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Optimus could barely remember what happened. All he could recall was that one moment he was swimming with his pod when Elita stopped, looking up to the surface of the water, then there was a lot of pushing and yelling, then it was just him with his calf, surrounded by blood.
Bumblebee let out a quiet chirp as Optimus pulled him close and swam from the bloodied water. He noticed trails of blood following them, so he stopped, realising that it was theirs. Checking over himself and Bumblebee, Optimus managed to locate all the injuries, but didn’t have much he could do about them. Due to this he went towards some rocks. The water was deep enough that the Orcas would be comfortable, and the rocks provided pillars to rest on and against.
Bee was quick to lay atop of a submerged rock, letting out an exhausted chirp. Prime gently ran his hand across Bumblebee’s side, then proceeded to move the calf slightly to check his dorsal fin.
“Thank Primus.” He mumbled, a sense of relief washing over him when he saw the calf’s fin still stood straight. Despite the reality that Bumblebee was usually oblivious to the world, the fact that the young Orca hadn’t recognised how dangerous the attack was, much less that it was now just him and his father from their pod of 9, proved to be a relief to the older Orca as he wasn’t sure how, or if he even could, explain the situation to his innocent son.
While occupied with his child, Optimus didn’t notice a shark stealthily approaching, most likely attracted by the smell of injured Orcas.
Unaware of the slowly approaching danger, Prime rested his head on the rock, keeping Bee company as the calf fell asleep, when he was attacked from the side.
“Ngh..” He quietly groaned, his surroundings going from a rapidly moving blur to a clear picture, allowing for the Orca to register the situation. He looked blankly at the shark before him, unfazed by the low growl the larger mer let off.
“Where’s your pod gone?.” The Great White mocked as he observed the absence, his arms secured around Optimus’s waist, “with no protection, I might as well kill you now. End our little feud with a satisfying win.”
“Hunters..” The Prime muttered, resting his head on the shark's shoulder. It was unclear to Megatron whether he simply didn’t hear the death threat or just didn’t care, “They’re dead, Megatron. So if you’re going to kill me, do it. Just.. take care of Bumblebee for me.”
Megatron’s eyes widened.
“They’re dead?”
Optimus nodded, looking away, letting out a soft cry.
“Just please. Get it over and done with, while Bee’s asleep so he won’t see.”
“You’re serious?”
Optimus nodded once again, but slower, only to be roughly slammed against a rock. He let out a soft whimper upon contact with the coarse surface.
“YOU DO
NOT
JUST GIVE UP LIKE THAT!”
“My family’s gone, Megs. I’m asking you.. Please…”
“What about your son?.
Hmm?
Sure the brat can take care of himself- but do you actually want to force him to be self-reliant? To grow up knowing that his father abandoned him because he was
sad
? Do you?!”
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“I imagine it is but right now- HEY! STOP SINKING ON ME!”
Megatron snapped, hoisting Optimus up when he felt the smaller mer’s body gradually slip down the rock. The Orca looked at him, his features lined with despair, conveying just how badly the slaughter of his pod had affected him.
Megatron groaned, pulling the Prime close, then grabbing the resting Orca. Once awake and able to recognise what had disturbed his nap, the calf struggled against the Shark’s grip, before trying to bite his claw. Managing to ignore the pain, Megatron grinned,
“Glad to know someone’s still acting like themself.” Megatron laughed, then dove deeper, towards a coral reef. It was enormous, home to many different creatures.
“Soundwave, I brought you a friend.” Megatron announced, setting the small Orca down beside a large cave entrance, “Please protect him- especially from Starscream.”
A large form slowly emerged from the cave, along with many small fish, inspecting the young mer. From heavy scarring, Bee could barely work out all the facial features of the Sea Krait, but did recognise the feeling of a sea snake tail coiling around his body, managing to avoid his fins. Bee cried out for his father, trying to escape, but quickly working out that the coils were too tight to manoeuvre out of.
Optimus looked back at his son, but didn’t even consider attempting his own escape from his rival's arms. Instead he went along with Megatron. Although a pit of guilt was forming in his stomach at the idea that the last thing he would hear from his child would be wailing for him to return. Little did the calf know that Optimus had no intention of coming back.
“Please, make this quick, Megatron.” Optimus said quietly once the shark let him go.
“I’m not going to kill you, Prime.” Megatron snapped,
“Why not?. Don’t you want to win? Wouldn’t winning require killing me?!” Optimus questioned, quickly getting upset.
“No, it doesn’t. Not when you’re like this. Winning is killing you when you’re putting up a fight.” Megatron sighed, “not when you’re hitting rock bottom.”
Optimus blinked, so confused on where all this was coming from. Megatron had always been dead set on killing him, but the first time Optimus gives him the chance, he doesn’t take it?
“You’re going to shape up and I’m going to be on your tail to make sure you do.” Megatron instructed, “Now go get a squid.”
“What?”
“Go get a squid. I’m starving and you’re a good hunter that needs a good hunt.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Look at you, trying to act like you wouldn’t.” The shark teased, then shoved Optimus, “Go on now.” Optimus rolled his eyes, before swimming off.
As much as the Orca would hate to admit it, Megatron was smart to get him to hunt down squid. It worked as an excellent stress reliever, then doubled as a way to get free food. Although the instruction he received was ‘get
a
squid’, Optimus collected nine when he decided to head back. His swim back was slow and quite relaxing, so he used that time to come to terms with the events of the day, not to move on, or to even start grieving, just to simply accept that today had happened. His heart felt heavy, but he felt good, certainly less desperate to give up. By the time he had gotten back to where he had left Megatron, it was getting dark.
“Took you long enough.” The shark groaned, though quickly shutting up when he saw the stash, “I told you to get
a
squid- one. How many did you get?!”
“Nine.” Optimus laughed softly, his cheeks going a soft blue as he felt embarrassed by going overboard, although there was a twinge of grief that arose. It wasn’t that he meant to go overboard, rather it was a habit. He was used to hunting for nine. Megatron looked shocked, but then grinned,
“Perhaps I do have something to gain from keeping you around.”
Before Optimus could ask what Megatron meant, the shark was guiding him back to the reef.
As the two predators returned, there were more mers present. The Orca was first greeted by a Moray Eel swimming up into his face.
“YOU! What do you think you’re doing here?!” He shrieked, only to be pulled away by a barracuda.
“Starscream, get a hold of yourself and use your brain that you claim you have.” Shockwave groaned.
“I’m sure you recognise everyone.” Megatron scoffed, embarrassed by the behaviour that his little group was displaying before his longtime rival. Optimus nodded, laughing softly. Megatron shot Prime a glare, then took six of the nine squids from him.
“Make sure you give one to Soundwave.” Megatron instructed, then proceeded to hand out the squids to the rest of the group.
Optimus swam over to the Sea Krait, handing him the squid. As soon as the food was securely in Soundwave’s hand, Optimus was tackled down against the sand by Bumblebee, the calf holding onto his father for dear life. Immediately Optimus got worried, though first he checked Bee’s fin, a quick wave of relief crossed him when he noticed it was still upright.
“Bee, what’s wrong?”
“I thought something bad happened to you..” the Orca squeaked, “That you weren’t coming back.”
“Why would you think that?” The older Orca cooed, holding the calf tight, and giving him the smaller squid.
“Because.. because you went with Megatron.. and he’s been trying to… you know..” Bee looked away, to which Optimus quickly turned the child’s head back to him.
“I promise you, I’m not going anywhere without having every intention of coming back for you.”
Megatron had overheard the comforting lie Optimus told and stored it in the back of his mind in case Prime fell back down into the depressed state he had been in just hours before.
The shark scarfed down his own meal, before being approached by Shockwave.
“We were speaking-“
“We?” Megatron raised a brow, suspicious as to why the same mer that frequently facepalmed from the ‘illogical’ nature of other mers had willingly had a conversation with them.
“Yes, yes, I know. Though today has been particularly illogical.” Shockwave groaned, “I digress. We were under the impression that you do not like the Orcas- no. You absolutely despised the Orcas.”
“An accurate observation. What’s your point?.”
“Then why are they here?” Shockwave snapped.
Megatron looked over at the Orcas, watching as Optimus helped Bee with the squid, making sure the calf didn’t choke. He then turned back to the frustrated Barracuda.
“They lost their pod earlier today-”
“So instead of helping them find their pod you brought them here?!”
Megatron slammed his claw over Shockwave’s mouth.
“The pod’s dead.” Megatron growled, “Optimus is in a dark place, so I brought them here to help him back onto his fins.”
“Is that the only reason?.” Shockwave pulled Megatron’s claw away from his face.
“It just so happens that Orcas are incredibly good at hunting. They get taken care of and we get food.”
Shockwave simply nodded after he thought over the implications of the trade.
“Logical.” Is all he could muster up, before returning back to the group.
Megatron sighed, then swam over to the outsiders.
“Optimus, you need to eat.” He grunted, carefully taking the calf from Prime, “I’ll help him.”
Optimus, startled by the Shark’s actions, barely reacted to his son being taken away.
“Are-” he cleared his throat as the surprise wore off, “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Megatron grinned, sitting the child in his lap, “now eat, before I force it down your throat.”
Optimus rolled his eyes, moving a little closer to the two, placing his hand on Bee’s tail when he noticed that the calf had started thrashing in Megatron’s arms, which proved effective in calming him down. As he ate, he couldn’t help but notice the way Megatron interacted with Bumblebee. The way he tenderly held Bee’s back, avoiding the dorsal fin. How he spoke quietly, even occasionally cooing over the small mer.
As the waters became darker, the mers began to illuminate, though the darkness had barely fazed the majority of the group.
“Sleep, damn you!” Megatron demanded, holding Optimus down against the sea bed, “I know you’re not diurnal, but you’re also not nocturnal.”
Knockout swam over with the smaller Orca, careful to not hurt him.
“You have to stay with your father.” The Lionfish instructed, putting the calf down.
Bee stared at Knockout, eyes lighting up. He clicked and chirped, trying to express something.
“He’s telling you you're very pretty.” Optimus translated, still wrestling against the shark.
Knockout blushed softly, patting Bee’s head.
“You’re quite the cutie.” He smiled, “Now lie down, it’s nap time.”
With a final chirp, Bee curled up beside Optimus.
“GIVE IN TO SLEEP!” Megatron hissed.
“Fine! Fine!” Optimus sighed, too tired to keep up anymore. Once freed from Megatron, Prime pulled his child close and curled around him creating a shape like a cinnamon roll.
Before the larger Orca let sleep take him in, he grabbed Megatron’s arm.
“What is it?” The Shark snapped, though his voice softer as to not disturb the sleeping calf.
“I just wanted to thank you.. for everything. I doubt I would be here without you.”
Megatron’s expression softened. Gingerly, he removed the Prime’s claw from his arm, but still held on for a moment.
“Sleep well, Orca.”
With that, he let go and moved away, joining up with the rest of the group.
“Megatron, you sap.” Breakdown teased, whacking the larger shark with his tail.
“I will not hesitate to bite you.”