And so the time has come, it's here
The silence ends, a change is near

“You’re serious?!”
On the phone and gaping at the red seeker in shock was Skywarp. He had never guessed that the tournament would ever return, and now of all times.
“Never been more.” Starscream replied, grinning as he saw a grin surface on Skywarp’s face. “I know it was your favourite sport to watch when you were young. TC can confirm it for you too.”
“You make it sound like I’m old!” Skywarp mocked, “And I’ll make sure to ask-“ then he turned as the sound of a door opening and closing was heard. “Speak of the devil, I better go Screamer! TC just got home with the heavy Energon!”
Starscream sighed in amusement as the screen went blank. Sometimes he wondered how Thundercracker put up with such a roommate.

***

The next day, Starscream had work in the afternoon, which meant that he only had so long to visit Soundwave and Megatron to deliver his news. The Guardians had requested that he kept it secret to all but his close ‘friends’, and that it will be announced in due time to the public. Starscream guessed it would be a week.
Plenty of time to deal with his two favourite nutjobs!

As Soundwave came out, he was met with the sight of Starscream floating in the air right in front of him. He stepped backwards a little.
“Starscream!” He said, surprise only just tainting his voice. “What are you doing here?”
“To tell you that my plan worked!” The seeker said with an arrogant grin. “The tournament is back!”
His optic band widened, “Are you certain Starscream?”
”Of course!” The seeker seemed mighty cheerful. “Seemed I convinced the Guardians that it was a good idea!”
Soundwave then smiled, in his own way. He was glad the seeker was actively trying to help people now that the war had gone. He had never seen him happier, and that was saying something as Megatron usually made him feel like a squashed apple. But then again, he was just living in the past.
“Well, you better tell the one who most needs it.” Soundwave said, and for some reason he let his happiness show in his voice, making it different than the usual monotone. Starscream noticed, but he didn’t say anything more. He smiled, and raised a hand in farewell, then took off with a blast of blue fire. Soundwave watched him until he was out of sight.

***

It was when Starscream got to the Care Centre was when he got nervous. What if Megatron still felt as though he didn’t belong? What if he didn’t want to come out even now?
No. He couldn’t think like that. He had to be as positive as he could to get though this …
Why was I destined to do this? Starscream thought as he walked down the now familiar hallways. Is there something about him and I that we share … like a connection of some kind?
But … but how could that be? We hated each other from the moment after he first nearly killed me …we’re totally different …
Or are we?
He gave a jump when he noticed he was already in front of Megatron’s door. He hesitated, as he always did, but then opened the door. He walked though the gap and then stoped in front of the glass door. He put a hand on the door and started as it opened. Megatron has left it unlocked … how strange.
He let himself in, and looked over at Megatron’s bed, and blinked. He was asleep, lying on his chest, his optics shut. For once, he looked very calm.
Starscream took a step forward, staring at his face. He had never seen Megatron asleep before, like properly asleep. He had seen him fake it, as a means to draw the seeker there as the flyer attempted to assassinate him, but never in a true sleep. Rare was it that Megatron ever went to sleep and not guard himself in an armoured room, let alone in such a place as this and leave the door unlocked.
Starscream stepped closer, cautious, and completely alert to the slightest noise or movement. But Megatron did not move at all, merely sleeping on.
Starscream was now right in front of his torso, looking over at him. Megatron shifted slightly and gave a soft moan, but was otherwise still. Starscream hesitated, and then nervously sat on the edge of the bed by Megatron’s feet. He gave a sigh of relief when Megatron did not wake. He had a very good feeling that his ex-leader preferred to be woken under his own power.
It was then that Starscream remembered an old poem Skyfire had once read to him. He was interested in poetry, but he wasn’t all that great at writing it.
He murmured in a soft, almost singing voice:
“Elemosi orimi’a …
Draco damos,
Inesi bisodaka,
La drianes,
On`e: Isabic
Nes Eternal …”**
He looked over at Megatron, who was still asleep, and sighed. But then he gave a jolt as Megatron gave a groan as his systems started to come online, and his optics opened, glowing crimson. He blinked when he saw Starscream sitting there, looking wary.
“Starscream?” He said softly. “How did you get in here …?”
“Your door was unlocked,” The seeker replied as Megatron sat up. “I … let myself in … sorry.”
Megatron punched his shoulder lightly an acceptance, and then got up to get some energon. He chucked a cube to Starscream and grabbed his own, drinking it in one gulp.
“I guess you must’ve had a good reason to come here, if it was so important you didn’t wake me up.” He said with a smirk.
Starscream stood up and folded his arms, his cube half drunk. “Pardon me, but I didn’t want my face punched in.” He gave a smirk of his own and walked over to the window as Megatron gave a snicker.
“I got the tournament re-instated, Megatron.” Starscream said, and felt a weight hop off his shoulders and scamper out the door. “It will be starting up again in about a month or so, depending on when the Guardians sort everything out-“
“Wait a minute.” Megatron interrupted, making Starscream look around. “You got the tournament back?”
“Yeah!” Starscream said with a wide grin, but it started to fade fast as he saw Megatron looked nervous and guilty. “Isn’t … isn’t that what you wanted?”
Megatron sighed. “I really don’t know what I want …”
“But …” The seeker felt like all he had done … all he went though to get the tournament back was all suddenly empty and meaningless. “I thought …”
“Starscream, don’t-“ Megatron started, but the seeker was already starting to shake in combined sadness and anger.
“Well that’s just great isn’t it?” He spat out, glaring at him. “I go to all this trouble just to have you say ‘thanks but no thanks’? Real nice Megatron.”
“I never said that!” Megatron said indignantly, glaring back.
“You didn’t need to say it for me to know it.” The seeker ground out, clenching his fists and biting back the sadness. He hated Megatron seeing him weak, even now.
Megatron looked at him, suddenly feeling the guilt increase. All Starscream was doing was trying to help out, so why couldn’t he accept it? Why was it he was pushing the seeker away?

Fall back on me, and I’ll be the strength I need,
To save me now, just come face to face with me,
Stay in place you'll be the first to see me heal these wounds,
Step down, step down, step
DOWN!

He walked over to the jet, who stood looking defeated, no longer shaking. He stood in front of him, looking down at him, wondering why he was helping him at all. The seeker had nothing to gain from giving him another chance, so why …?
Starscream slowly looked up into Megatron’s face, asking a silent question, Why are you making this so hard for yourself?
Megatron looked confused, and then it changed to show another look, I’m sorry …
Starscream looked slightly hopeful, You mean it?
And Megatron gave a tiny smile, Yes.
Starscream grinned, then reached up and ran a finger down the side of Megatron’s face. The ex-leader looked quizzical, and Starscream shoved his other hand over his mouth to conceal a giggle at the look.
Suddenly, Megatron gave a demonic smirk and grabbed the seeker around the waist, pulling him flush against his chest.
“Hey! What-” Starscream protested, before registering that Megatron had loosened his hold, but did not remove his arms from around his waist and back. It took a moment for him to realise that Megatron was hugging him! Normally, he hated closure, but there was no way in hell he was going to push him away. He kind of liked it, in a way …
Megatron also hated closure, but it felt right to do this. He looked down at Starscream’s head, barely clearing his shoulder due to his height gain from going back to his Cybertron form, and moved his arms up to his shoulders, gently pulling back.
Starscream looked a little unnerved, and a little in awe. He also felt slightly giddy, but he could not find an explanation for that, so he ignored it.
“Um …” Starscream said, not meeting Megatron’s optics. His ex-leader’s optics glittered with a sudden humour at making the seeker speechless. “There’s gonna be a gathering going up, just for the ‘Cons. Wanna come?”
He looked up as he finished, and Megatron suddenly laughed.
“Well as I’m now officially in this Tournament, what’s a meeting on it?” He said with a grin.
Starscream shook his head with a smile, and then looked up at him. “By the way …”
“Yes?”
Starscream gave a smirk. “Apology accepted.”

--------------------

Song - TRUSTcompany - Downfall

** Translation -
Fly high up
beat all odds
matter of time
love the sun
World: wone hero
The Eternal