Requiem of the Primes

Chapter 3

M smiled and gradually shifted his weight into his left arm, slowly lifting the right towards the animal. When it looked up, he froze again, servo halfway between him and it.

The deer blinked and leaned forward, sniffing his digits curiously.

He could feel the excitement growing when he gently pressed his servo forward and touched the animal's snout.

It was warm, like the sunlight that gently bathed his plating.

The purple mechling found he much preferred it outside. Over the past few days, he had decided he rather enjoyed the company of the animals.

While he did like spending time with his small group of friends, they weren't the reason he always wanted to get away. He may not have been the smartest kid in the class but...

The whispers that followed him through the halls, and the optics that pierced his backplates were unnerving. He was told new bots got this kind of attention for a bit after they arrived, but what he was getting was something else.

The older bots were cautious around him, like an animal trying to figure out if the other was a predator or not.

He didn't know if it was because of the abnormal physical abilities he displayed, or if it was something else. No one else seemed to be willing to share that information with him, and he hadn't been able to speak with P in a while.

Luckily, he liked the escape he could get out here. The deer didn't judge him.

"M-57!"

All the deer's heads snapped up and the orbs held between their antlers turned red. The herd then turned as one and quickly pranced away, making the mechling groan and sit up.

"And just what do you think you're doing out here young man?!"

Oh, scrap.

M jumped up and spun around, standing at attention immediately while Elita marched towards him, looking furious.

He threw in a hasty salute and stood tall, "I saw the deer out the window on the way to class and wanted to see if I could pet it, ma'am!" He called, spark sinking more when he saw Optimus Prime behind her.

She marched up and stood in front of him with her arms crossed, "And did you think to tell any of your teachers about your little excursion?"

He hesitated, his form falling for a second before he quickly picked it back up, "I informed my best friend, ma'am!"

"Yes, we know," Optimus said, looking disappointed but relieved as he walked up next to her, "Though we were also informed this isn't your first time skipping class."

He froze, realizing he'd been caught, optics going wide. The mechling slumped and rolled a small rock with his pede, "They're boring," He mumbled quietly, avoiding the whole truth. He didn't need them worrying about him with more important duties, "And besides, I get all the stuff I need from the archives."

"When did you go to the archives?" Elita pressed, "You're always in the training ground during the day. You're not sneaking out at night past curfew, are you?"

The mechling stiffened again, wincing slightly as he turned, trying to avoid their gaze.

"M-57, look at me right this instant."

He seemed to weigh his decisions before making the smart choice of turning and looking at her.

She glared back expectantly.

"Well... I sometimes like to go and read in the library," He mumbled, his gaze starting to wander back down, "It's nice when there are no noisy bots around. I like the quiet."