Reunion [an Earthspark story]

Chapter 23: Can we be friends again?

Shockwave was currently checking Soundwave over and over again to see if the damage didn't pose any life-threatening dangers to his beloved. He's been with the mech for like a few weeks, and he's put him above everything else, even his EXPERIMENTS. And his life. The minute he came back online, his first thoughts were him and his minicons. Soundwave watched as the mech he had adored for such a long time (in secret before they confessed) fuss over the smallest scratches on his frame. Soundwave pets his finial, his way of saying he was fine. "/Shockwave... You've done enough for me. I'm more concerned about your injuries./" He rubbed both his finials, watching them rise and fall to indicate he liked it. "Apologies, Soundwave. I just want to make sure that you're 100% in perfect condition. I want you to be well and-" Soundwave leaned his helm towards Shockwave's, a small spark of electricity coursing through the both of them. "/You worry too much, Shockwave./" He sighed as he held Soundwave close, despite the dents and injuries he had.

"EEEEEEWWWW."

They both turned as both Frenzy and Rumble made gross faces as they've walked in on them being affectionate. "/Rumble. Frenzy. Have you tended to your injuries?/" Soundwave asked, getting off the table and approaching them. "We're fine, Soundwave." Frenzy said. "Can't say the same for my vision." Rumble pointed out. Soundwave silently glared as Rumble gave him a cheeky smile. "What? I'm telling the truth. I think I might go blind- OW!" Rumble rubbed his shoulder where Frenzy punched him. Lazerbeak chirped in laughter as Ravage didn't seem to care, sitting by Shockwave as he pet right behind her ear. "As always, Soundwave, your minicons never seem to stop surprising me." Shockwave spoke. As they both fuss over each other injuries, Bee knocked on the barn door before peeking in. "|This a bad time?|" He asked. Soundwave shook his helm as he motioned him to come in. Bumblebee walked inside, holding the spark chamber closely. Both Waves stared at the small chamber, seeing it glow weakly at them. "/Is that-/" "|Hazard's? Yeah...|" Bumblebee pet the chamber, causing it to glow brightly. "/I can't believe she's still alive.../" Soundwave moved closer, gently pressing his servo torwards the small spark. Rumble moved farther away, staying away from the spark chamber for his reasons. Bee noticed but doesn't say anything. "|Shockwave. Would you be able to fix her? For Illusion? I know that you both aren't exactly friends but-|" "I'll do it." He instantly answered. Bee passed the chamber to Shockwave's waiting servo, making sure to be careful. "Putting a chamber back to her frame will be easy but I have a question." Everyone turned their helm to him. "Where's her frame?"

Silence....

"|.....FU-|"

Soundwave watched as both Frenzy and Ravage digging in the spot where Hazard's frame was supposedly buried after they found her. Rumble stayed by Soundwave's side, hiding behind his pede as if scared for some reason. Soundwave knelt down to talk to him quietly. "/Rumble: what's wrong?/" He asked tenderly. Rumble rubbed his shoulder as he looked toward Soundwave's visor, his own pouting face reflecting off him. "I don't know how to feel after not seeing Hazard for so long. I don't know how to feel after she...." Rumble went quiet, remembering the ache he felt in his spark when Hazard rejected his confession all those vorns ago. Soundwave quietly pat his back, feeling his cassette's conflicted feelings. "/...Even if she did not share the same sentiments, it did not mean she didn't want to stop being your friend, Rumble./" Rumble looked up at him, bot believing his words. "How woukd you know? You weren't there..." He crossed his arms as he looked away from Soundwave. Soundwave places his servo over Rumble's shoulder, his touch trying to soothe him. "/I may not have been there but I felt it./" Soundwave placed his servo over his spark. "/I felt your pain that day. I did not ask you because I didn't want to upset you more. But know this Rumble, she still cares for you./" Soundwave grabbed his servos as he looked down at him. "/When you were supposedly offline, she mourned in silence for losing you. I am sure she regrets her last words that hurt you./" Soundwave lifted Rumble's chin, ignoring the tears that stained his face. "/Rumble. There was never a day that I missed that I've witnessed Hazard mourn for you more than me, Frenzy, or the rest of us combined./" Rumble didn't answer but instead, hugged Soundwave as he buried his face against his chassis. Soundwave wrapped his arms around Rumble, pulling him closer to bring his cassette comfort.

Frenzy took out the last of the dirt that covered Hazard's damaged frame. She still looked great, despite the giant hole on her chassis and her cracked visor. Frenzy smiled to herself as she thought about the fun mischief they'll get back to once Hazard's back to her real self. Frenzy took the liberty to remove some mud off her visor and frame, deciding it didn't suit her well. Both she and Ravage pull her body out of the hole, seeming pleased with getting her out and getting dirty. "We're done, boss!" Frenzy yelled over to get both Soundwave's and Rumble's attention. Soundwave walked over to them, Rumble clinging to his pede like he was a little sparkling again.  Soundwave picked up the sparkless frame, looking down at the broken visor. "/Alright then, let's have her fixed now./"

Illusion was woken from her nap to see the terrans staring down at her, much to her disappointment. "《What do you kids want now? Dot's over there-》" "C'mon, we got a surprise for you." Thrash and Twitch grabbed each of her servos and pulled her torwards the barn. As soon as she was pushed in by those little brats, she noticed all the others were there as well. Illusion quietly watched as Shockwave held a large box in front of her. "《What the- What are you doing?》" Illusion looked at the box suspiciously. Before Shockwave could answer, loud yelling and swearing was heard inside the box. Illusion opened the cover, looking down and seeing Hazard looking back at her, all fixed and back to normal.

"《Hazard?》"