All's Fair
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Optimus had a decision to make. It wasn't monumental or earth-shattering, but a personal decision, something he had not done in a very long time.
He stood, separating himself from the two mechs who had been sitting contentedly beside him, talking.
"I. . .must show you both something," Optimus said.
Hot Rod and Sideswipe shared a glance, turned their attention back to Optimus. They watched in surprise as his battle mask retracted, and he bared his face to them. Neither had ever seen his face behind the mask, and they both stared just a moment, first in disbelief that he would show them his face, when neither of them could recall ever hearing about him going with out the mask, and then that he would trust them that much.
The face staring back at them was handsome, almost beautiful, Sideswipe thought. He couldn't imagine a reason why Optimus would keep his face hidden, not even the faded scar that ran from below the corner of his right optic, across the plane of his cheek, into the top of his upper lip. It was an old, deep scar, but it didn't detract from their leader's appearance. If anything, it spoke of his experience.
Optimus watched as they stared. And he started to feel disappointed. They were staring at the scar, just one of the reasons why he never showed his face in public.
"I'm sorry," he said. "If it bothers you my face is marred. . .I can't help the flaw. . ."
Sideswipe was on his feet in an instant, reached up to touch Optimus' face, but he stopped.
And Hot Rod voiced what Sideswipe was thinking. "It's only a scar," Hot Rod said. "You're appearance isn't marred, and you're flawed just like the rest of us, so what."
"What would make you think a scar is something to be ashamed of, anyway?" Sideswipe asked.
"How did you get it?"
"Fighting Megatron in close quarters not long after the start of the war," Optimus said. "He tried to stab me in the optic with a metal shard, only Elita-1 shot him and Megatron managed to damage my face instead."
Sideswipe grabbed Optimus by the wrist, hauled him back to the berth. He caressed the bigger mech's jaw while Hot Rod gently traced the scar.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," Sideswipe said.
"But you don't understand," Optimus said.
"Understand what?" Hot Rod asked.
"It's been difficult for me to show my face since," Optimus said.
"Why?" Sideswipe said. "Because it bothers you or because it bothered someone else?"
"Elita-1 blamed herself for it, but I told her it was not her fault," Optimus said. "Since, I haven't shown my face to anyone but those closest to me, those I trust, those I care for the most."
-----
Thundercracker stared Skywarp as he processed the facts. Starscream was willing to separate their ties to the Decepticons, but only if Skywarp interfaced with Prime? Not a tall order at all, but according to Seeker tradition, one of them had to do it to prove their intentions were honorable and sincere.
"Good luck," Thundercracker said, sitting down on his berth. "You really think Prime will interface with you?"
"Well, you could offer yourself if you want," Skywarp sniped.
"No, Starscream said it had to be you and you've been gunning for Prime since we got here so no, I'll leave it to you," Thundercracker said.
"Starscream just wants out so he can bond with Skyfire without getting himself killed and he's leaving it to someone else to do the dirty work for him, as usual," Skywarp said.
"It's not like you don't want out, too," Thundercracker said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be here right now."
"No kidding," Skywarp said. "But I wonder how Prime's going to handle Megatron's deadline? After tonight, just two days left. . .He said he has no intention of going through with it."
"Peace isn't worth that price. Well, maybe. . .but interfacing with Megatron?"
Thundercracker made a face.
"Yeah, I know. Thinking about it makes me want to get my processor wiped," Skywarp said. "I don't know how Shockwave does it. . ."
"Shut up or you're gonna make me sick," Thundercracker said. "But y'know, I hope Prime accepts the offer you made because if he does, I can hardly wait to see the look on Megatron's face if Starscream has to tell him he's renouncing the Decepticons. It'll serve him right."
"No kidding," Skywarp said, settling back on his own berth. Two days. Not a long time at all. Hopefully Prime would decide *something.*
-----
8 a.m. The Ark was starting to come alive for the day but Sparkplug Witwicky couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed a little more tense than usual. He finally had the time to go talk to Optimus, at Spike's urging. Bots nodded or said 'hello' as they watched their human friend make his way to Prime's office. Sparkplug knew something was up from the way they were all acting. The night before, while he was over at Spike and Carlie's, he'd tried to talk to Bumblebee but the young bot was keeping mum. Bumblebee was a talker and if he wasn't talking, it was big.
So the human made straight for the Autobot leader's office, walked straight in, but it took Prime a few moments to notice Sparkplug because he was talking with Skywarp? Sparkplug did a double take. What the hell was going on? A Decepticon? In Prime's office?
His vacation was supposed to eliminate stress, not knock him out of the loop, Sparkplug thought. Leave for a few weeks and the whole world goes to hell. . .
"Skywarp, now isn't the time to discuss this. Later, all right?" Prime said. "I know the deadline is day after tomorrow, but I don't need to be reminded."
Sparkplug cleared his throat.
Autobot and Decepticon both glanced down at him.
"Hi Prime," Sparkplug said.
"Hello, my friend," Optimus said. "Let me finish with Skywarp here and we can talk."
"But. . ." Skywarp started.
"Get out. Now. Before I throw you out," Optimus said.
Skywarp retreated, leaving Optimus alone with his friend.
"Sparkplug, how was your vacation?" Optimus asked.
"Obviously longer than I anticipated. What is going on around here? Spike seemed to think whatever's bothering you was important enough for me to see what I could do," Sparkplug said.
Optimus thought about it a second, then the lights came on. He stood, walked over to the door, locked it, sighed. Here we go again, he thought. He walked back to his desk, leaned back against it.
"Let me explain. . ." Optimus said. "A few weeks ago, under the influence of high grade, I admitted during a game of truth or dare that I have never. . .ah. . ."
"Never what?" Sparkplug asked, confused.
"In human terms, I am a virgin," Optimus said. He watched Sparkplug's expression change from confusion to surprise, but unlike Spike and almost everyone else who knew, his human friend didn't seem taken aback by it.
"Wow," Sparkplug said. "Huh. Never expected to hear that from you. . .I thought you and Elita-1 were pretty serious, but I guess not, right?"
"We cared for each other deeply, but our responsibilities kept us apart," Optimus said.
"Well, if you've never had uh, relations before, why don't you just pop back to Cybertron and get with her and. . .you know," Sparkplug said. "Take care of things."
"Elita-1 terminated our relationship several months ago," Optimus said.
"Terminated? Isn't that a strong word?" Sparkplug asked.
"She might as well have ripped out my spark," Optimus said.
Sparkplug felt sheepish now. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said. "I know you two were together a long time. And I suppose bringing it up all the time doesn't help, does it?"
"Hardly," Optimus said. "On both counts."
"But the fact you're a virgin seemed to set everyone off? Why?" Sparkplug asked.
"I've had more than a few offers of 'help,'" Optimus said. "It's just been embarrassing."
"Why? There's nothing embarrassing about it," Sparkplug said. "It's your choice, your life. The others should respect that. It's a personal matter. And when you find someone you care about enough, that you want that much, things will run their natural course."
Optimus was staring, arms crossed, optic ridge raised. "I wish you'd been here at the beginning of all this and everyone else could have heard what you just told me," Optimus said. "At least you understand."
"I've been there myself and I've raised a kid, so I've had to give 'the talk' more than once," Sparkplug said. "Just never thought I'd be giving it to an alien robot from another planet."Optimus laughed. It felt good to relieve some of the tension he'd been feeling lately.
"Glad I could help," Sparkplug said. "But is there anything else going on because why was Skywarp in here?"
Optimus sighed. "Skywarp, Thundercracker and Starscream are under my protection right now," he said. "Pending the severing of their ties from the Decepticons. And please don't ask, because I do not want to have to explain. Also, Megatron has offered a temporary cease fire that ends day after tomorrow under the guise of negotiating peace, but I fear his price is not one I'm willing to pay."
"What's he want for peace?" Sparkplug said. "But seriously, he can't mean it, can he?"
"Unknown," Optimus said.
"The price is unknown or you don't know if he's serious?" Sparkplug said.
"I know what he's asking, but his honesty is in question," Optimus said. "He wants my first interface in return for peace."
"Whoa," Sparkplug said.
"My reaction also," Optimus said. "And before you ask, I have no intention of going through with it. None."
"Have you let him know this?"
"No, I've decided to wait until his deadline is up, to give my Autobots some time without fighting," Optimus said. "They deserve that much."
"And so do you," Sparkplug said. "Hey--now that you're flying solo, so to speak, anyone new caught your eye? How about the new girl, Arcee?"
"Arcee is involved with Springer," Optimus said.
"So, she finally made her choice then," Sparkplug said. "How'd Hot Rod take it?"
"Better than expected," Optimus said.
"So nobody has caught your eye, eh?"
"I wouldn't say that," Optimus said.
-----
The rest of the day went by in a flash--an especially hostile disciplinary hearing with Hot Rod and Sunstreaker which almost ended with them both in the brig. Swoop and Slag found a high grade stash in the lab and their first drunken binge ended badly for everyone involved. Swoop came willingly when kindly asked to cease and desist weapons fire; Slag wasn't so cooperative. Half the lab was gone, incinerated when Slag turned his fire-breath onto some volatile chemicals stored in the back.
Ratchet was now flat on his back on one of his own surgical berths, recovering from his wounds, as were Ultra Magnus, Prowl, Silverbolt and Skywarp. Optimus knew he should be there himself but he had too much to take care of, like worrying about the lab being open and anyone could just go help themselves to weapons grade materials for a practical joke. No, wait, Optimus thought. Perceptor was down there, his weapons drawn, guarding the place like his life depended on it, with help from Red Alert. Optimus almost felt sorry for anyone if they tried stealing anything--Perceptor was worse than an Earth pit bull when protecting his research and Red. . .Well, Red would shoot first, ask questions later, hopefully enough incentive for anyone to stay the hell out of the once again ruined lab.
The exhausted Autobot leader laid his head down on his arms on his desk. So much to worry about, decisions to make. . .
"I thought you were supposed to be taking it easy."
Optimus' head snapped up. Jazz was leaning against the door to his office.
"Why aren't you with Prowl?" he asked.
"Because he wanted me to check on you," Jazz said. "Besides, he's in recharge now and Ratchet was yelling at First Aid somebody better go drag your aft down there because you're not doing like you were told."
"How is Ratchet?"
"Out cold until tomorrow sometime," Jazz said. "First Aid hit him with enough sedatives to bring down Devastator."
"Like he'll be out of commission that long," Optimus said.
"I know," Jazz said. "What are you still doing here anyway? Thought you'd be holed up in your quarters again with Sideswipe and Hot Rod. That's where you should be."
Optimus frowned.
"I have too much to do," he said.
"Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow," Jazz said. "Go get yourself checked out. I know you're gimping on that leg again. Then go find those two and get some rest. Everything will be fine. Kup's duty officer in ops tonight and Hot Spot is backing him up and he wouldn't let me do it so I can stay with Prowl. Prime, just go, all right? Let somebody take care of you for once."
"Is that an order?" Optimus said.
"Don't make do it," Jazz said.