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Megatron's Deception plan was working well. In such a short time since their first appearance, they had gained quite the following, fans swooning in and squealing for them. And the demons are just eating it all up… Literally, their souls ripe for the taking.
Within Unicron's cold and dark realm, Megatron finds himself watching with fascination. The souls were like shooting stars, only to fall into the Chaos Bringer's awaiting gaping maw. This was exactly what he wanted, exactly what he had bargained for... And yet, Megatron couldn't help but feel a hint of emptiness inside, as if…
The tiger approaches Megatron. Its chest glows blue and a portal forms, then out pops a letter, which Megatron was quick to snatch between his fingers. He looks down, all it reads:
SAVE THE DATE
............
Honestly, it was quite unusual that it was Optimus this time to be the one summoning him, after rejecting his countless invites. Nonetheless, Megatron arrives at the meeting place stated in the letter. He leans back on the terrace walls, boredly taking in his surroundings, as if searching for said guardian apparently.
He waits in silence, while his mind replays their interaction back at the fansigning event. The guardian's kind words and his soft expression… The demon found it difficult to admit it, but that guardian has most certainly affected him. But how could he? How could a guardian possibly make an accursed creature of the dark like him feel things beyond his shame?...
With a shake of his helm, he pushed the thoughts out of his mind. His sigh was heavy as his gaze dropped, twisting and turning the letter in his hold, checking to see if there really was something in it that could maybe explain the guardian's tardiness.
"He wants to meet and he's late?"
But the moment his helm turns to look to his left, Megatron screams an undignified shriek and immediately scrambles back and away, suddenly finding none other than the guardian himself there, crouching at the top of the wall like some creepy gargoyle.
"Fragging..." Megatron panted, a hand on his chest as he looked up at Optimus, who had the audacity to look all smug and amused. "You made me come all the way out here just so you could jumpscare me?!"
"Follow me!” Optimus says as he hops off the wall and proceeds on walking.
Megatron shoots the guardian a deadpan stare for a moment, still trying to recover from his surprise entrance. He scoffs under his breath then pushes himself off the wall, falling in step right behind the guardian.
"Well, I'm glad you're finally ready to talk... Although, you could've picked somewhere nicer for a date!”
"Date?!” Optimus exclaims, flabbergasted, stopping in his tracks to turn and face the demon. “No! Ew! What are you talking about?!”
Megatron simply responded by raising the very letter he had sent him, the cover spelling out "Save the DATE.”
"That doesn't mean... Ugh! You're so old!” Optimus’ sigh was exaggerated, his shoulders visibly dropping. “This is strictly a business meeting!” He then marches a step forth and snatches the letter from the demon.
Megatron raised his hands in a mock surrender as he teased "Alright, alright! Loud and Clear!"
Megatron however notices how flustered the guardian was, and the demon just couldn't resist the temptation, to make the soft blue in his cheeks even darker. He leans down and leans in close, his face mere inches away from Optimus'.
"After all, it's just a business meeting”
And just as he thought, the flush in Optimus’ face glows even brighter. But at what cost? For what Megatron did not anticipate was that he would retaliate, stepping down hard on his foot. The demon lets out another undignified yelp, immediately pulling back to hop up and down on one foot, trying to ease the throb and sting of the guardian's attack.
"Fragging Pits!”
“This is getting ridiculous!” Optimus sighs, arms crossed on his chest. He clears his throat and gets serious. “Listen, what if I told you there's another way to get your freedom?"
And just like that, Megatron went silent, he stopped hopping and his expression turned serious. For a moment, his optics appear to have sort of flickered, hope visible in them. The thought of being free, of not hearing those voices anymore… Although… His brow then raises at that, he however was willing to entertain the idea.
"Go on..." His voice calm but cautious as he straightened himself, cradled foot returning to the ground.
"Help us win the Idol Awards. Because when we win..." He then proceeds to climb back up to stand on the wall. "The Prime Gate will be sealed. And that will guarantee your freedom!”
Freedom. That was all Megatron needed to hear, and his interest piqued. Once more, that little bit of hope flickered in his optics... But also doubt and skepticism, the guardian's offer was just too good to be true.
"Unicron will be permanently cut off, and all the demons will be gone from this world." Optimus then turns to face the city of Iacon, the Prime Seal Gate visible, like an enchanted blanket draped over the vast cityscapes. "I will finally be free of these patterns. No more hiding, no more secrets." He then turns back to face Megatron. "You can be on this side when the Prime Gate is sealed.” He hops off the wall and approaches Megatron. “Away from the demon world, away from Unicron. You can be free from those voices forever.”
The guardian's words, a promise of freedom... It sounded almost too good to be true. But at the same time, Megatron couldn't help the small flicker of hope that welled up in his chest.
Freedom. No more voices. No more patterns. No more Unicron. No more being a slave.
However, the doubt was still there. A small frown formed on his face, his optics hardening once more.
"What makes you think the Prime Gate can save someone like me?"
Optimus had to take in a long and deep breath for this.
"Look, I'm gonna be real with you. All that you've done in the past, the atrocities you committed. You were a monster!”
The demon flinches slightly as if physically struck by Optimus' blunt honesty. His jaw tightens and his optics dim slightly, something akin to shame flickers in them. He was a monster, through and through, figuratively and literally. It wasn’t an accusation, it was a fact, etched all throughout history even.
Although, hearing the guardian… Optimus. Well, it technically wasn't the first time he called him a monster. But this time for some reason, something inside him twisted uncomfortably, it stung more than he cared to admit.
“Tell me something I don't know!” He scoffs once more and looked away, a sorry attempt of his to avoid the other's gaze really.
“But…” Optimus hesitated for a moment before finishing “I also understand why you did them.”
Megatron never expected understanding from anyone, certainly not from a guardian. The anger and bitterness that usually followed accusations or judgments was nowhere to be found this time. Instead, there was just silence on his part. He slowly turns back to face the guardian, studying his expression for any hint of sarcasm or pity, but there was none. For once, Megatron didn't have a sharp comeback ready. His hands slowly unclench at his sides as he stares at Optimus with something akin to disbelief and something softer beneath it all.
"The world is cruel, and living sentient beings can be even crueler. You suffered so much, and you just fought back." His hand rises to touch his own arm, his shame hidden beneath the sleeve. "Even I have to admit, who wouldn't want to lash out to the universe on how cruel it is?"
The guardian's words hit a nerve, not the kind that makes his blood boil, but the kind that leaves him… Well, he wasn't sure what to feel. He tried to keep up a hardened facade, even tried to look away once more, avoiding eye contact. But his gaze keeps falling back on the guardian's… On Optimus.
Megatron however was stubborn, his expression hardened more to cover up the small glimmer of hope still hidden in his optics.
"You should know better that it's not that simple" He snapped coldly.
"But me? You have no idea how much I really wanted to just scream to the whole universe… Why?!... Why do I have to be born like this?!” Optimus snapped, his words filled with this raw defensiveness, his voice tight and laced with barely controlled anger and frustration.
Megatron was actually taken aback by his sudden outburst, the demon never expected that the guardian would sound like this. He'd always been so calm, composed… But now… Now he looked like he was on the verge of breaking down, a crack in his facade.
Like Megatron, trapped by Unicron. Optimus felt just as trapped, but by his own patterns, his other half.
For once… Megatron didn't have anything sarcastic to say or any snarky remark ready on his tongue. So a heavy silence fell between them.
Optimus eventually takes in a long deep breath and lets it all out, composing himself.
“You committed your sins, and you are rightly punished for them. And me? What did I do to deserve this? This shame? My very existence…” His voice was softer now, but the pain was still present. “I am a mistake, have been since the moment I was born. So I have to believe. Because if there's no hope for you, what hope is there for me?"
Megatron doesn't say anything, only listens. Clinging to every aching word, every dark thought. His optics reflected something that wasn't there before… Understanding?
The demon had spent centuries believing he deserved every bit of punishment Unicron gave him, the voices in his head told him so. And for a long time, he believed them too. But hearing this guardian, Optimus. Someone who never committed even the smallest of crimes, talking about being a mistake since his birth… It made him realize something… Maybe… They weren’t so different after all.
For a moment, the demon doesn't know what to do with himself. He feels this pang in his chest, a weird sensation that he hadn't felt in a long time, something he thought his cold dead unbeating spark could ever do again
Suddenly, an unexpected intrusion. An old woman approaches them.
"Bracelet? For your beautiful boyfriend?" She offers Megatron a bracelet for him to purchase.
Boyfriend? Did this lady call Optimus Megatron's boyfriend? Immediately, both snapped and turned towards the old lady. The pair of idiots rambled and spoke over the other in denial.
"Oh, no! Ugh! He's not my boyfriend!” Optimus protested defensively.
"I'm not... We're not… He's not my boyfriend!" Megatron does the same. "He's not even my type!”
Optimus' helm immediately whipped to shoot Megatron a look of absolute offense.
"What?! Excuse me?! I'm everyone's type!”
"You can't even show up on time!" Megatron shot back.
"What?! What are you?! From the Golden Age?! I'll have you know I’m a very desirable man!”
"You? Desirable? Now that is hilarious” The demon scoffs. "I see why you're still single!”
“Oh, shut up!”
"See? We'd never work!”
The longer the elder had to stand there and listen to their ridiculous bicker, her smile eventually melted into a frown. A disapproving glare in her optics, targeting most especially on Megatron. So she proceeds to march her way towards the two, all while shooting this nasty look towards Megatron.
"Here. Free one!” The elder says, taking Optimus’ hand and dropping a red bracelet into his palm and patting it close. “Go find yourself a better boy! This one's hopeless!" With that last jab on Megatron, she just turned and left.
"Well, there's your answer! I'm hopeless!" Megatron chuckles with a sarcastic scoff.
The way the demon was only referring to himself… "Hopeless." However, for some reason, it stung the guardian himself more than he expected. So Optimus shot him this frustrated glare, only to then fall into this expression that appears reluctantly sympathetic. His optics held that look as they dropped to gaze down at the free bracelet in his palm.
"But that's the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it!"
The demon's gaze fell to the guardian, then to the bracelet as well. His confidence and arrogance faded in a surprising instant to a more serious thoughtful look, his own expression softening slightly.
Optimus had expected Megatron to make some sort of witty retort, to argue with him once again, but instead, he seemed to be.. actually listening. Despite his own annoyance and frustration with the demon, he had to admit he had never seen Megatron look so.. Vulnerable, almost.. lost.
Eventually he adds, his voice slightly quieter, his tone laced with uncertainty, yet an underlying attempt at a reassuring tone. "That choice belongs to you!"
Then, he offers him the bracelet.
There was a moment of pause, giving way to a flicker of hesitation in Megatron's optics. It was strange. His kind words, his gentle expression, not to mention this little offering of his. There was this flicker in his optics, and there was something stirring in Megatron's spark, something the demon tried desperately to resist.
Optimus' optics remained locked on Megatron, studying his face. Trying to gauge the emotions in his optics, trying to discern what he was thinking. His own searched Megatron's, his spark beating quite abnormally as if silently pleading.
He could tell that the demon was struggling, emotionally as well as to find a way to voice whatever was weighing on his mind. And so, the guardian patiently waited, staying silent, allowing the demon to take however long he needed to work up whatever it was he needed to speak.
A flicker of hope? A glimmer of optimism? Whatever it was, it sparked in Optimus' optics as he held his breath, silently begging Megatron to accept it… Accept him…
However, the longer Megatron remained silent. Optimus could only sigh heavily, sounding tired as well as… Disappointed?
"Fine!” Optimus then proceeds to walk away. “Your loss!”
As the guardian begins to leave, Megatron suddenly feels his dead spark twinge. A strange sort of feeling… Something he had not felt in a long time, something that he thought he would never feel again. It was as if his body had moved on its own accord, hand almost instinctively shooting out to grab the guardian's wrist, stopping him right then and there.
Optimus’ body immediately tensed at the sudden contact, his optics widened, his own pulse racing at the feeling of the demon's hand around his wrist. It was a firm yet surprisingly gentle grip, meant to keep him in place. The stiffness of his frame remains as well as that stupidly shocked expression he had when he slowly turned and met Megatron's gaze.
Even Megatron himself appears to be just as surprised by his own actions. So for a moment, both Optimus and Megatron stood frozen in place, just dubiously starring at one another with wide optics. An awkward silence surrounding them both, the demon's grip on the guardian's wrist the only point of contact between them.
Optimus’ spark thumped against his chest, trying to process and make sense of what had just happened. His mind racing, a thousand different thoughts, going through his mind at once. It had caught him off guard, yet it hadn't really upset him. In fact, as embarrassing as it was, Optimus found that part of him was hoping he would hold onto his wrist for a little longer. And maybe, a part of Optimus was hoping he would never let go.
"Oh!”
Only for Megatron to immediately break out of the moment, pulling back and letting go of Optimus’ wrist. He took a step back, creating some more needed distance between them. His expression turned back to that familiar mask of indifference, the demon trying to hide the mess of emotions that swirled inside, trying to push down the strange sensations he had just felt in his cold dead spark.
Optimus' own spark sank the moment Megatron immediately let go of him. For a moment, he felt almost cold at the loss of the demon's touch, his hand automatically twitching towards Megatron as if to try and take his wrist in return. Only to quickly catch himself, realizing what his body's reaction had been and mentally cursed himself at the response. He was just as quick when shifting back into his defensive and guarded self.
“I... I was just trying to get the... The... Bracelet!"
"Oh, yeah! The bracelet!" Optimus mumbled as he quickly handed Megatron said bracelet without even looking at him, trying to act cool and unaffected. But then his hand subconsciously moves up to rub the spot where Megatron had grabbed his wrist.
As Megatron finally took the bracelet from Optimus, the two just stood there in silence right after. Avoiding each other's gazes, neither one really knowing what to really say, and it only added to the tense awkwardness already hanging between them.
Optimus swallowed thickly, trying to regain his own composure, pretending that being let go hadn't bothered him at all. He even mentally scolded himself for feeling disappointed to begin with.
Megatron meanwhile, he really wanted to physically smack himself on the face, only to resort to mentally cursing himself. Then his optics caught Optimus' hand rubbing at the spot, his gaze for the some reason… Lingering.
"For what it's worth... I don't think you're a mistake!"
He had expected a sarcastic comment, a witty remark as usual. But instead, Megatron's words were the most genuine Optimus had ever heard him. It caught Optimus off-guard, finally turning to look at Megatron with wide optics. He couldn't help but feel... Touched. Of all the things to tell him his very existence, a half-guardian and half-demon, not being a mistake... It had to be a demon.
After a moment, he blinked. Trying to pull himself together, trying not to get too excited.
Optimus swallowed, his own voice coming out awkwardly "Okay, bye!"
Before Megatron could even say anything, Optimus had already turned and immediately speed-walks away… Quite stupidly.
"Yeah! Uh... B-Bye!... Uh…" Megatron could do nothing but wave, even if the guardian was facing away from him. Well, that was embarrassing… Stupid!
He was just as quick to turn and walk in the opposite direction, trying not to look back. From out of the bushes, the tiger's large head peaks out, the one-eyed bird on top chirped with an exaggeratedly deadpan tone.