When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Sitting in the bathtub in her bathroom surrounded by clouds of bubbles, Azura laid in the tub as she relaxed in the warm water. Optimus had brought her back to her room sometime after Jack had left as Ratchet needed time to study the schematics that the human children were able to retrieve on their adventure with Bulkhead. Optimus was still disappointed that the children were reckless enough to even follow Bulkhead, and that Bulkhead didn't contact the boys to send Miko back to base, but what was done was done.

Though when Azura asked about having a bubble bath, Optimus was not sure how to answer that. The girl explained to him what it was, and she actually had a bottle of rose scented bubble bath that Fowler had brought back to her. When he actually saw what it looked like and how relaxed Azura was once she was laying in the bath, he could see she was thoroughly enjoying it and it seemed to be rather comforting. It was doing her the world of good after losing another friend, even if he wasn't actually dead.

Azura looked at Optimus and saw that he was deep in thought. He seemed to be troubled by something, and she wanted to ask about it. "Optimus, I see you are troubled by something." He looked at her and smiled gently. "It might not be my business, unless it is something you want to protect me from."

He almost let out an amused chuckle as he listened to his daughter. "I do not think you need to be worried about what I am thinking, Azura. There were things said when Ratchet and I fought the undead Cybertronian warriors that I can't get out of my head. But..." He knelt down, his hand on the side of the tub as he looked at her directly. "I want you to be free of my concerns."

She just nodded before looking away, bringing up her knees to hug them. "I just wish Jack didn't choose to leave. He has been...unhappy that I have been leaving him in the dark about...well...who I am to you, and who you are to me."

"I have noticed that, and I know it is confusing the young boy as he likely has been used to a different behavior from you than what he's been observing," Optimus said gently, softening his expression as he saw her face fill with sadness. "But I do believe has been unfair to you as well. I think a lot of what he has said comes from a place of fear and worry, even though it puts pressure on you. You already have enough on your plate without Jack making you feel guilty about not telling him the truth of your identity."

She listened to him and smiled a little at Optimus's kind understanding of the situation. She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "I haven't even fully accepted it yet. Especially since...uh...I have a connection with the Matrix." Optimus raised an eyebrow slightly in curiosity of her choice of words. "At least you'll be the ones to tell the story of how I came into existence."

"That is why I believe you are right to withhold the truth for the time being. And we respect that. I want you to know there is no shame in waiting and taking your time to accept who you are. You're likely to not go through a growth spurt for a while." She looked at him curiously, wondering when she may go through one. "Not until the energon has strengthened your protoform skeleton, even though I have noticed that you have already grown slightly taller and your skin is more vibrant than it was before." She looked at her arms in surprise as she had not noticed that. "All of those are good signs, so long as you do not return to binging on just human food."

Azura smirked and looked at him with a light chuckle. "Oh? Like I did before with the ice cream?"

"Exactly." He widened his smile at her before he leaned in and kissed her cheek, making her giggle a little. "I do not want to dent you the enjoyment of eating human food, but you must have low-grade energon every day." She just nodded as she understood what he was saying. "Now what do you mean by your connection with the Matrix?" She widened her eyes and she suddenly seemed fearful. "I am aware part of the Matrix's power had been past into you from your creation, but I think you are already aware of some special gift that you have that the Matrix has given you."