Zweite Liebe 3

    The peaceful yet slightly excited drive out to the upper class side of Kaon has Shockwave settled back comfortably into the conforming seat.   Yes he has been out to the estate a couple of times.   The last time of course had been for the reception to Karma’s funeral - swiftly he shoves that memory aside replacing it with a happier one of Karma’s birthday on the patio.  Just the four friends and shish-kabobs.   Slightly upper meal with that down home simplicity.   Cole is a genius when it comes to merging the two, he will give the mech full credit for that.  
       Tonight it’s going to be more than that, though.   Cole had more than promised him that by saying he is pulling down the crystal and china.   Rounding the next curve, out-cast elite mech checks to make sure the extremely expensive bottle does not roll around and get broken in his brand new high class vehicle.   Nope, the seat belt has it tucked in nice and tight, he smiles to himself.  Megatron used to tease him about always checking things twice or more.
        That brings a hitch to his spark beat.   Will he ever have a thought that doesn’t include the other?   Will he ever be to love again?  He knows it’s too soon to confirm what he has for Cole are  amorous feelings but he will not deny they are very real and … safe.   Seven hurt him.  His sister hurt him.   His father cut him.   His mother… loved him.   Cole… cares, maybe more?
         Down shifting into the next pitched turn, the heavy engine groans it’s protest to being quelled.   It would like nothing more than to go full throttle and zip along.   Shockwave is sure he and the vehicle could maneuver it with grace and skill, but it’s the other stupid drivers he has to be prepared for.   That is a risk he can not take.   Cole can’t lose anyone else.  His spark hitches up a notch this time.
         Seeing the straight away, he gives the vehicle what they both want and punches it into high gear.   Was it a bit fast, maybe, but he really wants to get to his destination and with this clear shot, he can see anyone approaching.   With a deep breath; he’s ready to more than live again.   He’s ready to give his spark a second chance to feel fully.

~~~
         Seeing the large home on the hill, Shockwave takes the curved drive at a respectful pace and passes through the open cast iron gates, straight on to the back where he sees the immaculate van parked.   Easily he slews the sports car in beside it and cuts the deep purr of an engine.     Just as he pops the door open, the front door to the second home opens and Cole wipes his hands on a towel approaching.
        “It is you.   I didn’t recognize the vehicle.  Wow!”
         Shockwave’s elegant larger frame slides out of the wicked beast with the grace of a serpent.   Cole’s optics leave the vehicle for the driver is making his throat bob.   Oh Primus Shockwave looks so damn good pulling back into the old strong and focused form of his true self.  With a soft push to close the door, Shockwave gives a confident answer.
         “It was logical to make a change.”
         Cole’s jaw drops and he blinks.  THIS equals logical?   He shakes his head and then sees the slightest glint to the golden optic as a hand slides down the back of the vehicle like one might graze a seductive set of fingers over a precious naked form.
        That’s when Cole gets it:  Shockwave just made a deadpan joke.  Cole’ grin spreads finally getting it and Shockwave’s hidden delight warms to having executed the joke perfectly while continuing a slowly sultrily glide round to the passenger door to retrieve his other prize.
      For that, Cole steps forward to get a good look at this wicked thing trying not to watch the other‘s movements.   The car is something some of the other snobby doctors would drive to show off.   It’s not like a ‘reserved Shockwave‘.   So the fellow practical mech flicks the towel at it, “Explain to me how this is practical.”
       With a flick of the hand to the curvy roads he just took, he starts, “Handles great.”   Cole scowls at him for that.   So the purple shoulders shrug and press on pulling up right with the bottle and closes the door, “Reliable manufacturing company, decent trunk space, and fuel efficient.”
      “Not to mention wicked as all sin in the looks department.”
      With a graceful glide to the front and then a sultry look down the other‘s full frame, he lowers his voice,  “I hadn’t noticed.”  And lays the expensive gift into the other’s hands.
       Cole notices Shockwave has not let go of the bottle and thus looks up from the gift.  Yes, Shockwave just hit on him….perfectly.  Oh Primus, Cole’s spark skips a beat.   Shit Shockwave has been bonded to charming Megatron and its effects are showing.   Those sly comments and looks that Megatron would lay out only onto Shockwave are now coming forth.   It baffles Cole for a moment let alone makes him hot.
       Shockwave is one HELL of a mech to catch and now back on the open market….

       The bottle is pulled against his dark cockpit shield and Shockwave steps back.   “So, what can I do to help with dinner?”   Cole loses the power to speak for a few moments.
        The mech that just arrived at his door step is not the same wrecked one he shared a berth with just a matter of days ago.   Nor is he the angry one he spoke to just after.   So who is this handsome charming and confident mech?
        Turning, he follows the taller one into his own home.  There is the upright and dignity he is used to seeing.  There is the pride and the honor he is used to as well.   The old Shockwave hasn’t died, nor has he been replaced.   No, much like the humans like to call them; he has transformed into a new mech.   A part of him will always be the widower but he will also always be the Shockwave from before and after bondhood.   It makes this mech smile and push into this present as well.  He too has changed and before him is a new mech he would very much like to get to know better.
       “Well, I have the rue almost ready to start.  If you would like, I have an opener in the second drawer and you can let that breathe while we prepare.”
      Shockwave gives his soft but slightly angled curt nod.   Working side by side with someone who shares his same fickleness for precision and accuracy sure is nice.  A comfort.   A joy.  A pleasure.
      They haven’t seen each other since that night, but have spoken a couple times.  The last conversation was much better than the one from the office.  Still, they haven’t really talked about ‘the night’ that both of them fell into each other’s arms with passion locked kisses.
       In preparing the meal, they are rather quiet and occasionally find the other looking over to them and then swiftly shying away.   Yes, they need to talk about it, but is this the time?  
       Looking up Cole lifts a piece of bread up to his open mouth extending his tongue just as there is a knock on his door.   It stalls him in mid-move tongue still out.  To Shockwave’s own tight throat and heating middle, it makes the mech look just like dessert.  Shit, he forgot to bring it!- and slumps his regal helm.

       A second knock, “Cole-dear?  Can we come in?”   An older but quite upper class femme voice with a touch of an unusual accent calls from the screened-front door.
       Cole gulps and looks over to Shockwave for approval, after all he was the one not ready to meet people.  Still having the knife in his hand, Shockwave tips to the door, “Family are not the same.  Besides, you love them very much and I would never deny you that.”
      The soft one slumps his shoulders, “Only if you are sure.”
      Giving a soft huff, Shockwave takes the bit of bread from his hand and motions to the door again, “Open that door or I will.”
       With a teasing lit, Cole smirks, “You don’t have to go all Commander on me.”
        Shockwave swallows down the bread and the amours-taunts his past lover would lavish on him and will not deny he loved hearing.   But that was his former master and Lord ….. his past.
        Here and now he tugs the checkered shoulder plate of the neutral who currently commands his own floor in the hospital, “I’m not.  I would like to meet your parents,” and lets go to turn back to his preparations.

        The younger one is wise enough to follow the request and opens the door.  “Hello Mom, hi Dad.   Please come in,” and lays a hand out towards the kitchen where his guest awaits.
        The unfolded Sikorsky-mech holds the door for his smaller femme mate.   They are not surprised to see Cole has a guest (seeing the addition vehicle) but are taken back when they see who.  Victrola grips Cole’s hanging arm as Wolfgang extends his to Shockwave.
       “Hello, you must be the Tarn boy.   Ah, engineer, I believe?  I’m Wolfgang.”
      Shockwave blinks taking the hand of the robust and round faced mech.   ‘Tarn-boy’? That does throw him off for a moment.  Not only that, but this mech has a heavy accent that resembles what the humans call ‘German‘.   Warm, quite deep, heavy and thick with guttural clips to it.  Not a all like Cole’s bland ’American ’ accent.
      With his own ‘English’ soft accent coming out, he finds his words, “Yes, Mr. Wolfgang, that would be correct.   I did come from Tarn and I am the Senior Engineering Designer for Wave Industries.”
       With a deep chuckle the rounded mech’s hazel optics twinkle, “So did you design that wicked piece of machinery in the drive?”  
        Shockwave gives a soft chuckle to the deep rumbling one and shakes his head.  “Can’t say I did.”
      With a finger to the side of his own helm the mech smiles broad, “Well at least you have a good optic for taste.”  When he smiles, the deep black swash of black on his face really brings out his warm features.   It’s no hard to see where Cole gets his smile, even if this one is slightly hidden behind a ‘beard’.

       Yes Shockwave had seen the couple before, but they never came to chat giving Cole a respectful distance with his private friends.  Probably just as well considering Megatron’s distain for the elites of the past.  Two in particular; the ones that let Cybertron become a pool of pain and class distinction.   The other was one particular mech who ousted and disowned his son so much as to kill the only parent who did love him.

     Lifting his thoughts to the current elites, the last time he saw them, everyone was a bit off considering it was a funeral and he himself was in no mood for conversation.  Now the mech before him is talking to him as if he was just a normal mech.   Not a widower, not a soldier, not as his son’s lover (not that he can claim that title: still Karma‘s as far as he is concerned)… no Wolfgang just sees Shockwave as any other normal mech.  It actually makes his blue spark breathe easy and warmly.

         Victrola on the other hand, knows very well who the mech is before her.   He is the one who lost his bondmate trying to protect his friend and her son’s love.   It warms her deeply to see Shockwave and Cole making a meal together.   Healing moment for both, hopefully?   She is no fool either.  There is something else going on because these two are far too quiet.   She can see the way Cole is avoiding looking directly at Shockwave with his parents present.  She gives Cole’s arm another squeeze to her support of inviting Shockwave over.
       Cole turns to his mom and gives her a crooked smile of gratitude and then leads her over.   “Mother, I would like for you to meet Shockwave, a close friend of mine.  Shockwave, my mother Victrola.”
        Ever so respectfully, Shockwave extends his hand to her.  If he’d had real lips he would have kissed the back of her hand like the elegant and elite femme she is, but with his droid like face, his mother taught him a different way.   He takes her right hand lightly tucking his left one to the small of his back.   With an ever so graceful bow of his helm, brings the back of her hand to touch his the underside of chin while the antenna lay half mast, “Mrs. Victrola, a pleasure to see you again.”
          To his surprise, she flushes ever so slightly and Wolfgang gives Shockwave a curious optic brow lift.   This is not the sign of a brilliant scientist, this is the son of an elite.   “Just where were you raised in Tarn?”
         Releasing the femme’s hand, Shockwave rises upright to meet the curious hazel optics with both hands behind his back. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter anymore.   Kaon is my home now.”   Respectfully he turns to end that conversation.
        Wolfgang knows well enough and gives a soft nod to let the subject go.  “Well it looks like you at least know how to prepare a decent meal,” he motions to the precise slices Shockwave had made.
         Cole looks to where Shockwave is headed.   Seeing the taller mech reach into the glassed door cabinets for two more settings, he makes the offer.   “Mom, Dad would you like to join us for dinner?  There‘s more than enough, so you can see.”
         The parents look over to the guest who now has the crystal down to answer the question.  The matriarch waggles a finger, “Alright, but just dinner.   No dessert for your father,” and pats his front.
       To that he scowls, “Since when?!”  
       Victrola takes the plates off the counter and hands them to her mate while taking the goblets from Shockwave’s hands, “Since I said so and it’s been a long time since Cole has had someone over…”   She leads her mate out the door letting the younger two finish their preparations. “… and you aren’t going to dominate the conversation with--”

      Cole exhales loudly, “You may regret this, Shockwave.”
      “There are a lot of things I regret Cole, but spending time with a set of parents who actually care for their offspring, never.”
       That juts the red helm back up, but Shockwave has already turned back to the meal preparation thus cutting off that conversation as well.   Cole steps forward sliding his arm over the violet grieve, “Thank you.  It will make them feel better knowing I haven’t died too.”
         Shockwave lays his own over the top, “They are good people and I could really use some intelligent conversation.”  Then his shoulders grimace feeling he made it sound like Megatron was a simpleton.
        Cole gives a light smirk and pats the arm, “I get what you mean, it’s alright.  Come on, I don’t want this to burn with them already putting me under the microscope.”
      From one scientist to another, Shockwave gives off a delighted laugh.