Unspoken

Chapter 1: The Note Left Behind

The metallic halls of the Autobot High Command gleamed under the dimmed lights of the evening cycle. There was an uncharacteristic silence in the corridors, one that weighed heavily on Optimus Prime as he stood at the large window overlooking Cybertron's vast metallic landscape. His optics, glowing softly in the twilight, scanned the horizon, but his thoughts were light-years away.

It had been many cycles since she left—Skifira Prime, the princess of Gaia. The supreme commander of her planet's military and the spark that had haunted his mind since they were young sparklings. She had always been a force of nature, her determination like a storm that could not be contained. Optimus had admired her from the moment he met her, though duty and circumstance had never allowed him to explore those feelings.

Now she was gone. Returned to Gaia to fulfill her responsibilities under her brother's reign as king. She had left quietly, but there was something she had left behind—something Optimus had yet to confront.

He hadn't opened it. The small, data-slate she left, its silver sheen still intact, sat untouched on his private terminal. He had seen it the day she departed, tucked away in the folds of his office where no one else could find it. He knew it was meant for him. He knew it held her last words before leaving, but something inside him had resisted. Perhaps it was the weight of command, or perhaps it was the knowledge that whatever was written there could unravel something he had tried so hard to bury.

A soft knock on the door broke the stillness of the room.

"Optimus," a familiar voice called from outside. It was Prowl, his second-in-command. "The council meeting is about to begin."

Optimus didn't move from his place by the window, his voice steady but distant. "I'll join you shortly."

Prowl lingered for a moment, sensing something unspoken, but ultimately nodded. "Understood."

As the door slid shut again, Optimus turned his attention back to the terminal. The data-slate glimmered in the low light. He knew he couldn't put it off any longer. Slowly, he reached out, his large hand gently picking up the small device. It activated at his touch, projecting a soft, holographic light in the air.

Her voice, recorded in the message, was calm and sure—exactly as he remembered it.

Optimus,
By the time you find this, I will already be gone. My path leads me to Gaia, as yours leads you to Cybertron. We have both been called to serve, just as we were trained to do. It's strange, isn't it? How we knew this day would come, yet I never thought it would feel this way—like a part of me is being left behind.

There was a pause, and Optimus could almost imagine her standing there, her expression torn between duty and something more personal. He could see her amber optics flicker with the weight of the words she was about to say.

There are things I never told you, things I've kept hidden for a long time. Maybe it was out of fear, or maybe I just never thought it mattered. But it does. It always has.
Optimus, I've loved you since the days we trained as sparklings. I have never told you because I thought it would complicate things. You were always so focused, so dedicated to your role as a leader. I didn't want to be the one to break your concentration.
But I've watched you from afar, admired your strength, your courage. I've watched you sacrifice everything for the sake of Cybertron. And I have loved you through it all.

Optimus's hand tightened around the edge of the terminal, his optics narrowing as her words pierced through the layers of command and duty he had built around himself. She loved him? She had always loved him? His spark pulsed heavily in his chest, emotions he had long buried threatening to surface.

I'm not asking for anything, Optimus. I know our responsibilities come first, as they always have. I'm simply telling you now, before it's too late. I wanted you to know.
If fate allows it, come to Gaia when your duties are no longer so heavy. Come find me. Maybe by then, the weight we carry will be lighter, and we can speak without the burden of war between us.

The message flickered for a moment, as if Skifira herself were hesitating before offering one final, parting word.

Until then, may Primus guide your path. Be safe, Optimus. And remember... you are not alone.
—Skifira Prime

The recording faded, leaving the room in silence once more. Optimus set the data-slate down, but the weight of her words lingered in the air like a thick fog. He stood motionless for a long moment, staring at the empty terminal.

He had always known there was something between them—an unspoken bond forged in the fires of their shared history. But he had never allowed himself to acknowledge it. How could he, when so much was at stake? Cybertron needed him. The Autobots needed him. He had no room for personal desires, no space for matters of the spark.

But now, hearing her voice, her confession... it shook him.

For the first time in a long while, Optimus felt something stir within him. A desire not for victory or survival, but for something far more personal. He had always been the supreme commander, the leader, the warrior. But Skifira reminded him that once, long ago, he had simply been Optimus. And perhaps, in another life, that could have been enough.

The chime of the council chamber broke through his reverie, calling him back to the present. Duty awaited him once again.

He turned, the weight of his title settling once more on his shoulders, but something had shifted. Skifira's words echoed in his spark, her invitation lingering in his mind.

If fate allows it, come to Gaia...

Optimus Prime was never one to ignore duty. But as he left the room, heading toward the council chambers, he couldn't help but wonder... would fate allow it? And if it did, would he finally answer the call of his heart?

With one last glance at the data-slate, Optimus turned his focus back to the present, but deep within, a part of him had already started thinking of Gaia.

The battle between duty and love had begun.