When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 58

Azura rubbed her optics as she yawned while she sat at the desk on her art platform in the lobby. She was in the middle of drawing a random picture as she wanted to keep herself entertained today. She could sense Optimus watching her as when he woke her up from recharge this morning, she actually seemed like she was still tired. Optimus had thought that was unusual as he had put Azura to berth the previous night, and he knew she did not have a nightmare, so it confused him as to why she was tired. Ratchet checked her over, and he found no reason either, and suggested maybe she should have a nap. Azura did know the reason why she was tired. After she had been put to berth, Azura had snuck out of her room to sneak through the base to Ratchet's lab to take the game from the room. She knew where Ratchet had hidden it, and she ended up playing it for quite a few hours before she finally fell into recharge. And she has only had a couple hours of sleep.

As for the gaming device, Azura was able to hide it in her room. So far, Ratchet has not gone looking for it, so he did not know that Azura has taken it. At least not yet. But with her being tired, Azura was not interested in doing much. And Optimus felt obligated to keep her entertained enough while she went through the day half asleep. The only time she felt truly focused was when she decided to watch Kung Fu Panda. This is mostly because she loved the story, and Azura also finds the story inspiring and helpful in her own quest to control her abilities.

Being it was nearly midday, Azura felt her hunger grow. She took a deep intake as she stared at the scribbles she had created on the paper. "Hmm..." She turned her head, looking at Optimus as he was standing near the platform as he watched her quietly. "I think I am ready from some energon, daddy." She smiled at him before she stood up and walked towards the railing. "My tank is rumbling...just as human stomachs growl when hungry."

Optimus smirked gently, reaching out to her to pick her up gently. "As I had expected. And, even though it is the middle of the day, I will encourage you to fall into recharge for a couple hours, Azura. You look like you are having a hard time keeping your optics open." She smiled as she was happy to do that as she yawned softly. "You will probably fall asleep while you feed."

Azura did not mind that at all. She watched him open the panel on his chassis and the fuel line was pulled out from the slot. She reached her hands for the fuel line and Optimus gave it to her before she placed the line into her mouth and waited for the line to fill with low-grade energon. Ratchet was watching curiously, and he frowned a little. "Hmmph..." Optimus looked at Ratchet when the bot scoffed. "I am still curious about why she is tired. She is not sick, and you put her to berth last night on time..." Ratchet tapped his foot lightly as he thought about it. "It almost seems like she's regressed mentally, because she is way past needing naps during the day."

"I am in agreement with you, Ratchet. It is strange. But she might have had a bad dream, and she has not admitted to it..." Azura shook her head, even though Optimus did not actually believe her at the moment. "And she is too old to be unsettled during the night, so it is unusual to me." She knew she could not admit the reason why she was tired. Azura planned to not let the game make her stay up too late from now on, as she knew they would get suspicious. "I hope it will be a one-time thing."

Ratchet nodded in agreement. "Hmm...and I was going to let her play the game today too..." Azura tensed slightly at the very mention of the game. Optimus noticed and he gave her a curious expression, and she smiled at him just as she began to drink the low-grade energon. "But she would likely end up frustrated with it. Especially since being tired can lead to the frustration."

Optimus nodded in agreement, but as Azura had tensed at the mention of the game, he could not help but feel suspicious. He hummed softly for a moment and looked at Ratchet. "Maybe you should go and find it." Azura tensed again, and Ratchet seemed confused at first, until he saw Optimus's expression. "I think it will help with something."