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Soundwave coughed and curled up further against the alley wall. A bitter wind tore at his plating, the rag of cloth he'd found doing nothing to stop it.
But the cold didn't even register fully.
He gave a small whine and shrunk into himself, both servos on either side of his helm while he squeezed his optics shut, trying to block out all the noise that constantly bombarded him.
He was alone, scared, and confused.
He'd come online just days ago, but it was clear this society had no place for someone like him.
He'd run away the second they figured out what he was.
To them, he was different, a tool, just something they could use.
An outcast plagued by the thoughts and mental pollution of others.
This was his hell.
Soundwave couldn't stop the tears that flowed down his cheeks, his digits digging into the side of his helm as he grit his denta and yelled.
He was hyperventilating and shaking, everything finally becoming too much.
And then in between it all, the cold broke, just for a second.
The blue mech froze and looked up to where the warmth was coming from.
A white and red servo rested gently on his helm.
He blinked and followed the arm to what it was attached to, staring in shock at the blue, red and white mech kneeling in front of him.
“My, you're in quite the situation, aren't you?” The stranger grinned, though he could barely hear it over all the other noise.
“You… you're Shockwave,” Soundwave couldn't help but sputter out, “You run the J.A.A.T.”
“Hm?” Shockwave pursed his lips slightly in thought as he looked down at the scraggly mech, “I was more than certain you were a newly forged bot.”
“I am,” He whispered and clutched his helm tighter, “The voices told me who you were.”
“The voices?” The senator asked, raising his eyebrows.
“They're all around me. They're so loud! I can't block them out!” Soundwave cried, slamming his helm into his drawn up knees, “They won't shut up! It's all too loud!”
The mech in front of him didn't do anything to stop his actions, but the warmth on his helm never left. Instead, the servo moved down and gently grasped one of his, removing it from the side of his helm.
Soundwave looked up again hesitantly.
“You're an outlier, aren't you?” Shockwave asked, though it was said more like a statement, “You're a telepath.”
The blue mech stared before slowly nodding.
The other bots lips broke into a grin, “Well then you know what I do?”
He nodded again.
Shockwave stood, pulling Soundwave up with him. His ragged cloak fell off as he did, but he made no attempts to catch it.
“I didn't get you name, by the way,” He smiled, “Do you have one?”
“I… I chose Soundwave,” The young bot whispered.
The senator held his servo in both of his, and held it against his chassis, letting him feel the warmth that emanated from his spark and let it radiate throughout his whole frame.
“Then Soundwave, how would you like to come back with me and stay at the Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology?” Shockwave grinned, “It's a safe haven for bots like you, and I personally will be responsible for your education and growth as an outlier. There, I will help you to understand and use your abilities. You can grow into a great mech, along with all the others like yourself. You will no longer need to fear the minds of others!”
Soundwaves optics widened under his visor, his intake falling open and gawping before suddenly, more tears ran down his cheeks.
But they were not ones of sorrow.
“Really?” He croaked, his digits tightening around the senator's servos, “You really mean it?”
“Of course I do! I am a mech of my words, after all! I have no reason to lie to you, but I guess you already knew that?” Shockwave laughed and tapped the side of his helm.
The blue mech sniffled and quickly wiped his face clean with his arm, inhaling deeply before looking at his new teacher.
“Ok. Take me there.”