(See previous disclaimers)
It had been a few weeks since Aquaformer had arrived at the Autobot base on earth and she helped in every way she knew how, though she avoided Optimus if she could help it. Her spark seemed to flare up around him, but she doubted she would ever be considered good enough for him. A few of the other mechs noticed, bot said little as they didn't want to be on the wrong end of upsetting Aquaformer, as like Elita, she had deadly accurate aim and didn't like to be coddled.
Optimus, for his part, tried to avoid the femme as much as possible, and with help from Decepticon attacks, it seemed easier to avoid her. He didn't want a mate after how he was dumped by Elita and figured this would be no different from his former flame. Ironhide and Ratchet were the only two who could see what was happening but neither really could do much about it especially since Aquaformer and Optimus were both stubborn as all get out.
Ratchet, a little braver than hide at the moment, pulled Aquaformer aside. Aquaformer was a bit stunned, but since they were in private, she let it go. "'What's eating you?" Ratchet asked as a friend.
"Nothing!" Aquaformer snapped back, her knee jerk reaction when she didn't want to talk about something.
"I am not buying it, something is eating you" Ratchet stated, knowing that Aquaformer was like this and he was not going to let her get away from avoiding the question.
"I said it is nothing" the stubborn-afted femme responded sharply, knowing Ratchet was going to get to the bottom of this, but Aquaformer wasn't going to give in without a fight.
"Something is going on and it seems to have to do with our Prime. As your friend, I want to know what is going on…" Ratchet stated, knowing that his persistence would pay off.
Aquaformer sighed. Ratchet was much like a friend Aquaformer had years ago who wouldn't let Aquaformer get away with things and hide things. Ratchet sensed the change, but he wasn't sure what the femme would say or do now, as Aquaformer sometimes was unpredictable. "It's my spark…" Aquaformer finally uttered in defeat.
"And?" Ratchet asked, not sure where this was going to go.
"It pulses for a certain mech, but.." Aquaformer answered.
"But what?" Ratchet asked, wanting to know more.
"But he deserves someone better than me. I feel my spark pulse for him, but I fear he will reject me" Aquaformer answered, not as confident as she usually was.
Ratchet was a bit stunned to hear that admission. Carefully he approached his friend. "Does this mech have a name?" Ratchet asked, wanting to see if he could maybe help.
"He does, but I dare not say it" Aquaformer replied, still a bit stubborn, but more out of concern.
Ratchet looked at his friend. "You I could help you more if you would tell me the truth" Ratchet stated, wanting to know. Aquaformer looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. She didn't see anyone else, but she knew walls could have audios and so, she found an old data pad and wrote down the name of the mech. Ratchet watched and then saw why the femme was so worried about a reaction – as the name of the mech that Aquaformer had written down was Optimus. Aquaformer hung her helm in defeat. She feared even Ratchet would turn against her now that she had revealed this. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Ratchet asked.
"Because I fear not only rejection from him, but also rejection from all the Autobots here at base. I'm a different looking femme and many bots, both mech and femme, don't like me because of that. I don't look like the dainty, pretty femmes that come from Cybertron. I am a tough femme who has lived through a lot of pain and rejection in my life. I don't want to be rejected anymore. I want to be loved and accepted for who I am, not what someone can turn me into or because someone has pity on me" Aquaformer answered, her tone showing pain though only Ratchet knew it.
"I believe when you are ready and he stops being stubborn aft, you will both find what you desire" Ratchet replied, trying to be upbeat in his response to his friend.
"I hope you are right, Ratchet. I don't think I could handle any more rejection in my life" Aquaformer answered in a sad tone. She just wanted to be loved and accepted by the bot her spark seemed to have chosen, but she feared that her spark was going to let her down yet again. Ratchet could only watch and hope and pray that all went well.