Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Megatron!” A voice called out to him, but he was too weak to open his optics or move.

As he lay there, wracked by pain and exhaustion, shielding his wound from any other cruel elements, he was haunted by the memory of what had happened to his friend—the one he loved. A tragedy born of his own accidental choice and doing.

D…no…

I'm done saving you.

But he still wasn't done loving him.

He proved it.

He knew his Decepticons could sense it—the loyalty he still felt for Optimus. Was that why they wanted him dead now, more than ever? For daring to join the enemy? They were bent not only on ending him but on bringing down the Prime as well, casting aside all honor in the name of vengeance.

Megatron understood the danger. His former soldiers would stop at nothing to see them both destroyed. But he would not allow it. He’d protect Optimus, even if it cost him his life, even if it meant sacrificing everything he had left.

Death, he had once thought, might be the only fitting end on the hard, painful road toward redemption. And now, standing beside his greatest ally and greatest rival, he knew he was ready.

Pain engulfed him, sharpest where the merciless blast from the new leader of his Decepticons had struck—a blast intended to hit and kill the leader of the Autobots. The wound throbbed and burned like fire, a searing pain far worse than the jagged rocks or the icy river he had crashed into—both of which only served to deepen the gash and amplify his agony. Each breath drained his strength, yet through the haze, he heard a distant voice calling his name.

“Megatron? Megatron…can…you hear me? D?”

D?

Who's D?

Oh, of course.

He didn't remember that name. 

It had been a long time since anyone had called him that.

Even as he lay shattered and drained, Megatron forced himself to ignore the searing pain radiating from his wounds, the fresh Energon seeping from deep gashes that throbbed with every strained breath. His vision wavered, blurring, as his systems struggled to keep him online. His senses were bombarded by the taste of mingled Energon and Earth’s water, bitter and metallic as he coughed and gasped for air. 

Through the agony, he registered a ghostly touch, soft against his cracked, battle-worn faceplate. He instinctively flinched, a low growl escaping his weakened vocal processor, a last attempt to ward off any would-be attacker. But his strength was ebbing, slipping from his grasp.

“Easy, Megatron…I’m here…you’re gonna be alright…can…you…hear me?” The voice, gentle yet trembling with worry, pulled him back from the brink, from the suffocating darkness that was clawing at his consciousness. He fought to open his optics, lazily and slowly, his systems groaning under the effort and his mind clouded by pain and exhaustion. With one final, grueling effort, his optics flickered online, revealing the familiar glow of ghostly blue optics, ones he had sworn he would never want to see again.

Optimus…no, Orion Pax. Orion Pax is here. He’s really here! Or perhaps, just a cruel illusion. But what does it matter now? 

Optimus’s face was a mixture of relief and dread, his usually steady gaze now unsteady and his optics brimming. A faint, worried smile tugged at his mouth as he whispered, “Megatron?”

Ignoring the drain and the sharp sting of his own wounds, Megatron managed a weary, lopsided smirk. “You…look like…you’ve been…through the scrap pile…Prime”

Optimus, his armor scraped, dented, and scratched from the brutal clash, let out a shaky chuckle. “And you’re looking rather handsome yourself, old friend”

Megatron chuckled softly. “And you best not to forget it”

Optimus let out a shaky chuckle, but the smile didn’t quite reach his optics. 

He saw tears in Optimus’ optics, and he couldn’t stop the quiet pain of seeing him like this. That pain is far greater than his own wounds. He hated it. Hated seeing him cry, especially for him. He didn’t deserve to have someone like Optimus shedding tears for his sake.

With slow, strained movements, Megatron forced himself to push through the pain, his hands trembling as he reached out. Ignoring the agony in his body, he gently traced his fingers along Optimus’ cheek, then pulled him close, their forehelms pressing together. This was the old symbol of their brotherly devotion, forged before the war. Back then, their presence was the only cure for each other. It still is, even now, even after the war that drifted them apart.

He needed to comfort him. His Prime was crying. His Pax was crying. He must comfort him. But he couldn't any longer.

A sudden blast of pain tore right through him, jolting Megatron. He flinched, as he clenched his wound, and a sound guttural and pained growl escaped from him. The movement caused Optimus to pull away instinctively, and as Megatron's optics sealed off from him, he watched his helm threaten to crash against the cold, unforgiving surface beneath them. His trembling but steady servo caught him just in time. “Megatron!” Optimus exclaimed. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as he stroked Megatron’s helm with such care. With effort, he lowered his forehelm to his, listening to Megatron’s labored breathing as he struggled to soothe him through his disastrous condition. He flinched, lifting his helm and pulling back when he heard the former warlord let out a deep, growling groan of pain.

He could feel his former Decepticons' optics on him, knowing full well he was going to protect Optimus, even though the blast had been meant for the Prime. He had taken it willingly.

Their plans had succeeded, as they suspected they would.

The pain was unbearably intense, each wave of agony dragging him deeper into torment. One clenched servo trembled as he struggled to maintain control, while the other gripped his side in a desperate attempt to stem the flow of precious fluid escaping his body. The searing ache radiated from the wound, pulsing like fire through his circuits and core with every passing moment. His red optics clenched shut as he struggled to block out the relentless agony tearing through him. His fangs ground together with a sharp, tortured rasp, a sound that only added to the chaos in his mind. Each desperate gasp for air sent waves of torment through his battered form, his vents heaving with wretchedness, struggling to keep up with the frantic pace of his breaths. The pain worsened, making every breath a struggle, as he strained for air, longing to end the agony. The more he fought to breathe, the worse it became, the torment only intensifying, dragging him further into the depths of his suffering. The weight of it all drained him, his form trembling with each surge of heat and burning pain that consumed him from within. His entire body shook, on the verge of giving way entirely, but still, he held on. Even as the pain threatened to consume him, he fought to stay conscious, to retain control. But it was only making it worse.

It was a slow, tortuous unraveling—something even his own might and proud strength couldn't resist and break free.

Yet he lay there, awaiting his fate, ready to face the end with pride and courage. This could be the moment of redemption he had sought—a chance to meet it, embrace it, and finally find peace with himself.

But Pax…

A part of him still clung to the need to fight, yet his body refused. He couldn't summon the strength to power on his optics, to show that, deep within, there was still life—still the spark that Primus had given him. But it was fading, slipping away faster than he could grasp it. His strength faltered, and the only desire left was to surrender, to let the darkness take him and drift into the oblivion of sleep.

Optimus remained motionless, his gaze locked on the shattered form of his former foe, his one-time friend. Megatron lay before him, broken, his once-proud frame barely clinging to life. He felt his spark fracture as the sound reached his audio receptors—a broken, ragged whimper escaping Megatron's lips. The once-mighty warlord, whose face had always been a mask of cruelty and insatiable hunger for power, now bore an expression of raw agony. His claws trembled as they gripped the gaping, raw wound in his side, Energon seeping through his fingers, while his other hand clenched tightly in a futile attempt to fight the pain. His optics, once a haunting gold that plagued Optimus’ dreams before turning a menacing blood-red, were now sealed shut, their brilliance dimmed to almost nothing. For the first time, Optimus saw not a conqueror, but a being crushed beneath the weight of his own suffering. It was as if the very essence of his life was slithering away, leaving him hollow. He felt it, too—felt the strain on his own body as if his wires were pulling tighter with every drop of Energon lost. His spark and systems raced, responding instinctively to the sight, a mirror of the pain Megatron was enduring. The agony was almost physical, pulling at him in ways that made it hard to breathe. The weight of the moment pressed in, suffocating, as he watched the one he had fought and struggled with, now so vulnerable.

“Oh...D…,” the Prime's voice cracked as he gasped for breath, a sound of pain and disbelief. Optimus lowered himself slowly, his massive frame trembling as he pressed his forehelm gently against Megatron's, hearing the tortured, rapid breaths of his former and rekindled ally. A sudden cough tore through Megatron’s chest, morphing into another whimper so quiet that it almost went unheard.

He clenched his optics tighter, the pain of it almost too much to bear. His dentals chafed against each other, and his servos curled into fists, shaking with rage and guilt. “Why?” Optimus’ voice was raw, strained. “Why...why did you do that? I still remember it…like the day we first met. You said it yourself in the first place! So why?! Why?!” 

The Prime’s fury and guilt surged together, overwhelming him. He slammed his fist into the rocky ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the earth, creating a deep crater beside Megatron's helm. 

“Why did you fragging do that?!” Optimus' voice was hoarse, a snarl of pure anguish. “You said you were done with me…done saving me, done being there! So why?! Why the slagging frag did you do that, Megatron?! Why?! Answer me!!!” He roared, letting his words echo against the jagged walls.

A weak chuckle slipped from his lips, followed by a faint smirk. “I...guess I...I wasn’t done...saving you after all. And...I guess…for…that...I’m finally...making the end…of my mark,” he rasped, his voice thick with pain and irony. “And you…didn't even…have to kill me”

Optimus’ intake hitched, and in an instant, the tears he had been holding back flooded free, streaming down his face. His chest tightened as he stared down at Megatron, the weight of the moment crashing over him.

“No…no, don’t say that,” Optimus' voice broke as he clenched his servo around Megatron's, ignoring the Energon that sent shivers down his spine. “Just...Just stop talking! Don’t talk, okay? I’m going to get help. I will save you! I’ll save you, I swear it!” His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, each one fueled by a growing terror he couldn’t contain. He frantically tried his commlink, but all he got was static. “No…no, please!” He tapped the commlink harder, optics fixed on Megatron and the growing, dark stain spreading from his wound. “It’s not working!”

Megatron let out a weak, ragged growl as another wave of pain tore through him, his hand pressing harder over the injury. Optimus’ hands shook as he tried again. “Please…don’t do this. Don’t do this to me”

A hoarse cough escaped Megatron, his optics flickering as he struggled to keep his systems online, but they remained deactivated.

“Come on!” Optimus yelled, desperation thick in his voice. “Just work! Please! Come on!” 

His optics remained shut, but a pained smirk appeared on his face. “Pax...Pax...” Megatron murmured, his voice barely more than a broken whisper, yearning for the strength to offer comfort in return, to see Optimus’ blue optics once more. But the pain coursing through him was too great, leaving him too weak to do anything but call his name.

Optimus’ optics flickered over the open gash, his gaze fixated on the burnt wires and the raw, leaking energy that spilled from him, his life force slowly draining away. The damage to his plating was extensive and cruel. He glanced back at Megatron, whose pained expression remained, a faint, almost comforting smirk tugging at the corners of his lips—painful, yet somehow still meant to offer reassurance. This was the warrior he had fought beside, the mentor he had admired, the friend he had lost. Now, he was suffering—battered, broken, and silent. And Optimus felt incredibly helpless. “Megatron...D...what do I do? What should I do?” He asked frantically, his servos shaking and optics spilling tears. “Tell me what I should do to help you”

He let out a faint, shaky chuckle, fighting back the pain and struggling breaths as he clutched Optimus’s servo. He felt him return the squeeze. “Prime...don’t…don’t be like that. We both knew...somehow…some way…someday…it would come to this. Even back when…we were enemies…one of us had to rise, and the other…had to…to…fall…”

“No…no, stop it. Megatron, don’t…please, just don’t,” Optimus’s voice broke as he cried, tears falling freely. “You're gonna be fine…I promise…you're gonna be…alright…just please…”

He shook his helm, turning slowly to face Optimus, but his optics remained shut, pain pulsing through him. “Stop…acting like that, Prime. You don’t…need me. Even…after…what I did to…you. You said it yourself…I betrayed Cybertron…I betrayed you. I deserve this. You know that…as much as I do”

“Please, Megatron...just stop. Stop talking...just...stop,” Optimus pleaded, his voice breaking as he shook his helm, staring at Megatron’s closed optics, willing them to open.

But Megatron still forced his faint smirk, voice cracking with his fading strength. “You…know, Prime...this is how it has to be...it’s justice. After all, I’ve done...to you, to everyone...I deserve…death...not…another chance to...to...rise again”

“Megatron, I said stop it!” Optimus roared, his voice echoing through the silence. Desperation rose as he clutched his servo tighter, helpless against his old foe’s surrender to darkness.

Megatron's smirk lingered, but he turned his helm away, resting it against the cold ground. 

Optimus watched him, his spark heavy with grief, before slowly leaning in. His helm pressed gently against Megatron's, and his fists clenched tight at his sides. “Don't say that,” he whispered, voice trembling. “Don't you ever say that...don’t talk like that...Yes, you betrayed me. Yes, you did unforgivable things...but even so...you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve...to leave me like this...not like this. I won't let you go, Megatron...I can't. I won't let you leave me” His spark ached with the weight of his words, his chest tight as he felt the warmth of Megatron's blood seeping beneath his palm. “I’ll never let you leave me...not like this. I won't let you”

Megatron let out a weak, raspy chuckle, despite the pain, the sound bitter and hollow. “How...funny,” he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. “It sounds like you...still see me as...D…you still see me as a friend. It sounds like...you still...love me”

Optimus buried his face against Megatron's chest, his trembling frame racked with deep, ragged sobs. His brow pressed firmly over the faint, pulsing light of Megatron's spark, desperation tightening his grip as silent pleas to Primus filled his thoughts—prayers for the spark to endure, to hold on just a little longer. The sound of his grief echoed, raw and unrestrained, as Megatron let out a shallow, coughing chuckle. 

“I do,” he confessed through his tears, his voice quivering with every word. “I still see you as D...as a friend. And I...I…I still love you, Megatron. Despite everything that’s happened, despite all the betrayal...the battles between us...Through it all...I still love you” His sobs shook his frame as he clung to him, unwilling to let him go. 

Megatron didn’t respond; his choppy breathing was the only sign he was still alive.

“Megatron?”

He didn't respond.

“Megatron…please…say something”

Only his shallow breathing was being heard, no voice accompanying it.

Optimus wept as he lifted his helm, gazing down at the unconscious Megatron. Tears fell like raindrops, softly landing on his face as he kissed Megatron’s lips, then gently rested his forehelm against his one last time. Slowly, he crawled to Megatron’s helm, cradling it in his lap as his fingers brushed over the cracked surface, tenderly stroking his face. 

“I’m…not leaving you, Megatron,” he whispered through his sobs to comfort him and himself. “I’m never leaving you...Please, don’t worry. The others...they’ll be here before you…know…it…don't worry...They’ll help…you get…better...You’re…going to be…fine...I promise, okay? I promise…just stay with me”

Optimus pulled Megatron's helm close, his touch unusually tender, as though Megatron were a fragile artifact on the brink of shattering. Pressing his faceplate to Megatron’s, he let his tears fall freely, each drop a reminder of his presence, his desperation.

“Please...Megatron...please…please don’t leave me,” he choked out, voice thick with grief. “Hold on...hold on...you're gonna make it...I promise...we've been through tougher glitches...like this...We were...enemies, right? And you'd never...you'd never...let me down...You're going to be fine, I promise...just...hold on, okay? Hold on...You're...gonna be alright, I promise”

A trembling, clawed servo barely managed to rest atop his own before slipping away, falling limp against the cold ground. Optimus’s frame shook as hot tears streamed freely, his chest shuddering with silent sobs. His optics squeezed shut as his servos trembled, tightening their grip around Megatron's battered frame. Desperation etched itself into every motion as he cradled the once-mighty warlord closer, pressing his face against the scarred face. The cave was oppressively silent, broken only by the ragged, labored ventilations rattling from Megatron’s frame. Optimus clung to the weight of memories—soft, fleeting fragments of a time before the war’s ruin—and the unbearable ache of silent pleas. The whole time, he prayed to Primus, fervently and without pride, to intervene—to hold Megatron’s fading essence tethered to this plane, to keep him from slipping away into death.

He still held Megatron close within the cave's shadows, the silence around them broken only by the faint rhythm of Megatron's labored breaths. Outside, the moon hung high, casting its cold light over the rugged landscape, but Optimus kept his commlink silent. He feared only the return of the cruel, empty static if he reached out, so he waited, hoping—no, willing—that someone else might respond first. His optics remained firmly shuttered, refusing to dwell on the wound that sapped Megatron’s strength with each passing second.

Then, faint sounds stirred beyond the cave’s entrance—a scrape, a shifting of metal. He opened his optics, feeling both hope and desperation rise within him, gripping him like cold steel. He thought—he hoped—it was finally his Autobots, but...

...it wasn't. 

“Why, Lord Megatron…you don’t look so well,” Starscream sneered, a twisted grin playing on his lips, voice dripping with feigned sympathy.

They had found them first.

His spark jolted to a stop.

No…Not now. 

He stared at the rogue Decepticons, then back down at Megatron resting unconscious in his lap, before looking at the Decepticons once more.

“Come out. You’re outnumbered,” Shockwave ordered, his tone as cold as the metal he was forged from.

Optimus’ blue optics flared, a blaze of fierce determination and anger. He looked into the faces of Megatron’s former followers, the Decepticons whom Megatron had left behind in his defection. His gaze lingered on the motionless, battle-worn Megatron who was still breathing heavily. A small, shaken smile crossed his face.

“Show yourself, Autobot!” Tarn's voice cut through the silence, a snarl carrying with it the chilling weight of his obsession. His red optics burned from beneath the Decepticon insignia that masked his face. He knew how Megatron, once his hero, had thrown himself into the line of fire to shield Optimus from his blast. He relished the thought, the thrill of finally having his former leader as his target—and the Autobot who had stolen his former idol from him.

Optimus paid no attention to Tarn’s taunts, focusing instead on Megatron, who lay still in his arms. He brushed his fingers over Megatron's scorched helm, his touch both protective and grieving. His optics hardened, a mix of rage and guilt darkening his expression as he traced his hand to the wound on Megatron’s side. Then, he looked back up at their enemies with unbreakable resolve.

“Megatron,” he murmured, “I’ll take care of this…You just rest, okay? And trust me, alright?” He offered a smirk, hoping to reassure him, even if Megatron was too far gone to hear.

Megatron's only response was a ragged breath, his face showing such pain and vulnerability. Leaning down, Optimus pressed a tender kiss to his battered forehead, then slowly lowered Megatron’s helm from his lap and stood up, his optics still locked on the enemy. He clenched his fists, each step deliberate as he walked out of the cave, facing down the Decepticons without a trace of hesitation or fear. His face was impassive, optics as cold as stone and ice.

Just trust me, D.

Chapter Text

Optimus ignored the wide, smug smiles of the rogue Decepticons. Soundwave and Shockwave’s unblinking stares bore into him, their crimson optics betraying no emotion. His own blue optics stayed locked on the one who had dared to fire the blast—until Megatron had stepped into its path, taking the cruel hit meant for him. Rage boiled within Optimus, his spark pounding like a storm as he stared at the new leader of the Decepticons. His servos clenched tighter, metal creaking under the pressure of his barely restrained fury.  

Tarn stood at ease, yet there was something predatory in the calculated tilt of his head as he slowly shifted to one side, as though savoring the tension. A wide, cruel smile was hidden beneath his Decepticon mask, but his voice dripped with malice. “Hello, Prime,” he sneered the venom in his tone sharp enough to send chills down even the strongest spines.  

Optimus didn’t flinch. He remained silent, quiet, his focus unyielding. His blue optics never left Tarn's, an unspoken challenge in their fierce glow.  

Soundwave’s voice cut through the heavy air like a blade, cold and emotionless. Ravage slunk low to the ground, circling Optimus with a predator's grace, while Laserbeak hovered like a vulture awaiting its prey. “We have terms to discuss, Autobot,” Soundwave said, his words devoid of warmth or mercy.  

Still, Optimus stood firm, his gaze never breaking from Tarn’s.  

Tarn’s smile widened beneath the mask as he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “Surrender Megatron to us,” he growled, his voice dripping with sinister content, “and perhaps we will grant you the mercy to spare you” 

Surrender…Megatron…to them? 

Each word struck him like the clash of steel, defiant and absolute.

Optimus turned back toward the cave, his optics falling on Megatron, still lying where he had left him.

His spark tightened.

Never would he abandon his Autobots—old or new.  

Never would he forsake them, even those who once called themselves enemies.  

Never would he betray the principles he held dear, even if it meant standing alongside his rivals.  

And especially not for the one he now fought to protect.  

No matter the danger, no matter the odds, Optimus Prime would endure. He would rise. He always did. Always will.

He turned back, his gaze locking onto Tarn and his DJD. Around them stood Soundwave, Shockwave, and Starscream, their crimson optics blazing with cruel intent. They stood poised like predators, but Optimus didn’t waver.  

Ignoring his own injuries, he shifted into a battle stance, his towering frame steady, unshaken. His blue optics glowed with unwavering determination as he shielded the injured Megatron behind him.  

“Never,” he growled, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the tense air.  

The Decepticons sneered, their expressions twisted with anger and dark amusement. Tarn stood unmoving, his frame eerily calm as he slowly bowed his head. His optics dimmed to black as he lowered his helm, shadows enveloping his face like a shroud of grudge.  

The volatility crackled like a live wire, the stillness before the storm. Every mech knew the next move would set the battlefield ablaze, and Optimus stood ready, his resolve as unbreakable as the mountain behind him.  

The air was heavy with silence, broken only by the mournful howl of the wind, like distant, anguished screams. Autobot and Decepticons alike stood frozen, their optics shifting between the two titans at the center of it all. Tarn broke the silence first, his voice low and venomous, a growl that slithered through the air.  

“Wrong choice, Prime,” he rumbled, each word deliberate, a simmering promise of pain.  

Optimus remained motionless, his battle stance unyielding, his optics burning with steady resolve.  

Tarn tilted his head, shadows creeping over his mask, his frame exuding menace. “You know,” he began, his voice dipping into a slow, unsettling tone, “he was more than a leader to me. More than just a vision for Cybertron. He was my hero...my idol...my god” The word dripped with reverence, his obsession bleeding into the open.  

He took a deliberate step forward, his optics glowing with suppressed fury. “Megatron gave me the courage to do what no one else dared—to kill without hesitation, to crush mercy beneath my heel. He gave me purpose. And you—” Tarn’s voice twisted into a snarl, the barest hint of a tremble revealing the storm beneath. “You took that away”  

Optimus didn’t move. His silence only fueled Tarn’s rage, his jealousy igniting like wildfire.  

“You think you’re the only one who loved him?” Tarn spat, his tone sharpening, his frame trembling as his clenched fists dripped with seeping Energon. He raised his helm slowly, his optics blazing with hatred. “I was supposed to be the one by his side, not you. You had no right to take him!” His voice cracked with fury, rising in pitch. “He was mine! Mine alone! Together, we could have built a Cybertron that ruled the stars. I would have given him everything, sacrificed anything. And you—you robbed me of that destiny!”  

The ground seemed to tremble as Tarn’s roar echoed across the mountains, raw and primal, his frame vibrating with unrestrained wrath. The Decepticons stayed silent, their gazes wary as they watched the DJD leader unravel, a force too unstable even for them to approach.  

Tarn’s voice dropped to a ghostly whisper, the calm only making his words more chilling. “Every step I took, every life I ended, every ounce of Energon spilled—it was all for him. For my god. For my love” His servos clenched tighter, Energon leaking from his palms, his frame shaking with a cocktail of devotion and rage. “Megatron was mine. My spark, my reason, my soul...my everything”  

Optimus still stood firm, his optics steady, unyielding in the face of Tarn’s spiraling obsession.  

“And then you,” Tarn hissed, his voice breaking into a roar, “you stole him from me! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING! FROM ME!” His scream tore through the air, reverberating like a thunderclap, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. The wind howled again, carrying the echoes of his fury across the mountains.  

Tarn loomed, his breathing ragged, his optics blazing with hatred. With a slow, deliberate steadiness, he hissed, “You don’t know what love truly is, Optimus. None of you do. That’s why, even when he was your so-called enemy, he was still my god...my love. And he always will be. You can never have him. He is mine and mine alone…forever”

Optimus, stoic and resolute, finally spoke, his voice as calm and cold as steel. “You’re wrong”  

Tarn flinched, his optics narrowing into slits.  

Optimus took a step forward, his towering frame unshaken. “You don’t understand love. Not the way you claim to. Love isn’t an obsession. Love isn’t possession. Love doesn’t destroy—it protects, even from itself” His optics burned with quiet intensity. “And that is why Megatron is under my protection. You can never take him from me” He then turned his gaze at Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. “None of you”

The silence stretched, broken only by the howl of the wind, as unyielding wills collided in the charged, electric air beneath the watchful gaze of the moon.

Tarn’s growl was low and guttural, dripping with a savage intensity that vibrated through the air. His optics burned with seething contempt as he slowly lowered his helm, a chilling mockery of submission. “Then rise, Prime…” His voice dropped to a whisper, carrying with it the weight of a promise. “And prove it”  

The challenge hung in the air like a thunderstorm ready to break.

With a savage battle cry, Tarn charged at him at full speed. Optimus surged forward, swiftly grabbing his arm and dodging the vicious, clenched fist. In one fluid motion, he swung Tarn to the ground as enemies closed in from all sides.

The battle has begun.

Helex swiped a massive fist, but Optimus was faster, ducking under the strike and landing a brutal punch to his face. Helex grunted, staggered back, and choked on his own Energon as Optimus delivered a merciless kick, knocking him into the opticless Kaon.  

Vos, quick as a shadow, removed his mask, revealing a grotesque, soulless face—an expression of hunger that made Optimus pause in disbelief and horror. “Give. Me. Your. Face. Prime,” Vos hissed, his voice low and haunted. “Wear. My. Face. Feed. My. Face” 

In a blur of motion, Optimus ducked as Vos drove his mask into the ground, the force reverberating through the earth. Grabbing Vos by the neck, Optimus squeezed, forcing a gag from the Decepticon’s throat before hurling him into a rocky wall. Vos tumbled, stunned.  

But before Optimus could catch his breath, Tesarus was upon him, hands locking around his neck in a choking grip. Optimus gasped for air, his vision flickering as Tesarus grinned wickedly, tightening his hold. “You’re going to die here, Prime,” he hissed. “And don’t worry…we’ll take care of the traitor Megatron. I hate traitors. Traitors must die”  

Gritting his teeth, Optimus struggled, the words stoking a fury within him. Then he saw Tarn rise, his expression vicious, his servo clenched in a deadly promise.  

With a roar, Tarn charged, aiming a devastating punch. But Optimus, grinning with determination, ducked just in time. Tarn’s fist slammed into Tesarus’s faceplate, sending the Decepticon sprawling to the ground with a pained grunt.  

Ignoring his fallen comrade, Tarn lunged for Optimus again, but this time, the Autobot grabbed a jagged rock from the ground and smashed it into Tarn’s face. Tarn howled in agony, staggering back, only for Optimus to follow up with a flurry of relentless punches.  

But the battle didn’t slow. Ravage, moving faster than a lightning strike, launched at Optimus with a savage roar, a blur of fangs and fury. Optimus blasted Tarn with another punch, sending him sprawling, then turned just in time to seize Ravage mid-charge. With a brutal throw, he hurled the panther-like Decepticon into Laserbeak, sending the metallic vulture screeching in pain.  

Optimus wasn’t done. His focus never wavered. He charged at Tarn once more, grabbing him by the shoulders and ramming him to the ground, knocking over Megatron’s charging three loyal soldiers in the process. With a primal roar, Optimus unleashed a barrage of punches, each one landing with a sickening crack.  

Tarn struggled to rise, but Optimus’s fury was unstoppable. He shoved Tarn deeper into the forest, landing one final devastating blow, his anger, determination, and disgust fueling each hit. With a fierce yell, Optimus drove his fist into Tarn’s face, the battle far from over, but his resolve stronger than ever.

“You’re weak!” Optimus roared, his fury exploding as he hammered punch after punch into Tarn’s battered frame.  

Tarn struggled, his dented armor groaning under the assault, but he forced himself to rise, ignoring the agony coursing through him. With a vicious swipe, he aimed for Optimus, but the Autobot blocked the punch effortlessly and drove an elbow into Tarn’s face. The Decepticon gagged, coughing up Energon, but before he could recover, Optimus landed a brutal blow to his stomach and slammed him into the ground.  

“You’re nothing but a monstrous waste of metal! A waste of time! A waste of life itself!!!” Optimus snarled, his voice low and venomous as he loomed over Tarn.  

The lone Autobot grabbed another jagged rock, slamming it into Tarn’s back with a sickening crack. Tarn screamed in agony, his body jerking from the impact. Optimus wasn’t done. With a swift kick, he drove his foot into Tarn’s mask, sending shards of the Decepticon’s faceplate scattering.  

Tarn coughed, Energon dribbling from his mouth, behind his mask that seeped through, and a slow, guttural snarl rumbled from deep within him. He tried to rise, to strike back, but Optimus’s rage was unrelenting. The pain from Megatron’s wounds surged through him, his anger like a wildfire that couldn’t be quenched.  

“You junkyard piece of fragging…shit!!!” Optimus bellowed, his voice thick with hatred. The primal roar that followed was pure, unfiltered rage as he continued to pummel Tarn, each blow a release of the fury that burned in his chest. 

The forest and mountains echoed with the sound of their brutal battle, but Optimus showed no sign of slowing, his fists landing with terrifying force. Every strike was a testament to his strength, his relentless will to protect, and his landing with terrifying force. Every single strike was a testament to his strength, his relentless will to protect Megatron and to make them all pay. 

The Decepticons rallied, rising to aid their new leader, but Optimus was ready. With a battle cry that shook the very earth beneath him, he grabbed Tarn and hurled him into the hollow trees, their trunks splintering and cracking under the brutal impact. The Autobot stood tall, his battle stance firm, as the Decepticons charged in.

Optimus grabbed Kaon by the face, the Decepticon screaming in agony, before throwing him at Vos with bone-crushing force. In the same fluid motion, he seized Helex’s incoming punch, blocking it before landing a devastating strike that sent the massive Decepticon soaring. With a roar of defiance, Optimus lifted Helex and slammed him onto the two fallen bots, the ground shaking from the impact. Helex optics were almost dimming to darkness. 

Optimus Prime turned just in time to see Tesarus charging at him, a massive bull-like Decepticon intent on tackling him to the ground. With a roar, Tesarus slammed into Optimus, the impact forcing the Autobot leader back, his feet dragging through the dirt. Despite his injuries screaming in resistance, Optimus grunted, gritting his teeth and locking his grip around Tesarus with iron resolve.

His frame groaned under the pressure, but Optimus held his ground, the ground scraping beneath his feet as Tesarus relentlessly continued his assault. Energon poured out of his mouth as he coughed, a sickly splatter of his life force against his lips. But even as pain coursed through him, a grim smirk crossed his face. With a sudden, brutal movement, Optimus drove his knee hard against Tesarus' chest plate, sending a shockwave of impact rippling through the Decepticon’s form. The bull-like warrior gasped in pain, his grip loosening just enough for Optimus to take control. 

Before Tesarus could recover, Optimus followed through, spinning with terrifying speed and landing a punishing blow to Tesarus’ back. The Decepticon howled as the punch collided, but before he could retaliate, Optimus lifted him high with a roar of his own. Tesarus’ scream was drowned out by the crushing force of Optimus slamming him down—hard—onto the fallen Helex.

The ground trembled beneath the force of the impact, and the battlefield stood still for a moment, the dust hanging in the air like a testament to Optimus Prime’s unyielding strength and fury.

A brutal punch from Predacon Deathsaurus caught Optimus off guard, but he stood his ground, his grip tightening around the Decepticon’s fists. With a vicious growl, Optimus brought his forhelm forward with crushing force, slamming it into Deathsaurus’s faceplate. The Predacon groaned, his faceplate denting under the blow, but he remained standing, swiping his wing at the lone Autobot. Optimus ducked beneath it, his fist striking Deathsaurus in the back and sending him crashing to the ground.

But the fight was far from over. Shockwave finally made his move, swiping a heavy punch at Optimus. The Autobot grunted but retaliated, landing a brutal series of blows before spinning to avoid another strike. With one fluid motion, Optimus punched Shockwave, sending him crashing to the ground. As Shockwave scrambled to rise, Ravage ambushed Optimus from behind. Pain shot through the Autobot’s frame as Ravage sank his teeth into him, but with a growl of fury, Optimus spun and slammed the Decepticon into the earth, knocking him unconscious.

Soundwave emerged next, his optics glowing beneath his mask, filled with seething rage. He lunged with a powerful, clenched fist, but Optimus met him head-on, landing a punch that sent the Decepticon stumbling. Soundwave steadied himself and swiped again, but Optimus seized his fist, locking him in place. Their optics locked in an intense battle of wills. “How much strength do you have left to protect him, Autobot?” Soundwave’s voice was cold, calculating.

“I’ll protect him,” Optimus growled, “even if I have no strength left!” With a ferocious roar, he slammed his helm into Soundwave’s, sending him sprawling. Optimus wasn’t done. He grabbed Soundwave, throwing him into a nearby tree with a force that shook the branches, and then pulled Ravage from the wreckage, tossing him aside with ease.

Optimus turned to the cave, his optics widening in horror seeing a threat going inside. There, inside, Megatron still lay unconscious, his spark dimming, and his optics dark. 

Megatron, no!

The thought surged through him like a jolt of electricity, and he rushed to stop Starscream—who was sneaking closer, a predator’s grin twisting his Seeker features. Before Optimus could intervene, Tarn and Deathsaurus seized him, their dented frames wrapping around him like iron shackles. Tarn growled in his ear. “Vos, now!”  

Optimus struggled, but it was no use. Vos stepped forward, removing his mask and revealing a horrific face, long, sharp screws protruding from his mask like twisted relics. “Wear. My. Face,” he whispered again, his voice chilling.

Starscream, ever the opportunist, moved into the cave with slow, deliberate steps, his optics fixed on Megatron’s fallen form. His grin widened as he looked down at the former leader. “You’ve become weak, my liege,” he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. The sound of his Gatling gun clicking into place reverberated in the cave. “Farewell, Lord Megatron,” he sneered, aiming directly at Megatron’s chestplate, where the Autobot symbol now lay as a replacement for the Decepticon insignia. 

Megatron was trapped in the endless abyss of unconsciousness. He was too weak to move, too injured, too drained to defend himself, and too helpless to defend Optimus. 

“Ohhh, Megatron…”, he happily trembled with a giggle. “You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment. I have been waiting for this…for a long, long, long time”

As Starscream’s finger tightened on the trigger, a forceful grip yanked him violently out of the cave. He screamed, disoriented, as he was thrown to the ground, dirt and debris swirling around him. Tarn, Deathsaurus, Vos, and the rest of the Decepticons rose, ready to attack once again, but Optimus, undeterred, stood firm, his voice booming across the battlefield.  

“Get away from him! And stay away from him! All of you!” The lone Autobot roared, his optics burning with fierce determination.  

The air was thick with tension as Optimus Prime faced down the entire Decepticon army, alone, but resolute—his will to protect Megatron and his Autobots stronger than ever.

The Decepticons sneered as Optimus Prime stood unwavering, his resolve unshaken despite the odds. Tarn rose from the ground, wiping a trail of Energon from his mouth.  

“You are strong, Autobot. Very strong,” he admitted, his tone tinged with reluctant admiration. “No wonder Megatron always considered you his rival”  

Optimus said nothing, his optics flickering briefly toward the cave where a battered Megatron lay, Energon still pooling from his side. A mix of worry and something deeper flickered in his gaze before he turned his attention back to his enemies. His expression hardened, unreadable.  

“But not strong enough,” Tarn growled. With that, he launched himself at Optimus.  

Optimus surged forward, meeting Tarn mid-charge. His fist collided with the Decepticon leader’s block, sending tremors through their frames. Tarn countered with a heavy punch to Optimus’s chest, forcing a grunt from the Prime. Despite the pain, Optimus didn’t falter. He retaliated with a savage blow to Tarn’s midsection, driving him back.  

In one fluid motion, Optimus spun and kicked Tarn in the stomach, sending him crashing into Shockwave and Kaon. Without hesitation, Optimus ripped a jagged rock from the ground and hurled it at them, the sharp edges sparking on impact. Vos lunged at him, but Optimus ducked low, spinning and striking him down with a brutal uppercut.  

Before he could recover, Helex grabbed him from behind, squeezing with crushing force. Optimus snarled and slammed the back of his helm into Helex’s face, the resounding clang disorienting the massive Decepticon. Seizing the moment, Optimus twisted free, landing a series of punishing blows before throwing Helex into the river.  

Laserbeak screeched, swooping down to unleash a hail of laser fire. Optimus snatched up a boulder, using it as a shield against the aerial assault. With perfect timing, he hurled the rock, forcing the metallic vulture to veer off course. Grabbing a fallen tree, Optimus swung it like a colossal club, smashing Laserbeak aside before turning it against the charging Deathsaurus and Starscream.  

Starscream crumpled under the impact, but Deathsaurus held firm. Optimus swung again, the makeshift weapon cracking against the Predacon’s armor, forcing him back.  

Amid the chaos, Soundwave slipped past the fray and entered the cave.  

Optimus’s optics flared as he spotted his old ally. “No!” he roared, sprinting after him.  

But Soundwave was faster, standing over Megatron’s weakened form. He aimed his weapon at his former leader, his frame trembling imperceptibly. His visor gleamed as he stared down at his former friend's wound, where Energon flowed freely and festered severely, accompanied by the sound of Megatron's labored breaths. He almost lowered his weapon but kept it trained on his former friend, former leader, and now enemy. “Forgive me...Megatronus,” he whispered, his voice uncharacteristically laden with hesitation. “But you must die. You have to die. And you will die. But don't worry; I'll make it quick for you. I'll end the pain quickly for you...consider it an act of kindness” His weapon glowed ominously, a slow, pulsing light as his crimson optics, concealed beneath his visor, locked onto the wounded Megatron. The sharp, uneven rhythm of his former leader's labored breaths still echoed in his audio receptors, and the agony etched into Megatron's frame pierced straight through his cold spark. This was the one and only choice...he must end Megatron's suffering. Steeling himself, he allowed a final thought to cross his mind. Farewell,...old friend.

A thunderous roar cut through the cave.  

Optimus crashed into Soundwave, tackling him with enough force to send both tumbling out of the cave.

“I said, stay away from him!”  

Using Soundwave as a shield, Optimus deflected the incoming attacks, striking out with calculated ferocity. He spun, landing blows that sent Tarn staggering and Vos sprawling.  

Starscream, however, recovered, leveling his null ray at the Prime.  

Optimus reacted instantly. With a swift kick, he sent Tarn stumbling into the line of fire, then hurled Soundwave into Vos. In a blur of movement, Optimus closed the distance to Starscream, grabbing him by the neck.  

Starscream thrashed, his optics wide with panic as Optimus tightened his grip. Desperation fueled the Seeker’s movements as he clawed at the Autobot’s arm. He then drove a sharp elbow into Optimus’s side, striking a damaged plate with precision. The force of the blow sent a jolt of pain through Optimus, a pained groan escaping his lips as his grip faltered for a brief moment. But with a defiant snarl, he tightened his hold, refusing to relinquish control despite the sharp agony radiating through his body. Starscream wheezed, a choke rising in his throat as the wires and cables in his neck grew tighter, constricting. His null ray came up shakily, but Optimus was quicker. He caught Starscream’s wrist, twisting it just enough to send the blasts veering wildly into the air. The forest around them erupted in flame as the Decepticons scattered for cover.  

Starscream let out a choked snarl. “Let...go...of…me,...slagging...Autobot...scum!”  

Optimus’s optics narrowed, his voice a low growl. “As you wish”  

With brutal efficiency, Optimus slammed Starscream into the ground. The impact cracked the earth beneath them, and before the Seeker could react, Optimus’s fist connected with his faceplate in a devastating blow.  

Starscream’s scream of agony echoed through the battlefield as his faceplate fractured under the force. Dents spread like a web across his features, and fragments of his dental plating shattered, spilling to the ground. Energon seeped from the cracks as his helm struck a nearby tree, which splintered and collapsed over his battered frame. He was barely conscious.

Optimus stood at the edge of the cave, his optics fixed on Megatron’s unmoving frame. His body trembled with exhaustion, every joint threatening to buckle under the strain. Yet, he held firm—until a sudden, brutal force struck him from behind. With a sharp grunt, he was slammed hard into the ground, the impact rattling his frame. Pain lanced through him as he twisted to defend himself, only to meet Shockwave’s cold, calculated fist.  

A sharp kick from Tesarus sent him sprawling back, but the assault didn’t stop. With a sneer, Helex hoisted a massive tree and rammed it down toward the Autobot leader. Desperation fueled Optimus as he raised his arm to shield himself, but the sheer weight of the blow drove him to his knees. He groaned in pain, only for Kaon to strike next, a cruel smile playing on the Decepticon's face.  

The hits came relentlessly. Helex drove a heavy fist into Optimus's midsection, forcing the air from his vents, and Tarn seized the opening. With monstrous strength, Tarn grabbed Optimus and hurled him into the nearest trees. The splintered wood stabbed through his armor, sharp edges raking his metallic skin like shards of Energon crystal. His injuries were growing and screaming more tormentingly. Tarn closed the distance with a merciless strike to Optimus’s faceplate, the force nearly shattering it and leaving the once-proud leader teetering on the edge of collapse.  

Energon dripped from his mouth, streaking down his fractured armor. Optimus coughed weakly, falling to his knees, but the Decepticons offered no reprieve. Kaon landed a savage kick to his torso before dragging him upright, their mocking laughter ringing in his audio receptors. Blaster fire erupted, searing through his frame as they fired mercilessly, each shot driving him further into submission. Tarn ended the barrage with a devastating punch, sending Optimus tumbling back across the ground, dirt and debris scattering in his wake.  

He lay motionless for a moment, battered and broken, the cruel terrain digging into his battered frame. His systems flickered dangerously close to shutdown, but he refused to fall entirely. Optimus coughed, a spray of energy escaping his mouth as he fought to steady his flickering vision. His frame trembled, burdened by the searing ache of both fresh and lingering wounds, yet he forced himself to push past the pain. Slowly, painfully, he willed himself onto his arms. 

The Decepticons stood above him, their menacing silhouettes illuminated by the faint glow of Energon leaking from their own wounds. They sneered, ignoring their injuries, their predatory gazes locked on the fallen Autobot leader and their former leader.

“You’ve fought well,” Tarn growled, his voice dripping with disdain, “but even you can’t stand against us all, Prime. You can't protect him from all of us. At least…not forever”, he sneered as he licked his Energon from his lip.

They advanced slowly, savoring his helplessness.

Optimus coughed violently, his frame shuddering as he struggled to rise. Every movement sent fresh waves of agony through his battered form, his wounds screaming at him to stop, to collapse, to yield to the torment.

Stop!

Stay down!

But he couldn’t. Not now.

Through his blurred optics, he locked onto the cave, where Megatron still lay—wounded, drained, his once-mighty strength diminished. Energon seeped from the Decepticon leader’s frame, his power ebbing with every passing second. The sight of him—vulnerable, exposed—ignited a fire within Optimus. If he fell now, they would take Megatron from him.

Or worse… 

Torture him.

Kill him.

No! He couldn’t allow it. He wouldn’t. No matter the cost, he would not fall.

Optimus grunted, forcing himself into a crouch. A fresh stream of Energon dripped from his mouth, but he ignored it. His systems blared with warnings, and his wounds begged him to relent, but he silenced them all with sheer resolve.  

“I will not let you take him!” He growled, his voice raw with pain and fury. “I will not let you harm the ones I love…especially him!”

With a defiant roar, his wrists ignited, twin blades of his fiery Energon swords snapping into existence. His optics burned with unyielding determination as he rose, unsteady but unbroken.  

“I will stand my ground. I will protect him. Even if it means tearing you all apart!”

Drawing upon the last reserves of his strength, Optimus charged, his blades slicing the air with deadly precision. The advancing Decepticons met his onslaught, but he pressed forward, each strike fueled by his undying resolve, his love, and his pain.  

Deathsaurus swung his massive fist, but Optimus dodged with precision, his movements fluid despite the pain wracking his frame. With a swift spin, his fiery Energon swords cut through the air, forcing nearby Decepticons to duck. A sharp cry tore from Deathsaurus as the blades bit into his armor, leaving glowing gashes. A powerful kick from Optimus sent the Decepticon leader crashing to the ground. Helex lunged, his massive hands outstretched, but Optimus met him with a solid kick to the face. The Decepticon bellowed in pain, only to scream louder as one of Optimus' blades plunged into his side. The blow staggered him, and a follow-up punch sent Helex reeling.  

Vos darted in, his slender form agile, evading each swipe of Optimus' swords. But before he could retaliate, Kaon came from behind, attempting a sneak attack. Optimus pivoted, delivering a brutal kick to Kaon’s midsection and forcing him to dodge a sweeping slash. The opticless Decepticon snarled, only to be met with a crushing helm-slam that sent him stumbling.  

Tesaurus opened fire from a distance, his powerful frame rumbling as he advanced. Optimus turned, closing the distance in a blur. With two swift strikes, he drove his swords into Tesaurus’ shoulder and side, sparks and Energon spraying from the wounds. A guttural cry escaped the massive Decepticon as Optimus wrenched a nearby tree from the ground and hurled it at him, knocking him out cold.  

Shockwave moved in, his single optic glowing with cold calculation. A swift punch to Optimus’ face staggered the Autobot. The Decepticon scientist raised his arm cannon, preparing to fire, but Optimus seized his arm, twisting it with a sickening metallic crunch. Shockwave roared in pain before being silenced by a fierce punch that sent him sprawling.  

Starscream, regaining consciousness, let out a shrieking battle cry as he unleashed a barrage of missiles. Optimus’ servos shifted, catching the projectiles mid-air with a grunt of effort. The missiles trembled in his grasp as Soundwave approached, flanked by Ravage and Laserbeak. With a roar, Optimus spun and hurled the missiles back at them. The resulting explosion engulfed the trio, sending them hurtling into the air amidst a cloud of dirt and debris.  

Turning back, Optimus intercepted Starscream mid-charge, landing a devastating punch to the Seeker’s face. Starscream screeched in pain as Optimus grabbed his wing, yanking him to the ground with force. The Autobot's servos shifted back into swords as he dodged Tarn's incoming punches, countering with a precise stab to the Decepticon's side.  

Tarn howled, clutching the wound, but Optimus pressed the attack, driving his fist into Tarn’s stomach. Blow after blow followed, shattering Tarn’s mask further and reducing him to a stumbling, gasping wreck. Energon streamed from his mouth as his vision blurred to black before a final punch sent him collapsing into unconsciousness.  

Optimus spun, his battle stance unwavering despite the searing pain coursing through his frame. The remaining Decepticons stood before him, their optics burning with rage and their wounds mirroring his own. Injured, battered, but unbroken, Optimus glared back at them with a smirk. “I'm not finished yet. Are you all finished yet?” 

The Decepticons snarled in anticipation, their optics locked on their prey.  

Before anyone could react, a chilling voice broke through the tension like a razor slicing through steel.  

“Not…quite…yet,” it purred, a sinister promise wrapped in menace.  

Optimus barely registered the words when a searing blast struck his side, sending him reeling with a guttural cry of pain. The force hurled him to his knees, his armor buckling under the impact as Energon splattered violently across the ground. He gasped, his vision flickering, and his spark sank at the sight of a growing pool of his own lifeblood beneath him. Through the haze of agony, his optics caught a figure emerging from the shadows. Tarn loomed above, his half-destroyed mask revealing a crooked, triumphant grin. His presence alone was suffocating, but his intent was unmistakable—he wasn’t finished.  

Optimus tried to rise, but his body betrayed him, trembling as pain shot through every servo. Tarn wasted no time, slamming a massive foot down on the Prime’s most severe injury. The tortured metal of Optimus’s frame crumpled further under the force, drawing another ragged scream from him.  

“You’ll kneel like the rest,” Tarn growled, his voice dripping with cruel satisfaction.  

With an almost casual show of power, Tarn gripped the weakened Prime and hurled him into the dirt. Optimus struck the ground with a sickening crash, the impact magnifying the agony that already consumed him. As he lay there, his vision swimming and Energon pouring from his wounds, Tarn and the other Decepticons stood over him like a predator savoring the kill, his laughter a dark symphony of triumph.

Optimus coughed violently, his systems sputtering as he fought to rise once more. Pain lanced through his side, every torn wire and damaged vent screaming at him to stop. His frame trembled under the strain, his legs giving way, and he collapsed to the ground with a wheeze, his vents choking on the effort to keep him functional. Every inch of his metallic body protested, his circuits ablaze with agony from Tarn’s devastating blast. 

Through his flickering optics, the cave before him came into focus, dim and oppressive. There, slumped against the jagged rock, lay Megatron—still, unconscious, and terrifyingly losing his own battle to stay alive. Energon pooled beneath him, a damning testament to his injuries, draining away what little life force he had left. The sight gripped Optimus with a desperate dread, more cutting than any wound he bore.  

His vision blurred, not just from the damage but from the tears spilling freely down his battered faceplate. His voice, strained and weak, broke through the static in his throat. “Mega...tron...D...” The name escaped him in a broken gasp, a plea, and a lament all at once.  

He reached out, crawling toward him with a trembling hand, though every movement sent fresh jolts of pain through his ravaged frame. This wasn’t just Megatron—former enemy, rival, and nemesis. He was more than that. He always had been. Lover. The word hung heavy in Optimus’s mind, unspoken but undeniable. Even now, Megatron was still his.  

But he was so far. Too far. 

Optimus’s strength gave out, his body collapsing against the stone. His outstretched servo fell just shy of its mark, a mere breath away from touching Megatron. Helplessness crashed over him like a tidal wave, dragging him down into its merciless depths. For the first time, the great Prime felt truly defeated—not in battle, but in the fight to protect the one who had meant everything to him.  

“Mega…tron,” Optimus cried, his voice breaking as he heard the ominous echo of footsteps growing closer. The sound of servos clanking against stone sent a chill through his failing frame.  

Pain ripped through him when Tarn's clawed foot slammed into his fresh, critical wound. Optimus screamed, the agony white-hot and all-consuming. His strength, already hanging by a thread, abandoned him completely. He collapsed, his vents rasping as he struggled to breathe. Tarn's jagged claws seized him by the helm, wrenching him upright with cruel force.  

This was it.  

He was going to die.  

Optimus’s optics drifted to Megatron’s motionless form, the faint glimmer of his spark growing dimmer with each passing moment. Tarn’s grip tightened, dragging Optimus back to reality.  

“Aww... don’t worry, Autobot…” Tarn’s voice dripped with malice, his snickering wheeze echoing through the cavern. “Megatron will be just fine…once I’m through with him. I’ll take good, good, good care of him” His red optics glowed brighter, a cruel grin curling his jagged mouth.  

Optimus cried out, his anguish spilling over as tears streaked his battered faceplate. He had failed.  

He offlined his sensors, desperate to escape the crushing weight of his failure, wishing he could hold Megatron—D—one last time. In the dark, memories flooded his fading mind like an unstoppable tide.  

He saw them together before war had broken them.  

Their laughter, unburdened. Their long talks about their shared hopes and dreams for Cybertron. The way they had embraced each other, vowing to remain friends no matter the odds. The moments before they were Optimus Prime and Megatron—back when they were Orion Pax and D-16. Back when everything had been simpler, purer.  

Back when everything had been right.  

But those memories were gone now, just like the future they could have had.  

He was ready to meet his end. His death this time would be final—there would be no rebirth, no second chance. Without Megatron by his side, there was no need for Primus to bring him back.  

As the shadows closed in and he prepared to surrender to the void, a violent, fiery blast ripped through the battlefield. The ground trembled beneath them as molten rock exploded outward. Tarn ducked with a snarl, still clutching Optimus’s helm, while the Decepticons scattered in alarm.  

The attack left the air thick with heat and dust, a sharp contrast to the cold dread that had gripped Optimus moments before. He remained limp in Tarn’s hold, unable to process what had just happened, his broken frame too far gone to hope. Yet a flicker of confusion, faint as a dying spark, burned in the darkness of his thoughts.  

What force could have dared to intervene? And was it too late to save what mattered most?

As the smoke cleared, the Decepticons froze, their optics wide and their jaws slack. Even Optimus, barely clinging to consciousness, felt his spark seize at the sight before him.  

There, leaning heavily against the jagged wall of the cave, stood Megatron.  

He was panting hard, his frame trembling with every strained breath. One hand pressed tightly to the deep wound in his side, Energon seeping through his claws in a steady stream. His fusion cannon, still aimed at his former allies, trembled under the weight of his injuries, the barrel glowing faintly from the recent blast. Yet despite the agony evident in every motion, he stood firm, defiant.  

Optimus’s optics blurred again, but this time it wasn’t just from pain. More tears streamed down his face as he whispered, his voice cracked and raw, “Mega...tron”  

Megatron’s flickering red optics met his, dull with exhaustion yet burning with resolve. For a moment, they were locked in a wordless exchange—one fraught with pain, guilt, and an unspoken bond that had withstood even the tides of war.  

His body betrayed him, forcing a staggering step forward. His movements tore his wound even further, causing more fresh Energon to cascade down his plating in glistening streams, yet he refused to stop. His arm holding the cannon dropped slightly, trembling as though it could give out at any second. But he forced himself to smirk through the pain, a grim, humorless grin that barely masked his anguish and determination to reach him.  

“Prime…” he rasped, his voice guttural and strained. “I'll…save…you”

The wind howled as the Decepticons watched in stunned silence, their shock palpable as their once-mighty leader faltered. They had seen Megatron in countless battles, always a force of unrelenting power, but now he was a shadow of himself—yet somehow, impossibly, still standing.  

“I…will…save…” Megatron felt his strength drain away completely. A weak, rasping chuckle escaped him, quickly breaking into a pained, shuddering cough. His frame gave out, crashing hard to the ground before them. His optics flickered, dimming to near darkness, while his fangs clenched tightly against the searing agony ripping through him. Energon splattered across the ground, pooling beneath him in a large, dark, and glistening puddle. He lay there, unmoving, his frame shaking with shallow, labored ventilations. 

Once more, he stood between Optimus and the Decepticons, his battered frame a fragile wall against the storm. Every movement betrayed his exhaustion, yet he held firm, a shield that refused to splinter, even as the weight of the battle of his wounds pressed harder against him. They watched as the full moon and stars cast their light over the fallen warlord, their glow turning his dented silver frame into a shattered mosaic of gleaming diamonds.

Optimus could only stare, his emotions an overwhelming torrent of despair and awe. He had never seen Megatron so vulnerable, yet so fiercely determined. Just to protect him. The Decepticons remained frozen, caught between their disbelief and the undeniable truth: their leader had turned his back on them for the sake of the Autobot they had all sworn to destroy. In that moment, Megatron was no warlord, no conqueror, no tyrant. At least, certainly not anymore. 

Chapter Text

They froze at the sight before them: their once-mighty leader, the warlord who had abandoned them for the absurd delusion of redemption, lying before still bleeding out his Energon. Megatron, the one they had followed through countless battles, now rose to his feet—his frame trembling but unbroken—not to fight for Cybertronian supremacy, but to shield an Autobot.  

The weight of his betrayal crashed over them like a collapsing star. He truly had forsaken his destiny, spat on everything he had built, and now, he stood as a guardian to the enemy. As an ally to the Autobots.

In their optics, there was no doubt. Megatron was no longer their leader. He was a traitor.

Like the Decepticons, the wounded Prime gazed at the fallen Megatron before him, his optics tracing the trail of destruction that had been wrought. Megatron had fired a final, desperate shot at his former army—one that missed its mark before he crumpled under the weight of his injuries, surrendering to the darkness creeping in from the relentless pain. Energon spilled from his side, staining the ground as his life force slowly bled away.

Optimus, ignoring the agony in his own side, his faceplate streaked with tears, charged toward him. His frame was battered and scorched, covered in grime from the brutal fight. The weight of the battlefield and their long-standing war had taken its toll. He broke free from the grip of Tarn, his spark pounding and rushed to Megatron’s side.

“Megatron!!!” he cried out, voice trembling.

But before he could reach him, the searing pain in his side struck, a wave of fire that tore through him like nothing he had ever felt. He collapsed to the ground, his body succumbing to the relentless burn as the darkness of unconsciousness threatened to claim him.

Optimus stared at Megatron, his optics dimming as his strength faded. Energon bled from his wounds, pooling beneath him in cold, shimmering streams. His body felt heavy, his systems faltering. The world around him blurred, and darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. In the distance, he heard footsteps—measured, deliberate, and drawing closer.  

Tarn watched, his optics burning with rage. And a swarm of envy that was growing more violent within him. This was Optimus Prime’s doing. His fault that Tarn’s god, his savior, his idol, had been lost. Megatron had been corrupted and turned into a traitor. The Prime had poisoned him, broken him, and now both must pay. Tarn’s spark seethed with Megatron’s old teachings: no hesitation, no mercy, no survivors. Those who had stayed—true Decepticons—had endured the shattering of their cause when others fled. Optimus had taken everything, and for that, he would die. Megatron would die for abandoning the Decepticons.

The taker and traitor must die. Both will fall.

Optimus screamed as a vicious kick slammed into his side, flipping him onto his back. His wounds tore open further, Energon spilling from his battered frame. He looked up, his vision flickering, only to see Tarn looming over him, his expression twisted with venom. Behind him stood the others smiling, while next to him, Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream remained as silent, imposing shadows—each one burning with hatred, jealousy, and a thirst for revenge.

They were the ones who had once served Megatron, and now, they stood united over the fallen leader of the Autobots, their eyes filled with contempt for the one who had stolen their master away.

Optimus' optics struggled to focus as the weight of their glares pressed down on him. He could feel his strength draining, the flicker of his vision plunging him into darkness. He can't fight anymore. He just can't.

Tarn sneered, his voice a low growl. “He has indeed fallen for your deception...for the last time, Autobot”

Optimus barely registered the words, his body too weak to respond. 

Tarn's voice turned darker, more triumphant. “You will pay. And I will take your helm as a trophy. As for Megatron...his cannon will be mine”

Shockwave’s eye gleamed with cold calculation, while Soundwave’s expression was unreadable, yet his static-filled gaze hummed with disdain. Starscream stood with an arrogant sneer, his wings flaring in a gesture of vengeful superiority. Each of them, as deadly as they were betrayed, savored this moment of triumph and vengeance.

Optimus stared stoically at his enemies, his pained and exhausted expression hardening as he disregarded Tarn's weapon, which ignited with a menacing hum, ready to end him once and for all.

His optics flickered, and he shifted his gaze to the unconscious Megatron, a weak smile tugging at his face. He held his gaze on him, paying no heed to the impending threat that loomed over him.

But his vision began to dim, growing weaker with each passing second until the darkness overtook him entirely.

“Stop!!!”

“Optimus!!! Megatron!!!”

“Autobots...attack!!!”

I think he's coming out of it.

Optimus? Orion?

His vision flickered, trying to make sense of his surroundings.  

He couldn’t remember what had happened. The last thing he recalled was Megatron, risking everything for him—him, desperately trying to hold onto Megatron as they fell off a cliff and into the river...Megatron was injured, and he was battling the Decepticons...  

Wait...Megatron! 

His former friend and enemy told him he was done saving him, but Megatron proved to Optimus he wasn’t finished. He immediately tried to push himself up, intent on defending Megatron, like he always had, like he always would. But his body protested, his vision blurred again, and the ceiling above him came into focus.  

He groaned, straining to rise, determined to search for Megatron. But then a gentle servo brushed across his forehelm, grounding him.  

“Oh, no you don’t, Prime. You and him have had enough,” one blurry figure said.  

The other continued to caress his forehelm softly. “It’s alright, Optimus. You’re safe now”  

Optimus blinked, trying to focus. Slowly, his optics flickered back to life, the blurry figures solidifying into familiar faces. His team.  

Elita stood at his side, her faceplate wet with tears, both dried and fresh, yet a soft smile graced her lips as she held his servo. Bumblebee grinned with relief in his optics, Ratchet stood beside Elita, smirking with a heavy sigh of relief.  

Optimus managed a small, pained smile. “It’s about time you woke up,” Bumblebee teased, his voice warm with relief.  

Optimus let out a strained chuckle that was quickly followed by a cough. “Easy, Optimus,” Ratchet soothed cautiously, as he, Bumblebee, and Elita leaned in close to him. 

Optimus coughed again, a weak smile tugging at his lips. His blue optics locked onto Elita, and with a trembling hand, he gently stroked her tear-streaked face. “Glad...to...see...all...of you”

They smiled softly at him, but their expressions faltered as his face shifted from relief to a deep, unsettling worry.

“Where’s Megatron?” He rasped, his voice full of dread.

He grunted as he tried to sit up, but the three of them immediately moved to stop him. “No, Optimus, you need to rest,” Ratchet urged firmly.

With a groan, Optimus clenched his side where the repairs had only just begun, his body slumping back against the berth, panting heavily. 

“Easy, buddy,” Bumblebee said, concern clear in his voice.

“Where’s...where’s...where’s Megatron?” Optimus gasped weakly, the worry in his voice palpable.

The three shared a fleeting, sorrowful glance, their faces silent but heavy with unspoken sorrow.

Optimus stared at them, his mind racing with fear. Had it truly happened? Had D left him again? That was worse than when they had become enemies.

His optics widened with panic. He forced himself up, ignoring the pain shooting through him. Elita and the mechs immediately sprang into action, rushing to restrain him as he jolted upright, their movements careful not to aggravate his injuries. Yet, despite their efforts, he fiercely resisted, his defiance burning brighter than his pain. “Optimus, no! You need to rest!” she exclaimed, her voice shaking with alertness.

“Where is he?! Where’s D?! Is he alright?! Was I too late?! Were we too late?! I want to see him! Where is he?! Please, I want to see him! I have to see him! I want to see Megatron!” His voice broke as he shouted, the medic room filled with the raw desperation in his tone. Tears welled up in his optics, threatening to spill over.

“Optimus, he’s alright! He’s safe!” Ratchet’s voice was steady, but it held an edge of urgency as he tried to calm the frantic Prime. “He’s lost a lot of Energon, but he’s fine, just like you are”

Optimus panted heavily, his energy draining quickly, his body trembling with exhaustion. Elita gently placed him back on the berth, her touch tender but firm, as if holding him together. The sudden movement had left him more drained than he could have imagined, his vision fading at the edges. He longed to drift into the healing stasis of rest. “Are...you...sure...he's...alright?”

Bumblebee nodded with a reassuring smile. “See for yourself” He turned his gaze to the berth next to Optimus's.

Optimus followed his gaze, his optics widening. A deep sigh of relief escaped him, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, a true smile crossed his face.

Megatron lay there, silent and still, his optics offline. A mask covered his mouth, and wires from the medic machines were connected to his frame. His side had been almost fully repaired, shattered circuits reconnected, and his Energon levels were stabilizing.

A tear slipped from Optimus’s optic as he gazed at the form of his once and always-friend. His hand shook as he ignored Elita’s gentle touch on his helm, her soothing presence barely registering as his focus remained entirely on Megatron. 

“You’re both gonna be fine,” she murmured.

But it didn’t matter. Optimus felt the weight of exhaustion press down on him, and soon, his eyelids grew heavy. With a final sigh, he fell into the healing embrace of stasis, knowing that for now, they were safe.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, especially when lost in a deep slumber.

Megatron growled low in his throat, a rough cough escaping him as he stirred. A deep groan followed as his ruby-red optics flickered online, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling above. Slowly, his servo rose to his medic-worn mask, intent on removing it as fragments of recent memories began flooding back. Pain flared in his side from still-healing wounds, but he dismissed it, focusing on one thought: finding Optimus. However, just as his digits grazed the edges of the mask, another servo grasped his, halting him mid-motion.

Megatron froze, his frame tense and ready for battle as his optics darted to the servo resting gently against his chest. His gaze trailed up to its owner, and the sight before him made his guarded posture falter. His optics softened, and he managed a faint, relieved smile.  

Optimus stood before him, his injuries mended, though his movements remained cautious as he favored his recently healed side. A warm, relieved smile graced his face as he slowly lowered himself, their forehelms meeting in a quiet gesture of connection.  

“Welcome back,” Optimus whispered, his voice carrying a rare tenderness.  

“It is...good to be back,” Megatron murmured in return, his tone subdued yet sincere. 

Their optics dimmed in unspoken understanding as the two leaders leaned into the quiet moment, their forehelms still pressed together. A silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of what had been lost and what little had been regained.  

Tentatively, he raised his servo to his side, brushing it over the newly repaired plating and feeling the secure alignment of wires beneath. The searing torment that had once plagued him was gone, replaced by a still unfamiliar calm. He stilled as Optimus’ servo joined his, resting lightly atop his own.  

“It still hurts,” Megatron whispered at last, his voice trembling. “but...not like it used to” He informed both Optimus and himself.

Optimus responded not with words, but with a gentle nuzzle of his forehelm, a silent reassurance that spoke louder than anything he could have said. “I almost lost you back there. I thought I lost you back there. You lying there...losing that much of Energon...all my life...I have never been so scared in my entire life” His voice cracking under his breath.

Megatron purred softly in a rare show of comfort. “That makes two of us, Prime. But I am here now. We are here now”

Optimus gently nuzzled his forehelm before pressing a deep, lingering kiss to it.

“Forgive me...I wasn’t there to fight by your side...when you needed me,” he rasped, his voice strained but filled with remorse. “I tried...tried to move...to reach you…to protect you...but…but the pain...it was me they wanted...” Megatron froze, overcome with guilt and regret. “It was I who created them...to be the way they are now, and...I couldn’t move...couldn’t fight...couldn’t help you...couldn’t help them”

They were his past. His regrets. His demons.

And yet...they were still his Decepticons.

He bore the shame of shaping them into what they had become, and he understood the cost of that choice—especially now, as he tried to walk a path toward redemption. But despite everything, they were still his. And he had to try. Try to reach them. Try to save them.

Optimus cut him off gently. “But you still tried, Megatron. You still tried to save me.” He offered a grateful smile. “You saved my life. Twice”

A faint, regretful chuckle escaped Megatron. “I...remembered, before we became who we are now...I told you and myself I was done saving you. But...something deep within my spark refused to let you go. It opened again...against all logic”  

Optimus leaned closer, resting his metallic forehead against Megatron’s. “And I never let go, Megatron. You’ve always been here, in my spark. Even through it all…through the war, the distance, the loss…I held onto you, Megatron. To who we once were. The memories of us...they were my anchor...I...still held onto those memories of us...of you”  

Megatron’s optics dimmed with a mixture of sorrow and relief. He let out another weak chuckle. “I always thought...you had forgotten them. Forgotten us. Forgotten me. I forced myself to forget. Told myself there was no going back...”  

“Never,” Optimus vowed, his voice steady, filled with conviction. “Not just one day, but every battle we fought against each other...no matter how painful it was to face you, I never forgot those memories of us”

He didn’t reply to her words; he only let out a soft, slow purring thrum.

“Hope we're not interrupting anything. And if we are…oh well,” a familiar voice broke through the quiet.

They turned to face the intruder. Relief washed over the Autobots as they took in the sight before them: their once-fallen ally and former foe, now standing strong as their leader once more.

“You couldn't even knock, could you, Ironhide?” Optimus quipped, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Ironhide crossed his arms with a smirk. “Not my style, Prime”

Optimus shook his head, his smirk lingering.

Bumblebee’s wide, relieved smile brightened his face as he raced toward Megatron. Before the former Decepticon could react, he found himself wrapped in a gentle embrace by the yellow scout. “Megatron! I’m so glad you’re okay, buddy! You and Optimus really had us worried there!” he chirped, his voice brimming with cheerful relief.  

Megatron froze, staring at him in stunned silence, unsure how to respond. Optimus and the others exchanged grins at the sight.

Clearing his throat, Megatron smirked. “Ahem...Perhaps you’d like to let go of me now?”  

“Oops!” Bumblebee quickly stepped back, his optics wide with embarrassment. A sheepish grin spread across his face, followed by a soft, bubbly giggle. “Sorry about that! Got a little carried away, huh?”

Megatron only shook his helm, his smirk widening as he recalled the day he and Optimus first crossed paths with the young bot. “As always...Badassatron”

Bumblebee giggled.

Optimus smirked. 

Elita stepped forward, wrapping Megatron in a gentle embrace. He didn’t return it but offered a soft smile, silently cherishing her presence.  

“I’m glad you both came back to us,” she whispered, holding him closer. “And that you haven’t left us yet–thankfully, and hopefully,...you never will again”

His smile lingered, quietly treasuring the moment.

Elita finally released him and stepped back, a warm smile shared between her and the others.  

Megatron managed a weary smile in return. His injuries still ached, and exhaustion weighed heavily on him. He felt the pull of recharge, knowing it was the only path to full strength.  

His gaze shifted to Optimus. Without a word, Optimus stepped closer. Their forehelms pressed together once more, a gesture of trust and understanding. Megatron’s hand moved with deliberate care, resting on the back of Optimus’ neck as he gently pulled him closer, their connection unspoken but profound.

Knowing they must depart, they leave them alone.

Optimus shifted to sit at the edge of the berth, his helm resting against the raised top side edge of the platform. Gently, he cradled Megatron’s helm in his lap, encircling him in a secure embrace. One servo rested over Megatron’s broad chest, feeling the steady pulse of his spark, while the other moved in soothing strokes along his helm and face. A soft, weak purr escaped Megatron as he surrendered to the comfort of stasis, his frame relaxing completely in Optimus’s hold. Moments later, lulled by the tender stillness, Optimus allowed himself to follow.

They weren’t finished.  

Not with defending.  

Not with saving.  

And certainly not with loving.  

They proved it.