“Ratchet, take Lina to purchase what she will need.” Optimus gently orders before walks over to Bee, guiding him out of the room.

<“Optimus… what did you want?”> The scout shivers before the Prime places a servo on his shoulder.

Optimus sighs sadly, “Bumblebee, are you alright?”

He nods, his doorwings perking up a bit now that he knows he's not in trouble. <“Yes… I was just worried I'd be in trouble.”>

“Why?” The older mech narrows his optics. He has an idea, especially as Bumblebee was conversing with Arcee when he entered the main room this morning. The scout looks away, buzzing something indecipherable under his breath. “Has Arcee been bothering you about your worth to this team once again?”

Bumblebee flinches, shaking his helm. <“No! Of course not!”> He trembles a bit as he says it and refuses to make optic contact.

Optimus sighs again, and wraps his arms around the scout in a fatherly hug. “Bumblebee, you and I both know that I can tell when you are telling a falsehood. Mainly because you are a horrible liar. Why do you even bother to try?”

Bee sighs, leaning slightly into the hug. He doesn't answer at first, thinking over his answer. When Orion told him that he was willing to adopt him, become a surrogate sire to the one who had abandoned the yellow sparkling at such a young age, Bumblebee had refused at first. He had been afraid of being in a family situation again, after being abused then abandoned in his original one.

But after almost a vorn in Orion's care, he had said yes. Shortly before the mech became a Prime, the adoption was finalized. After Optimus' transformation, the mechling had almost regretted his decision. So much less expressive and open, so closed off and.. stern. Optimus Prime scared him.

But the leader won him over. Let him see that he was truly the same mech, if a little more formal and stoic. Optimus still told him stories at night, and played with him when he got the chance. <“I… didn't want her to be angry at me again.”>

The Prime smiles gently, resting his chin on the top of Bee's helm. “Bumblebee, you are a valuable member of my team, and a precious part of my family. I was pleased to see you conversing with our guest, actually. She seems quite nervous and shy in this situation, and you could be able to draw her out of her shell.”

He shrugs, finally returning the warm hug by wrapping his arms around Optimus. <“Like I did for Ratchet?”>

“From my limited interaction with Lina, she does seem similar to our medic in personality, at least when he was younger. Time has changed him into the terse mech he is now.”

Bumblebee nods sadly, <“And war. The lives he were not able to save weigh on his shoulders heavily.”>

Optimus nods slowly, one servo moving to tilt up his son's chin. “This war has taken a toll on all of us.” His gaze rests on the faded scars around Bee's throat, and the scout shifts uncomfortably, pulling away.

He nods again, looking out the door. <“I guess that's why I let Arcee step on me all the time. I feel she needs something to release her hostility on.”>

The Prime narrows his optics again. “You just referred to yourself as a thing, Bumblebee.”

The scout blushes slightly, <“Sorry… I know you hate that.”>

“Do you still believe it? I thought you had moved past this belief.” Optimus sighs sadly. “If Arcee's pointless lectures are sending you back into depression…”

<“That's not what it is. I never stopped thinking that. Not until we came here.”> Bee looks away, staring at the floor.

Optics widening in surprise, Optimus pulls his chin up to face him again. “Bumblebee. You are not a thing. You are an amazing mech, don't you dare ignore that fact.”

Bee sighs, pulling away sharply. <“Maybe you're wrong, Optimus! After all, the humans all see us as things.”>

The Prime narrows his optics, an anger filling them. “My son, you can not consider yourself an object. I will not allow it.”

<“You can't control this, Optimus!”>

Suddenly, the large arms surround him again, and he finds himself cocooned in a circle of warmth and comfort. “But I can control you going back into counseling with Ratchet.”

Bee struggles slightly, <“I… I won't… talking to him is so hard..”>

“Because he knows what you're going through?” The scout nods slowly, still trying to pull away from the hug. Optimus smiles slightly, keeping his son close to his chassis, feeling the stress and feeling of being alone and the darkness leaving. “Ratchet is a good mech, Bumblebee. He would not hurt you.”

Bee sighs, <“Well I know that… it's just… I don't want to be.. vulnerable.”>

“And I don't want you to be depressed.”

<”I just need a friend, Optimus…  I'm lonely.”> Bumblebee sighs again as the Prime hums in response.

Optimus smiles softly, “Maybe Lina will prove a valuable friend.” He releases the mechling. “Or possibly you will find someone else.”