(A/N: So now Soundwave is slowly integrating into the Autobots, although she is still hesitant to take any sort of active action against the Decepticons for fear of reprecussions should she find herself under Megatron's cruel attentions again… But now, there is a little bit of excitement in this chapter, and I do very much so hope that you enjoy it.~)
Chapter 7: Becoming One With the Enemy
"May I?"
Soundwave's voice coming from behind the two mech's attempting to repair a communications console startled them, the two looking up at her as she watched silently from shadows, unsure on if they would be angry or not at the help she offered.
"Uh… Sure. If you wanna have a go… It's a bit troublesome though, mind you." One of the mechs, whom Soundwave recognized as Smokescreen, stated as he moved back and out of the way.
Carefully, still unsure in the presence of mechs, Soundwave moved passed the two quietly before she stood before the console, scanning it with hidden, internal sensors before kneeling down and beginning to work on the problem, which her scans had made out to be a virus… It was a simple one and she was able to make quick work of it, satisfied and happy to be able to do some sort of work… She could never fully relax when she wasn't focused on anything… That's when the memory purges hit most frequently.
Working happily, Soundwave almost didn't hear what the second Autobot present, Slingshot, said… But when she did, she froze in place, slim digits tangled in wiring as she attempted to process what he… an autobot had just stated.
Soundwave was on her pedes in moments, fear as well as anger tearing through her systems as she turned on the two mechs behind her, Slingshot's grin quickly vanishing when he realized that not only had Soundwave heard what he had said, but her faceplates were full of fear, hurt and anger, causing the arielbot to take a step back, optics wide with surprise… He had forgotten that such comments weren't… Appropriate with the ex-Decepticon femme, and not like the other Autobots like Chromia and Moonracer, that would've made some sort of come back.
Imagine her kneeling like that between our legs.~
The words, spoken so carelessly by the arielbot, resonated within Soundwave's processor and she reeled with memory purges, of the times she had been forced down on her knees between Megatron's knees, the rough, cruel servos nearly crushing her helm… The ache of her jaw… The sharpened digits cutting through her helm armour and into the wiring beneath.
Soundwave was unable to take anymore and she fled, spark pulsating in horror… The autobots were no different! They thought just the same as any Decepticon! They… They wanted to use her just like her previous 'leader' had!
Vents hitching with dry sobs, Soundwave came around a corner and smashed directly into a massive mech, tumbling backwards and staring up with wide optics into the first surprised, then angered blue optics of Ironhide.
Seeing the expression on the Autobots' weapons specialist's faceplates, Soundwave reacted the way she usually did when under an angry gaze of a mech… She curled up tightly, trembling violently as she tried to make herself as small as possible and of as little interest to the mech as she could.
"What the slag you doing here?" Ironhide growled in both pent up frustration and annoyance as he looked down at the femme, rolling his optics at her and reached down to grab at her when the voice of his mate stopped him. "IRONHIDE!"
Jumping, Ironhide turned around to see the angry femme standing right behind him, arms crossed and a scowl on her faceplates. "What do you think you're doing to Sound?" The Autobot Femme demanded, pushing past her mate and kneeling beside Soundwave, placing a servo on the shaking femme's shoulder plating, frowning when Soundwave flinched at the touch but didn't speak. "What did you do to her?"
Ironhide huffed loudly in annoyance. "It's a Decepticon, Chromia!" He responded, frowning deeply. "And I didn't do slag! She just crashed into me, then curled up on the ground." The large Autobot responded with a deep ex-vent, irritated. "I don't see why everyone's all over her! She's a slagging CON in case no one else realizes this!" He added.
Chromia glared up at her mate. "She's a femme… An ex-con!" She responded, her mate growling softly, their usual tempers clashing before Ironhide backed down and turned away, stalking off as he muttered oaths under his vents to attempt to keep from angering his mate any further… Even if he didn't understand why everyone treated Soundwave like she was an Autobot, he still didn't want his mate angry at him.
Watching Ironhide leave, Chromia turned onto the femme that was slowly becoming a friend. "Soundwave…? Soundwave, tell me what happened." She murmured gently, bothered by the optical fluids glistening in the ex-decepticon's optics and the way she shook beneath the Autobot's gentle touch. "Was it 'Hide? Did he hit you?" She asked, praying that he mate hadn't gone that far… Soundwave was already in a delicate position, and it looked like someone had ruined all of the headway the majority of the autobots had been making with Soundwave.
Soundwave shook her helm slowly, shaking a little more. "N-No… It wasn't him… Just… Memory purges." She answered in a frightened tone, further worrying the femme above her. "Come on, Soundwave… Let's get you to medbay. You can tell me what happened there, al'ight?" The blue femme asked as gently as she could standing and holding out a hand to the femme.
Slowly, unsure with what had happened earlier, Soundwave reached her own trembling servo out to grasp a hold of Chromia's, allowing herself to be pulled to unsteady pedes as she let out a heavy ex-vent. "I-I'm fine…" She tried, Chromia giving her a look. "No yar not, and we're gonna get to see Mooney." She responded, leading Soundwave towards the medbay of the Autobot base.
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"Soundwave." Optimus Prime's voice was calm, although there was barely discernable concern in the deep bassitone, and Soundwave refused to look up at the massive mech as she sat on the medbay berth… Chromia and Moonracer had both tried to cheer the femme up and had even showed her the beating of the sparklings' sparks, but nothing seemed to get the femme to open up about what happened.
Venting softly, Optimus Prime watched the femme that sat so still on the berth and stared down at her knee joints, shifting uncomfortably and her optics flicked from the spot on her lap up to Optimus before she averted them again, shaking slightly. "Soundwave… I need to know what happened. If you don't tell me, then I can't deal with it… I just do not want a repeat of whatever happened." The Prime attempted again, but Soundwave just looked away from him.
Silence fell for several moments before Moonracer stepped forwards. "Chromia and I will go and check on the Arielbots and make sure that they're doing what they should be." She stated, dragging her friend out of the medbay before she could protest, leaving the two alone.
Soundwave tensed up at the mention of the Arielbots, and this wasn't lost on the Prime, who sat down in front of Soundwave, silent for several moments before speaking again. "Was it the Arielbots, Soundwave?" He asked gently, refraining from reaching out to touch her… To tilt those white faceplates up… Take that trembling servo… He vented again. "Did they touch you?"
The ex-Decepticon officer was taken aback by the flicker of anger she heard in the Prime's voice and she looked up at him before shaking her helm. "N-No… Just… Carelessly spoken words I suppose." She stammered out, looking away again.
Nothing happened for several moments, but then she felt gentle digits on her chin, guiding her faceplates to turn back towards the Prime, who looked at her silently, and so intently that it made her fidget. "What did they say exactly?"
At the question, Soundwave felt optical fluids pool and she attempted to blink them back. "S-Slingshot just said I'd l-look good on my knees between his l-legs." She forced out, faceplates burning with shame as she spoke the words of the Arielbot.
Optimus Prime drew away from Soundwave slightly, though his servo remained in place, holding her chin gently as he felt slight anger as well as annoyance rush through him… Slingshot was a bragging aft hole… He tended to speak without thinking and everyone around knew that he was a jerk… Except for Soundwave, and telling her so wouldn't help the situation at all.
Venting softly, Optimus Prime offered the femme a small smile. "Soundwave. Here, you are safe. No mech will force you to do anything you don't want to do. Here, amongst Autobots, you have your free will and anyone that attempts to take that free will will be punished." The Prime attempted to console the femme, who was watching him intently, as if searching for dishonesty in his optics or voice. "As it is, the Autobots aren't perfect. We are mortal… And mortals make mistakes… Slingshot will be dealt with. I will report my concerns to Silverbolt, he will take care of it."
Soundwave visibly relaxed at the Prime's words and she nodded. "I just… I'm sorry… I'm so weak that I can't just shrug something off as a joke… I don't know what to think." The femme spoke slowly, as if she was afraid the Prime would be upset by her words… Instead, he smiled understandingly. "Soundwave… You are not weak. You are incredibly strong to have survived what you did… It will take time for you to recover." The red and blue mech added.
Looking up at him again, Soundwave straightened slightly and nodded. "I understand." She responded, causing the Prime to smile.
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It had been several megacycles since the incident with Slingshot, the Arielbot seeming to chose his words with discretion ever since Silverbolt… Had a 'talking' to with him.
Soundwave sat in the crowded rec-room. It was night, and all of the Autobots were gathered, drinking from an incredible cache of high grade that they had stolen from a Decepticon warehouse… They had had one of their biggest energon hits yet, and the high grade had been pulled out for celebration.
Swirling around the pale purple liquid, Soundwave's optics roamed around the mechs and femmes of the Autobots as they talked and danced… It was actually more 'naughty' than she would've expected for Autobots… But not at all aggressive, claiming and terrifying as a Decepticon 'party' could be… Where everyone was fragging everyone else… This was nice. The lights were dimmed, and some mech had convinced Blaster and Jazz to play music since they had been club DJs before the war.
Soundwave smiled faintly. Everyone was talking and the music was beating loudly in the background, the atmosphere was pleasant, and there was obvious affection between mates and lovers as they groped, kissed and danced… Her optics roamed over the couples silently… Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were trying to coax Ratchet onto the dance floor, Moonracer and Wheeljack were sitting in a corner making out, Prowl was up on the stage beside Jazz, tense and looking out of his element. Chromia was… Being naughty with Ironhide.
Turning away from those around her and trying to hide the pain prick in her spark, Soundwave vented softly and took another mouthful of her high grade, swirling it around in her mouth before swallowing it, humming in appreciation at the taste as it settled in her tanks, warming her… It was a good distraction from the love and affection around her, two things that she didn't have and feared she never would…
Lifting a servo, Soundwave placed it close to her spark, where her twins' sparks were developing alongside her own… Ratchet had assured her that no harm would come to the sparklings if she drank high grade, due to the fact that it was rare and her tanks would filter out any harmful substances before they could reach her sparklings.
"What are you doing sitting here alone?"
Soundwave jumped at the sound of the voice and looked up, Bluestreak, Optimus and Kup standing in front of her, Optimus having asked the question. "I just like to watch." She answered with a shrug, Bluestreak swaying and leaning against Kup, who cast him a glare, causing Soundwave to smile slightly.
"I see." Optimus stated, glancing at the empty table Soundwave resided at before turning his optics back onto the femme again. "May I?"
The question took Soundwave off guard, but she nodded slowly, the three mechs taking seats around the table, Soundwave finding herself between Bluestreak and Optimus Prime. Awkward silence settled for several moments before Bluestreak spoke up, voice slightly slurred as he stared at Kup. "Hy 'on't ya dence with meeee Kip?" He demanded, the greenish coloured mech frowning deeply at him. "It's Kup, Bluestreak. And I told you before, I ain't interested in dancin'."
Soundwave brought a servo up to her mouth to hide her smile as Bluestreak snorted in disdain at the trainer who was dragging on his cigar, clenched between his denta. "Is is 'cause ya can' dance, Kup?" The praxian asked, swaying in his seat, making Kup snort and look at the younger mech in annoyance. "No, Bluestreak, it's because you can't dance… Especially not in your state."
"Perhaps you should head back to your room with Kup, Bluestreak." Optimus suggested from where he sat, Soundwave glancing at him in surprise before looking at the two to her left, Kup frowning deeply at Optimus while Bluestreak grinned widely. "Yes, Kup, ets go back toooo he room!" The praxian mech begged, wrapping his arms around his trainer's arm, an intoxicated smile on his faceplates, causing Kup to huff. "Fine. But once I get you there, ya ain't comin' back out here." The old Autobot responded, grabbing the mech and dragging him from the room.
Optimus vented, pleased that the two were gone and he was now alone with the attractive ex-Decepticon. His optics fell to her abdomen, which was swelling slightly and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "How are they doing?" He inquired, Soundwave jumping and placing a servo against her abdomen. "They seem to be doing fine… Developing." She responded slowly, unsure of the other bot's reasoning for the question.
Nervous with being alone in the presence of the Autobot leader, Soundwave finished her cube of high grade and received another from a passing mech, Optimus looking uneasy as well as he worked through a cube rather quickly, unsure of the silence.
Over the course of several cubes of high grade each, conversation came a little more easy to them and they began to talk about several things, what they did before the war. What they wanted to do after the war had been won. Interests… Optimus found Soundwave extremely attractive as they conversed, as well as intelligent which made for easier conversation, the femme trying not to stare at the larger mech and finding that she was enjoying herself for the first time in eons…
Soundwave hummed faintly, optics brighter than usual due to the excessive amount of high grade that she had taken, thoughts muddling together as she swayed in her seat, the Prime noticing and standing, holding out a servo as he steadied himself. "Allow me to take you to your room." He offered, the femme hesitating briefly before taking his servo and allowing herself to be pulled from her seat.
"Slag…" Soundwave groaned as she swayed, holding onto the Prime's servo in order to gain her balance, the two stumbling out of the room, Optimus struggling to not be dragged down with Soundwave whenever she nearly fell.
Making it to the door of the berthroom, Optimus punched in the code for Soundwave, who was too overcharged to do so, and helped her in, attempting to get her into berth to sleep off the high grade she had taken in.
Soundwave had no idea what possessed her next, but she found herself grasping the back of the Prime's helm and pulling him down for a kiss, the Autobot leader tensing for a moment before relaxing and returning it.
Groaning softly, Soundwave nipped at the Prime's lips and attempted to tug him down into the berth with him, Optimus gaining clarity of thought for a moment and gently removing himself from the femme's grasp. "No Soundwave." He murmured to her, pushing away slightly. "I can't… Not when you're like this." The Autobot explained, Soundwave frowning up at him. "Why not?" She demanded, feeling a pang of rejection in her spark.
Optimus vented softly as he cupped the femme's faceplates gently, affectionately. "I want you to really want me… I don't want to online next cycle and you realizing… And you just didn't want me." He responded calmly, pulling away to leave, the femme grabbing his arm, tugging. "Stay with me…? Please?" She asked, optics wide with surprise at his statement.
Hesitating, Optimus mulled it over before nodding slowly and climbing into the berth alongside the femme, pulling her frame against his own and cuddling her close.
"Don't leave me… Please don't." Soundwave murmured, optics shuttering as she fell into recharge, the Prime looking down at her with a small, sad smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Soundwave… I love you." He whispered before joining the ex-Decepticon in recharge.