Jasper Rain ((TFP ULTRA MAGNUS X OC))

7

Thirty minutes went by before Magnus began to grow restless.

He paced the floor in front of the bridge tunnel with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His fingers clung to his skin hard enough to draw it an unhealthy white, and Fowler stood off to the side; watching Magnus self destruct with his back leaning against a desk.

"What in Primus is taking her so long?" The mech asked, eyes flicking up to the empty tunnel before falling back to the tile beneath him.

"Relax," Fowler sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "She usually takes a while and calls whenever there's a problem."

"What if her communicator was destroyed?" Magnus offered, pausing his pacing to shoot a pointed look at the agent. "Or what if she's dead?"

Fowler only rolled his eyes. "Relax."

Magnus grunted at Fowler's demand and finally pulled himself to stand beside him. His leg shook as he leaned against the desk similarly to how Fowler had been standing, and felt a glare formulate on his face the longer Ailani took to return.

"Did she ever feel like this when I was away?"

Fowler tilted his head to look at Magnus sideways, seeing the worried crease in his forehead. He sighed again.

"Why do you think she always wanted to go with you?"

At that, Magnus felt a wave of guilt ransack his holographic body. He had left —or at least tried to leave — Ailani where it would be safe so many times that he lost count. The mere idea of her going into the belly of the beast by herself twisted at his insides and prodded at his brain. He knew she was capable, he's known that for years, yet that still didn't seem to be enough to ease him.

"Look," Fowler began again. His hand found its way to his shoulder again. "I'm just as worried about Ailani's safety as you, but right now we have to have faith that she'll uphold her duties as an oracle without fail. This is her job, Ultra Magnus. We have to let her do it."

At his words, Magnus slowly nodded. Fowler was right, as he usually was in regards to Ailani, and the mech finally stood up all the way. His spirits, however slightly, were raised; and he was now prepared to wait for as long as it took for his sparkmate to return to him, safe and sound like she always had been.

"Let's change the subject," Fowler suggested after another moment of silence. "Molly. What's her take on you?"

"I'd like to think that my own sparkling likes me just fine," Magnus replied. The corner of his lips twitched up into a small smile. "She talks about Ailani a lot."

"That figures," Fowler laughed. "Those two are thick as thieves; have been since Molly was born."

"What are you to her?" Magnus turned to look at the agent.

"Which 'her' are you referring to?"

Magnus was silent for a moment.

"Both."

"Well," Fowler smiled. "Since Ailani and I started working together, we got pretty close. I was there for her when... well, you know; and she was my best man at my wedding."

Magnus hummed. "And my daughter?"

"We're family," was Fowler's simple reply. "Everyone at Unit E has become sort of a makeshift one for her. We all helped Ailani in any way she'd let us. She calls me Uncle Will."

"I suppose I should thank you then," Magnus tried to smile again. "For stepping up when I could not."

"It wasn't your fault," Fowler waved a dismissive hand. "It's not like you knew about her, either. At least now you have a chance to make up for everything you've missed out on."