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“Still mad at me?”
Without stopping, Soundwave pivoted and marched back in the opposite direction of the voice, the only change being from a professional stride to a borderline-indignant stomping.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Soundwave didn’t speak, but the way his knuckles creaked around tight fists said plenty.
“Care to talk about it?”
That did it. Soundwave paused, but didn’t turn around.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” He practically spat out.
Megatron sighed to himself.
“Yes, there is.” He took a step closer to the stealth jet. “Please, Soundwave. I hate to see you this way-“
“You should have thought of that sooner.” Soundwave growled.
“…” Megatron fell silent for just a moment, giving the stealth jet a second to breathe. “…You could still come with me.“
Soundwave glared over his shoulder to finally look at the osprey.
“Unlike some people, I care about commitment.”
“We both know it wasn’t an issue of “commitment”.” Megatron borderline-groaned. “You act like I cheated on you-“
“I almost would have PREFERRED that!” Soundwave snapped, finally turning to face the osprey.
“You throw away the cause! You throw away ME! You act as if we were nothing! Is that it!?” Soundwave felt tears catch in his throat. “Am I NOTHING to you!?”
“Soundwave…” Megatron’s voice was calm, steady, but held an ache to it that wormed its way into Soundwave’s spark even now. “You’re everything to me.”
The stealth jet didn’t speak, trembling frame frozen in place.
“I never wanted to leave you. I still don’t want to.” The osprey took a few steps closer, and then some more when the stealth jet didn’t move. “And I never would have stepped away if I felt like I had a choice.”
Megatron began to raise his hand, to reach for Soundwave, but decided against it.
“…I know you won’t accept, but… I will always welcome you at my side. I need you, Soundwave, no matter how much it looks the contrary.”
“Stop.” Soundwave’s voice was weak. “Just stop.”
The stealth jet shakily stared Megatron in the eye.
“I know you don’t really care, so stop trying to pretend you do.”
Megatron didn’t reply.
Soundwave picked up slight movement in his peripherals and glanced down to see the osprey’s hand trembling.
“…Do you really think that…?” There was a slight change in Megatron’s voice. Something only the most perceptive, someone who truly knew him, would notice. Pain. “Do you think I don’t lie awake at night, cold and alone? That I don’t often glance to my side only to remember all over again that you aren’t there? That I don’t still talk to myself and have to stop before I ask what you think? …That I don’t always feel an empty space following me everywhere I go…?”
Megatron paused, taking a shaky breath to steady his voice. He wouldn’t buckle here, dammit.
“I miss you, Soundwave.”
“…” Soundwave’s voice was quiet, barely audible. “…I miss you too.”
The stealth jet let out a small sigh in resignation, but the tiniest, almost bitter but still fond smile could be heard behind his mask.
“…We’re too stubborn for this.”
Megatron gave the slightest laugh, pain, relief, and love that never went away apparent in his voice.
“…Yes. I suppose we are.”
Then came silence.
Megatron was about to take another tentative step forward, but Soundwave beat him to it and closed the gap himself. Hands slowly, almost awkwardly brushed one another before interlocking. After a moment, they both leaned in to rest their foreheads against one another’s, and the silence between them felt fully calm, at last.
Megatron idly stroked his thumb over the back of the stealth jet’s hand.
“…I’m sorry about decking you earlier today, by the way.”
Soundwave gave the quietest snort.
“I’m not sorry for returning the favour.”
“Fair enough.” Megatron chuckled.
Tomorrow would come, and they’d be enemies on the opposite sides of the battlefield once more. But for now, with just each other…
There was peace.