Chapter 14: A Frail Healing Spark

Artemis's POV

"Ugh" I mumbled as I opened my optics and glanced around. Everything was very blurry but I could tell that I was not in Omega Outpost 1 with the rest of Team Prime. I glanced around slowly and then slowly sat up in what appeared to be a normal room within the Nemesis. I noticed an IV of energon going into my arm before seeing Megatron standing in front of the berth. I jumped and groaned as a pain shot through my spark. "Must you always linger without saying something like you did back in the damn pits," I growled.

"I am sorry, I didn't wish to bother you trying to see where you were. Clearly you are not one with the allspark yet nor with your Autobot comrades," Megatron simply said with a small smirk. A smirk that I had loved so long ago sprinkled with sarcasm. I released a sigh before placing my hand over my spark. "You should be thanking me, I could have made your lights go out by breaking our small bond."

"Thank you? Thank you? You're the bastard that allowed that aft-head to be a part of your ranks and do this to countless other bots throughout the eons. Or should I thank you for the one time you decided not rip someone's spark out," I growled.

"You should have just bonded with Optimus or Ratchet then rather than having to bond with Claw to protect your frail spark, or should have joined with your sparkmate," Megatron said as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"I should've had a life with the love of my life, who became corrupted because the council chose someone who chooses words over violence. I should've had a family with the love of my life. I should have been winning countless battles with him and having him there when I earned my damn gladiator crest" I countered. Megatron released a sigh and moved to sit next to my legs on the medical berth. "But, we cannot change the past and I thank you for allowing Knockout to repair my spark and I thank you for keeping our bond to keep my lights lit." I grumbled.

"Such a spiteful tone under all of that gratefulness," Megatron said as he looked over at me with softer optics. He growled and stood up and moved away before punching the wall of the room. "Why? Why do you have such control over me still? Why can I not just end your damn spark!" he screamed. I looked around and began to realize I wasn't in a medical room but instead a personal one. I had just assumed I was on a medical berth but it was simply just a normal one. 'Did he bring me to his own room to protect me or get me to his side?' I asked myself. "Stop staring at me Artemis," he said as he faced the wall.

I frowned as I released a sigh, "Megatronus, I do not mean any..," I saw as I went to stand and stumble a little. Dizziness took over me and I felt someone catch me before I slammed into the floor. I looked up and saw Megatron looking into my optics. His red optics softened and he rested his helm on mine for a few moments before lifting me up and setting me back down on the berth. He sat beside me. "Um…thank you but…" I trailed off as he touched my cheek. "Megatron.."

"I know, I am aware of the circumstances between us and the war and everything else. I am just grateful that Primus allowed me to have you in my arms one more time….," he trailed off. "Artemis…" He leaned towards me and placed a small kiss on my forehead. "I forgot how much joy you bring to my dark reality," he chuckled. It had been forever since I saw him relax in such a way as well as not see him as a ruthless tyrant.

I flinched as I heard a knock on the door. Megatron growled and stood up and motioned me to lay down and act like I was still in recharge. I laid down and closed my optics and forced my breaths to be calmer. I heard the door open and heard another set of footsteps come over and stand in front of the berth. "I still question why you would want my sparkmate in some random quarters rather than mine. I want to reforge that bond and make her carry my offspring. I need more heirs," he growled.

'Claw' I thought and felt my spark race faster. Pain shot through my body as my spark was still healing.

"She needs to heal as per Knockout's medical advice. Keeping her in a calm environment is the best option to ensure her spark heals correctly. As for renewing your bond and abusing her to get you an heir that will have to wait until she is healed," Megatron said sternly.

"You just want her back for yourself," Claw countered.

Megatron laughed, "No, I want to fight her and take her spark out that way, not by abusing her like someone who is too afraid to have carrier femmes not under his control." Megatron shot right back. "Also to ensure that she actually becomes sparked it must be through a loving bond rather than just fragging her like some whore." Claw growled and stormed out of the room. I sat up and my spark was racing and a tear cascaded down my cheek. Megatron looked over and walked over and leaned down and wiped the tear away with one of his claws.

"I can only protect you until your spark is healed, until then he will take you as his and there is nothing I can do. Nothing I can do that will show that I like an enemy, especially the one I was bonded to," Megatron said calmly.

My breaths began to get more ragged and my spark began to hurt more and more. "I…I can't…I can't go through that again. I can't just let him treat me like I am just a pile of scrap metal," I said as I became more full of stress and anxiety. Megatron sat down beside me and pulled me close to his chest. He rubbed my back and kissed my helm. "Megs…I can't….I can't.." I just kept repeating over and over again. Megatron simply held me closer to protect me.

"I will ensure he doesn't have control of you again, I do not intend to break that promise," he whispered.