I was sitting on the roof, enjoying the sunset, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see Optimus.

I smile softly. "Hey, Optimus."

"Hello, Historia", he says as he sits next to me. I hesitantly lean against him, but was surprised when he pulled me closer. Could he...? No, I doubt it...

I smile softly, but don't say anything. We were both silent for a moment, just enjoying the sunset when Optimus spoke.

"Ratchet told me of what occurred when I was with the Decepticons. He says you did a wonderful job of being the leader", Optimus says.

"I only did what nobody else was willing to do. I... I had to protect them at all costs. I had to protect them just like you protect them", I whisper.

Optimus smiles. "And that is what makes a great leader. Not someone who wants the power, but someone who is willing to protect others at the risk of themselves."

I smile. "And that is why you are the best leader. You protect everyone, even if they are not your own species or your own faction. You help everyone."

Optimus looks down at me. "I fear there is one that I have not protected enough though."

"And who is that?" I ask softly.

"You", he whispers. I blink.

"What do you mean?"

"Ratchet informs me that you rarely get sleep due to nightmares", Optimus murmurs.

"That's been going on since long before I met you", I whisper, looking away from Optimus, and sitting up straight.

Optimus sighs. "But I wish to protect you from them. I... I want to protect you from everything."

I stand up and walk away from Optimus. "Sometimes you can't protect someone, Optimus. The others need you more than I do."

"Then why does everyone else believe that you need me the most", Optimus asks.

I groan. "I don't know! But I don't need to be protected. I can protect myself."

"Yet you still have nightmares that you can't protect yourself from", Optimus counters. I growl and turn to to face him. I hadn't realized that he had also stood up and was standing almost directly behind me. I take a nervous step back.

Optimus' optics soften. "You are afraid."

"Of course I'm afraid! Why wouldn't I be afraid? I love you and I'm afraid to love you because of what happened with Megatron!"

Optimus looked surprised. I realized what I said.

"Scrap", I mutter.

"You... love me?" Optimus was definitely shocked. I try to escape.

"Um... Well, I gotta go, Prime! See ya later!" I turned to leave but Optimus grabs my arm and pulls me back towards him. I stare up at him with wide optics.

I try to speak but my voice doesn't work. Eventually, I manage to whisper. "Optimus?"

He doesn't say anything and I pull away. This time he lets me go.

I go back into base, covering my face with my servos before letting out a loud yell. I quickly make my way to my room where I close and lock the door.

"Dang it! Why did I have to tell him? I... I..." I broke down crying. "I don't know what to do..."

I hear a knock on the door. I go to open it and see Aquablade and Arcee.

"Historia? Are you alright?" she asks. I just give her a look, and she chuckles awkwardly.

"Wrong question to ask, I guess. Can I come in?" she asks. I nod and allow her to come in. I sit on my berth, while Arcee sits on the chair that was in my room and Aquablade sits on the floor, leaning against berth.

"So, what's going on?" she asks.

"I... I accidentally told Optimus that I love him..." I whisper. Arcee grins.

"That's awesome! What did he say?"

"Nothing", I whisper.

"What?" she asks.

"He didn't say anything", I whisper. "I tried to leave, but at first he didn't let me. The second time I tried to leave, he let me. And... I don't know what to do now."

Aquablade looks angry. "I'm gonna go punch someone."

I laugh slightly before shaking my head. "Don't. I'm sure I just shocked him. Though... I wish he had said something."

Arcee sighs. "He is a Prime."

This time, I'm the one who sighed. "I know. I just... sometimes I wish he wasn't... if he wasn't, maybe he would be open with his feelings..."

Aquablade smiles softly. "Well, maybe he'll come around."

"But it's best not to hope", Arcee murmurs. "Historia, what do you remember of your sister?"

"Elita-One? Not much. I didn't meet her until after the war started and we weren't that close", I say.

"Did she ever speak to you about any mechs?" Arcee asks. I furrow my optic ridges as I think.

"Um... she did tall about someone once, yes. I think his designation was..." my optics widen in realization. "Optimus Prime."

"How could I have forgotten about that? She's my sister for Primus' sake!" I cry out.

Arcee smiles. "Perhaps Optimus has not quite gotten over her yet. They were planning to be sparkmates after all."

I feel tears come to my optics. "This is why I never wanted to tell him! Because I knew I had no chance!"

Arcee and Aquablade both stand up and then sit on either side of me. They hug me tightly, and I let my tears run freely.

"I should've kept blocking my feelings out", I whisper. Suddenly there is a knock on the door, and I hear Optimus call out to me.

"Historia? May I speak with you?"

I hesitate before sighing. I clear my voice of any tears, and stand up.

Arcee and Aquablade smile sadly and I walk to the door, opening it enough to reveal my personage.

"Did you need something, Prime?" I kept my demeanor cool, as it was the only thing keeping me from breaking down.

"I wish to speak with you about what you confessed earlier", he says.

I sigh. "Optimus, it's fine. I understand. I'm no match for my sister."

Optimus' face scrunched in confusion. "Sister?"

"Elita-One. She was my sister. I didn't know her very well, but she did speak of you fondly. And I know that she was way better than I could ever be", I say. "Goodnight, Prime."

With that, I closed the door. I hear Optimus calling my name, but I kept the door shut, tears coming to my eyes. I felt arms wrap around my midriff, and I smile as I see Arcee. She was very short compared to me. I look back at Aquablade who smiles comfortingly.

I sigh, not knowing what I'm going to do. I sigh before going back to my berth. Aquablade, Arcee, and I just sat in silence for a bit before Arcee stands up and goes to leave.

She opens the door, and stops short.

"Optimus", she nods, and closes the door behind her. I felt my spark skip a beat. He was still out there. Aquablade chuckles.

"You might want to either tell him to leave, or actually allow him to talk", she says.

I sigh before standing up. "Aquablade, would it be alright if I asked you to leave as well?"

Aquablade smiles and nods. She exits the room and nods to Optimus, but leaves the door open. Optimus appears in the doorway and I just stare at him, not sure what to do.

It was silent until we both started talking at the same time.

"Optimus, I am going to have to ask you to leave."
"Historia, I wish to speak with you."

I blink before looking at him coldly. "Please leave."

He sighs before leaving. I close the door, and lean against it. I stood up straight before going to leave when I heard the sound of pedes pacing in front of my door.

I sigh and open the door. Optimus looks up, optics hopeful, but I only glare at him.

"This doesn't count as leaving", I snarl. He sighs and looks away.

"Historia, please", he says, walking towards me.

"No", I say, and go to close the door. He sighs and allows me to close the door. When I checked a few minutes later, he was no where in sight.

"Good", I mutter.

But even still, my spark ached for him. And there wasn't anything I could do to change that except to go find him. I refuse to do that.