Work Text:
Knockout was bored. He fiddled with his favorite buffer in the medical bay absent mindedly. He often had time on his hands seeing as he was a smaller framed decepticon who was most valuable for his medical skills and not his fighting abilities. That didn't stop Megatron from sending Knockout on away missions though, often the cause of blemishes to his precious finish. For now however, Knockout was bored. He didn't stay that way long, as the med bay door slid open, allowing a lithe and lanky mech to limp in. Knockout knew this mech all too well, one of his favorite forms of entertainment. Starscream was always getting into scrap, and so often was it amusing to witness, though he had to be wary lest he get caught up in it.
This time however, Starscream was far less fun to watch. He practically dragged himself in, his finish was horribly scratched up, and energon leaked from various parts of his face and chassis, dripping onto the med bay floor. Knockout scowled briefly at the mess, he would have to clean that up later, and he was not looking forward to getting his hands dirty. Still, he had a job to do, and so he straightened himself up and addressed the walking disaster
"Ah! Starscream! What brings you here?" He asked as if he didn't already know
"Urk! You know why I'm here, Knockout!" Starscream hissed with great effort "Now just fix me up already, I can't waist time limping around like a wounded animal!"
Starscream responded angrily but his spark clearly wasn't in it. His optics were dim and avoided Knockout's form more than usual.
"Sheesh! In a hurry aren't we? Alright lie down and let me work then." Knockout scarcely finished uttering the words before Starscream fell onto the medberth. Knockout was mildly surprised for a second, but then got to work examining Starscream to figure out the extent of the damage. Several fuel lines had ruptured and were leaking internally or externally, all over Knockout's medberth no less. Starscream's wings bore a lot of the damage, with the main right wing being crimped near the tip. That had to be extremely painful, Knockout recalled how sensitive the wings of fliers were, meant to help them detect changes in air current and pressure, but causing them to be quite painful when damaged as a result. Starscream's left arm strut was badly fractured and his cockpit was cracked. It was unfortunate that Starscream had never found his original arm and had to use the replacement, Knockout was not looking forward to the effort the damaged arm would require to make it usable. Starscream was fragged up, Knockout concluded; he had his work cut out for him.
Starscream had shuttered his optics but was in too much pain to be unconscious. His venting was ragged and soft groaning sounds emanated from his vocalizer. Knockout was used to working on Starscream, though usually it was just cosmetic damage. Starscream had been getting hurt more and more lately, and Knockout could wager a guess as to the cause. Still, what fun was it if he weren't just a bit of an aft?
"So, Screamer! What has you looking so blue? You look like something a predacon dragged in!" The smug tone was not lost on Starscream despite his struggle to focus on anything other than the pain in all his struts and every plate on his frame.
"Aggkkk... Knockout, must you mock me at such a time?... Forcing me to recount... Every detail of my ordeal?"
Knockout chuckled, "How am I supposed to fix you if I don't know how you got broken in the first place?" He prodded, taking more than a little pleasure in teasing the injured mech on his table, who usually was somewhat of an aft himself.
"If... You must know..." Starscream stuttered "Megatron... Didn't take a liking to my performance as of late. He's a fool if he can't see how well I- Ahh!" The seeker cried out a little as Knockout pinched off a gushing fuel line and began to patch it. Knockout sighed, there it was: Megatron. Starscream could be whiny and annoying and rude, but he didn't deserve what Megatron did to him, and Knockout was beginning to hate dealing with the aftermath. What's more, the most entertaining mech on the Nemesis had changed, become more skittish, fidgety, and uncertain of himself. It was sad, definitely not pleasant to watch. Knockout admired when Starscream's confidence matched his finish, well what his finish used to be: bright and shiny, one might even say lustrous. Even if he could be a bit boastful when it was.
"Sorry," Knockout said "but it'd be an awful shame if you bled out." He received a groan in response and continued working, pinching off and patching up fuel lines, trying to stop the energon from flowing to places it shouldn't. Knockout couldn't address the tiny ones in Starscream's facial derma that were beginning to create blue blossoms underneath. Starscream's own systems would have to take care of that. He did begin working on the ones under Starscream's chest plating. As Starscream slid the scuffed plating aside (albeit with much wincing) it occurred to Knockout what a shame it was that it was in such a state. When uninjured, Starscream was an attractive mech, everyone knew it. Even Knockout found Starscream aesthetically appealing when he wasn't so battered. He would take the extra time to buff out the imperfections, he decided, he couldn't leave a patient of his looking so scrappy, plus, Starscream had a reputation to uphold.
Where the panels had been now was a network of wires, struts, and the fuel lines Knockout sought, which attached to a silver and red pump that pulsed gently. While the damage to Starscream's most internal lines was minimal due to the protection provided by his armor, many of his internal structures were nonetheless coated in filmy blue energon.
"My, what a pretty fuel pump you have, Star, matches your frame and everything." Starscream's vents hitched and he made a small choking sound.
"I- I am not here for you to admire!" He said shrilly, "just get it over with! Doctor." The organ pulsed faster and his face flushed cerulean, definitely not because of his bruises. Knockout laughed softly and got to work repairing Starscream's internal lines.
Knockout finished repairing all the damaged fuel lines he could and patted one of Starscream's chest plates twice to signal him to close his chest. Quickly the exposed wires, lines and fuel pump were covered by shifting metal settling back into place. Knockout decided to address the arm next. If Knockout rolled Starscream over to examine his wings before stabilizing his arm, he would never hear the end of all the extra pain he had supposedly caused. Knockout sighed and rubbed his face. He was great at what he did but boy did it get tiring sometimes.
"Take off your missiles" he requested.
"My Missiles?" Starscream panicked, his venting picked up and his fans whirred loudly "you would have me lying here, DEFENCELESS? What if Megatron comes back? If he's still angry??"
"IF Megatron comes back I will ask him to leave unless he wants to go through the trouble of picking a new second in command, but as your physician I do my best work with my frame intact! Thank you!"
Starscream hesitated, he was still struggling to control his venting, though it had begun to slow. He looked nervous but he began fiddling with his missiles to remove them begrudgingly.
"Listen, Starscream, you are my patient right now" Knockout placed a hand gently on Starscream's shoulder "I wouldn't be a very good medic if I couldn't keep my patients safe while I fixed them, would I?"
"No... Haha I guess not..." Starscream laughed nervously, optics darting from the hand on his shoulder to Knockout's face. He then vented deeply. He removed his missiles and handed them solemnly to Knockout, who placed them gently on the surgical tray he had near the medberth. Knockout tapped his arm to get him to reveal the broken strut, which he did, uncomfortably. Knockout primed his welding tool and began welding.
He worked in silence for a long while, broken by occasional pained sounds from his patient, until Starscream finally asked "Do you... Think I'm weak?"
"Why would I?" Knockout replied, not looking up from his work.
"I keep ending up here." He glanced at the hot, glowing strut in his arm "And you... Know of my aspirations. I never fight back, I never win. I call myself 'lord' but I can't seem to earn it. If I keep getting battered and pushed around, what good am I? To the decepticons? To anyone? To you?" He fell silent, optics downcast. Knockout finally looked up from Starscream's arm. He gazed at the mech sadly. What had Megatron done to him? Never had Knockout experienced such a defeated Starscream. Normally he was scheming and planning his ascension, monologuing to himself proudly about his plans. This Starscream seemed to have given up hope of achieving leadership of the Decepticons, or achieving anything else for that matter.
"Oh Starscream," Knockout gasped "no. You are second in command of the Decepticons, you single handedly terminated the autobot Cliffjumper, you're endlessly entertaining, and you have one of the prettiest finishes on the Nemesis!" Starscream halfheartedly smiled softly and then looked slightly embarrassed when he processed what Knockout had said.
"Well you will anyways after I finish" he continued, busying himself; Knockout wasn't the best with words, but he was good at making a mech good as new, and Starscream definitely needed the pick me up.
"Errr... Thank you, Knockout" Starscream said bashfully.
"Of course, my lord" Knockout replied with a smile.
Soon Starscream's arm was stabilized, though it would take time for the strut to repair itself completely. After some consideration, Knockout decided that he would fix the cracked cockpit next. The glass would need to be replaced. Cracks spidered upwards from the lower part of Starscream's abdomen. Knockout smoothly popped off the glass canopy in one motion, and Starscream gasped as fragments of glass sprinkled his subspace, landing on the soft leather and upholstery that was not typical of the type of jet Starscream was.
"Ahhhh, sprung for the good stuff I see." Knockout remarked. Starscream looked startled.
"Haha well, you know, can't have my things getting damaged in there haha..."
"I see. And of course that's the only reason, isn't it?" Starscream didn't grace Knockout's smug comment with a reply, in fact he avoided eye contact altogether. Knockout found it rather adorable. He also liked that Starscream had found some way of doing something that involved taking care of himself. He was all too familiar with how rough the seeker was on his own frame, even if he did let Knockout polish it often. Knockout placed a hand on the leather seat and caressed it, causing the mech to whom it belonged to shiver.
"Don't worry, I'll get you cleaned up, just let me get my tools and I think I have a canopy that'll fit you." Knockout stated confidently and went off to fetch what he needed.
Starscream was left on his own with nothing but his thoughts and the now somewhat duller aches in his wings and frame. Boy was he sore. He wasn't sure he loved being so exposed on the medbirth, subspace wide open for anyone to see. He didn't really have much choice he supposed, though he did wish Knockout would hurry, Starscream was impatient to be fixed. He needed fixing in many ways, not just in his frame. He wished he could be the kind of strong leader the decepticons deserved, but the current one kept handing him his own aft. He scowled at the memories of what happened earlier, he really did not have the time or energy to unpack that just now. On the subject of things wrong with him, Starscream couldn't understand what was up with him today, his spark kept feeling fluttery, especially when he was on this surgical table. Briefly he wondered if his resonance was off. And to make matters worse, it kept happening while Knockout was mocking him or admiring him, the medic seemed to take pleasure in flustering him. Starscream swore to himself that Knockout was gonna give him a spark attack or something of the like. He needed to get this under control, it would really make him look weak if his spark imploded the next time Knockout touched him. Not that it was a bad touch he thought to himself, it was worlds better than how Megatron touched him.
"Hey! Screamer! Look at what I found! Pretty snazzy huh?" Starscream was startled by Knockout's shouting, he had been so lost in thought he hadn't heard the somewhat light pedesteps. The medic held a darkly tinted canopy that had a purple metallic sheen on the surface, it almost looked made for him. He stared at it with wide optics
"It's beautiful Knockout, thank you." He said with a sincerity he rarely used before today. Knockout looked slightly surprised but then smiled and strode over to his patient. He placed the new canopy on the surgical tray where Starscream's missiles had been earlier.
"Now, let's clean up that mess!" Knockout had a handheld vacuum, which he revved like he might his own engine, grinning all the while. Starscream felt a bit uncomfortable about this, but he didn't want Knockout to know that, so he took extra care to keep his venting steady, though this proved futile as he jolted when the vacuum touched the soft interior of his subspace.
"AAH! Knockout!" He exclaimed.
"Sorry! Sorry! It's sensitive, yes?" Knockout asked, and was met with embarrassed noises and avoided optic contact. "Fine, I'll try harder to be gentle. Now hold still so I can work."
Starscream tried his best to do as he was told, but the vacuum on his sensitive interior made him squirm a little nonetheless. Still, he had to admit to himself it felt nice to be cared for. For all the loyalty he had attempted to provide Megatron he never received any sort of nicety or friendship in return, and yet here was Knockout, taking care of him even though he was so often not the politest. It occurred to him that perhaps it was time to reassess where his loyalties actually did lie.
Knockout eventually finished vacuuming out all the spilled glass shards, and began fitting Starscream with the new canopy. The process tickled a little, and Starscream found his spark feeling fluttery again, though he decided to chalk it up to his excitement for his new cockpit canopy and the thought of being mostly repaired. Knockout was intensely focused on fitting the purple glass dome onto Starscream, which gave him a good view of the Doctor's face. Starscream had never noticed how pretty the sparkly white derma he beheld was. He admired the ruby red rings Knockout had for optics as they scanned back and forth across his handiwork
.
"Like what you see?" Starscream was taken back by Knockout's remark. He had not realized he'd been observed watching.
"I- uhhhhh" he started
"Relax, I meant your cockpit. Unless of course, you were looking at something else~"
"Would I- would I do that? Preposterous! I can't fathom what you mean."
"Uh huh. Now flip over for me." Knockout said
"I... What?" Starscream uttered bewilderedly
"I need to fix your wings, remember? Unless you'd have me try to work through your chassis" Knockout replied.
"Oh... Right." Starscream muttered, getting up to do as he was instructed
"Jeez, what did you think I meant, Screamer?" Knockout scoffed
"I don't know!!" Starscream shouted, flushing a little "Just do your job, Knockout!" He hesitated, then added "please."
Knockout found it pleasantly surprising how kind Starscream was being, the mech expressing gratitude or asking politely for what he wanted was nearly unheard of. And yet, he had done it multiple times while on the surgical table. It made Knockout feel good, appreciated even. He genuinely liked helping others and taking care of them, but he hated feeling like he was investing in someone ungrateful for it.
Now that Starscream was no longer on his back Knockout could begin fixing his wings. He had gotten used to Starscream watching him work, he hoped not being able to see didn't make the seeker any more anxious.
"Hey Star?" He asked
"Hmmm?" Came a soft reply
"I'm going to touch your wings, you'll let me know if it hurts, right?"
There was a pause before Starscream said "I will. Thank you, Knockout, I appreciate it"
Knockout wasn't completely sure why he had asked, Starscream had a tendency to complain about most things, especially in his direction. He supposed he was just feeling nice. But Starscream seemed glad he had asked, and that made him glad he did too.
Knockout gazed at the four wings before him. They reminded him of an earth insect, one of the larger ones that got caught in his grill once. Back then when he removed it he had been surprised at how beautiful it was. It had a brilliant blue iridescence about its body and four clear veined wings. They almost looked like the windows of those human buildings he sometimes saw. In his fascination he had used the medbay computer at one point to research the insect. Starscream's wings lacked the transparency, but Knockout still found them beautiful, and the slightly blue hues of Starscream's frame made him think of the bug even more.
"You're pretty, Star." He said, stroking one of the wings "like those earth dragonflies." Starscream didn't say anything, but Knockout heard the soft click of his cooling fans turning on and felt the wing he was stroking quiver under his palm. "Are you ok?" He asked
"I'm fine" Starscream choked out "All good here haha"
Knockout smiled and worked on the wings, heating the dents out of them and hammering them back into shape as gently as he could. Starscream stopped him a few times due to the pain, and Knockout always gave him a break and tried to be more careful on resumption if he could. After making larger repairs, he polished the wings with the softest buffer he had, doing his best to shine them gently. Upon finishing, Knockout moved each wing in slow circles to check the range of motion and make sure they worked painlessly as before. As he did this his audials picked up a soft sound. It was almost like... purring?
"Star? Is that... you?" He asked with surprise
"Mmmmhhh" the seeker replied sleepily, clearly relaxed. He then seemed to wake up and realize what was happening. "I- uhhh nooo?" He looked back to see if his lie was to be believed. Knockout laughed.
"I can keep going if you want." he said, grinning.
Starscream's face tinged slightly blue, and he hesitated, before asking "would you?" His optics looked hopeful and Knockout smiled and indulged him.
The seeker looked so relaxed and happy under his hands. He was glad that Starscream was finally feeling comfortable and getting a break from his constant frantic thoughts. Knockout adored the soft purring sounds that resumed emanating from Starscream. As he had many times that day, Knockout sighed, but this time it was not out of tiredness. Starscream was such a pretty mech, he thought. It filled him with warmth to see Star so content, he wished he could make him this happy and comfortable more often.
Oh how good Knockout's warm hands felt on his achy wings. Starscream could not remember the last time he had felt this safe. Knockout was here. Knockout was taking care of him. Knockout wanted him to feel good. Had anyone ever cared whether Starscream felt good? No instances came to his processor, but he didn't feel like thinking too hard about it. Instead he let himself melt into the warm feeling.
When he opened his optics Starscream realized it was dim in the medbay and he was alone. When had he fallen into recharge? His spark chamber suddenly felt tight. Where was Knockout? Had anyone seen him here while he was out? What if Megatron needed him and he slept through it? Before he knew it Starscream was venting far too quickly.
"Knockout?!" He cried without thinking "Knockout? Please??" He heard the sound of running pedes
"Starscream are you alright?" The medic asked as he entered the medbay, voice laced with concern
"Knockout? What happened?? What did I miss? Megatron, is he angry?" His wings were quivering but he hardly noticed. Despite his rapid venting the air didn't seem to reach where it needed to, he felt like he was suffocating.
"Woah! Starscream, easy. Everything is ok" Knockout said with his palms raised. "Megatron has been informed that you are unfit for duty and need to rest, which isn't a lie by the way, you better take it easy or I'll put you in stasis myself. You fell into recharge while I was working on your wings and you just looked so peaceful. I didn't want to wake you so I left you to recharge here. It's good that my quarters are so close to the medbay, I might not've heard you otherwise, I'm so sorry Star."
It took Starscream time to process everything. His entire frame was still trembling and his vents were still fast. He cast his optics down on himself. His frame still bore the blemishes of a beating not too long passed, but it also bore Knockout's loving repairs. He finally was getting enough air to cool his systems when he suddenly felt warm again. Knockout had wrapped his arms around the shaking mech and was squeezing him and holding him close.
"It's ok. I'm here. You're safe" he said softly into Starscream's audial. He started to relax, but the trembling seemed to take forever to pass. What a mess he was. How was it that Megatron held this much power over him; after everything he had achieved? Lubricant welled in his optics. He nuzzled his helm into Knockout's chassis to hide it, careful to avoid jabbing Knockout with his crest.
Knockout stroked the wings of the trembling seeker in his arms. Anger made his spark burn. Normally he and Megatron were on pretty even terms. Knockout did his job. He did it well. He was respectful and obedient and all the things a decepticon should be. Megatron never hurt him. But this Knockout wasn't sure he could stomach. Megatron had turned his Starscream into an anxious wreck. How could he ever follow a leader who made the one his spark desired like this. Oh, that was new. When had he fallen in love with Starscream? He wasn't quite sure, but he could feel in his spark that he cared deeply for the seeker.
They stayed that way for some time, and after a while Starscream started to feel like himself again. Despite this, Starscream stayed still. He felt safe in Knockout's embrace and wasn't sure he was ready to leave it. He wished Knockout would hold him like this forever. Even just being near Knockout forever sounded appealing. His spark fluttered once again at the thought. He really needed to get that under control. He was second in command of the entire decepticon armada, he didn't have time for warm fuzzy feelings and a fluttery spark. Besides, it wasn't like he liked Knockout, right?
They finally parted, and Starscream noticed Knockout's optics moving up and down his frame. He felt his faceplates heat up
"What are you looking at?" He questioned slightly sharply
"Oh nothing" Knockout replied, grinning "just my pretty little seeker, who needs a good buffing by the way."
When had Starscream become his seeker? Starscream was unsure if it felt right belonging to anyone, he was so used to being Megatron's second in command. Sometimes he wanted to just be Starscream. He realized that if he really was to belong to anyone, Knockout would probably be his first choice, Knockout always treated him well.
Knockout had grabbed his buffing equipment and was gazing at Starscream wistfully.
"May I?" He asked
"You may." Starscream smiled sheepishly.
Knockout was an artisan with the buffer, which made sense really. And oh how good it felt when Knockout touched him. The soft, warm, caresses seemed to wipe away the stains Megatron had left on him. He felt loved, and this time he no longer cared if the mech he wanted to be with heard his engine purring, he was happy, and that meant a lot.
Knockout had finished buffing most of his frame when he suddenly looked at Starscream.
"Do you uhhh... Wanna do the rest? Or shall I?" Knockout asked, only slightly abashed. Starscream realized the only parts of him that remained unpolished were his thighs and pelvis. Knockout was asking his permission. Knockout was giving him a choice. He hadn't had someone ask if it was ok to touch him, it felt strange, but good.
"You can do it." Starscream said slowly then added "If that's alright?"
Knockout laughed, "I'm the one asking you, silly!" But then he began working on the rest of Starscream's plating. It felt good to be treated so respectfully. To have the beautiful red mech comb over every inch of him to erase what Megatron had done to him. Primus he loved him. He finally was willing to admit it, and when his spark continued to flutter he no longer questioned it. He loved Knockout, and Knockout loved him.
Starscream watched Knockout's focused expression as he finished buffing the last blemishes out of Starscream's plating. What a beautiful faceplate he had. Starscream found himself suddenly struck with persistent desire.
When the medic finally looked up Starscream said "Can I ask you for something?" He was nervous, tapping his claws and rubbing his heel struts together.
"Of course!" Knockout replied with a smile.
Can I- Primus you have pretty optics- would it be alright if I- mmmh..."
"Go on." Knockout encouraged patiently
"Can I kiss you?" Starscream blurted, suddenly flushing quite a bright shade of blue. His face burned and he glanced back and forth from Knockout's optics to his own pedes.
"Oh-oh! I- uh... Of course! I'd like that." Knockout managed to get out, smiling softly, now with his own face tinged blue. Starscream drew Knockout closer and held his face gently as they pressed their lips together. Starscream had never felt this elated! His spark soared and he held Knockout even closer. He did not know what his future held, maybe more Megatron, but he hoped there was more Knockout too, to buff the Megatron off him and make him feel like this always.
When the two mechs finally broke apart, Starscream asked "Knockout, uhhhh pray tell me, what is a dragonfly?" He received a laugh from his lover and chuckled a little bit in return. He was so happy, with Knockout he felt fixed in all the ways he needed it.