Chapter 24
"'Jackie, do you have a laser level I could borrow?" Grapple asked as stuck his head through Wheeljack's workshop doorway. With an irritated grumble, Grapple added, "Skyfire borrowed mine and he hasn't given it back."
Wheeljack said mildly, "I'm sure Skyfire will give yours back when he's out of the med bay. But yes, you may borrow my level."
Grapple sub-spaced the tool quickly. "You can't even guess what Prowl's got me doing."
"Working with the new symbionts? Yes, I'm aware. Command wants them to have some useful skills. The goal is to integrate them with human society in ways we can't. Prowl's analysis - and I agree - is that they have real potential to find work in the construction trades."
Grapple rolled his optics. "I just don't see why it's my job to train them."
Wheeljack shrugged. "Look at it this way - you've got free help."
"Useless free help. They don't know slag."
"So make them useful free help." Wheeljack realized he'd been sucked into one of Grapple's notorious pity parties, and added, with the command authority he rarely used, "Do you have a problem with your orders?"
Wheeljack was head of engineering, and outranked Grapple and most of the rest of the engineering, facilities, and science staff. Grapple technically reported to him. He just rarely bothered to exercise that authority as in practice the architect worked directly with the command staff on various projects. However, Wheeljack found he was unusually annoyed by Grapple's attitude and his words suddenly acquired a bite of steel to them. He could be an officer when he wanted to.
Grapple, hearing the normally affable engineer's warning tone, and perhaps remembering that Wheeljack was more than capable of wiping the training room floor with his aft, huffed. "I'll deal with it. Anyway, that's not what I was referring to. Do you know they have me building an office for the Decepticon?"
"Which one?" Wheeljack said, purposefully playing dumb. His optics did not lose their warning scowl and the bright play of colors across his earfins was notably absent - a sure sign he was pissed, to those who were observant enough to notice. He was well aware of Prowl's request to Grapple, since he'd seen the duty roster earlier that day.
"Tall, dark, and silent." Grapple growled.
Wheeljack said slowly, "... Skywarp? No, he's not silent. Starscream certainly isn't dark. Do you mean Shockwave - but why would we be building an office for Shockwave?"
The Deception scientist had been keeping a low profile since the coup. Not even Starscream was certain which faction he'd side with, if any. Neither side had any useful intelligence on his whereabouts. Shockwave was a wildcard, and one that made Wheeljack deeply uneasy.
"Soundwave." Grapple bit the carrier's designation out as if it tasted foul.
"I thought you said a Decepticon." Wheeljack said, letting his optics and earfins light up with exaggerated comprehension.
"Oh, don't tell me he's befuddled you, too. Somebody needs to double check that his telepathy mods are really gone. There's far too many people who've joined the Soundwave fan club for it to be natural."
"I am not his fan. However, I respect him a great deal." Wheeljack retorted. Then he turned on one heel, opened a cabinet, and pulled a box out. From the box, he produced a dented and water-damaged clump of circuit boards and clusters of capacitors and random wires roughly the size of his fist. He set the module down on his work bench with an audible thunk. The device was heavy, due to the amount of metal in the capacitors.
"This," Wheeljack said, voice turned cold and hard, "is Soundwave's mod for telepathy. It was installed when he was a newly separated sparkling, and his systems integrated it quite thoroughly into his neural pathways as he grew. It cannot be replaced due to both the damage he took, and the fact that what's left of his sensory arrays are fully mature and are no longer able to integrate new hardware without the assistance of technology we no longer have. The manufacturer of this modification is also long out of business, and repair parts are no longer available. We lack the ability to fabricate the quantum arrays this used. Do you have any further questions?"
Grapple stared at the damaged piece of Soundwave's neural net. He said nothing.
Quietly, Wheeljack put the part away. Then he added, in a softer tone, "I was skeptical of him too, at first, Grapple. I would suggest that you get to know him before you judge him. Also, trust Prime's judgement - and Jazz's and Prowl's. I have never known Jazz to be a poor judge of character, and Prowl believes he may play a vital role in securing peace for us. Prowl has requested that you build Soundwave an office because both Prime and Prowl believe he is integral to our efforts to end the war, and he will need an office of his own."
The architect vented an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose it's not my strangest assignment ever. I think that was building a den for your dinobots. Which they promptly destroyed! But very well - do you have some scans of Soundwave's dimensions, or do I need to get them from Hatchet?"
"Ratch's in surgery right now. Get the specs from Frenzy. I'm sure he knows. Oh, and don't forget your assignment includes building Frenzy a desk too."
"I do understand the assignment. I'm not incompetent. Something everyone seems to forget. I swear you lot all think I'm an idiot sometimes."
"No," Wheeljack said with a smile that took the sting from his words, "You're not an idiot, you're just cranky. And you're tired of the war destroying all your hard work. Look at it this way - be nice to Soundwave, and maybe you'll get to build things that aren't promptly blown up in the next battle."
Grapple rolled his optics, threw his hands up, and marched out of the lab. "Fine!"
Wheeljack shook his head. To Perceptor, who was in microscope form on his work bench, he observed, "I swear by Primus, that mech expends more energy trying to find things wrong with the world than I do blowing things up."
Perceptor's chuckle was richly amused. The microscope said, "Do I sense a potential new subject for a research study?"
"No time." Wheeljack patted Perceptor as he walked past. "How's the analysis coming on those fuel samples?"
"I have no idea how the Decepticons have been functioning on the dreck they term energon. The viscosity is off by .025 percent, and there are forty-seven potentially harmful impurities that I have detected so far. I estimate it will take me a few additional moments to finish the spectroscopic analysis and approximately thirty minutes produce a detailed report of the systemic effects the pollutants are likely to have caused."
"Good. Ratchet's breathing down my neck for the details. According to Ratch, most of the Decepticons he's seen have major fuel system issues caused by long-term neglect and malnutrition, including Starscream. He's genuinely concerned for their health."
"Did you ever think we'd be working to treat Decepticon soldiers?" The microscope asked softly. Something clicked and whirred inside his frame as he brought a new spectroscopic lens to bear on the fuel sample he was analyzing.
"Honestly? Yes." Wheeljack smiled behind his blast mask. "If we won the war, I knew that one of Prime's first steps would be to extend an offer of medical care to the 'Con troops. Percy, by treating them, we're healing more than just their frames. It's a step towards healing the hatred and building goodwill and trust, too."
"You're probably right." Perceptor transformed, unfolding to his full height. "I'm so sick of fighting, I'm willing to try anything."
"... an office?" Soundwave blinked behind his visor, the brief flash of light visible as he reset his optics. Jazz and Prime, who both lived to make others happy, had insisted on surprising Soundwave with his very own office.
Ratchet clapped him on the shoulder. "They decided you needed one in a staff meeting yesterday. It's just down the hall from the med bay."
"... appreciation, significant. Concur, office needed for work as liaison. However, swiftness unexpected ... borrow desk, use conference room, sufficient for short term. Unexpected."
"Mmmhmm. We know you could work out of one of the conference rooms, but we expect you to be around for a long time, and we wanted to set a room up that would be comfortable for you. C'mon, let's go take a look."
Soundwave, bemused, followed Ratchet down the hall a few hundred yards. There were several offices off this stretch of corridor including ones for Skyfire, Hot Spot, Silverbolt and Inferno. All were tall mecha, so this section of the base was undoubtedly designed for the larger framed Autobots. His door turned out to be at the very end.
The door slid open at his approach, apparently keyed to his biosigns. It was a generously large room, with ample room for a desk, monitors, and several chairs around a low table, with space to spare. Frenzy had a desk mounted on shelf on the wall, which would put him at eye level to an average mech. It appeared to be very functional and well-designed, and it had already been stocked with datapads, maps, and printed reports. An "In-box" was overflowing with datapads that needed secure answers.
Grapple was still inside, somewhat to Soundwave's silent dismay. Despite his skill, the architect was unpleasant to deal with, and he had been bitingly sarcastic to Soundwave the few times they had needed to interact. Soundwave prided himself on having thick plating when it came to insults, but he also had a deep desire to fit in among the Autobots. Grapple's hostility was dismaying, even though he knew logically that some mecha might never accept him. Even the majority of Decepticons had little love for him, and he had spent more than three quarters of his life a 'con.
"Soundwave," a voice said, drawing his attention from Grapple.
The mech speaking had used just his name, in English, and he had a peculiar quaver audible even in that one word.
And then, the mech said a single word in Cybertronian. Very much to Soundwave's surprise the sound wasn't meaningless static. He had heard a word so integral to the core of his being that he recognized it on a level beyond mere language. It was a word he hadn't heard directed at him in thousands upon thousands of vorns.
"Song."
His name. His first name. He'd learned to identify the sound as his designation before he'd learned to speak. It wasn't language that he heard, it was a sound that cut straight through to his spark.
The speaker was a symbiont, a biped mechling a head taller than Frenzy and far more heavily built. He had red and gold armor, and golden optics. He bore no faction glyph, though an achingly familiar clan badge was etched onto both pauldrons. The sturdy older symbiont had a rail gun strapped to his forearm, multiple throwing knives magnetically clipped to his thighs, and a plasma blaster mounted on one shoulder - that weapon appeared to be a standard sized sidearm modified to attach to the mechling's frame. The blaster was new, but the knives and rail gun were exactly as Soundwave remembered.
"It's Killaglitch in English," the little mech said, softly. "They tell me you can't understand Cybertronian any more. Or call me Killa, it's what everyone else does. Song - Soundwave - you do recognize me?"
"Affirmative." The word generated by his visor did not show any hint of the emotions that threatened to bring him to his knees. He'd neglected to tag the words with emoticons in his raw shock. He struggled to find words to express himself. Finally, he said in real distress, but with his voice still in a flat monotone, "... Soundwave, outcast from clan. Killaglitch, forbidden to speak to."
"Oh, slag all that to the pit and back." The symbiont snapped. "Fallsky never should have kicked you out. He was a selfish, stupid, arrogant, aft of a slagheaded moron and the worst leader our clan ever had. Anyone with half a wit could have seen that you and Ravage were made for each other. And you were so young."
He had to agree with that assessment, and it was a relief to hear it from this symbiont. He picked the past tense out of Killaglitch's words, however, and tentatively asked, "Fallsky ... deceased?"
"You didn't know?" Killaglitch's expression softened. He took two steps towards Soundwave, and stopped at the edge of the desk. "Ah, Song. I'm sorry."
"Deaths, suspected. Entire clan, believed deceased. You believed deceased. Who lives?" He stumbled towards Killa, nearly falling in his haste. Ratchet, behind him, steadied him but said nothing.
Killaglitch's optics widened at Soundwaves's unsteady steps, but he answered quickly. "There's me, and some symbionts who were born after you left, including my daughter. And Scrapfinder and Galeforce, who were bonded out to other clans, but came back when their carriers died. And Glit - you knew him, but he wasn't part of our clan until a few decavorns ago when he left the 'cons and we took him in. He's my daughter's progenitor. Soundwave, I'm so sorry. All the carriers, everyone else, are all dead. I didn't know for sure you were alive until the Autobots confirmed that you were our Song."
Ratchet's hand touched Soundwave's back, gently. "Are you okay, Soundwave?"
"Very ... surprised." He stepped towards Killaglitch, with more balance now. Ratchet's hand remained resting between his shoulders, a warm comfort. He told Killaglitch, "I ... pleased. Feared all dead."
"I've missed you." Killaglitch held his arms out. "I've missed you so much."
Soundwave dropped all pretense of dignity. For a moment, he was a youngling again, outcast and bereft of everyone he'd ever known. He pulled Killaglitch off the table and into his arms and held him close. The symbiont, bigger and heavier than Frenzy, wrapped both his arms around Soundwave's neck and buried his face in Soundwave's plating.
Soundwave sank to his knees. Dimly, he was aware of Ratchet following him down. The medic was simultaneously putting one arm around his shoulders in support and shared joy, and likely scanning him for glitches. All Soundwave could focus on was the familiar weight of Killaglitch in his arms. Killa's systems sounded just as he remembered, and his embrace was just as fiercely tight. The little mech had the heavy armor plating and upgraded power plant of a symbiont born in the badlands to a clan wealthy enough to afford modifications at birth to their offspring. The rail gun made his right arm weigh more than his left as the weight of the coils was substantial. The energon throwing knives created a faint static fuzz against Soundwave's own field. He was taller, and far more solid, than Frenzy. This was all achingly familiar.
He'd held this mech before. He'd held him tight and close as a youngling, when he had so few friends and so many enemies even among his own family. Untold times, his father had raged at one slight or another and he and Killa had hidden together until the storm of his father's temper was over. They had played together, hunted together, worked together, and lived together for the first twenty vorns of Soundwave's life. He hadn't seen him since. But he'd never forgotten, could never forget, this mech. Beyond simply being a clan symbiont, Killaglitch had been his friend.
He didn't realize he was keening with grief for what he'd lost, and joy for what he'd found, until he heard Grapple say to Ratchet, "Is he okay?"
"Does he look okay?" Ratchet snapped back.
Soundwave struggled for control. With difficulty, he mastered his emotions, and said carefully, "Reaction, due to surprise. Mostly, joy. Killaglitch, beloved. Believed dead."
The door slid open at that time. Frenzy waltzed through, took in the scene, quirked an optic ridge up, and said, "Should I be expecting a new brother?"
Killa laughed. He slid to the ground. "You must be Frenzy. Sandflower told me about you. And - I don't know. We'll have to see what happens. I'm a bit old to take another master, though, and Sandy kinda likes Soundwave herself."
"Sandflower, too young." Soundwave hissed, shocked.
"Like you're one to talk." Killaglitch smacked Soundwave on the arm with a clang. "Twenty vorns old and bonded to a 20,000 vorn old cybercat."
Frenzy, optics wide, said, "You were a minor when you bonded to Ravage?"
Killaglitch laughed. "Never told the kid, did you, Soundwave?"
"Date, irrelevant. Soundwave, psychologically ready."
"And that's the truth. I think Soundwave was born old and wise." Killa fondly patted his arm.
"No bonding intended for now." Soundwave said, climbing to his feet. Despite his words, however, he picked Killaglitch up with familiar ease, and lifted the symbiont up to the top of the desk. Frenzy just fired the thrusters in his feet and joined him. Side by side, the difference between the two was even more obvious. Frenzy, city bred and impoverished in his early years, was smaller and far more lightly built despite the fact that Soundwave had arranged for every possible defensive upgrade that Frenzy's systems could support. Frenzy, however, had foot thrusters and Killaglitch didn't. Thrusters used considerable energon and were mods that were rarely installed by non-military mecha.
To Soundwave, Frenzy felt suspicious and perhaps a little jealous across the bond. Soundwave reached out and stroked a hand down Frenzy's back. "Killaglitch, this Frenzy. My symbiont, dear to me. Much valued. Beloved."
Frenzy's mood settled and a warm glow filled their bond. Despite that, his symbiont edged away however and said, "Enough with the warm fuzzies. You're gonna give me rust."
Soundwave was like a different mech in the presence of his childhood friend. Ratchet sat at the desk in his quarters, ostensibly fiddling with a broken comm unit over an evening cube of high grade. He wasn't getting much work done on the unit, however as most of his attention was on Killaglitch and Soundwave.
The elder symbiont sat crosslegged on Ratchet's dining table, facing Soundwave. Soundwave, for once, was also indulging in a cube of high grade. He sipped from it only occasionally, and Ratchet suspected that the reason he was drinking was because he'd wanted to offer Killaglitch a cube.
Ratchet had made a point to steer Soundwave to the good stuff in his cabinet, too. He had a few large cubes of precious Praxian Crystal Magma left and he had cracked one open for the occasion despite Soundwave's protests. He was incredibly pleased that Soundwave had found his old friend, and felt it was as good an opportunity as any to celebrate.
The symbiont was chattering away, filling Soundwave in on his life for the last few eons. By the tone of his voice, he was just buzzed enough to be happy and talkative, without being actually drunk.
Soundwave had retracted his blast mask and had an open smile on his face as he listened. He had laughed several times, and while he didn't say a lot, what questions and comments he did make were unguarded. He trusted the sturdy elder symbiont, that was certainly obvious. The amount of high grade Soundwave had consumed would do little to alter his baseline energy levels, so his relaxed demeanor was entirely natural.
Ratchet was very, very, pleased to see Soundwave forget his worries for a short while and simply enjoy the reunion with an old friend.
:Boss is happy,: Frenzy commented.
:You doing okay, kid?: Ratchet looked over at Frenzy. The little mech was curled up on the couch, playing a video game on a datapad. Was Frenzy jealous?
:Huh? I'm fine.: Frenzy said, and sounded like he meant it. :It's really good to hear Soundwave laughing.:
:Soundwave really seems to like Killaglitch.: He probed anyway. He was worried.
:He never even mentioned him to me before.: Frenzy said, matter of factly. :The boss doesn't like to talk about things that hurt, so I guess he missed him bad. - You know, I don't know much about his early life at all. He doesn't discuss it.:
:That can't be healthy.:
:Duh.: Frenzy looked up from his game. :I think I like Killa. It'd be nice to have a brother, and Soundwave likes him. And hey, he's got all sorts of cool dirt on the Boss. I never knew he was underage when he met Ravage! That explains so much, actually.:
:You're okay if they bond, then?:
Frenzy looked back down at his game, but his strong shoulders shrugged once, quickly. :I'd want to get to know him first, but if the Boss wants him - it'd be good for Soundwave. I want Soundwave to be happy, bottom line.:
Curious, Ratchet looked over at him. :Traditionally speaking, how much say do symbionts get when their masters want to add someone to the family?:
Frenzy fiddled with the game for a moment, then shut it off. He crossed the room and scrambled up onto the desk beside Ratchet, where he sat down on the edge. He swung his legs for a moment, watching Soundwave and Killaglitch. His answer wasn't immediate, but Ratchet waited patiently, knowing Frenzy well enough by now to know was just organizing his thoughts.
He turned his attention to his lover and the new symbiont. Killaglitch was transmitting pictures and videos to a datapad from his memory files. He was sharing memories, Ratchet realized. Normally two mechs would simply transmit that sort of data back and forth, but Soundwave's damage prevented normal file transfers. Killaglitch was showing Soundwave snippets of his life. Ratchet heard laughter, and the squeal of a sparkling, from the datapad. Soundwave touched the screen with one blunt finger, gently, head bowed. He rested his other hand on Killaglitch's back and said softly, "Regrets, expressed."
Frenzy finally answered Ratchet's question. :We get a lot of say. The thing about being bonded - and you can't know this until you've really experienced it - is that you can't be happy if your partner's miserable.:
Ratchet met Frenzy's red optics. Frenzy's expression was uncharacteristically soft and open. The symbiont said, :I'm gonna make an effort to get to know Killa. It would be good for Soundwave to have someone else besides me. If anything ever happened to me ...:
Frenzy trailed off for a moment. :Ratch, if anything ever happens to me an' he doesn't have someone else, Soundwave might try to follow me to the Well.:
:I ... don't know what would be best.: Ratchet admitted. :He'd be so alone without you.:
Frenzy shook his head. :It's his choice what he wants to do, but I think you'd have a chance at keepin' him here. He loves you.:
:I'm pretty fond of him, too, scraplet, but it's not the same as being bonded to someone.:
:Don't call me that!: Frenzy shot him an irritated glare. :I'm not a child.:
:Sorry, kiddo.:
Frenzy slapped Ratchet on the arm with considerable force. Though his pile drivers had been taken away, he still had upgraded hydraulics in his shoulders and arms.
"Ow!" Ratchet recoiled. He'd forgotten just how hard Frenzy could hit, despite past personal experience.
Frenzy grinned at him, eyes dancing with dark amusement. His introspective mood had vanished as quickly as it had come. "Wimp."
"Frenzy, behave." Soundwave didn't even look in Frenzy's direction. He was focused on Killa's datapad.
Frenzy swung his legs back and forth over the edge of the desk with considerable force for a moment. Then he said, :Would you be okay with it?:
:With you denting me?: Ratchet said sourly, inspecting his arm
:With the Boss bonding to more symbionts. I know you get me 'n Soundwave are a unit, but you gonna be okay with a whole bunch more brats like me under foot?:
It was a fair question. Frenzy's red optics regarded him warily, waiting for his answer. He gave it the consideration it was due, then said, :It would depend on the mechs, I suppose.:
:Fair enough.: Frenzy's right knee was clicking as he swung his feet. :That's how I feel about it too.:
:You've got a chipped gear, kiddo.:
:Eh, nothing major.:
He opened a drawer on his desk and pulled out his repair kit. Gears and cogs were fairly standardized, and he had the same size part in his thumbs that Frenzy had in his knees. He found the gear he needed and told Frenzy, aloud, "That noise is driving me nuts. Hold still."
Frenzy froze, and looked over at Soundwave. :The boss usually does my repairs.:
:Yeah, well, we're a family now, like you said. Hold still.:
Frenzy huffed but remained motionless as Ratchet numbed the sensors in his knee with a burst of medical code, then unbolted several pieces of armor. The damaged gear was easy enough to get to, and Ratchet worked with calm confidence to replace it. Soundwave gave them one sharp look, but did not object to Ratchet's maintenance work.
:Ratch,: Frenzy began tentatively, :He really loves you. More than that, he trusts you.:
Ratchet glanced up at Frenzy's expression, with was cautiously guarded. :It's mutual.:
:He's anxious.: Frenzy folded his arms cross his chest, body language mirroring his own anxiety at this discussion. He started to swing his free leg, and Ratchet stopped the motion with a firm hand. If Frenzy moved too much it made dismantling his knee more difficult. :Every time you guys get together, he's anxious. I think he's worried you don't love him back the way he loves you.:
:Well,: Ratchet said, a huff in his voice, :I have told him how I feel.:
:Words.: Frenzy shook his head. :People lie all the time. You wouldn't believe how many people have lied to Soundwave, important people and important lies. He was a telepath. He knew. I think that's one of the reasons he covers his face, and modified his voice. It made it easier to hide his reaction when somebody lied to him about something important. An' now - now he can't know for sure you're telling the truth. Neither can I.:
Ratchet finished the quick repair, then, since he already had his repair kit out, he inspected Frenzy's tiny hands. As was typical for a mech who worked hard and played harder, Frenzy had a few tension wires that needed to be adjusted. He zoomed his vision in on the delicate wires and began to adjust them. :I'm not sure how to fix that, Frenzy. I'm not a shrink. I could have him talk to Smokescreen ...:
:You should merge with him,: Frenzy blurted out.
:What?: Ratchet jerked his head up.
:He needs to know. I know it'd break half a dozen regulations an' you two ain't been together long, but he needs to know where you stand.:
Ratchet squirted a bit of fine machine oil into Frenzy's finger joints, then wiped the excess off with a rag. :Seems to me you were accusing me of taking advantage of him just a few weeks ago. Now you want me to merge with him? I think you might want to know for yourself, too.:
:Well, d'uh.: Frenzy pulled his hands away and folded his arms defensively once more.
Ratchet crouched to look Frenzy in the optics at his level. Frenzy averted his gaze, then forced himself to turn his head back and meet Ratchet's sharp look when Ratchet didn't move. :Frenzy, I love him.:
Frenzy chewed on his lip plate. :Merge with him. Prove it to him.:
:I don't even know if he'd want to merge with me.:
:Only one way to find out,: Frenzy said, with a teasing grin.
Ratchet rubbed his forehead with two fingers. :Normally, it would be against regulations, but Optimus is fine with it because he's a romantic old fool. He's actually suggested I merge with your boss before. And Soundwave isn't a POW anymore - his official status is that of a neutral with a very high level security clearance. If anyone - Red Alert - fussed too much, I could cite a few regulations at 'em in my defense.:
Frenzy poked Ratchet in the arm. :Hey, any chance you could put a good word in for me'n Steeljaw, then?:
:Are you really ready for that step?: His question was as serious as Frenzy's was joking.
:I'm a symbiont. I've shared sparks plenty of times before. It's in our hard code to be willing share our sparks with others.: Frenzy's optics gleamed. :Just never done it with a lover before. That sounds like an awful lot of fun - sharing arousal in a merge. Whee!:
:Ahem. I'll talk to Prime. You keep up the good work around here, and they might just upgrade your clearance enough. Pit knows you'll be working with enough classified material as a liaison between factions that we might have to upgrade Steeljaw's security clearance to match yours.:
Frenzy blinked. :Really?:
:Eh, I'm not the one to make the decisions, but I wouldn't object. I trust you.:
Frenzy shuttered his optics a few times in surprise. Ratchet realized it was the trust comment that had provoked that comment when the symbiont said, :You do?:
:Pit, Kiddo. You slagging sleep in my quarters and have free run of my med bay. What do you think?:
Hesitantly, Frenzy touched a hand to Ratchet's arm. :Thank you, Ratch.:
:Don't go all mushy on me. Why don't you scram and go find Steeljaw? He should be coming off shift in a few moments.:
Fifteen minutes after Frenzy left, Killaglitch shut his datapad down with real reluctance. "I've got an evening meeting with Scrapfinder in a few minutes, Soundwave. I've got to go."
Soundwave nodded. "Meet again, tomorrow? Time, enjoyable."
"For certain." Killaglitch leaned his stocky frame against Soundwave's chest when Soundwave lifted him off the table, and he hugged Soundwave tightly around the neck. "I've missed you, my friend."
After Killa had left, Ratchet watched Soundwave for a moment. Soundwave drained the last of the single cube of high grade he'd nursed all evening. He was staring out at nothing in particular, head aimed at a blank spot on their quarters' wall.
Ratchet rose, and dimmed the lights as he did. He pinged his quarters' sound system to play a classical tune from the golden ages that he'd learned Soundwave loved. He didn't have much experience at seduction, but could at least give a stab at the basics.
Soundwave, clearly surprised, turned to look at Ratchet. One optic ridge lifted above his visor.
Ratchet held a hand out, and pulled Soundwave to his feet. With only a little embarrassed hesitation he said, "It has been a good day, lover."
"... affirmative." Soundwave reached out to stroke long fingers down Ratchet's arm. "Love me, desired?"
"Mmm." Ratchet pressed himself into Soundwave's embrace. He wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but he liked the fact that Soundwave was taller than he was. He liked the way Soundwave's arms could completely encircle his frame, and the way his head rested comfortably against Soundwave's shoulder. Still, his imagination failed to produce any seductive or sexy comment that wouldn't sound ridiculous coming from a cranky medic who was older than the Pit. He settled for small talk. "I'm glad you found your friend."
"Ratchet, no jealousy?"
"Pit no. I'm a big bot, I can share you." He rested his forehead against Soundwave's shoulder pauldron. "As long as it's not in the berth."
"No sexual desire, Killaglitch." Soundwave took the teasing comment literally.
"He's a bit small, true." Ratchet tried to turn it into a joke.
"Size, irrelevant."
"I don't know, I find your size quite relevant."
Soundwave missed the innuendo. Instead, he said, "Soundwave, of average height for carrier mecha."
Ratchet gave up on teasing his lover. Soundwave had spent the entire day in conversation with others, and was probably exhausted. It took a considerable amount of his neural resources for him to communicate via the Rube Goldberg-esq system they had devised. He had, as the humans said, most likely hit the wall and wasn't up to anything but literal translation at the moment.
"Are you tired?" Ratchet inquired, though he knew the answer.
Soundwave traced his strong fingers over Ratchet's helm crest. "Ratchet, desires making love?"
"Yes. But we need to talk." Ratchet pushed back. At this close range, and with the lights in the room low, he could see Soundwave's optics through the visor. Behind the flicker of Soundwave's HUD, he saw Soundwave's optics widen with concern and fear. He reviewed what he said, but could see nothing that should have alarmed his lover.
Soundwave followed him into the berth room, his tall form silent and his body language closed off. The door slid shut behind them. Soundwave stood, making no move towards the berth. Instead, he asked, "Ratchet, how can I change my behavior to please you?"
Ratchet absently noted that Soundwave had produced a complete, grammatically correct sentence. However, that observation was overshadowed by what Soundwave had just said. "What?"
Soundwave was simply silent, correctly inferring that Ratchet's exclamation had been strictly rhetorical.
Ratchet muttered a curse in Cybertronian, then said, "Pit knows I'm a tactless old bastard. Soundwave, I love you and you don't need to change anything. It scares me to death how well we match."
Soundwave's vocalizer clicked a couple of times, as if Soundwave wanted to speak through his own systems. Finally, he said with the visor, "You are ... lover. Compatible, yes. Desire to please. Soundwave, imperfect. Understand this. Soundwave will modify actions to please Ratchet. Will be who Ratchet wants, to best of ability. Soundwave will compensate for damage with extra effort. Tell me, what can I do to please you?"
When they'd first made love, Soundwave had been wary of spiking Ratchet while simultaneously too nervous about being spiked to enjoy it. Since Soundwave's realization that Ratchet wanted a lover, not submissive servant, Soundwave had been more comfortable with using his spike. Ratchet, who didn't care which role he assumed in a tryst, had been perfectly willing to spread his legs and let Soundwave take charge.
Now, he realized that Soundwave had simply been spiking him because Soundwave wanted to please him. It might also be Soundwave's preference to be a spike mech, but Soundwave's confidence came from the knowledge he was making Ratchet happy.
Frenzy had been dead on, Ratchet decided, that they needed to merge. He wasn't quite sure how to bring the topic up, however, so instead he just ran a hand down Soundwave's chest, over his spark.
Soundwave caught that hand, and folded both of his around it. "Tell me what is wrong."
"You frustrate me." Ratchet rested his helm against Soundwave's chest.
"... apologies? Explain source of frustration."
"We are equals."
"Our sparks equal, yes. Soundwave has damage. Must compensate." Soundwave's shoulders were drooping, just a bit. "Truth."
"Merge with me," he blurted out.
Soundwave took a step back, releasing Ratchet. His eyes were bright in surprise behind his visor. At some point he'd retracted his blast mask, and now his mouth opened.
"Oh, don't look at me that way." Ratchet, feeling suddenly surly and defensive, snapped. "If you don't want to merge, just say so."
"Desire, yes." Soundwave looked a bit like Frenzy had earlier when he defensively folded his arms across his chest and turned a quarter turn away from Ratchet, and Ratchet almost snickered. Anyone who thought Soundwave was a drone had never seen him in private. The mech could be almost as emotive as Jazz when he let his guard down. "Ratchet, will get in trouble."
"I will not get in trouble. Pit, Prowl will probably think we can trust you more if we're fragging sparks. He trusts me and my opinions and there's one sure way to know a mech's true spark."
Soundwave gave him a sharp look.
"Well, and Prime is just a slagging romantic, but that's Prime for you. His idea of leadership is to warm-fuzzy everyone into submission. And yes, apparently my sex life is an appropriate topic of discussion at command meetings because it concerns you."
"Autobot leadership, definite differences, Decepticon command style."
Ratchet snorted a laugh, glad to hear Soundwave's humor returning. "Soundwave, seriously. I ... want you to know what I'm really feeling. Will you merge with me?"
Soundwave gave a jerky sort of nod. "I wish you to know me. Unsure, able to merge."
"Only one way to find out," Ratchet said, softly. "Some things are spark deep instinct."
And then they stood awkwardly before each other for one long moment before Ratchet snickered. "Primus, look at us. You'd think we were a pair of virgins."
His lover's deep laugh, resonant and unmodified by his blast mask, echoed Ratchet's. Then Soundwave stepped forward, pulling Ratchet into a kiss. The tall carrier's nimble fingers found all the right spots amid the wiring and cables of Ratchet's hip joints, and he revved his engine assertively. Ratchet sent a silent thank you to Primus that Soundwave was definitely no virgin, and knew how to please a lover.
Soundwave pushed him towards the berth, but turned at the last moment so he sat down on the edge of it. The carrier slid backwards across the resilient surface, pulling Ratchet by the hand with him.
"In your lap?" Ratchet asked.
Soundwave nodded once. "Easiest. You are shorter. Fairwinds, same problem. My chest, cannot take significant weight when opened. Many systems must move aside. Some may be damaged."
He should have anticipated that. Soundwave had the complicated systems of his symbiont docks in front of his spark, and the size of the docks meant his gestation chamber was also pushed upwards, in front of his spark. That odd design was why Soundwave had survived a blast that would have destroyed any other mech.
And then he forgot all about the technical side of matters when he knelt astride Soundwave's lap and he felt the heat and vibration of the Soundwave's systems against his interface panel. Soundwave, helpfully, revved his power plant hard enough to send vibrations right to the core of Ratchet's tentative arousal. Heat ignited within his circuits as he felt the proximity of Soundwave's fields, and felt the touch of Soundwave's skilled hands on his frame.
Belatedly, he reciprocated by leaning in for a kiss. Soundwave returned it with gentle intimacy, lips tender against Ratchet's own. With any other lover, Ratchet would have been assertive, even aggressive. He'd merged before. He enjoyed it. He was enough of a hedonist to have no hesitations about merging with a willing partner, enthusiastically and often.
But this was Soundwave.
And Soundwave was different.
Soundwave pulled back and said quietly, "I love you."
"Yeah, I know." Ratchet lifted a hand up to caress Soundwave's cheek. "I know you do."
Soundwave was an attentive lover, eager to bring pleasure to his partner. Frenzy had once alluded to Soundwave being considered cold in the berth by Megatron, and Ratchet could only conclude that Megatron had either been an idiot or Soundwave had been at his most reserved and merely dutiful. Soundwave's gentle hands and tender touches ignited something in Ratchet's spark that he'd never felt before in his life. He couldn't put a name to the feeling, but it was something deeper than desire and more intimate than passion.
"I will show you." Soundwave's chest began to part. With all the mechanisms that needed to move aside, it took several long moments. Soundwave stroked Ratchet's chest at the same time, and belatedly, Ratchet remembered he needed to bare his own spark.
He felt suddenly insecure, uneasy. They'd seen into the essence of each other's being before, when he'd repaired Soundwave and had dropped all his firewalls in the process to gain Soundwave's trust. However, this was different. This would be far deeper, and far more intimate. Ratchet had taken many lovers before, but he'd also found things in merges that he didn't like about his partners ... and he'd had partners reject him during a merge, as well. While Ratchet had the self-confidence and ego to tell such (former) partners to go frag themselves if they found him unsuitable, those rejections had not been pleasant. They'd generally led to copious high grade consumption with Optimus and/or Jazz.
However, Ratchet didn't know what he would do if Soundwave rejected him. He'd never let himself love another like he did Soundwave. With dental plates gritted together, and more dread than desire, he opened his own spark. All the ways this could go very badly were suddenly at the forefront of his thoughts. There wasn't enough high grade in the Pit if he were rejected ...
Soundwave said quietly, "You do not desire this?"
"I'm slagging scared," Ratchet ground out. He saw no reason to hide that fact. Soundwave would sense it soon enough.
Comprehension lit in the crimson optics that Ratchet could just barely see through Soundwave's visor. Soundwave's HUD flickered briefly, as he composed a reply. "Scared of rejection?"
"Yeah. It's happened before."
Most lovers merged in the throes of passion. Ratchet knew there was no slagging way that he could summon any sort of desire right now. Soundwave, surprisingly, was running hot. Ratchet could feel the arousal in Soundwave's field and hear his fans humming eagerly. All Ratchet could think about was how many ways this was a terrible idea. He was sorry he'd suggested it, but there was no graceful way to back out.
Besides, he decided grimly, it would hurt less if Soundwave rejected him now than if he did after months or years of being lovers. Best get this over with, he decided. Soundwave might as well know the truth about the medic he'd placed on such a high pedestal.
Soundwave pressed a kiss to Ratchet's helm. "All will be fine. You are loved by me."
Ratchet might have been scared, but he was surprised by the eagerness his spark showed when the curling tendrils of their sparks' coronas came within contact. Sudden electric feeling surged through his frame, and a fierce desire to feel more of the mech whose consciousness had just brushed his. He'd merged, plenty of times, but had never reacted like this.
The carrier felt ... solid. He was calm, and sturdy, his emotions surprisingly steady. The first impression he had of Soundwave was of power, intoxicating and mesmerizing power. That strength of will, of intellect, of emotional solidity, was tempered by Soundwave's complete lack of desire to lead. He could feel the mech's desire to please his leaders, and little ambition for personal glory. Instinctively, he knew Soundwave's loyalty would be unshakeable, and his determination and drive to succeed at any task asked of him was unmatched.
He felt Soundwave sinking into Ratchet's own awareness. Soundwave's arms wrapped around Ratchet, holding him close, with strength like he never wanted to let go. Soundwave was basking in Ratchet's fiercely emotional authority. Soundwave might have stated they were equals, but he was incredibly attracted to Ratchet's dominating personality.
They fell deeper into the merge. It was as if they were two halves of a whole. Ratchet, who had merged with many lovers over his long life, had never felt a spark that complemented his like Soundwave's did. They were very different, but their strengths and weaknesses balanced each other out. More importantly, Soundwave just felt right. It wasn't with passion but with a clear mind that Ratchet decided he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this mech.
Yes, was Soundwave's wordless reply. He couldn't speak - he would never be able to speak, even in a bond - but the affirmative that answered Ratchet's desire was perfectly comprehensible.
A second awareness entered the merge. Though not physically present, Frenzy's bond with Soundwave was more than strong enough that the little mechling was aware of their activities. They had allowed the merge to deepen to the point that Ratchet could feel Frenzy's presence - fierce, loyal, and with a startling clarity to his thoughts and emotions that shone with the brilliance of a thousand stars. Frenzy was a force to be reckoned with, and Ratchet had never even suspected he would have such a strong spark.
Smugly, Frenzy said, :Surprised ya.:
:Frenzy, I ... I want him.:
:I know. He knows. It's okay.:
:You're okay with this?:
:I can feel you too. This feels right.:
Soundwave pulsed love across the merge, at both of them. With it came a sense of shock.
:I don't think he expected you to love him back. I didn't either. Not like this. Or to ... to care about me.: Frenzy sounded rattled. :Ratchet, I ... I'm sorry for butting in, but I can feel what you feel for him, and I wanted to make sure me being part of your world isn't going to be an issue. Because, uh, you won't just be bonding with him, you'll be bonding with both of us.:
:You know, merges are really supposed to be private.:
:He's a carrier. I'm his symbiont. You need to understand what that means. You gotta be okay with that. You'd destroy him if you made him choose. What he feels for you is every bit as strong as what he feels for me, and he'd die for either of us. So don't make this final unless you're okay with me being part of your spark too.:
Frenzy was fiercely protective. Ratchet could sense that. The little mechling would die for his master, and would do anything to protect him. He didn't even feel embarrassed to intrude. He felt defiant.
And the thing was, Ratchet had loved Soundwave before, with fond affection, but now he found he couldn't imagine a life without Soundwave in it. Soundwave filled a hole he'd never known existed in his spark. That hole would become a raw wound if he and Soundwave were parted now. Frenzy, and the bond that Soundwave and Frenzy shared, was part of Soundwave's identity. He honestly couldn't imagine his lover without his symbiont. The two had a relationship that transcended mere love, for all that it was purely platonic.
Forever, he murmured in his mind. Frenzy and all.
Forever, was Soundwave's unswerving, wordless, response.
The merge became a bond, which settled into place with ease as their sparks synced on a quantum level. Now Ratchet felt fiery desire, even as their sparks parted but their awareness of one another remained.
He felt Frenzy snicker in amusement. :And you were scared he might reject you.:
:Scram, kid.:
:No problem. Have fun, boss!:
Frenzy slammed up walls, blocking himself from the bond. Ratchet promptly forgot about him entirely as Soundwave's lips met his with desperate intensity. Ratchet pushed the carrier back, aggressively, even as Soundwave willingly relaxed onto the berth.
Their sparks parted, but an incredibly strong awareness of Soundwave remained. No words, as he had expected, but there were raw emotions and impressions of thoughts. Soundwave's trust in Ratchet was complete. There was no resistance as Ratchet pushed Soundwave's legs apart with his hands and nestled between his thighs.
This felt so right.
Soundwave surrendered all fear, and a lifetime of bad experiences. His interface panels slid open, baring his valve. Desire coursed through the bond, a desire for Ratchet to make love to him - to protect him, to show him affection and care and tenderness.
Ratchet stroked Soundwave's helm with his fingers. He could feel every last bit of tension had left Soundwave's frame. Total trust, and total acceptance, pulsed through the bond.
I love you, he thought, and though he knew Soundwave couldn't understand the words, he could feel the emotions.
Soundwave arched his hips upwards, inviting. He responded to Ratchet's tenderness with soft, intimate affection. He trusted Ratchet not to hurt him, and he relaxed into Ratchet's touch with only desire in his spark.
Ratchet's spike was the hardest it had ever been in his life. He pushed slowly, gently, into Soundwave's valve. As he did so, he continued to stroke Soundwave's face with his fingers. Oh, how he loved this mech.
Neither of them lasted long. Soundwave cried out in surprise and pleasure as he overloaded. Ratchet knew without asking that Soundwave had never climaxed from being spiked before. Gruff pride filled Ratchet's spark, even as he thrust hard twice more and then lost himself into the tight arms and the welcoming spark of his bondmate.
Much later, close to dawn, Ratchet woke. Soundwave was deep in recharge and Ratchet had spent the night with one arm thrown across Soundwave's chest and a leg over his knees. He could feel the warm thrum of Soundwave's spark in the bond with his own. Even asleep, Soundwave felt happy.
Frenzy, to his minor surprise, was curled up on Soundwave's chest, with his head on Ratchet's arm.
Frenzy was not asleep. The clear sense of Frenzy in the bond had faded a bit but was still there. He found he didn't mind. While his affection for Frenzy was strictly platonic, Frenzy's presence was bright, sharp and fierce. Ratchet knew he could trust the symbiont with everything that he was and all that he would ever be. They were family now, in a way few mecha could ever appreciate.
:I was worried you'd be freaked out.: Frenzy activated a comm line between them. Ratchet suspected that they could speak over the bond, but the effort of doing so would be great, and it would definitely wake Soundwave. Soundwave was oblivious to comm line communications due to his damage.
:I like you, kid.: He smiled at Frenzy.
:Good thing.:
:I want him to be happy,: Ratchet said, simply, :But that's not why I like you. I guess this is sort've like a gestalt bond, between you and me.:
:Pretty close.:
:If you bond with Steeljaw, will I be able to sense him?: Carriers were notoriously closed-mouth about the exact details of their bonds.
:Maybe.: Frenzy didn't bother denying how much he loved Steeljaw. Ratchet could sense it. :As a distant presence, most likely. During peaks of emotion you might be able to pick up more. Your bond with me is secondary, and if I bond with him, it would be a tertiary bond for you. The exact amount you'd get from him would vary depending on your spark resonance, and how close I am with him. For what it's worth, the bond I have with Soundwave is extremely close. We're very resonant on a quantum level, and we've worked at it a long time. You're resonant with him too, and with me by extension. I didn't expect that, but it's nice. I'm tired of being alone in my head ... I hope you don't mind.:
He didn't. He could block Frenzy out if he wanted, but the mechling's presence was surprisingly pleasant.
:I was never part of a big clan, but from what Soundwave's told me in the past, most clans had huge webs of interconnected bonds. Soundwave was cast out before he was old enough to have bonded to anyone. When he bonded to Fairwinds, he just had Ravage and the birds and was courting a cyberscorpion named Clicker. Clicker died in the same crash that killed Fairwinds. For what it's worth, Fairwinds was never able to pick us up except as faint echoes.:
:They weren't as compatible?:
Frenzy blinked his crimson optics and considered the question. :Don't get me wrong, Fairwinds and Soundwave were deeply, deeply, in love, but on a quantum level your bond is much tighter with him than hers was. You guys match up well. It's probably why you fell for each other so fast, too.:
:Yeah, I never expected to bond to one of my patients, much less a 'con I just barely met.:
:He'd swear allegiance to Optimus in a sparkbeat. So would I. So don't call us Decepticons.:
:Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry, kid.: He touched his fingers to Frenzy's chest where Frenzy's Decepticon sigil had once been.
:You didn't think you'd ever bond, did you?:
:Everyone here on Earth is potentially my patient. It's a bit of a violation of medical ethics to take a patient as a lover, much less bond to someone.:
:Yeah, well, it's unfair to expect you to live your life like a celibate priest as punishment for being the CMO. However, is Prime going to be okay with this?:
:Yes, he will. It will also give the command staff reassurance that Soundwave can be trusted. However, it's probably best that the rest of the Autobots and the Decepticons don't know about our relationship yet.:
:No duh. Back to the no-bonding thing. You really didn't have any partners since you came to Earth?: Frenzy was openly and unashamedly curious.
:Since long before.: He sighed across the comm line. :Kid, I don't have the best track record with lovers.:
:And ...? There's more to it than that.:
:It would kill me if someone I loved ended up in my medbay, and I couldn't save them,: he admitted.
:You love Prime. Is that why ...?:
:Everyone loves Prime.:
:Slag, man. You do know now that I can feel when you're lying?:
:Partly, yes.: He admitted the truth. :I've loved Optimus for a long, long, time. But not the way I love Soundwave. I've known Optimus since he was an Academy student. He helped on my senatorial campaign as an intern. When the senate was assassinated and I survived only because I had an emergency at the clinic that day, he helped me pick the pieces of my life up. He's one of the best friends I've ever had, and my oldest friend, and yes, there was a period in my life where I wished it could be more.:
:... but?:
:But he said no the one time I brought the subject up.:
:Oh. I'm sorry. He's an idiot, then.:
:He told me he loved me as a brother, not as a lover. I just wasn't his type. It hurt at the time, but he's the only family I've got beside you two. He loves me in a purely platonic sense, and after a time, I came to see him the same way.:
:Hmph. I still say he's a fool.:
:Well, I wouldn't have found your master if he'd seen me differently.:
:Not necessarily. Carriers can be polyamorous.: Frenzy smirked. :It's pretty common among the larger clans.:
:Optimus is definitely a one-bot mech. As am I, I think.:
:Has the Prime ever had anyone in his life besides Elita? We were always looking for indications he had a lover, but nothing turned up. Rumble didn't think he had anyone, but I always wondered if he was just being discrete.:
:No, and he never consummated his love with Elita.:
:He's a ...?!:
:Indeed. It's not that unusual for Primes to remain celibate. Optimus isn't sworn to celibacy, but he's very wary of taking a casual lover for any number of reasons. I'm sure you could figure them out if you thought about it.:
:You'd probably do something terrible to me if I gossiped about that.:
:It's known by the command staff, and all the medical staff and his closer friends. We tease him, sometimes, about it. He's just a mech, Frenzy - Optimus has one of the purest sparks I've ever known, but he's mortal.: Ratchet smiled faintly.
:Primus.: Frenzy snickered. :No, I won't blab. Spymaster for my Boss, remember? I know when to keep my trap shut. Though - what is his type?:
:The big guy's got a thing for wings.:
:So the flirting with Starscream wasn't all flirting?: Frenzy's eyes widened.
Ratchet laughed across the comm link. :I wasn't in the meeting you're talking about, but I suspect that was just Optimus being charismatic. Quite honestly, if any mech is ever going to capture his spark, it will be Skyfire.:
:Oooooh ...: Frenzy's optics lit up in appreciation of good gossip.
:Though the problem is, I'm not sure either of them has the spinal struts to make the first move..:
:Maybe we could get them drunk and then lock them in a closet together.:
:I'm not sure there's a closet on the ship where they'd both fit, but we could lock them up together in Skyfire's lab ...: Ratchet was joking, and Frenzy's response of giggling mental glee made him smile.
Frenzy then rested his head on Ratchet's hand again. :Docbot, you're way more cool than I ever imagined for an old 'bot.:
:Thanks,: Ratchet said, a bit dryly. He didn't appreciate being called old.
:Well, you called me a cheerleader.:
At that moment Soundwave stirred. His frame clicked and whirred as systems booted up and his optics lit. He lifted one hand to touch Frenzy, and found Ratchet's fingers in the process. They laced fingers together.
Frenzy promptly wriggled out from under their hands. "Gonna go see if engineering needs my help. Yell if you need me."
After the little symbiont had hurried out of the room, Ratchet let himself laugh. "You know, Frenzy's nothing like what I expected. I think the little scraplet and I are going to be very good friends."
"Frenzy, loved."
"By both of us," Ratchet assured him. "He's the adopted son I didn't want and never knew I needed."
"Frenzy ... not wanted?" Ratchet could feel sudden alarm and insecurity fill Soundwave's spark. Soundwave had clearly misunderstood Ratchet's words.
"Sarcasm, lover." Ratchet assured him. "I'm happy."
"I am happy," Soundwave agreed.
Ratchet could feel the truth in this. There were dark shadows in his spark, areas of profound grief and loss, some very ancient and others raw and new. However, Soundwave was not a mech who dwelt on the past and he was content with his new life, and optimistic about his future. Life, as the humans said, went on.
Soundwave rolled over onto his side, facing Ratchet. Ratchet willingly let the larger mech pull him into a tender embrace that he would have tolerated from no one else. Soundwave explained in a low murmur, "Ratchet, beloved. You, return love. You, love Frenzy. Frenzy, will be happy. Frenzy, found suitable partner. Life, has purpose. Honest work. Optimus Prime, my leader. Life will be good, here."
Ratchet pictured a future in it with Soundwave at his side. Soundwave, with his quiet competence, stubborn determination to better himself, and that dry, understated sense of humor. Soundwave, who would be completely happy living the rest of his life complementing Ratchet's skills rather than competing with him. Soundwave, who he loved more than he'd ever thought possible, and who returned his love with deep, firm, confident conviction.
"Everything's going to work out." Ratchet traced a finger down Soundwave's chest.
He had never expected to bond. Now he had found his perfect bondmate, as well as a family in the form of Frenzy. He had never realized how alone he was, even surrounded by friends, until now.
"Believe truth Ratchet speaks," Soundwave caught Ratchet's fingers and kissed them. "Future, will be good."
For a long moment, they just lay like that, limbs and fingers intertwined. Ratchet could feel the peace and trust in Soundwave's spark, and the quiet faith that the future would be good.
"Frenzy, happy," Soundwave said, finally.
"Me too." Ratchet admitted. "He's a good kid. I'm glad to call him family."
Soundwave smile was radiant.
"What about Killaglitch?" Ratchet asked.
"Soundwave, will court, with Ratchet, Frenzy, approval."
"Yeah, you've got mine. He's important to you." Ratchet pressed a kiss to Soundwave's fingers. "The more the merrier. That's the carrier way, yes?"
"Partial truth. All must fit. Ratchet, Frenzy, must approve." Soundwave pressed a kiss to Ratchet's helm. "It is time to arise, correct?"
"Yeah, work beckons." Ratchet wished, deeply, that he had the luxury of taking several orns to just simply lose himself in the siren call of Soundwave's spark. However, they both had duties and responsibilities - and their shared sense of duty was one of the reasons they were so very compatible. There would be no resentment from Soundwave for Ratchet's responsibilities; indeed, Soundwave would be dismayed if Ratchet neglected his job in favor of his desire to indulge Soundwave. And Soundwave would resent it if Ratchet demanded time from him when he had duties of his own to attend to.
They were an incredibly good match, Ratchet thought, as he rose and then automatically offered Soundwave a hand up. He reached for Soundwave's cane, which was leaning against the wall, and gave it to the mech, then said, "I need to talk to Prime about this. I believe you had a session with Prowl this morning to discuss the dossiers of the 'cons on Starscream's side. Let me know if you need anything."
"Likewise." Soundwave bent down to press a kiss to Ratchet's cheek. With no trace of self consciousness, he added, "You are beloved, Ratchet."
"Ahem. Well. I get that. And likewise."
Soundwave's smile was gentle and knowing. "Ratchet, loves."
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do."