An energy axe flew into a shoulder, a fist landed its punch, and both let out a grunt at the pain. Prime’s axe had become wedged in Megatron’s shoulder, and took advantage of his opponents disorientation to throw him off. The handle of the axe snapped off as prime flew back, and the energy axe dissolved leaving an open wound.

Megatron didn’t falter though, and pinned Prime to the ground before he could draw his energy blaster.

This raid was going great, for once.

Starscream was leading a parallel raid on a lesser target, dividing up the Autobot forces as they went to defend both targets. Megatron knew the other Autobots likely already repelled Starscream, but wouldn’t be coming to help as his second in command continued to fire at them. It was a common tactic used by Decepticons, using their superior firepower to take away the Autobot’s strength in numbers, and this time it seemed to be working even better than usual.

Or perhaps that was the hunger his soldiers felt, as their rationing had to tighten some after the past few raids were failures.

Megatron finally managed to flip Optimus over, sticking a stun rod into a gap in his side and temporarily locking his systems as he was shocked. He sat up, panting in effort and a manic grin on his face. Oh, even the pits didn’t compare to Optimus sometimes.

He kicked Optimus to the side after standing up, contacting Soundwave as he surveyed the battle. The twins, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, where nowhere to be found letting the seekers provide air support for once.

“Soundwave, how much longer until the generators are drained?”

“Estimates: thirty Astro-minutes.”

“Good, I’m joining the battle-“ Megatron was saying, before something caught his pede and made him stumble. Looking back, he saw it seemed Optimus recovered more quickly than he anticipated. Megatron scowled.

“Megatron?”

“Hold that thought. Soundwave, continue with extraction.” He said in irritation grappling the Prime to the ground again.

“Yes, Lord Megatron.” Soundwave said, disconnecting with a small click.

“You just don’t know when to quit, do you Prime?” He said, trying to get Prime under him again. But instead, Prime managed to flip him, somehow impaling a sharp rock into a softer section of Megatron’s back causing him to hiss.

“I will never stop, not until you cease your warfare.” Optimus said to him, his back panels still smoking from the stun rod.

“Oh shove it up your aft Prime.” Megatron said, kicking Optimus’ wounded side and managing to throw him off. Optimus used the opportunity to draw his blaster, and Megatron stood up. Oil was leaking from his mouth, but he made no move to defend. They stared at one another for a moment, both tired from their brawling.

But Megatron had to keep Prime distracted - every battle analysis he and Soundwave did showed they won most often when Prime wasn’t able to properly command his soldiers. Ironically this took Megatron out of the fight too, but his troops could handle themselves as squads unlike the weaker Autobots.

“You’ve always been just as responsible for this war as I am.” He barked, “Your precious Autobots aren’t as innocent as you like to imagine.” Megatron un-subspaced his sword, blocking a shot as he swung at Optimus. The Prime was well used to this attack however, and dodged elegantly.

“We aren’t free of oilshed,” Optimus said, as they traded blows - Blaster to Sword, “But you have rejected all other opportunities for peace, and I won’t let you ruin another planet.” He said, calm as ever the pompous prick.

“Peace was never an option, as long as your kind stand!” Megatron growled, trying to slash at Prime’s servos but missing by only a millimetre.

His sword snagged on a small piece of metal however, on the back of Prime’s hand, tearing through it and flinging the scrap to the wind. Prime’s Optics darted to it for a whole second, leading Megatron’s down, where a familiar purple symbol was stamped.

A Decepticon symbol.

A thousand thoughts flooded through Megatron’s processor at lighting speed, his optics narrowing. “Is this some kind of joke to you Prime ?” He said, cold calm masking the inferno that was his rage.

“Megatron, it isn’t- it’s- it’s my sparkmate mark!” He said, flustered and panicked as they stared at each other. Megatron could still hear the battle going on around them, echoes of his soldiers fighting and maybe even dying for their cause.

And among one of them, Optimus was claiming as his Sparkmate?

Megatron slowly stood up straight, looking to the side to make sure no one noticed what he was doing. He forcefully grabbed Prime’s wrist, not caring for the panicked blaster shot on his abdomen. He shoved prime down, sitting on him and holding his chest down with his pede.

It was a decepticon symbol, no question about it. It almost looked painted, with signs of wear like it was a chipping paint. And the closer he looked, he was sure it was a soulmate mark. It was smooth around the edges, but not painted on despite the signs of chipping. It was like it was part of his plating, which even the best Decepticon brands weren’t.

It was inconceivable. An Autobot, with a sparkmate mark of the Decepticons? It was almost laughable.

Well, it would be if he didn’t also have a mark of his own on his left hand. It was masked easily by layers of black paint, but it was no questioning what it was - an Autobot symbol. Still, not like he would tell Optimus that.

“Even destiny tells you that you’re fighting on the wrong side, and yet you continue to do so?” He said, staring down at Prime intensely.

Optimus stared up, defiant. “I do not tailor myself after destiny, if I must reject my Sparkmate for peace - then so be it.”

Megatron laughed. “You’d sacrifice the love and happiness of a Sparkmate, which you Autobots treasure so much, for your ideals ?”

“And you would not do the same thing, Megatron?” Optimus said, his blue optics  unusually intense and focused on Megatron. “You’ve sacrificed half of your own kind already, I wonder if you would even sacrifice the other half as well.”

It was an unusually cruel jab for Prime, almost what Ratchet might say, causing Megatron to raise his brow. Then, he laughed. “You think they’re already dead, don’t you? Is that why you hate me so much?”

Optimus didn’t respond, but his optics looking away for just a second confirmed it, causing Megatron to smirk down cruelly.

“This war isn’t about some ancient grudge Megatron, drop it.”

“And why should I? You think your poor, poor sparkmate is in my clutches and you don’t even know if they’re alive.” Megatron taunted, shifting and leaning down but not allowing Prime to escape. “This is gold. I almost wish I had a sparkmate of my own, this drama must be thrilling .”

Optimus narrowed his optics, his EM field held too closely to show his emotions, but Megatron could see he hit a sore spot.

“We know you do Megatron.” Optimus spat, before reeling back like he bit his glossa.

“Oh, tipped your hand Prime? Tell me about this supposed sparkmate?” Megatron laughed, but secretly filed that away for later.

The several cries of “Prime!” broke Megatron from his taunting, seeing that at least three where charging to their leaders defence. Megatron frowned, but his distraction allowed for Prime to push him off.

Or seemingly so, as Prime pushed him back, in the minute before his soldiers came to his rescue, he leaned in and whispered, “The Prime gets a special privilege, I know who my sparkmate is. And I know who yours is too.” He said.

It took a moment, but understanding bloomed as he and Optimus separated. Megatron almost felt dazed, but regained composure as he re-entered the fight.  He acted on auto pilot, not processing this new revelation, until he was back in their base, the Victory, at the bottom of the ocean.

They managed to make off with enough energy for three months and some to send to Cybertron, a wildly successful raid comparable to their first ones on Earth. The soldiers were celebrating, Starscream was gloating, all seemed usual.

But Megatron couldn’t let himself celebrate with the others, and stared off into nothingness as his wounds were patched up.

Soundwave was walking him back to his quarters from the medbay, acting as a mother hen like he did back when they were gladiators. Only when they were in his quarters, did he say anything.

“Soundwave, Prime is my Sparkmate.” He said, in absolute certainty. Soundwave gave the smallest flinch, a surprise for him too it seemed.

Megatron wasn’t sure how, but he knew it wasn’t a bluff.

His beloved enemy, his hated equal, his… everything, was his Sparkmate.

Primus surely hated them all.

“Megatron: What the frag.” Soundwave said, causing Megatron to laugh. He couldn’t agree more, as he scratched at the black paint hiding his own Sparkmate mark.