Chapter Text
Clara wished that the covers would strangle her at this moment. She would like to strangle her kids and toss their skid plates into a swamp and denied them the use of the wash racks. If she found out that Prowl had anything to do with her current situation retribution will be swift and embarrassing. A throat clearing had her remembering that there was two other mechs nearby. Standing in the doorway staring in confused amusem*nt. Clara wished that the berth would swallow her now.
“So…um,” right real intelligent great way to start a conversation. Clara thinks sarcastically.
“This is a surprise,” Elita-One chimes. “I can assume that this wasn’t your idea?” she sounded amused.
Clara sighs, “No, you can thank the twins for this,” she mutters.
“How did they get the code for the door,” Optimus questions while making a note to have the code changed…again. Red Alert was going to be highly upset.
Clara shrugs, “I don’t know how those two get their info and truthfully, I don’t want to know. But I have a feeling as why they did this.”
Elita giggles, “yes, subtle they are not.”
“Unless its pranks.”
“Yes, their pranks,” Optimus groans remembering the last one vividly. “Have you fueled yet?”
Clara had to think, “No, First Aid left and was supposed to get my ration, but the twins happened.” She gasps, “oh crap Ratchet will be torque when he finds out I’m not where I’m supposed to be.” She eyes her missing limb, “He was going to attach my new arm today too.”
Elita nods, “Then I’ll fetch us some cubes and inform Ratchet of your whereabouts.” She gives a meaningful look at Optimus before the door closes.
Clara and Optimus waited in an awkward silence. Clara wouldn’t look at Optimus and Optimus was looking at the door like it was the most fascinated thing in the room. Soon, however, Clara couldn’t take the silence a minute longer.
“So…”
“Ah…”
‘Well, aren’t we just a bunch of chatterboxes,’ Clara thought unfavorably. She sighs, ‘This would be so much easier if I wasn’t in his berth.’
“Have you…?”
“What?” Clara snaps her optics to the larger mech, did she zone out?
“No, ah I…” Optimus sighs, “I am sorry, I am usually better at speaking.”
Clara waves him off, “I understand,” she does, she is having the same problem.
They stare at each other and start laughing. Clara found it funny that no one would believe that the Great Optimus Prime could be tongue tied. She found it endearing as it made, he seems more normal than the image of him plastered across the net. The title of Prime and being the leader of the Autobots made the young mech almost unapproachable, aloof, or in some cases stern. Many stared at him in awe and hero worship. Clara knew that Optimus had others that treated him like any other mech but those were few and far between. Without Elita around, Clara was sure that Optimus would be close to being isolated.
Well, we can’t have that, “What’s your favorite hobby?” she asks then face palms, ‘that was a lame question’. But it was the only thing she could think of, and he should have something to do during his downtime. Right?
Optimus blinks in confusion before his optics brighten, “History.” His shoulders start to relax as he explains that even as a dockworker he was always fascinated with history. Even going so far as trying to switch careers, which was almost impossible to do under Sentinels reign. He even admitted that he would spend hours after his shift at the archives before being shooed out.
“And you? I know you had always been a business owner but what do you like to do?” he sounded like he was truly interested.
“Oh, well, I guess…I would have to say that my work is my hobby. I enjoy it too much that I don’t see it as work,” she says honestly. “At first it was just a way to keep me and the kids afloat then it just grew from that. Recently I been thinking about taking up crocheting but haven’t been able to gather materials. Not that I can get them, with everything being ration now.” She waves her hand around. It was true though; she had intended to take up crocheting. She had tried it once when she was younger and had gotten frustrated with it. Now that she was older, she wanted to try it again.
At seeing Optimus's confused look Clara gave him a weary sigh. “The steel fibers that make up the yarn are being used for other things. The army took over the market of the wool and nearly all the wool is being sent straight to the military.” It was a disappointment, “and the product that makes to the store shelves are very overpriced. I doubt anyone could afford it outside the elite.”
“I see,” he frowns, “I knew that the war had impacted the civilian sectors, but I did not think it had stretched into other areas.” He sighs, “It would explain some things and I fear that it is much worse that I was led to believe.”
Clara nods, it was worse. If she didn’t live on base, she would most likely have starved with how fuel prices had risen. And that is not considered finding a place to live. However some buildings have been abandoned since may have left the planet. There are a lot of squatters, and no one cares that living has gotten harder. Well, no one that matters in the eyes of the elite. Clara was glad that she was able to stay on base, she only felt a little bad about it.
“Unless you can find someone who can fix that I am afraid that it will get worse as the war progresses,” she says. Which won’t happen since there was no one to delegate that too. Everyone had a part to play and those that live outside the army were mostly neutrals who expected to be taken care of and barely contributed.
Clara didn’t see a problem with neutrality, but she did have a problem with those who whine and complain and did nothing to help themselves. Or Activist, she always had a problem with activists. If Cybertron survived the war she could see that those who survived would have to continue fighting the Neutral activist that would attack. There would be no peace for anyone and would further divide people. It reminds her of some of the war aftermaths back on Earth. One comes to mind, and this was a tragedy waiting to happen.
“I am afraid that there is nothing to be done about now,” she sighs. “Your pretty little speeches will be just words in the optics of the civilians. They want a quick solution that won’t happen. Not at the price that Megatron is planning on asking.”
Optimus slumps, “Not at that price no.” He should know, Intelligence had already shown the plans for any Autobots and civilians alive should the Decepticons win. It was not something he would allow to happen. “Though I fear that soon we will find ourselves without a home should the war continue.”
Clara nodded; she could see that too. There were dead zones forming and cities wiped out. Most of the population had felt some time ago. Clara had feared for her younglings and others that she knew who joined the war. Some she had lost before Praxus had been glassed. With a sigh, she pulled her knees to her chest and laid her helm on them.
“So, what now?” she asks needing a change of subject.
Optimus gave her a knowing look but looked relieved. “We could talk about us,” he suggested. “What do you want or expect out of our forming relationship?”
Clara blinks up at him thinking. Granted she was awkward when it came to discussing things relating to love and such. Usually ended up a stuttering mess and feeling highly embarrassed. Even now that she had been put on the spot, she felt her mouth getting tongue-tied.
“W-well um I-I f-feel th-that,” she clamps her mouth shut and groans. But Optimus was patient and let her work through her swirling emotions. “I only been in one serious relationship and that ended poorly. I thought I would have one with Meister but…well.” Clara let a little sadness color her voice. “There will always be a place in my spark for Meister. I care about him too much to cast him out.”
“That is fine, I would not ask you to,” Optimus understood. Despite Megatron’s betrayal, there was some part that Optimus couldn’t get rid of.
“Right,” Clara somewhat believed “What I want is to have the right to choose. Don’t hide me away and don’t treat me like I am fragile. I may not be a warrior like Elita or a soldier like you, but I can still defend myself to run for safety. And I won’t give up my younglings. But…I can’t guarantee that I will be able to give you any sparklings. If that is what you wish.”
“That is something I would wish to speak about when Elita is with us. But I rather wait until after the war,” Optimus admitted. “And I would cherish any youngling that you taken into your care. As well as your older ones.” Though it would be awkward when it came to Prowl and the twins. Maybe?
“And Ratchet will properly add his two cents,” she mutters, “knowing him.”
Optimus chuckles, “yes knowing him.” He moves closer to the berth, “May I sit?”
Clara jolts remembering that she had taken over his bed, “yes…I mean its your berth I should be that one getting out but right um sure I’ll just-
Then to her shock, he shuffles over to the other side and sits next to her. The berth dips in his frame's direction which causes Clara to slide against his him. Now, now she was feeling heat creeping up and if she had still been human, she would be redder than a cooked lobster.
Oh, dear Primus!
And Optimus that jerk was looking really smug too. Clara realized that the idiot had planned this!
“Well don’t you two look comfy,” a cheerful voice says from the doorway.
Oh no.
Elita One stood there a smug smile and three cubes looking highly pleased with herself. They were in cahoots with each other. No worst they must have been in cahoots with the twins! Soon Clara found herself snug between the two larger frames with an arm over her shoulders and one under her doors. The heat radiated off them and an energon in her tank and soon she didn’t care that they planned against her with her own spawn. She’ll find a way to seek revenge later.
“Have a nice chat?” Elita asks tilting more onto Clara and rubbing a hand over her door.
“Maybe,” Clara hums. The wing rub felt good. She was getting sleepy.
“Yes my love,” Optimus nuzzles the pink femme’s helm. “And I feel very relaxed.”
Elita laughs sounds like crystal chimes, “I can tell. I feel relaxed as well. SO relaxed that I might just stay here and cuddle some more.”
“That does sound nice.”
Clara hums, “Very nice,” she pushes into the hands on her back. “Tired,” she mumbles.
“Then rest, Ratchet will wake us soon, I’m sure.” Elita pushes the smaller femme down and lets her curl into Optimus's side.
Once they were sure that Clara was recharging Elita looked over to Optimus. “Really how was the talk?”
“She is interested in seeing how our relationship goes,” Optimus radiates joy. “There are more things to discuss later between us, but I believe we will be happy.”
Elita hums, “good,” she sighs. “A nap does sound good.”
Optimus chuckles, “I must attend to data work, but I wouldn’t mind a reason not to leave the berth.”
“Oh, a reason yes, I might be able to supply you with a reason that would be approved.” Elita chuckles, “I am high up in the chain of Command after all.”
Optimus snorts but tugs Elita closer, nearly squishing Clara in the process. But soon all three were recharging and left a note that Prowl was in charge until they were needed. Ratchet had checked on them and muttered a prayer about them finally getting some rest. He put the two commanders on a short leave before leaving the three alone with a note about Clearray’s new arm.
In the rec room, a pair of twins were giving off smug vibes before Prowl came in with the two sparklings. He glared at his brothers before leaving the little ones in their laps with firm orders to not lose them or there would be hell to pay than left. Sunstreaker glares at the retreating door wings with a cutoff curse as Bluestreak trills softly up at him. Hot Rod sighs and pulls out his data pad with his coursework.
“You two are in trouble,” he sings songs.
