The next morning Optimus greeted him at breakfast normally. He came down, sat across from him, they ate, they talked, and went about their day.

Ratchet did his best to give Optimus the appropriate amount of space and somewhere in the process, Optimus stopped talking to him so often. Luckily, Elita had stepped in at some point to give him comfort and advice. He felt all sorts of emotions rise and fall periodically from the Amica bond they shared. Ratchet happily faded into the background again. How could he expect anything different?

A handful of days later, Elita approached him. He had been sitting at the piano, idly playing meaningless melodies and chords.

"You know, you're allowed to talk to us too," she said.

Ratchet paused in his playing and glanced back at her. "And what is that supposed to mean?" He hummed faintly.

She walked over carefully, her field meeting him with a purpose. He didn't mind at all, letting his own field mingle casually with hers.

"You're allowed to feel a little hurt, you know…there isn't any shame in having feelings," She said, sitting beside him on the piano bench.

"Ah… so that's what you're leading with," Ratchet mused aloud. He didn't dare look at her in the optics as embarrassment flushed over him when he remembered the rather spontaneous confession he had made.

"He didn't know what to do… so yes, he told me what happened," she chuckled, playing a few keys on the piano. "You're avoiding us. I want to know what's going on."

Ratchet sighed, shaking his helm. He pulled his hand and his field back towards him. "I figured I should keep my distance. It seemed like everyone would be pretty upset with me. I know I shouldn't have done that… it wasn't very considerate of me to dump that on him right after…"

"No… no it wasn't," she chuckled. "I was pretty mad after I heard. I would have slapped you for saying something like that right after the aft head whose name shall not be spoken- but…" she sighed. "Why did you do that?"

He sighed faintly. "It was really hard to keep it in… I kinda recently figured it out myself. I didn't have a name for this feeling I had around him, until then and he knew something was bothering me. He asked me, and it just- fell out of me. I just started talking and I didn't start thinking until after… after it was already out in the open…He's pretending it didn't even happen. I don't think I have a chance at salvaging this either…I fragged up."

Elita chuckled, giving him a small smirk. "He really does think that you are the most authentic person he's ever met, and you proved it," she murmured. "I mean, you knew that it was an aftheaded move. You knew that it wouldn't be in your favor to present your feelings then. You did it because you didn't want to lie to him. Both of you really suck at expressing yourselves."

He scoffed. "Your point?"

"He doesn't know how he feels either, that's my point. You didn't frag up as badly as you think you did and you do have a chance," she chuckled.

Ratchet scoffed. "I know you're trying to make me feel less like an aft, but seriously. Don't try and lie to me."

"It's true! Both of your are stupid when it comes to emotion," she scoffed back. "I have proof."

"Yeah right," he replied.

"When he felt scared and alone, you were the first person he turned to," Elita replied.

Ratchet paused before looking back at her.

"It's true. I found out about it when he called me that night," she replied. "It was after you patched him up."

Ratchet fell quiet for a moment, looking down.

Elita smiled and nudged him before she stood up. "Just keep waiting. I know that he'll come around for you," she said before she walked away.

Ratchet sighed softly, looking back to the piano keys. He smiled softly at them.

Time continued to pass in a weirdly paced way. It felt like no time at all when it had been another two weeks of waiting. After too long, it was Moving day. Ratchet had once again, packed all of his things neatly into boxes, but this time- they were being transported into the heart of Iacon, to Prime Palace.

It was another uncomfortable change for him, but one that was all too necessary. Despite having been there once already, the tour he received was all too lengthy and a complete shift of vibes from what he was used to.

There were servants, more security, more hallways that twisted and turned, and more rooms than Ratchet could ever keep track of. Very much out of his comfort zone. Obviously the move had also brought Optimus a lot of distress as well. Elita was there to help him, and give him the occasional encouraging thumbs up in a metaphorical sense.

Zeta and Sentinel, as did Magnus and Elita, stuck to their side of the palace for the most part. Ratchet rarely saw any of them unless one was actively looking for him, or vice versa. It was easy enough to ignore Sentinel's ramblings or shut him down when he was being unpleasant.

As they got settled it was rather humorous to watch the servants accommodate Optimus's will to continue being self-sufficient. They often would huddle back in a group and stare at him whenever he would do something on his own, like cook or clean.

Days continued to come and go, and Ratchet continued to eagerly await a response from Optimus, but his hope was dwindling. He may just have to accept it and attempt to move on, but… he would hang onto his hope just a little longer.

Just when Ratchet was about to give up on him, that night at dinner, he slipped Ratchet a comm through.

/Join me for a stroll in the gardens?/ He asked.

Ratchet felt his spark jump a little bit. He didn't dare get his hopes up but slipped a reply back. /I wouldn't mind./

The rest of the meal was silent from him, but as soon as he was done, Optimus stood and gave him a nod to follow him.

Ratchet frowned faintly but wished everyone goodnight before quickly moving his peds to follow Optimus. "Where are you taking me?" He chuckled.

"Have you been out to the gardens?" He asked him.

Ratchet chuckled. "I have, but I don't really stray too far from the palace. I'm terrified of getting lost in the labyrinth."

"Allow me to show you my favorite part of them," he smiled, offering his servo to him. Ratchet looked up at him with suspicion in his optics, but he took the offered servo. He was pulled in a direction with a chuckle.

He tried to quash his rising hopes. There wasn't any use in being hurt all over again.

It was only a few moment's walk through the maze before they came to an open part of it, decorated in crystals and fairy lights and candles. The middle of it sat a fountain. It was wide and tricked softly, the water reflective. A bench sat next to the fountain. The sky above them shone down two bright and full moons with a handful of stars dusting off the night made lilac from the glow of the city around them.

Ratchet looked around in awe. He felt as if his breath had been stolen. Optimus chuckled. "It's always been my favorite spot. Somewhere I was hidden from all optics to just try and be myself for a while."

Ratchet chuckled walking around the fountain and admiring it to find a gazebo on the other side of it. Optimus followed him with a smile, gesturing inside before going inside himself.

Ratchet followed him and sat down, looking out the windows at the fountain reflecting the moonlight at them. He smiled, "thank you for showing me this. It's beautiful."

Optimus smiled faintly. "This place is what made me understand… I always loved this place in my memories. Nothing bad ever seemed to happen here. It was my haven. Somewhere I felt safe from harm. Somewhere that was comforting."

Ratchet turned his attention from the scenery to Optimus speaking to him. He saw that his optics were on him, looking down at him with soft optics that seemed to melt.

"I think I figured it out. The feeling I had with Megatronus felt like adrenaline. It made my head spin and my spark raced, it felt like running along the edge hoping not to fall, and it felt more like a thrill, but you? You… remind me of this place," he murmured, looking out. "You remind me of somewhere, that even when I was bloodied and bruised, and when I felt like fading from existence, I felt safe in. I felt comfort. And… I felt happy. Ratchet… I," he sighed, turning to him. "I feel like I haven't been honest with you. The reason it's taken me so long to respond to you is because I never thought about how this would actually go…" he murmured.

Ratchet watched his expression carefully.

Optimus chuckled softly, leaning on the railing and looking out at the fountain. "This feels complicated… I'm sorry."

"No need, I'm the one that made it complicated," Ratchet hummed. "I didn't exactly have to tell you but I did anyway."

Optimus sighed. "But… I'm still glad that you did."

Ratchet looked back down, his plating pinning down on itself. "It still felt like a mistake. It was unkind to tell you after what happened with Megatronus, and even if he was awful to you- you still cared about him. I wasn't being supportive or helpful in any way then."

Optimus hummed. "Well, I forgive you. Even if it did feel like a lot to deal with all at once…" he smiled. "I did care about Megatronus, but everyone must learn from their mistakes. It gave me a chance to discover a little bit about myself… Like how I really like sharing quiet moments… or how much I like talking about meaningless things… or how much I look forward to your sarcastic quips. I love how clever you are, how outspoken and confident you are… I love how fearless you are and…"

Heat blossomed around his cheeks as he stood next to him, listening to his spark felt words. He found himself wondering if this was a dream. If it was he didn't wish to wake up…

"I dearly hope I'm not too late to answer, Ratchet…" he murmured carefully, taking a small bundle out of his subspace, and set it in front of him. Ratchet looked down at the bundle and back at Optimus. He only smiled and gave a nod and pushed the bundle a little closer to him.

He carefully took it, unwrapping the small, silky handkerchief that was a brilliant red color, Ratchet's glyphs embroidered onto the corner of the fabric. Inside lay a small bundle of rust sticks, a potted crystal that glowed a deep scarlet, and a poem, carefully written out in red ink.

'Fiery

'Your optics smolder with confidence and passion.

'Your figure leaves beautiful embers in my vision.

'Your brilliant smile blinds me in its warmth.

'Every flash of this color leaves me reeling-

'-and all because you make my spark burn.'

-Orion

Ratchet felt his fans kick on a notch, trying to expel the heat that came with the overwhelming feelings of flusterment. His plating tingled with a new kind of excitement while his spark swelled, "Orion… I…"

Optimus looked back at him hopefully.

Ratchet grinned, chuckling softly. "You're not too late by any means," he said, holding the poem close to his chest.

Optimus took a small step forwards towards him, beaming down at him. "I'm happy to hear that! Um… would you perhaps like to join me for a movie sometime?" He asked slowly. "Or whatever you would like to do," he muttered.

Ratchet chuckled, finding the awkward fumbling adorable. It was a little evident that he didn't really think past getting a no from him. "A movie sounds nice," he said softly.

"Yes! Great, I'll see to it… um… Friday…?"

"Yeah, Friday works," he smiled softly. He saw Optimus light up a little bit.

"Great, I'll figure it out with security and stuff…" he said softly, smiling widely.

Ratchet chuckled. "Good," he murmured, holding the rest of the small favor close to him. A chilly breeze blew across the water and sent a shudder through Ratchet. Optimus saw this.

"It's getting a little chilly…would you allow me to escort you to your room?" He asked awkwardly.

Ratchet could only chuckle and nod. "I think I would like that…"

The prime beamed down at Ratchet, gently taking his servo again and beginning to lead him back to the palace, their fields intermingling a little closer than before.