Cascade awoke to being moved and lifted, an all-too familiar feeling. Warmth encased her and she sighed softly, her wings fluttering lightly. She pressed her face against the side of the navy blue dock and breathed out her intake, fogging up the glass.

"Soundwave..."

Soundwave set her on the couch and pulled the heavy blanket over her, kneeling beside her. Once again he carried her inside from the cold balcony. Once again it was his fault. Once again -

A lightly slap to the side of his mask interrupted his spiralling thoughts and hazy purple optics stared at him, already wet. "That's for running away, you aft."

He curled his digits and swiftly pulled her into a hug, pressing his face into the crook of her neck. He held her tightly, plating shuddering as he vented heavily.

She tugged her arms free and awkwardly hugged him tightly, pressing her lips to his shoulder. She hiccuped softly and mumbled, "You need a shower."

He nodded slightly but didn't move, only holding her close. He squeezed her, every vent shuddering. "I am sorry. So sorry. Please stay."

She rubbed his back and shook her head slightly. "I'll never leave you, I promise. Are you hungry? Let me get you a cube."

He slowly let her go when she started pushing at his arms. He sat down on the couch at her insisting nudges, sinking back into the soft cushions. He stared as she prepared a large cube, her wings twitching quickly.

She walked back as quickly as she could without spilling the energon and held it out until he took it. She tapped her talons together as she looked over him and walked back to the kitchen, grabbing a rag and wetting it before quickly walking back to him and sitting on the table in front of the couch.

He quietly drank the energon and let her take one of his servos, wiping it down quickly. She practically scrubbed at his digits, dipping her claws between the joints to scrape away dirt. Her wings flicked up and down, too quickly for him to attempt to read, but her field shined with worry.

He gently pulled his servo away from her and set the cube on the table, reaching out to gently grip her hips and pull her into his lap. She hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his neck. He stood up, ignoring the dull ache in his struts as he walked to their suite and past the lingering array of optics.

He walked into the washracks and locked the door, holding her up with one arm as he turned on the hot solvent. He let her go when she began to wiggle and leaned back against the wall, slowly sinking down to sit on the floor. His optics stayed on her as she grabbed his brush and bottle of solvent, kneeling between his legs.

He let his visor fold away and gently cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb slowly against the softer metal. "Cascade..."

She fidgeted with the cap some and glanced up at him, her wings angling down as her optics met his. "Can we please talk tomorrow? I just... let me take care of you. Please."

He nodded slightly and let his arm settle beside him. "I am sorry."

She nodded slightly and started washing off his neck and shoulders slowly. "I'm just happy you're home. Just... just promise me you won't leave again. Not like that. I swear to Primus, if you leave like that again, I will kick your aft and call Stormy to let her kick your aft too. Don't you ever, ever run away from me again."

He nodded and hugged her waist, pulling her close to his dirty frame. He simply tucked his face back into her neck, squeezing her as close as possible. "Will never run away again."