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Meanwhile... in the meeting room.
Predaking was pacing back and forth, knowing the problem was far from being done, in coincidence, Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream who were walking towards the meeting room to take a break.
"Scrap, what the hell did y— What the hell did my liege do this time?" Predaking asked, looking at Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream.
"Honestly, I would ask myself the same thing." Shockwave admitted, "because, everything went disaster after that moron 'killed' Roseflame."
“Seems like he was either insane like Ratchet drinking Synthetic energon.” Starscream shrugged.
Predaking sighed, crossing his arms in frustration. "Great. Now wh—"
THWACK!
!
"Oh come on." Shockwave sighed, yet paused as he heard Ratchet's voice.
"EP! EP! EP! SCYTHEBLOOD! I NEEDED THAT!"
Predaking peeked at the door, "Isn't that the old grumpy medic?"
"Wait, Ratchet?" Shockwave turn around, walking toward the door, also peeking where Scytheblood still beating up Megatron, and he's covered in energon.
Ratchet was yelling at Scytheblood, while Scytheblood was beating Megatron with Ratchet's wrench, which is technically a bad idea. But thank Primus the wrench is okay (not Megatron though).
"First, Optimus punching Megatron, now Scytheblood is beating up Megatron with a WRENCH." Starscream summarized, "What's next? Megatron getting his aft thrown by Unicron?!"
"Megatron status: Beaten up, may or may not died due to excessive energon loss." Soundwave announces.
Shockwave looked to his data pad, "50% energon left? Huh. Interesting."
"He probably going to die in seconds." Rumble mumbled, while Laserbeak making a gurgling croak.
"Yes, Laserbeak, we know." Rumble pet Laserbeak's feathers. knowing the bird were upset, and they heard Ravage barking.
"Ravage?" Rumble notices Ravage barking, and their optics widened at the sight of Megatron dropped to the ground, covered in energon.
"Holy frag." Shockwave and Starscream said in unison
"Alright, SCYTHEBLOOD." Ratchet finally can took his wrench back. "Primus. My wrench here is NOT a weapon! So, don't ever use my precious BELOVED wrench as weapon! Thank Primus it's not broken by Megatron's head!"
Scytheblood scoffed, “Oh please. You're acting like this wrench have never been thrown to another mech.”
“Shut up, this is the only one I had!” Ratchet argues, cleaning his wrench with a tissue. “But enough nonsense arguments! Your sister at least are doing okay now.”
“... She's okay?” Scytheblood hesitantly asked.
“Yes.” Ratchet nodded. “Because she's okay, now go clean up your own mess.” Ratchet turn around, and walk away.
“I'll let him dying here, I don't give a frag anymore.” Scytheblood said, crossing his arm.
Ratchet paused, “... Even if you hated him, he's still your leader, your commander. Don't you think you should gave him second chance?”
“Oh please, Ratchet. You and your naive mind always thinking positively, he almost killed MY sister!” Scytheblood yelled.
Ratchet turn around fully, slightly irritated, yet somehow remained a stoic face.
“It's not naive, it shows you that you can forgive someone yet not forget. It's always happening to Optimus, and I learned everything about it.” Ratchet paused, looking at the wrench, “... Something that you should know revenge is not everything, even if she's the only one you had, you need to remember that Megatron is one of your respected commander. Not only Megatron can makes mistakes, even Primes can. And I'm very sure that you'll consider this as long fragging lecture from now on, but I'll make sure you didn't do anything stupid from the heart.” Ratchet turn around.
Scytheblood widened his optics, listening to Ratchet's words.
Ratchet walked away, but paused for a moment.
“.... But we're still enemies, ya moron!” Ratchet shouted from afar, walking faster than intended, possibly embarrassed by how wise he is to Scytheblood, it was off even for himself, knowing Optimus is the wisest out them all.
Scytheblood stay still for a moment then laughed as he sees Ratchet running slightly.
“He's so funny...” Scytheblood laughed softly, his orange eyes glistening in mirth. “You old fart...” He turned around, dragging Megatron's body to the operation room.
“... Did he just—?” Starscream asked, making Shockwave sighed.
“Yes, yes he did.”
Ratchet kept walking down the hallway, and he seems satisfied that Scytheblood didn't do anything more STUPID than punching Megatron.
Although,Ratchet notices Optimus on outdoor room, zoning out about something.
“He's feeling guilty for not saving Bee and Rose, isn't he?” Ratchet thought to himself, feeling a slight concern for his old friend.
“....” Optimus stared at the sky, his optics are empty.
“This is a weird feeling... I used to be so lively but now, I'm just empty. Why.. I can't be enough for my own team?” He sighed softly, drowned in self doubt, while Ratchet narrowed his optics, noticing Optimus' conditions.
“Self doubt? That is not like him at all...” Ratchet kept thinking. “Is it because of Elita one.... Too?” Ratchet hesitated, wanting to approach his beloved friend, and commander, but seeing the situation is not supporting making him hesitated, though, he finally make a decision and approach him, opening the window and goes to the semi outdoor room, he opened the window and approach him who were lost in thoughts in the balcony.
“Hey Op...” Ratchet called, but Optimus ignored him.
“...”
“Optimus.”
“...”
”ORION PAX.” Ratchet finally called Optimus with his real name, making Optimus sighed and turn around aggressively
“What?”
“... Primus, you're looking more miserable than ever.”
“My problem is none of your business, Ratchet. And I'm not mad.”
Ratchet scoffed, “Oh really?” He pulled his data pad, making Optimus considering his life choices.
“Your spark rate has risen, you're narrowing your optics, and I swear I saw your optics are empty before I talked to you. What the hell is wrong with you?! Is is because of the guilt you felt because you couldn't save Bee or Roseflame?!”
Optimus hesitated, yet Ratchet grabbed him by the chassis.
?!
“ANSWER ME, ORION!” Ratchet yelled, making Optimus winces.
“Ratch... I'm... Sorry.” Optimus softened his gaze, he looked completely helpless, exhausted, and vulnerable.
“...” Ratchet paused, and sighed. “I told you, it's none of your fault, you can't save everyone, Optimus. Everyone expected too much from you. Especially the Autobots themselves.”
Optimus optics filled with unshed tears.
“Shut up.. Just shut up you...” His antenna lowered slightly
Ratchet smiled slightly, seeing the previous idiot he always fall in love to.
“It's okay, I'm here.” He hugged him, as Optimus slowly break into his past self and sobs.
“Damn it all, damn everything.”
“Shh...”
“Frag, why can't I ever be enough as a leader?!”
“You're enough. More than enough, you already did your best.” Ratchet comforts him, like how Elita used to comfort Optimus back then, and Ratchet knows of course, he's the wing man of them, after Elita is dead, he's the only friend he ever seek to. Optimus is completely vulnerable, and Ratchet is the one who always knew Optimus vulnerable state. Though, as they kept speaking together, Bumblebee and Roseflame peeked from the window.
Roseflame made a small “eeeeek” sound, like a confused cat, while Bumblebee shushed her.
“....?” Ratchet notices both of them, “Rose? Bee?”
They both immediately hide behind the wall, shocked to be discovered.
“....??” Ratchet turn his head back.
“What the frag?” Ratchet said, making Optimus lifted his head slightly.
“... What?” Optimus asked, “what is it, Ratch?”
“I must've heard Rose and Bumblebee here I swear.” Ratchet mumbled, then Arcee, Bulkhead, Smokescreen, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Hound, Jazz
“Hey, are you guys okay?” Arcee asked, looking concern for them
“Yeah, we heard shouting and arguments here.” Bulkhead nodded, making Optimus' antenna raised in embarrassment and he hide his face with his battle mask.
“No, nothing. Not at all. I'm fine.” Optimus looked away to hide his emotions, but Jazz laughed, making the tension lowered slightly, “Optimus, my man. You're bad at lyin', ya know that? It's 'kay to tell us that you're feelin' sad, we all know you're tired of being Prime because of that damning Matrix.”
“....” Optimus sighed, knowing Jazz is right.
“And we won't judge you, you're our leader, yet you're flawed as we are.” Hound approaches from behind Arcee. “You're our commander after all, boss. We promise we are worthy of your trust.”
“And you're not alone, we're all scared too.” Arcee gave Optimus a comforting tap on the shoulder.
“That's right, you're our commander, indeed you are worthy of our trust, and it's okay to be vulnerable, we're all here with you.” Ratchet smiled, it's nothing like the usual gruff grumpy old man demeanor he always uses.
“Commander, I'm sorry for everything.” Smokescreen lowered his head, “I promise I'll be better than this.”
Optimus looked at each of them, and smiled, turning off his battle mask.
“You're all my precious comrades that I ever had in my entire life, I promise I'm worthy of being a leader, I promise I'll keep you safe. And I won't lose anyone, not anymore.”
Optimus looked at Bumblebee and Roseflame, who were behind the wall peeking, he beckoned them to approach him.
“Come here.”
Both of them hesitates yet approach him, staying behind Bulkhead and Hound.
“Listen, I'm sorry for not saving you two from the tragedy that happens to you two, last year, and now. I know you must've felt deeply disappointed in me, but... I'll promise, I promise I'll protect you two better from now on.” Optimus lowered his head slightly. “And you two will be trained more from now on, to improve your battle skills and to defend yourselves from Megatron, and to avoid your voice box getting ripped again.”
Roseflame looked at Bumblebee, knowing Bumblebee still won't forgive Optimus, but Bumblebee is now silent, listening to Optimus, knowing that he's the father figure he always admired.
“... Again, I'm sorry, Bee." Optimus sighed, “I'm... Very very sorry. I didn't save you, but in the future, I'll be behind you, protecting you, even if it's cost my life. I promise.” He extended his servos, as a peace offering, he always hated wars and conflict, and everyone in the Autobots knew.
Bumblebee hesitated, yet fist bump him, making a small beep like an apology too.
“It's not your fault Megatron ripped your voice box.” Optimus stand up and let Bumblebee hugged him. “It was my fault bringing you to my problems.”
“....” Bumblebee only can paused, then hugged him back.
“Beeeep...” He mumbled, like saying, “I'm sorry too, and it's not your fault.”
Though, the tense moment increased as they heard screams from behind, Bulkhead, Hound, Drift, Thundercracker, Arcee, Wheeljack, Jazz, Ironhide
were running away in sudden.
“THERE'S A SCRAPLET” Arcee screams to Optimus and Ratchet who were looking at them.
“THERE'S A WHAT—?!” Ratchet and Optimus asked in unison, making Bumblebee screeched alongside with Roseflame instinctively opened a MASSIVE cannon from her fake left arm and shoot the balcony base of Decepticons, making all Autobots scattered to inside to evacute.
“HOLY PRIMUS” Optimus yelled.
BOOOOOOMMMMM
A loud, thunderous explosion happened, it was unexpected, well, it wasn't really that shocking to see Roseflame exploding everything, except for this one.
“....They're gonna sue me after this.” Optimus sighed heavily
“WELL, FRAG THAT CAUSE WHAT'S CAUSING A LITTLE SCRAP LIKE THIS EXISTING IN DECEPTICONS HEADQUARTERS?!” Ratchet shouted, “THEIR HYGIENE MUST BEEN BAD!”
“... I'm not paying for every single shit in here.” Optimus mumbled. “But the balcony...” He looked at the destroyed balcony. “Meh, a payback for almost killing Roseflame anyway.”
Roseflame jumped away.
And of course, everything's went fine, probably.