~haha ok I'm sorry but this chapter will be mainly angsty fluff so be warned! Ok back to the story~

-Lord Starscream

The rainforest at night was alive with the sounds of the nocturnal creatures enjoying the tropical paradise. The stars shone bright against the dark sky, casting faint glows on the fronds of the now ominously looming trees overhead. It was hard to distinguish the difference between a flower and a beetle through the darkness, but the forest was dimly colorful nonetheless.

​Knockout could hardly see through the cover of night, but he could just make out some thicker trees up ahead, with trunks wider than an SUV, and vast, overhanging leaves that served as a canopy for creatures hiding underneath.

The red medic was determined to reach this destination of full grown trees before his systems could crack from the brittle, unforgiving cold that accompanied the night of the jungle. Even the small breezes that whisked past his frame sent brutal tremors through his body due to how weak it was after the trying last few days.

​Knockout couldn't even fathom how Starscream was holding up against the icy air that easily penetrated his much too thin frame. Knockout held tight to the seeker's slipping servo as he tried to close the distance between himself and the merciful trees that would provide shelter for the rest of the night.

The night was still young and he was already freezing, how in the Allspark are we going to still be functioning by the time we get out of here? He thought.

​Knockout began to think of all the things he would do once he was back on the Nemesis, safe and sound. He would buff and shine up his finish and restore it to its peak condition. He would catch up with everyone and share all the experiences he had endured over the past few days. He would inform Lord Megatron of the many dangers within the rainforest and say he would get right back to work. He would hopefully see Soundwave again and ask about how his time went in the jungle. He would greet all his Vehicon friends and begin all of his unfinished medic work once again.

​...I'll also try to talk to Starscream and find out more about my mysterious seeker friend.

​Knockout was honestly very curious about Starscream's past as it seemed to resonate with him very deeply whenever something that may have happened to him earlier in his life was mentioned. Considering that Starscream was so young, Knockout wondered what could have affected him so harshly that the smart, intelligent Second in Command Knockout sometimes saw come out of the seeker be hidden by his extreme lust for power. Knockout was determined to find out what Starscream's demons truly were, and what he could do to save the seeker from his mind's horrors.

​Speaking of the notorious silver seeker, Starscream was shaking so hard against Knockout's frame, that the medic was afraid he would snap in half at any moment. Knockout increased his hold on the skinny mech's servo.

​"Just a little bit longer, Scream. Hold on." The red mech reassured. The seeker only lowered his wings and nodded his head slightly, optics scrunched tight. Knockout frowned sadly at the limited reaction and how vulnerable Starscream looked.

​Knockout gazed out toward the thick, shady trees he was trying to reach. They only had some miles to go and the closest tree would be in their reach. Knockout shivered against another chilly breeze that felt as if it had flowed straight through his body.

He knew the next miles would not be easy to walk all the way but if they stayed where they were in the thinness of the surrounding plants, they would be eaten for sure!

He glanced back at Starscream and noticed the way his thin legs were shaking, making it harder for his heeled feet to step evenly on the ground making him stumble a couple times. The skinny seeker would freeze to death if he put up against the cold much longer. The weather was much too inconsistent in the rainforest!

​That doesn't mean we have to walk all the way, though... Knockout thought getting an idea.

​The red mech let go of Starscream's weakening servo, making the seeker glance up at Knockout in surprise and stumble on his peds once again.

Knockout took a few steps back and raised his arms. He shifted his gears as they screamed in protest from their lack of use and transformed into his alt mode vehicle form. Knockout felt the familiar turns of his tough wheels and all the gadgets under his command in the red Aston Martin's interior. It felt all too good to be back in his beloved automobile form. The medic revved his wheels and tested his engines, preparing his systems to drive.

​Starscream stared at Knockout in confusion, "Knockout..." he started, his voice hoarse and tired, "What in Primus's name are you do-YEEAAA!"

The seeker squeaked in surprise as Knockout drove under the seeker's legs, the hood scooping the little mech on top of the car. Starscream clung to the top, his wings flared out and optics wide as Knockout laughed.

​"Comfortable, Scream?" he teased.

​"W-What is the meaning of this?" Starscream yelped as Knockout revved up his engines again.

​"Don't worry, I'll drive gently. We'll get there in no time!" with that, Knockout roared the engine and his wheels kicked up grass as the car took off towards the trees.

​Knockout had to admit, it was hard swerving between all the obstacles the rainforest presented but to the automobile enthusiast, it was simply just another challenge. The adrenaline coursed through his every wire as he raced through the night and felt the feeling of the wind rushing past his frigid frame, and he remembered all the pending races he would have back at Jasper.

Knockout felt Starscream's clawed digits cling tightly to the roof of the car and his wings lower in fright. The red mech couldn't help but laugh at the seeker's timid looks.

​"Haha, you ok there, Screamy?"

​"It's freezing!" the silver seeker hissed.

​"Well you'll thank me once we burn through the last couple miles! It would have taken three mega-cycles before we reached the halfway point."

​"Hmph, I would have much rather done the walking! "

​"What's wrong, Commander? Does a nice little cruise through the jungle scare you?"

​"No, I am not afraid of petty little-ACK LOOK OUT!" Starscream shrieked in fear as Knockout swerved sharply around a large tree in their path.

​"Haha, not afraid huh?" the seeker only huffed in response as the drive through the dark forest continued.

​After a couple cycles, both mechs reached the nearest shelter-like tree and each let out an intake of relief.

Knockout swerved his vehicle form and screeched to a halt beside the huge trunk, earning an indignant squawk from Starscream.

​"ACK! Hey, watch it! I'm still here you know! Be gentler." he complained in his usual slick voice.

​Knockout smirked and transformed instantly back into his alt more, flinging the skinny seeker into the air with a yelp of surprise. Knockout laughed as Starscream fell back down, landing with a clang in Knockout's outstretched arms princess-style.

​"Gentle enough for you?" the medic smirked at the little mech in his arms.

​Starscream's optics were wide and his face flushed scarlet from embarrassment. His servos were tingling on Knockout's chest plate and his vast silver wings were hanging from his back. Knockout realized he was ice cold to the touch and the medic grew a thread of concern. Starscream squirmed in his grasp.

​"Urgh put me down, fool! You can't carry me around like some little sparkling!" the seeker hissed.

​"Hmm, well stop acting like one and I just might." Knockout smirked, still trying to keep the seeker against his warmth so as to keep him from freezing. "Starscream, are you alright?" the smirk was replaced with a look of concern.

​Starscream narrowed his optics at Knockout and scowled, "Pfft, like you care."

The seeker squirmed in Knockout's grasp and flared his wings, making Knockout jump back to avoid being whacked in the stomach.

Starscream hopped out from Knockout's hold and tried to regain his footing but instead plopped onto the ground landing on his aft with a little yelp. Knockout chuckled form his spot earning a glare from the seeker. Starscream got to his peds and brushed off his arms, sticking his wings out with a pouty expression. He strode over to the trunk of the tree, leaving Knockout to cross his arms and raise an optic ridge.

​Knockout knew Starscream could be impish at times but that didn't change the fact it got on his last nerves all the time. No wonder nobody likes him, he's always so full of himself and is such a problem to this whole ridiculous ordeal. Knockout thought in annoyance before glancing back to his seeker colleague.

Starscream was pacing around the trunk looking for the perfect spot to rest. Knockout couldn't help but smile at one of his servos rubbing his aft at the spot he landed on, trying to be as subtle as possible.

Oh well, he's my problem now.

A heavy gust of cold wind swept through the trees making Knockout shut his optics and grip his arms with a shiver. It was getting later and later in the night and soon the really cold temperatures would be reached. I hope Soundwave is fairing ok in this cold. It wasn't even supposed to be so cold this deep in the rainforest.

​Knockout reopened his optics and saw Starscream's crouched form on the ground, wings pressed to his sides and his arms wrapped around his knees, his entire frame was rattling from his violent shaking. Knockout felt another ache in his spark, Starscream wasn't built to withstand such cold temperatures and the winds were seriously icing up his systems.

The red mech slowly walked over to the quivering form and knelt down beside him, reaching out a servo to place it around one the seeker's shoulder plate. He felt Starscream stiffen under his touch at first but soon the seeker succumbed to the warmth that emitted from Knockout's frame beside him. Starscream relaxed and lifted his head to stare back at Knockout's optics.

There was a glint of worry in his dark optics, and they gazed into Starscream's own crimson optics with concern displayed over his features. Starscream was confused. He had acted rashly and ungrateful to the red mech when Knockout had only tried to help him reach their destination faster. Why was Knockout concerned for his wellbeing?

​...Nobody was.

​Knockout watched as Starscream's optics fogged over and the seeker drifted into his unknown thoughts. The medic shivered against another gust of wind and rubbed Starscream's shoulder as a gesture to get up.

​"Hey, Star, let's move under the tree and get out of this wind." He suggested, getting to his peds.

​Starscream snapped out of his thoughts and nodded his head. The silver seeker shakily got to his peds and reached out to grab Knockout's shoulder for support with a stumble. Knockout instinctively reached out to catch Starscream on his side, the red mech held on to Starscream's ice cold arm while the seeker clung onto Knockout's shoulder, leaning against the red mech's frame out of exhaustion.

Knockout held his firm grip on the seeker and slowly stepped up to their makeshift shelter, surveying the thick trunk of the tree for any small crevice to wriggle in and hide from the wind.

​One indented part of the trunk caught the medic's optics and he snuck close to get a better look in the cold, dark air. The side of the trunk was almost caved in with lots of erosion creeping into the scuffed bark. It looked almost like a long gash in the tree's side that had been dug out by a huge claw. Knockout knew if they could deepen the indentation, they could crawl inside the trunk of the large tree and rest for the night, shielding them from the wind.

​"Scream," Knockout looked back to the seeker currently clinging to his arm, "Do you think you can carve out some bark of this tree?"

Starscream blearily glanced at the gash and slowly let go of Knockout's arm to take some unsteady steps to the gash. The silver seeker was shivering involuntarily hard and was stiff to the circuits as he walked.

Starscream flexed his claws with a clinking sound and raised up his arm. Knockout watched as Starscream, fast as lightning, swiped deep, rigid claw marks into the tree, one after another. Every time he slashed into crunching bark, the crevice became deeper and deeper until a hollow opening was heard. Starscream stepped and cradled his sore claws as Knockout walked up to the bark and raised up a ped.

"Thanks, Scream." He kicked down the rest of the bark and inside the trunk was a small space that was just big enough to squeeze in the two mechs.

Knockout glanced back at Starscream and motioned for the smaller seeker to wriggle in first. Starscream sent a grateful glance back at Knockout and quickly slipped inside with ease, lowering his wings to his back in order to let his slim frame through the narrow opening. Knockout followed soon after, having a little trouble crouching inside the cramped space.

​The inside of the hollow trunk was dark and cramped but it shielded the freezing bots from the unforgiving wind. It was still a bit chilly due to the large opening in the side but they would both take it over the temperature outside in a sparkbeat.

Knockout moved around so that his back was leaning on the bark next to the entrance and rested his helm on the trunk side, peds touching propped up against the opposite side of the trunk.

There was only enough space inside the trunk for Knockout to stand crouched low and spread his elbows. It looked a lot bigger from the outside... the red mech thought with an annoyed expression.

​On the opposite side of the trunk, Starscream was squirming in discomfort. The skinny seeker barely took up any space in the small enclosure, but his large wings were basically being squashed against the wood making the commander visibly wince.

Knockout felt a pang of sympathy for the poor mech, the wires in his wings were ten times more sensitive than the rest of his body, and having those sensitive circuits crumpled up against the rough bark must have been painful. He also noticed the way Starscream was still violently shaking, even without the harsh winds. Knockout knew Starscream's dangerously thin frame was not made for heat retention and this cold situation must be brutal for his feeble systems.

​Knockout sighed and outstretched his arms in a gesture for the seeker to rest with him making Starscream glance up in confusion.

Knockout spoke softly, "C'mere, Scream." Starscream gasped and scooted away.

​"Are you insane, four-wheeler! I am not going to go anywhere near you for the rest of this horrid journey." The seeker said in a high-pitched tone. Knockout rolled his optics, Of course Starscream was still bitter about their little argument.

"Come on, Starscream, you're way too cold in this weather. You need to warm up."

​"Well I do not need your help to keep myself functioning!" Starscream scoffed and turned his helm away with his arms crossed, close to his body.

​"You're going to freeze to death if you stay like this, Scream. You can't withstand the cold unless I give you some warmth." Knockout emphasized his point by opening his arms wider. Starscream did not comply and shook his helm.

​"Never in a million cycles, doctor."

​Knockout rolled his optics with an exasperated sigh.

Fine! If Starscream wanted to freeze to death, so be it. At least I tried.

Knockout sighed once more and retracted back to his side of the trunk of the tree and leaned his shoulder against the bark, spreading his legs as far as they would go, (which was not very far) and recharge.

He heard Starscream shuffle on the opposite side of the trunk and the red mech inwardly scolded himself when he heard a metal rattle from a violent shiver come from the smaller seeker.

​But it was his fault for not listening! Knockout thought to himself.

This was true...but Knockout couldn't help but feel a small hint of guilt during his rest whenever he heard the seeker's plating shake.

​~later in the night~

​Knockout was dreaming peacefully in his recharge state; his mind was filled with memories of the Nemesis and his duties as a medic there.

He couldn't help but smile in his sleep when the foggy pictures in his head formed the shape of Soundwave, safe and sound at his dark computer workstation. The familiar sight of the vehicons chatting amongst themselves and Lord Megatron organizing through battle plans, keeping to himself.

Knockout was finally at peace for once in the last few days, feeling the sense of being back 'home' once again. The red mech was in his med bay and carrying out his normal routine of sorting through medical supplies when a faint scream was heard in the outreaches of his mind.

​Knockout paused in his work, What was that?

The medic listened for the sound to come again for a couple moments before shrugging it off and returning to his task. He was touching up the labels of his tools when he heard the scream again, only this time it was louder.

Knockout stopped working and stood listening, trying to locate where the scream was coming from. Did someone need help?

​Knockout felt his med bay shift and the image became hazy.

He heard another scream and winced as it felt as though the source was right next to his audios.

Knockout whipped around and around, searching for the bearer of the glass-shattering screams that rang in his head as the room fogged over and the red mech felt his optics start to online.

The dizzying colors of his dream dissipated and Knockout felt himself become awake, his audios still hearing the haunting screams.

​Knockout finally opened his optics and took in the sight of the tree trunk wall which he was leaning on. His optics adjusted to the darkness and he felt his systems chill over as cold breezes swept into the small fortress and blew over his frame.

Another ear-piercing scream sounded and Knockout frantically sat up and placed his servos to his audios, optics darting around the small space.

​His optics landed on the mech on the opposite side of the tree and Knockout felt his spark drop. Starscream was crunched tight into a small ball, arms wrapped tightly around his legs and his helm buried in his knees. His entire frame was trembling with a low rattle and his claws were gripping his sides so tightly that Knockout saw the bright blue glow of energon through his spindly fingers. The seeker's wings were tucked hard against his back and his optics were shut tightly.

Knockout flinched as another shriek escaped Starscream vocals and the skinny mech shook harder, breathing becoming raspy gasps.

​He's having a nightmare. Knockout panicked in his mind. This was serious!

​The red mech quickly got to his knees and crawled to Starscream, servos reaching out and grabbing the seeker's arms tightly. Starscream screamed once more and writhed in Knockout's arms, wings narrowly missing Knockout's faceplates.

​Knockout felt a chill sent up his arm at how ice cold Starscream felt.

"Starscream! Wake up! It's ok! You're ok! Nothing's wrong, you're safe!" he cried at the distressed seeker.

​Another scream erupted from the small mech as Knockout tried hard to hold him down.