(A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for an update. Really didn't mean for it to be that long. But I am slowly and surely updating all of my TRANSFORMER stories. I have a week off from work, until Saturday, since my wisdom teeth were pulled out. I am now confined to my bed, so I am going to try and update as much as possible. It is on saturday that the poll on my profile (Vote for your favourite stories so that they get more frequent updates) Will be taken down and the votes counted out. So vote if you want your favourite stories to win! 3 choices max.)
A knock on the berthroom door reached Soundwave's audials and she tensed up for a moment before relaxing again… If it had been… him he would've just walked right in and done whatever he wished to the helpless femme… Not that she was helpless. She fought and attempted to escape his hold, but never succeeded… So she just eventually gave up.
A second knock broke through the telepath's thoughts and she slowly got to her pedes and painstakingly made it over to the door, the gentle 'swish' of it opening soothing her as her hidden optics fell on a dark blue chassis, following it up to calm blue optics.
Optimus Prime.
"Soundwave… I have been informed of your… situation, and would like to give you aid in any way you will allow me to." The deep bassitone washed over the slender femme and allowed her to relax, although she was unhappy that her story had been relayed to the Prime… It had been nearly an entire megacycle and she had hoped the two kind femmes had forgotten all about it… Obviously not.
"Your offer is… Appreciated." She spoke slowly, subconsciously wrapping one of her arms around her abdomen as if in a protective gesture, the Prime's gentle optics taking in her stance. "Soundwave… Regardless of what happened when you were first confined here… We never meant anything ill towards you… And now we will protect you and your sparklings." He spoke in a gentle tone that caused Soundwave's sparkbeat to pick up slightly.
The tall femme just nodded slowly again before tilting her faceplates, once again hidden behind a repaired mask, up to look directly at the Prime. "We all do things we regret in war." She responded slowly.
Silence fell in the air between them, slightly awkward and strained, before Soundwave spoke up, curious as to her visitor's reasons to coming. "Why are you here." She asked, looking up into Optimus' faceplates again.
Optimus looked a little taken aback, as if he had been so deeply in thought that he had forgotten why he had come. "I came to bring you to the rec room… The other femmes are there and I thought you might enjoy some time out of your berthroom." He announced, surprising Soundwave with his generosity, although suspicion was quick to set in.
Looking hard at the leader of her enemies, Soundwave narrowed her optics behind the visor, unsure of the bigger mech's motives. "Why?" She demanded suddenly, the larger mech looking down at her in surprise and bewilderment. "I just thought you might be interested in getting out of your room." He stated slowly, unsure of why she seemed so hostile to his offer.
Soundwave's arm tightened around her abdomen and she looked away from him… She would admit it to no one but herself… She was afraid. "Fine." She eventually responded, causing the Autobot leader to look relieved as he stepped away from the door. "After you." He stated.
Eyeing the mech and feeling a flicker of fear rush through her spark, causing two nearly distinguishable twitches, her sparklings reacting to her fear. Calming herself, Soundwave gave a small shake of her helm. "I will follow." She responded.
Optimus Prime looked surprised, once again, before offering a small smile. "Of course." He responded smoothly, turning and leading the way from the room Soundwave had stayed in for nearly a whole human week, on her own besides occasional visits from the Autobots femmes… Who seemed nearly too excited about her sparklings… They were happy for her and she didn't understand how anyone could seem so caring towards an enemy.
Optimus Prime walked ahead of the femme, silent as he tried to sort through the emotions and feelings coursing through his frame… He had to admit, that just like the other single mechs around, Soundwave definitely was extremely attractive… But she had been hurt, and he would have to be careful in how he handled her… Or how he allowed anyone else to handle her. Mechs set her on edge, so he would have to be watchful of his bots… Not that they would hurt her on purpose, but some of the mechs, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Rodimus in particular were a little hot helmed and tended to act before they thought.
Venting, the Prime walked through the door into the rec-room, determined to make sure that Soundwave would see that not all mechs would hurt her like Megatron had… That he wouldn't hurt her like Megatron had.
Optimus Prime shook away those thoughts as he glanced back to check on Soundwave, surprised to find her extremely close behind him, almost like she was attempting to hide from the others in the room, hidden optics no doubt studying her surroundings to find ways out should anything happen.
Soundwave followed Optimus as he led the way over to a table where several of the femmes were gathered around, chatting and sipping from their cubes of energon, looking up and flashing big smiles when Soundwave appeared slightly behind their leader.
"Prime finally letting you out?" Arcee asked with a giggle, the youngest femme smiling widely at Soundwave, who smiled faintly behind her mask. The ex-decepticon had to admit that she enjoyed Arcee's company, her youthful outlook on life and the war, her adorable, bubbly attitude. She sat down beside the pale pink femme and gave a soft nod.
"I will entrust her with you." Optimus Prime announced before turning to look at Soundwave with a small smile. "You may roam the base at will, Soundwave. But we will be forced to keep you in your room if you begin to cause problems." He added seriously, the purple femme giving a slight nod. "Understood." She answered.
The femmes watched as Optimus left and then looked at Soundwave. "He's attractive, isn't he?" Arcee asked with a sly grin on her lip components, catching Soundwave by surprise, the tall femme straightening and turning her faceplates towards the younger femme. "Irrelevant." She answered quickly… A little too quickly, perhaps, as Arcee just giggled and Chromia gave a knowing smile.
"Hey Soundwave. Grabbed you a cube." A smooth voice announced from behind Soundwave, the sound of a mech, causing the femme to tense and look back over her shoulder plating, relaxing when she saw it was only Jazz.
The silver sabouteur grinned and held a cube out to her and she took it slowly. "Thanks." She answered slowly, the visored mech's grin widening as he gave an exaggerated bow. "You're most welcome." He answered teasingly before heading off.
"Man. If Prowl hadn't hooked in Jazz, I wouldn't have minded being berthed by him." Arcee smiled almost dreamily, making the other femmes laugh. "Jazz is attractive." Moonracer responded, causing Chromia to snort. "Probably not a' good in da berth as ma 'Hide is!"
"You mean he's not as… Ow!" Arcee glared at Moonracer, letting out a huff when the mint green femme motioned to Soundwave who was tense and obviously uncomfortable with the conversation.
Soundwave was silent, staring at the cube in her servo… She still couldn't understand why the Autobots were so… Kind. She vented and looked up, noticing that all of the femmes were watching her, making her frown. "Do you have an inquiry?" She asked slowly, looking from one to the other.
Arcee smiled. "I just wanted to know how your sparklings are… I really can't wait to meet them! They'll be so cute!" She bubbled, nearly bouncing in her seat as she looked at Soundwave through shining optics.
A laugh came from Moonracer, who shook her helm at the younger femme's obvious excitement over the prospect of having sparklings around… It would be a beautiful occurance… A change from the blood and killing… Of wounded coming into the medbay and leaving offlined… How about that? Delivering new life? She vented softly in happiness.
"I do not know what to think… I want them… But I fear that I am being selfish, and that their sire will put them in grave danger." Soundwave spoke so softly, the femme's could barely hear her, and they all frowned at her statement, pity in their optics.
The sound of a chair scooting closer went unnoticed to Soundwave as Arcee moved closer and slowly wrapped an arm around Soundwave. "Hey… Don't worry Soundwave… We won't let anything happen to them, alright?" She asked gently to the distressed carrier.
"Yeah! If ol' buckethelm so much as look at 'em wrong, I'll slag his helm in!" Chromia added with an air of determination.
Silence fell before Moonracer spoke up, the mediator between Chromia's hot headedness and Arcee's over exciting behaviour. "Soundwave… You are not the one at fault here. You are not selfish. Megatron was selfish. He used you. You are the one that is trying to protect these sparklings, even though you knew that if Megatron found out, you would be faced with dire consequences…" There was a pause as Soundwave looked over at the gentle femme hopefully. "Trust us… Nothing will happen to the sparklings… I'll make sure of it." She promised with a gentle smile, allowing Soundwave to relax.
The four femmes sat in a comfortable silence then, and Soundwave felt her loyalties begin to shift over from her previous faction to this new one… They were so strange and different than the Decepticons… But they were so good and gentle to her… They were bots she felt she could trust.
Venting softly, Soundwave looked around at the femmes and few mechs that were around at other tables, before reaching up and disengaging her visor, removing it and staring down at her reflection, small sounds of surprise reaching her audios as she dropped it to the floor, allowing it to shatter…
Every bot in that room knew that it was a sign of trust… And none of them had any intentions of proving Soundwave's trust as misplaced.
(A/N: And… wala! Hope you all enjoyed. Things are going to get juicy and INTENSE very soon! :P)