[Flights of Fancy] Topsy-Turvy 09
Apr. 2nd, 2018 06:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracoqueen22Title: Topsy-Turvy
Universe: Flights of Fancy
Characters: Megatron/Rodimus, Soundwave, Shockwave/Orion Pax, Drift/Perceptor, Starscream, Ensemble
Rating: M
Enticements: Harpyformers AU, Sexual Content, Romance, Unrequited Love, Angst, Fluff, Slow burn
Summary: If asked, Liege Megatron of the Kaon Aerie would say his life was perfect. With a content, growing flock to manage, he had nothing to worry about. Loneliness was part of a Liege’s life, he’d decided. Until the bright-spirited Hot Rod comes along, determined to be the exception to the rule.
Chapter Nine
A few days later, Ravage came and fetched Megatron out of the library where he’d been taking refuge from the work stacked on his office desk. It could very well keep until the eggs hatched, and Megatron could greet the new arrivals to his flock. Besides, Orion wasn’t available to pester him into working on it.
The library was small, intimate, and growing by the years. The university humans had gifted them with most of their collection. Perceptor bought others. Newly arrived harpies brought books and scrolls with them. Some were written in dialects Megatron couldn’t read. He appreciated the diversity, however. It was what he wanted for his flock.
“Is someone hatching?” Megatron asked as soon as he sensed Ravage’s presence, since spotting Ravage was nearly impossible.
Ravage was almost solid-black and the darkest smol in Megatron’s aerie. He was sub-adult as well, but Megatron had no doubt once he reached maturity, there would be many vying to court him.
“No. The Raptors are here.” Ravage slinked around without making noise. The odd and occasional habit of walking quadrupedal probably had something to do with it. “Grimlock wants to talk to you.”
Megatron snapped his book shut and slipped it back onto the shelf. He hadn’t been reading it so much as he’d been trying to suss out the language. “Does he seem agitated?”
“He’s got a mate.”
Megatron raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ravage. “Beg pardon?”
Ravage cracked a smile. His teeth looked bright against the inky black of his feathers. “Pretty little thing. Not a Raptor.”
“Huh.” Even Grimlock could get a mate. Clearly, the world had changed. “Well, best not to keep him waiting.”
“No. Not that one.” Ravage chuckled, low and raspy though it was, and slunk out of the room ahead of Megatron. He vanished that quickly, though how he did so in full daylight, Megatron had yet to figure.
Outside the library, Megatron finally caught the noise at the ground floor. A fair number of his flock had assembled, especially some of the newer residents who were no doubt curious about the Raptors. They were an unusual bunch and rarely interacted with their feathered kin. Unsurprisingly, things were different in Kaon.
Less feather than flesh and scale, harpy Raptors better resembled feathered reptiles rather than birds. They ate meat and preferred to be nomadic. They were a small group and no one counted them as flock or aerie.
Pack, Megatron decided, was the better term. This particular one was only four in number, five if Grimlock had truly taken a mate. There were other groups of Raptors but Megatron had never met any of them as Grimlock’s pack were the only Raptors locally. Most Raptors kept to themselves, both out of preference and because their feathered kin weren’t very welcoming.
Megatron dropped into a glide to reach the ground floor, landing with a soft thump between the cluster of Raptors near the main entrance, and the clump of his own flock. He recognized no few faces, including Hot Rod’s, among the crowd. Soundwave was here as well, though he stepped up beside Megatron in a united front.
“Good afternoon, Grimlock,” Megatron said, careful to keep his tone pleasant as he greeted the Raptor leader with a tip of his head.
Grimlock was larger than him, bulkier as well, but Megatron refused to be intimidated by him. Even with the longer, sharper talons and teeth better suited for rending and tearing. He’d wondered on more than one occasion who would be the victor if Grimlock ever challenged him. Megatron had training, but Grimlock had sheer ferocity.
“Afternoon,” Grimlock rumbled. His head barely dipped, a minor concession of respect. It was the most Megatron had managed to win from him.
His pack-mates clustered behind him, Sludge even larger than Grimlock, Slag and Snarl. There was another, just behind Grimlock, but visible still, and all the more noticeable. In a sea of golds, browns, and reds, this harpy was a bright, feathered purple. He was quite clearly a smol, where Megatron knew the Raptors did not have such classes. He was obviously not a Raptor at all.
“Welcome to Kaon,” Megatron said. He was curious as to where Grimlock had found his pretty smol. “You’re here to trade as usual, I assume?”
“You right.” Grimlock’s speech could use work, but the Raptors had a language of their own, and had only consented to learn a more common tongue to better communicate. “You have supplies. Me have information.” He spoke the last word slowly, sounding out each syllable.
“Information,” Soundwave repeated from Megatron’s right, Frenzy standing next to him. The little subadult had his arms folded as he planted a look on his face that suggested he wasn’t afraid. Though that didn’t stop him from inching closer to his brother’s side.
“I assume you have a list?” Megatron asked.
Snarl stepped forward, handing over a scrap of paper with a messy scrawl on it. “This list,” he grunted as Frenzy danced forward to snatch it from his fingers.
Frenzy held it up to Megatron, allowing him to read it, though it would be Frenzy and his brothers’ task to gather the items. Megatron squinted at the list, mentally comparing the request to what they had in stock and could spare. It was one of many reasons Orion insisted he be aware of their supply status.
“I can spare everything but the solar batteries. I can only offer half,” Megatron said as he finished skimming the list. “The rest is manageable.” He looked up at Grimlock. “Did you want access to our hot springs this time?”
“Hot springs?” The purple smol perked up, his amber eyes going big and round, before he grasped onto Grimlock’s arm and gave it a gentle tug. “Oh, please, can we? I haven’t had a hot bath in ages.”
He looked up at Grimlock, all pleading and pretty, his feathers splayed attractively, a purr in his voice. Hot Rod had often done much the same to Megatron. It was a common tactic from a smol who knew how difficult to resist they could be.
What flock had this one come from, Megatron wondered. He was far too bold to be Vosian. Polyhex perhaps? Polyhexians were rumored to be hierarchical, with smols holding only the highest positions. Except Polyhex was a fair distance from here. Not a flight easily managed, especially for a lone smol. As of right now, Megatron did not house a single smol from Polyhex.
Grimlock ducked his head, his crest drooping. “Not have enough trade,” he murmured.
Purple feathers flattened and drooped. The happy cant to his lips turned into a pout as the smol pressed against Grimlock’s side. “Oh.”
Megatron’s core gave a little twinge of sympathy. His liege instincts rose up, demanding that he soothe and comfort.
“There’s no need to trade for such a thing,” Megatron said as he clasped his hands behind his back, trying his best to project a nonchalant air that spoke of kindness rather than charity. “It’s a natural resource so we’ve decided it is one to be shared freely.”
It was a new principle. One Megatron just now decided needed to be put into place. Luckily, of all those present, only Soundwave could call him out on the fib, and he wouldn’t.
Besides, neither Megatron nor his instincts could bear to see the pretty thing so disappointed. As amber eyes lit up with joy, Megatron knew he had made the right choice.
“Then can we?” The smol slid a hand – talons blunt, definitely not Raptor at all – over Grimlock’s arm. He pressed closer, the length of his body molded against Grimlock’s side, his voice becoming liquid and warm. “We can share one.”
That was one such invitation no interested harpy could ignore. It seemed Raptors were no different.
Grimlock’s eyes darkened with heat. “We can,” he rumbled before he seemed to remember where he was again, and his gaze shifted to Megatron. “With your permission.”
Behind him, Snarl and Slag snorted and jostled each other, giving their leader knowing looks. Amazingly, there didn’t seem to be a bit of jealousy in their gazes. Did they all… share the pretty one?
Megatron’s thoughts stalled on that. He didn’t want to contemplate it. All four Raptors outmassed their feathered companion. He was very much a rose among thorns.
Megatron coughed to hide the abrupt and worrisome thought. “You’re welcome here,” he said with a planted smile. “Your usual rooms are clean and ready for use.”
The Raptors came by often enough that Megatron had set aside a few nests for their use. But he also kept several unoccupied nests on the ground floor for visitors. They didn’t have many, but there were occasionally curious harpies who came without the intention to stay.
Spies, sometimes, too. Megatron welcomed them all the same. He had nothing to hide. He trusted Soundwave would keep a close watch on them.
The purple smol tugged on Grimlock’s arm again and snuggled into his shoulder. “Thank you for the offer!” he chirped and grinned brightly. “I’m Misfire, by the way. I’m new.”
Megatron grinned despite himself. There was something very disarming about Misfire. “I gathered as much. Pleasure to meet you, Misfire.” He dipped his head. “Welcome to the Kaon flock.”
Grimlock rumbled deep in his chest, a sound no feathered harpy could make as it was closer to a growl. “Misfire mine.”
Misfire made a noise of delight and leaned harder against Grimlock, nuzzling his shoulder with a rub of his head. His pale grey face bloomed with a blush of heat.
Megatron had to bury his amusement, lest he offend. “No one is questioning your claim, Grimlock.” He swallowed down his grin. “Now what of this information you promised me?”
The Raptor leader blinked slowly, like a predator considering prey, before he straightened. He barked something over his shoulder in that odd, guttural language of theirs. Slag hissed in return, shooting Megatron a hostile look.
Misfire pouted and his shoulders slumped. “Aw, do I have to?”
“Yes.” Grimlock nuzzled Misfire’s face in a distinctly possessive move. He said something that made Misfire preen.
“Fine.” Misfire rose up to press a kiss to Grimlock’s cheek. “But if you don’t hurry, I’m going to start without you.”
With that promise, Misfire flounced away from Grimlock and slung his arm through Snarl’s, dragging the Raptor after Slag and Sludge who had started to drift toward their rooms. Again, Megatron wondered if they all shared Misfire. Or was it merely a case of the flockmembers caring for their leader’s mate?
Megatron’s flock parted to make room for them, leaving only Grimlock behind, hopefully to share the information he carried. Grimlock often came across important things Megatron needed to know, since he roamed the far reaches of Kaon.
Megatron supposed he owed Grimlock the same courtesy of privacy. He turned toward his flock. “All right, everyone. Back to your duties.”
Most obeyed immediately. A few lingered, but scattered after Megatron gave them a firm look. Soundwave remained, Frenzy at his side, which Megatron had expected. Hot Rod stuck around as well, which Megatron did not expect.
“You, too, Hot Rod,” he said.
Hot Rod grinned and bounced closer to him. “This is my duty,” he chirped, hands clasped behind his back, feathers twitching cheerfully. “I’m subbing for Orion remember?”
Frag.
Megatron sighed and rubbed his palm over his face. “Fine. Just… be quiet. And don’t interrupt.”
“My lips are sealed, boss.” Hot Rod mimed drawing his fingers over his lips and put his hand behind his back again. He bounced on his tarsals.
Someone had been spending far too much time in Frenzy and Rumble’s company. He was picking up on their idiosyncrasies.
Megatron turned back toward Grimlock. “You said you had information?”
The large Raptor nodded and moved closer, looming over the three Kaon harpies, though Megatron doubted it was intentional.
“There strange harpies in area,” Grimlock rumbled. He grimaced. “Since two, mebbe three weeks end of mating season.”
Curiously, it aligned with Starscream’s arrival to Kaon. Were the two perhaps related? Had someone come looking for Starscream? It wouldn’t be the first time. Now might be prudent for Megatron to remind his guards of how they were expected to handle potential threats.
“We’ve heard those rumors.” Having more than one credible source, however, meant Megatron should upgrade these strange harpies from rumor to potential danger. “We have a scouting party attempting to track them now. You’ve seen them?”
“Yes.” Grimlock’s growl deepened. He crossed his arms over his chest. Thick, ridged scars gave testament to many a fierce battle. “They armed. Have armor. Carry banner. Blue and silver.”
Blue and silver. Megatron frowned. That wasn’t much to go on. Many of the larger Aeries used blue and silver in their flags. Soundwave might know better. Or someone from Megatron’s flock might recognize the banner of their home aerie. It would be prudent to ask around.
“How many?” Megatron asked.
“Half-dozen.” Grimlock grinned, bearing razor-sharp teeth, perfect for rending flesh. “Easy prey. If wanted.”
Megatron shook his head, amused despite himself. “There’s no need to get violent yet. We don’t know what they want. Best to avoid conflict if at all possible.”
Grimlock snorted and shifted his weight, muscles rippling where scales were more visible than feathers. “No fun.”
“I merely prefer to think ahead,” Megatron said, unwilling to rise to the bait. He refused to get manipulated into another sparring match with Grimlock.
They’d both come out of it worse for wear. While Grimlock had laughed off the blood and damage and eventual scars, Megatron had been forced to endure Ratchet’s ire. And nothing was worth the rage of his doctor.
“Where were they?” Megatron asked.
Grimlock tilted his head, his forehead crinkling as he thought. “Near Tarn border. Maybe avoiding Tarn? Not sure. Heading west.”
Toward Uraya, perhaps. Or straight toward Kaon’s aerie, if they took a more direct path.
“What else?” Frenzy asked. He still clutched the paper list. “You gotta know more than some random harpies wanderin’ about.”
Grimlock grunted. “Do,” he said, and unfolded his arms, his eyes narrowing. “Humans skulking around, too. Lots. Not kids. Not scientists.”
The Raptors of Kaon were well aware of those who were associated with the university. They knew what to look for, just as the university students and teachers knew what to carry to identify themselves as friend to nearby harpies.
“So not from the university.” Megatron’s frown deepened. This was troublesome indeed.
There were reasons the harpies feared humans. Slave trade was only part of it. Some of the humans had odd ideas about what harpy biology could do for them. Myth and magic. Detestable, really.
Megatron knew his aerie was particularly vulnerable because of its small size. He did not have an army to call upon if they were attacked. They always had the option to fall back or flee to the university for sanctuary, but not all of his flock would make it. There would be casualties.
“Slavers?” Soundwave guessed, and his tone was dark. His hands formed into tight fists at his side.
Megatron rested a hand on his Speaker’s shoulder, silently comforting. The scars on Soundwave’s throat attested to his hatred of humans. They’d fought free of such attempts to cage them before, and saved Laserbeak and Buzzsaw in the process.
“Probably.” Grimlock’s eyes darkened. “Can kill those, yeah?”
Megatron didn’t particularly care for the safety of human slavers. But he worried about consequences. If harpies started killing humans, no matter how vile they were, the humans might retaliate. It wouldn’t matter that the harpies had been victims to start.
“Not around Kaon,” he finally answered, and slid his hand free of Soundwave’s shoulder. The other flocks were large enough they could defend themselves. Megatron couldn’t afford that risk. “I don’t need trouble.”
Grimlock barked a laugh. “Still no fun.” He rocked back on his tarsal talons, his scales fluffing up as though to make him appear bigger. “That all information. Snarl got trade stuff. Swap later?”
Frenzy cackled. “Eager to get to that pretty mate of yours?” He leaned forward with an amused grin on his face. Bold smol.
Grimlock, however, only grinned. “Misfire mine.”
“Trade later,” Megatron confirmed, if only because the lust in Grimlock’s eyes was making him jealous. Misfire was quite pretty. “Go. Enjoy the springs. And your mate.”
Grimlock’s smile was all predatory teeth. “I will.”
He strutted off without a care in the world, shoulders proud. No doubt he’d grab Misfire and take him to the hot springs. Megatron made a mental note not to go anywhere near said springs for the rest of the day. The last thing he needed was a spike of envy to go with everything else.
“The scouts check in tonight,” Soundwave said once they were alone. “I’ll direct them toward Tarn. See what they can find.”
Megatron nodded. “Good.” He shifted his gaze to Hot Rod, whose brow had drawn tight and his gaze elsewhere. “Something wrong, Hot Rod?”
The smol blinked and looked up. “What? Oh. No. Sorry. I was thinking.” He grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. “Should we be worried about the humans?”
“Of course not. But it never hurts to be prepared and cautious.” Megatron tried to offer a reassuring smile, even though Hot Rod’s expression remained somewhat distant. “Though I do think it’s a good idea to remind everyone of the safety rules.” He’d bring it up at the communal meal tonight.
“Yeah. That’s good.” Hot Rod audibly sighed and chewed on his bottom lip. “You think these… mysterious harpies are going to be trouble?”
“Only one way to find out!” Frenzy chirped as he climbed up his brother’s body and perched on Soundwave’s shoulder like a too-big parrot. “Might just have to invite them in for a chat.”
Megatron pinched the bridge of his nose. “Frenzy.”
“A friendly chat!” the sub-adult corrected, his eyes sparkling, and his grin the very picture of innocence. One Megatron did not believe for an instant.
Megatron bit back a sigh. “It doesn’t matter why they’ve come. Kaon is my Aerie, and my flock, and no one is leaving if they don’t want to. That’s all there is to it.”
“That’s good to know,” Hot Rod said, but he didn’t look relieved. If anything, he seemed even more pensive than before, lower lip getting puffy from repeated gnawing, and his feathers drawn tight against his body.
Megatron, however, wouldn’t push. He’d learned better by now. He made a mental note to have Soundwave look into it. Perhaps something in Hot Rod’s past made him fear soldiers or mysterious strangers.
“Me and bro will start making plans, boss.” Frenzy patted Soundwave on the head like the little brat he was. The paper crinkled in his free hand.
Megatron wouldn’t have caught Soundwave’s aggrieved sigh if he hadn’t been listening for it. “I know you’ll get the job done.”
Frenzy beamed. Behind his mask, Soundwave might have been smiling, not that Megatron would know it.
Soundwave launched into the air, Frenzy shrieking with glee as he clung to his brother’s shoulder. They headed for the upper levels, where Soundwave’s office was tucked away in a back corner, difficult to find. Paranoid, Soundwave was. Megatron couldn’t blame him.
Hot Rod remained, still fidgeting, his eyes turned in the direction Grimlock and his pack had gone. Megatron couldn’t identify the look on his face, save that something about it troubled him.
“You did well,” Megatron said, because good behavior – especially on Hot Rod’s part – always deserved recognition. “Filling in for Orion, I mean.”
“I’m more than just a pretty face.” Hot Rod gave him an exaggerated wink and a toss of his head, causing the fire-bright of his feathers to catch a ray of sunlight. Whatever was bothering him seemed to vanish from his face. “But don’t worry. Won’t be long now before Orion will be back on duty and back doing what he’s good at.”
Megatron raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to say that you’re doing a poor job as substitute? Because that would be inaccurate from where I’m standing.”
Hot Rod blinked. His mouth opened and closed. He stared at Megatron before he managed a huff of a laugh. “Wow. Two compliments in one day. I must be dreaming.”
“You don’t think you deserve them?”
“I think it’s weird to hear them from you.” Hot Rod’s lips curved at the corner, more a smirk than a smile. He crossed his arms, flame-colored feathers forming a curtain around him. “Getting sentimental in your old age?”
Megatron snorted. “Hardly. I simply give credit when it’s due.”
“Right.” Hot Rod dragged out the syllables and rolled his eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He tilted his head and looked up at Megatron. “The eggs are going to hatch any day now, aren’t they?”
An odd non-sequitor.
“That would be my assumption. Why?”
Hot Rod’s gaze wandered away. “No reason. Just an observation.” He rocked back and forth on his tarsals. “More little ones in the Cradle. It’ll be nice. Every new fledge for the flock, right?”
“Right.” Megatron stared at Hot Rod, feeling like there was something he was missing in this conversation. He just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Nor did he want to assume because he’d done quite enough of that lately. “And what about you?”
Hot Rod blinked and actually looked startled. “What about me what?”
“Are you…” Megatron fought for a definition that didn’t sound patronizing or jealous. What he settled for somehow came across as both. “Have you found anyone of interest?”
Hot Rod stared at him. Not with shock, but something else. If anything, he grew even more tense.
“No,” he finally said, his tone tight and guarded. A muscle in his jaw jumped. “I’m not sure you understand how feelings work, my liege.” And that sounded mocking. “You can’t just turn them on and off as the situation calls for it. You, of all people, should know that.”
Megatron frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?” Would he ever have a conversation with Hot Rod without it turning to this?
An audible sigh escaped Hot Rod. He dropped his arms. He looked older all of a sudden. Tired, too. “Nothing. Never mind.”
“I am not going to ignore this.” Megatron held a hand to his head, feeling an ache coming on. “I want you to be happy, Hot Rod. It worries me that you aren’t.”
“Well, my happiness is my problem and not yours,” the smol retorted, bitterness seeping into his tone. “It’d be a lot easier on both of us if you’d just save your concern.”
Megatron twisted his jaw. Hurt and anger all but bled off Hot Rod in waves, and the light tone from earlier was gone as if burnt away.
“I would not have made you happy,” he said, quietly in case anyone was eavesdropping. Couldn’t Hot Rod see that Megatron only wanted what was best?
“And I’m absolutely delighted you decided that for me,” Hot Rod spat, his eyes flashing blue fire. “Spare me your patronizing.”
Megatron sighed and scrubbed harder at his forehead. “I actually didn’t intend to start a fight.”
“Funny how it always turns out that way.” A small growl echoed in Hot Rod’s chest, his hands drawing into a tight fist. “I don’t enjoy this either, no matter what you might think. Rejection is not fun.”
“It’s not supposed to be,” Megatron muttered, but he wasn’t sure if he meant for Hot Rod to hear it or not. He’d never been rejected, because he’d never put himself out there. His imagination, however, had always supplied more than enough detail. “For what it’s worth, I apologize.”
“For what? You’ve said your piece, and I’ve said mine.” Hot Rod’s shoulders rolled in a shrug. “We both know where we stand.”
On shaky ground. Megatron didn’t feel any more conviction than he did before he let Hot Rod smile at him. Every decision he’d made in this regard still felt uncertain. His kindness was only a cruelty.
“It would be nice to be friends at least,” Megatron said.
Hot Rod barked a laugh. “I don’t know, my liege. I think that’s pushing it.” He half-turned away from Megatron, his gaze distant. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I always land on my feet.”
“I am Liege. It’s my duty to worry.”
“Duty,” Hot Rod repeated and his tailfeathers flicked. “I know a little something about that.”
Somehow, Megatron got the feeling Hot Rod didn’t mean substituting for Orion. There was an echo of The Past in his words, as well as the distance in his eyes. It made Megatron want to pull him close, hug him tightly, stroke his back, tell him things could change, that it would be all right, even though he knew it was a lie.
Hot Rod went stiff suddenly. “Oh, Grimlock came back out,” he said. “I just remembered I have to ask him something. We’re done here, right?” He started backing up without waiting for a response, an eagerness in his body language that had been lacking.
Megatron’s brow crinkled. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
Hot Rod grinned, blinding and insincere. “Never better.” He winked, a parody of the flirtatious behavior he used to display. “Give me a chance, and I can actually show you.”
If Megatron hadn’t known better, he’d think Hot Rod had never been upset at all.
Megatron groaned. “Go.” He flicked a hand and watched Hot Rod tip his head in a barely present bow before scampering off, tail swishing behind him.
He sidled up to Misfire first, a wise move. Grimlock wouldn’t see Hot Rod as a challenge, and he’d be less twitchy for a smol to approach his mate. From this distance, Megatron couldn’t hear what they were saying. It wasn’t any of his business anyway, and it wasn’t like he had reason to be jealous. Grimlock already had a mate.
But then, unless they shared, his three packmates didn’t. What better way to avoid a broken core then to take a lover outside of your flock, where you were nearly guaranteed to never see the unrequited love again? What if that was Hot Rod’s intention? What if seeing Misfire had given him an idea?
Megatron frowned and spun away, emotions gnawing at his gut until he wrestled them into a neat, contained ball. One he could bury deep.
It wasn’t his business. If Hot Rod wanted to leave, Megatron had no right to stop him. No harpy was bound to the Kaon flock. It was their right to choose the path to their own happiness.
Hot Rod certainly deserved his.
Megatron couldn’t give it to him. Therefore, it was none of his business however Hot Rod chose to find it.
None at all.
***
a/n: Next chapter gives life to the M-rating! ;)
Universe: Flights of Fancy
Characters: Megatron/Rodimus, Soundwave, Shockwave/Orion Pax, Drift/Perceptor, Starscream, Ensemble
Rating: M
Enticements: Harpyformers AU, Sexual Content, Romance, Unrequited Love, Angst, Fluff, Slow burn
Summary: If asked, Liege Megatron of the Kaon Aerie would say his life was perfect. With a content, growing flock to manage, he had nothing to worry about. Loneliness was part of a Liege’s life, he’d decided. Until the bright-spirited Hot Rod comes along, determined to be the exception to the rule.
A few days later, Ravage came and fetched Megatron out of the library where he’d been taking refuge from the work stacked on his office desk. It could very well keep until the eggs hatched, and Megatron could greet the new arrivals to his flock. Besides, Orion wasn’t available to pester him into working on it.
The library was small, intimate, and growing by the years. The university humans had gifted them with most of their collection. Perceptor bought others. Newly arrived harpies brought books and scrolls with them. Some were written in dialects Megatron couldn’t read. He appreciated the diversity, however. It was what he wanted for his flock.
“Is someone hatching?” Megatron asked as soon as he sensed Ravage’s presence, since spotting Ravage was nearly impossible.
Ravage was almost solid-black and the darkest smol in Megatron’s aerie. He was sub-adult as well, but Megatron had no doubt once he reached maturity, there would be many vying to court him.
“No. The Raptors are here.” Ravage slinked around without making noise. The odd and occasional habit of walking quadrupedal probably had something to do with it. “Grimlock wants to talk to you.”
Megatron snapped his book shut and slipped it back onto the shelf. He hadn’t been reading it so much as he’d been trying to suss out the language. “Does he seem agitated?”
“He’s got a mate.”
Megatron raised an eyebrow as he looked at Ravage. “Beg pardon?”
Ravage cracked a smile. His teeth looked bright against the inky black of his feathers. “Pretty little thing. Not a Raptor.”
“Huh.” Even Grimlock could get a mate. Clearly, the world had changed. “Well, best not to keep him waiting.”
“No. Not that one.” Ravage chuckled, low and raspy though it was, and slunk out of the room ahead of Megatron. He vanished that quickly, though how he did so in full daylight, Megatron had yet to figure.
Outside the library, Megatron finally caught the noise at the ground floor. A fair number of his flock had assembled, especially some of the newer residents who were no doubt curious about the Raptors. They were an unusual bunch and rarely interacted with their feathered kin. Unsurprisingly, things were different in Kaon.
Less feather than flesh and scale, harpy Raptors better resembled feathered reptiles rather than birds. They ate meat and preferred to be nomadic. They were a small group and no one counted them as flock or aerie.
Pack, Megatron decided, was the better term. This particular one was only four in number, five if Grimlock had truly taken a mate. There were other groups of Raptors but Megatron had never met any of them as Grimlock’s pack were the only Raptors locally. Most Raptors kept to themselves, both out of preference and because their feathered kin weren’t very welcoming.
Megatron dropped into a glide to reach the ground floor, landing with a soft thump between the cluster of Raptors near the main entrance, and the clump of his own flock. He recognized no few faces, including Hot Rod’s, among the crowd. Soundwave was here as well, though he stepped up beside Megatron in a united front.
“Good afternoon, Grimlock,” Megatron said, careful to keep his tone pleasant as he greeted the Raptor leader with a tip of his head.
Grimlock was larger than him, bulkier as well, but Megatron refused to be intimidated by him. Even with the longer, sharper talons and teeth better suited for rending and tearing. He’d wondered on more than one occasion who would be the victor if Grimlock ever challenged him. Megatron had training, but Grimlock had sheer ferocity.
“Afternoon,” Grimlock rumbled. His head barely dipped, a minor concession of respect. It was the most Megatron had managed to win from him.
His pack-mates clustered behind him, Sludge even larger than Grimlock, Slag and Snarl. There was another, just behind Grimlock, but visible still, and all the more noticeable. In a sea of golds, browns, and reds, this harpy was a bright, feathered purple. He was quite clearly a smol, where Megatron knew the Raptors did not have such classes. He was obviously not a Raptor at all.
“Welcome to Kaon,” Megatron said. He was curious as to where Grimlock had found his pretty smol. “You’re here to trade as usual, I assume?”
“You right.” Grimlock’s speech could use work, but the Raptors had a language of their own, and had only consented to learn a more common tongue to better communicate. “You have supplies. Me have information.” He spoke the last word slowly, sounding out each syllable.
“Information,” Soundwave repeated from Megatron’s right, Frenzy standing next to him. The little subadult had his arms folded as he planted a look on his face that suggested he wasn’t afraid. Though that didn’t stop him from inching closer to his brother’s side.
“I assume you have a list?” Megatron asked.
Snarl stepped forward, handing over a scrap of paper with a messy scrawl on it. “This list,” he grunted as Frenzy danced forward to snatch it from his fingers.
Frenzy held it up to Megatron, allowing him to read it, though it would be Frenzy and his brothers’ task to gather the items. Megatron squinted at the list, mentally comparing the request to what they had in stock and could spare. It was one of many reasons Orion insisted he be aware of their supply status.
“I can spare everything but the solar batteries. I can only offer half,” Megatron said as he finished skimming the list. “The rest is manageable.” He looked up at Grimlock. “Did you want access to our hot springs this time?”
“Hot springs?” The purple smol perked up, his amber eyes going big and round, before he grasped onto Grimlock’s arm and gave it a gentle tug. “Oh, please, can we? I haven’t had a hot bath in ages.”
He looked up at Grimlock, all pleading and pretty, his feathers splayed attractively, a purr in his voice. Hot Rod had often done much the same to Megatron. It was a common tactic from a smol who knew how difficult to resist they could be.
What flock had this one come from, Megatron wondered. He was far too bold to be Vosian. Polyhex perhaps? Polyhexians were rumored to be hierarchical, with smols holding only the highest positions. Except Polyhex was a fair distance from here. Not a flight easily managed, especially for a lone smol. As of right now, Megatron did not house a single smol from Polyhex.
Grimlock ducked his head, his crest drooping. “Not have enough trade,” he murmured.
Purple feathers flattened and drooped. The happy cant to his lips turned into a pout as the smol pressed against Grimlock’s side. “Oh.”
Megatron’s core gave a little twinge of sympathy. His liege instincts rose up, demanding that he soothe and comfort.
“There’s no need to trade for such a thing,” Megatron said as he clasped his hands behind his back, trying his best to project a nonchalant air that spoke of kindness rather than charity. “It’s a natural resource so we’ve decided it is one to be shared freely.”
It was a new principle. One Megatron just now decided needed to be put into place. Luckily, of all those present, only Soundwave could call him out on the fib, and he wouldn’t.
Besides, neither Megatron nor his instincts could bear to see the pretty thing so disappointed. As amber eyes lit up with joy, Megatron knew he had made the right choice.
“Then can we?” The smol slid a hand – talons blunt, definitely not Raptor at all – over Grimlock’s arm. He pressed closer, the length of his body molded against Grimlock’s side, his voice becoming liquid and warm. “We can share one.”
That was one such invitation no interested harpy could ignore. It seemed Raptors were no different.
Grimlock’s eyes darkened with heat. “We can,” he rumbled before he seemed to remember where he was again, and his gaze shifted to Megatron. “With your permission.”
Behind him, Snarl and Slag snorted and jostled each other, giving their leader knowing looks. Amazingly, there didn’t seem to be a bit of jealousy in their gazes. Did they all… share the pretty one?
Megatron’s thoughts stalled on that. He didn’t want to contemplate it. All four Raptors outmassed their feathered companion. He was very much a rose among thorns.
Megatron coughed to hide the abrupt and worrisome thought. “You’re welcome here,” he said with a planted smile. “Your usual rooms are clean and ready for use.”
The Raptors came by often enough that Megatron had set aside a few nests for their use. But he also kept several unoccupied nests on the ground floor for visitors. They didn’t have many, but there were occasionally curious harpies who came without the intention to stay.
Spies, sometimes, too. Megatron welcomed them all the same. He had nothing to hide. He trusted Soundwave would keep a close watch on them.
The purple smol tugged on Grimlock’s arm again and snuggled into his shoulder. “Thank you for the offer!” he chirped and grinned brightly. “I’m Misfire, by the way. I’m new.”
Megatron grinned despite himself. There was something very disarming about Misfire. “I gathered as much. Pleasure to meet you, Misfire.” He dipped his head. “Welcome to the Kaon flock.”
Grimlock rumbled deep in his chest, a sound no feathered harpy could make as it was closer to a growl. “Misfire mine.”
Misfire made a noise of delight and leaned harder against Grimlock, nuzzling his shoulder with a rub of his head. His pale grey face bloomed with a blush of heat.
Megatron had to bury his amusement, lest he offend. “No one is questioning your claim, Grimlock.” He swallowed down his grin. “Now what of this information you promised me?”
The Raptor leader blinked slowly, like a predator considering prey, before he straightened. He barked something over his shoulder in that odd, guttural language of theirs. Slag hissed in return, shooting Megatron a hostile look.
Misfire pouted and his shoulders slumped. “Aw, do I have to?”
“Yes.” Grimlock nuzzled Misfire’s face in a distinctly possessive move. He said something that made Misfire preen.
“Fine.” Misfire rose up to press a kiss to Grimlock’s cheek. “But if you don’t hurry, I’m going to start without you.”
With that promise, Misfire flounced away from Grimlock and slung his arm through Snarl’s, dragging the Raptor after Slag and Sludge who had started to drift toward their rooms. Again, Megatron wondered if they all shared Misfire. Or was it merely a case of the flockmembers caring for their leader’s mate?
Megatron’s flock parted to make room for them, leaving only Grimlock behind, hopefully to share the information he carried. Grimlock often came across important things Megatron needed to know, since he roamed the far reaches of Kaon.
Megatron supposed he owed Grimlock the same courtesy of privacy. He turned toward his flock. “All right, everyone. Back to your duties.”
Most obeyed immediately. A few lingered, but scattered after Megatron gave them a firm look. Soundwave remained, Frenzy at his side, which Megatron had expected. Hot Rod stuck around as well, which Megatron did not expect.
“You, too, Hot Rod,” he said.
Hot Rod grinned and bounced closer to him. “This is my duty,” he chirped, hands clasped behind his back, feathers twitching cheerfully. “I’m subbing for Orion remember?”
Frag.
Megatron sighed and rubbed his palm over his face. “Fine. Just… be quiet. And don’t interrupt.”
“My lips are sealed, boss.” Hot Rod mimed drawing his fingers over his lips and put his hand behind his back again. He bounced on his tarsals.
Someone had been spending far too much time in Frenzy and Rumble’s company. He was picking up on their idiosyncrasies.
Megatron turned back toward Grimlock. “You said you had information?”
The large Raptor nodded and moved closer, looming over the three Kaon harpies, though Megatron doubted it was intentional.
“There strange harpies in area,” Grimlock rumbled. He grimaced. “Since two, mebbe three weeks end of mating season.”
Curiously, it aligned with Starscream’s arrival to Kaon. Were the two perhaps related? Had someone come looking for Starscream? It wouldn’t be the first time. Now might be prudent for Megatron to remind his guards of how they were expected to handle potential threats.
“We’ve heard those rumors.” Having more than one credible source, however, meant Megatron should upgrade these strange harpies from rumor to potential danger. “We have a scouting party attempting to track them now. You’ve seen them?”
“Yes.” Grimlock’s growl deepened. He crossed his arms over his chest. Thick, ridged scars gave testament to many a fierce battle. “They armed. Have armor. Carry banner. Blue and silver.”
Blue and silver. Megatron frowned. That wasn’t much to go on. Many of the larger Aeries used blue and silver in their flags. Soundwave might know better. Or someone from Megatron’s flock might recognize the banner of their home aerie. It would be prudent to ask around.
“How many?” Megatron asked.
“Half-dozen.” Grimlock grinned, bearing razor-sharp teeth, perfect for rending flesh. “Easy prey. If wanted.”
Megatron shook his head, amused despite himself. “There’s no need to get violent yet. We don’t know what they want. Best to avoid conflict if at all possible.”
Grimlock snorted and shifted his weight, muscles rippling where scales were more visible than feathers. “No fun.”
“I merely prefer to think ahead,” Megatron said, unwilling to rise to the bait. He refused to get manipulated into another sparring match with Grimlock.
They’d both come out of it worse for wear. While Grimlock had laughed off the blood and damage and eventual scars, Megatron had been forced to endure Ratchet’s ire. And nothing was worth the rage of his doctor.
“Where were they?” Megatron asked.
Grimlock tilted his head, his forehead crinkling as he thought. “Near Tarn border. Maybe avoiding Tarn? Not sure. Heading west.”
Toward Uraya, perhaps. Or straight toward Kaon’s aerie, if they took a more direct path.
“What else?” Frenzy asked. He still clutched the paper list. “You gotta know more than some random harpies wanderin’ about.”
Grimlock grunted. “Do,” he said, and unfolded his arms, his eyes narrowing. “Humans skulking around, too. Lots. Not kids. Not scientists.”
The Raptors of Kaon were well aware of those who were associated with the university. They knew what to look for, just as the university students and teachers knew what to carry to identify themselves as friend to nearby harpies.
“So not from the university.” Megatron’s frown deepened. This was troublesome indeed.
There were reasons the harpies feared humans. Slave trade was only part of it. Some of the humans had odd ideas about what harpy biology could do for them. Myth and magic. Detestable, really.
Megatron knew his aerie was particularly vulnerable because of its small size. He did not have an army to call upon if they were attacked. They always had the option to fall back or flee to the university for sanctuary, but not all of his flock would make it. There would be casualties.
“Slavers?” Soundwave guessed, and his tone was dark. His hands formed into tight fists at his side.
Megatron rested a hand on his Speaker’s shoulder, silently comforting. The scars on Soundwave’s throat attested to his hatred of humans. They’d fought free of such attempts to cage them before, and saved Laserbeak and Buzzsaw in the process.
“Probably.” Grimlock’s eyes darkened. “Can kill those, yeah?”
Megatron didn’t particularly care for the safety of human slavers. But he worried about consequences. If harpies started killing humans, no matter how vile they were, the humans might retaliate. It wouldn’t matter that the harpies had been victims to start.
“Not around Kaon,” he finally answered, and slid his hand free of Soundwave’s shoulder. The other flocks were large enough they could defend themselves. Megatron couldn’t afford that risk. “I don’t need trouble.”
Grimlock barked a laugh. “Still no fun.” He rocked back on his tarsal talons, his scales fluffing up as though to make him appear bigger. “That all information. Snarl got trade stuff. Swap later?”
Frenzy cackled. “Eager to get to that pretty mate of yours?” He leaned forward with an amused grin on his face. Bold smol.
Grimlock, however, only grinned. “Misfire mine.”
“Trade later,” Megatron confirmed, if only because the lust in Grimlock’s eyes was making him jealous. Misfire was quite pretty. “Go. Enjoy the springs. And your mate.”
Grimlock’s smile was all predatory teeth. “I will.”
He strutted off without a care in the world, shoulders proud. No doubt he’d grab Misfire and take him to the hot springs. Megatron made a mental note not to go anywhere near said springs for the rest of the day. The last thing he needed was a spike of envy to go with everything else.
“The scouts check in tonight,” Soundwave said once they were alone. “I’ll direct them toward Tarn. See what they can find.”
Megatron nodded. “Good.” He shifted his gaze to Hot Rod, whose brow had drawn tight and his gaze elsewhere. “Something wrong, Hot Rod?”
The smol blinked and looked up. “What? Oh. No. Sorry. I was thinking.” He grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. “Should we be worried about the humans?”
“Of course not. But it never hurts to be prepared and cautious.” Megatron tried to offer a reassuring smile, even though Hot Rod’s expression remained somewhat distant. “Though I do think it’s a good idea to remind everyone of the safety rules.” He’d bring it up at the communal meal tonight.
“Yeah. That’s good.” Hot Rod audibly sighed and chewed on his bottom lip. “You think these… mysterious harpies are going to be trouble?”
“Only one way to find out!” Frenzy chirped as he climbed up his brother’s body and perched on Soundwave’s shoulder like a too-big parrot. “Might just have to invite them in for a chat.”
Megatron pinched the bridge of his nose. “Frenzy.”
“A friendly chat!” the sub-adult corrected, his eyes sparkling, and his grin the very picture of innocence. One Megatron did not believe for an instant.
Megatron bit back a sigh. “It doesn’t matter why they’ve come. Kaon is my Aerie, and my flock, and no one is leaving if they don’t want to. That’s all there is to it.”
“That’s good to know,” Hot Rod said, but he didn’t look relieved. If anything, he seemed even more pensive than before, lower lip getting puffy from repeated gnawing, and his feathers drawn tight against his body.
Megatron, however, wouldn’t push. He’d learned better by now. He made a mental note to have Soundwave look into it. Perhaps something in Hot Rod’s past made him fear soldiers or mysterious strangers.
“Me and bro will start making plans, boss.” Frenzy patted Soundwave on the head like the little brat he was. The paper crinkled in his free hand.
Megatron wouldn’t have caught Soundwave’s aggrieved sigh if he hadn’t been listening for it. “I know you’ll get the job done.”
Frenzy beamed. Behind his mask, Soundwave might have been smiling, not that Megatron would know it.
Soundwave launched into the air, Frenzy shrieking with glee as he clung to his brother’s shoulder. They headed for the upper levels, where Soundwave’s office was tucked away in a back corner, difficult to find. Paranoid, Soundwave was. Megatron couldn’t blame him.
Hot Rod remained, still fidgeting, his eyes turned in the direction Grimlock and his pack had gone. Megatron couldn’t identify the look on his face, save that something about it troubled him.
“You did well,” Megatron said, because good behavior – especially on Hot Rod’s part – always deserved recognition. “Filling in for Orion, I mean.”
“I’m more than just a pretty face.” Hot Rod gave him an exaggerated wink and a toss of his head, causing the fire-bright of his feathers to catch a ray of sunlight. Whatever was bothering him seemed to vanish from his face. “But don’t worry. Won’t be long now before Orion will be back on duty and back doing what he’s good at.”
Megatron raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to say that you’re doing a poor job as substitute? Because that would be inaccurate from where I’m standing.”
Hot Rod blinked. His mouth opened and closed. He stared at Megatron before he managed a huff of a laugh. “Wow. Two compliments in one day. I must be dreaming.”
“You don’t think you deserve them?”
“I think it’s weird to hear them from you.” Hot Rod’s lips curved at the corner, more a smirk than a smile. He crossed his arms, flame-colored feathers forming a curtain around him. “Getting sentimental in your old age?”
Megatron snorted. “Hardly. I simply give credit when it’s due.”
“Right.” Hot Rod dragged out the syllables and rolled his eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He tilted his head and looked up at Megatron. “The eggs are going to hatch any day now, aren’t they?”
An odd non-sequitor.
“That would be my assumption. Why?”
Hot Rod’s gaze wandered away. “No reason. Just an observation.” He rocked back and forth on his tarsals. “More little ones in the Cradle. It’ll be nice. Every new fledge for the flock, right?”
“Right.” Megatron stared at Hot Rod, feeling like there was something he was missing in this conversation. He just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Nor did he want to assume because he’d done quite enough of that lately. “And what about you?”
Hot Rod blinked and actually looked startled. “What about me what?”
“Are you…” Megatron fought for a definition that didn’t sound patronizing or jealous. What he settled for somehow came across as both. “Have you found anyone of interest?”
Hot Rod stared at him. Not with shock, but something else. If anything, he grew even more tense.
“No,” he finally said, his tone tight and guarded. A muscle in his jaw jumped. “I’m not sure you understand how feelings work, my liege.” And that sounded mocking. “You can’t just turn them on and off as the situation calls for it. You, of all people, should know that.”
Megatron frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?” Would he ever have a conversation with Hot Rod without it turning to this?
An audible sigh escaped Hot Rod. He dropped his arms. He looked older all of a sudden. Tired, too. “Nothing. Never mind.”
“I am not going to ignore this.” Megatron held a hand to his head, feeling an ache coming on. “I want you to be happy, Hot Rod. It worries me that you aren’t.”
“Well, my happiness is my problem and not yours,” the smol retorted, bitterness seeping into his tone. “It’d be a lot easier on both of us if you’d just save your concern.”
Megatron twisted his jaw. Hurt and anger all but bled off Hot Rod in waves, and the light tone from earlier was gone as if burnt away.
“I would not have made you happy,” he said, quietly in case anyone was eavesdropping. Couldn’t Hot Rod see that Megatron only wanted what was best?
“And I’m absolutely delighted you decided that for me,” Hot Rod spat, his eyes flashing blue fire. “Spare me your patronizing.”
Megatron sighed and scrubbed harder at his forehead. “I actually didn’t intend to start a fight.”
“Funny how it always turns out that way.” A small growl echoed in Hot Rod’s chest, his hands drawing into a tight fist. “I don’t enjoy this either, no matter what you might think. Rejection is not fun.”
“It’s not supposed to be,” Megatron muttered, but he wasn’t sure if he meant for Hot Rod to hear it or not. He’d never been rejected, because he’d never put himself out there. His imagination, however, had always supplied more than enough detail. “For what it’s worth, I apologize.”
“For what? You’ve said your piece, and I’ve said mine.” Hot Rod’s shoulders rolled in a shrug. “We both know where we stand.”
On shaky ground. Megatron didn’t feel any more conviction than he did before he let Hot Rod smile at him. Every decision he’d made in this regard still felt uncertain. His kindness was only a cruelty.
“It would be nice to be friends at least,” Megatron said.
Hot Rod barked a laugh. “I don’t know, my liege. I think that’s pushing it.” He half-turned away from Megatron, his gaze distant. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I always land on my feet.”
“I am Liege. It’s my duty to worry.”
“Duty,” Hot Rod repeated and his tailfeathers flicked. “I know a little something about that.”
Somehow, Megatron got the feeling Hot Rod didn’t mean substituting for Orion. There was an echo of The Past in his words, as well as the distance in his eyes. It made Megatron want to pull him close, hug him tightly, stroke his back, tell him things could change, that it would be all right, even though he knew it was a lie.
Hot Rod went stiff suddenly. “Oh, Grimlock came back out,” he said. “I just remembered I have to ask him something. We’re done here, right?” He started backing up without waiting for a response, an eagerness in his body language that had been lacking.
Megatron’s brow crinkled. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
Hot Rod grinned, blinding and insincere. “Never better.” He winked, a parody of the flirtatious behavior he used to display. “Give me a chance, and I can actually show you.”
If Megatron hadn’t known better, he’d think Hot Rod had never been upset at all.
Megatron groaned. “Go.” He flicked a hand and watched Hot Rod tip his head in a barely present bow before scampering off, tail swishing behind him.
He sidled up to Misfire first, a wise move. Grimlock wouldn’t see Hot Rod as a challenge, and he’d be less twitchy for a smol to approach his mate. From this distance, Megatron couldn’t hear what they were saying. It wasn’t any of his business anyway, and it wasn’t like he had reason to be jealous. Grimlock already had a mate.
But then, unless they shared, his three packmates didn’t. What better way to avoid a broken core then to take a lover outside of your flock, where you were nearly guaranteed to never see the unrequited love again? What if that was Hot Rod’s intention? What if seeing Misfire had given him an idea?
Megatron frowned and spun away, emotions gnawing at his gut until he wrestled them into a neat, contained ball. One he could bury deep.
It wasn’t his business. If Hot Rod wanted to leave, Megatron had no right to stop him. No harpy was bound to the Kaon flock. It was their right to choose the path to their own happiness.
Hot Rod certainly deserved his.
Megatron couldn’t give it to him. Therefore, it was none of his business however Hot Rod chose to find it.
None at all.
a/n: Next chapter gives life to the M-rating! ;)
