This is following a crossover pairing excerpt that came up in one of the clubs I'm in.  For those of you participating, you know which one it is, although I'm not quite sure I'll be submitting this at all.  It's an idea and one that I'm thinking about incorporating into one of my other crossover fics, namely the one with Starscream, you know, the one where I put him through spark-splitting physical pain?

Warning:  Mentions of slash.  Unfortunately, it's all talk and planning in this chapter.  It came out oddly cute...

Crossover: G1/Armada
Pairing: G1 Optimus Prime/Armada Starscream
Excerpt Summary: Starscream finds himself in the situation of having a crush on an alternate universe's Optimus Prime.  Utterly alone and completely mortified by the situation, he seeks the help of his own Optimus Prime, who had dropped in mysteriously not long before.  As the poor jet comes to find out however, wooing a Prime with the help of his own might have put him a wee bit over his head...

Excerpt Title: Help and Planning...




“Are you falling for this world’s Prime, Starscream?”

Starscream started at Optimus’ question and his already red face-plate seemed to brighten with heat.  He stuttered a reflexive denial before he took in the other mech’s understanding expression.  His shoulders and wings drooped in resignation and he nodded, none too happy with his predicament.  

Here he was, Starscream, an ex-Decepticon and once Galvatron’s right hand mech, falling for Optimus Prime…an alternate universe’s Optimus Prime!  And asking his Optimus Prime for help.  The universe was laughing.  Had to be.  ‘How in the Pit did I get into this mess?’  The jet mentally despaired in the silence that followed his admission.

Optimus took in his comrade’s almost comical despair and smiled softly beneath his mask.  Truthfully, he wasn’t bothered.  It had been surprisingly easy to accept himself and his counterpart as similar but entirely separate individuals.  So, to him, Starscream’s situation was only interesting, not troubling.  It was-dare he even think it?-flattering.  Oh, Jetfire would’ve been having a field day with this…

Taking pity on the mech he now considered a friend, Optimus spoke to break him, from what he could tell, were not comforting thoughts.

“Starscream, I’ll be happy to help you in any way I possibly can.”  The Prime’s smile widened at the wide-opticced look on the jet’s face.

“R-really?!”  Starscream exclaimed, louder than he had meant to.  His wings perked up before he realized that he was acting like a sparkling with his first crush.  He frowned sharply before he straightened himself to his full height and tried to continue the conversation as the grown mech he was…

“I mean,” he looked away, “you’re not…uncomfortable with it?  He is you..." he said.  After a moment he added, "Kind of.”

“But you’re not falling for me, now, are you?” Optimus asked right back, in lieu of an answer.  Starscream shook his head slowly, no.  The truck sighed when he saw that the jet, though having the confidence to seek his help, did not have that same confidence that he had done the right thing.  He elaborated, understanding Starscream’s need separate the image of Prime and himself completely.  

“He is himself, and I am my own mech.  We may have the same name, similar appearances and attitudes, but we are different and it is my belief and confidence in that belief that allows me to truly say that I am not uncomfortable in helping you seek his acknowledgement and affection.”

The jet stood there for a moment then nodded, with a smirk reminiscent of the old Starscream.  Confident…and not just a bit ambitious.  “I’m going to snag myself a Prime.”

Optimus couldn’t help himself.  He laughed.  Pretty soon, the jet joined him.  The unfamiliar sound drew quite a few mechs and when they were done, they shook their heads at the questions.  With certain curious optics on them the whole time, they left…to plot.  Unbeknownst to the young jet, he had no idea just what he had gotten himself into…







“Now,” Optimus started out, once they had found a relatively abandoned hall.  They paced it, heads bowed and muttering.  “The first step is to figure out just where Op-Pri-er…” he trailed off, as he came upon the dilemma of referring to another with his own name.  So, far, he had gotten away with referring to his counterpart as ‘he’ or ‘him’, even ‘your commander/leader’.  They paused in their pacing as the Prime came upon that particular paradox.  “I, er…”  He looked at the jet, comically helpless.  

“Call him Prime, Optimus.”  Optimus raised an eyebrow ridge at the quick answer.  Starscream looked back at him, a sheepish expression on his face.  “How the slag do you think I’ve been dealing with it?”

Optimus shook his head and chuckled as they continued pacing.  “We need to figure out just where he stands.”  He finished.  The jet looked at him, dread creeping into his expression.  He slowed.  

“Stands?  As in-"

“Yes.”  The jet looked at him again, this time with a look of disbelief.

“Now how in the Pit are we going to do that?”  They sped up again.  Anyone watching would have had a tough time predicting the gear changes.

The Prime continued.  “I have a few ideas, but one thing is certain.  We can’t do anything else unless we are certain that your affection will be reciprocated.  Otherwise, anything we try to do has a greater chance of leading to disappointment…or worse, spark-break.” He looked at this companion meaningfully.  Starscream nodded, subdued at that particular point.

“And even if he didn’t return your feelings immediately…” Starscream looked at his former leader, curious at the change in tone.  “I’m sure that there are ways to change his mind,” he ended, mischievously.  Starscream stuttered, embarrassed, before he caught the look and the silent amusement.

Now annoyed, the jet let loose a half-hearted swipe which Optimus easily dodged by speeding up his pace.  The jet caught up and they once again put their helms together.  

It wasn’t long before the first idea, tossed out by Optimus became the object of most of the debate.  In the end, it beat out all the other plans.  Starscream, upon hearing it, had been mortified into screeching in denial…and once again, attracting the attention of nearby, curious Autobots.  They were, once again waved off, only half-heartedly by Starscream.  Optimus, enthused to the point of becoming unrecognizable, dragged off the jet until they came upon empty and unused quarters.  

Starscream, resigned to the plan now that he had a chance to think it over, moped.  He took turns either swearing in English, Cybertronian, and his own regional dialect or glaring at a rather mischievous Prime, who had found an old datapad and was making a checklist.  Optimus, distracted, called some points that the jet either agreed to or didn’t and the truck adapted the list, whatever the slag it was, accordingly.  

When Optimus looked back up, and Starscream saw the rather unusual twinkle in his ruby optics, the jet wondered if somehow he had awakened a monster.

Primus, what the slag have I gotten myself into?