Megatron didn’t know if he could watch this. It was important, he knew that, he’d even organised it and Soundwave and Starscream had both agreed. There’d been no shortage of volunteers even, when he’d said he didn’t want to do it.
Not that he was surprised at who’d won. It wasn’t like it was a fair competition, he’d known he wasn’t going to get away with choosing anyone else.
Hot Rod looked up at Starscream for approval on how he was holding the gun and Starscream knelt, adjusting his grip again and correcting his aim where it was drooping at the end of the barrel.
He couldn’t watch this. Megatron stepped away from the viewing window as quietly as he could, and tried not to wince as he heard the first shot land at the end of the gallery.
Starscream’s voice reached him, rasping and high pitched still, sarcastically congratulating Hot Rod on hitting the wall to a pleased laugh. It was necessary, he knew, but he didn’t want his sparkling to fight. He wanted him to know peace. He couldn’t watch this.
It was Starscream who found him later. “Go apologise to your sparkling,” he snapped in lieu of a greeting. “He thinks you’re angry that he’s a bad shot.”
Megatron scowled at him. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Starscream’s sneer deepened, looming over Megatron in his seat. “He’s barely in his first armour, he’s supposed to be ridiculous! You are the one who is supposed to know better!”
Megatron stood up abruptly, forcing Starscream out of his personal space and stepping away. He needed to exit this conversation or he was going to punch Starscream in the face. Again.
Besides, it would be easier to get what was wrong out of Hot Rod.
If he could find him.
He wasn’t in the mess, and the energon logs didn’t show him as having drawn his cube. Megatron pulled it for him, and tried the shooting range next in case Starscream had just left him down there, but no such luck. Soundwave’s little cassettes professed ignorance, and even Deadlock said he hadn’t seen him, which was stranger given how Hot Rod had taken to hanging off the teen’s elbow.
The one place left was their quarters, but he’d stormed through there already after Starscream had come to him.
He wasn’t there now, thankfully, but he couldn’t see Hot Rod either. Although…
Megatron pulled the door to the cupboard open. It was technically for storage, but he’d padded the floor and added a reading light for Hot Rod to get some privacy when he’d been a little smaller. Hot Rod had stopped using it regularly a while ago, and he’d been considering using it for its intended purpose once more.
Hot Rod was curled away from the door without the light on, spoiler hanging low on his back.
Megatron had long since accepted his mechling would probably never reach his own size, but it still surprised him how much smaller and lighter Hot Rod was when he pulled him into his lap. He was still so young.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled into Megatron’s chest.
“For what?” asked Megatron, concerned and gently tilting Hot Rod’s helm upwards. “If you shot Starscream, believe me, I understand. No one will hold it against you.”
Hot Rod giggled, optics still downcast. They were low light too; he was probably tired. The fact that he was approaching his next growth spurt was what had encouraged them to teach him shooting in the first place. “It took me ages to land on the target, and I didn’t hit any of the spots I was supposed to. I’m sorry I’m not good at it.”
“Hot Rod, it’s your first time shooting,” said Megatron, trying to keep the incredulity out of his voice. “The first time I shot my cannon I couldn’t hit anything at range.”
Hot Rod nodded, trying to hide his face again. “I’ll get good fast!” he said quickly. “So you can see.”
*Primus* damnit, why did Starscream have to be right so often?
“You will,” he said confidently. “Because it’s my turn to teach you next time, and then Deadlock can show you how he adapts what I taught him.”
“Oh,” said Hot Rod, blinking slowly. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” said Megatron flatly, keeping the lie from his voice. “I’m proud to see you grow up and learn these things. I wish I could have been there today to stop Starscream from teaching you bad habits.”
Hot Rod stared at him, like he couldn’t decide whether or not he believed him. Megatron wished he could lie to him the way he could other Decepticons. That Hot Rod was older. That Hot Rod was safe somewhere else where he didn’t have to learn these things.
He couldn’t quite bring himself to wish he’d left Hot Rod with his sire, and instead, tucked him close, pressing his face to the top of Hot Rod’s helm. “Spark of my spark,” he murmured. “I brought you a cube. Drink and recharge for me.”
“Yes, Carri,” said Hot Rod quietly, taking the cube from him. “I’m sorry.”
Megatron cradled him against his chest, like he had when he was new, ignoring that Hot Rod was starting to spill out of his lap. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Oooooh this is goooood!
Everyone assumes megs wants his progeny to be a weapon or to take his position when in reality it he never wanted them to have this. He never even wanted this. Of course he wouldn’t want them to experience this.
Hot rod understands this when Galvatron came to be and he became Rodimus prime 👀
Pure angst!
