Taken from a prompt from the kinkmeme.

Full Prompt: tfanonkink. livejournal. com ?thread=408555
Basic prompt: Skyfire tries to explain to a group of Autobots that keep pestering him in the rec room why he was ever interested in Starscream. Skyfire even goes so far as to connect to each mech in the group (kinda like interfacing, but without the overload) to show them his view of his old partner Starscream.

Also inspired by tfanonkink. livejournal. com ?thread=661483#t661483

Parings: Starscream/Skyfire, Starscream/Bumblebee, Starscream/Perceptor, Starscream/Cliffjumper, Starscream/Sunstreaker/Sideswipe, Starscream/Aerialbots, Prowl/Jazz Oh god why am I writing so many different characters

Kinks: Twincest, eventual sparkplay, mentions of plug-n-play, eventual moresome, eventual voyeurism/exhibitionism?

Warnings: Cultural prejudices, bullying, violence
Also, I am new to this fandom and most of what I know of it comes from reading fanfiction, so if there's any OOCnes I apologize.

This fic subscribes to the fanon/canon that prejudice against war builds is why the war started and that Starscream was blamed for Skyfire's disappearance.

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The first thing that Bumblebee became aware of, once the static from his sensors had cleared, was how small everything was. Secondly was the stretch of leg gears in motion and the agitated twitching of something on his back. Attempting to reach back and see what could possibly be attached to his back, he realized that he could not move his arms or legs on his own.

'Of course, a memory uplink,' Bumblebee realized. Still being quite young, uplinks could still be somewhat disorientating to him, but he had downloaded enough information from others during Ops missions to recognize this experience. However, this was his first download not related to interfacing or work.

The day had started out normally enough, half the day he had been assigned to maintenance duty but the rest had been left free for him. Bumblebee had been sitting in the rec room thinking about going for a drive when Cliffjumper, Wheeljack and Perceptor had come in with a visibly agitated Skyfire. The others already in the room took note of this with some surprise. The scientist had gained the nickname 'Gentle Giant' soon after joining the Autobots, and was one of the calmest bots Bumblebee knew. Cliffjumper, however, was well known for causing trouble; no doubt he was the cause for Skyfire's clenching servos and twitching wings.

While Bumblebee stood so that he might interfere with any kind confrontation, Sideswipe was feeling conflicted. On the one servo, the day had been disgustingly boring so far, and a little Cliffjumper induced hassling might be a suitable diversion, but on the other, he was a bit of a wing mech, of which there was a scarcity on the Arc, and if he went over to calm down the shuttle he might be able to get a few gropes in.

…Why was he still thinking about this? For Primus' sake he and his brother had made an entire new attack strategy based on groping wings, he was perfectly willing to stand between Cliffjumper and his latest victim if it would get him a little up close and personal with some shuttle wings. Of course shuttle wings weren't nearly as good as seeker wings, with their delicate, razor blade edging, but that didn't mean they didn't deserve some attention. With a meaningful glance, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker rose to join the group in the doorway.

To their surprise, Perceptor spoke first, "I heard of Starscream while he was in the Academy, even then he was not well spoken of. Many thought you mad for staying his partner."

"They were right," Cliffjumper snarled, "That traitor got you frozen for millions of years! Just goes to show that once a traitor, always a traitor."

"No, I knew Starscream better than anyone back then, he would not have abandoned me if he had had a choice."

"He was condemned by the Academy Board of Directors," Perceptor returned frostily, "He should never have been allowed entrance into the Academy in the first place."

There was a lull as Skyfire clenched his fists repeatedly, and Bumblebee watched on in fascination. Sometimes he forgot that there had been a Cybertron before the war, that their foes may once have led peaceful lives. It had been in Skyfire's profile that he had been partners with Starscream, but it hadn't occurred to him before what, exactly, that meant.

After all, most bots were created with their personalities programmed into them, weren't they? Autobots rarely said anything to him regarding the start of the war, it being too difficult to speak of for some, and others fearing for his 'innocence', but he had over heard enough talk from the soldiers to know that war builds were inherently violent. How could such violent mechs exist in a peaceful society? Even the Autobot frontliners such as Ironhide and Cliffjumper, not nearly as violent as, say, Astrotrain, sometimes had trouble integrating with the rest of the Autobots. Sunstreaker in particular was sometimes, in all seriousness, called a demon, or a war build in disguise by bots in other Autobot forces.

"You will not say that in my presence. He may be… conflicted now, but I know him. He is a brilliant scientist, the Academy should never have thrown him out!" Wistfully, Skyfire murmured to himself, "I thought they were better than that. If they hadn't… he might have been with us now."

"How dare you! How dare you say that, traitor! It's a good thing there's a true Autobot here! I am reporting you directly to Optimus!"

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker shoved past Cliffjumper, showing no fear of the large gun he had pulled out of his subspace. "Oh come off it, Cliffjumper! I think everybot here will agree with me when I say that the word 'traitor' should be deleted from your language programs. "

"Con sympathizers, I knew you would turn on us!"

In unison Sideswipe and Sunstreaker idly trailed servos along the edges of Skyfire's wings. "He's not gonna listen to anything you say."

Skyfire allowed the twins to soothe the tremors from his wings, craving comfort in a time and place that still sometimes seemed so alien to him. "Perhaps… you are right. As Starscream would say, sound doesn't carry in space, so only actions count. If only I could show everyone the Starscream I know- knew."

The twins exchanged another glance and Sideswipe knew they couldn't resist that kind of invitation. "Well you could, I'm sure we all have protection."

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In the end Skyfire had demanded that Cliffjumper link with him before trying to have him thrown in the brig, and stated that any others who wished to join in the link were welcome. After an hour or so of persuasion by various bots, Cliffjumper had reluctantly agreed, on the condition that the link be one way.

The Arc's crew, being a highly structured and disciplined military unit, participated eagerly in gossip, and within an hour news of the mass merge had reached even Prowl. Ratchet, upon hearing of it, started cursing and had appointed himself in charge, demanding that they move to the medbay so that he could 'make sure you don't all fry your cranial circuits while attempting an orgy'

Joining with Skyfire and Cliffjumper would be Bumblebee, Perceptor, and Wheeljack out of curiosity, the twins, who agreed that any knowledge about Screamer and his pretty set of wings would be to their benefit, Jazz because intel was vital to Special Ops (although if asked he would have given a cover excuse), and Silverbolt, ostensibly so he could gain an edge over his rival in the sky, but mostly because his teammates would have driven him crazy if he hadn't.

As Bumblebee integrated further into Skyfire's data stream, he began to pick up the readings his wings were sending him of air pressure, temperature, and a dozen other flight related readings, as well as the age-dulled emotions that Skyfire had been feeling at this moment. Nervousness, excitement and determination in equal measure swirled around like the air swirled around his large wings.

He saw a familiar feeling bot approach him, and his voice came out in Skyfire's deep rumble, "Hello, Racetrack". The mech was a standard racing model, and Bumblebee towered over him! Bumblebee had been small all his life, he had been in larger model's memories before but he had never felt anything like this- it reminded him of being among the humans, and now that he felt for it, he could sense the carefulness with which Skyfire moved. The hesitation before he turned a corner, how his sensors felt out before each step, wary of accidentally injuring another bot.

"Hey Skyfire, I hear you're going to be that crazy seeker's partner."

A flicker of surprise, "Starscream? Yes, I'm on my way to a meeting with him now."

"What in Primus' name possessed you to sign up with him?"

"He graduated top of his class, and I've read his work, it's quite good."

The other bot scoffed, "Like a seeker could get grades that good without cheating. My creator's been saying it for years, military models should stick to their own cities. He doesn't have any business trying to be a scientist."

Skyfire was embarrassed and uncertain, but Bumblebee felt him push these emotions aside with his determination and he gave the noncommittal answer, "Perhaps."

Racetrack scoffed again, but went on his way.

The shuttle stopped in front of a door, calmed his emotions, and opened it.

It was a lab- it looked a great deal like Perceptor's lab, actually, but Bumblebee supposed that since he had come from the same academy it wasn't unreasonable to assume that the microscope had worked in the same, or similar lab.

There, a splash of color, Starscream bent over a rack of test tubes. Again Bumblebee marveled at his size. The yellow bot had had Starscream loom over him in battle before, but now he looked so small, and… delicate. The pout of concentration on his face was almost… cute.

"Ah, Starscream?"

He jerked back from the experiment with a scowl "No, I'm the other seeker in the Science Academy."

"Ah…"

"Not too bright, are you?" Starscream flitted nearer and then turned with a clearly dismissive gesture "Try to stay out of my way."

Bewildered, Skyfire shifted slightly, "Ah, I'm Skyfire, I signed up to be your partner…"

"Does it look like I care? You'll be gone soon, anyway," the seeker turned back to the test tubes and proceeded to ignore any further friendly overtures.

Bumblebee almost felt disappointed; so it was true, some mechs never change.