Prime Blood Skycracker Chapter 6 (Soundwave confronts Galvatron for Skywarp's beating. He also wins the prize.)
0~~~~0
The next morning Soundwave comes to the battlement and finds Skywarp already out there with her team locked in sword to sword combat practice. There is not a trace of the soft sobbing 'Con he saw last night. No, now he sees a tougher, harder warrior commander. He is quite proud of her. She is very tough. The old Skywarp he began this war with.
"See, she just needed to be brought back into line. We will get through this." Galvatron says coming up behind Soundwave with his potent acid drink. Soundwave glowers at him, but says nothing. Galvatron gives him a pouting face, "Oh what? You think I should have gone soft on the femme?" Soundwave doesn't even face him and still remains silent. "Come come, Soundwave, certainly you have something to say?"
Soundwave turns to him and plainly states with his monotone, "My furlough starts tonight. I will return in three days. Frenzy will remain at communications. Rumble will be on hand for away missions. Ravage is coming with me. Lazerbeak will guard the Seekers."
Galvatron takes a sip of his drink and waves a hand towards the Seekers, "Taking your new girlfriend with you?"
Soundwave states carefully, "If you are done punching your soldiers around maybe you would see it takes them longer to repair from your own hands than from the enemy."
"My wrath is swift, don't forget that, Lieutenant."
Soundwave raises his arm to show where his own arm was welding back on last week, "I have not forgotten."
Galvatron downs the last of his drink and throws the vessel to the sparing field below, "Get out of my sight Soundwave. You sicken me with your condemnation. Have your fun, but be ready when you come back. The next one will be bloody!"
Soundwave fires off one more retort before he turns, "Just like coming home." Galvatron swings around so fast, Soundwave never saw, but felt the full impact of the fist directly in the face. Soundwave says nothing but continues to leave. Everyone below heard the impact.
Sunstorm whispers to Thrust, "I think we are next."
Skywarp cringes seeing Soundwave wipe the fluid from his face but remain silent. "Follow me out. And for once, be in formation. Act like your life depends on it. Because it does." They all follow her out in perfect formation.
Skywarp makes the training sessions long and hard. Mostly to keep her team away from Galvatron. Clearly he must have had a fight with Slipstream, because he is more hostile than usual with his team. Then team returns to the rejuvenation chambers and into their bunks without a sound. Skywarp comes into her chamber that night and finds a lone candle burning on her bunk. That alone is curious, but it sits inside one band of a stasis cuff. Inside the other cuff is a goblet of expensive bubbling Energon. A note is pinned to the candle, I know is simply printed on the card. Any one could have sent it. But then there is a set of coordinates and a date & time. Clearly someone wants to meet. But who?
Stasis cuffs? It's been a long time since she has seen these. Is someone expecting to use them on her in a twisted sex act? Well, they have another thing coming.
She looks at it more carefully. There is a lone black and red metallic feather. Lazerbeak delivered this. But who sent him?
~~~ Warily she decides to make the rendezvous. It could be a good distraction from the battles at home. It's been a very long time since she had any away time. The coordinates lead her to an outpost on a trader's planet. On the back side, it is known as a night club. Here, no battles are permitted among any of the warring fractions. Skywarp walks inside and sees the Autobots Springer and Arcee sharing and intimate dance. Clearly by their body language, they have no idea who else is in the room. Nor care. She looks around and sees several other warring fractions mixing and talking. But over all, this is just a place to hang out and enjoy the music.
As Skywarp looks around the room, she feels something against her leg. Looking down, she sees Ravage, neatly preened, with his front paws on her leg inching his face up for attention. She leans over beaming and strokes his cheeks with both warm hands, "Hello, my friend. What brings you here?" Ravage drops down and steps away. With a look back, he clearly wants her to follow him. She does and he takes her to a table in the corner. There is another candle with a note on the table beside the matching goblet from her room. The note has a date on it. The date Thunder gave her his ring. She looks down at it. Today's date. She'd almost forgot. Another goblet is set on the table beside hers. She follows the hand still around the stem up to the face. Soundwave.
Releasing the goblet, he reaches a hand out and touches a single finger to her commitment-ring caressing it, "I know I'm not him, but could I help you celebrate tonight with a dance?"
She looks up to her friend, "Celebrate?"
He smiles tenderly hoping not to offend her, "Yes, celebrate. He was a very lucky 'Con to hold you and be your confidant." She doesn't know what to do. Soundwave looks down to Ravage warmly, "Could make one jealous of a cat." Ravage looks between them, giving her a nod of approval.
She looks back to Soundwave, "You really were there last night?"
He reaches out and strokes the scar on the side of her face, "I should have killed him with my bare hands."
She smiles weakly, "Yeah, well join the club, Starscream." Soundwave joins her laugh. And then a song comes on:
Cascade: Every Time We Touch
I still hear your voice when you sleep next to me
I still feel your touch in my dreams
Forgive me my weakness, But I don't know why
Without you it is hard to survive. She steps closer to Soundwave and lets him take her to the dance floor.
Every time we touch I get this feeling
And every time we kiss I swear I could fly
Can't you feel my heart beat fast.
I want this to last
I need you by my side.
Every time we touch I feel it's static
Every time we kiss I reach for the sky
Can't you hear my heart beat fast so
I can't let you go
I want you in my life But instead of dancing, she listens to the words he chose for her anniversary. She feels his hand tracing the tattoo on her back. Her memorial to her dead husband. His finger tips are tender, caressing, warm… comforting. Like lover's hands.
Your arms are my castle
Your heart is my sky
They wipe away tears that I cry
The good and the bad times
We've been through them all
You make me rise when I fall. She nearly cries again. Soundwave just smiles at her. He understands. When the chorus comes again, she smiles about the sky. Now she understands why Soundwave chose this song for her…. For them.
And then the song changes to a new one very soft and slow. Not normally the style for this club, but he can see no one objects. This time his hands are in a very gentlemanly stance. Her hands take the proper position as well. They move well together. She smiles at his tender reserved moves. She finds herself comfortable in his arms. She feels safe. Not just physically, but also with friendship. What she has missed most of all from Thunder. And for Soundwave to recognize it, means everything to her. He doesn't make any other moves other than friendship.
After that, he steps away, "I am DJ-ing tonight. I have about thirty more minutes. Can we talk afterwards?" This time, she is left speechless and just nods. He points to Ravage, "Stay close." Ravage cocks his head in a clear No duh expression. Soundwave smiles back and goes to his booth.
Skywarp hasn't had such a good time since Ravage and Lazerbeak fought over an Insecticon. The whole base, including Galvatron and Soundwave, were placing bets on who would eat it first. In the end, they tore the thing to shreds and there was barely enough for Ravage to lick up off the floor. Now Soundwave had the whole place jumping and joining together on the dance floor. There were great big boos when he finally called it quits. She smiled when the new DJ came out and didn't let the atmosphere die. Soundwave comes to her side with a fresh couple drinks.
Taking one she points to the booth, "If you want to go back, I'm still having a good time."
He downs his drink and smirks to her, "I want you to have a better time." Now her curiosity is perked. But he just smiles and reaches down to pet Ravage, "Ready?" Ravage looks to Skywarp and leads the way out of the club. With a last glance over her shoulder, she sees Arcee completely at Springer's mercy. His arms have her supported because his lips are making a trail of weakness down her neck. She would be surprised if they mate right there on the dance floor.
Soundwave sees it too and slips his hand into hers. She lets him take her hand tenderly and they walk outside. Just beyond the edge of the nightclub, is a lake of natural spring oil. Ravage tears off down the sand and jumps in, causing a splash to come over them. To Skywarp's surprise, Soundwave releases her hand and follows him. Catching the cat by the tail, they begin a scuffle. At times, Ravage even has the upper hand. Skywarp takes a seat in the sand and watches the two comrades have fun splashing and shoving each other around. Soon the Soundwave comes up onto the beach panting and collapses at her side. Ravage takes her other side. Both of them are belly up and panting. Soundwave retracts his optic shield and lets his tone modulate, "Ah, that was good. I needed that."
Skywarp smiles, "So did I. Thanks, Ravage." The cat purrs, his master pouts and the femme laughs. She asks quickly, "When do we have to report back?"
Ravage hisses. Soundwave quickly rolls over and plants a hand over her mouth, "Shhh, not a word of work tonight. It makes him upset." Ravage show his teeth. She pushes him in the muzzle, "Oh you don't scare me, you big pussy cat!" Just for that, he playfully bites her hand. She flips him over and rubs his belly until he goes limp with contentment.
She turns on Soundwave, "You're next!" She lunges for him. But instead of pinning him down and making him giggle, something else happens. As she pushes him back and tries to pin him down, he cups her jaw with both of his hands in an attempt to hold her back. But when his soft red optics lock onto hers. He finds himself helpless to resist lifting his own head to meet hers. She doesn't fight him. In fact she leans into him and lets him kiss her. His kiss is so different than Thunder's. He is commanding, almost demanding a reaction from her. And she feels compelled to reciprocate. No, her body feels the need to match his. His hand slips behind her neck and forces the kiss deeper. But she is not offended, she needs his direction. Her fingers reach for his chest pulling her even closer to him. When he finds his body curling over her and pushing her into the sand, he knows he is about to go too far. He pulls out of the kiss and whispers, "I'm so sorry. This is your night for him and…"
"And he is dead. He has been dead for a long time."
"Not that long. I heard you call for him the other night."
She strokes his face sweetly, "Soundwave, I cry for him every night. He was the only lover I ever had. I never loved anyone else."
He is surprised, "Never?"
She drops her gaze from his face in embarrassment, and traces his own shield, "I fell in love with him the moment we were assigned as partners in the counsel chambers."
Soundwave pulls back further feeling he is just feeding her need for physical attention. But she digs her fingers into his chest and won't let go. She looks back up at him, "I fell for you the night you agreed to save my son." She takes his face in both hands, "You tried to save the love of my mate."
"I tried to save your love for him. I couldn't let you suffer," He smirks, "It hurt me to see you hurting. I have never seen the tough Skywarp with a chink in his armor. I sure as Primus never thought I would see one in hers." He sighs and rolls back to sit beside her looking up at the stars, "I couldn't believe you came to me for help. And I sure never saw a child coming out in your request."
She looks up to the sky as well as Ravage begins to snore beside them. Soundwave just shakes his head at the cat shoving his hip. The cat rolls over and stops snoring. "You said something interesting that night. What did you mean by it?"
"Nothing." He says it too quickly.
"Oh, I see. Going to go all security officer on me now. I get it." She begins to get up, but feels a hand clamp down on her wrist. She turns back to him. But he is still looking up at the stars.
"What would you do differently if you could go back in time?"
"Shot Thrust the first time I saw him. And then Galvatron." Not even a reaction from Soundwave. Back to his stoic silent self she knows. "Why?"
He doesn't turn to look, "Would you have kept your son at your side?"
"With the situation still back at base the way it is, no. Absolutely not. Not without Thunder."
He turns to her now, "What if Thundercracker was still here?"
She ponders the thought, "I think I would have begged him to run away with us." But then she sighs, "But I know he would never leave the other Seekers behind." Then she sees there is something troubling in his past. He needs her friendship. She asks him very softly. "What did you do?"
"I got trapped in a time warp. I left someone behind. I wish…."
"Did you love her?"
He shakes his head and laughs, "I don't know if you would call it that. But we needed each other. It was a frightening time."
"You frightened? Now there's a scary thought." She tries to lighten the mood.
His gaze narrows, "Don't mock me, Skywarp. I don't mock your relationship with Thundercracker. You have no idea what I went through."
Ravage lifts his head at his master's change of tone. He scoots closer to Soundwave looking for some attention. The two companions share a glance. Ravage whines and lays his head in Soundwave's lap. In return, he massages the cat's ears.
"What do you mean by a time warp?"
Soundwave looks back up to the sky, "Exactly what it means. I went back in time. I was on Earth in what they call the 1500's." {see Prime Blood Jolt in Time}
The silence is killing her. Ravage looks up to Soundwave and whimpers again. This time he reaches a paw out to her. Soundwave see's the cat pleading with him to tell her. He tug's the cat's ear extra hard, "You scrapping cat! Fine." Soundwave turns to Skywarp's curiosity. He moves quickly and cups her jaw and brings his face in line with hers, "I didn't love her, but by Primus I'm in love with you." With that he latches his lips to hers again. He tries dominating the kiss again. He wants to get lost in the taste of her.
But this time, she yanks back. "No, Soundwave. You aren't going to use distraction to get away with this. You want to spill a vital tidbit of your spark to me and then leave me hanging while you put your hands all over me. No. I have far more dignity than that. If you need sex, go back to the bar. I know there are more than a few willing to bed a Decepticon Commander. If you want a confidant and a friend, I'm here. I may have deep feelings for you, but I'm not ready to share my berth again." She looks down to Ravage, "Cats are an exception." With that, she takes his hand from her cheek and places it tenderly on Ravage.
Soundwave sits back and laughs. "You know, when I figured out the anniversary date, I wondered why it took Thundercracker so long. Now I understand. He had great respect for you. And you have tremendous patience and high standards."
She moves a little way away from him giving them a comfortable friendly distance. More for her self than for him. She smiles, "When did you figure it out?"
"When you fought Prime. I have never seen Skywarp cry in battle. When you came back pleased with your intel, I figured you got it during your one-on-one with him. I know how emotional that must have been. The last time I saw you cry in a fight was when Thunder and you got into it on the base. I saw the deft move he made slipping something into your glove. And your retort to him shocked him nearly into stasis lock."
Skywarp lowers her gaze to the sand drawing lazy circles. "Who else knows? Galvatron?"
Soundwave chuckles, "Are you kidding? I love having this one over his head, even if only secretly."
She smiles, "So other than that, you never knew?"
"No. But I am curious, when did he first make his move?"
Now it's her turn to laugh, "While I was impaled on a rusting ship at the bottom of an Earth ocean. When he lied to you about communications malfunction and our tracing beacons got, um, damaged?" They both laugh.
Soundwave looks backup to her, "I have fond memories beside an Earth ocean as well. Her name was Star Dreamer, some sort of a medicine man's daughter. I took her as a mate in order to keep my status as a god."
Skywarp looks to him like he is completely demented. He waves his own hand, "Yeah, I forgot to mention the part about turning into a human." She just stares at him like he is cracked. Soundwave looks down to Ravage and pets his head, "And you were one sleek looking panther. Do you miss the cougar?" Ravage whines again. "I'm sorry to bring up painful memories."
Skywarp looks between the cat and his master. She's not sure if she believes him or not. So he holds his hands up, "If you don't believe me, ask Jolt. He got stuck with me and I was depended on him to get me back. Frenzy, Rumble and the birds as well."
"Galvatron?"
"Ah, well he knows part of the story, but not all of it. He knows I went back in time, but not the human part. That, I just didn't even want to explain."
Skywarp leans in, "But this Star Dreamer?"
He nods, "If it wasn't for her, I would have gone insane." He smiles and reaches a hand out to her, "Much like you. Since Starscream left, and Galvatron has gone loony, if it wasn't for you, I think I would go crazy too. Thanks."
She smiles but waves a finger at him, "Doesn't mean I'm going to bunk with you tonight."
He laughs. "No, not what I wanted. Just needed to unload."
The two friends stay on the beach until time runs out on their chrometers. With heavy sparks, they head back to base. First step across the threshold pulls their backs straight into commander's strides. All business, completely focused.
Prime Blood Skycracker: Chapter 9 (card game and battlefield turns seductive for Soundwave and female Skywarp ~~not slash!)
0~~~~0
A few nights later while on planet Vericon a team waits for an incoming supply transport. Soundwave has Frenzy monitoring the incoming traffic looking for the specific transport. The rest of the team has nothing to do but wait. Thrust pulls out a game of lots. Skywarp sets up the table with a near by slab of sheet metal and a couple wheels. Crumble Zone, Demolisher, Skywarp, and Thrust take their places. Thrust almost has the first set of lots dealt when a final voice is heard, "Deal me in." They all turn to the 'Con with the monotone. He smiles broadly, "Time to put your credits where your mouths are." He takes a seat while Thrust deals him in.
And then the team soon finds out why he is a master spy. But on the other hand, the rest of the team finds out how Skywarp was able to conceal her identity for so long. The ante goes to Thrust, the others have already folded. Everyone knows Thrust has a horrible hand, but the group is split between Soundwave and Skywarp as to who has the better hand. Thrust looks between them trying to figure out if he stands a chance. But both are ignoring him. Instead their gazes are clearly locked on each other. Off the table, another set of bets are being taken. Crumple Zone starts, "Give it up, Thrust. I can see your lots, they're scrap."
Demolisher laughs and hands over his chips, "My bet is on Soundwave."
Crumple Zone puts his own on the table, "Na, it's gonna be Skywarp. What's your bet, Thrust?"
Thrust tosses his lots on the table and turns to the second betting game, "What's his guess?" He thumbs toward Frenzy.
"You are kidding. Of course his bet will be on Soundwave."
Frenzy pipes up, "Na! Skywarp. She had him fooled as well."
Everyone looks to Skywarp who is smiling broadly. Instead of responding facially, Soundwave ante's up and kicks on the Poker Face song. Skywarp merely shakes her head smirking.
Thrust finally places his bet, "Fine, I take him. I don't know how long he knew about her before he told Galvatron."
"What makes you think he told Galvatron?"
Skywarp tosses in her ante. Crumple Zone chuckles, "Fine, how do you think Galvatron found out?"
Ignoring the others, she raises and taunts her opponent, "Ready to give up, Spy?" He raises her silently. "You know how many times I beat Thundercracker?"
He tosses in one more chip just to set it higher with his even monotone, "I'm not Thundercracker." To everyone else the tone was a simple answer. She knows it was an invitation. He smiles seeing her trying to hide her own emotional answer to the retort.
She chucks another chip in simply, "No, you certainly aren't." She answers his challenged invitation, positively. The others add their own chips to the other bet. His head tilts ever so slightly in response and casually flips another chip into the pot off his thumb. It lands centered in the pile. The others are back to their staring contest between the two commanders. Neither one is willing to give. But now instead of being stoic, the two are grinning at each other.
She leans in, "So what do you have?"
He also leans in, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"It's here!" Frenzy calls out.
Soundwave slaps his lots down and snaps into commander-mode calling the order, "Move out!"
"Slag," Crumble Zone sags in defeat. Thrust reaches over and snags all the chips. Demolisher tries to get angry, but Skywarp grabs Thrust by the collar and forces him into flight spewing chips everywhere. Soundwave is all business getting Demolisher and Crumple Zone into position as well.
Forcing the supply ship down by fire was the easy part. Holding off their escorts, was another story. The air assault team: Skywarp, Thrust and Soundwave (using his satellite thrusters on his proto-formed back) surround the ship and begin taking out their maneuvering thrusters. Soon the ship is forced into an early landing. A little rough, could be considered a controlled crash, but still down and not moving. Soundwave blasts the door open. Crumple Zone secures the crew and Demolisher stands guard. Soundwave quickly surveys the cargo and determines what needs to go.
"We have limited time and crew. Only take what I tell you. No more or we chance loosing it all. Go!" He orders Crumple Zone and Demolisher to grab specific items. Skywarp and Soundwave will be the last two to grab their booty. Skywarp is the primary cover fire of the incoming escort fighters while Soundwave is issuing the orders. Even Skywarp raises a curious optic to the limited items. The next time both their heads lean into the ship he tells her softly, "This ship is labeled for delivery to Skyfire." With that he pulls back and hands the next container to Crumple Zone. It doesn't take Skywarp long to recover from her shock and his compassion. He knows this ship is due to bring supplies to her son and won't steal unnecessarily from him.
It takes even less time for the shuttle's escort detail to find them and begin their attack. The Seekers change to full cover fire. Soundwave pulls back with one final piece just as she changes to cover an assault to his back. Thrust misses his own opponent and his fire blast hits her in the hip instead. But Soundwave's assailant is still coming. She growls, "Hold still, sir." She lifts her arm and places it on his shoulder, leaning all her weight on the right leg and his shoulder and makes a precise aim. In one shot she hits the target and it goes spinning to the ground. Swiftly she swings her arm out to the right for her next target, but begins to loose her balance. By now, Soundwave has his small booty stored in his gauntlet and instantly brings his left hand under her right arm to clamp his grip to her center winged back. This also brings their body fronts closer together.
Soundwave barks his order to the team, "Prepare to warp out." Bringing his right arm to aim he tells her softly, "You too."
Continuing to fire angrily and annihilating her latest target, "It would be best if I didn't follow Thrust out!" The ball of orange wreckage is pierced by another incoming assailant, "He will need you to cover his six." Swiftly she takes the new assailant out too. Soundwave just chuckles knowing she wishes they were Thrust. She turns her face to him.
A bad move. Their noses brush. They are so close, too close. His breath catches, he can feel it too.
But he can also sense the danger surrounding them. With a swift yank to her winged back, he pulls her down over his bent knee, laying all her weight into his palm and knee. The assailant's weapons blast clears over his back just by nano-meters. The heat sears his neck and he growls in pain. With their torsos still touching firmly, he slips his right gunned arm between their chests and begins to fire his sonic cannon at the foe who fired on them. She turns her head to see what he is targeting. "Oh Slag," she sighs. It's so close and so big. This was going to hurt no matter what.
"Warp out! I'll hold cover," he bellows to the others while clutching her tighter to himself still bowed over using his back as a shield. The team begins to open the gate and head out. Skywarp lays her own right armed gun out targeting the huge battle ship baring down. The left arm tightens it's grip around his waist digging her claws around his "belt" grazing the under-armor. Soundwave's sonic barrel is so long that it not only lays across her chest, but also beside her upper extended arm. The other one is still clamped tightly to her back holding her down.
She begins to fire angry at the fierce assault, "What else was on that supply ship?"
Soundwave shakes his head, "I would really like to know now, but this doesn't look like the time to find out."
She grinds her teeth down as the dirt begins flying up into their faces that the incoming battle ship's fire kicks up, "You think?" He laughs and bends his head side ways to cover her face with his helmet as the hot rocks rain down.
She feels his own sonic cannon readjust and begin firing again. This time in a new resonance. At the same time she sends off her own fire. The concussion of her arm mixed with the resonance of his powerful sonic waves of backwash releases an odd sound from her, "Ah!"
He can't help but smirk and rolls his face. He knows that sound and takes a moment to glance at her. She clearly didn't mean to release the moan of deep erotic pleasure. She flushes and had hoped with the battle that he wouldn't notice what he had triggered. Just for that, he does it again, watching her reaction this time. Clearly missing the enemy target but letting her know his target was her own body. The moan escapes her again, "Slag you, Soundwave," and she can't stop her back from arching into his body or her optics closing while her head drops back. He knows the others are gone. He leans in setting off the charge again and boldly tells her with clear fact, not a drop of innuendo, "You like that, don't you."
She swiftly looks directly at him. They both know he has found her erotic-pleasure harmonic resonance. Locking gazes with her again with a profound smile, he slips his arm to rest directly across her breasts and intimacy port and sets it off again. She closes her optics in pure ecstasy. The battleship takes the hit he fired this time, fritzing her into a brief blackout. The explosion breaks their spell and returns her anger. Grinning wickedly, he lets her know, he hit both his targets with one shot.
Now he turns his voice soft finishing the moment, "Time to go." Soundwave moves his weaponed-arm over their heads and to the small of her back.
She can feel him warming it up. Against the small of her back, (highly sensitive spot or than the chest) she knows she will crumple if he fires on that resonant wave-signature one more time. Or worst, scream out for more. "Don't," she pleads. He chuckles and fires his thrusters instead. She does as well and they slip through the warp gate just before it closes.
~~~ Stepping through warp gate, they see Galvatron waiting for them. Skywarp knows she is an emotional mess. She shoves away from Soundwave, "Don't touch me, Soundwave."
But he doesn't let go of her arm, keeping her steady. He returns to his stoic façade. That surprises her. She was expecting him to enjoy teasing her in front of the others. But looking at him carefully, maybe he was just as messed up as she was. She tries to yank away again. Even that much touch is too much for her, "I'll crawl back to my quarters before any of you will treat me like a damsel."
Galvatron steps forward, "Skywarp, look at yourself." Her pride has gone too far.
She looks down and sees her leg is hanging on by only a couple wires. The leg is nearly ready to fall off, joint shattered. Jutting her chin up, "Still took down more than any of them."
Galvatron smiles, "I would expect no less, Commander." He gives her credit due her title. "Now, get that repaired. That is an order." He nods to Soundwave. Soundwave nods and then lowers himself just a bit. Instead of carrying her like a wounded female damsel, he tosses her over his shoulder like a wounded soldier and strides away.
Striding down the hall, she barks at him, "This isn't over, Soundwave."
With no one in the hallway, he lets his hand slide down her thigh seductively and whispers, "By the All Spark, I hope not." And just to taunt her one last time, he sets off the resonance slightly for just a moment.
She digs her claws into his aft, "I hate you, Soundwave."
"We'll see," he chuckles and dumps her unceremoniously onto Knock Out's gurney. He turns mono-tone again to Knock Out, "The Commander is your priority." Knock Out sees the dangling limb and nods. Without another word, Soundwave turns his back on her and confidently strides out of the room.
He is anything but confident. He wants her, badly. Not just her body. He wants her as his mate. Not since Star Dreamer has anyone challenged him and torn his soul to pieces like this. He will have do to something about that. But what?
~~ With fresh welds holding her leg together, Skywarp enters her quarters. She finds a hallo-projector on her bunk. Touching it, she sees a young Seeker'Bot she had never met but would recognize anywhere. He looks just like his father with his markings and stance. But with his mother's smirk and old helmet style. Her son. This is what Soundwave had stolen from the ship and slipped into his gauntlet. It wasn't going to Skyfire, it was coming from him. And Soundwave knew the whole time.
She strides down the hall and bangs her fist on his door. Not a normal way to ask for entrance. She can hear the pounding footsteps and the bulkhead door opens to his scowl, "What?" But his face drops instantly when he sees it's her. She hears the music he has playing in the room.
I'm gonna break your heart. I'm gonna tear your life apart.
She doesn't give him a chance to do anything else before she slips her hand to his jaw. This time she makes the demanding kiss. Clamping his hands to her waist, he lifts her into the room and secures the door. She doesn't let him break the kiss. So he resigns himself to her desire and delves his fingers into her beads taking over the kiss pressing his body hard against her crushing her to the door. Skywarp latches an arm around his neck and another to his waist sealing the bond. When her hand slips down to round his aft, pressing their hips even closer, he knows the line is getting thinner.
Soundwave knows this kiss will not be enough. He has to taste her. A small piece of her under-armor is exposed at her neck and he clamps his mouth onto it suckling the tenderness. Her head rolls giving him more access. "Thank you, Soundwave." She whispers. With that, she clutches his head to her shoulder in an embrace. He stops tasting her and instead drops his forehead to her shoulder.
"Why are you here?" He carefully asks her, panting. It takes everything he has to restrain his own hands. He knows what he wants, but he has to be sure she isn't trying to repay him physically.
She won't let him move. This isn't the time to face each other. "I know Thunderwarp is Thundercracker's son, but you and I seem to have a tighter connection with him."
Soundwave doesn't move, "Because he is yours, I will always protect him."
She digs her fingers into his neck, "That's exactly what I mean. You love him as much as his father."
Now Soundwave has to lift his head and face her directly. He cups her face making sure she sees him clearly. He retracts his optic shield. "There is one thing I do have in common with that wretched Seeker. I love you. And I want you as my mate. I want us to be one."
She nods in his palm and whispers, "I know."
"But I will not take you. You have to come to me. I will not be second. I will not be an escape. I am not easy. And I am nobody's fool."
She shakes her head, "No, you aren't. And you don't deserve that." Skywarp makes it clear that she respects him. She honors him.
He lets her face go, but she doesn't move. This time she loops both her arms around his waist and settles into his comfort. In return, he wraps his arms around her shoulders soothing the back of her neck with a single stroking thumb. She sees what is the focus of this room, where he has moved his attention. A painting.
It's Starscream locked into the same embrace Soundwave has Skywarp currently in. But in Starscream's arms is the most stunning Red Bot she had ever seen. She never saw this 'Bot/'Con. There is not affiliation mark on her. But clearly, she has Starscream right where he needs to be. Skywarp has to admit, she never saw that kind of softness on her commander's face. She had no idea he had it in him.
"Soundwave, did you meet her?"
He nods, "Yeah." But he says nothing else. The music in the room changes to one of tenderness. Sharing of souls. Bits of time lost to the universe.
"Soundwave?" Her tone is asking for details of his own spark.
Instead of answering, he steps back and pulls her with him to the painting. He kneels down under Slipstream's mark. Tugging Skywarp's hand, he brings her also kneeling. He pulls her knees between his, nestling his crouched legs to surround her. Then he lays the side of his face directly under her chin against her chest kissing her throat, but reaches around cupping her head with one hand to lay her cheek against his. She wraps her palms around his head keeping him tight against her chest. His other arm wraps around her waist finishing their tightly bound bodies together. And then with his legs, he moves their bodies closer to the painting. Once they touch the painting, she can hear something. A few minutes pass, and then Soundwave disengages them. Taking her hand, he draws her to her feet and turns her to see the image they made in the painting beside Starscream and his mate.
Skywarp gasps, "Wait, was this…"
Soundwave smiles, "Yes, from Iacon's art museum. Starscream stole this. He thought it was the most beautiful painting in all Cybertron. He didn't want it damaged. It changes with body heat. But only the heat of two bodies can bring the temperature high enough to leave an impression. I confiscated it after his demise."
Soundwave moves himself to stand behind her. The music changes to a very slow melody. His arms want to take her, but he just knows today isn't the day. Too much has happened recently. Skywarp looks back over her shoulder but sees he is far away. She steps closer and uses a tender desiring tone, "Soundwave, take me."
With that, he puts his hands on her upper arms and pushes her towards the door, but doesn't open it yet. He finds it hard to say this and strokes her upper arms carefully, "No. I already said that."
"Soundwave…" she tries again.
He smiles tenderly, "You are not like that. I wouldn't feel this way about you if you were."
She shakes her head almost teasing him, "You are no prude. I know-"
His smile broadens, "Skywarp, you have ruined me. Changed my needs."
"I don't believe you." She pleads needing his strength tonight.
"Watch me. I don't want you until you are ready to commit yourself to me. I will not allow you to give yourself to me so easily."
She gasps, "I'm not easy!"
He leans in dangerously close, "No, you are far more honorable than that." He kisses her so lightly, "That scrapped Seeker was the luckiest 'Con I ever knew to hold your spark so tightly." He moves to press the door release.
Her hand covers his, "Wait." He stops and faces her. It takes her a moment to find the words, "What if I am ready?"
He releases the glove on his bare left hand, "Be ready to bond to me." Then he swiftly closes the glove, "Until then, I shouldn't be alone with you. I'm too much in love with you." And then ever so softly he tells her, "Go." He opens the door.
She takes a step back, "Until all are one?"
He swallows hard and like a whisper on the wind he answers, "Until all are one." She turns her back and the door closes.
Soundwave turns his back and sags against the door while an old song to the same message plays "Until all are one with the All Spark. When we meet back at the Well…"
Having been bonded once before, the silence was maddening. But that wasn't why she wanted Soundwave within her spark. No. He showed her all the respect, confidence, support, encouragement…
It doesn't take her long to make her decision. When she sees him at command meetings, or passing at the refueling station, or just a glimpse of him in the hall makes her spark surge. It's not just the physical attraction. No, it's the need to converse with him. The same comfortable deep times she had with Thunder in the back of the saloon.
Skywarp takes her time making his band. With Ravage's help for sizing, she takes a piece of her armor and engraves it carefully. She makes the band with a wave edge and puts curling designs of clouds on the face. The last thing she does is interlace the two glyphs for their names. Ravage gives it his approval.
She asks him plainly, "Do you think I have given him enough time to take me seriously?" Ravage gives her his confused ears. She shakes her head at his answer. "Fine then, tell me where he is." That Ravage does answer. Skywarp takes a deep breath, "Well wish me luck." Ravage paws her leg and then escorts her to his master.
She strides most confidently across the command center, even though her belly is quivering inside. She comes up to the communications consol he is monitoring. He looks up to her, "Yes?" in his monotone commander voice.
She tries to remain as a commander as well. There are others in the room. She holds her hand out to him, "I have what you need."
He holds his hand out expecting a chip, she lays an object in his hand. He stares at it for a moment then quickly closes his palm to hide it and says softly still staring at his hand, "Your timing sucks." She waits to see what he will do with the purple coupling band she laid in his palm. He swiftly scans the room, and then tucks it into his right gauntlet, seeing Cyclonous come closer, but doesn't answer the earlier conversation.
She smirks wickedly, "Yeah well, not just my timing." His head shoots up to see her tuck her tongue in her cheek at the innuendo. He narrows his gaze at her ill timed joke against his desire for her. Just to push her luck, she tries one more smart retort, "Could you spare Ravage later tonight? I could use a guardian. Something has been trying to get into my quarters." Cyclonous heard that one and fens that it isn't him. Soundwave brings back his stoic façade. He says nothing and reveals even less. Skywarp knows she has gone too far and decides to cut her losses. She heads to the Seeker's game in the rec-room leaving with Cyclonous.
~~~ Try as she might to be the cocky arrogant lot-player, she looses badly. Her head is no where near the game. She was hoping Soundwave would accept her offer, but terrified he would reject her…again. After her chips are all gone and she knows she can't take anymore drink, she finally calls it a night. In her quarters alone, strips to her under-armor and cries herself to sleep.
Late that night, she hears her door open and the soft footsteps. Groggy, she reaches a hand out, "Ravage?"
The deep voice softly answers leaning over her, "I'm not Ravage. But will I do?"
Jolt in Time deals with Soundwave's story with Star Dreamer. Red Star talks about the painting.