Chapter Text
Optimus Prime crept through the tight corridor as quietly as he could, wary of any sound that could reveal his position. He knew his time was running out, and if he was going to pull this off, the execution would have to be perfect. He’d hate to incur Elita’s wrath with nothing to show for it.
The corridor before him was opening up now, leading directly into a large courtyard. Optimus frowned. While the passage worked wonders for his current plan, he didn’t like how easy it had been to get there from his own office. But that would have to be a problem for another day. Right now, Optimus had something much more important to take care of.
At the edge of the courtyard, where the daylight was blocked by an elegant roof, stood a tall, gray figure. He seemed to be deep in thought as his gaze swept across the courtyard, arms crossed and back completely turned towards Optimus. Taking a deep breath, the young Prime snuck out from his hiding place and began silently approaching the silvery figure.
Suddenly, the other mech twitched, and Optimus only had seconds to leap up and grab at the ceiling. He felt the gears in his abdomen and back strain as he pulled himself up, disappearing out of sight just as the mech below him turned around to attentively scan his surroundings. Only when he’d turned back around and once again seemed lost in thought did Optimus dare to breathe a sigh of relief.
He carefully lowered himself back onto the ground and resumed his silent sneaking. This time, he sacrificed some of his stealth in favor of speed, in case the silvery mech once again gave in to his suspicions. It wasn’t often that Optimus wished he still had his smaller, cogless form, but now was one of those rare times. He really needed this to go according to plan.
Now mere steps from the silvery figure, Optimus readied himself. He took one deep breath, and before his processor had time to conceptualize something even resembling second thoughts, he sprang forward. The flying tackle hit the other mech square in the back, sending them both to the ground. Before Optimus could do anything else, however, he found himself lying on his back, pinned to the ground and staring down the glowing barrels of a triple fusion cannon. Above it, D-16’s – no, Megatron’s, Optimus had to remind himself – orange optics stared into his own. There was a tense beat of silence. Then, Megatron sighed and powered down his cannon, moving to offer Optimus a hand instead.
“Why did you go and do that for?” He asked, tone exasperated. “I could have shot you!”
“Nah, I don’t believe that.” Optimus said, shooting him a smirk. “You like me too much.”
Megatron huffed, but said nothing. Seeing that his friend was still rather absent-minded, Optimus changed the subject.
“What are you doing out here, anyway?” He asked, looking across the empty courtyard. “Did Starscream annoy you again?”
He chuckled, but the sound quickly faded when he looked at Megatron’s stoic face. His friend’s gaze had grown distant, and he took a few seconds before answering.
“I was thinking about Sentinel.” Megatron finally said. “As long as he’s out there, still alive, he’s a threat to our new ways. And to you.”
He turned to face Optimus, optics burning with hatred, their orange light inching towards a bright red the Prime had only seen once before.
“But I swear that if he ever dares to step a foot inside this building, I will tear him in two!”
“Hey, Dee. Hey.” Optimus said softly, placing a soothing hand on Megatron’s arm, for a moment allowing himself to step out of Optimus Prime’s shoes and become Orion Pax again. “It’s okay. He’s gone. He can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
He moved slowly as he spoke, stepping closer to lean his cheek against Megatron’s shoulder. After a moment, he felt two strong arms tentatively wrap around him as Megatron let out a deep sigh.
They stood like that for some time, Optimus only moving when Megatron did. When he looked up to meet his friend’s optics, they were back to their regular orange hue. Optimus smiled, thinking how those suited him much better.
“Hang on. What were you doing out here?” Megatron asked, his tone suspicious but much closer to its regular tone. “Weren’t you supposed to sign those documents Elita sent you?”
Optimus nodded casually, allowing the change in subject. Megatron always preferred to let moments like these go unacknowledged once they were over.
“Yeah, but I snuck away.” He replied with a grin. “Found this really cool pathway that led directly to here.”
He pointed towards the corridor in question. Megatron frowned as his optics followed Optimus’ finger.
“That is a serious liability.” He said sternly. “You should have told me about it right away!”
“That was number two on my priority list, actually.” Optimus grinned. “Right after asking if you have any work tonight.”
“I do.” Megatron nodded. “There are some supplies for the next surface expedition which I must inspect and-”
“Well, not anymore you don’t!” Optimus happily informed him. “’Cause I’m taking the liberty of clearing your schedule for tonight.”
When Megatron looked highly skeptical, he added:
“I’ve got a surprise for you!”
That, however, only made his friend even more wary.
“Because that went so well last time.” He said, following Optimus as he gestured for them to start heading back inside. “Running for our lives in the Iacon 5000 was definitely something I had on my bucket list. And that wasn’t even the worst thing that happened to us that day!”
“Hey, it worked out in the end, didn’t it?” Optimus elbowed him lightly.
Megatron gave him a look, but said nothing more as they reached his office.
“If you’re gonna insist on taking me from here early, at least let me finish up a couple of reports, will you?” Megatron asked as he keyed in the door’s code.
“Sure thing!” Optimus nodded cheerily. “I’ll wait right out here. Just don’t take too long.”
Megatron was already through the door, but he still managed to shoot his friend an optic roll before it closed behind him. Optimus sighed and leaned back against the wall beside it, just about to slide down and sit when he caught himself with the reminder that Primes shouldn’t do such things. He shook his head instead, accompanied by another sigh.
He knew the recent changes in their society had been big, and though it was certainly for the best all around, it had still been far from easy. Especially for Megatron.
It saddened Optimus greatly to know his friend was still struggling with himself so much after Sentinel’s betrayal. The revelation had been hard for all of them, of course, but Megatron had taken it the worst. And almost lost himself for it. So, Optimus hoped his plans for the evening would help Megatron get his mind off things at least a little. Just thinking about the plans made him bounce with excitement.
Fortunately, Megatron liked paperwork about as much as Optimus did, and it did not take long before the door to his office swung open again. Optimus immediately grabbed Megatron’s hand before his friend could do something that was actually irredeemable (like having second thoughts) and together they headed for the governing tower’s exit.
Outside, the city was already beginning to go dark as the night cycle slowly but surely approached. Optimus had always enjoyed how Iacon seemed to shift through these cycles, as if the city itself also possessed the ability to transform.
The two of them headed towards the main square which, despite the time of day, was still bustling with activity.
“So, which way are we heading?” Megatron asked, looking between two ramps which merged onto the city’s main road in opposing directions.
“Actually, I was thinking we could take the train.” Optimus nodded towards the nearby station, still very much in use despite the miners regaining their cogs. “You know, like old times.”
Megatron looked surprised, but didn’t protest. Perhaps he figured it was better to pick his battles.
They did not have to wait long for the next train to arrive, and despite rush hour being over, their car was moderately filled. While no Cybertronian had to walk cogless anymore, some still preferred taking the train, whether it was to avoid areas prone to traffic jams, not yet being used to their alt-mode, or simply because they liked it better.
As Optimus and Megatron boarded, several heads turned in their direction, accompanied by hushed whispers. Optimus wasn’t surprised. Though he made a big effort to spend as much time among his people as he could, it wasn’t every day the chosen Prime and his High Guard Commander ventured out on a regular train ride.
Optimus let his friend take the lead, and wasn’t at all surprised when Megatron chose a spot by the window. It seemed that no matter how much the two of them changed, some things would always remain the same.
Once all passengers had boarded, the train began moving again. Optimus quickly settled down and began chatting away. Though Megatron was a bit quiet at first, he slowly but surely began relaxing as well, even showing a bit of curiosity about their destination. On that note, however, Optimus’ lips remained sealed.
The train took them across the city, to what had once been the old mining districts. Megatron once again looked surprised when Optimus told him it was time to get off no more than five blocks away from their old barracks. As the mines and their corresponding facilities were no longer needed, this part of the city had become virtually abandoned. Plans to rebuild and re-purpose were in the making, but as much as Optimus wanted it to, such things couldn’t happen overnight.
“Is it a… sleepover?” Megatron hesitantly guessed as they began making their way through the old miner district. “Have you managed to trick Bee and Elita out here as well? Because I’m not sure I’d prefer Bee’s movie commentary over an evening filled with paperwork.”
His expression turned mildly horrified.
“Please don’t tell me you invited Starscream as well! He’s probably not too happy about that double-shift I assigned him after he mouthed off at me during the last briefing.”
Optimus burst out laughing, but was quick to give his friend a couple of reassuring pats.
“Don’t worry! It’s not a sleepover at our old place, and I swear I’ve not invited anyone else. Tonight, it’s just us.”
At that, Megatron’s face brightened visibly, and for the rest of their walk he became even more talkative than usual. They even reminisced about some old memories from their time as miners without Megatron becoming distant and shutting himself off.
“Oh, remember that ledge?” He said as they walked down the old main street, pointing at a small outcropping on a building to their left. “And the time you thought it was a good idea to attempt a turbo-swan dive from it?”
“Well, it was a pretty impressive jump if I do say so myself.” Optimus said, puffing out his chest.
“And it would have been an even more impressive crash landing if I hadn’t caught you.” Megatron pointed out, laughing and shaking his head at the memory.
“Maybe we should have pursued a career in performative acrobatics instead?” Optimus suggested in-between laughs. “But I suppose it’s good to always have a backup plan.”
Megatron snorted
“Yeah, I can see the headlines already: government officials in shambles as Prime abdicates! Meanwhile, second in command of the High Guard rejoices as he claims predecessor’s position.”
The sound of their laughter blended together, echoing between the old buildings glowing in the evening light. Optimus made sure to note every detail in Megatron’s beaming face, reveling at the rare sight. Slowly, he inched closer, pace never faltering but moving close enough so that their hands occasionally brushed. If Megatron noticed, he didn’t say anything.
Soon, the buildings and atmosphere around them began to shift. They were approaching the Outskirts, a part of Iacon which had functioned like a bridge between the miner districts and the city’s wealthy parts. Here, cogged bots with lower status lived and worked, their position still above the miners, but not by much. Optimus was currently working tirelessly to improve their conditions and further decrease the societal gaps, but once again, such things didn’t happen overnight.
Despite its inhabitants’ less than favorable lot in life, the Outskirts was a lively and mostly cheery place. It had been rather common for the more adventurous miners to spend their off-shifts there before Sentinel raised their quotas enough to render free time nonexistent. Optimus, having usually been busying himself with even more daring activities, had only visited on a couple of occasions, but that didn’t stop a new wave of nostalgia from hitting as he and Megatron weaved through the winding streets. While nothing in his new life resembled the old, here everything was still the same.
As they came closer to their final destination, Optimus couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy, and the fact that Megatron hadn’t figured anything out yet made it even better. He couldn’t wait to see his friend’s face once he realized what they were doing.
The building they stopped before was a bit less crooked than the others, and had an actually functioning sign above it, with the word ‘Gearbox’ blinking invitingly. Just like Optimus had hoped, Megatron’s face lit up with a mixture of surprise and disbelief as he recognized where they were. Just like Optimus, his friend must have thought back to the last time they were here.
Among the miners, it had been a pretty open secret that the bond between Orion Pax and D-16 was something deeper than friendship. What that something was, however, they’d rarely had enough time to explore. Orion had tried to take D-16 to this place once, though. To maybe explore that something a little more. But the two of them had been stopped outside by Darkwing, who had dragged them both back to their barracks while grunting about miners and how they should not reach above their statures. The following day, Sentinel Prime had raised the quotas, and Orion’s plans crumbled like rust.
Optimus Prime and Megatron might not have had much more free time than their old selves, but what they did have now was agency.
“After you.” Optimus said, holding the old door open with an inviting gesture.
Megatron stepped over the threshold, Optimus following behind him. This time, no one came to stop them.