Chapter Text
Bluestreak had a secret. One he had to keep at all costs, no matter how much he wished to speak about it. His secret? He could see the dead. Ghosts, sparks that hadn't moved on or simply were stuck between worlds. He could interact with them, try to find a solution to help them pass on to the Well. To at least try to make a change.
His sire was not on the same page. He'd banned Bluestreak from acknowledging the ghosts, not wanting him to bring shame to the family. Bluestreak was an only child, his carrier having left due to the family's strict rules. He had wanted to go with his carrier, but sire had told about the ghosts she brought home and won the court case.
Years passed, and Bluestreak was finally moving out of the family home, on his way to life in university. He was nervous, but excited. He would be free to be himself, ghosts and all. Carrier often told him Primus had gifted him with a resonant spark. Maybe one day he would be able to find her again.
-
Bluestreak peeked into the room he would be sharing with someone called Blaster. He'd arrived after the introductions were well ongoing, having missed most of it. He did meet two of his teachers, Prowl, the law teacher, and Jazz, music teacher. He'd taken the class for extra credit but he might enjoy the class with a fun teacher like Jazz.
Half of the room was filled with music instruments, posters, records and miscellaneous music sheets. The mech himself was sitting on his bed, with two cassettes by his side. "Hey mech. Nice t' meet ya. I'm Blaster. This is Rewind and Eject."
Bluestreak walked in and dropped his bags by his bed. "Hi. I'm Bluestreak. We should be in music together."
"Ya play any instrument?"
"Flute." He shrugged. He wasn't perfect but he could read music sheets. He vented, forcing himself not to ramble. Rambling was bad. "I'll uh, get settled if you don't mind."
"Sure. Don't mind me. If ya need anything let me know."
Bluestreak unpacked slowly. He wanted to be a detective, and he knew Professor Prowl's class would be difficult, but he had always wanted to help others. That meant ghosts too. He'd told his sire a pretty lie, and surprisingly sire had agreed to send him to Iacon' university. He still wondered why. Maybe his sire grew tired of hearing him talk. Could be a possibility with how often his grandparents told him to shut up.
He set his blanket on the bed, then added the final touch: his door wings pillows. Needed if he didn't want to end up going to the medic for strained wires again.
Blaster had put up soft music, nothing too loud, just background noise while Eject watched sports on his small TV. It was strange, to share with someone but it was new and exciting. Different. Maybe Blaster could be a friend. The mech seemed nice, caring with his cassettes friends. Would it be rude to ask?
Bluestreak sat in his bed, taking out his data pad to review each class he had taken. He was determined to graduate and become an enforcer. He'd probably go back to Praxus but at least he would be able to do things on his own for once.
-
His first class went well, he rather liked Professor Prowl. As he exited after everyone else, he saw another cassette player, blue instead of Blaster's reds. The mech was followed by a beastformer, a cat.
He was about to turn to the other hallway but the beastformer glanced at him as someone walked through her. His optics widened as he hurried away. Did the mech know about the ghost? If not, why was she following him? He pushed it in the back of his mind, he had to focus on his classes for now.
He didn't take late classes, so he had the room to himself when he was done for the day. He dropped his bag by the bed and curled up in it. He should've known there surely would be ghosts around here too. He rubbed his optics.
"In all my years you're the first one to see me."
He startled, almost falling off the bed. He leaned over and there was the beastformer from earlier. Where to start? He couldn't ask her how she died that was probably rude. "Are you, um, aware that you're a ghost?"
"I am." She jumped on the bed to sit next to him. "I have a task for you. I need you to tell Soundwave that it wasn't his fault."
"I can try but I'm not a social butterfly even if I try. I can't just come up to him and say hey your dead friend wants to tell you something and he's think I'm insane or something."
"He is like you. An outlier. Tell him. He will understand."
"So what, I just say it like that-" and the beastformer was gone. Great.
He hid his face into his pillows and groaned. Okay, he should see it like an investigation. He had to find Soundwave, try to get him to a private place and tell him. First, he should find where Soundwave resides, maybe he was on campus too and had a room somewhere. The other option was asking around and he didn't want to look like a stalker.
Bluestreak went to the dorms secretary. The area was busy with students, so he slipped past, looking around to make sure everyone was busy. He hurriedly typed and found what he was looking for.
There was a loud clatter of cans and then yelling. Art students were arguing between themselves, a golden mech silently glaring daggers at others, the mural he had been painting ruined by streaks of blue everywhere.
Bluestreak tried to walk past to exit but mechas blocked his way, not even noticing he was there.
"You'll be there a while if you don't assert yourself." A mech leaning against the wall next to him said. His plating some sort of faded green. Not a student, probably a teacher or worker.
"I just don't want to push around." He replied. Then he realized that the mecha next to him was half phased into the wall and he wanted to smack himself.
He pushed past the crowd and exited, door wings hiked upwards. He knew better. He knew better than to believe everyone that talked to him could be seen by everyone. He didn't want the reputation that came with talking to himself! He'd been bullied as a youngling much already.
He did not notice until too late and walked right into another mech. "I'm so sorry-" he interrupted himself when he looked up at Soundwave. "Hi." He squeaked out, door wings drooping in embarrassment. Oh, he was pretty from up close. He hoped he wouldn't make a fool our of himself by blurting out the most deranged thing like hey I see ghosts and one is following you!
Soundwave tilted his head. Bluestreak realized the mech was holding his forearms and backed away. "I'm sorry. I didn't look where I was going, there was a commotion in the reception and art students are pissed at mechas who dropped paint on their mural-" he closed his mouth and bit his cheek. Stop. Talking. Yes. Stop.
Soundwave looked at the door of the reception, where the secretary was lecturing the rough-housing students. "I see. Designation?"
"I'm Bluestreak." He looked nervously around, seeing the ghost staring at him. He glared at her, pleading her to fragging explain what she wanted him to say but no she stayed quiet and watched. "I uh, I have to go. See you around!" He hurried down the hall, speed walking, not running.
Blaster was present when he arrived so Bluestreak locked himself in the washroom, resisting the urge to shout. Ugh, he'd embarrassed himself in front of the mech he had to talk to about ghosts. Mercy take him.
"I have to make a plan. I can't just go up to him. And I haven't seen him in any of my classes.." he leaned his head against the wall. Augh. Aughhhhhhh.
"You okay in there?" Blaster called.
"Yep!" He turned on the solvent to scrub his face and maybe wash his thoughts away.
Okay. plan. He could make that. Soundwave had a beastformer ghost. Said ghost was a cassette size, maybe a family member, a close friend, or a sibling. Wait, he could ask Blaster about carrier mechas. What else? Soundwave was outlier, as the beastformer had mentioned. Did it have anything to do with how she died? The mech seemed calm, kept to himself.. Bluestreak could always try to befriend him. Soundwave could ditch him after but he wanted to at least try to get the beastformer's last word out.
Bluestreak exited the washroom, seeing the cassettes playing some sort of game on the TV, a fighting game. He sat and watched. Eject boasted about being the best while getting his aft kicked which Bluestreak tried not to laugh and encourage them instead.
--
The first week passed easily. Bluestreak enjoyed his classes, had no trouble with any. He was leaving his last class when he encountered Soundwave. He caught up to him, looking up at him with a smile. "Hi Soundwave."
Soundwave paused. "I never told you my designation."
If he could, he would be sweating bullets. "Ah.. I mean, I heard someone-"
"Come with me." Soundwave led him to the dorms, where single rooms where. He unlocked his door, pushing Bluestreak to enter. It was dim, he had to focus his optics. The room was built for students with a family units, there were small beds, shelves and ladders across furniture. It was kinda cute but why didn't Blaster get one like that?
Bluestreak twitched, feeling Soundwave's stare on his back. He turned, words spilling out accidentally. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to lie to you but I have an ability- you can call me whatever names you want but please hear me out."
Soundwave gestured at them to sit at the table. Bluestreak fidgeted under the stare. "I can see the dead." He blurted out.
The beastformer sat next to him. "Continue." She encouraged.
"I don't even know your name." He told her.
"Ravage."
Bluestreak forced his wings still. "Ravage is sitting on the table next to me. She is a black beastformer feline with red optics."
"Your hand." Soundwave said, no traces of emotions in his voice.
Bluestreak obeyed but he didn't understand. Soundwave's hand was warm in his. "She says it wasn't your fault." He spoke for her as she talked. "I knew it was dangerous, but the twins would have died. The ladder was broken. I had to act. I'm sorry for breaking my promise."
Bluestreak shivered as he felt her grief pass through him. Coolant fell from his optics and he did not fight it. "I'm an outlier." He said softly. "I see the dead and feel what they feel." Soundwave brushed a thumb over his tears.
"You.. are the first one where I cannot read your mind. I thought you were after me." He frowned. "Let me see her. Please." His voice broke.
Bluestreak opened his wrist port without hesitation. He did not feel threatened, and Ravage was purring against his frame. Soundwave connected. His touch was shy, brushing against Bluestreak, asking for permission. Bluestreak lowered his firewalls, offering his senses. Soundwave could see her now, from Bluestreak's optics. His voice spat static as he reached out but nothingness greeted him.
Ravage met Bluestreak's eyes. "I love you, my little Wave. You need to let go of my broken bond. I will be waiting for you in the Well."
Soundwave shivered, holding Bluestreak's hand tightly. "I love you." He choked out.
Ravage walked into the light and disappeared.
Bluestreak sobbed. Couldn't stop himself. "I'm sorry. This isn't about me-" but Soundwave only sent a wave of calm/acceptance and Bluestreak collapsed against the table, crying. He realized Soundwave was crying through him and he sent love through the connection, love for the world, love for those unloved, love for those who needed it.
It took a moment for both of them to calm down. Bluestreak realized they weren't alone, Soundwave's other cassettes were present. "Hi." He whispered weakly. He hadn't realized how draining it would be.
The cassettes piled up on top of Soundwave, hugging him tightly.
Bluestreak felt exhausted. He tried to stand but his legs were wobbly. Soundwave carefully lifted him up and laid him down on his bed. It was big enough for the both of them if Bluestreak kept his wings off the bed. They were still connected and what a strange sensation it was. He reset his vocalizer. "Can you read my thoughts while we are connected?"
"Affirmative."
"Cool. So like, do you have to touch people to read their thoughts?"
"Usually no. But you are an outlier. Not the first one I meet, but the first to have a block against me." Soundwave shifted so he was on his side, facing Bluestreak. The cassettes, Frenzy, Rumble, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw cuddled around him.
"Is this okay? Usually mechas yell at me for trying to help and I know it's not my place but-"
Soundwave squeezed his hand. "Thank you." Grateful for the chance of having closure, for understanding him and giving him peace.
Bluestreak let the relief wash over him. Soundwave wouldn't yell at him, nor insult him. For the first time in his life, someone understood. Someone cared. And he clung to that thought as he fell into recharge.
-
Bluestreak woke up to an ache in his door wings. Right, he'd fallen asleep on Soundwave.. he booted slowly, feeling he was still connected. It was strange but not unwelcome. He could faintly feel the hum of Soundwave's system, almost silent if not from the sound of his spark.
Laserbeak looked at him for a moment. He offered his free hand and she let him pet her. He smiled softly. He hoped it would be enough, for them to have peace. He didn't ask about the details, unless they wished to tell him. He simply wished them the best.
Soundwave's visor lit up as he onlined.
"Good morning." Bluestreak whispered. "How do you feel?"
Soundwave shared grief/sadness/relief/guilt via the connection.
Bluestreak shuffled closer and hugged him. He could say it would be alright eventually but grief was a strong emotion. It followed along, time could dull the feeling but it would be there for a moment. He only had felt grief because of the ghosts, but he thought he could understand.
Soundwave shared grateful/calm through their connection.
They stayed in bed for a moment, simply basking in the comfort they offered to each other. Bluestreak never had a friend before and he wanted so badly.
Soundwave offered his comm code. ::I will be your friend::
Bluestreak lit up. "I'm glad! I've never really had friends before and when I tried they laughed at me or told me to shut up often enough and it's hard you know because I can't help it I'm a chatterbox-" he interrupted himself.
::It's okay.:: Soundwave squeezed his hand.
Bluestreak vented, he didn't want to cry again. "I should be going. I have a morning class. I'll uh, message you later?"
::Looking forward to it.::
They disconnected and Bluestreak went on his way. He had to shower because he probably looked awful and he needed to be presentable.