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Cyclonus, after millions upon millions of years living and fighting as a warrior, could tell when death loomed over him, circling the skies like a predatory bird. Ever out of reach, sometimes out of sight, but never out of possibility.
Tonight, it lingered especially close, its cries squeaking and scraping like the sound of his conjunx’s old, weathering frame, slowly lowering himself onto the berth. Tailgate groaned as he arranged himself into a sitting position, his hand gripping Cyclonus’s to stabilize himself.
Cyclonus smiled as Tailgate’s visor met his- the bright cyan blue more faded than he’d ever remembered, but still gleaming with the spirit of their adventuring days. His happy face- it was something he’d burned into his memory for good, but tonight, he wasn’t sure he was ready to look away.
“Hey. You’re awfully wistful tonight. Something on your mind?” Tailgate broke the silence, taking Cyclonus’s other hand to his. “You don’t usually stare so bluntly.”
“Mm. I’m thinking of you, that’s all.” Cyclonus responded. It wasn’t a lie, but the other half of his thought- he’d decided he would omit.
Just like how he could sense the approach of death, he’d learned to come to terms with it as well. Everything had an end. But he didn’t want to worry Tailgate by telling him about what might come next.
“Oh, Cyc. Weren’t you always a romantic!” Tailgate chuckled softly, bunting his helm against his conjunx’s chest. “Lay down with me- there’ll be time to think about me tomorrow. I’m very tired, and this old spark sure needs its rest. I know you like to stay up, but…”
Cyclonus didn’t object, but pulled his partner close wordlessly, positioning them both comfortably in the berth. Tailgate nuzzled his plating, the place just resting above his spark chamber- and hugged him back, settling into the beginnings of recharge.
Maybe he knew that death was coming too. But if he did, he gave no indication. Perhaps he simply didn’t care anymore.
“I love you, Cyc.” The minibot mumbled against his chest plating, as if the words were meant directly for his spark, and his spark only. And then, his visor flickered off as he drifted into recharge.
Cyclonus pulled his arms tighter around his conjunx, stroking the light blue plating.
The stars were especially bright tonight, he thought.
—
Cyclonus woke at the crack of morning, which wasn’t unusual- but still strange. Because this was usually the time when Tailgate would wake up, pry himself out of his lover’s arms, and make his presence known to the world.
But this time, his conjunx was still resting peacefully in his arms, no sign of movement or wakefulness at all. Cyclonus wasn’t even sure he wanted to open his optics to check on him. He knew what came next.
But alas, time would keep moving whether he did or did not. He slowly pulled his arms away, out of their interlocked embrace- wincing as the gears cracked and servos popped within his old machinery, and his optics fell upon his lover, stony and grey, passed away in the middle of his recharge cycle.
Cyclonus’s vents stopped, sputtering, before he forced them back into working order as he refocused his processor. He knew it had been coming. He knew that there was no running, no saving this time- death was a finality that came for them all.
He really was so, so tired. Like the recharge of last night hadn’t had an effect on him at all. He wasn’t even sure he had the energy to call the mortuary to help register his conjunx’s death and start planning the memorial service- maybe it could wait?
After all, the sun had just begun to rise, and it was such a wonderful day to sleep in…
Cyclonus smiled to himself, his vents slowing, as he brushed a hand over Tailgate’s helm again, granting him one last look at his partner’s resting visage. And then he laid down again, pulling Tailgate back against his frame, his limp helm pressed right against his spark chamber, like before. He offlined his optics, dipping his head until he could press his face against the top of Tailgate’s helm and kiss it, one more time.
“I love you, Tailgate.” He said, one more time. And satisfied, he let sleep finally claim him for the last time, wrapped around his lover, the only place he should ever be.
He could almost feel small hands caress him back as his dreams spun into infinity.