Chapter Text
Optimus glances over at his new conjunx, who’s not even looking at him. Optimus isn’t sure his conjunx has looked at him since the bonding ceremony ended. Maybe after this massive reception is over and they’re in private, his conjunx will be more talkative.
Starscream. It’s a lovely name for a lovely mech, but they barely even know each other. Beautiful though he may be, Optimus would not have chosen of his own accord to marry a mech he doesn’t know. Optimus sighs and shifts to try and find a comfortable position on this Primus-forsaken throne. Starscream’s bright optics flick over his way at the movement, but otherwise he doesn’t move. Optimus realizes he hasn’t moved since he was seated on that throne. A servant comes by to offer a tray of delicate treats. Optimus carefully selects one. He hasn’t been Prime long enough to actually be able to recognize all of the delicacies, but he’s not very picky anyway.
“Would you like something to eat?” Optimus asks Starscream, gesturing to the tray and hoping that Starscream will actually respond.
“Thank you.” Starscream glances over at Optimus and chooses something off the tray. He seems to have a much better idea of what he’s looking at than Optimus does.
They lapse back into an awkward silence. At least, Optimus feels awkward. He has no idea what Starscream is feeling. He continues to have no idea for the rest of the evening, which is spent sitting on their thrones and overseeing the festivities, coupled with receiving good wishes from various noblemechs eager to curry favor.
Initially, Optimus had been looking forward to the end of the night and a chance to retreat into privacy. As the actual moment approaches, though, Optimus finds himself dreading it instead. Leaving the public eye means being alone with Starscream and that’s almost worse. As the night ends, all attention turns back to them. Right. Optimus was prepared for this.
He takes a breath and holds his hand out to Starscream. “Shall we?”
Starscream looks at him, finally, a focused, intense stare that is surprisingly hard to hold. He takes Optimus’ hand. “Yes, thank you.” His voice is raspy; he’s clearly doing his best to keep it quiet. Optimus has no doubt that voice is fully capable of being an audial-grating screech.
They rise in unison and Optimus tries not to feel awkward leading Starscream through the large hall and out the massive doors. Starscream lets Optimus lead him through the winding halls of the Primal Palace and into Optimus’ chambers. As soon as the door closes behind them, Starscream pulls his hand back. Optimus lets him go without protest.
“I was hoping we could talk,” he begins tentatively as Starscream begins to explore, prowling like an enclosed predator.
“About what?” Starscream asks, looking even warier than he did before Optimus spoke. Optimus almost feels bad for having attempted to start any conversation at all.
“I was hoping to get to know my new conjunx.” Optimus removes the crown he has been wearing, a gift from Vos for the occasion. Once it’s in his hands, he realizes he has no idea what to do with it and doesn’t know whether putting to down on a table is disrespectful. “We haven’t had a chance to speak in private.” He hopes it isn’t too offensive when he sets it down on the side table.
“Well, certainly it would have been improper,” Starscream chuckles, but keeps himself still solidly out of reach.
“Yes, I suppose, but I would have liked to know you first,” Optimus says mildly. “We are bonded now.”
“Yes, we are,” Starscream sounds rather displeased about that fact.
“May I show you around my--our chambers? Or would you prefer to explore on your own?” Optimus asks. He’s not willing to invade Starscream’s space or intrude if he wishes to be alone, but he wishes to know who is his new conjunx is.
“You may.” Starscream looks him up and down and nods. Optimus notices that he doesn’t come any closer. Optimus smiles all the same.
He leads Starscream through his chambers, from the formal receiving room where they started to the more intimate parlor with its large windows and open balcony. The balcony catches Starscream’s attention; his wings perk up and tilt toward it.
“Would you like to step outside?” Optimus opens the balcony doors and lets Starscream step outside ahead of him. The Seeker’s wings spread wide to catch the wind.
“It’s not large enough to be a landing pad,” Starscreams says with no little amount of disappointment.
“I’m sure we could expand it. I don’t know what dimensions a landing pad requires, but I’m sure we could figure it out.” Optimus offers. Starscream looks surprised.
“Yes...I would...appreciate that.”
Optimus can’t fully contain his smile. “Then tomorrow I can commission it to be done. You should be comfortable here too, and it doesn’t make sense for you to have to walk all the way from a nearby landing pad.” Starscream still seems wary as they go back inside, but less so. Optimus closes the doors behind them and is pleased to note that Starscream walks a little closer to him now.
With the receiving room and the parlor explored, Optimus leads Starscream into Optimus’ office that leads off of the parlor. Starscream looks around with keen optics, but is clearly less than interested.
“This next room is my favorite,” Optimus confides as he opens the massive doors that take up the entire opposite wall. Starscream perks up in curiosity and Optimus is thrilled to hear a small delighted sound escape his new conjunx as soon as the doors open. He had the same reaction upon first seeing the library.
It’s a massive room, large enough to dwarf them both. A similar door connects to the formal receiving room, and an even larger set of doors leads out to the hall. The Primal Library is amazing, and, as far as Optimus is concerned, the best part of being Prime.
“Are there scientific texts here?” Starscream asks breathlessly.
“I believe so. I confess the historical texts are of more personal interest to me. Anything we don’t have here, though, can be obtained from Iacon Academy’s collections.” Optimus has to admire Starscream for a moment. He’s genuinely breathtaking when he smiles. “I didn’t know you were interested in science.”
“I studied at Vos’ academy,” Starscream says, already drifting toward the shelves, “I was not permitted to study in Iacon.”
“Certainly now there is no reason that you can’t. I’ll inquire in the morning,” Optimus promises. Starscream looks like he’s been given the entire world on a silver platter. He returns to Optimus’ side and rises up on his toes to press a soft, chaste kiss to Optimus’ cheek.
“You’re making so many promises to me.”
“I do intend to keep them, and I’ve only made two!” Optimus laughs. “Though I am about to make a third.”
“Oh?” Starscream looks up at him suspiciously.
“Whatever is in my power to do to make you happy here, I will do.”
Starscream’s answering smile is brighter than the sun.
“You may come to regret that. You barely know me yet.”
“I’d like to know you better,” Optimus says honestly.
Starscream laughs and kisses him on the cheek again. “You may yet.”