Hey everyone! Firstly, as always, thank you for the favs, follows, reads and reviews!
Now, this chapter is probably a tiny bit boring, but it is necessary! Also, some things might seem a bit unrealistic, but I did my best!
As always, please review! I'd also love to hear some ideas for the story, so lease share ideas you might have!
Translations:
I olelo hoopomaikai mai - "I promise"
Inaina - Pissed off
Disclaimer's on my prof.!
Enjoy reading and please share ideas!
Koa stared down at his feet as a long, heavy silence fell over the office. Optimus was grimacing, deciding on what course of action to take. Sideswipe was still leaning against the wall, but a scowl was prominent on his lip plates, showing his dissatisfaction with the government and their actions that kept Koa's mouth clamped shut. After a good two minutes, Koa was beginning to feel severely uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, okay?" He apologized, hoping to break the stillness that had fallen. "And I get that Oversight was worried, I appreciate his concern, but I'll be fine in a couple of weeks! But I can't talk about my dad, or what he did or anything like that." Sharp grey eyes stared up at Optimus. "I respect you big time, Optimus, but I'm not gonna risk the government taking me away."
Optimus frowned, brow furrowed.
"We would not allow such a thing. You are in official Autobot custody, they are unable to remove you from our protection, especially with Soundwave attempting to harm you-"
"They don't care if I'm safe or not." Koa interjected, voice strained. "I'm not important to them, what they find important is that no one finds out about my dad and what he did."
Not to mention they wanted to keep what was in his bloodstream a secret too, but Koa wasn't about to mention that.
Sideswipe's scowl deepened.
"Just what did your dad do to earn so much bad attention from the gov? I mean, frag, they hardly pay attention to us, and we're giant robotic aliens!"
Koa grimaced, not meeting his guardian's optics. He felt...ashamed, having to keep secrets from Sideswipe, especially after all the mech had done for him.
"I can't talk about it. Please don't try to make me." Sorrowful eyes turned up to Optimus. "I can't risk having them take me away. Sideswipe's the best...friend, that I've ever had."
Koa had just barely managed to catch himself from saying 'dad'. He had a feeling if he had revealed that he saw Sideswipe as a father-figure, then things would only get more awkward.
Optimus mulled over the new information he had, formulating a plan.
"May I ask if you have the contact information of a government agent who I could speak with? Surely you would not be in trouble for admiting you cannot speak of your father and giving us contact information so that we may talk to an official on the matter."
Koa squirmed, looking significantly uncomfortable.
"I...I mean, I do, its just..."
"Then if you would please give me the phone number? Surely there is a government agent who keeps a close eye on you."
Koa appeared unsure, but after a minute he gave in. The teen sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"...Her name's Laura Monroe."
Sideswipe grimaced at the strained tone of Koa's voice. No doubt Koa disliked talking about this, and Sideswipe couldn't blame him. It couldn't be easy, being watched by prying eyes for almost ten years, knowing that if you said one thing wrong you could be taken away...
Optimus sat down in the office chair, expression one of gentle compassion. Koa only stared at his feet as he continued.
"Ms. Monroe lived on Kaua'i, she'd check up on me once a week, y'know? Make sure everything was...Was going okay. And that I didn't say anything. She hasn't visited me since Sideswipe became my guardian, I guess 'cause they thought maybe you guys wouldn't find out as long as she didn't come talk to me. But she calls sometimes."
"Is she still on the island?" Optimus asked patiently. Koa shook his head.
"No. I got a call a couple of days after Sideswipe and I got here. I don't know how she got the number, but she called me on that new cellphone Sideswipe got me a few weeks ago. I, uh..." Koa pulled his cellphone out of his pocket, scrolling through some numbers. He stopped on one and held the phone forward. "Here. This' her number. I recognize it pretty easy, since she calls a lot."
Optimus' non-human holoform flickered to life, the miniature version of the Cybertronian taking the offered phone and glancing at the number. The Prime then looked at Koa, gesturing to the phone.
"May I?"
Koa's face became nervous.
"Uh...I guess, but I should probably talk to her first. Y'know, since it'd be kinda weird if it wasn't me she heard on the other end of the line..."
Optimus nodded in agreement, holding out the cellphone to the boy. Koa took it, entering the highlighted number and holding it to his ear. For a moment, there was silence as the teen waited for someone to answer. Uncomfortable under the eyes of Optimus and his guardian, Koa turned away slightly, looking at his feet. It seemed that the government agent answered as the boy spoke.
"Uh, a-aloha, Ms. Monroe." Koa managed, clearing his throat when he stuttered. Sideswipe couldn't help but smile as the boy slid into the familiar slur of Pidgin. "Sorry for callin' outta no where, ma'am. I know you're prob'ly real busy with work, but its...its kinda important." The boy paused, listening to the woman's reply, then grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. "I-I know, Ms., but I wouldn' call if it wasn't important! Optimus Prime wants t' talk t' you, ma'am, h-he...He knows I can't talk 'bout my dad, or 'bout all that stuff he did, an' he wants to know why, s-so..." Another pause as the woman replied once more, then he nodded and handed the phone back to Optimus. "Here."
Optimus took the phone and held it to the ear of his holoform.
"Ms. Laura Monroe?"
"Agent, actually."
By the woman's voice, Optimus guessed she was in her late thirties or early forties. Her tone was hard and no-nonsense, not too unusual among government personal, from Optimus' experience.
"Agent," Optimus amended. "I apologize for disturbing you so early in the day, but I wish to speak with you about-"
"Why Koa cannot disclose the details of his past or his father." The woman interjected. "I expected that you would call eventually. I'm rather surprised it took this long."
Optimus grimaced.
Koa turned to Sideswipe hesitantly, glancing up at his guardian. The mech, seeing the fear on his charge's face, smiled sympathetically. Pushing off the wall, the frontliner moved forward and gently scooped the boy up in a servo, holding him close to his warm chassis.
"You're doing good, Koa." Sideswipe assured the teen, keeping his voice quiet so as to not intrude on the phone conversation before them. "I know this has to be tough. You're being brave, kid. I'm proud of you."
The praise worked wonders as Koa straightened up and a smile curled at his lips, a weight seeming to have been lifted from his shoulders.
Optimus, who had glanced over to ensure that Koa was being kept calm, was now capable of focusing on the conversation he was having.
"Koa was recently given a psychological evaluation, and there is now the concern that Koa's mental health could suffer should he continue to be forced to keep his silence about his father and past."
There was a pause, and when the agent finally spoke, Optimus could all but hear the frown in her voice.
"Koa's mental health has never been viewed as being at risk. Why now?"
"Koa wishes to open up. Not only has he had to fear that he could be taken away, which had undoubtedly caused much stress on his body, but after so many years, he has yet to be able to speak with anyone about what happened to him. I have seen what happens when one is unable to speak to any other about their traumatic experiences. It can...rip them apart. Koa is one of the most kind-hearted children I have ever had the fortune of meeting, and I do not wish to see him suffer any longer."
"Well I'm sorry that this is difficult for Koa, but the information he has about his father and his childhood is too dangerous to be disclosed to anyone, not even you, Mr. Prime."
"Then I must request you explain why."
The agent sighed wearily.
"As I said, the information itself is too dangerous. If the wrong party were to learn about it-"
"And you believe the Autobots are one of these 'wrong parties'?" Optimus interjected.
"No. But you could leak the information, which would be disastrous."
Optimus' frown deepened and he glanced at Koa. Just what had the child's father done?
"My fellow Autobots and myself were at war for many vorns, Agent Monroe. We are not strangers to keeping secrets out of the wrong hands. I do not believe that any information is worth risking Koa's health and wellbeing."
"That boy is under government jurisdiction." The woman retorted, anger coloring her tone. "If we find it necessary that he keeps his mouth shut, then he cannot, under any circumstances, talk about his father or past. It doesn't matter if he is suffering from stress or any other ailment because of it, there's no chance that we're going to agree to let him say a word to anyone other than us. Is that understood, Mr. Prime?" Silence. "Mr. Prime?"
Optimus considered the phone, then ended the call and turned the phone on silent before turning to Koa and Sideswipe. Seeing that the Prime had finished, Sideswipe carefully set his charge back onto the desk. Despite appearing thoroughly nervous, Koa waited for Optimus to speak. The Prime offered him a gentle smile as he held the phone out to the boy.
"If Agent Monroe calls, do not worry about answering. I plan to arrange things with the government so that her interference in your life will no longer be necessary."
Koa's expression became unsure.
"Can...Can you really do that? I mean, Ms. Monroe and the government have gone to so much trouble for years, it can't be that easy..."
"Whether or not it will be easy to achieve, I will ensure it happens all the same." Optimus replied calmly, resting a hand on Koa's shoulder. The teen winced, but Optimus kept a gentle hold on his shoulder. "It was not fair of them to force you to be silent about something that clearly bothers your so, and I refuse to allow it any longer. However, this does not mean that you must speak about your father or childhood at this very moment, so do not feel that you must." Releasing the boy's shoulder, Optimus' holoform straightened. "But know that if you ever require a listening ear, I am here, should you need me."
Koa squirmed a bit.
"You...you know Ms. Monroe's gonna come over here now. She doesn't like it when people hang up on her."
Sideswipe snorted, hiding a smirk behind a servo while a smile twitched at Optimus' lips. Koa looked thoroughly confused as to what they found so funny.
"I will handle her." Optimus assured. "In return, all I ask is that you consider speaking to someone about what it is that has been bothering you recently, as Oversight believes your recent nightmares and stress are connected to your childhood and sire. Whether you speak to myself, Oversight, even Sideswipe, it matters not. But I ask you take my request to heart."
Koa hesitantly nodded, gaze flickering between Optimus and Sideswipe.
"A-alright. I'll think about it. I olelo hoopomaikai mai."
Optimus chuckled warmly, bowing his head.
"Thank you. Now," An almost mischievous light flickered through the mech's optics. "I believe you both have an art exhibit to go to, yes?"
Koa's face became one of shock and joy as he turned to Sideswipe.
"I thought you said we wouldn't get to go until Friday?!"
Sideswipe rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly.
"Well, I...Uh...Kinda managed to convince one of my buddies here on base to take my patrol shift today so that you and I could go see the exhibit. I figured you could use it, since I knew this meeting would probably be a total drag. I even got Sunny to agree to come along. I set everything up last night after bossbot here called me."
Koa was nearly vibrating he was so excited. Sideswipe couldn't withhold a laugh and he scooped up his young friend, placing him on his shoulder. He then looked to Optimus, who stood as his holoform vanished.
"Need anything else, or can Koa and I head on out?"
Optimus shook his helm, smiling kindly.
"No. Enjoy your day with young Koa."
Sideswipe nodded and turned, heading for the door. He paused, though, when Koa climbed up and peered over his shoulder at Optimus.
"Hey Optimus?"
The Prime raised a brow.
"Yes?"
Koa smiled hesitantly, though his eyes conveyed far more emotion. He looked...Relieved. More than relieved, it was like the world had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Mahalo."
Optimus inclined his helm, gaze softening.
"There is no need for thanks, little one."
Koa's smile widened.
"Good luck. Ms. Monroe's prob'ly gonna be here soon." A smirk. "An' she's gonna be inaina."
As Sideswipe and Koa left, the boy's laughter could be heard down the corridor.