Chapter Text
The therapist wasn’t entirely certain what to expect from his upcoming appointment with Starscream, given all that had occurred since they had last spoken.
Perhaps for him to be overjoyed from being allowed parole, or maybe in the middle of some sort of crisis, given the way he usually behaved.
Certainly not the quiet, spacey, well-behaved little weirdo that seemed to have killed him and taken his place.
The seeker slumped onto the couch in the therapist’s new office and tucked his legs up close to his chest.
“Hello, Starscream,” the therapist said. “Is everything alright?”
The seeker regarded him thoughtfully.
“You know, Doctor,” he said, resting his chin between his knees, “I don’t believe I ever caught your name. Funny, right? It’s been a year!” His wings dipped low on his back. “I suppose it was rather rude of me to never ask.”
The therapist blinked.
“Oh!” He said. “It’s Clinicus.” Starscream nodded absently.
“Well, Clinicus, I believe I...” He trailed off, staring at the ground. “I... I owe you an... Um. An apology.” He swallowed. “So. I’m sorry. For being kind of an aft that one time. You know, when I tried it cut ties with you? That one.”
The therapist smiled hard enough for his face to start hurting. Starscream risked a glance in his direction, then balked.
“What are you looking at me like that for?!” He squawked. “I just bared my vulnerabilities to you, you absolute-”
“Starscream,” Clinicus said, smile unwavering, “you’ve come so far this past year. I want you to know that I’m so fragging proud of you. You’re doing amazing.”
Starscream froze.
“Oh,” he said quietly, beginning to tremble. “That’s- that’s nice.” His voice cracked. He buried his face in his knees with a high whine, and Clinicus heard muffled, ugly sobs.
“Oh, hey,” he cooed, getting to kneel in front of his patient. “I’m sorry. Did I say something upsetting?”
Starscream cried harder.
“Stop- stop being so nice!” He blubbered. “You’re making it wor- worse!”
Clinicus nodded and returned to his seat.
“Alright,” he said. “Would you like to talk about anything else?”
Starscream hiccuped and nodded, trying very hard to regain his composure. Clinicus smiled.
“Okay. How has your day been so far?” Starscream grabbed a nearby pillow and clutched it to his chest.
“It’s been- it’s been good,” he choked out, wiping furiously at the coolant beading up in his brightened optics. Clinicus nodded.
“Good,” he said, “I’m glad to hear it.”
Starscream buried his face into the pillow and wailed. Clinicus’s smile grew concerned.
Baby steps.
...
The apartment that had been given to them was less than upscale.
It was cramped, had suspicious stains all over the place, and the walls were thin enough that one could hear everything their neighbors shouted.
Given that they lived next to Weird Brenda, that became something of a nuisance.
Its only redeeming qualities were that it had a balcony, and a somewhat decent view of the rest of the city, Starscream decided.
Oh- and Steve. Steve was also an important part of the equation.
Starscream leaned against the railing, wishing desperately that he could forget his embarrassing emotional breakdown during his appointment with Clinicus. Thanks to Optimus’s meddling, he’d have to face him again once every decacycle for the foreseeable future.
Ugh.
A small, pathetic little breeze drifted past him, having been choked of its strength by the densely-packed surrounding buildings obstructing its path. Starscream fluttered his wings unsconsciously, savoring its smooth glide over his plating.
He’d missed the little moments like this, away from all of life’s drama and problems-
Bang!
“Starscream!” Steve shouted joyfully, flooding the night with the apartment’s warm light. “Guess who just died of a rust infection~!”
Starscream straightened, wings perking up.
“ No ,” he said, fighting the smile that curled at the corners of his mouth. Steve pumped his fist in the air.
“You’d better believe it, baby!” He exclaimed, unsubspacing a datapad. “Ol’ Buckethead finally kicked the bucket!”
Starscream cackled.
“Buckethead!” He cried, curling over the railing. “Oh, how have I never heard that?”
Steve propped his datapad against the wall and pressed a few buttons, and earth music blasted out of its cheap, poorly-made speakers.
“ I like big butts and I cannot lie, them other brothers can’t deny- ”
“What is this racket?!” Starscream shouted over the din.
“Celebration music!” Steve replied, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him into some sort of weird, improvised pseudo-waltz. “Knockout told me it’s apparently very romantic. Consider it a reward for yours truly for taking care your pest problem!”
Starscream shook with peals of laughter, gripping Steve’s shoulders so he didn’t fall over. Suddenly, the vehicon lowered him into french dip and pulled him into a kiss.
“ My anaconda don’t want none- ”
“Shut the frag up, you aftheads! It’s the middle of the night!” Someone shouted from a few stories down.
Steve and Starscream froze, then parted sheepishly. The vehicon stepped back and accidentally kicked the datapad through the railing of the balcony.
“ My anaconda don’t- my anaconda don’t- ”
Crack!
“Scrap,” Steve hissed. “I was borrowing that from Knockout!”
Starscream rolled his optics in amusement, then hooked a digit under Steve’s chin.
“Nevermind that,” he purred. “I can think of a few other ways to reward you. ”
Steve stiffened, then quickly tugged him back inside.
“Yes!” The vehicon cheered. “But you have to spike me this time. It’s been forever since I got to use my valve!” He shivered. “Also, you are crazy strong, and sometimes a mech just needs to get pinned against something horizontal for self-care reasons.”
Starscream chuckled and allowed himself to be pulled along into the berthroom.
“So demanding,” he teased, “but I supposed you’ve earned it.”
Steve did a little happy dance before flopping backwards onto the berth.
“Let’s do this!” He cheered. Starscream laughed, climbing on top of him.
“You’re ridiculous,” he muttered fondly. “I love you.”
Steve paused, and his visor dimmed.
“I love you, too,” he said softly, looping his arms over Starscream’s shoulders.
They stayed like that a moment, staring into each other’s optics, before Starscream awkwardly reset his vocalizer.
“Well, that’s enough of that!” He declared, straddling Steve’s hips. “It‘s time to give Weird Brenda a taste of her own medicine!”
The vehicon whooped and pulled the seeker into a kiss, wrapping his legs around his waist.
Starscream’s apartment was ugly, tiny, and had about as much privacy as a public restroom, but Steve more than made up for that. Even if he made him listen to weird human music and stole his art supplies, something about him simply made Starscream feel somewhat at peace.
It was nice.
Perhaps there is something to be said for disgusting, Autobot-esque sentiment, after all , Starscream mused, completely ignoring the irritated wall-thumping coming from his neighbors on all sides.
Somehow, life was good.