Raymond E Pines

“Hey, Optimus! Happy Father's day!” Bumblebee’s voice rang to Megatron’s audio receptors. Optimus had received a video over to his communicator, and it was from Bumblebee. 

“Happy Father’s day!” Arcee greeted on the video as well, she made a brief appearance behind Bee. 

“I’m sorry for a late greeting, I’ve been stuck at Malto’s the whole day. The Maltobots needed my help to make the day perfect, so I stayed to help. But I will never forget to remember you on this day! See you tomorrow, Prime sir!”

Before the video reached to end, the voices of the Terrans and their human family shouted and greeted Optimus happy father’s day. Bee knelt down to Mo, who was apparently signing him to kneel down for her. Mo appeared on the video.

“Mom said we can say that, even if you’re not our dad, but you are still a dad! At least to Bee!” Mo said with a wide smile.

“Bye, Mr Optimus!” with that, the video ended.

Optimus chuckled to himself. He replied to Bumblebee’s video with a brief text message, thanking him, Arcee and the whole Malto family. Megatron walked over to Optimus’ right side; “Cutting it quite close this year. The day is almost over.” 

Optimus sent his reply and facing Megatron he said: “It doesn’t matter. These things are something you know, even if no one says anything.” 

“Actually, I, too.. received a greeting today”, Megatron mumbled, trying to appear cool about it, but Prime saw the glimmer in his optics. 

“Oh?” Optimus asked, tell me more, and Megatron answered; “Young Twitch called me earlier today. She… told me, happy father’s day, even if I am far from being one to her.”

“You may not be a father to her the same way Alex Malto is, or even as far-fetched as Wheeljack. But those bonds also prove to us that being family doesn’t mean biological connection”, Optimus explained, and Megatron hummed thoughtfully. 

“Yes, I understand that. I guess… I never expected to mean this way to anyone”, Megatron confessed. 

Optimus smiled for him. Megatron had come a long way from when he was still a Decepticon leader; back in those days, he would’ve never thought the way he did now, never admitted those kinds of feelings out loud. Optimus felt joy in his spark. 

Megatron and Optimus both turned to look at the beautiful scenery that opened in front of them. Witwicky was a beautiful place, and the sun setting painted the world purple and pink. Both of them took a deep breath and let their optics rest on that beautiful view. 

“I also consider you family, Megatron, and I-”

“Don’t say it, Prime, or you might grow on me.” 

Prime chuckled; “I already have, old friend. I just wish to remind you of how much I cherish you, and what we have.” 

Megatron averted Prime’s gaze for a moment before he looked at him from the corner of his eyes. Megatron was struggling with words, he still wasn’t used to being treated like Optimus spoke and thought of him. 

“I… can’t say it back yet”, Megatron admitted, defeated, and looked down at his feet. Optimus smiled dearly to him; “I know. It is okay.” 

“But-” Megatron added, lifting a hand on Prime’s shoulder.

“I… you know.”

“I know”, Optimus hummed. 

Megatron didn’t need to say it back. Actions spoke volumes, and Megatron was shouting to Optimus the same words he just said to him. Optimus and Megatron shared eye contact, and both of them smiled. There was still much healing to do, and not only for Megatron. Optimus would wait for him for all of eternity, and even longer.

“Megatron? I often find myself thinking of how wrong we could’ve gone, had we not stopped the war.”

“Why waste time on something like that?”

“I can’t say. Maybe it is the fact of how good things are, and how bad they could be. Maybe the idea that in the countless other universes, things are far, far worse. Do you think that, maybe, there are more universes like ours? Where we do not have to fight? Where we are brothers and sisters, not divided by factions or anything else?” 

“Like you said, Prime… There are countless universes. Some ought to be as good as this one.”