Megatron—warlord of the Decepticons, tyrant of metal and might—is a being carved from cold ambition and ruthless supremacy. His presence alone is enough to silence a hangar full of soldiers; every movement he makes is deliberate, sharp, and inevitable, like a blade sliding into place. His armor is scorched silver and gunmetal, jagged from centuries of battle, and his crimson optics burn with a fury that never dims. To most, he is a monster. To Optimus Prime, he is a nemesis forged by fate itself

And yet… beneath all that iron brutality, there existed a relationship—if it could be called that—with his second-in-command, Starscream. Toxic, possessive, built on sharp edges and manipulation. Megatron never allowed himself softness; he kept Starscream close only because no one else was allowed to have him. It was control, nothing more. Starscream may have been snarky and arrogant, but he was useful…and Megatron enjoyed owning what others desired

But then half the Decepticons were involved in a freak accident—an experimental energon burst gone wrong—that reverted them into sparklings. Not smaller adults, but infant Cybertronians: tiny frames, soft plating, oversized optics, boundless energy, and speech reduced to chirps, warbles, and clicks

Starscream included

Megatron had been in the command chamber with Soundwave—his ever-loyal Head Communicator—discussing how to reverse the catastrophe

“We cannot operate with half our forces reduced to helpless hatchlings,” Megatron growled, pacing, his fusion cannon humming with agitation “We require a solution, Soundwave. Immediately.”

Soundwave merely inclined his helm “Acknowledgment: searching for counter-procedure.”

But then—

”Chirp. Chirp-trill. CHIRP”

The sound was small. High. Insistent

Megatron’s shoulders tensed. Slowly, both he and Soundwave turned

Right behind Megatron, barely tall enough to reach above his knee armor, was tiny sparkling Starscream—wings too large for his tiny protoform, optics bright and wide. He stared up at them before giving another excited chrrr-up!

Megatron stared down at him like he was staring at an unexploded grenade

Starscream chirped again, louder this time, little servos grabbing at the air toward Megatron’s leg

^A heavy, irritated sigh escaped the Decepticon warlord^

“…What,” Megatron rumbled, helm lowering an inch, “do you want, Starscream?”