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The blinding light of his null rays only served to reflect the sheen of coolant in his long thought dead sparkmate’s optics.
***
Starscream had carried their broken bond all those cycles. Believing his conjunx's spark had joined with Primus, frame buried somewhere in that despicable planet from their last excursion. Flying with him one second and gone the next. He hadn't heard anything, just felt their bond flicker out. He'd heard of the effects, when a sparkmate went back to the well. Of a pain so deep, processors were lost in the grief. Of sparkmates who had their spark cases reinforced to prevent further damage from their attempts to claw it out. And yet none of that occurred. Their bond was there one second and then carried away by the frigid winds along with his conjunx. As if it never existed.
There was no time to grieve. He had a duty to fill, a point to prove. He was the only one fit to lead their righteous group. Megatron only had conquest in mind. A fascination with bringing the opposing leader to his knees. Yet starscream dreamed of more. All of Cybertron would plead for a chance to thank Starscream for what he had done. He would be the one to lead them into a new age. He would bring them home, to his beloved Cybertron and the real changes would begin there. While the planet they were currently stranded on offered a well of energon supply, there wasn't much else. Not that he could see. The civilization was far behind and anything they could produce was inferior to the technology on that distant home of his. He was the right choice, the only choice to lead his people. Not Megatron who'd keep them all there until their energon in their fuel lines ran dry if it meant he'd be able to tower over the current prime. No, he did not have the means to bring salvation. But Starscream did. Starscream made the impossible possible. Skyfire would have said it. He always did. He said he loved that about him. Loved hearing him speak of his dreams. And Skyfire would always help him make it a reality. It's why they got along so well when they first met at the academy. Skyfire listened and then jumped in to gather ideas and information. To study. To learn. To grow. To make his dreams real. But he was long gone. And the only ones left in the Decepticons hardly made for someone who deserved to be at his side.
Although the bond was gone, a blanket of chill followed him everywhere. Beginning from his spark, it settled in the cables and gears throughout his frame. Coiling around him, from his helm to his pedes. Even resting on his wings, like that white snow had taken him down as well. It grew colder when he was alone. When he had time to recharge and look at the stars. When the thought of a shuttle would flicker in his mind. If his colors weren't present, shiny red and blue, he'd think he'd have been a husk like his dead conjunx. He was so cold to the touch. He'd felt the cold settle in the frames of those he'd killed. Their warmth seeped away like the color did from their frames. As he saw their optics flicker out, he wondered if Skyfire had similarly looked desperate. He found he didn't care. What use was thinking of somebody long gone.
His frame grew colder still.
***
Here he was, spewing dreams and plans. His conjunx in front of him, actually alive. Everything could resume as usual. He had even more means to take over the Decepticons. He was so close to achieving his dream. And yet, Skyfire looked unsure. He never doubted Starscream.
“Are you happier being a warrior than a scientist?” Skyfire had looked so perplexed as he asked. As though the answer wasn't obvious.
Starscream looked at him as if he weren't there. But he knew how to reel him in. A place as second in command, there at his side would appease his conjunx. Because Starscream knew that Skyfire belonged with him. He should be following him and supporting him like he did cycles ago. Starscream knew this to be true because for once, his frame had grown warmer once Skyfire was freed from the ice. As if Skyfire had melted it away with a glide of his servos along his frame. Where else would Skyfire belong but next to him? Primus had returned Skyfire to keep the chill away with the warmth of his spark, bond alive and well. He was sure of this, as sure as the blessing that was his own creation.
***
Traitor. A traitor. That's what his conjunx had become. Starscream would have given him everything. Once Cybertron was ruled by Starscream, Skyfire would have been there at his side. Would have been his confidante and advisor. Would have been granted the head of science and perhaps in time, they could have had sparklings. In order to ensure their legacy, the one he had started, would continue on. Their sparklings would serve as a testament to their love and devotion to each other. A marker for their new era of progress. But Skyfire had to ruin it with his weak spark. He couldn't see what had to be done, what Starscream does and could do, to ensure his future.
As he levels a glare at the refusal of his once beloved conjunx, Starscream powers up his null rays to remind Skyfire what he is capable of. Bonds be damned.