When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 49

Optimus smiled at her in amusement. "I am in full understanding. Unfortunately, I do not have that luxury. We do have showers that we use from time to time, but there is no room for a bath of our own. Although...when you have an oil bath, you may never come back to regular baths."

Azura chuckled softly and shrugged. "I guess we won't know until I try it." She moved her hands around, cupping the bubbles in her hands as Optimus gently cleaned her body. "But I highly doubt that you could have bubbles in an oil bath. That isn't as nice as this."

"That might be true, but oil baths are really good for your body," Optimus said with an amused expression. "But this is the closest you will get. And I promise, if we do get back to Cybertron, you can have the choice between an oil bath and a bubble bath."

"Sounds like a plan." Azura looked at Wheeljack and saw he was just leaning against the wall listening quietly. "Do you think you can start telling the story?"

Wheeljack smirked at her and shrugged. "Well...I could...but the idea of telling you the story would be when you are either cradled in Optimus's arms while you drink your low-grade, or you are laying in that comfortable, looking, berth you have in this room of yours as you will likely fall in recharge. Though I might be mistaken, you might have fallen into recharge in the bath before, though you don't look like it."

Azura giggled softly and nodded. "Yeah...I have..." She glanced at Optimus for a moment. "Daddy has had to carry me to berth a few times...I have been in recharge when he has bathed me. But...that was a while ago..."

The wrecker chuckled softly. "Sparklings are so cute..." Azura turned away from Wheeljack shyly, making the wrecker chuckle even more. "It is a shame I never got the chance to have one of my own." He looked at Optimus as the leader began to gently wash Azura's hair. "You know...despite the beginning, you are very lucky, Optimus."

"I am aware. Azura is the last sparkling born at this time...as far as we know..." She looked up at Optimus as she listened to his response to Wheeljack. "I am also fully aware that...that I now cannot see my life without her anymore." She smiled at him and lifted her arms to hug his right wrist as he washed her hair gently. "It was destiny and fate that she exists."

"I could not agree more." Wheeljack walked over to the tub with a smile. "And now I hope that the next time I might see you, you will be..." He lifts his hands with a thoughtful hum. Azura looked at him as she watched him move his hands. "You're this tall now...but I hope you will be this tall next time."

She giggled when she saw how high Wheeljack raised his hand in the hopes she would be that tall. "I am afraid I cannot promise that. I think I will be small overall."

"Perhaps...but you have many years of growing to do, and for all you know, you could get as tall as your carrier." It was wishful thinking to Azura, though it would certainly be nice to image. "Do you think Azura will be wearing her first coverings next time I show up?"

Optimus looked at Wheeljack in surprise and he pondered on the question. "That will depend on exactly the length of time it takes for you to return, Wheeljack. I am afraid I cannot give you a proper answer."

"Right, right...I guess I can only imagine." Wheeljack chuckled a little and watched as Optimus finished washing Azura's hair and rinsed it out gently. "Maybe next time I see you, you can show me how good you are with your abilities."

Azura frowned a little as she didn't like how he was speaking. "Why are you speaking as if we won't see each other tomorrow?"

"Well...I plan on leaving as soon as my ship is repaired, Azura." She whimpered a little as her optics fill with tears. "And...given how much you did today, I think you will probably still be in recharge when I leave."