Marine Teals

:asdff: commlink

Chapter 6

"What's your favourite color?"

Soundwave nearly spat out a mouthful of energon as he threw a look of disbelief at the mech sitting opposite of him. The mech happened to be a teal-tinted blue Seeker, who merely shrugged and took a sip from his cube. Of all the idiocy...

"Have to try and socialize, do we? You are practically a sitting log and I don't want to start my glorious morning staring at a log. At least say something to make us look less ridiculous." He gestured at a curious mob staring openly at them. Minus Starscream and Skywarp in a corner, looking ready to chew Soundwave into itty bitty pieces. At least when he sent off his symbionts earlier, they only shared a knowing look.

"Thundercracker's presence, not compulsory."

"Ah, ah, ah." Thundercracker wiggled a digit in front of his face, speaking in a sing-song voice, and Soundwave was this close to just stand up and leave. "Our deal, remember? Play nice."

The tapedeck tried his best to suppress a groan, then glanced around. The small mob was still looking at them, the two Seekers were still glaring at him.

... Fuck's wrong with Seekers? Two wouldn't stop glaring daggers at him, one wouldn't leave him alone. At least the latter was nicer.

"So? What's your favourite color?"

Soundwave liked most colors, really, as long as they weren't pink, neon or orange, or unharmonious but he couldn't answer like that. He looked around the room for inspiration. Megatron... too gray. The Constructicons' neon green were too clashing for his taste. Starscream, too... cocky (see what he did there?). Skywarp's shade of purple was too ugly. There wasn't a color he liked in the room, except one maybe. But...

"Query: Why colors?"

"It's ultimate conversation starter. Now spill it."

"Thundercracker first."

The mech leaned back and thought for a moment. "Well... I like blue. All shades of blue."

A faint blush rose to Soundwave's cheeks, which was irrational - just because Thundercracker's most-liked color happened to be the same as the color of his armor didn't mean anything. He bit his bottom lip.

"Teal."

Thundercracker's engine sputtered as he choked in the middle of a sip. He coughed violently for several seconds before giving Soundwave an incredulous look. "That's... flattering to hear."

The marine tapedeck blamed the fact that he had been seeing a lot of teal lately (completely against his will, if he may add). He didn't mind the Seeker's presence too much, although it was causing him to act and speak completely out of character. If yesterday was any indication, it would be safe to assume they had become... acquaintances. "Friendship" would be pushing it, since they'd only truly tried to get along a couple of weeks ago.

"Query?"

"Hmm?" Thundercracker had started toying with the content of his cube.

"Why Thundercracker insist on Soundwave's presence? Trinemate, more logical choice and better company."

"They did some... dishonorable deeds that I couldn't accept." The teal mech's optics narrowed a fraction and his voice took on a hostile edge. "Like telling me to leave you behind and orchestrating your demise. They need to lay off the meddling. Fragging motherhens, the both of them."

Soundwave's gaze softened. He was having a fight with them because of yesterday's events? That was... surprisingly endearing. Nevertheless, it had to stop.

"Trinemates antagonizing Soundwave: unpleasant. Skirmishes, lowering team morale. Reconciliation, necessary."

Thundercracker remained silent for a while, then blew out a sigh with a petulant pout. "Okay, I'll try. Only because I don't want to be on Megatron's bad books."

That was enough confirmation for him, and Soundwave spend the rest of morning energon in a generally good mood, feeling productive. Until Starscream decided to block him way in the halls as he was leaving for duty. The tri-colored mech loomed over him with a menacing aura, one arm leaned against the wall. Soundwave had debated sidestepping Starscream, but the Seeker would probably come back to bother him, and he preferred to keep their encounters a minimum. Plus Starscream was a warbuild. Soundwave was not.

"Starscream, move."

Starscream ignored him. "I see you've been quite chummy with one of my trinemates lately."

"Encounters, mostly coincidental. Some unavoidable."

"Don't lie. You are actively seeking him out, and I don't like it."

"Contrary: Thundercracker, normally initiates contact."

"You accepted his invitations anyway."

The tapedeck kept his features passive and stared silently at the taller mech. Although the Decepticon Second in Command was being intimidating, Soundwave was more irritated than afraid. You couldn't become too scary with such a screechy voice.

"Starscream, jealous?" Soundwave intoned and had the satisfaction of seeing the tri-colored Seeker flustered angrily.

"I demand you stop your... exploitations of Thundercracker." Starscream spat out the word as if in distaste. "He's my and Skywarp's trinemate, meaning he's not yours. Don't go poking your head in others' business, telepath."

The lights behind Soundwave visor narrowed into slits. No doubt Starscream had said similarly to Thundercracker, and the tapedeck could sympathize with him for enduring such ridiculous requests. Before he could stop himself, Soundwave leaned up so he was only inches away from the Seeker's faceplate and his monotonous voice dropped a pitch.

"Thundercracker, not yours either."

Starscream was stunned at the sudden statement but quickly replaced his shock with an ugly sneer. "If that's how you want to play it, fine. You'll back down soon enough, and next time I won't be so courteous."

"Something wrong? Why are you two facing off like that?"

They nearly jumped and turned to see Thundercracker staring confusedly at them. "Starscream, what are you doing?" He immediately seemed alarmed.

"Just having a little... talk with our resident telepath, that's all. You have flight practice today so get your aft moving." With a final glare and a violent shove at Soundwave, Starscream turned and stalked off.

"What were you... conversing about, if I may inquire? He didn't say anything outrageous, did he?"

"... Unimportant." Soundwave rubbed at his arm where Starscream's clawed hand dug in. He was very tempted to continue hanging around Thundercracker just for the spirit of annoying Starscream. Just for the heck of it.

Thundercracker huffed. "Better not be what I think it is."

The marine tapedeck shook his helm lightly. His problems with Starscream, his to solve. Soundwave didn't know exactly what he had gotten himself into, though. It was like some twisted Seeker game, a challenge that he did not know the rules and the prize. He would have to be extra careful from now on, since he never knew if his energon would be poisoned or if someone would push him down the stairs.

Digits flew expertly over keyboards as Soundwave ran customary checkups on the Nemesis. There were a few locations that could use reinforcement and a small leak in one of the storage chambers. Security cameras, fully functional. Energon stock level, high. No security breach detected.

The sound of opening door announced a newcomer, and seconds later a sweaty Thundercracker plopped down onto the nearest chair. He must have taken that flight practice Starscream mentioned earlier.

"How're the chores going?"

Soundwave scrunched his nasal ridge. "Thundercracker, filthy."

"I don't smell that bad." The Seeker sniffed at his arms, and his faceplate immediately bore the same expression. "Yeah... Definitely a bath later." He poked some of the keys and Soundwave swatted his hand away. "How come you're always doing something whenever I see you? The others are goofing around all the time."

"Precise reason."

"Oh. Eh heh heh... Oops?" Thundercracker scratched his head guiltily. "You need any help?"

"Thoughts, appreciated. Help, not currently required." The tapedeck resumed his duties. Soon the room was silent, save for the sound of keys typing and Thundercracker swinging his around in his seat. After the Seeker's chair squeaked the twelfth time, Soundwave exasperatedly turned to him.

"Thundercracker, not busy?"

"Hm? No." Another squeak, and Soundwave made a mental note to assign a mech for maintenance. He was getting really tired of the squeaking. The tapedeck turned to fully face Thundercracker, crossing his legs in the process. He didn't miss the strange look the teal mech sent in his direction.

"Query: Problem?"

"No, no." Thundercracker shook his head and grinned. "It's just that... The more I am around you, the more my image of you shatters."

"Thundercracker's assumptions of Soundwave: stiff, humorless, stoic, opportunistic?"

"Well, yeah. You don't give the others much to change their mind. But those were my previous assumptions," the Seeker pointed at him, "I mean, you're sitting with your legs crossed!"

"Position, comfortable."

"And trying to be funny. I don't know if I'm hallucinating or really seeing this."

The blue telepath just smiled lightly behind his mask. Thundercracker moved to stand behind him, leaning over to inspect the information displayed on the monitors. His body barely pressed against Soundwave's back, and Soundwave was briefly reminded of how close the Seeker had held him yesterday, how warm the larger frame was, so warm it was almost suffocating. He shivered slightly in remembrance.

For the millionth time, Soundwave was glad for his mask since his faceplate was getting a bit steamy.

"T.C!"

Thundercracker jumped half a mile in the air and bumped against Soundwave with such force that the tapedeck slammed face-first into the keyboards. Strings of random commands appeared on the monitors and Soundwave scrambled to erase them.

"Skywarp, you almost gave me a spark attack! I could've fragging DIED!" Thundercracker swore loudly.

"Like that'd happen." Skywarp answered in a flippant manner. "What are you doing here anyway? Go have a game of Crackle with me!" Soundwave could tell without looking that a hateful glare was directed at him. He kept one audio out for the two Seekers' conversation lest it concerned him. They sounded friendly enough, which meant Thundercracker may had taken his advice and made peace with his Trinemates. He pinged the teal mech's comm.

:Reconciliation, successful?:

:What? Oh, heck no! I'm still waiting for a suitable occasion.:

:Thundercracker.: Soundwave breathed out in exasperation. Thundercracker ignored him and turned his attention back to Skywarp, who was babbling about some high score he got.

"I don't really feel like it. Besides, I was helping Soundwave before you came in and started yelling."

:Thundercracker, not helping. Bothering Soundwave.:

:Hey, be a bit cooperate here. I don't want to be around him now. It'd be awkward as hell.:

"But why would you help such a boring mech do such a boring job?" Skywarp whined.

:Thundercracker, leave. Skywarp's presence, distracting.:

:No. You and I both know the Crackle game is just a disguise. So I'm staying here where I can avoid the inevitable.:

"No, Skywarp. I have things to do."

"He looks fine without your help! He have never asked for help before so I don't see why now!"

:Your call. Either you help me or endure Skywarp's whining.:

"T.C!"

Soundwave sighed and pointed at a stack of datapads nearby. "Thundercracker, retrieve datapads on energon consumption rate."

The teal Seeker broke out into a triumphant grin, proceeded to push Skywarp out of the room and keyed the door shut before the other mech could utter a word. "See? Now if you excuse me, I have useful tasks to perform."

Soundwave typed in the last commands and leaned back, rubbing at his now-aching nasal ridge. He glanced sideways and was immediately met with Thundercracker's smug grin.

"Why must Thundercracker stay? Soundwave: "boring"." The tapedeck repeated what the purple mech had said with plenty of sarcasm.

"You're not too bad. And besides, what would you do without my assistance, heh?" Thundercracker laughed, taking a seat opposite of Soundwave.

"Thundercracker, stop excuses."

The Seeker's laughter died, and Thundercracker's mouth pulled down in a petulant frown.

He seemed thoughtful.

"Spending time with you is different, so it is quite interesting to me. There's just... something, you know," he gestured around ambiguously, "I like hanging around you. It's not like you're giving me much of a choice either. If it hadn't been for our deal, you wouldn't even be looking at me right now."

Soundwave's faceplate heated up. The teal mech scratched his helm. "You're not the only one feeling uncomfortable here." The awkwardness was so palpable it could be sliced with an energon blade.

The tapedeck decided to do something stupid. Extremely stupid.

He reached out and brushed the tips of his fingers against Thundercracker's right wing. Still-visible weld marks ran up and down the armor patch where Megatron had crushed. The other mech caught his drift.

"It's fine. Fully healed. See?" Thundercracker flicked his wings in demonstration then commented lightly. "How's your leg?" He traced a digit over the welds on Soundwave's calf. Must. Not. Squirm.

"Fully functional."

"You know what, I won't even bother to make excuses. I will ask you right here, right now." Thundercracker looked the blue telepath square in the visor. "Want to join me for morning energon tomorrow? Say no and I'll never approach you. We'll both be on our merry way, pretending the other barely exists."

Soundwave knew he could just refuse, and Thundercracker would never bother him again. Then he wouldn't have to deal with Starscream's antics anymore. However, it would also meant that he backed down from Starscream's "challenge", and Soundwave would rather offline himself than condescend to Starscream.

The teal Seeker was grinning a ridiculously hopeful grin, like a sparkling waiting to be given energon treats, and Soundwave couldn't bring himself to do it.

So he nodded.

Players 2 and 3 have entered the game.

This chapter is shorter and calmer than the last, just so I can properly set the stage. It'll be a long-ass fic so I thought it'd be nice to alternate between long and shorter chapters.

Thanks to all those who faved, followed and reviewed. It makes me very happy.

Cheers!