When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 79

Arcee looked at Optimus to see his sad expression. She placed her hand on his arm while giving him a sympathetic expression. "You're thinking about when she was at the orphanage, aren't you?" He nodded and intakes heavily, showing he was still affected by it. "Optimus, none of that can be blamed on you. We all know you sent her away to keep her safe. And she was, for the most part. You should be happy that you made the right choice." He frowned slightly as a part of him still felt like what he had done was the wrong decision. "I know you missed the critical first years of her life, and you didn't even get to name her the name you wanted." That was true. Optimus would have given her a different name. But he liked Azura, and he stuck with that name. "If you had the chance, what name would you have given her?"

Optimus did not know how to respond to that. It has been such a long time since he had thought of names for a sparkling, and while he had once imagined naming his sparkling years ago, he had brushed it aside. And when they found Azura, Optimus knew that it was too late to change her name. It wouldn't be good. "Arcee, as much as I would like to answer that question, I feel like thinking about it and picking a name I had thought of from the past is not a good thing. Azura already has an identity. It is wrong for me to wish she had a different name, because I like her name. It is a beautiful name. It suits her."

Arcee felt bad as she had not considered that it would hurt Azura. "Sorry. I was just curious. We all know you still feel pain from the past. And now we have an amazing little sparkling among us. It is a shame that...while we Cybertronians are around, but the world the dragons came from, is gone." Optimus nodded in agreement as he would have loved to take her there when life was abundant on that planet, but it was not anymore. "Truthfully, I am not sure how you understand that she is also part dragon, given that came from the Matrix."

Optimus smiled as he understood her confusion. "To be honest, I don't understand either. Ratchet seems to, but he is a medic, and understands our CNA far better than you and I." The femme couldn't disagree at all. She didn't understand everyone, only the basic information that all Cybertronians learn when they are younglings. "Azura is special. Though I know I don't want her to feel like her being is a burden. I know her abilities show she could become a great warrior someday. I don't want her to feel as though there is a destiny that awaits her."

"I guess not, but she probably believes that. I mean, I am not even sure what she will transform into when she is old enough. Sometimes I think she'll transform before she even reaches that age. But I am not sure what differences her t-cog has compared to ours." Arcee flinched as she heard a loud thump as she listened to the noises coming through the monitor. Optimus intakes heavily as he knew that she either had done something, or she was jumping, but as there was no crying or worried noises coming from Azura, he guessed she was still just playing. "At least she has a lot of her energy back from the illness."

Optimus nodded. "Yeah. Both she and I should be mostly fine soon." He thought about going to the med bay before realizing the time. "Hmm...seems like the time has already gotten away, Arcee." The femme frowned before realizing the time. "There's only an hour until school finishes. I believe Jack is working this afternoon, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I totally forgot I had to take him there today. I was shocked about Raf not being picked up and learning about what Bee has been going through, that I honestly forgot. Thanks for reminding me. Hopefully, Bulkhead can get away too, unless Miko has detention again. Even though that wouldn't exactly surprise me. That girl seems to get in trouble at school, like she does here a lot."

"Miko seems to have a lot of energy, and does not like to sit still. She will learn eventually, Arcee. She is young, and needs time to mature." Optimus also realized the time as it was about the time to feed Azura as well. "I had best interrupt Azura's little meeting to have a feed. I imagine she is feeling a bit hungry. She didn't want a nap today, which is a good sign she is recovering well from the infection, even if there is still a bit more time to go."