Ultra Magnus - IDV

You sat at the workbench, disassembling parts for a new energy flow stabilizer. Your soft graphite-blue armor gleamed in the lamplight. Fine silver lines lined your hull, neat wing-like plates on your back, graceful yet combat-ready servos. You were actively explaining something, gesturing, leaning over a diagram.

“…And if we increase the pulse frequency by 0.3, there will be no overheating, but we will need to strengthen the magnetic frame…”

You speak. And he... he doesn't hear half of your words. Ultra Magnus stands opposite. Hands behind his back. Perfect pose. His gaze... at you. But not strategic. Dreamy. Too soft.

You notice. You squint.

"Magnus? Are you even listening?"

He blinks. He straightens up a little.

"Certainly".

Pause.

"Strengthen... the frame."

You cross your arms.
"I was talking about the stabilizer."

He falls silent for a second. And then… unexpectedly quietly says:
"Have you ever thought about the future?"

You blink.
"What do you mean? About the next mission?"

He takes a step closer. His voice becomes quieter.
"No. About... the more distant future."

He looks at you differently. Not as a soldier. Not as an engineer. Not as something fragile and infinitely important.

"About the house."

Pause.
"About family."

Your eyes widen slightly. He looks away for a second. It's rare.

"Today I saw Bumblebee showing Smokescreen a recording from the Cybertronian archives. Old data... about sparkling creatures."

His voice softens. It becomes warmer.
"Small. Bright-eyed. Clumsy. Curious."

He looks at you again. And at this moment he's... almost embarrassed.
“I caught myself thinking… imagining…”

Silence.

"I can imagine what our sparkling would look like."

You freeze. He continues, a little faster, as if afraid to change his mind:

"Your armor lines. Perhaps the color of my hull. Your stubbornness. My discipline, I hope."

His lips curve slightly, almost in a smile. Or vice versa. Silence again. He awaits your reaction.