Y/n was laying on top of Optimus in the main room of the base. Optimus was pinned down as everyone stared at the slime burying their face in the mech's chest.
Rachet: Y/n.... could you get off Optimus.
Y/n: *Muffled* No.... I'm embarrassed.
Rachet: All your doing is drawing everyone's attention to you.
Arcee: Y/n... it's ok.
Bumblebee: Yeah! It was just a stress release, everyone has those.
Bulkhead: I don't....
Wheeljack: Not the time Bulk.
Jack: Yeah I'm a student
Miko: I'm a bad student
Ralph: I'm the best in the school and I try to stay there.
Y/n grumbles just a little bit as they snuggle deeper into Optimus. Optimus in turn sighs before picking them up again. Their slimey body slightly slipping through his fingers as once again he holds the oversized pillow... or more accurately a water bed.
Optimus adjusted his hold on Y/n, gently settling them against his chest again with a sigh that was more fond than frustrated. His optics glanced down at them, his voice soft.
Optimus: Y/n... hiding won't help you heal.
Y/n's gooey form gave a slow squish, then a small ripple trembled through their body, a sign of emotion. They muttered softly, words vibrating against Optimus' plating.
Y/n: I don't want to be seen like this... weak, pathetic... it's easier being locked in a box.
Optimus frowned slightly. Around the room, the others exchanged quiet glances, unsure of what to say. Then, surprisingly, it was Miko who stepped forward.
Miko: Hey. You think I don't get that? Sometimes I want to crawl under my bed and disappear. But you're not pathetic, you're hurting. That's not weakness. That's being real.
Arcee: You've been through a lot, Y/n. It's okay to take time to figure things out. Just... don't shut us out.
Bumblebee gave a soft chirp of agreement and gently bumped his head against Y/n's squishy side.
Y/n:... I feel like static inside. Like I'm supposed to be something important, but I don't even know what I am...
Optimus slowly stood with Y/n still in his arms, towering calmly over the others.
Optimus: Then let us help you find that purpose. You are not alone in this.
There was a long silence, then a soft, wet hiccup from Y/n as their glowing core gently pulsed in response to the warmth surrounding them. For the first time in days, they allowed themselves to hope, even if just a little.
Y/n:... Okay... but I need some time to think....
Optimus:... That can be arranged.
As laughter broke out gently around the room, Y/n being held like a box as they lay across Optimus's arms. They seemed really bummed, not as frantic as they were before... just.... sad and tired.
Y/n: Thank you.
Y/n's form solidifies into a humanoid shape. They begin to walk towards the exit as Optimus follows.
Optimus: Someone needs to watch them... it's dangerous.
*Timeskip*
A couple of hours later and Y/n now stood in the crater of where they were before. Obvious tracks of Decepticons lingered here, but they have long since left as Y/n looked down.
Y/n: I turned sand into metal.... and from that metal.
Y/n leans their hand down, gently tracing a blue stream of liquid, some of it crystalline.
Optimus: Energon.
Y/n flinched a bit at Optimus's voice. However didn't move when the Prime sat next to him.
Y/n: This all but confirms I'm something of Primus.
Optimus: That doesn't change you Y/n.
Y/n: Well I have the power to save a starving race, yeah its going to change me a bit.
Optimus: Hm....
Optimus was quiet for a moment, watching as Y/n's fingers drifted through the crystallized Energon.
Optimus: Having the power to change things doesn't mean you must do everything alone.
Y/n kept their gaze on the glowing stream, the reflection of it glimmering in their soft, shifting eyes.
Y/n: But what if I mess it up? What if I do more harm than good?
Optimus: Then you learn. And grow. That is the path of all who wield great power... including Primes.
Y/n let out a humorless chuckle, low and watery.
Y/n: So I'm supposed to what? Be some kind of demigod messiah now? Wear a crown of Energon and fix a war I didn't start?
Optimus turned his helm to them, voice firm but not unkind.
Optimus: You are supposed to be yourself. And if that means helping others... then help them your way. No thrones. No crowns. Just... Y/n.
A breeze swept across the crater, stirring loose sand and fine dust into the air. Y/n stood again, the soft hum of their core deepening as they gazed at the slowly reforming stream of Energon.
Y/n:... I don't know what my way looks like yet.
Optimus: Then find it.
Y/n blinked, their body shifting gently with the breeze, then gave a small, grateful nod. The weight on their shoulders didn't vanish, but it felt light.
Y/n: One step at a time?
Optimus: One step at a time.
Y/n: Megatron will want me.... To use me.... To rule over a constant energon supply
Optimus: But... you have friends with the Decepticons. So you want to go back.
Y/n: Their idiots..... but, they're not evil... not truly..... just following the vibe, doing what they think is right and what's natural.
Optimus: I know that more then you know Y/n...
Before Optimus could say more, a sharp whirrr cut through the air-followed by the crack of impact.
Optimus was tackled from the side, sand and shards of crystalized Energon exploding around them as a blur of dark metal slammed into his chest, forcing him to the ground.
Y/n shrieked, stumbling back as Soundwave pinned Optimus with silent, mechanical precision, long limbs wrapped tightly around the Prime's shoulders and torso. His face remained expressionless, the screen on his visor flickering static.
Optimus: Soundwave-!
The mech's only response was a blast of high-frequency interference that crackled through the air, temporarily scrambling Optimus's audio receptors.
Y/n: Stop! What are you doing?!
Y/n surged forward, a tendril of energized slime lashing out and grabbing Soundwave's shoulder. It sizzled against his plating, glowing bright, but Soundwave didn't so much as flinch. Instead, one of his tentacle-like cables uncoiled from his back and whipped around toward Y/n.
Optimus grunted, freeing one arm just in time to catch the cable before it struck.
Optimus: Run, get out of here!
But Y/n didn't run.
Y/n: No! I'm done running!
Their form burst outward into a full, radiant silhouette, glowing veins of energon-like energy racing across their frame. The very ground beneath them shimmered as the metal in the soil began to rise in reaction to their presence.
Y/n: Soundwave, I don't want to hurt you! But I will defend him!
For a second, Soundwave hesitated. Then... the static on his visor formed words.
Soudwave: Y/n...
A second cable shot toward Y/n, but this time, it stopped inches from their chest, caught mid-air in a field of radiant blue.
Y/n: Soundwave...
Optimus, now partially freed, surged upward and slammed Soundwave back with a punch to the chassis. The Decepticon tumbled into the crater wall but quickly flipped upright, visor gleaming as Laserbeak deployed from his chest with a metallic screech.
Y/n: Optimus.... go home
Optimus: I..... Hm
Optimus puts away his weapon as Y/n stands infront of Soundwave. The two of their faces lock as Optimus walks away, Laserbeak didn't follow, neither did Soundwave.
Y/n: It's... good to see you again.
Soundwave didn't respond, instead pulling Y/n into a hug as all his cables wrap around them.
Y/n's eyes widened at the unexpected gesture, Soundwave, the cold and silent shadow of the Decepticons, wrapping them in a cocoon of wires and warmth. The hug wasn't tight. It wasn't restrictive. It was secure. Protective. The way someone might hold a fragile signal, trying to keep it from fracturing into noise.
Y/n:... You really did miss me, huh?
The static on Soundwave's visor flickered before forming three simple dots.
Y/n's glow softened, their form dimming from radiant to calm, the tendrils that had flared in defense now curling gently around Soundwave's side.
Y/n: I didn't think you'd still care. Not after everything. Not after Megatron lost his grip.
The visor pulsed again.
Soundwave: CARE, CONSTANT.
Y/n blinked, momentarily stunned. For all the confusing fragments of identity, power, and purpose they'd been grappling with, this felt... clear.
Y/n:... You've been watching me this whole time, haven't you?
Soundwave tilted his head slightly, the cables around them flexing in a slow pulse. Then his screen buzzed softly.
Soundwave: MONITORING NECESSARY.
CONNECTION UNBROKEN.
Y/n laughed quietly, laying their head on his, their fingers absently tracing the Decepticon sigil etched into his plating.
Y/n: You Decepticons always act so heartless... but you're some of the most loyal beings I've ever met.
Laserbeak fluttered down from the nearby rock, chirping low as it perched beside them, nudging Y/n's arm gently with its beak.
Y/n:... I can't go back to the ship. Not right now... tonight maybe.
They looked down, eyes meeting the silent mech's visor. Soundwave remained silent, but his screen blinked with one word.
Soundwave: STAY.
Y/n smiled.
Y/n: Then I'll stay. Just for a little while.
*Timeskip*
Later that night the crater had quieted. Stars blinked in the sky, and a soft humming came from the earth, still rich with Energon.
Y/n sat with Soundwave beside them, Laserbeak curled near their feet. There were no words. Just presence.
Y/n: You were always so nice to me. Ever since we first met.
Soundwave: And yet you still left...
He said, not in a copied voice or words on a screen. No, only with his real voice. And that made his words hit that much harder, deep into Y/n's body.
Y/n: I don't think I ever thanked or showed appreciation for any of it. I'm sorry for that, I really am.
Soundwave:...
Y/n grabs Soundwave pulling them close, Soundwave didn't resist either.
Y/n: Thank you. For everything you've done. I'll make it up to you, I promise.
Soundwave didn't respond, instead laying his head into Y/n.
Soundwave: Come back... to the ship... to the others..... to me.
Y/n: Ok, I will. But don't tell Megatron that I did this, if he doesn't already know.
Soundwave: He doesn't... He would've hurt you if he did know, so I made sure he didn't.
Y/n: Thank you.
Just then a groundbridge opens up. Soundwave and Y/n stand up as Laserbeak goes back into Soundwave's chassis. The two stare at eachother before going into the groundbridge, unsure of what awaits on the otherside.