[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Three's a Crowd [Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker]

[Deleted]

Ep. 3 | Week 3 - Day 2 (TBD) | At Night
Location: Somewhere over the Atlantic

The Terrible Trine

---

Flying at night was fun. Not only was it harder to be spotted- so that was nice- but it was harder to spot.
Land. That is.
It was harder to see exactly where the sky ended and earth began, and that was awesome. Sure you had your run of the mill radar systems, and he was particularly well placed to know where the ground was- acutely aware of it in fact. But at night, you couldn’t see it. It made all the difference.

Especially since he was fairly certain there wasn’t ground beneath him anymore. It was water- as far as the optic couldn’t see, empty black space. He’d left the nearest continent behind, the orange hues of lights disappearing over the horizon quite some time ago.

Absolutely thrilling!

Skywarp was taking the seeker equivalent to a joy ride, cackling with glee as he pulled all kinds of stunts lesser fliers would balk at, spinning around in the black void of open air. There had been a little while where he’d been out of commission, and he’d taken his time getting back on the go. After all- when life gave you an opportunity to take it easy, who was he to deny it?

The black and purple jet leaned to the right, completing a few lazy barrel rolls before languidly righting himself in the air before pitching upwards to gain some height for the next round of tricks.

It wasn’t everyday he could just have some fun without some boring task to finish or someone yapping away and ordering him around. Eventually he’d be back at base- wherever that was, he wasn’t at all concerned- so for the moment he took advantage of his freedom. It was likely they hadn’t even noticed he was away- and now that an amazing thought. It was an opportunity of a lifetime to scare someone, maybe lay a few traps while they were still none-the-wiser- his options were endless!

With mounting excitement, the seeker gunned his engines and rocketed upwards with an all mighty whoop, all the while scheming marvelous and dastardly things in the back of his processor.

[Starscream]

It’d been two days now since Thundercracker had made his presence known here on this miserable marble of a planet. A chance encounter, Starscream hadn’t quite believed his optics at seeing the all-too-familiar jet. Ah, but then his Trinemate had begun talking and it cemented that yes indeed, it was him. The conversation in the skies had been civil enough, yet it was the first words spoken once they’d retreated to the office that’d stood out more than most.

“So, did Skywarp eventually get wise to you as well, or did you get him killed like so many others?”

All he had to go on right then was his word and insistence that Skywarp was fine, but it’d brought up a nagging question which was… where exactly was Skywarp? He’d been on the Nemesis during its doomed crashing into the ocean, and had been around in the moments after. Tired, with a strained warp system - but alive.

Yet he had not been seen nor heard from since. Early on, attempts at contact had been made - only to have been met with silence. He hadn’t been forgotten, no, Starscream deciding that should he wish to make himself known, he simply would - no doubt being distracted by something shiny in the meantime. More critical matters had taken priority, and so further attempts at communicating simply had not happened.

The day after Thundercracker had arrived, Starscream had sent him out on patrol. The day after that, too. Partly because he hadn’t wanted to look at him, not in the mood for further accusations - after all, he did have enough on his plate without petty squabbles. But also because he’d been trying to find any trace of where Skywarp had gone.

It wasn’t that he cared, no… but a point had to be made, his name cleared - Thundercracker had thrown out the accusation of getting the third member of their Trine killed almost instantly, and that did not sit well with the Air Commander.

Scouring human news stories to start, he looked for any unexplained sightings of a strange purple jet. This only went nowhere, and a casual request had been brought up to Soundwave. If anyone had heard anything on the missing Seeker’s whereabouts, it would be him.

A couple of sightings here and there over the months during his absence, it seemed he’d been caught messing with humans a couple of times, yet there wasn’t enough to really go on as a starting point to locate him in recent days. These records scrubbed clean from the public eye, Soundwave had passed on what little information he had.

Regardless, Starscream had every confidence that Skywarp was still out there somewhere, and so had once again summoned Thundercracker to his office. If he was going to contact him, he wanted his Trinemate to lay witness to it.

Sitting behind his desk, he had both elbows propped onto the table, peering across at the teal Seeker. Any possible nervousness was well masked behind a calm and collected demeanor, and he would hum smugly as a clawed talon reached down to slide across a datapad screen.

::Skywarp, before I go into questioning as to just what you have been doing all this time, please explain to Thundercracker here that you are very much alive.:: familiar, purred words would sound over the comm. Any response given would hopefully ping exact coordinates on the datapad so they could go and retrieve the missing Seeker should they need to.

He was straight and to the point, wanting to prove straight away that he’d had no part in any apparent ‘demise’. The mention of Thundercracker, the question completely out of the blue? Well, hopefully they would get Skywarp’s attention to the point he would respond.

Hopefully.

[Thundercracker]

Starscream was up to something.

Thundercracker had originally thought that being sent out on patrol was the former Winglord’s way of reminding him who was in charge, that he would do well to get back within Starscream’s good graces.
Well, even if they had not physically spoken to each other since that event, Thundercracker had figured that Soundwave would have filled in Starscream that such a plan was not exactly working. Thundercracker had enjoyed being able to go out and survey the planet that looked like it would be his home for the foreseeable future, and had opportunities to meet many different people.

So when Starscream had called him back into his office again, Thundercracker had figured it was either one of two things. One, Starscream was going to try and get him on his side again, or it might be a place of ambush. Though honestly the second option was more or less Thundercracker trying to figure another reason besides trying to recruit him again.

But when Starscream had said nothing to him, made no attempt at cajoling or winning him over, he was surprised. Instead, Starscream had tapped a datapad and spoken to someone on the other end of the line, addressing said person as Skywarp with an air of smug satisfaction...

Thundercracker placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, as close as he could to the datapad while his audio sensors were at their highest sensitivity.

Did he doubt the connection? No, it was clearly in transmitting mode. No, what he was more concerned about was outside interference. He wanted to be sure that Starscream wasn’t playing a damn dirty trick on him.

[Deleted]

::Skywarp, before I go into questioning as to just what you have been doing all this time, please explain to Thundercracker here that you are very much alive.::

There was a small click from Skywarp’s comms, very like the click of a receiver unhooking- the message had gone through- and for a moment there was silence. Until, with a crackle, the line came to life…

...Heya, you’ve reached my comms. I’m off doing something I’m probably not supposed to- so stay on the line and I’ll get back at ya ‘soon as I can. You’re call is important to me, really-...
Click
The line filled with scratchy, generic music, ripped straight from an audio fx stock website under the tag ‘elevator’.

Meanwhile, if the mech himself had even registered the call, he made no indication of it- his full attention on a small-ish vessel being flung this way and that by the Atlantic’s swell. Now- how easy would it be to capsize a boat like that? The waves made it a little tricky- but Skywarp would bet credits that flying fast enough, and close enough, would do the trick. Generally speaking, flying fast enough and close enough to anything could do the trick- and in his experience, it worked great on Autobots soooo....

It was a full 5 minutes later, while the black-and-purple jet leveled out high above the clouds once more, when he noticed the tell-tale ping of his comm line. Oops. A quick check revealed the caller, and oh, could the night get any better? It was Screamer.
That had him snickering as he let the message replay, temporarily shutting off the playback of the pre-recorded ‘comm keeper’ he’d set-up. The contents of Starscream’s comm had him pausing, and if he had been in root mode his face-plates would’ve grimaced in his ‘I’m thinking hard’ expression.
His trinemate wasn’t above using this as a ploy to get his attention- Starscream had tried to contact him a little while ago, but he hadn’t been in the mood really (nor had he remembered to answer promptly, and he found that after a couple days Scream got real fussy about ‘late responses’ so it was too late to comm back by then). At the same time though…
Could Thundercracker really be back?

::HEY Scream!::
Skywarp's voice rang clear over the comms, louder than it had any right to be- and just snarky enough to prove he knew it too. The thought of getting a jolt out of an unaware trinemate too good to resist.
::Sorry bout’ that-::
He wasn’t the least bit apologetic, and it really showed.
::-I was testing to see if ya could turn over a fleshy’s boat if you fly past it fast enough! Is Thundercracker there? Really? I'm alive! BTW::
His cackles carried over the line as he veered upwards for another round of tricks. It was very likely he soon wouldn't have so much freedom, so time to take advantage!

[Starscream]

There was a moment of smug satisfaction at hearing the telltale click - the ‘Heya’ that sounded moments later was paired with relief, a pompous chuckle escaping him almost as if to say ‘I told you so’ as he peered across at Thundercracker expectantly, like waiting for a well-deserved apology.

Only for the message to continue. It wasn’t Skywarp actually speaking, but a damn recording. The smug air quickly dissipating,

With an irritated twitching of his wings, Starscream would curl both servos into fists as he leaned forward. 

::Skywarp this is not the time for messing around!:: his voice not quite a screech, but it was raised enough to hear over the- what even was that music?! The message was something he’d heard before, but that music was definitely new.

That little shit…

This was the part where Starscream expected a scrambled click, a stammered apology, an insistence that Skywarp was alive and well, only they were met with silence.

One minute turned into two. The silver Seeker’s servos uncurled, a clawed digit tapped with gentle irritation on the top of the desk as he glared across at Thundercracker.

“Don’t you dare say anything. We’ll keep the line open so I can show you once and for all that he is alive.”

There was some slight panic to his words should Thundercracker have been paying attention, but at least this way Skywarp - wherever he was - had to notice at some point that his comm line was active. It was just a matter of when.

The next three minutes seemed to drag on. Starscream had half a mind to leave Blackridge and go and find Skywarp himself- only for a loud, familiar voice to sound out finally. A little louder than expected, but it wouldn’t be Skywarp if it wasn’t abrasive.

The smug look had returned, and he’d lean back casually in the chair - gaze not leaving Thundercracker.

“Feel free to apologize at any time.” he purred, chuckling.

::Skywarp, it is good to hear your voice and not that- message.:: some slight annoyance in his tone, yet not enough to be worried over.

::I do hope you’ve been keeping yourself out of trouble, human boat sinking shenanigans aside… As for Thundercracker, yes. Yes, he is here…::

He wasn’t the least bit curious as to if Skywarp's experiment had actually worked, and would gesture toward Thundercracker as if letting him know he could speak.

[Thundercracker]

This was...

...fucking priceless. If only he had a camera to capture the look on Starscream’s face. Thundercracker tried to hold in the laughter, but it came out of him slowly. First as a series of short, almost contained snorts before devolving into side heaving laughter, Thundercracker slammed his fist into the table as he laughed.

This was definitely Skywarp through and through. No one else had the bearings to do that to Starscream.

Once the former Winglord had recovered himself and snapped at Thundercracker, the teal Seeker managed to get a hold of himself and stepped back, still unable to wipe the grin off his face. There was no way that Soundwave or anyone else would be able to fake that, or that Starscream would be able to fake that reaction.

When Skywarp finally spoke for real, TC’s smile grew even bigger.

“Yeah Warp, I am here you son of a glitch!”

The joy of knowing that Skywarp was still alive buried the fact that Warp had mentioned tipping over human boats with jetwash. Had Thundercracker been paying attention he might have been disgusted, shook his head in disappointment, been mortified even. But honestly, he didn’t care right now.

“Where the hell are ya?”

[Deleted]

::Eyyyy!!!:: The Seeker gleefully whooped out loud, rendering the sound fuzzy over transmission.

It took hearing his trinemate’s voice for it to settle in, that it wasn’t some kind of ruse or prank. Skywarp soared, both metaphorically and quite literally- laying on the speed and spinning into a barrel roll with sheer delight. He’d have done a jump instead of bothering to fly the whole way, except he wasn’t too sure where Thundercracker and Starscream were, exactly. Despite the impatience that suddenly had him jittery and eager to reach his continent-destination, the purple jet stayed the course, shooting across the night sky. Earlier shenanigans already fading from mind at the prospect of something far awesomer, and far more exciting, Skywarp aimed to get there asap.

::Been a while since I heard that voice TC. Finally decided to pay a visit, ey?:: He snickered, the sound rendered a little sharp and tin-y over comms.

::I’m somewhere over one of the Oceans? Atlantis or something like that, your timing’s really getting better Starscream, that last continent was way too boring::
He tacked a databurst containing his precise coordinates and current heading to the end of his transmission, almost as an afterthought. It was way easier than spelling it out, and no chance he’d forget a number or some other small detail at the risk of Stars’ annoyed whining. So win-win, really.

::And pssssht. ‘Course. Never caused trouble a day in my life, whatcha’ talking about?:: He couldn’t help himself, full of cheek and without even a shred of decency to sound sheepish. ::Where ya both at, anyway?::

He thought it over a moment while waiting for answer, and was a little surprised to find the last logged memory file of Thundercracker was dated to way before the 'Con army had even touched down on the planet. No wonder it felt like so long, hah. He'd bet good credits that they'd already started up bickering too, regardless of whether TC had just arrived or if they'd only thought to call him up recently. 

[Starscream]

“I’m glad this is amusing for at least one of us.”

Starscream seemed less than impressed by the teal Seeker’s stifled laughter, a servo raising as if pinching at his ‘nose’ as Thundercracker erupted into a louder laugh, paired with the slamming of a fist on the desk.

Starscream, meanwhile, could only vent out a tired sigh.

In a way, though, even he was relieved that Skywarp was still alive and well. Not only because Thundercracker had been so quick to assume that he’d had some part in offlining the other mech and this had swiftly proved otherwise.

No - for as much trouble as Skywarp was worth, there was the smallest part of Starscream that’d missed having him around.

A gentle tsk escaped him at hearing where the missing Seeker was, rolling his optics as he lowered his servo, his arm hanging loosely at his side.

::Atlantic.:: He corrected, not commenting on the timing - even if in this case it’d been near perfect, if only because Skywarp had actually responded.

::We are at Blackridge Hold. The same place we have been for literal months now, something you’d know if you’d checked in! I can send you the coordinates, should you finally wish to return home.::

There was no annoyance to his tone - if anything, the mild relief was starting to creep through, and it showed in his relaxed posture. It’d been far, far too long since the three of them had shared any kind of space - and while he and Thundercracker still had their differences? He was sure Skywarp could aid in possibly mending things some.

[Thundercracker]

“If I had known you were here I would have come sooner.”

Honestly, at this point he could have kissed Starscream. Centuries of doubt, of wondering if Skywarp was even still alive were gone within a nanosecond. Oh, Thundercracker had never any doubt that Starscream was still around. Starscream always managed to survive, always had a backup plan for when things went south. Exactly the opposite of Skywarp.

When Starscream mentioned that Skywarp probably ought to return back to base, Thundercracker just shook his head and chuckled. The only way you could get Skywarp to go somewhere was to make him think it was in his best interest to get there, much like dealing with a sparkling at times.

He kept quiet though, because as often as he disagreed with Starscream on many issues, it was refreshing to see that Skywarp’s safety was one issue that they could agree on. Thundercracker had no real idea of how long Skywarp had been out of contact, so it would probably be best if the loveable goofball came back, maybe got a medical checkout to make sure that everything was okay.

Well, okay regarding Skywarp anyway. But that didn’t mean he could have some fun too.

“Yeah Warp, it would be best for you to head back. I mean, you don’t want to leave me here all by myself do you? You know how Screamer gets when he’s cranky.”

[Deleted]

::Atlantis, Atlantic, same scraaaappp:: You could almost hear the disparaging optic roll over the comm-line. The purple jet casually flipped upside down, as if to make up for not actually being able to do so. But there was relief and reassurance in his tone too. When was the last time he’d heard both of them? That they’d chatted. Granted it was Starscream trying to prove a point, right? He couldn’t remember exactly what the Wing Lord’s first ping had been about, but there had been something about showing Thundercracker he was still around. Whatever that meant. Of course he was still around. Obviously. The Seeker didn’t want to think too hard about the implications, and so simply didn’t. Otherwise...

Yeah, it was ‘bout time to head home alright.

::Anyway, detaillls Star, details. Here now ain’t I? Send ‘em over:: As Skywarp spoke he called up his warp-system: fuel levels, consumption rates and predictions scrolling across the HUD readout in turn. Usually he bypassed this step for the quicker, more intuitive version- I See Spot and I Warp-style. But this was bound to be a bigger jump and he did not want to end up in the dirt. Or somewhere in a lake, again, for pits sake.

::And don’t forget an altitude this time ‘round either, lol, I don’t know where in the pits you’re sending me but I’d like my pedes off the ground, thanks, not anywhere in it:: He trusted Starscream to be pin-point precise and didn’t actually think his trinemate would forget it, they’d done this before and would very likely do it again. However, one never did not take the opportunity to tease if it was so presented.

::On that note, you’re flat outta luck there Thunder. He’s been acting like he got his wings crossed since we got here::
And way long before that but he wisely (for once) kept that thought to himself as he snickered, ::I’ll take up a shift, don’t’cha worry ‘bout it::

[Starscream]

“Oh I see how it is...”

A rumbled drone of a reply, a smirk twitching at his lip as he spoke, indicating a hint of amusement. Ah yes, of course Thundercracker would’ve returned knowing that Skywarp were around. Granted after the way he and Thundercracker had left things back on Cybertron, neither had exactly wanted to see the other - and without their brother here to act as some sort of mediator, it probably would’ve ended badly.

There was no verbal response to the comment about him being cranky, although he couldn’t help but narrow his optics into a scowl - wings twitching some in idle irritation, even if he wasn’t actually too annoyed by the jab. If anyone could get away with such a comment, it’d be either of his trinemates - as long as it was done behind closed doors, of course.

A gentle scoff at Skywarp’s reply about the Atlantic and Atlantis being the same, he would vent out a quiet sigh of relief at hearing the request for coordinates a moment later. He’d been expecting some sort of whining, or the whole thing turned into a childish game where they had to go and find Skywarp first. Not that he’d mind the excuse to stretch his wings, but it was far more effort than he was willing to give - especially when the other mech could simply teleport right to their location.

::This time around? When have I ever misled you!:: he scoffed indignantly. Not one for pranks and silly games, he’d - as far as he could recall - never given intentionally bad coordinates. Today would’ve been no different, except the comment about taking up a shift…

::I am right here, you know!:: his voice had raised some in pitch, although it was a far cry from being truly insulted. It was almost like the good old days, in a way - something he never thought would happen again.

Ah, now he was smirking. A quick command was sent to the datapad, and he'd speak a moment later.

::These are the coordinates to the corridor outside my office. The door is open, so you can’t miss it once you arrive.::

Not foolish enough to give him the directions directly into the room, knowing Skywarp would blast in at random unannounced at all. hours. of. the. day, he would do the next closest thing, if only so this reunion could happen without the other mech getting lost in the weirdly similar corridors of Blackridge for an hour.

(Plus, he could lock the door in future, to prevent the prankster barging in uninvited! Not that it’d probably stop him, but it was the thought that counts...)

While the coordinates were indeed correct, there was a slight miscalculation in the Y-axis. While Skywarp wouldn’t be getting stuck in any ceilings or floors, he wouldn’t be warping to ground level, instead a slight step or two above where he should’ve landed.

Turning to face the door, Starscream waited to see the results of his prank.

[Thundercracker]

It had been a while since Thundercracker had seen Starscream smile. And not in a condescending, arrogant sort of way that seemed somehow at home on Starscream’s faceplate, but a honest, humorous smile that meant he was happy.

It almost felt like the old days, before all this nonsense and war...

:Since you got here? Hasn’t he always acted like that?:

As Starscream sent the coordinates, he snuck a peak down at the datapad to see the coordinates that Skywarp would enter into the base at. Seemed normal enough, only...his brow furrowed as he twisted his head to get a better look at the coordinates.

No, that was off deliberately, no way someone of Starscream’s need for perfection would mess that up. Thundercracker didn’t say anything though, merely nudging his brother and giving him a pointed expression as to say “What the hell is going on?” Starscream usually wasn’t the one for pranking, that seemed to always be Skywarp’s department.

Of whom Starscream was always the near perfect target.

“It will be nice to have the gang back together...”

He whispered that almost to himself, barely audible as he turned to stare out the door and await his brother’s appearance.

[Deleted]

Skywarp had to hand it to him, Starscream was right- he’d never give the wrong information (ol’ Screamer’s Wing Commander’s pride couldn’t handle it, usually). Disregarding pranks, of course, but that was so far out of Warp’s mind that the possibility didn’t even cross his processor. Pranks were his thing, duh.

As it went, all the purple and black mech heard was ‘coordinates’, attention immediately diverted to the ping that followed and the continued teasing of his trine-mate.
::Of course you’re right there Star! That’s the whole point ain’t it?:: Skywarp’s cackling laugh followed, voice still carrying it as he continued.
::I’ll be there in a flash- hope ya got some Energon handy so I don’t fall outta the sky yeah?::

In truth he wasn’t that low- he’d need to refuel eventually once he got back but he wasn’t in dire straits or anything. Primus knows he’s done riskier, frankly stupider, things on a far emptier tank in the past- but the opportunity to continue teasing his brothers was far too tempting. If he’d paid any attention at all of course, he would have heard exactly where he was going to end up- and if he’d bothered to check over his warp-system once it was locked, he would’ve noticed that he wasn’t going to end up anywhere near the sky.

Alas, he did neither.

With another Whoop, the jet rolled and jerked upwards into a loop, sleek silhouette breaking apart at the loop’s zenith. As Skywarp unfolded from alt to root-

~zip~

-he warped.

Intending to reappear a few moments later, across an ocean and a continent and doing a flip as he fell. The plan was to catch himself on his thrusters and strike a pose- but as one can imagine, everything did not go according to plan.

Skywarp had barely a moment to realize a mistake had been made, as instead of open sky or even ground his systems were met with wall. Everywhere. The momentum he’d carried across his warp meant that there was absolutely no hope of correcting his path, and with an almighty CRASH and the SCREE of metal against rock, the mech flipped straight into the wall opposite Starscream’s office. Leaving Seeker-sized streaks of black and purple paint in his wake as he did.
There was silence for barely a nano-second, as a dazed Warp lay splayed on his back across the floor, bewildered and befuddled, pedes against the wall and helm conveniently pointing at the open office door.

“WhaT-” Skywarp groaned, bringing a hand to his helm as he glanced around wildly- luckily (probably?) apparently no worse for wear but confused as scrap, “WHAT in the name of-”

Crimson optics looked up, helm tilting back, and back- until his narrowed gaze fell on the pair sat in the office beyond. Upside down, in his view (which heh, funny), but there, nonetheless, and despite everything, the sight made him overwhelmingly happy. It had been so, so long...

“You.” He hadn’t seen Starscream in hot minute, and Thundercraker (wow he hasn’t changed at all you’d think a mech would try another shade a’ blue) in far longer, but that could wait. That Could Wait, because this was something else entirely. Despite wanting to, he held back his laughter for a mock-venomous tone, optics narrow and stern. He knew this would be utterly ridiculous, he had yet to move from the floor for primus’ sake, and he was banking on the comedic effect. He’d already made a fool of himself, might as well play it as only he could do best.

“I didn’t know ya had it in ya Star, Ha!” Now he cackled gleefully, a gleam of pride shining in his optics. Skywarp sniffed, a smirk stretching across his faceplate as he continued, “They grow up so fast.”

How could he even be mad? Thundercracker and Starscream were sitting across the room, and he’d just done something stupid as shit- for just this moment, it was the old days. It settled Skywarp like nothing had in a long time. Things could be ok- they could!

[Starscream]

::You treat me like that and expect Energon?!::

There was still no annoyance to his tone at all, simply playing up the dramatics a little in his mock-offense to the gentle teasing. It was something he quite honestly missed - and hearing Skywarp’s cackle only reinforced this thought - and though he would never actually admit that out loud, his posture probably spoke volumes to Thundercracker who knew him well.

He was relaxed and truly at ease - probably for what was the first time in a long, long time. While he and the other Seeker in the room certainly had their differences, Skywarp would hopefully bridge the gap between them, able to diffuse anything before it started - or at the very least make the both of them see some sense.

Even if it would probably come from doing something completely idiotic to distract them from whatever it was.

As he watched the doorway, he would smile. Not only because it would be nice to greet Skywarp with a prank, after falling for so many over millennia - but because the three of them would finally be in the same place once more.

Only- a nudge pulled him from his thoughts, and the smile would vanish. Glancing at his brother, he expected a reprimand or correction of the coordinates - Thundercracker never really was one for fun, after all... Only, there was no such thing, merely a look - to which he would simply shrug, before turning his attention back to where Skywarp would hopefully be appearing any moment now.

“Hm, you say something?” a low utterance of his own as Thundercracker spoke, though any possible reply would be quickly drowned out by a sudden crashing and the audial-piercing sound of metal against rock.

Well, he hadn’t quite expected it to go like that. His optics drifted from the streaks of paint on the wall, down to the bewildered purple Seeker who lay sprawled on the floor.

A flicker of worry - was Skywarp hurt? The coordinates had only been slightly off, yet the scrapes and the noise indicated he’d moved here probably far faster than intended - or had some other silly idea in his processor which had gone horribly wrong.

As the fallen Seeker looked their way, Starscream would tilt his helm some - peering back at him, trying to work out from where he stood if he was alright.

The single word spoken made him blink, shifting his weight ever-so-slightly.

“I, ah-”

Though, any worry or concern for the other mech quickly vanished at the next words which were paired with that cackle - and it was then that Starscream would stand up a little straighter, prouder almost. His first - and probably only ever - prank had gone well indeed.

“I do have my moments. I’d say you are more than deserving, given your absence and lack of contact!” now there was a touch of annoyance to his voice. Only slight, though - with everything going on, Skywarp probably would’ve been a hindrance instead of any actual help around Blackridge, though checking in every so often would've been nice...

“This one here thought you were dead.” Ah, yes, he was bringing that up again. Apologies would absolutely be owed to him later, though for right now - he would let Thundercracker have this moment. With a gentle scoff and rolling of his optics, he would chuckle and look to the bigger mech beside him.

“Go on then…”

[Thundercracker]

“Yeah...I said...”

Suddenly Thundercracker’s reply was cut off by a horrible noise of metal on rock that caused him to cringe, even though he knew deep down it wouldn’t hurt Skywarp too much, just scratch the paint off him. As he saw Skywarp laying there, just sprawled on his back in front of the door to Starscream’s office, Thundercracker peered down like Starscream as he blinked a few times, unable to believe what he was seeing. He honestly had never expected the three of them to be together again, in the same room.

It was almost like the war had never happened...

And then Warp gave that big ol grin of his with that signature cackle. It caused Thundercracker to break out into a laugh of his own, one of the first laughs that warmed his spark for the first time in what felt like melania. Finally the old band was back together. At Starscream’s remark, Thundercracker just waved his hand to brush it off.

“And I was wrong. I’ve been wrong before Screamer.”

He didn’t need any bidding from Starscream. He crossed the room as fast as he could and pulled Skywarp back up to his feet and into a massive bearhug that could have had Megatron wince from its strength.

“I never thought I’d see you again...”

He almost whispered this as he buried his faceplate into Skywarp’s shoulder, happy tears of lubricant leaking from his optics as he hugged his brother.