Log: Starscream has an epic fit of EMO. Prime becomes involved, being the expert.

Starscream: *slinks back towards his and Skyfire's quarters, almost furtively and /actually/ looking just as guilty as he always is, for once*

Skyfire: *Skyfire is in the hanger bay turned pseudo-lab that he claimed for his own, where the massive framework of his partially completed ship dominates the room. Bits of wire and loads of electronics are stacked all over the makeshift shelves ringing the whole room. Skyfire himself stands at a pile of metal intended to be external armor plating for the hull of the ship, and is furiously bending and pounding and welding pieces of it together, and attaching pieces to the ship...with a lot more force then is probably needed.*

Skyfire: *the sounds of his activities can be heard even from the hallways outside*

Starscream: ...oh, slag. *muttered to himself; the chime of the door opening is louder than his voice* *slowly approaches the pseudo-lab*

Skyfire: *does the calculations needed for the angle of bend in the next piece of metal in his head and ruthlessly jabs the palm of his fist down against it, manhandling the metal into the proper alignment. All of this is done without a sound from him other then the drone of whirling intakes*

Starscream: */very/ reluctant to approach, not quite cringing but definitely, as it were, feeling the urge to*

Skyfire: *slams the finished sheet in its proper place, before pausing and bringing his space helmet down to shield his face and optics as he brings a turbo-welder online and begins to weld it in place*

Starscream: *edges into Skyfire's peripheral sensor range*

Skyfire: *jerks when he detects /Starscream/ behind him, nearly soldering his own thumb to the metal with the welder, but steadies himself and goes back to attaching the metal, in full /ignore/ mode*

Starscream: *...figures that Skyfire has seen him by the jerking. Slinks a little closer, like a dog that /knows/ it's been bad and is coming back anyway*

Skyfire: *completely ignores Starscream's presence (outwardly, at least,) and finishes the last bit of the panel welding. He lays down the tool and passes right by Starscream on his way back to his metal pile, not sparing him a look*

Starscream: *trails after him hesitantly* ...I'm sorry? *well, it's worth a try, and it /is/ true*

Skyfire: *at that, the next piece of metal he was trying to bend ends up with a fist-shaped dent as his pound against it is mis-timed. Skyfire stares down at the metal for a moment, face indecipherable under his helmet, before it is abruptly, flung to the side like a frisbee, (the fact that it is flung in the /opposite/ direction from Starscream is the only obvious consideration Skyfire gives him; ) sending it crashing into the wall, before picking up another and beginning again as though nothing had happened.

Starscream: *and now Starscream knows that he has gotten himself into a /lot/ of trouble. /More/ than a lot of trouble.*

Skyfire: *continues to ignore, properly bending the next piece and tossing it to the side. Only now, he keeps bending for a bit, starting on the next piece. Physical exertion is a /good thing/ right now*

Starscream: ...should I... ...Skyfire...? *hesitating, watching Skyfire's hands bend metal with a sort of morbid fascination*

Skyfire: *Loud bangs echo throughout the large room as he crimps and folds and angles the metal with a steely determination that he would probably never have under normal circumstances, still painfully silent*

Starscream: ... *...gives up and retreats back to his lab, wings held back and down in defeat*

Skyfire: *only pauses a few seconds after the door closes, helmed face gazing up at the now empty room. He shouldn't feel bad about that - it was what he expected - what he partially /wanted/, yet... Skyfire shakes his head and bends back down to continue his work, only to find the peice of metal is now a warped, crumpled ball of scrap between two fisted hands.*

Skyfire: *outside, there is a loud 'clang' as the ball is thrown against a wall somewhere. It is a while before the rhythmic pounding heard earlier begins again*



****

And then, Starscream went into his lab, never to be seen again.

****



Starscream: ::Prime. The safest place for the Vok is in my lab, I think. Nobody will look for it there, and /normally/ mechs aren't stupid enough to just walk in. I won't be leaving my lab any time soon, anyway, so I'll be able to monitor it. Shall I attempt to repair it further?:: *and now Starscream sounds... actually, he doesn't sound too terribly good, truth to tell - drained and numb*

Prime: ::...I agree. Please do - on both parts.:: *Beat* ::What's wrong?::

Starscream: ::Nothing.:: *even that is more a for-form's-sake snap than the normal Starscream snap*

Prime: ::*Evenly* We rarely see optic to optic, but you sound drained. If this will interfere with the Vok situation in any way, I need to know.::

Starscream: ::It won't.:: *no, he's not even denying it; you /know/ something's seriously wrong when Starscream doesn't say he's /absolutely fine now slag off/*

Prime: ::Really.::

Starscream: ::Affirmative.::

Prime: ::That is exactly why I don't believe you.::

Starscream: ::Slag you, Prime.:: *no heat to it, just a telegraphed desire to make Prime stop /talking/ and leave him alone*

Prime: *Catches that meaning, and responds to it* ::Not until you start talking.::

Prime: ::What happened?::

Starscream: ::Nothing relevant.:: *some part of Starscream retains sufficient pride to not even /consider/ telling Optimus slagging Prime his problems, and it is that part that is speaking right now*

Prime: *And now, Prime logic attempting to appeal to Starscream logic:* ::In this state, you are hardly capable of fufilling your duties, whatever they may be. Thus, it is relevant. Speak.::

Starscream: ::I can judge my capacities. They're sufficient.:: *not even putting the energy to be snappish into it*

Prime: ::Physical capabilities, or mental?::

Starscream: ::Sufficient.::

Prime: ::Do you think I would be pressing this if I thought it was at all irrelevant?::

Prime: ::What is the status of your emotional grid?::

Starscream: ::Sufficient.:: *is hardly even sounding like /Starscream/ at this point, trying to resort to one-word answers to get Prime to go away*

Prime: *Is not going to be put off that easily* ::Obviously not, since I haven't received that report on the Vok.::

Starscream: ::Further analysis needed.:: *probably /has/ off-lined some parts of his emotional grid at this point, or at least he sounds like it*

Prime: ::.....::

Prime: *Can't believe he's saying this* ::Do I need to come down there?::

Starscream: ::No. The situation is under control.:: *cuts comm*


Prime: *Is facepalming, and on his way*

Starscream: *has locked the door this time, oh yes*

Prime: *Fine. Imputs override*

Starscream: *about five different defense systems come online as the door slides open~ nobody ever said that Starscream wasn't paranoid*

Starscream: *doesn't actually seem to notice either Prime or the defense systems, wings drooping and somehow looking more defeated than he does at Megatron's feet, begging for his life*

Prime: *Apparently has a version of Spider-Sense, and remains outside for a moment, considering...then spots Starscream. Ooookay, that is -not- a good sign. Heads in*

Starscream: *automated warning whirrs to life along with the defense systems, Starscream's much-perkier recorded voice saying '/Out,/ slaggers!'*

Starscream: *making no move to override those systems, not apparently paying attention to anything other than some projected scans of what looks like Blackout, both mech and human bodies*

Prime: *Pauses - then looks down at Starscream. Bluntly* You have a much higher chance of ridding me if you can bring yourself to sound like that.

Starscream: Override 56F, subcategory 785 C4. *still almost toneless, and not looking around* Go away, Prime. I'm working.

Starscream: *automated systems clickwhirr back into hiding*

Prime: *Nod - and approaches* Working on what? *Will get him back to normal!Starscream, even if it's just by annoying him by asking questions*

Starscream: Blackout. You're not helping. *wings flatten out around himself as Prime approaches, almost defensively*

Prime: *Stops next to him, giving him a sideways look*

Prime: Then tell me what to do. *Looks back up at the projections*

Starscream: Go away. *not even looking at Prime, expression still that numb, muted defeat, even despair*

Prime: Not an option.

Prime: *And reaches into a 'pocket' of armor, pulling out a CD case* Should I start playing this? *Tilts it so Starscream can see the cover - Linkin Park, of course*

Starscream: */that/ gets a snort out of Starscream, almost involuntarily* Don't like human music.

Prime: Hn. Cybertronian, then? I have some of that.

Starscream: Don't like Cybertronian music. Go away, Prime. I'm not going to talk to you. I still have /some/ pride. *tactic two: if shutting down won't make Prime go away, how about actually addressing the issue?*

Prime: *Headtilt, putting the CD away* This is about pride, then?

Starscream: No. Just go away. I'm /not/ going to talk to you about it.

Prime: You can talk about it, or you can tell me what I can do here *gestures at the computer* to assist in your research. Your choice.

Prime: I would rather have you tell me to go away and actually mean it, all things considered.

Prime: As they stand, no.

Starscream: Believe me, I mean it.

Prime: Not half as much as you did when I was badgering you about the Matrix. *Narrows optics slightly* Which reminds me, have you spoken with Blitzwing?

Starscream: Yes. He has his flight systems back now. *oh, thank Primus, another topic*

Prime: *Nod* Refresh my memory as to the others who needed to be looked at.

Starscream: Astrotrain. Skyfire. Breakdown.

Prime: Alright. What did Blitzwing say to you?

Starscream: Nothing of consequence. *smiles a little, distantly* Apparently it "hurt like a bitch."

Prime: That was the impression I got from him, as well. *Not smiling at all. :|* But sometimes things go wrong.

Starscream: *shrugs a little, and falls silent again - really, he's not actually /doing/ anything with those projections by now*

Prime: *Silent...trying to think of what else to say. So much for conversation. Considers pulling them back at the matter at hand - or trying to piss Starscream off again. Makes a quiet 'hrn' sort of noise, thoughtful*

Starscream: *seems to be perfectly satisfied to do his best to ignore Prime. Though he does edge away. His personal space bubble is bigger than Texas, and that's pretty big.*

Prime: *Glances at him out of the corner of his vision...then back at the projections*

Prime: ...how is Skyfire?

Prime: *Subject change!*

Starscream: *goes completely and /totally/ still.*

Prime: *....blink*

Prime: *Frowns very, very lightly* What happened, Starscream.

Prime: *Processor immediately going oshi-what-happened-to-Skyfire*

Starscream: Ask him. *long. /long/ pause.* ...he won't talk to /me./

Prime: .....why not?

Starscream: *looks... ...well, it's a good thing he can't see his own expression, because quite frankly? He looks like he's about to cry, if mechs could cry.*

Starscream: *staring, fixedly, straight ahead*

Prime: ........

Prime: ....

Prime: *Reaches for his shoulder* Starscream...?

Starscream: Go. /Away./ Prime. *hunches his shoulders away from Prime, looking away* Just get out.

Prime: ...

Prime: *Puts his hand on said shoulder, speaking quietly* No.

Starscream: *pulls his shoulder away from Prime, almost spasmodically, and gets up with intent to go towards the door himself* Don't you /dare./ I'm no Autobot and I don't need you.

Prime: *Crosses arms across his chest, turning towards Starscream* I never said you were an Autobot, and I never said you needed me. I know full well that neither are true.

Starscream: *refuses to face Prime* Don't /want/ you here, either. Go /away./

Prime: I didn't say that, either. But I don't think I can make it much clearer that I don't care. *Without pausing* What happened with Skyfire?

Starscream: /Ask. Him./ *almost trembling now* He won't talk to me.

Prime: Then -you- talk to -me-.

Starscream: Go /away./ *yes, that /is/ trembling* Go. /Away./

Prime: No. *Reaching for his shoulder again - and this time, gripping it, not going to let go. Voice taking on a slightly softer aspect, but still firm* Talk to me. I am not your enemy.

Starscream: */will/ struggle if Prime doesn't let go, bringing claws up - Seeker does /not/ like to be touched, no* The /fuck/ you aren't, Prime! Go /away!/ *almost a shriek, except for the hiccupy catch of a sob*

Prime: *Doesn't let go - though he does reach to grab one of his wrists, and hold it - not squeeze, not be painful or try to hit him with it or anything like that - just grab, and hold to try and prevent him from damaging his own hand, or the rest of him*

Starscream: */thrashes/ - no, he's not going to hurt himself, but he is more than willing to hurt /Prime/ to escape, kicking with bladed feet and clawing with his free hand.* Let me /go!/

Prime: *Narrows optics slightly as he removes his other hand from the shoulder, and makes to grab Starscream's free wrist - ignoring the kicking. Again:* I am not your enemy.

Starscream: Who /isn't?/ *screams it in Prime's face and practically doubles himself up to keep kicking and clawing with his bladed feet* Leave me /alone!/

Prime: *Keeps his grip, tightening it even a little as Starscream fights harder - only enough to keep hold on him, no more* -No-.

Prime: *Apparently isn't feeling, or isn't caring about the whole feetblades on his leg armor*

Starscream: *fights and thrashes like a fish on a line, /well/ on the way to working himself up into full hysteria* /Let me go!/ *and yeah, those are actual, honest-to-Primus sobs, half now of frustrated rage*

Prime: *How many times does he have to say it - he's not letting go. In fact, continues gazing down at Starscream, watching him intently - then abruptly pulls him in for...can'tbelievehe'sdoingthis, a hug. Albeit one with Starscream's arms pinned to his sides, but a hug nonetheless*

Starscream: *claws his feet down Prime's thighs one final time with a resounding screech of metal, and seems to be doing his best to curl up into a ball and minimize his surface area, hunching his shoulders* *can't quite seem to stop the ragged noise of his intakes*

Prime: *Keeps his grip...but loosens it very slightly once Starscream stops fighting. Remains like this for a while before trying again* What happened, Starscream?

Starscream: What do you /think?/ *vocalizer still almost an agonized shriek* I can't even say I'm sorry about it because I'm /not!/

Prime: What aren't you sorry about?

Prime: *Did this with the Vok, can do it to him, too*

Starscream: Torturing that Vok! How /can/ I be? I did it, I liked it, and I'd do it /again/ if I had to! I'm not Bonecrusher, I don't overload on it, but I'm not /you/ either! I /know/ what I do, I /like/ what I do, and I /can't/ even say I'm sorry because I'm /not!/

Prime: He's mad because you participated in its torture?

Starscream: /Participated/ hell, I /started/ it and I can't be sorry for him and I /can't/ lie I /promised/ I wouldn't lie to him!

Prime: So why are you so angry? If you're not sorry, you're not sorry. *Eyes him - yes, is still holding his arms to his side. Inwardly swears to Primus if he has to do this again...*

Starscream: I can't make myself be sorry for him! I don't /have/ those - those Autobot morals, I know it was wrong, I just don't care! And he /does!/ And /he won't talk to me.../ *there are a lot of emotional overtones in that last line, but most of them boil down to pure /fear./ Fear and... lostness? Is Starscream capable of sounding lost? Apparently he is.*

Prime: ...

Prime: *Is silent for a stretch, then speaks slowly, watching Starscream carefully* You need him...and you're afraid of losing him. *A guess, but an educated one*

Starscream: He /won't talk to me.../ *and the tone of voice says, very plainly, that Starscream is quite sure he already /has/*

Prime: *Doesn't say anything as he continues looking down, trying to think of what to say*

Starscream: *seems to be trying to curl up into a ball, wrapping his arms around himself and ducking his head*

Prime: *....sighs, shifting his arms a little bit so he's not holding Starscream so uncomfortably. It's still tight, but it's not as crushing; more comforting, if that's possible* I don't think he's angry at you because you won't say sorry. Skyfire knows you better than that.

Starscream: Not because I won't say it. Because I'm /not./ *uses the lessened grip, even so minisculely loosened, to curl even tighter into a ball* It's one of those morality things, I /know/ it is...

Prime: *Lets him curl - up to a point. He's not letting Starscream block him out completely* You haven't done that sort of thing before?

Starscream: Of course I have. But he hasn't /heard/ it before, not like that... I /told/ him I wasn't going to bond with him until I knew he knew all of it... *with the terrified triumph of a pessimist proven right*

Prime: ...so it's not a matter of learning now...but that you've kept this from him?

Starscream: I wasn't exactly going to invite him along with popcorn! *snapped*

Prime: Obviously not. But you still kept it from him. Do you really expect him to stay with - or be interested in bonding with you - if you keep secrets? *Frowning now*

Prime: As bad as they are, he is still the only mech who would understand you. He has -defended- you from Megatron, of all people, and you respond by hiding your darker parts

Starscream: I /didn't/ keep it a secret - he /knows/ I've done that before, I just - I wasn't about to tell him I had a Vok in interrogation, or that I got Blitzwing's flight circuits out the hard way! He /knows/ I've tortured people before, I just... I wasn't doing it for /fun,/ I was doing it because it needed to be /done,/ so of /course/ I wasn't going to tell him...

Prime: Tell him that you enjoy that sort of thing? *Definitely frowning. Is Not Liking What He's Hearing, but this isn't about him, it's getting Starscream out of emo*

Starscream: Why shouldn't I enjoy it, if it needs to be done anyway? *a flash of typical Starscream amorality, but he actually means it* I wasn't going to tell him I was still /doing/ it, he wouldn't like it...

Prime: There's a lot of things that need to be done. Not all of them are enjoyable. Are you finding this at all 'fun'? *Eyes*

Starscream: This right now? Fuck no.

Prime: Me neither. But since you're not able to settle things on your own. *slight shrug*

Starscream: ...'m perfectly functional...

Prime: You're currently trying to curl up into a ball, and in a state of 'emo' I didn't think was possible for you. No, you're not 'perfectly functional'.

Prime: *Bluntness FTW*

Starscream: ...if you'd've gone /away.../

Prime: Then you would have done so anyway. Would you prefer it if it was Megatron here instead of myself?

Starscream: *actually jolts fully upright in /horror/*

Prime: At least -I- am going to try and forget about this.

Starscream: /So am I./ *oh, awareness of outside world, and awareness that the person he has been trying so hard not to look at is Optimus slagging /Prime/*

Prime: Then let's both get this over with, and pull yourself out of your funk. *Gives him a skeptical look* Regardless of the fact Skyfire isn't talking to you, that doesn't necessarily mean he has 'left' you. Have you tried speaking with him at all since you had your fight?

Starscream: *bares his dental plates at Prime* /What/ fight? He just wouldn't /talk/ to me.

Prime: *Totally unfazed* Then how did he react when he found out?

Starscream: Didn't like it. *shrugs* /I/ didn't like what Bonecrusher was doing, /slag./ It was /wasteful./

Prime: And he just gave you the cold shoulder, as they say?

Starscream: Essentially.

Prime: *At least Starscream's starting to sound a little more like himself. Eases up ever so slightly on the hug-o-doom as he rephrases an earlier question* Have you tried speaking with him at all since then, or have you been down here the whole time?

Starscream: I've been working. *stiffly* *at least he isn't curling back up into a ball again?*

Prime: *Casts a brief glance over to the computers. Deadpan* Yes, I can see that.



****



Prime: ::Skyfire?::

Prime: ::I need your advice.::

Skyfire: *comm line connects - for a brief moment the sound of what appears to be a torch welder can be heard before fizzling out* ::...Prime? Advice? About what? *Short*::

Prime: ::About how to deal with Starscream when he is trying to curl up into a ball and cry. *Totally normal voice, really*::

Skyfire: :: *loud CLATTER of said welder falling to the ground* ..../what?!/ *disbelief.*::

Prime: ::*Still in that normal voice, nothing wrong here, oh no* I have never had the priviledge of seeing him in such a state, but since he is convinced you will not talk to him, it appears that I'm the only one willing to do so.::

Skyfire: ::.................what on Cybertron are you /talking about/, Prime???:: *voice goes low and confused - stoney anger quickly fading*

Prime: ::*Sigh* Just what it sounds like, Skyfire. Starscream is a -wreck-, and you're the only one who knows what to do in this situation.:: *Double-meaning there*

Skyfire: ::What?! Why? What happened? *nope, doesn't connect this to the silent treatment thing - wouldn't expect thing kinda reaction at /all*::

Prime: ::From what he's told me?::

Skyfire: :o you know what's going /on/? *worried and...mildly astonished that PRIME of all people would know what was going on*::

Prime: ::Apparently, when you found out about his 'work' with the Vok, you refused to speak with him. He's taken this as a sign that you've given up on him.::

Skyfire: ::.....?! *audible blink right there* ....Given /UP/?! What the - ! I'm not talking to him because he /lied/ to me! I'm /angry/ with him, yes, but I haven't - ! /Primus slaggit all to the pit!/ ::

Prime: ::*Mildly* Perhaps you should explain things to him yourself? I'm down in his lab with him.::

Prime: ::And yes, he knows it's not because he lied to you. Though I suppose lying by omission can be a form...::

Skyfire: ::I'll be right down there. *sounds of lab equipment being put aside hastilly* ..But what are you talking about? Lying be omission? I'm angry because, among other things, he lied /out right/ about something. *hissed*::

Prime: ::All I know is what he's told me, Skyfire.::

Prime: ::I'm not as skilled as understanding him as you are. The main idea I'm getting is that he's tearing himself up because he can't apologize for something he's not sorry for. Perhaps because it would be another lie.::

Skyfire: *aaaand realizes it must be even more /SLAGGING bad/ then he thought for /Starscream/ to be confiding in /Optimus Prime/, or all people. Hurries out the door, now* ::...oh for the love of-! Oh, /Starscream/.... *soft growl, worried now*::



****



Starscream: *summons up a reasonable attempt at a glare*

Prime: *Looks back at him, arching an opticridge...before going serious* Look, Starscream. Skyfire will come around.

Starscream: *stares, trying hard for a neutral expression* I really don't think he's going to become /okay/ with it, Prime.

Prime: *Stares back* Do you think I've turned a blind eye to everything Megatron has done?

Starscream: I thank Primus every day I'm not privy to whatever arrangements you and Megatron have made about that.

Prime: *....and for all of two seconds, Prime has a 'WTF' face on*

Prime: *Then it goes back as he snorts dissmissively* That is -not- the point I was trying to make.

Starscream: I /know/ the point you were trying to make. But you're not Skyfire, and I thank Primus for /that,/ too. I don't - look, I don't /know/ if. What. He can handle. What he's willing to try.

Prime: So far, he's handled everything you've thrown at him. *For those of you just joining us, we have Optimus currently 'hugging' Starscream, with numerous tears on his leg armor as a result of being clawed by Screamer's feet*

Prime: *They are both in the lab*

Skyfire: *aaaand Skyfire is hurrying through the base trying to get to said lab*

Starscream: *and by 'hugging,' we also mean 'restraining Starscream so he can't claw Prime in the face because he's being hugged'* Right up until this, you mean.

Prime: *One or the other*

Prime: You're telling me this is the worst you've ever done?

Starscream: Of course not. But it's the worst he's /seen/ me do.

Starscream: There's a /difference./

Prime: Hn...so you would rather him find these things out on his own?

Skyfire: *and it is an incovently long run from their shared rooms, through the base, /into/ the nemesis, and then to the lab - damnit he's a flyer, not a runner - it could take a moment DX*

Starscream: I'd /rather/ he know and - and do whatever he has to do in order to make his morals happy. I don't /know,/ I don't /have/ them.

Prime: Then tell him.

Prime: Everything.

Starscream: I haven't /hid/ it! *this is in blatant contradiction of the available facts* I /know/ he needs to know.

Skyfire: *entering the nemesis*

Prime: Perhaps I heard you wrong when you said that you hadn't told him everything?

Starscream: *damn Prime and his logic. Logic has no place here.* He knows I've /done/ it, I just - I wasn't going to tell him I still /did/ it.

Prime: *Just eyes him*

Starscream: *slides his gaze away after a few minutes* ...fine. I /see/ what you're saying. But that won't help me /now./

Prime: It might. He's on his way here.

Starscream: *jerks up and away from Prime in startlment, wings coming back up at sharp, precise angles* He's /what?!/ *and now Prime has seen /two/ expressions on Starscream that he hasn't before: defeat and wild, incredulous hope*

Prime: *Patiently* He's on his way here.

Skyfire: *And there is the lab at the end of the hall - hope those security measures are off or or trained to recognize him...*

Prime: *Loosens his arms a bit - now possible to escape the hug-o-doom!*

Starscream: *does /just that,/ half-jumping towards the door, feetblades gouging a few more marks in the floor to join the /rest/ of them*

Skyfire: *heavy footsteps of a too-damn-big-for-his-own-good shuttle mech hurrying - damn near /running/ - down the hall*

Skyfire: *palms the door open and peers inside, a worried (and slightly winded,) look on his face* ...Starscream?

Starscream: *jolts to just as abrupt a stop, half-swaying* -- Skyfire?

Prime: *Takes a step back, drpping arms and shooting Skyfire an expression of masked relief*

Skyfire: *blinks, startled by the /look/ on Starscream's face* Starscream? Whats going on...? *voice croaks slightly with worry*

Skyfire: *starts into the room*

Starscream: *backs up, step by jerky step* ...you tell me...? *trying to restrain that delirious /hope,/ and not doing too well at it*

Prime: *....can't make a break for it until Skyfire is out of the way of the door. Quietly inserts himself in back stage left, planning to exit as soon as he has the chance*

Skyfire: *face lined with confusion, slowly walking towards him with an arm held out* I don't /know/, Starscream. Prime commed me and told me something... something was /wrong/ with you, and that you had gotten this idea in your head that I had..../given up on you?/ *incrediously, voice deep with worry and maybe even hurt*

Starscream: ...hadn't you? *every servo tense, rocking back and forth a little on his feet*

Skyfire: *face falls, dropping into an mixture of horror and deep sadness, but slowly shakes his head* Oh, /Starscream/, /no/... *soft, voice breaking; steps forward, arms moving to pull the seeker to him*

Starscream: *downright //launches// himself into Skyfire's arms, probably not even /cognizant/ that Prime is still there* I thought you - because I - you wouldn't /talk/ to me! *not accusative, but /pleading/* And I -

Prime: *aaaand is edgedgeedgingforthedoor!*

Prime: *is a ninja!*

Prime: *a 28-feet-tall red and blue ninja but a ninja nonetheless!*

Starscream: *yeah, is totally not paying a damn bit of attention to anything /but/ Skyfire right now. Prime could be a herd of elephants and he wouldn't care.*

Prime: *GONE*

Skyfire: *automatically pulls Starscream to him, despite wide, startled optics at the worryingly /emotional/ response; holding him tight and moving to stroke the back of his helm, murmuring soothingly*

Skyfire: Shhh... It's alright Starscream! Primus, I was just /angry/, just /angry/! I'm not - ! I wouldn't just /give up on you/, love...!

Skyfire: *totally at a loss - this is not only unusual (from what he remembers from /before/, at least) but it is actually /scaring him/*

Starscream: *attempts to /climb/ up Skyfire and get as physically close to as much of him as physically possible, unabashedly /clinging/* I was - I thought - you -

Starscream: *for the record, this is /way not normal/ even for /after/ the ice incident, but this doesn't seem to stop Starscream from doing it anyway*

Skyfire: *lets himself drop to his knees on the floor, sitting down so he bodily /pull/ Starscream to him, letting him cling, any and all anger he might have towards him overwhelmed and momentarily forgotten with the raw /need/ to comfort the near histerical seeker* Nononono...! No, Starscream! I was just angry, I promise! I was angry with you, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to /reject/ you, or stop loving you!

Skyfire: I thought we'd talked about that! *pets trembling wings firmly, optics still wide and frightened for the seeker in his arms*

Starscream: We /did/ but I thought - I - you hadn't really /seen/ - and I - */clinging,/ apparently too wound up to string together real sentences*

Skyfire: */sighs/ deeply, shifting his arms around Starscream to pull him more firmly - and less akwardly - against himself, still rubbing between his wings, trying every trick he knows to sooth him*

Skyfire: ...No I hadn't. And I still haven't. And I am /struggling/ to get past this Starscream. I don' t /agree/ with what you did - and I never /will/, but I'm not going to...to /leave you/ over it.

Skyfire: I told you before even something I /hate/ couldn't make me hate /you/... *soft; voice breaks slightly* Why would you /think/ such a thing?

Starscream: /You wouldn't talk to me!/ *still not accusatory, but - agonized, yes*

Skyfire: *soft, weak laugh thats more like a sigh* Thats what I /always do/ when I'm pissed beyond words, Starscream. I thought you /remembered/ that. I also thought you knew /why/ I was angry with you, and you didn't even try to /explain/, so I didn't see any /reason to/ - ! *clutches at him tighter, heavy fingers stroking at the base of his helm at the back of his neck*

Skyfire: /Primus Starscream/, if I had known you were going to react like /this/, I never would have ignored you like that!

Starscream: I /know/ that's what you do, but I thought... I thought... since you'd - really /heard,/ and knew... *ducks his head against Skyfire's chest and just holds /on/*

Skyfire: *shudders slightly at the raw /need/ in that grasp and can do nothing but cling to him just as tightly, his own intakes giving what almost sounds like a sob itself* Sshhh, love, shhhh... Its alright... I /promised/ you, remember?

Skyfire: I /swore/ it wouldn't stop me from loving you... And it hasn't, Starscream. It /hasn't/. I'm still here, and i still /love you/ and I'm not going to /leave you/...

Skyfire: *murmured softly, almost pleading with him, trying to get through; repeating it all softly over and over again*

Starscream: I thought - I thought... *relaxing just a little, except for the tightness of his claws* ...I thought...

Skyfire: *keeps right on at it, crooning softly* ...you thought /wrong/, love... *lowers his head down, kissing the top of Starscream's helm and resting his face against him*

Starscream: ...I thought... *slowly, slowly relaxing, wrapping himself around Skyfire as much as he can*

Skyfire: *continues murmuring against his helm, words smothered slightly but still there, hummed against the metal; lets Starscream wrap around him, copying the motion as throughly as his body can, hunched down around the other setted firmly in his lap, entwined on the floor*

Starscream: *keeps relaxing, slowly, curling up in Skyfire's lap and gradually losing the death-grip he has on him*

Skyfire: *eventually - very eventually, mind you - he slowly tries to stand up, as well as he can with a half-there seeker clinging to parts of his body with every limb; which is to say, it isn't very successful at all*

Skyfire: Starscream...? *said softly, lips brushing lightly at an audio, not entirely sure if he is awake of asleep by now* I'm taking you back to our room, alright?

Starscream: ...mmkay... *has slid half into exhausted recharge, but that doesn't mean he's letting go any time soon*

Skyfire: *wasn't going to make him let go* *makes a non-commental hum and presses a kiss to that audio, before sliding his hands under and around Starscream, holding him in a way better suited for carrying, and carefully

Skyfire: stands up, nearly stumbling at their entwined limbs* *holds Starscream to him, the claws dug in around him armor making the feat easier; and drifts slowly out of the lab, turning various things off as he passes them, and even pausing to lock the door of Starscream's lab, before walking back down to their rooms, Starscream held securely in his arms, thankfully not encountering anyone along the way - there was no /way/ he would be willing to tolerate any snide remarks at the moment.*

Starscream: *shifts, sleepily, and curls up in Skyfire's arms for the trip, all still without relaxing his grip*

Skyfire: *Eventually reaches their room and, leaving the room comfortably dark, carefully settles down on the berth, curling up on his side, wings tucked out of the way, Starscream still attached, and held snuggly against him. Skyfire lays there, gently stroking his wings until he himself falls into recharge hours later*