Archive of Our Own ^beta

Soundwave slowly raised himself up on his arms. A million thoughts ran through his processor: what happened? Where am I? Did we win?

The last time he was online, he fought against Blitzwave and Razor-Fin. His illuminated visor scanned the area to find Swindle and Hardtop looking as bewildered and dazed as he was. Beside him was one of the sharkticons, who looked back and forth between himself and the two brothers.  

The whole Mandroid war must be over, he surmised. Soundwave focused as the sudden alert of his communicator diverted him away from his thoughts.

“Soundwave. Do you copy?”

“I copy, Starscream. What’s the status update between you and Megatron?”

Soundwave did not receive a response at first. Muffled background noises filled his audials, and the sound of heavy footsteps grew louder. That’s probably him, he inwardly dreaded.

“Starscream. I repeat-“

“Why don’t you ask him?”

What?

“Soundwave.”

The mech in question flinched back in shock.

“Spare me your excuses!” Soundwave snapped. “I—“

Megatron vented deeply from the other line, his voice surprisingly calm for the warlord he once knew,

“I know you do not wish to reconcile with me right now, but you have the right to know-“

“Know what, traitor?”

Megatron sighed. Soundwave could somehow see his former leader shake his helm with resignation.

“Get back to the barn where the Maltos live, Soundwave. There’s… someone you deserve to see.”

Before Soundwave could satisfy his curiosity with a question, Starscream’s voice echoed through his audial.

“If you need a hint, just ask Ravage.”

“But-“

“Talk to you later, Soundwave. Megatron and I,” Starscream paused to ex-vent, then softened in response, “have a lot to discuss.”

Soundwave said nothing as the line went dead and sagged slightly. The seeker might seem ready to talk things over with Megatron, but it’s going take a few hundred years for the former deception leader to get in good graces with him again.  The pain of betrayal cuts deep, especially when it was from a once devoted friend, and Soundwave wasn’t willing to forgive and forget.

Ask Ravage, he thought in question.  He wanted to ponder what Starscream said, but something about hearing Megatron’s voice again rendered him crestfallen and empty. Too tired to think, let alone care.  With a static groan, the cassette carrier stood upright and took off in his alt-mode, ready to face whatever trap Megatron had in store for him at the Malto household.

Upon reaching the barn, Soundwave quickly transformed to look around. The place was barren, the barn was demolished, there was… a cow?

And then he saw him.

His bondmate. Shockwave. His Shockwave.

The scientist was on his knees, his gun aiming down at the defenseless bovine before receiving a lick. Instead of opening fire, Shockwave retracted his gun and petted it with his servo.

The sight caused Soundwave’s spark to melt. They both shared a soft spot for animals. Shockwave was always more likely to inflict damage on other life forms, but animals? He hesitates. Always did. To see him grow a soft spot for non-human organic life was something Soundwave never thought he needed to see.

His conjunx was alive. He looked somewhat scarred, and his cracked chassis seemed to be recovering from whatever nearly stabbed him there.

“Shockwave,” he whispered shakily. Out of nowhere one of his cassette’s popped out of his chest and transformed. Soundwave extended his servo and called out to her-

“Ravage!”

The cybercat ignored him and took long strides towards the one-eyed mech. Fluffy Ears released a startled moo and galloped out of Shockwave’s grasp.

Shockwave was, well, shocked to say the least. When he saw Ravage skidding towards his hand, his first reaction was to look in her direction. And the same designation of his long lost love echoed across his circuits, causing him to shudder with cautious anticipation.

And right there. Right in front of him was a beloved mech he thought he’d never see again. His spark thrummed in recognition, vibrating stronger than ever in contrast to all those years they spent apart.  He quickly rose to his pedes, his intakes holding back a sob, and strode towards the cassette carrier until they were only a few pedes apart. Ravage followed and affectionately rubbed around his legs before returning to Soundwave’s side.

“Soundwave?”

It was more than a question. Soundwave saw that rare vulnerability in his singular optic. Shockwave’s pupil dilated and trembled ever so slightly as he extended his servos to touch his sparkmate’s faceplates. Soundwave’s whole frame trembled, and his own sobs finally broke through. Ever since Megatron’s betrayal, Soundwave wanted nothing more than to be comforted by his conjunx. But there was a greater task at hand, and somehow he thought Shockwave was safer on the empty battlefield. He couldn’t bear to lose another close ally, his other half, and he vowed to return with Megatron’s head on a pike.

“Y-you shouldn’t have come… I was gonna return with Megatron- I… I couldn’t bear t-to lose you too—!”

Soundwave was immediately silenced in Shockwave’s embrace. The scientist held him so close, so protectively, cradling the back of his sparkmate’s helm in his servo.

“Apart from Megatron’s betrayal,” Shockwave spoke, his voice losing its stoic resolve, “nothing hurt more than being separated from you.”

Ravage purred knowingly and sat next to Fluffy Ears, who curiously tilted her head as they watched the scene unfold.

No one else was around. It was just them. No one was stopping them from being vulnerable for a change. Soon both their knees grew weak and they sunk halfway, holding each other as their armoured plating deflected the rays of the rising sun.

It was a weepy reunion indeed.