Mentor!Starscream x Seeker!Reader, CH 25
Cadet/Cadet au belongs to @radioactiverats, this is another character that we've been playing with- meet Foxfire, seeing Starscream's Cadet, three different times- And times before he'd been noticed himself.
3000+ words
Three (and more) times
~~~
(Part 1)
~~~
The first time Foxfire had properly seen the Cadet had been at Swerve's- and, being an appreciator of all things earnest, he had quickly taken a liking to the little Seeker- your cerulean blue a refreshing bit of old colour that he had thought had no longer existed in the Decepticon ranks, not that he paid as close attention as he could have. It was nice to see- it had even been nice to see Skywarp letting loose, having lost himself in the crowd as though they were back on Vos again. He had become more malicious than he'd been back home, that bond between his trinemates loosened until none of the three had really seemed happy or stable, regardless of their high ranking. There was something of his old self when he'd decided to bring you along on his excursion, and it almost let Fox forget about how the war had changed all of you. It had been a long time since he had seen that kind of exuberance, that joy of life and there had been... something more comfortable, Swerve's letting itself open up to the newbie in the ranks.
That was, at least, until his trine-leader had appeared, Thundercracker close by his wing.
Starscream.
The whole of the bar went so quiet so fast, and Foxfire along with it. Fox remembered hearing rumours of you being attached to Starscream somehow, and some of those rumours? Many of them? Had not been kind. Seeker processors often leaned towards a more lascivious sense of humour but there had been more of that dark edge for what assumptions had been made about the Decepticon second-in-command and his…
Pet.
Foxfire had felt that discomfort in his spark, remembering that red mech from Vos, another trine-leader like himself, having pinned some of the fastest and most powerful fliers around for the thrill of it, caught Thundercracker and Skywarp, mechs that could shake the air and disappear into it.
Foxfire knew from experience how hard that could be.
And for such a long time, Fox had wondered if maybe the mech that had managed to pin him all those vorns ago was still in there, or if his spark had been harrowed away to make room for something much more nasty.
Seeing you nearly run up to him, overclocked on the lightest brews of engex and swaying to the music, Fox felt his hackles raise defensively, narrowing optics at the mech that hadn't so much as looked his way since the war had begun.
A mech that, at one time, had promised to bring Foxfire's trine into his flock, that together, they would be powerful, magnificent in the skies or in any endeavours, that had been Starscream's promise that night on Vos so long ago-
How easy it was to believe in poisoned words against Starscream, when he so clearly used that skillful charm to weave his way out of the most dangerous of descents, and away from those that wanted to be closest to him?
And yet, there was the little blue jet in you, the one that had been rumoured to be nothing but a pet at best to the Decepticon second-in-command.
Something that sounded so nasty there, but had been a gentle, claiming title that had Fox’s audials burning at the memory of, the way Starscream had whispered it so softly, that ashy rasp in his processor playing on repeat.
But you didn’t look like some sad little pet. You hadn’t spoken like one, at the bar, though there had been an endearing shyness to you. Hey, everyone’s nervous their first time at the bar, after all!
It had made Foxfire a little wary, thinking about Starscream and the mech he thought he knew. But your smile, your easy little wing rolls, the way your arms wrapped around Starscream’s chassis… ‘Super cool’.
The Starscream he’d heard rumours of and seen in combat was definitely not one Foxfire would call ‘super cool’. But the Starscream he had known all those vorns ago…
The way his wings jolted, before relaxing, clearly relieved at your safety, your comfort around him palpable to anyone in the room. And there was no anger directed towards you, the mech that was doing rather well for themself in spite of being overclocked. Fox had mentally cheered for you, seeing you stay on your pedes.
Foxfire felt his wings lower, relaxing, as Starscream's servo rested gently on your back, holding you carefully, before turning his frustration out on his trine-mate.
And again, he felt that there was something less venomous about Starscream's ranting, his own wings held stiffly, as if he could hide his relief from those that paid attention. The rest of the bar fell back into the ease of normalcy. He hadn't come guns blazing, and there was something more than a little familiar about seeing a trine-leader chew out his trine-mate for doing something irresponsible. And maybe few others would see it, but Starscream's faceplates had flashed from angry, to amused in brief moments, like he couldn't contain it-
Like he himself could still feel those echoes of Vos in this bar of Swerve's.
Foxfire let himself finish his drink, before making his way back to his own trine, processor filled to the brim with thoughts on somebody that had once promised a bond with him-
And to you, the little flier that had set those gears turning.
~~~
(Part 2) ~~~
The second time Foxfire had seen you, it was shortly after you had received your new wings-
And there was still something in his wings that tingled unpleasantly, when he thought about his contribution to the whole ordeal.
As if he should feel this guilt anymore, after vorns of that questionable experimentation on any number of dead metals, giving new life to them.
He had been trying to speak to Starscream again- trying, being the operative word. Some days Foxfire really wondered how much Starscream remembered or forgot, how much he forced himself to ignore while forging ahead for the 'Decepticon cause'. It wouldn’t be too different, Fox supposed, than the path he’d had to take.
He remembered when the last Winglords had fallen, and all that was left to take their place, to look towards, was Starscream.
All these vorns later, after multiple solar-cycles of trying to casually speak to him again, trying, reaching, pulling away and nearly giving up, and Foxfire had Starscream coming to him, asking, of all Seekers, who, who would have compatible wings, who would not be missed-
And Fox had remembered the gentler mech he had seen at the bar, allowing the little blue jet to cling to him, nuzzle into his plates, your armor unmarred and your wings, while a bit unpreened, a lovely, gentle arc. Like you hadn't been at war.
Like Foxfire hadn’t brought his trine into the Decepticon cause at the urging of the very mech you had been clinging to.
This was the same mech that came to Foxfire to ask him whose wings to pry off to save you, give you flight again.
And Foxfire felt something in his spark ache for you, just a little- but he hadn't actually gotten to see you after that repair. He hadn't actually gotten to see how you wore those wings- in another life, even with his little medical experience and his preference towards making… living sculptures, Starscream may have come to Foxfire for the healing of your wings, those cerulean blue wings of Vos.
Perhaps that was another painful realisation. Recognition of Foxfire’s own change in himself, that in the vorns that had passed, Starscream was not the only mech who had had lost some of that gentle care.
At least now, there was a new change, it seemed- something in the air, something that moved around you, greater than just your EM fields, and even the grounders seemed able to tell that something was up.
In the halls of the higher ranked Seekers, he was sure now that everyone would see you.
The claim had been so loud, Foxfire had wondered if his own receptors had become oversensitive again- but looking down the hall in your direction, he nearly didn't recognize you.
Small frame, the blue unmistakably yours, but those wings- massive, dark, nearly spreading across the hall as you staked your claim.
The air shivered with the statement, with the wake of quiet Echo left behind him, with Starscream’s astonished shout of surprise-
Foxfire had to chuckle to himself when he returned to his habsuite, thinking on the SIC’s myriad of shifting facial expressions, all focused on you. Your cracked faceplate, wings that seemed mostly mismatched to your frame, the proud and confident stance you held yourself in- and how well, it seemed, that you had grown into those wings. Fox wondered if you realised how strongly that Echo would respond to a claim from you, with wings from his former leader, and he smiled, curling up with his still recharging trinemates, warm and pressing around and into his frame like puzzle pieces.
Foxfire smiled to himself.
Oh, but how fun it would be-
To see a new trine formed properly.
~~~
(Part 3)
~~~
The third time he had seen you was shortly after your daring rescue of Starscream.
If it had been any other mech, Megatron would have openly stated that he had been impressed- and yet, you had saved Starscream, not a mech that Megatron was always so eager to keep around.
Things had gone back to an uncomfortable level of normalcy after Starscream’s return- and again, Foxfire found himself trying to reach towards the other trine-leader, making his living nightmares for the Decepticon cause but finding less and less inspiration to create them.
And there you were, another creature he had helped create. And there was… Echo, too, and Sunstorm, and there was something there, in the loading bay that day-
Sunstorm clearly trying to flirt his way into building a trine again, Fox had simply thought with bored interest, until there you were, your servos firm on Echo’s wings, tiny as you were in comparison to him. Fox eyed the null-rays adorning your shoulders, recalling how he and his trine had chosen other alterations to their frames, less costly, less painful-
And there you stood with your wings held wide, your stance even, staking a claim on one flier over another trying to court him. It was vicious-
There was something in it that called to the artist in Foxfire, that part of him he only really was able to let out while building his monsters, his nightmares.
It was beautiful.
It felt like fire.
A spark reigniting.
Your eyes burned right into Sunstorm’s irradiated EM field, and Foxfire watched his wings twitch in annoyance-
Before Echo turned to look at you. Look over your wings, yes- but Echo really looked at you, his frame turning so deliberately to ignore Sunstorm, wings rolling suggestively, but so casually as he took you in, as you held his wing firmly.
Fox had to smile- there really was just, something so familiar about seeing all of this, seeing the way that Sunstorm prickled before backing off, as though he had never flirted with the larger Seeker in the first place. You had dragged Echo off, the larger mech moving with you with a comfortable ease, like there was no place he’d rather be.
For a moment, Foxfire watched you two leave, feeling the warmth in his spark at something… new, forming, from the once so closed-off Cadet.
It was cute, too, seeing such a little mech take the lead so effectively over a big warframe.
Sunstorm’s radiation drew Foxfire’s attention from the other seekers, and Fox turned to see the other mech roll his wings invitingly.
Foxfire pulled a very obviously disgusted expression, wings dropping sharply and fields flaring with something that could be translated easily into ‘eat slag and offline’, before turning on his heel. He had a trine, his trine, and even if he didn’t-
There was another mech he wanted to see more, and even if Sunstorm shared his face, he was no Starscream.
~~~
Part 0
~~~
You had only seen the mech known as Foxfire once, before everything had gone to the Pit- well, twice in one day, really.
And it had been during class, of all things.
It hadn't even started, Starscream was late. Starscream was never late, and in fact, was frequently expecting others to be early. It was discomforting, disquieting, and it set the entire class' energies on edge. A small argument had started in your group, until finally, you were pushed to go find him- the least likely to get in trouble for it, apparently- he had to be somewhere.
And you only needed to re-enter the academy from the flight grounds to see where Starscream had gotten to.
Standing further down the hall with another Seeker, just a touch shorter and sleeker in build than Starscream himself, neon green and black plating standing out in the dark halls. You almost call out to Starscream-
But there was something... different, about his face. Something you hadn't seen before, something relaxed.
Starscream's whole frame actually seemed so at ease around this flier, who talked excitedly with a freely waving servo, a roll of painted foil under his other arm, and it occurred to you that this might be one of the academy's artists. But why would he be with Starscream, of all mechs? Was Starscream somebody that appreciated art?
But there was something- something about the way Starscream eyed the other mech, that even from a distance you could see. It was the way his optics trailed over the slimmer jet's wings, rested on his white faceplates, the sharp angles of this mech's black helm undeniably shapely.
You receive a ping from your classmates. ‘Well?’
Shaking your head, you make your way closer, making a sharp crackle in your vocals to ask for attention, the two mechs leaning close together before Starscream jolted back, his frame snapping into something much stiffer as he looked at you.
"Cadet! What are you-"
"Sir," you start. "We've been waiting- class?"
His optics flicked a few times, and you could tell he was checking his internal cronometer-
And they brightened again, rolling in their sockets as he looked back to the green mech.
"Foxfire, I've been neglecting my duties," he drawled, his tone much more casual than you'd heard it before. "Shall we continue this later?"
"Whenever you like~" the mech's tone was playful, and you cocked a brow-plate when he bowed, his arm rolling in a dramatic flourish. But, he seemed graceful strutting away, and you could almost feel the heat coming from Starscream's EM field-
He looked away from the other flier after a long moment, before gesturing for you to lead the way.
"Shall we, Cadet?"
~~
You were taking your break from drills on a balcony when you saw him again- he was marching up to Starscream, arms empty, a wide, jagged grin on his face and a pleased roll to his narrow wings. You couldn't hear from that far above, your audials not yet adjusted for reconnaissance, but the excitement of the new mech was palpable.
And there was something about the familiarity in the way he moved around Starscream, stepping lightly on his pedes around him as the two mechs spoke. You couldn't quite place what it was- until he slipped his arm around Starscream's waist, leaning close to whisper something, Starscream's frame moving into his touch with ease.
You had expected Starscream to pull away- but his wings told all that could see that he was content, pleased, even, letting them roll slowly on his back, darksteel faceplate contrasting with the stark white of the other mech’s.
You felt your face flush as you watched as the green mech danced back, wings flicking playfully as he gestured for Starscream to follow. Starscream seemed to consider for a moment, unaware of how you watched them from above, his face suddenly taking on such a mischievous look, his excitement clear in the glow of his optics, the crooked pull of his smirk. The other mech reached out his servo, before darting back, his wings flaring in invitation, and Starscream-
Ah.
There it was.
Starscream's wings in the classic roll, drop, forward flicker of frag-me flutters, heel-thrusters boosting him closer as he reached to grab for the other mech.
Your optics widen, energon rushing to your faceplates as heat prickled under them. Was he really going to-?
With most of the rest of the class in the air, you watched as your instructor ditched class, cyan servos grabbing onto and interlocking with black digits. It would almost be sneaking off-
If you hadn't heard their cackling echoing from the grounds.
~~
"Did you see that green mech with Starscream?"
Your roommate was positively glowing, wings fluttering with the excitement of new gossip- Starscream having ditched drill instruction! The class had ended without incident, sure, but..
Of course the whole academy was buzzing with the news of it.
You were trying, however, to forget the prickling in your plates, the way your processor buzzed at the casual expression on Starscream's face, the playful spike you had felt in his EM field, even from a distance.
Had you ever seen him like that before? Had you ever seen his wings so relaxed, his expression so... carefree? Had you ever seen him play like that, boosting himself along the ground, plates shivering with excitement as he leapt to grab another? You couldn't really hear what your roommate was saying over your own buzzing processor, and they try to catch your attention again.
"Hey! Hey- do you have any ideas what they were up to?"
They waggle their browplates, clearly hoping for anything particularly juicy.
You roll your helm to the side, humming thoughtfully.
You could share, but…
…maybe you wanted to keep this for yourself.
"I dunno," you return, shrugging on your berth. "I didn't really see anything, but-
I think he’s an artist."
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