Stars: *is right beside him. After /joors/ of hard flying...* //If you're planning to run yourself to death you best think again.// *HE WON'T FEEL YOU DIE DAMMIT!*

TC: //Don't make threats you don't intend to see through. I did my part.// *there's...not a lot of heat - not a lot of /anything/ - in his tone, he's calmer though, just exhausted and numb and...over everything*

Stars: //I'm not going to stand by and feel you die, Thundercracker. Get used to it.// *tone devoid of any snapping or upset. Just...a hint of fear, TC will feel it before Stars has it shoved away again. He really won't stand by and let TC die if he has to beat his second to slag and drag him back to Wing to fix up again, that's not entirely a conscious thought, it kind of slips through with that trickle of fear, that touch of desperation to not experience that again if he can help it.*

TC:  //YOU get used to it.  You're strong, you'd get over it.// *he /does/ snap that, the hurt fury – and /horror/, Stars will sense that too – flaring again . . . if Stars doesn't retort right away, he'll continue after a beat, voice flat again*  //You're not asking me to /live/, Starscream.  You're demanding of me to continue /existing/ for your own comfort.  I can never be free.   Even if I run away, how will I make a living?  No one would hire me, and stealing to survive would only get me back where I started.  Even if I find a kind master, it's only a matter of time until something happens and I'm back on the market yet again.  I'm /tired/, Starscream.  This /is/ my life.   If nothing changes, I could live another thousand vorns, but it'll all be the same.  And I just can't take it anymore.  I . . . I /won't/ take it anymore.//