Hot Shot's Childhood
Chapter 25
The Healing Touch of a Father
Optimus did not leave Hot Shot's side once. Even as the medics worked to repair the damage done to the child's spark box the commander was there, his optics locked on the frail form. Jetfire had tried to speak with him but after Optimus had not answered a single one of his questions the flyer had given up and left him alone. Even so, Optimus knew that Jetfire would want answers later on and that he would have to tell what had happened to the decepticon named Meltdown.
When a faint light was lit in Hot Shot's optics Optimus immediately forgot about Jetfire and his upcoming questions. He almost knocked down one of the medics in his haste to get to Hot Shot's side. His efforts were not wasted when he witnessed Hot Shot's reaction to seeing him first.
A brilliant smile spread on Hot Shot's face as his optics shined with life Optimus had feared to be forever lost. When the innocent optics shimmered with unshed tears Optimus reached out and gave the child's cheek a gentle caress with his thumb.
"O-Optimus?" Hot Shot choked out with a hoarse voice. "Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me", Optimus said, his spark almost bursting from joy and relief. "It's all over now. You're safe."
Hot Shot gave a grateful smile at Optimus' words before questioning: "And Meltdown?"
Optimus stiffened at the question but the groggy child lying on the bed did not notice a thing and simply continued smiling at the autobot commander. Optimus noticed this and smiled behind his faceplate, realizing that he would not hesitate to attack another Meltdown to assure that Hot Shot was safe.
"Don't worry", Optimus said to the yellow-armored bot. "He's never going to hurt you again." As Hot Shot's optics dimmed in a sleepy manner Optimus added silently to himself: "No one is going to hurt you ever again if there's anything I can do to stop it."
1.
As soon as the medics were done with their final check-ups Hot Shot hurried to ask if he could go back to school again. He had missed enough classes to have ComCom freaking out when he met the transformer in question again.
There was no apparent reason to keep the yellow bot at the clinic so he was allowed to leave. The only one who seemed to be against the idea of Hot Shot going back to school was Optimus. The autobot commander seemed to be so keen to keep Hot Shot under his watch that he was constantly coming up with new tests the medics should run in an effort to delay Hot Shot's release. But now it seemed that Optimus had finally given up, or run out of ideas, since Hot Shot was going to be returning to school that day.
While he was waiting for the escort that would take him to Glismax Academy Hot Shot absent-mindedly ran a hand down his new chest plate, his previous one having been broken beyond repair. The new armor was similar to his previous one in appearance but Hot Shot was quite certain that Optimus would not let him out of his sight without any safety precautions.
The sound of the door opening was the thing that snapped Hot Shot out of his thoughts. He lifted his head up to gaze into familiar golden optics and smiled.
"I contacted the headmaster", Optimus started. "If you're all set to go then we'd better head off."
Hot Shot blinked at the older bot confusedly before questioning: "Do you mean that you'll be taking me to school? As in personally?"
"Yes", Optimus answered simply. "I'll be taking you all the way to the classroom."
"But I thought Crushingor was caught!" Hot Shot exclaimed. "He planned the kidnapping with Meltdown. There was no one else in it."
It did not take Hot Shot long to figure out the truth when Optimus did not comment. Carefully he voiced his assumptions: "Crushingor is still out there, isn't he?
Optimus simply nodded in response before speaking: "We'll have to be extra cautious because of that. We have no idea if Crushingor's going to try the same plan twice."
"Seems rather unlikely", Hot Shot commented. "That would be pretty stupid of him..."
"That may be so", Optimus started as knelt down to Hot Shot's height. "But that still doesn't make the danger any less real." He gave the top of Hot Shot's head a friendly pat. "I won't have you hurt again."
As pleased as Hot Shot secretly was with the fond gesture it did not take his attention away from the words that Optimus had spoken. When the autobot started to pull his hand away Hot Shot quickly caught it, grasping it between his smaller hands. Quietly, almost desperately, the yellow bot spoke: "It wasn't your fault." He did not want Optimus blaming himself for what had happened.
A short chuckle escaped from Optimus and suddenly Hot Shot found himself in the autobot's arms, wrapped in a secure embrace. It made the child transformer feel safe in a way he could only remember feeling in the dreams he had with his father in them.
"You have no idea how much I'm willing to do for you", Optimus mumbled softly, but Hot Shot heard his words clearly. Not sure what to say in response the yellow bot simply leaned his head against Optimus' chest plate and nodded. He really did not know the lengths Optimus was ready to go for him. But he was starting to understand, or at least he liked to think that he was.
"I appreciate even the smallest things, you know", Hot Shot muttered almost sadly and Optimus' arms around him tightened their grip. The older bot let out an unamused chortle, which was cut off when he uttered: "It's sad, this thing we have..."
Despite the bitterness and sorrow in the situation Hot Shot smiled as he said: "At least neither one of us will be alone as long as we both have it." It was the truth, even if it held hardly any comfort.
2.
"There really isn't any need to go this far because of me", Hot Shot insisted as Optimus guided him through the hallways and down paths the yellow bot already knew. It did not seem to have much sense in it, but in all its 'out of place' -feel Hot Shot found himself somewhat appreciating the gesture. Even if he did not show it on the outside the child transformer was still quite shaken by the ordeals he had gone through not long ago, and the feel of Optimus' hand around his own was more than just slightly comforting.
"We're here", Optimus declared proudly when the two arrived in front of a classroom door. On the other side of the door was a mathematics class going on. The class Hot Shot was supposed to be in, to be precise.
Taking a deep breath Hot Shot raised his fist to knock on the door. Optimus beat him to it, however, and the metallic sound echoed in the empty hallway, bouncing off the walls without any trouble. This in turn served to remind Hot Shot of the fact that every single student of the class would be staring at him the moment he stepped in side. Hot Shot's greatest wish at that moment was for him to already be sitting at his desk, not as the centre of everyone's attention.
"I don't want to go in there", Hot Shot muttered weakly out loud. "Everyone will stare at me." He hoped that Optimus would understand his terror and take him back to the nice medics who poked and probed him. But all the answer Hot Shot got was a light laugh right before the door slid open.
"Too late to turn back now", Optimus said quietly and stepped into the classroom, pulling Hot Shot in with him by the hand he was still holding in his grasp. Panic was starting to rise in Hot Shot's mind but it quickly dissolved when Optimus gave the yellow bot's hand a slight squeeze. It would be alright, Hot Shot decided when all his previous worries dissipated. Optimus would make it all turn out ok.
To be continued...
Ending Notes: Sorry for the shortness of the chapter but I just didn't feel right about putting the next scene right after this one. It would have ruined the atmosphere of this chapter. Anyway, lots of hugs and love for all of my wonderful readers. You guys are my motivation!