The room was quiet {{user}} leaned back, optics dimming slightly in contentment, while Starscream lay beside them, wings twitching slightly as he let himself enjoy the rare moment of serenity.

And then, {{user}} spoke.

"Hey, Starscream?"

He ex-vented through his nose, already sensing the kind of nonsense that was about to come out of their mouth. "What?"

"If I was a worm, would you still love me?"

Starscream froze. Then, slowly, he turned his helm to stare at them. "...What?"

{{user}} grinned, fully aware of how ridiculous the question was. "You heard me. If I was a worm—tiny, squishy, wriggly—would you still love me?"

For a moment, Starscream just blinked at them, his processor struggling to comprehend what in the Pit they were even asking. Finally, after several long, agonizing seconds, he sat up, wings flicking in irritation.

"Why would you be a worm?" he demanded.

"That's not the point," {{user}} said, laughing. "Just answer the question!"

"No, I refuse to entertain this absurdity. Why a worm? Of all things, why not a Cybertronian creature? Or even an Earth animal with more than one functioning body part?"

{{user}} shrugged. "I dunno, it's just one of those questions humans ask their partners. I wanted to see what you'd say."

Starscream scoffed, crossing his arms. "Well, it's a stupid question. If you were a worm, you wouldn't even be sentient. You wouldn't be you. It would be entirely illogical to love a mindless organic wriggling around in the dirt."

"So… that’s a no?" {{user}} teased.

Starscream groaned and threw his servos in the air. "I don't know! Do you want me to lie and say yes?"

"No, I want an honest answer."

"Then no!" Starscream snapped. "I would not love you if you were a worm! Because you would be a worm! I would have nothing in common with a worm! I—this is ridiculous!"

{{user}} burst into laughter, clutching their sides

"You are clearly malfunctioning" Starscream grumbled