Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Soundwave has no idea what had happened, he cannot feel the bond, he cannot feel anything from the cassettes. They are in the middle of the battlefield. He knows that much.

He tries to not focus on those around him, thoughts flowing and screaming. He grips his helm with his servos, curling up and rocking back and forth, hot white pain blinding him. He realized that there is someone in front of him, calling for him frantically, mind blank, it's easier to focus on that someone rather than to make sense of everything around him.

It's difficult to focus but slowly the screaming starts to die down, some minds disappear as well.

Starscream he realizes. It's Starcream, the bot is pinning him in what could be considered a mocking embrace of a lover if it weren't for the rock above him, crushing him. the seeker has a grimace on his face, either from the pain or the confusion that Soundwave accidentally sent to him with his thoughts. He pushes the boulder off of the seeker, bringing their faceplates closer than ever before, some would call it a kiss if it weren't for his mask.

The seeker collapses into his arms, not unconscious, not yet at least. Soundwave quickly realized that he has to get them out of here, the bot had saved him, probably not out of pure intentions he realizes as he looks at other boulders nearby, Starscream was most likely trying to escape and knocked into him which ended up with the both of them stuck like that.

Even now Starscream is being stubborn, trying to fight his own processor to stay conscious and hissing like a rabid turbo-fox before he gets quiet, optics offline. No spark threatening energon leakage but the dents are.. less than ideal.

Soundwave gathers the unconscious seeker into his arms. It's so hard with everything happening around. The autobots had won this one. He tries to send a signal to Megatron but his comms don't work, the longer he spends here the worse his helmache is getting. So many minds, so many autobots. Disgusting.

He goes between the buildings and through alleyways until he finds somewhere safe. He tries to contact his cassettes but the comms don't work and neither do the bonds, he cannot feel them, he cannot contact them but they cannot be dead, it's simply impossible

Chapter Text

Safe turns out to be not so safe with his senses everywhere, he is far away from other bots that much he can tell but he can still hear their thoughts no matter the distance, it's driving him insane.

Soundwave doesn't have anything, anyone to take off the burden, any bond to focus on. It's overstimulating but at least he has some dignity to not curl up on the floor trying to block out everything happening around him, he tried that once, didn't work.

What happened to his cassettes? It doesn't make sense, a bond like that should not break, it's impossible unless- No. All of them wouldn't die at the same time, would they? Of course not, the fact that he cannot find a different answer means nothing because it's simply ridiculous, impossible.

A wheeze pulls him out of his thoughts. He turned his attention to Starscream, he had laid the air commander down on a Berth. The building that they are in is abandoned and useless, robbed of anything valuable but the furniture.

“Where are we..?” Vocalizer spitting static at first before Starscream whispers those words. Damaged vocalizer.. he won't be able to fix that, he is no medic. Even if he was able to take care of some dents and stop the energon from leaking he wouldn't be able to fix anything as delicate

“Soundwave: carried Starscream away from danger. Query: Cassettes?”

The seeker raises a brow and shakes his head, confused, probably unaware of the situation judging by the look in his optics. The air commander suddenly looks panicked as he quickly sits up in alarm, Soundwave has to help him lay back down as the word spins for the seeker.

“My trine! Where are they!? I can't feel them-” Starscreams vocalizer starts spitting static before it goes into silence probably from the volume and overuse.

Seekers are very social creatures, Starscream's panic is understandable however it does not help their situation

“Cassettes: uncontactable. Conclusion/Query: Autobots blocking bonds?”

The seeker opens his intake to say something but his vocalizer gives out before he can, instead Starscream lets out a frustrated huff from his vents. Comms don't work but.. Soundwave uses his ability to read the seekers mind, careful to not expose him to the chaos that he is hearing from others.

‘They are dead-’

Soundwave disconnects from the seekers mind. Starscream makes a startled gasp turning to Soundwave to most likely throw an insult at him but nothing comes out of his vocalizer, the seeker turns his full attention to his wings as he notices them. Some dents were hard to fix and some weren't fixable with their current equipment or.. well lack of equipment.

“Objective: survive.
Query: Energon level?” soundwave checks his levels, it's not too bad, 80%, he made sure to refuel before the battle. The seeker is quiet before whispering softly.

“30%..”

Not good. Very not good. A bit more down and the seeker will go into a statis lock. Perhaps there could be some on the battlefield? While the idea of robbing the dead is unpleasant they have to survive. Or perhaps there is some in here somewhere?

‘You could at least stop talking like a drone since it's the 2 of us..’

“Acknowledged.”

“W..ha?” Oh. That wasn't said out loud. Ops. He did it again.

Chapter Text

They raid the battleground finding a few cubes of energon for Starscream to consume before the autobots notice them. They haven't moved, they even made a camp near..

Soundwave can only take so much before he is on the floor with his servos over his autoreceptors, Starscream hurls him to his pedes, practically dragging him a bit before leaving, luckily he gathers himself and follows, they both escape deeper into the city and hide behind rubble.

“Status report?” He asks out of habit. He sustained no major damage but he can't say the same about Starscream, the seeker does not answer him at first before something clicks in his vocalizer, his voice comes out more raspy and glitching than usual.

“Worry about yourself.” The seeker grumbles as he drinks the energon from the cube. There is the old Starscream.

Soundwave shoves two cubes into his subspace. They found a lot of energon cubes, mostly on bots from lacon, idiots. Carrying energon into battle. One wrong shot into an energon cube and everything would end up in an explosion.

The sound of pedes nearby and thoughts make him recoil, servos instinctively going to his helm and autoreceptors.

He cannot function like this he decides, if every attack from the autobots will end up like this they will end up dead. If they want a chance to get back into the ship he has to do something about this.

“Query: Bond?”

“What.”

He tries to get the message across to Starscream by using his telepathy he tells the seeker exactly what he wants and why, Starscream is taken aback. He gives the seeker a moment to consider and decide. The other bot scowls.

“You'r- not bonding wi’- me. What even makes yo- think it'z’ a good idea-'' the seekers vocalizer gives out from the volume before he can even finish the sentence.

“Desist: speaking.” The seeker grimaces as Soundwave shares what having a bond with his cassettes was like, how it had taken off the burden even a lil bit how it could give them a better chance at survival-

“I get it- get out of my head you-” Starscream's vocalizer dies out before he can finish the sentence yet again except that this time he was only whispering. The seeker resets his vocalizer as Soundwave leaves his mind alone.

“You'll regret this later.. like everyone else.” Perhaps but the whispered threat is not effective and Soundwave doesn't care, his optics behind the visor are drawn to that golden cockpit as it opens and he opens his chest cavity and the layer beneath, his frame gives an involuntary shudder as his spark gets exposed to the elements and to the other spark as he leans closer to the seeker.

His emotions are all over the place as their sparks merge and bond, it's so much different than what he had with his cassettes, it leaves him confused as he gets a glimpse at the real Starscream. Not the backstabber, not the air commander, just Starscream.

It also leaves his frame feeling weak and vulnerable but his mind is more focused with an additional bond to take off the burden. He traces the edges of his other bonds, he cannot feel them. It's.. so quiet without them.

Starscream takes it worse than he does, wings twitching and a grimace on his face, probably unused to sharing a bond with anyone or perhaps it's something else? He finds himself seeping deeper into the seekers consciousness, there is already a bond.. a trine bond, perhaps-

“Out.” He finds himself forcibly removed from the seeker as Starscream closes his cockpit with a growl. He crossed a line, he knows that much.

“Apology.” He closes his spark chamber and chest cavity, getting off.

It's easier to focus already. He drags the seeker deeper into the rubble, getting a displeased hiss in response. The sound of pedes is getting quieter. Good.

The bond should be temporary as long as they won't try to deepen it. It's a temporary solution till they get back to the ship and he gets his cassettes back. But how will they get back in there? Neither of their comms work, perhaps Starscream would be able to fly and-

Soundwave looks at the seeker and frowns under his mask as he takes a closer look at his wings. They have holes in them now, perhaps Starscream would be able to make it into the ship as long as the wings provide sufficient lift or with his thrusters alone but he would be an easy visible target unable to even dodge.

Not to mention that he would most likely leave Soundwave to die.

“Query: permission to touch?” He asks. The seeker raises a brow and scowls.

“Haven't you touched enough already?! And why are you doing that??” It's a good thing that Starscream can only whisper now or else the autobots would have found them if they haven't already from the seekers earlier outburst.

“Doing that?” He asks.

“Like. There is a constant buzz in my head, it was never like this with the trine, it's distracting.” The seeker crosses his arms.

Oh, the bond. Perhaps his ability makes it different from other bonds. A part of him wonders if his cassettes have a similar thing going on.

“Soundwave: not doing anything.
Permission to touch?” He asks once again. The seeker glares at him but his wings give a lil flick, a permission. He examines the damage, not good, it's a miracle that the seeker can even move those wings, lines are burnt and torn, clogged by stale energon-

The autobot is close. He can feel it.

“Guys there they are!”

Frag.

Chapter Text

“Servos behind your helm! And step out very slowly o-or we will shoot!”

Cliffjumper. Just Cliffjumper, no one else near, a bluff then. Soundwave analyzes the situation. There is nothing in their surroundings that could work to their advantage besides a few hiding places but even then to get there unnoticed the autobot would have to be far away. This is most likely a scout, if they are lucky he has only basic combat training.

He has an idea, he nudges the new bond, speaking to Starscream through it. The seeker didn't do anything ever since the autobot had noticed them.

‘Pretend that you've gone into statis, he will have to get closer and then-’

‘Frag no!’ the seeker replays as he immediately starts shooting at the autobot, Soundwave would have cursed at the seeker if there was time for it, instead he shoots as well, forcing the autobot to hide inside a building.

Starscream tries to run after him but Soundwave catches him by the shoulder, making the seeker let out a displeased hiss.

“desist pursuing. autobot: scout, unlikely to know anything.”

“He might know where their ship is!”

“Unlikely. Autobots: made camp. Ship: constantly changing locations.”

‘What do you suggest we do then boombox?’ Soundwave rolls his optics at the insult, a lil bit of worry makes its way to the front and he quickly pushes it away. The seeker chose to use the bond, perhaps to not give the autobot an advantage of hearing them or maybe his vocalizer is giving out again.

He takes Starscreams hand and drags him away from the autobots hiding place until he deems the area safe enough.

‘Hide. Find a ship or a building from which we will be able to contact Megatron.’

‘Ah, yes. Perfect plan. You see any random ship laying around?! Fix me and I'll get help.’

They both know that Starscream would leave him to die if he had the chance. Soundwave drags them to the nearest medbay, maybe they'll find something useful, specifically something to fix their comms with. Except that once they are inside they immediately hide upon seeing the techno-organic.

Well, at least it's not the one that controls the insecticons. Who knows how much of those are still in statis hiding in rubble.

“blackarachnia: ally?”

‘Well, if you want to call my and the autoscums leaders exe an ally.”

‘Your what.’ Soundwave turns to stare at the seeker in disbelief, Starscream scoffs most likely feeling the emotions through the bond. The seeker crosses his arms as if offended.

‘She wasn't a techno-organic back then ok.’

‘Was she blind back then?’

‘Oh frag you Soundwave.’

‘K :3’

Chapter Text

Soundwave searches through his memory's, the last time they have seen Blackarachnia she was an ally but now? Unlikely however Looks like they will have to find out, Airachnid would probably-

Wait. Airachnid is still on the ship in stasis lock.. the damage Is messing with his memory discs. That's not good. However if they can find the nearest insecticon patrol they can-

“Are you two planning to stand there all day or what?” Soundwave peeks out of their hiding spot, Starscream practically shoves his way behind him resulting in him getting yeeted out of said hiding spot. Blackarachnia looks annoyed, arms crossed, pede tapping the floor.

“If you two are done, why don't you help me fix this Slag so we can go back to the ship.” The femme gives them a glare.

An ally then. Soundwave walks to the femme examining the damaged console. It's smashed into pieces.. that won't help them too much. Starscream had stayed in the hiding spot, the seeker peeks out a lil bit.

“Unfixable. Query: comms?”

“The only com-links I have from the decepticons are yours and Starscreams.” The femme gives Starscream a glare, the seeker quietly goes back into hiding, the femme huffs. Soundwave concerates, using his telepathy to give the femme Shockwaves and Megatron's comm links.

The half-organic hisses as she falls to the floor and grips her helm. “What the frag?!”

Oh, oops. Soundwave removes himself from the femmes mind. “Contact: Lord Megatron.”

He helps Blackarachnia back up by offering her a servo, the half-organic takes his servo after a moment of hesitation. She turns on her comms.

“Lord Megatron this is Blackarachnia I'm stuck with Soundwave and S- one of the seekers. In the old medbay in Tarn.” The femme becomes quiet before ending the call. Soundwave looks at her expectedly.

“A rescue team should be here next deca-cycle. Help yourself to the treats in the meantime.” Blackarachnia mentions the medical supplies in the corner. The seeker immediately makes his way to them.

A part of Soundwave is glad that she is not trying to seduce them like she usually does with enemy's but then again, they are not enemies, she wouldn't get any powers from them besides a helmache and they are immune to her seduction.

‘Ask her why she didn't tell Megatron that it's me.’ Starscream demands through the bond. Soundwave rolls his optics under the visor, a part of him wonders if it would be better if he made a bond with the femme instead but he quickly dismisses the idea.

“Query: Aid?” He asks the seeker instead of doing the thing that was asked of him.

‘No.’ Starscream replays through the bond as he continues to very clearly have trouble treating his wings.

“Why doesn't he speak? The Starscream I know would be throwing insults already.” The femme raises a brow as she approaches the seeker, Starscream dodges her.

“Stay still.” The seeker does the opposite, throwing rude gestures and trying to crawl out the window. with a well aimed shot of Web the seeker is immobile and stuck on the wall.

‘SOUNDWAVE HELP!!’ Soundwave approaches, trying his best to ignore the fear that he can feel through the bond. The femme looks at him in confusion.

“Checking Status.” He explains, who knows if the techno-organic wouldn't kill Starscream if Soundwave let her. The seeker doesn't make a sound, he just thrashes like a wild turbo-fox caught in a net.

‘You want her to check you instead? Don't act suspicious’ He says as he checks Starscream's voice box, who knows what the frag the femme would do with the information about their temporary bond. The seeker ceases his struggles in favor of glaring at him instead.

“Conclusion: Voice box too damaged to speak."

Chapter Text

Soundwave tries to untie Starscream but in the end the femme has to help them. The seeker had stopped struggling the moment he understood that she did not plan to kill him today.

A part of Soundwave wonders what did the mech do that he expected the femme to want to kill him but in the end he decides that it's not his business. It's a bit weird seeing Starscream so quiet as Blackarachnia works on his wings.

Soundwave watches her work, better to be safe than sorry, perhaps the next thing they know The femme will leave with a pair of wings when he won't be looking.

But perhaps he is just too paranoid, She wouldn't be so gentle if she didn't care, all of Starscream's exes care, even a little bit. Lord Megatron cares a little.. does that mean- he shakes his helm, what the frag. He is.. confused.

He finds himself instinctively seeping into one of the bonds seeking comfort or a distraction, he isn't sure. And then he realizes his mistake, he does not have any other bonds than the one with the seeker, it causes Starscream irritation, the seeker after a moment of grumbling shows him a memory of flying through the sky in good weather, of a trine always flying by his side-

“What's your malfunction?” Blackarachnia had moved in front of him, he didn't even notice. He leaves the memory, returning to reality as he looks at the femme.

“Memory discs: damaged. Bonds: gone” He replies.

“Bonds?”

“Cassettes.”

“Oh.” The femme replays.

‘Ask her what the frag she was doing here.’ Soundwave looks at Starscream, the seeker lifts his wings up a bit before letting them drop down. Soundwave has no idea what this was supposed to mean, he heard of seekers and praxians communicating simple things through wings but he never had a chance to learn nor was it needed in order to win the war.

“Query: Why chose medbay as shelter?”

Blackarachnia blinks at him before she crosses her arms.

“I'm not sure. I don't remember what I was doing here, I was searching for something but I'm not damaged so I'm not sure for what.” The femme shrugs.

“Query: Memory discs damaged? Blank, missing.”

Blackarachnia does not replay. Instead she changes the subject with a fake cough.

“I saw Ravage making his way into the ship. I'm not sure about the others. I'm going to Recharge and I suggest you two do the same.” The femme leaves them be as she goes into the first room in the medbay, disappearing out of their view as the door closes.

‘Are your memory discs damaged too?’ he asks the seeker through the bond.

‘How am I supposed to remember if I don't remember something?’ That's a good point. There is not another word spoken between them, at least for a moment.

‘I saw laserbeak on Megatron's shoulder when he was going into the ship.’ Soundwave looks at Starscream.

‘And you're telling me that only now.’

‘You didn't ask.’

‘Asshole.’

‘You're bonded to this asshole now <3’

‘Temporary. Gn.’ Soundwave practically pushes the seeker into one of the empty rooms. All that's inside is an empty berth and some broken machines. Good enough.

‘Wha??’

Soundwave ignores the seeker as he goes to stand guard outside the medbay door.

…

..

.

They agreed to switch places after 2 jors, Soundwave spent not even 1 jor in recharge before he woke up with a whimper, hot white pain blinding him, so many thoughts- too many thoughts, not his own. It's hard to focus even with the additional bond.

There is a nudge from Starscream, confusion and hurt. At least half of what he is feeling the seeker can feel as well.

‘What's wrong??’ The seeker asks but Soundwave doesn't reply, he misses his cassettes, one bond is not equal to a few, he just wants to go back to the ship and be with them, away from the autobots, away from the pain and away from everything else.

Starscream practically drags him deeper into the bond, to a memory of the stars, of flying next to a.. shuttle? and exploring the unknown, calm and safe.. it works to take his mind off things and calm him down.

‘What's wrong?’ The seeker asks once again when Soundwave calms down enough to ignore the buzz and think clearly.

‘Autobots. A lot of autobots close. And.. decepticons..’

‘Oh. Think I should go back inside then?’

‘You're still outside?’

‘Duh. Flying since I can now.’

‘You were supposed to stand guard.’

‘I'm flying guard. Your ability is fragged up tho, I don't see anyone near the medbay- oh, there is a massacre in the autobots camp. Think I should join in on the fun?’

‘No.’

‘I'll go join in on the fun, give me 10 clicks and I'll be in the medbay.’

The weird thing is that Starscream did not leave and said that he will come back. It's suspicious, it leaves him feeling anxious or perhaps he is just too paranoid without his companions being his audials and optics. Seeing the danger that he cannot see himself.

Chapter Text

The whole ruckus outside turns out to be
Their rescue team which had attracted unwanted company. said rescue team being 4 vehicons and a very mean shuttle once the fight is over, the decepticons take them and retreat.

Starscream had decided to fly next to the shuttle which leaves Soundwave and Blackarachnia alone because apparently the vehicons are needed on the bridge as if the shuttle couldn't fly himself.

It's awkward as they sit on the benches. At least the shuttle is clean inside, no sign of rust or any sort of corrosion. The femme clears her vocalizer or whatever the half-organics have, throat?

“So, you went from hanging out with minicons to hanging out with backstabbing, Unfixable traitors.” Blackarachnia says, as if Soundwave didn't know that yet. As if it was supposed to be an insult and perhaps it was. It's bait.

Soundwave gives the femme an unimpressed look from behind the visor. “Starscream: fixable.”

Is he referring to the voice box or perhaps Starscream himself? He isn't sure. If the seeker was a threat to Lord Megatron, Tarn would already take care of him. A traitor he might be but not a threat, at least for now. Something to be treated with caution like a medical saw, useful but can hurt if the mech using it is not careful.

“You saying? Well good luck with that because perhaps I'll make him worse just to spite you.” The femme hisses, denta and fangs bared, a bit of venom already present on the sharp edges. Despite that they both know that it's an empty threat.

Blackarachnia looks away as she crosses her arms. “He is a prick that will make you care only to leave you without a second thought just like Optimus.”

Soundwave notes the clenched servos of the femme but he does not comment about it.

“Starscream: Cares, pushes everyone he cares about away to not hurt, pushes trine away, pushes everyone away.”

“Does he push you away?”

Soundwave does not replay. That is not important. It's silent for the rest of the flight home. The worst thing is that they end up not in the base but in Shockwaves lab for quarantine.

No one is impressed nor happy, besides Starscream who is very happy upon seeing their medics, well at least one of them. Knock Out does a good job at fixing the seekers polish, treating his wings with so much care as if he was a seeker himself, the voice box however will have to heal on its own.

Strangely the three of them have their memory discs damaged. Everyone who returned from the battle on Tarn has.

At the end of the cycle it's just him and Starscream again as they make their way through the rusty hallways to Shockwaves lab to tell their reports. Uh.. for Soundwave to tell their reports.

The scientist however is busy when they approach, speaking to one of the insecticons. Giant Mechs and yet intelligent, able to speak cybertronian and have their own language, if their screams and shrills can be even called that. Minicons have a language of their own as well.. expect that he can understand them.

He doesn't dare try reading the insecticons thoughts, the last time he tried it was a disaster. Experiencing the hivemind has not been great especially with Arachnid still in there.

“Queen, the patrol returned. They have..” the insecticon chitters something to his comrades, upon getting a reply he nods and turns back to the scientist who is sitting on a chair and typing something into a datapad, the decepticon didn't even move to look at the other bots.

“Information.”

“I'll see them shortly.’

“💅Yas Queen💅.” The insecticons leave quickly.

Shockwave let's out a vent of frustration before he turns to them upon noticing their presence. The bot finally gets up from his chair and approaches them. Starscream straightens, wings high as if he wanted to make himself look bigger.

‘Remind me, why do they call him Queen again?’

‘it's an insecticon thing. You'll be surprised how they call Lord Megatron.’

Starscream spares Soundwave a glance before looking back at Shockwave.

“You two were present at the battleground in Tarn. Why has no one reported to me that the quintessons have a new weapon capable of disturbing even the strongest signals and transmissions? Your job was to check the situation and scatter. Your actions were illogical.”

‘Can we drop him to the autobots camp?’ Soundwave ignores the seeker, there is already a note in the back of his processor to get rid of Shockwave someday after their victory. That time however is nowhere near.

“Actions: logical. Information: gathered. Autobots made camp in Tarn.
Query: Cassettes, Quintessons?”

“the minicons are most likely in base. Can't you remember?” Shockwaves antennas twitch before they shift backwards.

“Memory discs: damaged in everyone from Tarn.”

Shockwave does not say anything at first before sitting back down on his chair. “This has to be reported to Lord Megatron immediately. You two are dismissed.”

Soundwave stares at Shockwave for a long while, because how dare the Cyclops treat him as if he was of lower status, as if he didn't deserve to know, he won't say anything about it of course but a part of him wants to punch something. Starscream drags him into the hallway.

‘Ignore the aft.’

“Affirmative

Chapter Text

The rest of the cycle is spent interrogating others for information and trying to get his comms to contact Lord Megatron but the lab is blocking the signal. Nothing works and no one remembers anything. No one knows where his cassettes are nor where Starscream's trinemates are.

The seeker seems unbothered but there is that worry in the bond that's plaguing both his and Soundwaves mind.

What's worse is that they have to share a room, it's probably still a luxury, he saw at least one room with 10 vehicons living in it. Luckily there are 2 berths inside so it's not that bad, or at least that's what he tells himself. There is nothing inside besides those berths and a energon dispenser.

He lays down to recharge just like Starscream but he cannot, he finds himself tracing the quiet bonds and wondering if his friends are really okay.. maybe he is just being paranoid but he swears that he should be able to feel them no matter, he should be able to find their thoughts at least..

Maybe he can find Lord Megatrons thoughts? But what if he won't be able to control the intensity of what he is sharing just like he did with Blackarachnia and he ends up hurting the mech-

‘Come here and recharge, I can literally hear you overthinking through the bond.’ Starscream complains, Soundwave turns to look at him. The seeker mentions for him to come here tiredly, wings fluttering for a moment. And yet again Soundwave has no idea what that means.

After a moment of hesitation he crawls in besides Starscream, having just one field close is enough to have him focused on something else. The seeker shifts. Hopefully Starscream won't kill him in his sleep.

‘You grounders are always so stubborn. Was it that hard?’ Soundwave does not replay, he had forgotten that seekers act a bit differently, apparently sleepovers are not uncommon in trines or perhaps they just live together? He has no idea.

‘How can I be sure that I won't wake up with you standing in front of me with a knife?’

‘Oh please. A knife would be primitive, I would blast you in the spark.’

Soundwave looks at the seeker, debating whenever he should go back to his own berth or perhaps simply go to the room with the vehicons. Starscream rolls his optics.

‘I'm joking. You're not the first on my list but once I'm done with him, you might be next.’ The seeker winks. Soundwave wisely chooses to ignore that.

He would turn his back to the seeker but he does not dare, instead Starscream is the one to turn, wings smack him and he does not even get an apology but that's to be expected. He has trouble falling into recharge even with a calm field so close to him. The seeker huffs.

Soundwave falls into recharge accompanied by memory's of flying carefree surrounded by high building's, of feeling happy and yet confused by the sadness that this memory brings to his companion.

In return he offers a memory of his own. One of when Senators Ratbats fuel painted his servos blue.

Chapter Text

There is a tap and another and then another. Something is hitting the window. Soundwave gets up, untangling himself from seeker wings and claws as he goes to the window to check what is making said noise.

“Laserbeak.”

His companion flaps her wings upon seeing him, headbutting the window once more for good measure before Soundwave opens it for her. She is immediately in his servos, trying to check him for injuries and preen him all at once, excited like a sparkling seeing its creator after a long while.

The symbiote flies around the room, making a circle or two before immediately being back in his servos. She chirps something at him angrily, too angry to even properly speak before noticing Starscream on the berth, she does not pay the seeker much mind but she seems more on edge.

The minicon transforms and he puts her into his chest cavity without a second thought. He traces the edges of the bond with her, it flickers before opening itself again, it's easier with her spark close to his, a part of him was afraid that they'll have to sparkbond again, it would be dangerous in the lab even with the door closed.

“Laserbeak: Status report.”

She does not do so at first as she checks what had happened through the bond when she was gone. And she is straight up offended when she discovers his bond with Starscream. However angry she might be, she does not confront the matter, She will probably leave that for Rumble and Frenzy.

‘Quitessons severed the bonds. They wanted to take us by surprise, Carrier.’

He does not correct her on the nickname, not now, they need a break, both of them.

However the Quitessons.. This does explain things. It is, however, concerning. Perhaps they want cybertronians to serve them yet again or maybe they want to create mindless husks like them to serve them? There are a lot of theories, for now he will have to gather information.

Laserbeak shares with him what had happened when she left with Megatron. Apparently not much, once she noticed the lack of his presence she constantly searched for him.

“Query: others?”

‘Not responding.’

“command trine.”

‘Infected.’

“Query: Infected?”

‘Infected.’ She does not specify what that means. He looks at the seeker still in recharge on the berth

Chapter Text

Soundwave left to gather information yet again, along the way he took an energon cube. He came back to Starscream and Laserbeak glaring at each other. Wait.. why did he take that cube? They have a energon dispenser.. perhaps it does not have jet grade.

“Query:?”

‘We are trading here. Give us a moment.’

He watches in amusement as the seeker pushes a ruststick to the minicon, Laserbeak shakes her head. The seeker pushes another ruststick her way. The minicon drops a benchstone from her beak and takes the ruststicks, shoving them down her intake like the greedy thing she is.

Probably out of habit, if all of his companions were here Rumble and Frenzy would be begging her to share, Buzzsaw would try snatching it out of her grasp and Ratbat would either try to shield her or watch quietly with Ravage depending on what mood he was in.

He misses them.

‘we need a bigger berth.’ Starscream decides as he takes the stone into his subspace.

‘Why?’ Soundwave asks.

‘Cause your greedy spawn wants to sleep next to you and this berth is not designed for three.’ The seeker crosses his arms.

Soundwave leaves the jet grade on the berth as he leaves the room, deciding that the two shall solve this problem on their own.

‘Hey! Come back here coward!’

…

..

.

The issue is fixed, Starscream shoves their berths together, however there is another issue.

Soundwave watches the air commander throw an insecticon 2 times bigger than him at Shockwave. He had left the seeker alone with Laserbeak again only for a moment, he came back to their room missing a seeker.

Laserbeak shared the news with Starscream.

“What the F’- Do You'- mea- Infected?!” Vocalizer glitching and spitting static. One of the insecticons moves in front of Shockwave as if he has a chance to protect the scientist. He doesn't, the seeker will just throw him as well.

“Calm yourself. Skywarp is fine, since you survived contact with a contaminated specimen as trine he will too. In fact his healing has enhanced since contact. You may see him in a few cycles.” Shockwave says as if giving the seeker an explanation could save him. This gets him another insecticon thrown his way.

“That's n-’ how trine w-’rks!”

Starscream takes off one of his null-rays and while the weapon can stun it cannot do any real damage, however it is not meant to be used like this. Starscream hits one of the insecticons on the helm with it, using it like a blunt weapon that it is not. The bot immediately falls to the floor.

“You'zz- next iF-.” Starscreams vocalizer goes quiet, stops making any sound and the seeker stomps his pede before his optics fall on Soundwaves in the corner.

‘Tell him that I'll make him see Primus if I won't find skywarp and Thundercracker in the medbay.’ The seeker tells him before walking out of the lab area, his anger so intense that even without the bond Soundwave would be able to tell that the seeker is not in a good mood.

It takes him a moment to separate his emotions from Starscreams and he sends Laserbeak a ping, his symbiote immediately follows after the air commander. Soundwave turns his attention to Shockwave.

“Starscream: will hurt Shockwave if Trine not in medbay.” He says. That doesn't give him any reaction from the scientist, the insecticons chitter among each other, one even tries to nudge Shockwave to the door before the scientist tells him to stop that.

Soundwave leaves them be.

Chapter Text

He follows after the seeker, preventing further damage to the medbay as Starscream walks in like a storm. Hook shows them where Skywarp is.. or well, where Skywarp used to be.

The seeker is not on the berth but there is something on it, a small puddle of something purple. Soundwave takes a bit on his digit, analyzing programs working overtime as he takes in the situation. A window is broken. The seeker escaped, edges of the glass are covered with the purple substance.

But that doesn't make sense because Skywarp could just teleport out, unless he wasn't the only one in here and someone else escaped through the window. Thundercracker?

Dark energon.

He washes his digit.

But how could this be? He sends a ping to Laserbeak to not touch anything coated with purple but as he looks at Starscream he discovers that this wasn't necessary. Laserbeak is busy trying to stop the seeker from clawing at Hook before giving up and coming back to Soundwave.

Soundwave let's her in without a protest before making his way out, if Starscream decides to throw something again then it won't hit them at least, but before he can leave Starscream grabs his servo.

‘We are leaving.’

“Query: How?” He asks out loud which gains him a confused stare from Hook.

‘You aren't heavier than Megatron are you?’ the seeker asks before throwing him out one of the open windows and transforming. Soundwave grabs onto the nearest thing- that being Starscream. He finds himself hanging from the seeker like Megatron, he is a bit surprised and disturbed that Starscream's frame is strong enough to hold Megatron's weight when they retreat.

“Conclusion: Starscream an asshole.”

He gets a chuckle in response to that before he can't hear anything over the wind.

‘You're a completely different mech. Why do you speak like a drone outside the bond but then often casually in it?’

‘Practice.’

‘Ah yes, that explains everything.’ The seeker would roll his optics if he could.

‘Are seekers immune to dark energon?’

Starscream does not replay for a long while.

‘No.’ The seeker finally says, Soundwave let's go, allowing the jet to land. Their journey wasn't long, and it looks like the seeker managed to somehow contact his trine? One seeker is waiting for them on the flight deck of the Nemesis. There is also Ravage.

Soundwave takes a lil step to the left and the seeker charges at Starscream, he watches in silence as the two seekers fall off the Nemesis. They'll be fine, he decides. He looks at his symbiote.

Ravage grows at him, purple optics not focusing properly.

Chapter Text

Starscream sends him a distress signal.

‘careful. Acidstorm says that they bite.’

That's all the warning he gets before Ravage tries to pounce on him, fangs bared. Moving sloppily, as if the cybercat ate too much turbo-mint, Soundwave finds it easy to catch his companion by the scruff.

She is not replying to the bond as if she was simply gone, not here.

The cybercat goes limp in his hold after a moment of thrashing. Stasis lock, he turns his attention to the seeker.. Er, seekers making circles around the Nemesis before they land next to him. Starscream snarls while Acidstorm looks at Ravage with something akin to fear.

‘I'm not carrying you while you're holding her. Who knows if she won't wake up and bite me.’

He ignores Starscream.

“Query: Ravage?”

“It's the energon, Quitessons did something to it.. the rest inside the ship is much worse.” The seeker says, Soundwave turns his attention to the blocked doors, the vent is open which means that perhaps Rumble and Frenzy are alright but.. if Ravage got out of there this way then-

‘It's alright, they are fine. Focus.’ Laserbeak tells him. He thanks his companion.

‘Ask him where the frag is my trine.’ Soundwave looks at Starscream, the seeker lifts his wings a bit before letting them drop back down just as quickly, Acidstorm looks ready to flee, Soundwave decides to be cautious.

“Query: Rainmakers?”

“I.. I don't know where my trine is. I just hope that they aren't on the ship-”

‘You Moron! I said ask about my trine, not the rainmakers! Have you ever wondered where the rain makers were??’

Starscream glares at the other seeker and Acidstorm takes a little step back, probably unsure why that anger is directed at him. Soundwaves comm suddenly starts ringing and he picks up without a second thought.

“I should have known that hiding information from you would be impossible. This is not a conversation to have on a comm link. Come to base and I'll explain everything. Shockwave out.”

Soundwave ends the call.

Starscream looks at the other seeker, wings lifting and falling, they are probably talking through their comms. Starscream flies away before the 2 of them can stop him. Acidstorm looks at him before looking at Ravage still in his hold.

“I'll just let you know that I never carried anyone and I have no idea how to. So I hope that you know.”

Soundwave shakes his helm. The two of them look at each other for an awkward klik before The rainmaker rushes after the other seeker.

“Wait here! I'll get Starscream!”

…

..

.

Once they are back in their room they don't approach Shockwave at first, Soundwave doesn't at least, Starscream gave the scientist a piece of his mind already.

Soundwave just sits next to the berth, petting his unmoving companion as he holds her gently. She doesn't respond, he can't even coax her to transform nor did Laserbeaks attempts at preening her. He can't just leave her like this.

It's good that Acidstorm left to look for his missing trinemates and is not here to witness this conversation.

“Starscream: scientist.
Query: Help?” He asks after a moment of thinking, His optics look at the seeker. Starscream scowls.

‘Why should I?’

‘If you help her, I'll help you look for him.’

‘Skywarp is-’

‘Not skywarp.’

The seeker is silent for a moment before holding his servos out with a huff. Carefully, Soundwave hands him Ravage. Starscream checks the cybercat, checking even the fuel lines hidden under the thin plating, they are leaking purple.

‘She needs fixing, some tape would work. We can try a transfusion to flush out the dark energon. The risk is huge but I don't see any alternatives.’

Soundwave would give anything for it to be the other way around, he should be the one sick not her. He pushes those thoughts away, if he was the one sick all of his cassettes would go down with him. He can't even think about taking so many innocent lives with himself.

‘Do it.’

‘I need equipment you boombox. Infusion pumps, rapid infusers, and pressure devices, along with something from the lab to store the dark energon.’

‘That can be arranged.’

Chapter Text

Soundwave collects at least 10 empty cubes and places them in the medbay before asking the medics to come with him as he will talk to Shockwave. That gets some.. mixed reactions, it really just sounds as if he wanted to beat the other mech to scrap metal and needed medics there immediately to save him later.

It really is just a distraction so Starscream can have the Medbay and work on Ravage.

It looks like the medics would love a good show because they follow him without questions. Once he is in the lab he sees Shockwave, the mech was waiting for him.

“When I said that I'll explain I meant that I'll explain to you and Starscream. I didn't think that it would be necessary to specify that.” The mech seems displeased, field empty like always.

“Medics: here to take care of damage.” He gestures to the beaten insecticons and a bit of broken equipment, there are murmurs of disappointment behind him before the medics walk to help the bots.

“Very well then. Quitessons contaminated dark energon with an outside substances, it no longer strengthens and makes the ones to consume it more aggressive, it also makes them see everything as a threat, uncaring of injury, only careing to cause more destruction. However, those that had contact with dark energon before seem to be immune.-”

“-The real quarantine is on the Nemesis, as you know the ship itself runs on dark energon and so does everyone in it now after being infected. We are waiting till they go into stasis lock to recover it, but it might take some time.”

“Query: Starscream's trine?” that has the insecticons chittering. They are put on edge just by hearing the seekers designation. Shockwave snaps his digits and it quiets down.

“Skywarp came here Infected and escaped, ionstorm too but died from fall damage. Thundercracker didn't report after the battle in Tarn. Why do you care for his trine?”

Great, a teleporter on the loose and no news about a seeker that can make sonic bombs powerful enough to blow up the whole base. And one of the rainmakers is dead.. can this cycle get any worse?

“Starscream asked. Acknowledged.” That's all he says as he leaves. Laserbeak does not say anything but he can sense her unease, he sends back comfort through the bond as he goes to check on Starscream and Ravage.

He sends what he has learned to Starscream. And he sends Acidstorm his condolences along with the knowledge of his trinemate passing.

…

..

.

He guarded outside the medbay, praying to whoever was listening that the seeker would finish on time, fortunately he did. They sneaked Ravage into their room.

The cybercat was taking some time to wake up, systems rebooting slowly, optics focusing. Once she looked around her optics locked on him.

“Soundwave.”

“Ravage.”

She is on him in a moment, purring, asking questions and reporting immediately in that order. Apparently almost everyone got infected, Megatron didn't but he locked himself in his room, letting her crawl into the vents to escape but she had gotten scratched by the Infected mechs.

Perhaps he is still in it.

He lets Ravage in and rebuilds their bond bit by bit till it opens again for him. She does not approve of his choice as well and she gives him a peace of her mind.

‘Even combaticons would be better.’

‘Can you imagine sharing a Berth with 5 mechs?!’ Laserbeak replays.

He leaves them to their bickering and he watches as Starscream drinks dark energon, it's not the one from Ravage, they got rid of it, so where from does the seeker have it? That's probably not important.

‘What?’

“Starscream: Infected.”

‘I said that seekers are not immune BUT, I am. Now, if you won't help me figure out where my trine is then leave.’ The seeker glares, wings twitching for a moment. Soundwave turns to leave with Ravage safely in his chest compartment. Laserbeak perches herself on his shoulder.

They need some ruststicks as a treat. All of them, he'll have to bring some to Starscream as well.

‘Wait. Soundwave, catch.’ That's all the warning he gets before Starscreams cockpit opens and Rumble gets yeeted out of it as if it was a catapult, he manages to catch the cassettes before his companion hits the ground. Laserbeak screeches, flying from her perch and flying circles around him.

Rumble looks around, disoriented and roughen up but besides that okay, his helm turns in Starscream's direction and he grins.

“Again!”

Starscream only rolls his optics. ‘Take care of your little terror. He was stuck in the vents.’

The seeker leaves, probably to not deal with Rumble when he discovers their bond. The cassette crosses his arms, clearly displeased before he looks in whose servos he is and upon realizing that Soundwave is the one holding him Rumble smiles yet again.

“Heya Boss! You missed me?”

“Affirmative.”

Laserbeak seems disappointed and yet relieved at the same time.

Ravage just seems 10x times more tired.

Chapter Text

Soundwave watches as Acidstorm follows after Starscream, pede to pede and only after the air commander drags him to the side and has a quiet conversation with him through the comms the seeker leaves. Acidstorm even offered to preen Starscreams wings.

Seekers always flock together, and apparently when there is no trine to flock to, some other seekers are good enough. Is preening considered a bonding activity or something? He has no idea.

Soundwave let's his tiny companions out. Ravage just lays down on the bench, Rumble is a bit disoriented at first yet again and Laserbeak immediately sits down next to Starscreams on the table, perhaps to trade again.

“Can't believe I'm saying this but I missed you two.” Rumble drags the two other minicons into a hug. Ravage rolls her optics while Laserbeak struggles out of his hold, landing on Starscream's shoulder instead, the seeker almost falls off his chair.

The other bots in the cafeteria whisper to each other, not even one dares to approach, afterall most of them had never seen a higher officer before and seeing two now? That's something very new to them.

Soundwave leaves and comes back with treats, most being ruststicks along with creamy energon to dip them in. He comes back to Laserbeak preening Starscream's wings which is a funny sight. And Rumble is playing with something under the table of some warframes, not good.

The moment he puts the tray with the treats down Rumble immediately runs to the table, shoving 5 down his intake. Ravage manages to take a few and Laserbeak leaves Starscream in favor of the ruststicks.

The seeker is not refueling, he is looking at the table deep in thought, brows knitted together. Soundwave places a servo onto his shoulder.

‘What's wrong?’

“I can feel Skywarp outside the base.. ” The seeker whispers quietly. Soundwave is reminded about the fact that he will have to end their bond but he pushes that to the back of his processor for now.

When they get Starscreams trinemates back this will end, he decides. He promised to help after all.

‘Where can you feel him? What about Thundercracker?’

“I can't pinpoint where exactly but somewhere near the battlefield. He is been there for a while but maybe he will teleport away the next time I check..”

Soundwave analyzes this information. He could be either stuck somewhere in there or- No. Skywarp was here and escaped so there is no way that he is stuck on the battlefield, unless. the autobots made a camp near it. Perhaps they captured the mechs and have no idea what they are dealing with.

‘He will probably teleport here when he is done with whatever he is doing.’ He tells Starscream, it doesn't reassure the mech, if anything it makes him a lil worse. Rumble gives Soundwave a ruststicks, the mech looks down and discovers that this is in fact the last ruststick, he gives it to Starscream.

The seeker seems surprised. Soundwave spares a glance at his cassettes, he can't risk them, not again. He will have to go alone.

Chapter Text

He plans to leave in the middle of the night, untangling himself from seeker wings, Ravage's claws and shifting Rumble to a more comfortable position.

Everything would go smoothly If it weren't for those two red optics staring at him from the berth, Ravage was never a light sleeper and it looks like stress contributed to it this time because she never slept as lightly as this night.

‘Where are you going?’

He cannot lie to her, he knows that. Ravage is the oldest, can easily spot things that others cannot, perhaps that's why she is his favorite when it comes to sending them on missions, she is most likely to come back undamaged.

‘Rescue.’ That's all he answers as he makes his way towards the door.

‘Let me come with you.’

He turns to stare at her before shaking his helm. His optics fall on his other companions camly sleeping next to the seeker.

‘Take care of the others, I'll be back shortly.’

She does not argue but he can tell that she is disappointed. She lays down on the other empty berth, red optics closing as she curls up.

‘You better be back in a jor because if you're not ill go looking for you.’

‘Acknowledged.’

He walks outside and closes the door. And then he realizes that he should have asked Laserbeak to drop him on the battlefield because there is no way that he can make his way onto Tarn on pedes alone.

He should probably ask a shuttle for assistance but that would draw attention. With a flustered vent he makes his way to Shockwaves lab, the scientist is not here, perhaps he is recharging for once? The lab is not empty, the insecticons chitter quietly among themselves.

Soundwave approaches the biggest one he can see.

“Assist?: drop Soundwave in Tarn.”

The insecticon shakes his helm at him. “Queen orders to guard lab.”

Another insecticon approaches, chittering quietly as he points at Soundwave. “Gatherer? Nothing to gather there, hive dealt with that.”

He tries a different approach this time.
“Queen consort: wants Soundwave in Tarn.”

The insecticons become quiet. The biggest insecticon that Soundwave had ever seen walks out of the shadows, probably one of the oldest soldiers in here. Covered in scars and missing some plating on his side.

“Lord Megatron wishes for you to be sent onto the battlefield?” The mech asks, much more fluent in cybertronian than the others and Soundwave simply nods. There is no warning as the insecticon transforms and picks him up, flying out of the base out of one of the open windows.

…

..

.

The insecticon leaves him on the battlefield, offline optics of many stare at him, sometimes when he walks some look familiar to him and some not, perhaps he knew some of them. The amount of body's is.. concerning.

Soundwave sneaks his way inside the autobots camp, it's mostly just scouts, looks like all the good warriors were killed in the fight or are on the Ark. No one notices him, everyone is recharging, newbies didn't even leave anyone to stand guard.

He finally finds the tent in which they hold their prisoners, he makes his way inside quickly.

Bumblebee stares at him, and so does Blitzwing. The triple changer waves awkwardly, other servo holding the minibot to the ground.

Skywarp hits his helm against the bars of the cell. “This like a bad comedy at this point, first we got lovers and now the third wheel or an arranged conjux.”

“Shut up. You're drugged.” The other seeker hits the back of his helm.

“I am?” Skywarp furrows his brows.

No Thundercracker, just Novastorm.

Chapter Text

“a rescue attempt too?? And here I thought that I was crazy when I went alone! HAha-” the triple changer giggles before his head spins to his icy persona and he gets kicked in the helm by the minibot who has wiggled free from his servo.

Soundwave decides that he does not have time to deal with this. A sonic attack will not help here, he takes a blaster out of his subspace before he fires at the lock and drags the seekers outside. Blitzwing will be fine, he decides. For all he cares they should go on a date already and the triple changer shall be put on the list.

“Skywarp: get us out of here.” He says, the autobots are beginning to get out of their tents, startled by the noise. Skywarp laughs awkwardly and Novastorm transforms, waiting for them in the air already.

“Not enough fuel to warp or transform so..” The bot grabs him by his servos, flying out of there as quickly in his root mode as he can. Someone fires at them and Skywarp almost drops him, the seeker quickly corrects his hold, claws digging into Soundwaves wrists.

His radio suddenly comes online because why the frag not? Let's attract all the enemy's in here. The music ends quickly, replaced by three short taps of static followed by three long taps, and then three short taps again. The damn thing is breaking again.

There is no time to acknowledge it.

The other seeker fires at their enemies, creating a distraction before she joins them.

Soundwave should have taken a shuttle, or Starscream at least. He sends the seekers coordinates to Shockwaves lab.

They fly high, hidden by the toxic clouds of smoke, their vents will surely feel that later, Skywarp is flying slowly, but Soundwave decides to not complain about this, who knows how much fuel the seeker has left? Probably not a lot.

“You fragging heavy ya know that?” Skywarp mumbles before he hands him over to Novastorm, the femme huffs, slowing down.

“Soundwave: lighter than Lord Megatron.”

“Do I look like Starscream? Bet screamer wouldn't even complain, he is probably used to carrying heavy load at this point- like, I swear he was a fragging shuttle in his past life- no wonder he liked company like-”

Soundwave tuns out the rest of Skywarps monologue, they are already close to the base, he won't have to suffer for much longer. He decides to ask Novastorm a question. One that he had asked Starscream already.

“Query: Seekers immune to dark energon?” The femme seems uncomfortable, she shakes her helm.

“It was basically forced down the elite trines intakes before the war started but others? Not really.”

“Query: Thundercracker?” The femme does not replay, field flaring with unease and guilt before she pulls it close. Soundwave peeks into her mind.

And he sees bloodshed.

The seeker drops him on the deck and lands, almost falling onto the ground if Warp didn't stop her in time.

“Where is Starscream?” reluctantly Soundwave takes the seekers to their berthroom, they have an energon dispenser so they might refuel there as well. The moment they open the door they discover Starscream recharging, Ravage next to his pedes, Laserbeak on his cockpit and Rumble sleeping on one of the wings.

It's a cute sight, well was, because the moment Skywarp noticed the other seeker he immediately jumped on him, waking everyone up and scaring the frag out of them.

“Thank you.” Novastorm looks at Soundwave apologetically.

The femme approaches them and they whisper quietly among themselves, shaking frames hugging each other while Starscream looks as if he wanted to be anywhere else, he looks as if he needed a moment alone.

After a bit of greeting, Skywarp getting bitten by Ravage because he interrupted her recharge and the seekers finding a new empty, well now empty room after kicking a vehicon out of it, everything is settled.

Novastorm does not join the rainmakers, she makes her way inside the room with Skywarp. Soundwave puts a servo on Starscreams shoulder, the seeker seems to be hesitating. He tugs at the bond gently, sending comfort through it.

He gets a small glimpse at the sadness along with other emotions that Starscream is feeling before the seeker replaces them by rage.

“Query: Thundercracker?”

Starscream does not replay, dermas and servos clenched. Soundwave comes to a new conclusion.

“You knew.”

“That's none of your business.” The seeker jerks out of his hold, forcefully blocking their bond from his side. Soundwave cringes, there is no way that the seeker is not feeling any pain or at least fatigue from doing that but Starscream simply clenches his denta harder before storming into the room that the other seekers went into. Soundwave does not stop him.

What did he expect? That's still Starscream.

Chapter Text

“When will Frenzy be here?”

“Soon.” Soundwave replays, Rumble does not seem assured, in fact the moment the smaller mech started to feel better he wouldn't stop asking about his brother. Soundwave won't lie to him, Frenzy will be here as soon as possible and no later.

The minicon slumps, a frown on his face, Ravage curls around him, trying to encourage him to rest some more. Laserbeak watches from the side, clearly unsure on what to do since her preening did not help this time.

“And Screamer?”

“Starscream: with trine.”

‘We didn't need him anyway.’ Ravage complains. She gets a half hearted smack on the nose from Rumble, the cybercat hisses.

‘I need him, where will I get treats from now??’ Laserbeak complaints.

‘Go into the cafeteria like a normal cybertronian.’

‘There are other mechs there. I'm not going.’

“Introvert much?” Rumble smiles slightly at the two, Laserbeak flaps her wings as if offended before making her way onto the berth.

‘No. I just can't stand uncool company.’

“Does that make us a cool company??”

‘Carrier tell him something, he is catching me by the words again.’ Laserbeak stomps her foot and Rumble laughs, leaning against Ravage to not fall from laughter.

This situation is taken care of, Soundwave decides.

He wisely chooses a moment when Starscream and Skywarp aren't in the berthrom.

He watches as Acidstorm walks out of the room, looking as if he had seen better days. Soundwave pats his back before he walks inside and approaches Novastorm, startling the femme seeker. He should have knocked but this situation seems urgent.

“Query: Novastorm held here against her will?”

Novastorm shakes her head. “I'm not being forced to stay here, I just want to.”

She seems uneasy in his presence, everyone is like that besides decepticons from the high command. Soundwave tries to seem non-threatening, that doesn't really help. The seeker seems still shaken from her meeting with Acidstorm a moment ago.

“Elaborate: Why.”

“I don't believe that as a higher office even you can demand that of me.” She crosses her arms. Soundwave stares, watching as the confidence drains away bit by bit under his stare.

“Thundercracker was my bondmate, if I knew him well, which I did. He would have wanted someone to take care of his idiots for him.”

“Query: Permission to read mind?”

The seeker scowls at this, digits fidgeting. She mumbles quietly to herself as her wings drop. “As if you ever needed permission before, Officer.”

Soundwave takes that as a yes. He dives into the seekers mind, searching as gently as he can for what he is looking for but it is hard, most seekers are very similar to each other. Finally he finds what he had been looking for.

Thundercracker had helped her hide away from the battlefield but the autobots were not merciful, especially after seeing a seeker with damaged wings. Only a few were taken hostage.

He leaves her mind, walks outside, closes the door and immediately comms Shockwave.

“Order: Autobots camp, burn to the ground.”

“Are you implying that we should be wasting resources on-”

“Or Lab burn to the ground.”

“I'll think about it. Shockwave out.”

…

..

.

Soundwave wakes up from recharge the next day, his companions nowhere in sight, that alone makes him uneasy. He looks at the energon dispenser, his fuel is low but that is not important.

He makes his way outside, the silence is uneasy as well, no one is in the halls which is.. rather weird considering how many mechs live here now.

He checks the bonds one by one. Ravage is okay, Frenzy, Rumble, Laserbeak, okay too.. Starscream? Still blocked, he will have to end that bond, talk to the seeker about it. The rest does not replay.

Wait.. Frenzy? That wasn't open before. He dives into the bond, his companion is in the vents somewhere. Soundwave sends his relief down their bond and he receives back surprise and joy.

Perhaps the bonds unlock themselves overtime? Or perhaps there has to be effort put into unlocking them.. he can't tell.

There is a threat in front of him-

He shakes himself out of his thoughts.

It has weird appendages, a Quitesson? His optics refuse to focus properly, perhaps the thing partly blinded him with some fumes when he wasn't aware of its presence.

He fires a sonic attack at its pedes, a warning but his vision is so bad, he isn't sure if he didn't hit it already.

The bond with Frenzy flares with unease.

The bonds! Did it attack his companions?! Perhaps Frenzy just dove into their bond and saw the situation. His panicked thoughts spiral. He can't focus enough to read the enemy's thoughts.

He doesn't retreat but he takes a few steps back, looking for an advantage in his surroundings. The bonds take his attention for a moment, alarmed by his panic, he pushes them away as he runs at the threat.

Brute force will have to do this time.

Chapter Text

He falls to the ground on top of the attacker but the enemy spins them around, pins his servos above his head and tries to put an extra weight on him with their- wings? Keeping them out of reach. Soundwave is heavier and stronger despite the others' speed. They are saying something.. he can't hear, he doesn't care.

He spins them around, tears his servo away from their grip and balls it into a fist to-

One of his companions pulls him suddenly into the bond and he sees himself from someone else's perspective, purple optics visible even from behind the visor- what? He ceases his movement and struggles, removing himself from the bond and staring in shock.

Starscream, he had attacked Starscream. The seeker had unnocked their bond to show him that.

It's the enemy, Starscream doesn't look like that, something cursed in his processor whispers. He pushes that away as he dives into the bond with the seeker, seeing the events play from the others perspective.

He feels sick, seeing himself pounce on his companion like a rabid turbo-hound.

‘Starscream okay?’ He asks, he didn't even realize that he pushed the bonds so far away that he wasn't even able to hear his companions speak. He gets off the seeker quickly.

‘Buffon! I would be better if you didn't decide to pounce on me like a turbo-fox in heat! What has gotten into you?!’ the seeker got up, Soundwave can tell, it's as if he had been an organic without glasses, able to see shapes but out of focus.

‘Dark energon.’ Most likely when Skywarp scratched him it had gotten into his system. He manually pushes his battle protocols to the side, he has to remind himself that this is not a threat, Starscream is no threat.

‘We are going to the medbay right now.’ The seeker says through the bond and Soundwave watches as that shape in front of him moves away.

‘You coming?’

“Soundwave: unable to see.” He can't even hear what he had said, his audiooreceptors malfunctioning. The shape comes closer, Starscream takes his servo into his, the feeling of warm metal against his own is nice.

Soon a wing replaces said servo, Soundwave holds onto the closest thing available as Starscream, argues with someone? It looks like Shockwave from the colors. The seeker gestures with his servos a lot, fragile metal lowering and rising and Soundwaves servo with it, wings are.. a weird thing.

‘What's happening?’

‘I'm threatening to bite off Shockwaves plating. Give me a moment.’

‘Why? What did he say?’

‘Smth smth you brought infected mechs to the base idk, I don't speak logic apparently.’

Soundwave offlines his optics, just the sight of what he judges to be insecticons puts his battle protocols into motion. Better to not see and not attack.

The seeker takes him to the medbay, if he says anything to the medics Soundwave cannot say. He is guided to lay down on the berth and that's what he does.

‘Just warning you that I'll have to knock you out.’

That's all the warning he gets before ‘thud’ and he is out. He didn't even have the time to ask where his cassettes were or to ask Starscream to take care of them.

…

..

.

He wakes up to frantic wing flapping, his vision focuses and he immediately sees Laserbeak fighting with Buzzsaw over something.. it looks like an arm.

“Put that down!”

What?

He watches as Starscream takes the limb and throws it out of the window, Ravage closes said window quickly, laying against it to block it. Buzzsaw screeches in fury.

“I needed that for an art piece!”

“You needed an arm?!”

Soundwave gets up, only Ravage approaches, it sends a ping of hurt down his spark to see Rumble hiding from him behind Starscreams pedes and Laserbeak keeping distance.

The cybercat supplies him with comfort and information, apparently they had noticed that something was wrong with him before and with Megatron not being here approached Starscream for help instead.

The seeker had threatened an insecticon into carrying him back to the berthroom.

Buzzsaw had made his way into the base. Everyone is basically having a crisis and his minicon simply decided that he shall go on a few days vacation to do art and didn't even notice that something was wrong since he blocked the bond from his side.. wonderful.

There is one thing that doesn't make sense tho.

“Query: Why Starscream not with trine? Why help?”

The air commander walks closer, having picked up Rumble along the way. The minicon seems uneasy, stareing at Soundwave as if he could lash out at any moment, perhaps Starscream showed them what happened.

The seeker does not answer his question, not at first, servos clenched before he unclenches them.

‘Your cassettes wouldn't leave me if I didn't. The trine is.. It's not the same without Thundercracker. The only thing that holds us together as a trine is grief. We don't fit together.’

“Query: Break bond?” He asks the seeker. Starscream scowls as he gives Soundwave Rumble to hold, mumbling something to the minicon quietly, the cassette is tense at first before slowly relaxing once no harm befalls it.

“You really back to normal Boss?” The minicon asks and Soundwave simply pets his helm.

“Affirmative.
Query: Starscream, bond?”

“Finish your end of the deal first.”

“Query?”

‘Find him.’

Starscream pulls him into the bond, the familiar memory that he had seen before playing before his optics again, stars, space and a shuttle.

Find Skyfire.

‘Like you promised, for fixing Ravage.’
Soundwave knows where Skyfire is.
In the Nemesis, and so is Rumble.

Chapter Text

He makes his way onto the Nemesis with Starscream and they cannot go inside, not anymore. Shockwave had put his plan into action, armored insecticons are dragging mechs that had gone into stasis lock outside the ship and transporting them somewhere.

Dark energon burns much faster than the regular one.

Out of curiosity Soundwave tries to call Lord Megatron. No one picks up, static meets him.

“We just wasted time, they won't let us in.” Starscream complains.

‘Can't you command it to let us in? Wasn't that your station?’ Buzzsaw is asking the right questions this time. Starscream scowls, appearing uninterested in the conversation as he looks at his claws, sharp and deadly things that they are.

“I'm not a cityspeaker. Even if I was Tr- Nemesis, is in deep statis he won't listen to me.”

Interesting choice of words Soundwave notes. Calling the battle ship a him instead of an it. Some passing mechs give them weird looks, it looks as if Starscream was speaking to himself.

Soundwave stares at the vent, asking Frenzy through the bond to come out. He doesn't get a reply. Before he can do anything else Rumble gets out of his chassis and runs inside the vent, Soundwave tries to snatch him but the little gremlin is much faster than him.

“Ah, great. And now you lost a sparkling.” The seeker crosses his arms. Soundwave looks at Starscream, deciding if he should shove the seeker into the vent as well. He shall.

He picks Starscream up, making the seeker screech but before he can shove him in there Rumble gets out, dragging Frenzy behind with an entire box of ruststicks.

“Boss can you believe that-” the cassette stops talking the moment he sees what's happening, Soundwave lowers Starscream to the ground, maybe he should have dropped him instead but that would be a bad example to the cassettes.

Frenzy rubs his optics. “What the frag. What did I miss?? Isn't he with Megatron??”

Soundwave looks at Starscream. Now curious.

‘Are you??’

‘No?! By the way what the frag!? Why did you lift me up like that?’

‘No reason. Can you fly me into the battlefield in Tarn? I want to check something. ‘

Starscream sighs dramatically. Soundwave takes it as a yes, he lifts Frenzy up and once he finds no damage he lets the cassette into his chest compartment.

“The treats are going with us.”

“Frenzy: Denied.”

Frenzy gets out of his chest compartment before shoving an entire fist full of ruststicks down his intake. Rumble shouts at him before digging in as well. Starscream gives him a pointed look.

‘At this point mecha will start to think that you're not feeding them.’

Soundwave let's out a vent of annoyance, Frenzy returns to him when the box is empty, the minicon is sticky from the treats. Great.. They'll all need a shower. He turns to Rumble. The small cassette is looking at Starscream expectedly.

“Rumble: Return.”

Rumble looks at him before looking at Starscream.

“You're not going into my cockpit. That was a one time thing.” Starscream crosses his arms, Rumble sticks his glossa out at him before going to Soundwave instead. Starscream transforms.

With almost all his companions in here Soundwave grabs onto a wing and lets the seeker carry him. A part of him is concerned, he is carrying 5 cassettes.. does their combined weight cause Starscream problems? The seeker is flying no problem, as if he weighed nothing.

Soundwave is a little concerned about how much Lord Megatron weighs now.

He notices two other jets behind them. Starscream flies up and down, losing them in the clouds.

‘Avoiding them won't solve your problems.’

‘I know but let me avoid them for just a little longer.’ Soundwave lets go and Starscream lands in Tarn. The autobots camp is no more, not burned properly though, it looks like something ripped through it and didn't set the fire properly. Insecticons.. What else did he expect?

It's as if Shockwave didn't have any other mechs at his disposal, everything is done by insecticons.. good thing that he doesn't have predacons anymore.

The autobots left in a hurry, some are dead, no familiar faces tho.

Soundwave is about to approach the camp to analyze if they left something important behind but before he can Starscream runs to the pile of bodies, digging through them till his claws are dull, unsure on what's happening and alarmed by his companions panic Soundwave approaches quickly and helps him, yeeting away a body or two.

Thundercrackers optic-less faceplate stares at them through a gap. One single light in the hole that an optic used to be in turning on and off like a flashlight

-. --- - / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ..-. .- ..- .-.. -

.-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..-

... --- .-. .-. -.--

Oh.

Chapter Text

Starscream does not say anything, field a mess of emotions, small body shaking. Soundwave does not dare open the bond with him, he lets his cassettes out except for buzzsaw, letting them dig through the pile, instructing them to not damage the seeker further.

He lays a servo on the air commanders shoulder and he immediately has a seeker close to coolant in his arms, he opens the bond carefully to not expose himself to what Starscream is feeling, planning to take him to a happy memory, the problem is that he doesn't have many of those, he shows Starscream his time at macadams old oil house.

Should he contact his trine? No, 3 crying seekers won't help him right now. Blitzwing? No. Shockwave?? No. Why is Lord Megatron not picking up the fragging comm, he would surely know what to do with a distressed seeker.

He sends a ping to the most friendly shuttle he knows, asking him to arrive for them in Tarn.

.:I finally got this damn thing to work. Soundwave report. What's happening?:.

Thank the allspark. Lord Megatron finally answered. Why the frag so late?? For the first time he finds himself flustered with the warlord but he pushes his anger to the side, this is not the time to be angry.

.:No time. How to comfort a distressed seeker?:.

.:bring them to their trine. Most seekers take comfort from physical touch, perhaps you can distract them?:.

.:Acknowledged:.

No distraction will work this time. Soundwave is sure of it. He simply holds Starscream close even when his cassettes finish digging the body out, they give them a moment, Starscream pulls away, looking at the body.

“We shouldn't have come here..” the seeker says and Soundwave is not sure what to reply with so he simply doesn't.

“I.. I need to be alone. Can you give me a moment with him?”

Soundwave nods, he walks away, his cassettes following close behind. The shuttle arrives in the distance. Astronian in all of his grumpy glory and of course the moment he lands he transforms into a train just to spite them.

Chapter Text

Soundwave explains the situation to Megatron, the warlord knew most of those things. With the report done it is time to ask questions.

.:Query: Shockwave acting chief. Why?:.

.:I was informed about what had happened in Tarn and didn't want to overwhelm you. I know how attached you are to those cassettes:.

Soundwave lets out a quiet vent. He cannot deny that this is in fact the truth but he would have managed to be in charge of the decepticons even without his cassettes. He wishes to say it but he won't argue with Lord Megatron, especially inside Astronian.

Who knows what the triple-changer will do with the information that their leader and their third-in-command disagree.

.:Hail the Peaceful Tyranny, if Tarn comes on the Nemesis and someone infects him the casualties will be overwhelming:.

.:Acknowledged:.

Now, if only he had the comm frequency of someone in there or the ships.

…

..

.

His cassettes do the job for him, asking a mech after a mech for Peaceful Tyranny's contact information. No one knows anything, not even Shockwave.

The lack of Ratbats presence is alarming. The cassette would surely know. Soundwave pushes this information to the side, thinking about what could be is not helpful.

“What are you thinking about?” Soundwave turns his helm to Starscream, they are basically alone in the cafeteria besides the insecticons, the seeker refuses to let him into the bond, the air commander simply fuels as if he came here to become overcharged on purpose, perhaps he did.

A lot of mechs cope differently.

Thundercracker was impossible to save, while normal Decepticons have their bodies melted down and recycled the seekers body was repaired and is kept in a coffin somewhere where Shockwave won't find it, the seekers refuse to say where and Soundwave doesn't pry.

Apparently he wanted to be buried in the rubble where Vos once was. Perhaps he is buried there in said coffin? It isn't important, not anymore when the outcome cannot be changed, having the knowledge where the seeker is buried won't bring him back.

“Query: Starscream in possession of Peaceful Tyranny's frequency?”

The seeker stops mid bite before shrugging and biting into the energon goodie before Laserbeak can snatch it out of his grasp. She croons sadly.

“No. But I can comm Tarn.”

Soundwave stares at the seeker as if he had just said something completely not making sense. Frenzy chokes on his energon and Rumble pats his back. Somewhere in the distance Buzzsaw shrieks.

“What? We used to talk over high-grade about things that we cannot have.” The seeker rolls his optics. Laserbeak jumps off Soundwaves shoulder, approaching the seeker as she walks on the table.

“What things?”

“Not your business.” The seeker half-heartedly glares. Ravage snorts from under the table.

‘Probably Lord Megatron.’

“See?? I told you guys that he has a crush!”

“It's a size kink at this point.” Rumble and Frenzy run off the table before Starscream can catch them, the cassettes disappear into the vents. The conversation dies down as Starscreams ‘trine’ joins them.

Soundwave does not move from his spot, even when Starscream's scoots closer to him and Laserbeak jumps onto the air commander's shoulder with a screech, a warning that she will bite if the seekers come sit any closer. Skywarp is eyeing the insecticons a lot. Soundwave can already feel a helmache coming.

“Hi.”

“Hello.” And that's how the conversation dies down. No one dares to break the ice.

“Hey, why are you all afraid of Starscream but not of other seekers? Is it like a personal thing or?” The insecticon looks at Skywarp before looking at another insecticon. Hardshell? Soundwave cannot tell, they look similar.

“Insecticons and seekers work together, we respect that.. seekers follow Starscream.. seeker queen?” The insecticon chitters something quietly and the other insecticon perks up at that.

“Got wings, young?”

“No, seekers just got wings.”

“Queen consort vehicon queen??”

The insecticons go into a very heated discussion, they chitter in their language, one of them at some point lifts up a table and throws it at the other, Soundwave wisely chooses to retreat. The seekers do the same, under Starscreams command the two grab Rumble and Frenzy who had left the vents at some point and they all leave the

Chapter Text

Ratbat is found on the ship and rescued like the rest.

The news that Lord Megatron will join the base the next cycle spread fast, his cassettes had already started to prepare a room for the warlord, well most of them. Buzzsaw flew to Shockwaves lab for something.. hopefully not an arm. Starscream sent his trine to control the situation when he was still sober.

Now, he is more than just overcharged. Soundwave stares at the seeker that he had found in the cafeteria, it's still early, no one is in here, not even the insecticons, Shockwave is giving them a lecture, maybe Buzzsaw simply wanted to watch it happen. Perhaps the seeker had come back here the last cycle and had gotten wasted.

Soundwave picks up the seeker carefully, not reacting as wings smack into him and the seeker screeches, probably startled, he simply sends calm down their bond and waits for the struggling to cease and after a moment he is rewarded by silence.

Two red optics look up at him in surprise.

“Query: Starscream's okay?”

“No's I'll be oky when m home with u.” The seeker winks, wings fluttering. A terrible attempt at flirting if he had ever seen one. Soundwave does not react as he carries Starscream to their room.

He doesn't react even as lips press a kiss to the side of his faceplate, he can smell the high-grade even without lifting up his mask. He puts the seeker on the berth a bit harshly, optics stare at him with surprise.

“Starscream: grieving and overcharged.” He explains. The seeker scowls, mumbling something about Tarn under his breath.

‘We will discuss this when you're not drunk.’ with that he temporarily blocks the bond and walks out of the room, pinging Skywarp and Novastorm to come take care of their drunk trine leader.

.:In a moment, we are watching the insecticons make sense of it all. They are so confused that it's hilarious:. Novastorm replays.

.:They had gotten even more confused, you know how shockwave teached them that Lord Megatron is no drone or pollinator but a ruler as well? They heard that Starscream is second in command and now he is queen consort number 2:.

.: Oh- and u know that some of them thought that Shockwave and Megatron might fight for the Queen title?? Oh! And some are from colony's that used to have more than one queen so-:.

Soundwave mutes Skywarps comm frequency for the time being and sends Ravage to watch over Starscream instead, the cybercat is not happy.

…

..

.

Starscream approaches him much later, seeming almost shy as he clears his vocalizer awkwardly. Laserbeak flies off Starscream's shoulder, leaving them alone per Soundwaves request.

“Query: Starscream knows what he did?”

The seekers wings rise high before they drop down, plating pressing against him in a way to make him seem smaller as Starscream looks away.

“I apologize. I'm not sure what had gotten into me.” high-grade probably but Soundwave is not satisfied with that answer.

“Query: Starscream likes Soundwave?” The seeker does not say anything, Soundwave gently unblocks their bond, getting the answer this way rather than through words. And he finds out that yes, Starscream does like him or perhaps something a little more than simply liking him.

The imagined image of them kissing that he saw a glimpse of before being forcibly pushed out of the bond speaks that much.

He pins the seeker to the wall suddenly and retracts his face mask to indulge in those lips that he had been denied for so long, there is a squeak of surprise before the seeker presses up against him, wings smack his servos with their fluttering as their lips brush against one another.

The sound of footsteps makes him pull away, a possessive growl so unlike him bubbles up in his vocalizer as he pulls the seeker to himself to hide him by his larger frame. Megatron looks as if he had walked upon something that he shouldn't have walked onto.

The warlord wisely chooses to not say anything as he leaves the hallway, official matters can wait, Soundwave does not care at the moment. The only thing important is that warm frame pressed up against him.

He presses his helm to Starscreams tenderly.

‘How long?’

“A long time. You're simply blind for not noticing.”

He should probably scold the seeker for not telling him but that would break the moment so instead he pulls away and Starscream huffs.

“Are we going to take it somewhere more private or are you waiting for someone specific to walk in on us?” Starscreams wings flick in irritation.

‘I wouldn't be opposed to traumatizing Shockwave a bit.’

‘Buffon. Still wanna break the bond?’

‘No.’

‘Then find me skyfire.’

Soundwave pulls away with a huff from his vents. “Starscream: ruined the moment.”

“Serves you right.” The seeker winks at him, getting out of his arms, smug. Soundwave picks him up and carries him in the direction of Shockwave's lab.

“You were serious??” Starscream laughs.

Chapter Text

Like he had promised he brings the seeker to the empty room without his cassettes, his fans kick on immediately, the difference in temperature making them malfunction. He will have to go to a medic later to get it checked.

Skyfire stares at him like every time he has entered this room, light blue optics always staring into one point from the ice. Starscream does not say anything, claws gently touching the ice before his wings drop down. His servo slides down the ice.

“How long?” he asks.

“A few centurys. Still in statis” Soundwave answers truthfully. The seeker clicks his fangs together before his wings raise and he turns his back to the ice.

“Then he might wait some more.” The seeker walks slowly to him, pedes making almost no sound as they touch the floor. He stops in front of him, lips brushing the mask, Soundwave obliges as he retracts it and leans forward. The seeker leans away out of his reach.

“Soundwave, promise me that once we will win and labels won't dictate how we live you will let him out.” The seeker demands. And who is Soundwave to deny such a simple request.

“Promise.”

If only they would win.

This war will last forever but he doesn't dare tell that to the seeker. Let him keep that bit of sanity that he still has. Is it so bad? it isn't so bad when he has so many by his side.

He leans forward, touching their helms together before closing the distance in a sweet kiss.

Let him be selfish this once.

Perhaps things will change, the fight with each other lost meaning the moment Quitessons joined. The Prime and Lord Megatron are arranging a meeting to form a truce and to fight the new enemy. It will be temporary but at least for a moment they will have peace.

Peace before they go back to killing each other like rabid turbo-hounds. He won't lose another companion, if he will then his voice shall perish along with them.

Soundwave pulls away from Starscream, touching their helms together.

They will be superior no matter how long the war will last. If they will be split apart they will come back to be whole again.

Chapter Text

It's a normal day for the insecticons, work, refuel, ask Queen for upgrades, Ask Queen to finally take care of himself, both of those usually fail but their Queen lives so he is probably eating something, even if their gifts get ignored and sometimes they get scolded for getting energon everywhere, well body's bleed, not much that they can do about that.

Patrol and-

Andd there is queen consort number 2 kissing with the gatherer that had once come to the lab to ask them for a ride to Tarn, the one that usually hangs out around Queen consort. Soundwave eh?

2 nearby seekers look confused, shocked.

The frag. F100F looks at his companion, G00F looks as shocked as he is.

“Queen consort 2 cheating??”

“Inform the Queen?” They chitter to themselves in their language.

“No! He is gonna be devastated!” Their brother wails from the other side of the room.

“Coward! Inform Queen and don't let cheater get away!!”

F100F runs as fast as his pedes allow him to, making his way to the laboratory much faster then he would if he was flying.

“Queen! Queen consort 2 cheating!!”

Shockwave simply looks at him, vents exhaling as he very carefully puts some things down on the table, a glass with something on it. It looks like energon but who knows.

“Explain what you mean by cheating.”

F100F opens his intake before closing it, unsure on how to voice it in cybertronian, instead he taps one of the older soldiers in the lab, asking politely to translate for him. Hardshell looks so done upon finishing listening.

“Starscream was caught kissing the one called Soundwave in the cafeteria.”

“And?”

“Cheater!” G00F exclaimed as he entered the lab. Out of breath.

Shockwave simply looks from one insecticon to the other, finials dropping down on his helm as his optic dims slightly.

“Listen, he is free to do so, the fact that he is 2nd in command of the decepticons and the 3nd in command in here does not mean that he cannot be in a relationship so-”

“Soundwave a drone? Soundwave queen consort drone or bodyguard? Queen Shockwave allow??”

“Seeker queen needs drones or Soliders?”

Shockwave seems to slump.

The older ones tried to explain to the insecticons that in here the hierarchy is simply different, there is one Queen but Lord Megatron must be obeyed as well, along with his 2nd and 3nd in command and no they are not in a relationship with the Queen but the ones that hatched in the laboratory do not know any hardships.

They do not know that some things can be different than their instincts demand, they give in easily.

Hardshell is older, different, even if bug instincts demand to obey the Queen his processor knows better, knows that some orders need to be questioned. Even if bug instincts demand a small queen that would be agile and fast, easy to protect, his processor knows that a queen like shockwave, big one that can protect himself is more reasonable.

And his processor also knows that Shockwave will try to drop teaching them things to him so Hardshell slowly leaves the lab, the hivemind buzzing in the back of his processor in disapproval.

He loves his brothers- he really does but fuck them at the moment.

If they wish to assist Shockwave so much they don't gotta tangle him into that.