Hello! Thanks for tuning in and taking a gander at another grand and slightly depressing chapter of SHADOWS! I feel bad that I keep promising to make more chapters for my stories but keep coming up short. Life sucks right now, but I'll float as long as I can. I hope everyone and anyone is doing well because I am rooting for you all.

This chapter is a long one, but a little rushed none the less. Also, this one has a large TRIGGER CONTENT in the beginning. If there is anyone reading this that is uncomfortable on non-consensual content, please feel free to skip this chapter.

Again, thanks for reading my stories. And please feel free to comment and ask questions below in the reviews. I love to hear from my readers and fellow fan writers.

If you like SHADOWS and haven't checked out my other stories, please feel free to checkout my page and try my main story MERCY. For all the TFA and TFP fans that love Decepticon romance and Sparklings to follow. X3

WARNINGS: If you are not into yaoi, slash, or mech preg, please do not read then try giving me a hard time in the comments and reviews. You were warned on the opening tab, and you are being warned just now. So, if I'm not your cup of tea that's perfectly alright, but please don't be shitty about it.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.

SHADOWS

Chapter 6

The Beginning of Acceptance

"I'm glad you decided to come to my quarters for some High Grade Optimus." The tall blue bot sauntered into his living area with a large grin etched over his lip-plates. He would be lying if he didn't admit he was a tad excited that he finally convinced his long term friend to come to his room. Sentinel had been entranced with his comrade for the longest time and had been doing his best to convince Optimus to visit him. To keep the smaller Prime to himself for just a little while. "Make yourself comfortable, and feel free to leave your Datapads on the table to your right."

"Thanks." The red and blue grounder stretched as he set his academy equipment aside, unaware that his friend was leering at his back in fascination. Optimus yawned and lightly cracked his neck before settling into the couch behind him. The shorter mech sat up right on the cushioning in a very proper manner. Not that he was uncomfortable being in Sentinel's quarters, he just had a stipulation about sitting up properly. His friend, however, was more inclined to acting more casual. It was his living area after all, so why wouldn't he relax into his couch his after activities routine. But Optimus was a little put off when his companion plundered into the cushioning next to him and crossed his large leg struts over his end table.

"Don't sweat it," Sentinel laughed as he handed the befuddled mech beside him a cube of high grade, "I'm just surprised you excepted my invitation. I didn't peg you for the drinking type."

"I actually enjoy the taste of fermented Energon." Optimus smiled and took the cube in good cheer. "Unfortunately, I am a bit of light weight, so I don't indulge that often."

"Awww… So I am to assume you will stay for only one glass?" The blue bot fake pouted but clinked his glass against Optimus's anyway. The shorter bot's grin tightened, and he allowed Sentinel's opposite arm strut to drape around his shoulders.

"I could stay a bit longer and help you with your strategies essay. I know it's not your strongest subject."

"Oomph! Don't hold back the punches!" Sentinel laughed and hugged his friend tenderly. The heat projecting against his frame made the taller mech growl under his breath, but he stifled the urge to moan in approval. He was loving every moment of being this close to Optimus and watching his faceplate flush from the high grade he slowly sipped on. The blue mech had been attracted to his Prime to be counterpart since the first moment they met. Of course, he noticed almost immediately that he wasn't the only bot to notice Optimus's beauty, and undoubtably wasn't the first to attempt making a move. So he understood he would need to plot his intentions carefully. He already knew off hand that Optimus was a light drinker thanks to another drunken conversation with Elita One. It wasn't Sentinel's goal to get the sweet Grounder completely drunk, but nearly an hour and one refill later Optimus started mumbling on his words.

"I should probably go…" He sighed with his helm resting over Sentinel's chassis. The smaller mech blinked through his tired optics as he listened to the rapid tapping of his comrade's spark chamber beneath him. Optimus could tell Sentinel was getting nervous, and he found it a little adorable. Or perhaps the high grade found it adorable, and his processor was just along for the ride. "My helm is starting to swim… I shouldn't have let you talk me into that second glass."

"You could always just… Stay the night here instead." Sentinel tempted fate and cradled Optimus over his frame. "You can stay in my berth and I could just ride my couch cushions."

"We're both adult mechs Sentinel. I'm sure we can both fit on your berth without making it weird… If you can help me, get up that is?"

"Challenge accepted." With little time to process what was happening, Optimus could feel himself flying through the air and cradled in Sentinel's arms. He gasped in terror at first, but then he started laughing when he felt the legs moving beneath him begin to sprint. He even playfully wrapped his arms around Sentinel's neck and gently hung in suspension.

"Slow down! I'm afraid I will fall—! Woah!"

"Oh-no!" Sentinel called out as he fell forward. He intended to lay Optimus on the berth and then crawl in next to him, but he accidently stumbled on his own pedes. Luckily, he was close enough to the mesh cushioning the two academy students landed dead center. Sentinel didn't anticipate dropping on top of his friend so clumsily, and he half expected to be chewed out for it. When he pushed up on his forearms to apologize, he paused to take in the flushed face of a lightly buzzed Optimus. He was blushing heavily from both embarrassment and heated Energon pooling in the pit of his tanks. His exhaust slid down the front of Sentinel's chassis and it compelled a gentle shutter under his metal. A signal pinged in the base of his modesty cover, and he sighed while condensation slid over his armor. Optimus was completely oblivious to his academy mate's arousal at first and after a brief fleeting moment, he began to laugh again.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Oops!"

So sweet. So beautiful. And so irresistible. "Optimus…" The taller mech whispered as his digits grazed the side of the smaller mech's face and in turn, silencing the laughter. A thumb slid over prominent blue lip-plates and Sentinel moved closer and closer to those desirable dermas. "I really want to kiss you… May I?"

Optimus's blush grew thicker, and he also shivered. He had enough clarity in his head to understand what was happening and was even curious. He had never been with a mech before, but the thought of valve play never truly eluded him. He was hesitant at first, but then Optimus thought to himself, it was just a kiss. He could start there and see where it leads. Plus, it was Sentinel. His friend. He could trust his friend to be respectful of his wishes, right?

"You… You may…"

Apparently the mech above him was still a little nervous because it took him a couple of minutes to touch their dermas together. It made Optimus giggle, still finding Sentinel's actions to be charming, but the blue mech didn't really see what was so funny. His awkwardness reflected through his EM field and it vibrated over the smaller mech's armor. The taste of electricity seeped in between the two bots and encouraged a surprised moan from Optimus's oral cavity. It gave Sentinel an opportunity and without hesitating he slipped his glossa into the hot opening. Again, the red and blue mech was caught off guard by this action but eventually he felt himself pulling his partner closer to him for more friction. Everything began to tingle as Sentinel's tongue swirled counterclockwise in a well-timed pattern and stopping periodically to gently bite down on a sweet tasting bottom lip. The large Prime-to-be was an unexpected, good kisser.

"You're giving me a fever…" Sentinel joked. "But I think I might know the cure… May I continue?" He slid his servo around the curve of Optimus's side and circled his pelvic plating against his friend's heated covering.

"S-Sentinel…!" The younger of the two bots panted in disappointment. He was really enjoying the stimulation of his friend's, now lover's, attention. When it stopped, part of him felt neglected. Every other part of his CPU was swimming in a jumbled mess of bliss and confusion. Optimus's mind was a haze of cluttered turmoil with flashing warning signs of probable system shut down, or engine flooding from overheating, but he was just too distracted by his desire to be touched. Sentinel was being respectful of his wishes so far, so the smaller bot still felt safe. Safe enough to nod his helm lightly in agreement and braced his servos around his new lover's broad shoulders. They were so strong and inviting to hold that Optimus shuddered when they flexed beneath his fingers.

"Yes, my friend…? What do you want me to do to you?" Was this Prime to be teasing his partner? This was a side to Sentinel that Optimus had never seen before, but it's not as if he didn't like it. True, this wasn't quite how Optimus imagined his first time (as he saw it) making love to another mech. It wasn't the most romantic of gestures, but there was still a hint of intimacy. The passion, though intimidating, was still effecting his frame in the way it should function. So he growled deep in his engine block, trying desperately to smother a powerful whimper.

"Go… Go lower…" He finally managed to hiss pass his dental plates, and without protesting, Sentinel obliged. Large metallic hands slid and clasped over hot steal, lip-plates slipped over light blue glass, and pelvic plating continued to grind against pelvic plating. Things were slowly becoming more aggressive, and though it was still feeling good, it was also building a twinge of fear in Optimus's tanks. He pushed it aside as best he could and told himself this feeling was a natural process. He was nervous the first time he spiked a femme, so naturally he would be nervous about being spiked. However, the more he tried to look past the sudden rushing of his partner's ministrations, the more aggressive the intimacy became. "Sentinel… Ah-hah! S-Slow down a little please…"

"But your frame is reacting so beautifully to my touch… Do you really want me to stop?" Sentinel heaved his faceplate over Optimus's chest as he stroked his newly exposed spike. The smaller mech beneath him was so distracted with his own unease filled arousal, Optimus didn't even hear Sentinel's paneling click open. Moments later he could feel his own paneling slide back, but instead of trembling in excitement, he felt his anxiety grow larger. "Mmm… Are you ready for me now my dearest…?"

"Sentinel!" Optimus panicked slightly and grasped the sides of the blue mech's arms. He could feel Sentinel's erect spike position itself over his lightly lubricated valve. This wasn't happening! There was no way Sentinel was going to break a seal with his spike? Without preparation? Without allowing Optimus time to lubricate properly or give consent to do so? "Too fast! You're moving too fast! Please stop!"

"Stop?" The blue bot smiled sinisterly and pinned Optimus's wrists above his helm. "You wanted me to touch you. You said you wanted me to continue. I'm just giving you what you want, and your body is burning for me to take you…"

"No! I said stop!" The shorter mech struggled, but the effects of the high grade was still slowing his reaction time and draining his strength. "You haven't prepped me yet! I'm not ready for—! AHH!"

Pain seared up the center of Optimus's gut, like a blistering hot serrated blade cutting through his insides. It was so overwhelming he froze with his back arched in the most uncomfortable angle. He couldn't catch his breath, because for a moment he actually forgot how to draw an intake. There was no warning, no compassion, no process. Just a quick thrust, an excruciating clicking pop, then a moment of quiet apart from the whirling of Sentinel's perverted grunting. Optimus's mind must have left his body for a time because he didn't even notice the mech inside of him started moving. Not until the pain burned into his circuitry and the coolness of cycled Energon bled past the curve of his aft. He began to cry and scream on every hitch, but his pleading for mercy fell on deft audios.

"No! No! Stop! You're… You're hurting me! Please stop Sentinel!"

"Stop… Stop…"

"Can you hear me Optimus?" A new voice soothed over a very terrified Optimus's dreams, and the Carrying mech slowly opened his coolant filled optics. Ratchet greeted his sight with a smile, but his own optics drenched in worry. "There you are… You were having another bad flux. But you're safe now."

"What…?" The Prime blinked away his heavy drops of tears. The air surrounding him stung his eyes as they were cleared of saturated coolant. "How did I…? Where am I? What happened—?"

Memories of being pinned against Sentinel's doors came flooding back to him quickly. He was lucky Ratchet caught on to his sudden panic just as swiftly and he gently pushed the heavily Carrying mech back down onto his current berth.

"My Sparkling!" Optimus wept. "Is my Sparkling alright?! It's not hurt?!"

"He is secure and healthy… More than I can say for the current state of his Carrier." The medic answered a little more boastful than he intended. He was still worried, but that was no reason for him to give his patient any more grief. Optimus didn't need a lecture; he needed a friend. A friend to listen to him the same way he listened to Ratchet when he needed it most. "Be at ease young mech. You're in safe servos in my secondary lab. Sentinel has no idea you are here."

"He…?" The Prime smiled a little. For the longest time Optimus had been describing his Sparkling as a mech, but this was the first time he heard Ratchet mention it out loud. The medic must have discovered the Sparkling's gender while he was evaluating Optimus while he was still knocked out. The poor young model had been so busy, he never found the time to take an ultrasound and discover the gender of his Sparkling. He secretly hoped for a mech. Though he would cherish a feme either way, he still had visions of a young mech running and jumping into his arms. A happy, energetic Grounder like his Bearer, and had some resemblance of his Sire. Or at least the mech he hoped was the Sire most of all.

"Yes Optimus, he…" Ratchet realized he had accidently slipped his discovery but was elated to see his friend's face light up in genuine happiness. "You are going to have a mech."

"That is if we can keep you safe from Sentinel until then." Jazz appeared from behind the Prime's berth and startled him a little. The elite fighter reached out for the confused mech's shoulder apologetically and Optimus sighed in acceptance of the gesture. He could feel the overwhelming sadness in Jazz's EM field bristle around his frame, and the Carrying mech returned a signal of empathy. Optimus had some idea of why the ninja bot was feeling so guilty around him, and it didn't seem fare to him. "I'm sorry… We were too late to get to you."

"What's important is that you found your way to me. I don't know how you knew I was in danger but thank you for coming to my aid." Optimus whispered as he took in the rest of his surroundings. He didn't intend to change the subject, but his Bearer protocols were clicking in his head wildly for peace of mind. First things first was to make sure his environment was safe for his unborn. "Where is this place? Are we underground?"

"Yes, it's an old duck out station from the war. It was commissioned to me before I was sent to rescue Arcee." The old medic rubbed the base of his forearm. His war wound throbbed as he brought up old battle stories. "According to my sources, Sentinel has no idea this section of history even exists."

"History was never his greatest subject." Optimus knew this well and would have commented on it, but a new voice beat him to it. Glancing over his left shoulder, the Prime noticed a second berth lying parallel to his own. A green and silver bot sat on the edge of the medical bed, while sipping on low-grade. The glowing pinkish liquid highlighted an interesting black ornament over his oral cavity. It almost looked like Captain Fanzone's mustache. He briefly imagined what they would look like if they switched them and nearly laughed at the image in his mind. However, he shook his helm free of his imagination and returned to the questions lining up in his CPU.

"Who are you?"

"Unimportant at the present time." The green mech replied rather nonchalantly and when he set his cup aside, he exposed a few random tubes and wires attached to his arms. To Optimus's knowledge, this made the stranger one of Ratchet's patients. It made sense but raised more questions at the same time. "What is important is devising a plan to take Sentinel out of parliament for good and protecting you… And the life you're carrying."

"Then by all means, leave me and my Sparkling out of it." The Prime quickly became agitated and pushed himself up in an attempt to get away from the berth. His doctor gave him a stern look, but it was too late to properly stop him. When a Carrying mech wants to get up on his feet, he will get on his feet. As he swung his leg struts into a solid stance, he detached himself from the standard monitoring equipment and began to limp towards what looked like an exit. "Dealing with Sentinel is my burden to bear. If you try to interfere more then you have already, it will only aggravate him more and then he will come after all of you. He still has the power and position to ruin anyone he sees as a threat… And that goes double for my friends and loved ones."

He fumbled on his way to maneuver past Ratchet, his strained pelvic plating still giving him grief whenever he moved. The medic still caught him and held onto Optimus's arms. His grip was gentle, but the white mech made it very obvious that he did not approve of such rebellion. The firetruck couldn't even bring himself to look his friend in the optics. "I have made peace with this Ratchet. I'm never going to get away from Sentinel… Not while he's still in power and… Not while Ultra Magnus is still fighting for his life."

"About that Optimus." Jazz hung his helm and walked closer to the Prime's side once again. But Ratchet shook his helm at the ninja bot, trying to politely tell him not to say anything. All would be revealed in time, but first they needed to secure a safe haven for Optimus.

"There was plenty of events that have happened while you were unconscious. We will discuss all of them when you have fully recharged." Optimus couldn't remember the last time his old friend's voice sounded so sweet. His vocals were so soothing that the blue and red mech felt like he was being lulled to sleep. Still feeling exhausted from his abuse, he may have dosed off on his pedes for a minute.

"Ratchet… We have a code blue situation on the third tier." Arcee's voice called out through light static and alerting Optimus back into the present. Her face showed up on an old video monitor in a corner of the subterranean base. She sounded calm, but her expression gave way to her distress. Ratchet gestured with his frame and tried to settle Optimus back onto the berth, but his patient could hear the clattering in the background. He wanted to listen and learn what the problem is.

"I know he is here!" The Carrying mech unintentionally flinched the moment he heard Sentinel's angry vocals thunder through the feed. Code blue, of course that meant Sentinel was present. "Bring him back to me! Or I will have you all charged with kidnapping!"

The grainy image of the pink feme recoiled as furniture started to fly around her surroundings. The blue Prime was on a rampage, angry that he had been duped and his prized possession had been snatched from him. Optimus couldn't hold back his own anxiety and began to shiver in his friend's arms. Without giving it a second thought Ratchet pulled the shorter mech against his chassis and held his hand over his audios. He knew he shouldn't act like he was trying to keep Optimus in the dark, but he was under enough stress as it was. His leader needed a break from his apprehension and focus on his health. Both physical and psychological.

"Try to keep him occupied Arcee," the white mech answered his mate in a hushed tone, "I will be there as soon as I can."

"I don't mean to seem insensitive my love…" Again Arcee jolted when a chair crashed on the floor behind her, and her faceplate twisted in discomfort. "But please… Do hurry."

"He will never stop…" Optimus whispered into Ratchet's chassis. Tears once again pooling around his blue eyes, and his breath hitched as he desperately tried to hold them back. His shivering slowed as he concentrated on the whirling of Ratchet's Spark beneath his cheek-plating, but he could not shake the overwhelming instinct to hide. When Optimus ever felt frightened enough into a fight or flight response, he would always try to fight, but now that he was a Bearer his life was only secondary to his Sparkling's. He wanted to flee in order to protect his unborn, but he had nowhere to flee too, and nowhere to truly hide. He felt so trapped that not even Ratchet could help him feel fully secure. All Optimus felt he could do was stand there and feel powerless. "He will never stop… He will always come for me, and I can't stay here with any of you… Sentinel will hurt anyone that gets in the way of his desires… He won't stop…"

"Hush now." Ratchet lightly tightened his embrace around the firetruck's back. The medic even began to rock side to side on his pedes, hoping this one last thing could help sooth the angst surging all around Optimus's frame. It appeared to have the intended effect, even if his patient began to cry. A gentle sob would be better for his mentality than having to hold it all back.

"I can go ahead of you Ratchet and try to calm things down a bit." Jazz announced as he walked away with arms crossed indifferently. He was still fuming under his armor and was doing his best to stifle his own emotions. Optimus was finally starting to relax, so the ninja bot didn't need to give him a reason to feel anxious again. "Stay here and keep an optic on your patients."

"I… I will be fine." Optimus pushed away from Ratchet's chest and started to wipe away his tears. "Arcee will need you both there for sure. I know firsthand that Sentinel will not stop a rampage cold turkey, as the humans say."

"What's the scrap is a turkey?" The green bot asked. The way he asked the question made Optimus smile for some reason. There was something about this stranger that gave the Prime a sense of nostalgia. It was a pleasant feeling that helped him feel a little safe.

"I'm not leaving until you have properly settled back into recharge." The white bot tried not to grumble as he pushed back on Optimus's shoulders. This time he was successful in settling him back onto the berth. "You are halfway through your carrying term, and you need your rest. This Sparkling is still developing healthy so far and I intend to keep it that way."

"I have no intention of putting Cinder's life in harms way." The Carrying mech soothed his servos over his grill, smiling audio to audio. Saying his Sparkling's name out loud helped his mind unwind somewhat and eased away his fear filled tears. What made him happier than anything was being able to use the name Prowl had picked out. The first night they made love in reversed roles, they stayed up the rest of the night in each other's arms thinking up Sparkling names. Optimus chose the name for a feme but couldn't decide on Gale or Ember. His lover was tasked with the mech names, but he liked the name Ember so much he was inspired with the name Cinder, and even insisted on it incase they had twins. The Prime found it silly at the time, but now it was the most beautiful name in the universe. "I'm already growing tired again, I promise I will stay put… But I can't stay longer than a rest cycle. If I don't go back to Sentinel, he will…"

"Enough talk about that slag for brains Prime." The white bot hissed. Irritated with this never ending conversation that constantly looped back to the abominable snowplow. "I don't care how many times he comes back here. I survived the most appalling entrapments and grotesque horrors the Cybertronian civil war could throw at me… I'm not about to let some narcissistic, blue aft-hatted, frag-nugget bully me out of continuing what I do best!"

The ambulance reconnected all of the monitoring equipment to Optimus's arms and chassis and grunted on his frustration. He immediately recoiled his building anger when he glanced into his leader's optics and saw nothing but concern. Through all of this chaos and confusion, Optimus still worried for his teammate's well-being. Ratchet took a deep intake and again smiled as best he could for the Prime's benefit. "And what I do best is protect and heal those who need services like mine the most… Even protecting those I cherish the highest in my function."

"Ratchet." Optimus smiled back and grazed one of his hands over his friend's in an effort to be just as comforting. "I understand, but I—."

"But nothing." Ratchet chocked a little on his own need to hold back his emotions but held his grin and grazed a servo over the side of the younger model's faceplate. His thumb slid over Optimus's check-plating, wiping away a stray tear that was missed. "When I get back, we will have a long talk about what will be done and what you want to be done… Both your protection and your decisions will be kept in high regard. I promise."

"Ratchet, we better hurry now." Jazz said while holding one of his audios. "The twins just PM'd me… Things are really starting to escalate."

"Alright, I'm coming." Ratchet patted Optimus's shoulder in kind before turning away. He could see the lights in his patient's optics dim, showing signs of extended exhaustion. Optimus was on the verge of passing out entirely, so the medic felt confident enough to leave him here and expect him to stay put. "Just so you know, I will be locking the door behind us. Not to keep you in, put to be sure I keep others out."

"Don't I get a vote in this decision?" The mysterious green mech questioned. He was so quiet for a time that Optimus almost forgot he was still here. "I mean, do I get a key or something if I want to leave?"

"No Ambus, you're still under observation." The white mech had dallied long enough and got his gears in motion to walk away from his patients. That was really the only reason Ratchet would procrastinate. He would linger as long as he could to keep anyone in his care in optic sight, but now he needed to keep his wards safe from outside forces. "Both of you, just rest and sip on low-grade. I will be back soon."

"Just go now Ratchet…" Optimus mumbled after finally shuttering his optics closed. "I can't follow doctor's orders if the doctor is keeping me awake."

He could hear Jazz snort in the doorway which was followed by a very satisfying harrumph from the older bot. Moments later there was a hissing of airlocked doors and magnetic latches clanking shut. The Prime was now alone save for the stranger that he could now address as Ambus. For the most part, Ambus kept to himself, and even kept quiet. Optimus guessed the green mech was just trying to give him a chance to recharge, and the firetruck tried his best. The burning around his forehelm and optics told him he was willing to power down once again, but his processor was running in a full swing. He couldn't fall asleep just yet, but he kept his shutters closed anyway. When his adrenaline wore off, he would just slip into a good Bearer's coma. Hopefully, this time he would dream of Prowl. A nice, warm flux of holding him tight to his frame and feeling his love through his sweet fantasies.

"Were you dreaming about Sentinel?" Ambus suddenly asked just before Optimus could allow his conscious slip away. The Prime grumbled like Ratchet for a minute, and he would have started to gripe a little, but a subtle bump under his grill put him in a more relaxed state of mind. Cinder was awake, and somehow Optimus knew he was trying to tell him something. Maybe he liked the strange green bot, and was trying to initiate some kind of contact? Or maybe this little ball of light was just acting like a little ball of light and having fun swirling and tumbling in his tiny haven.

"Why do you ask?" Optimus replied with his own question while he playfully grazed his blue digits over his round black plating.

"You were… You were calling his name in your sleep. And begging him to stop."

"Hardly any on your business." The firetruck hissed while he turned over on his side. It was an uncomfortable shift due to his sore hip-joint, but he just didn't want to face this new bot and revel in his nightmares like a happy reminiscence. He could have sworn he heard Ambus chuckle behind his back, but Optimus didn't really understand why. Did this strange bot really find his heartbreak to be so amusing?

"Forgive me, I did not mean to make light of your troubles. You just… Remind me of someone I once knew."

"I really am not in the mood to spar with small talk, so if you could—." The Prime could suddenly smell something. It smelled like high-grade, but a little diluted. As he tried to process the origins of the odor his cane suddenly hovered in front of his optics. Ambus had reached over his frame to offer it to him and when Optimus glanced up to look at the stranger, he surprisingly felt calm. The green bot smiled at him with warm red optics, and patiently waited for his new friend to take the walking stick from him.

"If you can't fall back into recharge, I can help you get out of here instead." He offered and when Optimus took hold of his cane, Ambus grasped his servo and gently pulled him up into a seated position. "I know how to get out of here, and if you find you can trust me… I can even find away to get you off planet. But I must ask you for a favor in return."

"What kind of favor?" Optimus wrapped his arms around his torso defensively. His instincts were still telling him that he wasn't really in any danger, but the line of questioning was putting him into a suspicious mood.

"The kind that is possibly dangerous but is very beneficial. Not just for you and your unborn, but for the entirety of Cybertron." His voice was calm and to the point. The red and blue mech squinted at him and tilted his helm side to side, trying everything he could to get a read on this stranger. Why was he so familiar, but so foreign at the same time? It was frightening him, and his Sparkling could feel the tension.

"Who are you?" The Carrying mech withdrew further into the berth behind him. "I'm not going anywhere with you if I don't know who you are and what you really want from me."

There was a sudden flicker in Ambus's optics. He didn't stop smiling but his expression changed into obvious sadness. Somehow Optimus had hurt his feelings, and it gave the Prime an unexpected feeling of guilt. However, Ambus sat back to give Optimus a little more room to feel at ease, and then sighed while patting the back of his helm. "Even you do not recognize me. It has been so long since I've been outside of my powered armor, that I feel like I'm still wearing it. It is so strange to use my old name too."

"Old name?" Now Optimus was very confused and bordering on angry. "Enough beating around the rusting hedges. Who are you and what is going on? What do you want from me, and why are you so familiar?"

"Well there's that at least." Ambus chuckled again and stood up beside the berth. He offered his servo and slightly bent into a formal bow. "I can explain everything in further detail if you come with me now. I assure you Optimus all I want is to keep you and your little Cinder safe. But in the end the decision is up to you, and if you can find the strength to trust me. Do you trust me?"

Optimus took a deep intake and held it as he bit the inside of his cheek-plating. This was insane, but then again, nothing has been categorized as normal in his life since Prowl had died. But as he held his exhaust, things began to slow down. It made it easier for Optimus to reflect on his feelings, and right now his gut was telling him one thing. Upon pure emotional motives, the Prime took Ambus's hand and softly whispered away his fears.

"I can't comprehend why… But yes. I do trust you."

-END-