(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Meanwhile, after Bee had left and gone back home, Mirage decided to go searching for his wayward mate. Mirage made sure all his and his mate's sparklings were elsewhere before he searched for his mate. Once all the sparklings were elsewhere and safe, Mirage headed out. He wasn't exactly sure where his mate would be but Mirage was bound and determined to find the bot.
Optimus, on the other hand, was still talking with the recently discovered siblings and half sibling of Mirage. He listened as they told about their lives and what they had done to survive to this point. Nighthawk even revealed some things she had done as a con that she regretted deeply now and that she had been deceived by Megatron and Starscream.
And it was just as Optimus was going to learn how the three met up that Mirage suddenly appeared in the area. "Mirage?" Optimus asked, accidentally interrupting one of Mirage's siblings who turned to look at Mirage.
"I came to find you, sir. I was talking with Bee and I brought some things to light that you should know" Mirage stated, not sure if he could call Optimus anything but sir in this situation.
"Love, these are your siblings. No need for such formalities" Optimus replied, trying to calm his mate. Nighthawk, Skyballer, and Boltlock were surprised to see Mirage in such a state.
"Mirage, why are you so distressed?" Skyballer asked.
"I was recently reminded of some truths that happened, as I had to reveal them to my close friend and counsel Bumblebee. And it reminded me that even I didn't escape our parents foulness. I was just put in a position that curbed their behavior towards others" Mirage explained and then revealed what he had told bee, things that he had suffered living with their parents and everything. All four bots listened, stunned to hear what Mirage was revealing. King Onyx and Queen Quartz were far worse than anyone realized until now. Optimus was appalled at what he learned. Boltlock, Skyballer, and Nighthawk realized that they had actually had things better being shipped off. Mirage had taken the brunt of so much, but somehow, had not let it affect him the way it affected most bots.
"How are you not bitter, Mirage?" Boltlock finally asked after Mirage finished with his monologue.
"I don't have an answer for that. All I can think of is that Primus must have protected me and given me resilience to deal with all of this. That is the only way I could have survived all of this intact and fighting back against it" Mirage replied softly, fearing rejection now that he had revealed this. Nighthawk and Skyballer instantly came over and hugged the slightly smaller bot. They were quickly followed by Boltlock. Mirage appreciated the hugs, but he was most concerned about Optimus, his own mate, as Optimus was still sitting there.
After what felt like forever but really was only a few seconds, Optimus got up and joined the hug. Mirage sighed a bit, still worried, but Optimus pulsed a reassuring pulse to Mirage. Mirage then snuggled into the hug, as he needed this reassurance.