Author's Note: This chapter has an extra-long title to go with an extra-long chapter. I didn't really intend for this to get as long as it did, but such things fit in with the chapter's theme, so it's all good. This entry's a break from the action, and is a lot more about introspection and character interaction (and furthering a few plot threads). Thanks, as always, to everyone who reads, reviews, and exercises such incredible amount of patience with my slowness, aha...
Also, the full chapter title won't fit on 's chapter selection. Sheesh.
Squicks in this chapter: Light mentions of wounds and violence. Also, near the end we get to some hanky panky.
Chapter 13- Expectations, Transformations, and the Permanence of Change
It turned out to have been Starscream who ordered the retreat—Blackout had just arrived to help facilitate it. Much could be said about the Seeker's decision to take matters into his own hands when his superior was still on the battlefield, but in this instance everyone was either suitably occupied with the aftermath or understanding enough of the logic behind the decision. Megatron's wound was not fatal on its own, but keeping him in combat under such conditions wouldn't do him any favors. Besides, they had what they came for.
Later, Soundwave would remember the immediate aftermath in a haze. Megatron remained conscious throughout the entire process of having his injury treated. Between patching up Megatron and hurrying to attend to the wounded drones (which were arriving in a consant, steady flow), the medbay was buzzing with activity. Through it all, Soundwave watched silently, connected through a hardline to Frenzy, who was re-synchronizing with his host much in the same manner Rumble had. He'd been checked over and fueled, but he was still evidently tired, which was probably why he's managed to keep so calm in the middle of such chaos.
Soundwave and Rumble filled the last missing member of their team in on the basics of what was going on. They'd mutually decided to wait until later to drop the whole courtship bombshell on him. Of all his symbionts, Soundwave found Frenzy's reactions the hardest to predict. For the moment, he was content to focus on the present, dividing his attention between the minicon tethered to him and to the warlord standing to the side of the main crush of activity, proud despite the dark matte patches messily welded onto his side.
Whenever he looked up, Megatron was staring. Soundwave stared back. It wasn't an uncomfortable gesture, but rather reminded him of that same intensity that had passed between them when Megatron had agreed to launch the rescue attempt for Frenzy. Somehow, even after all these millions of years, there was still yet room for something new to slide into this space between them, some hitherto-unforeseen frequency in the harmony that was their relationship.
Soundwave let his visor linger on Megatron before he looked down to check on Frenzy once again. The little mech was sagging, his elbows on his knees, his head lowered slightly. His feet dangled off the edge of the med-berth. Soundwave examined his symbiont's vitals (another task he'd been repeating endlessly since they entered), and once again reiterated, through the bond, that Frenzy needed to refuel.
Frenzy shook his head once more. "Too tired to refuel," he said simply. "I just want to sleep." The minicon snorted and regarded Soundwave askance, "I sleep for what's gotta be hundreds of years and the first thing I wanna do when I wake up is sleep."
Soundwave silently pointed out that there was a marked difference between sleep and stasis lock. Frenzy merely shrugged in response.
Once the more critical cases were taken care of, Knock Out finally came to give Frenzy a proper look-over. He was in rougher shape than Rumble had been when he'd been retrieved, but Rumble had also had the basics of his care attended to by Autobots. "I'm not surprised to hear you're not hungry," Knock Out drawled without looking up from the datapad in his hand. "With energy levels that low, you're better of siphoning in your fuel. It'll be easier on your systems than ingesting." This all meant that Frenzy would be staying the night in the medbay.
As the hours passed, Soundwave was inclined to linger, but there was nowhere for him to rest. The medbay was full. He knew he would have to surrender the presence of his symbiont to Knock Out's care for the evening, but he stayed in the medbay late into the night.
Frenzy had long since laid down, connected to the fuel siphoning system and several monitors by a snarl of cables. He was very calm, and very still, drifting back and forth over the line between waking and recharge. An hour's worth of siphoning appeared to perk him up a bit, but he was still very far removed from the usual restless energy that typically characterized his presence.
Rumble had left sometime earlier of his own accord, satisfied that Frenzy wasn't going to fall to pieces during the night, and keen on getting some rest himself. After they'd been left alone (relatively, of course, as the med bay was still crowded), during one of his waking moments, Frenzy spoke rather abruptly, "Y'know, it's weird. It's kinda hard accepting that all of this has changed so much."
Soundwave swiveled his screen towards his symbiont, but did not reply.
"I mean, sure, half the stuff around here looks different. You look different." He made a vague gesture indicating Soundwave's form. "But you haven't changed, not really. I think that's it. It doesn't seem real because... because it sorta feels like I left you yesterday."
Changes: not always readily apparent, was Soundwave's reply. More has changed than you know.
"Yeah, obviously, but..." He trailed off, struggling with his lack of eloquence before he shook his head and went quiet. After a few moments, he said, "I mean what matters. You didn't crack. It had to be hard on you. I know it was, even if you ain't gonna admit it. But you stuck with it. You're still here, doing what you do." He paused again, and Soundwave shared the silence with him. He had nothing to add to his symbiont's observation.
"I'm glad," Frenzy finally went on. "That you're still here. That you didn't let this take you down." There was a sense of pride underlying Frenzy's words, a pride he couldn't articulate. None of Soundwave's symbionts would have abandoned him if anything should happen that would shake his grip on his facilities, but there was a sense of appreciation that they had a worthwhile carrier to return to. Mercenary though it might have seemed, Soundwave recognized it as Frenzy's unique brand of affection.
His response was succinct. Soundwave's presence: necessary. Someone had to keep them in line.
Frenzy gave a snort of laughter at this. He began to drift back into recharge, and for a time, Soundwave remained with him, hovering beside the bed. When it was clear he wasn't going to wake up, the spymaster drew a long breath through his vents. The quiet air of the medbay was broken only by the occasional steady beep of the monitoring equipment, and the sound of the sleeping wounded's venting. Soundwave was one of the only mechs in the room that was still awake.
He turned to face the another. Megatron had rested as the day wore on, finally allowing himself to be coaxed to a proper medberth, but he'd not yet fallen into recharge. He had been looking off to the side, staring into middle space before Soundwave's deliberate movement had caught his eye. The warlord regarded his Third quietly.
In response, Soundwave simply walked towards him. He drew up beside Megatron's berth and looked down, taking in the full scope of Megatron's injuries. Temporary welds and patches crowded all along his side, and masses of cables crowded into every gap between them, a myriad of tiny lifelines monitoring and stabilizing his vital functions. It was a very raw, visceral reminder of what he'd been willing to do that day, what he'd done without hesitation or question. He didn't look frail, but he did look damaged. Soundwave forced himself to take it all in, to remember. Something in his solemnity must have crept into his EM field, because Megatron shifted and reached up, hooking a single talon under Soundwave's chin to meet his gaze directly.
"A scratch," he said, "I didn't lose anything worth mourning over."
Neither did I, Soundwave replied.
Megatron bared his teeth in a crooked grin. He didn't move his claw from where it rested. "Then as far as I'm concerned, this is a victory. We retrieved what we meant to, after all." The slightest thrill of their success passed between them. The long cycles of waiting, of refusing to mourn, of anticipation and disappointment had become so embedded in Soundwave's spark, had become such an indelible part of his life. He had to remind himself that all of that was over. He had won his personal battle. He hadn't won it alone, either.
Megatron's grin broadened, a fierce gesture rather than a warm one, when he sensed the tension easing out of Soundwave's EM field. For a moment they just stood there, speaking without speaking, reveling in the sense of victory against troubling odds, and the pride that came with doing so by taking what was rightfully theirs from the hands of their foes. Just moments before, Soundwave had looked upon his Lord and found the sight to be a sobering reminder of the cost of devotion. In just a few moments, in just a few words, his perception had completely shifted. Megatron seemed to radiate triumph, to seethe with his vicious iron will not only to live, but to conquer. His wounds seem to magnify that indefatigable spirit rather than diminish it.
Frenzy's words came back to Soundwave. He hadn't let loss drive him away from the cause, from the place he'd taken for himself in the universe. If anything, it had only strengthened his dedication, and now he had everything to show for it. There, in that medbay, he let the last vestiges of his pensiveness and distress drain from him. There, in that medbay, he was able to turn his back on the past forever.
There, in that medbay, it felt good to be a Decepticon.
They let the moment last, content with one another's presence, content with the newfound surge of vitality they felt. The air was electric with it. Finally, though, Megatron let his talon slip carefully away from under Soundwave's chin. "Rest, now. We still have work to do."
Soundwave nodded, lingering for a moment before he slowly turned away. Rest was the last thing from his mind. It seemed like a difficult thing to do, invigorated as he was. He paused by Frenzy's med berth to check on him one last time. He was sleeping peacefully, and more importantly, he was safe. Any anxiety Soundwave could have felt had been put to rest by the sheer force of Megatron's presence.
And, of course, it wasn't as if their Lord was his only would-be guard. Soundwave glanced down to the floor beside the berth, taking in, with some humor, Scorponok's coiled form. Blackout's wayward symbiont had come into the medbay some time before, and silently assumed his place by the berth. Looking down at him then, Soundwave first thought Scorponok was asleep, but the minicon stirred and raised himself slightly off the floor to return Soundwave's gaze.
They regarded one another for a moment. At length, Soundwave gave a short nod. Scorponok responded with a brief whirr of his drills. Amused and satisfied that his charge was suitably guarded, Soundwave turned and finally left the med bay.
Scorponok was still there when he returned in the morning, but he was no longer alone. Blackout had kept out of the medbay the day prior, figuring it was crowded enough without adding an enormous helicopter to the mix. Frenzy was already awake, sitting cross-legged at the edge of his berth and talking to them both as Soundwave entered with Rumble in tow. Frenzy had benefited greatly from Knock Out's care. He was alert an animated, and already the characteristic tiny twitches and trembles that defined his body language were returning. It was a sight that Soundwave had missed for a long, long time.
"Yeah, well, they're a pain in the neck," Frenzy declared, shaking his head and scowling.
"A persistent one, I gather," Blackout said with a slight shrug. "Their men were the first to greet me when we arrived on this planet. Luckily, Starscream and his soldiers were not long in rendering their assistance."
Frenzy's face twisted into a grin. "So, basically, the first thing you did when you came here was get your aft saved by Starscream?"
There was a moment of silence as Blackout processed Frenzy's summary of the events and let the horror of it all sink in. He loosed a long, weary sigh."Yes," he said resignedly. "He did."
This prompted a snicker from both Frenzy and Rumble. Frenzy straightened his posture and nodded to Soundwave, who had just drawn up to the medberth, before returning to the very important task of ribbing Blackout. "So, on a scale of one to ten, how insufferable has he been about all of that?"
"Not at all, actually," the warrior replied, relief plain in his tone. "It's been a busy week. I think that particular way of looking at the situation hasn't yet occurred to him."
"Well," Frenzy said, "I won't tell if you won't."
"Much appreciated," was Blackout's dry response.
Frenzy turned to regard his carrier once more. "We were just talkin' about these MECH guys."
Soundwave nodded, conveying with the simple gesture both acknowledgment and reciprocation. MECH had always been irritating to deal with, but after the events of the past few days, it was obvious that more direct action might be needed to stop their meddling. To Soundwave, it felt eerily similar to the way the Decepticon army had handled the threat of he pirates.
He wasn't going to let this story end the same way as that one had.
"Yeah," Rumble said, adding his own perspective in, "pain in the neck is one way to put it. But hey, they're mostly small if you get them alone." He raised his hands, pounding a fist into the opposite palm with a grin.
Blackout received this observation with an amused nod. "I was just coming to collect someone." He gestured towards Scorponok, turning his masked face to regard Soundwave. "I don't doubt his capabilities as a bodyguard, but he hasn't refueled since yesterday."
Soundwave aimed the screen that served as his face down, and parsed a statement out of Blackout's words from the previous conversation. "Assistance—much appreciated."
This seemed to satisfy Scorponok, who uncoiled and stretched, replying in a series of muttered clicks and chirps. Blackout stood calm and still as his symbiont turned and scurried up his frame, flaring his rotors and partially transforming the plates to accommodate Scorponok. Within moments, the smaller mech had vanished into the angles and tessellations of Blackout's back. Mutual nods all around served as a silent farewell, and Soundwave was left with his two creations.
"They took the Boss out?" Rumble asked, nodding towards the empty berth across the room that had previously been occupied by Megatron.
"I wasn't awake when it happened, but apparently he just up and left," Frenzy replied, swinging down to the floor from the medberth. "Which sounds like a good idea to me. Let's get outta here." The beginnings of a question began to form in Soundwave's mind, but Frenzy, sensing them through the bond, shook his head and held up a hand. "Doc said I was good to go. And that I had a lot to catch up on."
Rumble grinned with the sort of glee that was only found on the faces of people who knew something others didn't. "You don't know the half of it, bro."
Elsewhere, Starscream was being dismissed, after having enjoyed a full night of being more or less absolute commander of the ship. It was an evening that had passed all too soon, but Lord Megatron was up and about, and Starscream decided it would be wiser not to contradict him. If Megatron was too injured to be so mobile, he'd soon feel the effects of it (and look like a fool, a prospect that pleased Starscream to no end).
Besides, Starscream had enough to keep him busy. The strike on the MECH base had been reasonably successful, and his aerial squadron had performed superbly. They still had work to do, however, and the sooner they started on following their remaining leads, the better. Starscream hadn't been struck by a sudden affliction of loyalty, subservience or anything similarly dreadful, of course. What spurred him on was pride.
He mulled over his achievements as he stepped into his quarters, noting the cube of energon that had been left for him as he did. It was Starscream who'd been in charge of organizing the bulk of the strike. It had been Starscream that reacted first to the unexpected presence of Autobots on the battlefield, and when Lord Megatron had been struck down, it had been Starscream and his fliers that had violently reminded the humans of their place.
...come to think of it, it was a bit odd, knowing that he might have very well saved Megatron, but Starscream comforted himself with the notion that their leader would have almost certainly pulled through in the end. He'd already died once, after all. Still, the end result of all of this was that Starscream came out of the entire affair looking like a hero and a tactical genius. Maybe now, he'd get some more of the respect he deserved.
Mental note, he thought to himself as he crossed the room, plucking a datapad from a charging cradle as he went. Be sure to get as many acknowledgments of my timely heroics as possible in the field report from Blackout. Seeing that insufferable, disrespectful barbarian acknowledge Starscream's innate superiority was icing on the oilcake.
Starscream smiled lazily as he reached for his cube, his optics flickering over the datapad. He had a few messages and reports already queued up, and once they were out of his way, he could begin his next round of plans. He had brought his fuel halfway to his mouth when he stopped, blinking widely at the device and leaning forward slightly. Had he read that right...? A second look-over had proven that he did. He settled back again, a single brow cocked.
"Well," he muttered to himself in the silent stillness of his room, "that is certainly interesting."
Frenzy blinked slowly, digesting the information he'd just been given. "Wait, you mean a Bondmate like a spark bond?"
Soundwave had taken him back to his quarters. Ravage and Laserbeak had detached from him, and the entire team was assembled throughout the room. Frenzy, of course, was up and moving, too full of energy to sit still. He'd been pacing back and forth as they'd told him all he needed to know, constantly in motion. Soundwave had missed that sight.
"What other kind of Bondmate is there, y'moron?" Rumble asked.
"I dunno, I just figured... I wanted to be sure." Frenzy spared his twin an irritated glance before looking back to Soundwave. "So, yeah?"
Soundwave nodded. He had been largely silent throughout the whole conversation, communicating through the bond or in data bursts. Rumble had been doing most of the talking, with occasional interjections from his remaining teammates. Soundwave: honored and compliant.
Frenzy frowned slightly. "Compliant?"
Soundwave paused, realizing that his typical neutral language probably wouldn't present the most accurate description of events. He added, Bond: mutually desired.
The minicon nodded slowly, digesting this. "That's. Whoa. That's kinda big."
Rumble seemed somewhat disappointed that Frenzy's reaction hadn't been stronger. "That's it? Kinda big? If that's 'kinda big', whaddya consider 'pretty slaggin important?'"
They'd already started bickering. It wasn't so much inter-team friction as it was Rumble and Frenzy's default state of being. Soundwave regarded this with a mixture of faintly exasperated amusement and satisfaction. He'd missed that, too.
"I'm not saying it ain't important, bolts-for-brains, it's just—what else am I supposed to say?" Frenzy countered, rounding on his brother.
"Maybe, 'hey, congrats on getting basically the biggest promotion possible from the Lord of all Decepticons.'"
Frenzy turned back to Soundwave and said, flatly, "Congrats on getting basically the biggest promotion possible from the Lord of all Decepticons. There," he turned yet again, back towards Rumble. "Y'happy?"
Rumble shrugged. "Eh. It'll do."
Soundwave stepped in at last, quelling Rumble's rambunctiousness and Frenzy's growing irritability. He explained that the Bond wasn't exactly considered a promotion. It was something much more important, much more personal. It was an honor, yes, and in some ways a recognition of his service, but it was a recognition that went beyond his actions as a Decepticon. It was more about who he was as Soundwave. He didn't even try to convey his feelings into words, relying instead on the innate silent communication his telepathy provided.
Frenzy was left somewhat startled by the raw emotion that accompanied the explanation. "Huh." He couldn't really be blamed for not fully understanding the connotations of a Bond. Like the drones and crowded the Nemesis's hallway, much of Frenzy's life had been dominated by the war. The social niceties of peacetime were largely lost on him and Rumble. Frenzy tilted his head, silently turning his thoughts over. "That's... different."
Rumble rolled his eyes under his visor at Frenzy's continuing lack of eloquence, but didn't antagonize his brother further.
"I know it seems strange to think Megatron would want something like that," Ravage interjected, "but it's less about being soft-sparked and more about taking something you want. Starscream is the one who convinced him it was a good idea."
"That backfired," Rumble pointed out.
"We've always given everything for this cause, right from the start." Ravage shot Rumble a vaguely annoyed look. "Soundwave more than anyone else. Now, he has been asked to provide it with a legacy."
This seemed easier for Frenzy to wrap his mind around. "Guess that makes sense." He regarded his carrier thoughtfully. "Y'know, Boss, I think you might have changed more'n I thought you did since we last saw each other." Soundwave wasn't receiving any strong mental impressions to accompany the statement, and he couldn't initially tell whether that was meant to be a good thing or a bad thing. By way of answer, Frenzy grinned suddenly and widely. "Way to go, Boss! You bagged Megatron!"
Soundwave couldn't help but feel he might not have gotten his point across fully, but this was close enough. He nodded, mirth accompanying his telepathic reply. It seems so.
"And you say Starscream thought this up?" Frenzy went on to ask.
"Sorta. He was tellin' Megatron that he needed to get Bonded, y'know, somethin' about not bein' around forever, yadda yadda." Rumble shrugged. "A lot happened while we were gone. He died, or something. Still not sure as far as details go. So, he was all, 'Maybe think about leavin' a heir,' only obviously he expected Lord Megatron to choose him-"
Frenzy's visor brightened. "Wait. An heir?"
Rumble blinked, realizing he'd steamrolled over the last significant detail in his eagerness to share Starscream's humiliating defeat. "Oh. Uh, yeah. Sparkling."
The darker minicon looked to Soundwave, who began to explain silently what exactly Rumble meant. To his surprise, Frenzy interrupted him, as well. "Yeah, I know. It's like the Velocitronians. So you plan to do that?"
Soundwave nodded. Outcome: uncertain. Too many variables present to determine one hundred percent success. Efforts will be made.
Frenzy nodded slowly. "Well, as long as it's not dangerous, I'm game if you are." The more he thought about the entire situation, the more he approved of it. It seemed natural to imagine Soundwave and Megatron taking their teamwork to the next level. Soundwave had always been committed to the cause, and to Megatron. Now, the Lord was making a commitment back. He let these thoughts float freely through the bond. "Damn. I was not expecting to wake up to all've this. But if that works, it wouldn't hurt to improve our numbers."
Everyone went quiet. It hadn't occurred to any of them that a successful sparking might pave the way for more. Where Megatron went, his soldiers followed if they could. It remained to be seen if he would let them follow him through this process, but he had brought it to the table. Velocitron and Junkion were mere colony worlds, offshoots of Cybertron that had been cut off from the Well for millenia. While Junkion wasn't a particularly impressive example, Velocitron had managed to engulf its entire planet in the tide of its expansion.
Those mechs had used this process to make themselves mighty. It was possible that the potential lying in this entire affair could give the ragged remains of the Decepticon army the same unstoppable vitality.
This realization hung heavy in the air, and the team absorbed its implications silently. Rumble was the first to speak. "Yeah. Huh. Didn't think about that."
He might not have done the significance of the matter justice with his words, but they all understood.
"Oh, wow," 404 said as he stepped through the doorway into the familiar confines of Switchgear's server room. "What a difference a day makes, right?"
He was referring to the change in temperature. In the aftermath of the battle, the ship's crew had been working, and a lot had changed while the frontliners were gone. Nemesis had pulled itself free of the Amazon's humidity and returned to its much higher traveling altitude. The lower decks were once again mercifully cool. Switchgear looked over his shoulder, not terribly surprised to see that 404 was accompanied by Steve. "Yes, quite. The rainforest is an interesting place, but I won't miss the weather."
"I would say that I'm happy we left that river behind, but apparently we're heading towards the ocean," 404 said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall by the doorway.
"It's not the river's fault you don't know how to drive," Steve said.
"Oh, Steve." 404's voice was absolutely flat. "You're killing me. I'm dying over here."
"Am I wrong?"
"That is not the point," 404 replied, dodging the subject "The point is, you know full well I know how to drive. Am I the best front-liner? No, not really. Am I the best at inner-ship responsibilities? Probably not. But I can do one thing, and do it well. I can drive."
Steve stared at 404. 404 stared back. "Just not so much in the rainforest," he amended.
Switchgear, by then, had turned to fully face the other two, his arms crossed over his chest. Despite the show of impatience, he was a good deal less annoyed than he pretended to be. He was getting quite used to these antics interrupting his work. "I'm so glad the two of you came all the way down here to establish that. Surely, you wouldn't have been able to do it without me here."
"Just checking in," Steve replied with a chuckle. "Making sure you're not suffering any lingering effects from that spark attack Megatron gave you."
"That's Steve's thing. Checking in on people," 404 quipped.
Switchgear and Steve both ignored him. "I've made a miraculous recovery," Switchgear said, his visor flickering in amusement. "And what about you? Scorponok gave you something of a scare, as I recall. If you hadn't leaped two feet in the air, he might very well have touched you, you know."
A good-natured laugh was Steve's initial response. "Fair enough, fair enough. I'm just not the biggest fan of... small, skittery things. Reminds me of scraplets." He shuddered.
"Well, you have no reason to be afraid of Scorponok. Unless you're an Autobot. Or a human, apparently. He's a soldier, like you or me. Symbionts aren't things, after all," Switchgear pointed out.
"Switchgear is good at..." 404 began, but paused, unsure how to word the next bit. The other two drones glanced to him as he mulled the matter over. "Knowing things," he concluded.
Switchgear gave a snort through his vents. "Surely, that will be my legacy. Not the fact that I keep the entire maintenance crew running smoothly-"
"Being really, really nerdy," 404 went on.
"-or the fact that under my supervision we've managed to recycle over forty percent of our damaged and decommissioned parts, reducing the energy strain on the ship by almost a quarter-"
"Using phrases like 'forty percent' and 'energy strain' in everyday conversations..."
"-but that I, as you so eloquently put it, know things. Thank you, 404," Switchgear finished dryly. "Also, you don't just know things, you learn them. Pick up a datapad every once in a while. We have an archive, you know."
"Switch! I couldn't move in on your act," 404 said, placing a hand on his chest and adopting a mock-scandalized air.
Switchgear cracked at that, finally allowing himself a little laugh. "Besides, you got Steve's talent all wrong. His talent is catching the eye of dangerous commanding officers. I haven't yet decided," he said, turning to look at Steve, "whether or not that's a good thing yet."
Steve felt a surprising buzz of embarrassment at the back of his mind. It wasn't as if he was unhappy with the way things had turned out so far, but he could hardly be said to have caught anyone's eye. Not yet, anyway. "Once a week," he replied sheepishly. "I'm scheduled to bring him his fuel once a week, now."
"Way to go, bucko," 404 leaned forward to elbow Steve gently.
"Look, it's—I guess he just figures I'm a useful contact. I helped him out before. Well, you also did, Switch, but you know what I mean. I think..." He tilted his head. "I think he realized that there's a lot about all of us, all of this-" He made a sweeping gesture to the room around him. "Life on the ship that he never knew was there. Maybe it'll be a good thing, y'know?"
"Could be," 404 agreed. "He noticed you. Maybe with time he'll notice all of us." He gave a small, exasperated vent. "Gotta say, it would be nice if the folks up the ladder treated us like people once in a while." He didn't linger on the subject, not wanting to bring the mood down. "Anyway, I distinctly recall someone yelling, 'I have a chance!' before he ran out through the door I happen to be standing next to. Given up on delusions of romantic grandeur?"
Once again, Steve felt sheepish. "Well. No... not given up. Just adjusted my expectations, I guess. You've got to be realistic, right?" He shrugged, and said, "Still. There's hope." He spoke those last words in a peculiar tone of voice: soft, but determined. Steve might have adjusted his expectations, but if there was even a flicker of a chance, he would be ready.
"Well, I wish you the best of luck," Switchgear spoke up, once again joining the conversation proper. "I respect our superiors, and I am truly grateful for their guidance and authority, but with all due respect I really hope I don't get involved in any... any shenanigans again anytime soon." He fixed Steve with a pointed look. He was keenly aware of where all these "shenanigans" had come from. "I am happy to stay down here and do what I do. If I never see a commanding officer face to face again, I assure you, I'll be content."
"Not much chance of that here," Steve agreed.
Switchgear turned to pat the bank of screens beside him. "No," he agreed. "But my lot isn't for everyone, I guess." He looked to Steve again, tilting his head slightly. "I know my place. It's here. But you..." The drone shook his head slowly. "You, I think, might be destined for greater things."
Steve had the grace to look embarrassed again. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he protested. Switchgear just made a thoughtful "hmm" sound and let the matter lie. A few moments later, they were wrapping up their brief conversation, and as Steve and 404 stepped into the hallway outside of the server room, 404 nudged Steve gently.
"I think he's right," he said. "I mean, he's an egghead. I'd listen to him."
"Yeah, but you're also the mech who had to be fished out of the Amazon River. Not sure I should be taking advice from you." This earned him a gesture stronger than a nudge, but they were both laughing as they took their leave of the lower decks.
The next handful of days passed quickly. The Decepticons needed time to regroup before they launched another assault on MECH, and while all of this was happening, the were steering the Nemesis north, heading out over the Atlantic Ocean. Soundwave had work to do, and he spent most of his spare time with his symbionts. It hadn't taken Rumble and Frenzy long to adjust. True, they had traveled for years in pursuit of the Nemesis since their departure from Tortuga, but they had spent the majority of their trek through space in stasis. As far as they were concerned, all the intervening time might as well have not even happened.
They still couldn't integrate with Soundwave's current frame, but that was a low priority for the moment. The option of hard-linking was there if they needed it. They seemed to find this satisfying; indeed, Soundwave wondered if they planned on re-integrating fully at all. The twins were given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the ship that was to be their new home. They touched bases mentally throughout the day as Soundwave worked. One moment he'd be standing silently on the bridge of the Nemesis, running checks on current and impending weather, the flight routes of human aircraft that might cross their path, and local news reports to make sure the ship had not been spotted in any way, and the next a mental nudge, rather like a tap on the shoulder, would slide into his thoughts.
The drones are watching this game show on a big screen they brought into the mess hall. Nerds.
Soundwave noted, with amusement, that this missive had come from Rumble directly from the mess hall in question, and despite his apparent disdain for the drones' chosen form of entertainment, he remained in the same location over the course of the next hour and a half.
It was a comfortable arrangement, and one Soundwave looked forward to getting used to.
He kept Megatron in his thoughts, as well. Despite Starscream's hopes, his wounds didn't force him to rest again, and he'd remained in control of the ship from the moment he'd stepped out of the medbay. The patches came off after the second day, and from then on fresh weld-marks still criss-crossed his side. If they caused him any discomfort, he disdained it. His objective had not changed since their last mission: retrieve the Combinatoric, if possible. Indeed, he seemed even more focused on the search, either because of lack of distractions (they didn't have to worry whether they would recover Frenzy, after all), or because being shot dead-on with a ship's laser had irritated him, and he'd decided to show the humans who they were messing with.
Honestly, it was probably a little of both.
Soundwave was equally eager to do so as well, and for more or less the same reasons. Guiding the Nemesis to open water was the top priority, and as such most of their interactions over the course of those days was regarding only professional matters, but Soundwave found he enjoyed it. Communicating with Megatron and setting forth their expectations and boundaries had been important in establishing this tentative new facet of their relationship, but in some way, he felt that this was, too. Working as a team, united in their determination and motivations, felt good in a way that Soundwave hadn't quite experienced before.
They would both want some time just for one another soon, especially in the wake of how their respective roles had expanded, but at the moment they both wanted to turn their faces straight towards the enemy and show them the full wrath of those they had dared to slight. Soundwave couldn't be sure, but he thought to himself that maybe this feeling was what others meant when they talked about the sensation of 'romance.'
He wasn't entirely right, but he wasn't entirely wrong, either.
A brief interruption of Soundwave's work came in the form of Knock Out.
"It's a simple procedure," he said, passing the datapad over to Soundwave. "A lot has changed since we left deep space. Energon from Earth has its... quirks."
Soundwave glanced down to the datapad briefly, wirelessly drawing the information from the device rather than reading it. Knock Out had come to him, leaving the medbay to meet Soundwave at his workspace, claiming that Rumble and Frenzy needed a but of a tune-up. The procedure itself was not dangerous, but it was a bit lengthy. Until then, the dual distractions of the crew being busy with the search for Frenzy and Knock Out's obligations to his more urgent patients had kept the issue on the back-burner.
"Mostly just a few precautions. Small adjustments to the fuel intake system, optimization of the finer actuators to this planet's specific gravity—not something that would bother you or I, of course, but they're a lot smaller. And," Knock Out held up a finger. "Laying the groundwork for an alt-mode conversion."
Soundwave hadn't had a proper, thorough discussion with Rumble and Frenzy about the alternate modes they would take up soon, but that was a matter that could wait for now. Neither of them were in a rush, and nor was Soundwave.
"It's an overnight stay, nothing more." Knock Out was watching Soundwave intently, optics flickering over his form. It was apparent that he was trying to gauge the mood of the typically-inscrutable Communications Chief, and Soundwave got the impression that one of the reasons Knock Out had waited so long to bring this up was that he anticipated Soundwave resisting being separated from his symbionts for so long. He put the doctor's wonders to rest with a simple nod.
Rumble and Frenzy were equally as passe with the news once Soundwave had left to gather them, but the reminder that they had an alt-mode conversion coming up excited them both. They almost immediately plunged themselves into a deeper study of Earth vehicles.
"Well, you're a flier, now," Rumble said as they made their way to the medbay, accompanied by Soundwave. "So maybe we better find somethin' that flies, too. Most everythin' that flies is... kinda big, though."
Frenzy shrugged. "Motorbikes are kind of cool."
"Are you serious? They look like sticks with wheels," Rumble said.
"And what would you say we should be?" Frenzy shot back. "A quad-copter? An ultra-lite? You wanna talk sticks, look at those."
Rumble subsided for a moment. "Well, I still wanna fly. Earth doesn't have anything decent. We can just pick something from home."
"We're supposed to be in disguise, you moron."
"Lord Megatron's got a Cybertronian alt," Rumble pointed out.
Frenzy opened his mouth to counter, but shut it again. His brother had made a decent argument. Luckily, by that time they'd approached the medbay, putting the argument on indefinite hold. The doors hissed open, and as they drew inside, the group was greeted with an elaborate flourish from Knock Out. "Gentlemen," he said, sweeping his arm in a graceful arc to indicate the med-berths. "Your accommodations await."
Soundwave left for his quarters shortly after that, once again accompanied by only two of his symbionts, who disconnected as they crossed the threshold. The feline immediately took possession of the berth, and Laserbeak perched nearby."I'm surprised they didn't consider a technimal alt," Ravage said, in a flat and somewhat sarcastic tone that suggested he had not been surprised whatsoever. "There are some Earth creatures that are as big as they are."
"And as thick-headed," Laserbeak chimed in.
Soundwave let a burst of mirth seep through the bond, which really, at that point, only extended to the others in the room. Rumble and Frenzy's presences were already very muffled, which was a little bit unnerving at first. Soundwave had just gotten them back, after all. It was ridiculous to be anxious over the matter, because they weren't far away at all, and perfectly safe, but he couldn't quite keep the feeling from buzzing in the back of his mind.
Ravage noticed. "They're tough, Souundwave. Tougher than any of us gave them credit for, apparently," he added dryly.
Acknowledged, Soundwave replied. He was still a little irritated at himself for being so easily unsettled. He mentally clamped down on his end of the bond to prevent his own feelings from disturbing Ravage and Laserbeak's rest. This week had wreaked havoc on his normally tightly-controlled emotions. As soon as everything settled down and he could resume his life with reasonable level-headedness, he'd be happy. That didn't help him for tonight, though.
"If you need to get your mind off it," Ravage spoke again, resting his chin on his paws and stretching out on the berth, clearly enjoying his opportunity to have the bed all to himself for the moment. "You could go talk to your Intended. That's what you do, right? Support each other."
Soundwave was hesitant. He didn't need to turn to someone else for every minor irritation that seeped into his subconscious. Megatron wouldn't expect something like that from him, and Soundwave was unwilling to allow himself to consider it, either.
"It's not the same thing," Ravage replied. "Nobody's asking you to be coddled or anything. You're just..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Really, you're just going to him for what he's given you all along. Guidance, maybe." He tilted his head. "Strength."
Once again, Soundwave found himself unable to counter his symbiont's argument. He stood there for a moment, silently mulling the matter over, before he raised his screen slightly to regard the feline with amused resignation. Satisfied that he'd won the discussion, Ravage closed his optics and flicked his tail in lazy acknowledgment.
"We'll be here when you get back," Laserbeak chimed in.
And so, Soundwave once again found himself at Megatron's quarters. In the past week or so, he'd spent more time here than he had in the previous millions of years' worth of service... not tha he'd really had a reason to back then. Megatron was sitting on the edge of his berth when Soundwave entered, reading a datapad. "Yes?"
Soundwave paused. He hadn't actually come to Megatron's quarters with any easily-definable purpose, other than perhaps a simple desire just to be there. His first impulse at the thought was that it wasn't a sufficient reason for taking up his Lord's time, but that instinct was a remainder of the past. Things had been different then. Soundwave had every right to request the simple presence of his Intended. Company, he eventually replied.
This seemed good enough for Megatron. He nodded to Soundwave and set the datapad aside. Soundwave took a few steps into the room and paused before crossing the final few, seating himself on the berth beside his Lord. For a moment they sat in surprisingly comfortable silence, and Soundwave was reminded of the night in the medbay, when he'd stood by Megatron's side, speaking without speaking.
Eventually, Megatron broke the silence. "A week ago," he said, "We were scrabbling for energon like starving Turbofoxes. And the Autobots were our fleas." Megatron allowed for a soft scoff. "Now, we stand poised to take what might be one of the greatest artifacts of the Thirteen for ourselves."
A silent burst of data was Soundwave's reply; their next big lead was in Florida. The Autobots had managed to narrow down the first base at about the same speed that the Decepticons had, which was frankly a little surprising, but now that the Decepticons knew their adversaries were actively involved in the search, they'd be ready.
"They had one opportunity to successfully intercept the weapon before us," Megatron agreed. "The Autobots, tenacious though they are, can't withstand the sheer might of an full-scale assault. They might try, but they risk much. They would either succumb to our forces, or to MECH's." His eyes narrowed slightly. "And whether the Combinatoric is there or not, I intend to leave a crater in place of that base."
Soundwave couldn't agree more.
They fell into simple conversation then, mostly discussing the plans that were being made, reviewing the work they'd done for the week. They'd made as many plans as they could, but they needed a better understanding of their target before they proceeded any further. Airachnid had been chosen to run reconnaissance (and she seemed eager for the chance to get in the air, seeing as she'd sat the last battle out), and as soon as she returned with further intel, the strike could begin in earnest.
It wasn't long before Megatron was on his feet, too restless to sit still. Soundwave couldn't help but notice the slight involuntary flicker of pain in Megatron's field when he passed by the berth. His wound hadn't yet fully healed, even though he'd disdained to acknowledge it. Without really thinking about it, Soundwave wirelessly shared his concern with Megatron in an quick and thoughtless burst of data. Megatron turned, looking somewhat surprised, and Soundwave regretted it immediately.
For a moment Megatron just stared, his expression inscrutable. Then he relaxed slightly and walked over to Soundwave. "I suppose," he said simply, gruffly, "I will have to get used to that."
Faint amusement fluttered through Soundwave's EM field, and he stood. Megatron hadn't said it in so many words, but he was willing to listen to Soundwave's unconscious concerns. Both of them needed to remember every now and then that they were dealing with a much more level playing field. Megatron's acceptance of this (brusque though it had been) was heartening.
Soundwave reached up, pausing for a moment, hesitant, before he let his slim fingers brush over the weld-marks crisscrossing his Lord's side. No pain came rushing to meet the action, and Megatron seemed content to let the gesture continue. Once again, he found himself drawn to the physical reminder of what Megatron had done for his symbiont. Seeing them, tracing them, reminded him that the Decepticons had won that battle. Yet again, the scars reminded him of the strength and will to live of the mech beneath them.
The sense of victory that Megatron's first words had kindled returned once more. He felt proud and curiously humble at the same time, standing so near Megatron. It was more than just permission to be close that struck Soundwave, but rather the desire that accompanied. He replied at last, giving a slight nod. Bondmate: protects.
The warlord's optics flickered, but he didn't immediately speak. He was becoming used to the silent communication between the two of them. That was apparently one aspect of their growing relationship that Soundwave had imparted to him. Soundwave shared this information, and was rewarded with a low, rolling chuckle.
What happened next was involuntary. Standing so close to Megatron, delicately trailing his fingertips down the silver mech's side, the sound felt more like physical sensation. It rumbled under Soundwave's fingertips and sent faint staticky prickles over his plating. He felt his EM field jump slightly, a short burst of a sensation he couldn't quiet define as anything other than raw approval. Soundwave was startled by its intensity, and Megatron was startled by Soundwave's reaction.
They stood there for a moment, teetering almost comically on the brink of indecision, unsure whether to acknowledge it. Then, Megatron reached up, tipping Soundwave's chin up. An unspoken question hung between them. A little bit of Soundwave's silence had rubbed off on Megatron, but what aspect of Soundwave had Megatron influenced in return?
Then Soundwave brushed his fingers a little higher, trailing them up Megatron's side, and Megatron reached out to return the gesture, releasing Soundwave's chin-guard and slowly dragging the tips of his claws over Soundwave's armor. There was another moment of questioning silence, even as their hands continued to move. Megatron was the one who broke it, stepping closer and looming over Soundwave, overwhelming the smaller mech with the force of his presence as he pulled him closer. This wasn't exactly how they'd expected their discussion to reach its conclusion, but neither mech was complaining, and as long as the option remained in the playing field, they both seemed willing to explore it.
Soundwave was just sure to gently nudge his end of the bond shut, for Ravage and Laserbeak's sake.
Megatron's touches were already becoming more insistent, and this time Soundwave was determined to properly return the affections. He traced the harsh blade-like patterns of Megatron's armor, slid his fingers along the edges and let them slip beneath. Each time they delved into those seams and gaps, brushing against the deeper warmth of his Lord, Soundwave felt a thrill go through him. Megatron couldn't be called anything like vulnerable, but to be able, to be allowed, to touch those softer places was an honor.
The plating on his chest gave an instinctive twitch outward, preparing to release his feelers, but Soundwave pulled it shut again, momentarily mortified. Megatron made a low noise of disapproval and moved to hook one claw into the seam there, running the sharp-tipped digit back and forth coaxingly. "Open," he rasped.
Somewhat hesitantly, Soundwave obeyed, letting his feelers slither out around Megatron's hand. The warlord twisted his wrist so that they brushed against his fingertips as they moved, a gesture of acceptance, and Soundwave felt his self-consciousness stripping away. The tentacles surged forward, eagerly slithering their way up to explore Megatron's frame. The attention of so many delicate appendages soon had Megatron squirming a bit, and he pulled away long enough to growl, "The berth."
Soundwave didn't need to be told twice. Megatron sat and moved back slightly, likely meaning to re-position himself properly once Soundwave joined him, but the spy was up and practically crawling into his lap before he could move. Megatron made a rough sound of amusement and laid back further, content to let the slimmer mech straddle his hips, as long as he was mindful not to put too much pressure on the weld-marks crossing his side.
Soundwave sat up straight, the blank screen of his face trained down at Megatron, his long arms braced against the other mech's chest, fingers resting on either side of the Decepticon badge there, and all four of his data-cables moving in concert over Megatron's frame. The two mechs took a moment to mutually enjoy the sight their partner presented to them before Soundwave leaned forward slightly, and spoke.
"My liege." His rough voice, overlaid by sonorous tones, was almost reverently soft.
Megatron responded by returning his attention to Soundwave's frame, dragging his clawtips up along the plating of Soundwave's inner thighs, not stopping until he cupped the other mech's codpiece with one hand, pushing insistently up. Soundwave rolled his hips into the pressure, once again finding a surprisingly easy rhythm. When Megatron ground the heel of his palm against the slimmer mech's interface panels, Soundwave bared himself with a snck.
Megatron seemed happy to let Soundwave continue rutting against his hand, taking in the sight of the other mech's pressurizing cord, feeling the soft give of his valve... and then Megatron froze, blinking. He pressed upward again, and Soundwave quivered, making a soft, wordless sound of approval. "You're sealed," Megatron said simply.
There was a moment of hesitation. Soundwave nodded. He wasn't entirely sure what he was expected to say in response to that. He figured that Megatron's next move would be to take care of that little detail, but instead a thoughtful look had settled over the warlord's features. "This... would be more enjoyable for you if you had this removed."
Soundwave's head cocked sharply to the side. He had assumed—they'd all assumed—that Megatron would want to claim his seal as something like a right, but instead of possessive eagerness he was being met with something more brooding and calculating. Soundwave sent an interrogative ping, a messy scramble of data, conveying his confusion over the subject.
Megatron rumbled. "I am not interested in what you have or haven't done before now. I did not choose you because I thought you were untouched. I chose you because you are loyal." Megatron's hand twisted to rub his thumb against the sensitive wiring where Soundwave's thigh met his hips. "Because you are vicious," he hissed, dragging his claws over the other mech's aft. "Because you are ruthless in your dedication." Soundwave quivered at the pride and possessiveness in that voice. As far as Decepticon pillow talk went, it didn't get much more arousing than that.
His data-cables tightened around the other mech as Megatron leaned up slightly, pushing his hips up against Soundwave's. "And I intend to reward all of that. Thoroughly. Completely," he hissed the last work, grinding back up once more. Soundwave was practically writhing on top of him at that point. He wouldn't have been able to say whether the movements of Megatron's body were affecting him more, or if the other mech's voice was. "The gesture is... appreciated. But I would rather you not find this experience lacking."
If Megatron was trying to ease Soundwave into a decision, or simple understanding, he wasn't doing a very good job of it, because his teasing hints of almost-pleasure were driving the slimmer mech up the wall. Soundwave managed to convey his acknowledgement in a data burst, and this was immediately followed by a second, the message of which was more or less: I understand what you're saying, but if we stop now, again, I think I'm going to lose my mind. He was willing to give the matter of his seal more thought, but not at the price of denying the anticipation and desire wrenching at his spark.
Megatron's optics flickered. "Stopping? I never said anything about stopping." He shifted his position slightly, and with a click, retracted his panels. Soundwave couldn't quite see what was going on down there because of his current position, but as he slid back, bracing himself on his knees, he realized that Megatron had only actually slid aside the panel over one part of his interface equipment: his valve.
Soundwave stared for a moment before his knees shook and gave way. He flopped in a somewhat undignified manner on the berth between Megatron's legs, looking up at his Lord. He wasn't the most experienced of mechs to begin with, and this odd reversal of what he'd expected had thrown all of his expectations out of the window. Even his tentacles had stilled, frozen where they looped lazily around Megatron's frame.
The warlord grinned fiercely back. "Well?" Soundwave looked from his face, down to Megatron's valve, and then to his face again. Megatron gave a grave nod. "It will work. Trust me."
Soundwave reached forward, hesitated, and then reached again, stroking his slim fingers over the lips of Megatron's valve. It was strange, unbelievably strange, to be feeling such softness, such vulnerability anywhere on his Lord's frame. It was also oddly appealing. Megatron was already slick to the touch, and Soundwave allowed the liquid glide to draw his fingers in past the rim, into the hot, wet channel of the larger mech's port.
Megatron rumbled his approval, and Soundwave began to explore in earnest, stroking the inner walls, testing the give of the calipers, marveling in the feel of the soft, pliable lining. Apparently Megatron found the sight of him so incredibly focused on the task entertaining, as his overpowering field rippled with a mixture of humor and arousal. Soundwave responded by continuing the ministrations of his feelers, and in response Megatron gave one long, slow, sinuous arch of his powerful frame, reveling in the sensations coursing through him—before he jerked with a hiss of pain as he put pressure on the weld-marks at his side.
Soundwave froze, head cocked questioningly. Megatron made a sound like a snort. "I think that we would have found ourselves in this situation out of necessity," he said, displaying a surprising amount of eloquence for a mech with several fingers stuffed up his valve. It was true, though—his movements would have been quite limited if they had decided to do things a different way.
The smaller mech rose to his knees, expressing a wordless burst of doubt—their sizes were quite different, and he was unsure if he would be able to satisfy his Lord, as it were, but Megatron just shook his head. "I will adjust." Soundwave had never found reason to doubt Megatron's assurances before, and he didn't do so now. Instead he re-positioned his feelers, gently raising the larger mech's hips at the most convenient angle and twining around his legs, spreading them. He aligned himself, and with one last questioning glance up (and a nod from Megatron) he pushed forward with his hips, slowly sinking in.
The sensation was overpowering. Megatron was hot inside, hot and slick and perfect. Soundwave shuddered, tightening his tentacles' grip on Megatron's thighs and pulling him closer, pushing himself deeper into that welcoming port. His first attempts to proceed were clumsy and ineffective, requiring a bit of shifting of weight on both their parts as well a few more adjustments of his tentacles to find a place where they both had proper leverage. As soon as that was taken care of, and after a few jerky, uneven stabs, Soundwave finally found a rhythm.
He used his hips and the grip of his data-cables to guide Megatron into each thrust, keeping the movements smooth and rolling so as not to painfully jar the larger mech's side. The tentacles that weren't anchoring Megatron in place roamed over the warlord's frame, aimlessly slithering and caressing, touching as much of the powerful frame as they could reach. Megatron seemed content to allow this, his powerful field thrumming with pleasure, his bright red optics narrowed in unabashed lust as the sight of Soundwave so thoroughly entangled with him.
Just as Soundwave found himself growing comfortable with the rhythm, he felt a sudden and intense contraction of the hot wet walls around his cord, and he almost doubled over, releasing a low, wordless sound of surprise and lust. He was dimly aware of a low, pleased hiss from the head of the berth, and then the valve rippled around his length again, stroking it from root to tip in one easy, gliding motion. "As I said," Megatron rumbled, "I will adjust."
Soundwave struggled to recover his wits. If he had thought that this reversal had meant anything like Megatron submitting to him, he was wrong. Megatron surrounded and smothered him, utterly in control of Soundwave's pleasure and generous with it. He watched hungrily as Soundwave obediently fell into the rhythm set by the rippling squeezes of his valve. Each thrust forward was a writhing motion, and his entire slim frame was shaking from the intensity of their coupling.
"So very, very satisfying," Megatron growled, feeling a shiver work its way through his own frame. He pushed back against the other mech, goading him into moving faster. He didn't care if the way their hips clanged together sent little tingles of pain through his side. He could barely feel them, not under the delicious wet friction inside of him. Megatron arched slightly, his eyes mere crimson slits as he issued a single command. "Harder."
There was no resisting that voice. Soundwave arched over Megatron's body, his tentacles shifting and tightening their grip, his entire body a tense curve of concentration, and he pounded into Megatron's port, driving his hips relentlessly against his larger partner's, burying himself into that sucking heat. He couldn't wrap his mind around any thoughts, and he wasn't sure if he was acting out of willing submission and a desire to give Megatron pleasure, or out of a visceral need to bury himself in that valve, chasing his own overload. The lines where his will met his Lord's had blurred to inscrutability, but he didn't care, the world had narrowed down to their bodies crashing together, to the low rumbling groan working its way up from deep within Megatron's chest to spill out of his mouth, to the sudden sharp squeeze of the valve around him, and the rush of hot fluid that followed.
Megatron's overload was powerful, thundering through his EM field and smothering the sensations against Soundwave's own field. The slimmer mech writhed and pushed himself as deep into Megatron as he could, holding himself there as overload wracked his frame. His tentacles tightened possessively on the warlord's larger frame and he emptied himself inside of his Lord, reveling in visceral satisfaction as Megatron's port milked his cord for every last hot rush of transfluid.
The last few twinges of pleasure send shudders through their bodies, but finally, the aftershocks released them, and they both relaxed, venting heavily. The grip of Soundwave's tangled feelers loosened slightly, and he raised his screen to take in the sight of his Lord lying before him, regarding the smaller mech with optics hooded in gratification. Neither of them spoke, but as the haze of lust faded form their minds, a thought passed between them: that was unexpected.
Unexpected, perhaps, but not an unpleasant surprise by any stretch of the imagination. Spontaneity wasn't something that Soundwave often indulged in, but if liaisons like these were the end result, he could get used to being spontaneous. Soundwave drew away from Megatron's port, shivering as he did. Megatron shifted, pulling himself into a more seated position, and reached out, drawing Soundwave closer. The warlord's great frame curved forward, and he lowered his head to touch his forehelm against Soundwave's.
Soundwave pressed back, slowly withdrawing his tentacles, letting them linger over his lover's frame as he did. They sat in silence then, unconcerned with anything but one another. Their EM fields mingled, dilated and humming with mutual satisfaction. Soundwave hadn't experienced a raw affection quite like this. It wasn't like the bond he shared with his symbionts. It wasn't greater or lesser than that attachment. It was just... different. It certainly wasn't something he'd looked for or expected to find.
He'd found it, though, and for that, he couldn't help but be grateful.