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The first time Soundwave nearly had a slip of the glossa and called Megatronus Prime ‘sire’, it was also the first time he met the war leader.
Soundwave had been peeking out from an alleyway originally. Ravage was tucked into his deck, letting static run through their bond so as to give Soundwave something to focus on that wasn't the thoughts of other mecha. And there, facing away and standing on a gilded stage, was Megatronus.
The Prime stood tall, the spikes of his plating and his spear only adding to the imposing figure. Around him, in a defensive but most likely for-show position, were the High Guard, servos folded behind their backs and faceplates as blank as Megatronus’ mask. As usual, they and the gathered crowd fell into the habitual routine.
It was, after all, pretty common for a Prime to visit a settlement. They'd commemorate its growth and the citizens’ strive, thank them for participating in the good of Cybertron, and reassure them about the war against the Quintessons. Normally, Soundwave couldn't care less.
But normally the Primes didn't have such odd thoughts. Liege Maximo wanted to get the whole charade over with, Alpha Trion was quite literally reading from a script in his processor, Quintus was judging paint jobs- Megatronus, however, was plotting battle strategies.
It intrigued Soundwave. And Ravage -despite how she vocally preferred to keep Soundwave away from snobby, high caste mechs- seemed willing to poke at the oddity as well. Thus, they settled in the shadows of the assembly, Soundwave muting his bond with Ravage to slowly poke at the Prime's thoughts.
A few coherent ideas filtered in: a scouting trip to Luna 1 alongside Maximus Prime to check for military bases, a half-formed plan to send a trine of seekers down to Rodian just in case, a need to remind Amalgamous to help Shockwave out. Before Soundwave could get anything else, however, Megatronus’ speech cut off and his helm turned sharply.
Soundwave deactivated his vocalizer as he pressed flat against the wall. Ravage sent a concerned inquiry through their bond. The High Guard widened their stances and equipped their weapons, only stopped from moving by Megatronus raising a servo.
For a long moment, no one moved. Soundwave barely dared to vent. Then, Megatronus called out, deep voice shaking the ground as he ordered, “Show yourself, and you will be spared.”
Soundwave -a handful of vorns old and with a cybercat as a caretaker- did the most logical option: he turned around and ran.
The mechanical cacophony that was many mechs transforming as one echoed throughout the area. Soundwave pushed forward nonetheless, calling upon his bonds to Laserbeak and Buzzsaw to guide him through the streets of Kaon. The cassettes were quick to answer, perched on the rooftops as they were, and led Soundwave through the maze of death and dust.
It wasn't enough. All of the familiar pathways and bird's-eye views could do nothing against the might of a Prime. Soundwave barely managed to skid to a halt in time as a dark purple beast landed in front of him, fit with a lashing tail and mane.
Despite what Megatronus likely had planned, he was given no time to act on it. As soon as Soundwave recognized the other's altmode as a large cybercat, another instinct picked up from Ravage kicked in. Soundwave crouched low to the ground, engine rumbling.
Megatronus paused, paw hovering mid step, and flicked an audial. Ravage tapped insistently at Soundwave's dock, pleading to be let out, be he kept it closed, just as he blocked his bond to Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, ensuring they didn't swoop down at the first sign of distress.
Megatronus’ other audial flicked. Ever so slowly, Soundwave reached out and again prodded that processor of the Prime. Before he could flicker his optics, Megatronus had transformed back to root mode and had picked Soundwave up by his back plating.
“You're just a little beast,” Megatronus muttered, hefting Soundwave a little higher despite his growl of protest. “Feral, too. Prima could probably help with that.”
“Lord Prime?” A High Guard member asked. They stepped forward, blue wings nearly gray with dirt, and a confused frown sprawled across their faceplates.
“We'll be keeping this one,” Megatronus said. He dropped Soundwave into the arms of the seeker, who was not nearly large enough to hold Soundwave so easily.
“Sir, is that really-”
“If my siblings can pick up strays then so can I. Come, we have an announcement to finish.”
Megatronus began walking off then, as if he didn't just assign the High Guard babysitting duty. Ravage bristled, and Soundwave could feel her indignation through their bond. Curious, he poked at it, and got hit mid rant, -going to claim sire duties might as well act like it, the giant glitch-aft-
Soundwave pulled back out of the bond. If Ravage was upset about it, he might as well be too. And so he reached a servo out, derma forming the glyph 'sire’, and wiggled against his holder.
“Ah, no, buddy. That's not happening,” the seeker nervously chuckled. He gave Soundwave's helm a pat. “You're stuck with me and Skywarp for a while.”
“Do not drag me into this-”
“Si-” Soundwave tried yet again, still wiggling. He kicked at his holder's knee strut, but he didn't flinch. High Guard training, presumably. Annoyingly.
Megatronus rounded the corner, disappearing from view. Soundwave did not pout, but it was a close thing.
With every new orn, it becomes clearer and clearer that Megatronus had no idea what he was doing with Soundwave. He asked his siblings for advice (“How do I deal with Deadlock?” Alchemist repeated. He didn't look up from his glowing rocks. “Well… Other than the stabbing, he's a good kid. So, nothing really.”), and tried to establish a bond with Soundwave (Soundwave seemed fine with it, if not a little hesitant. His cassettes, meanwhile, had several loud, angry complaints.). Megatronus even tried to introduce Soundwave to friends (“This is Shockwave and Starscream,” Megatronus said, gesturing to the two in question. They both nodded. Soundwave hissed.) which didn't lead to much.
All of it just highlighted the fact that impulse kidnapping a bitlet who could predict his every move may not have been his wisest idea.
Prima, ever the dignified menace, gave Megatronus a light pat on his shoulder. Prima said, “Worry not, brother, dear. I hear feral cybercats take time to warm up the mech.”
“It's been a decacycle, and he can read my processor,” Megatronus shot back, swatting Prima's servo away. He got an optic-roll for his troubles.
“I meant the actual cybercat. And the two flying ones, I suppose.” Prima dropped a datapad down in front of Megatronus, then pointed to a paragraph. “Sparklings with caretakers tend to need their caretakers to give an okay on new bots before they let their guard down.”
Megatronus hummed a considering noise. His optics flickered over the paragraph. Though he grimaced at its contents -the war really was expensive, and yet necessary- he still signed the little line. Prima took the datapad back. Megatronus asked, “Bribery?”
“Honestly? No.”
“Figured.” Megatronus scrubbed a servo over his mask. He really didn't know what to do with the bitlet. In hindsight, he didn't even know why he had picked up Soundwave in the first place. Because he was an outlier who could read thoughts? Because he responded to Megatronus’ alt mode?
…he supposed this was why Zeta always warned them about picking up strays. For being the youngest of the Primes, Zeta definitely was the common sense.
Of course, that meant when Megatronus felt a thread of panic leak through his and Soundwave's new bond, he had no common sense to stop him from shooting to his pedes and hurrying out the door. He faintly heard Prima yell out after him, but Megatronus paid the glyphs no mind as he hurried through the winding hallways.
Honestly, to call the Home of the Prime ‘winding’ would be a bit of an understatement. It was built for defense- a way to guard what slept within and confuse those who did not belong. As such, there were several dead ends, hallways that wrapped around themselves, spiraling stairs, and a noticeable lack of windows. Because of this, it took Megatronus a painfully long few klicks before he felt the bond strengthen, signifying Soundwave being near.
Megatronus made an abrupt turn and stepped through a doorway to his left. The training grounds the High Guard often used spread out before him. Drones still flew about, beeping and whistling as they waited for commands, though the scuff marks on the ground implied there had already been a bit of a fight.
His optics flickered to the center of the room, where a group had gathered. The bond tugged again, meaning Soundwave was amongst said group, and so Megatronus stepped forward, letting his EM field stretch out with the presence of a Prime.
Before the group registered him, it was an odd sight. Soundwave was on the ground, curled around his caretaker -Rampage? Or maybe Ravage? Megatronus wasn't sure. Whichever the case, the cybercat was not moving. A few steps away, Starscream was flipping off Sentinel, who stood straight with a sneer and flared wings. Shockwave stood away from them with a handful of other mecha, evidently sending out a communication to someone.
And then they registered their Prime, all snapping to attention.
“What is the meaning of this today, Starscream? Sentinel?” Megatronus asked, voice making the drones tremble. He caught Shockwave waving a servo and powering them off from the corner of his optics, but his gaze remained primarily locked on the two before him.
“Lord Megatronus,” Sentinel immediately began overtop Starscream's angry scoff. “There was just a small accident during training-”
“Accident?” Starscream repeated, incredulously. He waved a servo wildly in Soundwave's direction. “You kicked a cassette!”
“Yes. Accidently.”
This bickering began to escalate. Megatronus paid it no mind -Sentinel and Starscream have hated each other since the moment they met; really, there was no stopping the argument once it got going- and instead turned to face Soundwave. The bitlet had yet to move since Megatronus entered. So did the cassette.
Megatronus crouched down, though it did little to even out the height difference. He expected a response similar to the last few times: cowering, or hissing, or general displeasure coming from a feral sparkling who didn't realize they could bite. Instead, Soundwave leaned forward with an eerily calm, “Ravage is hurt.”
“So I gathered,” Megatronus replied, holding out a large servo. “May I see her? I can take her to Micronus to get checked out.”
A moment's hesitation was all there was before Soundwave handed over Ravage. Megatronus nodded with thanks, gently cradling the cybercat in one servo, and held out his other servo to help Soundwave up. Megatronus glanced over to where Starscream and Sentinel were still arguing -now with the addition of the rest of the trine- and hummed. That'd be someone else's problem.
He chose instead to beckon Soundwave out of the training grounds. Soundwave followed along, very nearly clinging to Megatronus’ side. Whether it be for comfort or to keep an optic on his caretaker, Megatronus could probably guess. He liked to hope, anyway.
As they walked, and as Megatronus commed his brother to alert him of their impending arrival, he asked, “Can you tell me what happened?”
“...Secretary Sentinel needs to watch where he steps,” Soundwave answered with a palpable amount of rage. He stepped closer then, and Megatronus felt a nudge against his thoughts. He allowed the bitlet to poke around his processor until Soundwave pulled back with a decisive nod. He added, “But Starscream and Shockwave are… decent. Si- Lord Prime was correct.”
Megatronus smiled, though his mask hid it. He extended his field to let a wave of affection rush over Soundwave as he replied, “I'm glad you're making friends, little beast.”
Soundwave nodded again. Megatronus chuckled, and they pressed onward toward Micronus.
…Megatronus pretended he didn't notice Soundwave nearly calling him ‘sire’. He did, however, send the sound clip to Solus.
“If you are to be a member of the High Guards of the Primes, you need to know how to fight,” Megatronus started. His servos were folded behind his back and he stood imposingly tall. A few decacycles ago, Soundwave would've been crouched down and hissing. Now, he just blinked back from behind his newly gifted visor.
From behind him, Soundwave could faintly hear Buzzsaw heckling Laserbeak. Laserbeak squawked back. Soundwave gave it a decaklick before Ravage bit one of them.
“Normally, I'd have the trine teach you,” Megatronus went on. “But they're busy with Alpha Trion today after an… incident in the archives. As such, you're stuck with me.”
Soundwave shifted, spreading his pedes and crouching down slightly. It was not a submissive display like before; no, this was him readying to dart forward. He could not see Megatronus grin, but watching blue optics squint back at Soundwave was close enough.
Megatronus spun his spear. He pointed the tip at Soundwave, and neither twitched for a long moment.
And then Buzzsaw shrieked, Ravage's fangs likely embedded in his wing, and Soundwave lunged forward. He moved low first, intending to go for the plating on Megatronus’ legs. Megatronus was quicker, however, and swept his spear downward.
Soundwave dropped and rolled. He wove between Megatronus’ legs and popped upright behind him. Seeing as how Megatronus was much larger and took some time to spin around, Soundwave shifted his shoulder plating into an ion cannon and fired. Simultaneously, he released some plates of armour to let his databables stretch out, the vine-like appendages wrapping around Megatronus’ ankle struts to hold him in place.
Unable to properly move, Megatronus grunted, waving a servo behind him to bat at Soundwave. Soundwave took a step back, only to end up getting smacked by Megatronus' spear, which he had also swung behind him.
Soundwave folded down into himself. His datacables drew back in in a blink. His plating began to shift as he changed into his alt mode, courtesy of a trip to the docks. He flew into the air, firing both cannons now as he spun circles around the Prime. Megatronus shifted as well, lithe form jumping around the training grounds and easily avoiding the blasts.
Megatronus ran toward a wall and jumped toward it. His paws hit the wall, and he pivoted, jumping toward Soundwave. Soundwave dove down, but Megatronus had already managed to land atop him.
The extra weight pushed Soundwave back toward the ground. He transformed back and rolled. Megatronus slid off of him as Soundwave came to a halt, plating flared and engine rumbling in a growl.
There was no respite before Megatronus was lunging forward again. Soundwave stood, cannon firing, but it was ineffective. Megatronus reached Soundwave. He changed back to root mode and picked Soundwave, throwing him over his shoulder.
Soundwave writhed. His limbs flailed as he tried to dig his digits and tips of his pedes in between the thick armor of a wartime Prime. It was as useless as it sounded.
Megatronus laughed, spinning rapidly. Soundwave shrieked -a very Starscream noise to make.
Thoroughly dizzy, Soundwave slumped against Megatronus’ shoulder, becoming a dead weight. Megatronus huffed. Apparently taking pity on him, Megatronus knelt down and let Soundwave get off.
Don't call him sire, don't kill him sire- “Sir,” nailed it, “never do that again.”
Megatronus cackled.
“You did better than last time,” Megatronus said. Likely, he was referring to the time Soundwave had sparred with Skywarp, got startled by the other teleporting behind him, and ejected the cassettes. “You could still do with some improvement.”
Soundwave frowned. He reached up to scratch at Laserbeak's helm when she came to perch against his shoulder and shot back, “Lord Prime has gladiator armor.”
“We can get you some, too. Don't worry.” Megatronus reached out to pat Soundwave's helm. “That doesn't change the fact that you do need to know how to take down an enemy twice your height and strength.”
Soundwave tipped his head. He pushed feelings of confusion through his field until Megatronus sighed. The Prime reached a servo out to drop against the shoulder Laserbeak was not resting on.
Megatronus said, voice softer than Soundwave ever thought possible, “There may come a time where my siblings and I are unavailable. Be it through defeat or you branching off on your own, I want to make sure you are safe. That's why you take these lessons to learn how to conquer the strongest of our kind, it's why you spend some cycles with Onyx learning how to control your abilities.”
That… was a concerning thing to say. Soundwave's derma twitched into the beginnings of a frown as he reached into Megatronus’ processor. He was given instant access to recent scouting reports of moving Quintesson troops, news from Zeta about Vector taking a heavy blow, plans to evacuate citizens from further reaching settlements and bring them closer to the capital, and so much more. By the time Soundwave pulled back, he was fully frowning.
Megatronus’ servo squeezed Soundwave's plating. Though his EM field radiated warmth, his glyphs were somber, “There will be a time where we are seperated. Maybe not soon, maybe not for another few decavorns, but it will happen, and when it does, your cassettes and I just want to keep you safe.”
Laserbeak chirped in a soft agreement. Buzzsaw and Ravage approached as well, both apparently with their own acceptance to what Megatronus had said. Soundwave exvented.
“Understood,” he muttered. Then: “Rematch?”
Megatronus barked a laugh. “There's my little beast! You're on.”
Most orns, Soundwave spent his free time with Megatronus. Whether it be in meetings where he recorded any important information or sparing, or even them flopped miserably in the archives as Alpha Trion lectured them on appropriate usages of cassette bonds -which did not include scaring the new recruits-, they were often within optic-range.
It was not one of those orns, however, and so Soundwave found himself at the mercy of Prima and Solus Prime.
Admittedly, he had no idea how he got into the situation. Megatronus had simply appeared in the doorway of Soundwave's room, told him he's going shopping, and promptly passed him over to his siblings. Still, Soundwave was beginning to suspect that Megatronus simply didn't want to be the one carrying everything Solus and Prima bought, so he shoved that duty onto the stray he picked up.
Huffing at the thought, Soundwave picked up speed to catch up with the two Primes. Being three times his height, they walked much faster than he did. Soundwave would prefer if he didn't have to run to stay pace with them, but so be it.
As if hearing his thought -which she couldn't; Soundwave had checked- Solus turned to glance at him over her shoulder, pausing her long strides. Prima paused a moment later, also looking back at Soundwave, who was still hurrying to catch up.
“I forgot how tiny mechlings are,” Solus commented, reaching a servo out to pat Soundwave's helm as he came within reach. “How do you reach the high shelves?”
“I don't,” Soundwave answered dryly, thinking back to the many times he had to eject Buzzsaw so he could knock something off a high shelf for Soundwave. “I am also not a mechling. I am fully grown.”
Prima frowned. His finials twitched, and the metal wings flared out further. He asked, “How old were you when Megatronus took you in?”
“Two vorns, sir.”
“So that makes you… twelve vorns? That's too young. You're still a sparkling,” Prima said with a shake of his helm. Solus nodded.
“Especially to us,” she added. “Do you know how old we are, bitlet?”
“Old enough to watch countless millennia,” Soundwave answered, reciting Alchemist's words from where the Prime taught the High Guard how to make explosives. “However, sparklings from the Well typically reach maturity by-”
Solus suddenly gasped, field flaring out and making a few passer-bys wince. Whipping around to Prima, she whispered, “How old is Sentinel? He's a bitlet, too, isn't he?”
“I think…” Prima started, then paused. Soundwave could see the dawning horror in his optics. “I think he and the entire High Guard are still sparklings.”
Soundwave twitched. “By most city laws, the average member of the High Guard has been eligible to work manual labor for-”
“We're using sparklings as soldiers?” Solus all but shrieked. Her field flared further. Soundwave flinched alongside the passer-bys. Prima did not as he raised a servo to his intake, optics widening further and flared finials pulling back.
“We let them face off against the Quintessons. And make bombs. Primus, we let them have explosives…” Prima muttered. Soundwave decided it was not a good time to tell him that, historically, most sparklings in times of war came forged with energon blades. He seemed like he was going through enough as is.
And then Solus moved. She surged forward and grabbed Soundwave by his shoulders. Leaning forward until their helms almost touched, she said, “Bitlet. Be honest: do you feel safe with us?”
Prima jerked his helm up. He took a step closer, now standing beside Solus, both of them looking at Soundwave with ethereal blue optics and overpowering EM fields. Soundwave paused for perhaps a touch too long before he responded.
“Safe with the Primes, or safe doing my duty?”
Solus keened. “We're horrible mecha,” she despaired. She turned to Prima, who was undoubtedly pouting, and repeated, “Horrible, Prima.”
Soundwave… had no idea what could have elected that sort of response. His returned question seemed fine; what was Solus despairing over?
…He could read her processor and find out. It seemed wrong given what he had learned over the vorns, but it was always an option.
Soundwave frowned, and instead reached out for his bond to Megatronus. The Prime got him into this mess, it was his responsibility to get him out.
:Sire, I am in distress,: Soundwave sent automatically. And then he actually started to panic at what he just sent. Ravage was never going to let him live that down. That is, if he survived the response from Megatronus.
The response that was… taking a suspiciously long time. A klick later -spent mostly watching Solus and Prima argue whether or not snacks could make things better or worse- and finally the sounds of battle filtered in through the bond.
Despite himself, Soundwave felt relief.
:Little beast?: Megatronus replied back. :I couldn't catch that, care to repeat?:
Soundwave flickered his optics back to Prima and Solus. The argument had not progressed. In theory, it would be the perfect time to test out if any of the sleath lessons were worth it. He shook his helm and told Megatronus, :No. Good luck.:
:Brat.:
Soundwave grinned.
Megatronus ran faster than he had in… centuries, probably. It was likely that he had not moved with such fear and determination since their Creator sent them to find Unicron. And even then, it was more excitement at the prospect of using his new form, of fighting alongside the other sparks he had been created with and succeeding at his purpose in life.
Now, however, he just felt fear. Fear and anger. He was not sure how much of either emotion was his, not with how he was tugging on his bond to Soundwave, but he knew he was still feeling them both to some degree. His siblings had felt it from him, too, and as such did not argue when Megatronus transformed and sprinted out of the room faster than Zeta could react.
Soundwave has fallen, Shockwave had sent through Sentinel's datapad so many klicks ago. We are unsure of his location.
Megatronus knew exactly where Soundwave was. Or, an idea of it, as long as he followed their bond. As long as he kept running, with no intentions to wait for a seeker or another Prime. The longer he waited, the more danger his sparkling was in.
And Soundwave was his sparkling; the cassettes could argue with Megatronus all they wanted, but he could sign a legal document and they couldn't.
So, Megatronus ran and ran and ran. Until, finally, he came across a Quintesson base. The anger had taken over the fear, which he could not help but feel relief about. If Soundwave was angry and not afraid, he was okay.
Megatronus shifted back to his root mode, spinning his spear in a servo and swiftly kicking the door open. Immediately, a swarm of Quintessons were on him. He flared his plating, spikes piercing organic flesh, while his spear similarly stabbed through enemy after enemy. He left a pathway of desecration behind him as he followed after the bond like a wire, like the string of destiny that had once led him to Unicron.
And then he felt it. Pain. He knew it wasn't from him -the dead couldn't hurt him; they'd been over this time and time again- which left only one other option. Megatronus reached back toward Soundwave, pushing affection and warmth through their bond as he surged forward faster than before. If it were the time for it, if he had waited for the others, Megatronus knew Nexus would make a joke about breaking the sound barrier.
Megatronus reached a door then, and did not think before he broke it open. It and a part of the wall fell to the floor in a heap. Megatronus stepped over it as his optics took in the sight before him.
There was a lot of gore. Quintesson corpses littered the area, some still twitching, most unmoving. Megatronus stabbed through one of the twitching ones, focusing on the way Soundwave -curled amongst the mess, energon spilt down his front and visor cracked- twitched forward. Whether he had been preparing to lunge in an attack or seek comfort was unclear. Megatronus crouched before him, letting him make the decision easier.
He did, almost instantly. Soundwave lurched forward with a gurgling noise that was worrying, burying himself as close to Megatronus’ chassis as he could. Even his datacables engaged to allow him to cling further. Megatronus wasted no time in wrapping his arms around his little beast.
“You're alright now,” Megatronus whispered. He smoothed his digits down the crest of Soundwave's helm. “I'm right here, you're alright.”
Soundwave let out a sharp noise of static that had Megatronus wincing. It was followed by a broken, “Si ــــ٨ـ ire- s-re-”
Megatronus pulled back slightly. Dread filled him, though he was careful to not let it fill the bond. Soundwave gave a broken whirl at the noise, but Megatronus needed to see.
Keeping his servo as gentle and steady as he could, he cleaned the energon away from Soundwave's intake and neck. Originally, Megatronus had assumed Soundwave had bit one of the Quintessons. In hindsight it didn't make a lot of sense, not with how Quintessons didn't bleed energon, not with how Soundwave always complained about getting his fangs stuck in things. Megatronus should not have been surprised by what he saw, but he was.
The protoform of Soundwave's lower faceplate was torn apart, revealing sharp fangs and oozing fresh energon. The wound stretched down, down, down, toward Soundwave's chassis, slicing right through his vocalizer, which sparked and clicked.
Soundwave again tried, “ــــ٨ــir- Siــــ٨ــ”
Megatronus pulled him back into an embrace. He did not care for the energon staining his armor, or the panicked messages from his siblings, or the dead around them or the cassettes angrily thudding against Soundwave's dock or anything. He simply held on to his sparkling as tight as he could.
“You did good. You kicked their afts all the way to the Pits, and I couldn't be prouder.” He paused. “...We'll get you fixed up,” Megatronus then swore. Small servos clung to his back plating, and he ducked his helm down to whisper, “I promise you, Soundwave, this will never happen again.”
“Sire,” a monotonous voice broke through Megatronus’ thoughts. He blinked down at the datapad he had been listlessly reading before glancing up, spotting Soundwave in the doorway with yet another datapad. “Vector Prime: requests funding review.”
“Of course he does. What is it this time? Another space bridge?” Megatronus grumbled. He rose from his slouch enough to extend a servo, accepting the offered datapad.
“Negative.” Soundwave answered. He folded his servos behind his back, expression unreadable with his visor and mask. Megatronus raised a ridge brow from behind his own mask.
Soundwave remained silent.
Megatronus flicked his optics toward the datapad.
Soundwave added, “Vector Prime: wants own sparkling.”
Megatronus tipped his helm back against his chair and groaned. “Oh, Primus give me strength,” he muttered. Soundwave's field flared with amusement, and Megatronus responded by poking at him through their bond, now officially a caretaker bond. “Is this your fault then?”
Soundwave shook his helm, stepping closer to eject Ravage onto Megatronus’ desk. The cybercat stretched, yawned, and curled up in a ball. Megatronus would never understand her.
“Negative,” Soundwave answered again. “Liege Maximo: found stray. Designation: Airachnid. Vector Prime: feels left out.”
Megatronus propped his helm against a fist, optics idly tracing over Ravage's form. She was lying on one of his styluses, which he did need. He said, “If I had known kidnapping was going to get so popular, I would've left you on the street corner where I found you.”
“Megatronus: lies.”
Megatronus straightened again so he could flick a digit at Soundwave's mask. “Processor reading is cheating, little beast,” he chided with no real heat. He powered off Vector's datapad and tossed it to the pile, well aware he would be getting no more work done. Soundwave took a step back to give Megatronus room to stand as the Prime muttered, “Ah, I've been here too long. Have you eaten?”
“Affirmative. Prima: bought rust sticks for High Guard.”
“That is not a meal.”
“Meal: sustenance consumed on regular occurrences-”
Megatronus crossed his arms. “Are you really about to lie to me and say you eat rust sticks on a regular basis? Would you do that to your poor, old sire?”
A long pause.
A very long pause.
Megatronus sighed. Soundwave nodded, “Affirmative.”
“Brat.”
“Affirmative.”
Rolling his optics, Megatronus reached a servo out and dropped it against Soundwave's helm. He tucked the other beside him, trying to convey his unconditional love. Soundwave curled closer.
“The war is escalating,” Megatronus said into the quiet of the room. Ravage's audials flicked. Soundwave twitched. “We need to savor every waking moment.”
“Soundwave: understands.” The synthetic vocalizer was not good at conveying volume or tone. Megatronus still could hear the resignation in his glyphs.
Megatronus leaned down, curling his towering frame inward like he had done so many times before. He knocked their helms together, digits pressing against armor that was finally a reasonable thickness with what he hoped was reassurance. Megatronus whispered, “So you understand that I am filled with nothing but regret when I say that if you do not eat a reasonable meal, I will ground you for the next two decacycles?”
”Sire.”