Chapter Text
"Prime, you can't seriously think this is a good idea."
"Leaving Cybertron is our best hope, Ratchet."
"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it Prime."
Optimus stood over his crates, trying to pack pieces of his life into them.
"It is best for her."
"Prime," Ratchet began, exasperation clear in his voice, "you don't know what you're dragging her into. We could be heading to our deaths for all we know, and you're bringing your sparkling along with you."
"I can't leave her Ratchet."
"But she's safer here Prime."
"I can protect her better than anyone else, I know her better. I'm her carrier Ratchet. I can't be away from my sparkling, she needs me."
"I think you need her to be around you more than she needs you."
"Of course I do!" Optimus snapped, throwing his empty crate down.
"Of course I need her!" Optimus shook as he spoke, his voice warbling. "She's all I have left of him."
Ratchet's servo tightened into a fist.
"Prime, you're not the only one who loves her. I love her like my own."
"I never asked you to."
"You damn well did when you came to me sobbing, when I was the first to hold your wailing sparkling. How could I have looked at that tiny, innocent thing and not love her? What about all the times you've dragged her to because she tried to eat something she shouldn't have? I care for her Optimus, I worry for her just as much as you do. So please, keep her safe here. "
"I know, I know I'm being selfish, but she's the brightest star in my life, and I'm scared that I'll blink and she'll burn out, I would never be able to live with myself if I wasn't here to save her."
"And do you think I wouldn’t feel if the same her spark went out, so far from her home, where I don't have the equipment to save her?"
Ratchet gently placed a servo on Optimus's shoulder. The Prime flinched at the contact.
"We've all lost so much Optimus, but I promise, everyone will do whatever it takes to keep her safe."
Optimus turned to speak when the whoosh of a door stopped him. His optics visibly brightened when the pattering of small pedes rang out.
"Maman! Maman!"
Sagitta burst into the room, her smile bright as the sun, Bee following slowly.
Optimus knelt to catch her.
"Maman!"
She barrelled forward, throwing herself into Optimus's waiting arms.
"Sagitta!" Optimus pressed his masked face-plate to her forehelm, their version of a small kiss. "How was your cycle my spark?"
"The best!" She cheered, throwing her arms up. "Bee took me to see a race."
"Oh did he?"
"Yeah!"
Bee shuffled nervously, there hadn't been any official races for a long time, but that didn't stop races in dark alleyways, usually accompanied by illegal gambling.
"She wanted to see them go fast," Bee answered nervously.
"Thank you for watching her Bee, but you know the rules for her. At least you both are safe."
Optimus stroud over, still holding Sagitta. He brought Bee into a side-hug pulling him tight, laughing as Sagitta leaned forward to cling to Bee.
"I'll see you later Sagitta," Bee said as he pulled away.
"I can't wait for our trip!"
Ratchet looked concerned at how casually Sagitta had spoken, she didn't even know what kind of voyage she was taking.
"Bye bye Bee!" Sagitta waved, snuggling closer to Optimus.
She turned in his grasp, optics finally landing on Ratchet.
"Ratchy!"
She squirmed in Optimus's grip, bolting when he set her down. She ran to Ratchet and hugged his leg. He couldn't help but chuckle as he leaned down to pat her helm.
"Hello little one, how are your patients today?"
"Sparky broke his pede again, but I made him a sling!"
Ratchet smiled at the image of Sagitta using scraps she hadn't tried to eat to make a sling for her toy cyber-hound, hunched over him carefully.
"Ratchy, can you play with me, pleaseeeee?"
Ratchet sighed, "sorry little one, I have to get back to Wheeljack and help him pack, I'm worried he'll pack away our entire suite."
"Is Jackie coming too?"
Ratchet glanced back up at Optimus, who was looking away.
"Yes he's coming, but are you sure you really want to go? It'll be a long, boring trip."
"But I want to be with Maman! He said we'd be apart for a long time if I didn't go. Don't make Maman go without me!"
Ratchet sighed again, "I'm afraid I couldn't even if I tried Sagitta."
He clapped a servo onto Optimus's shoulder as he began to leave.
"Take good care of her. Keep her safe."
He left quickly, leaving Optimus with Sagitta.
He pulled Sagiita into another hug, laughing at her loud giggles.
" Now Sagitta, go get your things, we leave early next cycle."
"Can I bring Sparky?"
"Yes mon étoile, of course you can. You can bring as many as your toys as you like."
Sagitta's optics widened, she ran out of Optimus's arms giggling. Soon, she came back, her arms carrying a small pile of her toys.
Optimus helped pack them into a crate and the scooped her up.
"I think it's time for recharge little one."
"No!" She squealed, "I'm not tired!"
"Are you sure?" Optimus chuckled.
Sagitta nodded as she yawned while stretching. Optimus carefully carried her to berth and laid beside her. She snuggled up to him, tucking herself into a little ball near his chassis.
"Maman…"
"Hmmm?"
"Why can Bee see more of the city, but I can't?"
"Bee's older than you sweetspark, it's too dangerous for you out there."
"But I wanna see-"
"Sagitta," Optimus began, voice hardening, "I've told you. It's too dangerous."
Optimus pulled her closer. Knowing he was only telling a half truth. He knew he was hiding her from the truth, he wanted her to know her sire as the kind, intelligent Ulchtar, not the cruel, vindictive Starscream.
"Maman?"
"Yes Sagitta?"
"What was Papa like?" A clear deflection if Optimus ever saw one.
Optimus placed a protective servo over Sagitta's frame, pulling her close. She had asked many times before, and he always gave the same answer.
"He was…he was amazing. He was so smart and kind. He looked just like you, all you got from me was your finials." He playfully flicked one with his free servo, delighted in the shrill giggle it got from her. "We both had blue optics, but his were more like the bright sky."
"Like mine?"
"Yes. He was a scientist you know? He was brilliant. He wanted to travel the galaxy, but stayed for me, he would tell me 'I have all the beauty of the galaxy with you.'"
"And then what happened?"
Optimus pulled her even tighter.
"Ulchtar was killed early in the war, taken by a mad mech."
"Can I see him?"
"Of course."
Optimus shifted to pull a hologram from the table besides his berth. He flicked it on and Ulchtar looked back at them, smiling widely, his blue optics full of kindness and love.
Sagitta stared ahead at the hologram.
"Papa," she began quietly, "tu me m-manq-ues."
"Very good Sagitta," Optimus whispered.
Sagitta inched closer to the hologram "j'adore toi."
"You've been practicing."
Sagitta nodded, "I think Papa would want me to."
Optimus chuckled, "oh he would've drilled it into you, he was always so proud of being a Seeker."
"I wish I had met him."
"I wish that too my spark."
He pulled Sagitta close once again, as if his frame could protect her from the cruel world around her. Sagitta curled around Optimus's chassis, lulling herself to recharge with the steady thrum of his spark.
"I promise you dear, you'll never lose anyone again."