Chapter Text
Since the end of the war Soundwave had not managed to retain too many friends from the Decepticon faction. They had mostly been work acquaintances and not much more, and Soundwave had not been good at keeping up these relationships since.
Soundwave had his cassettes, of course, but being from his spark they were more akin to his children than his friends. And while he was always deeply committed to his cassettes he wanted something a bit more substantive. Just someone to talk to on his own level would be nice.
He had considered trying to set up meetings with his former colleagues, but he had no idea who he would ask. No one he could think of that he wanted to spend major time with.
Soundwave was trying to think of anyone he could talk to have a meet-up with. He went through a list of Decepticon contacts and created a spreadsheet detailing the pros and cons of meeting up with various Decepticons. There were some that were eliminated instantly since Soundwave could not stand their presence. The more obnoxious Decepticons tended to fall on that list, including the Stunticons and most of the Combaticons. He then checked off the ones he knew hated him personally. There were quite a few that did not like him because he was their commanding officer. Normally he had been the one who in charge of punishment detail because neither Megatron or Starscream could be bothered to do it, and Soundwave's cold demeanour allowed him to not make any reprimands appear personal. However, that had done him no favours in terms of putting him on good terms with other Decepticons.
After going through the whittled down list his options were rather small. There was Megatron himself, but Megatron had always firmly been his general, somewhat unreachable. Soundwave felt awkward to approach him. He had Starscream, whom he could tolerate in small doses and who would probably be more appealing to interact with in a social setting rather than to work alongside, and there was also Thundercracker, who had always been the most tolerable seeker.
Nervous and tentative, he sent them both a message asking if either of them wanted to meet up at one of the newly established cafés on Cybertron.
Starscream left him on read for several hours before sarcastically asking if this was some sort of scheme or if Megatron had put him up to this. Soundwave had to send several clarifying messages that it was not before Starscream finally announced he'd be too busy hosting some science conference with Skyfire anyway. And the tone of Thundercracker's message was confused, as if he had no idea why Soundwave was calling him.
Soundwave had the horrible feeling that this was not going to work. He wasn't going to have any luck finding any friendships or meaningful relationships.
And least not with the Decepticons anyway.
-
Jazz however, had definitely not had that problem. He had always been likeable and approachable to all members of the Autobot faction, and these relationships were still going strong since the end of the war. Jazz enjoyed others’ company and he was always happy to meet up with more people and see how they were doing.
Everyday he was pinged with messages or people asking if he was around. He kept tabs on just about every Autobot and how they were doing since the peace started. He was always delighted getting any news and hearing how everyone was doing. He'd even managed to befriend some Decepticons.
A lot of people had worried the peace would not last, that tensions would break out almost the day after their treaty had been signed. But it had managed to hold fast, and the growing number of Autobots that were connecting with Decepticons only increased Jazz's hope that this would last.
Most of the Decepticons that had befriended Autobots seemed to be the ones that now worked in close proximity. The Constructicons were doing well with Hoist and Grapple, and Shockwave was quickly befriending Wheeljack. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe getting on with the Stunticons felt like it was a recipe that was due to end in disaster, but it seemed to be doing the young'uns some good.
Jazz had tried to keep an eye for any potential openings he could find, any other Decepticons that he could talk to and try and get on their side. Sometimes he was better at pairing up Cons with other Bots. It turned out Thundercracker made great friends with Bluestreak thanks to their love of human films. That was one he never would have suspected.
But it seemed more of these types of connections were springing up every single day, and Jazz was glad to see it, even if keeping up with them was exhausting.
Today Jazz decided to go visit a café started by the Insecticons. Those critters had quite the knack for brewing up energon in all sorts of different and interesting ways.
He stepped inside, looking around at the clientele when he noticed a fairly familiar figure sitting at a table by the window. Soundwave was normally good at slipping into the shadows and making himself unseen, but this time it was obvious that Soundwave was hoping to be seen. As he saw Jazz enter some sort of expression shot across his face, though Jazz couldn't quite tell what, even with his skills for reading people. It was always hard with Soundwave's visor and facemask. Jazz simply gave him a nod and then went to go order his food.
Jazz sat down with a bubbling blue energon smoothie, and cast a quick glance at Soundwave. He had the obvious look of someone waiting for another person to arrive. He had his helm up and he kept looking up at the direction of the door, as if hoping someone would step through it. When the door opened Soundwave's visor brightened, but when it turned out to be Brawn, Soundwave deflated.
Jazz was curious. To him Soundwave had always been a mystery, a shadow that was clinging to his back and waiting to prey on any misstep he made. As the heads of both faction spy divisions they had always played a game of cat and mouse with each other, often switching roles or thinking the other was the mouse when it turned out to be the other way around. As a result Jazz had not been particularly interested in trying to befriend Soundwave since the peace started. They had both kept their distance from each other. But now that he had spotted Soundwave here and looking oddly open and vulnerable, well… to say the least Jazz was curious.
He got up and decided to move tables, placing his drink on the same one as Soundwave. He flashed the cassette player a smile as he sat down.
"Hey Soundwave, how you doing?"
For how fixedly Soundwave had been watching the door he was almost expecting Soundwave to be startled at his sudden appearance, but to Soundwave's credit he was not remotely so. He simply turned his head slowly to Jazz and nodded.
"Jazz," he said plainly.
"So what's a pretty thing like you doing all here alone?"
Jazz detected some sort of response from Soundwave, but again his blank face made it hard to read his expression. He had no idea what emotion that complement had gotten.
"Soundwave: waiting for company."
"I take it from how you seem to be practically scanning the entrance that said company is running late."
Jazz was surprised when he heard Soundwave give a beleaguered sigh. It was a sound he'd never heard from the Decepticon third in command before.
"Affirmative."
Jazz found himself feeling oddly sympathetic to the defeated tone.
"Well, hey, don't worry. Maybe they're just running late."
"This incident: has happened three times already."
"Ah."
"Affirmative," Soundwave nodded.
"Well, who was it you were waiting for?"
"Designation: Starscream."
"Isn't he not on Cybertron at the moment?"
Jazz saw a motion from Soundwave's visor that looked like a blink.
"I thought you would have figured?" Jazz cringed. "Don't you always know everything everyone's up to at every point?"
"Soundwave: no longer has reason to constantly spy on entire population. Efforts: incredibly tiring."
"Hah!" Jazz let out a bark of laughter. "Yeah, I feel you on that. I keep up all these social networks, it's just as busy as running a spy network. I'm running ragged trying to keep up with what everybody's doing."
"Soundwave: would not mind that."
"What?" Jazz asked. Not sure he'd quite heard right.
Soundwave paused; it was if he'd realised what he'd just said. He looked down at his own drink and a sense of awkwardness came from his field.
"Soundwave?" Jazz said, even as Soundwave's field just retreated more. "I'm curious what you meant by that." When Soundwave didn't respond he leaned in closer, clasping his hands together. "Come on, Soundwave. You know me, you know I'm the type who once I learn about something I'm not gonna give up until I know everything."
Soundwave gave another sigh, though this one sounded pointedly annoyed.
"Yes. Soundwave: very aware of that."
Jazz smiled again.
"So why don't you just 'fess up now and save yourself all the bother? You can tell me, I keep secrets just as well as you do."
Soundwave seemed to sense he had been defeated and finally spoke.
"Soundwave: not good at keeping up personal relationships. Friendships from Decepticon army: not be able to be maintained. Soundwave: jealous of Jazz's ability to manage it so easily."
Jazz paused, taken back by Soundwave's frankness.
"Well, gee, Soundwave. I didn't know you felt that way. You always struck me as the type of mech who preferred being alone."
"Soundwave: does prefer solitude. However: not eternally. Even Soundwave: needs company."
"Ah, I see," Jazz said, tapping his finger against the table. "Yeah, no mech can be an island."
"Jazz: accomplished this how?" Soundwave asked, his tone almost a little desperate.
"Well…" Jazz paused, "I don't know. It just comes easy to me. I'm extroverted like that. It's not the same for everybody though. I can imagine it's hard to break out of your shell when you're used to being quiet."
"Statement: feels true."
Jazz could see how Soundwave was deflating again.
"But hey, if you wanna meet up with more people, why not come with me to some jams I've got going? I can think of a few events you might be interested in."
"Soundwave: assumes these events are mostly attended by Autobots?"
"Well, most of them, but I think you'd be surprised how many ex-Cons come along to these. More and more seem to be joining everyday."
Soundwave went silent and seemed to contemplate it.
"Soundwave: will join event."
"Alright! Sure, I know we're gonna have a lot of fun. Just you wait and see."