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Optimus's optics flickered online as he heard little whining chirps. He shot up immediately, battle protocols engaged. His optics scanned the room, searching for danger. When he found nothing, he sighed in relief.
His optics softened as they landed on what was chirping. He hummed sleepily as he lumbered over to the small berth containing his entire world.
Sagitta's wings flicked as she reached for her carrier, whimpering slightly. Optimus's optics softened as he scooped her into his arms.
"Easy little one," he whispered, "I have you, I'll always have you."
Sagitta's blue optics shone as she warbled at him. Optimus sighed, he knew she was trying to communicate in Vosian Chirps, something every Seeker had programmed into them, but Optimus had never been able to pick up the difference between each chirp and warble. Ulchtar had taught him some of Spoken Vosian, but just the sweet nicknames he liked to be called in his native glossa. He would laugh at Optimus's butchered pronunciations, claiming that his twangy Iaconian accent made it all the more charming.
With his extremely limited knowledge of Spoken Vosian and non-existent knowledge about Vosian Chirps, Optimus knew he was missing what his daughter was trying to tell. He could tell when she was hungry, or tired, or wanted his attention, but it had taken so long to even somewhat decipher them and everything else was just noises he couldn't understand, and it broke his spark to think about what Sagitta was trying to tell him.
She whined, snapping Optimus from his racing processor. He gently scooped her up and held her close, cooing gently.
"Easy," he whispered, "easy ma petite étoile." He had strung together the nickname for her long ago, wanting to give her something, anything from her Vosian side before she grew up learning Iaconian.
"Carrier is here, maman is here, I promise."
Sagitta quieted, finally settling in Optimus's arms, tucking her wings close to her. Optimus pressed his forehelm to hers, clutching her tightly.
"Oh he would've adored you."
Optimus didn't know if he was talking about Ulchtar or Starscream. He never did have the chance to tell him, everything had been a blur. He still remembered just how things were before Ulchtar had left him. How he had pressed a gentle kiss to Optimus's forehelm before leaving to say farewell to Jetfire with Genvo. He remembered Ratchet delivering the news with a glare and telling him to be more careful.
He remembered seeing Genvo, his lover's best friend, proudly wearing a Decepticon logo, recognizing him only after he had pulled his blaster, killing him.
He remembered Ulchtar's wails, his anger, the fists beat violently against his chassis in rage. His own pleading to understand, to know it was an accident, but Ulchtar had died alongside Genvo, leaving Starscream rotting in his place.
Also leaving Optimus to raise his little Sagitta alone.
Optimus had pleaded with Primus to not give her Starscream's red optics full of burning rage, he wouldn't have been able to stand it, instead, Primus had given him something worse.
Sagitta was nearly a carbon copy of Starscream, her only difference in frame was her finials. When she had first opened her bright blue optics, Optimus had stilled. The blue made her look exactly like Ulchtar. He could only hold her close and cry.
Optimus felt her squirm in his grip again, bringing him back from his memories, he must have moved to sit on his berth while in his stupor.
"I have you, little one," he whispered, "and I promise," he added, pressing their forehelms together, "no one will take you from me."