When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 34

Optimus hummed gently and walked closer to the platform. "That might be the case, Azura, but nightmares pass. If you don't focus on it, you are less likely to dream of it."

"I've heard that one before."

Optimus sighed a little as he knew she was frustrated, but he was also hoping she would not be difficult. She needed to fall into recharge at some point. "Azura, if you want, I can hold you while you recharge for part of the night." She looked at him in surprise at the offer. "Maybe before close to my spark will help you sleep."

She was genuinely surprised by the offer and she thought about it for a moment. "What about inside your chassis? I am assuming that seats that you have in your vehicle mode are within there."

"You are correct. Although..." Optimus had not really considered it. Placing Azura within his chassis would make him sad, mostly because he missed out carrying her properly in the first place. He knew he shouldn't feel that way, but there's a lot of pain he has carried for years that he does not show to others. "Would you not want to be surrounded by your plush toys?

"Honestly, I think just hearing the beat of your pulse and smelling your scent around me would help me sleep without nightmares. I just...well..." She placed her hand on the back of her neck as she thought about. "I don't want to be that kid that relies upon you to have a good night sleep. I'm not really a baby anymore." Optimus smiled at her and she rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean, Optimus."

"That might be the case in your mind, but you are young and still need to rely upon me, even if you are at an independent age," Optimus said gently and she was still slightly annoyed, only slightly, that Optimus still saw her as a baby. Though she couldn't really blame him, given the explanation she's had. And he did miss out on a lot of her first years. "I would be okay with allowing you to recharge within my chassis for a while. If it helps to remedy the issue in regard to your recharge, I will allow it. And if it would also convince you to allow me to feed and bathe you, so be it. However, you can feed on the low-grade within my chassis." She was immediately surprised and curious at the same time. "The fuel line can be open from a different panel, and you might enjoy it."

Azura was intrigued by the idea and she hummed for a moment before she put her pencil down and closed her sketchbook. "Okay, I guess we can try." She stood up and walked over to him with a smile. "I kind of hope it won't bring up pain for you, Optimus. Given...well...how things happened."

"Do not worry about me, Azura." He picked her up gently from the platform and cradled her against his chassis. "I fully appreciate your concern, but I manage my feelings well. This will not hurt me as much as you might think." She hoped that was the case. She turned her head upon hearing an alert from the system, and saw Ratchet frowning in curiosity. "What now? Why is there an alert so late at night?"

Ratchet looked at her sympathetically as he heard her tired, irritated tone. "This isn't something we expect all the time, Azura. I assure you this is kind of unusual." Optimus approached the medic curiously as Ratchet redirected his attention. Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee walk over curiously as well. They were present in the base as they had only dropped the children off at their homes tonight. Mostly because the bots wanted a break from curb side duty. "I am picking an odd, faint signal coming from the Arctic."

"The Arctic? Well, well, maybe you discovered Santa's secret lair," Azura said sarcastically, which brought her confused expressions from all of the autobots. "Wait, you've been here how long, and you don't know much about Christmas? Or Santa?"

"We have heard of Christmas," Arcee said slowly as she thought of it. "We have seen how humans seem to decorate their towns and cities at that time of year, and traffic seems to get stupid too. But I have no idea about anything else."