rodion | the battle of the feels

( As much as Shockwave could understand the wisdom in leaving him behind with the ark while the rest of the team went to deal with problems - Prowl arguing about how they couldn't trust him and Kup's questioning about his combat experience and how much of that was still valid. All of it was the answer, and he'd emphatically explained his opinion on the matter in a less than calm voice that had done more harm than good.

So he'd been left behind with Jetfire who'd spent the day in the part of the ark furtherest away from wherever he was at any given point in time. And he's certain there's a saying about idle minds and Mortilus's workshop. So he's busied himself with their comms and getting to pick up the radio waves the humans seemed to use as a secondary form of communication.

It's with a sense of satisfaction that he managed to latch onto the signals from the satellites they put into orbit around their planet, music flooding the empty bay. If it bothered Jetfire he wouldn't know - the other Cybertronian hadn't made an appearance. So instead he just allows himself to be lost in the strange yet terribly familiar sounds - music is music no matter where planet it originates from, after all - and goes to work fixing anything else he can get his hands on. Shockwave is a brilliant scientist but, well, his other accomplishments hang over his head.

Engrossed in his work as he is, he doesn't notice that someone's in the same space as him until he catches a glimpse of red and blue out of the corner of his optic. But even that glimpse is enough to make him smile, recognizing who it is in a second. )

You're back earlier than expected, Optimus.

[And right he was. After the entire ordeal of trying to convince Prowl that Shockwave wasn't planning any sort of resistant act against them, and quelling the other Autobot's arguments, his mind often strayed to the scientist left on the Ark. If he was adjusting well to their entourage.

It didn't deviate him from his duty completely, but enough that he decided a little checkup was needed. It was done without Prowl's knowledge and giving Kup a quick head's up, which was probably for the best. The music caught his attention first as he strides in, ear pieces giving little twitches to adjust his audials to it. Much like a dog hearing a noise for the first time, it felt like ages since music had been something that accompanied work. Accompanied everything. Then again, when your world is pretty much primordial, music seems so advanced.

Even for their race.

But when Shockwave takes notice of him, it takes him a moment to respond.]

You can say it's a personal check up. I wanted to make sure things on the Ark were going smoother than they are down below.

[Don't even get him started.]

How are you adjusting here?

Jetfire has allowed me unsupervised access to the ship, which may be a sign of trust or a desire not to be close to me - I've yet to decide which it is. Still, I've kept myself busy.

( A gesture to the source of the music as he stands, attempting to rub some of the oil smudges on his hands away. Perhaps it had not been wise to go back to a white paint job so soon after events, but Shockwave had found the symbolism too overpowering to eschew the color altogether. So it was white with highlights of orange and a deep blue for the moment, until something else struck his fancy.

But no purple. )

I take it things are more difficult than you'd thought they would be?

( Down on Earth, that is. Come and tell him about your day, Optimus. )

Let's go with the former. Jetfire's often mild mannered--he probablly trusts your skill, if anything.

[Because he doesn't want to think that his crew is immensely against Shockwave being here. Not that it quells his doubts by denying it, but like he said--everyone deserves a second chance.

Absently, he walks over, taking a bit of cloth in one hand and one of Shockwave's digits in the other, gently cleaning. His eyes don't deviate from the task, as if oil required his full concentration.]

About as well as you might imagine, given Prowl. I trust him, but sometimes his methods and my own clash.

I'd like to think so. It may seem distasteful to say that they've only increased in the past four million years, but it is what it is.

( He's still hashing out the ethical line of what knowledge he feels he has a right to use and which he will forever lock away and never touch. It's a delicate process and one that really only applies to him.

Taken aback at the contact - however welcome - for a second, Shockwave relaxes almost instantaneously. Personal space has never been something he's concerned himself with, and even less when it comes to Optimus. So instead he just gives a pleased hum and lets the other do what he will. )

Which is why you named him your second, correct? Good at what he does, but always ready to see things in a way that you do not.

You're using them to help people now, Shockwave. There's a difference in purpose.

[It's been hard on the scientist, for sure. But Optimus was going to be behind him every step in figuring out what that line was. To guide him and protect like he should have four million years ago.

His attention keeps focused on the hands, though, making sure to get every bit of oil off. Hands being surprisingly gentle at it, too.]

That's right. If you choose a second in command who thinks exactly the same way, you are not going to do yourself any favours. I trust him to be my check and balance. And I can only hope he expects the same from me.

[He'd better.]

I only hope it is enough to atone for everything else I've done.

( He flexes one clean hand and then the other as Optimus finishes, giving him a small grin. Who would have known that Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and famed for jumping off things and punching them could be so gentle? It makes Shockwave smile down at their hands, wrapping one around one of Optimus'. )

Perhaps. ( A pause, and he looks into his optics, expression serious. ) I'm concerned. Gestalt technology -- Jhiaxus made the first combiner, and I nearly completed the first successful one before I was entombed. But he was never properly formatted for the job, Optimus. If you could convince him to let me look at him--

( Shockwave sighs, because he knows Prowl would never agree to such a thing. Instead he reaches with a free hand to turn up the music. )

But I think we've both earned a break.

Edited 2014-07-07 04:58 (UTC)

Your effort to help us is all I can expect for now.

[Seeing Shockwave admire his hand gives him a small bit of pride--he never provided this personal of care towards someone. But Shockwave was special to him, in more ways than one.

But when Shockwave takes his hands with his own, his slightly thicker fingers wrapping around in reciprocation. It seemed like such an involuntary action, too. Like he'd been doing it for years.

At the tone change, though, he losers his optics. It'd been something that'd been on his mind as well. Prowl had been forced into the combiner form, a rushed, hodgepodge job just to make him barely compatible. He'd tried to bring it up to him on the way over, but the timing always seemed off.]

I can barely convince Prowl to listen to myself. I trust you, but he's...stubborn. [Maybe that's an understatement.] I could look into...alternative methods. Maybe Jetfire can look at him for you.

[His sigh speaks for them both, though, too preoccupied in his thoughts to hear the music get louder.]

( Shockwave takes advantage of Optimus being occupied with the conversation at hand to twist their hands into the appropriate hold for a dance, his other hand placing Optimus' free hand at his waist before coming to rest at his shoulder. All while holding a conversation about Prowl because he excels at multitasking and knows that if Optimus got wind of what he was planning he might attempt to make an excuse and leave.

He does laugh a little at 'stubborn', however. )

I'll make a list of things for him to look at specifically, but I'll want detailed records as a whole if he can stand to stay still for that long. There was a reason it took so long to perfect. ( It's no easy task, and Shockwave's opinion of Bombshell's ability to do anything to his satisfaction has - both then and now - been low. Create a space bridge and then have it break after use? He could do better, he did better. ) Undoing the damage may take some time - longer if he resists - but it shouldn't be impossible to do.

( And then, with a wry smile. )

I'll lead. You do know how to dance, don't you Optimus?

[It doesn't even register as he's speaking. His hands are pretty much at Shockwave's disposal now, but before he knows it, they're in the stock dance position, Optimus wondering just how attentive he'd been in the last few minutes. So needless to say, when he's in that position, there's some 'how did I get to this point?' confusion.]

...

[Nope, he can't even continue with the conversation. This is occupying 100% of his mind right now.]

You can't be serious.

[Obvious 'no' alert!]

Quite serious, actually. It's been a few million years, but I think I can remember the basics.

( He waits until the current song ends, and then when the next one starts up - something fast tempo'd and instrumental. )

Step backwards when I step forwards with the opposite foot that I use. If I step with my right, you move with the left.

[Well that's all fine and dandy for you, Shockwave, but you're looking at a Prime who's never samba'd a day in his life. And it shows, in the way his face goes from shock to hopelessly trying to strategize how he's going to do this.]

But Shockwave--

[Too late, he's already getting instructions, and if his gaze immediately turns down, clumsy footwork working just barely above minimum effort. He's...trying? It's true, he really is, for you.]

I've never done this before.

[And he's stating this like it's the most obvious thing in the universe.]

( He is trying, and it sends slow tendrils of warmth through him at the thought. Optimus may not know how to dance, but Shockwave is blessed with a good disposition and patience enough to walk him through it. )

Four million years a Prime and no one's managed to get you into a dance before now? They should all be ashamed of themselves.

( Pft, what war that was keeping him from doing this previously? )

[Patience the Prime is internally blessed for as well. There's not much he wants more than to make Shockwave happy. Comfortable. So clumsily, he'll dance, if only for him.

And clumsily is right, as he has to keep sidestepping to avoid crushing the other's proverbial toes.]

Maybe I was--sorry--waiting for the right partner to ask me.

[Whoa. Smooth recovery there, Prime.]

( Smooth recovery indeed, and Shockwave's face lightens at it, optics gleaming. )

Then I will do my best not to disappoint.

( No one ever hears of a graceless mech with a jet as an alt-mode, and Shockwave is no different. That and plenty of practice makes him light on his feet and able to keep Optimus from doing too much damage, each step careful but still keeping time to the music. )

[Jets were well-known for being graceful. Their flying techniques weren't likened to dancing for nothing. Trucks? Not so much. They're more likened to flattening whatever's in their path.

And making a truck do something like this? You can imagine the results. Although to say one thing--Optimus is genuinely trying. His feet move more clumsily than Shockwave's, but they make it to the spot when they need to be, and soon...

He can look away from his feet every few seconds.

It's not perfect, but thankfully, Shockwave isn't going for that. If he'd wanted perfect, he'd ask someone else.]

( It's true - there's no one on Cybertron or Earth or even away on the Lost Light that Shockwave wants to dance with more than he does Optimus. They never could have done this when he was still Orion - not officially at any rate - the other Senators wouldn't have stood for a police captain amongst the ranks of the upper class at parties or functions, let alone Orion Pax. But that doesn't matter now.

Instead Shockwave is patient, a soft grin across his face as they move. It's perfect, but in a different sort of way than it would seem. He can't think of any other way it might happen between them. )

There may be hope for you yet, Optimus.

( As a dancer, of course. )

[And in truth, Shockwave would be the only one he would do this for, at least willingly. And it couldn't be more true that it would have never happened if he was Orion. The way the world worked was too classist. It could have cost Shockwave a lot--not that it didn't in the end anyway.

But Orion--Optimus wouldn't have allowed that to happen.

There's not much to express with when you have a faceplate, but his eyes can tell stories.]

I'm sure there's some. Not much, but some.

Nonsense. ( His grip tightens on the other's hand as he looks back up into Optimus' eyes. They've always been the most arresting shade of blue - matrix blue, they say. Which Shockwave thinks is absolute hogwash - knows that it scientifically has to be. But it doesn't make them any less striking. ) You don't give yourself enough credit, Optimus.

( In dancing and overall. He knows from others, from Optimus himself, that the guilt of the war and everything that occurred weighs heavy on his shoulders. If Shockwave could just alleviate that for a moment he would be satisfied; he picked Optimus because he saw in him someone who could lead their species to the other side of the oncoming war. And he did.

Shockwave could not be prouder of him for doing that and making it out whole. Worn around the edges, yes, but he saw in him still all the things that made Shockwave decide that he would be their new Prime. He wouldn't change that, not now and not ever. )

[He doesn't say anything at first, just a gentle tilt of his head in appreciation as he continues to study his feet--his steps now getting slightly more consistent and accurate as he learns the pattern. He keeps his focus on that and Shockwave's eyes, more than anything glad to see that blue hue, just as they'd been four million years ago.

When Shockwave approached him after his actions in the Senate, seeing something in him that no one else did. It made the senator stand out to him...that not everyone in that building was of the same mold.

He'd lost that, in his foolishness. And here, it was given back to him. One saving grace out of the entire war that was granted to him. He'd almost lost the planet, he'd lost his people's trust, and he'd lost more friends than he could count. This?

This he'd saved. To say he wasn't happy about it would be a lie.]

I credit myself with a lot of things. A good dancer, I can't say that's one of them.

I'll settle for passable.

[He gives those hands a squeeze, affectionately. He was a worn down Autobot commander, been to hell and back, torn and broken. And here Shockwave was, as if he'd never changed. He knew deep down that wasn't the case, with what the other bot had to go through. But seeing him like this...for all Shockwave spoke about him being his 'brightest hope'...

Optimus felt the same about him.]

I'll let you have this one, but only in dancing, Optimus.

( Every other facet of his personality is worth having some pride in, as far as Shockwave is concerned. The song changes on the radio to something slower and more intimate and Shockwave takes the chance to pull Optimus closer to him.

They can have this now. Time together. It wasn't a matter of feeling as if he'd been robbed of it - that would imply that he'd felt anything while walking away from an Orion who was begging him to remember who he was. Of feeling something like wanting and remorse for four million years whenever his thoughts strayed to the now-Prime.

Shockwave remembers saving him once - his survival had, at the time, been logical. But they'd been like strangers, they were strangers.

Not anymore. )

[Optimus notices the music change, although what he didn't account for was that this meant to change positions. The closer he was held, the warmer his spark seemed to feel. Maybe it was the other's, or just their close positioning. Either way, he wasn't minding it. And it shows in how his hands seem to search now, letting go of those hands to find a new home on the bot's waist.

He's playing this by ear, definitely.

But here, he could afford to. He could hold on, and the proverbial sand won't slip through his fingers. Something solid.

He can feel his head tilt, looking down at the senator as his body seems to finally react to the music, swaying slightly. He'll rely on the other for the footwork, but this...this he can do.]

Only in dancing. Nothing else?

Why should there be anything else? You excel in all the rest.

( Flattery? Absolutely. But Shockwave has gone so long without being able to do so that even if it seems excessive, it still feels right.

Humming slightly as Optimus' hands move, Shockwave repositions his own arms - wrapping them around Optimus' neck so that his fingers interlocked behind the other's helm. He can't help but smile at the signs that perhaps his Prime was easing into the idea of dancing - and perhaps it's a bit forward but when has Shockwave cared? There's a gentle pressure at the back of Optimus' head to encourage the other to dip his head more so that they can rest their forehelms together.

Shockwave is going to relish this closeness, the warmth spreading through him. All of it as proof he'd finally returned to being himself. )

You're biased.

[He knew that Shockwave idolized him, and as much as he loved hearing it, he knew when the bot was using his personal experience to judge. There was a lot of things he felt guilty for. Things he couldn't save.

But he feels those hands brush against his neck, eyes widening slightly as he feels them rest there, interlacing fingers at the back. The blue seems to glow a bit more in them as he feels something in his spark jump--as if all his senses intensified.

Being so close to Shockwave...he really felt alive. His head dips down, to press against the other's helm as he wanted, the hum of his engine slightly kicking to life. Like a purring kitten.]

Absolutely biased.

[His voice is nothing but a whisper now, hands pulling that waist closer to his. Their feet were still moving, but Optimus had the confidence now to not need to look at his feet. His eyes were needed elsewhere.]

( Shockwave knows that guilt, carries his own with him - of all the things he did, the things he did for the betterment of Cybertron and though the cost was worth the end result. It pulls at him and tugs at the back of his mind; he can't change the past but he can pretend his own twisted works from occurring again. And he knows that Optimus has the right to be guilty of what the war has done; Shockwave can't image having lived through what he has and not. But he also thinks Optimus deserves more credit than he gives himself.

Not everyone survives. And not everyone survives with those morals that made Shockwave pick him in the first place. So instead he laughs softly, his own voice as quiet as Optimus' as he lets himself be pulled forward. )

Only a little.

( Quite a lot. Fingers trace the bottom of Optimus' helm as he unlocks his hands, left hand coming up to cup the side of Optimus' face - thumb tracing the line where his facemask meets the blue edge of the helm proper. His other hand stays where it is, rubbing circles into the smooth lines of his neck. )

Do try not to hold it against me, Optimus.

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