A Chaotic Neutral

Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Twenty-One

“What happened with Starscream?”

“Did his human really turn into a harpy?”

“Did Megatron actually let more humans stay here?”

“Can we meet them?”

“Can we keep them?”

The last question came from, of course, Laserbeak, but given the mischief in her eyes, Sunstreaker doubted she was serious. Mostly. He wasn’t sure about Laserbeak sometimes. She had a lot of mysteries tucked into that sunny exterior.

“Business none of yours,” Soundwave said once the bombardment of questions ended, mostly from the two sets of twins. Ravage had already gone for the day.

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Soundwave wasn’t sure what to expect after his return from the forest, especially between himself, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker. He thought there might be discomfort, friction, possibly distance between himself and then.

He certainly wasn’t expecting… this.

He thought once his arm healed enough that the sling could be removed – only a few days after the initial injury – things would go back to normal. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker would return to the privacy of their nook, and their own personal interests, rather than sticking close. No more would he spend nearly every meal with them, or have their company in the baths.

He was wrong.

Sure, they backed off on the nannying once it was clear Soundwave was capable of taking care of himself. They still brought him meals, but it was no more than what efforts his own siblings already offered. They put themselves into the rotation, and joined Soundwave’s family for every meal, often with Soundwave between them.

Not a single sibling protested. Not even Buzzsaw, which in itself was an oddity.

Which wasn’t to say Sideswipe and Sunstreaker spent every waking moment with Soundwave either. They hadn’t abandoned their own pursuits. Sunstreaker still visited Mirage and Tracks for his artistic lessons. Sideswipe convinced any warrior he could for fighting lessons, though he favored Drift and swordwork, once Perceptor and Drift’s heats had concluded.

They both volunteered to Gather, or clean up after meals, and Sunstreaker had started reading to the little ones in the nursery before their naptimes. Sideswipe volunteered to take a few guard shifts in the Aerie interior.

But they made time for Soundwave, too.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Seventeen

Sunstreaker did not sleep.

He lay down and attempted to do so, Laserbeak curled in his arms with Buzzsaw curled around her, but sleep would not find him, and it seemed to elude the smaller twins as well. Laserbeak twitched and murmured with nightmares; Buzzsaw stared blankly at the far wall. Neither he nor Rumble had found any trace of their missing siblings.

Sideswipe’s back pressed to Sunstreaker’s, but he was too tense to truly be asleep.

Pre-dawn arrived, and Sunstreaker rose from the nest, rousing everyone else in the process. Exhaustion settled over them, but there was determination as well. Frenzy and Rumble burst into the room carrying armfuls of supplies – flashlights, a first aid kit, some food.

“Rung was up and about,” Frenzy said as they dumped their items down and started to sort through them. “We told him what’s going on, but he’s level-headed. He’ll keep quiet until we come back from our first search.”

“And then?” Sideswipe asked as he grabbed a scone to nibble on. He tried to offer one to Sunstreaker, but he waved it off.

Sunstreaker’s stomach was in too many knots to eat. He took a flashlight instead, flicking the switch to make sure it worked.

“And then we sound the alarm,” Rumble said with a sigh. “We’ll need help by that point.”

“It won’t come to that,” said Laserbeak, her feathers drooping, every inch of her appearing wan and exhausted. “We’ll find both of them.”

Her determination left no room for argument.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Fifteen

There was so much to do.

One would think, with the rut in full swing and over half of the flock out of commission, there would be less work, but that was hardly the case. Many things still needed to be done, and now there were fewer hands to accomplish the tasks.

Yes, they did prepare ahead of time every year. They Gathered extra in the weeks leading up to the yearly, flock-wide heat. They prepared extra meals that would keep in the pantry. All linens were washed and dried. Harpies who needed privacy staked their claims on some of the unused nests. Harpies who didn’t have partners started flirting and asking around and seeing who’d like to share some non-commitment company.

And yet.

“How have we already run out of rolls?” Laserbeak chittered on his shoulder, her feathers fluffed with annoyance. Sesame rolls were her favorite, and the stockpile had been emptied.

They were only a week into the official rut. A week. Though per usual, some harpies had hit their stride sooner.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Thirteen

The story was stupid.

Sunstreaker hated every bit of it, though the rest of the flock seemed enraptured by Orion Pax’s retelling. Tragic romances were not Sunstreaker’s thing, and they weren’t Sideswipe’s either, apparently, as he’d started to snooze while leaning against Sunstreaker’s chest, tucked under his chin. He kept twitching in his sleep, being adorably distracting.

Between him and the story, it was almost enough to keep Sunstreaker from noticing the looks he and Sideswipe had started to draw. They were surrounded by Soundwave’s siblings, and so no one dared sidle too close, but their gazes were hungry, and the smell of lust rose in the air like a heavy, spicy, musk.

Sunstreaker’s stomach roiled.

The fighting pit had smelled strongly of rut this time of year. It was unavoidable. Sometimes, their captors liked to shove them in random cages, pairing winners and losers or whomever they wanted to see how it would resolve. Other times, they’d shove all of the harpies into one big cage and let them sort themselves out.

Sunstreaker couldn’t remember a rut where he was left to enjoy himself in peace, where he’d been able to choose his partner. He had the opportunity now, but hungry eyes circled like the bigger harpies in the arena, eager to bend he and Sideswipe over any chance they got.

It was what they were meant for, one of the harpies had boasted. Smols like them were meant for rutting.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Eleven

His dreams were always far more vivid than his waking sight. Soundwave didn’t understand how that worked, how everything sharpened and brightened, clarifying into clear shapes. He didn’t know if the faces he saw matched the faces in his life, or if he was merely filling in the blanks, making assumptions.

Maybe it didn’t matter.

His dreams were focused, vivid things, and Soundwave rarely remembered them upon waking. He didn’t have reality for comparison.

All he’d seen of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker entwined on the bed had been brightly colored shapes locked together, the scent of their lust thick and heady, their moans and cries enough to make his face flame and for him to flee, appalled by his own reaction, embarrassed that he hadn’t thought they’d need privacy. They were, after all, two young harpies in their prime. Of course they’d want to touch one another.

Laserbeak had seen more than enough.

“They’re so pretty,” she’d chattered. “But maybe we ought to talk to Ratchet or something, because Sunstreaker was biting Sideswipe awful hard.”

“It’s not uncommon, flitterling,” Soundwave had argued, flustered and wishing they didn’t have to have this conversation. Laserbeak was much older than she appeared, and he knew she capitalized on her size and cuteness to get what she wanted.

However, he wished he’d been paying attention so that neither of them had stumbled on Sideswipe and Sunstreaker’s moment.

Laserbeak chuffed at him. “I know that, Soundwave. I’m not stupid.” She kicked out her legs and flicked his ears. “I just mean, you know, they were only around humans and rude harpies. What if they’re hurting each other accidentally?”

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Nine

Soundwave didn't know which was worse: that the twins felt they had to use their bodies to pay their way or that he was legitimately disappointed they would only extend an interest to him because they felt they had to. Perhaps it was a mix of both.

What had he done wrong? How had he given them the idea they owed him something?

He fled his nest without true destination in mind. Liege Megatron had given him leave from his duties for a couple of days to help get Sideswipe and Sunstreaker acclimated, and that was to be Soundwave's only task. Frenzy and Rumble, he knew, were helping Perceptor in the library -- a safe, educational place for both. Ravage had an eye on Vortex.

Where was Buzzsaw?

Soundwave tried to remember, but his thoughts kept wandering again to Sunstreaker's hesitant touch, the ripple of unease and determination and reluctance which surrounded Sunstreaker in a grey miasma. Where there should have been warmth, there was only cold, and Soundwave's stomach churned. He worried he might lose his breakfast.

He was not often touched. Such was the way of things. Other than the affection his siblings gave him, the occasional hug or pat from Liege Megatron, Soundwave did not often touch people. His... unique ability made it uncomfortable.

To feel such a thing from Sunstreaker...

Soundwave aimed for the nearest breath of fresh air and plunged onto a balcony, breathing deep of the damp, chilly air. Luckily, there was no one present to notice his emotional state. He gripped the railing with trembling hands and closed his eyes.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Seven

Soundwave had a headache.

Laserbreak had brought him a pouch of salica, and he’d washed it down with water, but the headache persisted. He blamed the stress of the past twenty-four hours, combined with the miasma of high emotions lingering around the aerie.

Even now, in this very room, emotions were high. Anger. Confusion. Concern. Fear. It spiked and thrummed from every harpy sat around the table. The only source of calm he found was Laserbeak on his shoulder. She vibrated with delight, ready to welcome the new arrivals to their nest.

The swinging doors flung open with a bang, and Soundwave startled as a great mass of relative calm burst into the room.

“It’s Ratchet,” Laserbeak said.

“Am I the last to arrive?” the gruff medic asked with a grunt. “Figures.” He dropped down into a chair with a loud thump. “Let’s get this started. I don’t want to leave my patients alone for too long. Those brothers especially are a flight risk.”

“Ravage is watching them,” Soundwave offered.

Ratchet snorted. “That’s a start, but I already told them they’re free to go if they want. Best not suggest otherwise.”

“Thank you, Ratchet,” said Liege Megatron, and the last of the murmurs and chatter died to nothing, leaving only the simmering tension cloaking the air. “How is their health?”

“About as well as you’d expect for a couple of harpies we rescued from the humans.” Ratchet’s tone turned dour, and the grey cast of anger turned into a rolling storm cloud. “Evidence of battle with other harpies, whipmarks, slash marks, talon marks. They’re malnourished, and don’t speak any one language with any fluency, but from what I can gather, they are intelligent.” He paused, the chair creaked, before he added. “And they’re twins.”

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Five

Soundwave did not like the human vehicles.

He despised the way they smelled, the way they moved, and the attack of wind against his face without the additional sensation of it beneath his wings. He could not get his bearings while aboard. The world moved too fast for his haze of a vision, and he had to rely on his siblings more so than usual.

He would have preferred to fly home on his own, but he was unwilling to leave Sideswipe and Sunstreaker alone. He would have sent Laserbeak ahead, to reassure Buzzsaw and Rumble, but she refused to leave them either. He'd had to settle for sending Ravage, long before the humans and their caravan of trucks were ready to depart with the Kaon flock and their rescuees.

Ravage would get home first. He didn't have to worry about the restriction of roads.

They were divided among three trucks. Soundwave had Frenzy and Laserbeak tucked against him, Frenzy dozing under his arm, and Laserbeak snoozing across his lap. Curled up across from him, the twins were tangled together, nearly indistinguishable save for their differing feather colors -- according to Laserbeak.

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Scars of Yesterday
Chapter Three

It happened so quickly, Soundwave didn’t have time to reason with them, only react. The moment the harpy came around the corner, and Laserbeak squawked in his ear, he tried for diplomacy, but the attack came too quickly, too desperately.

He’d had no choice but to put the gold smol down, listening to Laserbeak’s whispers to keep track of him. Her surprise when a second had appeared, only to be intercepted by Mirage, rang in his ears.

And then they were both down, unconscious but alive.

“They’re twins,” Laserbeak murmured with an excited scuttle back and forth along his shoulder. “Brother, they are so beautiful, too. Bloody, but beautiful.”

“They are twins,” Mirage said. The shape of him crouched next to their unconscious bodies, confusion and apology rising from his body in waves. “Slaves, too. The red one was in a match yesterday. He won against a bara half-again his height. It was quite impressive.”

“Assistance appreciated,” Soundwave said.

Mirage sighed. “Liege Megatron asked me to look after his Speaker. It’s what I do. I only wish we didn’t have to hurt them.”

“I do not think they know what kindness is. I know all too well the tortures humans can inflict on us,” Soundwave said. He brushed his throat for emphasis while Laserbeak hummed and pressed closer to his head. “We can’t leave them here.”

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