Chapter Text
“Perhaps we have time for a last meal together?”
“I would greatly enjoy sharing another meal with you. But hopefully it will not be our last together.” Optimus smiled, he knew he was harping on that point, but he wanted there to be no mistake amongst those around them, those listening in. That and his words were truthfully meant.
“No, simply the last of this summit,” Megatron agreed easily, “I shall hope for another to happen sooner rather than later! But come, we cannot eat on the dance floor after all.”
He led his smaller partner to the side of the dance floor and through yet another hall.
Optimus laughed, a light happy sound as he clung to Megatron’s arm, letting the larger mech lead the way.
“True at that,” Optimus agreed. He felt light, happy, even though he knew Longarm could contact him any moment. Ultra could notice him missing any time.
“What kind of fuel do you feel like?” Megatron kept the pace slow, they might not have a lot of time, but he was going to make sure they enjoyed what they had!
“There is virtually anything the spark could desire, it is simply a matter of where to go?”
“Show me some of your favorites?” Optimus asked unsure what else he could say. He knew all too little about what other forms energon could be made into, despite what he had already tried.
“Jellyrolls then,” Megatron veered them off to the right and to a lift. Three stories up he led his companion into a cozy little place where a deft blender made Jellyrolls to order.
“Ooh.” Optimus optics brightened when he saw the fuel crafting station. “They are made fresh?” he could actually watch them being made? Optimus thought that even if they were not to his taste he would still enjoy this.
“Yes, you order them to your preference,” Megatron asked for one with blue jelly, iron, lead and copper filling.
Optimus thought for a moment. He had noticed that he liked mild green energon. Nodding to himself he made his own order. Mild green jelly, copper, lead and a hint of gold.
“It is fascinating to watch, isn't it?” Megatron hummed, watching as blue and green energon was mixed into a jelly and then shaped to squares, dusted with the filling, rolled up and sliced into bite sized bits that were artfully arranged on a plate.
“It is, very much so,” Optimus agreed as he watched fascinated and more than a little eager to try the fuel.
“Sirs,” the plates were put before them, along with thin utensils.
“Go on, try,” Megatron urged, taking a slice himself.
“How are these supposed to be used?” Optimus asked, frowning slightly as he looked over the thin ‘thing’. He reached for one of the green ones as he waited for the reply, Megatron did not seem to feel the need to use the thing so he did not feel obligated.
Optimus moaned as he put the bite sized piece in his mouth. It was so very good.
“Here,” Megatron showed how the sticks were used, then put them down, “it is acceptable to eat with your fingers. The rolls. Other things not so much.”
“How about a sample platter?”
“Yes I would like to try the sample platter.” Optimus picked up the sticks, attempting to mimic Megatron’s actions. It was harder than it looked, but eventually he did manage to pick up a role though he did squish it a little, and bring it to his mouth.
Megatron waved at the blender again, asking for samples, and then returned to his own rolls.
“There, now, as I said, these you may eat with your fingers, but some of the other things are… not to be handled.”
“I know, but I do need the practice or how else would I be able to handle the items that require these?” Optimus readjusted his grip on the sticks again, calculation programming running to find the best way to manipulate the sticks to how he wanted to use them.
“True,” Megatron smiled and reached out to readjust the smaller mechs hold on the utensils, “there, better balance.”
Optimus smiled at Megatron. “Thank you. Their use is complicated for such simple appearing things.”
“It is different from just drinking, or using hands,” Megatron shrugged lightly, “it is not often we use utensils. I believe these are simply called ‘sticks’, but I am not entirely certain.”
“And we Autobots never use anything different.” Optimus shook his head at that folly telling Megatron a story of how Sentinel had tried to get a supply of ‘Proper Autobot fuel’, only to be met with confusion then dismay.
“Well, they do have energon, what was his objection to it?” Megatron was confused, and amused, by the anekdote. He really did not like the prime in question and it certainly sounded like it was mutual.
“Your sample platter, sirs,” the blender put down a large platter between them, with a lot of different rolls, squares, ovals and other shapes of gelled energon and several other items that Megatron knew tasted good, but didn’t really know what was.
“Enjoy.”
Optimus turned briefly to the blender, “Thank you.”
“His objection was that it was frivolous and wasteful. I think he did not want to admit the energon served here tastes much better.” Optimus shrugged attempting to pick up one of the more solid looking pieces.
“I see…” understand? Not so much, but Megatron hardly pretended to understand Autobots in general. Normal or extraordinary ones, he smiled at Optimus.
“And you consider it…?”
“I don’t know the costs of the materials, but I can’t imagine it being expensive. Especially for what is gained. I mean on Cybertron, in the academy we have to take a cube of mineral enhanced medical grade energon once a vorn. That tastes like slag. But with this as long as we get a good balance that would not be needed at all. So I think this way, what is served here is far better, and not a waste,” Optimus said decisively.
“That sounds awful, but as for the cost of this… the materials are pretty common, the same minerals and trace metals that are found in most mechanoid frames, some specific to type. Like gold and boron mixes for Tricellans. Those taste good for us too, but only sparklings really need the boron. No, the expensive part is the blenders, I could probably make some of this,” he gestured to the plate, “but it would not look nearly as appetizing.”
“It is, but it is not better or worse than what I had before going to Cybertron. Hydron IV does not treat the lower classes well at all. Cybertron is still better than that.” Optimus shuddered, drone grade was not palatable at all, but it was fuel.
“Few places treat their poor well, sadly,” Megatron rumbled, “and fewer places still have no poor at all. One should think we all learned to emulate those few, but no.”
“Most places don’t care. Oh… the nobles treat anyone lower than them as trash. But the ones who have nothing at all, they call glitched, bad code from sparking not from lack of maintenance but inherent.” Optimus shook his head sadly. “Cybertron is not that bad because they keep the different casts separated as much as is possible.”
“But that is also not a good way to handle such differences,” Megatron hummed, “it creates mistrust, envy and even hate. Slower than the other way, but still the same result in the end.”
“I see it now. I knew before but I never thought about it.” The calculation process finished and Optimus tired it out guiding his finger in holding the sticks to pick up one of the pieces.
“Mm, that one is spicy,” Megatron warned, taking one for himself.
“One can learn from other races, if one is willing. We have, and hope to learn much more in the future.”
Optimus frowned, he had no idea what spicy tasted like or why it needed to be warned about. Carefully he nibbled on it and was glad for his care as heat filled his mouth. It was the only way he could describe it. But it was not bad and the heat disappeared after not too long. He slowly ate the rest of it.
“Yes one certainly can, I know I personally have,” Optimus agreed between nibbling bites.
“It requires an openness that I have not seen from Cybertron in ages,” Megatron huffed, then smiled slightly, “do you like it? That one and this one also has spicy elements, these here are acidic or sour, and those mainly sweet.”
“I do like it, I don’t think I would like it if it was stronger though.” Optimus had no idea how to respond to the rest of what Megatron said.
“Then don't dip it in that,” he pointed to an orange dip in a little bowl on the side, “it is very spicy, some say it burns.”
“I will keep that in mind.” Optimus was curious but not curious enough to risk trying it.
They did not get long together, but at least it seemed Optimus got a good meal. Megatron could wish otherwise, but he reigned it in and just followed the smaller mech to the exit from the dance. Letting him go with a promise that they would see each other again, one orn, somehow.
He would trust Shockwave to keep him safe at least. To the very best of his ability as spy, saboteur and autobot Prime.
In the last moments Optimus had with Megatron he reached up, uncaring of who was watching and gave him a soft and swift kiss, when Megatron had complied and leaned down close enough.
In the next moment he was gone, slipping into his room while Longarm distracted everyone and came straight back out with his bag that he had packed earlier before going to the dance.