Chapter Text
It all began with dust, rust, and a dull ache behind Starscream’s optics.
The war was over. G.H.O.S.T. was gone. decommissioned for their crimes against Cybertronians. The Autobots had reluctantly lent the Decepticons an old G.H.O.S.T. facility to rebuild what little they had left. It was cracked, run-down, crawling with human-sized junk and sharp-edged memories, but it was something. A start. Starscream had made sure of that.
He was in the middle of clearing out the command center, helm pounding like a loose bolt in a jet engine. Every movement echoed in his frame, but he kept going, sorting through piles of debris and salvaged equipment. No time to slow down. No room for weakness.
Across the room, Novastorm and Skywarp were digging through a mess of crates and half-melted consoles.
"Can’t I just use my sonic boom to clear the space?" Nova grumbled, kicking aside a monitor. "I’m not stepping on another human dollhouse."
Skywarp rolled her optics, crouching to pick up a shattered PC. "Of course! And let the ceiling cave in again? Do you ever think these things through, Nova? I’m not dealing with another cave-in because you got lazy."
Their voices buzzed like static in Starscream’s processor.
"Could you two not bicker for once?" he snapped, sharper than intended. "Some of us are actually trying to work ."
His vents stuttered. He took a step, then staggered, servo catching the wall as the room spun. The small pile of equipment he’d been carrying clattered to the floor.
Nova turned, expression dropping from annoyance to concern. "Whoa, Screamer… you good? You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You can take a break, you know. It’s not all on you."
She reached out, but Starscream brushed her hand away.
"Oh, but it is . I am the new leader of the Decepticons. I don’t get to rest. Not until this place is functional again."
Skywarp, quieter now, stepped behind him. "You look like you're about to collapse. Maybe just sit down for a few clicks?"
"I'm aware , Warp. But there are priorities. I want this done. Then I'll rest. Just let me finish my work."
He pressed his palm harder into the wall, bracing himself. The helmache hadn’t stopped since yesterday. If anything, it was growing.
But he couldn’t stop. Not yet. Not until the Decepticons were stable again. They needed working medbays, rations, flight tech, and training rooms. They needed a future. And if they ever wanted to get off this planet, they'd need a plan.
He just wanted to go home.
“Oh, Primus, we’re finally done!” Skywarp dropped her arms dramatically against the doorway, vents hissing as she leaned back. The new command center was cleared. What was left was booting up the console and resizing the space so it could actually fit a group of full-sized Decepticons.
Novastorm stepped in a moment later and gave Starscream a light elbow to the side. No reaction.
“Star?” Her tone shifted. “You good?”
He didn't answer right away. His optics dimmed slightly before he blinked them back to focus.
“Yes. I’m fine,” he said, too quickly. “I was just... checking something.” A beat, “I’m supposed to visit the Terrans. Hashtag said she wanted me to see something.”
He brushed off some dust from his plating and turned to the exit. “You coming with me?”
“Meh. Nah. I don’t feel like moving.” Nova replied, plopping down in front of the console and booting it up. “Just comm us if you need anything, though. I’m catching up on that weird show Hashtag showed us.”
Skywarp followed without hesitation, flopping into the chair beside her. “Yeah, same. Not moving again for the rest of the cycle. Sorry, Star.”
“Whatever. Suit yourselves. I’ll be back later.” He waved them off and exited the room without looking back.
“Okay! Don’t forget to ping us if you get emotionally compromised or whatever!” Skywarp called from behind, her voice echoing down the hall.
He paused before continuing to walk out. He’ll get back at her for that later.
“I still can't believe you invited Starscream over.” Thrash paced at the bottom of the ramp, arms crossed and shoulders tense. “Everyone knows he’s one of the worst . Like, literal Decepticon commander worst! How can you trust him, Hashtag?”
Hashtag was lounging casually on the edge of the skate ramp, kicking her legs as she looked out at the clearing where Starscream was supposed to arrive. She didn’t even flinch.
“Well, Megatron used to be bad,” she replied, voice steady but casual. “And the Autobots gave him a chance. What’s so different about Starscream? Can’t we at least try to give him the benefit of the doubt?”
Thrash scoffed, but Hashtag went on, quieter now.
“He’s not that bad once you actually spend time with him.”
The words felt weird coming out, honest but uncertain. Because even she didn’t totally understand it. Why did she trust him?
Maybe it was the Dweller incident. That hadn’t been some act, right? Starscream had nearly died helping them. No one pretends that kind of fear. No one fakes that kind of self-sacrifice.
And after the Mandroid thing, he’d always picked up when she called. He listened . When she was angry, confused, or upset, he never interrupted. Never brushed her off. He just let her talk, even if he barely said anything back. That had to mean something.
Didn’t it?
A low rumble echoed from outside the homestead. soft at first, but unmistakably the sound of Seeker thrusters descending.
Hashtag perked up instantly. “That’s him!”
Thrash groaned. “Great. Time to greet the grim reaper himself.”
But despite the sarcasm, he followed her as she leapt down the ramp. Nightshade and Jawbreaker were already heading for the front steps, with Mo bouncing after them.
Inside the homestead, Alex stood at the window, arms folded tightly as he watched the sleek, silver and red figure touch down in the yard.
“Are we sure about this?” he muttered under his breath. “This is Starscream we’re talking about. Like, historical war criminal Starscream.”
“I’ve got Megatron on speed dial,” she said plainly, showing her comm screen with a flick of her thumb. “If anything goes sideways, we’ll have backup in under five minutes.”
Dot joined him at the window, slipping her comm into her vest pocket. “I get it. I really do,” she said. “But he’s trying. That’s more than most ever expected of him.”
Alex hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yeah. I just hope the kids remember that trying doesn’t mean perfect.”
Outside, the Terrans were already racing across the yard to meet their guest, voices raised in excited greetings. Starscream powered down his thrusters and stepped forward, his usual sharp angles softened by fatigue, but still, he stood tall.
“Hello…” he greeted, voice dry but not unkind.
“Starscream!” Twitch squealed, rocketing forward and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
The seeker stiffened, optics wide as the unexpected contact caught him off guard, for the second time. He flinched but didn’t shove her away this time, instead awkwardly placing a servo on her shoulder to gently pry her off.
“It’s a delight to see you, too,” he muttered, voice dry but not unkind.
Twitch grinned up at him. “Sorry! I just uh, you know, Mandroid fight memories and all.”
Starscream grumbled something under his breath about “overenthusiastic Terrans,” but his wings twitched in amusement.
“I gotta hand it to you, Starscream,” Hashtag said, leaning against the fence post with her arms crossed. “Didn’t expect you to show up this fast.”
He smirked, proud. “Of course I did! I’m the fastest flyer on all of Cybertron. I don’t keep people waiting.”
The Terrans exchanged impressed looks, and Twitch’s optics lit up. “Oh yeah? Then I challenge you to a race!”
Starscream tilted his head, amused. “A race?”
Jawbreaker raised a browplate. “I don’t think you’re a match for him, Twitch.”
“I don’t expect to beat him,” Twitch said, crossing her arms. “I just want to see how fast he really is!”
Starscream chuckled. “Bold. I like that.” But his tone softened as he crouched slightly, bringing himself closer to their height. “But another time. I’m here because someone said there was something ‘very important’ I needed to see.”
He turned toward Hashtag, wings flicking. “So? What is it?”
Hashtag’s smirk faded. “Well… I don’t really have something to show you per se…”
Starscream narrowed his optics. “What?”
She glanced aside, suddenly sheepish. “Sorry, but I kinda tricked you into coming over…”
Starscream straightened, his expression unreadable. “Tricked me?”
The others went quiet. Hashtag stepped forward, wringing her servos together.
“I did want to talk to you, that part’s true—but mostly... I thought you could use a break,” she admitted. “You’ve been running on empty since the base repairs started, and… I figured if I just asked, you wouldn’t come. So I said it was important. I guess… I lied. A little.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then Starscream did something unexpected.
He chuckled—low and amused—and looked down at her with something almost like approval. “You deceived me?”
Hashtag blinked. “Uh… yeah?”
He tilted his head, wings folding behind his back. “Not bad.”
She gawked. “Wait—you’re not mad?”
“Oh, I’m furious, ” he said theatrically, placing the back of his servo against his forehead like a stage performer. “Utterly betrayed.”
Then he dropped the act and smirked. “But… it’s clever. Deception has its place. Especially when used tactically.”
Nightshade raised a brow. “You’re proud of her for lying to you?”
Starscream nodded. “I’m a Decepticon. It’s in the name.”
Hashtag laughed, the tension breaking. “Okay, okay, maybe not my best moment. But… you do need a break.”
Starscream sighed, glancing up at the sky. “You’re probably right. Just… no more tricks, alright?”
“No promises,” Hashtag grinned.