenching reaction Megatron could pull if he did that to someone the latest Prime held close. It would be more enthralling to get his hands around Optimus himself, but that was high risk, low reward. Megatron has to carefully consider his options the next time they see the autobots on the battle field. His options are slim, but he feels his gears whir when he catches a familiar glimpse of yellow.

B-127 has this little dance he does. He shuffles his feet, throws a quick one-two punch. It started as a way to express energy when he was excited or just antsy, shadowboxing was a habit down in sublevel 50 that he hasn't broken. The first time he does it in front of Optimus, they've just won a hard fought battle. The adrenaline is still kicking around in him, and he can't help it, he's bouncing on his feet, shuffle, shuffle, one-two punch. Optimus' eyes light up in a way he hasn't seen since D-16 became Megatron, and the Prime actually laughs. "What was that, Bee? Feeling alright?" B-127 smiles. "Blowing off steam, boss." He does it again: shuffle, one-two punch. Optimus laughs harder. It's so genuine and bubbly, it gets Bee laughing too, and suddenly the whole squadron is giggling, then cackling, until they're falling over each other trying to catch their breath, just a bunch of battle weary companions finding light in darker times. Bee still pulls the move whenever he thinks Optimus needs a good laugh. It never fails to work. As they approach the battlefield to face the decepticons once more, he does it again, for good luck's sake. Optimus still laughs.

Optimus had fought too hard to get into the record room. He was tired, and limping, trying not to breath too heavy because it brought the smell of oil to his processors. He still couldn't get over how sickening it felt to have his hands stained black with another bot's oil. The room is dark, a maze of shelves with unorganized chips overflowing from boxes. The first thing he notices is two twin beams of blood red light. He flips on his headlights, illuminating the form of Megatron leaning against a wall on the other side of the room, watching him, smiling. They don't just stand in rooms smiling together anymore. The last hundred times they've been this close, it's weapon to weapon, gritting gears and at least one of them going for the kill. Usually Megatron. It's what he wants, to put Optimus in as much misery as possible. If he's here, just waiting, it's because he's got something up his core he thinks will hurt more than a fusion blaster to the chest. Megatron turns his head, drawing Optimus' attention to his hand as he raises it, turning it this way and that to show off the oil dripping from his fingers. Optimus growls. "What did you do?" Megatron takes a wide stance, and Optimus raises his weapon, prepared for a charge. It doesn't come.

Still grinning, Megatron shuffles his feet, and throws a one-two punch.