Woven

Woven

   They should have been going away, but timing to this meeting wouldn’t allow it.   Not that dates are sacred to them.   Each moment in every day together is special to them.  Sure they have been out from under their parent’s roofs’ twice/three times over and full fledged adults more than able to take care of themselves and each other, but that just magnifies precious moments.   For not only do they have pain and loss that have made important ‘things’ more clear to them, but also maturity to hone that focus to a fine point.
   One may work with rough-necks while the other works with ‘pencil-necks’ but both have seen even older and wiser bots who take life and relationships far too frivolously.   Many a bot have no clue how precious a trusted conversation or even a safe person to lay your head beside really is.  To wake up in the morning and feel the warmth of Trust at your back.   He doesn’t have to touch, warming-safety just radiates from the … mate. The other half of what makes your life a whole life.

    Shockwave silently sighs and just leans against the kitchen counter watching his own mate read the newspaper with his glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.  The washer he was using to scrub non-existent smudges from the counter now twists in his hands.
    “You’re doing it again, Shockwave.   Just spill it,”   Megatron doesn’t even look up, just turning the page.
    Shockwave tosses the washer into the sink disappointed that Megatron could read him so easily even without saying anything.  With a light laugh drying his hands, no he really shouldn’t be surprised at all.   After all, they have known each other for eons even before exposing the deepest bits of their sparks.   Megatron did this to him as Warlord as well in the planning room or the lab.
      Now Megatron does look up finishing those silent thoughts inside the purple helm, “Shockwave, there’s you being quiet an then there’s you being silent.”   With an admonishing finger pointed his way.   “So, save us both the twenty questions a just spill it.  What?”
       Shockwave takes the seat across from Megatron at the kitchen table and almost apologetically starts,  “I love you-”
      Megatron drops the paper in a grouse, “Oh Primus, what do you want this time?”  He starts to remove the glasses as well but one lilac tip keeps the bridge in place.  Megatron pouts and draws the name out slowly in warning, “Shockwave…”
      The hand drops from the face he loves to wake up to every morning to cover the hand he held and saved.   Megatron can see there’s something deep in there so turns his hand palm up.   Shockwave slides his own palm across it as their hands now raise a bit, wrists still on the table top.   Megatron’s hand maybe larger, more callused and stronger than the soft lilac one pressed to it, but when fingers slip between each other and softly close down, it’s the most beautiful sight to behold.   Lilac and ebony woven together.
      Megatron’s remaining hand strokes his companion’s cheek seeing how the optic is drawn into the merging of their hands.    “Are you alright, Shockwave?”   This time it’s very compassionate if not slightly concerned.
     “Perfect,”  hums out the comforting accent.
    For that, Megatron brings the entwined tips to his lips.   First he kisses, then lips one knuckle and then just to lighten the mood, slides it until two fangs grip a sensitive tip in a pinch.  Shockwave gives a light intake, and the silver beast hums back.   “You were saying you love me?  Do tell why.”
    Even though Shockwave started it, he knows there is no way he will be getting his fingers back anytime soon.   Megatron is not playing with them enough to start anything more, but nor is he releasing Shockwave.   Booger just knows how to play him perfectly!
    Shockwave looks into the playful face that knows just how to warm him and support him.  “Please come with me.”
     Megatron only furrows his brow in confusion, “The meeting?”
     With his remaining hand, Shockwave rubs the back of his neck, “More.  It’s a symposium that I am the guest of honour speaker at the university.”
  The entwined hands fall from the surprised face.  University, a place that Shockwave never made it to because of the war and falling in love for his faction leader.

   Shockwave looks away from the dawing optics and back down to the entwined hands.  “If it wasn’t for you giving me the materials and the chance, I never would have created the first Space Bridge.   I know you will never take credit for it, but… it’s yours just as much as mine.  I made it for you.”
    Megatron uses the clasped hands to lift the soft chin, “Don’t.”  Shockwave tries to turn away from the soft rebuke but a second hand comes up and turns the chin back fully, and the golden optic goes dim.  “Look at me,” comes out as a soft order.
     Shockwave does as bidden and sees such a sweet support right there in those pools of warm glowing light.   Megatron gives him a soft smile as well, “Those are your bridges.  You should be proud.”
     “I am.”
     “Good, but I am not going to take your glory.”
     Shockwave lets out a soft huff of disappointment seeing that Megatron just isn’t getting it.  “I’m not asking you to take the lime light.  I’m asking you to join me at this.   I’m asking you to feel this moment with me.  I know you won’t and can’t take credit for this piece of War Technology becoming a civilized piece of equipment, My Liege.”  He uses the old title to punctuate the fact that the retired Warlord must remain in the shadows even though he is the one that funded, supported and encouraged this technology.  He should be owning it just as much as the creator.
    This time Shockwave takes the woven fingers and presses them to his chest, “But as my mate, you can share this supportive moment with me.   Please…, I don’t make me do this alone.”

     Megatron looks into that slightly turned up face leaning towards his, pleading, with the reclined antenna of submission.   Shockwave is begging him to stand by his side and share this moment of praise and adorations. This type of attention is something Shockwave is unfamiliar with whereas Megatron’s arrogant ego used to thrive on like a drug.   The sliver one sighs to the soft shy one.
    It’s so hard for Megatron to ever say no to Shockwave when he begs so sweetly and humble like this.  Damn-it, and the submissive one knows just how to tweak his master’s spark into saying yes with that halved optic and shrunken shoulders mixed with a hint of a blush.
      Megatron huffs and plops his cheek into his remaining propped up palm.  “Do I have to get all gussied up?”
     “Not by much,” comes in a perked up tone.   That narrows the ruby optics to the still oh-so-innocent looking golden one.  “I’ll help you?”   Shockwave tries to press a little harder.
      Now Megatron rolls his face fully into the palm and mumbles, “You never did say how much you love me.”
      Shockwave leans over and whispers seductively in his audio, “I will bend time and space for you, Master.”
      That brings an optic to peek out.  “You would, wouldn’t you?”
      Shockwave beams, “Yes, I did.”
      Megatron pulls his face upright and looks right into the incredible being before him.   “Shockwave, you are amazing, do you realize that?”
      Shockwave’s cheeks flare red hot and he sinks back to his chair.   Pulling their entwined hands to his cheek, he nuzzles in, “Only when you say it, Megatron.”
      Megatron’s face falls again understanding that the greatest praise Shockwave ever needs to hear it from is… him.   All others’ praise is second fiddle to his mate’s pure honest ones.  Like the ones who asked him to be an Honorable Guest. If every planet in the universe gave Shockwave a metal, he would cast it aside for just one of Megatron’s smiles.   His golden spark melts, “It would be my honor to stand at your side, Mr. Shockwave.”   Once more, Shockwave flushes hot and buries his face in their tied hands.

~~~
     Megatron had to admit, he was bored out of his skull with a room full of geeks, nerds, and geniuses. Try as he might, he just couldn’t not understand half the gobbly gook they were saying but it didn’t matter.   All that mattered, was that Shockwave asked him to share in a moment that should solely be his to bask in.   It does tickle him that Shockwave has no idea how to accept all the praise he is getting.
     “Bored yet?”   A femme at a respectful distance whispers settling beside him.
     Trying to stifle his yawn, he lies, “Not yet.”   Another yawn reveals the lie and she lightly laughs.   Megatron tries to cover himself, “Okay, now I am.”
      She sticks her hand out, “The name is Iggy.”    Megatron shakes her hand and gives her a curious brow-cock to the name.   After shaking his hand she waves away his curiosity to her name, “Don’t ask, it’s a horrible story.”
     Megatron chuckles and introduces himself in return, “I’m Megatron and just plain horrible without a story.”
     She smirks lightly in shared pain to their names, “With a name like that, I can only guess.”
     Megatron scowls but flicks a finger, “So which nerd is yours?”
     She points to the speaker who is drolling on so bad he notices that even Shockwave, sitting at the panel table, is doing his best not to fade out.  “That one.  Yours?”
      Just then the speech is over and applause is loud yet polite.   Apparently Shockwave wasn’t the only one pleased that the long speech is over.  That drolling on was all a prequel leading up to the main speaker, “And for a foremost expert in the field of interstellar trans-trans dimensional field crossings, I give you our guest of honour, Mr. Shockwave.”  
      Megatron pulls up tall in his seat and beams brightly seeing his mate rise from his seat and stride in his confident-commander-stride to take the podium.   This is his moment to shine and ever so proud to watch Shockwave take center stage.   The mech more than deserves it.  “That one.”  
      Beaming his pearly fangs, he sits at attention and crosses his arms over his chest.   With a flick of snowy antenna and slightest of tinges to his cheeks, it’s Shockwave’s silent salute to spotting Megatron in the crowd before starting in on his speech and the colorful Power Point to go with it.   Shockwave had promised Megatron there would be a surprise for him in this but if he didn’t at least attempt to pay attention, he would miss it.
        Iggy thought about trying to converse with Megatron, but she saw his total enrapture by the speaker.   Instead, she leans in and states a fact, “You love him very much, don’t you?”
       Megatron flicks a finger for her to remain silent.   Although he’s heard some of this speech back during the initial planning designs of the space bridges when Shockwave had asked permission to explore the possibilities, it never ceases to warm him watching the expression wave over Shockwave’s face and body as he is in his element of science talk.  It’s the only time anyone ever has a hint of how passionate Shockwave can be.   Beaming, one of the things that truly makes Megatron happy is to see Shockwave happy.  Passionately happy.
    Shockwave’s speech is far shorter than the previous speaker’s even with it packed full of information delivered with that delicious accent filled with purpose and… Megatron can feel his body warming up not just in desire to pull Shockwave to his side but so much more…and then, he sees it.  “Oh Primus…. Shockwave…,” his spark breathes out.
       Hidden in the edge-swirls of light on the screens of open space bridge vortex where only one with a very trained and artistic eye would see the slightest overlay (like a hidden watermark), is a hidden message in the old code in the last few slides.   “For You. For. Ever.”
    The code they used during the war.  A war that brought them side by side.   A war that brought forth encouragement and support.  A war that ended leaving them still encouraging and supporting each other through hells and healing.  Healing that cauterized their lives into one life.   Even time and space will not  -cannot- separate them.  Ever.

     When the soft applause starts, Megatron leads the crowd in rising to their pedes for a standing ovation.   Shockwave looks at no one else in the room but the one who helped him be more than he ever dreamed possible.   The connection between their two optics could not be cut by even a saber.
      Awed by a bond she hasn’t seen since her grandparents, Iggy says it again but using more reverent words this time, “You two have quite the bond.”
     “You have no idea.”   He dazily pushes out feeling like his spark could launch across the wide room like a fusion pulse-blast and tackle Shockwave to the floor.  Megatron would like to put Shockwave on a pedestal, the only being in this universe he practically worships.  Obviously Shockwave could feel it too, because his cheeks flare so hot he finally has to turn away.  Everyone returns to the their seats and the final wrap up begins.  The bot seated next to Shockwave leans in and he nods answering his question in a returned whisper, but his focus is still poised on Megatron alone.  Even from this distance, the optic connection is completely honed.
      “You two are cute,”  Iggy whispers into Megatron’s audio.
     Megatron does look to her briefly to give a very confused look before returning to pin his prey, “Cute?”
     “Sure.   You can make him flush from across the room.  Cute.”  She shrugs taking her drink.  
      Megatron just chuckles lightly, yeah, that is fun too.   He ponders for a moment weather to make another move that will make Shockwave blush for a different reason, but when a hand clamps down on Shockwave’s shoulder to congratulate him, Megatron sits back stowing that idea.   No, this is Shockwave’s moment to shine and he will not embarrass him for he has far more respect than desire for the violet being.

      Before anything else can be done or said, the room breaks apart showing that the presentations are over.  Now it’s time for the mingling.   Lucky for Megatron he is one of the taller ones and can see his mate still up on the platform.   Iggy tugs his arm, “Hey, big guy, mind helping cut a path up to the front so I can get to my mate.”
     Megatron chuckles and nods, “Sure, follow me.”
     As a gladiator, a warrior, and a miner sharp retorts and a bit of shoving gets his way through a crowd.   Although here among respectable bots, he must use his softer nudges and muttered ‘Excuse me’.   It’s irritating him, and certainly doesn’t help when the femme grips his forearm to keep from getting left behind.   Turning himself sideways, he slides his way to the front tugging the femme with him.
    Finally they make it to the lip of the platform but making it to the steps is going to be impossible.   “Oh no,” the femme groans seeing her mate has Megatron’s by the audio and will not let poor Shockwave go.
    Iggy looks up to Megatron, “Give me a boost and I’ll try dragging him away.   Deal?”
    Megatron nods seeing that Shockwave is getting agitated.  Taking the femme by the hips, easily lifts her to the edge of the pretty high stage.  For himself, he just plants his hands and gives a light leap to rise to his full height.   Iggy rounds the table and latches onto her mate’s arm, “Hey there, darling.  That was wonderful…,” and she trails off tugging the enthusiastic fan of Shockwave’s away towards another prestigious bot.
     Megatron is just about to speak when another comes over and grabs Shockwave’s attention.   No one else may know it, but there’s an ever so slight sag to his shoulders as he is surrounded.  Megatron comes round behind some of them where Shockwave can see his amused smile of support and encouragement.   With only a look, Megatron tells him, “Go on, you shine.  This is your moment.”
     With an ever so slight dip of his helm, Shockwave tinges to Megatron’s silent-sweetness.  This is exactly why he wanted Megatron here; to keep him grounded.  One of the rare bots who truly know him deep down yet also understands how to handle an center of attention moment like this.  Albeit, as Leader Megatron would have handled it a bit differently; Shockwave‘s spark chuckles to those memories of seeing Megatron on his throne handling the crowd.

      On and on the crowd grows and begins pressing in and pushing Megatron further back.   When the bots start pressing in too tightly, Shockwave’s anxiety starts to flare up.  On goes until Shockwave has to hold a hand up to his phone pinging.   Taking a look at the text from Megatron, it takes all he has not to burst out laughing.  Instead he turns to the tight crowd with serious tone, “If you will excuse me, I need a moment to take this.   I will return for the mixer later this afternoon.”
     Some of these bots are not getting the hint in letting Shockwave retreat.   Megatron gives a bit of a slight forceful shove and takes Shockwave’s arm, “Come come people, I promise he will be back, just give him a moment to take a piss will you?”  All jaws drop silently to the blunt comment except one giggling femme who quickly clamps a hand over her mouth to Megatron’s scowl.  Too humiliated to reply, Shockwave lets Megatron lead him from the room and then the building.   Shockwave jerks his arm away once they are in the open area of the courtyard semi-alone.  
      “That was a bit rude,”  Shockwave shifts his body readjusting his armor ever so slightly.   Being prim and tense has caused bits to sweat-stick and pinch.
      “Better?”   Megatron ignores the previous comment seeing the tension drop notch.   Shockwave nods and relaxes his posture a little more, but not too much seeing how they are still in public.  “I will love you forever, as well.”
    Shockwave looks up ever so slightly and beams seeing Megatron caught his message.   “Well I did learn a few things about being sly from my Commanding Officer.”
    Megatron chuckles warmly to the backhanded compliment and flicks a finger off an antenna. Shockwave bats his hand away laughing back.   “Thank you for coming.   I know this has to be tedious and boring but…”
      “I’m here for you.  Even if it’s just being a bodyguard so you can just ‘use the facilities’.   Who knew you had so many adoring flailing fans, Mr. Shockwave.”  Megatron teases with flapping wrists of a fan-femme.
      “Oh please!”   Shockwave shakes his head shoving Megatron in the shoulder with  a firm slap.
    Before Megatron can return verbal-fire, the doors to the main theatre open releasing the nerd-horde.   Megatron tugs Shockwave’s forearm, “Come with me before your rabid fans mob you again.”  Shockwave groans to the comment but allows Megatron to take him for a walk down the paths of the university.  
     
    Massive amounts of words do not need to be shared between the two.  For as different as their backgrounds once where, there is so much they have in common now.   Like two well oil gears in sync, just a simple silent walk together is more pleasant than any thing that could ever be expressed.   A smile here, a flick of an amused antenna there says a thousand things and lights warm memories as well.
    Watching bots sitting sharing a book, others in an intelligent conversation about architecture and even a few tossing a ball around, the bonded pair take it all in.   A past they didn’t have, but easily can send their future to.  They got where they are today due to the University of Hard Knocks and not one they want their own future to have to go through.  A joined sigh between them releases.

    Coming to a little kiosk, Megatron doesn’t ask Shockwave, he just purchases two chocolate chip warm pretzels and cold Energon drinks.  Likewise, Shockwave doesn’t refuse and accepts the refreshment.  Both of them know that these aren’t Megatron’s favorites but also know Shockwave is probably far more hungry than he will ever admit.   Sure enough, Megatron silently hands over his uneaten half when Shockwave tosses his own empty napkin away.   A drooped antenna and silver smirk says more than enough.   It warms Megatron to see Shockwave mushy and happy.   It warms Shockwave to see Megatron mushy and giving for only him.
     On and on they walk around the campus of peaceful learning and support.  At the stage of their lives where they could have been on a campus like this, one was fighting for his sanity and life.   The other was learning through trial and failure on his own.
     No, not alone.   The purple helm looks up to the silver one taking in the view of a table filled with students quietly discussing and debating the points of their day’s lecture.   Politely and supportively they are discussing objective and objection.
     Megatron can feel the golden optic watching him closely.   Rubbing his chin he finally speaks, “Hum, most certainly different than our tables of discussion, hum?”
     “Megatron, one of the things I always admired about you was your ability to listen even if you didn‘t understand or agree.”
     Megatron looks down to the only bot his spark listened to wholly.  “I think you have forgotten there were only a select few I listened to.”
     Accepting the compliment but pushing through he points out, “None the less, you listened unlike so many others who should have.”
    Once more Megatron strokes his chin to that assessment and the deeper meaning to both Cybertron and Megatron’s history.  The bell tower strikes out breaking their thoughts on the past subject.
    “Guess it’s time to return,”  Shockwave turns back.
   “Don’t go if you don’t want to.   I’ll take you home.”   Megatron grips the forearm softly.   “You don’t have to walk into --”
   Shockwave slides his other hand over Megatron’s grip, “Just… stand beside me this time, alright.  Don’t let them crowd me again.”
    Megatron clamps his remaining hand on top, “I promise.   It’s my duty to protect you.”   Then just to lighten it, flicks a knuckle under Shockwave’s chin, “Even if it is from your followers.  Shall I slay them for you, My Liege?  It would be my pleasure.”
    Shockwave groans again and turns out of the grip.   Leave it to Megatron to quell a situation with a bit of dark humor.  Shockwave leads the way leaving chuckling Megatron to have to quicken his pace to keep up.  
     Rounding the corner into mixer being held in the courtyard, Shockwave pulls his back up in tight, regal and proper.   Megatron knows that’s his ire preparing his resolve for what is coming now.   With a last smirk though, Shockwave warns, “Behave, please.”
    Megatron just gives him a rakish smile which Shockwave just shakes his head to and for a just moment regrets bringing Megatron.  And here they come.   Shockwave’s right hand reaches out snagging a red stemmed flute of vintage to calm his nerves while passing the table and Megatron’s left hand grabs a blue one of standard non-grade.
     
    Iggy and her partner wander over but she taps him to watch himself as she slides up beside Megatron.   “Hum, got busted and sent to the kiddie table?” she points to the blue stem.
     Megatron cocks a brow, “Hardly.  Someone has to be the designated driver,” Shockwave gets his flute topped off.
     Iggy nods, “Ah, smart move.   How is he doing?”
     “Good.  He really deserves this.”
     Iggy rubs her shoulder against him.   As much as Megatron would really like to punch her for touching him, he will accept the compliment for being a supportive mate.  “Watch it, I might push back,” he warns her of his taller heavier weight.
      She snorts then fires back her own threat, “Try it and I’ll leave my mate to badger your’s for the rest of this event.”  She waits for his reply.
      The blue stemmed flute slowly lowers and stares down at her hard.   She flinches for a moment but then smiles clinking her own blue stemmed flute to his as a truce.   Megatron shakes his head and turns back to watching Shockwave with his peers.

      As the mixer moves on and Shockwave’s flute is topped off again and again, he begins to stand closer and closer to Megatron’s right side.  Not one for normal public displays of affection, this is unusual for Shockwave.  By the time Shockwave is topped off once more, Megatron feels the lilac hand slip and weave into his right ebony one and then tucks it into the small of the silver back.  This brings their hip joints touching.  Curling his face down ever so slightly to the being pressed against him, Megatron whispers, “Are you alright?”
     “Mmm, mewled,” is all that is hummed back softly.  
   Megatron looks more closely at his mate.   No, he’s not drunk.   The vintage is not that strong and the servings are far too small to effect the strong mech-half.   Shockwave is though coming to the end of his day, that is a given.
   “Ready to go?”  Megatron asks carefully.
   Shockwave now looks up to his mate.  The sweet concern of his expression melts him even more.   “Just let my make my leave?”
    Megatron pulls out his warmest smile, “You take as much time as you need.   This is your night to shine,”  but the squeezing smaller hand in the small of his stronger back reminds the ex-leader this is for both of them not just the one.  Megatron just chuckles lightly back and squeezes his acceptance.  “Come on, before you finish one more of those and I have to humiliate you by carrying you away.”
     Shockwave hands the glass to Megatron acquiescing.   Megatron sets both empty flutes down, but doesn’t let go of the hidden physical connection behind their backs.  Iggy returns with her mate while Shockwave begins his good-byes.
    It takes a while, but finally, Megatron and Shockwave are making their way to the parking lot hand in hand.  Iggy leans into her own mate watching them leave, “Shockwave is very lucky to have such a wonderful supportive mate.”
    Her own stares a her confused.  “Mate?   I had no idea Mr. Shockwave was bonded.”   Iggy groans to the daft-nerd.

~~
    Once at home, they make their way quietly to their shared berthroom.   Megatron strips down and makes himself comfortable under the sheet settling his back against the headboard.   Shockwave, a bit more meticulous, strips himself and sets the armor into the rack.  
   “You looked good out there today,”   Megatron starts.
   Shockwave shakes his head and then comes to the berth.   To Megatron’s surprise, he doesn’t take his own side but instead lowers himself on top of the sheets into the warm lap.  “Beautiful.”
   “Hum?”  Megatron really has no idea what to say when Shockwave compliments him this way.   Nor when he tops it of by laying his soft finger tips on his face.  A stroke down the nose bridge to press to the lips into remaining silent.   Shockwave needs touch right now but is tentative on how Megatron is to receiving it.
    Like two parts of a whole, they can read each other right now.  So he takes Shockwave’s other hand and lifts it into his crest giving him permission to do as he pleases.
   Shockwave’s touches are nothing like he has ever felt before.  Firm but soft.   Strong but exploring.   Honoring and yet mewling.   Shockwave treats those lovely daffodil and sable accents as the hidden treasures they are.  Cupping and stroking one long wilting prong, his other hand softly grips the leader’s neck column and spreads his hand out fully to grace and pan across the strong chest before him.  All during this Shockwave had watched his hand trace and caress the symbol of strength he had leaned and looked up to for so long.
   Now he lifts his optic from the hand over the spark he has become apart of up to the throat holding a voice he so enjoys hearing guiding and teaching him.   Up to the lips that bring forth comfort and encouragement.  Across the cheek that enjoys nuzzling into his own and then up to those warm optics that are now heavy in rapture and mewled by his lover’s touch.   The leader is now his lover….forever.  Shockwave stills.
    Some time while Shockwave was caressing, Megatron needed to hold onto Shockwave, and brought his hand round to his lithe back.   Now, he is cupping that spine and still supporting it with long slow strokes.  Shockwave melts and leans in until his own chest touches his hand still over Megatron’s spark.
    Megatron lowers his chin brushing his lips to the rim of Shockwave’s face.   All the way around the rim of that sweet smelling face, Megatron’s lips pluck and savor.   Shockwave sinks further into that warm lap.  With a firm but soft grip, Megatron tips Shockwave’s helm for better exploration until he is dipping the helm back and promising the darkening golden optic.
     “I’m going to make love to you now, Shockwave.”  The blue spark swells as the lithe form is laid back and the promise is begun.  “I may not be to top bending time and space for you, but I can bow myself to you alone.”
      Shockwave’s chest hitches unable to say anything else but to pull Megatron into a deep kiss melding them into one once again…… forever.