Chapter Text
The night cycles on Cybertron where much longer than the day cycles. The night cycles being nearly twice as long, and they felt especially so to the students and cadets of the Autobot Academy and Elite Guard.
All types of physical training happened during the day cycle, the natural light of the smaller sun Cybertron orbited was taken advantage of any time it could be used. When the day ended it plunged Cybertron into a long and very dark night, half of the night was used for classroom and theory lectures for the Academy cadets while the other half was the downtime they were permitted. Resting, refuelling and nonstop studying was the most common use of downtime. In smaller personal quarters that contained a simple berth, desk and personal belonging, or the many study halls and mess halls the Academy grounds provided.
Optimus Prime enjoyed using his downtime to study in the mess hall or Hall of Records on the far side of the Autobot Academy grounds. He liked to spend his free days reading and catching up on his studies; quite the opposite to his friends.
“C’mon Optimus! It’ll be fun.”
“You seriously need to get out more.”
Optimus sighed to himself and shook his helm as he begrudgingly followed his friends through the Autobot Academy campus.
“I can’t believe you volunteered me for a charting mission without my approval.” Optimus said as he followed his friends.
Elita-1 looked over her shoulder and slowed her pace until she was beside Optimus. “Oh c’mon!” He nudged Optimus a little with her arm. “It’s just a small drifting asteroid belt a short ways away, and besides I don’t have clearance yet to lead charting missions.”
Optimus looked at her sideways, she stood just barely at his shoulder but her smaller size even for a fembot did nothing to make her presence any smaller. Elita had been his closest friend for as long as he could remember. That had enrolled into the Autobot Academy when they were younger, shared living quarters and took the same classes so that neither were ever alone. They were quite literally always side by side. After a few solar cycles at the Academy Elita’s loud, adventurous and extroverted attitude had attracted many friends and become quite the opposite to Optimus’s always more quiet and introverted personality. But despite how different they were growing to be they remained close and always found their way back to one another.
Elita-1 was his closest friend and he appreciated her more than she would ever know. Optimus cared about her more than any other mech.
And it was because of Elita that they had gained a rather persistent and permanent addition to their already established duo. Once loud and friendly and fun Elita-1 had caught Sentinel Prime’s optics, there was no way to shake him. Elita and Sentinel had become close seemingly overnight. They went to parties together, found they shared friend groups, laughed at their terrible grades in a way Optimus could never understand and found they were so much alike. Elita and Sentinel were close, so close Optimus had thought he lost his only friend when it happened.
But it turned out Sentinel wasn’t so bad once you got to know him, or got used to him. Their loud personalities were something Optimus enjoyed listening to and being around, it took a while for both Optimus and Sentinel to warm up to one another but Optimus couldn’t deny that they were very close now. Sentinel sought him out for advice, study help, servo to servo training, always took a class with him each term not to cheat off his friend but to take his responsible friend as a role model and motivation to focus on classroom work, Sentinel would make a beeline for Optimus when he spotted him between classes or after hours because he liked to be around friends. Sentinel always made sure he was doing alright, in every which way. And Optimus had learned to appreciate Sentinel’s spontaneousness; it was an odd and maddeningly endearing trait he grew fond off.
Optimus smiled and laughed more with Sentinel that he ever did with Elita. He became more outgoing and adventurous with Sentinel, even making some new friends he probably never would of thought of interacting with, surprising himself by pulling little pranks here and there for the professors to find, left campus with him more often for entertainment and just a time to get away from everything. Sentinel liked the steady, calm and respectfulness he found with Optimus because the quiet mech was so different to his usually loud and obnoxious crowd. Optimus enjoyed Sentinel’s loud, cockily and sometimes deeply caring energy because his only friend for so long had been Elita. He knew they were an odd pair and so did Sentinel but they played off one another so well that they both knew they meant a lot to one another. No matter much they fought and argued or Sentinel teased Optimus.
“So you’re using me for my clearance levels?”
Elita’s helm snapped up and her optics were wide. “Optimus! You know I’d never! I just wanna- I just wanna go on a little adventure. It’s been forever since I went on a space mission.” She pursed her lip plates and looked away. “But I guess it does kinda look like I’m just using you.”
Optimus huffed and smiled at her after her optics filled with remorse at her own actions.
“How come every time we do something fun or different or, ya know adventurous or fun you twist into something always so negative?” Sentinel Prime shot a glare over his large shoulder strut. “Lighten up Optimus or your headin’ down the road of lame Prime-icy.”
“Shut it shoulder pads,” Elita always jumped to his defence, “we’re lucky we have Optimus to keep us in line.”
Sentinel shook his head and grumbled but didn’t say anything else.
Optimus smiled at her when she winked up at him.
The trio continued to walk through their campus, greeting friends and acquaintances and classmates as they went through the grounds and buildings. Elita mostly chatting with other fembots as Sentinel either throwing a little flirt at the fembots and gruffly greeting his own friends. Optimus was content to watch them, like always.
Sentinel was continuously spinning the clearance card they were granted to use - the key given to students by professors to use on the space craft - on his digit. Happy to show off to others they encounters about being trusted with a space mission when he volunteered. Elita was about to jump forward and explain that it only because responsible and reliable Optimus Prime had been volunteered by reckless and arrogant Sentinel Prime’s name. Optimus had stoped her and just let Sentinel gloat, best he get it out of his system. Elita just affectionately rolled her optics.
It was a peaceful and fun walk and Optimus was starting to really look forward to the space mission. Maybe it would do him some good to be with his friends and drift in the stars for a few solar cycles, away from his endless studies and lecture planning and the Academy and Cybertron. He needed a change of scenery, even for a little while.
The trio stopped by a store and used their last remained credits to purchase some snacks and high grade, stashing it into their internal compartments. Optimus was really starting to get excited with Elita babbling at his side like always when an internal reminder popped up on his HUD. Optimus felt his insides twist as he stared at it.
Optimus let the reminder continue blinking in his HUD as he tried to think of a solution to his current predicament. Charting mission with his friends that would last a few day and night cycles or stay on campus in his living quarters with-
“Do we have to go right now? Ultra Magnus said we could leave anytime didn’t he?” Optimus asked as they finally arrived at the space craft hanger that was available to students that had clearance. “Can you wait like, 4 cycles? Maybe a whole night cycle? I actually had-” Optimus felt both their optics on him and he felt his faceplates heat with a blush.
Elita grinned slowly and Sentinel scoffed.
“Actually had what?” Sentinel prompted. “‘Cause nothing you got planned could be even remotely close to something as fun or interesting as our charting mission.”
Optimus felt his faceplates start to glow as he blushed deeper.
Sentinel’s optics widened as he saw his friend’s reaction. “What is with that look?”
Elita giggled quietly to herself and Sentinel looked between the two of them quickly. Optimus kept his optics turned away from his friends as he willed himself to stop blushing.
“Oh. Ugh,” Sentinel groaned and put his servos on his hip struts, “the Prime recruit from that term’s goodbye party a few terms ago? The one that Jazz threw?”
Optimus let his lip plates curl into a smile and he nodded.
Sentinel huffed. “Okay Optimus, as your friend that cares about you more or less, dump him.”
“Oh quiet!” Elita made a face and shoved Sentinel lightly. “He’s a stunning mech and he’s actually really nice. He’s in one of my Prime recruit classes-“
“Which I’m surprised you actually managed to get into this term with those horrid grades of yours.” Sentinel teased and stuck his blue tongue out at her. Optimus chuckled when Sentinel looked over their short friend to him.
“Oh ha ha, I fail a basic history course and now I’m the laughing stock of us, I get it.” Elita huffed, “Whatever. I won’t bring up all your embarrassing failed courses Sent’-“
“It’s actually more embarrassing that Optimus hasn’t gotten a grade below perfect before ever.” Sentinel turned his targeting to Optimus and lifted his chin when their optics met. “Like you really have nothing better to do that sit and study all day every day.”
“Like I said,” Optimus still felt his faceplates glowing as he spoke, “I have plans tonight.”
Elita groaned softly. “Can’t you tell Roddy it’s a last minute mission from Magnus?”
Optimus felt his insides and faceplates heat up tenfold at the mention of his partner’s name. Or the nickname Elita had given up how ever many drunken parties ago.
Rodimus had quite literally tumbled into his life and became such a huge part of it.
He remembers exactly how he met Rodimus that night, even though he was more drunk that he usually allowed himself to get off cheap high grade.
Elita and Sentinel had dragged him to a party, a scene he did not frequent nearly as much as his friends did. Optimus had shuffled his way through the dancing crowds, squinting at the flashing lights and just barely hearing over the pounding music. It was so loud he could feel it. He had greeted Jazz, a mech that seemingly everyone knew on campus and liked. Jazz had smiled and offered Optimus a few drinks, introducing him to his friends Springer and Chromia. The four chatted and it was clear the high grade energon was starting to get to them. Jazz walked around his party to greet others and Springer and Chromia kissed as they headed to the dance floor when a popular song came on. Cheers erupted and more bots shoved passed him as they all headed to the dance floor. Too many frames pressed together as they danced in the dark room and flashing lights. Optimus shuddered imagining being pressed between all the bots and lost in the heat and the suggestive song and the feel of another’s frame rocking against him. He watched couples kiss and touch and groups of friends laugh and dance.
Optimus stood alone a decent distance away from all of the others, snacking on left out bits and bolts. Scanning the crowd and smiling to himself as he watched Elita and Sentinel dancing together. They were laughing; like they always did when they were together. Sentinel grabbed her servo and twirled her around, they stood side by side attracting a crowd as they performed a ridiculous dance they made up, Elita made him lift her up and he spun her around as she looked above the crowds. Her servos on his wide shoulders to hold herself up. Optimus smiled wider as he watched her face light up when she spotted him. She blew him a kiss and Optimus pretended to catch it. That was one of the many great things about Elita that Optimus always appreciated, she pushed him to get out more but she never forced her more outgoing lifestyle on him.
Optimus sipped his from his cube but choked when someone quite literally fell out of the crowd and back onto him. Optimus stumbled back and tripped over the table behind him that held the drinks and snacks. He offlined his optics as he fell to the ground, the table crashing with him attracting such an embarrassingly large crowd as he sat in a stunned silence. It dripped down his armour plates and onto the floor where he had fallen onto his backside.
“You’re dead Ironhide!” A loud and deep voice yelled.
Optimus finally onlined his optics and was a little more than stunned to find a mech on his back between his legs. Optimus blushed furiously and shoved him away. “Watch it scrapheap!” He couldn’t stop the rude and yelled words.
The mech fell forward and whipped his helm around, an angry scowl on his face at being yelled at and shoved. Optimus met his optics with his own frown but quickly felt it dissolve. The orange and dark red mech’s scowl softened too.
Optimus felt his very spark pulse deep in his frame as they stared at one another.
“Hello beautiful.” He said quietly. So quietly Optimus thought he’d imagined it but he could smell the high grade on the other’s breath.
Optimus couldn’t find any words in his processor. He was a little more than shocked, the high grade also dulling his senses.
The red mech grinned and his narrowed optics were under a thick orange crest. It framed his face nicely and stuck out just like his bright blue optics did. Optimus could tell his resting expression was most like something close to a frown or an emotionless stare. But the grin and flush on his cheeks made his already handsome face even more so.
“I- you-“ Optimus stumbled over himself, slipping on the drinks with one servo as he struggled to find his voice. He tried again but let out a yelp when his servos slipped on the high grade and fell into his back. The red mech on his servos and knees looking down at him doing nothing to aid in his struggle to compose himself. “I- I’m- I didn’t- you-“
He chuckled and shook his helm. “Take a second gorgeous,” His voice was smooth and held an air of confidence but his cheeks flushed brighter, betraying his confident display, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Optimus snapped his intake shut and narrowed his optics. The atomosphere which seemingly faded to nothing around them when their optics met was coming back to him now. The crowd that was watching them had mostly lost interest and went back to the popular song playing, save for a few still watching the odd interaction. Optimus shoved the mech off on him and sat up from where he had been lying on his back. “What the frag was that!”
The red mech blinked and he sat on his knees, still between Optimus’ long legs.
“You- you made me fall and-“ Optimus felt himself blushing deeper, “and-! Now we’re a mess! I’m a mess!”
The red mech blinked and a slow smile spread across his face. “We could go back to my dorm. Clean off together?”
Optimus scoffed and shook his head. Too flustered to even let himself think about the words, the teasing or the implication. Seeing the small crowd still watching them he detanged his legs from the stranger. “Can you just get off me already?”
The red mech mumbled something under his breath as he got to his pedes. He shot his arms out to steady himself when he swayed but offered a servo to Optimus. Optimus’s processor was spinning so he begrudgingly took the offered servo and was pulled to his pedes with surprising strength.
Optimus stood a helm taller than the other. The red mech looked him up and down quickly and grinned when their optics met.
“Rodimus.” He said. “Rodimus is my name. I knew you were wondering.”
Optimus didn’t think it was possible to blush anymore. He was sure his faceplates were glowing an embarrassing shade of energon blue; which would only be so much more obvious in the dark lighting. But Rodimus was blushing too.
Rodimus grinned and stood on the tip of his pedes and placed a servo on Optimus’ arm for balance as he brought their faces close together. “So, you gonna tell me your name blue? Or am I gonna have to beg for it?”
How could anyone be so so- Optimus didn’t even have a word to describe the mech- Rodimus.
“Optimus. Optimus Prime.”
Rodimus’ optics widened slightly as he stood flat on his pedes. “A Prime huh? That’s so-“ He bit his lip plate and smiled. “Ya’ know if we were back on campus I’d have to let you pass and salute you as you walked by.”
Optimus felt a grin creeping onto his lips. “You’re a Prime recruit? Elite Guard graduate or did you apply or get selected?”
“So many questions. I’m a little too drunk to keep actin’ so normal around you Optimus.” He chuckled. Optimus felt his frame shiver hearing his name in such a smooth and deep voice. “How ‘bout we meet when we’re both sober hm?”
Optimus could only look down at him. Rodimus stood just a little taller than Elita did, his helm just barely higher than his shoulder strut. His darker faceplates contrasted nicely with his bright orange coloured crest. The flames painted on his chest were loud, but brought the rest of his frame together nicely. He was, well he was gorgeous. Optimus cleared his intake as that fact settled in his processor. He watched as Rodimus shifted his weight to one pede and looked up at Optimus with a grin.
“What da ya’ say to refuelling tomorrow?” Rodimus offered. “I wanna make it up you you somehow for spilling all the drinks and snacks on you.”
“You could start with an apology.” Optimus cocked his helm.
Rodimus grinned. “I’m sorry for makin’ a mess of you. I noticed you earlier but thought you’d have been on the dance floor surrounded by others when that song started playing, too pretty to be ignored and alone in the corner.” He stepped up close and looked right up at Optimus. “Forgive me Optimus Prime?“
Optimus sucked in a breath, not expecting the simple words to have such an effect on him. He nodded wordlessly and couldn’t wipe the bashful smile from his face.
Rodimus just smiled. “I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you. We get a second change at a first impression- a sober first impression.” Rodimus touched his arm.
“You don’t need a second chance.” Optimus breathed.
Rodimus’ optics went wide and his face flushed. The blue glow of his handsome blushing face a stark contrast to his orange and red frame. He visibly bit his bottom lip plate before letting his smile spread across his face. Optimus smiled back and again, felt his spark flutter.
“Tomorrow. I’ll give you the time and location, here.” Rodimus motioned for his servo and Optimus gently laid his bigger servo into Rodimus’.
They connected a small communication link that all mechs had and Rodimus shared the time and location of the meeting he wanted and smiled when he knew Optimus received it. Optimus immediately added it to his internal calendar and made a scheduled reminder on his HUD.
“There.” Rodimus sighed blissfully.
“I’ll- I’ll see you then.” Optimus said.
Rodimus grinned and placed a kiss on the top of Optimus’s servo before the latter could even hope to react. A jolt of electricity shot up his arm and made his spark throb, his insides twist with desire that made him feel heated.
“See you then gorgeous.” Rodimus said as he stepped away.
Optimus watched as Rodimus took a step or two backwards and his insides heated again when Rodimus slowly raked his optics all across Optimus’s frame. Optimus fidgeted slightly but smiled wider as Rodimus winked at him before he turned around. And Optimus admired those large gold fins at he walked away.
Optimus couldn’t remove his optics from Rodimus as he walked away. The large gold fins on his back, his shorter, slim well built and shaped frame, his glittering red armour.
“Sooo,” Elita had appeared at his side and Optimus looked down to her, “who’s the new Prime recruit Optimus?” She had a knowing smile on her face and wrapped an arm around his waist. She watched after Rodimus but looked at her friend with a surprised expressio. “What the frag happened to you! You’re covered in high grade-“
“He said his name was Rodimus.”
Sentinel had appeared at his other side. “Looks like he said a lot more to you than just his name, huh Elita?” He wrapped his arm around Optimus’s shoulders and grinned at him.
“Looked that way to me.” Elita tickled Optimus’s waist with her digits before squeezing him in a side hug.
Optimus rolled his optics at them and watched as Rodimus headed towards the exit of the abandoned warehouse just outside of the Autobot Academy base that was holding the party. The crowds of bots had to part to give Rodimus room to move through them, the wide fins on his back needing more space than most. Optimus watched him through the dark warehouse and the flashing lights loud music, Rodimus stopped to greet a few bots as he left, meeting Jazz at the front and bumping their shoulders together. Another orange mech approached him and they jumped at one another, clearly laughing as they wrapped their arms around one another for a brief moment. Rodimus opened the door to leave but turned back around and Optimus felt a smile come to his lips when Rodimus looked at him.
Through the busy crowd and crazy atmosphere they smiled at one another. Rodimus shot him a wink and Optimus fought to not turn his optics away. The beautiful orange crest above Rodimus’s optics sticking out the most on his face. He waved a servo and turned and left out the door.
Sentinel had whistled and Elita squeezed Optimus’s side. Optimus only laughed bashfully and fought out of his friend’s arms to get another cube of high grade energon.
That was the first time he had met Rodimus. The day after they were both beyond nervous for their refuelling at a cafe just a little ways off campus grounds. Optimus couldn’t remember everything they talked about, only that Rodimus was beautiful when he smiled; his hard features upturned were gentle and inviting. After the cafe meet they walked back to the living quarters on campus and parted ways. Elita berated her friend for details noisily when Optimus just when to his room and laid down with a lovestruck smile on his face.
The pair meet regularly and before Optimus knew it, Rodimus had grabbed him one night and kissed him.
From then on, they liked to spend almost every free moment they had between classes and lectures together. Their relationship had formed so quickly and Optimus only found himself falling more and more in love with Rodimus.
“What did you two have planned?” Elita tilted her helm.
“We were going to study for his exam coming up.” Optimus said. “It’s like one of the more important leadership exams, you remember don’t you Sentinel? I think it’s the one from Kup’s course.”
“Well yeah, only ‘cause it kept us awake and overcharged on high concentrate energon for days on end.”
“Exactly so I’m trying to help him study-“
“Optimus we know Rodimus Prime has such a nice ring to it but c’mon, can you reschedule? Please? For us?” Elita puffed out her bottom lip plate.
The name Rodimus Prime nearly made Optimus melt. He was so excited and so proud of his partner for being so close to the next level of his studies, Optimus was a Prime and he knew just how hard it was to become one. Such a title didn’t come easily, even if Sentinel Prime had managed it.
“C’mon you’re always with him anyway right? How bout just a day and night cycle for us.” Elita pouted.
Optimus huffed and shook his helm. “Fine. But at least let me give him a call, I’ll meet you on the ship. Get everything prepared, you can handle that can’t you Sentinel?” He teased.
Sentinel scoffed. His clearance level didn’t allow take offs or landings.
“Yeah yeah.” Elita grabbed the key card and swiped it on the pad, the door to the space craft hanger unlocked and she pulled it open. “Just make it quick.”
Optimus followed his friends inside the quiet hanger and watched as they raced to the ship that Ultra Magnus had assigned them for their mission. He stood by the entrance and brought up his internal communicator, pinging his partner as he waited for him to pick up. Rodimus was his most frequent contact, it used to be Elita but Rodimus called him multiple times a day just to tell him something silly or ask him how he was doing or just to hear his voice. Optimus always, always smiled and answered when Rodimus called him. Unless he was in a lecture.
The call connected and Rodimus’ deep voice filled his processor.
“Hey blue .”
Optimus smiled widely and closed his optics as he listened to him.
“ You on your way here yet? I have everything set up! I even managed to secure a bag of those munchies you love so much .” Rodimus said. “I know, love, you don’t gotta say it. I’m the best. ”
Optimus immediately felt guilty. “Look Rod-“
“ Can you hurry up though? You know the gladiators are on tonight and I really wanna watch ‘em before we get to studying. ”
Optimus sighed and offlined his optics for a short moment. “Listen Rod, something actually came up.”
A silence filled their call.
“ Oh ?”
Optimus sighed again and placed one servo on his hip as he turned and looked across the hanger. Elita and Sentinel could be seen in the cockpit of the small space craft, probably sorting out their duties for the next day cycle and fighting on who would be flying and who wasn’t.
“I’m actually in the hanger right now.”
More silence.
“Listen uh, Magnus sort of assigned Elita One, Sentinel Prime and I on a last cycle mission. I tried to get out of it but you know,” Optimus shrugged a shoulder strut to himself, “couldn’t really.”
“ What kind of mission ?” Rodimus asked, no trace of hurt or anything else in his deep voice.
“We’re just supposed to head out and chart a new asteroid belt.” Optimus bit his lip plate, “Look Rodimus I know we had a date planned and-“
“ Hey it’s no worries .” Rodimus was smiling, Optimus could hear it. “ No hard feelings big blue I promise. You don’t have to apologize. ”
Optimus huffed in relief.
“ If you’re flying with those two just be careful okay? ” Rodimus said. “ Everyone in the Elite Guard knows Sentinel can’t fly for scrap. ” He chuckled a little.
Optimus smiled and nodded. “Yeah I know. I’ll keep you updated okay? And next mission we’ll going alright? Just us.”
Rodimus barked a laughed. “You know the space crafts probably have cameras and microphones installed everywhere right? So a solo mission just us? No can do Optimus I wouldn’t be able to keep my servos off you if it was just us alone.” He teased lightly. “We don’t need Cybertron Command knowing how you like-“
“Okay! Okay! I get it!” Optimus hissed and felt his inside twist.
Rodimus just chuckled and a silence filled their call. After a little while Rodimus hummed then sighed quietly. Optimus’ smile dropped a little at the defeated sound.
“You okay Rodimus?”
“Yeah, yeah. Was just excited to see you.” Optimus could still hear the smile in his voice. “But it’s alright I swear, get going gorgeous. Sooner you’re gone sooner you’re back right?”
Optimus flushed at the blunt compliment and nodded. “Right.”
“I can ask Ironhide or Chromia or Blurr to come over and study if I need.” Rodimus sighed. “They’re much dumber though, so I definitely need your help when you’re back.”
Optimus rolled his optics affectionately as he started towards the space craft. “Of course.”
Rodimus hummed. “Alright love, have a safe trip okay? Call me when you’re back.”
Optimus stood at the base of the ramp as the hanger doors opened with a loud rumbling. “I will as soon as I land.”
“I’m already counting down till then.”
“I’ll call you later Rod.”
“I know blue.” Rodimus sighed and Optimus could still hear the smile in his voice. And just by hearing his voice, Optimus knew exactly which lovestruck expression his partner had.
Optimus ended their call and started up the ramp.
.
Optimus stood at the top of the ramp on their spacecraft watching as the organic moon came into their view. Optimus looked around the orange planet with wide optics, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life. Or even his studies.
His friends stood at his sides just as shocked and frozen as he was. Sentinel had a servo on his shoulder as he stood just a little ways behind him and Elita peeked around his arm where she was also hiding. Optimus looked to either over his shoulders and rolled his optics a little, a small smile on his faceplates seeing his friends hide behind him. They always talked so big but sometimes were such cowards.
The ramp of their ship touched the surface of the moon and a cloud of dust filled the air from the impact. Everything else was silent, save for a quiet blowing wind.
“Well?” Elita said quietly.
“Looks safe enou-“ Optimus started.
“Last one downs a rusty bag of bolts!” Sentinel called as he shoved past Optimus and down the ramp.
“Cheater!” Elita laughed and sprinted after their friend.
Optimus watched as Elita followed after Sentinel and the pair stood in the red dirt, kicking it with their pedes. After the initial confusion and curiosity they started kicking it at each other, laughing back and forth at the saints it left on their armour. Optimus only rolled his optics again and followed them down the ramp slowly.
Once he stood beside them the three looked around the landscape, orange land masses were on either side of them and their ship. He looked down and twisted his left pede in the soft ground, lifting his boot to see his blue armour tinted with orange. The sky and sun casting lights and shadows around the large land formations.
“Shall we?” Sentinel asked and nudged Optimus’ arm and looked to his friends.
Elita stood on his other side and grabbed Optimus’ servo like she always did. Optimus looked to her and saw the excitement clear on her face. “Just five cycles Optimus? Please?”
“C’mon,” Sentinel dragged out the word, “we don’t need his permission even if he is higher ranking. Besides, a Prime doesn’t scare away from a little uncharted moon does he?”
“It’s uncharted because it’s off limits.” Optimus reminded him.
Sentinel rolled his optics. “You get what I mean Optimus, stop being such a fun killer all the time. Just this once don’t be such a-“
Elita squeezed his servo making Optimus turns his gaze from Sentinel to her. “Five cycles tops.”
Optimus let their arguments and words roll around in his helm for a while. Both his friends were excited, the most excited they had been since their campus made the mess hall and meals open served all day and night cycles, and the moon looked safe enough. They would only be going as far as they could with still seeing their ship. There was nothing around anyway expect maybe a glittering something hanging between the land formations above their helms, other than that it was more orange dust and sand, they would probably get bored and leave right away. And if anything did happen, his friends could take care of themselves. He had trained more than enough servo to servo combat with both to know they could fight off a strong threat. Optimus looked to his right and saw Sentinel grinning at him and then looked to his right to see Elita waiting for his response while holding his servo in hers. Optimus smiled and squeezed her servo back.
“Five cycles tops.” He repeated.
They both cheered. Sentinel clapped him on the back and transformed before driving away, leaving a cloud of orange smoke behind him. Elita squeezed Optimus’ servo before transforming and following after Sentinel.
“This is a terrible idea!” Elita called.
“This is a great idea!” Sentinel laughed loudly.