When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Azura sat on the platform sniffling softly as Ratchet was working on something and the kids were trying to reach Agent Fowler. She held her toy tightly as she was very upset that Optimus had left. She wanted to finish eating too, as she still felt peckish and needed to fill her tank with low-grade energon. Bulkhead was pacing impatiently, which was not helping to lower the tension in the room. Not was it making jeez feel better. It just made her think that something bad would happen, and Azura was not sure yet on how to feel about that.

Jack walked over to Azura and placed his hand on her back gently, making her jump in surprise and look at him with wide optics. "It's just me, Azura. Sorry for scaring you." She stared at him for a moment and looked away from him. "It will be okay. I know you are probably feeling a lot of emotions right now. I know Optimus was right in letting you come with us in helping you retrieve the energon harvester, but given what happened outside the museum, and that Soundwave saw you..."

"I just want daddy to stay...is that too selfish of me to ask?" Azura asked in a very soft, shy tone when she interrupted Jack. Bulkhead looked towards Azura as he overheard her words. "I...I know he's the leader, and he must lead by example...but I wish he would stay. Plus, I'm still hungry." She sniffled as tears fall from her optics. "But does that make me selfish?"

Jack shook his head. "No, not at all. You're just a baby." She frowned immediately and he chuckled softly. "You already know this to be true, Azura. You're an infant Cybertronian, and it's okay to want Optimus as close as possible as often as possible. It is not selfish. Not is it selfish of Optimus putting the concern of safety for you and all other autobots first, and to engage in a potential risk that could cause his energon to be drained from his body."

"Jack is right, Azura." Azura flinched and looked at Bulkhead with a slight frown. "None of us here are going to tell you that you are selfish for wanting to spend time with your carrier. I guess the downside of having a Prime as a parent is that a Prime is a leader. And leaders must do what they need to do." Bulkhead glanced towards Raf who was still trying to reach Fowler and looked back at Azura. "If you feel guilty for wanting his affection and attention, don't be. Just remind yourself that your carrier is not making an easy choice either. I have no doubt in my mind that Optimus would prefer to be here with you."

Azura listened to Bulkhead and tightened her arms around her toy. "It did not seem like a hard decision on his part. But maybe it is just from my perspective." She sniffled loudly and wiped a tear from her face. "I just...want him here, Bulkhead."

"I know." Bulkhead smiled at Azura before he gasped when he had an idea and leaned down to talk quietly so Ratchet would not here. "Maybe later, you and I can go somewhere and have a little rock and roll. Does that sound like fun?" Azura did not know what he meant by that, but it sounded interesting. "I promise you won't be hurt. Besides..." He lifts his hand and Azura flinched as he wiped his hand on her shoulder. "You will only get dusty like today."

Azura thought about it and hummed softly. "If daddy lets me go with you, Bulkhead, I will say yes." She smiled at him and Bulkhead was pleased to get a smile out of the girl. "I do not know what you have in mind exactly, but it has been a while since we spent time with each other. You spend more time with Miko than you do me."

"Oh, I am sorry. But I guess Miko and I both have a hot head and we enjoy a lot of the same things, so I haven't really thought that it would bother you that much. But I will try to do better. Especially since you see me as...a brother or uncle?" Azura just shrugged with a cheeky smile, and Bulkhead rolled his optics. "Never mind...that reminds of something I have to tell Miko to do." Azura's smile dropped suddenly, and she frowned. "Don't worry, Azura, I will make sure we have fun together."

"So long as it does not involve any kind of rough housing," Ratchet said bluntly as he zoned in on what Bulkhead was telling Azura, and he worked out that Bulkhead wanted to do something with her. "You know very well that Optimus will not appreciate if you take her out and she returns injured. Actually, no, he will be furious most likely."