More than a Beast (oc!reader x tfa!Optimus) (On Hold)

5: The Spar

Even though my cell was tucked away in the corner of the base, that did not mean I wasn't able to observe the comings and goings of the Autobots and their human charge. Most of the time, I just ignored them and would sit in my cell and meditate, although the yellow mech I learned was named Bumblebee would constantly say I was recharging and not actually meditating

When only one of the bots was at the base and out of sight, I would go through my usual training and mock sparing to try and keep myself somewhat active.

This pattern of behavior would not go unnoticed, however.

"Why do you do that?" The little organic asked as I was drilling my usual punches in the air.

"Habit." I said flatly as I remained focused on my invisible enemy.

"Don't you ever take a break from that?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Why not?" My response seemed to puzzle Sari long enough to finish my set and give her my full attention. I sat on the floor and crossed my legs so that I wasn't completely towering over her. "Why are you asking such questions anyway?"

"The autobots are trying to teach me how to fight," Sari said with a bit of a downcast look. "It's um... not going well."

The way she looked right there reminded me of when I was just a youngling and was also learning to fight. I remembered how it felt not being up to par with expectations of those I saw as authority figures like my sire and his high command, and I could see that same feeling in Sari's eyes.

"May I ask what it is they are trying to teach you?" I asked in a gentle voice I reserved mostly for minicons and drones.

"Why should I show you?" She asked suspiciously.

"Humor me, and I may show you how to improve." Sari hesitated a bit at my words and then showed a rather pathetic attempt at a punch followed by a kick.

"Im not that strong," she said as she sat on a nearby crate with a rather sad look on her face. "Prowl expects me to do what he can do, and I'm getting nowhere."

"It is more than likely not your fault, Sari." I said.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"To me, it seems like Prowl is forgetting that you are both literally and metaphorically built differently than he is. It is a common training mistake."

"So.... how would you do it?" She asked with a new sense of curiosity.

"First, I would figure out what they already know, what they want to learn specifically, etc. So far, you've shown me what you know, but what do you want to learn?"

"I.... wanna learn how to take down a Decepticon on my own if I have to." She said.

"To take down something that is many times your size is no easy task." I said. "However, you do not need strength alone to take down an opponent."

"What do you mean?" She asked with an ever growing curiosity that cause a small and gentle smile to cross my face.

"You have your mind as well." I said witha tap to the side of my helm. "And that is your greatest tool in order to take down a physically stronger opponent."

"So... where do I start?" She asked. I then stood and took on a basic defensive position, making sure that Sari was paying close attention to what I was about to do.

"The first thing you must always do is have a strong defense." I said. "A solid stance will prevent your opponent from easily overpowering you. The stance I am currently taking is a basic one. Give it a try."

Sari awkwardly took the stance and looked up at me with uncertainty.

"Spread your legs a little further and bend them slightly." Again, she copied what I said. "Good. Notice how you are much sturdier this way. It would take a lot more to knock you over than the stance you were taking previously."

Optimus had returned to the base from his patrol along with Ratchet. The pair spotted the scene and were quite surprised at how gentle I was being with the little girl.

"What is he doing?" Optimus asked quietly to the medic.

"Looks like... combat training?" Ratchet said.

"Why would he be showing Sari combat skills?" Optimus asked with an increasing curiosity.

Suddenly, Sari tripped while attempting a high kick and fell backward, my servo slipping between the bars and catching her before she hit the floor.

"Easy there, little thing." I said as I carefully righted her. "Remember what I said about those kicks. You need to work up to them."

"It's really hard." Sari said.

"I understand. Believe me i do. Keep practicing and I'm certain you'll get the hang of it. But remember, sometimes you have to outsmart an opponent first before you can physically take them down. Tomorrow when the others are away i can help you more if youd like."

"I would like that a lot."
---
Over the following few days Sari would sneak over to my cell for combat training. She was a fairly fast learner and I was quite impressed with her progress. However, that progress would be interrupted by the Autobots.

After a training session with me she and I would be caught red handed by Optimus and Ratchet, both of whom were not so pleased with what was going on.

"Sari, what are you doing?" Optimus asked in a scolding tone.

"Uh oh." She whimpered a bit before looking back up at me like a sparkling would when they were caught sneaking energon sweets.

"Sari?" Optimus scolded.

"I um... Solaris was teaching me how to fight." Sari said sheepishly.

"Sari, you shouldn't be learning combat from a Decepticon." Ratchet said.

"Why?" She asked. "I mean, wouldn't it actually be BETTER to learn from a Decepticon on how to fight Decepticons?"

"He could be teaching you things that could get you hurt." Optimus said.

"All combat comes with the risk of injury." I said coldly. "But I would not teach a youngling anything that could put them in extreme danger. That is not how I operate."

"Yeah well... stop it. Come on Sari." Optimus said. Sari reluctantly followed the Prime and I went back into the corner of my cell to meditate.

-with Sari, Optimus, and Ratchet-

"Sari, what in the world would make you think that was a good idea?" Ratchet scolded the young girl. "You could have gotten hurt."

"He offered and I accepted!" Sari argued.

"Why would he offer to train you?" Optimus asked curiously.

"I don't know." She said as she glanced back over to where I was meditating. "He offered after I showed him what Prowl was trying to teach me and... he had a sad look on his face."

"What do you mean?" Optimus asked.

"He had this expression like he was sorry for me, or was, I dunno, sympathetic almost? It's hard to explain."

"Whatever Solaris's motive is for offering to train you," Optimus said. "We cannot trust that it isn't malicious."

"What if you're wrong though?" Sari said. "What if he's actually doing it to help?"

"Kid," Ratchet said firmly. "He is just as much of a danger as Megatron is. We can't take that risk."

"Why not? Why... why can't you put him on, I dunno, probation or something? I mean, he seems willing to teach."

"I'll talk to him." Optimus said. "But until then, I suggest you stay away from him okay?"

"Okay..."