Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 61

A couple days have passed since the incident involving Megatron and Bumblebee, and Optimus has been a little overbearing for Saphira. His protectiveness over her has increased a lot, and Saphira would not have minded if he had not become involved with almost everything she does. He went with her when she worked on her garden, stayed outside KO Burger when she worked and almost never let her be alone when she asked to be alone. It was starting to grind on her nerves. She knew he was afraid of Megatron finding her, and taking her away from him. But it was at a point where she felt she needed to get away from him.

But...today was a little different. She had asked him to go with her into town as she wanted to buy some new clothes. She had been thinking about how to make Optimus relax, and thought that about a date for just the two of them. She managed to reel Ratchet into her plan, mostly because he was the only one who could convince Optimus to let her have her space. Ratchet was surprised she would even ask her for help with this, but as it was to a specific location on the planet where she and Optimus could spend time together privately, and she wanted it to be a surprise. Ratchet decided he would help her, mostly to ensure that she would not go crazy from Optimus's overprotectiveness.

Saphira gathered her bag ready for today and skipped out of her room to head to the lobby. She hummed to herself happily. She stopped when she heard the sound of raised voices and moved to the side to listen, while keeping out of sight. "Optimus, I know what happened scared everyone. I know that Megatron is aware of your relationship with Saphira. But you're suffocating her!" Saphira peered around the wall, she saw Ratchet with his hands on his hips glaring at Optimus. "Saphira does not need you to be there all the time. She still loves you, but you should back off a little bit on your overprotectiveness."

"Ratchet, I know what I am doing might seem annoying to Saphira..." Ratchet narrowed his optics at Optimus with a raised eyebrow. "But...I just want her to be safe. I worry now every day that...that Megatron has something planned to..."

"Of course he has a plan, Optimus!" Ratchet interrupts Optimus. "But that does not mean you should suffocate her. You will push her way if you continue to do this." The commander widened his optics before they quiver and he looked down. "Look, I understand! You fear the same fate will befall Saphira as it did Elita. We all understand. But you can't just stop her from wanting to be alone when she's asked for it, for example."

Optimus listened to his old friend. Ratchet hasn't stopped telling him to stop suffocating Saphira. He knew that he was right. He did not want to lose Saphira because of it. "You are right, old friend. I just...it feels like I might...I might lose her. And I worry that I'll never have enough time with her."

"Optimus..." Ratchet softened his expression as he heard the despair in Optimus's voice. "You are looking at all of this through a time that past long ago. I think you have not fully gotten over what had happened, and that is what is making you be like this. You need to give her some room to breath before you lose her."

Optimus looked at Ratchet silently. "I would have thought you would want that to happen."

Ratchet intakes heavily and shakes his head. "Optimus, I want you and her to be happy. That is all I want for you both. Just because I still think the relationship is dangerous, doesn't mean that I feel that I should be happy to see this happening. I'm old enough to know that it is not right to act petty and vindictive over something like this. Besides..." The medic paused as she gazed down at the floor. "I care about Saphira just as much as you do. Especially as I take great pride and honour being the person she needs in her life."

"A parental figure, I know..." Optimus smiled a little, knowing Ratchet was being this way to help Saphira as well. "And I know she has come to you to keep me off her back."