Chapter 8

Optimus raised his hand for the fifth time in the last hour to knock on Soundwave's door. And for the fifth time in the hour he dropped it and leaned against the opposite wall.

"Prime?" Optimus didn't look up, didn't even register the hail. "Optimus?" He jumped when a small hand rested on his shoulder, turning to see Soundwave standing beside him, looking at his feet.

"Soundwave." Optimus straightened, turning to the smaller mech. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, you've been standing out here for an hour." Soundwave's hand hadn't moved from Optimus' shoulder. "I was worried."

Optimus stood silently, staring down at the other mech, Soundwave was older than him, that much must be true. Orion Pax had come from a generation where Breeders were very rare. Most mechs were built back then, not born as sparklings. Soundwave had to be at least a millennia older than Optimus, if not more. Yet how such a wonderfully ancient being could seem so young and gentle… Optimus had to wonder at Soundwave.

"Optimus?" Optimus returned to Earth, looking down at Soundwave. "Optimus I…" Golden optics flickered warily and Soundwave composed himself. "I want to give you a chance… I want to give you sparklings… You have no idea of how much I simply WANT for you." He grasped Optimus' large servo in his smaller one, kissing the knuckles gently in an ancient sign of affection. "I've done things in my past that I wish I hadn't… But they are a part of me… I am willing to try and be your bondmate… If you'll accept me as I am."

"Soundwave." Optimus smiled and pulled the smaller mech close. "Of course… Soundwave this is what I've wanted for so long… I love you."

"I…" Soundwave stumbled and clung to the larger mech. "I love you… Orion… Optimus…"

Optimus smiled, and with a thought his mask was gone and he was kissing Soundwave in the middle of the hallway like the lovestruck fool he was. Sound wave kissed him back, pulling him towards the door to his quarters, parting only to lock the door before they were on the berth in a tangle of limbs.

Soundwave wriggled and turned so that he was facing Optimus, his pale lips trembling as Optimus straddled him. Optimus gently smiled and nuzzled his mate, kissing and mouthing his mouth and chin, nuzzling beneath his chin against his throat, kissing the flexible tubing and delicate dermal plating as Soundwave trembled and curled his arms around him gently. The younger mech felt strangely inexperienced as he fumbled for the clasps of Soundwave's chestplate, the mech chuckling as he undid the complicated latches himself, his armor falling aside as he allowed Optimus to remove his own armor. Optimus took Soundwave's legs, hooking them over his shoulders as he pressed his pelvis to the older mech's port. Soundwave sighed and parted his plating, smiling as he allowed Optimus to enter him slowly.

Soon their sparks were revealed and merged, Optimus thrusting his cable into Soundwave's port as he curled around the older mech, Soundwave's thoughts flashing across his vision in a swirling vortex of colors and emotions far too fast for Optimus to keep up with one for more than a moment. The colors seemed to engulf Optimus and suddenly he knew what each one meant, what each train of thought led to and how it connected to others. Soundwave was smiling at him, open and vulnerable as he showed Optimus just how much he knew and how old he was.

Optimus was amazed that Soundwave was not only a Breeder, but one of the first Breeders. That explained why he was built to accommodate so many sparklings and why he seemed so much younger. He matured at a slower pace than most Breeders so as to be able to draw out his fertility.

Suddenly overload took them and Soundwave gasped and clung to Optimus as they offlined, the larger mech collapsing ontop of Soundwave, still connected to the flurry of thoughts within the telepath's mind.

The final thought they shared – whether it was Optimus' or Soundwave's or both didn't matter to them as they lost themselves to blissful darkness – was a soft whisper across their consciousnesses.

So this is what love is like…

The End