-Not really a hostage, just a human stranded and being overcoddled and treated like a pet and infantilized
Liege Maximo: How long do you reckon it’ll be until Y/n finally snaps and commits murder?~
Megatronus: I’ve been going through life assuming it’s already happened at some point, and it’s just that no one was ever able to trace it back to them...
13's!Y/n: I’m sick and tired of being called 'mortal' like, you don’t know that. Neither do I- I have never died even ONCE. Nothing has been proven yet. Stop making assumptions. It’s rude-
TW/Tags: Reader is just trying to get through the day, Senitnel is crushing on reader but is good at not showing it, Sentinel and Zeta got something’ goin on hehe, more drama, Soundwave is looking out for reader in his own way,Starscream is just straight forward in thi episode, mild cussing. I think that’s all.
(No smut in this chapter but you guys are defiantly being fed with the starscream and soundwave bit. So- ya know enjoy)
The next morning after your night with Megatronus. You got up earlier so that you may keep your word with Starscream. As you made your way and got to the training room, Starscream was already there. He mumbled to himself as you got to putting your swords away and slowly made your way to him.
“Um..Starscream?…”
”Mm?” He was startled. And turned to see you. “Ah you made it. About time.”
”I gave you my word. So you ready for some training?”
He smirked as you both got into your stances..This was going to be a long training session.
You both ended training for so long. The others had to go to the other training room so they don’t get hurt by you both. You two weren’t even out of stamina yet. And so you both continued. Your other training wasn’t for another couple hours as. You two have been training for 5 hours straight. Both trying to out match the others. You both even had smiles on your faces as you kept throwing punches and so on.
Until you slipped. You didn’t realize how tired you were. He was able to get the upper hand and pinned you to the floor. You both out of breath as you both stared at each other. Your optics narrowed as you stared up at him. “Well played Starscream.”
He chuckled and watched you there as he thought. “After the war…I will court you…And I won't stop until you accept. Understood?”
……………..Oh Boy.
”Starscream I don’t-“
”Even if you don’t now. You will one day. That’s for certain.” His cervo gently held your chin as he grinned. “So be patient as I will my dear?” You only stared at him and groaned. Maybe when he knows it’s Megatronus after the war he’ll give up. And so…you slowly nodded.
He stood up and helped you up. His cervo rested on your hip as he smiled down at you. “You can take a break…..See you tomorrow?” You nodded. Once you were about to make your way to your swords. You felt a kiss on the side of your neck from behind. “Just a little claim” He whispered. You tried to not shiver and made your way to your swords. Picking them up. “See you later Starscream.”
———————————————————————————
As you made your way to have some breakfast. Someone bumps into you from the other corner of the hall. It was Sentinel. He was holding some data pads and dropped one.
”Ah darn.”
”Here let me help you.” You said as you picked up the data pad and handed it to you. He only stared at you for a moment. “Need my help taking it to where you’re going. I’m not too busy Sentinel.”
He smirked. “I suppose.” He started walking. So you followed him. You both making it to one of the meeting rooms. We’ll be having our 13th meeting this week as we discuss strategy and all. Since I work under the primes I have to be at every single one. For primus' sake I barely get any sleep because of them.” You listened. You know his job is hard.
”You know Sentinel if you don’t give up you will become prime one day. Me and the other high guards are rooting for you. So keep going yeah?” You place your cervo on his shoulder as you looked at him.
He just looked at you and sighed. “I swear you’re the only one out of this entire place who actually listens to me for once.” He crossed his arms. You let out a small chuckle. Something he gave side eye to. And took your cervo off his shoulder as you start to walk out. “Just don’t forget ‘bout me when you become Prime yeah?” You waved to him and made your way out. Sentinel watched you as he looked at your frame. You were a little shorter than him. And a little fragile in some areas….He really liked that..He grinned.
As you made your way you almost walked into Solus Prime. “Oh my Prime, forgive me.” She only looked down at you and smiled. “No worried little one.” She continued walking past you to the meeting room alongside a few of the other primes. They didn’t seem to notice you.
And so you continued to walk, making it to the break room with the other high guard. You noticed Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwae weren’t there. You ate some energon was waited until it was time for you and Megatrons to go on with your training. And so when the time came, you got up and made your way.
———————————————————————————
As you made your way, you passed by Soundwave. You both were alone as he stopped you. His arm around your waist. His eyes glowing yellow as he looked at your neck. Laserhawk was also on his shoulder. Soundwaves other cervo moved to your neck and gently rubbed a certain spot with his digit. His helm close to the side of yours.
”High Guards should have no relations of intimacy and such with each other….” He pulled back and faced you. The arm around your waist bringing you closer. Both of your bodies touched as your helms are inches from each other. “Not in here anyway.”
You held you breath. “Be more careful. Y/N….” He let you go and continued walking in his direction. You stood there. Then put your cervo on the spot where he rubbed his digit at. You realized….That’s the spot Starscream kissed. Oh Boy….
You continued to make your way to Megatronus training quarters. The other guards joining were already there waiting. So you join them and wait as well. Even a few ask about your scar every now and then. Megatronus came in a few moments later. But he was upset. He was grumbling and said he’ll be teaching and training against them one by one today. Instead of just watching. You can hear the other bots gulping as they listen to him speak.
And so the training commences for hours. Your training is the same as last time with him yesterday. You were able to keep up like a very few others and watched as the others took their turn against him. After some time everyone else was tired and dented.
Megatronus would announce they were done for the day and the others groaned as they bowed their heads as they said "My Prime” and made their way out. You were cleaning your sword and saying bye to the others. Something to make you look busy. After the others left Megatronus made sure you two were alone and sat not to you. He was still upset over something and you can tell despite his mask. You thought to yourself. Since he is trying to become your Conjunx. Might as well try to treat him like a sparkmate. And so you stood up and walked in front of him. He watched you as you set your cervo on his larger one.
”What’s the matter Megatronus? Is it about a meeting?” His other cervo moved to rest on your back as his eye optics narrowed as he stared down at you.
”No…sweetspark….Just…mm…It doesn’t matter..How is your scar?”
”It doesn’t sting just hurts. I’ll be feeling it for a good while as time passes.” You smiled up at him. His optics seemed to have softened as looked more relaxed as he stared down at you. He then leaned his helm lower to you as he whispered.
”Take my mask off.” His helm was closer to you. You understood. Slowly nodding as you take off his mask. Holding it to the side just in case next to his helm. Your helm leaning up closer to his as both of your dermas connect.
You both closed your optics as the kiss was passionate. Both of your cervos holding his mask as his cervo remains on your back. You exchanged a few more kisses. Damn this felt….so right. You both heard nothing else but your dermas connecting. But the moment is then interrupted by Sentinel calling for Megatronus through the comms. Megatronus groaned before answering as he leaned back.
”A moment Sweetspark.” He answered the comm with the cervo that was once on your back. You put his mask in the cervo that you had your own on before.
He put the mask on as he spoke. Seems Sentinel needs him for the next meeting. The comm ends and he looked back down at you. “I’m sorry sweetspark. I am needed for my next meeting. I shall see you tonight?” You slowly nodded. A bit….sad.
He gently held you chin before standing. “I’ll comm you when I wish to see you. Until then..”
”Until then Megatronus.
He walked out and you were alone. You looked around and laserhawk was no where to be seen. And so you walked out the same door to see if some of the other seekers were hanging out at the lounge area. But as you walked and pass by many others who waved at you. You eventually bumped into Sentinel again.
———————————————————————————
”Oh Sentinel. Didn’t think I’d see you before the day ended. Shouldn’t you be in the Primes meeting?’ You looked at him as he grumbled and started walking. “Follow me.”
You did. As he spoke you both walked into the break room. He seemed disgusted being in there. “The primes said they must speak amongst themselves. This meeting is about a bigger deal and change in the world and how they don’t need me for this meeting. It’s for ‘the best’ can you believe that?” he groaned. As he ate his energon with an angry expression. You remained quiet for a moment. Then you gently pat his shoulder and speak as he stared down at his energon before glancing at you.
”Hey if you keep complaining. You’ll distract yourself and how will you become a Prime hm?” He looked at you. “You really do have faith in me being a Prime don’t you.”
”Of course I do. I’ve seen you training before and I must say. I’m pretty intimated. And if you do become a prime. then you just give me and the others lower then you hope that he can continue to do better for our planet.” You smiled. You weren’t lying as you stared at him. You then took your cervo off his shoulder. The spot felt cold once your cervo left. You started eating your own energon and he just stared at you for a moment…..He was deep in thought as he continued to eat his too..
He’s later called by one of the primes for a smaller meeting. He only groaned and stood up. He’s a little more cheery as he speaks once more. “Well I must get going. Always enjoy our little chats.”
His cervos resting on your shoulders now. “Until then..Friend.” You were confused. As he left without another word. You stayed there and looked down at your cervos. What is going on with today? Starscream. Then that weird moment with Soundwave. Sentinel you wouldn’t say…..maybe it’s just you being exhausted. Some time after You got up and went to the lounge to hang out with the other high guards. Before you knew it. It was much later. Already the whole day went by. You then get the comm from Megatronus. It was time for you to go see him.
———————————————————————————
As you made your way, you saw Sentinel headed in the same direction. He seemed to be holding different data pads and you ran to stand next to him. “Hey Sentinel shouldn’t you be heading home.” He groans.
”I have been called by Zeta prime to get some things down. I’d much rather be at home recharging than dealing with this. What about you?”
”Oh I like to walk around even when I’m not doing the patrols for the night. Mind if I walk with you until you get to the primes room?” You both walked closer to the other primes quarters. “I Suppose.” He grinned.
As you both continued to walk. You both heard Megatronus and Solus. “Ugh, those two are always damn arguing now. Happened earlier before the meeting I had before. She always puts Megatronus in a bad mood. You both looked at the two as they just spoke in the hall. Megatronus noticed you and continued to argue with Solus. Sentinel was the one to grab your arm and drag you with him. Megatronus noticed. As you two continued you both got to Zeta primes quarters. Megatronus and Solus were far away from the other hall so they can’t hear and see you.
Sentinel then looked at you. His cervo remained holding your wrist as you looked at him. He then spoke “Well my dear it was nice walking with you. Now remember. Those twos business ain’t ours. How about tomorrow me and you grab dinner? As coworkers?” He whispered as he looked down at you.
But then Zetas steps can be heard. Sentinel then gets an idea. As the door is about to open, he pulled you closer. His dermas connecting with yours as the doors open. Zeta stood ther confused and silent until Sentinel pulled away and spoke “Oh sorry about that Zeta. Just couldn’t help myself. I’ll see you later m dear.” He walked in to Zetas room as Zeta stayed quiet then closed the door. You stood there confused and shocked. Did he just….no…..But why would he…..Oh Primus…..
You stood there for only a moment more before turning back to Megatronus room. Hopefully they were done….
What should you do? Should you tell Megatronus…You thought yesterday was a crazy day full of events…..Primus you’re really in a deep hole aren’t you? Alright just try to night panick and keep your cool. When you turned the corner. You were hit with an…uncomfortable image. Solus had pulled Megatronus down. Removing his mask as their dermas touched. Megatronus looked shocked and as you hid behind the wall in the corner. Megatronus slapped her away. “How dare you put your own hands on me! I told you I’m done.. Never do that again!” Solus stared at him as she wasn’t that phased by hit. She then shook her cervos and left from there. Heading into her own quarters. You watched as megatronus stood up. Putting his mask back on.
You slowly made you way to him. “Megatronus? Are you….alright?”
He looked at you but you didn’t stop walking. He then picked you up and entered his room. The door soon closing behind him. He locked it before then sitting on his berth. He’s trying so hard to stay calm.
”Megatronus-“
”You saw it didn’t you?!” He looked at you. His cervo still around you. “…..Yes….But Megatronus It’s-“
”She-she threw herself at me!” He breathed his cervo shaking. “Megatronus please. I saw everything..” He looked at you.
”Please calm yourself. It’s ok. You…” You tried to think hard
”You chose me…right?” He nodded slowly and seemed to calmed down. Had brought you closer to his chest as he let out a breath. After some time he finally calmed down and looked at you. “Thank you sweetspark.” He removes his mask.
Hs dermas then press against your shoulder, closing his optics. You looked at him and let out a sigh as your cervos gently rest on his cheeks as he continued. “So today is the second day of the courtship?” He lets out a groan and looks at you as he sets you on his lap. “Yes….Disclosure. Why cant these days go any faster.” He grumbles. He then sighs and starts speaking.
Appearntly before your training session today he and on of th other primes told him they’re courting Solus. He rubbed it in his face and that’s why he was so upset. And then during the meeting Megatron just ignored her as she tried to get his attention. And earlier she was trying to ‘explain herself’. To say the least Megatronus had a day of his own. And so after he finished speak. He got to the 2nd day of your courtship. Disclosure. He sighed as he stared down at you.
”I did court her once……..I …also wished to court Prima befor eher but…He rejected me right away. But I promise….” His digit gently holding your chin. “I wont stop courting you..and no matter what..I’ll have you by my side as my Conjunx Endure…I…I truly do love you Y/N….” You felt your get heavy. Why couldn’t the courtship last less? You then gently grabbed the side of his helm and placed a gentle kiss on his dermas. Him returning it. You pull away after a moment.
”I love you too..Megatronus.”
Oh Yeah!! Chapter 3 is finally here! Just 6 more chapters and we can get to the story in the movie. Very excited to give what I got cookin lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As always next chapter will be every Tuesday so next week chapter 4 will come out. Hope you’re all well fed. Have a good rest of your day!
#STARRING: cybertronian femme reader & other characters.
#TAGS: a lot violence. death. anxiety and angst. mc goes haywire for a few minutes. flashbacks. mentions of cybertronian blood. anxiety. no appearance of canon characters.
#NOTES: here's the third chapter of my fic which i've officially named duskbound, afterlight. enjoy!
part one | part two | part four | part five | part six
taglist: @buubblegum
You were knocked back a meter or two before you clutched your mid-section, your tank twisting and the sizzling air of Kaon burning inside you. Clumsily, you tried to counter his next jab, but the kick sent to your knee plates caused you to buckle and fall like a sack of stones.
Panic gripped you like a vice as you desperately attempted to defend yourself, your movements erratic, uncoordinated. But your efforts proved futile against the experienced maneuvers of the mech. Blow after blow rained down upon you, each sending shockwaves of pain through your circuits.
The sharp, metallic tang of energon permeated the atmosphere, curling around you like a shimmering veil. It intertwined with the pungent aroma of oil and various fluids, creating an intoxicating compound that stung your olfactory sensors. Your ventilators whirred incessantly, battling against the oppressive heat that threatened to overwhelm you at any moment.
A heavy blow landed squarely on your chassis, sending you crashing to the ground with a resounding clang. As you struggled to regain footing, your opponent loomed over you, their optics gleaming with malice.
With a surge of adrenaline, you lashed out with renewed determination, striking back with all the strength you could muster. But it was too little, too late.
The mech quickly overpowered your feeble attempts at resistance, driving you back with relentless force, and suddenly, you lay sprawled upon the unforgiving floor of the arena. You gasped as your servos instinctively clad around the mech’s, which were pressing against your neck plates. Darkness surrounded you as the mech towered over you, swallowing you whole.
The volume of the crowd was loud enough to sound as if the whole of Cybertron had packed into the small stadium. With coolant and energon streaming down your cheeks, you surrendered to the inevitable. This was it. You were going to die here. Your spirit broken, your hope extinguished in the merciless light of the arena.
Only, gazing into the light, you were transported to a much simpler time.
"If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?"
The chamber was extremely quiet, save for the occasional tinkle from Starlight’s digits as she caressed her daughter’s helm, comfortably snuggled on her carrier’s breastplates and sleeping her questionably-earned exhaustion away.
"Mmh," you hummed out loud, turning to look at your friend from your berth, "I don’t know, what would you change?"
Starlight smiled harder, though the rest of her face plates remained the same, so it was quite the rare expression. "I wish Vaportrail was born in a nicer place, Cybertropolis, maybe."
"You wouldn’t wish to change anything for yourself?" you asked.
"I have you, and there’s not another you anywhere in all of Cybertron."
Starlight, was this what you felt before dying?
Starlight, was this what you felt before being killed?
Starlight, was this what you felt before being murdered?
You couldn’t breathe. Black tinged the edges of your vision. Then it turned red, scarlet, maroon. In that moment, something snapped inside you like a sea wave crashing against the rocks at the beach, like the snapping of a rubber band, like a balloon being popped, and all semblance of fear evaporated, replaced by a singular focus: revenge.
An awful rage so deep it reminisced the sun started bubbling inside you. A wave of anger so profound it dried up every drop of liquid in the world and replaced it with sand. Indignation blurred everything you’d ever been and ever would be, and you felt yourself gaining colossal strength. You needed revenge. You needed it like you needed to breathe. You wanted him to hurt.
And so, when your tremoring was at its greatest, your resentment was beyond bitterness and revenge, and the mech was about to enclose you in a makeshift grave—you just let go.
With a guttural scream that echoed across the arena, you unleashed your pent-up fury upon your assailant. You struggled and battled with a wild intensity fueled by nothing but the sweet, cold feel of revenge, scratching and gnawing as you attempted to escape from the hold that confined you.
Dams broke, and your processor slipped into a high of adrenaline so strong you didn’t know whether your body would purposely overheat. You couldn’t feel the pain of your wounds or the shooting pains in your gauntlets and your mandible. Had you inwardly deactivated your pain receptors?
You wrestled the weapon from your opponent's grasp with a lethal cascade of adrenaline-fueled strength and swung the blade in his direction.
The keen clangor of the blade hitting the mech's helm wreaked the arena into a hysterical state.
The mech stumbled backward with a scream as he gripped his facial plates.
But you didn't just stop there.
You leaned over him and swung the blade.
It found the base of his helmet.
A sickening crunch of metal against metal.
The mech staggered. He even dared to gasp in shock.
You swung again, a pained cry leaving his dermas.
Another crack.
You pulled back your elbow, a spray of energon hitting you on the plates of your face.
W̸̧̘̣̝̻͎͕͉̥͖̋͊̍̌̅̚ì̷̝͋͠th a final, cathartic scream of defiance, you drove the blade deep into the mech’s helm, watching with grim satisfaction as sparks flew and circuits sputtered.
There was a brief, abrupt silence while the mech moaned more quietly, attempting to move. It crumpled inward with a low huff.
A pool of energon gushed out from his wounds, soiling the ground around him as you backed away to watch him die. You were shaking—breathing heavily, limbs quivering with exhaustion—and moments later, the other gladiator went limp.
You willed yourself to raise a hand toward your dermas, coolant pooling around your optics.
But the spectators erupted as your servos went up to your face.
And when the adrenaline finally wore off, you were almost sent to the ground at their sheer volume.
They were cheering for you.
It only took a moment to register the blinding pain.
You turned around and stumbled away from the pit and into the building, your optics tracing the ground and your servo scratching at the metallurgic skin over your sternum to ensure that your spark was still whole.
You stumbled down the corridors, the roaring cheers from the arena fading distantly and morphing into something you could not comprehend anymore, but their echoes still haunted your audials. The steady drip of energon from your body was driving you crazy, some of it your own, but most of it not.
Your servos trembled uncontrollably, the once-raw adrenaline slowly draining from your systems, replaced with an overwhelming surge of panic. I killed him. I killed him. The words repeated in your processor like a damaged disk, a nightmarish chant you couldn't silence no matter how hard you tried. Your optics darted around wildly as you moved deeper into the complex.
The tunnel's cool metallic walls closed around you. You forced yourself to keep moving, your breathing shallow and frantic, as if the very walls themselves were constricting around your chassis, squeezing tighter with each second.
Your servos—trembling, bloodied—kept reaching for the walls, hoping to steady yourself, but every step sent your processor spinning. You were panting, desperate not to overheat your body, vision blurring as your optics struggled to focus. What have I done?
Then, you saw it.
In the dim light of the tunnel, your optics caught a glint—a flash of silver reflecting the low glow of the overhead lights. You staggered toward it, desperate for something, anything to ground you. The surface of a discarded metal panel gleamed like a mirror, and it was there that you saw yourself.
Your breath caught in your throat.
Your reflection stared back at you, but it was a version of yourself you didn’t recognize.
Your armor, dented and scratched, was smeared with dried energon, your own, and the mech’s you had killed. Your pale and trembling faceplates were streaked with the liquid, your optics wild and wide in disbelief. You could barely make out your features beneath the mess of fluids and grime.
You looked... feral. Broken.
But alive.
You were alive.
Somehow, against all odds, you had survived.
Your trembling slowed. The ragged, panicked breaths you’d been drawing in deepened as you stared at your reflection, the horrible truth settling into the pit of your spark. You had made it through that pit of death. You had won.
Slowly, your servos reached up, brushing over the dried fluids and scratches as if confirming that the wrecked reflection was indeed yours. You were bruised, battered, drenched in energon—but you were still standing.
That strange, cold realization started to settle in your spark.
"I’m… alive."
Then, cutting through the fragile silence, a voice crackled through the speakers above you, the distorted sound making you cringe.
"Winner," the voice declared.
You recognized the voice immediately. Bullway. His tone was cold, devoid of emotion, and very different from the charming facade he’d put on in your old satellite. "I want to see you. Now."
A chill ran down your spinal strut. Bullway. If he wanted to see you, it wasn’t because he wanted to congratulate you on your victory. Had you done something wrong? You had won. You had given them the entertainment they wanted!
Your optic twitched as Bullway’s voice echoed in your audials again. You swallowed hard, your stabilizers shaking as you tried to regain your footing. There was no time to hesitate. You had no choice in this. If he wanted to see you, then you had to go.
Taking one final look at your reflection—bloodied, battered, but alive—you wiped a trembling servo across your faceplates as if trying to erase the horror of what you had just done. But it didn’t come off and just smeared across your cheek like a second paintjob.
You turned just in time to see a mech waiting for you across the hall.
"Hey, come with me."
Not trusting your voicebox to articulate what you wanted to say correctly, you wordlessly nodded, following after him.
Albeit a small part of you felt smug about it, you didn’t comment on how the mech visibly cringed at the energon staining your faceplates, quietly realizing that he was walking a great distance from you, as though if something he said would set you off the wrong way. As if you would repeat your previous actions upon him.
A few clicks later, you noted that the hallways were different, and with great dismay, you realized that he wasn’t leading you to the bosses’ offices. An ugly thought of what they might do to you now that you had unexpectedly won the match knocked on your processor. It would explain why the guard was leading you somewhere else. Your optics widened as it appeared and disappeared just as quickly.
"Hey," you called out to him, waiting until he briefly turned his head to glance your way. "Where are you taking me? This is not the way to see the bosses."
"The lobby." he said curtly, "You’ve won your place there with us, gladiators only."
"You’re a gladiator?"
"Yeah," he nodded, turning to look at you. "We were told there would be a match worth watching, so we all knew that Bullway had snatched a new batch of rookies from somewhere. Normally, rookies lose, bloody fights and all."
"I didn’t lose."
"That you didn’t," he answered, a ghost of a smile pulling at his dermas. "It was a horrible fight, you know. You finished it quickly and left right after. You gotta drag it out nicely if you want the audience to go crazy, but knowing that you are a rookie, I guess that’s why the crowds went wild."
The mech's relaxed demeanor grated on you, sharply contrasting with the turmoil still bubbling under your armor. You could sense the adrenaline coursing through you, the lingering echoes of the bloodlust that had propelled you through that arena, and now this gladiator was speaking as if it were just another routine battle.
As if the brutality you’d unleashed was nothing more than an expected performance. His words only heightened the gnawing discomfort in your spark, but you forced yourself to stay calm.
"Is it like that for everyone?" you asked, voice strained but steady. "Just... another fight?"
The mech glanced at you from the corner of his optics, his pace slowing just enough for you to fall in line beside him. "For some, yeah. For others, it's a way of life. Once you’ve been in the arena long enough, it’s just routine. You win, you survive. You lose, well... you don’t have to worry about much after that."
His matter-of-fact tone, almost automaton-like, grated on your nerves incessantly. There was nothing routine about what you'd just done. You looked away, staring down the dimly lit hallway as you walked, trying to ignore the thick, cloying scent of oil and energon still clinging to your frame.
"I didn’t expect it to feel like that," you muttered, almost to yourself.
"Like what?"
"Like I became someone else."
He gave you another sidelong glance, his optic ridge rising slightly as he considered your words. "Yeah, that happens. You change in the pit. It's not always for the better."
You stopped walking for a moment, your steps faltering. He paused too, turning to look at you, his expression unreadable. You could feel the rage from earlier simmering again, but it was different now—colder, more focused. Disdainful.
The mech took a step toward you, saying, "First time’s always the hardest. But you fought, and you lived. That’s what matters. No one’s going to ask you how you feel about it."
You scoffed, the bitterness in your processor spilling into your voice. "I bet they won't. As long as I keep bleeding for them."
He shrugged, as if that was just the way things were. "That’s the game. But hey, at least now you’re in it. There are worse places to be."
"Yeah?" you muttered, bitterness twisting your words. "Like dead?"
He didn’t answer immediately, his optics studying your face for a beat too long. "Something like that."
Before you could respond, the hallway opened into a larger space, a sprawling, multi-leveled chamber. Above and around you, several balconies arced around the space in a tiered structure, almost like a coliseum turned inside out. Each level was packed with mechs—some leaning over rusted railings, others pacing along narrow walkways, their heavy footsteps echoing through the chamber.
From these balconies, stairs spiraled down to the main floor, where groups of gladiators clustered together, some repairing their armor, others sharpening weapons or talking in hushed tones. A few glanced up at you as you entered, their optics lingering on your energon-stained form for a moment before they returned to their own business.
The smell of energon hung thick in the air, integrated with the acrid tang of oil and the metallic scent of freshly-welded parts. Overhead, dim lights flickered erratically, casting long shadows across the grime-slicked floor. In one corner, a group of mechs were hunched over a makeshift table, clearly gambling away whatever shanix they had earned in the pits.
Here and there, you could spot racks of weapons—blades, maces, guns—lined up along the walls like trophies. Some mechs were testing them out, and the sound of sharpening blades and the low thrum of power cells charging filled the space. Despite the noise, an underlying tension threaded through the room, like a wire stretched too thin.
You caught a few mechs eyeing the stains that marred your armor, their optics narrowing with curiosity and something else—respect, maybe, or wariness. It wasn’t clear. You knew what they saw when they looked at you: a newcomer, fresh out of the pit, still drenched in energon—both yours and your opponent's. And yet, you had survived.
The mech beside you nudged your shoulder gently. "This is it. Gladiators’ lobby."
Everything was interrupted by the sudden, sharp clang of a door being thrown open.
All optics snapped toward the entrance as Bullway stormed in, his heavy frame rattling the metal grating beneath his peds. His presence was electric, and even the more seasoned gladiators went quiet at the sight of his fury.
No one was scared of him, not really, but everyone agreed it'd be better if they didn't anger the one bot who controlled rations and the few things allowed for entertainment.
You, of course, weren't aware of this rule.
His optics, blazing with indignation, zeroed in on you.
"You," he barked, jabbing a thick servo in your direction, his frame practically vibrating angrily. "You just cost me one of the best gladiators I’ve ever had."
Bullway’s voice reverberated through the chamber, louder than even the murmurs of mechs on the balconies. His tone was sharp and accusing, and the heat in his optics made it clear that he hadn’t come to congratulate you.
You straightened your frame but didn’t get a chance to speak before he stomped closer, his bulk imposing.
"I thought it'd be a good fight, figured he’d rough you up a bit, maybe teach you a lesson. But no, you had to go and kill him!" His fists clenched tightly, the metal creaking. "Do you have any idea how long it took me to build him into the fighter he was? And you—you just walk in there and ruin him in your first damn match!"
The crowd watched you both closely, their optics flicking between Bullway and you like they were watching another fight unfold. He was livid, but there was more behind his anger. It wasn’t just the loss of a fighter—there was humiliation, too. Bullway had bet on the wrong outcome, and now he was making it your problem.
You felt your spark flare with defiance. The words tore out of your mouth before you could stop them.
"I didn’t ask to be here," you shot back, stepping forward, the energon staining your frame somehow making you more confident in yourself. "But I won. Fair and square."
Bullway sneered, towering over you now. "Won? You think this is about winning? That mech was supposed to be my winner. You were just a piece of bait! A rookie!"
"Y/N."
His visage morphed into confusion at the single word that left your mouth, though there were still traces of the anger that had previously plagued his faceplates.
Your optics narrowed, and you repeated yourself. "Y/N. That is my name. Use it."
Bullway blinked, taken aback for a split second before his expression twisted into cruel amusement. "A name? You think that matters? In this place, you don’t have names. You’re all just numbers, commodities, pieces of metal to be used up and thrown away when I’m done with you. And I couldn’t care less what you want to call yourself."
His words stung. Bitterly, he was reminding you of what you’d been reduced to in this violent, brutal world. Yet, despite his callous dismissal, you held your ground. You were more than just a number now, more than the faceless gladiator he wanted to make you. You weren’t H-08 anymore, at least, not to yourself.
You hadn’t been since the day Starlight changed everything.
"My name," you said slowly, wiping energon from your cheek as your voice trembled with both defiance and strength, "is Y/N."
Bullway’s optics flared, but you didn’t stop. His words, his mockery—none of it could erase the truth of who you were.
You had once been H-08, a nameless designation in the cold, sterile halls of the satellite where you’d been force to mine until your protoform ran out of strenght—a number, nothing more. You hadn’t even thought it mattered, hadn’t known it could matter, until Starlight came along. She’d been the one to look past the designation, to see you for who you were, not what they made you to be.
She didn’t see you and think, "What is she for?" but instead, "What is she like? What are her hopes and dreams?" She didn’t once think to see you above or below her. Nor did she ever think you were better than her or she better than you. You were her equal; she drilled that into you.
Starlight had always pushed you to choose a name, something that was yours and no one else’s, just like how she had chosen Vaportrail’s name.
"You deserve that. Not a number, not some cold code in a system. A real name. One that means something to you."
At first, you hadn’t understood why it mattered. Why choosing a name felt like reclaiming something, like grabbing hold of a piece of yourself that had been hidden away. But as time passed, you’d grown into it, and when you finally said it out loud for the first time, Starlight’s optics had gleamed with pride.
That name was all you had left of her now, and you weren’t about to let Bullway or anyone else take it from you.
Bullway snorted, his optics narrowing. "Whatever you call yourself—it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still standing here because I let you. Don’t forget that."
But his words fell flat against the wall of resolve that had built up inside you. You met his glare without flinching, the weight of your name grounding you. You were Y/N, and no matter how many battles or insults Bullway threw your way, that wouldn’t change.
"I didn’t ask for this," you said, your voice initially a whisper, but soon growing into words that the entire room could hear, "but you threw me in that pit, and I survived. I earned my place here, and I’ll keep earning it. Don’t talk to me like I’m some scrap metal to be tossed around. I won. He lost. That’s how this works, isn’t it?"
The defiance in your voice seemed to shock him, and for a moment, the entire lobby went deathly silent. The mechs perched on the balconies leaned forward slightly, some in surprise, others in thinly veiled approval.
"You think that makes you special?" he spat, "Killing one gladiator doesn’t make you invincible."
"I don’t need to be invincible. Just strong enough to survive."
Bullway glared at you for what felt like an eternity, his faceplates tight with frustration. Finally, he exhaled, stepping back just enough to let the tension drop a fraction. His optics roamed over you as if sizing up what you had left after that brutal match.
"Well, congratulations," he said, turning on his heel sharply. "You survived. But don’t think this is over. There’s always someone bigger and stronger waiting, and next time, I won’t care how long they’ve been in the pit. You better be ready."
The door slammed behind him, the echo reverberating through the lobby.
"Don’t just stand there like a lamppost!" A mech seated by the stairs raised his voice, causing you to look his way instinctively. "For Primus’ sake, look at her. Somebot take her to the infirmary!"
I'm pretty sure GOK and LS are the two favorites of my fics currently, so i apologize for being so slow with updates on those lately ;v; Here's a little snack from the current chapter, with an exctended cut as a thank you to my Ko-fi supports!
(Story excerpt below the cut)
Delicate Artisan Trash published a supporter-only post on Ko-fi!
The massive surge of a gushing fuel-flush hitting your engine as it cycles up about three gear-shifts in one revving lurch, is probably answer enough for how much you want that. The priority-alert ding you ignore on your overwhelmingly cluttered visor-- what the heck do those strings of numbers even mean?! --would be easier to ignore, if it wasn’t highlighting a probability factor of improved strategic advantage, because knowledge was power and your systems are desperately hungry for any shred of data pertaining to Soundwave and Lazerbeak’s wellbeing.
The heat that simmers briefly in the air around you like a desert mirage, says you should probably consider if you can afford to replace the device you’d be loaned, because there’s a non-zero chance you’ll end up breaking it.
(TFP) Shape Of You :: Megatronus x Gladiator! Reader
Rating: T
Summary: Yes this is based off of the Ed Sheeran Music Video. I thought this fits well.
Words: 564
The club isn't the best place to find a lover
So the bar is where I go
Megatronus enters the gladiator practice room seeing a femme practicing in the room alone. He walked up to the femme watching her.
Me and my friends at the table doing shots
Drinking fast and then we talk slow
"Hello." He said. You looked up and gave a small smile.
"Hello!" She said.
"Are you new here? I never seen you here." She said.
"Um. No, I actually have been here for awhile now." Megatronus said.
Take my hand, stop, put Van the Man on the jukebox
And then we start to dance, and now I'm singing like
"Oh, well I'm (Y/n) who are you?" She asked.
"I'm Megatronus!" Megatronus said.
"Nice to meet you. Do you wanna box with me?" You asked.
"Sure."
Girl, you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
The two of them practiced boxing. The great Megatronus had to admit this Femme was really great at boxing better than him but he wouldn't have admitted that.
"You're really good, do you think you can teach me some tips?" Megatronus said.
"Of course, come with me."
Come on now, follow my lead
I may be crazy, don't mind me
The two of you battled every day and each and every day you and Megatronus would fight each and everyday. Megatronus found out that he an upcoming battle and so you and him practiced.
Say, boy, let's not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me
You and Megatronus did all sorts of practices and had fun, it was fun.
Come on now, follow my lead
Come, come on now, follow my lead
One day you left a note telling Megatronus you had to leave unfortunately, this was very stressful for Megatronus. He developed feelings for you and was afraid to tell you. Before he closed the locker he found a mouth guard that was yours. He smiled and took it.
I'm in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Few days passed and Megatronus came up against a big opponent. You weren't here unfortunately to see him, the battle began and Megatronus was at every disadvantage, he felt depressed that you weren't here. Megatronus continued to fight until he fell. The referee called a win for the opposing side.
Although my heart is falling too
I'm in love with your body
Megatronus laid down unconscious and in pain as he was severely injured, there was another round after Megatronus fell, so once he gets back up and is okay they began to fight.
Every day discovering something brand new
I'm in love with your body
Megatronus gets hit and fell down and groaned. The referee called a win for the opposing the side. Megatronus groans.
Oh-I-oh-I-oh-I-oh-I
I'm in love with your body
Then suddenly the loud noise of a femme was heard as you came back hitting the opposing side.
Oh-I-oh-I-oh-I-oh-I
I'm in love with your body
Oh-I-oh-I-oh-I-oh-I
I'm in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I'm in love with the shape of you
MTMTE Incorrect quotes#124 You don't need a weapon...you ARE a weapon
Y/n*Smilling, walking through the streets of cybertron*-GUESS WHO'S WALKING AROUND LIKE THE BIGGEST BITCH AROUND TOWN!~Wanna know why?~
Y/n*Pulls out a taser and presses a button, lighting the weapon with an excited war cry*-CUZ MY GOTH BF GOT ME ONE OF THEEEEEEESEEEEE!?!~
Megatronus*Instantly regretting it*...
Unicron*In his recliner, reading glasses and newspaper in his hand,on a call with one of the most promising in his opinion of primus brats*You gave them WHAT now?...HA! It's your fault for falling for their cute exterior. Good luck trying to take that taser out of their hands
You know how EASY it be for things to be undone if you thr human simply shout
Y/n:IF YOU DO THIS FOR ME I'LL SIT ON YOUR FACE!?-
Instantly for tfo the 13 primes come back to life from their FUCKING TOMBS...instantly tfo sentinel stops being evil dick-
Like in tfa blackarachnia just stops her revenge and is back to being an autobot...all starscreams just stop their betrayals and self sabotages!
Tarn quits thr djd!?,it would gotten Breakdown and knockout so much quicker into autobots in tfp...
JUST FROM YOU SCREAMING YOU WILL SIT ON THEIR FACE!...and you just screamed it in a panic
Can you imagen it tho if you screaming that on bot or femme who died infront of you and instantly their spark thats in the allspark like a old cartoon from runs back to its body and frankenstein stands up...
Unicron: What's annoying is dealing with... imbecile "friends" who have lil glitches the same age as your child, and he comes into your own home, carrying his shitty creations-...and he still boasts with gall!-
Primus*presenting his thirteen primes*eeeh?~
Unicron*With a #1 Evil-dad cube, glaring at his opposite twin*...what do you want, bastard?
Primus: Aww, come on, don't get like that old friend, but can you imagine it!
Unicron*Sipping his energon, still, brooding*I imagine a lot of scrap- that's what I dedicate myself to
Primus: Don't get defensive, I'm just saying!When your child and my own grow up!...what if!...they got married~
Unicron*Optics twitching and smiling with smoke coming out of his mouth*"What if" they DONT-You're spawns are too damn ugly!!! I DON'T WANT THOSE GENES IN MY GENEPOOL!!! SO YOU AND THE WALKIN' FRUITIES CAN GO FRAG YOURSELF OUTTA MY NEW PLANET!?-
Sparkling Thirteen*All surrounding a human baby you in your crib*...
