Chapter Text
“Get out of the store!” The owner of the store kicked Starscream out of the place, as the little seeker fell on the ground. He huffed, sticking out his tongue at the mech and scurried off after stealing the energon and the truffle with his servos.
In the deepest street of Iacon, there aren’t any places that are gentle for the seekers, hence why Starscream became a thief to help feed his siblings, Thundercracker and Skywarp.
Thundercracker was the rational one, he wasn’t the one to steal but he was definitely the older brother who wandered around the street to find a job to get shanix. It was a difficult time.
None of his two brothers like the Autobots, nor the decepticons. Especially that Lord high protector mech that was called Megatron himself who made a peace treaty with Optimus Prime, the ruler of Cybertron.
The three young seekers were poor without any shanix, their creator, Northstar and Phoenix passed away from illness. Now, they live in a filthy broken down abandoned place that they have called home…
Their creator originated from Vos, they have been moving to Iacon for a better environment, and so it seems. Grounder in Iacon tended to treat Seeker differently..
“I’m home!” Starscream exclaimed, he came inside of the house and found Skywarp laying on the worn-out blanket on the blanket as he waved the paper fan onto his face, it was usually hot out.
“Finally!, give me..” Skywarp abruptly stood up from the floor, urging his brother to give him the energon. He drank half of the liquid and saved it for his brothers.
Starscream looked around, optic darting to look for Thundercracker. “Don’t tell me he’s off searching for work again..” He sighed, resting the energon down.
“He is..”Skywarp answered. “He could have stayed and perhaps you could gather more fuel for us…” he suggested.
Skywarp complained.
Starscream sighed, his brother was right..
He stayed there with him, waiting for his other brother to come when he’s done searching around for a job to get shanix.
Thundercracker finally came, his frame was stuffed with a bit of scratches, dirt and filthy stuff on there as if he had been doing labor for hours.
“You’re back..” Starscream huffed. “We were waiting for you..” He said.
“Yes, I got a job for laboring..” Thundercracker said. “These jobs were especially for digging and detecting energon in the cave… I managed to earn a little money..” He added.
“Here..” Starscream gave him a cube of energon, watching his older brother fueled. “I managed to steal some from the store..” he admitted, knowing that his brother will be worried about him.
“Star!– you’re lucky that they didn’t call the enforcement on you…” Thundercracker scolded, as Starscream rolled optics and waved his claw dismissively.
“Relax.. At least, I didn't get arrested.” Starscream assured.
Thundercracker glanced at him, not convinced. He sat beside him on the floor, then he laid down for a nap. Not even showering or anything.
Guess, Starscream has to sleep as well, tomorrow will be another day.
Outside, Starscream sat on a tiny rock. Bored out of his mind, he hasn't got any energon yet and some stores are closed for days. Skywarp was there beside him, throwing a little puddle.
Starscream overhear other bots speaking about the Lord High Protector Megatron and Optimus Prime. He moved a bit close to hear.
“Have you heard? The Prime invited high protector Megatron for a dinning outside of the garden together!..” One bots exclaimed, they were excited.
“What a load of slag..” Skywarp murmured, hearing this as well. “This lord high protector and this prime didn’t do scrap.. I wonder why our alley streets were filthy with curse mechs that throw rocks at us just because we are different from them..” He huffed, rolling his optics.
“Really, if that prime was as good as they say. Then how about he make a law that we all should treat each other equally even if we are different?..” Skywarp whispers to his brother.
Starscream listened to him, he could understand where that came from. Then, he had a sudden idea. He was desperate for food, and every time he tried to bring something new or food, it always reached out of his servos.
Perhaps… he should…
No! That is absolutely mad… actually maybe that could work?..
He could have tried.
“Hm..I hear you, I have to go, sky..” Starscream said, standing up from the rock he had taken a seat on. “I should go search for food or something for us..” he said.
“Be careful, who knows what those weirdos will do if they catch you stealing..” Skywarp warned, watching him.
“Yeah yeah.. I’ll be fine.” Starscream rolled his optics, walking off to a different direction.
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It was kinda easy to find the palace that belonged to Optimus prime, it was lovely and huge. He knew that there were guards around, so he'd sneak around and walk toward the garden in the back. His optics widened the moment he saw the garden, the table was untouched. Perhaps they’ll be coming soon.
He quickly walked through the garden unnoticed, the food was there, there were truffle energon, ice cream energon with a bit of sparkle. his mouth drool upon seeing it. They look so delicious that he couldn’t resist!
He dragged some of it inside his mouth and saved the other for his brothers. He heard footsteps from away, he panicked and hid under the table of the throw, not moving an inch.
“How pleased I am to see you again, Megatron..” He heard a deep voice, he could recognize it as Optimus, that prime. He took a peek.
“Hm, don’t mention it. I cannot resist a lovely dinner..” Megatron said, Starscream could see him smirking, and they both walked to the table.
“I supposed that being a high protector took a lot of work, wasn't it?..” Optimus assumed, he sat down on the chair, his leg was almost close to the seeker as the seeker slowly moved away a bit to avoid being caught.
“Oh, you have no idea..” Megatron said, sitting in the chair as well.
Starscream glanced between their legs, not wanting to move. He heard their conversation and it was just normal talk about duty..
Perhaps, he could move slowly and quietly?..
No, that’ll give away his position..
“Some demand more of me, sometimes it gets difficult to do things that others want you to do… “ Megatron murmured, sighing.
He shifts his legs, tapping them. Until he felt something. Starscream stops completely, not moving. He was screaming inside of his processor. He tried to look for options but some of them aren't the solution..
“Hold on– I felt something..” Megatron said, reaching his servos on the throw of the table. Optimus tilted his helm curiously, doing the same thing as well.
In a quick instant, Starscream slides out of the table. Running for his life as he heard their shout. He didn’t stay around to find out.
He could see guard sprint after him, he transformed into his alt mode and flew faster as he could.
He flew through the street, he shifted out of his alt mode, his breath was almost taken away from running. He went back inside of the house and saw Skywarp looking at Thundercracker’s small amount of shanix as the blue seeker counted them all.
Thundercracker scowled at him, already knowing his thoughts. “Don’t even think about it..” he said.
“But– I didn’t say anything!” Skywarp exclaimed, rolling his optics.
“You were thinking of it..” Thundercracker hid his money away, he glanced at Starscream.
“You’re back, what did you bring this time?..” Thundercracker asked, worried about his brother more than whatever he had brought.
Starscream smiled and reached out the food inside of his cockpit. “I found these..” he said, proud of his work. “Now it should probably be enough for us..”
Skywarp and thundercracker’s optics widen, their mouths open agape.
“Where did you get that?..that looks expensive!” Skywarp reached for the truffle ball and ate them.
“I went around the prime’s palace where he and the high protector took place in the garden and I took it. I hid in there until I got caught…” he admits. “Luckily, I left so fast that they couldn’t reach me..”
Thundercracker’s wing stopped, his body frozen. “Say what now?–” His optics widened.
“Are you serious??—” Skywarp yelled from pure surprise.
“You– star!– You almost got caught by the ruler of Cybertron for stealing the food!” Thundercracker scolds.
“I'm worried if they managed to track us and tried to behead Star to steal..” Skywarp said.
Thundercracker whirl his helm to him and glared. “Why would you say that!” he frowned.
Starscream rolled his optics and sighed. This is going to be a long scolding conversation.
“It’s just one time, I’m gonna be fine–” he said.
“Fine?– FINE??” Thundercracker shouted. “You’re lucky that you escape so fast, otherwise you’d be in jail!” he said.
Starscream winced, crossing his arm. “I know!" he retorted.
“You don’t know that–” Thundercracker scowled.
“I’m gonna go rest..” Starscream interrupted, not wanting to speak to him anymore. “I’m getting tired..” he murmured and left for his room.
Thundercracker sighed, he rubbed his servo on his face.
Skywarp was still chewing on the truffle, watching the drama unfold. “He’ll go around..” he assured his older brother.
“I hope so..” Thundercracker muttered.
If something happens to his brothers, then he should be the one protecting them. If they’re going to hurt them, they’ll have to go through him first.