To Protect (TFP Ratchet x Gender Neutral Reader)

Chapter 1 - What's up?

A/n hi, sry about the long wait and thx for everyone who read the prologue and comments. I intended on updating sooner but just writer's block. Hope u enjoy! 

Idk about the chapter name lol

You never thought you would ever end like this, lost and confused, having nothing but the sound of your name, (Y/n). And fragments of memories, that was never quite able to piece together into a full image.

"I am so sorry..."

The deep voice sounded familiar, the voice was rasp and barely louder than a breath, yet it was flooded with sincerity and regrets. You felt somewhat secure upon the sound of the voice echoing through your audio receptor.

"We shouldn't have left you, 'I' shouldn't have left you. We thought died...but you didn't. Of course, you didn't..." there were a pause and a half-hearted laugh filled with regrets. "I am so sorry, none of these apologies could fix anything, no history could be rewritten." The raspy voice stopped, "I don't know which results would've been better...you're here. Yet again you're not here, you're not you...they changed you...."

The apologies continued until eventually the voice faded out and replaced by your own thoughts. The more you attempt to understand the situation the more of a blur it became until eventually, you gave up and just let the emptiness take over your thoughts.

It was just silence beside the sound of your beating spark pumping the energon through your systems. You didn't know how long it lasted until footsteps were heard, you gathered your senses as the dark void faded our, sharpened as your vision clear up.

What came into view was a bright light followed by an unfamiliar rough stone ceiling. Groaning softly, you shifted your weight to the side and attempted to push yourself up, only to feel the world spun around you causing you to lose your support and crash back down onto the medical berth. Followed by the bang of your back impacting the berth was footsteps and soon enough a red mech's face took over your vision.

The blue optics blinked as the red bot towered over your head, one feature that especially caught your attention was the two small horns on each side of his helm and the wide grin on his face before pulling away. You heard him rush away as silence took over the room once again.

You frowned at yourself in confusion of what had just happened, did it even happen? It occurred all too fast and out of place, eventually, you decided to brush the thoughts aside and try to get yourself up again. Due to previous experience, you've ensured to move slowly this time to not repeat your last mistake and fall over again.

Just as you pushed yourself up multiple pairs of footsteps were heard from the direction where the previous red bot had disappeared to. It didn't take long for you to be surrounded by unfamiliar figures along with the only one you saw before.

"Told yah they're up, Ratchet." The horned red bot chirped as you curled your leg up to your chest, glancing anxiously at the six Cybertronians surrounding you.

"I can see that Cliffjumper, I'm not blind." Ratchet grunted at the red mech earlier who just shrugged in reply. Soon the two of them got shushed by a stately large mech who also seemed much more horrifying as he towers over you. The red and blue bot stared at you carefully, you couldn't quite grasp what was in his mind as your optics locked with his for quite a long uncomfortable amount of time.

"(Y/n)." The other bot finally spoke, not breaking the eye contact. His voice was low and serene, it was easy to tell he has seen many things and made many decisions. It genuinely a nice sound to listen to. His clear blue optics softened as he spoke your name, which felt welcoming but also alerting.

Your optic ridges furrowed as your gaze flickered between the six figures surrounding the berth you sat on. As far as you could tell, all these Cybertronians aren't the same rank or functions. The large red and blue mech was still looking at you, waiting for a response much like every other bot. Beside him was the snappy orange and white mech, who had his arm crossed with a conflicted expression on his face. Slightly over at the side was a curious looking yellow bot with streaks of black, his big eyes were fixated on your form as well, but often it flickers over to the previous two then back onto you. Opposite of the three was a slim blue femme with a few pink lining on her armour, unlike the others she had clear suspicious and untrusting expression as she looked you up and down. The previous red bot you saw stood beside her with a wide grin and waved slightly when you glanced over. Lastly, the large and bulky military green who looks like he was genuinely confused.

"(Y/n)." The large mech spoke again, your attention snapped back at his blue optics. "Do you know who we are?"

"How do you know my name? What do you want?" You asked finally, ignoring his question you asked your own. Of course, you knew it was rather rude, but the worst-case scenario you could've been kidnapped or something along those lines. You glared straight back at the mech's warm optics, waiting for an answer to your question. What you got was a scowl from the mech and the one beside him as well, and a loud gasp from the red horned bot that was called Cliffjumper by the older bot earlier.

"You don't recognise him? He's only the most amazing bot on Cybertronian, the autoboot leader, the last Prime, the matrix barrier..." Cliffjumper exclaimed with a dramatic pause, "Optimus Prime!"

You merely gave a blank look at the enthusiastic mech, "Optimus Prime? Never heard of it." You said bluntly causing Cliffjumper's jaw to drop as you cocked an optic ridge at him.

"Thank you Cliffjumper." The so-called Optimus Prime interrupted, not sounding thankful more of an attempt to shush the smaller mech up. "My name is Optimus Prime, but you might know me by another name. Orio Pax."

You froze up at the name, Orion Pax. It was familiar indeed. You felt like you've heard the name multiple times, someone who mentions about him a lot. Orion, the future of the people, a possible leader, a clerk. And that's when it clicked, Orion Pax, a clerk of the Iacon Hall of Records who rose from his ranks and confronted the Senate and the council of its corruption.

"Orion Pax..." You mumbled thoughtfully, "Yes, I remember you. A clerk that rose from Iacon Halls pf Records into a rather impressive revolutionist alongside Megatronus, well Megatron as he calls himself now." You said, the history just came tumbling out as the memories linked together. "I've heard a lot about you." Indeed, you have heard of Orion, in fact quite often as well. There were times where he wouldn't stop talking about this Orion Pax, it was always interesting to listen to his opinions, he-...who?

"Yes, that is me. I go by the name Optimus Prime now." Optimus said, somewhat hesitant. His gaze drifted towards the other bot beside him, Ratchet, who still had his gaze narrowed at you. However, despite the direct look the mech didn't seem to be looking at you. He was looking right through you like he's looking at something only he could see.

"You must be tired and confused." Optimus continued, "Take some rest, we'll be back for any questions you have later." He nodded at you, he shifted his attention onto Ratchet and rested a servo onto the mech's shoulder before the two turned and left.

Soon enough the blue femme and the green mech moved to the side, busy themselves with their own conversations. Every now and then, the blue two-wheeler shots you a sceptical look as she conversed with the large green bot.

Thus, leaving you with the horned red mech, Cliffjumper and the big-eyed yellow and black mech looking at you with curiosity. "So, what's up?"