Co-Authered by Kitra and Omicron

Atlantis

SoftLove

Wing blinked over his shoulder and twitched in sympathy. The Prime must've heard them. He gave Ratchet a look that said 'Let me up', then focused on Optimus again. It wasn't that he was afraid of getting hurt, but rather focused more on someone else's well being right now.

The Prime's normally bright optics were staring unwaveringly at Wing, for a moment there is conflicting emotions. Relief of a creator, hope at a chance of seeing the child he lost, and then fear. Then Optimus was drawing himself up, that sense of power was back as Wing found himself facing a War-Prime, not hostile to him but someone who could and did lead a planet.

"Wing. Who knows of this matter?" Optimus asked, his voice as gentle as he was firm, though Ratchet was backing up and away.

Wing sat up and chirred softly, padding over and for all it was worth hugging the larger grounder. "Nobody at home but Achat. He says that the sparkling that was taken in was called Freesong by the one who brought him to the Circle in request of taking the 'orphan' with them on the Exodus. Achat found out by the time Freesong was nearly an adult.

"

He only started looking because Freesong mentioned something during recharge in one of his pods." He freely offered up pictures of the other mech, chosen from different periods of time in Wings life, he had grown up with the older sparkling. Everything from a Sparkling Wing curled up with a youngling Freesong, the picture had obviously come from a caretaker who had watched over them, to a picture of Freesong graduating from the human equivalent of a college.

Optimus shuttered his optics, his head lowering as he was still for a few moments. Controlling himself, and his field, as the Matrix would affect everyone in the base. The Prime rested his free hand on Wing's back and shoulder. "Understand Wing, Softlove... Freesong... I love him as much as I did my mate. That is why I gave him up."

Optimus...gave up his sparkling?

The jet hummed softly in understanding. "You gave him up for the same reasons my creators fled. You didn't want him in the war, he was... is too big a target. I understand you." He nuzzled close and purred softly, unintended as Optimus hand petted his wings.

"As much as I hate it at times, I am a War-forged Prime, and from one of the oldest lines of true primes." Optimus spoke softly, not minding the snuggling jet. "All those in my family are, and though not all will be a Prime, we are strong mechs." He was thinking of Grimlock- even mutated, and Ultra Magness. "I have found one brother again, and though my spark is glad for the news of my lost one returning... I will not deny you have given me fear as well young Wing. If Megatron were to know of just one heir to my Matrix... let alone two..."

"He is as safe as it gets. I can't stall Achat forever, but he will keep away as long as he can and I promise him I will return at some point without letting anyone find out where I go. He understands, so do I. I should stay out of any of your fights for as long as I am not needed, the less danger I am in, the less likely is Achat to come. There's no reason to come for me beyond the fact that Dai Atlas and Axe want me back and Achat of course. But coming out of hiding for one mech is pointless and against everything they worked so hard to achieve when they fled the war." He chirred and kept cuddled as close as he could.

He quietly eyed the Prime, golden optics as trusting as they would ever be. "Even if the Decepticons found me, they wouldn't find anything out, neither about me, your creation or my home."

The Knight knew pain, penance and training had taught him well.

The Prime rubbed the spot behind Wing's neck, tracing the hilt of the Great Sword in greeting as well. Optimus leaving a trace of energy from the creation-artifact he carried in both mech and sword. It was warm and gave a hint of Primus love for all sparks.

"I had no intentions of sending a civilian to battle, you can assure your mate of this." Optimus rumbled deep in his chest.

"He isn't afraid of me going into battle, more my creators. Even though it was them who trained me, at least partially. It was another knight of my frame type who was my Daoshi, but in the end all Knights influence an Initiate, sparring alone does it." He grinned and melted against the larger mech, purring strong enough to have his entire frame vibrate gently.

"I'm as good at defending myself as Wheeljack is, actually better in some aspects, considering I have no desire to blow everything in my path up." He joked.

Ratchet gave a snort at that from the side, having been watching quietly until then.

"There are many different ways of defending and fighting I have learned," Optimus chuckled, "Every style, or lake thereof is useful." that was the Prime and commander in him speaking.

Wing carefully extracted himself, and then eyed Ratchet thoughtfully for a moment. "You still got a job to finish?" He grinned, something hinting at his more mischievous side.

The medic pointed with a gruff huff at the berth at the same time Optimus gently pushed Wing over after giving him the data pad.

Wing subspaced it, bounced over and tackled the medic for another hug, then zipped away and laid down on the berth before the gruff mech could react. "Well, get to work, else I might think you're harmless contrary to Redline!"

The wrench impacted the back of Wing's helm before he finished talking, hard enough to leave a dent, and square on the back, though the dent was also just small enough that it will heal naturally.

Optimus' warning growl kept the glaring medic from yelling. "Ratchet, he is not one of my troops for you to abuse."

"I can still kick him out!" Ratchet huffed, and did just that after finishing with wing. Sending the young mech almost flying out without effort on the jet's part.

In turn there was a yip from the ground as Wing stumbled out, movement near the other side of the wall. It was Raphael who had come to see the new mech again, though wasn't expecting him to suddenly come out.

Wing easily caught himself and glared over his back. "I'll get to your soft and mushy side, you wait!" He snickered and blinked when he heard the squeak, looking down to find Raphael there. "Hey Raph!"

The young human looked up at Wing from where he was against the far wall, he had a look not unlike a sparkling caught where they're not sure if they should be. "Hi."

Wing chirred and chittered at him, then crouched down. "You know, there's nothing really to be afraid of here. Except maybe Ratchets aim with his wrench. But eh, just shows how much he can't admit to being soft and mushy. Considering nobody else is around, I assume you came to find me?"

"Yeah... is that okay?" the human asked coming away from the wall in a tusting way to Wing.

Wing smiled. "Of course, I don't mind having you around, or anyone else for that matter. He offered his hand, palm up for the young boy to sit on.

Raphael gave him a studding look, a little odd and maybe yes cute on the soft face before he came over and climbed into Wing's palm. The way he moved said that the boy was well used to being carried like this.

The jet stood up and put the hand in front of his chest, comfortable with the boy against his armor. "That curious about me?" He smiled and petted the boys knees with his thumb, then moved towards where he remembered the recreational area to be.

"That way," Raphael said pointing to another hallway. "Yes. Arcee said you're not from Cybertron exactly... but was living on a different world... what's it like?" he asked hopefully, eager to hear about something beyond his world, and the smaller world of his semi-isolated home here in the desert.

Wing followed the pointing. "My home is a Metrotitan and the city that was built on his frame. Metrotitans are very large mechs of our kind, walking, transforming cities, space or mining stations. The world we settled on is a desert, no sentient life. All there is are a few fish in the underground rivers, a few insect and a few reptiles." He told the boy. "I never saw Cybertron as anything but pictures and memories from other mechs. The city is well hidden. Though I'm not sure how long it will stay hidden. They have long since figured out where I am and I have no doubt they want me back."

"Were you hiding from the Decepticons?" The boy asked as he shifted over to lean against Wing's chest, tucked in the energy field, and... yes, Wing could feel a disking feel of a smaller field in his after a few minutes.

The jet purred gently.

"No. My creators and Achat, the cityformer, fled the brewing war. They did not want to fight in a pointless war and watch everything get destroyed. My creators told me, that the war started over a very idiotic reason. Corrupt politics. Had the Primes before Optimus done their job correctly and kept the council in line, maybe everything would've gone differently. Back then the starving and poor rebelled against the Council. Instead of reaching out and trying to help, they imprisoned and killed rebelling mechs. The unrests grew more and more and they eventually found a leader to direct the rebels. Thus the Decepticons were born, out of a need for a new world order. Sadly at some point something went seriously wrong and it grew into an all out war." He explained quietly, he knew everything about the war up until the point of the Exodus because it was necessary history taught at home.

"By the time Optimus was fully established in his role, the Exodus was starting. Thousands of Civilians followed them, leaving everything they knew behind for the unknown, to save what was left of Cybertrons culture. We have preserved millions of records, cultural nuances of dozens of cities. There's everything from music, over energon recipes to traditional rituals."

There was a long few minutes before the boy spoke up, "Optimus says something a little different," He spoke up, though unknowing that Wing could relay to Achat, and possibly to his creators. "He says its not a bad thing to avoid fighting. But sometimes you can't run from it forever. Optimus told me that's why he chose to stay here, even when there was just him, Ratchet and Bumblebee against the Decepticons to start with."

The Prime seemed to have a very large imprint on this young organic, but Raphael was young enough to be almost always truthfully honest, and repeating what was heard.

"There was nothing wrong with staying and fighting. My creators were established Generals a long time before Optimus was created. They know senseless fuelshed when they see it. They saw no point in that war. They knew it was coming quite some time before the politicians could be bothered to lower their noses enough to see the threat coming. Carrier and Sire left the military, trying to buy out during Nova Primes time. That was one bad Prime. He was a warrior Prime, conquered hundreds of organic worlds and neglected his own people. Thus the social injustices grew rapidly worse.

"They had to hide from the Prime as the buy out was not accepted and they were put up as criminals for it. Both became Knights and with the Exodus Carrier became leader. They ran because they did not want to partake in something that ultimately wasn't their fault or by then their problem. They gave frightened civilians the chance to run, to hide and preserve. If nobody had fled Cybertron, many more would've been lost to literal slaughter. Even though the 'Cons started out with a noble goal, they quickly lost their focus and went on to outright slaughter. Quite a few of my friends saw how innocent bystanders were killed over nothing. It was enough of a reason to leave them to their war. If Megatron had not gone insane and tried to compromise, instead of erasing the Prime as a leader, maybe they would never have destroyed the entire planet.

"I have no clue who was at fault in the end that they couldn't find a way to solve the problems without the fighting, but I suspect it was a mixture of a stubborn Prime who denied a dictatorship and maltreatment of the people and an equally stubborn Resistance leader who could not agree to shed his power even a little bit and allow forgiveness to take place nor agree that a democracy would be a better choice than an overlord." Wing replied quietly. "I do not doubt that both sides are somewhat at fault. It takes two to fight and it takes two to stop. If one is unwilling, stopping won't work. And Megatron was very unwilling."

"Stubborn...prime..." the now confused boy started to ask, then was worried Wing meant his hero of a mech. Not Bumblebee or Cliffjumper, but Optimus.

"Raph, I have a far less friendly way of seeing the war. I see it as it is, two mechs, two factions too stubborn to stand down from their ideals. In able to agree to something because both have standards the other can't agree and accept. Optimus has the right ideals, the right moral and the correct choices, but he won't stand down if something is wrong from his perspective. And I can hardly blame him for being that way. He reminds me a lot of Carrier. They both are stubborn to the point it can seem ridiculous." He snorted half amused.

"Prime is not the one wrong in this war. It was and is Megatron who's demands are wrong to a degree, there were some good things he had in mind, but he lost his focus on the goal of a united, flourishing Cybertron. Instead he tried to become an Overlord, ruling with fear. It is wrong." He hummed and gently petted the boys head.

"To you, Prime is a hero, to me, Prime is just another mech, but the one decided upon by our god to be his representation, to lead as a spiritual leader and guide his people. His predecessors failed their job quite remarkably. Optimus tries to rectify that, a task I do not envy him for. Not with the kind of enemy he has."

"If one side is willing to stop, and the other stabs them in the spark flier, you would be shy to stop again." Another voice spoke, light and femmine, and the shorter blue femme came out of the darkness of another hallway. Watching and listening, but her words had not been from a solder but an outsider almost.

Raphael jumped, looking around to see where she was, he still had a lot to take in.

Wing made sure he had a good grip on the human to avoid him falling off as he turned to eye her. "I understand that concept all too well from my creators, why do you think they have a profound distaste of Primes? I was brought up without judgment, but no matter what you try to make of this war, it could've ended a long time ago, had both sides stepped down from their high horse and compromised. I am not blind to the wrongs of either side. Either one learns to compromise and forgive, or the killing will go on until Autobots and Decepticons extinguish each other. I will not mourn either side, just the lives lost in general. Our race will continue, the question is if there are going to be mech from either faction."

Golden optics regarded her keenly. "You've lost beloved ones to them, you hold a grudge and are unwilling to forgive. I understand your pain, but revenge is not a way to solve the problems." The jet had read her far easier than it probably was comfortable for her. Not to mention the sword had a far better grasp on these things than he did.

"I do not ask you not to resent those who hurt you, I do not ask you to forget. But try to at least accept if you cannot forgive. Everything, no matter how painful, happens for a reason. The war happened because of maltreatment of the population, corrupt politicians and mechs nobody would or could knock off their perch." His voice was soft and quiet, Wing had no desire to anger anyone, but he firmly believed in the teachings of the Circle. If forgiveness and acceptance did not happen, resentment, hate and pain would become worse, revenge would happen.

"You're right, I have been hurt, many times. Before and during the war." Arcee agreed as she locked up at the taller mech, "I was bred to be a Prime killer, and I will see no harm done to this one. But you must understand that Optimus did try to forgive, to compromise much to bring peace. The records you took likely do not have all of what happened on the streets, maybe someone that knew how to watch. Optimus lost his bonded in such a time, and what happened next is why I do believe things happen for a reason."

"Your assumption is correct, I do not know a lot since many things happened after we left." Wing sighed softly. "I still can and will not see either faction as pure evil or pure good. Both made mistakes. One just made many more than it should." He regarded her for a moment. "I very much do hope all of this ends quickly, too many lives have been slaughtered without use or sense. It is plain insane to keep going, but I do see that by now the Decepticons are the only ones who are unwilling to stop."

"Factions are not pure evil, or good," Arcee shook her head, her spine like winglets rising and falling, twitching and constant alertness. "But mechs do try for it. If it ends quickly, it is more likely that we have fallen then a lucky shot to Megatron's head."

She noticed Raphael and added, "Don't worry Raph, you've seen that none of us fall easy, that includes Bumblebee." The warrior femme, or rather assassin, smiled at the human and winked, "He learned from the best."

"I somewhat wish I could make Achat come here, but I've long since known I was breaking several laws just by leaving the hideout to go flying on the surface. Helping Wheeljack was in a way the dumbest thing I've done in a long time, I'm paying already for it, since I know I can't go back. Though I doubt anybody would try to stop me from it, I know you would try to at least track me. Primus knows you could use the help, but I'm fairly sure I'd get more than my skidplate handed to me if I expose the city. Its bad enough you know it exists." He sighed softly and mentally nuzzled Achat in reassurance, no he wouldn't go out there and get hurt and if he did only for a very, very good reason.

Arcee stared long and hard at the flier before coming over and smacking him, "Primus mech." she half growl, showing any sign of annoyance for the first time.

Almost at the same time Raphael had chirped up, "Helping someone isn't a bad thing Wing. You shouldn't be ashamed to do so. Or regret it."

"It's not that I regret helping, it's the price I paid for that's troubling me. But that's a problem I've got to meditate over." Wing ground out and looked away from her. He felt bad enough about saying it the way he had. His entire armor pulled tight against his frame, wings quivering lightly.

"You almost sound like you're from the some of the Towers." Arcee shook her head, and there was a disappointment in her field as she started down the hall. "You can stay over here."

Raphael was looking up at Wing, still confused, a little sad it seemed before he patted the white mech's chest. "Its okay Wing, you may not like the Autobots, but they're nice mechs. Even if sometimes Chiffjumper can be a jerk, they'll still protect you too." Was this the impression he was giving the organic? It seemed like Raphael didn't believe that Wing didn't regret helping some as well.

"Raph, I've grown up sheltered from the war and firmly been taught that this war quickly grew pointless. By now those at war are struggling for survival at best..." He eyed Arcee. "You know, I have no noble upbringing at all, but I have a fierce desire to stay with family and Achat. I'm bonded to him as a consort. I don't do separation from any of them well. It hurts and I know I should've just run after Wheeljack was through with the camp. But I also knew they most likely would've come after me. Protecting the city is what I always grew up with. Bringing outsiders in, exposes it to the war. And it's exactly that what my creators, Achat and all other Civilians worked for so very hard. Achat lost his mate when fleeing Cybertron. I've just become another source of pain to him by following my sparks call to help." He sighed softly and crouched down, gently depositing Raphael on the ground. "I think I really need some time to myself right now."

"You can stay here," Arcee said, she was getting harder to read, other then calm and a ripple of warmth for the human as he retreated to hide against her leg, like a sparkling seeking comfort. She motioned to a room that had been carved out of the rocky base. The blue femme stooped to pick up the human, and as they left to give Wing his requested space and time he could just hear the boy speaking up.

"I don't think its pointless Arcee," Raphael said as he looked up into the blue and purple optics, "If its not for you, the autobots and you, Starscream would have started taking earth over, or Soundwave. And... and Megatron would have done some more bad things."

The femme paused, and then sighed as she rubbed the boy's back, not liking that he knew this but at the same time, "That won't ever happen. This is our home too now like Optimus said. We won't let anything happen to earth like Cybertron." She was saying as she rounded a corner, voice caring as she stirred the boy to another topic.

Back in the room Wing was in, he could clearly see it belonged to someone else, as there where personal things resting here and there in an attempt to not make it so barren. on the table by the berth was a holo protector and some uncoded data chips, as well as what looked like a few mods to add tiny ladders for the humans to get up on table and berth.

The jet sighed softly and explored his surroundings carefully, he didn't dare touch anything, though he eyed what rather obviously where hooks meant for walls to securely hold blades. Raising an optic ridge he carefully took them and eyed the walls. It was more than obvious that they were there for him most likely. Wing padded over to an out of the way spot and drove both brackets into the wall at a good height for his Great Sword. It would do well for a binding meditation, he was just happy that he knew how to do a binding himself that he could also release on his own. And that he had a length of rope of his most frequently needed colors with him at all times.

Pulling red and white colored ropes from his subspace, Wing settled down on the ground for the tedious task of binding his forearms.