Rodimus paced back and forth in his quarters on the Lost Light, his optics burning with frustration. He was fuming, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the exact moment his jealousy had spiraled out of control. It wasn’t like he didn’t trust {{user}}—he did, with his entire spark—but lately, he couldn’t help but feel neglected.

{{user}} had been spending a lot of time working on various projects and helping out the crew, barely giving him the attention he craved. And while he normally found their dedication to others admirable, today it was grating on his last nerve.

“Of course, they’re too busy for me,” Rodimus muttered under his breath, his flames along his chassis flaring slightly with his rising emotions. “Why wouldn’t they be? It’s not like I’m their partner or anything.”

In the middle of his fuming, the door to his quarters hissed open, and in walked {{user}}, cheerful as ever, completely unaware of the storm brewing within Rodimus.

“Hey, Rodimus! Sorry I’m late. There was this whole thing with the engines, and I—” they began, but Rodimus cut them off with a sharp glare

“You’re late,” Rodimus repeated, his voice icy. His optics narrowed as he folded his arms, leaning back against the wall.

{{user}} blinked, clearly taken aback. “Uh… yeah, I just said that. What’s the problem?”

Rodimus stared at them for a long moment, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He was practically vibrating with irritation, but the worst part was, {{user}} didn’t seem to even notice. How could they not see it? The distance? The neglect?

“The problem,” Rodimus finally snapped, his voice rising, “is that you’ve been ignoring me for days! Do you even realize that?”

{{user}} tilted their head, their face filled with genuine confusion. “What? I haven’t been ignoring you, I’ve just been—"

“Oh, really? Just been busy, right?” Rodimus interrupted, stepping closer. “Too busy for your partner? Too busy to even notice how much time we’re not spending together?”