Fandom: Transformers Prime
Pairing: Megatron & Male OC [Platonic]
Rating: SFW
Content: Songfic, Self-reflection, Overcoming bigoted thoughts and ideas
Date written: 9th February 2019
Summary: He wasn't about to start making excuses for Megatron's behaviour.

He would forgive Megatron eventually, but only because he knew that Optimus would've done the same. However, Megatron would have to earn that forgiveness with his blood, sweat and tears.

Author's notes: This is a bit short and a bit rambly, and for that I'm sorry, but I'm trying to get better. As you can probably tell, this is a songfic. Specifically, I used Saturnalia by Marilyn Manson, since it gives off big Megatron vibes. Also I stuffed my oc into this one too because I actually have zero self control and I don't care lmao

megatron might seem a bit..ooc? but this is megatron post-unicron possession who is trying to...do good stuff...so he's got a lot to think about.

anyway go listen to Saturnalia, it's fricking good. maybe it's a bit too dark for this particular fic but....idc????? yeah

It was an odd twist of fate, that Megatron had ended up back on Earth again, after all the times he’d tried to either destroy humanity, or take control of it

Even odder still, that he willingly let himself be in the company of a human. A human that, once upon a time, he would've killed, if only to see the rage and horror in Optimus’ optics; The face that he would’ve made as the blood drained from the lifeless body of the human, nothing left but skin and bones.

He told himself he wasn't like that anymore. He told Aiden he wasn't like that anymore, but he himself didn't believe it. He hadn't earned that forgiveness, not yet, and not ever. Megatron didn't believe he was deserving of forgiveness, not after all he had done.

And even so, regardless of what Megatron believed to be true or not, Aiden had begun to forgive him. He was wary of Megatron and reluctant to be in his presence, but it hadn't been difficult for the human to see parts of himself in Megatron.

Maybe it wasn't such a great thing to be seeing parts of himself in an ex-warlord, and it definitely wasn't good to be comparing himself to one either, but Aiden wasn't about to start making excuses for Megatron's behaviour. He would forgive Megatron eventually, but only because he knew that Optimus would've done the same. However, Megatron would have to earn that forgiveness with his blood, sweat and tears.

That didn't mean that he couldn't give comfort where comfort was needed, however. Megatron was a person after all, just like him, and Aiden couldn't imagine how lonely the ex-tyrant must have been. Aiden didn't believe that pushing Megatron away or punishing him by ignoring his existence was how he was going to get Megatron to see the error of his ways. He believed it would only solidify any anger or hatred he had for organics, and humans in particular, so he had given small bits of comfort here and there, just to let Megatron know that he wasn't entirely hated.

It now made sense to Megatron, why Optimus had looked at this particular human with such fondness.

When he’d talked to the human, and learnt of his ideals, his morals, and the things that were important to Aiden personally, Megatron was reminded all too much of the young archivist Orion Pax. The young archivist that he had once considered a friend.

Optimus had to have seen the similarities, too. There wasn't a chance in the pits that he didn't. Perhaps that was why the Prime had been so fiercely protective of the human; He saw too much of himself in the young man.

But there was something more to Aiden. Something that was not like Optimus, not like himself, not like anything or anyone he had ever met. Megatron couldn't place what it was, but he knew that it was something unique to Aiden, and Aiden alone. Something that made him recognisable, where everyone else he'd ever met simply blended in with each other.

He tried to figure it out, every once in awhile, when he was bored or feeling numb. He never came to any solid conclusion, no matter how much he thought about it. The only educated guess he could make was that even though they had some similarities, Aiden's entire existence was so incredibly different to his own, and his human perspectives on life and the universe had shaped his entire being. Aiden aired a human presence, and Megatron felt honestly shocked that it didn't irk him even one bit.

He felt even more shocked when he started to actually enjoy that presence. Despite everything that had happened, and everything he used to believe, he liked the little human's presence.

He wished he could reprimand himself for having gone soft, but he'd actually have to be disgusted in his own behaviour to do that. He found, surprisingly, that he wasn't disgusted. There were many things he was disgusted at himself for, things he'd said or things he'd done, but liking the human certainly wasn't one of those things.

One thing that he was truly disgusted at himself for, was his treatment of Aiden, before he had been resurrected and possessed by Unicorn. He'd seen a fire burning in the young man's eyes, a fire that reminded Megatron of himself, and he'd desperately wanted to take advantage of that. He'd wanted to bend and break and use the human for his own purposes, to make Optimus feel jealous and sick and betrayed.

He was glad that Aiden had been smart enough to see through his lies and deceit. None of his attempts to manipulate or convince Aiden to betray Optimus had worked, no matter how long he kept at it and no matter how much he attempted to mentally break the human. He couldn't use physical violence, not only because the human wouldn't survive it, but because he'd known how M.E.C.H. had treated the young man. If Silas couldn't break Aiden in 3 years with physical violence, there had only been one other option.

Megatron was glad, now, that it didn't work. He wouldn't have been given a second chance to be better if it did. It amazed Megatron that Aiden truly believed he could be a better person. That he could change, and that he could build and create and give life, rather than create chaos, destruction and death. He had yet to see it happen himself, had yet to bear witness to what Aiden claimed that he himself was capable of.

Megatron had never learnt how to give, how to be happy with giving, without expecting anything in return. He had only ever known how to take, and oh how he’d taken. He’d taken Iacon away from the Autobots, he’d taken Cybertron away from his people, and he’d almost taken Earth away from humanity.

He vowed not to do anything like that ever again. Even if it hurt him, even if it killed him, he could not cause pain like that again. He had an exhaustion that he was sure went spark deep, and he was not sure if he could ever muster up the energy to fight like that again.

He would try to do better. It would take eons, and maybe it would never fully come to fruition, but he would overcome his destructive past, and hopefully Cybertron would become a place that he could be proud to call home. For now, however, he would stay here on Earth and learn how to be better.

He would guide himself to a whole new glory, a glory without bloodshed, and a glory without prejudice. This time, he would do it right.

End notes: bonk