Third Person Perspective

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The two separated once more as the oven beeped, signaling the finish of the timer. (Y/n) opened the oven and removed the tray of nuggets using an oven mitt. The other hand holding her towel in place.

"Percy go wash your hands." (Y/n) called out as she turned off the oven and carefully plated the nuggets. "Do you want strawberries or celery?"

"Both!" He called back.

"Sorry Percy but it's one or the other tonight, one of these has to go to school with you tomorrow." (Y/n) explained, adding fruits and veggies to her grocery list. Percy pouted but chose the celery with some ranch. "Remember, Aunt Margret is coming over this weekend. Maybe if you're good she'll get you a few toys."

"Who's aunt Margret?" Optimus asks, seating himself beside Percy.

"Our mother's sister. She's coming to pick me up for the court date Friday so Percy will be spending the night at his friend's house and then she'll be staying here this weekend." (Y/n) placed Percy's plate in front of him before turning to make Percy a drink. "Well... hopefully not here here, but maybe a motel."

"I can only assume the court date is about your father." Optimus stated, earning a nod from (Y/n).

"I'm going to stop by the store tomorrow morning to get some stuff for dinner. Do you want anything with your lunch tomorrow, Percy?" She asked her brother, wanting to avoid speaking about their father in his presence.

"Why can't I go with you?" Percy asks.

"Because it'll have to be refrigerated. If you think of anything while I'm at work just text me." (Y/n) answers before stuffing a nugget in her mouth, setting Percy's drink in front of him and going to change.

"You have a cellular device?" Optimus asks.

"Yeah... it's for emergencies. I don't really like it." Percy said, pulling out his blue flip phone.

"And what emergencies do you use it for?"

"If someone we're to break in... or if sissy faints. Sissy said to only call 911 if I'm in danger or hurt. If she's hurt she says to contact aunt Margret, Joe or Uncle Ernie."

"Are these... trust worthy people?"

"Yeah... aunt Margret raised me when mommy couldn't, uncle Ernie gave up the rest of his re...retire...ment thingy to keep us when daddy was searching for (Y/n)." Percy explained, sounding sad. "Joe is my friend's dad. He says sissy reminds him of his sister so he says he keeps an eye on us. Plus, his mommy lives next door. She's very nice, sissy buys her groceries sometimes."

"That is very kind of them and your sister. I hope you know that if you are ever in trouble you may also contact myself or any of my autobots." Optimus reminds, earning a smile from Percy.

"I know. Sissy gave me your... comm dink after we got home." Percy answered. "I think you and sissy make good friends."

"Thank you, Percy."

<~>•<~>

(Trigger warning: mentions of abuse, r@pe, and death below)

After a good dinner and a quick bath, Percy now laid in bed listening to his bedtime story as his eyelids slowly closed. Optimus stood in the doorway watching the sister recite a tale to the sleepy child.

"And with warm breath, the morning sighed as the moon went to bed. Tucked behind the clouds the moon laid in peaceful thought, the suns words echoing in their head. 'Nighty night, Senior moon, I hope you know I'll see you soon. As my warmth falls upon our land, your night shall return after falling sand. But don't be frightened of my warmth, it will help you rest from rising short. Now I must bid you adieu, so farewell my dearest moon.' As dawn touched the sky, the birdies tweets became a lullaby, as children laugh and children play, the moon rests in comfort, knowing it was once again day. They whispers to themselves, 'goodnight moon, you will see your image on the water soon.' So the moon fell asleep, his darkness melting away and he felt he was no longer rock, but a cloud drifting throughout this beautiful day."

Percy fell asleep with surprising ease and (Y/n) gently kissed his forehead, whispering goodnight before slowly creeping out of the room and shutting the door.

"That was beautiful." Optimus said with a smile. The beautiful woman before him smiled, her black dress finally visible in the light of the living room.

"Thank you... my mother used to rehearse that to me every night. It's one of many that I've recognized but that was the shortest one since were in a time crunch now. I hope you can still drive me?" (Y/n) asked with a lopsided smile.

"Of course." Optimus nodded motioning for (Y/n) to lead the way. Soon they were back at the truck seated beside each other.

"Head toward the highway and I'll lead you from there." (Y/n) stated. Optimus nodded and began to head in that direction, noticing (Y/n)'s nervous features. "Optimus... I want to explain to you our situation."

"You do not have to."

"I want to, I trust you Optimus Prime."

"... I will always be here to protect you and Percy."

"My mother once told me my father was kind. That there was once a time he would do anything to keep each other safe. My father loved my mother dearly... almost too much." (Y/n) grilled the seat and gulped uncomfortably. "When he learned that he was going to have a daughter, he was ecstatic. He wanted me to look just like my mother so he would have two perfect girls."

(Y/n) felt a warm tear fall down her face. She was glad that she hadn't put any makeup on yet.

"I was not perfect. I only have my mothers eyes. But I have his hair. He was furious when I wasn't born with (d/h/c), he wanted me dead and pretended like I wasn't his daughter. But as I got older..." the tears began to fall more as her nails dug into her thigh, she tried to make eye contact with with the holoform but failed as the feeling of shame and embarrassment fell over her just as it did before. "He told me that it was normal... that all fathers did it with their daughters. I-I was just so happy to finally feel wanted by him that I didn't say anything when he did what he did."

"(Y/n)... you do not have to continue. I am so sorry for what he did to you." Optimus hushed, wiping away her tears on her cheeks and holding her face in his hands.

"I tried so h-hard to be perfect for him, but when I wasn't he'd hurt me. There were many times that I had to be hospitalized, I have so many scars from him on my body... th-that's why I love my tattoos: it feels like my body's not his anymore... b-but their dog expensive and every time I look in the mirror—!"

"(Y/n), you are a beautiful woman. Your body will always be your own."

"I know... I-I got off topic..." (Y/n) let out a shaky breath. "My mother only found out when the beatings started what he was doing to me. She tried to stop him but it would only make him hurt her instead. We knew when she got pregnant again we needed to keep the baby away from him at all cost. I took all the beatings while she was pregnant even though she didn't want me to. When Percy was finally born, my mother payed the hospital heavily to tell him that they baby had died during birth. The beatings became more separated but harsher. He started giving us gifts and trying to make us a family again. A-and then one night, he-he came home drunk and when he tried to touch me and I didn't let him... h-he smashed the bottle on my head, he continued to hurt me but then my mother got between us. H-he killed her. I watched helplessly as the life drained from her eyes... I-I called the police and ran. I went to where we hid Percy and found him there with Aunt Margret. Then I fainted and everything after was handled by my mother's family."

(Past trigger)

(Y/n) took a deep and shaky breath before wiping her tears.

"This court date is to sue him for everything he has left. Hopefully it will help me give Percy a normal life." (Y/n) took another deep breath and held the holoforms hand. "Thank you, Optimus. I want you to know I trust you."

The drive went on as it would've normally as the two relaxed in the comfort of each other's presence. (Y/n) was soon gone after giving the holoform a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll see you in the morning."