WARNING: spoilers for ROTF. not big spoilers but yeah. this happens after the movie.

The two sat in awkward silence for what felt like two years but was, in reality, five minutes.

Their plans had failed… failed horribly. It was embarrassing. What made everything worse, Starscream had the nerve to rub it all in his face. The flier was soon beaten until he was silent, and here they were now.

The silver tyrant ran a check over his systems and sighed irritably. He turned to look at Starscream, his one working optic glaring hard with a menacing red glow. Starscream shifted uncomfortably from where he sat beside his master on the red mound of dirt before he slowly returned the gaze. He cringed at the site of the gaping hole in Megatron’s face, energon seeping from it and dripping along the sharp and somewhat rusty armor.

“Okay, fine. I’m sorry,” Starscream growled, turning away. Megatron was about to speak, but Starscream had continued on, “I’m sorry that I’m an idiot. I’m the one to blame for all this. Everyone looks at me. I’m the problem. Blah blah, whatever.” Starscream folded his arms across his chest and huffed. He only glanced at Megatron and tilted his head at what he saw.

Megatron tilted his head down, staring at the red ground beneath them, watching expressionlessly as energon dripped onto the surface. His red optic dimmed and he let out a soft huff of air—a sigh.

Starscream thought he’d never see the day where he saw Megatron—Lord High Protector, Decepticon Leader, Robo-Tyrant—actually looking guilty. It was such a fine moment to savor what was before him but strangely… the Seeker didn’t savor it at all. Starscream reached out a hand, claws twitching nervously. He put his servo on Megatron’s shoulder with a firm grip. “My lord…”

Megatron did not stir or even react to being touched. It was as if Starscream weren’t even there.

Starscream slowly moved his hand from Megatron’s shoulder, turning his head away and sighing. He stared off with a blank expression, deep in thought. He was pulled out his thoughts as he heard his leader stir. The seeker’s optics brightened with interest when Megatron had slid his head into his lap, the tyrant staring up at him with one ruby-red optic. Starscream instantly smiled and traced his claws along his master’s helm.

Megatron sighed again and with an irritated growl, he said, “I’m sorry, Starscream.”

Starscream leaned down and nuzzled against the tyrant’s good side gently. “It’s alright… Failed or not,” he hissed, “we’ll try again, my liege…”

With that, they sat in comforting silence, pondering what the future may hold for the Decepticon cause.