Chapter Text
Soundwave has carried before and he has definitely given emergence to sparklings before. He knows how it felt before, and now should not be any different. However…
"You're doing amazing, darling. Keep… keep venting properly and push slowly, ok? If it gets too much, y-you know you can squeeze my servo," despite saying so, Optimus Prime is the one who ends up squeezing Soundwave's servo. Optimus turns to the medics in front,"Ratchet, is the sparkling out yet?? It's been joors! Soundwave and the bitlet are undoubtedly in pain!"
"Optimus, please stop panicking," at the end of the medberth between Soundwave's legs, Ratchet replies exasperatedly, before looking up at Soundwave. "Okay, Soundwave, one more push and it should be out completely,"
"Affirmative," through grunts and vents, Soundwave confirms. As much as he finds Optimus panicking a little endearing, he must focus on…
—
The spark wasn't beating, or if it was beating, they couldn't notice. The newspark didn't even cry when it's out nor being patted on the back, it was completely still. No movement, anything. And nobody has to be a medic to know something is definitely wrong.
After emergence, Ratchet immediately puts the newspark into an incubator, trying to save it.
Soundwave is still resting on the medberth, with Optimus by his side. Ratchet told the creators that the possibility of this sparkling being a stillborn is… high. But he's going to do his best to save their offspring if there's a chance of the sparkling just have a weak spark on emergence.
As disraught as Optimus is, he knows the one who's hurting the most right now is his new conjunx. He holds Soundwave close to his pauldron, rubbing his servo on the cassette deck's helm.
"It's alright, Soundwave. You did the best you could, and I couldn't be prouder," Optimus whispers.
"No," Soundwave's vocalizer stutters as he chokes out; "This is all my fault. Stress: too high during carrying. Soundwave: didn't rest even when Ratchet told me to and sometimes even denied Prime's transfluid donations. Of course the sparkling is going to…" his vain attempt at holding back his sobs makes him look even more pathetic.
Soundwave curses himself. He told himself he wanted to keep this blasted sparkling, yet, he made little effort to actually nurture it during carrying. It's not like Soundwave to make such impulsive and rash decisions. And yet…
"… No it's not, sweetspark. If anything, it was my fault for getting you into this mess in the first place," Optimus mournfully kisses the side of Soundwave's helm, keeping him close.
He take a look at the sparkling in the incubator, then looks down on his chassis. "… I promised you I will make things right for us… and I intend to keep it,"
"… Optimus…?" Soundwave croaks as the Prime let go of him, and walks towards Ratchet and the incubator.
"Ratchet, may I take a look at the sparkling?" Optimus asked the medic.
Ratchet looks a little confused, "Sure, but I'm still working—," he was cut off by shock at what Optimus is doing.
Before the incubator, Optimus opens his chassis, revealing the Matrix of Leadership to the motionless sparkling. "Ratchet, I want you to connect the incubator to the Matrix," he said with determination.
"You can't be serious, Optimus… this procedure can drain your life force!" Ratchet warned. "And we don't know the full extent of what the matrix can do!"
"Even so, it's worth a try," Optimus states. "Please, Ratchet. I want this,"
Soundwave, stunned from watching all this. Why… why is he going this far for the spawn of his enemy's commander??
Ratchet exvents, "… Very well. If I refuse, you'll do it yourself anyway,"
—
Their effort bore fruit. Not long after the incubator was plugged to the matrix, the sparkling began to move, the spark on its chest finally glows with the color of radiant blue. It opens its mouth and let out a piercing cry. Loud, but undoubtedly alive.
Ratchet immediately plug out the cable that connects to the Matrix of Leadership to not risk the sire's life any further. After a quick inspection, the medic told Optimus that there's no longer a need for the incubator. Optimus immediately opens it to scoop up the small sparkling as he clumsily, but carefully wraps it in an insulation sheet.
Optimus Prime turns to Soundwave with a big smile. "She's… she's alive!" he announced happily. "Our sparkling… is alive! She wants to live!" couldn't contain the joy any longer, he walks up to Soundwave, who's still on the medberth and immediately hugs both his conjunx and his sparkling. "Oh Soundwave! Thank you, thank you for giving this gift for me, for us," he sobbed.
Soundwave hasn't heard the voice of a crying sparkling for a while, however, this is definitely the first time he heard the Prime sob. And, for the first time in his life, Soundwave bursts into tears. Opening his mask to let the coolant stream down his faceplate and to vent properly. "I…" he wept as Optimus hands over the sparkling to him.
Soundwave hugs the crying sparkling close to his chassis and whispers to the sparkling, "Mistakes: Soundwave made a lot of them… but I promise I'll love you for the rest of my life," he gently patted the sparkling's back and her cries devolves into whimpers.
Soundwave kisses the top of his sparkling's helm; "Designation: Filament. Soundwave: will make sure she lives a happy life,"
Even if it's against the very foundation of my belief.