Work Text:
Optimus sat running a cloth over his axe. He knew he should take a break. By the Allspark, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had a break. “That does not matter. I am a Prime, and that is a great responsibility not to be taken lightly.” he thought to himself as his gaze traveled to the recent scars he’d acquired, some of which were still leaking energon. He really should see Ratchet, but the medic had his servos full with the last battle they’d fought.
Optimus winced as he thought of it. “So many lost…”
He thought that maybe the many, many decacycles fought, and the amount of losses got better for him to bear. Maybe numbed the pain.
Well that was a desperate attempt at a lie.
Optimus sighed and put his head in his servos. He could see every one of their faces. He could hear their screams as their spark was extinguished. It was torture for him. It killed him inside that he couldn’t save them. What pained him even more, was the realization that their deaths were on him.
It was all his fault.
As much as everyone denied it, said that it was just the way war was, he knew they were all thinking it.
“I never wanted this…” he murmured.
“Optimus.” A voice called, stirring Optimus from his thoughts.
He turned to see his beloved: Elita-1.
Even with this grief he felt inside of him, she always managed to make his spark flutter whenever he saw her. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve her loyalty to him even through a war such as this.
She walked to him, her pink Armour glistening in the light.
“You look horrible.” she said bluntly.
Optimus let out a low chuckle. Straight and to the point.
She let out a sigh, and sat down facing him. “I mean it. You need to see Ratchet.” she said, her voice lined with worry.
“I...I’m fine.” Optimus replied, returning to cleaning his axe.
“Scrap metal.” she replied, narrowing her optics at him.
When Optimus wouldn’t meet her gaze, she placed her servo on his, and stopped him.
“Optimus, you need to take a break. Pushing yourself won’t help anything. We need you at your best, especially now. And I can tell that you are far from your best.” she scolded him.
He gave a sigh. “Elita, I am fine. You do not need to worry about me.” he said, still not meeting her gaze. She saw right through him, and the Prime was ashamed of it.
“But I do. We all do!” she replied, her tone taking on a more irritated sound.
“I assure you I am fine!” he growled, his words coming out harsher than he meant them to.
There was a moment of silence between the two.
“Optimus.” she said. When he didn’t respond she tried again.
“Optimus.” she said in a warning tone. He sighed. “I am not discussing this.”
She gave a grumbling sigh, before her optics lit up slightly.
“Orion.”
That got his attention. And she knew it too.
She took his head in her servos, and forced him to look into her beautiful blue optics. Her exquisite gaze that entranced him every time he gazed into them. A gaze that pierced his innermost spark.
No words were spoken as she saw the pain in his optics. No words could be spoken. She sighed, and pulled him into an embrace. Optimus couldn’t help but sigh, and lean into her as he heard her spark beat through her chassis.
“It...It is all my fault.” he said quietly, no longer having the will to hide his pain. To do so would be futile anyways.
“No, Optimus. You are doing the absolute best you can given the circumstances. Everyone who has ever sided with you in this war did so knowing the risks. Do you know why they follow you?” she questioned softly.
“Because they trusted you. They wanted you as their leader. They approved of you.” she said, stroking his helm softly.
“And I failed them all.” he replied, his voice slightly muffled.
“No. You led them. You showed compassion for each and every one of them. You still do. That’s why they followed you, and why we continue to do so. You treat us like we’re more than mere soldiers for your cause. You treat us like companions.”
Optimus was silent. Did she mean that?
“I...I never wanted this. I never wanted such responsibility. I do not deserve what has been given to me.” he said, his voice cracking slightly. He looked up at her. “I do not deserve your love.”
Her optics widened, before they saddened again.
“I-” He was cut off by Elita pressing her face plate to his. Optimus found he had no will to resist, and melted into the kiss. After a moment, they pulled apart, their faces inches from each other’s.
“There is no one that deserves the Matrix more than you, Optimus. I know you never intended or wanted to become a leader, but in my opinion, that’s where the best come from.” she smiled softly, earning a small smile to form on Optimus’ lips as a small blush washed over him.
“As for who deserves my love…” she continued, trailing off as she pulled him closer for a more passionate kiss.
“Let me be the judge of that.”
With that, she kissed him with a passion that surprised Optimus. Not that he was complaining.
He hadn’t realized how much he needed this. But by the Allspark he did now. He returned her kiss as they continued for sevral minutes, each one soothing the pain of the other.
As they pulled away, their cooling fans now activated, Optimus gazed at her with a love filled smile.
“Thank you...Ariel.”
She gave a chuckle as she let him rest his helm once more on her chassis.
“Someone has to look after you around here, you scrapbrain.” she teased softly.
Optimus chuckled once more.
“You always were headstrong.” he replied.
“And you are still as stubborn as you were then, Orion. Only now you have a much bigger ego.” she smirked.
“It is called Leadership.” he corrected, his smile giving him away as he shared in this lighthearted moment.
“You are the greatest leader I’ve ever seen. Don’t you ever forget that.” she said, once again stroking the back of his helm softly. “You are the most deserving of us all. Whether you see it or not, I always have. That’s why I follow you. Why we all follow you.”
Optimus let out another smile as he embraced her tighter. The war was never so bad with her around. She was his light through it all.
He didn’t know what he’d ever do if he lost her.
But for now, in this small moment of time, the war didn’t matter to him. What mattered to him was her embrace around him. The closeness they shared. In this astrosecond of a moment…
She was everything that existed for him. It was wonderful.
“Can we...stay like this?” he questioned softly.
“Only if you see Ratchet tomorrow morning.” she replied with a smirk, but Optimus knew she was dead serious.
“Fine…” he grumbled.
“Finally you got some sense knocked into your thick helm.” she teased softly, before giving him a peck on his helm.
He gave a sigh, before giving another chuckle.
“I love you too.”