Frequencies of The Heart (Soundwave x Reader)

Shattered Signals

Tension had been brewing on the Nemesis for days after your confrontation with Starscream. You could feel it in the air, in the way Starscream's optic-ridges creased whenever he saw you and Soundwave together, and in the way Soundwave seemed more vigilant, his sensors constantly tuned to the subtle shifts in the ship's atmosphere. Something was going to break soon, and you could feel it in your bones.

It came faster than you expected.

You were in one of the quieter corridors when the commotion began. The sound of metal clashing against metal, followed by raised, familiar voices, echoed through the hallway. Your heart raced as you recognized the aggressive tone of Starscream.

Without thinking, you ran toward the noise.

When you reached the open bay, you found Soundwave facing off against Starscream, tension crackling in the air between them like an electric storm. The other Decepticons in the area had stopped what they were doing to watch, murmuring amongst themselves.

"You think you can just take everything from me, Soundwave?" Starscream snarled, his wings flaring with fury as he circled his opponent. "You don't deserve anything, least of all Anon!"

Soundwave didn't respond with words—he never did—but the subtle shift in his stance spoke volumes. He wasn't backing down. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with something more dangerous, more protective. You had never seen him like this.

"I care about Anon, and I will not allow you to stand in the way!" Starscream's voice hit a fevered pitch, and without warning, he lunged, claws outstretched, aiming for Soundwave's chestplate.

The room exploded into chaos.

Soundwave met Starscream's attack with swift precision, deflecting his claws with an arm raised in defense. Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal, the screech of the fight piercing through the noise of the ship.

Your breath caught in your throat as you watched the two Decepticons battle, the raw force of their fight shaking the very ground beneath your feet. You wanted to step in, to shout, to do something, but you knew that in the heat of battle, there was nothing you could say that would stop them.

Soundwave dodged another attack, but Starscream was relentless. His speed and aggression were terrifying, and it was clear that this fight had been simmering long before now. This wasn't just about you—this was about power, control, and long-standing rivalries.

In the midst of the chaos, Soundwave deployed one of his cassettes: Rumble. The small blue bot leapt out, ready to assist his master, pounding the ground to create shockwaves in an attempt to destabilize Starscream's footing.

But Starscream wasn't caught off guard. His optics flashed with malice as he saw the cassette bot charging toward him. In a swift, brutal motion, he kicked Rumble aside, sending him crashing into a wall with a sickening crunch of metal.

"Rumble!" you cried, your voice breaking through the din.

Soundwave turned sharply, his visor flickering with shock as he saw his cassette lying motionless against the wall. A low, distorted sound—almost like a growl—emanated from him, something primal and furious.

Starscream, seeing his chance, smirked. "See what happens when you interfere, Soundwave? You can't protect anyone!" With that, he launched himself at Soundwave again.

But this time, Soundwave was different.

His movements were sharper, more aggressive, and filled with a quiet rage that made the entire room seem colder. He deflected Starscream's attacks with ease, his fists moving faster than you had ever seen before. He was no longer just defending—he was retaliating. Every hit was precise, calculated, and filled with purpose.

But no matter how hard Soundwave fought, his attention kept flicking back to Rumble, who lay unmoving on the floor.

You could feel the heartbreak radiating from Soundwave in waves, and it tore at you. He cared for his cassettes in ways others didn't understand. They weren't just tools or extensions of him—they were part of him, his constant companions, his family.

Finally, with one last surge of strength, Soundwave delivered a powerful blow that sent Starscream crashing to the ground, his wings sparking as he struggled to get back up.

"You... will regret this, Soundwave," Starscream hissed, clutching at his chest where Soundwave had struck him. But even as he spat his threats, you could see the fear in his optics. He knew he had pushed Soundwave too far.

Starscream staggered to his feet and retreated, shooting you one last venomous glance before disappearing down the corridor.

But your focus was elsewhere.

You rushed to Rumble's side, your heart in your throat as you knelt beside him. His body was battered, sparks flickering weakly from his joints. You reached out to touch him gently, your fingers trembling. "Rumble..." you whispered.

Soundwave was at your side in an instant, his frame radiating a quiet grief. He knelt beside you, his normally composed form trembling with an emotion you had never seen from him before. He reached out, carefully cradling Rumble in his large hands, his visor dimming as he assessed the damage.

"He's not moving," you said, your voice small, helpless.

"Rumble: offline," Soundwave confirmed, his voice carrying a weight that made your chest tighten.

You placed a hand on Soundwave's arm, trying to offer some small comfort, but you could feel the distance already growing between you. His focus was entirely on Rumble, his mind far away from the connection you shared.

For Soundwave, this wasn't just a loss. It was a wound that cut deeper than anything physical. One of his cassettes, one of the beings he trusted and relied on, was gone. And no matter how much you wanted to help, you knew that grief like this wasn't something that could be easily soothed.

The days that followed were quiet, unbearably so.

Soundwave retreated into himself, spending most of his time in his quarters, tending to his remaining cassettes. He barely spoke to you, and when he did, his responses were short, clipped. The connection you had once cherished now felt fragile, as if the bond between you was on the verge of shattering.

You understood why he was distant, but it hurt nonetheless.

One evening, you found yourself standing outside Soundwave's quarters, hesitating. You wanted to be there for him, to help him through this, but every time you tried, he seemed to push you further away. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you knocked gently on the door.

It slid open, revealing Soundwave sitting in the dimly lit room, his back turned to you. He didn't acknowledge your presence right away, but you knew he knew you were there.

"Soundwave..." you began softly, stepping inside. "I know you're hurting. I just... I want to help."

He was silent for a long time, the only sound in the room the faint hum of his systems. Finally, he turned his head slightly, his visor glowing faintly in the dark.

"Loss: significant. Pain: lingering," he said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of his grief.

"I know," you whispered, feeling your heart ache for him. "But you don't have to go through this alone."

Soundwave's visor flickered, and for a moment, you thought he might let you in again. But then, he turned away, the silence between you growing wider, more unbearable.

"Processing: necessary. Distance: required."

His words felt like a blow, and you stood there, stunned. He wasn't shutting you out completely, but the rift between you had grown deeper than you had realized.

And as you left his quarters, your heart heavy with the weight of his loss, you couldn't help but wonder if the connection you had built with Soundwave would ever truly recover.