(A/N: Well, I've been urged to update... So I'm beginning to do so. :) Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and, since the story is done, updates should be faster. Let me know what you think!)
It was subtle… The lightest brush of digits against each other, a small smile directed in one another's direction, a flush of faceplates when they caught each other looking. Little things that wouldn't garner a common mech's attentions… Jazz was no common mech.
Watching his Prime interact with the Decepticon femme, now heavy with sparklings, it was clear that there was attraction between them both. Attraction that both seemed to shy away from and too embarrassed to admit. That was when the silver mech decided to take matters into his own servos.
"Whatup OP?" Jazz grinned as he sat himself down directly next to his leader at a table, close enough to cause the bigger mech slight discomfort at the closeness of his third. Following his leader's gaze, the saboteur grinned when it led him directly to Soundwave, seated a little ways away with Firestar and Moonracer. "Like somethin' ya see? Or is it someone."
Startling at the question, Optimus regained his composure quickly and gave the silver mech seated at his side a serious expression. "I'm afraid I don't understand your question." He responded carefully before taking a drink from his cube, his third's grin widening.
"Awww c'mon boss bot, every bot here knows ya got th' hots for Sounders." Jazz responded in a cheerful tone. "An' she's got it for ya too." He added when his leader took a swig from his cube, an obvious sign he was trying to avoid questions. "So… When're ya gonna tell her?" He asked nonchalantly, feeling triumphant when Optimus jerked in his seat and nearly choked on his energon, something no one had ever seen from the massive Autobot.
Optimus turned a little to face Jazz now, optical ridges furrowed and the corners of his lips downturned. "Jazz. I would appreciate it if you would keep quiet and not announce your findings to the entire rec-room." The red and blue mech stated, the saboteur laughing. "Ain't new news ta any o' them." He responded with a shrug.
The Prime expelled air from his vents in a frustrated gesture, pushing his cube away as he watched Jazz, the saboteur looking much too smug to him. "Attraction is nothing new, Jazz. You're reaction is excessive." He stated in as calm a tone as he could, but locked optics with Soundwave at that moment, causing him to feel heat creep into his cheek plating as he remembered the night they had slept side by side such a short time ago.
Jazz smirked triumphantly and elbowed his leader. "Why donthca jus' tell her? Ask her if she'd wanna get aboard." He stated, a mischievous glint in his visor as he pushed his seat away and stood. "Ya gotta tell her at some point." He added before all but sauntering away from the stunned Prime.
\*/\*/\*/\
Optimus had had this all planned out. Rehersed over and over again, but now that he had Soundwave alone with him in his personal quarters, his voicebox failed and he couldn't find a single thing to say that sounded right.
Watching the Prime shift nervously, Soundwave cocked her helm, spark fluttering in her chassis at the thought that, perhaps, she was to be sent back to the Decepticons. Her fear was mirrored by two other sparks and she quickly smoothed out her feelings to pour reassurance and affection to the maturing sparks until they settled down from their frantic pulsing.
"Soundwave, I…" The femmed looked up when the Prime began to speak, but he fell silent again, shaking his helm and the denta worried at the inside of his lips, slightly amusing the former Decepticon. "Was it something I did?" Soundwave finally asked, hoping the question would spur the Prime into saying whatever it was he wanted to as soon as possible.
"No. Not at all." Optimus responded, ceasing his pacing as he looked at Soundwave in surprise before venting loudly and approaching her. "I have… I have developed… Feelings for you." The Prime finally managed, but inwardly chastised himelf at how artificial that sounded.
Pushing away all thought, Optimus decided to convey himself through actions rather than words. Something extremely foreign to him, but Orion Pax was another time, another life. This was now, as Optimus Prime.
Capturing Soundwave's faceplating in his servos, Optimus leaned in and pressed his lip components to hers in a kiss, shutting his optics and relishing the sensation, sensation he had wanted for so long.
Optimus immediately realized the mistake he made when Soundwave tensed up at the touch, and went to pull away when a gentle servo came into place at the back of his helm, pulling him a little closer as Soundwave began to reciprocate the kiss.
After several moments, the Prime pulled away, but only slightly, blue optics staring into Soundwave's. "My spark… craves you." He whispered, so close that they could feel each other's ex-vents.
A smile curved on Soundwave's pale lip components and she tilted her helm slightly as the smile faded. "I… I was afraid you wouldn't want me… Being… Used and all." She finally managed to say, optics drifting down to the bump in her abdominal plating before traveling back up to Optimus' optics. "I-I want them to be yours..." Soundwave murmured. "I-"
Optimus placed his thumb digit over Soundwave's lips to keep her from speaking again. "They're ours." He whispered, moving in for a second kiss, Soundwave tilting her helm up and optics closing as she wrapped her arms around the Prime and held onto him tightly… A previous lover to a warlord, and now lover of the Prime. Polar opposites in how they treated her, but this time, it felt right…
\*/\*/\*/\
Soundwave didn't know what had happened. It was all so unclear to her, and the emotions she was reading off of the mechs present was frightening. She and Optimus had spent the nightcycle together, and he had left with other Autobots that day to fight the Decepticons. For what, she didn't know… Just that she was here, standing alone in a room full of Autobot officers, and Ironhide was raging at her.
"Chromia was taken, and the 'con's price for her return is another con!" Ironhide roared, pointing at Soundwave, the femme taking a step backwards as her optics darted back and forth between the faces present at this "meeting" that she had been told it was mandatory to attend by a mech named Perceptor.
Ratchet wasn't present, why, Soundwave wasn't certain, but knew it was nothing good if the unease, concern and anger coming off of all of those present was anything to go by. That left Prowl, Ironhide, Perceptor and Jazz.
Prowl sat at the front of the table, where Optimus would usually sit, and it was his absence that worried Soundwave the most. Had he been offlined in the battle? Perhaps he- Soundwave was jerked from her thoughts when Prowl's cold voice cut through Ironhide's rant. "Ironhide."
Everyone fell silent and turned their optics onto the Praxian, sitting stifly where their prime usually would, attentive and tense now. Even Ironhide grumbled under his vents but fell silent.
Once he was sure everyone's attention was on him, Prowl spoke calmly. "Chromia was captured by the Decepticons. We all know that Megatron has agreed to exchange her, but only if Soundwave was traded in her stead." At this, the Praxian fell silent and looked across the table to where the Decepticon stood, tense, optics wide. "But what we must ask, is if Prime would approve of this? Of someone we have taken into our care?" The tactician asked, directing the question to those surrounding him.
Soundwave couldn't believe it, her frame struck numb by the words that had left Prowl's mouth so coldly… Megatron wanted her back… And he had someone the Autobots would be willing to do anything for, especially if it was trading back one of the con's own.
Ironhide growled deeply, optics flashing with anger. "Chromia is an autobot!" He shouted, slamming his fist on the table and standing upright again. "Soundwave is a decepticon! She was never made an Autobot, she's just a prisoner behaving to keep from being locked up!" The weapons specialist growled, Prowl's sharp gaze on him again. "Ironhide, if you cannot remain calm, you will be forcibly removed." The black and white Autobot warned, the red mech glaring at him before dropping down into his seat again.
Silence fell for a few kliks before Jazz spoke up next. "Sounders ain't no con anymore. An' she's neva done anythin' against us while she was in our comp'ny… She's even helped outta bit. I think we should be protectin' her as neutral. There are other ways ta extractin' Chromia." The silver mech announced, he being one of the only ones besides the femme autobots to know the true past of Soundwave and Megatron.
"I think that we should be putting our own first." Perceptor monotoned from where he sat, faceplates void of expression or interest. "Soundwave has acted as a neutral, and is not an autobot. Our own come first." He stated in a disinterested tone.
There was quiet, then Prowl spoke. "Jazz thinks we should keep Soundwave and try to get Chromia out another way. Perceptor thinks we should trade… Ironhide?" The tactician spoke in a calm, polite tone, but it was obvious he wasn't at all happy with what was going on.
"I want Chromia. Whatever the cons wanna do with their femme isn't my problem. But I want my femme back… If Jazz really wants to, he can try and get Soundwave out. But I'm not taking the chance that we refuse Megatron and he executes Chromia for it." The big red mech stated, all optics turning onto Soundwave now, Jazz looking seriously unhappy, Prowl conflicted, Ironhide accusing and Perceptor in disinterest.
"Soundwave. As those in the Autobot and high command, and myself standing in for Prime, I have to ask if you will willingly participate in the exchange…" Prowl paused and vented softly before continuing. "If not, forced stasis will be required."
Soundwave felt as if her knee joints would lose the ability to keep her standing, and she reached out to hold onto the edge of the table. "Autobots have been good to Soundwave… Soundwave will oblige." She answered softly, shaking so badly she was afraid they could all hear her plating rattling.
Prowl nodded and opened his mouth to speak again, when Soundwave cut in. "P-Prime… Optimus… What happened to him?" She asked in a strained tone, the collective group of Autobot officers staring at her before Prowl cleared his intake and responded. "Prime is in stasis… He may not online."
Nodding numbly, Soundwave didn't even realize she had been led from the room by two other Autobots before she remembered to ask about her sparklings… All three would be handed over to a sadistic warlord in exchange for one.