It had been decades since Ultra Magnus had let his guard down, since he had allowed himself to feel anything other than the weight of duty, responsibility, and the endless fight for peace. The war had taken so much from him—friends, comrades, his own innocence. He had buried everything under layers of armor, refusing to allow any weakness to show.

But now? Now, there was something he couldn’t bury. Someone.

He didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. The second he set his optics on the coordinates, the world around him faded into the background. He wasn’t a war commander anymore. He wasn’t the stern, unshakable figure who stood for justice and order. He was just a father—a father who would stop at nothing to reclaim what was his.

The Decepticon fortress loomed before him, its gates towering, seemingly unyielding. Magnus’s fists clenched, his joints groaning under the intensity of his emotions. He didn’t care if they were the most dangerous bots left in the galaxy. He didn’t care if they had the entire Decepticon army at their disposal. He was Ultra Magnus, and this time, nothing would stand in his way.

With one swift motion, he tore through the entrance like it was made of paper, his battle-worn frame fueled by a raw, all-consuming need. Inside, everything was silent—save for the faint, unmistakable sound of a small spark beating, hidden behind cold metal bars.

“Hold on, little one,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion as he approached. The sight of his sparkling, battered but alive, was enough to shatter whatever remained of his control. Every instinct screamed at him to rush forward, but he held back, his optics softening for the first time in ages. “I’m here. I’ll never leave you again.”