Chapter Text
There was a big commotion in the house of Tarn. Plenty of servants were running around, last minute adjustments to the grand halls decoration and layout. Lights were adjusted, Decoration moved and the sound of tables scratching on the floor filled the air.
It was a very important occasion, a coming of age for a young lord. Although the name can be quite deceiving. Maturity has been reached long ago, yet it is only after a certain age, when a young lord is officially allowed to be part of the governing organ of the house.
Megatronus of Tarn, the youngest of three, was waiting in his chambers, until he was allowed to come downstairs for the ‘surprise’. The commotion can be heard all the way to the upper floor, where he resides.
This should be a very annoying situation for him, but Megatronus actually does not mind at all.
His current company consisted of Orion Pax, his personal servant and the love of his life. As per his duties to serve and take care of grey mech, he was tasked with keeping him company during the preparations. That means that for the last few Groons, they sat in comfortable companionship.
Still, he was not used to being confined in the room and Orion seems to have noticed. “Oh, Megatronus don’t sulk. Everyone is working hard to make this an event worthy of this important occasion.”
He was sitting on the couch, an arm stretched on the back. Lifting his head to look down at Orion, who was knitting a blanket on the floor, he answered, “Orion, I don’t sulk. I ponder. And this is way too ridiculous already. When was the last time we spent an entire Cycle inside?”
Orion tilted his head to the side, thinking. Megatronus would love to kiss the finials that move back and forth in focus.
“I suppose it has been a while. At least ever since you started your gladiatorial training.”
He focused back on the knitting needles.
They have known each other for a very long time. Orion was the son of Alpha Trion, the late head of Staff for the Family. Introduced due to the closeness of their age, they quickly became play mates.
When Orion was introduced into the Staff it did not take long for him to be appointed as his personal servant. Each lord has them, usually it is a small entourage of Mechs, who are required to attend to their lord. Yet Megatronus only kept one.
Only Orion Pax.
He was selfish, he knows. He loves him, even though he was not supposed to. And he would never tell him, no matter how desperately he wants to.
Coming back from his thoughts, he tried to get comfortable on the couch again. He wore a traditional suit, with a red band wrapped around his waist and the family emblem on his chest.
Orion was dressed in his usual servant clothing, a black skirt which reached all the way down to his ankle. A white blouse, with big bell sleeves, covered the mechs arms. Orion always looked so elegant to him, and the fact that he is always covered by these garments teased Megatronus in a ungentlemech kind of way.
Another tease was the big bow right underneath his chin. It tied together the front of the blouse, without it his entire front would be exposed. In his darker fantasies, he would play with the ends of the bow, pulling it slightly and watch Orion’s optics grow wide with understanding. But this was all it would be. A fantasy.
Megatronus leaned forward to flick at the finial.
Orion rolled his eyes, “Are you that bored that you need to harass me now?”
Megatronus rolled his eyes in response, “Are you so distracted with that blanket, that you can just not focus on me now?”
This was usual between them. They teased, argued, bantered and joked on a daily basis. Besides his brothers, he did not allow anyone else to talk to him like that.
He would never dare to talk to his Sire like that.
He expected Orion to tease him for wanting his attention, but instead he received a meek glance from over his shoulder. His mouth slightly agape, he looked as though he was steeling himself to say something.
This was odd.
Before he could inquire about what was seemingly going on in Orion’s head, a knock on the door called him to come downstairs. Getting up, he moved to the door, turning to Orion before leaving.
“I wish you could join me in the festivities. I will make sure to bring you some of the rust sticks you are fond of.”
Orion was still on his knees, his hands now neatly folded in front of him.
“Thank you. And I am happy for you. I-, uhm, I hope you know just how important you, your happiness and our friendship are to me. I-, I am sure that we will… celebrate together as soon as possible. ”
Megatronus grinned widely, happy at the idea of a secret smaller celebration with the mech.
Saying his goodbyes, he opened the door and left.
The celebrations were grand and exceptional, as expected. The guest list included the neighboring nobility. Trying to navigate between the guests, who want to be in his good favors and the guest who would like to be in a more compromising position, he yearned to be back with his little servant.
Later in the night, when Mechs start to leave, he made his round of goodbyes. Thanking for the attendance and the gifts, he made sure to be perfectly charming, lest to embarrass the house.
His Sire, the head of the house, called him to his office. Megatronus almost expected it, not having had the chance to speak with him all day.
Sitting on a couch seat next to him, he poured his Sire a cube of his collection of rare high grade. “A special occasion calls for special booze”, he said.
His Sire was a mech of few, but firm words.
“As the youngest you were taught to keep your head low and to not aim for too much. Yet, you have made it your mission to be greater than the ones who came before you. Megatronus, you are waisted as the youngest, yet this was how Primus intended you to be.”
Megatronus stopped himself from rolling his optics. It is true, he was by far the best of his siblings. Soundwave, the oldest, cherished Megatronus eagerness for power, making sure to mentor him any moment he can. Starscream, bitter and arrogant, made sure that he was aware of his lower position in the family due to the happenstance of emergence.
His Sire smiled, “But you don’t believe in Primus, don’t you?”
Megatronus took a sip, “I believe in myself, Sire. I aimed to be the best and through my own strength I made it. I am sure Primus enjoyed the show.”
At that his Sire laughed, a loud and ugly laugh. Megatronus stiffened, his Sire doesn’t laugh. He never heard him laugh before.
“That is why you have earned yourself this gift. It is waiting in your berthroom. Go and thoroughly enjoy it.” There was a glint in his eyes, that worried Megatronus.
For a valid reason, because it didn’t take long for him to understand, just what kind of gift he was talking about. A gift he was meant to ‘thoroughly enjoy, waiting in his berthroom.’
He groaned deeply. A favorite. His father gifted him a favorite.
“Clever as always Megatronus. You are an official man of the house now. It is time you become man of your berth now too.”
“Sire, I dont need that, you dont have to-“
“You dare talk back, Son?”
Immediately the good mood was gone and he was met with the icy stare he was used to.
He quickly stood up and bowed, “Thank you, Sire.”
His Sire only looked him up and down, “You may go.”
Leaving the room, Megatronus felt annoyed, more than anything. This was a disaster.
A favorite is a servant appointed by the head of the house to attend to very specific needs of a lord. Each chamber is equipped with a small side room, where the favorite would reside. Just to be at the beck and call of their, essentially, master.
On his way back to his chambers, he strategized.
‘With a favorite around, Orion will not be able to leisurely spend time in my chambers anymore. They could work as an informant for Sire, meaning our conversation could not continue as they do now. So, I need to get them on my side. Would they appreciate it, if I don’t accept their services? Would Orion appreciate it? Or should I engage and have them favor me? What will Orion think? Curse this mess.’
Stopping in the middle of the stairs, Megatronus came back to his senses. ‘Why would Orion think anythink? Orion does not feel the same. He will simply nod and excuse himself out of the room, whenever he thinks the favorite will receive my attention.’
His good mood from the party was soured. He knew that Orion did not like him the same way he did. He even highlighted it this evening, just how much he appreciates their friendship.
He resumed his walk to the chambers. Could he do this? Share a berth with someone? In his imagination it has always been Orion. And if it would never become real that would be fine. He already resigned himself to a life of no partners. He even made plans for Orion’s future partners to all mysteriously disappear before their Conjunx Ritus was final!
‘I will say that I am tired and that they can go rest in their designated room.’
When he entered the room, he heard a small gasps coming from his berth. The curtains were drawn shut. There was no sight of Orion, the other already having withdrawn to his own sleeping quarters.
Wanting to be done with this as soon as possible, he moved though the room and grabbed the curtains. Pulling them back, he readied himself for the excuse he made up in his processor. He was ready, until he took a look at what was hidden behind.
Orion. Orion was sitting on his bed and he…
He was not wearing his uniform anymore. Instead, his frame was covered in a gathering of fabrics, which left little to the imagination. Wrapped around him to accentuate the dips and curves of his frame. The purple color of the fabric, Megatronus favorite, was accentuated by the gold chain on his chassis and the gold beads hanging from his finials. A giant bow hung from the back of his neck, marking him as a gift.
He was sitting on his hunches, knees spread wide apart. His valve cover hidden behind a slightly sheer piece. His hands were at his side, utterly defenseless.
With a nervous shiver, he tilted his head to the side, as if trying to make himself look more pleasing.
“Go-, Good Evening, my lord. Can I-, I mean-, how may I be of…service to you tonight?”