He'd expected this, to be honest. Optimus had always said that their two races were more similar than anyone could have guessed, and when one took into account the fact that he was comparing gigantic, autonomous robots to tiny, comparatively frail humans, the notion seemed ridiculous. But Jolt saw now what he meant- at the core, they weren't so different at all.

Jolt was a soldier in a centuries-long war, and the look of pain and confusion on Naomi's face echoed the looks on the faceplates of countless allies and enemies alike. The life you could have saved, would have saved, should not have taken, should have taken- he'd seen the ramifications of all of them, and watching it play out now with someone so young, and someone he cared for deeply at that, put him at a loss.

"Naomi," he said at length, his tone still quiet. "Whatever happens, I can take it. I can't- I won't leave you. I already left you once, when you needed me the most, and I'm not going to do it again."