(please see all previous disclaimers)
Aquaformer wanted to remain in the hug for longer, but fearing that Optimus didn't want to hug any longer, she broke off the hug. She didn't want to overstep her bounds, as she feared it would drive him off.
Unknown to Aquaformer, Optimus was enjoying the hug, and was sad when Aquaformer seemed to suddenly break it off. He released her gently. "I am glad there were no further casualties, Aquaformer" Optimus stated a bit sadly, as he hadn't wanted to let her go.
"Me too, sir" Aquaformer responded, her own voice slightly saddened. "You….Would you care to grab some energon with me?"
Optimus smiled at that. "I would love to" Optimus replied and the pair headed for the rec room.
And as those two headed for the rec room, Hide and Ratchet were talking. "Can't wait til those two finally commit" Hide stated.
"Tell me about it. They obviously are made for each other" Ratchet replied.
"And Optimus has been lonely for years" Hide stated.
"As has Aquaformer" Ratchet replied, surprising Hide.
"Aquaformer has been lonely?" Hide asked.
"Yes, she has very few friends and the ones she does have she doesn't see much. Those who don't know her tend to immediately judge her on her size alone" Ratchet stated.
"Well, she is built a bit different from most of the femmes that I have met" Hide stated carefully.
"But it is that build which has driven Aquaformer into being a lone wolf, as the humans would say" Ratchet replied.
"That isn't right" Hide stated.
"I know it isn't right, Optimus knows it isn't right, and you know it isn't right, but many would disagree with us" Ratchet replied.
Hide sighed. "I hope they both find what they want in each other" Hide answered.
"Me too, Hide, Me too" Ratchet answered as the pair continued to talk.
Meanwhile, unknown to any of the Autobots, the cons were planning another raid and this time, they were planning on luring out the femme so that she could be captured. Megatron had grand plans that he knew would lure out the Autobots, but so that he would split them up, he decided to do two plans at once, knowing that the chance that Prime and Aquaformer would go to the same crisis was high. Megatron just hoped his plan worked.
Back in the rec room, Optimus decided to grab both his energon and energon for Aquaformer. Aquaformer appreciated it. She also appreciated the fact that Optimus didn't make fun of Aquaformer's size. They both sat on a bot sized couch with their energon and decided to talk further.
"So, were you really pulled from being a nurse bot?" Optimus asked, wanting to know the truth.
"I was. I was trained in as a nurse bot and helped medics like Ratchet before the war began. But once the war started, other bots didn't see the value of nurse bots and so I was a bit reprogrammed and reassigned. I didn't like it, but it was better than being off-lined" Aquaformer stated.
"Who threatened to offline you?" Optimus asked, very curious at this point.
"My own faction, the Autobots. Seems I wasn't needed or wanted but they couldn't do away with me and still look like Autobots. Sentinel Prime couldn't stand me" Aquaformer revealed.
Optimus was shocked to say the least. His own faction had threatened to destroy another of their own? It didn't make sense. "What about you was so threatening?" Optimus asked.
"I don't know. I still don't know. I wish I did know as it would explain a few things" Aquaformer replied. "All I do know was that they decided that it would be better if I were a leader of a band of bots that worked on the outskirts. Probably so that they wouldn't have to deal with me or see me."
"No bot deserves to be treated like that, mech or femme" Optimus responded, believing the statement firmly.
"I agree, but it happens" Aquaformer answered with a sigh. "Some bots are always judged as being of lesser value than others just because they don't fit into some stereotypical mold that society has created."
"I still don't think that makes it right" Optimus stated, his spark starting to really react being around this femme.
"That is part of the reason I believe that I feel drawn to you, Optimus. You don't see things the way most bots do. You seem to give every bot a chance, even when the bots messes up over and over again."
"Every bot, mech or femme, deserves a second chance, even if that second chance is there 30th one. As long as bots are willing to learn from their mistakes and strive to do better, they deserve a chance. And those who don't fit the mold should always get a chance to prove that they are a good bot" Optimus answered. Liking that answer, Aquaformer snuggled up to Optimus. Optimus put an arm around her. He hoped that neither of them were making a mistake.