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"You're getting a tattoo?" Optimus asked, reaffirming what you had eagerly told him minutes before.
"Yep," You confirmed with a joyful smile.
Despite your enthusiasm, Optimus was worried about you. Humans were fragile creatures, and though Optimus knew little about tattoos, he understood it could be a somewhat painful experience to have them applied. Yet, without knowing more about human customs, Optimus was not sure whether he would offend you if he gave voice to his concerns.
Instead, he used his diplomacy skills to aid his reply, responding "I see... And you are excited about this experience?"
You considered the tattoo that you planned to get the next day whose design you had borrowed from the Autobots themselves.
“I would say that I’m,” You fished for the right words, “Half-excited, half-apprehensive.”
Apprehensive? Optimus wasn’t sure what to make of that, but it did nothing to soothe his concern. “If I may ask, will there be a long recovery period?”
Once again, you were careful with your answer. You didn’t want Optimus to worry, but you also didn’t want him to see the tattoo under the protective wrapping that you would have to wear, ensuring it healed properly. You only wanted Optimus to see it as a completed work of art when it was ready; after all, he was the bot who had inspired it and the love of your life as well, his approval meant more to you than anyone else’s.
“It’s not so much of a recovery period as such, but I will have to keep it properly covered and protected for a while until it heals properly,” You told him.
Optimus’ steady optics never left you as he weighed up his next words carefully, trying to keep the longing out of his voice, “May I please visit you while you recover?”
You smiled at his request, finding the shy sincerity behind his words endearing. “As if you ever have to ask, Optimus. My home is your home and you are always welcome there, but I’ll still be around the base often enough.”
“You will?”
“Yeah, it’s just a tattoo. I won’t be incapacitated.”
With his concerns somewhat alleviated, Optimus nodded and the two of you moved on to another topic as you strolled through the base, happy to be in one another’s company.
As promised, Optimus came to visit you immediately after you received your tattoo. Although you had already told him that you would be fine, he had to make sure you were telling the truth himself. Once he saw that you were up and about as usual, uninjured by the tattooing process, he relaxed a little, thankful that you were unharmed.
With your permission, he drove you to a secluded clearing the two of you knew of so he could transform back into his root-mode and speak freely with you. While you spoke, Optimus’ optics scanned your body, searching for any hint of the tattoo. Unsuccessful, Optimus started to wonder whether you had actually gone through with it, or whether you had saved yourself the discomfort of ‘getting inked’ as so many humans referred to the act, but upon further thought, he decided that you likely had got it and that the new image adorning your body was simply hidden from plain sight.
“If you have a question, you can ask it,” You said casually, freeing Optimus from any social conventions he might have been worried about.
He hummed thoughtfully but made no comment as he kept pace with you on the walk through the clearing.
You didn’t speak further, knowing that Optimus would talk when he was ready and that rushing him would only make him uncomfortable; it was that kind of understanding that always drew Optimus to you, like a moth to a flame.
Finally, he did speak, making you smile when he asked if he could see your new tattoo.
You placed a hand on his leg.
“As soon as I can show you, I will,” You told him.
Optimus nodded, treating your response like it was a great honour, touched that you would allow him to see this new part of you.
“So?” You asked apprehensively, holding open your shirt in the privacy of Optimus’ often neglected hab-suite so he could see your new tattoo. “What do you think?”
Lowering himself down on one knee, Optimus looked at the tattoo of the Autobot insignia reverently. He had seen it on thousands of Cybertronians who supported his cause, but to see it on you was something entirely different.
“Why?” He wondered aloud, reaching out to touch it, but then holding back, afraid that it might still be sensitive to touch.
“Because I love you, Optimus,” You answered seriously. “And I want to keep you and your cause close to my heart. Always.”
At your response, Optimus leaned closer to you, pressing his helm against your head. He also loved you, but at that moment, he let his actions speak for him, closing his optics to spend a single peaceful moment with you, wishing it could last forever.