Ch. 239

"Have you considered other things to help clear your mind?"

"Hm? Like what?"

Optimus shook his helm as Starscream let go of his servo to wade the tips of his peds into the stream of cool water before them, "I am not sure. What is it you prefer to do when you are not occupied?"

The seeker tsked as he looked back at the mech with tired optics and an equally tired smile, "Optimus. Optimus. I am always occupied," he gently kicked a ped to disrupt the water beneath him before crouching down to soak his servos in the stream, "if not with anything someone else needs at the moment, it's with something someone will need eventually. Free time is a luxury I've not been able to acquire for millions of years..."

The Prime found a seat upon a large boulder where he could watch the smaller mech carefully, "Are you not, at present, being given a lack of occupancy now?"

Starscream's wings flicked up rigidly before relaxing; he stood slowly as he waved water from his claws, "Well... this is true, I suppose..."

"So, what activities would you prefer to indulge in now that you are in service to no one but yourself? What would make you feel relaxed?"

The seeker pouted as he thought, "I... I don't know," he turned and looked up from the water, "And I'm not saying that simply because I'm suddenly presented with the question. I'm not actually sure what would... is 'make me feel better' the right context for this? That feels too simple..."

Optimus smiled, "What would make you feel more whole, Starscream?"

Starscream hummed and nodded, "Ah, yes, that's the context then... Then again, I don't know. I've been so wrapped up in duty to another..." he slowly cringed back, "Optimus, I don't mean that negatively towards any of you, I meant just with my time with him, I don't want you to think-"

"Starscream, you need not explain yourself. I understand," the Prime stood from his boulder and walked out into the shallow stream with the smaller mech, "But what comes to mind first? Or, if you cannot think of something, may I offer some suggestions?"

The seeker grumbled, "I... I think I'm going to need the assist, my mind is a solid block of nothingness when it comes to answering this."

"Have you considered writing?"

Starscream snorted at the question, his faceplates scrunched up at the idea, "Writing? Me? Optimus, what would I be writing about?"

"Anything you wanted," the Prime offered, "Everything and nothing. Or perhaps your experience-"

"No," the smaller mech sighed, waving Optimus away, "No, it would be sentences and paragraphs filled with nothing but painful recollections and self deprecating humor. Not exactly something someone would read."

"You would not have to share what you write, Starscream. It is simply a method to help you work through your experiences."

"Still a 'no'."

Starscream waded down through the river, his arms out on either side of him to help maintain balance, "What do you do? You're trying to give me methods of coping, so what are yours?"

Optimus followed behind the seeker carefully, "I am just as dutifully buried in my work, Starscream. But, recently, I found that helping someone I am close to has helped me begin working through my flaws."

Starscream almost slipped and was somewhat grateful that he had his arms up to stabilize himself; he was not grateful, however, for the surprised expression he threw back at the Prime.

Optimus couldn't stop himself from smiling, "This individual is reminding me that while I can try to save everyone I must also make time for myself and instill boundaries. I am not excelling in this method, but I am trying. And that is the most important part of change, is it not?"

Starscream nervously gulped, "Me? Is it me? I'm the one helping you?"

The larger mech nodded and the seeker scowled, "No! I can't be helping you with that! My advice is so selfish and so un-you! I'm full of slag, don't listen to me!"

"Your advice has been accurate, Starscream," Optimus continued to smile, "because while I spread myself so thin for those I care for, I am left with little for myself. This was made evident when I could not bare to see you leave. I understand how selfish that was of me to ask of you, but-"

"No, no, stop..." the smaller mech sighed, shaking his helm, "Alright. So I was right to tell you to make more time for yourself and to not take on as much, just as you were right not to let me leave... but aren't you going against this new method of yours by being here now? Helping me?"

Optimus hummed and let his optics shutter, "... I do not think so. Because while I am here helping you, I am also sharing something with you that I enjoy."

"Ah. Which is?"

The Prime flickered his optics back on as he gestured around them, "This planet's collection of nature. It is so unlike our home and yet there is comfort in it," he looked back to Starscream, "If not writing, perhaps you would consider another form of art? Miko likes to draw."

The smaller mech shrugged, "I'm not so much for that, really. I'd get stressed making sure the proportions were right and the colors were on point. And what would I draw? The nature you find comfort in?"

"You do not feel relaxed here?"

Starscream hummed and turned to look back down the river, walking again, "Well, I don't know if I would say that... It's... pleasant in its own way. But there's far too much out here that could cause problems. What if a human spotted us? Or a Decepticon soldier? I think the lack of control out here wouldn't be something I could get used to on my own..."

"On your own?" Optimus followed along.

The seeker shrugged again, "I can't expect you to drop everything and come for a walk. Not while we're still fighting in this war. Even now, this isn't exactly the best use of our time, is it?"

"... Starscream, I would rather not discuss our ongoing fight when we are supposed to be focusing on-"

"Please?" Starscream interrupted quietly, "At least what we know so far? ... I know Agent Fowler has been monitoring them close enough..."

Optimus held back a heavy sigh, "Alright, Starscream. Agent Fowler's most recent update of the situation has told us that while the Nemesis suffered heavy damage, it has been repaired enough for flight. Its location, at present, is unknown. There was a high level of energy from just outside Earth's atmosphere noted shortly after the Nemesis departed."

"... The space bridge? Do you think they...?"

"I do not know. To use such technology would require a large portion of resources, which we know the Decepticons have. But they have been known to use such false methods before..."

Starscream paused in his walk through the water and grumbled, "Yes, that's worked well for them in the recent past... Is that why we didn't investigate?"

Optimus shook his helm, "I did not think it wise to do so."

"Good call..."

The seeker rolled his shoulders and sighed loudly, carefully walking up a pebble embankment and onto dry land, "What other methods are you going to prescribe for me, oh wise one?"

Optimus followed the smaller mech and caught Starscream by the arm when the seeker slipped forward, "Have you considered gardening?"

"Gardening-" Starscream almost choked, but his surprised smile said it was to stop a laugh, "Getting my servos muddy and using fertilizer- and to garden what? I highly doubt that I could keep a rock garden alive, let alone living plants!"

"I am confident in your ability to do all things, Starscream," Optimus smiled, "and I think you would be very good at gardening. You say that the wilds of nature, while pleasant, is unnerving to you. A garden will help give you a sense of control."

"Um... I don't know..." the seeker gently pulled away to sit on a fallen log, "I've never considered something like that..."

Optimus sat across from the mech on an elevated perch of earth, "The humans would be glad to help you. Raf could show you videos that are stored on the Internet that detail plant growth and cultivation."

Starscream fiddled with his claws, "I... I'm not so sure... Honestly, unless it's a new cat video or that dancing monkey Raf made, I don't know if I would be too interested... Hm..."

"Something wrong?"

The seeker lifted his right ped, "The children rushed under my ped and did something under there while I was saying my good byes. I haven't really thought about it until now."

Optimus reached out and Starscream allowed him to take the sharp limb in his servo, "There is something on the red of your heel spike. It was not washed away by the water."

Starscream whined, "Oh, permanent marker! Those little-" his optics brightened, "What did they do?"

The Prime smiled, "There are little pictures. And they have written things-"

Starscream pulled his ped back, a pleased noise coming up from the back of his throat as he struggled to see it himself, "Miko! She drew me some stars and hearts- oh, oh! Raf wrote that I'm the best- And even Jack, he put-" the seeker's wings fluttered excitedly and a wide smile spread across his faceplates, "Optimus, quick! Do you have a basic seal kit?"

"I do. What do you need it for?" Optimus's chest plate shifted upwards and he reached in to retrieve a small box, which Starscream took from him quickly.

"I'm putting a clear patch over this. I don't want it to get rubbed away- Oh, what if the pebbles and rocks had scratched it off?" the seeker huffed a bit as he took out the things he would need from the kit, "That would have been a travesty..."

Optimus watched quietly as the smaller mech worked, his small smile warming, "Would you like help with this, Starscream?"

"... Give me a minute. ... And yes."