Chapter Text
It was a relatively quiet day. Decepticon activity was on a low, Arcee and Bulkhead were out on routine patrol, Bumblebee was playing video games with Raf and Jack, and Ratchet was working on something as always. Optimus and Miko were the only ones not doing anything, so like any normal person Miko decided to strike up a conversation.
“Hey, Optimus! Down here!!”
Miko called up to the considerably taller bot, Optimus looking down with a raised optic ridge before processing that it was Miko.
“Miko. How can I be of service?”
”Eh, no reason. I just wanna talk to you!”
”Hmm… alright, anything in particular?”
”Yeah!!! You gotta sit down first or something, I’m not screaming my head off just to talk.”
”Pff, alrighty.”
The two sit to the side, Miko clambering up to sit on Optimus’s knee (albeit with a bit of help). Optimus tilts his head quizzically, to which Miko responds to by talking at about 50 miles per hour before Optimus stops her.
”Miko. One subject at a time.”
”Fine, fine…”
Miko clears her throat before speaking again.
“How strong are you?? I’ve seen you do… like… lots of things.”
”Hmm. “Strong” is a subjective word, Miko. I suspect you mean “power”?”
”Yeah! Power!!”
“Speaking of, why don’t you just use your strength to get what you want? Isn’t that what power is for?”
“The meaning of “power” is much broader than just being strong, Miko. It’s about being strong enough to be gentle.”
”What? But don’t you just wanna—“
Miko makes a few theatrical punching and fighting motions in the air in front of her.
Optimus is intrigued.
”No. Power as a whole is not all just fighting and… whatever you just did. It may take up a majority of the definition, but there are plenty of other ways to interpret it.”
”Like what?”
”Well… there’s “legitimate” power. The most heard of type, I suppose. The authoritative positions within a certain group. There’s also power types such as connection, informational, referent, etc.”
He tilts his head at Miko a little bit, watching her expression before adding;
”…those are the textbook definitions that I know of.”
”Didn’t know you wasted your precious “prime time” on stuff like that…”
Miko makes a face as she says it.
”Education is very important in all aspects, even the seemingly “unimportant” ones.”
”Yeah yeah, whatever!! Get to the good part already! Your poetic speeches.”
”Um… alright. Back to what I was saying.”
He pauses for a moment before speaking.
”Power, as said before, is a subjective term. Strength also falls under that category. It’s not how much strength you have that matters, it’s what you do with it that does. What truly defines a person is what they choose to do with it if given the opportunity.”
”Oooh…”
Miko thinks again, her expression forming that of one in thought. Optimus waits patiently for what she has to say.
”But what about that quote you said?? “Be strong enough to be gentle”?”
Optimus looks a bit surprised that she brought it up again, but takes on a pleasant tone of voice as he spoke.
”Yes, that is the correct quote. It’s something that’s spoken to me for quite awhile.”
”But what does it mean??”
”Well… when you get lots of power, it’s what you do with it that defines you. It may be entertaining and even thrilling to just do what you want, but what is truly rewarding is to put your abilities—physical or mental—to correct use. To help people in need, to protect those who can’t protect themselves… those the true values. Not parading yourself around or leveling buildings just because you didn’t get your way.”
”Oh… like you!”
”Like me?”
”Yeah! You’re super powerful and cool, but you always try to find the right way to do things. Even if the others think it’s stupid or disagree.”
”I… I guess you’re right.”
”I’m always right! I’m the most “right” there is!!”
Optimus let out a huff of amusement at the statement, very carefully lifting Miko off of his knee before putting her back down on the ground.
Before he gets up to resume his duties, he gives her one last look.
Miko looks at him.
Optimus looks back.
Something mutual passes between them before they split ways, Miko running over to where Jack and Raf were playing video games with Bumblebee (who was watching).
Bee beeps at her with a wave as she sits on the ratty couch with the two other kids.
“Heyoo, what’re you guys doing?”
”Playing games… why?”
Jack says, looking over at her quizzically.
”Oh, nothing… can I play?? I wanna be the red car!”
A bit of scuffling breaks out as Miko fumbles for one of the controllers.
As they play, Jack asks something.
”Sooo… what was that chat with Optimus about?”
Miko thinks, glancing over at the vaguely visible figure of the Prime some ways away.
…
“Nothing interesting.”