Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was his last battle, they taunted. If he lived, he’d get his freedom. If he lost, the crowd would no doubt chant for his death.

Not that it changed anything for Soundwave. He’d been dead in the processor for vorns, the guards would say. A mute bot, one that never removed his mask in company. They’d crowd around his cell during feeding joor, and they’d stare at him like he was an animal. And he’d refuse to eat until they left.

Soundwave grabbed the dish of slop, slop that was once considered energon, and crawled further into his cage. He lived with the rest of the beasts, in those dirty, unsanitary stalls ridden with disease and scraplets. Soundwave pushed himself against the left wall, bringing his bowl of gruel to his faceplate. He covered himself as he drank, unwilling to let anyone get a real look at him.

“Megatronus.” A voice suddenly spoke, “You’re due to battle Megatronus.” Soundwave swallowed hard, letting that cold slop pour down his intake. In the stall to his left was the reason he was alive to begin with, the beast they called Ravage.

She’d rescued him in his first battle, nursed him back to health and treated him like her own kit. Though she never was able to fix his vocalizer, he was still eternally grateful to the catbot.

Soundwave tapped the side of his cell once, the gesture letting Ravage know he understood. It’s all anyone’s been telling him. Megatronus, the biggest bot in the Gladiatorial Ring. He never lost fights, especially not to lanky, malnourished cassette carriers with no cassettes to speak of.

Ravage pushed her nose under the gap between their stalls. She was a big, dark creature with tall audio receptors and a long tail. Her face was long and thin, which allowed them to touch between stalls. Soundwave slowly placed a servo on her muzzle, petting her softly in the way he knew she liked.

“Come back to me, Soundwave.” Her low voice growled, “Come back to me when you get your freedom, and give me a goodbye. I will not live past this orn, but I must live to see you go.”

Soundwave took another drink of his chunky energon slurry, petting her with his free servo. He silently listened to her talk, hoping something would change. Ravage would live, and he could take her with him. There would be no slaughterhouse, no arena for them to fight for their lives, and no disgusting slurry. Just Ravage and Soundwave, laying in the sunshine. That sweet, warm sunshine.

Soundwave opened his intake to speak to her, but his vocalizer could only grind and squeal. It was a less than pleasant noise, but Ravage moved to press her muzzle into his hip, showing her affection. “I am old, Soundwave. Old beasts go to the slaughterhouse. I am no gladiator, nor can I fight to survive. But… I will be free from this place. With Primus, in the Well with all of the other ill and old beasts.”

Silence settled between them, and Soundwave let his dish clatter to the cold ground. Not like it would taste any different. He laid on his belly, pressing his bare face against Ravage’s. He drank in her scent, her presence, and her love. Indeed, she loved him. She loved him in the way she loved her kits, which were torn from her after the moment of emergence.

And Soundwave loved her like a carrier. She was his security blanket, a servo to hold when he was scared. He’d never known love until Ravage. He didn’t know the circumstances of his emergence, other than the fact that his carrier sold him. He’d been working for as long as he’d been online.

“I hope you live in inner Iacon. I hope they send you there.” Ravage hummed softly. Soundwave pressed himself further against her, trying to memorize the pattern of her soft rumbles. “I hope that you live a wonderful life. A life full of comfort and warm sunshine. I hope you meet someone, and you fall in love. I hope you have kits of your own one day.”

He pushed his nose against hers, closing his optics as coolant began to pour down his faceplate. She lapped up his tears, purring at him. “I hope you leave this old beast behind. I hope you can move on with your helm up high.”

It was the last words she’d spoken to him all cycle. Soundwave curled up against the gap between their stalls and cried, while she let him hold her paw.

Joors came and went, and the artificial light of Kaon burned him awake. Soundwave raised his helm. He was still gripping Ravage’s paw. Today was the day. He’d fight for his freedom, or he’d die.

He wasn’t sure what he wanted more in that moment. To be free of his chains, to go out into the sun of Iacon, and to bask in its heat. To live as all were to live, free and on his own terms. Or would he rather die? Ravage would join him at the end of the orn. They’d live happily under the watchful optics of Primus, in a place with no pain, no sadness.

But Ravage wanted him to live. So he’d do his best to live.

A cold piece of metal was nudged under the gap of their stalls, dark metal. “I tore it from my paw late last cycle. If you do desire to remember me, at least for a while, hold it close.” Soundwave slowly lifted the piece. It was a good size chunk, not like they hadn’t lost any worse. He pressed the cold chunk to his cheek, closing his optics. He slowly closed his mask, trapping the piece against his faceplate.

When the guards arrived to take Soundwave away to fight, he didn’t protest. He didn’t squirm or screech, merely lowering his helm and letting them walk him away. “I love you, Soundwave. I will always be with you.”

Her words echoed in his processor long after he’d been taken to the gates. Mechs in cages whispered behind him, soft prayers and rumors. Soundwave just closed his optics and breathed in Ravage’s scent. It wasn’t anything to write home about. She was grimy and stank like the rest of them, but the sheer fact that it was Ravage he was smelling made it better. She was with him, this tiny piece of her would come with him to freedom.

Freedom, what would that be like? Would they set him loose somewhere outside of Kaon? Or was freedom just another set of chains? Freedom: Definition: to be able to act, speak, or think as one wants without hinderance or restraint. It was a lot to think about.

Soundwave decided then. He’d go to Inner Iacon, wherever that was. He’d find an open, warm patch of sunshine, and as his first act of freedom… he’d lay in it. He’d bask in the warmth of the sun, in the way that Ravage loved.

The gates squealed as they came open, and Soundwave was nudged in the back. He walked slowly onto the arena sand, and didn’t even look up at the spectators. Instead, he looked around at the scenery. Large rock formations were added to the arena today, alongside a water fixture. Though Soundwave was far smaller than his opponent, he was fast. He could stay up high and fire on Megatronus from above.

The other bot took the other side of the arena, strolling out with a somber look on his faceplate. Yellow optics were downturned, maybe in regret, or a prayer to Primus. Soundwave knew little of Megatronus, other than that he was a miner before he came here. The cautionary yellow symbols all over his frame gave that away, though.

Soundwave gave his own prayer in the moments before the battle. For Primus to take good care of Ravage, and to let him live another cycle.

It began.

Soundwave darted towards the formations on the right side of the arena, using his sharp claws and the boosters in his heels to catapult him up to the top. It was flimsy ground, but any high ground was an advantage.

In turn, Megatronus began firing at the base of every other formation in the arena, not willing to give Soundwave the satisfaction. But the moment his back was turned, he lunged.

Summoning any strength he had, Soundwave leaped down from the rocks, colliding hard with Megatronus and sending them both to the ground. He jammed a heel into the mech’s backstruts, lighting his engines and forcing a cry of pain out of him. In turn, Soundwave felt his arm being forced above the other mech, and he was slammed into the ground.

The world spun. Soundwave blinked, dazed until he felt the hot light of a fusion cannon in his faceplate. He dove away, tumbling into the sand. He must’ve hit his helm on the way down. Everything was blurry, and he could feel himself moving much slower than he should.

Megatronus was on him before he could blink. The sand was warm beneath him, his chassis pressed into the material. Huge fists pummeled his back, but there was nothing left, no strength to move. He breathed in Ravage’s scent once more, snuggling his cheek into the sheet of metal.

He went flying across the field, floating gently on the air until he landed in something cool. Water. It blanketed his frame like the embrace of winter, but that was enough to wake him up. Soundwave crawled out of the basin, shaking himself dry just in time to see Megatronus charging for him again. He dove into the space between his legs, making it through to the other side.

He kept running, down on all fours where he was the fastest. The back of his helm ached with pain, but he couldn’t give in. He needed his life. He needed to live, not only for himself, but for every casualty in this ring. For Ravage, for the other beasts.

He could feel the heat of fusion cannon blasts just behind him as he ran rings around Megatronus. Then an idea came to him.

Soundwave lunged once more, clambering onto the larger mech’s back. He pressed his intake over his audial as Megatronus thrashed madly, and released the worst sound he could make.

An agonizing scream left Megatronus, and he collapsed to his knees, immobilized. Soundwave’s vocalizer continued to screech and grind, amplified by his built in speakers. No advantage was unfair in the Pits, he knew that when they pitted him against Megatronus.

Let the audience boo. He was getting his freedom.

Grabbing a servoful of Megatron’s neck wiring, Soundwave slammed him into the sand, practically forcing him to eat it.

Two words. Two words decided his fate. I yield. Soundwave stumbled to his pedes, looking up at the stands. They were calling for Megatronus’ death, but Soundwave found himself unable to do so.

Looking down at that mech, he saw himself in those optics. A sad, lonely bot. He too had never known the sun. He put a servo out for Megatronus, who warily took it. The audience booed and cried with displeasure, but Soundwave didn’t kill. He bowed his helm with respect to Megatronus, and began his slow walk back to the gates.

“Change of plans.” One of the guards told him, “You’ve got an interested buyer, and he’s willing to give a pretty penny for you.”

Soundwave’s spark sank. He was promised his freedom, promised that if he won, he’d be free. Instead, he lowered his helm with indignation, feeling his servos tightening into fists. But he’d never fight a guard. He knew what happened when they tried.

So he let it happen. He crawled into that small, cramped cage and let them lock him in. “Have fun in Iacon, Soundwave.” They teased, but that’s all he needed to hear.

Iacon. That’s where he wanted to be. Where the sun graced the sky, and he could see stars at night. Where rain fell freely, where bots lived happily. He may not be free, but he was going to a better place. He was still going to get his wish.

Even as he was loaded into the train and snapped into place, there was hope. Maybe his new owner would be kind? Bots in Iacon were rich, and why would a rich man be mean? If he had all he could ever want, there was no need for cruelty.

He didn’t say goodbye to Ravage, but he prayed for her. Let the slaughterhouse be warm, warm like the sun. Let her death be swift and painless. Let Primus be kind to her.

Soundwave nuzzled the piece of her plating, curling up in his little cage. No more Pits. No more suffering. Soon, Iacon.

Soundwave awoke abruptly to the sound of the lock being undone. He’d slept through the delivery process, and appeared to be in a… home? A bot with white plating opened the door to his cage, but didn’t move to pull him out of it. “Easy, I see that you’re nervous.” His voice was smooth, with a subtle accent Soundwave couldn’t place. “I won’t harm you.”

The bot stepped out of the way, slowly placing a dish in front of the cage. Instead of petrified energon gruel, it was packed in clean, elegant cubes. Soundwave felt his intake fill with tasting fluid, the first time that happened in orns. Carefully, he reached out of his cage, taking one in his servo.

“There you go. It’s good.” The bot assured, but Soundwave didn’t take it immediately. Instead, he turned away from the bot, shielding his face as he pushed the cube down his intake. It was clean, fresh, and settled nicely in his tanks. This was what he was supposed to be refueling on all along. This energon, which flowed powerfully through his veins.

Slowly, he moved to stick his helm out of the cage, looking up at the mech that had bought him. He had a kind faceplate, clean and stark white. Yellow optics looked upon him kindly, and that gentle smile soothed him slightly. “My designation is Shockwave. I am a senator here in Iacon. And you are Soundwave, the wordless gladiator.” Soundwave nodded in recognition, and the bot grinned at him. “Lovely.”

Soundwave slowly crawled free of his cage, looking around. He was in a nice room. A recharge slab sat in the corner, covered in soft looking padding. There was a station to prepare energon, and a small table to eat it at. Looking up curiously at Shockwave, Soundwave cocked his helm to the side.

“Ah, this is your room, Soundwave.” Shockwave stood, gesturing around. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll get this nasty thing out of here.” Soundwave watched him take the cage and toss it in the corner, returning to him.

Shockwave was… big. A life of being well fed with clean, smooth energon had certainly had an effect on him. He was tall, clean, and bulky. It was a stark difference to Soundwave’s disgusting frame.

Why was he here? Soundwave bowed his helm to the senator out of respect, but his demeanor showed his anxiety. Why would he want Soundwave? Some bots had other bots to carry their things or shop for them, others put them to work in the mines. But why would Shockwave just… feed him clean energon and give him a room?

“You’re confused.” Shockwave clarified, taking a seat at the table. “So, Soundwave… things in Iacon have been difficult lately. My job requires that I do quite a bit of public work, which puts me in quite a bit of danger at times. So, my friend Sentinel Prime gave me a wonderful idea. You are a well known gladiator, and if you were to escort me on my public talks, it would keep me safer from, say, a bot that didn’t like me.”

Soundwave blinked behind his visor. “So… you’ll be my bodyguard.” It was an unfamiliar term, but Soundwave nodded anyways. He supposed it made sense. If bots wanted to hurt the senator, a well-known gladiator at his side would certainly deter any attackers.

Shockwave talked at him for a while longer before finally deciding that Soundwave had enough. He bowed politely and left the room, leaving Soundwave to think.

He slowly unclipped his mask, holding his piece of Ravage to his chassis. I’m in Iacon now, he wanted to tell her. I’m where you wanted me to be.

He laid the piece of her on the recharge slab, moving quietly to the window beside it. The curtains pulled back easily, and Soundwave had quite the view. He squinted at the light that struck his faceplate, but then he realized. This wasn’t the artificial sun of Kaon. This was the light he was meant to live in.

The city below buzzed with life, bots moving here and there, in and out of different shops and stores. Flight alt modes zoomed past, and Soundwave felt his optics widen. He was meant to fly too. The boosters in his heels told him such. Someday soon, he’d take to the skies with the rest of them. But that wasn’t today.

Soundwave quietly walked back to the recharge slab, laying down on the smooth surface. It was far more comfortable than the cold floor of his stall. Pulling the bit of Ravage’s plating close, Soundwave curled up in the warmth of the sun. He closed his optics, letting himself fall into sleep.

He dreamt of warmth, and Ravage curled around him.

Chapter Text

Shockwave sat on his balcony, gazing down at the streets below. Iacon was a beautiful city, booming with life. His humanitarian work had built so many homes, and the streets were miraculously free of poverty. Well, in the inner districts at least. He still had work to do.

Taking a long drink of his morning energon, Shockwave sighed. There was so much still to be done. The Pits of the outer districts were… well, the Pits. Slavery was rampant out there, and Shockwave was starkly opposed to it.

He cycled his vents, releasing a short sigh. But of course, the rest of the senate would fight him tooth and nail. They always did.

Shockwave stood from his seat, quietly moving back inside. He jumped slightly at the sight of his new companion, though, having not gotten used to his presence yet. “Ah! Soundwave!” He crooned, smiling awkwardly. “Did you… intend on frightening me, or is that just a side effect of your wandering?” He chuckled lowly.

Soundwave just looked at him. He was unable to decipher the bot’s expressions, considering the mask and visor, but he seemed harmless. Shoulders slack, servos down. Soundwave cocked his helm to the side gently, and Shockwave couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He behaved like a beast. His mannerisms reminded Shockwave of a catbot, the way he’d hunch his shoulders and raise his back struts when he was afraid, or how he purred when pleased with something.

Indeed, he was liking his new companion. Until he noticed the tracks. Shockwave leaned around him, cringing slightly. The dirt and grime on Soundwave’s pedes had dragged into the living space, leaving a trail from his habsuite to here. “I say, Soundwave… you look like you could use a bath.”

Judging by the dumb look Soundwave gave him… Shockwave’s expression sank. “Have you… ever had a bath?”

Primus. Soundwave spent his whole life in the ring, of course he’d never had a bath outside of the water fixtures larger mechs would throw him into. It was saddening. Bathing was a normal part of life to Shockwave, releasing his frame of the cycle’s grime. Soundwave didn’t know what that felt like.

Shockwave smiled sympathetically. “Here, I’ll draw a warm oil bath for you. We’ll get you nice and clean, then we’ll go to the markets. Sound good?” Of course, he didn’t receive a verbal response, but Soundwave bowed respectfully, which was practically the same thing.

The washracks were quiet this time of day, clean and quiet. Warm oil gently bubbled out of the tap, filling the Vosian-style soaking tub. It was a gift from Lord Starscream after his last visit. Vos was a lovely place, and their communal tubs were simply delightful. It was just far too cold up there for Shockwave’s taste.

Soundwave stood idly behind him. He could feel the bot’s optics on his back. “All done.” Shockwave hummed, standing up and shaking his servo dry.

It was a wonderful thing to watch, really. All the tension leaving the gladiator’s frame as he sank into the tub. The way his helm rolled back with delight and his engines purred with contentment. Shockwave grinned. “These are smelling oils.” He started, lifting a glass from the edge of the tub. “Imported from our neighbor state of Vos. Pick your favorite. Once you’ve got all that grime off you, it’ll be nice to smell good, yes?”

At the weak nod, Shockwave stood once more. “I’ll be right outside. Yell if you need me.”

Shockwave took one last glance at Soundwave before he closed the door. The bot was sitting idly in the warm oil, letting it soak into his frame. Shockwave swore he heard the mech sigh. He grinned softly as he let the door slide shut, moving back into the greater room.

His comm unit was buzzing already, and Shockwave couldn’t help but roll his optics. Of course, he couldn’t go a breem without Sentinel wanting an update. But he was a Prime, and a Prime was the voice of Primus, so he wasn’t to be questioned.

Shockwave made himself comfortable, clicking open the comm link. Sentinel’s holographic frame stood before him, his typical grin plastered on that gold faceplate of his. “Shockwave! I was starting to worry about you.” Shockwave smiled back, taking a seat in one of the lounge chairs as Sentinel continued. “Are you and your new gladiator friend getting along?”

“Yes, Sentinel.” He chuckled warmly, waving a dismissive servo. “Soundwave and I are getting along fine. In fact, I’ve planned a shopping day for us downtown.” Shockwave smiled politely, shifting to cross one leg over the other.

Sentinel grinned, putting his servos together. “Delightful! I’ll be waiting with baited breath to meet him at your next event. Though, do make sure he’s clean by then… I know how gladiators are with their hygiene…”

That last statement was sheer ignorance. Shockwave felt his spark twist, but he kept as much of a kind expression as he could. The other twelve members of the senate, including Sentinel, had no idea of the terror bots experienced in the Pits, as well as the suffering of the lower class. Not like they’d care of they did, either.

“Of course. I’ll see you then, Sentinel.” Shockwave didn’t keep the comm open for much longer, and slumped back in his chair when Sentinel left him alone. He felt his optics roll, and an expression of displeasure cross his face. Primus, Sentinel was a Prime, sure, but he certainly had no manners, nor any respect for those ‘below’ him.

Shockwave rubbed his optics. “Primus, forgive me for this transgression, but I do not care for Sentinel’s calls. If it is your will, I understand, but…” He trailed off with a groan, standing from his seat. At least Sentinel was somewhat polite, unlike another member of the senate.

Soundwave cleaned up nicely, Shockwave had to admit. Though he was quite short for a mech, the noticeable hunch in his back struts explained that. His frame was a nice blue, yellow and red accents tying it together. Sure, his paint could use a new coat, but that was an idea for later. Though, the thing that intrigued him most were the cables that extended from his back. His first reaction was to worry about an injury, but they seemed dextrous. Extra limbs.

It was an odd feature that Shockwave found himself liking. It was unique. “You smell wonderful, Soundwave.” He hummed softly, walking with the smaller bot out to the hanger. “That one’s one of my favorites as well.” Shockwave added, and Soundwave seemed to shy at the statement.

Stepping into the hanger, Shockwave gestured out into the city with a swooping motion of his arm. “Well? Judging by the heels, you’re a flier as well.” But something was wrong. Soundwave shied back, back stepping and cornering himself against a wall. That was the wrong thing to say, clearly.

They’d taken his transformation cog.

Shockwave winced softly, but didn’t make a big deal of it. Instead, he just smiled and patted his companion’s shoulder. “Walking is just fine as well. I’ll set an appointment for you to get that checked out, no worries.”

So they walked. It took an excruciatingly long time to get to the good shopping district, but it wasn’t anything Shockwave would complain about. Soundwave seemed to have his helm on a swivel, looking at everything almost awestruck. He wouldn’t take the experience from him.

Soundwave wandered into a furniture store, so Shockwave followed him. It was one of the larger shops in the district, but a good one to cross off the list early. Crossing his arms behind his back, Shockwave hummed softly as he walked. He paused to feel some of the blankets in one aisle, but cringed at the fabric that caught the tips of his digits. How any mech would enjoy sleeping in that was a wonder to him.

A soft growl approached him, and he turned to see his companion, a pillow clutched in servo. Shockwave just nodded. “You don’t need my approval, you know. Get what you like.” And he took that to spark.

They didn’t leave with much, other than some more bedding and a nice rug. Though, that was probably a lot to Soundwave, Shockwave realized.

Walking quietly down the sidewalk, Shockwave noticed Soundwave pausing. He released a hum of recognition, looking up at the store he was fixated on. A sparkling care store? The sort of place that sold bottles and toys for bitties. Shockwave cocked a brow. “Do you want to go in?” He asked quietly, and didn’t question Soundwave’s shy nod.

Judging by the glass panel in Soundwave’s chassis and the small button by his neck, he was a cassette carrier frame. A bot made to carry smaller, folded bots. Maybe he was just inclined to like little things?

Shockwave felt a bit awkward wandering around in here. He’d never thought about having sparklings, nor had he really considered the possibility. Of course, some frames made them without warning. When given an over abundance of fuel, the spark would bud without a partner. It was a bit of a frightening thought, but Shockwave shook his helm, finding solace in the fact that he didn’t overindulge.

Following Soundwave through the store, Shockwave looked at the various stocked shelves, and smiled politely at the expecting bots that also made themselves patrons. This would definitely cause rumors, not that he minded.

Soundwave only took one item. A plush toy of a catbot. Shockwave grinned, finding it ironic considering his beast-like tendencies. He hummed a compliment on it, but said nothing more.

Perfume stores, plating care stores, modification stores… they weaved in and out of the streets for joors, shopping for whatever Soundwave found intriguing. Then they reached the end of the district. Shockwave was about to turn and head back, but Soundwave grabbed his servo, pointing at the building ahead.

The museum. “A history mech? As am I.” Shockwave smiled politely. A trip to the museum couldn’t hurt, and Soundwave could get some ideas for his alt mode inside.

They left their bags by the front gate, and Shockwave gave a polite thank you to the mech at the counter. The History of Cybertron laid before them.

“Primus, our faceless God, lives just below our pedes.” Shockwave narrated the plaques as Soundwave admired the pictures, exploring a history he was denied in the Pits. “He transformed himself into our planet, giving each and every one of us life through his own fuel, energon.”

Reaching the segment on the past 13 Primes, Shockwave smiled. “Primes are the voice of Primus, and though their influence no longer reaches some parts of our world, they are expected to obey and decree Primus’ will. Our current Prime is Sentinel Prime, I work with him personally.” Soundwave looked up at him then, and though his visor still hung over his faceplate, Shockwave could practically feel the wonder radiating off of him.

Clearing his throat, Shockwave continued. “The Vosians up north do believe in Primus, you see, they just don’t believe the Primes speak for him. Hence their monarchal society, rather than our democratic system. That doesn’t make them any different than us, though. Lord Starscream is a personal companion of mine, and he is a lovely mech, I must say, with a fine taste for high grade.”

Soundwave began to wander around the exhibit then, looking at the various busts and statues of their Primes. He paused on one, though. Megatronus, the Fifth Prime. Shockwave hummed. “Yes, a certain gladiator bears his name now, I hear. No affiliation that I’m aware of.”

He noted the nervousness in Soundwave’s demeanor, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, they cut their visit early. The sun was setting, and Shockwave assumed he didn’t want to be out too late.

The walk back was slow and easy going. Shockwave barely noticed Soundwave’s servo in his own, but he didn’t think to question it. A self soothing mannerism, maybe? Either way, if he could provide any comfort, he’d be happy to.

The complex in which Shockwave lived was also inhabited by a few members of the Senate, hence why he lived there. It was a nice place. Gold accents, smooth and clean. A tall building made for tall bots.

Shockwave walked Soundwave back to his room and sat his bags inside. Soundwave bowed, but Shockwave waved his servo. There was no need to, they were friends now.

On the quiet walk to his own living quarters, he noticed a figure in the lounge. “Ratbat?” Shockwave questioned, taking a detour to check on him. “Do you enjoy sitting in the dark all by your lonesome, sir?” He added with a light chuckle.

The other mech didn’t respond, only turning his optics to look at Shockwave. Ratbat was a recluse compared to the rest of them. He didn’t do big, public meets or make statements for the city. He simply showed up to the council meets and voted if he felt it necessary. But Shockwave knew there was more to him.

“There’s a council meeting coming up soon.” Ratbat commented, shifting in his chair slightly. “Discussing the budget increase you’ve suggested. Housing for the poor and needy in the outer districts.”

Shockwave nodded. “Poverty is rampant around Kaon. It’s not too much of an increase… it’s only the first step.”

Ratbat stood then, his joints creaking with age. “Yes, yes the ‘first step’. Then what? More money, and more money, and more spending we cannot afford.” He loomed over Shockwave, jabbing a digit into the glass of his chest. “You are young, and you are ignorant. If you give the people everything they want, they will come for our helms.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the lounge, and Shockwave felt his servos begin to tremble. His frame grew hot. “Then let them. If we are doing wrong, it is the people’s job to correct us. They deserve a council that works for them, not against them. Let Primus shame me if I am wrong for believing that.”

“Primus save you, you know not what you do…” Ratbat stalked off, shooting a snarl at Shockwave before disappearing around a corner.

Shockwave stood there for a while longer, letting his internal fans cool him. His temper was an issue at times, but he’d kept it relatively together, he thought.

His chambers were nice and cool, the way he preferred them. Shockwave quietly climbed onto his recharge slab, staring at the ceiling. The bots of Iacon deserved a senate that worked for them. Shockwave had dedicated practically his whole life to the cause of helping others, which gained him favor to the people. But he was beginning to feel wary of the bots around him.

Soundwave. Soundwave was a skilled gladiator, and he would protect him. He was a good bot from first impressions, if not a bit socially inept, and Shockwave liked him.

He was just about to fall into recharge when the door to his chambers slid open, not that he cared much. He was hardly aware of the figure crawling into the slab beside him, curling up at his pedes, but he felt their presence, and he was safe.

An odd dream about Soundwave, and an unfamiliar beastly figure.

Ravage, he knew suddenly. Her name was Ravage, and Soundwave loved her.

Chapter Text

Soundwave didn’t understand what Shockwave was talking about, but he did as he was asked. He stood quietly beside the podium, a guard standing sentinel beside his friend. He would keep Shockwave safe against any rioters. He swore it.

The crowd was huge. Hundreds of bots gathered to listen to Shockwave speak. He was an important bot, Soundwave had gathered, one that carried the weight of the whole state.

He was so passionate when he spoke, his expressions portraying just how important he knew his words were. His faceplate glimmered in the sun, emphasizing every turn of his lips, every click of his denta. Those yellow optics demanded respect. Soundwave even felt himself standing up straighter.

The words turned definitions in his processor. He didn’t recognize the word ‘poverty’ until he realized he lived it. Shockwave was a good bot. No question of it.

Soundwave escorted him off the stage, in the practiced manner Shockwave had shown him. They walked in step, cleanly and without any mishaps. The inside of the senate building was cold and echoed like no other, so Shockwave kept his voice down. He rubbed Soundwave’s shoulder plate, grinning. “You did wonderfully, my friend. Just wonderfully.”

The praise went right to his tanks, settling in like some unknown illness. Soundwave looked down at himself, clearly confused by the feeling, but unable to pinpoint why it felt good.

Soundwave trailed behind his senator as they moved through the capitol, deep in thought. It had been a decacycle since he’d begun his new life. A simple ten cycles had passed, and so much had changed. He felt stronger, tougher, and much happier as well. Much happier. Though, one thing detracted from that.

Ravage. She was still there, waiting to be shipped to the slaughterhouse. She told him to move on, to find happiness elsewhere, but he couldn’t. Not without her.

Shockwave looked down at him with that familiar smile, releasing a hum. Soundwave had grabbed his servo, tugging to get his attention. But now that he had it, there was no vocal strength to explain what he needed. He hated his vocalizer, the thing that could only squeal and shriek. He wanted to talk, to explain what was wrong, but he couldn’t.

“Soundwave?” The usage of his name snapped him from his trance, and he looked back up at the other bot. “You look… distressed. Is something the matter?”

He wasn’t sure how Shockwave always knew, but he was grateful that he did. Soundwave pulled Shockwave into the closest empty room, sitting down with him. He tried to express what was wrong, but it was impossible. He cried with frustration as his vocal components whirred, but a proper sound refused to be made.

The good feeling from earlier was replaced with upset as Soundwave reached a servo up, rubbing his throat. It didn’t help anything, but it didn’t make it worse. Shockwave didn’t shy, even as he crackled and squealed. Instead, he looked at him with sympathy. He felt Shockwave take his servos in his own, holding them tightly.

“You’re all worked up. I’m sorry that I can’t understand you.” The words didn’t make anything better, but Soundwave felt himself calm down anyways. Shockwave’s servos were warm, with rounded joints that contrasted Soundwave’s sharp digits. They were big and comfortable, and it reminded him that he wasn’t alone.

Then came the suggestion. “Maybe… if you took your mask off, could I lip read?”

Soundwave shook his helm. His mask and visor kept him safe, they always had. It was personal. Only one bot had ever seen his bare faceplate, and that was Ravage. He slowly looked down, nervousness boiling in his fuel tanks. Sure, he liked Shockwave, but he wasn’t sure of he trusted him that much yet.

He seemed to understand when Soundwave shook his helm, and he was grateful that Shockwave didn’t press the issue. “What about your speakers? Could you try and jumble something together?”

Soundwave thought for a while. His processor had the definitions of many words stored in databanks, and pronunciation guides as well. It was horribly inefficient, but it would do.

With a soft click, Soundwave’s speakers came online. “Mother: Definition: a caretaker, typically but not always a femme.” The cold voice droned out of his speakers, and Shockwave cocked his helm to the side.

“Are you… missing your mother?”

Soundwave nodded. The stress melted out of him then, and he wrapped his servos tightly around Shockwave’s. He squeezed, feeling a rush of gratefulness. He could communicate, even if in a primitive way. Shockwave understood.

“Was she in the Pits with you?” Shockwave asked, and when Soundwave nodded again, he continued. “Did something happen to her?”

Soundwave lowered his helm. “Slaughterhouse: Definition: a place where animals are slaughtered for food.”

The Slaughterhouses of Kaon. When the beasts were too old or injured to continue fighting in the Pits, they were sent there to be put down. Their energon was harvested and sent to purification plants, and their frames were turned into spare parts.

Soundwave could feel Shockwave’s optics burning a hole in him. It was time to devise a plan. They would go to Kaon, and if it was too late, at least Soundwave would be allowed to say goodbye.

The train to Kaon zoomed on its rails, and Soundwave stared out the window the whole trip. He was aware of Shockwave sitting beside him, of their intertwined servos, but he didn’t mind. He was going back to Ravage. He was going to rescue her.

He would take Ravage back to Iacon, and they’d curl up on his recharge slab together. He could already feel the warmth on his frame, the slow licks of her glossa grooming him gently. She was big enough to wrap herself around him, for him to curl into her chassis like a kit.

The station was packed with bots buzzing about today’s gladiatorial matches. Something about Megatronus and his poetry. Soundwave didn’t care to listen. Shockwave helped him weave in and out of the groups of bots, moving towards the large exit doors.

Kaon was the farthest of Iacon’s territories. An awful little city under a dome, with an artificial sun. Crime was rampant here, no wonder bots got away with the Pits and gladiatorial fights. Kaon was the sour armpit of Iacon, and Soundwave was pleased to be free of it.

They walked servo in servo, and it helped to calm Soundwave’s nerves. He kept his helm tilted downwards, but it was hard to ignore what was looming ahead.

The arena stood over Kaon, a bastion of terror and a symbol of oppression. Tall cliffs tore into the artificial sky, an ominous glow emanating from the putrified energon in the natural walls of the pit. Soundwave could sense that stench from here, the stench of rot and decay. Now that he was being pampered with clean energon… it made him sick to think of the gruel he was refueling on before.

“Pay no mind to it.” Shockwave squeezed his servo to bring him back to the current moment. Soundwave looked up at him. “We’re not going anywhere near that place, I promise.” It did little to settle the unease he was feeling, but it reassured him a bit that Shockwave wouldn’t let him get hurt.

The slaughterhouse smelled exactly like Soundwave thought it would. The stink of dry energon, the stale air. It was suddenly hard to cycle his vents. Soundwave’s frame shivered without prompting.

He watched Shockwave walk up to the mech behind the counter, not bothering to listen to them converse. Instead, he walked to the nearest window and looked outside.

Kaon was such a sad place. Of course he knew that before he left, but his decacycle in Iacon had told him a lot. There was no wondering why the sayings using the Pits were so degrading. “Go to the Pits,” and “I feel like Pits today,” and “Stinks like the Pits in here,” and many more. This was the worst thing any mech could think of. The worst punishment a bot could fathom.

And when Shockwave slowly walked him into one of the back rooms of the slaughterhouse, it became even more clear as to why.

It was unceremonious. A table, about midsection high, in the center of the room. And laying there, her face muzzled and frame weak, was Ravage. Restraints held her to the table, though Soundwave didn’t know why. Ravage would never hurt a bot in this state.

Slowly, he walked to her, laying a servo on her massive shoulder. Ravage’s red optics hardly opened. They were dim, weak like the rest of her frame. The dying formula. It had already been administered. And they’d left her to die alone.

“Soundwave…” She managed to mutter, though her jaw remained shut by the muzzle. He nodded at her recognition, shifting to be clearer in her view.

“Safety: Definition: Being protected from danger or harm.” His speakers buzzed at her. Soundwave watched her tail curl softly with an almost pleased motion, though she hardly reached that arcing position before her tail fell limp.

Shockwave came to his side then, and Ravage looked up at him too. “Safety, huh..?” She rumbled gently. She did her best to bow her helm, but the restraints kept her from moving her neck much. “You’d better… you take good care of him…”

In turn, Shockwave nodded. “I promise. He’s in good servos.”

Soundwave felt his servo moving in a practiced motion. Slowly, back and forth over her flank. He was petting her, just how she liked. A low purr left her throat, and her optics shut gently.

“You can rest now, Ravage.” Shockwave whispered to her, “I’ll take good care of Soundwave for you.”

Ravage was too weak to open her optics again.

The purring slowly stopped, but her frame had yet to grow gray in color. That was the telltale sign that a bot’s spark had left them, and yet…

Soundwave wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he couldn’t stop himself once he started. In this weakened state, Ravage’s chassis plates came open easily, cracking in two to reveal her most precious, delicate piece. Her spark.

“Soundwave, what are you..?” He didn’t feel like listening to Shockwave in that moment. Slowly, he reached into her chassis. The fluid her spark was suspended in was cool against his servo, but the warmth of the organ itself counteracted it perfectly. It sat nicely in his palm, though the little ball of light looked almost… confused?

Ravage was in there, of course. It was the culmination of her being, that spark. She was looking at him as much as he was looking at her.

Soundwave reached a servo up to his clavicle, finding the small button that rested there. The front of his chassis folded down, revealing a spacious cavity where a cassette would sit, if he had any.

Just behind it, though, was his own spark chamber. And that’s where it went. Soundwave shivered gently, unsure of the feeling. She was in his spark chamber now, snuggled right up to his own.

It was a strange idea, but it could work. His frame was practically designed to make other frames. If she settled there like a sparkling, he could build her a new body. And that’s exactly what he did.

Shockwave was just as confused as he was supportive, Soundwave noted. The other mech would come to wake him each morning with a cube of energon, and eventually two cubes when he became hungry enough. He would rub Soundwave’s back, smile politely and leave.

It was unconventional. Completely unheard of. But it was so, very much Soundwave. He stood in the washracks, leaned over the countertop to look in the mirror. About an orn had passed since Ravage’s introduction to his frame, and all was working just as he thought it would.

Her spark had shrunk significantly, but in turn, bits of framework were beginning to appear in spots of the fluid around his spark. Soundwave was nearly giddy. A few orns later, and he’d have her back.

They’d lay in the sun, and she’d talk about nothing in particular. It was just as he’d always dreamed. The only difference? He imagined that Shockwave was there with them. Ravage was curled up around Soundwave, obviously, but Shockwave… he was there too, laying a little ways away with his arms behind his helm. He’d smile and chuckle at Ravage’s words, but nothing more.

That was all Soundwave wanted now. Ravage, Shockwave, and the warm sun beating down on them.

Shockwave entered as he did every morning, a small tray in servo, and two cubes on that tray. Soundwave was practically starving! He clambered out of the washracks, taking his seat in one of the chairs at the table.

Soundwave took note of the stressed demeanor Shockwave was displaying, particularly in his expression. Something Soundwave had learned in his time with Shockwave? That mech couldn’t hide an expression to save his life.

“It’s nothing.” Shockwave muttered preemptively, “Just… a friend of mine. I’m worried about him.”

Soundwave replayed an old soundbite of Shockwave’s own voice. “Orion Pax.”

Another member of the senate. A young historian, who found himself in the seat after his extensive and telling research on the past Primes. He was a friendly bot, all things considered.

Shockwave seemed a bit surprised, maybe that he’d caught on so quickly, but he continued either way. “Yes. He’s found himself… entangled with that Megatronus gladiator. I worry that he’ll get himself hurt, or…”

He suddenly trailed off, and Soundwave just blinked at him. The irony wasn’t lost. Shockwave and Soundwave had definitely become quite “entangled” themselves. Here he was, in Soundwave’s habsuite, delivering him his fuel for the morning. It had only been six decacycles since they’d met, but there was something indescribably there.

Shockwave didn’t speak for a while longer, simply seating himself across from Soundwave so they could have their morning refuel together as usual. Soundwave didn’t mind the quiet, though.

“Soundwave… have you ever been in love before?”

It was quite the sudden question. Love wasn’t entirely foreign to him. He loved Ravage, and he knew that she loved him as well. But that was a different love than the kind Shockwave was referring to.

When he shook his helm, Shockwave just sighed gently. “It’s… hard to figure, I think.” He started, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve thought I was in love plenty of times, only for it to just be a friend I was close to. I see friendship, and I recognize that I enjoy being around certain bots… bit when does the line of friendship cross into love?”

Soundwave just shrugged. He’d never had time for any romantic love. It was just him and Ravage against the rest of Cybertron until Shockwave came along.

Another beat of silence passed, and Shockwave returned his gaze to Soundwave. “I… find myself enjoying your company quite a bit, Soundwave.”

Soundwave nodded. He took the words in his processor, jumbled them around a little, and released Shockwave’s vocal tones back at him. “Soundwave- enjoying your company-.“ Was the result.

A slow smile crept across Shockwave’s faceplate. Not of elation or joy, which was different for Shockwave, but an emotion that Soundwave struggled to place. Appreciation? Affection? Whatever it was, it caused Soundwave’s frame to heat slightly, and his internal fans clicked on.

“I thank you, Soundwave.” He slowly stood from the table, walking around to him. Soundwave leaned back into Shockwave’s servo, which settled between his shoulder blades. “I promise to continue to support you, and by extension Ravage, for as long as you and her need.”

Only one phrase was thought to be a correct response in that moment. “Love- you.”

“Don’t say that, Soundwave…”

Chapter Text

Soundwave changed in very subtle ways when carrying, Shockwave noticed. He slumped his shoulders a bit more, tilting his chassis downwards in an awkward sort of hunch. He assumed it was a protective measure, or just an instinct from his more beastly side.

It was hard to ignore the way he was feeling now, even if he bit his glossa and tried to will it away. Some deep affection was taking hold in his spark, that same affection that had destroyed him mere decavorns ago.

Orion Pax. What a charming young spark, one with a deep passion for their history. He was sweet and kind, the sort of mech that would give you his own plating if yours had a dent.

It was hard not to love him, to be honest. Shockwave had fallen hard. Long talks with the mech, listening to that smooth voice. It was like a cool balm on the aches of his life, a sweet sensation that said all would be okay. Warm servos wrapped around his spark, blushing so hard coolant would pour from his optics to reduce temperature.

But Orion didn’t see him like that. And that was alright. Sure, it hurt worse than any rejection he’d received, but he wouldn’t dare tarnish a good friendship for something so petty.

They would still talk, sitting outside the capitol building and speaking about nothing in particular. It was hard to deny that feelings lingered.

He didn’t know Soundwave like he knew Orion. The bot spoke his own words back at him, pointing when he wanted something or nuzzling his arm. Soundwave showed no deep interest in what he had to say, nor did he respond with any of the same manner. He just listened and watched, an air of indifference about him.

And yet, Soundwave said he loved him. And somehow that made it so much harder on him. Was this how Orion felt, he wondered? When I asked him how he felt about me? Was it this awkward? This frightening?

Soundwave came to his side suddenly, and Shockwave felt a sigh of relief leave him. Sitting alone for too long always made his processor stir in uncomfortable ways. But now Soundwave was here.

He felt those warm, comfortable cables wrap gently around his middle. A hug that kept Soundwave’s servos free. Shockwave smiled gently, looking over at his companion. “You somehow always guess the correct time to arrive.” What once was an unsettling trait seemed so much more normal now. He loved Soundwave’s uncanny abilities, the way he always knew when something was wrong.

Shockwave allowed Soundwave to walk him back inside, off the balcony and into the main room of his habsuite. Shockwave’s home wasn’t too flashy, more comfortable than anything. Soft padding, furniture fit for a bot with back issues, and plenty of warm blankets to snuggle in.

“Is there something you’d like to show me, Soundwave?” Shockwave asked, allowing Soundwave to sit him down. He leaned down slightly, trying to get a better view of the mech’s glass chestplate.

The front panel of his chassis slid open, and… Ravage’s spark had disappeared. That tiny crystal clutching onto Soundwave’s own had simply vanished in the night. “Soundwave: Afraid.”

But Shockwave couldn’t stop a smile from crossing his faceplate. “It’s nothing to be worried about. Really, it’s… I’m rather surprised.” Noting Soundwave’s confusion, he continued. “Those spots of plating you were seeing will become her frame, but when the sparkling grows too close to your spark, there’s a concern about… fusing. So, rather than fully constructing in there,” Shockwave pointed his digit at Soundwave’s spark chamber, then moved it down to the plush of his abdomen. “She’ll finish the process in there.”

Soundwave looked down at where Shockwave had pointed, and he swore he saw the mech smiling behind his mask. Shockwave rested his servo on Soundwave’s hip, pulling him in a bit closer. “Don’t worry about her, all is well. You’re doing a wonderful job carrying, Soundwave. Really.”

There was hardly a moment to react when Soundwave grabbed him by the shoulders, and Shockwave froze up. He could feel Soundwave’s claws burying into his plating, and he fought a slight wince. He was pushed backwards onto the recharge slab, landing with a light huff as he watched Soundwave clamber on top of him.

That slight nervousness disappeared quickly, though. Soundwave curled up in a ball on his chest, a warm purr escaping him. Shockwave’s spark began to throb gently, and this time, the feeling wouldn’t go away. It… wouldn’t go away.

And he was oddly okay with that.

The Council Building was as cold as usual. An icy chill settled in Shockwave’s chassis as he looked around, though it appeared that the pleasant bots hadn’t arrived yet. The entrance room was hardly modest. The stairs ahead led down into the Atrium, which practically acted as a ballroom, despite the massive shelves of datapads. It was a library unlike any other, and yet it was still cold.

Shockwave gazed up at the glass dome ceiling, the chandelier casting a soft glow into the central chamber. The Pride of Iacon was its beautiful architecture, truly.

When a large servo touched his back, he flinched instinctively, prompting the assailant to laugh. “Oh! Did I frighten you, Shockwave?” Sentinel crooned in a slightly demeaning manner. Shockwave smiled awkwardly, trying to quickly shuffle away despite the hold the Prime had on him. It was of no use, considering Sentinel towered over every other bot on the Senate. “Now, where’s your little friend? You know I’m just dying to meet him…”

Sentinel looked around optics adjusting to see further. A low, nervous laugh left Shockwave, and he took the distracted moment to pull away from the Prime. “Ah, unfortunately, Soundwave wasn’t up to coming with me.” Now he needed an excuse that wouldn’t say too much… “It’s rest day for gladiators, he’s still not quite broken the habit yet.”

Sentinel’s optic ridges furrowed slightly, but he didn’t push the issue, thankfully. “A shame. I was quite looking forward to his presence.” Rather than playing up his upset, he started off towards the private council room, where the meeting would take place. Shockwave followed.

It was a slanted room, with stairs that led up to twelve desks and seats, fronted by a podium. A proper senate meeting room, really. Small nameplates and plaques designated every senator’s seat, though few had arrived by now. Ultra Magnus, on time as always, was taking the time before the meeting to pray silently. Trepan and Pharma, on the other servo, were murmuring amongst themselves as usual.

Shockwave silently bowed his helm to Ultra Magnus as he climbed the steps beside him, taking his seat at the desk behind the mech. It didn’t take much longer for the others to arrive, then the meeting began.

Shockwave cleared his vocalizer before he began, tapping his pede politely to gather attention. “As we all know, I have been campaigning on the idea of building a larger budget, to put more towards the homeless and impoverished bots of Iacon.” He stood then, making his move down to the podium. Sentinel graciously moved aside, allowing him to more properly address his fellow senators.

It was a funny thing, really. To be so nervous over something he knew so well. Maybe it was the thought that he could be shot down so easily, or maybe the memories of reading Megatronus’ poetry, or maybe it was just the fact that Ratbat was sneering at him now. He cycled his vents, releasing a soft puff of nervous steam.

“Our territories all around Kaon and throughout Kaon are the poorest in our nation. They are the backbone of our society, the class that works for no pay, who goes home to filthy conditions, if they go home at all. To let the mechs of our beautiful nation live like this is a tar stain on everything good we’ve ever done. Hear me when I say, focusing on the well-being of the mechs in and around Kaon will ensure our prosperity for millennia to come.”

Bowing his helm to signal that he was finished, the rest of the senate began to murmur amongst themselves. Orion grinned gently at a comment made by Elita One, while Ratbat and Perceptor quietly picked apart his plans. The whole room felt tense.

But rather than focus on that, Shockwave slowly looked down at his servos. Funnily enough, he found himself thinking about Soundwave. He was likely curled up right now, snuggling into the warmth of the extra blankets Shockwave had bought for him. Either that, or looking in the mirror for any glimpse of Ravage. He would make a wonderful carrier, Shockwave thought. Even in her new form, Ravage surely felt his adoration for her.

He couldn’t help but wonder, though. Would Ravage look the way she did before? Would she grow into a frightening beast? Or would she take on the frame type of the average, upright bot?

Why was he thinking about this? He was in an important meeting, and he was thinking about Soundwave and his sparkling. His expression of discomfort must’ve become clear, though, as he felt Sentinel’s firm servo on his shoulder. “Easy, Shockwave.” He hummed, “Distress isn’t a good look on you.”

How out of touch could one mech be? Either way, it did help to snap Shockwave from his thoughts, just as Perceptor was looking up. He was a well renowned scientist before his time in the Senate, which Shockwave respected greatly. “Where would these funds come from?” His snappy, toneless vocalizer rattled. It was hard to tell his emotions, but Shockwave didn’t take it as anything more than a general question.

“Higher taxes on the upper class, though not by much. This would possibly include a small salary cut for the twelve of us, but considering the current state of Kaon? It’s certainly not much.” He tapped his thumb joint idly on the podium as whispers struck the other half of the desks.

Ratbat was next. “And when the bots in Kaon realize we could’ve been providing for them all this time, what then?”

Silence fell suddenly. Shockwave’s optics laid perfectly in line with Ratbat’s, and the stare between them was harsh and long. It was an impossible question. Did they know they were oppressed? Did they know they could’ve been doing something about it already? “We apologize for the faults of our forefathers, and we move on.”

“Childish nonsense.” Ratbat snapped. He stood from his seat, pushing Trepan out of his way as he clambered down the steps to face Shockwave directly. “The bots in Kaon are there for a reason. They are criminals and warmongers. When they realize our oppression? They will care not for your foolish efforts. You will die with the rest of us.” Shockwave clenched his denta as a digit was jabbed into the glass of his chassis, a cruel crack imbedded there now. “You are not special for being soft, for taking in a worthless war bot. It just makes you the weakest of us.”

Shockwave was silent. What could he say in turn? Aside from Orion, was anyone on his side? It was impossible to tell now, especially with how unpopular his efforts were among the ultra-wealthy. His intake hung open stupidly until it finally sank in.

Shockwave’s grip on the podium tightened as anger surged through his emotional core. “Having empathy does not make me weak. In fact, I dare to say it makes me so much stronger than you. I grin and bear the weight of their suffering, while you’re off doing who knows what with all the tax cuts you’ve given yourself.” Bile began to build in the back of his intake, but he didn’t bother to swallow it back.

Ratbat’s nasal vent twitched, and his lips curled back in a snarl. Shockwave stood firm though, servos tightly fastened on the podium. He wouldn’t back down, especially not on something he believed so firmly. Before either of them could strike one another, Sentinel stepped between them, gently pushing them apart. “Well then! I suppose it’s as good a time as any to call a recess, yes? Shockwave, in my office in-“

He’d never interrupted a Prime before. Maybe it was time to start. “Tell me, Sentinel. Would Primus be pleased with the way we treat our citizens? Is He happy with how we’ve enslaved his sparklings?” The air between them thickened.

Then a sharp slap struck Shockwave’s faceplate.

He stumbled back, servo clutched on his injury. Sentinel was standing over him now, wings flared and flexed. “Primus’ will is beyond even I at times, Shockwave. You have no right to speak of our benevolent guardian in such a manner, you hear me?!” When Shockwave didn’t respond, Sentinel huffed. “I am Sentinel Prime, Shockwave. And you will address me as such. I am the mouthpiece of your lord and master, and therefore I am your superior. Never speak to me in that manner again. Senate, to recess.”

Orion accompanied him on the walk home, but they didn’t say much to one another. Iacon was beautiful this time of the evening, where the sun was just beginning to sink, and a warm golden glow bathed the city. The city center looked lovely now, the energon flowing from the fountains turned a gentle orange by the dying rays of the sun. A romantic hour, really. Though it was unfortunate considering the circumstances.

“I really did expect to be there until early next cycle.” Orion commented, glancing off into the streets, where other bots were racing by. “Especially considering how controversial your stance on the issue of Kaon is. But…”

“I had to go and lose my temper, I know, Orion. I’m sorry.” Shockwave’s finials slowly sank, furthering his expression of guilt and worry. He’d gone against the voice of Primus. He’d snapped at the vocalizer of his Lord. It was a shameful thing he’d done, but in the heat of the moment, he didn’t consider that.

Orion was quiet for a little while, then he reached out to pat Shockwave’s arm. “We all lose our tempers, including the best of us. Including Sentinel.” He paused for a moment, as Shockwave assumed he was contemplating his next words. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my studies, it’s that Primus is a benevolent, forgiving being. He would understand your anger better than any, as He made you that way.”

It was true, yes. Shockwave was born from Primus like many others. Rather than having a sire and a carrier, he emerged from the Well as a sparkling. Primus had carefully crafted his frame, placed that processor in his helm, and severely overdone his emotional core. It was certainly purposeful, but for what purpose? Only Primus knew, Shockwave supposed.

Orion suddenly paused mid-step, prompting Shockwave to halt as well. He opened his intake to ask why they’d suddenly stopped, but following his gaze said enough.

Two older bots, elders by most standards, sitting on the edge of the fountain. A bigger medic bot with warm orange accents, and a smaller femme with pinkish, almost red, plating. It looked like the medbot had fallen into recharge, his arm tucked comfortably around the femme, who was presumably his conjunx. Upon noticing the senators, she seemed to shy slightly, raising a servo in a soft wave.

It was a small, yet beautiful thing. To feel so comfortable with another being, comfortable enough to completely fall into rest no matter where they were, even in public.

Shockwave smiled back, offering his own wave before they continued on their way.

Shockwave really wasn’t sure when Soundwave had decided to start sleeping in his recharge slab with him, but he’d never complain. It was late in the lunar cycle, Shockwave kept awake only by the gentle glow of a datapad as he slowly ate away at a novel. It was a good book, really. Something about a forbidden romance between a Vosian King and his assistant. He was just about to put it away for the night when Soundwave began to stir.

No matter how many times Shockwave offered, the gladiator refused to sleep by his side, preferring to lay at his pedes for whatever purpose. “Soundwave?” He whispered gently, “You should be in recharge by now. Are you well?”

At this point in the carrying of Ravage, Soundwave had displayed no outward symptoms. No sickness, no cravings, no mood swings. Maybe a bit of extra clinginess, but that was it. Shockwave began to feel a bit concerned, until Soundwave suddenly looked up at him. “Soundwave: Wants Ravage.”

Shockwave felt himself frown, and he slowly sat up. The blankets rolled off of him as he opened his arms, and Soundwave crawled right into them. “I know you do, but she needs to finish forging now, alright? She’ll be in your arms before you know it.” He assured gently, rubbing his backstruts gently.

Soundwave just purred in response. A sweet, gentle noise that Shockwave had grown to adore. A comfortable quiet settled in the room, the only noise being Soundwave’s gentle shifting and the soft sound of them cycling their vents. Shockwave was just about to fall into recharge when he felt himself being pushed back onto the berth.

He looked up at Soundwave in surprise as the gladiator straddled him, and in turn Soundwave cocked his helm to the side. It wasn’t like how they’d done it earlier, like a simple gesture of comfort where Soundwave laid on top of him. This was something different entirely. “Companionship: A feeling of fellowship or frienship.” He droned, “Soundwave: Feels companionship for Shockwave. I love you.”

And there came that feeling once more. That horrible, tank squirming feeling. But it wasn’t so terrible this time. Rather than a strangling feeling, Shockwave felt his spark slowly expanding, his chassis growing warm with affection. This was no false feeling, no misunderstanding. It wasn’t the horrible thing he’d made it out to be the first time Soundwave spoke those simple words to him. Because Shockwave felt it too.

Slowly, Shockwave’s servos found purchase on Soundwave’s waist, then they slipped around him in a hug. He could feel Soundwave’s cables slowly coiling around him in turn, wrapping him in an embrace he was sure he’d never be free from. And yet, it didn’t bother him. Those cables were warm and gentle, and they were connected to a good bot.

“Soundwave… I will deny it no longer. My affections for you are… quite a bit beyond simple companionship.” He smiled awkwardly, feeling his faceplate heating up. Shockwave was suddenly aware of the coolant slowly pooling in his optics. “I find myself thinking of you at odd hours, dreaming about you at night. I desire your friendship, your odd quirks, and everything that makes you unique. And… I would be honored if you would allow me to help you in taking care of Ravage, when she does emerge.”

The cables suddenly grew tighter around his middle, forcing a gasp out of Shockwave. Being wrapped up like this really wasn’t so terrible, though. Soundwave leaned down, and before Shockwave could react, his still covered faceplate was buried in his neck, and he was being nuzzled.

They snuggled into the early joors of the solar cycle, until they both fell into recharge out of exhaustion.

Chapter Text

Orns blended together when Soundwave fell into routine with Shockwave. They’d go for long walks, Soundwave would assist him at his events, and Shockwave would cuddle him all night long. It was a comfortable existence, a reminder of all that he’d been promised in Iacon. He was doing exactly what Ravage wanted, he thought. He found the right bot, and he’d soon have a kit of his own.

Shockwave referred to what they were as “Amanti Endurae”, a state of being together without being conjunxed. It was perfect for now.

When the twelfth orn came and went, Soundwave could feel his excitement growing. Then it finally happened.

It was late in the night, Shockwave snoring softly somewhere above him. The noise was a bit annoying at first, but he’d grown to like it. Shockwave worked all solar cycle for the betterment of Iacon, he deserved good rest at night. It was the sound of him relaxing, and it was beautiful.

A strange feeling began to bubble in Soundwave’s chassis, somewhere behind the cassette deck, around his spark chamber. He’d grown used to Ravage testing her new limbs, pushing around his forge, but this was new. She was still in rest, his frame was doing this on its own.

At first, Soundwave did his best to ignore it. He curled further into himself, pressing his chin into the lip of the transformation seam in his chassis. He tried to will himself into recharge, but that rest never came. Whatever was happening within him refused to let him sleep, but rather than feeling annoyed with Ravage, he just cycled his vents and raised his helm.

Shockwave was laying on his front tonight, helm turned to the side. His intake hung open, tasting fluid dripping from his lip onto the pillow beneath him. Soundwave’s optics fluttered. It was a sweet sight, he couldn’t wake him up now.

Slowly, Soundwave slipped out of the recharge slab, but standing made the feeling worse. He lowered himself to his servos and pedes, crawling into the washracks. His optics filled with fog suddenly as his spark was filled with discomfort, and though he shook his helm, his vision didn’t clear. Something was happening, though he wasn’t sure what.

He crawled into the shower, curling up in the corner to inspect himself. The tiny bump in his plating where Ravage sat was still there, but the odd pulling feeling within him was yet to cease. He wasn’t sure how long it had been since he first noticed it. A few breems? A joor? But he couldn’t keep his discomfort in anymore. He opened his intake, beginning to release gentle whirrs and clicks as he tried to get Shockwave’s attention from where he lay; he didn’t want to move.

The soft noises eventually turned to sounds of alarm, screeching and growling as pain struck his spark. That got his attention.

Shockwave knelt down beside Soundwave, rubbing a servo along his side. “You’ll be alright. I’ll take you to the hospital. Come on now, up you go…” Soundwave’s frame cried with protest as he was hoisted up into Shockwave’s arms, his digits curling into his back and cables shooting out to entangle him. Shockwave didn’t say anything about it.

Bright lights roused Soundwave from whatever restful state he’d been in, but Shockwave by his side helped to ease his distress. He was in some kind of cart, being pushed down a long, sterile hallway by a bot behind him. A hospital, he’d never been in one before.

Soundwave felt dizzy, not from being pushed around the labyrinth of halls, not from the lights, but from the feeling in his chassis. That uncomfortable throbbing feeling that had him fading in and out of consciousness. He wanted to cry, scream, throw a fit, get someone’s attention. Hey! I’m here! I’m in pain! But he was too weak to do much of anything.

When he next opened his optics, he was being hoisted off the cart and onto what looked like a recharge slab. It kept his back propped up slightly, like an uncomfortably long chair, but it was soft and warm like the bed he’d been trying to sleep on… he wasn’t sure how long ago. How much time had passed between then and now? Soundwave wasn’t sure, but the discomfort certainly hadn’t eased much since then.

Shockwave was at his side, though. All was well if he was there, but there were so many unfamiliar bots. A stocky white and orange bot was messing with his arm, speaking words Soundwave couldn’t hear over the pain. He closed his optics as he was hooked up to some kind of machine, trying to focus only on the feeling of Shockwave’s servo holding his own.

The pain began to fade slightly, and his vision grew clearer. Soundwave looked at the small cord sticking out of one of his arm seams, following its path up to a pouch hung on a tall stick. Bubbly pink energon was feeding into his veins, killing his pain until he could hear again.

The orange and white bot smiled softly at him, his old faceplate wrinkled slightly with experience. “Now yer lookin’ a little more coherent. I’m Ratchet, and that bot over there is my assistant, nurse Medipulse.” The other medic waved politely. Soundwave nodded with recognition, waiting for him to continue. “You’ve gone into an early state of emergence, which can cause distress on the spark. What I’ve just administered is an anti-shock, which’ll make you quite a bit more comfortable for the process.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Shockwave smiled gently, “I’ll put in a good word for you with Pharma. Now, if we could have a bit of privacy..?”

Soundwave slowly looked up at Shockwave once they were alone, and he purred softly with affection. Ravage would be here soon, he would have her back. But looking up at Shockwave, Soundwave felt compelled to do something. They were in the privacy of their own medbay room, without anyone else to see.

With a soft click, Soundwave’s mask retracted. It rolled back against his cheeks, sheathing into the tracks by his jaw, and his visor slid upwards under his crest. Shockwave gasped, which prompted a smile from Soundwave.

He was no ordinary mech, that much was clear. He wasn’t just raised by a beast, he was one himself. His mouth was a great jagged thing, sharp and strong, made for ripping and tearing. His nasal vent was thin, but spread out at the end into a short muzzle, and his optics were a harsh yellow.

Shockwave didn’t speak for what felt like breems, but the look on his faceplate said enough. His optics were wide with terror, intake open with shock. Soundwave knew he was ugly, a bot only Primus could find beauty in, but for Shockwave to be so unabashedly disgusted…

Or so he thought. A servo suddenly cupped his bare cheek, allowing Shockwave to study him better. “Oh, Primus, you poor thing…” He murmured, drawing his thumb across a deep-set scar on Soundwave’s jaw. “Is this why you hide yourself? Because you fear what others will think of you..? I’m so sorry… I’m just…”

Soundwave slowly looked away, closing his optics. But that feeling of disappointment quickly faded. Shockwave’s servo grew slightly firmer, and Soundwave could feel his warm ventilations on his faceplate now. It was only when he pulled back that it was clear what had happened. Soundwave touched his freshly kissed lips, optics wide with confusion. “You’re beautiful. Unique and beautiful.” Shockwave insisted, “I love you because you’re different, not because of how you look. Don’t you ever believe otherwise.”

It wasn’t the sentiment that Soundwave lingered on, it was the choice of words. “I love you”. Shockwave had finally said “I love you”. He was a flowery bot, one that preferred long expositions on how he felt, rather than getting straight to the point. But those words… they were all Soundwave wanted now.

As the soft compressions returned, all Soundwave could think about was that Shockwave loved him.

It was a long process, but due to the medicine, it was relatively painless. Ratchet’s servos were gentle when they helped expand the small gap in the bottom of his spark chamber, and Soundwave strained to watch as a small body was pulled out from inside of him. He began to whirr and click instinctively, chassis snapping shut as he reached for the tiny squirming figure that was promptly given to him.

She was the smallest creature he’d ever seen, hardly bigger than the palm of his servo. Her helm was too big for the rest of her frame, so she laid curled up on the glass of his chassis. Her little tail waved back and forth almost erratically, smacking him in her newborn confusion. And those soft sounds, the gentle peeps and confused clicks… Soundwave was in love.

“Congratulations Soundwave, Shockwave.” Ratchet bowed his helm gently to the both of them. But when he began to reach for Ravage again, Soundwave felt something strange overcoming him. He reared back, slashing at the medic with his clawed digits and hissing. Ratchet stepped back, finials raised. Good, Soundwave thought. No one is touching my Ravage.

Shockwave chuckled awkwardly, rushing to rationalize. “Give them a moment, doctor. It’s… she’s Soundwave’s first. He just needs some time alone with her, that’s all.”

Soundwave decided not to listen to the rest of what they had to say, instead admiring his kit. Ravage was such a little thing now. A frame hardly befitting of who she used to be, yet so perfect that Soundwave couldn’t help but adore her new self. No longer was she his protector, but he was now hers.

Soundwave turned his helm to the side, gazing out into the city. The sun was rising. It was a new day, and Ravage was here to experience it with him.

It was perfect, he thought. Her first new memory would be of the sun.

Soundwave drew his glossa over Ravage’s short audio receptors, encouraging them to unfold. A few cycles had passed since her emergence, and she was slowly growing stronger. She purred and clicked, and ever since she could move it, her helm was on a swivel, and Soundwave was already quite proud of her. Though, something within him began to shift as well. He disliked when Shockwave got too close to her, or when the medics had to take her for checkups. He was a fine carrier, he didn’t need them to be touching her.

Shockwave was sitting across the room, nose buried in his datapad as usual. He’d been talking about what he was reading earlier, but Soundwave didn’t exactly remember much of it, too busy with Ravage. Something about an old friend, and being surprised… he really didn’t care right now.

It wasn’t that he didn’t love Shockwave anymore, he was just… nest-y. Now that she was back, he had to keep Ravage safe.

Her little muzzle pressed into the mesh of his abdominal plates, and Soundwave slowly relaxed to the feeling of her gentle vents. She was fine, he could relax for a while.

Shockwave was looking now, a warm smile on his faceplate. “My, you look cozy.” He chuckled warmly, standing from the chair and crossing to the side of the recovery slab. Soundwave instinctively tucked a cable around Ravage, though Shockwave didn’t protest the protective move. “You look so much more comfortable with your visor up… you have the warmest yellow optics…”

Soundwave leaned into the servo now holding his cheek, releasing a gentle purr as Shockwave pet him. “Ravage is very lucky to have such a protective carrier. You’ll keep her very safe; even from me, it seems.”

Soundwave swapped the cable for his servo, laying it protectively over Ravage’s soft, warm back. In turn, he reached a cable for Shockwave. It slowly coiled up his arm with a sort of gentle squeeze, soft enough to pull away from, but firm enough to tell Shockwave not to move. “Shockwave.” Soundwave speakers hummed, this time in the recorded tone of doctor Ratchet’s voice. He tugged suddenly, bringing Shockwave down to his level. “Sire: A creator figure, typically a mech.”

Watching Shockwave’s optics widen, Soundwave grinned. “Shockwave: Sire for Ravage.”

“Yes, yes, of course. I’d be delighted to… play such a role.” Shockwave knelt beside the recovery slab, looking down at Ravage’s little frame. Her helm was lifted now, her huge, red optics staring intently at him. Soundwave felt his servo tighten slightly, prompting her to mew gently. “…may I hold her?”

It was a question that was bound to come eventually. For the past two cycles since her emergence, Soundwave had practically been on top of her. Cuddling her, cleaning her, snapping at nurses and hissing at doctors. He was the only bot he could ever trust to be around his Ravage.

The Pits had been so unkind to her in her first life. Ravage was only a kit when she’d been ripped from her den, her family slaughtered. She was thrown into the stalls to fight. She knew nothing of the world other than to get tough or die. Then she took in Soundwave.

Was he repaying the favor? Or was he hovering?

Soundwave slowly looked down at her, at the servo wrapped around her. Ravage was looking at him now, her optics full of confusion. He slowly drew his glossa over her faceplate once more before turning to Shockwave. “Affirmative. Only for a breem.”

He was very gentle with her. Shockwave slowly scooped Ravage into his servos, lifting her little body up to his faceplate. Her tail lashed awkwardly, the sharp stinger at the end thunking uselessly against his digits. Soundwave’s nervousness turned into warmth then, the very same warmth he got from cuddling up to Shockwave, or from holding Ravage close. He’d been so caught up in keeping her safe that he’d neglected his new family unit. Shockwave, Soundwave, and Ravage. It was perfect… for now.

A sudden alert from Shockwave’s comm unit shocked them from their moment, and Soundwave quickly took Ravage back. “It’s Sentinel. I’m sorry, I need to take this…” Soundwave nodded, biting back his bitterness to hold Ravage once more. He snapped his facial coverings shut, laying back and pretending to sleep.

“Shockwave! I’ve been waiting to hear from you all day. Forgive me for being so… nosy.” Sentinel’s holographic frame began to walk slowly around the room, and Soundwave steeled himself. Playing dead wasn’t an uncommon thing for him, and it seemed that Ravage hadn’t forgotten that instinct either. Even as the Prime leaned over them, she didn’t squirm or squeal. “Quite the lovely family you’ve made yourself, Shockwave… and in such a short time. Why was I not invited to your conjunxing ceremony?”

Shockwave moved to push Sentinel back, but his arm only phased through the projection. “Ah, well, we’re not conjunxed. Ravage is a… story for another day.”

Uncomfortable silence settled like a dark cloud over the room as Sentinel reluctantly stepped back. “Yes, well… we have more important matters to discuss. Namely a certain gladiator named after one of the former Primes…” Megatronus. “Quite some poetry he writes, yes, Shockwave? I know you’ve taken a liking to it.”

“I do find his viewpoints intriguing, yes. The way he writes about his time in the Pits is simply-“

“I do not care for your sympathies.” Sentinel’s tone changed on a dime. He reared up, his gold wings flexing gently as if to assert his dominance over Shockwave. “Silence his rebellion. Make sure his words never leave Kaon. You know what will happen if his sentiments spread… you and I will die and be remembered the same as the rest of the senate.”

“…yes, Sentinel.”

Shockwave bowed his helm with resignation as Sentinel’s form faded into nothingness, and Soundwave could practically feel the disappointment radiating from him. Slowly, Shockwave returned to his side, running a servo up and down Soundwave’s middle. “I… apologize. It looks like I’m going on another trip to Kaon soon.” He sighed softly, his mind filled with uncomfortable feelings and memories of Kaon… but how did Soundwave know that?

“I’m not asking you to come with me. You need to take care of her. I’ll… bring you both something nice from the shopping district when I return, alright?” Soundwave nodded gently, and though it filled him with anxiety to watch Shockwave go, he didn’t make any noise about it.

Instead, he thought of that odd moment. When Shockwave had touched him, he’d… felt what he felt. He knew Shockwave’s history in Kaon, seen his speeches through his optics; only briefly, but he’d seen it.

Soundwave blinked, looking back down at Ravage, who was peeping for his attention now. How lucky he was to have her back, he thought. Now was no time to dwell on odd feelings, he must’ve just imagined it. So with a soft cycle of his vents, Soundwave returned his attention to Ravage, slowly grooming her helm.

He pushed past his disappointment to focus on her. Shockwave is an important mech. Of course he has work to do.

Chapter Text

Though it pained him to go, Shockwave had a duty to Iacon. And part of that duty was to quell rebellion. While most other senators had a specific line of work—Pharma in medical, Perceptor in the sciences, etc.—Shockwave had the simple task of just… being on the council.

As the train zoomed down its tracks, he glanced out the window, getting a good look at his reflection. He had a handsome faceplate, he supposed. Though, was that all he was? A face for the senate? Something to look good on the outside to hide the rotten inside?

Shockwave felt his optics dimming slightly, finials slowly lowering. Megatronus was a wonderful writer. He used language that spoke to the spark, describing his terrible life in the Pits to those who would never dream of stepping pede in that place. Raking the muck away from the glorified faces of gladiators, there was a mech in pain, who dreamed of a better life.

He could sympathize. Poor Soundwave. He’d had to leave him. Though, Shockwave found comfort in knowing that only the best medics in Central Iacon were looking after him and Ravage. He just wished he’d had more time with them.

Shockwave tensed gently at an arm wrapping around his shoulders, doing his best to hide his displeasure from the act by forcing a smile. “I really think it would be best, you know.” Sentinel hummed gently, “For us to watch a match with the gladiator. Get a feel of the real barbarianism, since you seem to love it so much, Shockwave.” It was backhanded, but he smiled nonetheless.

“Of course. I’ve… never watched a match myself. I’ve never been interested in the more violent aspects of this place…” It was hypocritical, he knew that. But he didn’t have to watch it to know it was wrong. Rather than sympathize, though, Sentinel just grinned. Shockwave returned the gesture, slowly turning back to the window to avoid him.

The train slowly came to a halt in the old, decrepit station, and Shockwave walked in tandem with the Prime. The colosseum loomed ahead, its dark shadow cast over them. Shockwave was already feeling sick, but he kept his helm down.

They joined the line of mechs waiting to enter the arena, the stench of filth wafting out from the open gates. It made Shockwave want to gag. Putrified energon and rust sat heavy in the air like a choking fog, almost like it was trying to keep him from entering. But Shockwave wouldn’t back down, especially not from the opportunity to do a pseudo-interview with the bot that was quickly becoming a favorite writer of his.

Sentinel and Shockwave stuck out amongst the dirty, poor bots of Kaon. Their frames were painted in bright, shiny colors. Reds, blues, golds, the works. Rust blanketed the poor miners, the gladiators, and everyone in between. It was a sad sight, Shockwave found himself offering shy, sympathetic glances at them. What else could he do in front of Sentinel?

“We’ve got lovely seats.” The Prime suddenly decided to tell him, grinning from cheek guard to cheek guard. “Best in the house, actually. Up in the nest, high up over the stadium. It’s where I prefer to sit when I come here.”

Shockwave felt his knee joints halt, and he stood still in the moving line. “Sentinel, you… come here often?” Now that shocked him. He really wasn’t sure why, considering his changing opinion on the bot, but it just seemed so odd. Why would one come here willingly?

A heavy servo grabbed his shoulder, almost dragging him along until they were both inside. A scraplet skittered across the ground in front of them, and Shockwave fought the urge to squeal with dislike. Sentinel silenced him, though. “Of course I come down to Kaon, Shockwave! The gladiators get so… excited when the announcer says my name! It’s delightful, they’ll love you, too!”

A heavy feeling pushed down into Shockwave’s tanks as Sentinel continued to walk him around. The scraplets were off putting, yes, but the sunken, sad optics of the bots around him drove home how awful this place was. This was their only entertainment, the Pits. The fighting rings. It was something to look forward to, a place to wind down and relax in, no matter how violent.

Shockwave zoned out until they reached their seats, high above every other bot in the arena. He sat quietly in a chair, feeling ready to purge his tanks as the filthy bots below filed into their seats. Sentinel slung an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into a sort of half hug. Whatever it was, it was uncomfortable. “They look like ants from up here, don’t they?” Sentinel suddenly mumbled, a grin on his faceplate. Shockwave tried to shift away, but Sentinel didn’t let him. “You know, I think this is how Primus views us… as ants. Simple mites, burrowing into His plating…”

“The bots down here, Shockwave. They’re a disease. Simple mites, bugs to be squashed. All they’re good for is their work.” Shockwave looked away, feeling Sentinel’s servo creeping slowly down to his arm. He was tugged suddenly closer, the Prime’s voice now directly in his audio sensor. “They exist only to work, Shockwave. If they were given the same privilege as you and I… Iacon would crumble. Simple savages, mindless bots who dream only of violence.”

Shockwave shivered, clenching his optics shut. “You know what’s right in the end…”

He didn’t return to himself for quite some time. Shockwave had built quite the place in his processor to relax. He’d go for long walks, somewhere outside of the Capitol of Vos. Other bots joined him sometimes, like Soundwave and Orion, sometimes Starscream. Bots he considered friends. In this moment, he was laying comfortably on his back, looking up at the stars. The Twin Moons both hung high in the sky. Vos had the best views of them, he thought.

He slowly rolled onto his side, lazily curling up around himself. In this space, his frame weighed practically nothing. His huge back kibble meant nothing, as he could lay in any position he pleased. Shockwave slowly brought his chin down, looking at the panels of his chassis. White things, a pale yellow in the dim light of the moons. The thick plates of his chest slowly folded out of the way.

A slow sigh left his lips as cold air touched his spark, then warm servos wrapped around it. Shockwave opened his optics, smiling gently at Soundwave. They didn’t need to speak here, speaking was obsolete to them anyways. Instead, Shockwave slowly pushed Soundwave down, and…

He blinked his optics open. He felt sick to his lower fuel tanks. No memory of the last two joors was had, but he paid no mind. The manufactured memories were better than anything the Pits could give him.

Megatronus was down there now, pedes planted firmly in the sand. He was firing his fusion cannon at two opponents, a third crushed beneath his pede. Shockwave frowned. The gladiator had written so beautifully about this place, about his internal war. But now that he was seeing it, there was new depth to his struggle.

“When will my war end?” The gladiator cried into his poems, and Shockwave felt his spark clench with pain. But Sentinel was cackling, watching intently like a catbot stalking its next meal. His optics were wide, crazed, and dizziness filled Shockwave’s processor. He stood abruptly, stumbling to the door before falling.

Soundwave cradled his faceplate in his sharp servos, looking down at Shockwave with those beautiful golden optics. Though, his faceplate was different. Rather than the beastly jaw and huge fangs, he was, well, handsome. Shockwave grinned back up at him. His helm was laid gently in his Amanti’s lap, but they weren’t alone anymore. Ravage pushed her helm against Shockwave’s cheek, purring contentedly.

They were perfect, the three of them. Shockwave, Soundwave, and Ravage. The perfect family unit. Though, apparently it wasn’t perfect enough for this fantasy.

Two figures stood somewhere in the distance, their frames identical in all but color. When he sat up to get a better view, though, they cackled and scampered off, hitting one another in the arms and snickering.

Soundwave slowly pulled him back until the two were faceplate to faceplate, and Ravage was gently rubbing against his arm. They didn’t need to exchange words, as Soundwave simply looking at him gave away all the thoughts in his processor. Those two just liked to play, a couple of mischievous little bots. But their names… Shockwave couldn’t remember their names. He opened his mouth to shout after them, but…

When the world returned, another joor had passed. Shockwave was back in his seat, and the match had just ended. Sentinel clapped him on the back suddenly, really bringing him back from the daydream. “I do hope you enjoyed the show! Now, I’d best be going. The barracks are in the lower levels, I believe! Shouldn’t be too hard to find the mech…”

He stood, but Shockwave was rooted to his seat. There was an unfamiliar, uncomfortable buzzing in his spark. But without time to dwell, he cycled his vents and left the stands.

Megatronus was chained to the floor of his cell. One massive cuff around his neck held him tight to the ground, and two kept his servos together. He looked up at Shockwave like a wounded animal, optics pained and sunken deep into his faceplate. But underneath that grime, he was without a doubt quite the looker. Megatronus slowly turned, putting himself on his knee joints and kneeling before Shockwave.

So in turn, Shockwave knelt to him as well. He brought himself to the filthy floor and dipped his helm in respect to the gladiator. “You are my equal.” Shockwave insisted, “Do not feel any sort of need to bow or grovel in my presence.” He slowly sat up, now facing the gladiator, who was staring at him nearly dumbfounded. “In fact, I’m honored to be in the presence of one of my new favorite authors, Megatronus.”

The bot slowly looked down and away from Shockwave, maybe embarrassed at being called out like that. Shockwave cocked his helm to the side. There was clearly some sort of disconnect between them, but he wasn’t sure how to even begin weeding it out. “You know, a good friend of mine is a gladiator. He resonates with your work quite a bit.” Little white lies couldn’t hurt.

That seemed to get Megatronus’ attention. He slowly turned back to Shockwave, his optic ridges furrowed softly in an expression of empathy. His voice was rich in tone, a low, smooth baritone befitting of a poet. “That is no compliment, Senator.” He growled, caught in a sneer until he forced it away.

“I’m sure it is not. However, if your goal was getting your words beyond the walls of Kaon, you succeeded. And you’ve completely enraptured my attention.” Shockwave smiled calmly, sitting back until his kibble scraped the floor softly. “Now, if you don’t mind me asking, Megatronus… why is it that you chose to write about your struggles?”

There was an uncomfortable silence that settled in then, until the jingling of chains brought Shockwave back to him. Megatronus lifted his servos, pointing upwards, out of the tiny window of his cell. “There. The walls.” He decided, gesturing to the dome over Kaon. “Even when out of our cells, even on those rare days when they parade us around the city. Even then we are still caged in. Kaon is a zoo of poor, impoverished bots that only exist to entertain the upper class, which includes you.”

There was fire in his optics now, a boiling, burning rage he held in quite well. “We are monsters to those in Iacon, but no bot is a thoughtless beast. To… to write, it…”

“It releases you. Even if just for a moment.”

Megatronus looked at him then, and there was a connection there. “Yes… yes, that’s it.” He shuffled slightly closer to the bars, almost in a desperation to be seen. And Shockwave didn’t shy back, rather embracing the change.

“You and I are not so different, Megatronus.” He began, reaching out to hold one of the cell bars. It was cold and rough in his servo, definitely to deter too much banging or tugging. “We both seek change, the betterment of Iacon. Your words scare the elite, my comrades, and perhaps that’s what they need. Please, stay strong. Do not let them intimidate you.”

He stood to leave, turning on his heel. Then he came face to face with Orion Pax. The younger senator was carrying a small basket of goods, some basics for battle recovery. He stared up at Shockwave for a long moment, his cheeks slowly growing flushed from embarrassment. Rather than say anything, though, Shockwave just stepped aside.

It wasn’t like he could do anything to stop it, though something in his spark was pained at the sight. He just hoped that Orion would stay safe.

The night he returned to Soundwave wasn’t very eventful, though he was pleased to see Ravage walking on her own four paws.

Sleep didn’t come easy. The memories of the past cycle haunted Shockwave. The filth, the sad, sunken optics. The way their frames hardly clung to their protoforms…

Shockwave rolled onto his side, then onto his front, burying his faceplate into his arms.

When he next opened his optics, he was floating.

It was dark and cool, no ground beneath his pedes. Stars gently clunked together, making noise similar to that of two glass beads colliding. Soft glows and warm embraces. He reached out for one, and it bounced off his digit like some sort of Newton’s Cradle demonstration.

He kicked his legs, pushing himself through the antigravity. It was like being submerged in oil for a long bath, but the tub had no floor. He slowly swam through space, unsure of where he was going, until the silhouette of Cybertron came into view.

The joints of the old planet creaked and crunched until a figure was made. Shockwave gaped at the sight, but there was no will to move, his joints straining. Primus was beautiful, standing there before him.

Shockwave was cradled in His massive servos, and slowly carried up to His faceplate. The love of his creator surged through Shockwave, and bliss filled his processor. And yet he was still in awe. “Primus, why have you come to me?” He asked, almost far too quiet. “Would Sentinel not be your messenger? I am far too unworthy of your word.”

Primus simply smiled. He lifted one massive servo, and in an instant, created an artifact. Shockwave stood abruptly in His palm, gaping at the sight. The Matrix of Leadership, he was presenting it to him, a lowly bot. But that belongs to Sentinel…

“Why are you showing me this?” Shockwave’s voice came out in a weak whimper, a sound unbecoming of a bot like him. When Primus began to push the Matrix toward him, Shockwave pushed it back. “No, no, I don’t understand! Why are you doing this? Where is Sentinel? It is his duty to carry this, not mine!”

And yet, Primus shook His helm, and the Matrix disappeared into stardust. Shockwave felt his internal fans kick on, worry filling his tanks. “Please, what does this mean..?”

No answer was given before Primus transformed yet again, back into the planet which gave him life. Shockwave cried in protest, coolant streaming down his faceplate. He begged Primus to return, to give a proper explanation of the vision, and yet there was none.

Shockwave awoke to an odd feeling, Soundwave looming above him, and Ravage slowly lapping his tears up with her little glossa.

He sat up slowly, optics wide with worry. Soundwave hardly let him out of their recharge slab as he stumbled around the room, grabbing his comm unit. “I’m sorry, Soundwave… I… I need to have a conversation.”

Only one possible explanation made sense. Why would Primus trust him with this if not for some extreme importance that he was yet to understand? The Matrix, offering it to him, only for it to disappear… Shockwave was no priest, nor was he the most in tune with the mythology of the Matrix, but it seemed so clear now. His lack of care for others, the desire to put the bots in Kaon down, the hate that was so deeply intrenched in how he ruled Iacon. He was a liar, a cheat. He’d somehow lied his way up to his post.

Sentinel was no Prime, was he?

Chapter Text

A vorn passed since Shockwave’s revelation, and Soundwave was at his side all the way through it. Many shouting matches were had between Sentinel and Shockwave, matches that he all too often had to put down.

Nowadays, Shockwave spent most of his time locked away in his chambers, that or on the balcony listening to some Vosian radio frequency. It was a sad sight for him, and Soundwave wasn’t exactly a fan of it.

Ravage strolled up to him, rubbing her helm against his leg. She was much bigger now, growing on schedule. Soundwave leaned down to rub her ears, and she purred in turn. “I don’t see a problem with it.” Ravage hummed, “You talk about it often, expanding the family. Making something new from you and Shockwave, rather than, you know…” She purred with amusement, the tip of her tail flicking softly.

Yes, she was one intelligent catbot, having retained some memory from before her rebirth. She was so much smaller now, though. Cassette sized. Soundwave gently lifted her off her pedes, cradling her frame in his arms. Ravage began to gently groom his mask, seemingly content. “You’re worried about some arbitrary thing, replacing me. I know you wouldn’t do that. It’s pretty obvious now.”

Soundwave released an amused huff, glancing over at Shockwave. He was out on the balcony, lounging in that chair again. He’d spent so much time in it that he’d left a deep depression in the cushion, the perfect mold of his back. He was listening to something, sipping a glass of high grade. Soundwave had learned not to question his early drinking habits.

After lowering Ravage back to the ground, she grinned softly. “In fact, I think I’d like to see what little monstrosity you two could put together…” She snickered, padding off into the other room with her tail held high in an amused swoop.

The door out onto the balcony squealed softly, which grabbed Shockwave’s attention. He slowly placed the cube of pinkish energon on the side table, hitting the mute button on his little transmission radio. The smile he gave Soundwave was the same as any other, but the rest of his faceplate was wrong. His optics were sunken slightly, optic ridges furrowed into a slightly worried expression. Wrinkles existed in places that were once pristine.

Soundwave slowly traced a servo across his faceplate, rubbing gently at those loose, wrinkled spots. In turn, Shockwave sighed gently. “I know, Soundwave. I’m sorry I’m not exactly in the best condition right now…” His voice was a low whisper, and Soundwave had learned what that was a cue for.

When beads of coolant began to run down Shockwave’s faceplate, Soundwave didn’t move. They gently rolled down, undeterred in their path. Falling from his sharp cheeks down into his lap, or gathering under his chin. He was beautiful, even when he cried. There were no loud sobs, no thrashing, no ugly expressions. The tears simply fell, and he let them.

Soundwave slowly raised a cable, wiping away the near clear green droplets before they fell. Was now a time to say anything? To ask any sort of question? Especially one like that… Soundwave found himself conflicted.

“Ravage: Growing.” Soundwave began, slowly lowering his helm. In turn, Shockwave reached out, running his servos over the warm mesh of his abdomen. It was quite obvious what he wanted, but Shockwave still looked off. “Proposition: Conjunx?”

A brief quiet settled between them, then Shockwave stood. It had been a little over two and a half vorns since they’d met now, two blissful vorns of living happily in Iacon together, of protecting Shockwave and taking long, warm baths. What a wonderful two vorns it had been.

Shockwave was still weeping, but not out of sadness now. He pressed the crest of his helm into Soundwave’s, and without warning, laughter began to bubble out of him. It turned into a fast boil, laughter so manic that Soundwave was beginning to get worried. Then he was scooped into Shockwave’s arms, hoisted high into the air.

“I’m getting conjunxed!” He shouted out to the sun, to the bots going about their days in the streets below, to all of Iacon, and all that was beyond. His voice grew shaky before he spoke again, coolant streaming down his cheeks. “Yes, Soundwave! Yes, why would I ever tell you no!?”

Soundwave really wasn’t sure what he was getting himself into, especially when it came to the day of the ceremony. Shockwave had found only the finest temple for them, where Primus could best watch over them. But that also meant he was rather… underplated for the event.

He was dunked into the tub, shivering at the cold water. It was almost reminiscent of the basins in the Pits, the water fixtures, but this was safe. The pampering mechs scrubbed hard at his plating, to the point where it began to flake off. Soundwave flinched softly, but said nothing about it. Instead, he began to look at the products.

Paint cans sat neatly on the counter, ready to give him a fresh coat once he was scrubbed clean. Buffing tools, polish, and products from some plating care line he didn’t recognize. “K.O.’s”. Funny, he’d seen that advertised somewhere.

Soundwave’s pedes were tugged out from under him, rested on the huge bars at the end of the tub. The feeling of his engine-heels being scrubbed out was oddly ticklish, but he clenched his servos into fists. It certainly didn’t feel good, but if it was what Shockwave wanted, he’d do it.

He would be Shockwave’s conjunx now. What a wonderful thing that was. Bonded for the rest of forever, even when they were apart, even when they entered the Well with Primus. Soundwave couldn’t think of another mech he’d want to do this with. So he simply laid his helm back and relaxed, letting them clean him out.

“Shockwave! Where can I put my things?” Shockwave spun around at the sound of that familiar voice, optics lighting up. A friend he didn’t often see, Starscream. The Supreme King of Vos had a good armful of presents for them, as well as a smirk on his faceplate.

Shockwave bowed quickly before gesturing to the other side of the room. “Yes, that table over there… I’m just thrilled that you could make it on such short notice, Starscream. I know how far of a flight it is from Vos to Central Iacon…”

In turn, Starscream waved a dismissive servo, plopping his gifts down. He flexed his still warm wings, grinning. “Oh, I’d never miss an event like this for all of Cybertron, Shockwave. Especially if it can get me any ideas…”

“So, you and that assistant, hm? Skyfire, right?”

“Jetfire, actually. Had his designation changed recently. I quite prefer it, actually…”

When the seeker-king began to ramble, Shockwave finally realized that he was smiling like an idiot. He’d been doing that all day, actually. He was so ready for the ceremony… it was a feeling of giddiness he hadn’t felt in orns now. The Senate didn’t matter now. He was going to be with his conjunx.

Soundwave did a little twirl in front of the mirror, looking himself over. A brighter blue lightened his features, and the soft reds and golds highlighted his speakers. Blue, red, and gold. Those were definitely his colors.

Ravage wriggled gently in his cassette deck, prompting him to free her. She trilled softly at his new look, tail held high. “You look… great.” She decided, settling back on her haunches. “I bet Shockwave cries.”

Soundwave shot her a look, and she backed off, padding away. “I’m heading off to the main chamber. Cycle your vents, you’ll be just fine.”

It was impossible to think now. Soundwave rubbed his under optics before snapping his facial coverings shut. Oh, Primus… it was really happening.

Shockwave peeked out of his preparation room, feeling his spark pounding in his chassis. Starscream sat huddled amongst his district advisors, Thundercracker and Skywarp. Ravage had found a spot beside them, having her helm scratched by Skywarp. And there was Orion, and the chained figure of Megatronus at his side. The rest of the senate in the pews behind him… and Sentinel behind the altar.

He was already giving the pre-ceremony speech, his vocal tones clearly faking his excitement. Shockwave hated this, having Sentinel officiating, but what else was he supposed to do? He was still the Prime to everyone else… it’d be a horrible scandal otherwise.

“Now, both come forth so that Primus may join you in Conjunx Endurae.”

Soundwave slowly stepped up to the altar, letting Shockwave take his servos in his own. He looked up into the other’s optics, taking in the warmth of his frame. This was warmth unlike any other, like laying in the fields with the sun beating down on him. Like curling up after a long day, or softly sipping energon while the sun rose in the distance.

Shockwave offered a comfort unlike any other, a gentility that Soundwave still couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t so long ago now that he was in the Pits, fighting for his life. Shockwave had rescued him, and he was forever grateful.

“Now, may we witness the gift of Primus, and the first spark bond between those Conjunxed in His optics today.” Sentinel declared, opening his arms in a grand gesture.

Soundwave’s front chassis panel fell open, his spark burning as it was exposed to the air. Yet as he began to tremble, Shockwave squeezed his servos, and opened his own panels. They folded away in such a majestic manner, slipping away until they were both bare before one another. Within moments, they would be one. Within simple moments…

Until a shrill scream left Sentinel Prime.

Their panels snapped shut, and Soundwave stumbled back. It had all happened so fast. Sentinel was on the ground, spasming, and Shockwave had dropped to his knees to help him. His optics had gone dark, frame shaking hard while energon foamed out from his mouth. Soundwave looked out to the crowd, pointing at who he knew was a medic, Pharma, yet he remained seated.

If there was no need to panic, then there was no need to panic. Soundwave shifted uncomfortably on his pedes, waiting until Sentinel came back, which took a few breems. His faceplate had gone pale, his optics wide with terror as he pointed a digit at Soundwave. “No! No, Primus is displeased!” He wailed to the crowd, falling back into Shockwave. “He will not allow it to go forward! I- oh, Shockwave, I’m so terribly sorry, but… you cannot conjunx this beast, it is against Primus’ will!”

Soundwave stepped back. Then he fell. He hit the ground with a soft clatter of plating, his legs cushioning most of the fall. It didn’t matter then if Sentinel was a fraud, everyone in the room believed him. So as he watched Shockwave tend to him, Soundwave began to weep.

Their love was unjust, unwelcome, and uncomfortable. Soundwave’s vocalizer squealed and crunched with sobs he couldn’t release, and he felt himself being carried out of the room by strong, comfortable arms. Shockwave’s friends from Vos.

Starscream sat him down on the floor outside of the main chamber, shaking his shoulder gently. “Easy. Hey, we’ll get everything sorted.” He turned his helm to bark something in Vosian at his two colleagues, who rushed off to do what he demanded. “They’ll bring you some good high grade, it’ll take all the pain away for a long while.

“Soundwave, I don’t believe in Primes. In fact, I think it’s rather absurd that anyone believes they can speak to Primus or know His will.” Soundwave sniffled as Starscream leaned in closer, gripping his arms tight. “The truth is what you make it. Primus gives us life and the ability to choose what we do with it. If you love Shockwave, then you love Shockwave, and there is nothing I, nor Sentinel Prime, can do to stop it. Now cease making that awful noise, you hear me?”

The big blue one, Thundercracker, came to his knees beside Soundwave with a big cube of some strong-looking high grade. “This is the good stuff.” He prefaced, putting it in his servos. “You’ll feel right as rain, got it?”

And so he drank.

The return to their chambers was quiet, and not in any good sort of way. Shockwave slowly walked to their recharge slab, climbing onto it and staring at the ceiling. Ravage had run off to nap somewhere, so it was just the two of them and the crippling disappointment they shared.

It was supposed to be the perfect cycle. They’d get through the ceremony and spend the rest of the solar cycle celebrating with their friends, drinking and partying and doing whatever newly conjunxed bots do. Then they’d come back in the lunar cycle to sparkbond, and maybe they’d have their own little one.

Starscream’s words echoed inside Soundwave’s mind as he slowly walked to Shockwave, climbing onto the recharge slab with him. Though he didn’t lay in his usual spot. Rather, he sat up next to Shockwave, and opened his chassis panelling. “Truth: What we make it. Liars: Should not dictate our affections. Affections: For Shockwave: Great.”

Shockwave slowly sat up, and Soundwave could see the fear in his optics. But in the end, love won out. “I am no Prime, but I know enough about Primus to know that He is loving and kind, and Sentinel is not.”

Soundwave took in the sight of Shockwave’s spark, how healthy it looked. Well cared for and loved. It was simply perfect. It all was. Soundwave seated himself between Shockwave’s legs, pushing him down in the same manner he had many times before, but this was new. And what a wonderful thing this new was.

“I love you, Soundwave. Let Primus behold my love for you, for it is nothing if not beautiful.”

Soundwave slowly leaned down until they were chest to chest, and a slow tingly sensation began to build inside of him. A light burning feeling that didn’t hurt, but it was new. Shockwave began to rub a servo along Soundwave’s backstruts, which prompted the feeling to grow.

It was the closeness, yes. The closeness created the feeling, and Soundwave wanted more of it. Soundwave dug his arms under Shockwave, hugging him close while his cables wound tightly around their hips, sealing them together in a bond too tight to break. And the burning grew hotter.

Soundwave felt his fans kick on, but that wasn’t enough. Like an overheating beast, he began to pant softly, his maw hanging open just enough to pull in air and push it back out. He heard Shockwave snicker somewhere beneath him, but the sound was drowned by the feeling of love boiling between them now.

Their sparks danced, coiling and cuddling around one another as they figured out how to mesh, how to bond. Soundwave looked down at Shockwave as the newly created bond only deepened, and the expression of bliss on his faceplate was unlike any other. His helm tilted back in sheer comfort, exposing the soft wiring of his neck. The slightly open-mouthed smile combined with his dim optics created the perfect look of adoration, and that was enough.

Soundwave tensed suddenly, then all was right. He knew Shockwave unlike any other, his thoughts and feelings, the way he saw the world, how he viewed everything and everyone. They were so intimately connected, they knew one another in and out, and Shockwave shook in a laugh.

He was crying now, maybe out of pleasure, or maybe of concern. If he knew Soundwave’s life like he knew his, of course, but the tears were unwanted in this moment. So he pressed his cheek against Shockwave’s, absorbing his heat and loving him until it was over, and they both pulled back.

Soundwave gave them enough space to recoup and close their plating before diving back at Shockwave. He practically cocooned the mech in his cables, holding him as close as he possibly could.

It was no offense to Primus to fall in love. If Primus didn’t want them to love, why would He have given them sparks to love with? Why, if not so that they could express their affections, or bond intimately? Sentinel couldn’t control who loved who. In the end, it was up to them.

Recharge came easily that lunar cycle, and the one after… and after that… and eventually…

Soundwave shifted to find a more comfortable position, trying not to disturb the already rowdy sparklings. The lower levels of their habsuite complex went mostly unused, so it wasn’t exactly hard to decide where they’d meet.

Here, sitting around this small table, were the forefront figures of the coming revolution. Shockwave had only recently begun rambling about it to Soundwave, but he’d taken quite easily to the idea. Megatronus sat to his left, Orion across from him, and Shockwave would sit on his right.

“Now, I know it’s not exactly a formal meeting place, but it’s functional.” Shockwave hummed, placing a cube of high grade in front of each of them. Though, he paused and passed over Soundwave. It was for the best, he supposed. “It’s the best we can do for now. And thank you all again for finding time to meet together.”

Megatronus bowed his massive helm in a manner more befitting a minibot, a gentle gesture. “Yes, of course. In fact, I am honored to be in the presence of such incredible bots.” And though he spoke so kindly, he seemed to shy when Soundwave turned his way. Was there still animosity from their fights in the Pits, he wondered? Though there was no reason to dwell.

While the other three got to business discussing Shockwave’s odd vision, and the implications that surrounded it, Soundwave looked around their meeting place. A dark, dingy basement, but a fine enough place as any. The soft skittering of a scraplet across the floor caught his attention, and he slowly lifted the creature into the palm of his servo. Impulsively, it bit him, though he made no noise. There was something off about it.

There it was. Perched atop the creature’s bulbous helm was a small device, one that Soundwave easily recognized as a microphone, judging by the feedback it was giving him. He simply rolled his optics and flicked the scraplet in the side of its helm, which was all that was needed to kill the creature.

Crunching its body in his servo, he dropped it casually to the floor. It seemed that the others hadn’t noticed, and he decided not to bring it up. Rather than actually paying attention now, though, Soundwave thought of a better idea. He began to silently record the conversation, storing it in his currently docked cassette, Ravage.

She stirred only slightly when the tape within her began to turn, but made no comment or attempt to move. Good, Soundwave thought. Ravage would be quite the asset going forward.

It was decided then that there would be an uprising, if Shockwave and Orion were shot down once more on their Rights for Kaon campaign. Peaceful protesting, if nothing else. Megatronus would bring the word back to the Pits, while Orion and Shockwave would take to the streets. And if a government does not work for its bots, then it should be replaced. But they’d cross that bridge when they got to it.

Shockwave nearly collapsed from exhaustion when they returned to their floor of the complex, but Soundwave quietly walked him back to their habsuite. One servo rested on Shockwave’s back, while the other absentmindedly sat on his hip, just barely cradling his hardly noticeable bump. Though, the awareness that they were not alone filled his processor, and he slowly turned to face the third figure.

Ratbat, the senator with wings like a cloak. Soundwave made no move to speak to him, but his intention was clear only by the movement of his optics. A glance downwards, then a sharp, angered look back at Soundwave’s faceplate.

He made no comment before shrinking into the shadows, and Soundwave sneered behind his coverings. Coward, he hissed to himself.

Their habsuite was cool and quiet, just as Soundwave liked. He released Ravage, and she was the first to jump up onto the warm padding of their recharge slab. It seemed like she was sleeping there, too.

Shockwave was next, and Soundwave slipped soundlessly into the cavity his arms created for him. “It’s something foolish I want to tell you, Soundwave, but…” Shockwave broke out into a grin, his grip on Soundwave tightening slightly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Real change is coming. Real, tangible change. And not just for Kaon…”

Twins. A prospect they’d never thought of until now. A perfect pair to bounce off one another, a built-in friend. Twins were so rare, so exotic. One spark that merged into two; two frames with one spark connecting them. Though, Soundwave supposed that just meant that four legs would be intent on testing their strength against his back struts, rather than two.

“I… I had a dream about them, Soundwave.” Shockwave mumbled gently, and that really got his attention. His servo rubbed up and down Soundwave’s back, and he closed his optics before beginning. “They’re cassettes too, about the height of our mid thighs… a rowdy pair. I witnessed them roughhousing… they’re nearly identical as well. It may be hard to tell them apart.” He snickered gently.

Soundwave’s spark filled with joy then, and he glanced down at where the two of them sat. Their little frames had hardly attached to their sparks by now, but they already found joy in kicking and fighting. Soundwave and Shockwave had been in such a calm relationship, they’d moved so carefully… maybe these two would change that.

Then a thought came to processor. “Sentinel: Status?”

Shockwave’s face dropped. “Yes, well… he is still unaware. If… he still believes that he is a Prime, it would be a horrible offense to him.” He stuffed his faceplate into Soundwave’s shoulder speakers, releasing a soft puff of steam from his nasal vent. “It is best for this to remain between us for now. It is safer that way.”

Though Soundwave wanted to protest, he didn’t. That wasn’t what Shockwave needed right now. Instead, he wrapped the larger mech up in his cables, and they fell into recharge in one another’s embrace.

Soundwave dreamt of the twins as well that night. What a wonderful thing, to make life so simply. Cassettes were a blessing, and Sentinel could believe whatever he liked, but Soundwave would continue to love Shockwave with all he had.

Chapter Text

Several more unsuccessful attempts to convince the senate of his budget extension passed, and Shockwave was at his limit. He stuffed his intake with energon cubes, frame hot to the touch. Orion sat across from him, simply poking at his fuel, rather than actually refueling.

“Your anger is getting worse.” Orion commented, glancing out the window to their right. A couple of bots zoomed past them, on their way to who knows where. “It’s… not exactly a good look on you. You’re stressing yourself out, and…”

Shockwave caught himself glaring at the other, but he regained his composure after noticing the nervous expression on Orion’s faceplate. Primus, what was he supposed to do now? They thought him an extremist lunatic. All he wanted was to better the lives of those beneath him, was that so absurd? When the rich all around him hoarded like no other, and the poor beneath them could hardly get by, something was very wrong.

With a deep, low sigh, Shockwave spoke again. “I’m sorry, Orion. I’m merely…” He slipped another cube down his intake, turning to the window himself. Evening gave way into dusk, as the sun slowly sank over Iacon. Golden sun blanketed the city, bathing it in the last warmth of the day before disappearing over the horizon. “It’s hard to explain. I don’t understand why they’re so… so…”

“Insufferable?”

“No, not that…”

“Unwilling to listen to any opinion outside of their own?”

“No…” Shockwave tapped his digits against the table, creating soft noise to distract himself from the rather dire situation. Megatronus, while a wonderful advocate, was beginning to veer those in Kaon towards the worst—revolution.

While Shockwave didn’t know much about revolution, what he did know wasn’t good. Senseless slaughter, no stopping to consider who bots are before they’re killed… he’d shuttered at the thought many times, yet Megatronus seems to believe it’s the only solution.

When Orion’s servo settled on his shoulder, Shockwave looked up, and they met optics. Sweet blue crossed his own sharp yellow, and they clashed gently in the dim light. “Don’t worry about it. Go home, Shockwave. I’ll do some more work, but you have someone you need to care for.”

Shockwave slowly nodded. Right. Ever since Rumble and Frenzy came along, Soundwave had required far more help and attention. He adored his new family, though he hardly had time for it. Perhaps it would be best to leave Orion to work. Standing, Shockwave nodded. “Yes, old friend. Contact me if you need something.” Though he knew Orion wouldn’t.

Soundwave was already on the recharge slab when Shockwave arrived home, the twins tucked comfortably into his cassette deck while Ravage was curled up on his legs. It was a sweet sight, and Shockwave felt a grin curl up on his lips. Soundlessly crossing the room, he ran his thumb over Soundwave’s covered jaw, saying nothing for quite some time. Though he could feel Soundwave growing antsy over their bond…

“Yes, well… we’re working on it.” He said simply, carefully slipping under the covers beside him. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll all work out in the end.”

Those words didn’t work tonight. “Senate: Conspiring against you.”

Shockwave’s spark sank. So he’d heard the rumors. Stiffening a bit, he looked away, trying to avoid the situation before it got worse. “Yes, well… it’s all rumors. Nonetheless, Orion and I…” He trailed off, feeling Soundwave grab his arm. “Soundwave… it’s fine. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

It was an uncomfortably long time before either spoke again. Soundwave was jumbling words together clearly, and Shockwave was far from ready for what he had to say. “Soundwave: Overheard Senator Ratbat. Plotting: Assassination.”

Now that was quite the accusation. Shockwave slowly sat up. Sure, he and Ratbat didn’t care much for one another, but it wasn’t like they’d ever kill one another! Murder was barbaric! A thing for the Pits! The spinning of his spark began to rapidly increase, sending waves of pain through his chassis. Would they do that…? Why?!

…Megatronus. His speeches. Revolution, change, advocacy… “Soundwave, it’s not true. Whatever you heard just… erase it from your databanks.”

“Negative.” Soundwave sat up next to him, prompting Ravage to growl with discomfort. “Shockwave: Go to Vos. Friends in Vos: Agreed to keep you safe.”

“I can’t do that, Soundwave.”

“Statement: Confusing.”

“I can’t leave Kaon to suffer.” Shockwave elaborated, rubbing his optics. “If I stop fighting, if I run for the hills, I am a coward. I must stand at my post and fight for what I know is right by Primus. I need to fight for the poor, the beaten down, those exploited by Iacon’s corruption. I need to fight for those like you, Soundwave…” His vocalizer tensed at the last sentence, choking the words slightly.

Soundwave laid back down then, now shifting to lay on his side, away from Shockwave. “If you get killed, Soundwave- killed too.”

Atmosphere fell on them in a heavy cloud, the weight of their worries crushing. Ratbat… he would never go through with it. He was old and cranky, but surely he was honorable enough to let well enough alone. So Shockwave quietly laid back down as well, curling his own frame around Soundwave’s. “Nothing is going to happen, Soundwave. Please… stop worrying about things outside of our servos. Everything will be fine, I assure you.”

Megatronus grew angrier by the day, rallying with hate rather than for change. And Soundwave grew scared. In their basement meeting place, Shockwave pressed his faceplate into his servos, the three other bots glancing awkwardly at one another. “A revolution cannot be done. It is impossible and improbable.”

Megatronus shook his huge helm. “But it will get through to them. I am not suggesting a mass killing, Shockwave. But what I am suggesting is that the only way to change things is not to do it quietly.”

“Your ways will lead to violence.”

“Even so, the violence will only effect our oppressors.”

“And who will be lumped in with the rest of them?” Shockwave argued, slamming his palms into the table. Orion flinched back suddenly, the force of the strike nearly out of nowhere. “Your sweet Orion? Myself?! The bad in the senate outweighs the good tenfold. If we go for the senate, we go for the whole senate.”

“I don’t understand how you think they’ll suddenly have a change of heart! You’ve been fighting them for vorns now! Vorns! And nothing has changed! The bots of Kaon are still suffering in the mines and dying in the Pits, and your methods are not fixing anything!”

“Primus, damn it! Stop fighting!” Orion’s voice cut their argument in twain, bringing their attention to him. “Arguing won’t solve anything, just… let’s please just talk about this. We’re all concerned.”

Orion stood from his seat, moving across to the unused furniture in the room. Flipping a desk onto its side, he created a makeshift podium. Shockwave raised a brow, intrigued. “I propose an idea. We send one of us to Vos, and we speak to Starscream. With his help, we can overrule the Senate and have an attempt real change.”

Shockwave raised a servo, offering himself to go, when Soundwave did the same thing. “Shockwave: Work here. Soundwave: Will go to Vos.” A cruel trick of fate, perhaps? That someone would go, and Soundwave wouldn’t insist it be him. Though a bit surprised, noting Orion’s earlier comment, Shockwave said nothing.

And it was done. Soundwave departed not long after, and Shockwave’s spark grew cold. Rather than seeing an old friend or continuing as usual, he was stuck at home with the sparklings. Which, of course he didn’t mind, but they were… a lot.

Frenzy was, well, his name said enough. He wailed constantly, only settling when he had something to put brainpower into. So Shockwave usually sat him in front of a puzzle and let the sparkling work. Rumble, on the other servo? He never wanted to be put down. If he was more than two feet away from one of his creators, he’d scream until he was back up in their arms.

Shockwave softly rubbed Rumble’s back, watching his little faceplate scrunch. Frenzy had already gone down for his nap, but this little guy was persistent. Looking back at the time, and knowing he had very little left, Shockwave bit the bullet, opening his subspace and pushing the sparkling inside. Maybe he’d be quiet enough to not be noticed… though Ravage just snickered at him.

“I’m not sure that’ll work. If he can’t see you, how is he supposed to stay calm?” She teased, tail flicking softly with amusement. “We both know how that one operates; attached at the hip.”

Shockwave rolled his optics. “You’re not helping. Now shoo, make sure Frenzy stays asleep.” Waving his servo at her, Ravage growled, but eventually relented. She stalked off into the nursery to watch the little one. Sentinel demanded more and more meetings… especially now that the resistance was turning into a proper rebellion.

Shockwave took a moment to cycle his vents, then that cursed hologram appeared. Sentinel bore his usual grin, though Shockwave knew how fake it was. After a moment of simply staring at one another, the mood shifted, and Sentinel cracked. Looming over Shockwave, he spoke. A low, growling tone reminiscent of a beast. “I don’t know what you and your little band of friends think you’re doing, but you’re going to end up dead, you hear me?”

Shockwave stepped back from the hologram, feeling his optics widen on impulse. His processor began to fire off threatened warnings, but there was nowhere to run to. At least he wasn’t in the room with him. “I have no control over what Megatronus-“

“Silence!” Sentinel’s face contorted, growing blue in the cheeks with rage. “You will listen to me, Shockwave, and you will listen well. If the bots in Kaon know how much greater in number than we are, if they learn that all that’s keeping them there is a small number of guards… there goes our way of life. You die, I die, we all die.

“It’s impossible to keep them all under our thumbs with your friend Megatronus egging on their barbaric ways. Either you get him under control, or you will become an example.”

An example. Shockwave shuttered at the thought. “What… do you mean by that?”

Yet he knew exactly what Sentinel was referring to. “Shockwave, you are not completely dense, are you? The Pits of Kaon can only hold so many, yet they never run out of space. I’ll melt you down for spare parts. You’ll never be heard from again.”

Shockwave had to sit down. His vision had grown blurry, dizziness filling his processor with static. Releasing a low stress sigh, he pressed his face into his palms. “Oh, don’t do that.” He heard Sentinel tease, “It’s a last resort. You know I love you, Shockwave. Just get your act together, and we can all continue as we were, okay?”

Sentinel backed away, presumably to wait until his moment was over. It gave Shockwave time to think. Melted down for spare parts, and never heard of again. What was he supposed to do? Shut Megatronus up? Megatronus was only going to dig his heels in, just as Sentinel was. Frag their stubbornness… equally as infuriating.

Frustration surged through his bond to Soundwave, reaching out for reassurances that he didn’t receive. Though, he did receive something else.

A low, soft cry from within him. Rumble.

He didn’t want to look up at first, though nervousness compelled him. Sentinel had this sort of disgusted look on his face, like he’d just gotten a whiff of Kaon’s washracks. It shifted into an expression of surprise rather quickly. “Really, Shockwave?” He chortled, leaning down to almost stick his audial against Shockwave’s chest.

He pushed back, not wanting it to have happened, but it definitely did. Sentinel was grinning now. “Shockwave, my dear, how am I to tell the rest of the senate that you’ve been living in sin with that beast?” He asked, feigning a tone that would probably suggest genuine curiosity. “Well? May I see it?”

It clicked then. And Shockwave felt his helm raise in defiance. Outstretching his index joint, he pushed it into the hologram’s chassis.

“You show me first.” He demanded, “The Matrix of Leadership.”

The most simple task of a Prime, unable to be performed by Sentinel. It was shameful.

While he snarled and sputtered, out of the corner of Shockwave’s optic, he watched Ravage stalk out of the nursery. She was low to the ground, her paws light as she prowled to the perfect place, shifted her hindquarters slightly to align, and pounced. Her claws shattered his comm unit.

“Sorry, Sentinel. Looks like Shockwave’s comm unit is out of commission.” Ravage taunted, hitting it with her paw and watching it skitter across the floor. Of course, she promptly chased it.

Shockwave watched her play with the decommissioned unit, leaning back and releasing Rumble from his subspace. The sparkling was blubbering now, his little face wet with tears. His spark ached for the little thing. “Now, now… all is well, Rumble. I’m right here.” He whispered softly, pulling the sparkling onto his chest and slowly rubbing his back. He squirmed, hitting him a few times, but eventually fell into rest.

Ravage’s ear flicked when she decided it was sufficiently destroyed, her helm raising to look at Shockwave. Padding over to him, she spoke. “So, he knows you know he’s not a Prime.”

“He has known.”

“And yet he believes he has power over you?”

Shockwave shrugged, adjusting Rumble’s positioning slightly. “It’s… hard to believe he doesn’t. He has nearly the whole senate behind him. And Ratbat… he’s just about everywhere.”

She purred with understanding. “Well, in the end, you know Soundwave and I will stand beside you.”

And is that such a good thing? He wondered.

…

“It’s a simple operation.” Trepan explained, tapping his digits against the cold metal of the table. “Just… cutting a few wires in the processor. The emotional core slips right out, and all is left is a cold, logical nightmare.”

Sentinel nodded with interest, swirling his high grade before taking a sip. While Trepan and Ratbat were seated, he was gazing out over Iacon, through the massive windows that covered the walls of the Capitol Building. The sun was setting over the tall skyscrapers of Iacon. From this angle, it perfectly covered the walled dome of Kaon. Good, he thought. What an opticsore that place was. No wonder the bots that lived there were so nasty.

“And this operation you speak of, empurata… would it truly cripple the mech?” Sentinel wondered aloud, glancing back at the duo. He hated both of them, in truth. Ratbat was a sniveling, greedy bastard, and Trepan was just… he spent too much time researching torture methods. “Or would it just give him more drive to fight, now with logic on his side?”

Trepan cracked a sleazy grin, like he was about to reveal his trump card. “With no emotion or empathy to speak of, why would he ever fight again? With his brainpower and no emotion, he would make a perfect clerk. Organizing datapads, cleaning up the place… a perfect non-partisan thinking machine.”

“That’s all I wanted to hear.” It was a perfect punishment for such a rebel. To spend the rest of his days emotionlessly serving the bots above him. That pretty grin ripped from his faceplate. Though, Sentinel wasn’t sure if he’d be able to restrain himself from beating the bot for long. He was becoming far more than a nuisance; a dangerous political rival.

Ratbat stood from his chair suddenly, crossing over to Sentinel and bridging the gap between the Prime and the Senators. “My chipped scraplets have learned much from them. They plan a violent uprising, involving Lord Starscream of Vos. In fact, his planned meeting with you perfectly aligns with their war plans.” Sentinel raised an optic ridge, prompting him to continue. “We must act swiftly to quell them, lest their movement become too powerful.”

Sentinel took the last sip of his high grade, sighing lowly. “Oh, Starscream… he’s been on my radar for some time. Never did believe I was a Prime…” Not that he ever was to begin with. His finials raised with the final decision, and he looked out at his two remaining allies.

“We are conserving our way of life, angering the peoples or not. When they become violent, so will we, and Shockwave will be made an example for all of Iacon. Our way of life must remain, lest this place fall into chaos, and Iacon becomes a second Kaon.” Raising his empty cube, he grinned. “To the Future of Iacon, and to the Fall of the Rebellion!”

Chapter Text

Soundwave had hardly raised a servo to knock when the doors to Starscream’s palace swung open. His advisor and trinemate, Thundercracker, was already looming over him, inspecting Soundwave as though he was some homeless beggar. Which, to be fair, in comparison to the seekers he’d seen on the way here? He might as well have been.

Vos was a rich nation. A prosperous, wealthy territory that didn’t rely on gladiator fights for income. Their lord Starscream was a progressive by all accounts, pushing for more public places for bots to thrive in and enjoy, rather than resorting to those less than kind things that Iacon had.

Thundercracker concluded his inspection, leaning back and settling one servo on his mighty hip. “Arright.” His voice, low and gravelly, reverberated comfortably in Soundwave’s audials. “Whaddaya want with our Great Lord?” The words left him with a sarcastic air, like he was saying them because he was being forced to, rather than he actually wanted to.

“Soundwave: Requests hearing with Lord Starscream. Reguarding: Uprisings in Iacon.” He explained briefly, receiving a simple brow raise from the much larger bot.

Thundercracker huffed, rearing back and stepping out of his way. “Arright. I’ll walk you to the throne chamber.” He decided, waving a servo as a ‘come on’ gesture.

He’d not acted like this the last time they’d met. In fact, Soundwave found the Seeker quite interesting. He’d offered him some very good high grade, which Soundwave still found himself guzzling down on occasion, and had tried to comfort him after the fiasco. Sentinel… the mere thought of that mech made Soundwave violent. After a while, he decided to ask. “Thundercracker: Behaving aggressively.” He commented plainly, looking up at the other bot.

His expression contorted in response, Thundercracker’s lips drawing back in a soft snarl. “None of your concern, Soundwave.” He huffed, and they continued on. Soundwave didn’t address it further, and yet…

“Can’t stand this job.” Thundercracker grumbled. Soundwave snapped up to look at him, yet his intake never moved. “Get completely ignored by Starscream… even when he’s got a new… partner… to deal with…” Was Soundwave losing it? Thundercracker was clearly speaking, and yet no intake was moving. No noises were being made. “Can’t stand Jetfire… he’s not good enough…”

Soundwave blinked behind his visor. Then, without thinking, he grabbed Thundercracker’s arm. The bigger bot jolted, moving to pull away until Soundwave spoke. “Situation: Understandable. Thundercracker: In new situation. Assurance: Starscream will understand.”

They stared at each other for a long, silent moment. “How in Primus’ name…?” Thundercracker cut himself off, seemingly baffled that Soundwave could understand what he had clearly told him. “How did you know..?”

“Thundercracker: Told me.” Soundwave answered honestly, only to receive no response in turn. That was odd. He knew what Thundercracker wanted to say, and he didn’t say it? He seemed so shocked too…

Without dwelling too long on that, Thundercracker shook his helm and they continued through the palace. Starscream lived in luxury, walls nearly completely covered in huge portraits of former Vosian Kings, Lord Starscream’s own officers, and his closest advisors. And there was his own. A side profile, his crown sitting gently behind his crest. His servo raised upwards, palm up and gesturing outward. He was grinning. A symbol of “leading Vos forward”, or something like that.

The throne room was ornately decorated in velvet curtains and soft carpets, all the luxury a king deserved. Starscream himself was draped over his throne, gorging himself on energon chunks that crunched loud enough to make Soundwave wince.

A servo suddenly pounded into Soundwave’s back, forcing him to kneel before the king. In turn, Starscream shook his helm. “Now, Skywarp. We don’t treat guests like that.” He huffed, sitting up and pushing his tray of snacks onto the side table. The purple and black femme just huffed, revealing herself. “And you forgot to ask permission to teleport. You know how much energy that takes.”

Soundwave just blinked, listening to Starscream scold his partner in ruling. It just gave him time to think. He’d ask for support, for Starscream to come back with him. Then they’d continue with plans for… whatever was to come next.

Skywarp groaned, clearly upset with being called out, and transformed to hide. Though, not into any automobile or common jet. Soundwave found himself entranced by her new form. She was a half-beast as well. A monstrous form that closely resembled a predacon, with folded wings and a hideous, frightening helm. She padded to Starscream’s side, sitting and slumping up against his throne. He petted her helm politely.

Snapped out of his thoughts by Starscream’s voice, he looked up. A brash, loud tenor that let everyone in the room know that he was in charge. “Soundwave! I haven’t seen you in… Primus, how long has it been?” He asked, folding one leg over the other as he leaned down to be a bit closer to him. “A vorn and a half, maybe? Goodness… how are things between you and Shockwave, hm? Hopefully still going strong?”

Soundwave was nervous to answer that, at least until he remembered Starscream’s words from that terrible ceremony gone wrong. The truth is what you make it, and he doesn’t believe in Primes. He nodded. “Affirmative. Shockwave and I: Doing well.”

“Good!” Starscream trumpeted, “He talks about you quite a bit, it’s good to know you’re both well. And that catbot of yours? Skywarp took quite the liking to her.” At the mention of her name, Skywarp puffed steam from her nostrils.

Soundwave nodded. “Ravage: Also well.” He clarified.

“Delightful! You’ve got yourself a big, happy family, Soundwave… I may be a bit jealous of that.” He winked at Thundercracker, who shifted on his pedes. “Now, no one comes to my throne room just to chat about family lives… so what’s the meaning of this, if I may ask? I’ll be in Iacon in only a few decacycles.”

Right down to business. Though, a king should be that way, Soundwave supposed. He stood from his place on the floor, stepping a bit closer to Starscream. “Iacon: In disarray. Uprisings: Imminent.” He explained in the best terms he could find in his databanks. Then he switched to vocal recordings. Speaking with Shockwave’s own voice, he continued. “Without Starscream’s help, we’ll be slaughtered by the High Guard.”

Starscream himself stood then, clearly interested. Descending the steps to his throne, he slowly circled Soundwave. “Yes, I see. Sentinel is quite harsh when it comes to bots he doesn’t like… I would know.” He huffed, stopping his pacing. Though he was taller than Soundwave, it wasn’t like he was looming over him or looking down at him. They felt like equals somehow. “So, is there a plan? Or are we marching in blind?”

Soundwave nodded. “Peaceful protests, marching on the capitol. We demand Sentinel Prime fix things.”

“And when he says no?”

When he says no. Soundwave hadn’t thought of that, but of course he would refuse. “Negotiations.” He droned in answer, but Starscream shook his helm.

“You’ve never seen war, Soundwave. It’s not like the gladiator matches.” Gesturing with a servo, he prompted Soundwave to follow, and he stepped out of the throne room. “There is no one cheering. No victors. No prizes. In war, there is only destruction. Vos was forged in war, and I do not intend for it to fall back into one.”

The room Starscream had led him to was cold. The atmosphere was heavy with dread, pushing down on them. Something terrible had happened here. “This is what we called the ‘War Room’. My forefathers discussed plans here while I was merely a protoform. Mass murders were plotted in this room, Soundwave. War is nothing but killing with no goal in mind.” He sat at the helm of the table, pointing at a chair for Soundwave to seat himself. “I am what is called a “pacifist”, Soundwave. I do not intend to send my people to die for no cause.”

Soundwave shook his helm. “Cause: Betterment of Iacon. Downfall of Sentinel.”

Starscream’s brow twitched with slight annoyance. “I will have to think on it.”

The rest of Soundwave’s stay in Vos was rather pleasant. On the last night, while wandering the palace, he found Starscream out on one of the many balconies, cradling something close. Stepping out there with him, it appeared to be a capsule of some kind. A jet black capsule with ancient protection runes carved into it. He hardly looked up. “Soundwave… it is good to see you.” He muttered softly, shifting the thing closer to himself.

Soundwave took a seat beside him, but allowing the small table to separate them. It was a beautiful night, and the moons were rising in the distance. It cast quite the light onto Starscream, causing his crest to illuminate slightly. In turn, Soundwave raised the brightness of his optics.

“I have decided.” Starscream suddenly spoke, “I will go early to Iacon. I will accompany you on your journey back, as we have much more discussing to do.” Soundwave nodded with understanding, and said nothing. Starscream took that as an opportunity to continue. “Though… I am rather curious. You have never transformed before me, have you?”

The question caught Soundwave off guard, and he suddenly turned his helm. He’d never transformed in front of him because he’d never transformed… ever. He hitched rides on Shockwave and took public transit, but nothing else. “Soundwave’s Frame: Unable to transform.” He replied simply, looking down at himself for a moment.

“But you have transformation seams, you know. I see that back kibble… clearly you can. Have you simply never tried?”

“Not exactly.” The words came out in Shockwave’s voice again, and Soundwave suddenly remembered how bad he missed him. “Soundwave: Never had the urge to transform.”

Starscream laughed at that for whatever reason, sitting his capsule down on a soft pillow and standing. “It’s not some urge you feel. It’s a natural occurrence. You don’t think about it too hard, your body works for you.” He closed his optics, stepping towards the guardrails. “In the way our creator Primus transformed Himself into Cybertron, we have the gift to transform ourselves into vehicles. A gift, allowing us to transport ourselves all around His great form…”

Starscream then threw himself off the balcony.

He reappeared moments later, shooting up into the sky in the form of a great jet. A trail of smoke followed him, creating patterns as he flew through the night. Soundwave gaped behind his mask, enamored at the sight. While Shockwave was a plane, Soundwave had never seen him perform stunts like this!

When he finally returned to the balcony, Starscream was laughing like a maniac, transforming back into his root mode and hovering just outside the rails. He wiped a tear of coolant from his eye, grinning. “Now… you try! Don’t force it, let your frame work on its own.”

“No transformation cog.” Soundwave argued, stepping back.

“Does Skywarp let that stop her?” Soundwave blinked at his words. Was it really possible? To transform without a cog? If it was as natural as Starscream said…

The next thing Soundwave knew, he too was plummeting.

The engines in his heels remained dormant still, even as he fell. No matter what he tried, kicking his legs or remaining completely still, nothing happened. Nothing happened, but the ground was still getting closer. Soundwave closed his optics then, bracing for an impact that would undoubtedly come. Until it didn’t.

Slowly opening his optics again, he found himself mere inches from his demise, heels lit up with flame that had cushioned his fall. He hadn’t transformed, but it was a start.

“All Vosians learn to fly by being thrown from the nest.” Starscream prefaced, settling a servo on Soundwave’s shoulder. “It’s the natural order of things. You’ll get it eventually. You have the right spark, a powerful energy that tells the world that you won’t give into their doubt.” A digit was pressed into Soundwave’s chassis. “Don’t you ever lose that spark.”

And with that, he turned to walk back inside. But Soundwave wouldn’t let him yet. With the ferocity of his beastly side, he shot out a cable, which wrapped around the king’s arm. Starscream jolted, but before he could say anything, Soundwave had him. It felt like the only proper thank you, something he’d done for Shockwave plenty of times. His arms slotted comfortably against Starscream’s slender form, wrapping all the way around him. The reciprocation came as a soft pat to the back. “If you wanted a hug, you could’ve just asked.”

Indeed, Starscream returned to Iacon with Soundwave that morning. Choosing to take the train, they sat in a private car, away from the other bots in the station. Starscream yawned, clearly a bit tired from the prior late night, but Soundwave didn’t blame him. While Soundwave carried only the bare essentials, it looked as if Starscream had brought his whole palace with him. And there, sitting in his lap, was the odd capsule from last lunar cycle.

Soundwave found himself intrigued by the little thing, the runes carved into it. So he found it necessary to ask. Pointing at it, he clicked his speakers on. “Soundwave: Intrigued.” He droned.

Starscream, who had been gazing idly out the window, turned to him then. Then down to his… thing. He softly ran a servo over its surface, shaking his helm. “It’s unimportant as of now. I’ll tell you later.” He decided with a sigh, tapping his pede.

But just like he had with Thundercracker, Soundwave heard something he wasn’t supposed to hear. Starscream’s vocalizer made no noise, his intake unmoving. Yet the words filled his processor anyways. Soundwave warmed to the words, understanding everything in that moment. The soft words, “My sweet prince.”

Soundwave practically threw himself at Shockwave when he first saw him at the Iaconian end of the station, and they wept with relief at seeing one another. To be conjunxed was to be one whole spark, split in two. It was impossible to be apart for long.

Ravage had accompanied him, and Soundwave leaned down to pet her helm. “You look rough.” She commented, purring softly under her breath. “Didn’t sleep well? Neither did I.” Soundwave breathed out a squeak at that, or what would be a laugh had he a proper vocalizer.

The walk home was filled with chatter between Starscream and Shockwave, most of which Soundwave filtered out. Instead, he paid attention to Ravage, who had curled herself up in his arms. She just wanted to be held, he couldn’t fault her for that.

High Guardsmen were waiting for them outside their housing complex, faces stern with animosity for the group. Almost instantly, blasters were pointed at Shockwave, who stiffened. “We’re going to need you to come with us.” One of them huffed, revealing a pair of stasis cuffs.

“You cannot arrest me without cause.” Shockwave argued, stepping back into Starscream, who promptly put an arm in front of him. “It’s against the law to not tell me-“

“High treason. I suggest you go quietly.”

Shockwave and Soundwave would not share a recharge slab that night. Soundwave bristled, wanting to lunge at the two as they carted Shockwave off, but Starscream held him back. “Think of Ravage.” He muttered, “We’ll get this sorted. Go home, Soundwave. Take care of your family.”

They hadn’t done anything worth high treason. Soundwave lowered his helm, releasing a helpless whine from his vocalizer. In turn, Ravage pushed her helm into his mask. “Do not worry. Shockwave is strong, he will take care of himself. And I will take care of you.”

So he resigned himself to returning home. He cuddled the twins close, and found himself unable to get up for the rest of the cycle. There was no point in doing so anyhow.

Chapter Text

Prison. Prison and jail are two different places. One is for short term stays, the other typically means a longer sentence. But a dungeon? A dungeon was overkill, even for Sentinel.

It was cold and dark down… wherever he was. There had been no trial, no talks, no due process. Shockwave wasn’t sure how long he’d been down here, but his paint was beginning to fade. He had his paint redone every two vorns, when it began to… two vorns. It had been two vorns now. Two vorns of sitting here in the dark, rusting.

He’d hear something every now and again, though it was unclear what it was. Huge booms, like the sound of a timpani being struck hard by its mallet… he hoped they were not the sounds of war. A shiver ran through his frame at the thought.

“Shockwave.” Sentinel’s familiar voice roused him from his daydream, and he looked up to meet his gaze. There was no friendly mask, no fake grin. That had died with the thought that Shockwave would ever leave here. “Get up. You and I need to have a talk.” Of course, he did as he was told, standing and approaching Sentinel. Though separated by the bars, their auras mashed, and unease made Shockwave want to purge his tanks.

Sentinel opened the cell door, grabbing Shockwave by the stasis cuffs and dragging him out. “Have you any idea what your little… posse has done to Iacon?” He asked, though obviously knowing the answer was no. Shockwave took stock of his surroundings as he was pulled along. There were other bots down here, though none he knew. Prisoners like him, who would likely never see the sun again.

Though, he didn’t dwell on the thought. Keeping happy thoughts kept him sane, after all. Falling down rabbit holes would only make him angry.

The twins would be three vorns old now, or that’s what Shockwave thought. They’d be developing their adult frames. Minibots aged much faster than average bots, so the cassettes had done so as well. They’d be just like he’d dreamt them, a pair of knee-high trouble makers that needed one another, eternally bonded by their one shared spark. Although Shockwave hadn’t been around for those important vorns, he knew Soundwave and Ravage would teach them right.

That was, until Sentinel showed him what had happened in his absence. Out of the dungeon now, Shockwave was looking out of one of the many great windows of the Capitol. It looked like the Pits had exploded, and blanketed Iacon in the debris. Shockwave felt his knees give out, weak from the lack of use, and he fell with a clatter to the ground. “This is what your advocacy caused, Shockwave. You, with your own voice, have destroyed Iacon.”

Sentinel began to pace, and Shockwave lowered his helm in prayer. Primus, do not let it be so... “Now, I would think seeing the consequences of your actions would be punishment enough, but I know now the extent of your traitorous ways. See, Ratbat is quite efficient when it comes to tracking.”

Something was tossed at his pedes then, prompting Shockwave to look up. A scraplet, all its sharp teeth removed, with a recording device imbedded into one optic socket. Dread pooled in Shockwave’s tanks then. “You defied my orders, and therefore you defied Primus. Or, well… the public will think you did.” He chuckled, “I don’t care. You made your berth, and now you’ll lie in it. And that’s a shame. I really did like you. Perhaps in some other life, you didn’t let some raggedy half-beast into your berth, and you and I lived a nice life together.”

Shockwave watched as Sentinel walked off, and he slowly raised his gaze. It was war out there, no better way to put it. Explosions rattled the ground nearby, shots firing between soldiers. No, not soldiers. Civilians. Civilians fighting civilians. It was shameful. What had he done..?

Unable to keep looking, Shockwave slowly lowered himself to the ground, pressing his crest into the floor. Praying would not make this better, but it could soothe him, at least a little.

…

How long had it been since his odd vision? Since Primus came to him, bearing the Matrix? It had been some vorns back, definitely… he struggled to relive the memories, Primus’ warm servo cradling him, the glow of the Matrix…

And here he was again, floating gently in nothingness. And there, right in front of him, was the Matrix of Leadership. “Shockwave.” It was a voice that filled the infinite stadium, that wrapped around Shockwave and squeezed like a hug. A voice of a thousand choirs singing in perfect harmony. “Do not allow deception to cloud your judgement. You have done right by me.”

Speechless, Shockwave ducked his helm. “I am unworthy, please understand…” It was a weak comparison, the soft echo of a whimper.

“Do not denounce yourself.” Primus argued, “You are plenty worthy. Iacon is a better place with you there to guide it. To lead it.”

“No… I can’t…”

“Shockwave-“

“I won’t!”

And suddenly all was quiet. Primus’ servo supported him, allowing him to stand properly, but he wasn’t looking at just Him. There, all around him, were the twelve true Primes. They looked upon him with cold neutrality. Shockwave gritted his dentae. “I cannot lead them.” He huffed, “I am unworthy of it. I am a politician, put into a council to help the real leader lead. So- so give this to someone worthier than me. Give it to Starscream, or… or…”

Too weak to say anything more, Shockwave felt his frame begin to tremble. Coolant began to slowly trickle down his faceplate. He was totally overwhelmed with the situation.

“Many weep at the glory of the Matrix, Shockwave. You are not the first.” Primus sounded much gentler now, like a creator speaking to their sparkling. “You may choose different paths along the way, but your destiny is the same. You have the spark of a Prime, wether you believe so or not.” With only a brief pause, He continued. “Perhaps it is not yet time for you, but you will discover your strength in time. Be well…”

…

When Shockwave next came to, he was being dragged down a long, dark hallway. His arms hung loosely above him, firmly gripped by the servos of two clearly angry bots. Blinking the vision from his optics, Shockwave looked up at them. Ratbat and Trepan. Though Shockwave tried to pull back, they only tugged harder.

Something was wrong. His backstruts had been snapped, cut rather. He couldn’t move, let alone feel, anything from his lower torso down. There was no use in fighting. He was already dead.

Shockwave lowered his helm, resigning himself to his fate. Perhaps they’d have his processor put into a minibot, a servant for the False Prime. Maybe they’d just be rid of him, and leave him with Primus. He could only hope for the second option to come true. Primus would be gentle with his spark, Sentinel would not.

The doors to what looked like an operating room slid open along creaking, long unused tracks. Dust coated every surface of the surgical room, something Shockwave would hope to be clean, but clearly wasn’t. He was thrown unceremoniously onto the operating table, strapped in by metal cuffs on his arms, legs, and across his torso. Ratbat resigned himself to stand guard at the doors, while Trepan began to inspect his tools.

If he was one, Shockwave had never heard of Trepan being a surgeon. That was Pharma’s area of expertise, medicine. He swallowed, hoping that Trepan had a least a bit of experience. The other bot grinned at his nervous squirming, stepping closer to him. “Full disclosure, when you wake up, you will never feel again.”

Never feel?

Fear boiled in Shockwave’s energon veins, frame running hot as coolant bubbled out of his optics. Never feeling again… but he had so much left to feel, so much left to express. His anger, his sadness… emotions he hated in himself, even they were a part of him, even if not a favorite. But apart from that… his love. His kindness, compassion…

Soundwave’s visage filled Shockwave’s processor. His blatant unsightliness to others only made Shockwave love him more. He loved Soundwave for who he was, a half-beast with a spark of gold. A loyal, kind companion who was exactly what Shockwave needed. Their relationship had been so fast, friends, to lovers, then to creators.

Ravage, while not necessarily Shockwave’s creation, was still his daughter. Her snide comments, the sarcastic tail twitches, the way her lips drew back in odd grins when she was pleased. Her oddness also intrigued him. Though she was odd, she was still Cybertronian. She was still his daughter.

The twins… he hardly got to know them. Rumble was clingy, but he certainly liked his fists. Shockwave’s chest still bore some soft indents from Rumble’s excited pounding, his mouth open in chirping squeals of adoration. Frenzy was smart, a screamer who found enjoyment in puzzles, in putting his processor to work. He was just like Shockwave; a thinker. They were a perfect pair, who bounced off one another perfectly. One spark in twin bodies. Shockwave’s only wish was to know them better.

Perhaps he and Soundwave would’ve had more sparklings if given the chance. Their love flowed cleanly and totally, a uniting bond that, even if Shockwave was unable to feel, would always be there. Always and forever, in the optics of Primus. In the optics of their eternally loving creator, who would never deny their love.

As the drill began to hum, Shockwave closed his optics. His last thoughts as himself were of his family. His beautiful, loving family, laying in the sun together, coated in warmth.

.

..

…

It was warm here. A warm that Shockwave was unfamiliar with. In fact, he was unfamiliar with everything currently happening to him. There was a figure standing over him, a servo laid on his belly, perhaps to hold him down. Though, if that was the goal, they were doing an awful job. He could wriggle out at any moment if he were not so tired.

It was reasonable to be tired after such a long stasis. Shockwave did not know when he first became alive, but he was now.

Taking stock of the situation, it was clearly not a favorable one. Surrounding his prone frame were two bots, one with the frame of a gladiator, the other a thin cassette carrier. On the other side was a feline beast and two cassettes. They were looking at him like he was the corpse at a funeral, like he was laying in his coffin.

“Is he… can he hear us…?” The purple cassette’s words bubbled out of him like magma, like they hurt to say.

The gladiator nodded softly, moving his servo to softly touch Shockwave’s helm. “Yes, though he may still be weak.” He dragged his digits along the rim of his hexagonal visor, dipping back to touch his long, flat finials. “I understand that it must be hard to see him like this, Soundwave, but it was all we could do. We… salvaged what we could.”

The cassette carrier, Soundwave, then turned his helm, overcome by something Shockwave was unable to understand. To his knowledge, he had no memories before this point. This was his first time coming online, his first time seeing Soundwave. Why was he making that terrible noise?

Pistons in the berth beneath him began to work, slowly pushing him up into a seated position which allowed him to see himself in the mirror propped up not far from the table. His helm, while perfectly light and easy to swivel, had no mouth component. A clean, black visor with a single, unblinking optic. His finials were broad and flat, swiveling as he commanded them. They folded back softly, then flicked forward. His body was an amalgamation of spare parts and limbs not his own, sloppily painted an odd purple to match. Though, the oddest part, was that he had no left hand.

Staring down at the gun firmly attached to his bare wrist… Shockwave felt nothing. If it were there, he probably needed it.

“Shockwave.” It was Soundwave who spoke now, in a voice clearly not his own. The gladiator made way, and he stood now at his side. His touch was gentle, with sweeping motions that felt almost familiar. “Soundwave: Loves you.”

Love? Shockwave sat, dumbfounded. He was looking up at this bot he’d never seen before, in the first moments of his life, and he was being told to love? The very idea was foreign to him. “I have not existed before this moment.” Shockwave began, wrenching one servo from his chassis. “Therefore, I do not know you. Given my lack of emotional core, I cannot reciprocate your ‘feelings’ either way.”

The other bots seemed to shy away at this notion, faceplates set in cold, frowning expressions. It was the truth, wasn’t it? Why were they looking at him like that?

A soft cry alerted Shockwave to the cassettes at his gun side. The red cassette now had his face buried in the purple one’s neck, making primal noises of upset. What was he supposed to do about it? They were not his cassettes. It was their carrier’s job to soothe them.

“You have forgotten quite a bit, Shockwave…” The gladiator spoke again, now allowing Soundwave to stand behind him. “You have existed long before this moment, as a friend and companion to us. I am Megatron, a gladiator from Kaon. It… it was you who helped free me from slavery. Ravage, Rumble, and Frenzy… they are your kin. Your creations.”

His creations? “I, as I am now, did not create them. I have no attachment to the cassettes. Nor to Megatron, nor to Soundwave. I am my own being, even if born from the body of another. Do not continue to compare me to someone I am not.”

The red cassette, Frenzy, only began to cry louder. Rumble’s face screwed up, dentae grinding. “You aft-hole! You’re not our creator! You’re not Shockwave and you never will be!”

“Precisely.”

That answer didn’t seem to please them, however. Steam billowing out of his nasal vent, Rumble grabbed his twin by the servo and began to drag him off. Soundwave padded off after them, giving one last look to Shockwave before disappearing into the next room.

Megatron shook his helm. “Even in this state, you are my ally. Though… perhaps consider a kinder attitude with them. Even if you are not who they think you are… they are quite attached to you.” Stepping back, he glanced at the mirror. “I understand this is all very confusing for you, Shockwave. Should Ravage and I also…?”

Noting that he’d simply trailed off, Shockwave took the initiative to nod. “Yes. I would like to be left alone.” So with a curt bow, Megatron gestured to the door, and Ravage padded after him.

Shockwave shifted, getting a feel for his frame. It was balanced, even if one side felt a bit heavier than the other. He slipped one leg over the side of the slab, then the other, and stood. He would look down at himself, but the size of his chest prevented such things. The mirror was a good alternative. It was a sufficient frame. Bulky, yet he was somewhat short, it seemed.

All Cybertronians were born with knowledge. How to speak, who their creators were, what their name was, and what the world looked like. Shockwave thought for a moment. He could speak, yes. His name was Shockwave. They were at war. And he had no creators.

Fascinating. What an interesting form to be born in. A life apparently already behind him, but a new one just beginning. Not that he especially enjoyed the idea… but it could prove interesting.