Chapter Text
“I don’t think you should be up there,” Thundercracker gave a nervous glance around at the surprisingly empty command room. It was after shifts and mostly everyone was back in their quarters. Starscream didn’t budge, seeming to further slump into Megatron’s chair. The chair was more like a throne than a commanding seat, being placed high with a few stairs leading up to it. It was big with wide flat armrests that Starscream sometimes sat on to annoy the leader. Today the SIC decided to occupy the seat fully, throwing his legs over one of the armrests and leaning his arm on the other.
“He’s on Cybertron with Shockwave,” Starscream carelessly waved his servo, “since he’s gone and I’m next in line, I can sit here.”
“Remember last time?” Thundercracker reminded, arms crossing. Starscream twitched his wing in response, scowling. The blue seeker knew that he wasn’t going to win the argument.
“Fine. I won’t patch your wings when he comes back.” The threat held no grounds, and the tricolor seeker knew it.
“Well, I think,” Skywarp popped into Thundercracker’s view with a sly grin, “we need to be nicer to Lord Starscream.”
“Don’t feed his ego,” Thundercracker warned, but could already see Starscream beginning to smile, mischief broadcasting through their bond. Starscream hummed, resting his chin on his servo, and looking down at the other two seekers with interest.
“As the leader, I think it’s only fair that you two prove your loyalty to me,” Starscream declared, using his free servo to beckon them closer. “Mainly you, Thundercracker, after that scathing comment.”
Skywarp was moving long before their trineleader gave the command, his fluttering wings a sign that he was trying to hide his excitement. Starscream sat up properly, quickly pulling the purple seeker into his lap. Thundercracker hesitated behind, still glancing nervously at the closed entrance, expecting someone to barge in and catch them.
“This is a bad idea,” he voiced again but was going against his own words of caution as he sat on one of the armrests. He knew exactly where to place himself to be close to his troublemaking mates but still had the opportunity to run if needed. As if he’d done this plenty of times before. Thundercracker’s optics were locked on where Starscream’s sharp teeth were quickly marking Skywarp’s neck, shuddering at the phantom feeling on his own.
“Remember last time?” Thundercracker tried one last time, despite knowing they probably weren’t listening.
“We’ll clean better this time,” Starscream sounded annoyed, “or you will. I couldn’t care less.”
Skywarp laughed, servo reaching out to prod at Thundercracker, “Stop worrying. Or else I’m gonna become Star’s new favorite.”
Thundercracker rolled his optics but made up his mind then. He stuck his thruster between them, and with a swift kick knocked Skywarp off the trineleader. In a fluid motion, he took Skywarp’s place, wings fanning out in satisfaction as he smirked.
“Rude!” Skywarp snapped, teleporting to where Thundercracker was sitting on the armrest, clearly pouting. Starscream let the two continue to bicker and send jabs at each other through their bond, while he idly rubbed the blue seeker’s plating. Megatron was going to be gone for a while, there wasn’t a need to rush things along.