It has taken time, perhaps longer than it should have, but Megatron finally sends a ping to Rung, a simple request for communication.

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

willnotgogently:

“Megatron?” His voice is quiet and upset but not mad and that might be a good thing. But he’s not greeting him with the same warmth as before. “Can we meet?”

The contact helps his frayed nerves. At least he hasn’t driven Rung to fear him like that. No. This is broken trust… hopefully it can be repaired. He hangs his helm when Rung agrees.

The question is a valid one, but it still surprises him.

“What… No. Not with you. He was dormant, sometimes I would have dreams, or hear whispers of what he wanted of me. He told me to spread his corruption, to infect the planet, to return to Earth and reawaken him… I resisted. But none of my feelings or actions towards you were his… until he had control of my frame.”

“Good.”

That’s all Rung says before he gently climbs into Megatron’s lap and curls his arms around the other mech with a tiny sound that might be unhappiness. He shivers and lightly kisses his chassis, his voice a hushed crackling of emotion.

“Don’t ever lie to me again, not even by omission. I can’t take it, please.”

It might surprise Megatron that this is all Rung needs, but he had time to think before Megatron commed him. He had time to be upset and angry and come to terms with it as much as he was able to without knowing more details.

Megatron sits up straight, unsure of Rung’s intention… and then he just… hugs him. He doesn’t understand. He almost killed him. He opened the door for the Unmaker, he concealed the imminent danger to everyone…

Curling in on himself, Megatron holds Rung close, shaking. More than anything, he doesn’t deserve this. When he speaks, there is static in his voice.

“I have never been one to squander second chances. You have my word, Rung. If there is anything else you would know of me, I am yours to read.”

It has taken time, perhaps longer than it should have, but Megatron finally sends a ping to Rung, a simple request for communication.

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

willnotgogently:

“Megatron?” His voice is quiet and upset but not mad and that might be a good thing. But he’s not greeting him with the same warmth as before. “Can we meet?”

Rung is looking worse for wear, and seeing the new plating over his chest confirms a deep fear. I did that. Megatron starts to offer his servo to help Rung onto the edge of the berth, but the sight of the claws that dug into his companion has him pull them back. He’ll only help the smaller mech up if he asks for the assistance, won’t touch him if he doesn’t want to be touched.

Once they’re both seated, the warlord looks down at his knees. “Rung…” Where there was affection in Rung’s voice, there was something like longing in his. They were right beside each other, but the distance ached. “…I’m sorry that I put you all in such danger.” It didn’t seem like enough.

“When I… when I first partook of dark energon, I didn’t understand what it meant. I wanted to be stronger, to harness an ancient power for myself, to win the war.” Megatron closed his eyes, cycling a vent of air. “After I felt Unicron in my mind, I…” Nothing but truth now. “I sought his acceptance. I wanted more. It was he who rejected my service, and only then did I think to turn against him. I’ve carried him with me ever since, despite our victory… and none of that excuses what I did to you.”

Rung sees him pulling back physically and he can only picture how much of Megatron is pulling back from him emotionally. He lays a hand lightly on the berth then extends his other up to Megatron so he can be helped up. There’s some trembling in his frame, but when they touch he’s firm about holding on. The only shivers he has are from being exhausted.

He nods briefly as Megatron speaks and he keeps his hands on his lap, looking up at the bigger mech, his attention undivided. He can’t blame Megatron for the fact that he played with those cards because Bee had let him know how many of them had tried to pull the cards just for fun. None of them expected such drastic dangers and if they had, none would have done this, he knew.

“It’s true… It doesn’t excuse that you lied to me.” Rung looked down at his lap. “I need to know. When we were together, was there anything that… He was doing to influence your thoughts or actions?”

The contact helps his frayed nerves. At least he hasn’t driven Rung to fear him like that. No. This is broken trust… hopefully it can be repaired. He hangs his helm when Rung agrees.

The question is a valid one, but it still surprises him.

“What… No. Not with you. He was dormant, sometimes I would have dreams, or hear whispers of what he wanted of me. He told me to spread his corruption, to infect the planet, to return to Earth and reawaken him… I resisted. But none of my feelings or actions towards you were his… until he had control of my frame.”

It has taken time, perhaps longer than it should have, but Megatron finally sends a ping to Rung, a simple request for communication.

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

willnotgogently:

“Megatron?” His voice is quiet and upset but not mad and that might be a good thing. But he’s not greeting him with the same warmth as before. “Can we meet?”

::Alright. I’m in the medbay.:: He sends the coordinates and unplugs himself from the monitors, making the effort to slide off the berth and stand to greet Rung. He is not the victim in this case, and has no desire to look sympathetic.

Disappearing from the bar, he steps through to the medbay and feels his spark pull in pain. His plating looks matte rather than shiny, clean but not fancy, a side effect of getting out of the hospital. Another side effect was the fact that since his spark had been grazed, the doctors ordered a slight change in his plating. Rather than the glass that neatly obscured it, it was covered over with hard metal so it could fully recover.

Swallowing thickly, Rung stepped towards Megatron and murmured that they should sit, not wanting either of them strained.

“Megatron…”

It’s not ‘beloved’, but the way he says it almost sounds like it. A mixture of affection and concern.

Rung is looking worse for wear, and seeing the new plating over his chest confirms a deep fear. I did that. Megatron starts to offer his servo to help Rung onto the edge of the berth, but the sight of the claws that dug into his companion has him pull them back. He’ll only help the smaller mech up if he asks for the assistance, won’t touch him if he doesn’t want to be touched.

Once they’re both seated, the warlord looks down at his knees. “Rung…” Where there was affection in Rung’s voice, there was something like longing in his. They were right beside each other, but the distance ached. “…I’m sorry that I put you all in such danger.” It didn’t seem like enough.

“When I… when I first partook of dark energon, I didn’t understand what it meant. I wanted to be stronger, to harness an ancient power for myself, to win the war.” Megatron closed his eyes, cycling a vent of air. “After I felt Unicron in my mind, I…” Nothing but truth now. “I sought his acceptance. I wanted more. It was he who rejected my service, and only then did I think to turn against him. I’ve carried him with me ever since, despite our victory… and none of that excuses what I did to you.”

It has taken time, perhaps longer than it should have, but Megatron finally sends a ping to Rung, a simple request for communication.

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

willnotgogently:

“Megatron?” His voice is quiet and upset but not mad and that might be a good thing. But he’s not greeting him with the same warmth as before. “Can we meet?”

The tone in Rung’s voice is enough to make him doubt his resolve, but this is important. He has enough energy to stand for a while, but walking is still shaky. The medic is willing to give him some time unsupervised, if only to get something to refuel with himself. At least his voice sounds like it did…

::I would like that. I must warn you that my frame remains… altered. Would you rather join me here, or shall I join you?::

“I think it’s best if I came to you. Just let me know where your coordinates are and I’ll be right there with you.” There’s a slight softening of Rung’s tone, like he’s aware of how he’s coming off and is making an effort to curb it somewhat.

Moving over to where Bee is, he gives him a kiss, waving to Nova who’s looking rather stunned at the selection of high grade. Pausing briefly, he picks up the thermos Bee have him and tucks it into his subspace.

::Alright. I’m in the medbay.:: He sends the coordinates and unplugs himself from the monitors, making the effort to slide off the berth and stand to greet Rung. He is not the victim in this case, and has no desire to look sympathetic.

It has taken time, perhaps longer than it should have, but Megatron finally sends a ping to Rung, a simple request for communication.

willnotgogently:

“Megatron?” His voice is quiet and upset but not mad and that might be a good thing. But he’s not greeting him with the same warmth as before. “Can we meet?”

The tone in Rung’s voice is enough to make him doubt his resolve, but this is important. He has enough energy to stand for a while, but walking is still shaky. The medic is willing to give him some time unsupervised, if only to get something to refuel with himself. At least his voice sounds like it did…

::I would like that. I must warn you that my frame remains… altered. Would you rather join me here, or shall I join you?::

( Bee runs in, a little electrified and glowing. ) How is he? How’s Soundwave? What about you, are you okay?

the-scrappy-stinger:

mightymegatron:

the-scrappy-stinger:

mightymegatron:

mightymegatron:

When Bee returns, Megatron is back to sitting on the edge of his medical berth, looking exhausted. Singer is trying to get him to lay back again, but you try shoving something several times your size when it doesn’t want to move. But, the warlord smiles when he sees Bumblebee.

“He’s… Are you glowing?”

Megatron trusts anything that Bee gives him, but the medic seems hesitant to give his patient what is essentially an energy drink.

“The Pious Pools… I never got to drink from mine while it was pure.” Megatron considers it for a moment. He’s not getting the same burning feeling he always got whenever he had held something considered touched by Primus. Instead it just tingled. He takes a swig and his biolights flash as he shudders.

“Ah… Oh now that is… well, divine. I feel invigorated.”

You want some? (Bee offers one of his smaller cups to the medic, not knowing his name and running out of what little he’s collected.) For Soundwave later, maybe?

(Turned back to Megatron, Bee takes one of his hands.) Rung wants us to go when you’re better. Me and you, and him, all at the Pious Pools and bathing in the water. Sound like a plan?

Singer stares at the cup. He’s been out of his depth all week, between godly corruption, science from other universes and magic he doesn’t understand. He takes the cup after he sees how Megatron’s energy levels brighten, thanking Bee and going to seal it away for later.

Megatron looks surprised, staring at their joined hands.

“…After everything, that is still something he would desire?”

It’s Rung! (Bee shakes Megatron’s thumb around for emphasis.) He misses you!

I mean that’s probably still gonna be an awkward talk at SOME point, but why do you think he went after Unicron? Because he wanted Unicron whupped ‘cause he did something to you!

“I… I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Megatron’s field swirls with hope and pride before he can reign it in. After everything… today is a good day. Tomorrow he’ll ping Rung… see if he’s open to that awkward talk.

“I want to say that I am in your debt, for your grand gestures, these little talks, your gifts, but I know that you wouldn’t accept it. I will simply thank you again. Would you indulge me once more, by laying with me?” The energy was doing its job, but it coursed through him with intent to heal, encouraging him to listen to Singer’s suggestion of rest.

( Bee comes back, still dirty and now smelling like hospital? And looking tired. ) I checked on Rung. He’s pretty badly beaten up, and he’s a little out of it, but he looked stable. I’m here tonight and then I’m at Rung’s tomorrow.

“…Rung?” He’s had so much to process in such a short time that his orange companion hadn’t crossed his mind. He was away and safe, as far as Megatron had remembered leaving him.

“What happened?”

::Megatron, Bee told me something troubling and I just… I need to hear from you. I need to know you’re still here, beloved.::

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

mightymegatron:

The voice is still Megatron’s but isn’t, a foreign resonance infects the sound.

::Beloved? So you have fallen prey to this inane concept of affection for this arrogant fool. Your would-be herald is gone, and I will use him to rain down destruction across the universe!::

Unicron scoffs to hear the old language. It leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Time to replace it with something more satisfying. A denial-ridden snack, perhaps.

Raising his right arm, dark energon manifests around his servo, elongating it into a wicked scythe half as long as his body. Charging forward, the warped frame of Megatron glares, slicing through the air towards the insect in his way, staff or no staff. Glowing and menacing, the blade intends to cut him in half.

“The evil before you is your lover, and he denounced all else long ago!”

“He didn’t denounce everything. He loves me, and that means he holds onto some things in his spark. Even if you worked your way inside of him by devious means, you don’t have all of him.” Rung spat out as he moved to avoid the staff.

The first strike missed him by mere inches and he was sure he was only saved by the fact that the rotting body was slowing the movements. And yet, even as he was thinking that, turning his pede to strengthen his stance, the scythe hissed through the air again and he felt the sharp heat of it parting his plating. The small orange bot stared up at the familiar face and the unfamiliar disdain in the optics looking at him, trying to catch his vents even as the dark weapon dragged down and his energon flowed down in a rush, staining the ground a sparkling blue.

The blade catches and he can feel the warmth from the Pious spark on its tip. Just shy of splitting him in twain, Unicron takes a step forward, turning the scythe and poising it at the level of Rung’s neck.

“I don’t need all of him to end this pathetic world, though I can use what I have of him to end you.”

::Megatron, Bee told me something troubling and I just… I need to hear from you. I need to know you’re still here, beloved.::

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

mightymegatron:

The voice is still Megatron’s but isn’t, a foreign resonance infects the sound.

::Beloved? So you have fallen prey to this inane concept of affection for this arrogant fool. Your would-be herald is gone, and I will use him to rain down destruction across the universe!::

So many pests. He can’t understand their connection to each other, not when there is so much war and death and deceit. He could see clearly into the Allspark and even Primus could not be trusted for all his Order. These creatures are fools to believe that they matter at all, even less that others do, or that they somehow had more value together.

“What folly,” he mused as Rung made himself known. He almost laughed at the staff in his hands; as if even a hundred mortal mechs could bring him to heel, let alone one! Unicron raises Megatron’s rusted arms, showing himself.

“Behold your fool, felled and resurrected by his own arrogance. He begged to wield the power of the Unmaker, and when I refused him, conspired against me with Primus’ disciple. Now in death, this soulless vessel is mine, a testament to his failure of a betrayal!”

This wasn’t right. Even the smell of what should have been Megatron was off, leaving a foul taste in his mouth. He wasn’t shaking from fear but that was only because he felt so very numb. Shaking his head a little, his grip on the staff loosened as he took a step backwards. “No… This isn’t… This is a trick. You’re a liar. You’ve always played one party against the other. You took over his body and you’re just trying to foul my thoughts on him.”

“There is no trick, child of Primus. Megatron’s body is forfeit to me because he offered it! The moment my blood pulsed within him, his fate was sealed.” The corpse took a step closer, gesturing towards Rung with his beastly claws.

“As is yours, for daring to question my absolute rule.”

He wanted to meet the threat head on. He had fought Predacons, stood up to massive tanks and stared unflinching into the eyes of mecha who had held guns to his head or spark before. Yet when the ichor that dripped off the body was coming from his beloved, he could barely bring himself to move back again. Keeping his staff in front of himself, he swallowed back the thick block in his throat.

“Light of the all spark guides my path, I shall not falter. I denounce all evils that stand before me.” Rung intoned in the Primal Vernacular.

Shuddering, he sent a quick command to the bracer that he wore, readying it to port him back. His comms open to send a message to Bumblebee to warn him about this.

Unicron scoffs to hear the old language. It leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Time to replace it with something more satisfying. A denial-ridden snack, perhaps.

Raising his right arm, dark energon manifests around his servo, elongating it into a wicked scythe half as long as his body. Charging forward, the warped frame of Megatron glares, slicing through the air towards the insect in his way, staff or no staff. Glowing and menacing, the blade intends to cut him in half.

“The evil before you is your lover, and he denounced all else long ago!”

::Megatron, Bee told me something troubling and I just… I need to hear from you. I need to know you’re still here, beloved.::

willnotgogently:

mightymegatron:

mightymegatron:

The voice is still Megatron’s but isn’t, a foreign resonance infects the sound.

::Beloved? So you have fallen prey to this inane concept of affection for this arrogant fool. Your would-be herald is gone, and I will use him to rain down destruction across the universe!::

So many pests. He can’t understand their connection to each other, not when there is so much war and death and deceit. He could see clearly into the Allspark and even Primus could not be trusted for all his Order. These creatures are fools to believe that they matter at all, even less that others do, or that they somehow had more value together.

“What folly,” he mused as Rung made himself known. He almost laughed at the staff in his hands; as if even a hundred mortal mechs could bring him to heel, let alone one! Unicron raises Megatron’s rusted arms, showing himself.

“Behold your fool, felled and resurrected by his own arrogance. He begged to wield the power of the Unmaker, and when I refused him, conspired against me with Primus’ disciple. Now in death, this soulless vessel is mine, a testament to his failure of a betrayal!”

This wasn’t right. Even the smell of what should have been Megatron was off, leaving a foul taste in his mouth. He wasn’t shaking from fear but that was only because he felt so very numb. Shaking his head a little, his grip on the staff loosened as he took a step backwards. “No… This isn’t… This is a trick. You’re a liar. You’ve always played one party against the other. You took over his body and you’re just trying to foul my thoughts on him.”

“There is no trick, child of Primus. Megatron’s body is forfeit to me because he offered it! The moment my blood pulsed within him, his fate was sealed.” The corpse took a step closer, gesturing towards Rung with his beastly claws.

“As is yours, for daring to question my absolute rule.”