Knockout awoke to the sound of ped-falls crunching through the forest in the early morning breeze of the tropical paradise of the rainforest.

He lazily blinked his optics, registering his surroundings while his blurry vision cleared.

He was surrounded by the all too familiar tall, thick trees that now haunted his every waking moment and the serene sway of the plants growing on the soft grass, grazing his faceplate. He relished in the soothing way the little Earth plants brushed against the metal. It was calming in a way. Gentler and kinder than the evil, scratchy metal floors of the Nemesis.

Wait a click.

Where in Primus' name am I?

The memories of the last couple of days came flooding back to him and Knockout's optics widened in realization.

We are trapped in the jungle, hopelessly lost, Soundwave is missing, and where is Starscream!?

​The red mech quickly shot up off the ground and immediately regretted it. Something on his back stung bad, making Knockout wince and hunch down to avoid angering it.

That can't be good.

Sitting up certainly didn't help, Knockout thought bitterly, but I must find them.

What if Scream was injured? How could he drag the seeker through the entire rainforest? He didn't weigh much, but Knockout certainly wouldn't find Soundwave quick enough dragging a half dead jet with him. Did Starscream already leave him? That scrap head wouldn't survive a day by himself. No, Knockout had to find him.

He honestly didn't even know why he cared what happened to those two. For all he cared he could just track down Soundwave, leave Starscream for dead, and ground bridge himself back home. All Starscream ever did was back-stab bots and boast, and Soundwave never cared about anyone in his life! The two cons were cold hearted and deceptive to the very end.

And yet...Knockout couldn't leave them.

The red mech had only thought of them as just two other Decepticons, until he had seen there was more to them. More than they cared to let on. He had seen the traitorous, selfish Starscream take a lightening bolt for him. He had seen the emotionless Soundwave not leave behind his friends like he could've, probably should've if he had wanted to escape alive, but instead drag them with him in the rain, shoving them up the tree first at the cost of his own safety.

There was more to these two than meets the eye.

Knockout snapped out of his thoughts with the sound of more ped-falls not too far away. Someone is here.

Knockout glanced around and let out a small sigh of relief when he saw the limp form of Starscream a few feet away. Knockout, still clutching his side, gasped and crawled over to his fallen friend.

Starscream was unconscious, with a few small dents to his frame, one heel severely burned and twisted painfully, and some bad claw marks and bites but nothing Knockout couldn't fix once they got back to the ship.

If they got back to the ship.

The red mech grabbed Starscream's arm and shook the seeker gently. His wings were sticking out awkwardly, making it hard for the medic to get a grip on his lanky commander.

"Starscream, you need to wake up. Someone's coming!" he whispered.

The seeker groaned softly and rolled over, showing his optics slowly blinking to life. The brilliant crimson shined in the morning sunlight, like tiny little rubies.

"Knockout?" He whispered quietly, "W-What...happened?" the seeker sagged in Knockout's arms, exhausted.

Knockout was so relieved that Starscream was alright that he didn't even mind the seeker's laziness.

"Listen, Scream," Knockout held Starscream in his lap, the tall seeker curling up and flinching from his wounds, "Someone's coming. I need you to wake up and we have to get a move on and find Soundwave!"

Starscream nodded slowly, "Ok, ok, Knockout, calm down. I'm waking up, I'm waking up - what's that?"

The seeker sat up suddenly and shoved Knockout's helm to the ground. Knockout was gifted a mouthful of dirt. Filthy, filthy dirt. On his pearl white faceplate.

"Starscream, what-"

"Sssh" the seeker put a long digit to the red mech's mouth, holding him in place while he surveyed the area.

"I thought I heard something." He whispered.

"Oh come on, Scream." Knockout whispered back, while the seeker crouched down behind the bushes, "There's no one here except us and-" Knockout paused with realization.

"Soundwave!" he gasped.

Had their friend found them all on his own? Knockout sat up and looked around hoping to spot the silent mech somewhere. "Is he there? Do you see him? I knew he'd find us!"

"No, it's something bigger." Starscream hissed.

"Do you even care that he's missing? You could show the least bit of concern." Knockout growled.

"Shut up you idiot," Starscream shot angry red optics at him from the corner of his eyes, "I'll silence you myself with one fist to that precious finish of yours if you can't shut your yappy mouth."

Starscream turned back to surveying the tree line, "Besides, if it were Soundwave, he'd be a real imbecile for being so fragging loud crunching through those branches. I wouldn't expect that sort of carelessness from him." There was a bite to his words, "He's not you after all."

Knockout glared. Ok he admitted, calling Starscream out on his lack of concern wasn't cool, but the seeker was getting snippy, and Knockout was already in a foul mood. Soothing Earth plants be damned.

"I think you're just jealous of him."

"I'm sorry?"

He honestly didn't know why he started to pick a fight with the seeker, the red mech was not in a good mood as he felt all the aches and pains in his body from the fall only hours before, and being trapped in this forest for a couple days now was starting to get to him.

Knockout tsked, averting his gaze, "You heard me."

"Jealous you say." Starscream hissed, claws curling, "What can the third in command do that I, the Second in Command to Lord Megatron, cannot?"

"Not keep a tail between his legs while speaking with said Lord Megatron."

Starscream bristled, "Think I'm scared of him, do you?"

Knockout rolled his optics, "If the tire fits."

"Then you should get your facts checked, dear doctor, before you start saying things you'll regret." Starscream said quietly, "I deal with our precious Lord in ways you wouldn't even know."

That sounded ominous.

"Sounds like an excuse to me." Knockout brushed it off.

The seeker scoffed, "Run out of comebacks, have we?"

"Don't get smart with me, skinny bot, I can still run circles around you before you even stand up on those ridiculous heels." Knockout smirked.

"Ridiculous?" Starscream squeaked.

A crunch of leaves startled the two mechs out of their little banter, making them turn their heads in the direction of the sound. Some leaves rustled on a thick brush of plants a few feet away.

Starscream yanked Knockout down under the cover of the bushes they were hiding behind. They heard an annoyed voice rise from behind the plants.

"Ugh! I've had enough of this planet's green floppy things!" The hulking form of the Autobot Bulkhead stumbled out from behind the foliage, stomping out the little flowers in his path.

Bulkhead!? Knockout fretted. What in Primus' name was an autobot doing in these parts?

The huge, olive green Autobot stumbled a bit, trying to avoid knocking down any trees as he made his way into the clearing. His heavy armor and hulking frame cast a huge, intimidating shadow that Knockout found himself scared to even get near. Starscream would get squashed like a big underneath those fists.

"They are called plants, Bulkhead." A deep, serene voice said next from the dense plants.

Starscream and Knockout stiffened when the Autobot leader stepped into the light. "And I believe they are living beings, just like us, simply different."

Optimus Prime. The Optimus Prime, knelt down and ran his cerulean blue optics over the little flowers crushed by Bulkhead.

Optimus Prime was something to behold. Lean, but strong. Calm, but intimidating. Gentle, but firm. There was a light, curiosity about him. A studious librarian underneath that powerful figure. An interesting, boy he was. But kindness was deceiving, because Knockout knew that if he laid a single servo on one of the leader's Autobots, Knockout would be fortunate to walk away with his spark.

"Living creatures? That's crazy!" the yellow autobot known as Bumblebee jumped out from behind the fronds and scanned the tropical forest.

The bubbly, ungodly yellow bot hopped his way out into the clearing. His yellow and black car doors bobbed in his back like little bee wings. His name was fitting.

Great, Knockout thought, Three Autobots roaming around the forest while we're lost. Starscream shuffled nervously beside him, wings slumped low.

"Living things? Who knew." Bulkhead still didn't look too fond of the plants, but he gave a soft smile.

Optimus lightly stepped over the flowers, being careful not to crush even a single one, and took out his scanner to look over the data. Bumblebee skipped over to join.

"See any 'cons on the readings, Optimus?" the yellow bot chirped.

Knockout couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that the Autobots addressed their leader simply by his name. They didn't even include the 'prime' part, let alone 'Lord' or 'Master'. Such insolence. Though, it didn't seem to bother the Prime, who instead, smiled fondly at his young apprentice.

Optimus tapped his chin in thought.

"I cannot be sure, Bumblebee. The dense forestry is interfering with the signal, and I'm afraid I'm having trouble distinguishing the signatures." Bumblebee withered a bit.

Knockout let out a sigh of relief and sent a relieved look at Starscream.

Starscream nervously smiled back, but his optics widened in surprise when a buzzing sound rang in his audios.

Knockout froze when one of the biggest beetles he had ever seen in his life flew out from some fronds and buzzed over their heads. The two mechs panicked and crouched low to the ground, trying to make as little noise as possible with three of the best Autobots standing only a few feet away.

The huge beetle was jet black with six long, spiny legs and a shell that unclasped into two noisy wings, with two large pincers on the front of its head. Knockout noticed unsettlingly that that same purple glow emanated from this beetle like the one that attacked Knockout's marvelous finish.

It swerved suddenly and smacked straight into Starscream's faceplate. It took all the seeker had to keep from shrieking as the beetle crawled along the silver mech's features, its legs feeling the metal under its feet.

Knockout reached out silently and grabbed Starscream's shaking arms to stop the seeker from flailing wildly and calling the Autobots' attention.

The two mechs were frozen with terror as the beetle continued to crawl slowly over Starscream's faceplate, the seeker's mouth agape in horror. Starscream's wings twitched occasionally, but the seeker stayed silent, clenching his servos on Knockout's outstretched arms while the insect took its time.

Knockout sent a quick nod to Starscream, reassuring his commander, and turned to look back at the Autobots.

Bulkhead was surveying the plants nearby, making his way through the trees and searching for signs of any cybertronians. He would be on them soon enough.

Optimus had opened up the scanner and was fiddling with the wires, fixing the glitches in the system. He would fix it soon enough.

Bumblebee was listening closely to all the tropical noises with closed optics, ready to hear even the slightest hint of movement. He would hear them soon enough.

Knockout knew they had to get out of there and quick.

He looked back to Starscream and held in a gasp.

The beetle was slowly crawling into Starscream's mouth, the seeker was shaking violently now, wings starting to fidget more.

The beetle suddenly opened up its pincers and clamped down hard on Starscream's glossa.

The seeker stiffened and opened his mouth wider to let out a scream of pain when Knockout lunged a servo at the beetle, grabbing the disgusting creature, and yanking it off Starscream, throwing it far into the trees behind them causing a rustle of leaves.

The three Autobots, including Bulkhead who was now much too close to the two mechs, whipped his helm towards the sound.

Optimus transformed his arm into a blaster and nodded to his fellow teammates, face mask falling into place. They followed their leader into the direction of the noise.

Knockout waited until he could not hear their ped-falls before he relaxed and let out a sigh.

The medic heard a small whimper from the mech holding his arms and he turned worried optics to the seeker crouched beside him.

Starscream had his mouth open with his glossa sticking out. Knockout leaned in closer and saw it was dented and leaking bright blue energon from a nasty gash on the silver plating.

He looked up and saw the seeker's optics welling up with lubricants, though he was trying to hold them back as best he could, but the pain in his jaw was excruciating with the sensitive wires all tangled and ripped.

Knockout felt incredibly sorry, gripping the silver mech's arms tighter. "It's ok now, Scream. They're gone now... does it hurt?"

Starscream was obviously trying to hold in his tears, "Of courth it hurth you idiot!" The seeker winced in pain at the stinging on his glossa while trying to form the words. His face flushed in embarrassment at his odd speech.

This was completely and utterly humiliating! He had shown true fear in front of the Decepticon medic and now once they returned to headquarters, the whole ship would know of his stupid failure of not even besting a tiny insect! He would be teased and most likely 'roughed up a bit' by the crew in a matter of hours...like it always had been.

Memories of times he was tormented on the ship started building up inside the seeker on and on and on making him burst out, "Alrigth, go aheadth and laugh you uthleth medic! I don'th care about you or your pathetic friendth! Leave me alome! I can thurvive in thith curthed foretht withouth you!" he spat, expecting to hear a howl of laughter at his obvious pain while his tears slowly spilled out of his optics.

They were laughing. Those dark faces. They laughed at him. So loud. So loud. They were all laughing. He wanted to claw his eyes out to keep from seeing those red optics and crazed smiling faces. He wanted to claw his audios out to stop from hearing their wicked voices. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. The laughing. The swinging fists. His bruises. They were going to hurt him. His pain made them all laugh. Made him laugh. He braced himself.

Instead he felt himself be pulled into a warm embrace, two servos gently holding the distraught seeker, being careful to avoid his sensitive wings.

Starscream couldn't comprehend what was going on. He almost threw back an arm and clawed out at what he pictured was Megatron trying to gut him before he realized what just happened. Knockout had reached out and held Starscream tightly, pressing the skinny mech against his chassis in a protective manner. Comforting even.

The silver mech couldn't stop the tears from falling from his optics as his breath hitched. He didn't know if it was from the relief that it wasn't Megatron or just the gesture in general. His frame began to shake. He hadn't been hugged like this in over a thousand vorns.

No. This was a trap.

"Let go of me, you idiot." Starscream hissed, struggling in Knockout's hold. His tears ran down his faceplates. Humiliating. Humiliating. Humiliating.

"It's ok, Starscream. I won't make fun of you. You were very brave with that disgusting thing crawling all over you without making a sound." Knockout whispered quietly to his trembling friend, "I certainly wouldn't have let it crawl all over my finish."

Starscream opened his optics wide. Brave? No one had ever called him brave before. He certainly heard that wrong. Knockout, narcissistic, selfish Knockout would never.

The seeker remembered all the times he had tried to prove himself to Lord Megatron, showing that he was the most daring mech to ever walk the galaxy. Not once after the war had begun had the leader acknowledged Starscream's bravery.

Now, here in this accursed jungle, cowering behind some big leaves in the dirt, this one medic was not making fun of him, not beating him down, not making him scream in terror, but instead let the tears fall.

Starscream pressed his faceplate against Knockout's chassis and let the tears flow down his face, letting out his anguish in front of the red mech.

He hadn't let himself cry like this in . . . well, he couldn't remember.

He didn't think he was crying about the stinging burn in his glossa anymore, though it still burned like fire. No. That rush of memories was just . . . overwhelming to say the least. He hadn't expected such a harsh flashback to the Nemesis and his ill-tempered colleagues. His composure had crumpled.

Knockout simply held the small seeker closer and closed his optics, thinking about all the times Breakdown held him like this when he was crying. The wave of grief that hit him was merciless. Breakdown took such good care of Knockout. He protected him form harm, comforted him when he was hurting, and simply was always there. Knockout was determined to do the same for his own seeker friend, now clinging to his frame and shaking with sobs.

His story was so sad now that Knockout looked at it. Starscream certainly never gave him a reason to care that the seeker's life was downright awful, but he supposed he didn't really need a reason. Knockout was a con, yes. He was 'evil', sure, whatever. But he wasn't a monster. He wasn't Megatron. He didn't want to be what Megatron was to Starscream. He wouldn't wish that on anyone. Knockout knew being the seeker's friend would be the hardest task to ever accomplish due to Starscream being probably the most emotionally damaged mech in history with quite possibly the most unbearable attitude known to Cybertron. Knockout wouldn't give up that easily, though.

Breakdown had been someone beyond a friend to Knockout, something much more special. Starscream didn't have anyone. Breakdown wouldn't leave him for dead. Knockout shouldn't either.

He owed Breakdown that much.

The two mechs stayed that way for a while, Starscream quietly whimpering while Knockout held the seeker gently.

After a few more klicks, Starscream settled down and slowly pulled away from Knockout who was waiting patiently. A doctor's patience. He had practice.

The silver commander looked up tiredly into Knockout's optics and smiled sheepishly, though his glossa was still throbbing, the swelling had gone down.

"Thank you, Knockout." He said quietly.

Knockout smiled back. "Anytime, Scream."

"Do not under any circumstances mention this to anyone. My composure is normally quite pristine."

"My lips are sealed."

"See to it that they are."

Knockout smirked, "Aren't I just the best, Screamers? Keeping secrets and all? I honestly think I deserve a reward for my kindness."