S & C 11

Nuzzled in together brings Cole's hand to soothe along Shockwave's arm until the larger mech begins to rumble softly. Cole pulls back and looks into an optic that has a brilliance he's used to seeing in Karmashock's sweet slate ones. Pure amusement. Yes Cole knows that Shockwave has a sense of humor, he's not THAT much of a droid!, it's just not common for the red mech to see the violet one amused so comfortably with him.

"Yes?"

For Shockwave, his mate had no shame in teasing him, so for him to have a mech in his life a bit more serious (and not in a dark way like Megatron's other end of the spectrum) it brings a lightness to his life. Yes, he could laugh heartily with Megatron, but with Cole, it's just different things they find amusing. It's wonderful, delightful and he is so sure he is going to enjoy this new relationship: the comfort of familiarity with the spice of new interests and connections.

Shockwave angles his antenna into his lighter expression, "So do you think I can finally get a medical release from my attending physician, for I am going stir crazy and beginning to atrophy in body and mind!"

Cole's helm sinks a bit to the mech before him that always pushes himself so hard that Megatron would constantly chew on his lip for him. Well if Shockwave is going to make jokes about it, then Cole will just have to put him in his place about it. With a simple adjustment, he has pushed Shockwave flat on his back, straddled upon his waist and pinned his collar to the berth while giving him the clinical eye and a waggling finger.

"Let me make this clear, Patient. I will strap you down to a berth if you try anything stupid like put too much strain on that spark chamber. Ratchet and Dad spent over half the day rooting around and repairing that blue globe's cradle! And if you screw it up and-and-"

"Cole, let go of me." Shockwave actually whimpers out an order.

Instead Cole starts to slip his hand closer to the throat to make his point. In a flash, the white hand finds it's self in a lilac vice and that brilliant optic going dark.

"Shockwave?" Cole is actually concerned he may have put an unintended strain on the other.

Instead, Shockwave closes off the optic and tries to calm the rising heat to his systems. It's been such a long time since someone has restrained him in such a dominating way. A shiver of lust goes down his spine furrowing the other's brow. Cole will never be the predator Megatron was, which is more than fine in needing a more tender relationship this time, but still Shockwave's aroused side is more than kicking on right now. It's darker side he can easily temper and let go with this dear sweet mech atop him. Still! To feel Cole pinning him in protection is down right invigorating! He's pretty sure Cole should feel just how hot he is for this.

"Cole, please do not touch my throat right now." The words are slow in trying to calm himself and keep himself from begging Cole to just grab it and take him.

Wisely Cole pulls back releasing the body beneath him. As his aft rolls back against the blanket covered cod piece and he can feel the hotter body part. "Oh."

Shockwave swallows slowly arching his helm back. "Oh Primus Cole, it's been too long. I might be as mech as the next bot but if you touch me I swear I will soil this berth."

Cole didn't mean to squirm, but he did making Shockwave grip those lovely crimson hips and hold them still. "My cable would be more than happy to solve that itching problem of yours, but I think the hot oil of an overload in my spark chamber would be acid to its tender housing thus leave me to purge my stomach tank on this berth as well." Once more he swallows hard, "So would you be so kind as to remove your damn hot-sexy flying body from my super heated one?"

With slumped shoulders, Cole ever so carefully removes himself from the gorgeous form below him. Both lilac hands flop down over his chest and he chuckles.

Cole is swift in getting himself dressed, "And pray tell what is so funny?"

Shockwave rolls his head watching the flyer snap on bits of his fuselage kibble, "How would we ever explain to Surgeon Wolfgang that all his hard work was destroyed by his own son loving me to death?"

The white hands still in putting on a lighted shoulder plate. He's just at a loss of words for that. Love. Are they ready for that word? He knows Shockwave meant it in terms of 'making love' but still, are they ready to use those words with each other in a serious way?

The serious expression coming over Cole's face lets Shockwave know he has strummed a chord in the other, "I don't think I will ever get used to watching you get dressed, Cole. Such precision work."

Cole looks away and back to the task, "Yes well, a flyer must be a bit more careful than a grounder. If we fall…," he shrugs leaving the rest for Shockwave to fill in.

"Cole, please don't shy away from me. We have to be honest with each other if this is going to work, alright?"

The noble's helm nods and he finishes the last pieces to his armor, "I know Shockwave, I know." With that done, he looks back to the one propping his helm up on a soft closed fist, "That includes with ourselves." The remaining lilac hand flays out for the helo-bot to continue. "I'm scared," Cole finishes.

Now the hand reaches out for Cole's who is hesitant but finally gives it over. Shockwave gives it a squeeze, "Good, because I'm terrified and I don't get terrified. Worried, yes. Concerned, constantly. Scared, occasionally. But flat out terrified, no."

They both know this is no light dating they are doing like some youngling. This is very serious. At the end of this either they will bond or be broken. It will either end gloriously or tragically and seeing how they have already walked that road and know that pain, neither really wants to experience it again.

"Hey, we are two very independent mechs and that should help things. I am aching to get back to my projects. What about you?" Shockwave tries to ease himself and the other.

Now it's Cole's turn to laugh lightly, "Well, considering I used it as my hideout for the last week…," his cheeks flush. This does make Shockwave laugh lightly with him again, for he knows all too well how easy it is to bury yourself in a project to hide from your own emotions. Cole takes a deep breath and squeezes back, "Why don't we sit with my parents for dinner tonight and that should help Dad give you your release?"

Shockwave nods. "Now to see if I can get back into my armor. I don't think I've been out of it this long in …I don't know how long."

"How about if I help?" He pulls back and winks, "I do so enjoy watching you get dressed as well, Mr. Shockwave." Those dark cheeks go darker.

~~8~~

By the end of the next day and a detailed physical, Dr. Wolfgang releases Shockwave to return home and back to work. There was one stipulation by Nurse Vicky: he was required to join the family for the next four Sabbath dinners so they can check on his progress. What isn't said yet clearly implied, the parents really like Shockwave. More importantly: they like Shockwave and Cole together.

"Don't make me drive over and pick you up," Victrola waves that butter knife in threat again. "The number one rule in this house is 'don't freak out the mother.' That goes for you too, Shockwave."

"Yes, Mu'am." The hybrid name slips out. He flushes so hard his helm drops to look down to his folding hands in his lap, but she's the one that flushes deeper. Having spent nearly two weeks under her care as sweet as his own Mum's over protectiveness, it just fell out so easily. Respectfully, no one says anything and just lets the complimentary-slip of the tongue lay.

After dessert, Wolfgang helps Shockwave gather his things and take him home. Maybe Cole should have, but he had gotten an urgent call about one of his patients taking a turn for the worse. Without even a second thought, he just took a leap and flew off. Shockwave smiles watching him go.

"I don't think I will ever get used to that."

Wolfgang gives him a chuckle, "Me neither. Still seems like yesterday I was bouncing him off my knee, holding him by the waist to fly him around the room within these hands." He shakes his head with a deep sigh, "I know he hasn't been a boy for a good long time, but still…. I'm so proud of him."

Shockwave's throat swallows hard. There is a look on this heavy rounded face with misty hazel eyes and a beaming bearded smile that Shockwave would have given anything to have received from his own father or even Puncture.

The purple mech asks the smiling father, "What makes you proud of him? Is it because he joined your profession?"

Wolfgang shakes his head, "Now I won't lie, that does make me happy, but not the core of my pride. No, what really makes me swell with pride is his dignity and pride in himself. He will not let anyone down; patient, friend, family, no one. He wants to do right by any of them. He gives them all his best. At the end of the day, that mech can look himself in the mirror and know he has been honest and true to not only himself but anyone he interacts with."

Shockwave nods softly to that. "Yes, exactly." He finally has the words as to what it is that makes him want to keep Cole in his life. This family too. With a rub to his chin he has to agree. It's not what he could say about his own father or sister but could apply to his own mother. It's something he can agree is what held Megatron to him in their bondhood. Megatron had tried his best for Shockwave. It's what he wants for his future.

He looks up to Wolfgang, "Thank you Wolfgang for allowing me into your home. It has done me a lot of good. More than the physical, you have… made me truly welcomed into a family. This is not something I have experienced before."

The Sikorsky's broad shoulders sag, but not in sorrow. More like they settle into a more comfortable position. "Good. You have made it easy, Shockwave. You're a good boy."

To that Shockwave can only laugh. He's got a few vorns on the Dauphin and yet this Surgeon is making him feel like a youngling. A great boisterous laugh rumbles out of the heavier mech as he slaps a heavy hand on the designer's shoulder, "Come come, we must get you home before Vicky tucks you into berth again."

With a rub to the antenna, Shockwave follows the mech out of the manor.

Shockwave looks around his very quite home. Its good to have the silence to himself again. The constant interruptions by the medical staff in the hospital checking his stats made it near impossible for him to rest. The unfamiliar berth room and the racking worry for Cole made it hard to rest in Wolfgang's home.

But now here he is back within the walls he is familiar with, yet it has a different kind of silence. No TV programs that Megatron enjoyed. No teasing plans to shove him against the wall and fuck him into oblivion. Not even the sounds of the piano playing out a mournful tune as Megatron pounds away his demons.

No, this is Shockwave's home of silence. After all the times during the war where he just wanted his quite lab to do all that he pleased, he was left alone as Guardian of Cybertron and got it. The old phrase 'be careful what you wish for, you may just get it,' certainly bit him in the aft that time. He got Lord Megatron's honor but also the insane isolation.

The single mech makes his way over to his most sentimental creation. Picking up the urn with the violet ring still laying on top, he carries them where he can sit at the stool before the key board. With a flick of the shroud, and a careful lift of the keyboard cover he can see the keys that make such harmony. The urn is set to the side of the music rest and Shockwave presses a few of the keys. It's strange to hear the notes break the silence of the room again after all these lunar cycles.

Carefully, Shockwave releases his chest piece and sets it too the floor. His hand slowly rubs over the tender 'skin' over his spark chamber. It actually surprises him that he is not twanging or panging to hear the notes again. The first few cyber weeks after the death, the sound of any piano was like a stake to the spark, but here with THEIR piano, he's alright.

Shockwave will never be a musician like Megatron and Cole doesn't play, so what will be come of this great gift? It wasn't something Shockwave ever thought he would be dealing with. With a twist he looks around this home that was theirs. Now it's his alone and it's alright. He can breathe and it doesn't hurt. Wolfgang may have cut pieces out of his chest that defined his relationship with Megatron, but the recovery has helped him regain who HE is. Who Shockwave is.

He is not a son.

He is not a soldier.

He is not a mate.

He is not just an employee.

Shockwave is a mech of his own accord. It brings a peaceful lift to his spark and antenna. Peace. Serenity. Individuality. Courting Cole will not automatically define him either. He is a mech of his own accord for the first time.

The cell rings. Lifting it from his hip, the antenna perk, "Hello, Cole, how is your patient?"

For some reason, the violet ring slips off the urn to strike a key. A key so close to Cole's voice's register. Lighter than Megatron's deep raspy voice, but still heavy in enough in the mech-register. Shockwave looks down to where the violet ring stares back at him listening to Cole talk about his patient's progress (minus the name of course). Could this be Megatron's blessing to let him move on?

Ever so logical and science minded, of course he doesn't believe in all that metaphysical and theological rhetoric, but still… there is something in the air and it's peaceful. Carefully he picks up the urn, ring and takes the phone with him into the kitchen. Using a butter knife, he pops the pins to the urn lid.

"Shockwave, is everything alright?" Cole asks hearing the pop.

"Everything is fine, Cole. Just… putting something away." He gives the ring one last kiss and then drops it into the ashes. Pressing the lid back on until the pins click back into place he smiles, "You were saying?"

~~8~~

The next morning Shockwave heads into work early to catch up on where he had abruptly been yanked away. Sure enough some of his coworkers had tried to help with his more urgent projects but it was time he took them all back. Shockwave was back in full physical and mental working order. Nothing was going to stall him now. If anything, he feels better than he has in months. His spark feels healthier then ever, and now he knows why even if the final results were a bit painful to accept. This morning's half workout routine worked him hard, but also revitalized him. Wolfgang and Victrola's warm support reminds him that he is part of a new family.

Cole's acceptance to beginning a serious relationship is just the final stone in his path of forward movement. They aren't going to do anything rash like bond right away, but they are going to make each other a regular piece of each other's lives.

"You gave us all quite a scare there, Sir."

If anyone else had called him Sir with that military subordinate tone of voice, he would have admonished them, but from her, he knows what she means. He lifts his head from the blue print spread across his desk to see his secretary shut the door behind her. Shockwave knows he can't ignore whatever she is going to say privately, so he just sits back in his chair and waits for it.

"Are you sure you should be here?" Her concern is dearly respectful.

He shakes a finger at her, "I left the medical release on your desk so you would leave me alone about it."

She plants her hand on her hips and taps a finger, "Oh I thought that was just so I would file it away with HR."

With a shrug, flicks the antenna, "Hum, yes that too."

"Look-"

His hand waves, "I'm fine."

"Dr. Ratchet said spark attack, Shockwave! How can you be fine?! Spark attack after-everything?!" She's the one who looks like she's going to have one now balling up her fists and choking on her words. "You scared me!"

His shoulders droop. Unlike the rest of these coworkers, she severed under him during the war. He protected his lab assistants, so she knew him before Megatron and now after. Even though Shockwave more than served Megatron, he can understand the concern a subordinate would have for a respected superior. She has done her best not to abuse their past working relationship in this current one, but right now the line is faltering.

With a motion of his hand, he has her sit on the couch under the window that looks out over the back lot. "Timeflip, I'm fine. Coming back to work is actually just what I need. Your concern warms me, but please don't."

Her hand can't stop itself from folding over his, "I… him… you…and then…"

Apparently the loss of Megatron effected more people than he thought. He lays a hand over the top of hers, "Forgive me for being self centered and not acknowledging your own grief. I just didn't think…"

Her hand crushes down, "You didn't think what? That we wouldn't care you had lost the only one in your life. I'm just your bloody co-worker not your friend, sure. I know you aren't cold as some of these others think. I know you are just reserved and don't want to be a bother to anyone else, but damnit Shockwave… You really kept it in so much that you literally broke your spark?!"

Her chest is rising and falling such a pace in restraining herself from really giving it to him. He lets her just pant and crush his hand in her anger. It pangs and warms him that she is so mad at him. Almost makes him want to laugh. Almost. Instead, he decides to repay her loyal concern with something else.

"Can I tell you a secret to ease your worries?"

Her chest slows down and she pulls her glasses away. He won't let go of her hand so she is forced to rub her budding tears with her fist holding her glasses. "What?" comes out in a light snap.

He smiles mentally and gives her amused mirth back, "You have to promise me you will keep your mouth shut." The former Science Commander knows he can trust her for she was one of the few lab assistants who 'misplaced' some of his experiments so the traitorous Commander Starscream wouldn't get his greedy paws on them.

She knows he knows he can trust her so she shoots him a scowl back, "Shockwave, what is it?"

He looks down to their hands and rubs a thumb over the back, "I might be seeing someone."

"Don't tease me like that." She knows good and well how his spark drooled only for one.

His optic is very serious as he gives her that 'don't mess with me' look that she knows all too well. "I'm not."

She blinks at him twice before putting her glasses back on. This time he lets go of her hand when she tries to take it back, and stands. She rises too and points a finger at his spark, "If they break that, I will warp them into last vorn and let them deal with Megatron's jealous wrath."

A warm chuckle breaks out of him. The sound of the elevator outside lets them both know the day has begun. "I want a meeting within the orn. We have a lot to sort out and I have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon."

"You got it, sir." This time her tint to the title is a lot softer and civilian. She steps out of the office and states the announcement, "Shockwave's back on deck, planning room one orn."

To the purple one's blushing honor, cheers go out among the arriving teammates.

Dr. Cole finds a similar reception among his own teammates when his blades swish with a bit more pep to his steps and his brilliant smile is back. He on the other hand says nothing to anyone about seeing someone. No one knew before the surgery, no need to let them know now. For now, the couple plans to take it slow and careful.

And thus they do.