Author's note. Written by me and the-writing-mew.
Enjoy and please review.
Sometime later...
The young Prime remained in his own berth and quarters as the 'interface quarantine' advanced. It was not that he was locked up, no, he was just too tired sometimes to get up and find something else to do.
Even his own servants expressed their worry about it, after all, the consort should have recovered by now his strength...but sometimes they just shrugged it off thinking that he was just 'delicate'.
That thought annoyed Optimus, he was not 'delicate' he was a strong warrior!
"Consort?" Someone called and he on-lined his optics heavily. It was one of his servants.
"Yes?" He asked tiredly.
"You have a call, its the Emperor."
The consort lifted up weakly and proceeded to leave the berth to answer his mate's call...knowing fully what the other will say and making him grimace at that.
"Optimus!" The warlord said excitedly once his beloved mate came into view.
"My lord," Optimus stated, trying to look pleased to see his mate even though he still felt empty inside. No one could claim the Emperor had forgotten about his mate, he called almost daily to make sure Optimus was being taken care of and to remind him that his mate missed him.
Optimus knew he should feel something about this, even if it was disgust or annoyance but somehow he couldn't. Even since his bonding, his emotions had felt muted somewhat and all he ever really seemed to experience were the echoes of whatever Megatron was feeling. Right now, he could tell his mate was pleased to see him but that was it. He didn't know if Megatron was properly feeling what he was feeling or lack thereof.
"How goes everything?" Optimus asked, trying to make himself interested in something, anything. He hated this lethargy he was experiencing but somehow couldn't shake himself of it.
"Everything is going smoothly my love," Megatron replied, smiling fondly at his mate. "Right now, we are discussing trade routes and treaties, it can be a little dull at times but soon we will all reap the benefits of it."
Optimus nodded, almost wanting to ask how his friends in the elite guard were doing but resisting. Megatron now asked.
"Do you have everything to your satisfaction?"
"Yes my lord, it's perfect," Optimus half lied. Of course, materially he had everything he needed and any illness he experienced was instantly reported but emotionally, he had nothing. But he wasn't even sure being around his friends would help, he sometimes felt he'd never feel normal again.
"Good," Megatron said in relief before asking. "I miss you my Optimus, you've no idea how much I do."
"I...miss you too," Optimus replied making Megatron smiled widely.
"I know Hook said you must rest and recover," he began slowly and Optimus felt a sensation of dread well up inside him, he wasn't going to like this. "But if you're totally celibate, when we are united, we won't be able to make love properly."
"What...do you suggest?" Optimus questioned, Hook would never allow him near thankfully.
"Well before our bonding, you hadn't really touched yourself, had you?" Megatron said and when Optimus shook his head, said. "Well, I think a little self servicing might do you some good, you'll feel less overwhelmed when this accursed quarantine is over."
"Oh," Optimus blinked at him.
"I could tell you how to do it," Megatron suggested, his optics burning with clear lust and Optimus strongly suspected that Megatron didn't just mean for him to self service. "Guide you step by step..."
"What...what about Hook?" Optimus tried a little weakly, the idea of self servicing over a video comm for his mate was not appealing.
Megatron snorted and said. "I'm not suggesting anything overwrought, just a little something for you to do when you're alone and bored. You could even do it in the bath my love..."
"I uh...I...," Optimus stammered, blushing now as Megatron's optics raked his form.
"I... I don't think I can, my lord..." He tried feeling really awkward now.
"Awww, come on love, I promise there won't be nothing wrong with it, you will enjoy it fully; there's nothing better than one's own touch. Now, come on... Touch your panel."
Optimus looked at him in shock not believing this was happening.
"Come on, don't be shy, I've already seen all from you..." the warlord purred darkly as his optics roamed lustfully over his frame.
"I... I don't think..." He tried again only making his mate smirk.
"I know you must miss my own touch on your body, but I can't be there now, so, imagine is me touching you..." Megatron practically gasped the last part. "Oh Optimus...you have no idea what this stupid quarantine is doing to me..." He moaned in need making Optimus' flushed face to pale.
"I want to catch up with you, so, you need to be a little more...loose... I don't want to hurt you again," This time as Megatron moaned those words one of his hands trailed down, and by the way the arm was moving he deduced he was up to something.
"I... I think I feel tired, my lord... I don't think I can...do that," the Prime said this dimming his optics so the other will believe the message...and it seemed to have worked judging Megatron's worried but disappointed look.
"Oh...its okay, love, I understand...recover soon, remember I miss you so much...," Megatron said and Optimus could feel that somehow it was true because of the bond and the nudges he was receiving.
"But before you go, I want to give you something that will be useful as I'm not there." Megatron continued making Optimus frown in thought. "Go to my quarters, there is the east wall, right in the middle, where there's no paintings push your hand and a secret compartment will open, whatever is inside is secret and mine for vorns, is ours now, yours... I want you to use as you please whatever you want from there."
"Oh... I... I thank you, my lord, I will if that pleases you..." Optimus said bowing a little in respect towards his master.
...
When the call was finished, curiosity won and Optimus started after his master's quarters to see what was inside the secret compartment. Perhaps there were some treasures of his family and such, he thought.
Once he reaches the quarters, he went straight to the east wall and did as his master instructed... However, there were no invaluable treasures inside, the insides of it made him pale and almost purge.
Did Megatron really intended him to use those?!
Recovering from the initial shock he walked towards it inspecting the several sexual toys that were inside, especially one...
It was long, thick, with several ridges coming from soft to hard ones and the same could be said about the bumps it possessed, also a thick and bulbous knot at the base. It seemed like an expensive toy as he continued examining it, it was also a little curved and had a switch and a little button he had no idea they were for...until he pressed it and started vibrating like mad.
"What-?!" The action caused Optimus almost to throw it but resisted and pushed the button successfully off-lining it.
Now he knew what it was, a fake spike...a special made dildo. "Well, that would explain why he enjoyed being spiked before..." He said putting it aside and decided to investigate further the compartment.
He withdrew some expensive looking lubricants and oils, all of them flavoured. Curiosity overtaking him, he unscrewed the cap from one and delicately touched it before bringing his finger up to his lips. The taste was intense and it seemed to fizzle on his glossia, causing a wire of excitement to shoot down his body. He could only imagine what it would be like to properly lick this off a spike or something like this.
He bit his lip before quickly returning it and it's fellow lubes to the compartment. There were also a few very soft cloths, he gently tested one on his arm where a smudge was. It cleaned it perfectly and he smiled wryly, this was probably the only object that he would have no problem using. Folding it up again, he looked to the other objects, the majority appeared to be other toys. Optimus did examine each of them, one was an oval shaped ball that seemed to have different vibration settings and other was a ring that he gaped at, he couldn't imagine placing that on his spike.
Once he was finished, he carefully put everything away and glanced at the berth where he'd lost his virginity. He might be having a reprieve right now but that would change soon enough. He supposed it hadn't been quite as bad as he'd thought it would be but he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. Could his life get much more uncomfortable?
Sometime later
"Uh," Optimus groaned, feeling the familiar sickening feeling that seemed a constant nowadays. Four months had passed since his bonding meaning he would soon be allowed out of quarantine and returned to Megatron. Needless to say, the Decepticon leader was becoming very excited by it and regularly told Optimus so. Optimus could certainly feel his excitement and he did his best not to feel too depressed about it. After all, it would mean a change of pace, he was spending far too much time in his quarters while the world around him changed. From what he'd been told, a lot of progress had been made on Megatron's new palace; they'd be able to live in it before the stellar cycle was up.
"Consort, do you require anything?" a servant asked, seeing the consort once again looking very miserable on a seat in front of a window.
"Maybe a bit of coolant thanks," Optimus requested and the servant bowed but still asked. "Consort, should I call Hook?"
"No, I'm fine," Optimus quickly assured him. "If I get worse you can call him but I think it's a harmless virus."
"If the consort is sure," the servant said before pausing as he received a comm.
"Consort, there are some messages waiting for you, I believe they are from your friends."
"Thank you Quickspin, I'll look at them in a bit," Optimus said, feeling his spirits lift ever so slightly at the mention of his friends. They had been doing their best at a distance to keep his spirits at and assure him that they would be reunited as soon as it was possible. Although at times he felt mournful at how happy they must be in their continuing roles of Primes but he was glad he hadn't been forgotten. Perhaps his mate would still let him train with them, he longed so badly for the routine of being a Prime.
Another wave of sickness hit him and he almost gagged. Whatever this virus was, it wasn't letting up. He just prayed it wouldn't last too long; he was getting extremely tired of it.
"Your coolant, Consort." The servant offered and Optimus took it slowly before emptying it.
"Thank you Qui- uhhhh...!" but before the Prime could properly thank him, his tanks rumbled and rejected the coolant forcing him to purge heavily on the ground.
It was the first time he lost control of it!
"Consort!" Quickspin shouted in shock helping the now weakened mech up. "Should I call Hook now?" he said worryingly.
Optimus for his part could not answer but nod, then looked down at himself and watched the mess he made. He looked up at his servant as if asking for an apology as the other contacted the medic.
"Sorry Quic- bleh-!" Once again he purged hard on the floor unable to hold back or apologize properly for the mess.
"It's okay, sir, come on, let's take you to clean up, it will make you feel better as Hook arrives," Quickspin said gently taking him on his shoulder and guiding him to his private washracks.
...
Minutes later...
"I cannot see what is causing the malfunction, but I will give you a stronger coolant. So far is not a virus or..." Hook trailed off making Optimus frown in confusion.
"Or...?"
"Or a sparkling," The medic finished watching Optimus pale at the simple idea. "It's neither, so it must be something else; I'll see what it must be done, so, don't worry."
However Optimus still looked a little taken aback for the mere idea of him carrying his master's creation.
"Rest now, child, your body requires it," The medic assured before injecting him with a mild sedative, "You, inform me of anything that happens regarding his health, you understand?" he addressed the servant who just nodded once. "Good, I must go now, I must inform this Lord Megatron."
He then started walking away before Quickspin stopped him. "Sir?" Hook stopped and looked at him with a questioning glare. "It is not my business but...the Consort... He's been rather...depressed lately..." The servant confessed making Hook give the sleeping mech one last look before walking away without another word.
...
"I think the cause of his illness is that he's depressed, Megatron."
Immediately after he left Optimus, Hook called for the Emperor telling him about his mate's status and health.
"Depressed?!" Megatron exclaimed not believing it. "Then it must be your fault, if you wouldn't have separate us this wouldn't have happened, it is obvious that he misses me." The warlord said smugly before looking at the mech in the screen who seemed to be like ready to hit him...if only he could trespass it.
"Don't be a jerk, Megatron, he misses his life! His friends! Or you forgot that you took him without another word or even courting him properly and practically forced him to bond, a bond he obviously accepted out of duty!" The medic barked at the Emperor who just looked at somewhere like thinking.
"Hmmm... Maybe he should spend some time with his friends, you're right, he possibly misses them and he was unable to say goodbye to them; he doesn't have friends in the palace or rarely leaves his room...my poor shy mate... I should have introduced him with some friends of mine before leaving...he's all alone there, with no one to speak..." Megatron started rambling and Hook looked at him dumbfounded...
...did he just ignore the little but no less important piece of information he just told him about that the Consort being forced to bond out of duty?
Well, it was obvious that Megatron was crazy for his mate but that cannot be said the same about the Consort if you looked carefully...and he as an old, experienced mech could see it clearly as crystal now.
"Megatron..." He started but his leader stopped him with a hand.
"Let's say no more... I will allow my mate to leave the palace to visit his friends, then he will feel better when we reunite again."
"I have no doubt he will," Hook said tiredly, it was clear Megatron was going to listen on the point about Optimus being forced to bond. Megatron loved his mate so much that he couldn't even contemplate that his mate might not have been just as enthusiastic about bonding as he was. If his leader had only allowed his mate a bit more time to accept what was going to happen, Optimus might be feeling so trapped now.
Megatron might be planning to court his mate now but considering they were already bonded, it almost seemed pointless. However, perhaps being with his friends would help Optimus's mental state and he could work his way out of this depression. The grey mech could be a kind bot and Hook suspected that he could even be loving towards a special bot, like Optimus or his Sparklings. If only Optimus could see Megatron as a Mech and now a jailer or even slaver.
"But you still can't go near him," Hook said warningly and Megatron waved this aside.
"I will not bother him; he can simply spend time with his friends. But I don't want him out for too long or for anyone to steal him away. Make sure he's got an escort Hook."
"I will Megatron," Hook said with a nod.
"Good, let me know if anything else happens," Megatron commanded before ending the communication.
Hook gave a wry smile at the blank screen, Megatron really was a stubborn Mech. It would take some time before the idea that his mate was unhappy because of his situation to sink into his processor. Oh well, at least Optimus hopefully had something to look forward to.
Later that cycle
Optimus sat in a shuttle, hardly able to believe he was here. When he'd woken up from his nap, thanks to a sedative Hook had given him, the medic had informed him that Megatron had given permission for him to go out and visit his friends. Optimus had been elated, he could finally escape from his place and just get out. Of course, he wasn't along, he had an escort but he'd managed to convince Hook to tell said escort to stay outside the building he'd be in with his friends.
After all, he wanted some privacy to enjoy himself.
"Consort, we are almost here," a Femme named Sunflare told him softly. She was a Seeker and Optimus couldn't help but be interested in her, after all there weren't that many fliers on Cybertron. She hadn't spoken much but she hadn't been unfriendly, merely doing her duty and trying to be professional. And possibly she was giving Optimus some space as even though he was looking forward to seeing his friend, he still wasn't quite himself.
"Thank you Sunflare," he said with a nod.
He looked out of the window, seeing that they were about to dock outside and he smiled as he saw it was the recreational centre of Iacon. Optimus started to grin, this looked like it would be a fun cycle. He started to stand and felt a brief wave of nausea hit him but thankfully it had passed a moment later. He was glad, he was grimly determined to have a good time and try to forget all about Megatron and the Decepticons. He knew there would be signs of it all around, Decepticons walking about the place, advertisements aimed at them and many others but he would simply ignore it.
"Here we are," Sunflare said as the door opened and he was able to step outside.
Optimus grinned and strode outside and immediately was almost bowled over by one of his friends.
"Elita," he laughed as one of his best friends from the academy hugged him madly.
"Optimus, your finally out," she exclaimed, legs wrapped around him as his other friends crowded round. "We thought you'd be gone forever."
"Never," he chuckled as Sentinel clapped him on the back.
"So, what do we call you now?" he asked as Elita got back on her feet.
"Optimus, same as always," the blue and red Mech said firmly. "I'm still the same bot."
"Of course you are," Elita said firmly, giving Sentinel a warning look as Hot Rod sent Optimus a wink. "Come on, let's go and look at the shops."
"Consort?" The seeker femme addressed and he froze. For a second he just forgot what he was...
...but that was not the problem.
"'Consort'?!" Sentinel repeated and couldn't help but laugh his aft off making everyone look down at him with grim faces.
As Sentinel said it, while laughing that it sounded ridiculous and as if he was some kind of high class pampered femme.
"Oh, Sentinel, knock it off!" Elita demanded by kicking hard the blue chinned mech hard on his middle sucessfully stopping his mirth and making him cry instead.
...
Later...
Walking around a mall...
"You're not going to believe what I've seen last night!" Elita said excitedly and almost bursting out with whatever secret she held inside.
"Just spit it 'lita." Sentinel said while munching as his sweet energon cake in a messy way that made the others look at him in disgust.
Shaking off her head, and the image of Sentinel eating like a bad educated and involutionated mech, Elita continued. "Well, I was in my room doing nothing but looking at the skies enjoying the breeze...when suddenly out of nowhere two seekers appear and started flying around each other,"
Everybody looked intently at her. Some seekers already moved in Iacon, but it was still rare to see them, just like Optimus' escort...however Optimus didn't seemed to be as excited about what she was about to tell knowing full well what it was.
"And soon one of them caught the other mid air and started making out!" She exclaimed at the sentence and even Sentinel stopped eating. "But that's not it...soon after they started...they...they were interfacing! Yes! Up there, in the air! In public!"
This is what he feared, just as Megatron...
"Did you filmed it?" Hot Rod questioned quite excited himself and Elita nodded showing up a datapad.
"Of course I did, it was quite the show...and I was not the only one who did it," She smirked. "They were noisy too, especially when overload assaulted them!"
Optimus wanted that the ground opened a gap for him to enter and then disappear because sooner or later they will ask him awkward things about the 'cons.
"Holy Primus!" Hot Rod exclaimed and Sentinel started coughing as he choked with his food. All three of them watching the footage.
When the video seemed to end they directed their gazes towards Optimus.
'Oh, dear, this is what I've feared.' He thought while trying to keep a neutral face.
"So, Consort," Sentinel started making all of them to frown at the tone he used to formulate that word...a mocking one. "Do all the Decepticons like to do it in public? Did Lord Megatron take you in front of all his people as rumours said? Did you enjoy all that attention?"
"W-what?" He honestly couldn't believe his friends thought he was an exhibitionist, maybe Megatron was, but not him!
"Sentinel," Elita exclaimed, punching him.
"What, I'm just asking," he said, holding his hands up in surrender but still with a wicked glint in his optics.
Optimus decided to set him straight.
"Megatron told me that Seekers are well known for interfacing in public," he stated. "But most Decepticons in general prefer to be private as...we were."
Sentinel actually looked disappointed as Elita gave her friend a hug.
"You okay?" she asked as the large blue Mech said "Are you sure you didn't?"
"I remember my bonding night," Optimus said irritably. "If you don't believe me Sentinel, then feel free to ask my mate. I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you what happened."
"He's not going to," Elita snapped, glaring at Sentinel. "We believe you Optimus and even if you had done anything differently, it's none of our business."
"Yeah," Hot Rod agreed. "Just say the word and we won't talk about anything related to that."
"Thanks," Optimus said gratefully, that would be very nice. "But you'd better watch out for the Seekers, you'll probably see more of that as time goes on."
"Really?" Sentinel questioned, glancing back at their Seeker shadow. "Hmm...wouldn't mind seeing a couple of Femmes up in the air..."
"You would," Elita said, rolling her optics and giving him a hard shove. "Come on, there's a show starting in five breems, if we hurry, we can catch it."
Extremely thankful that the subject had been dropped...for now, he raced after his friends as they rushed to the cineplex. When it was over Elita led Optimus slightly ahead of their two other friends as they argued over an action scene in the film they'd just viewed.
"Don't listen to Sentinel," she murmured, her arm tucked in his. "He can be a real jerk at times."
"Their all probably thinking it," Optimus sighed heavily, feeling a strange clawing sensation in his chest.
"It's not their business," she said fiercely. "And they shouldn't bother you about it."
Her expression softened and she said softly. "Is he really awful?"
Optimus shrugged.
"He's...not as bad as I might have thought," he admitted. "He always asks after me, calls me his love and sweetspark but...he's very pushy. I didn't have any time before I was whisked away to his ship, I couldn't even pack up my stuff."
With a very sympathetic look on her face, she leaned closer and murmured. "You know you can always call me any time if you need to talk. You're my best friend, I will always be there for you no matter what."
"Thanks," he said with a smile, glad to know she wouldn't abandon him. "What happens if you're posted abroad?"
"I'll still get leave to come home sometimes," she told him with a smile. "And you can still call me."
"Yeah," he said with a nod before suddenly grimacing.
"What's wrong?" she asked as he paused, a sharp pain stabbing inside of him.
"Dunno," he said through gritted teeth.
"Optimus!" Elita exclaimed as the mech suddenly fell on his knees gasping and grasping his chest.
In no time Sunflare was there next him. "Consort, what's wrong?!" She said desperately and Optimus could only groan in pain as an answer.
Hot Rod and Sentinel only watched stunned at the show.
"He needs a medic, come on, let's take him to Ratchet, he's working in the hospital near here, come on!" Elita barked at the two stupid mechs standing there like statues.
In no time they reached the hospital and were calling for a grumpy and growling old mech who was just forced to awake from his very much deserved nap...he just had an emergency surgery to attend and barely had two hours of sleep after it was done.
"I would have recharged further if those sparklings that dare to call themselves 'medics' would have known what to do, but nooooo...the elders must always save the day, I wonder why do they go to medicine school if they were not going to learn anything?! Idiots...!" He growled as he walked towards the room he was called. Every bot nurse or medic quickly walked away from his path not wishing to become a punching bag for the elder to vent his anger.
Or it was him attending this mech or no one, after all his daughter Red Alert was in recovery since a patient became hostile and took it on her hurting her badly. But she was stable now thanks to him. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only medic in this hospital who knows how to work!" he grumbled before reaching his destiny.
"What was the emergency?! Who's dying?!" He barked before his optics granted him with a sight he thought he will never see again.
"Optimus?" His anger vanished quickly and he hurried inside and prepared his scanner before looking up at the spectators. His anger returning in a second and only a waving wrench was enough to make them understand that they were not needed there.
However Sunflare wished to stay. "But...the Consort...!" She tried as Elita dragged her away.
"If you value your existence, you will follow me, believe me, Ratchet is a good medic and Optimus is in good hands."
Soon the door was closed and Ratchet started scanning him. "What happened, kid?" he tried bit Optimus only shook his head in pain still grabbing his chest so Ratchet scanned him there...and soon his optics widened.
Running for a cabinet he reached for a syringe and downloaded the contents in Optimus calming him from his pain immediately.
"Ratchet...what's wrong with me?" Optimus tried hoarsely.
"Nothing, kid, you're perfectly fine; it was just your body reacting to your sparkling." He answered a little taken aback too, then seconds later noticed Optimus' paling face.
Somehow he didn't seemed happy for the news but very distressed. "Optimus, what's wrong?"
"Did you say...Sparkling?" Optimus whispered hoarsely, optics wide.
"Yes, Sparkling," Ratchet said with a nod. "I'm afraid there is a slight build up of excess fluid around the sparkling, I'll need to remove that, it makes scanning harder. I take it none of Megatron's medics spotted this?"
"N-no," Optimus managed to say. "H-Hook didn't find it."
"I thought so, a casual scan wouldn't pick it up," Ratchet said knowingly. "Little thing's quite far along...when was the last time you interfaced?"
"Four months ago," Optimus mumbled, still looking rather shell shocked.
Ratchet nodded, that sound about right.
"Well, I guess congratulations are in order," he began as Optimus stared down at his own body. "I suppose that Megatron will be pleased..."
"Megatron!?" Optimus yelped, surprising the old Medic. "He...he can't find out about this!"
"Can't find out about this?" Ratchet repeated dumbly. "Kid, you can't hide this, he's going to find out."
"He can't find out!" Optimus yelled hysterically almost leaping to his feet but prevented by Ratchet's hands on his shoulders. "You don't know what'll happen!"
"What...?" Ratchet said in confusion. "Optimus, has he been abusing you?"
Optimus shook his head helplessly; he didn't know what to call it.
"They'll never be free," he mumbled to himself. "I couldn't bare it...please Ratchet, promise me you won't tell anyone?"
"Optimus," Ratchet began but Optimus screamed at him. "PROMISE ME!"
"Alright, I won't tell," Ratchet said quickly. "But kid, you've still got a ways to go and...it's too late to abort."
He said this quietly, hoping Optimus wasn't going to ask for this. It really was past the time it could have happened.
The carrying Mech shook his head wildly again, before saying. "How long until it can be delivered safely?"
Ratchet frowned before saying. "Well, your Sparkling would need at least a month but..."
"Then I'll come back here before quarantine and you can take it," Optimus said in a rush. "You can find a nice, loving family to take them, they'll grow up happy..."
"Optimus...you should talk to your mate," Ratchet said gently. "If you're bonded, he'll probably feel you giving birth or know something's wrong."
"Then I'll think of something to fool him," Optimus said grimly. "Please Ratchet; I can't be a proper carrier to this Sparkling, not while I'm with Megatron. And...I can't leave him or Cybertron will suffer."
Ratchet bit his lip, Optimus was putting him in a bad position. As a Medic, it was his duty to protect the patient but he felt like Optimus was making a mistake.
"Look," he said gently. "You shouldn't make a decision now; you need to think carefully about this. Take a few cycles to set things straight in your mind."
"Fine," Optimus said. "I'll think about it but I won't change my mind Ratchet. And you'll help me, won't you?"
Ratchet hesitated before saying. "If YOU promise to think about this very carefully and not make up your mind straight away I will."
"If you promise to help me and not tell anyone, then I will," Optimus assured him, his processor feeling like it might unravel at any moment.
Ratchet nodded; secretly he was hoping that a Decepticon medic would discover this condition. Optimus had had a bad shock, that was all, when he'd had time to think about it, he wouldn't make such a rash choice.
...
Minutes later...
Optimus was released and given some sedatives to take if the pain returned. The medic diagnosed him with a several case of depression and possibly nostalgia at his past life once the seeker Sunflare asked. She then nodded and they left.
"What did he say, Optimus?" Elita asked rather worried by her friend and holding one of his arms as they walked.
"Nothing really," He lied and gave her a weak smile as if asking her to drop the subject.
She then smiled in pity and decided to leave it. Someday perhaps he will wish to talk about it. "It's okay, Optimus, I am here every time you wish to talk."
Then they continued walking towards the luxurious apartment that was rented for him so he can rest.
...
Meanwhile...
Megatron was informed about this and could not believe the news.
"Depressed? ...nostalgia?!" He whispered in disbelief. "Why would he be depressed? I've given him everything he wants and more! He even has my spark!"
The Emperor huffed around not understanding why his Optimus was so upset about something he had no idea about. "He has love and care, why is he so depressed...?" He started before remembering something.
"He is depressed because he needs me!" He reached that conclusion happily and his spark gave a jump of joy.
"My Optimus... I need you too...but the quarantine is not yet over and if I lay my hands on you I doubt I will be able to stop myself..." He said dreamily with a hint of sadness.
"I can't wait until is over so I can show you how much I love you... How much you mean to me... I love you so much it hurts..." Megatron whispered the last part for himself holding his hands against his chest.
However, he couldn't help but feel that not all was right, something else was wrong; but he shrugged it off as his lover's depression...a depression he happily will help to get him over of.
...
Later...
Iacon...
Optimus' apartment...
The red and blue mech paced his room like a caged beast, he couldn't believe this was happening to him and so soon!
He conceived in his bonding night!
"For Primus' sake this is horrible! I can't... I just can't...!" He continued mumbling while grabbing his head as if this one threatened to fall off his shoulders.
"No...not his spawn...no... I can't... I can't...!"
His beautiful light blue face was stained with tears and his optics wide open in horrified realization of the situation.
Suddenly he gasped out of his misery for a second only to feel a small nudge at his spark; he forced himself to calm down... It was Megatron.
His master was sending him waves of love and appreciation, signals he could not accept without having the utter need of purge out his tanks.
No...he will not have his master's child...he cannot be a proper creator for his enslaver's creation...no matter if he had all the time in the universe to decide it he will never give a sparkling to the mech who dared to take him away from home, his life and friends away...no...this sparkling will never meet him...he cannot allow that.
Rage formed deep inside his spark and that caused Megatron to send a confused wave and then more love; so then, once again he forced himself to calm down and 'accept' what the other was giving...
...wasn't that the only thing he was allowed to do anyways?
Ratchet had him to think about the sparkling but he was sure he'd made the right decision. After all, he wasn't abandoning it in a gutter or terminating, he was going to give it to someone who would ensure that they'd go to a happy family. He fully trusted Ratchet, there was no better Medic, he'd never let the sparkling go to someone bad.
No doubt Megatron would try to force more sparklings out of him but at least this one could be free and do whatever it wanted. Yes, that made sense, he was doing the sparkling a favour by giving it away.
And it would serve Megatron right for enslaving him.
Three weeks and five cycles later Optimus was restlessly pacing his apartment. Very soon, his quarantine would be up and he'd be forced to return to Megatron's side. His mate was getting more and more excited, he could feel it over the bond, it was growing by the joor. Just like the Sparkling was.
He grimaced, feeling it squirming around inside him. He now had a slight extended bump but thankfully the Sparkling appeared to be small. He almost had a spark attack when he thought about how big Megatron was and worried the sparkling might become just as huge within him. That would have been a lot harder to hide as Hook and others called him over a view screen fairly regularly. No one had visited for the last week or so, he'd told all his friends that he wanted to enjoy being properly single for the last time before he had to return to Megatron.
They'd understood but made him promise that they'd see each other again soon even when he was back with Megatron. He'd readily promised, wondering if Megatron really would let him see them. Well, he'd just have to wait and see on that front.
Anyway, to keep up the pretence, he'd ordered holo-vids to watch, junk food and information on the changes to Cybertron and about the Decepticons. He did watch some of the vids, ate the food and read up on all his data pads but there were times when he could only lie on his bed staring at the ceiling. It seemed to please everyone, both Megatron and Hook seemed to feel he must be doing much better. Sunflare and other Seekers still stood guard outside his apartment, ready to escort him anywhere he wanted. At first he'd wondered about why his escorts were Seekers but he supposed it was because they were fast and could fly better than all the other Decepticons.
He tentatively thought he could become friends with them if they remained his escorts but he couldn't really focus on that positive aspect right now. Ratchet had wanted him to wait a month and that month was almost up, only a couple of cycles to go. What worried Optimus was that Megatron might decide those couple of cycles weren't waiting for and would demand that he return right now.
"I have to go now," Optimus muttered to himself. "If I don't go now, when I return, Hook will know something's up. He might work out I had a Sparkling, Megatron...he'll be so mad."
He shuddered at the thought; Megatron might possibly kill him and any Autobot he got his hands on. There was no other way; he had to get going right now.
"Moonflash," he said into his comm. "Would you take me to Ratchet's?"
"Are you ill Consort?" the young Seeker replied.
"No, I just want to make sure everything's functioning before I go back to the Emperor," Optimus said. "I don't think he'll let Hook look at me when I get back."
"Very well consort," the Seeker said, sounding amused.
The Prime grimaced at that tone, he was the only one unamused at returning to the mech that everything he wanted was making him a sex toy with a spark beat and capable of carrying his spawns.
...
Sometime later...
Iacon's main hospital...
"Are you 100% sure about this, Optimus?" Ratchet asked in hesitation at what he was asked to do. "It seems very healthy and your mate will be happy-"
"I don't care what he thinks!" Optimus jumped interrupting the old medic. "I don't care what he wants as he hadn't cared what I've wanted! Just...do your job and take it out before he comes and kill us both!"
Ratchet just shook his head and sighed. "Very well, but you're doing it wrong, it will miss you too, you know? Have you thought how will this sparkling will feel?"
Hateful and pleading optics that surprised Ratchet like never before watched him. "Who knows what he will do to them...maybe...maybe take it from me once it born... I don't want to know...so please Ratchet...just...take it!" The Prime growled in barely contained anger and sorrow.
The old medic sighed and nodded not liking at all in what he was getting into. "Fine, follow me, but first we need to get rid of your escort...is waiting out there."
"What you suggest?"
Getting rid of Moonflash was easy, they just needed to call her in and once she entered to help the Consort stand, Ratchet came from behind and injected her with a powerful sedative successfully knocking her out.
Once they left her to sleep in Ratchet's office, and locked the door, they hurried down to an unused and lonely part of the hospital.
Down stairs and underground was the morgue of the hospital and near there were a series of quarters used by those fearless and lonely mechs who wished to have a silent recharge... However there was none like that except Ratchet himself and his daughter. The other residents and medics or nurses did their best to avoid the morgue or those restrooms since they believed that the sparks of the dead haunted those in recharge...
...and Ratchet fuelled those legends with his own ghost stories which made others to fear that place and stay away; that was the only way he could recharge in peace in that hospital, except when they send a half brave idiot down there to call him for an emergency or just use the comm that was attached to the wall...if it wasn't deactivated as he used to do.
The other restrooms which were in upper levels were full of residents and recharge there was practically impossible since he wished for utter silence; the only problem he could see with this place was that it was so isolated that he had to walk a lot to reach his destiny...and he wasn't getting any younger.
"This way," Ratchet commanded once the elevator descended them to the lowest level of the hospital causing Optimus to shiver at the sudden change of temperature and cold feeling of dread.
"Ratchet...what is this place?" Optimus tried as the medic walked with so much security that it scared him.
"The perfect place to hide, now, come on, don't tell me you're afraid of ghosts?" the old mech asked in disbelief once he saw Optimus' face once this one read the words 'Morgue' in a near sign. "You must fear of the living ones, they're even more dangerous," He said that with a frown.
"Now, hurry, this way...before I change my mind and decide to leave it with you!" Ratchet added and Optimus obeyed.
Optimus tried not to shiver, even if there were no ghosts, it was still an incredibly creepy place. When they reached the morgue with its rows of sterile berths on which the dead lay, Ratchet directed him to one that was covered by a soft looking sheet.
"I've got everything set up down here," he explained as they walked to the berth. "Luckily, we haven't needed this place for a few cycles, you're lucky."
Optimus wasn't so sure but he obediently lay down for Ratchet. Soon it would be all over and he could...go back to being Megatron's slave. It was an extremely unpleasant thought but at least he would be having his small bit of revenge. He was nervous, he technically shouldn't be giving birth right now but he couldn't possibly wait, it would be far too late if he did.
"Okay, just relax," Ratchet said soothingly as he gathered up his hidden tools.
He paused, about to move over to Optimus.
"Are you absolutely sure about this? It's not too late to change your mind."
"Yes it is," Optimus whispered. "I can't stop now Ratchet, please just do it."
Ratchet sighed heavily, the kid was determined. Perhaps when the Sparkling was gone, he'd have a change of spark but it was starting to look like he wouldn't. Lifting a knife, he began.
Sometime later
"It's alright, little one," Ratchet soothed as the Sparkling bawled in his arms, born earlier than he should have been. It was a Mech, thankfully a healthy one and rather beautiful.
"There, there, it's okay," he said, glancing over at Optimus who lay shell shocked on the berth, covered in life force.
"Optimus," Ratchet said quietly as the little one calmed down a little as he was cleaned and comforted. "It's a healthy Mech, do you want to hold him?"
He said the line automatically, forgetting that Optimus might not want to. The Medic moved closer with his bundle as Optimus moved his head sluggishly, in a complete daze.
"What?" he said, optics barely focused.
"Your son," Ratchet said kindly, holding out the whimpering Sparkling and carefully giving him to Optimus.
Optimus looked down at his son whose white optics were becoming blue that he'd inherited from his carrier.
"Son?" he said blankly, staring at the Sparkling who stared back at him.
"Yes, he's beautiful," Ratchet told him as Optimus limply raised a hand to touch the Sparkling's face. "Any idea what you might name him?"
"...Valour," Optimus eventually said. "Call him Valour. Now please, take him away."
"Optimus," Ratchet began, how could he do this?
"Now Ratchet," Optimus snapped, almost setting off the Sparkling again.
"Very well," Ratchet sighed, lifting the little one up, noticing the tears in Optimus's optics.
"I'm sorry," Optimus whispered as tears fell down his cheek. "Have a good life son. I love..."
He stopped, he couldn't say anything else, he simply turned his face away. Ratchet sighed before taking the Sparkling away and wrapping him up in a blanket. He'd have to clean Optimus up and repair him, make it look like nothing had ever happened and take him upstairs. He already had a story for the escort, she had slipped and banged her head, he'd placed her on a berth to recover while taking care of Optimus. Hopefully, she would accept the story.
"I won't be long little one," he told the sparkling, placing him in a protective open box. "You just hang tight while I take your carrier upstairs, alright?"
Thankfully, the Sparkling seemed sleepy, probably because his carrier was nearby. He only hoped he could find a family for Valour, the little one would suffer without having a creator of some sort. Once he'd settled him, he turned his attention to Optimus and started to work on him. Once his patient looked presentable, he lifted him up and took him away, leaving the Sparkling all alone.
Valour slept for a while but with his carrier gone, he began to wake up and whimper. At first, the sounds simply echoed around the morgue but eventually, he did catch someone's attention. A red and white Femme entered, looking exceedingly confused.
"I thought I heard something," she said to herself before a little bubbling cry sounded.
"What?" she exclaimed, hurrying forward and gasping at the sight. Someone had left a new born Sparkling wrapped in cloths in a box and he was whimpering and crying freely.
"Oh," she said, coming forward and gently lifting him out of the box. "There, there, it's okay."
He hiccupped and cuddled into her, wanting to feel the warmth of another being in this cold place. She rubbed his back, making soothing sounds until he was calmed down again. She couldn't believe someone had abandoned such an adorable and vulnerable Sparkling in this dreadful place. When she found whoever was responsible, she'd give them a piece of her mind and then turn them over to her father. That would certainly make them think twice about repeating the action.
"Are you hungry?" she asked before smiling, Sparklings were always hungry.
"Let's go and get you something," she said, heading for the exit but coming face to face with Ratchet.
"Red, what are you doing here?" he exclaimed in surprise, staring at the Sparkling in her arms.
"I heard something and found this Sparkling here," she said. "I can't understand what..."
She stopped as she suddenly saw the guilty look in her Sire's optics.
"Do you know how this happened?" she demanded.
"Come on, we need to talk," He tried to guide her to the restrooms but she was resisting.
"Sire...do you know how this sparkling ended up here?" She questioned him but only gaining another push from him towards the same place.
"If you wanna know the while story, Red, then come with me, this cannot be discussed so openly." The old mech said grimly without meeting her optics, that made her frown, this was serious.
To be continued
Author's note. What is Red Alert's reaction to Ratchet's story? Will little Valour find a family? Find out next time, until then.