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Cyclonus stood on watch duty over the Mighty Leader who was recharging on the berth. It was his job to make sure that Galvatron was safe.
Both Scourge and Cyclonus would shift at first so both could get properly recharged but after some time, that assignment was taken more and more by Cyclonus. While Scourge was very loyal, he could often be quite complaining which Cyclonus did not like. To be Galvatron’s second in command was an honor and he would never even think negatively about him.
After Galvatron spent a lot of time on a distant planet in a plasma bath, it fatally damaged his circuits and worsened his state. He would have recurring nightmares which made the recharging process more difficult for him
However, the Mighty Leader would never talk about it and would scoff whenever he awoke, seeing the worried look of his subordinate. As much as Cyclonus wanted to help him, Galvatron would always order him to ignore it and stay on his watch.
Cyclonus was obedient and respected the Lord’s orders but once upon a time, it got much worse than it usually was.
Galvatron vented heavily and kept clearing them out with coughs as if there was a lot of dust in the vents despite Cyclonus already helping him clean them after today’s encounter with the Autobots. Coolant leaked out of him as if he was overheated from sickness yet he was shaking like a leaf in a cold and windy surrounding. Galvatron kept gasping and whimpering ”No” along with ”Please” repeatedly in fear.
The winged bot couldn’t just ignore his Leader’s suffering. He had to do something so he decided to walk up towards where Galvatron lied. Cyclonus was about to put his servo on his shoulder but hesitated for a moment. It was uncommon for his Leader to want to be touched except for a few times where he surprised his loyal second in command by leaning into him. It usually meant that he was exhausted and wanted to be carried to his berth. While he wasn’t very communicative when it came to such acts, Cyclonus always knew what he needed.
At last, he put that servo on his shoulder, gently rubbing him and said softly, ”It’s okay. It’s just a bad dream. I am here.”
He was unsure whether he wanted to wake up the Lord and risk him throwing a fit of rage. At the same time, perhaps that was better than him being in such pain during a vulnerable moment. Cyclonus used the back of his knuckles to pat delicately on his cheek.
Galvatron’s red optics opened and glowed in the dark, interrupted from the recharging process. Despite the constant frown, there was this look of fright and melancholy. Cyclonus retreated his servo when those optics looked at him.
”Cy-… Cyclonus?” Galvatron asked, confused.
Before the winged bot managed to say anything, he was pulled into a tight hug. He quickly put a servo on the berth behind Galvatron so he wouldn’t stumble and fall on his Leader. Cyclonus could feel Galvatron’s spark pounding rapidly through the chassis as well as the dreadful shakings that never stopped.
It wouldn’t be fair if Cyclonus didn’t reciprocate the hug. He was on duty in order to keep his Leader safe after all so he surrounded Galvatron with his arms after he stabilized his position. One held him by the back while the other was soothingly patting his helm.
Galvatron’s pounding spark gradually began to slow down and took deep vents unlike the previous rapid ones. It was okay if Cyclonus would be pushed away at any moment, as long as his Lord felt well. He also made sure that he didn’t hug him too tightly to not make Galvatron feel trapped.
The winged bot hummed quietly, making the gears and mechanics inside him work around and produce comforting warmth. That way Galvatron could focus on only one thing and forget anything that haunted him before.
After a while, he noticed that the Mighty Leader’s optics were closed and his grip weakened. It was better that Cyclonus now put him comfortably on the berth but as he was about to let him go, that grip came back.
”Stay. That’s-… that’s an order.” He said quietly and buried his face into Cyclonus' chassis.
Cyclonus optics widened in surprise. This was never requested before but he gladly accepted and positioned himself in the berth together with Galvatron. If that is what would make the nightmares perish, then that order was to be followed.
”I always will.” He said and proceeded the deep rumbling that Galvatron would listen to as they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.
From that time, it became quite a routine for them to cuddle each time the Glorious Leader recharged. While he wasn’t very communicative when it came to such acts, Cyclonus always knew what he needed.