“I was never one for sentimentality, Prime” Megatron reminisces. 5 billion years after the war and all that’s there to think about paled in comparison to the meteor shower in front of him. The loss, the agony, his own part in the suffering he’s caused those he’s been around. It’s like he could grasp all of that and it would be nothing but sand slipping through his fingers.

No matter how desperately he tries to hold onto it, it slips by. There is nothing to be done. It’s already happened, and now all he can do, besides wading in the filth he’s created was to swallow his pride and be seated next to the one he only recently considered a friend again.

Though he was unsure if that was yet another mirage in the desert or not from the way he was being looked at.

“Even after all this time.” Prime opens his mask to emphasize his point. “You’re still trying to deceive me. Do you take me for a fool Megatron?”

Megatron froze, trying to keep the same scowl he’s etched on his face for most of his now pathetic life. He should have known. This meeting was all just to kick him while he was down. Everything from the invitation being phrased with such coyness, to the location being the very tower where they parted ways to this saccharine, tacky light show. What a farce. The more he thinks about it the more he grits his teeth.

“Heh”

Did Prime chuckle just now?

“Hahaha! You know I’m just yanking you. Right, D?” Primus... The mech never lost that cheeky grin, did he? Reserved only for the type of brotherly ribbing he and Megatron would give each other.

Optimus sighs. A contemplative look falls on his face, then a somber one.
“I know you wanted to come here. We both know that at this point there’s nothing left to hide between us.”

“The intimacy of mutual spite and endless battles. A dance of passion to the grave we so willingly participated in.”

The smirk returns. “And that’s how I knew you were lying, D.” Optimus puts on a gravelly voice. “I care not for sentimentality! Allow me to improvise poetry under the starlight. That will show that Prime!”

Smack!

At this point Megatron couldn’t hold back his laughter and smacked Optimus on the back.

“First of all, I do not sound like that! If this is your idea of a joke, Prime, you’ve lost your touch.” Megatron failed to hide his snickering mid sentence.

“Come on, I got it close didn’t I?”

“I suppose I can give you some credit.”
As much as he wanted to admit that the Prime’s mockery was spot on, Megatron's ego still had ways to go before it would no longer capsize any humility left within him.

How is it that despite all the trauma, bloodshed and hardening of hearts, at this moment, at this time, Optimus still reflects that plucky, goofy, charming annoying miner D-16 had met all those ages ago.

That smile. That damned smile, even marred by age, scarring and the fogged optics of someone who knew better, can still capture a feeling that was once joyful and full of love for a bot whose morals are rancid; whose actions unspeakable, and unforgivable. It was aggravating.

It made his blood boil.

Megatron’s laughter subsides, he turns away. He assumes he put on that scowl again but everything, from the way his shoulders relaxed when Optimus patted him on the back, to the slow sigh he gave off afterward.

“We both know it’s not my place to forgive you.”

...

“At least, everything that’s outside us two. I don’t blame anyone else for moving on.”

Megatron tenses up. “So why are you still trying to console me? I’ve had enough pity these past few cycles.”

“I’m wondering what you’re going to do. Do you see yourself having a future?”

“Do you see me deserving one?”

Optimus let his hand off Megatron’s back.

A moment to pause passes by.

“When I formed the Autobots, I made one thing clear to anyone who would follow my lead. ‘Freedom is the right of all sentient beings’. Even someone like you.” Optimus’ brow furrowed, trying his damnest to keep composure.

“Oh, this again.”

“D, I’m not done.“ Megatron begrudgingly listens.

“And with that, there were never any exceptions. I’m not going to say this lightly. What you’ve one is nigh irreparable. I’ve become well aware of how Autobots and Decepticons alike hate that I’m even talking to you. I don’t blame them.”

“And with that confirms- ahem. Continue” Optimus’ glare stopped any further interruption from Megatron.

A heavy vent, and then moving on.

“You still have a life worth living. I knew you were genuine when you said you wanted change in this world. A world where nobody is beholden to predetermined by those in power.” Optimus looks Megatron directly in his spark. “That was what you wrote back then, right?”

“I used the word shackled, not beholden. Perhaps you’ve spent too long away from the library.”

“And for all these eons you were worried about my semantics.”

An uproar of joyous laughter befell the two cybertronians.

“But that’s exactly what I mean. You still have that spark of wanting to educate, for others to discover, to fully form into who they want to be. There’s other places in the galaxy. Places where you’ll have a clean slate.” the chipper attitude from ages long past crept into Optimus’ tone.

“And what will you do if I go to my old ways. The fires, the carnage, the vitriol?” Megatron asked with a wicked smile.

Optimus contemplates, “Then I suppose it would be business as usual between us. But we’re both too old for that now.”

He gets up and starts taking his leave.

“Whatever happens, I want you to live. Not only with your mistakes, but the potential you can harness too.”

And like that, Megatron was alone. The last meteor flew through the sky.

Megatron wondered if he can make an impact as beautiful as that some day.

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