It had been a while since the silver seeker ever spoke to his demon’s counterpart. Ebony had been absorbing a lot of his attention lately, to which the demon relished. But this night he slept quietly and peacefully, nestled into a comforter and venting shakily. He still needed a lot of repairs done.
Walking in his dream realm of a musky swamp with a massive tree that rested in it’s center was the home of the demons that lived within the seeker. And walking up to the massive willow door, a servo reached out nervously and knocked on the door.
There was some shuffling inside, and the door soon opened to a tired looking, baby blue eyed seeker. But his wings rose and he smiled. “Starscream !” He purred softly, glad to see his host after such a long time. Starscream smiled back shyly, always so shy around everybot, even those he knew.
“Hello, Opal.” He smiled and the white seeker took his arm, “Come in ! It’s been so lonely in here without Ebony.” Opal hummed softly as he led him inside and to the fireplace. They always had the fire going when he visited, and lots of pillows and blankets for the seeker to nest in.
“How have you been, Opal?” He asked softly, his voice still a little raw.
“I’ve been alright. Just been doing some work around the house and crafting. The usual.” Opal responded with a hum as the two sank down into the pillow nest. Opal could get rather clingy when his counterpart wasn’t around. Starscream didn’t mind, he loved touch as much as Opal did.
The two nuzzled each other, exchanging purrs and smiling in silence for a while. He could imagine the loneliness that Opal had been through without his brother. Having gone through it too. The two soon pulled blankets over themselves and laid side by side, holding servos and resting together in a warm embrace.
“I miss you.” Starscream said softly, causing Opal to chuckle softly. “And I, you.” He replied, kissing his helm lightly and the silver flier giggled softly.
“Has anything new happened since I was away . . . ?” Starscream asked, getting a shake of the helm from Opal. “No, just the usual.” He hummed. Starscream nodded quietly and nuzzled closer with a soft vent.
“Can we just . . . Stay like this for a while . . . ?” He asked softly, and Opal nodded. It was agreed, they would spend the time snoozing lightly in front of the fire.
Optimus was leading the seeker to his new room, the room that would be his own and a safe haven. He never had his own room, if you counted having an entire radiation infested building as a room. The door opened the moment they arrived, there was a touch pad for a code, but the seeker would be OK without the code for a while. Optimus was sure he didn't want the other to feel like he was trapped in there because he couldn't figure out the keypad.
The room was bare, empty and white save for the berth that sat on one side and a small desk and shelves on the other side. It was big enough to fit at least four full grown adults into the room. But it was really made for one. Once StarScream got more comfortable, they would see if they could move him into a larger room once they made room of one of the storage units.
Watching the seeker, Optimus smiled softly as he inspected the berth; poking it and running his digits over the surface, feeling how soft and smooth it was. He never felt anything like this, except when he had blankets that he was given back when he was a captive.
Blinking when the seeker looked up at him, pointing to himself as he tilted his helm. A soft chuckle and a nod. "Yes, StarScream, this is for you. This is your room. You are welcome to it whenever you please." The Prime confirmed the others questions and watched him light up with a wide smile.
"I shall leave and let you rest, radiation must have taken a lot out of you. We'll have Ratchet run some diagnostics and see if we can get rid of most of the radiation that is inside of your framework." Optimus said softly, enough to make the seeker understand and feel comfortable. StarScream nodded, but stayed standing. Optimus smiled and turned to leave.
It wasn't long until he noticed that there was clicking of heels from behind. Pausing to look behind him, StarScream stood there, wings lowered and wringing his servos nervously. He blinked up at the other and the Prime blinked back. "StarScream?" he said before he looked around and back to the seeker. "Is there something wrong?" StarScream only shook his helm in response and looked up to the other.
"Hm.. If there is nothing wrong, I shall lead you back to your room." He said as he moved to stand next to the seeker, offering his servo for the other, knowing that a gentle touch was all he needed to feel safe and confident. StarScream nodded and took it, gripping a few digits tightly as he was led back to his room.
Leaving the seeker a second time, only to pause again with the familiar clicking as he arched an optical ridge and looked back to see the seeker there again. Shuffling slightly as he wringed his servos once more. He seemed overly nervous and tilted his helm at the other as he tried to understand why he was so confused and appalled.
Again the Prime led the other to his room and left him there a third time. However, the same thing repeated and he paused. He wasn't one to get frustrated, he hardly got angry, but he was very confused and wanted to know why he wasn't staying in his room. "StarScream, why are you not staying in your room? There is nothing wrong with it, yet you still choose to follow me." He said, causing the seeker to look down and shuffle again.
A servo went to his neck as he contemplated what to say before, very quietly, he whispered his answer. "C-Can I sleep with you?" He asked meekly as he looked up, his brows furrowed upward in fear of being rejected. Optimus was shocked, but he blinked and tilted his helm. StarScream had to elaborate for him to understand. "I c-can't sleep alone..." He whispered as he looked down, ashamed.
But that was quickly dissolved as a servo lightly touched his shoulder before resting fully on it. "Of course, StarScream. All you had to do was ask." The Prime smiled down at him before offering his servo again. He could understand that the other had been contact starved for so long that he simply couldn't function without a little assistance. StarScream was surprised and he smiled gratefully, nipping his arm before taking it and nuzzling into it.
"Let's get some rest, hm?" He asked to the seeker, who responded with a happy chirp and giggle. "Yes!"
Sqint. The florescent light passes easily through your lids. Flicker them online. Open them slowly, blink rapidly. There's nothing there but the light of your personal berth room. There's etches of words and a name on your wall, but it's no longer there.
Feel panic start to swell into your cables, your processor pricking with small jolts of electricity to send signals to your limbs. A servo lifts quickly to touch the wall. Dig into the wall, leave a thick and long slash. Anger. You are angry at the wall. At yourself. But it's gone. Your systems cool down manually.
There's a sharp twist of stabbing pain going through your spine to your chassis. Cringe, servo to your chassis. That's right, the contraptions and workings inside are mutilated, dented to all oblivion and hell. No idea how badly, but you know enough that they won't start even if you overheat. Have to be careful not to get too worked up.
Optics widen and suddenly you can't breathe. Your neck swells up as you choke on panic and fear. Look around to see white washed walls and a strip of light along the corners of where the walls meet the ceiling. There's hardly anything in the room with you. A berth fit for one mecha and one alone. It's a cage, essentially, that's what you believe it to be.
Flex your digits in paranoia, your mind swamped with confusion as something pops in your processor. You've finally had enough Energon to help your body function normally like it should, but some pieces are so radiation infested that your cranium becomes a smelting pot of your insides. Your processor is slowly frying, all these memories and connections slowly burning away like pine needles exposed to fire.
It's so fucking painful that you try to scream, but you can't. Cables in your neck swell as you try to breathe, start to hyperventilate as you hold your helm. You are sure you're screaming because of all the pain, even if your voice is gone. But no, you're more afraid of losing your memories. You can feel them start to fry, hissing away with a short pop after they're gone. Forever.
There's no way to get them back. There's no way to recreate those fond memories that you cherished. Everything about those people that had befriended you, gone. Everything about the experiences you have lived, gone. Everything about everything, gone. You're being reduced to a child-like state, thanks to the people who enslaved you. All seven of them.
Your optic starts to glow brighter before it suddenly blows out, Energon splatters the wall where you recently unleashed your short amount of anger. You never get angry, that was whipped out of you. You were only afraid and obedient. And because of that, caring and considerate. Selfless.
The seven who control you, gave you new life and a role in existence, have decided they were done with you. So they flipped the switch they had on occasion, very temped to flip it on more times than ever, to start and destroy you from the inside out.
The only good thing about this, is that the radiation has corroded so much of the technology they implanted in you that you weren't going to die. You couldn't think right this moment that this was a blessing, but why was it such a painful one?
Your body convulses, you lurch forward, your mouth open as you release air into silent scream. Your insides prickle, bubble and boil intensely as if you're suffering internal combustion.
Technically, you are.
Each cable expands, threatening to explode and spew Energon everywhere, but it just reaches as far as it can expand and quickly depressurizes. Your processor is failing, your vision is clouded by Energon and failing receptor nodes. Your mouth fills with Energon, cough and sputter, choke on it. Choke on it and feel like you're really dying, but far from the edge of actually going over into the darkness.
Before it gets to that point, everything stops. All the pain stops. The signals from the processor to the limbs suddenly shut down. Your optic stops spitting and popping, the smoke smothers the sparks. Fall, fall onto your side and curl up, hugging yourself as you tremble with shots of adrenaline rushing through your systems. Breathe, breathe rapidly and realize you almost died. Again.
You're lucky to be alive, but what happened? Blink your remaining optic. Hardly can close your eyelid with the damaged one. Too much glass, slightly bulging out. Look around, take in the sights and colors of the room. There's no color. Your color blind optic is no longer functioning, now you see everything in half darkness and half color.
Your throat hurts, sit up and spit out the Energon onto the floor, not feeling like yourself. When did you ever feel like yourself? When you were trapped in that radiation zone with zero contact and hope of ever getting out. But now you're not yourself. Not now, not ever.
Your memories flayed and destroyed, gone. You are gone. You don't know who you are. Where you are. What you are and what you're supposed to be. You're not you anymore. You are a new born baby bird. You don't even remember your name.
