Archive of Our Own

Legends said that the reason the new day dawned over Vos before the rest of Cybertron was because it had been touched by the servos of the gods. 

This was completely silly, of course, and Starscream knew better. The reason that the sun appeared to rise faster here was simply because they were up higher than the rest of Cybertron, and it certainly wasn’t any sort of mystical blessing. It was a bit annoying, to tell the truth. This wasn’t the first time he’d woken up to a beam of sunlight glaring straight into his optics because Skywarp forgot to close the curtains the night prior.

With a sigh of his vents, Starscream pulled himself up out of the large berth, carefully nudging Thundercracker’s wing aside so he didn’t kneel on it, shuffling around Skywarp’s peds. The purple-and-black seeker had a terrible habit of sleeping all splayed out, making it far more difficult for anyone to leave the berth without waking him up. 

It was a good thing that Starscream was an expert at this situation. One servo there… one ped there… perfect. He slipped off of the berth, thruster heels hitting the cold ground with a shiver. He quickly made a mental note to finally order that rug they’d been talking about for vorns, as soon as he finished closing the curtains.

Quietly, careful not to wake the other two seekers, Starscream made his way over to the window and rested his servos on the sill, peering out. It was a clear day, not a single cloud in the sky. A variety of early risers were already streaking through the skies of Vos, and Starscream wrinkled his nose.

At least he had no such obligations. The sunrise was little more than a nuisance, hardly an indication that he needed to get up and start his day. Besides, Skywarp and Thundercracker were both recharging so peacefully. What kind of trinemate would he be, waking them up so early?

Standing back up, Starscream yanked the curtains closed, making his way back over to the large berth. No one had moved, thankfully, and Starscream carefully climbed back over Skywarp the way he’d exited, moving to lay down between the other two seekers once again. 

Upon the berth was a fluffy, organic-made soft blanket. It had been Thundercracker’s idea, but Starscream found himself using it the most. He’d always discounted most organic-created things, assuming they would be flimsy and weak. But this blanket always felt so soft and wonderful against his plating… and he’d noticed that Thundercracker never asked for it back, as if he’d never purchased the blanket for himself in the first place.

Starscream tucked the blanket up under his chin, looking over at Thundercracker. The blue seeker was venting quietly, one servo resting up on the pillow under his helm. He reached out, slowly resting his own servo atop Thundercracker’s, fingers curling gently around it.

It had always been hard for Starscream to express his feelings. Deep down, though, he was intensely grateful for all that Thundercracker had done for him. 

Behind him, Skywarp roused slightly, grumbling under his breath and pressing up against his back, a purple arm snaking around Starscream’s waist and gripping slightly. Starscream used to hate how clingy Skywarp was, but now he just relaxed into the hold. He knew Skywarp also had a difficult time expressing his emotions verbally, that his touchiness was an attempt to make up for this. And by now, Starscream knew that it did make up for it. He hadn’t realized until recently that he actually very much liked to be held. 

As he glanced back up, Starscream realized that Thundercracker’s optics were open, looking directly at him. He jerked back slightly, feeling a flutter of surprise in his spark. 

“I tried not to wake you up,” Starscream murmured, lacing his fingers with Thundercracker’s and drawing their servos close to his chest. 

“You didn’t,” Thundercracker replied softly, thumb brushing over the back of Starscream’s servo. “I was already awake when you went to close the curtains. I just didn’t expect you not to fall back asleep immediately,” 

“So you were watching me?” Starscream smirked.

“Caught red servo’ed,” Thundercracker stifled a chuckle behind his free servo. His optics were soft as he gazed at Starscream, who resisted the urge to squirm under such an open and honest expression. 

“Well, I don’t blame you,” Starscream sniffed, pretending not to be affected. “I’m irresistible.”

Behind him, Skywarp groaned, and his arm tightened around his waist.

“Screamer, please. It’s too early for ego. Go back to bed.”

Thundercracker didn’t stifle this laugh, the melodic sound ringing out over their berth. Starscream flushed.

“It’s alright, Starscream,” Thundercracker spoke up before he could protest. “But, he’s right. It is too early.” The blue seeker shuffled forward, wrapping his arms around Starscream. “I think we should go back to bed.” 

“I don’t particularly have a choice when I’m sandwiched between the both of you then, do I?” Starscream huffed. It held no venom to it, though. His field gave him away, wrapping both of his trinemates in the love that he felt for them.

“No, no choice at all,” Thundercracker said in a knowing tone, leaning forward to press a kiss to Starscream’s forehelm.

“Yeah, so hush up,” Skywarp grunted. He was always a bit grumpy when he was unexpectedly awoken. 

Starscream rolled his optics, but he fell silent, snuggling down under the blanket. For a moment, he gazed at Thundercracker as the blue mech closed his optics and seemed to immediately fall back into recharge, the soft puffs of his vents evening out quickly. 

Smiling to himself, Starscream let his own optics drift closed. For all his snark, it was quite nice to be here, under the soft blanket and held securely in the arms of the ones that he loved the most. 

As he drifted back into a comfortable recharge, there was only one thought on Starscream’s mind: that there was truly nowhere else he’d rather be.