Frequencies of The Heart (Soundwave x Reader)

Into the Fray

The cave rumbled as the distant sound of engines grew louder. The Autobots were close—too close. You crouched low in your jaguar form, your body tense, every instinct telling you to protect, to defend. Soundwave was still recovering, his systems too weak to fight, and the responsibility fell on you to keep them both safe.

Your spark pounded in your chest, a mix of fear and adrenaline coursing through your veins. But there was no time to hesitate. You had made your choice. This would be your last battle—your last fight in this war, and it had to count.

The first shot rang out, a blast of energy slamming into the rocks near the cave's entrance. You snarled, your jaguar form bristling as you darted forward, leaping out into the open to meet the oncoming Autobots head-on. You didn't recognize them at first—just the familiar symbols and the sharp gleam of their armor—but that didn't matter. You didn't need to know their names to know what you had to do.

With a powerful lunge, you leaped toward the nearest Autobot, your claws catching the light as they slashed through the air. Your movements were precise, faster than they had been before, like your body had fully adapted to this form. The Autobot barely had time to react before you landed on top of them, pinning them to the ground with a growl. One swift motion, and they were disabled, sparks flying from their damaged systems.

But there were more—there were always more.

Blaster fire lit up the night as another Autobot charged toward you. You dodged, weaving between the shots with a grace that still surprised you. But the weight of your decision hung heavy over you. This wasn't a fight for the Decepticons, for the cause that had pulled you into the war. This was a fight for survival—yours and Soundwave's.

Behind you, Soundwave struggled to his feet, his frame trembling under the strain. You could feel his presence like a pulse in the background, steady and unwavering. He was still there, still with you, but barely holding on.

You couldn't let him fight—not in his state.

With a sharp growl, you turned on the nearest Autobot, slamming into them with your full weight. Your claws scraped against their armor, and with a final, fierce slash, you sent them crashing to the ground. But you weren't unscathed. A blaster shot grazed your side, the pain sharp and immediate, but you forced yourself to push through it.

You couldn't fall now.

As the last of the Autobots retreated, limping and sparking from the damage, you let out a long, ragged breath. The fight was over, for now. The Autobots would regroup, they always did, but you had bought yourself and Soundwave a little more time.

Panting heavily, you padded back toward the cave, your jaguar form flickering slightly as you transformed back into your humanoid body. Your limbs felt heavy, your side stinging from the wound, but none of it mattered. You were still alive. Soundwave was still alive.

But as you approached him, something inside you shifted.

He had watched the entire battle, his visor dim and flickering as he struggled to stay upright. His frame was still battered, and though you knew he was proud, that he admired your strength, a part of you felt a strange bitterness creeping in.

Why did it always have to come to this?

You knelt beside him, your voice strained as you spoke. "We can't keep doing this, Soundwave. We can't keep running, fighting... What's the point? What are we even fighting for?"

Soundwave's visor flickered in response, his voice a low, distorted hum. "Decepticons... must survive. Purpose... victory."

You shook your head, the words falling flat. Victory. Survival. The Decepticons. The Autobots. None of it seemed to matter anymore. Not when you were constantly on the run, not when your life had become nothing but a series of battles, each one more brutal than the last.

"There has to be more than this," you murmured, your hand resting on his arm, feeling the faint hum of his systems under your fingers. "There has to be something better."

For a moment, Soundwave said nothing, his visor dimming as he processed your words. Then, slowly, his hand reached out to cover yours, the gesture surprisingly gentle given his damaged state.

"Together," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "We leave... together."

You looked up at him, your spark aching with a strange mix of hope and sorrow. Could it really be that simple? Could you just leave the war behind, walk away from everything you had been a part of for so long?

But before you could answer, the ground beneath you trembled. The Autobots were back, their engines roaring in the distance, the sound of heavy artillery growing louder. Your chest tightened. There was no time to rest, no time to think.

"We need to move," you said, your voice urgent as you helped Soundwave to his feet. He stumbled slightly, but with your support, he managed to stand.

The two of you moved quickly, making your way out of the cave and into the dense forest beyond. You could feel the tension in the air, the weight of everything that had happened, of everything that was still to come.

As you ran, your mind raced. The Autobots wouldn't stop hunting you, not until they had what they wanted. And the Decepticons wouldn't care if you disappeared—they would replace you, find someone else to fight their battles.

It didn't matter anymore.

You weren't fighting for them.

You were fighting for something else—something you couldn't quite name, but something that was yours.

The landscape around you blurred as you sprinted through the forest, Soundwave at your side. The sounds of battle faded into the background, replaced by the steady rhythm of your own heartbeat. This was it—the beginning of the end. The final stretch.

And no matter what happened next, you knew one thing for sure.

You would see this through. You would survive.

And when the war was over—one way or another—you would finally be free.