Universe: G1 AU
Characters: Soundwave, Megatron, Prowl, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Jazz
Plot: friendship is weird. And usually puts bots in awkward positions. But it's precious anyway.
Notes: belongs to the same universe as the last three one shots. But it starts before them.

"Lord Megatron."
The smaller blue and white mech stood with no fear, staring straight in his red optics as the leader looked up at him with his usual scowl. His visor and mask covered his expression, but he knew he didn't need it. The warlord was no danger to him.

" Yes Soundwave?" the huge mech asked, getting up to approach. His movements were brisk with aggression, used to intimidate. Soundwave arrived only to his chassis, but did not even take a half step back.

"Praxus: sent terms." he said calmly 'not negotiable. "

He passed a data pad to the Warlord, watching with keen optics as the mech read over. He could see his optics narrowing with rage, the servos closing spasmodic on the data pad.

" Just supporting us with intelligence, but no formal alliance and no troops? And they expect us to leave them their independence?" Megatron finally snapped out, and the data pad cracked. Soundwave didn't move.

"Praxus: always neutral." he tried to explain, but he knew it was useless "intelligence valuable. Best intelligence network on Cybertron."
The warlord glared at him with hatred.
"Oh? Better than yours? Then why do I not hire the Head of their department to replace you?" he growled. Any lesser mech would have covered. Soundwave never cowered. That whiny seeker should learn a couple of things from him.

"Head, firm neutral. Won't ally. Soundwave better choice." he said with a calm tone "loyalty, important factor. Starscream clear example.'
That earned him a huff from the mech, but his rage was fading. He grunted turning to go back to that black throne he liked so much to sit on.
" I hope so for you. " Megatron grunted and Soundwave just walked out of there.

::Boss? You okay? :: Frenzy asked in their bond, the cassettes having been moving restless for quite a while since he got in the throne room. Even after they left they had not quieted.
::Soundwave: functional. Worry  unnecessary. :: the cassette master tried to reassure, also making sure his other bitlets didn't worry. He was just waiting for Laserbeak to return, that was his only worry. And as he sat at his console to gather his intelligence reports, he repressed a flare of foreboding.

- - -

"Laserbeak."

Prowl stood in the dark room that was his office, arms crossed and an unamused scowl on his face.
"I thought I and Soundwave were past these... Surprises." he said looking straight at where his sensors told him the small Condorazor was perched. On the perch where his own pet stood, of course, the two exchanging happy chirps.
Giving the order for the lights to come to life he sighed staring down at the creature, that just chirped and flew over to his desk. The Praxian shrugged a doorwing and approached to rub his helm with a digit.
"Do you have a message?" he asked taking out a buffed data pad and a chord.  The little thing gave a soft chirp.
::Of course I do:: he said with a snicker, raising his right wing to show the port. Prowl plugged the chord, and watched as the data streamed inside the pad quickly. Humming softly to himself when it ended, he freed the minicon and let his program start decryption. Offering him a rust stick he always held for when his processor needed more energy at random times.

::I'll never understand why you and Wave get along. :: Laserbeak chirped quietly between his nibbles at the rust stick, looking quite happy. ::You are not on the same side. ::

Prowl didn't look up from the message he was reading.
"You are young." he murmured absently "ask Ravage or Soundwave if you really want to know. It's not my story to tell you"
He then looked up, before plugging back in the completely at ease Condorazor. Composing a quick message in answer and encrypting it as tight as he could, he transferred it.
"You should go, you know Soundwave is always worried." he said quietly before sitting on his chair and watching Laserbeak leave. Before just staring at the city below him.

- - -

Several millennia later, Earth

A familiar cassette was at his blaster point. Prowl frowned as he stared down at the little thing. His wings were trembling. Soundwave stood a few steps away from them, and even if horror wasn't on his face, Prowl could almost feel it. He was surrounded by his comrades fighting, many would see him spare one of the worst spy cassettes the Decepticons had. He should just shoot and get over with it.

::Prowl... :: the little creature chirped through comm, his voice pleading. His spark clenched, his wings quivering almost non visible. He didn't want to do this.
He knew there was Jazz staring at him too, as he still didn't fire. He didn't want to see acid pellets devouring his armor with that horrible sizzling sound he knew all too well.

In Praxus he already lost Beautiful.

But the  Decepticons destroyed Praxus. Hatred flared in his spark at the memory, his digit on the trigger stiffening.
But could he fault it on Laserbeak? Soundwave had even warned him. Too late to save the city. Not too late to save his family.

::Prowl: run. Megatron, out of control.:: the drone voice in his audial had frozen Prowl right where he stood. Energon cube still at his lips.
::What? Soundwave what is he going to do? :: he asked as panic started filling his spark, his tactical computer kicking in to try and find the most likely way to attack Praxus he hasn't considered. There were no threats signaled by their radars, he'd be the first informed.
::No time. Answers, later. Run.::
And Prowl, obeyed.

It was only as he told Streetwise to go hide with Bluestreak in the closest bunker that he heard the seekers coming, himself going to hide in another of his bunkers. He blessed his own paranoia.
"Where was the alarm?!" he snarled to himself, punching the wall. He should have received it well before they arrived. He could have warned so many more, instead of the handful he met running to his hiding place.
The walls rumbled, though the place was safe. Prowl sunk down on the floor, and stared at the gray nothingness in front of him.
He just hoped his brother was safe.

That memory, made his spark twist. He could be dead with  millions of his framekin. But he wasn't. Bluestreak wasn't.
"This is for Praxus." he said softly, and saw the bird's optics go huge in horror.

He let his weapon lower, the Condorazor free to flee back to his carrier. Silent, he went back to look for comrades who needed help.
He knew Jazz was still watching him.

- - -

"Are you out of your fragging mind?!" Jazz snarled on his face, and Prowl frowned sadly. Even after all this time, even after all that changed between them, he had to see such distrust in his expression?
Prowl supposed he deserved it.

"I had to settle an old debt." he said with soft honesty. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Soundwave. Neither would Bluestreak. "

His beloved's expression didn't change, though the fire in his next words died a little:'You are an Autobot Prowl. What you did before... We had decided it should not matter, but you can't do these things for them. I need to trust you sweetspark."

Prowl sighed softly.
" You can. " he promised quietly, and got close to hug him. Jazz accepted it and the tactician just leaned against him quietly.
He had repaid his last debt. Next time, Soundwave would just be an enemy.