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If being a communications officer had one unexpecting benefits it’s learning the cultures of planets the autobots occupy.
On a few missions soundwave had taken note of the change of scenery in human cities and the uplifting behaviors the humans seemed to have. Upon investigating he had come across the reason, christmas.
Funny, Soundwave thinks, he’s heard this word before, other decepticons had whispered about how autobots have taken part in human culture and this, holiday he read, was one of them.
Soundwave kept reading, surely this must be something important for the humans to cause an entire city to completely change overnight. So he read and watched as much information as he could gather.
Joy. Hope. Peace. Family.
Family.
Soundwave shifted, the others might see his cassettes as nothing but small soldiers and nuisance, but to him, they were his family. And in time of war, soundwave grips the computers panel tightly creating small dents in the metal, it was easy to forget. It was better to forget because he never knew when one of them would be offlined.
How long has it been since he’s felt any emotion?
Maybe he could use this Christmas to show his cassettes how much he appreciates them.
Yes. This was good. Maybe humans do have some good ideas.
And so as night crept in soundwave worked, copying what images he saw and gathering materials he’s sure they would like.
By morning everything was set perfectly, including a giant pine tree he had found in the forest and presents wrapped in what paper he could find around the base of the tree.
Now he just needed to wait for his cassettes to awaken for the day.
It didn’t take long as soundwave could sense them awaken for within him and he ejected them.
Ravage stretched her legs as she always did and frenzy rubbed his optics.
Rumble blinked and looked around the room, “Ay soundwave what’s all this?”
“Answer: Christmas”
Frenzy gave him a confused look, “christmas?”
“You have all been working so hard, for so long. So I made this for you. A gift. For family.”
“Family.” Rumble and Frenzy said in unison.
Soundwave nodded at the twins.
Soundwave could tell Frenzy and Rumble’s optics were widening, “c-carrier.”
He could easily hear the wobble in frenzy’s voice and soundwave felt he too would be on the verge of tears if he talked now, he hasn’t been called carrier from them in centuries.
But quickly as they were tearing up frenzy and rumble were attached to his legs, while ravage stalked over and rubbed her head against him, purring ever so slighty.
Soundwave felt warm. He got it. Why humans did such seemingly meaningless things. For family. For then one’s you loved.
Soundwave bent down and gathered his cassettes and hugged them tightly.
“Statement: Soundwave cares for you all. Means more to me then anything else in the galaxy.”
Frenzy and Rumble dawned the biggest smiles he had ever seen in a long time, “we love you too carrier. No matter what happens we’ll always be with you.”
Soundwave could feel his spark pulsing in joy and in turn his three cassettes felt it through their sparkbond.
“Now, gifts.”
And like a bunch of sparklings rumble and frenzy were hoping up and down as they extended their arms.
Soundwave chuckled, an unfamiliar sound to most.
He handed out their gifts, “open.”
Their excited squeals made him so happy.
Ravage had clawed her way into the packaging and purred as he spotted an aluminum yarn ball. She flicked her tail and patted it around.
Soundwave was glad his gift was sufficient.
Frenzy and rubble ungracefully tore apart the wrapping of their gifts.
Frenzy gasped and he realized when he was given, “carrier.”
Inside the box was a bass guitar, something he was fascinated in ever since he first spotted on inside a music store.
He hugged the instrument close, “thank you carrier!”
Soundwave nodded.
Rumble giggled at hearing his siblings enjoyment. What could he possibly get?
Inside a box strangely was another box.
Soundwave could see his confusion and gave a short laugh, “inspect.”
Didn’t take long for him to smile, “a gaming system! I’ve heard the autobots talk about these things! They always sounded so fun! Thank you carrier!”
“You’re welcome, all of you.”
The trio of cassettes pounced onto him making him fall onto the floor.
Had any other decepticon been awake they would have heard the com room filled with laughter.
“Now. Oil cakes.”
Rumble and Frenzy grabbed each other and spun around, such a sweet treat was rare during this time.
“I love you, my family.”