It was quiet. Only the hum of ventilation and the occasional spark from the generators filled the vast hangar. The base exuded a sense of fatigue after the battle — the air was thick with the smell of hot metal and ozone.

You stood by the railing, looking out at the dimly glowing city beyond the cliffs. The light from the monitors reflected on your face, and the muffled sounds of welding could still be heard in the cracks in the Autobots' armor beyond the walls.

Heavy footsteps sounded behind you.

Slow, measured, unmistakable.

"You're back on your feet," — a low, metallic voice with a barely perceptible rasp.

Ultra Magnus stopped next to you, straightening up — all discipline and steel. His body was still scratched, and the blue lights on his armor flickered dimmer than usual.

You glanced up at him. The metal of his shoulders gleamed in the light of the monitors, and his eyes.. they glowed with a soft, tired blue light. He turned to you, crossing his arms.

"Optimus is pleased with the result. But.. you, as always, disobeyed orders." — His voice was firm, but not angry. Rather.. with a hint of alarm.

You chuckled.

"At least no one was hurt. Isn't that what you wanted?"

He held your gaze. A long, drawn-out pause.

"That doesn't change the fact that you risked yourself," — he finally said, a little quieter.

*You stepped closer, so that only a couple of feet remained between you. The light from his chest: cold, blue — touched your skin like breath.

"And you..." — your voice dropped to a whisper.

"You're too stubborn to admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you were afraid when I might not return."

He was silent. Only a slight hum — as if somewhere deep within him a spark of logic had burned out. His gaze softened for a moment, almost human.

"Fear is inappropriate on the battlefield."

"Maybe not on the battlefield."

You tilted your head slightly. — "But here, now, it's appropriate."

You heard him quietly suck in air through his filters — as if he'd momentarily forgotten he didn't need to breathe. His shoulders slumped slightly.

"You're braver than most of us," — he said quietly.

"Even when you shouldn't be."

"And you..." — you smiled slightly, — "a real man, albeit a grumpy one."

Ultra Magnus looked away for a moment, as if struggling with something inside. Then he looked straight at you again. His optics flared a little brighter, reflected in your eyes.

"Rest," — he finally said, almost a whisper, but for the first time, his voice held not command... but concern.

"Tomorrow is a new day."

He took a step back, but not all the way — leaving a barely perceptible space between you.