#pipships

Pip x Red and Pip x Henrietta as requested!!

Starscream had allowed a human to live with him in the Harbinger. A small one, named Epiphany. He didn't really know why, but for some reason they refused to leave his side. He didn't mind them; they were kind to him and seemed to genuinely care about him. Something he wasn't used to, but appreciated.

The human was convenient to have around, but… Primus, were they annoying and loud. It was late at night and he had settled down into his berth a short while ago. Starscream had only barely started to drift off when Epiphany had slipped through the crack in the door and started fumbling around. 

The door was cracked so they could reach him in an emergency, not to fumble around his berthroom in the night like a cat! 

Starscream kept his optics closed, opting to ignore them. Whatever they were doing, he could argue about it in the morning. Right now, he is determined to recharge and he doesnt care at all what they could possibly be doing so loudly. 

Minutes pass and they are still going. What could they possibly be doing, in the dark, in HIS room?! 

He grumbles and shifts his position. Laid out on his front, one arm tucked under his head in place of a pillow, and his other arm extended in front of him, palm upward. 

The noisy racket continues, and he grows more and more irritated.

Just as he is about to complain, the sound stops. Good, FINALLY, now he can get some- huh? 

Something soft, fluffy and plush drops into his servo.

Opening his optics, he looks down at his servo, the red glow of his eyes illuminating the scene.

Epiphany is crouching there, loading their bedding into his servo. Blankets, pillows, even stuffed animals. He silently watches them organize it, not entirely sure what they are up to.

Standing up they stare at their work, then nod their head in satisfaction. Starscream watches in disbelief as they crawl into his servo, squirming around for a moment to get comfortable before settling. 

He waits. And waits. But they do not get up or try to leave. They stay put, right in his servo. 

Do… Do they intend to sleep here? With him? Become their most vulnerable right in the most deadly part of his body? 

Surely not. This is a trick. Or even if it isn't, they'll come to their senses in just a moment and try to leave. 

He waits. 

He watches.

But they do not get up. 

How did they even get up here? There isn't exactly a staircase up to here. And with all their bedding too? No wonder they were so loud, it must have been a struggle. But… why? All that work for what?

“You don’t actually intend to sleep here, do you?” He asks. 

“Mmph.” they mumble, stretching before turning their head to face him. Were they… already asleep?

“Yeah, why? Do you not want me to sleep here?” 

Starscream pauses, perplexed. “You do realize I have killed with these very servos. You picked a very dangerous place to recharge.” 

“I know. But I trust you.” They nuzzle back into their pillow, letting out a content sigh. 

No response comes to him. He can only stare in shock, not at all believing their words, but… with them right there in his servo, he can’t exactly make a claim against it. 

His shock turns into alarm once he feels their breathing slow. 

They are sleeping in his servo. How? How could anyone trust him? And to this extent? They know about his record of backstabbing. They know he has a kill count. They know exactly what he is capable of and yet… they are still here?

He doesn't understand. He will never understand. 

That night he barely recharges, only watching them and waiting for this mirage to be ripped from him. A dream, this must be a dream. No one would be so nice to him or trust him this much if this was real.

Settling on that explanation, he does manage a few hours of recharge. 

Once he wakes, though, his false explanation shatters. 

Epiphany is still there, sound asleep. 

A startled noise leaves him, and they stir. He watches as they open their eyes and look up at him. 

They whine, displeased at their wake-up call. “What was that for?” 

“I… Did not expect you to still be here.”

“Oh. Well, here I am. Good mornin’.” They sit up and stretch, then start to mess with their hair, straightening it back out. 

“Foolish. I could have killed you, you know.” Starscream growls. 

“But ya didn't.” They look up at him finally, shooting him a grin.

“But I could have!” 

“But you didn't.” 

His stare turns into a glare. Why are they so smug? 

“Yes but I very well could have! I used that very servo to kill Cliffjumper, you know.” 

They chuckle as if he told a joke. “I know that. But just because you could doesn't mean you would. I trusted you not to, and you didn't.” 

He doesnt answer them, still glaring. It almost looks like his glare softened, but before Epiphany could get a look, he moves his servo to drop them onto the berth, dumping their bedding on top of them. 

“Whatever. How did you even get up here?”

“Climbed.”

“The WHOLE WAY?” 

“Yep.” 

He pauses and stares. “You must have been… quite determined.” 

“I like being around you. It feels safe.” 

His spark aches. Oh, don't say that, that’ll bring up feelings he does NOT want to think about right now. 

Starscream starts picking up their bedding, gathering it up to take back to their own berth.

“Um, can you leave some of that here, actually? I kind of… want to come back again… tonight? If that's okay?” 

He stops and looks down at them, almost frozen. 

“It was really hard to bring all that in.” They add on.

He stares, and their concerned look snaps him out of his daze.

“I… supposed I could… leave some of it behind. But this isn't permanent or anything.” 

They beam up at him with a smile, and it feels like the sun. He watches as they start their struggle to climb down, and chuckle when they whine at him to ask for help.

He always thought humans were weird, and that he would never like one. But this human was so… different. They cared. 

For now, perhaps… the feeling might be mutual. Maybe.