Work Text:
Creation date: 1st Cycle 012
Serial number: 071-980
Function: Manual laborer.
Designation: Megatron of Tarn
Reason for Arrest: Pysical altercation in a bar with his companion, another miner named Impactor and two cadets. Said cadets faced heavy injuries. Lost their legs.
These sort of fights aren't uncommon, far from it actually but for participants to loose more than one limb was out of the ordinary. You've spoken with impactor, from his point of view the cadets started it and threw an innocent citizen across the room. And well, the rest is self explanatory. Though he denies any involvement of his friend Megatron. Them not having provoked the conflict in the first place, certainly pushes them into a better light.
While you're filing Impactors statement, Springarm should be speaking with Megatron.
✧
"Were you forged or constructed cold?"
"I don't see where that's relevant? I thought we moved beyond apartheid."
"Must be an old question, let's ignore it...looks like this is your first offence Megatron of Tarn."
"You haven't charged me with anything yet. I'm entitled to legal counsel and an communicube." He's quick to answer.
"Someone's dealing with all that already. They’ll be here shortly. Any more questions?" Springarm glances up from his data pad and at Megatron.
"Impactor where is he?"
"Your friend with the arm? He’s being taken care of right now at a medical facility. He is in bad shape but he can still walk, unlike the cadets you roughed up." Springarm chides, unable to hide his disdain.
"I didn't want- I didn't mean.." For once he's unable to find the right words.
Another officer, a bot with one optic and rotor blades for hands, listens in on their conversation. The darkness of the hallway shields him and his intentions. As Springarm goes to leave, Whirl reveales himself and moves past him into the cell.
"I'll be handling it from here Springarm you can leave."
He only looks back once, not suspecting anything of his colleague and leaves.
The moment he is out of his sight, Whirl does not waste time to showcase the true reason he's here for.
"You know those cadets you crippled? They were my friends." Voice full of malice, a strike from his claw like hand connects with Megatrons face. Yet he does not flinch.
"By your lack of reaction it seems I have to take this as a challenge." Strike after strike, all Whirl wants is to satisfy his need for revenge, the harsh noise of metal colliding with metal echos far out into the corridor. As a miner, pain was by far not a foreign feeling, even as he begins to cough up energon.
"I hope you know that you brought this upon yourself and when you die, your death won't mean anything to anyone. Just another wasted spark."
✧
What are these noises?
You're finished and your next objective would be to speak with Springarm and as you near the cell you notice that the ruckus seems to come from exactly that direction. You start to jog down the hallway and when you arrive, the first thing you see is Whirl pulling his arm back to punch the inmate. Anger rises within your frame after you've overcome your initial shock and you intervene as quick as you can.
Before he can land another blow on him you grab his wrist and pull him away.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" You place yourself between the both of them.
"You know those cadets were my friends! You've seen what this degenerate did." He rips his wrist away from you. "And you damn well know he deserved it."
You're silent as you two simply glare.
"Pretend you didn't see anything." Is the last thing he says before moving past you and out.
"Moron." You exvent loudly as you watch his form retreat further away and out of your sight. You were definitely going to report him as it was your responsibility even if you understood where he came from. It wasn’t this bots fault but driven by the need to make the odds even, Whirl took his frustrations out on him and he should’ve known better.
You turn to the detained criminal and see the damage that's been done to him. Scratches, dents and energon leakage. You also note that he isn't all that bad looking, the scuffed up look adding to his mean look and promptly decide to stop gawking at him before you made the poor bot uncomfortable. Strange..he hadn't even fought back but given the situation this was probably the best course of action.
"I'm sorry are you alright? do you need any patching up?" You lock your hands behind your back as you wait for a response.
He only looks at you briefly.
"No I'm fine, thank you."
"Again I'm really sorry he shouldnt have..you know..this shouldn't have happened." You exvent, worriedly working your bottom lip.
"Why are you apologising for him? There’s no need, besides I deserved it." He grits out.
You can’t help but squint your optics. His sarcasm didn’t miss you but you disliked these situations in particular. You were a public servant, your job was to enact one of the long strings of justice embedded in the net of society but nothing was ever really fair. One thing you’ve promised yourself though, was that you would do what you can for the citizens of cybertron and that ofcourse includes him aswell.
You also expected him to blow a fuse but his response is very polite and calm. You remember how garbage the treatment of miners in general are. You cringe a bit.
"Oh here you are! I've been looking for you, actually." Springarm appears behind the metal bars, you step outside closing it.
"Here’s the rest of the files."
You take the files from him and say your see you laters. A specific mention catches your attention, it details numeral political writings of his, apparently criticizing the state of cybertron. You lift an optic ridge at that. A miner being philosophical? You glance through the bars again to find his gaze fixed on the ground. Well…who were you to judge, looks could be deceiving and this one had this strange air about him anyway. Your interest was peeked to say the least. You wanted to read them and went off to find none other than Orion pax.
✧
You're standing in his office and have read his writings already and you're more than surprised. The non violent methods he’s thought of to improve society are very impressive, not only that but you've gained a totally new perspective. The fact that we are imprisoned but willingly so, how we are all reduced to nothing but our altmodes, miserably bound forever to a condition none of us chose and unable to pursue our passions. The realization and knowledge that this divide was of our own doing, yet very changeable has given you a new sense of purpose.
"What's your verdict?" Orions voice pulls you straight out of your thoughts and you look away from the data pad.
Considering the anti senate motivated nature of the texts and that you work for the government you should choose your words carefully.
"I don't see him as guilty. The texts show a clear literary talent and despite their..rhetoric all he writes of is plausible. He just doesn't strike me as an individual who would go out of their way to beat others up. Especially after the emphasis of non violent behaviour." You pivot a little on your pedes while glancing around the office. What he wrote lines up with his previous behavior. You had imagined him to be like his friend Impactor, brutish and impulsive but they couldn't be more different.
"Then we're on the same page." He answers.
You humm. "So then I'll leave to pick him up and we can get this over with, captain?"
"Yes we can."
✧
Arriving at his cell you try to loosen the tension and smile. "Hey, I'm here to pick you up for your hearing." He rises and for the first time you realize his size. Yes, you were somewhat taller than him while he was sitting but that was only because the bench was incredibly low. Any sort of malice coming from giants like him and you're afraid that you wouldn’t be able to stop him by yourself.
But as you lock the door and look up at him from beside you, you don't see any sort of evilness reflected in his optics, what you do recognize is a sense of melancholy. He was like most in that sense, a bot who wishes for more.
"The captains a new guy. He believes in change and in improvement so you shouldn't worry." He keeps his sights forward and nods.
You shortly wonder if he’d flip if you told him that you went through his personal belongings, while it should be obvious that you've probably done that, without an explicit permission you weren't technically allowed to do so.
"I'm sorry in advance but we did go through your stuff." At that his posture stiffens slightly. "And I have to say, I found the things you wrote really inspiring and we need more like you, the ones who are willing to speak up you know?" You whisper, mindful of your surroundings.
He turns to look at you to find that you're already staring at him and his processor staggers. He doesn't do well with complements and he briefly wonders if this is a tactic to try and get him to confess for conspiring, but something in him tells him that you wouldn't do such a thing.
✧
The hearing itself wasnt exiting and you knew what was going to be said anyway. Now you hold the miners data pad in your servos, he was on his way out but must've forgotten it.
"Hey! sorry wait." You call out after him.
Megatron recognizes your voice and slight nervousness worms its way into his chassis.
"Here, your data pad and I hope you continue to write." That's all you say.
"Thank you." He smiles ever so slightly in gratitude and you can't help the way your spark beats a little faster. A shame you would never see him again.
✧
Coincidentally, the next time you meet him is at the same small bar. The witness you were meant to meet here for your investigation never showed up, so you decide to just head inside.
"I don't get it. You've been mentally absent the last couple of cycles what's up with you?" Impactor swallows another gulp of his drink.
"I told you. I want no problems with the law, next time, if you have to cause a scene do it when I'm not with you." That's only partially true because a certain individual had been stuck in his head but he'd rather get arrested again than ever tell Impactor.
"Wuss...-Hello officer what's the reason for our arrest this time? Peacefully minding our business?" Impactor chuckles low.
Megatron shoots him a glare while he just shrugs. Why were you here? Did they send you to finally put him behind bars once and for all in order to permanently shut him up? He tries to hide his surprise really, this must be his personal punishment.
You force a strained smile. "I wondered how you two were doing and what you're up to. Nothing crazy. Any problems?" When you recognized Megatron you couldn't believe it! What are the chances? You really wanted to meet him again because someone has been publishing certain posts and you have a feeling it might be him.
"No officer." Impactor isn't blind he can tell how his friend tries his best to seem nonchalant, even though his optics are obviously stuck on your face. To him the issue now is clear. His buddy had a crush on the pretty officer who arrested him.
"You know I think, I need some fresh air. I'll be back." He throws a sly grin towards his friend before removing himself from the booth.
Megatrons dermas turn downwards. Cybertronians did not need to breathe.
You temporarily take his place opposite from him and find yourself unable to look anywhere besides his red eyes. "And how have you been since last time? No more casualties I presume?" You ask, idly making small talk.
His lips quirk a little while he peers into his half empty glass, afraid to look at you for too long. "No officer and you? Any unfortunate citizen flying across bars lately?"
"No I'm afraid not. But if they were, you would probably not be too far away." You answer.
He caves, glancing upwards. You're a lot more interesting to look at anyway especially with that smirk on you.
There's one question burning in your mind and so you tentatively ask. "Say have you continued to write?"
"Yes." He glances away from you and to his data pad on the table, he isn't sure what compelled him but he asks. "Do you want to read some?" He can feel his face burn up when your eyes practically shine at his suggestion.
"Only if you want me to." And he hands you his tablet.
He watches your expression intently, gaze roaming your face. This was kind of strange, you stand on opposite sides of the spectrum. You're part of the government which he wants to dismantle yet you don't turn away in dismissal or in mockery at his ideas.
"...you are being deceived. Wow this is powerful and dangerous stuff." You give it back in awe. "What motivates you to write, I mean why express it in this way?"
He can't lie, he’s been waiting for someone to ask him that question.
"We miners are the reason why bots like you get to live but we are treated as nothing more than tools and if we break, no one repairs us. Instead we are discarded, simply thrown away and replaced. I can't hope to work my way up because I'll be forever reduced to nothing but my altmode."
He fidgets with his glass. "What do you think?" He thinks it's a bit silly how elated he is that another has taken interest in his ideals and is atleast willing to understand. As wishful as he is, he wonders if you can understand and if you’d be willing to share your own opinions.
"I can't imagine what you and the others go through but I'm with you on the fact that we need to reevaluate where our focus lies. I want the cybertron you envision, how we bring that change is what’s been occupying my mind. You're very talented by the way. Consider me a new fan of yours." You rest your head in your hand, he had a very nice voice and when he spoke it was with purpose, you could probably listen to him all day.
There, another one of his handsome smiles and you can't help the buzz that circulates through you.
He knows for a fact if he could see himself right now he'd probably slap himself. Getting all nervous because his voice found validation outside of his ring of associates and by a pretty femme nonetheless.
Impactor returns and you rise from your seat. "It was nice talking to you. I hope to see you again but not inside a cell." You wave. It was like a magnetic force was trying to keep you there and he could feel it too.
Nausea works it's way up to impactor, you two were gazing at each other like lost lovers or something, so he stops you and decides to be matchmaker for today. "Officer you don't happen to be taken do you?"
✧
Quite some time has passed since then. He was afraid at first that you would simply use him and report every detail back to your superior but you've reassured him more than once that this was not the case. In the contrary, with your position as officer you help him fall under the radar.
Currently you're walking servos intertwined through one of cybertrons parks. "You could always read me another poem." You grin up at him and he smirks in response.
"You mean another poem about you? I have many." You gently squeeze his servo and he holds it slightly tighter in return.
"I like all the poems you write and yeah I have an affinity with the lovely ones that are about me."
"Your presence alone ignites, a beauty that outshines starry lights, a radiance that forever excites, a treasure that my spark delights."
You dreamily sigh and he shakes his head at your dramatics.
Over time you got to see the real him not just miner megs but the soft spoken individual who likes romantic walks and long talks, the visionary that inspires different bots all across the planet. In return he's found somebody to confide in one who accepts him as he is, where he can be himself. You're honest, intelligent and all he could ever wish for in a partner.
"Sometimes I wish I could write poetic things like you do and express my feeling for you in that way." You think out loud.
Your head is turned away from him directed at the setting sun, the golden image of you and the feeling of your interlocked servos are a stark contrast to his rough daily work and make it all seem like a dream from which he never wishes to wake up from. For he is happiest when he's with you.
"Anyone can do what I do, its not really special and I like the way you express your feelings without words." He likes the way you look at him full of adoration, he likes how you listen to him, how you push him to persue his goals. He likes being with you and listening to all the things and criticisms you have and the fact that you put your work on the line because you believe in him. He likes you, more than his poems can express.
"To me it is special. Megatron, you are too." You pull him closer.
He can't hold your unwavering stare and looks away. All your lovely complements and words never fail to make him feel dizzy.
You both come to a stop and you reach over to hold both of his servos in your own. Naturally he lowers his face to yours and your foreheads touch. You can feel the warmth radiating off of him and whisper "What if we became a rebellious duo and overthrow the senate."
He chuckles and your smile widens at the sound of it. You're about to protest as he increases the distance and lets go of you but goes to delicately cup your warm face instead. The golden hour makes the glow of his eyes even redder and you realize that no sight could compare to the blaze of his optics and that you would gladly overthrow any government for him if it meant that he’d gaze at you like this forever. You can't focus on anything else beside his soft expression as your spark helplessly melts at the sight. It shows all the emotions that he can't wait to write and compose, to show you what you mean to him.
His thumb brushes over your bottom lip.
"As long as you're by my side." And he closes the space between you two in a kiss that holds his deceleration of love and promises for the future.