Cause there's something between us anyway

Was Starscream even listening?

As Soundwave spoke for the first time since telling the Council where to shove it, he noticed how Starscream simply stared back at him as if a human child witnessing the miracle of snow for the first time. What was the big deal about seeing his face even if it was just his mouth? What interested the seeker so much that he was seemingly not paying full attention to what he was being said? It made Soundwave angry and hurt at the same time, but he would bottle those emotions for now. Now was the time for filling in the gaps in Starscream's memory as best he could.

Though the former air commander spoke lowly, it wasn't difficult for the former communications officer to pick up exactly what he was saying. The Call of the Sky seemed to be getting to him as it seemed. Seekers did have an affinity for the sky, and if they were grounded too long or kept in tight spots such as this they did have a tendency to go crazy. They needed to be out in the open where they could fly freely, so sending them on a mission deep within a cave was often times not the most strategic of moves. However, sometimes you just had to make due with what you had. If Starscream was suffering this badly that he couldn't even wake from recharge without panic settling in forcing him into reboot then something needed to be done. Obviously they could not break out at this very moment, but something compelled Soundwave to take action.

"What can I do to assist? What can I do to help break the cycle?"

It was not good for Starscream's health to keep doing this. What started with blunt force trauma inducing amnesia would only become worse in the passing days. Part of him wanted to ask a guard if it was possible to move into his cell or have the seeker move into his own, but naturally it wouldn't be that simple, right?

"I shall inquire about the possibility of cellmates."

Starscream may have failed to see logic in why the Autobots would ever allow his request to become cellmates. While Soundwave didn't believe it was entirely possible, he did see reason for it to be. Would the Autobots rather send a medic to repair Starscream every single time he had one of his manic episodes due to the Call every single day, or would they rather put him with someone who might be able to prevent those damages from even occurring? It wasn't like he was trying to do the Autobots any favors of course, but it would only be so long before Soundwave and the other Decepticons in the vicinity couldn't take anymore of the seeker and his freak outs. If he could do something to help prevent those and it meant becoming his cellmate, then Soundwave would take one for the team.

That.. and he wanted to explore this strange new feeling for the former air commander.

It was easy to see, however, how the days bled into one for Starscream. If had only been a couple for Soundwave and it was far easier for the spy bot to keep track of such things, but just how long had the other mech been in here? Some bots had to have been here for far longer, and that alone was only going to worsen the situation. Eventually Decepticons were bound to lose their sanities and Starscream was already on the cusp of it. Wasn't too late to turn back from, but at least Soundwave was here to help lessen the impact.

However there was that one question. Starscream seemed to believe that Soundwave was hiding something from him about what was going on between the two of them. Even the former third in command couldn't find a reasonable explanation for it, but he checked his memories for some sort of clue. Some sort of sign. Was he hiding something from the seeker? "I do not believe that to be the case. You had begun with the flirtatious advances from the moment I arrived in this cell. You had previously told me that there was one you pined for that had repeatedly rejected you; That had told you so directly to your face. You did not name this individual, but I had my suspicions." Sighing once more, the mech tilted his helm. "Do not take my suggestions the wrong way, but I believed this individual to be Megatron. It would make sense given previous interactions with our former leader and if that is the case then I fully understand the feeling of betrayal."

Yet there was a part of him that wondered if maybe it had been another. "If it is not Megatron that you previously pined for.. then who? Perhaps Skyfire? I simply ask out of curiosity." They had been close friends after all, but had Starscream thought differently?

If nothing else, at least Starscream was finally realizing his need to fuel after what had happened just moments ago. He needed the energon badly, and he had two cubes from the medics in which to replenish that which he had lost.

Soundwave couldn't say that he was completely surprised when Starscream quickly dismissed Megatron being a possibility as the mech he pinned for. As if he would ever admit to that under any circumstance, but it was understandable given their 'unique' relationship. How the seeker always sought to overthrow the Decepticon leader, and yet for some reason Megatron refused to terminate him. He believed maybe Megatron's line of thinking had been to keep your friends close but your enemies closer, but was it really as simple as that? It made no sense whatsoever, but it didn't take long for Starscream to confirm the identity of the one in which he pinned. It had in fact been Skyfire, but for as quick as he brought it up Starscream was quick to change the subject, redirecting the question back at Soundwave.. using his own words against him.

How did he feel about Megatron? That was difficult to explain, causing Soundwave to grunt before turning his helm to look away from the other. His visor dimmed a bit, trying to decide how best to word his response.

"My relationship with Megatron was.. complicated to say the least. I cannot say I had feelings for him as much as we shared a close bond deeper than friendship but not quite Amica Endura. I was his confidant. When Megatron joined the Autobots, I felt a betrayal like none other; Hurt that cannot be explained by mere words. He has fallen down a dark path that he will never come back from, and to terminate him would be an act of mercy before he falls any further. However since the loss of.. Rumble.. I have wanted to destroy him not as an act of mercy, but an act of revenge. I lost someone dear to me because of his actions, and I plan to make him suffer every ounce of pain that I felt. That we have felt." And there it was, the first time he was freely admitting to another that it had been Rumble who had exploded that day.

"But your vow to return to Cybertron and to restore it also has merit.. You stated you did not wish to lead the Decepticons, but to find a way home; to save as many as you could. I wish to be a part of this, but not before Megatron receives his due recompense."

....his what now?

Soundwave was completely caught off guard as Starscream questioned whether or not they had demonstrated several of the acts often attributed to becoming Conjunx Endura. He supposed that what they had done could be seen in that light, but it only confirmed the seekers flirting. Whether he remembered it or not, the fact that he was still flirting even more had to have meant something right? He listened as Starscream started to put everything together, or at least as together as he thought it would be, proclaiming that he was trying to get the former communications officer to understand his feelings through song and how Soundwave supposedly rejected his advances.

Oh.. how precious this was, knowing Starscream was wrong on all accounts and yet Soundwave did not laugh. He merely shook his helm before correcting him.

"While you are correct that these things could be considered Acts of Intimacy and Disclosure, there are several fronts in which you are wrong. While it is true that you continuously attempted to flirt, I never at any point rejected your advances. Mere days ago I was unsure of how I felt; Unsure of many things as our lives have so drastically changed. However, where you stand most incorrectly is that you were not the one to initiate our musical conversation. I was the one to do so as I felt that my words were not being heard; Not being received with the intended meaning. I felt that conversing through song would better help you to understand where I was coming from and so you engaged as I interpreted what your songs meant within the context. You did, however, grow frustrated when I did not give you what you wished however you were quite vague in what you wanted. I repeated the words I spoke before Zeta Prime and the Council and even changed the songs I played. Even calling you 'my silly little rabbit' as requested did little good. Nothing seemed to do much to shift your mood for the better."

Placing a servo against the window, Soundwave stared directly at Starscream. "Nothing, that is.. until I used my power to open a hole in this very window to touch your shoulder. I take your words now as more than simple flirtatious gesture, but of a solid confession." Soundwave sighed once more, his visor dimming as he continued to speak. "Perhaps in this short of time.. I have felt the beginnings of feelings for you as well. I do not know how to explain it, but the thought of you losing memories of an intimate moment we shared hurt. I consider this a second chance, perhaps even a third. I think perhaps.. there truly is something between us, and I do not refer to this window that separates us."

Soundwave remained in awe as Starscream returned that simple gesture of placing his servo right over the window. It was the only thing preventing them from touching, though Soundwave knew he could very easily remedy that if he so chose with his powers. Still, he didn’t want to cause the seeker any additional worry by doing so so he opted not to this time. With any luck the Autobots would realize it was a terrible idea to leave Starscream locked up in a cell by himself, and they would have no other choice to assign him a cellmate. What better option than the bot right next door? All they had to do was remove the window separating them. Wouldn’t even have to open the cell doors as much as the two of them would probably like that.

However, the blown kiss came as a surprise. It wasn’t something that Soundwave had ever received before, and it took him a few moments to process what had even happened before Starscream started to speak once more.

He really liked it when the former TIC spoke with his own words powered by emotion? It was strange to hear that, and it would have to be something he’d need to get used to as he sighed. “I am not used to others listening to me voicing my opinions. I never even did as such for Megatron himself, and have not done so since I abandoned the Council. With any luck, you shall not forget any further memories and for both of our sakes I hope that you do not as I would rather not have to confess these words to you each and every day anew. However, I have the words I spoke to Zeta Prime recorded for posterity and am willing to play them for you again. I was angry as they refused to make changes for the better and my suggestions fell on deaf audial receptors. The words you hear are what I spoke then.”

Allowing his speakers to fire up, Soundwave’s voice filtered through them with the synthesized sound effect.


Soon the audio ended as Soundwave continued to stare directly at the mech on the other side. "Does this sate your desires?"

Even as the audio played, Soundwave kept a close watch for Starscream's reactions to once again hearing this speech of his for the 'first' time. It was a unique situation, but somehow between the actual first time and this one Starscream actually managed to react just as he had before in complete shock and awe. It amused the blue mech somewhat, but it was nice to see that things didn't change in the least. Of course, that probably meant that Starscream was going to ask for him to replay this one speech over and over again on endless loop.

There were worst speeches to do that with, he supposed. Still, he couldn't help but feel somewhat conflicted at the second kiss blown his way in a matter of minutes.

Truthfully the former communications officer had merely spoken his feelings at the time, furious that his opinions didn't matter in the least to the other Council members let alone Zeta Prime. It was damning evidence that nothing was going to change without drastic measures being taken, and so that's exactly what he'd done. He no longer voiced his opinions and he moved to Kaon where he joined in the gladiator matches where he met Megatron. None of the other Decepticons knew that there was this whole other side to Soundwave, and that was the way he liked it. The more he could fade into the background the better, but that was a little hard to do when you were the most loyal member of the Decepticon forces and essentially treated like Megatron's personal lap dog. He was so much more than that, and he'd already come close to revealing his true nature to the former leader of the Decepticons once or twice due to how close they were.. only to be the one hurt in the end.

Just like the Council.. His thoughts and actions had not mattered one bit.

But here was Starscream, not only bringing this out of him but almost encouraging Soundwave to keep at it. It was strange, especially given the fact that they had hated each other all throughout the war but how things quickly changed the second the entire faction was abandoned by their leader..

"I cannot say that your methods would have been successful, bit it is an entertaining thought I suppose. Admittedly it is strange.. that you somehow managed to repeat the exact same words to me that you had stated just mere days ago when I asked if you had been satisfied. Amusing to say the least." Soundwave continued to study the seeker standing behind the other side of the window. How he wished that he could just break the wall open enough that he could leap through, but to do so would be costly. He could barely open it enough just to touch the seeker let alone send Ravage through. Wait.. Ravage! The former TIC's visor brightened as the idea came to him, pressing his servo against the window further. "I have the beginnings of an idea. I cannot enter your cell at this moment, but would you be opposed to Ravage being there in my stead for the time being? I can open this window just enough to send him through if you so desire."

Soundwave kept a close watch as Starscream seemed to react in shock at the thought of the blue mech sending Ravage into the other cell. Watching him as he turned away, trying to hide that blush was almost.. adorable in a way? Soundwave didn’t quite know how to explain it, but it stirred those strange feelings in his spark. Not bad ones, but good. That was what the both of them needed in that moment, and if Starscream was exhausted as he claimed then Soundwave wanted to do what he could to prevent another memory loss situation.

Operation: Therapy it was.

“Whether it proves to be helpful or not, we will never know without trying. I would like to offer assistance in any way that I can to lessen the impact of the Call when you wake, and until we can share a cell, Ravage is the best option.” Raising his other hand to place against the window, Soundwave fired up his soundwave weaponry as a hole formed in the window. Opening up his compartment, he spoke. “Ravage, eject. Operation.. Therapy.”

The small panther cassette was launched into Starscream’s cell before Soundwave couldn’t hold the window open any longer, dropping to one knee. Ravage turned back to Soundwave, concerned but also confused to hear the blue mech’s voice naturally along with the strange order. “Ravage, keep Starscream company while he rests. Try to keep him from falling into panic when he wakes.” Ravage stared at the seeker, baffled but begrudgingly approaching him.

“And Starscream.. when you wake up, do your best to focus on me. Is there anything you would like for me to play to help lull you into recharge?”