Sparked Love

Chapter 5

Optimus laid upon his berth, awake but optics still closed. It was more recharge than he anticipated but he could still feel the drag of sleeplessness linger in his processor. He checked his chronometer, finding it still early in the morning: 3:00 AM. He sighed. Opening his optics, he slowly lifted his frame, struts popping back into place, causing a gentle ache in his back.

Swinging his legs over the edge, Optimus rested his elbows on his knees, rubbing his optics. After a moment of holding that position he straightened himself and firmly planted his peds on the ground. His hydraulics hissed. It took a second for him to get to the door, being pitch black with only the dim light from his optics was all the light he had. The door quietly opened and he left for the main area. It closed behind him.

His steps were quiet, which even surprised him. When his optics looked out and into the main area of base, he saw Ratchet and Nightblade. Ratchet faced away from him while Nightblade only kind of facing him, she'd only notice him if it weren't for that one bad optic; he didn't know that though. They were talking calmly, quietly. He couldn't make out anything really well, all he heard was a quiet mess of words that did not make sense together, so he watched. After a moment, she walked up to him and patted his shoulder, then walking towards the tunnel. Apparently leaving.

From there, Optimus moved out of the hall way. Ratchet did not seem to notice him even when he was right behind him. "Good morning, Ratchet," he said quietly, causing the medic to jump. He really didn't hear Optimus to elicit such a response.

"Optimus! Must you be so quiet?" After the squeak for a start, it lowered into a growl. Not that it was harsh growl, it was more of something more akinned to embarrassment. He always growled when he was embarrassed. There was the same crinkle to Optimus' optics as before, like silent laughter. "Sorry for startling you."

Ratchet sighed, looking at Optimus though not directly into those beautiful blue optics. "Anyway, good morning." A small smile formed on his face, Optimus allowed himself the same justice. "How... How was your recharge?" His voice sounded forced, stressed, even for Ratchet. It was enough to be caught by Optimus, who rose his brow in silent inquiry. "It was enough, though more than anticipated." He half nodded to himself and the other to Ratchet.

"And yours, old friend?" He jumped a bit as he grabbed two cubes from the side of the wall. It wasn't because he was startled by the action, far from! Though he didn't exactly wish to say why he did. When he turned back around and faced the tall, red, gorgeous mech, Ratchet caught himself staring. So as to not cause any more attention to that, he handed the cube to his Prime, and replied with, "It could've been better." Optimus thanked him and sipped at his own, watching, curiously waiting for when Ratchet would do the same to him own.

And when he didn't, Optimus tried his hand at casual conversation, as friends vice CMO and Prime. It's not like anyone else was awake so in a sense, they were alone. "So," he simply began, there was an imposing pressure in the room. His optics were trained on his cube. "How have you and Nightblade getting along?" That, even now, was one of the last things Ratchet wanted to talk about. Though the two were seemingly having a civil conversation prior to Optimus coming into the room, they still didn't seem to see eye to eye. At the moment, his optics were still on his cube.

"Fine. Just fine." His servos tightened around the cube, that much Optimus noted. He didn't want to pry but something was bothering Ratchet and it started and ended – as it would seem – with Nightblade. Optimus had hoped that she would have listened to his admonishment about not starting trouble, or at least too much, however if this is to become a common emotion for Ratchet... then perhaps it's best that she left. But he has known them both for a long time, and did not wish to lose one friend for the other. And with the war, everyone for the Autobot cause was worth the risk, even the humans they'd come to know.