Elita-1 looked into the mirror. The mirror was crystal clear, not one scratch or blemish on it. She was sitting on her knees, staring at herself.
Sometimes she wonders what life would have been. What Jawbreaker had asked her really got her thinking about her past. Before the war. How it all seemed like a dream now.
A dream she's been having recently.
She raised her right servo up to the mirror, and held it there.
The day after she was reformatted, was one of confusion and swiftness. She had to adapt quickly, and once she did she found herself fighting alongside a Prime. The last of the Primes, the one the council had named the chosen one. Though, when she first saw him, that's not what she saw. It wasn't a Prime.
It was him. It was her librarian. A librarian that also had to adapt fast, one that wasn't fully prepared. He was the next leader chosen to head this long standing war, another in the line of commanders. The council said this one would be different; "he, was a Prime."
Elita saw herself in a different light now. She was the second in command, leading her own group of femmes into battle, watching the land around her die. It was hard. In order to survive, she magnified that to herself. The routines she exercised became more intense. It was funny, doing these routines, now with Megs, while her one and only could only watch, amazed and admiring her strength and beauty. Megatron often teased him for it. She had built so much. But she never was able to get rid of the past her.
Elita suddenly saw her last frame. Her past self. The one that was so long ago..
Her real self.
The librarian's assistant, close friend, turned to girlfriend, but still as smart and witty as she always was. Geeking out with him, hanging with her femme friends and enjoying life, even as war raged outside the walls of the city.
She was so young.
She knew this reflection.
But as it faded back, she remembered what she was know.
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?
Recently her true self has been leaking out. When she was talking to Jawbreaker, during training sessions with Megatron, talking with Dorothy Malto at G.H.O.S.T. Herself, that only he was permitted to see. She's been hiding it for so long, but this shaky peace has beckoned her to return. 'But it wasn't peace yet.' She was proud of this self, sure, she had done so much. She's been here for him. It's been rocky. Still, it wasn't time to float away. But.. but. Who she was, as a full person now, thankfully, looked a lot like her. However, she couldn't help being able to see her two lives.
She gazed down into her left servo, her digits holding a picture. A picture of the past. The one thing she managed to save and keep to herself since and after the war.
A memory.
Her femme friends all smiles and smirks, her beloved beside her, arm in arm, helm resting against hers. Long lasting smiles from him and her, all looking forward and full of hope.
She was so close to it. But it seemed the conflicts weren't going to end. For a moment, after the war, she had that peace. But it was shortlived. Now everything seems to be in limbo. They hadn't done anything like that picture in years.
She remembered that night. It was the night he had called her his sparkmate...
The overlapping of present and past memories flooded her, remorse for those she lost, regret for time not taken, times when she was overly hard or not hard enough, this was supposed to be her best self, the one self, why didn't it feel like it? The mixed emotions were rising, boiling to the surface, shaking her servo and bringing her right servo into a fist, when-
Shatter. Crack.
She looked back into the mirror.
She saw her real self in the long and many cracks her fist had made to the mirror.
Her optic shudders blinked, feeling liquid build across her optics.
When.. when will my reflection show who I am..
All of herself.
Her servo fell from the mirror, and let the picture go.
Her servos covered her faceplate, and her helm fell to the floor. The storm had finally come.
Sorrows of sadness scratched out of her vocal chords, replaying over and over.
The shadow of a figure appeared in the doorway to their living quarters. The ship they all lived on while in Witwikey.
The figure closed the door with the button, and turned the lights on, dimming them.
He was someone she needed right now.
She turned her helm slightly to look at him.
He didn't need to say anything. He walked over to her, and dusted the pieces of glass off of her. He picked her up bridal style as she continued to weep, more quietly this time. Almost as if she was ashamed to be crying.
He sat down on the slab, moving his servos to let her sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around him and let it out. He did the same, keeping her warm in his arms.
He let her cry, understanding what she was feeling. She didn't have to say anything. Her spark said all it needed to, to him. She buried her faceplate into his neckplate. He spoke quietly.
"Elita..."
She tightened her grip, whimpering.
She wasn't ready to hear that name of hers right now.
He realized it so, and gave out a long, sad sigh.
She whispered.
"Orion..."
He rubbed her back tenderly, allowing her to speak.
"I miss..."
He knew it well. Orion nuzzled her cheekplate. They were silent for a long time.
"Oh Ariel... How did we get here?"
She was very surprised. He hadn't called her that in years. That was enough to cheer her up, and she nuzzled him back. She sighed.
"As long as we're one..."
Keep waiting out for that day.
Now. Right here, in her lover's arms she could be her true self. Her full self.
She kissed him gently, the tears beginning to drum up again. "Thank you for still being here Pax.. even after everything..."
Optimus smiled lightly. "I know what you'd say. I'm still a huge nerd."
Ariel giggled lightly, the tears falling away.
"Now with more geekiness."
He pulled her closer, and his servos fell to her hips.
"I'm sorry we haven't had enough of this time together honey, I know our situation isn't exactly the perfect aftermath you wanted."
Elita put a servo to his dermas, smiling lightly.
"Don't talk."
Orion smiled back, and they kissed each other lovingly and tenderly. Light and fluffy kisses were OP's favorite, and he smiled into the kiss. Elita chuckled through an intake, appreciating how he never changed. He always did that. She moved herself to completely sit in his lap, frame facing him, and OP permitting her to scoot more onto him, letting her have complete control.
For a moment, it felt like they were back on Cybertron, in Ariel's quarters, late at night, sharing their love for one another.
She missed this. All of this. And for this one vulnerable scene, she allowed herself to be herself. As he always has been.
If you saw them, you would have seen Orion Pax and Ariel. For the future, they're Optimus Prime and Elita One. The only ones. Ones made for each other.
So this was a cute little drabble that came out of nowhere. I really liked writing it, and I hope you enjoyed reading. (Yes I'm still working on DM, I'm in the middle of juggling three other projects, have patience followers. And thank you for your continued patience.) Also, who's ready for more TF Earthspark this month? I know I am.
Write you later!