Chapter 8

Stay With Me

Optimus and Ratchet sat in the medical bay talking like they normally did after many of the others went to recharge. It had become a custom for them to do it after a long day just so they could see the next course of action and speak about how the others were doing. Optimus drank from an energon cube before setting it down on the medical berth beside him. "I am worried about Claw being back," Ratchet said quietly as he took a small drink of his own energon cube. "He is a dangerous force especially with how he can make chemicals to harm us and break our minds and sparks with such ease. Especially now with him and Megatron now working together," he said as he held the cube in his hands.

"No, you are not only worried about that. You are worried about Artemis getting hurt again by him," Optimus said as he glanced over at the medic. "You love her," he mumbled.

"What? Where did you get that crazy idea? I do not love her! Yes I do care for her deeply as a friend but" Ratchet retaliated as he glanced up at the Prime. "She is our comrade and shouldn't have to see that mech after everything he has done to her! The mech should have died in the pits!" he said before calming down.

"You are still terrible at lying even after all of these eons. I see how you look at her, how you have become happier since she has returned to our ranks. You love her but you don't want to admit it so you won't get hurt again or don't want to see her hurt" Optimus said calmly. "I know she has conflicting feelings about both of us and some confusing ones about Megatron as well, but she and you belong together."

Ratchet sighed before nodding slowly. "You are right. I love her, but I can not be with her because of how you used to have a crush on her and with Claw still having a grip on her spark," he explained. "She would never fall for a mech like me. I am doomed to be alone, it's gonna be like when I lost her all those eons ago to Claw, I should have confessed it to her sooner or given a far better reason for why she should bond with me. Now I am even more alone." he whispered. "It is like when we were younger, you getting all the love and well me being alone. But I hold no strong grudges against you but maybe some slight jealousy."

"Go talk to her, go and speak to her about this, you can not just bottle it up like I did all those eons ago" Optimus said calmly. "You can not hide all of your feelings from her forever. Especially when she could possibly like you back." Optimus said before he stood up. Ratchet nodded and took an extra energon cube as the Prime wished him luck with a kind smile.

Ratchet made his way down the hall before knocking on Artemis's door. Part of him just wanted to back out of this after he knocked. He waited and soon the door opened. "Oh, um hey Ratch what are you doing up this late? Shouldn't you be recharging after all the chaos of late?" she asked quietly as she moved and leaned against the side of the doorframe.

Ratchet swallowed hard before trying to find the right words. "I um, I-I" he stumbled as he grew nervous in front of the slightly shorter blue femme. He released a sigh, "I was curious if you wanted to go for a night drive and have some energon?" He asked nervously.

Artemis stepped out of her room and closed the door behind her. "Sure, but how about we go up to the top of the base instead of going on a late night drive?" Ratchet nodded and the two went to the top of the base. Ratchet looked at the femme and smiled as he saw her armor shining in the moonlight. They both walked and sat on the edge of the base and drank from the glowing energon cubes.

The pair sat in silence for quite awhile before Artemis scooted closer and rested her helm on the medic's shoulder. Ratchet frowned before releasing another sigh and moved his arm around the femme. She seemed so tense and tired. "Why were you not recharging?" he asked. Artemis just shook her helm to avoid the question. "Artemis, please do not lie to me," he mumbled as he looked at the femme and rubbed her back.

"Claw, is what is concerning me, I do not want you or anyone else getting harmed by him, I am what he wants." Artemis said calmly as she lifted her helm and looked into the medic's blue optics before glancing away to say "I should just give myself up to keep you all safe"

Ratchet frowned and shook his head before setting the energon cube down and placed his hand under Artemis's chin and stopped himself. "Look at me," he whispered quietly before they made optic contact once again. "You are not going to turn yourself into him like that, he will do unspeakable things to you and you know that, you can be selfish for once instead of being selfless. You, me, and Optimus are one of the few that remember a time before the war and of peace, we can keep that peace and give it to the others, including your sister," Ratchet spoke softly. "Please, do not give yourself up to him, we just got you back in our lives. I just got you back."

Artemis had never really seen the medic use such a soft tone or he was so different when it came to showing romantic interest. Ratchet had always been the second chosen when it came to someone wanting to be with him. She didn't know what to say or do. She knew the medic didn't want to lose her as a comrade but this seemed more of a romantic nature. Artemis released a sigh and leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his metal lips. Ratchet's optics widened before softening and pulling the femme a little closer for a few moments as they shared a kiss. They broke the kiss and just looked at each other before resting their helms against each other's. Artemis moved her helm down to rest it against the medic's broad chest. "Stay with me Artemis, I can't lose you again" he whispered and placed a gentle kiss on top of her helm. "Please stay with me." he begged.

As the two sat up on top of the base in each other's embrace and managed to still conceal some of the emotions flooding through them, Optimus sat in his room staring down at the energon cube within his hand. He did truly love Artemis as well but didn't know how to convey it. He was never the best when it came to romantic ideals even when he was with Elita One during the war. Before the war he wasn't much better, but the caste system didn't allow many of them to find love amongst the differing groups on Cybertron. Optimus knew what his spark wanted but didn't know what Artemis would say, let alone Ratchet. Ratchet and Optimus were close friends and neither wanted a full confrontation when it came to both of them wanting to be with Artemis.

After being up on top of the base in silence the pair finished their energon cubes before making their way back down to the base. Ratchet gently grabbed Artemis's hand to stop her from going past the area in the medical bay. She turned and looked up at him but seemed to be even more lost in thought. "Artemis, I know that I uploaded a lot of emotions onto you and I know it is stressful," Ratchet said as he took a couple steps closer. "I am not going to be mad if you choose Optimus, but know that I do love you and everything like that." he said before releasing her hand and making his way down the hallway towards his room.

Artemis stood there for a few moments before making her way to her room. She stopped just outside of the hallway next to Optimus and Ratchet's rooms. She glanced at each room. She did care for Optimus deeply and had that crush on him long before the war. Though she also cared for Ratchet and the two were close, not to mention everything that the medic Artemis groaned before walking a little further and walking into her room and going and sitting on her berth being lost in thought.

She groaned and stood up and walked out of her room and frantically knocked on the door. After a few moments, Ratchet opened it. "Artemis, is everything alright?" he asked in a worried tone. Artemis moved forward and leaned up a little and kissed the medic on his lips. Ratchet wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Ratchet broke the kiss and looked into her optics. He went to go say something again but Artemis just kissed him back and wrapped her arms around the mech's neck.

Optimus stepped out of his room and saw the pair in each other's embrace and kissing each other. His spark broke slightly but smiled a little bit. "Well done old friend," he mumbled and slowly stepped back into his room and let the door close behind him. He was hurt but he knew he could still care for the two of them and allow them both to find happiness.