Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Chapter 47

"Aw, ya making me sad that I won't get much time to get to know the lass," Stratosphere commented as he listened on the conversation. "So is that how ya all met Saphira? Mirage brought her to ya?"

Optimus nodded with a smile. "Yes. I had called them in for a meeting regarding Transit, and at the time, I was not aware that Mirage was travelling with Saphira. She was meant to be going on a date with another human, and as I ensured Mirage understood that it was urgent, he brought Saphira to where we were gathered. I was not impressed at the time."

Stratosphere let out a chuckle of amusement, as he knew that Optimus would not have been happy. "I guess you were going to deal with Mirage's mistake at the time, but you were convinced not to. That was probably a good choice." Optimus nodded, as it was indeed a good choice. "But it seems like a deep bond has been formed between her and all of ya. A shame I was never introduced sooner...but I guess I wouldn't have come to city, unless needed."

"It really didn't cross our minds to mention you or Wheeljack to her. Especially as you both were not with us in the city at the time." Arcee looked at Bumblebee's body for a moment and sighed deeply, hugging her knees and resting her chin on her knees. "Saphira has become more than just a friend for us. She is family. And for Optimus..." She glanced at Optimus to see he was gazing at Saphira with a loving expression. "I suppose she would have been his sparkmate, if they had the time to become one."

"I had noticed that there was some love between ya two, lad," Stratosphere said cheerfully as he was observing Optimus as well. "Never thought it would be a human who steals your spark, Optimus. But she must be special to do that. I can't help but feel a little jealous of ya."

"I never thought a human would be special to me as well, Stratosphere. When Saphira came to us, she was in a vulnerable state...and I probably did not make things easier for her. And yet...she intrigued after a couple weeks...mostly because I couldn't understand her respect for me. She should have been hating me." Optimus smiled as he gazed for at Saphira. "But she saw from my perspective...and understood why I did not trust humans. She didn't either, and she has very good reasons to not trust humans." Optimus certainly could not forget when Arthur confronted her the first time, nor could he forget when Arthur tried to kill her. He could not understand it at all. "And as she relaxed, and I relaxed, she showed her creative side. But I hadn't realized how much she had been affected, until she stood upon the edge of the river and considered jumping in...and never coming back out."

"Wait, really?" Stratosphere was shocked to hear that about the human. Optimus, Arcee and Mirage all nod in unison. "Wow...I guess the poor lass must have been through a lot to want to do that. Pfft...and we are the ones who have through war too..." There was no argument there, but they all knew that everyone handled things differently. "You must have said something to convince the lass to not jump. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here right now."

"He did. Optimus was able to get through to Saphira, when I could not," Mirage commented with a smile. "And you know what? I am not mad about that." He looked at Optimus, and Optimus rolled his optics at him. "I certainly do not regret dragging that girl into our world. I never thought she would end up being your love interest, Prime, but I guess I was kind of your match maker in this instance."

Arcee snorted in amusement and looked at Mirage. "Match maker? You?" The young bot nodded proudly and Arcee rolled her optics. "Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that, Mirage. You only brought the girl here, you didn't sit the two together and force them to get along. It just happened all on its own."

Mirage chuckled as that did sound pretty silly, even though it amused him. "Well...I mean, I can joke about it, can't I? If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't even have Saphira here. And we might not have had a human to go into that museum to try and get the key out to us. I highly doubt any other human would have done it."