Autobot Base – Late Evening.

Most of the base had already settled into its usual quiet mode.

Somewhere on the upper levels, Bulkhead was welding something, and the occasional sound of short sparks drifted through the vents. Bumblebee was adjusting the radio near the garage bay. From the medbay, Ratchet's grumbling could be heard, arguing with some human medical equipment.

In the central part of the base, Optimus stood at a long console with maps.

He was listening to you. Or rather… he should have been listening.

You were explaining details of the latest reconnaissance. The hologram slowly rotated above the panel.

Optimus looked at it.

He nodded.

Sometimes he would say:

"I understand." Or: "This is valuable information."

But... If someone were to look closely at his optics... You might notice that his gaze would occasionally become slightly unfocused. Not from fatigue. But because his processors were racing in a completely different direction at that moment.

A sudden thought entered his head. Very quiet. Very simple.

What if…

…a small sparkling ever showed up at the base?

The thought occurred so suddenly that he paused for a second.

A strange image flashed before his mind's eye:

A small, brand-new Cybertronian hull. A bright spark. Hesitant, first steps across the base's floor. And… Him. Standing next to him.

Optimus blinked. It was… unexpected.

He heard your voice again.

You were still explaining something on the hologram.

"...and if the Decepticons move the drilling rig further east—"

"Yes," Optimus said automatically.

But his processors raced again. This time, further. He imagined:

A small sparkling sitting on Bulkhead's shoulder armor, while he was fixing something. Bumblebee plays cheerful music on the radio, and the sparkling tries to move to the beat. Arcee pretends not to care... but is actually keeping a close eye on him so he doesn't fall. Ultra Magnus will teach discipline, but the optics will soften from the sparkling's laughter.

Ratchet grumbles:

"This is a medical bay, not a nursery!"

But he still checks his systems every five minutes.

And somewhere in this picture… You.

Optimus blinked again.

His processors were clearly working too far from the war strategy. He straightened up a little more abruptly.

"So…" he began.

Pause.

He realized he didn't remember what exactly you'd just said.

Optimus Prime, legendary leader of the Autobots… Just lost the thread of the conversation. A very rare occurrence.

He looked at you a little more closely. And suddenly his processors produced another thought. A much more dangerous one.

What if this sparkling… is like her?

He instantly switched back to reality. But his optics softened for a second.

"My apologies," he said calmly, returning his attention to the console. "Repeat the last part of the analysis."

At that moment, Smokescreen appeared from the hallway.

He stopped, noticing you. He looked at Optimus. He bowed his head. Then he whispered quietly to Bumblebee, who was standing nearby:

"Why does Prime look like he just started thinking about the meaning of life?"

Bumblebee quietly played a short sound on the radio:

"...baby laugh sound effect..."

Smokescreen froze.

"Wait... B... what are you even talking about—"

Meanwhile, Optimus was still looking at you. Listening.

But somewhere deep in his processors... His thoughts were still floating a little in pink clouds.

And he himself didn't yet fully understand why.