Growing dark clouds were helping to smother the fading daylight when Skyfire finally arrived at his place of residence. He transformed in midair from shuttle to bot, and, activating the thrusters in his heels, slowly descended to the launch pad below him, landing with a definite thump. Straightening up, he stretched out his wings, grunting at the stiffness in his joints before taking in the sight before him.
The apartment complex that Skyfire called home wasn't much, to be honest. Being a cheap place for mechs will do that. When seen from above, it looked like a backward "L" hanging upside down, two stories high and frankly rather plain. The little office for this place stood at the end of the long line of the letter, all dark and quiet like. The only reason Skyfire was able to see it in the growing shadows was thanks to the neon sign looming over it, flashing "Rainbow Quartz Falls: Vacancy" in optic popping neon pink, with the flickering "Vacancy" being an electric green.
Plop.
A drop of water splashed on Skyfire's vast shoulder, and he stole a glance upwards at the darkening clouds that slowly swelled with promised rain. Thunder rumbled somewhere in the far distance, as if telling him to get a move on or else.
Taking the hint, Skyfire stepped off the launch pad and quickly made his way closer to the building.
A few straggling raindrops peppered the ground by the time Skyfire got to apartment 128. He typed in the code, and the door slid open. He stepped in and flicked the light switch on, flickering for a moment before bathing the inside in blinding white.
The apartment had a simplistic style to it. The walls were a dusty brown color, and a single couch hugged one of them, close to the window next to a small table with a lamp, and a large picture depicting cliffs overlooking the Rust Sea hanging over it. His bed stood on the right of the couch, the headboard touching the wall to his washroom, and a small kitchen stood in the very back with a round table and two chairs. A standing shelf with knickknacks and a television screen stood on the other side of the one room apartment.
All in all, nothing looked out of place. Except for the bowl of energon that sat in the kitchen, a toy glitch mouse lay on the floor, and a tall pole with platforms attached to it stood next to the shelf. And of course, the little roommate that shared the space with him was presently absent.
Skyfire didn't worry though. He already had an idea where she might be. Walking over to the couch, he squatted down, and two amber optics greeted him when he peered underneath it.
A little cyber-kitten sat curled up in the far corner of the couch, a black tail wrapped around her front white paws. "Hello, Echo," Skyfire smiled at her. "Did you have a nice day?"
She meowed back in greeting.
It had been almost two weeks since Skyfire found himself unexpectedly becoming a cyber-cat owner. The previous owner of 917, Trailbreaker, had found himself having to move out at the last minute, and the only available place he could get a hold of had a no pet policy. Skyfire wouldn't say he was close friends with him; yes, they greeted each other when spotted and chatted, and he did visit his place for high-grade, but that was the extent of it. Apparently, that was enough for Trailbreaker to ask Skyfire to take in the soon-to-be orphaned Echo.
"I know she's the skittish type," Trailbreaker said, fidgeting with a glass of high grade. "And pretty much doesn't trust easy." He cast a sorrowful glance at Echo, who was eyeing Skyfire warily from underneath his table. "But the fact that she doesn't bolt off to hide when you come really tells you something." Trailbreaker looked back at Skyfire with a flicker of hope in his visor. "I promise if you just give her some time, she'll come around. She did it with me. At the very least, keep her until you find someone who wants her."
Skyfire had considered getting a pet a few times. Just having another living being in the lonely apartment. And it was the least he could do for Trailbreaker given his predicament.
Keeping an optic on Echo, Skyfire slowly reached a closed fist under the couch, stopping just half way of grabbing range of the cyber-kitten. Although she did flinch, Echo didn't scoot away or hiss at the encroaching appendage, even stretching out her neck to sniff it.
"Good girl," Skyfire beamed, opening his hand and rubbed three fingers together, hoping to entice her out.
"Come on," he cooed, "Come out here with me."
Even when eyeing the fingers with interest, Echo stayed in her spot.
Skyfire eventually stopped, stuffing down a twinge of disappointment that tweaked his field.
"It's okay," he told her, a gentle smile gracing his face. "You're more than welcome to come out here with me when you're ready."
With that, he stood up and walked off to the kitchen for some long-awaited dinner.
The sprinkling outside had morphed into a steady downpour, dozens of raindrops hitting the dark window, going tap tap tap all at once. Inside, the lamp glowed in a soft yellow light in the darkness as Skyfire laid on the couch, having turned off the overhead light with its blinding whiteness to set a cozy mood for reading. That, along with the clattering rain, created the perfect atmosphere for a restful and relaxing evening.
A squeak broke the silence.
Surprised, Skyfire turned to see Echo looking up at him. She got up on her hindlegs to paw at the edge of the couch, meowing again.
Skyfire's optics widened before a wave of amusement washed over his field. "Do you want to come up here?" He asked. Despite not being on board for full physical contact yet, minus the occasional pet or two, Echo liked sitting on top of the backrest, even when Skyfire was there, letting him pick her up given still being too small to jump to high places and Skyfire's firm rule of using her claws for anything that wasn't her cyber-cat tree.
Echo squeaked in affirmation, though Skyfire could have sworn he picked up impatience in it.
Smiling, he placed his data pad aside and reached down, scooping the cyber kitten up in one giant hand, sitting up slightly to gently place her on top of the couch.
Echo stood up and gave the backrest a sniff, her tail swishing left and right, before turning to look down at Skyfire, who laid back down and smiled up at her. He waited for her to sit down and get comfortable. So it was a great surprise when she suddenly leaped down and landed on his chest plate.
Skyfire gave a jump at the sudden weight on his chest, watching with wide optics as Echo promptly moved closer to his face, ducking under his chin, and soon felt two tiny paws kneading against his neck cables.
Skyfire felt his processor stall, winching slightly at the needle like claws.
What is she doing?
He got his answer when, after a minute of attempted bruising his neck, he felt Echo stop and curl up instead, snuggling closer to his person.
This was...an unexpected development.
Without even thinking, perhaps his limbs had gained sentience, a single hand rose and blindly grazed the surface of his neck until it bumped something that squeaked in annoyance. If Skyfire had to guess, he must have bumped Echo's nose or forehead.
"Sorry," he whispered, trying to avoid shaking her more than necessary. After a moment of feeling her getting comfortable again, he reached out again and gently touched what he guessed was her head. And when he received no protest, he ran it up and down her small body, taking in the ridges on her back, the space between her ears that was perfect for rubbing, and even running two fingers down the length of her tail.
Skyfire repeated this until the soft snore of sleep and purring reached his audio receptors. He pulled his hand away and laid it on his midsection. Just as he did, the sudden thought of moving while something so small, so insignificant, so very much alive sought out warmth and comfort from his very being...felt so very wrong.
With a sigh, he picked his data pad up and resumed reading, resigned in knowing he would not be getting back up anytime soon.
The End.