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Skyfire trudged down the hallway to their apartment, dust still coating his wings and rocks still embedded in his thrusters. It had been a good research trip, but it had run longer than anticipated and the entire team had been dirty and cranky by the time he touched down on the Iacon Transit Authority’s landing pad. And then there had been unloading, turning in preliminary reports, and stopping to pick up his week’s rations because he knew that Star wouldn’t have done it when they didn't know when he would be home.
It was enough to make him tense and even more exhausted than he already was.
With a sigh, he keyed his code into the lock and ducked through the door before it had opened all the way. He cycled his vents as he stepped into their apartment, and felt himself relax minutely as he smelled Starscream’s polish and the distinctly green smell of the algae he’d been cultivating for the last three vorns.
He had hated it, at first, but now it smelled like home.
“Star? I’m home!” If his partner hadn’t come to greet him immediately, he probably wasn’t in the apartment, but it wasn’t impossible that he was just absorbed in his research and hadn’t heard the door.
There was no answer, but that was all right. He knew that Starscream was still guest lecturing for Perceptor’s xenobiology classes and he would be home in time for their evening fuel. Just being home, where he could take a proper solvent shower and rest on a proper recharge berth, was enough to bring his spirits back up.
Sky moved into their small kitchen and put his rations away. Then he walked to the wash room. He smiled at Star’s grooming kit, spread across both sides of the vanity, and didn’t bother moving any of it before getting out his scratch filler.
He would let Star pamper him later, with a good polish and wing rub. It always settled both of them after they’d been apart for so long.
Once the scratch filler was in easy reach, Sky turned his attention to the shower. He turned it on, setting the temperature almost as high as it would go, though it wouldn’t be quite warm enough to really relax his cables, and stepped under the spray with a happy sigh.
He felt better already, just from rinsing off the dust.
He was reaching for the pick they used for rocks and other debris in their thrusters when Starscream stepped into the stall with him.
“Welcome home, Sky.” The Seeker beamed at him and opened his arms for a hug.
The rest of the tension in his frame bled out as Skyfire wrapped his arms around Starscream. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Star buried his face against Sky’s chest for a moment. Then he looked up with an annoyed frown. “But I did not miss having dust tracked over the entire apartment. You are vacuuming that up.”
Skyfire laughed. “Of course, Star. But after I finish my shower.”
“Obviously.” Starscream squeezed him again before letting go and stepping back slightly. “Here, give me the pick. I’ll do your thrusters. I don’t want rocks in the berth again.”
“Those rocks were your fault and you know it.” Skyfire handed him the pick and turned so that he could lean against the shower wall while Starscream worked. “But you can see them better than me. Thank you for the help.”
“You're welcome.” Starscream grabbed his foot and started digging at one of the rocks. “Shockwave invited us over for dinner tonight, if you feel up for it. I think he wants to hear about what you saw before you give your formal report.”
“Not tonight, Star. I just want to stay here with you tonight. Ask him if he would meet over morning energon instead.”
“Oh no.” Starscream’s tone was suddenly mischievous. “If we're not dining with the senator, then I am not letting you out of here again before midday at the earliest.”
Skyfire laughed and felt the last of his tension drain out at his partner’s words.