Though his optics brightened once more as he heard a knock at his office door, sitting straight as he spoke softly, "You may enter." Said the semi welcomingly as he set the file aside, seeing Skyfire moving in through the open door. Though he paused when he noticed the shuttle's obvious distress.
"I-I apologize for bothering you Sir... But I believe I need to s-speak with you..." He said softly as he watched the smaller mech, his wings quivering as they were drooped low against his back.
Shaking his helm in dismissal of the apology, the Prime gently motioned to the seat across from him, "Please, sit. What has troubled you Skyfire?" He asked softly, watching the large mech as he shifted to sit down.
Skyfire's optics dimmed as he couldn't lift his helm to face the Prime again, fidgeting as his emotions and pain clouded his mind in a heavy fog... However, he forced his mouth open, working the words up his throat, "I-it's Starscream, Sir..."
The Prime cocked his helm softly at that, optics brightening questioningly, "Starscream? Is he alright?" He asked gently, hoping the seeker hadn't failed...
Shaking his helm, Skyfire spoke once more, "He's alright, h-he's awake at least... But it's... it's wh-what he said to me..." The shuttle quivered harshly as he remembered the seeker's words, the pain in his voice, in his optics as he spoke them. H-how could he be expected to repeat such a horrible message?
Optimus could easily see the pain Skyfire was in, almost feel it as it seemed to bleed from the shuttle's frame... "What did he say to you?" He asked quietly, his tone soft as he didn't want to further upset his comrade.
Shoulder's quaking softly, Skyfire offlined his optics and hung his helm low, feeling tears burning his optics once more as a tight knot formed in his throat, almost choking the breath from him as he tried to speak. "He t-old me he wanted to... to die..." He finally sobbed, his wings drooping low as he tried to continue, "He s-said he couldn't take the p-pain anymore... I could have s-stopped this from happening... I could have saved him!" Sobbed Skyfire harshly, tears falling into his lap as he couldn't hold the pain inside. "I-it's my fault... if I had just taken a m-moment to see his pain, he wouldn't be in this condition." He wanted to say more, but he was silenced by a soft, warm hand on his shoulder and a comforting voice in his audio.
"You could never have known that Starscream suffered in such a way." Said the wise mech softly as he watched Skyfire with understanding optics. "You mustn't linger on what can not be changed, my friend... Be thankful that he is here, and that you are given the chance to save him now."
Skyfire's optics dimmed as he saw the pain in Optimus' optics, heard it in his voice... Their leader had so many regrets, so many things he blamed on himself. But he couldn't have stopped a single one of them from happening... And he had a feeling that was what Optimus was trying to make him realize. "I-it's hard to hear him like that... H-hear how broken he is inside, h-how hurt he is and how much p-pain he feels..." Stuttered the shuttle shakily as tears continued to slip down his cheeks, body quaking as he started to sob once more.
Giving a crestfallen sigh, the cabover peterbilt nodded dolefully, "I know... I have seen pain similar to this in many Autobot soldiers. It is not easy to take, but we must be strong for them and offer them our strength."
The white shuttle quivered before burying his face in his hands suddenly, form quaking as he weapt, "I-I don't think I'm strong enough..." He whispered mournfully, almost fearfully as his form trembled.
Optimus watched sorrowfully, gently placing a warm, blue hand atop Skyfire's helm as he spoke soothingly, encouragingly, "You are one of the strongest mechs I know, Skyfire. It is not easy to take a betrayal from the one you love and still keep that love pulsing strong in your spark." Said the Prime with a soft dimming of his optics, feeling the shuttle tensing lightly beneath his hand.
Pulling his hands back just enough to look up to his leader, Skyfire gently whispered, "Y-you knew..?"
The Prime's warm smile was visible in his optics as he gave a light nod. "I had suspected the two of you had more than a platonic relationship before..." He said softly, tone sympathetic as he felt Skyfire trembling beneath his hand.
Drooping once more, Skyfire shook his helm as he took in a quivering breath, "I-I never knew I had made it th-that obvious..." Said the shuttle with a weak, halfhearted chuckle that turned into a choked sob, his optics flickering offline as tears streamed down his cheeks. "I d-don't think it's g-going to matter now..." Choked Skyfire, disheartened, burying his face in his hands once more.
"I won't say that love alone will heal him, Skyfire. But it will help a great deal." Said Optimus softly as he watched the mech's tears dripping silently down his cheeks to plip into his lap. "It will be a long, hard process to heal him, and I have my doubts that he will ever be the way you knew him before... But, you must not let yourself become discouraged. Keep faith in him, that he can become someone better." Said the wise old mech softly.
Though, before the Prime had a chance to continue, his comm. link buzzed and Blaster's voice filled his audio. "Prime, we've got a situation. Megahead is contacting the base, an' Screamer bein' here has him fragged over sideways."
Optimus frowned to hear this news, replying calmly, "I will take the call over Teletraan 1 in a moment." Said the Prime, waiting for an affirmative before cutting the link and looking to Skyfire who was seemingly trying to compose himself. "Skyfire, if you ever need to speak to me about anything, please, do not hesitate to do so. I will always listen and offer any help that I can."
The shuttle nodded softly as he heard his leader, smiling lightly as he cleared his throat, "I-I know Optimus, thank you... It means a lot to me." He said as he stood up once more, coming to his full height to stand much taller than the semi. "Megatron... he wants Starscream back, doesn't he?"
The red, white and blue mech shook his helm softly, "Don't worry Skyfire, he won't get him back." Said the Prime softly before pausing as he received a comm. from Prowl, optics dimming as he started for the door, "I must go for now, but if you need to speak with me again, I will be ready to listen." Optimus said once more as he stepped out of the room and into the halls of the Ark, Skyfire stepping out behind him. "For now, I believe it would be best if you got some energon and rest. Ratchet will inform you when you are allowed to see Starscream again."
Nodding softly, his optics dimmed as he smiled weakly to his leader. "A-alright, I'll do that. Good luck Optimus." Said the large mech before turning to start down the hall for the , needing time to think...
Optimus watched with a sympathetic gaze as Skyfire left, optics dimming as he turned to make his way to the communications room. "And good luck to you, old friend." Said the Prime quietly as he walked, hoping he could give Skyfire strength when the shuttle feared he had none left.
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Author's Note
I apologize for lack of updates lately. It has been crazy busy around here.
Also, I'm sorry this chapter doesn't live up to the first two, but I will try to get things moving in the next chapter. I don't know how quickly I will be able to update, but I will still be writing as much as I can.
Thank you all for your kind words and favorites, it really means a lot to me.