It was a few days after the Cybonic Plague incident. Optimus was doing better, although he was still pretty weak from the experience. He still couldn't walk on his own, so Ratchet or one of the others had to help him move around. Ratchet had decided to let him rest in his room and the old medic often checked on him to make sure that he was alright.

Arianna was still able to get to base even after Optimus had gotten the plague. She would often arrive with one of the others, or sometimes she flew there herself, practicing her animal shifting abilities. Besides Ratchet, she was the one most worried about Optimus, but Ratchet had a feeling it was more than just because she was his partner...

Aria, currently transformed into a hawk, landed on the top of the base. As soon as her talons touched the ground, she transformed back into her human self before heading down the elevator. When she reached the bottom, she found Ratchet working at the consul. "Nice flight?" he asked her as she entered the room.

"Yup," she replied, stretching slightly, "There was a very nice breeze today. And some thermals. Thermals always feel nice."

"I'll take your word for it," said Ratchet, turning back to the computer. "Oh, and you have a few feathers in your hair."

"Oh, thanks!" said Aria, quickly pulling out the golden-colored feathers.

"You're welcome," said Ratchet. He silently waited for Aria's question:

"How's Optimus?"

"Doing better," said the old medic as Aria leaned against the railing, "But he's still too weak to move on his own. I've caught him twice trying to get up. If it weren't for me, he probably would've hurt himself by now."

"I've caught him trying as well," said Aria, rolling her eyes, "He's really stubborn."

Ratchet sighed and shook his helm, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "So," he asked her, "besides working on your project, why else are you here?"

"Why are you asking?" she asked, suddenly slightly nervous.

"You've visited him every day," pointed out Ratchet, turning to look at her, "Is there something that you're not telling me? He is my friend after all."

"Yeah, well-" Aria tried to think of something to say, "he's my... guardian. I can- augh!" She placed her head in her hands. Ratchet had her backed into a corner.

"He's not just a guardian to you, is he?" asked Ratchet, cocking an optic-ridge at her.

"Um-um... I'm gonna go visit Optimus! See you later!" She quickly leaped off of the balcony, landed on the ground, and raced down the hallway.

"Hmmmmm," mused Ratchet, looking after her. Then he smiled and turned back to his work.

Optimus leaned against the wall behind his berth, reading a report from Agent Fowler on a data-pad. He shook his helm slightly at a few of the governments nervous reactions. There was also a few new people at Unit E that were slightly nervous about Cybertronians, bu they were new after all.

A sudden tapping at the door caused him to look up. "Come in," he said.

The door slid open to show Aria standing in the doorway. "Mind if I come in?" she asked him.

"Not at all," he told her. He set that data-pad down next to him and pushed himself up slightly as the young adult came in, leaping up onto his berth next to him. "When did you get here?" he asked her.

"Couple of minutes ago," she said, "I was just trying to get away from Ratchet's interrogations. He wants to know why I keep on visiting you." She gave a slightly nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of her head.

"And why do you keep on visiting me?" asked Optimus, a slight teasing tone in his voice.

"I-I... I worry about you, okay?" she exclaimed, flustered.

"I know," he told her. A gentle servo wrapped around her as he said, "I worry about you too. How did you get here?"

"Hawk form. Flew," she quickly explained. Optimus could still see the slight bit of red on her normally pale cheeks. He hid a smile as she asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm alright for now," he told her, a digit rubbing the small of her back, causing her to give a sigh of relief. That spot must have been sore.

"Wrestling in gym today," she explained at his curious glance, "Vince knows a lot about cars, but he does not know how to put up a good fight. But he does squirm like a trapped weasel."

Optimus was slightly confused, but then he remembered. "Oh. The bully at school. I'm quite surprised that he doesn't know how to fight considering that he fights with others."

"Other people smaller than him," corrected Aria, rolling her eyes. "Whenever he fights someone taller or stronger than him, he's a chicken. A very brave chicken that only beats its wings at you."

Optimus chuckled at her description, with Aria joining in. "I'm sorry that we can't spar together," Optimus said when they had calmed down.

"Maybe not," said Aria, shrugging, "But maybe you could give me some tips on my form? Prima and Nexus were teaching me some moves, but I couldn't really perfect them. Nexus said that my stance was a little wrong."

"All right," said Optimus. He lowered her to the ground and she took up her stance, ready for the teaching to begin.

A couple of hours later, Ratchet entered the room and stopped slightly at the sight. It took all of his willpower to not give a small "aww" at the sight.

Optimus appeared to be asleep, leaning against the wall with his legs tucked up on the berth. Held against his chest was a sleeping Aria, obviously tired from the Prime's coaching. A tiny smile was on her face, and her side braid, which had come free of her blue clip, was dangling over her left eye.

Ratchet didn't want to disturb them, but then her remembered what time it was. He softly walked forward and placed a gentle hand on Optimus's shoulder plate. Optimus gave a small flinch before opening his optics, looking up and nodding to Ratchet. He looked down at Aria and gave a gentle smile. "I don't want to disturb her," he said softly.

"Neither do I," said Ratchet, "but it's time for her to go home. Should I take a picture?"

Optimus shook his head. His other servo raised up and gently tapped the top of Aria's head. She gave a small moan and opened her eyes, looking slightly awkward at the position she was in. When she looked up, the blush was seen on her cheeks when she also saw Ratchet. "Um... hi?" she said nervously.

Ratchet chuckled and said, "It's almost seven. You should probably be heading home."

"Oh," said Aria. Optimus gently let her go and set her down next to the berth. She hopped out of his servo and headed out of his room. She turned to look back from the doorway and said, "Um, see you tomorrow?" Then she darted into the hallway.

"She's gotten nervous these past few days," said Ratchet, "Probably because she's been worried about you." At the silence, he turned to see Optimus nod rather absentmindedly.

Ratchet raised an optic-ridge, then asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," said Optimus, still looking at the doorway.

Ratchet saw the look on his friend's faceplates. "How exactly do you see her?"

Optimus turned at that. "Wh-what?" he asked rather confused.

"She's not just a partner for you anymore, is she?" asked Ratchet.

Optimus went silent for a few seconds before saying, "Ratchet, please don't ask."

The optic-ridge raised again. Finally, Ratchet shrugged and said, "Alright. Fine. I won't push. But don't you think that I don't know that something is going on." And with that, he left.

Optimus leaned back against the wall, thinking about what had happened. After Aria had perfected her techniques, she had gotten tired, so Optimus had allowed her to rest. Before Aria had fallen asleep, however, he thought he had heard her whisper something.

But he was fairly certain that he knew what it was. And he promised that he would try to be that figure for her.

"I'll keep you safe my child," he thought, "I know you are able to take care of yourself, but I promise. I will always be there for you."

The Matrix of Leadership didn't give any voices, but a gentle warmth came from it, soothing his sore limbs. A gentle smile crossed his faceplates, then he laid fully on the berth and soon fell into recharge.

He could finish Agent Fowler's report later.

So, this chapter is rather short. I hope you guys enjoyed it, though!