A/N:First of all, thank you to all reviewers/favourites/alerts. It keeps me going on!

A thank you to sunnysidesofblue for giving me the idea in the first scene. They mentioned it in a review for Ch.16. Thanks for the plot bunny!

And to Katea-nui who took a peek at the first scene and told me it flowed right.

Disclaimer: No, unfortunately like a lot of the cool things in life, I do not own Transformers.

Warnings: Sticky interfacing, unintended voyeurism, talking about interfacing and sexual TF genitalia, implied violence.

Turning Point – Chapter 22

Waking up in his berthroom, Soundwave basked in the glory of the morning.

The first night without a nightmare or even a flicker of a nightmare. No, his dreams had been blissfully blank and calm. The morning light shone through a small window at the top of one of the walls, creating a beautiful golden cast on his recharging cassettes in their bunks. Only Ratbat wasn't in his bunk, preferring to cuddle up with his creator.

Relaxing back into the berth, he absentmindedly hummed a few low notes of a song and stroked along his youngling's frame in his contentment.

A light 'ping' from his processor interrupted his peace, and he quickly read the message sent to him by Prowl.

'I am free for a talk this morning. If you would like to come as soon as possible? – Prowl.'

Soundwave felt excited anticipation rise through him. Usually his talks with the Praxian involved energon and a few nice long games of chess. Oh how he loved the game. When not on comms duty or watching Jazz train his cassettes to be Autobot spies, chess was one of his favourite hobbies.

He rose, making sure Ratbat's rest was undisturbed before creeping silently out of the room.

In the hallway, he darted a quick look to Blaster's open door. His friend was still asleep.

Good. He wouldn't need to disturb him either, then.

It seemed like a lazy day for everyone. Not everyone was out and about the Ark yet. And although some mechs were still wary of he and his creations, most had accepted him as something that was there. He was here to stay and all knew it. He nodded in greeting to the few mechs he met. Powerglide, Ironhide – who nodded back – and Wheeljack. His pace was relaxed, easy, as he made his way to the SIC's quarters which he shared with Jazz.

Once in front of the door, he entered in the special code Prowl gave him, ready to enter. But the sight greeting his optics made him pause.

The lights were dimmed and large scented candles were scattered around the spacious living room. On the low table before the couch was a platter with what looked to be the few remains of high-end energon goodies. Soft, sensual saxophone music was playing in the background, its sound pleasing, but the sound of it making Soundwave confused. If he didn't know better, he'd say that there had been a very romantic date held here. The place looked elegant and tasteful.

But where was Prowl? The mech had invited him after all.

A low sound directed his attention to another door towards the back of a room. He could see it was slightly open.

Wary, he entered the living room and let the door close behind him.

He stepped carefully and quietly. The low noise was suspicious. Back to the wall, he made his way towards the door before he turned slowly, angling his helm to see through the opening…

…and almost stumbled back in shock.

His optics, however, were strangely glued to the scene.

Prowl was sitting on the edge of the berth, his lap full of moaning, hot Porsche as their hips rolled together. The doorwinger's spike was buried deeply in his mate's valve, both of them gasping softly with each slow grind. Jazz had Prowl's helm cupped in his hands as they kissed in quick, gentle bursts, not being able to help the soft moans they made as they interfaced.

At first, the urge to do something hit Soundwave.

But….what could he do?

There was nothing. It was nothing like his assault. It was…loving. It was beautiful. It looked like their bodies were a perfect symphony. There was no resistance, no violence. It had been a long time since he'd seen what lovemaking was really about. A sudden stab of jealousy made itself known, and he immediately berated himself for it. While he might be jealous that no lover had ever touched him the way the pair were touching each other – Prowl assisting his mate in sliding up and down his spike, his mouth feathering over his neck while Jazz teased those fanned doorwings – he knew Prowl's back-story. It must have taken them a long time to get to this stage. As they moaned once more, Soundwave felt his next emotion more keenly than the ones previous.

Awkwardness.

He had just intruded on a very consensual, very private moment between two mechs. As much as he was curious about the tenderness of the way they moved, it was rude. Not to mention…how would he ever look at the two in the optic again?

He shifted backwards, controlling his venting to make sure not to disturb them. He kept shuffling backwards and kept his optics on the door, to make sure they didn't notice them. He hoped the saxophone music covered the slight shuffles of his feet and the movement of joints.

The blue mech felt his plan crumble when he knocked into a side table behind him, and he frantically reached out behind him to steady it only to have it tumble away from him in a loud clatter.

'Slag!' he cursed to himself, but it was the voice calling out from the berthroom that made his tanks drop.

"Who's there?" demanded Jazz.

Turning and dashing for the door, Soundwave hoped they would just stay and their berthroom and continue their private time.

Again, fate intervened when a voice was closer asked in an incredulous tone, "Soundwave?"

He turned, seeing both helms peeking out from their berthroom door to preserve their modesty, and immediately felt his faceplates heat with embarrassment.

"I-I didn't mean to intrude. I got the comm. you sent sir," he offered quietly, not looking at the two black and whites. Before they could reply, he palmed the door sensor and slipped out, breaking into a run while no one was looking. He had to go to the one place that made him feel normal.

Outside.

Prowl retreated back onto the berth, chuckling at his smirking mate.

"Kink satisfied?"

"Like ya wouldn't believe babe. Thanks for trustin' me," Jazz replied, pouncing on his mech and kissing him while he asked over the bond, ::That was so sneaky. Ya gonna go talk to him about it later?::

::Yes, love. But you and I have some …unfinished business.::

Jazz could only purr in delight as his mate sunk perfectly into him once more.

Sunshine.

Beautiful as it shone through the clouds. All due to the chemical processes that occurred within Earth's star, the Sun, which radiated out light and heat that took roughly eight minutes to reach him.

On Cybertron, it took the radiation from Alpha Centauri half an hour from the outer boundaries.

Still, it was something concrete. Something to amaze at while musing on sensitive topics.

Twirling a few long blades of grass in his fingers, Soundwave reigned in his emotions. Yes, he was embarrassed in intruding on the two officer's moment. It had been more mortifying than being around the Decepticon parties when things turned to drunkenness and sex.

But more than that…he was feeling a little vulnerable. Not only did he believe his friendships with the SIC and TIC had been irrevocably broken, but he had yearned for it.

That is, interfacing.

In that moment when he had saw how gentle it was, he had felt a tingle of arousal in his frame – the first in a long, long time.

Soundwave sighed, dropping his helm into his hands. He had not touched himself underneath his interfacing panel ever since his first few days at the Autobot base, to make sure that there really was no rips or tears in his valve. Every time there had been a phantom pain since then he had ignored it. That panel had been firmly closed. Now, however, he felt his programming get ready to switch on if he so wished it.

He pushed it away. He was sure he was nowhere near ready for something like that yet.

He felt a tiny prod along his creator-creation bond from Ravage, but he firmly denied it. He did not wish to be interrupted as he thought. His creations should know that.

The telepath relaxed into the rock behind him as he turned over what he had seen in his mind. Never had he been treated like that in an interface. The few he had experienced over the vorns had been relatively quick, impersonal affairs with an almost predictable formula from himself or the mechs he chose to allow access to his valve. Light prep, a bit of dirty talk, and then thrusting away until release. If a partner didn't release, there was usually a toy of some sort involved. It had been unfulfilling. But seeing Prowl and Jazz…that was not mere sex, it was indeed making love. He had expected to feel an aversion, to feel afraid.

It was the opposite.

He was both curious and shy about the topic. Not all mechs were given a manual that read 'The Beginner's Guide to Interfacing.' What was good and what was bad? Obviously his assault had been 'bad,' it was not even interfacing really. Completely ignoring the subject until now had been just what he needed for his mentality. He was now prepared to be more receptive to maybe talking about it due to his sudden curiosity. Talk about…maybe that he wanted to be with another again.

'Be with Blaster?' a part of him whispered.

Maybe.

If he could summon up his courage to talk about it.

The fact he was considering the possibility of just talking to Blaster about a possible future transition from friends to more, Soundwave felt it was an achievement. Before this, he would have retreated into his shell to brood some more.

Knowing that his thoughts would only loop in on themselves in a convoluted mess if he went any further, Soundwave let his thoughts go blank and employed the meditating techniques he had been taught. If anything, maybe when he came back to reality, it would give him a clearer perception.

Rumble joined his brothers in pushing against the bond they had with Soundwave. But it remained resolutely shut.

"Damn it! I wonder which fragger upset him now!" Frenzy hissed beside him, but all six brothers were in agreement.

"Why is Dad ignoring us?" Ratbat asked. He had been so warm, and then his creator had left!

Laserbeak and Buzzsaw said in unison, "Perhaps Jazz will be able to tell us. He would know."

Steeljaw, relaxing near them, said, "Knowing Jazz, he's probably refuelling right now. It would be the perfect time to ask him. Especially since you all can sneak out because Blaster's not coming out of those washracks for another few minutes at least. He's singing." They all chuckled at that, before Ravage hopped down from the large couch and made for the door, his brothers following. Eject and Rewind opened it, and grinned at them encouragingly as they left.

"Come," ordered Ravage, and he broke into an easy lope, determined to find out what was bothering his creator, and pit help them if they made him revert to what he had been after all of the progress he made.

Just as Steeljaw suggested, there was the visored mech, whistling jauntily as he headed for the rec-room.

"Jazz!" Ratbat cried out , halting the TIC who grinned at them all.

"Hey! What's crackin' little mechs?"

They stopped before their commander and Ravage asked calmly, "Do you know where our creator is?"

"No, why?" asked the saboteur, shaking his helm in a negative.

"He's not lettin' us feel through the bond and we thought ya would have somethin' for us," said Frenzy in an accusing tone.

Jazz's face turned concerned and he muttered to himself, "Perhaps it didn't work out the way we had planned…"

"What didn't?" asked Rumble.

Rubbing the back of his helm sheepishly, the visored mech said, "Well, Prowler and Ah had an idea to maybe get Soundwave to be a little more…acceptin' of things."

Rumble exploded, accusing, "Well, whatever the frag ya did it's made him shut us out ya stupid slagger! It's made him worse!"

Jazz leapt into action, pre-emptively predicting that Rumble and Frenzy would come at him first, while the other four would watch and wait for the perfect timing. He dodged and whirled to the side. He knew them too well in their fighting styles after the past few weeks of trainings not to avoid their angry blows. "Hey, he looked fine when he left. Ever consider maybe he just wants to think?"

"Desist!" cried a voice.

They all turned to see Soundwave, his arms crossed and looking disapprovingly at his creations. "I thought you would all have more restraint than that."

His simple words made his creations hang their heads in their shame for embarrassing their creator.

Soundwave stepped forward, focussed on his creations and resolutely ignored the presence of the other mech in the hallway. Quietly, he said, "I am your creator. I may have been unable to fulfil my duties as your father for the past few weeks in full. But that is no excuse for you all to take my burdens as your own. You must not worry about me. Are we clear?"

They all nodded.

He stroked each on the helm before beckoning them to follow him.

Jazz could only shake his helm in amusement. Soundwave had completely ignored him that whole time. Opening up the bond to his mate, he said, ::Ya better talk to Sounders today. Looks like he's still feelin' just a mite embarrassed.::

As they bundled themselves into their quarters, Soundwave noticed that Blaster's cassettes had gone, but the mech himself had yet to leave. He smiled and greeted, "Hey 'Wave. Hey guys. What have you all been up to?"

As the six cassettes walked by him without a word or a look in his direction, he lifted an optic ridge and said, "Oh-kay…what's eatin' them?"

Soundwave sighed. "I have merely taken disciplinary actions for their actions in attacking Jazz for information on my location. He is their superior officer and they must be reminded. They are confined to my room for an hour."

Blaster winced in sympathy. As their creations were so closely linked to their sparks, they could push their feelings on any matter through if the blocks weren't up. He flopped on the couch, sprawling back, and waited for Soundwave to make the next move. The mech looked like he had a lot on his processor.

He spluttered in shock, however, when the other mech simply laid down on top of him and gave him a hug. "Wave?"

"What? Am I not allowed to perform a quick experiment to see if I can initiate touch easier than I have been doing?" Soundwave asked, leaning his helm on Blaster's chest so he could read the expressions on his face.

The red mech quickly wrapped an arm around the telepaths back to assure him it wasn't a rejection, but asked, "What do you mean? I know you've been a bit hesitant with approaching for touch, but…" something clicked in the comm. officers processor. "You saw somethin' to make you accept it more?"

Soundwave blushed and let what he had seen tumble out of his mouth. "I did not intend to intrude in such a private moment. He had asked me there. I couldn't have known…"

Blaster snickered, catching on, "So who'd ya see doin' it?"

"Prowl and Jazz."

The boom box couldn't help it as he laughed, imagining his poor friend stumbling on the two commanders interfacing. He quickly looked at Soundwave to make sure his laughing wasn't making him feel teased, before chuckling once more and asking, "Well if I know Jazz, he either pounced on Prowl or they were doing one of those mini romantic date things with music and flowers and…" he broke into another spate of giggles when he saw the cheeks beneath that visor heat in a blush, and he knew he'd hit the money on it.

Calmed, and re-positioning himself slightly so he could converse better, Blaster said, "Well, at least it didn't freak you out. I don't ever want to see you in such a state, 'Wave."

"Prowl had commed me. So I went. When I got into the room…I've never seen such preparations for initiating intercourse before. I didn't know, but then I saw them…and at first I wanted to act, but then I saw how gentle they were in their actions." He was still blushing, but at least he wasn't some stammering youngling struggling to talk about sex. His meditating had refrained him from acting like that, at least. "Blaster, I've never seen interfacing to be so together and selfless. I must admit, it has me…curious."

Blaster was silent, fighting the urge to give in to his love for this mech who was still, in a way, trying to find himself. He fought the urge to take that helm in his hands and kiss him, show him how good love could be. When that face shifted to look directly in his optics at the word 'curious,' he couldn't describe the sudden intense need to protect and cherish.

Smiling to bring his attentive skills back to Soundwave, Blaster said quietly, "There are many ways to interface. I'm kinda glad you saw it if it makes you a bit more confident and makes you move on. As for the curiosity…" he had to say it, even if his friend chose another instead of him, "when you're ready, I'm sure there will be the right mech or femme out there for you."

"Thank you," murmured Soundwave, and he knew how much it pained Blaster to keep his affections 'secret.'

The red mech's smile turned cheekier after a moment of them staring into each other's optics, and he asked, "So…did they catch ya?"

Tucking his face into the yellow chest to hide his embarrassment, Soundwave replied, muffled, "Yes."

Blaster broke into uproarious laughter, while the blue mech groaned in mortification. "It's not that funny. You are being immature."

"Funny? Are you kiddin'? I know it's really embarrassing, but it is funny. What did you do to get their attention?"

"Knocked over a side table," Soundwave replied dryly, willing his friend to stop.

When Blaster continued, he said lowly, "Shut. Up."

"Aw," snickered the smiling mech, and raised his hand to pet comfortingly down Soundwave's back, "don't worry, I did something like that too. Accidentally walked in on Hound and Mirage once. It was so bad, because Mirage was invisible and Hound was just there in the closet and…yeah, I know how you feel. Let me guess, when you saw Jazz in the hallway, you wouldn't even look at him…right?"

"Yes," responded the telepath in a disgruntled tone.

"Well, you're gonna have to talk to them sooner or later. Not to mention, I think you really like being friends with Prowl."

"I do," Soundwave hummed thoughtfully. "But he, like me, is a private mech. I intruded on such a private thing. How does one ask for forgiveness on that?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure Prowl knows it was an accident. If it's awkward, you both will just have to work at communicating as if nothing happened," Blaster supplied helpfully.

Soundwave returned his gaze back to Blaster's, and was immediately entranced by those cerulean optics. So honest. So full of care. And love. And like that, the mood changed again. "As if nothing happened," he breathed, his optics travelling over that handsome faceplate and settling on those full lips. Could he? Should he? Would it be right, would he feel as if it was going too fast, would he be haunted in his recharge or would he have a flashback? Blaster was now staring at him too, looking at each other in the silence, tension building. He knew that Blaster was in love with him. Could he move those few inches closer to confirm if this tiny feeling in his spark was right? Too many questions with no answers.

"'Wave," whispered the red mech, stopping his arm from stroking over the strong blue back struts, his spark thudding loud in his audials. Could Soundwave hear it? Surely. At having him so close…

The soft sound of a chime sounded in their audials and they broke away, optics shuttering fast and realising how meshed their EM fields were in their relaxed state. Soundwave lifted himself off, regrettably leaving the comfort of Blaster's arms. If he was troubled, he didn't let it show as he smoothed his faceplates and went to the door without ever looking back. If he had, he would have seen the boom box with his face set in an expression of disappointment.

He opened the door and felt shock overcome him.

He didn't expect Prowl to seek him out so quickly.

Ramjet hurried through the base to his trines quarters, cringing from the sound of Megatron's furious ranting as it echoed through the underwater base.

Things had gotten bad ever since Starscream and his trine had left. And Soundwave too! No one knew why they had defected. Some said that they had simply had enough. Some said it was a special spy mission to make it look like they were Autobots. And then, there had been Hook, who had insinuated it had been something that Megatron had done.

Not to mention their energon stocks were dwindling low. They only had 15% of the capacity needed for the army left, and their rations kept getting smaller and smaller.

He had replaced Starscream as Air Commander and was now TIC (or was it SIC? He couldn't remember what a growling Megatron had said). Once, he had teased the tricolour jet about being pathetic and not being able to do his job correctly or efficiently. Oh sure, he had respected Starscream to an extent, but it didn't stop him from pointing out his ex-Commander's flaws.

Now he knew exactly what Starscream had to cope with.

So many hungry mouths to feed, keeping all fliers in line, making sure each gestalt was happy, making sure Megatron was happy – and damn if he wasn't becoming harder and harder to please as the days rolled from one to the next. It became a monotonous fear that the grey warlord would simply blast them away from displeasing him. And now, he feared for he and his trine.

As much as he hated the Autobots and their 'peace' ideals, something had to be better than this. Tonight he had been used as his leader's personal punching bag. He never wanted to go through it again.

Stumbling in, he immediately felt Thrust and Dirge beside him, cooing over him and gasping over his dents, scrapes, and cuts.

"Slagger," whispered Thrust, picking his white and black mate up and carrying him to the berth so he and Dirge could pet over his wings.

Ramjet was thankful for his trinemates, who were also his bondmates. As unlikely as their relationship could be sometimes, he was thankful for them when they dropped all their walls and comforted each other like this. It wasn't peace. But it was content.

"We can't stay here. I can't take another beating like that with what little resources we have," he coughed out.

Dirge's optics flashed brightly and he asked, "You want me to use that secret comm. line?"

"Yes," affirmed Ramjet. "Contact Starscream. We need to get out of here."

A/N: Ooh, I kept you hanging, didn't I?

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know in a review! Love you all.