Cygate

WARNING! This ship page includes the subject of self-harm.

Cygate
GENERAL
Transformers
Character	Cyclonus
Character	Tailgate
Canonical?	Canon (IDW)
Status of Relationship	Conjunx Endura (2005 IDW Comics) Enemies (G1)
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Slash

7

Cygate is the slash ship between Cyclonus and Tailgate from the Transformers fandom.

Canon

Cyclonus is an ancient Seeker from long before the war began. However, he was on a research team who ended up being trapped in the dead universe. Because of this, Cyclonus missed the war. Tailgate and him have something in common since they both missed the same war. Tailgate was forged in the same war, but fell through the ground and injured himself severely. He was essentially in a coma for the entire war. Tailgate and Cyclonus end up on Rodimus' ship, both feeling out of place among the Autobots.

During a crisis, Rodimus commands everyone to pair up and lock themselves in their rooms, and Cyclonus notices Tailgate is stuck half-transformed. While everyone ignores him, Cyclonus takes Tailgate to a safe room. After the crisis, they keep their shared room. At the start, they're roommates, and Cyclonus is definitely not the nicest one. But over time, Cyclonus talks to him about his old life and hometown before it was all destroyed by the war. Tailgate is intrigued by him and greatly enjoys hearing Cyclonus sing religious songs in Old Cybertronian.

Cyclonus finds himself becoming more and more interested in Tailgate, but he is the worst at accepting those kinds of feelings. As Tailgate tries to befriend him and include the loner in social events, Cyclonus is unnecessarily rude to push him away. But he can't ignore his attachment to Tailgate as the only one he can connect to on the ship. He and Tailgate enjoy their company, private conversations and Old Cybertronian lessons, and Cyclonus even keeps Tailgate's secret about his past. Cyclonus does not want this attachment because it brings him pain, and he starts self-harming whenever he secretly feels distressed. No one notices this, except for Whirl, who starts as Cyclonus' enemy, but ends up being one of his closest friends. In fact, he is the one Cyclonus ends up confiding his feelings for Tailgate in, and Whirl takes action to protect their lives throughout the series.

Tailgate and Cyclonus have some arguments and relationship issues, as Chromedome and Rewind did, but a little more dramatic. They unintentionally complete all the acts required for the conjunx endura (formalized romantic relationship) proposal, and Tailgate offers him his innermost energon. First, Cyclonus doesn't react well to this, but he finally learns to manage his emotions and lets himself fall for Tailgate. It takes a very long time, but then Cyclonus shows affection and declares his love for Tailgate. Finally, the two of them enjoy many interstellar travels before settling in Tetrahex in time for Ratchet's funeral.

Moments

2005 IDW continuity

Since Tailgate becomes Cyclonus' protector, he becomes viciously protective of him, even rupturing the neural cluster of someone who hurt Cyclonus, threatening him with:

“This is for Cyclonus. If you dare lay a finger on him- if you or your thugs so much as hurt his feelings, I will bury you.”

— Tailgate

Fanon

Cygate is one of the most popular ships within the Transformers fandom. It's one of the most popular ships of the IDW series. Many fans love this ship and their dynamics, but some people prefer to ship Tailgate with Chromedome.

On AO3, Cygate is the most written ship for both Cyclonus and Tailgate. It is also the eighth most written ship in the Transformers - All Media Types tag and the second most written in The Transformers (IDW Gen One) tag. There are currently 870+ written works.

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Cyclonus/Tailgate tag on AO3

Cyclonus & Tailgate tag on AO3

Gallery

Comics