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Starscream lay awake, tracing the outline of Skyfire's plating as he slept. Tomorrow Skyfire would have an entirely new frame. His current one was about nine million years out of date. He'd gotten it before they went travelling, then he'd woken up into a war and there hadn't been the resources to get a new frame. Now only after it was all at an end was Skyfire able to get a new body.
Skyfire had been so excited by it, looking at catalogues, customising his new frame to perfectly suit him. It was true that Skyfire's frame was so outdated barely anyone had the parts to repair him. A minor injury had led to them having to wait for custom parts to arrive to get him fixed. Every now and then Skyfire would comment how much his back hurt, how heavy he felt, and just minor things that weren't quite right with his frame. Leaving it to sit in ice for six million years hadn't exactly helped with its functionality. He was not quite what he used to be. So Skyfire had been very excited about having a new completely modern and fully engineered frame.
And Starscream had to admit the frame did look beautiful. It was powerful but more compact than his current body would be. Modern mass displacement technology meant he didn't have to get a frame that was so ridiculously tall that he had to duck into every building he entered or crouch under every ceiling. He'd actually be able to fit on Cybertron whilst still transforming into a shuttle the same size as his old one. Starscream could understand Skyfire's feelings. It was clear he often felt uncomfortable due to his frame’s freakishly large size. He would still be tall after the frame transfer, but he wouldn't be that tall.
Still, despite his conjunx’s excitement, Starscream felt apprehensive about the whole thing. The world had changed so much. Ravaged by war, destroyed and now being built up again from scratch, but Skyfire had stayed the same all the while. To Starscream it was almost a nice consistency to look at Skyfire and see the same compassionate optimistic shuttle that brought delight to his spark each time he saw him.
And now he was going to change as well. Starscream almost didn't want him to. He wanted him to stay the same way forever, in his big lumbering bulky outdated frame. Starscream didn't want that little comfort to go.
He knew he'd never change Skyfire's mind, and it would be cruel to try. There was no reason for Skyfire to give up all these comforts and conveniences for Starscream's own selfishness, so instead Starscream simply decided to trace his finger over the lines of Skyfire's plating one last time. He could commit them to memory and then he'd never forget just how beautiful Skyfire was.
It was true Skyfire's frame hadn't been made with beauty in mind; shuttles were always developed with an eye for functionality and strength. There to transport heavy loads or large groups of people, but Starscream thought he was the most beautiful being in the universe. He could gaze forever at his soft features which always put Starscream at ease whenever he gave a smile. Those huge arms that were just perfect for hugging. Those giant wings which expanded into the sky and could be seen for miles when he went flying. He was perfect.
Starscream finger traced over a bump in Skyfire's plating. The outline of a laser blast that impacted his chest. Starscream froze, knowing that was probably the blast he'd fired at point blank range during that day in the Arctic. He removed his hand from Skyfire's plating. Starscream's own frame was littered with scars, dents and bits of laser blasts and well hidden welds from limb replacements. You could buff those out and cover them up with wax and polish but a trace of them always remained. It was fine for Starscream to have them though. Starscream's frame was meant to be a bashed up thing marked with four million years of war, Skyfire was different. Starscream didn't want a single trace of the war to be on his frame. He was supposed to have stayed untouched by it.
As he stopped he started to think, maybe it was a good thing that they were both getting new frames soon. A fresh new start, all traces of the war and it's horrible years gone, no longer a burden on both of their frames.
Starscream lay back down on the berth, snuggling into Skyfire's side and making himself comfortable with one huge white arm lazily wrapped around him. It was then Skyfire finally started to stir. His optics came online as he came face to face with Starscream.
"Star?" he called. "What are you doing up?"
"Just admiring how beautiful you are."
Skyfire gave a chuckle and wrapped his arms more securely around his conjunx. Starscream purred as he melted into the comforting hold. So perfect.
"You better give just as good hugs once you get that frame upgrade."
"I promise I will," Skyfire said dreamily.
Starscream stared into his lover's familiar face. Tomorrow he'd wake up in his arms just the same, but it would be different. But actually, maybe that wasn't all so bad, Starscream decided that as he settled back into recharge.