V.

For A Brief Moment

Ever since she made that oath, the warlord never left her side.

Wherever she went, he would follow. Hovering over her and going so far as to watch her sleep. She didn't understand this paranoia of his. When he was zapped, did he had some sort of premonition?

Could cybertronians even have premonitions?

He wouldn't even let her go out of his sight.

She would have been appalled by this.

She should have been appalled by this, but Persephone would be lying if she said she didn't want the attention he was giving her.

Once, the young woman took a nap underneath the shade and woke up upon his thigh. He was tensed as he looked at the distance as if danger would show up any minute. Now and then when she'd bathe and change her clothes she would hear a panicked "Femme, where are you?" from him only for her to shriek when he had peeked at her naked form.

It took at least four times before she developed a habit of telling him she'd bathe and wanted privacy.

How many days passed? Three? Seven? She couldn't keep count when she was too happy living with the warlord.

Everything just felt so... domestic.

Coven had developed their armour.

It wasn't fully developed as of yet according to Megatron. Their armour had turned a beautiful metallic red with only little hints of violet in small spaces beneath their armour. Not only that, something began to sprout on her back, protruding which made their figure look like it had tiny wings.

Wait.

Could it be Coven was a seeker?

"It seems Coven will grow to be strong in the future," Megatron said to the young woman, sitting beside her beneath the tree. "She shall be a great warrior once she grows—"

"You know, I noticed those things from Coven's back." Persephone said as she ate the apple while sitting beside him in the shade. "They're wings, aren't they?"

"I'm surprised you know, but then again I shouldn't be. Seeing as from where you're from you know of our kind." Megatron grinned at her. "Quite an ally I have, don't you agree?"

"Wait... did you say she?" She asked. "You're telling me Coven is a girl?! And no, there's nothing wrong with that, but I just wasn't aware what the sparklings' genders are... saying that out loud makes me feel bad."

"You never fail to amuse me, femme." Megatron chuckled. "Coven is a femme, the one you named Ares is a mech and both Starfire and Blackfire are femmes. Now, does that make it easier for you?"

"Pretty much! Thank you for telling me." Persephone chirped as she bit one last time on the apple, before tossing away its core. "Now, I want to ask you something, Megatron. So, may I?"

"You just did."

Silence.

They both laughed. She shook her head at his words. "You're so lucky I like you," Persephone jested as she rolled her eyes. Her heart quickening at the thrill that coursed her body when she said those words.

God, she wished he'd be oblivious.

"And I you, femme." Megatron hums, peering down at her. She sighed in relief, thanking God or whatever deity is up there that heard her silent prayer.

"Did you see something back then when you made me promise to never leave you?" Persephone asked, kneeling and placing her hand on his servo which originally rested beside her form. "Please, tell me. I'm worried, as your friend."

He looked at her, his smile falters as mirth leaves his place replaced by fear and embarrassment. He seemed to break free from his thoughts as he coughed. "It doesn't matter," Megatron said, attempting to avoid the discussion. "It's not like you would understand."

"Then tell me so I can understand. Teach me. Elaborate it to me." Persephone reasoned softly. "That way, we can prevent it if it would endanger us. No?"

Megatron closed his optics before sighing.

"I had–" Persephone's world blurred before it stopped.

When her focus came too, she was being held by Megatron in his grasp as he spoke to one of the sparklings in such an angry tone.

He spoke in a different language and, only now did she realize that it was all of the sparklings and not just one, were being reprimanded and understood it as each of them lowered their helms.

It was terrifying how he spoke. So much so that even she can feel his wrath.

And then his head snaps to her and Persephone saw the fury and rage melt away as he softened.

"Are you alright, Persephone?" He asked so gently as if the young woman would melt away in his servo.

Hearing him say her name with such tenderness, oh, her heart couldn't take it. Persephone had to take in deep breaths to calm herself otherwise she'd fangirl and probably embarrass herself. Now was not the time to fangirl. Now is not the time.

She squealed internally.

Fuck, she wanted to hear him say her name again.

"I...I'm... um-I'm alright, I guess?" She stuttered, having to avert her gaze from his every now and then. "What just happened?"

" They almost crushed you because they were playing around roughly." He growled

Megatron turns to look at Ares. "Do be careful next time when playing with your siblings."

He then opened his servo and made Persephone sit as he gently examined her form, before nodding his helm in approval when he found no injury or scar on her.

"I'm sure they didn't mean it, Megatron."

"Starfire would have crushed you upon impact had I not snatched you early on. Accident or not, their actions would have cost you your life." The warlord said. As she sat in the middle of his palm, he slowly lowered her to the sparkling's eye level as four pairs of yellow optics looked at her.

"Apologise to your mother." The warlord ordered and when the sparklings didn't utter a single word or noise, Megatron snarled. " Now!"

And the four of them erupted in noises as they huddled to her, as yellow coolant burst from their optics. The yellow matching the color of their eyes.

Oh, these poor things.

Persephone smiled, "Hey, it's okay. Really!"

As she tried to calm them down, her mind processed his words. Persephone turns to him, surprise on her face.

"Wait a minute... did you just say... mother?" She then points to herself, "Are you implying that I'm their mother?"

Megatron looked away, but Persephone noticed how his cheeks seemed to... blush? Not only that, she can faintly hear the sound of fans.

Strange, she doesn't see any electric fans at all.

"You said it yourself, did you not?" He said, his gaze focused somewhere else. "We are all they have. And seeing as you humans tend to adopt organic children, I thought it would be a good idea to do the same. I believe it was the right decision for you to be the sparklings' carrier and I as their... creator."

"Hey, you're the one who said that we're the only ones they have left."

"Did I now?"

Persephone nodded, petting the sparklings as they quieted down.

It wasn't a bad thing if it was for the sake of the sparklings.

She probably looked like a tomato with how flushed her face was.

"That's not a bad thing and besides," She turns to the sparklings, wiping away the coolant that fell from their optics with her bare hands. "I'd do anything for these little cutie patooties." She gushed.

Persephone heard him laugh softly.

"You dare call them little when you yourself are smaller than them." Megatron snickered and she turns with a fake gasp.

"My goodness, Lord Megatron! You insult me," She puts a hand on her chest as she pose dramatically. "Oh what do I do now that my Lord Megatron has jested my height? To rid myself this ridicule, I must simply die." Persephone terribly tries to make gagging noises before dropping dramatically on the ground, eyes closed.

"Oh, for someone so tiny, you're quite dramatic," She heard him laugh and when she opened her eyes, he was smiling at her.

His smile seemed brighter than the sun. It felt like he wasn't just a warlord, but a genuine person whom she can actually call her friend. Sure, Megatron had a lot of war crimes, but here before her he was different. It felt like, she was seeing a different side to him.

Persephone felt like she melted.

"Ha! I got you to smile," She beams at him, her cheeks dusting red.

He laughed once more, shaking his head at her antics. "You amuse me, femme."

Persephone wanted to go back to the main topic at hand: What caused such protectiveness and paranoia from the warlord? But she didn't want to ruin the moment. With that smile and genuine laughter that he was showing her, she didn't want to ruin it. So, she decided to ask for another time.

He held her chin beneath his sharp digit and when she looked at him, he was looking at her as well. Persephone kept her feelings a secret. She didn't want to ruin this friendship she has with Megatron. Not only that, she doubts he'd even reciprocate.

He did show his distaste for organics.

And just because the both of them were friends, doesn't mean he would actually develop romantic feelings for her.

It would simply be foolish of her to think she'd ever have a chance with him.

But, oh, if only she was cybertronian, she would have kissed him right then and there.

Alas, she wasn't.

And so, Persephone leaned into his touch, losing herself in her imagination of the mech before her as he looks at her with such... endearment?

Must be her imagination, but it was alright.

Persephone didn't mind spending the rest of her life with him like this, deluding herself.

— ixi —

A fool is what he is.

He should have killed her the moment her fingers had accidentally shocked him.

One touch.

All it took was one touch from her and he knew she had the Prime's mark.

Essentially, the mark of the Prime was made for a Prime in order for their love and unyielding devotion to not be taken advantage of. Not only that, having the Prime's mark meant she was untouchable. That she is not to be claimed by others, other than the Prime. Not only that, a Prime's sparkmate was said to be someone who delivers Divine Retribution seeing as they only appear if things went dire.

There were only three Primes who were given a sparkmate according to history.

And now Optimus is the fourth.

He found it hilarious how Primus had given Prime a disgusting organic for a sparkmate. But then again, it fits the traitor seeing as he chose organics over his own kind.

And yet, he finds himself... wanting her.

Wanting Persephone.

He should have killed her then back at the falls.

Megatron was the former Lord High Protector, while Optimus was the Prime. He oversees the army while Optimus governed Cybertron. But that wasn't what he wanted. Megatron wanted to be a Prime.

Hence, the start of the Decepticons waging war.

Megatron is a warlord. A strong cybertronian, a former gladiator. He is prideful as he is powerful. He wants to rule Cybertron and he will wage war for it. To restore it back to its Golden Ages.

And he would kill if anyone stands in his way.

Persephone stands in his way, seeing as if she were to fall in the hands of the Prime, it would give them an advantage. She has to go. He needs to remove the very thing that hinders him. He had to kill her, regretfully.

However, it needed to be done.

When he emerged from the waterfall, he had made up his processor to kill her despite his spark telling him no. Because even if the Prime knew who she was or not, it would have gave Prime an unbearable pain. It would weaken him. Megatron could use that advantage to kill him.

The organic femme was just his medic.

She can easily be replaced.

But when he stormed out, ready to crush her puny form within his servos, he saw her, half of her in the shade and the other half being lit up by the Earth's star. He saw how her eyes, the other being dark and the other being a beautiful honey with her pupils seemed blown out, were looking at him with such want.

With such adoration and lust.

Oh, Megatron could never forget how her organic optics how they seem to darken with desire as they gazed upon him. It was an unforgettable experience, how his body seemed to want to touch her every time. She should stop looking at him like that; stop showing him how she feels with her optics, intentionally or not.

Because how could he kill her when she's like that?

And when he held her in his servos, he felt overwhelmed with happiness. The feeling felt so satisfying as a fuzzy feeling bloomed from his chasis. His spark was going to burst and Megatron didn't know what to do, for the first time in his life. He felt so vulnerable.

It was a high he didn't want to come down from.

So, he had her bound to his side. Tricked her into not leaving him. If Persephone stayed by his side, he and the sparklings would be safe, right? He wouldn't lose her, right?

She... would be his, right?

Especially now, with her looking up with him with so much love in her optics, as he held her chin gently. She leans into her touch and his spark hums in delight. The sparklings had been careless earlier, almost crushing their carrier. He was angry.

He was furious.

But her words calmed him.

Persephone had been nothing but good to him and Megatron finds himself drunk from her actions.

He has... fallen for her charms.

Megatron knows this, but he had confirmed his feelings when he found out she was destined to be with Prime.

No.

The Prime will not have her.

"Femme, tell me." He said as he raised her close to him. The sparklings had all went back to playing, each watching the from afar. "What—"

"I have a name, you know." Persephone says, crossing her arms. "I'd appreciate it if you were yo use it, my lord." There she is again, calling him that. Megatron knows she'd call him her lord when she was jesting, but still. It made his spark dance with joy.

"Why of course, if it is the demand of my Persephone." He answered. Her cheeks reddened more than they've already have been flushed earlier. "Then, I wish to know what is that you want?"

"Why do suddenly ask that?"

"So, that I may know more of you."

She seemed to ponder for a moment, before she spoke. "Just spending time with you and the sparklings is enough for me."

"Do you not wish for anything else? Tell me, so that I may give it to you once I have regained my power." Megatron says, the promise of fulfilling her desires evident in his words. "You deserve that at least, for serving me."

He looks into her optics and see her wanting, as well. Wanting of him. Wanting of everything. If he is what she wants then he would give himself to her, she need only ask.

If Persephone wanted the world he would give it to her.

But she only smiles at him and answered, "I honestly don't know at the moment. So, surprise me!"

And he laughs at her response. He finds it quite adorable.

Later that day as the Earth's star sets, he was starting a fire. A few logs here and there before using his cannon to light it up. He watched as the flames created a smoke that reached towards the sky. No one was there to disturb him and his femme, so he wasn't bothered by it at all.

When he turned, she wasn't beside him. The place where she usually is when she promised not to leave him was empty. Megatron, to put it simply into words, panicked. He searched for her in the shade, underneath the crates, and behind the trees.

Nothing.

One of the sparklings, Blackfire, nudges his foot. He picks them up and asked where there mother was in cybertronian. It was important for him to communicate with them in his native language. The sparklings should know how to speak the common tongue back in his planet, after all.

Black fire turns her helm to the river bank and points there. He looked, turning his helm to see the familiar figure of the human femme he was looking for.

He finds her by the river, throwing rocks upon the surface of the water. But it only sinks upon impact. She tries again. However, this time, the rock makes a rather large splash before sinking.

Thanking the sparklings and warning them not to go to the fire lest they burn, he makes a beeline towards Persephone.

"Your aim is as bad as Barricade's," Megatron mused as you nears her. When he sits next to her, he noticed her optics were distant as she looks at the horizon.

"Barricade, huh." Persephone utters, before picking up another rock and throwing it. Only for it to sink upon making contact with the water.

"You're throwing it wrong. If you want it to skip upon the surface of the water you'll have to level the rock with said surface." He instructed, shaking his head.

"What do you know about skipping rocks, Megatron?" She mused. "Did you and your comrades ever threw stones or whatever the equivalent of it back on Cybertron?" She laughed softly but pouts when the rock sinks.

Megatron hums, "Try throwing a live grenade across an energon barrier." He picks up a pebble and throws it perfectly, the stone skipping continuously.

"Show-off," Persephone muttered.

She then goes silent. That day, he noticed she wore a simple light purple dress that stopped by her thighs. It was a thin fabric and it hugged the curves of her body. Megatron recognised the fabric from one of his loots when he raided a town of their clothes somewhere.

Good to know she was using his offerings to her.

"What is the thing you humans say? Ah, I remember. Penny for your thoughts?" He jokingly said, in hopes to break her out of some sort of trance.

She sighed, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry for being not myself at the moment. I... I just miss home."

Megatron stayed silent for a moment. "I'm here to listen."

"I want to be here. I want to be with you and the sparklings. Really, I do." Persephone said before she opened her eyes and looked at him, and that look she had gave him an odd melancholy feeling. "But I miss home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss living a simple life and I know I sound as if I'm complaining, but... I just want to go home, even if it's for a second."

He pondered her words. Was she miserable here? Obviously, she is. No human would want to stay outdoors as it can take a toll on their body. He had seen her grabbing some soft fabrics and pillows from one if the crates and using them when she slept on his chasis.

She missed home. Perhaps, that was what she wanted in the end. To go home. If it would bring her joy, he would do his best to send her back and he will go with her.

That way, they won't get separated.

"My apologies. If I could help now, I would have already." Megatron offered as he leaned down his face close to her, petting her helm, gently.

She smiles sadly at him.

"You're already helping, you know?" Persephone said walking up him, putting a hand on his face. "You've given me the things that I need to survive."

There it was again, that warmth and the fuzzy feeling from his chest as well as the one coming from her tiny servo. He leans into her touch, closing his optics.

"But I have yet to give you things that you want." He responded.

Megatron sensed her nearing.

He felt the warmth of her breath on his cheeks as she moves closer. It was so soft and light, like something brushing against him for a moment. Megatron could feel her smile as her dermas lingered on his cheek for a second. And then she pulls away.

Persephone had placed a kiss on his cheek.

He opened his optics, surprised at her action. The sun caught in her wavy hair as the wind blew making it sway. Her cheeks were flushed red as she seemed to glow with the sunset. Only now did he saw that the dark dot in the middle of her optics had dilated once more.

He noticed how her optics often does that when she looks at him.

It must be a human thing.

Perhaps, this was his ultimate punishment. To fall for the very wretched organic whom he had taken in as a prisoner only for them to turn into someone he relied on, obviously he wouldn't admit it. Not now, at least. Primus was a cruel and evil being, playing with his spark and making him fall for her.

Stockholm Syndrome was meant for her to endure. That was his goal, especially, after finding out her being linked to Prime. But why? Why was he here falling for her very second he is with her?

He felt pathetic.

Primus is a wretched foul creature for making him attached to her when she was supposed to be with Prime. The way she gazed lovingly at him, will she look at Optimus the same as well? The thought seemed to unravel an anger within him. An anger he had now just felt.

Jealousy blossomed with him and it threatened to eat him alive.

He will not allow that. He was Megatron, after all. A miner who was thrown in the Pits of Kaon and survived, slaying down his foes as a gladiator. The very bot who formed the Decepticons. Used his position as Lord High Protector to better Cybertron, only for the Prime to destroy it.

Primus be damned. Fate made a mistaking in leading her to him and he will not let her go. He will do anything in his power to keep her his. If he had to drag Primus out of his very place within the heavens then he will, as long as it meant he can have her.

She did promise to never leave him and who was Megatron to stop her from fulfilling her promise.

"Persephone." He purred, gently scooping her up. "My Persephone."

She was so small as she sat in the middle of his servo, those optics of hers looking up at him. Megatron took in the sight of her. She was, to him, otherworldly. He wanted her to look at him like that for the rest of his life.

For eternity.

"Yes, Megatron?" She says, perking up from her seat.

"I wish to tell you that I—" The sparklings cry out, calling to him and their little carrier within his servos. The two of them snapped their helms to the direction of said sparklings in sync.

His optics widened.

The sparklings were running to them, crying out to both their carrier and creator. Megatron growled protectively as he ran towards them, stopping for a moment to put down Persephone as she ran to comfort the sparklings, before he stood in front of them as he activated his fusion cannon from his right arm and pointing it to the intruder.

How dare he disturb his peaceful solitude?

And the yellow and black Autobot pointed his plasma cannons at him as another human insect hid behind his pedes.

The Decepticon warlord glares at the young bot.

Venom in his voice, Megatron snarled. "Leave with your human and never bother us! Otherwise I will not hesitate to have your helm for stepping in my territory and disturbing my family, scout."

End of Chapter V