space girl | bumblebee

xvi.

Onyxia never said a word when she got out of Bumblebee's altmode.

Sam, Mikaela, and the scrawny boy (whose name was Leo) got out after her. Sam hadn't said much at all either, grieving the loss of Optimus too. The former Prime looked behind her at the two other Autobots that had followed. It was Mudflap and Skids, the twins.

They had stopped at an abandoned plot of land that had an unkempt garden as a front yard and a moss-covered house that was falling apart. Sam had swiftly gone inside with Leo, and Mikaela took a moment for herself, leaving Onyxia and Bumblebee alone with the twins. The once-Prime sat on the ground, pulling out blades of grass and tearing them in her hands, remembering when a simple step of her cybertronian body would tear the grass completely. Now she was weak and feeble, just as Megatron said, although she had an inkling that he saw her as weak regardless of what form she took. She was no Prime. She let her father down, she let Sam down, she let the Autobots down...she let everyone down. She had never been so disgusted with herself at that moment.

She didn't realise she was crying until Bumblebee's holoform sat in front of her to wipe the droplets from her cheeks. She melted into his touch, silently grieving the loss of her father as her partner grieved the loss of his leader. Their silence spoke volumes. Together, just as they had done everything in the past two years, they grieved. Not just for Optimus, but for the being Onyxia now was. No longer Cybertronian.

"I..." Onyxia began, only to choke up. "I never told him I loved him, Bee...!" She let a single sob escape before trying to contain her grief once more. "Nor was I the last thing he saw. His own family...miles away from his resting place. I can't imagine how he felt...!" Bumblebee pulled her close to his chest, the very action causing Onyxia to break. She wailed and sobbed, hoping and praying it was all just a nightmare and she'd awaken soon.

"Relieved," Bumblebee finally spoke. "He would feel relieved. Optimus did not sacrifice himself for nothing. He sacrificed himself for you, his daughter, and the safety of Sam. Not only that, but the entire Cybertronian race. He may rest in peace knowing that he had achieved his goal and you may live to continue his legacy."

"I'm nothing but a disappointment! He shouldn't have done it, not for me! The Decepticons don't see me as a Prime, and I bet neither do the Autobots!" Onyxia cried. "His sacrifice was wasted...!"

"Onyxia..." Mudflap spoke, "You may not see your worth at this moment, but I speak for all the Autobots when I say that regardless of what the Decepticons say you are, regardless of what you are...you are our leader now. You are our last Prime. I know deep down that Optimus would want you to lead us in his place." Onyxia looked up at the Autobot with nothing but gratitude at his words of encouragement and respect. She motioned him forward and he crouched down. With a pained smile, she cupped her fellow comrade's cheek.

"Thank you, Mudflap. That means more to me than you know," she whispered weakly.

"This'll be the only time I second this tin can's words," Skids commented, crossing his arms to try and look tough but she knew there was tenderness behind his words.

"And this'll be the only time I agree with these two idiots," Bumblebee muttered with a roll of his eyes. His comedic tone of voice brought a smile to Onyxia's face. Amidst all the grief that the Autobots silently felt, there was an underlying feeling of gratitude, for who else could make each other feel hope in the middle of such trying times? Only their family--the Autobots.

"So," Mudflap began, "what's the plan boss?"

"Well..." Onyxia hummed, only to frown when she heard the aggravating complaints of Leo grow louder and louder. She sighed deeply, standing along with Bumblebee, and watched as both Leo and Sam appeared in the garden.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Okay, I'm not even with you guys! Technically, I'm like a hostage. This is kidnapping, enough is--"

"Yo, Leo!" Mudflap called, visibly scaring the scrawny boy.

"This thing's going to give me a heart attack, I swear..."

"That's 'cause you is a wuss!"

"You guys forced me into that car, right?" Leo said to Sam.

"To save your fucking life, kid," Onyxia snapped at him, her eyes hardening as they gazed upon the boy.

"I think he's scared," Mudflap commented.

"Hey, Mudflap, what are we gonna do with this shrimp taco?" Skids asked his brother with a hint of sarcasm.

"Let's pop a cap in his ass, throw him in the trunk and then nobody gonna know nothing, know what I mean?"

"Not in my trunk!"

"Bumper cars?" Leo snapped. "I'm hearing you. Okay? I'm right here and I can hear you. No one's popping any caps in any asses, okay? I've had a hell of a day!"

"And fucking guess what, kid?" Onyxia sneered, walking towards him threateningly. "I just lost my father and I'm trapped in a human body, you don't get to say shit because I, regretfully, saved you!" She gave him a harsh shove, knocking him back a few steps. The boy just barely managed to stop himself from colliding with the ground.

"Why don't you get a haircut with your bitch ass?" Skids snapped at Leo. "Go whine to your boyfriend, us Autobots ain't helping you with shit."

"Listen, Sam, I know what I'm gonna do, man," Leo said to the boy, slowly but surely inching closer to him for safety which Sam wasn't going to give him regardless. "I'm just gonna go to the authorities and tell them the truth, okay? I had nothing to do with this."

"Hey! You wanted this, right? You wanted the real deal? That's what this is. Wake up. You're in the middle of it! You want to run? Go ahead! No one's stopping you and no one's sure as hell gonna miss you. Stop complaining," Sam snapped at him, leaving the boy in shock and most likely regretting his words to Sam back at college.

"Now piss off," Onyxia spat, walking back to Bumblebee, who wrapped an arm around her waist.