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The lab was quiet for once. Skyfire wasn’t sure how he’d managed to get in during one of the few times no one else was around. Not that he needed quiet to work on his experiments or papers, it was more about how relaxing everything was when he was the only around. The shuttle shifted, letting his wings settle more comfortably against his back with a slow yawn.
A door slammed open from somewhere outside of Skyfire’s area. He jumped, wings snapping up to gather more sensory data. The click of heels met his audials before his wings registered the Seeker coming towards him. Skyfire couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. He knew who those rapid, clacking pede steps belonged to.
“Of all the ridiculous things,” a sharp voice hissed. Skyfire did his best to smother his smile. He was always happy to see Starscream, but he doubted the Seeker’s mood would be improved if he came into Skyfire’s little cubby and saw him smiling when he was upset.
Sure enough, as soon as Starscream barged into Skyfire’s area, his face was scrunched up in irritation, his wings high on his back trembled, and his EM field was a riot of negative emotions. Skyfire put his light pen down and turned his full focus on the other flier, letting his own field brush against Starscream’s with support/encouragement briefly. Starscream paused for a second, narrowed his dark red optics at Skyfire and then opened his mouth.
“Can you believe I have to put up with idiots right now? I am trying to figure out how to deal with the current Energon crisis and making it all cost efficient and all they can rave about is—“ Skyfire just nodded along, letting Starscream’s voice wash over him. It was getting higher in pitch with every rushed, aggravated word that left his vocoder, but Skyfire didn’t care at all. He never had.
If the lab hadn’t already been empty, it definitely would’ve cleared out by now. Skyfire did not understand why everyone was always so upset by Starscream’s voice. Yes, he could get loud and his vocoder had an issue with cracking when he got really loud, but Skyfire actually really liked it. So he just sat and watched Starscream stalk from one wall of his cubby to the other with quick, short strides and listened to the long rant with a small smile on his face.
~~~
The sun peeked through a layer of black clouds, casting dull light through the massive window in Starscream’s living room. Skyfire was reclined on the only sofa that could fit him in the living room and watched Starscream flip through channels on the holovid. He paused for maybe a klik on a few stations before flicking past them as well. The red Seeker huffed irritably and glared at the screen. Skyfire had to fight his growing smile. Starscream did this every time they tried to watch the holovid and he doubted he’d ever grow tired of it.
It was far too charming if he was being honest. They would inevitably settle for some B rated movie and Starscream would tear the plot, acting, sound design, and videography apart the whole time. Skyfire would encourage the behavior too, which is probably why they never got invited to movie nights anymore. Starscream was always respectful at theaters, but as soon as they were out, he’d start up his rant immediately.
Skyfire shifted, causing Starscream’s frame to tilt more into his own. He hummed in thought when Starscream turned to one of the movie channels and the opening sequence of a space travel movie started playing. He flicked a massive wing lightly against one of Starscream’s own.
“Leave it here. It’s an interesting movie and it’s the only one we’ve found that isn’t almost over.”
Starscream sent him a glare, but it lacked any kind of heat and made Skyfire smile gently at the Seeker. “It’s horrible and you know it.”
The shuttle shrugged. “That just makes it more fun to critic. That’s what you enjoy doing, right?”
Starscream nibbled on his lower lip for a klik. He casually tossed the remote onto the coffee table, crossed his arms over his cockpit, and flopped fully against Skyfire’s side. “Oh alright, fine. We can watch it if you want to. It’s already horrible. Who did they get to write this opening sequence? A trash can could do a better job.”
Skyfire grinned and settled more fully into the plush couch. He pulled Starscream more fully against his side as the movie moved onto the first actual scene. Starscream’s running commentary and critics started almost immediately and Skyfire couldn’t stop himself from grinning even if he tried to.
~~~
“How does that not bother you?” Perceptor asked, his own vocals strained. Skyfire looked up from the microscope he was using.
“Hmm? How does what not bother me?” He asked, genuinely confused. Preceptor's own confusion echoed back to him.
“Starscream’s yelling?”
Oh, Skyfire could hear the Seeker just fine. He sounded like he was in one of the larger labs across the hallway, but you never knew. He could be farther away and just really heated up about something.
“Oh, that. I’ve worked with him before and we went to school together. I know we haven’t always been near each other, but it doesn’t bother me at all. Never has actually.”
“You’re kidding,” Wheeljack entered the conversation then.
“I’m not.”
Both Percy and Wheeljack gave him looks he could decipher, so he just flicked his wings at them and turned back to his experiment. Everyone went back to doing what they had been before and Skyfire noted that Starscream’s shouting had quieted down a bit. He was sure the Seeker would tell him all about whatever had set him off when they both got home later that day.
~~~
Skyfire was absorbed in his work, focus resting on the numbers he was running through. If it came back within a certain parameter then he’d be able to share his findings with Perceptor and be reasonably sure the other scientist wouldn’t be able to easily disprove everything he’d been working on for the last few months. He was equal parts excited and terrified, but let out a loud sigh of relief when everything came back as it should.
He sat up and stretched out his frame. His wing hinges popped audibly and a quiet snicker startled him. The shuttle looked over his shoulder and startled again when he noticed Starscream perched on a countertop, pedes swinging in the air and a sad smile on his faceplates.
“Star! How long have you been there for?”
“Long enough,” the Seeker said quietly. Skyfire checked the time with a frown. “I didn’t want to bother you when you were so absorbed in the last bit of your project.”
“Oh, uh, thanks.” Skyfire squinted at his lab partner. “Why are you being so quiet?”
Starscream’s face twitched like he was fighting the normal sneer he usually had on it. That was weird too, but the other flier managed to smooth out his features again before responding quietly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m talking like I normally do.”
Skyfire fidgeted. He knew better than to call out Starscream’s obvious lie. They’d been friends for a long time and lab partners for even longer and whatever more was between them still felt fragile. Mostly because it was so new to them and Skyfire didn’t want to risk it. Still, something about the way Starscream was sitting and the fact he was being unusually soft spoken and quiet didn’t sit right with Skyfire.
“Did someone say something to you?” He asked instead, remembering a conversation he’d had with some of the other scientists who didn’t like Star’s voice.
“No, what makes you think that?”
“Because of how you’re acting. I know you usually get louder and more upset, but…” Skyfire wasn’t sure how to word what he wanted to say. He didn’t have to think for too long about it before Starscream let out a loud sigh.
“Fine, yes, someone made a comment to my face about my voice and how obnoxious and loud I am and,” he looked away and glared down at the ground. “Well, that last bit isn’t that important. I guess it just hurt more because they’re all right about it.”
“No they aren’t,” Skyfire tried to keep his cool, but his engine rumbled and his wings twitched upwards into a more threatening cant. He shook himself and the wide opticked look Starscream gave him and let out another sigh. “Sorry, I just get upset when others do that. It’s so rude.”
Starscream slowly slid off the counter and walked closer to Skyfire. “Why do you think they’re wrong about my voice?” Skyfire relaxed a bit more when Starscream talked in his normal voice.
“Because I like your voice, Star.” Somehow his crimson optics widened even more, his mouth opened but nothing came out. Skyfire decided he should say something more so Starscream couldn’t start doubting him. “I really like the way your voice sounds, even when you get really loud and angry. It’s really expressive and well,” Skyfire paused, a blush forming on his cheeks.
Starscream stepped closer, into Skyfire’s space. They were nearly touching. “And what?”
“And I just really like listening to you.” That wasn’t exactly what Skyfire had wanted to say even if it was true and the look in Starscream’s optics coupled with his smirk just told the shuttle he knew Skyfire was hiding something .
“Alright then,” Starscream stepped into him, wrapping his arms loosely around his waist as far as he could reach. Skyfire settled his own arms around Starscream and pulled him flush against his frame. “I’ll try not to let what they say about my voice bather me too much.”
“If anyone says anything mean about it, just let me know.”
Starscream chuckled, but nuzzled into Skyfire’s chest with a sigh. “Alright, if you insist.”