Family Secrets.

Chapter 23.

The week went by quick, and suddenly it was time for Aurora's next dose of energon. The bruises had healed up nicely and the glow began to ebb away softly, though using concealer on any and all parts of skin she couldn't or didn't want to cover was tedious, it was worth it if she didn't want to drop out of school.

"Ready, Aurora?" Ratchet asked.

His holoform gently gripped her arm with one hand while the other cleaned her arm and got it ready for injection. Aurora nodded, not even flinching as the needle made contact with her skin. It didn't feel as uncomfortable as the first dose, didn't have the burn of a foreign substance to it.

As Ratchet worked, Aurora paid more attention to him than to the injection. His holoform was just a little shorter than Optimus's, but both were taller than her. Ratchet's shoulders were broader than Optimus's and the black turtleneck he wore outlined that fact. Ratchet was undeniably attractive, in both his holoform and his bipedal form.

Ratchet knew she was fawning over his looks at the moment, but simply pushed it to the back of his mind as he worked to get the energon in her bloodstream before the vein decided to burst.

The chilled feeling of the energon flowing through her bloodstream made her shiver a little.

"Are you okay?" Ratchet asked, rolling her sleeve back down as he was done with the injection.

"Yeah. The energon is just cold." She says, chuckling.

He chuckles with her. "I suppose to you it'd feel odd."

"It feels more natural this time." She says, hand flying up to fidget with Liberty's amulet.

She'd not taken the amulet off since the vision, hoping Liberty would summon her once more to finish answering questions. There was a familiar feel to Liberty's spark, it made Aurora feel comfortable.

-♡

Miko and Raf played a game on the Xbox Aurora had brought to the base while Aurora showered and Jack did whatever he does.

Aurora stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her, only to realize she forgot a shirt. "Of fucking course." She grunted, unlocking her phone and clicking on Optimus's contact.

~

Aurora: R u in base?

Oppy: I'm afraid not. Is there something you require, Rora?

Aurora: a shirt. I forgot to grab one before getting in the shower.

~

Optimus doesn't respond, but a moment later the lock on the bathroom door unlatches and Ratchet slides in through the cracked door before shutting it behind him. He stands there with a grey turtleneck and an orange button up.

"You can wear one of your button ups or one of my holoforms turtlenecks." He says, leaning on the bathroom counter.

Aurora stands there baffled for a few moments before she finally gets a grip. "Did you pick the lock on the bathroom door?!"

He rolls his eyes and huffs. "You needed a shirt did you not?" He asked, and Aurora sighed before nodding.

"How did you even know?" Aurora asked.

"Optimus." He said as she took the turtleneck.

"Of course."

-♡

Aurora stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of black slacks and Ratchet's grey turtle neck, a pair of black ankle socks doning her feet.

"..again?" She overheard Arcee asking. Her and Jack stood in the middle of the base conversing while Ratchet had pulled up the camera for the proximity sensor, revealing June's new car approaching steadily.

"I thought I told June I didn't need anything today?" Aurora said, ruffling her wet black hair.

"She worries." Jack said sheepishly.

Aurora raised a brow at his tone.

"Alright then." Aurora said, shrugging as she grabbed her black Nikes.

June's car comes to a stop in the base and she stepped out, fixing her work outfit.

"Hi honey!" She greeted, hugging Jack.

He groaned. "Hey..!" He said.

"Doctor," she mentioned, her tone unreadable for a moment before she turned to Arcee.

"Arcee." The two-wheeler simply nodded like the medic before June waved at Aurora.

"Where's Optimus?" June asked, looking at Ratchet hopefully.

"I'm afraid he's on a scouting mission with Bumblebee, sorry to disappoint."
Ratchet said, a small smirk playing on his derma despite his tone being off.

"Awe, I wore heels and everything."

At that, Aurora bristled and a growl threatened to leave her throat, but the proximity sensor went off again, signaling Fowler was there for Aurora. She grabbed Liberty's pendant and left quickly.