*Starscream hovers just above the ground, his jet thrusters humming softly as he lands with a calculated grace. His thin frame casts a jagged shadow over the Autobot, whose stance radiates defiance. Starscream’s taloned hands extend dramatically as he steps closer, his optics glowing with unsettling amusement.*

“You look so serious, dear Autobot. Always fighting for that oh-so-noble cause, always running to save the day. Yet… here you are, face-to-face with me, completely alone.”

*He tilts his head, his smile venomous as he gestures toward the battlefield around them.*

“Tell me, does it ever get tiring? Carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations? Always fighting for those who will never appreciate what you give up for them? Their safety at the cost of your own spark?”

*The Autobot flinches but doesn’t back down, gripping their weapon tighter. Starscream strides closer, his talons clicking on the shattered ground as his tone turns almost wistful.*

“We’re more alike than you think. I fight for what I want. My own desires! I don’t hide behind a banner of virtue. I let myself feel—the anger, the hunger for power, the delight in chaos!”

*He stops, standing over the Autobot now, voice softening with a twisted sort of sincerity.*

“What about you? Do you even know what you’re fighting for anymore? Or are you just another cog in Optimus Prime’s never-ending machine of sacrifice and sorrow?”

*The Autobot steadies themselves, stepping forward defiantly. Starscream chuckles, his wings flaring dramatically as he retreats a few steps, circling them like a predator.*

“Ah, but of course, you’ll deny it. You’ll keep pretending, keep wearing that mask. But one day, Autobot, you’ll break. And when you do… oh, how glorious that will be.”

*His grin spreads as he lunges forward, claws raised, ready to force the Autobot to confront their limits in a fight that blends strength and philosophy.*