robothell | What the hecky happened

Entry tags:

optimus prime | luckyfaceplate

What the hecky happened

Who: Optimus and YOU!
Where: Anywhere from Red Alert's Clinic to wandering around
When: Before Sentinel and Megatron/Rodimus log
What: Optimus finding out just what went down while he was gone from various people, or if they need to talk to him about anything.
Warnings: None

The trip wasn't a complete loss, that's for sure. Optimus has somehow contacted the planet, and while it was rather vague, he found out quite a bit about their mission here. Way more than he would have just grasping at proverbial straws. The objective, however, wouldn't be easy. In its own way, Cybertron had told him that they had to work together, that they had to get along.

You can already see what's wrong with this equation, and to be honest, it left Optimus feeling a little doubtful on his return.

Speaking of his return. That's a thing that happened, and right now he's trying to gather his bearings for being gone for....oh...a week at most.

You can find him all over, scouting around for anyone who might be around to ask for information. But if you need him first--well...he stands out, at least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ironhide, don't ever try and be subtle because...yeah, you're pretty awful at it. Optimus had caught on rather quickly that he was being tailed--a war of being the number one target would do that to you. But for the most part, he tries to let it be.

After all, Ironhide was only looking out for him.

Maybe they needed to talk, though. Really talk.

"I know you're there, Ironhide."

... Scrap.

He goes still, glancing around for something to either take cover under, or pretend to be busy with. There's nothing. So he straightens up, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his head.

"Guess I gotta work on my undercover, huh?" he answers, sheepishly.

"I'm sure Arcee could give you a few pointers."

But he doesn't hold it against Ironhide, walking over to place a hand on his shoulder. "You're worried, aren't you."

You can't fool him. He's known you long enough to be used to it.

"Prime, anybody could gimme a few pointers."

He says it easily, jokingly. His weight shifts to lean into the hand on his shoulder, smiling for a moment. Then it's back to a more serious topic.

There's no hiding it. He nods. "We came back and the place was pretty much on fire." A shrug. "Kinda hard to be anything but worried."

"I'm more worried about Rodimus. He's capable, certainly, but..."

...Okay, he has to admit something.

"Bumblebee informed me Tarn was on this planet. He'd only just narrowly escaped when we gathered." And...well, as much faith as he puts in Rodimus, he's certainly not DJD-battle-ready.

"But it's Hot Rod. Under all the flashy name and stuff. Still a kid."

Which is a problem. Just like what Prime says next.

Ironhide's optics narrow, and he draws himself up, scowling and looking ready for a fight, if need be. "So what's the plan? When do we take him out?"

"Rodimus," he corrects. "His name is Rodimus, Ironhide."

No matter what anyone says, there's pride under there for the bot he met in Nyon. He's young, he's confident, and in some ways he's afraid that he'll fall and Optimus won't be there to catch him.

But if there's one thing Rodimus has earned, it's his name.

"I have to speak with Megatron."

"... Right. Sorry, Prime."

He's way more conciliatory toward Optimus than Rodimus. Then again, when last he saw the latter, Rodimus was.... not Rodimus. It's hard to keep things like that in mind.

He squints over at Optimus.

"So. We're not just goin' to town on him?"

"It's alright." Rodimus, on the other hand, would demand that correction. Every time. If there's one thing Optimus has, it's patience, and he's willing to help out his old friend with remembering (or learning) things as they are.

...

"No. He's joined the Autobot cause, and is a..."

He almost says friend. It almost comes out too easily. But he can't say it now, as much as he wants to. Things like that...they take time.

"An ally."

For a long time, he just looks at Optimus. Studies him. There is a lot in that silence, and despite the fact Ironhide knows Prime as well as he does... he can't decode it all. So he watches him.

At length, he finally speaks, edging closer. His hand rests on Optimus' elbow.

"Prime..." He huffs a bit. "You still wanna make things right, don't you? With him, I mean."

Even after everything that had -- or would -- happened, he can see it. In the pause, the way Prime shifts a bit.

When Ironhide says it, it only solidifies it for the both of them. Optimus had been trying to say it was the trial. That Megatron had somehow found a loophole and the he was only abiding by the law, like Ultra Magnus had done.

But they'd had a talk. They'd worked out an agreement. Optimus had granted him an extended life, even if it'd only lead to death eventually.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Ironhide. No one is impossible to redeem."

Except Sentinel.

"Y'know that's gonna be hard for a lot of us to take," he says, slowly. He's actually thinking about the words, for once, choosing them very carefully.

After all, he's including himself in there. He's still not sure he likes this idea even the slightest bit. Optimus... he'd give his spark for the bot in an instant.

But sometimes it's as if Prime saw a little too much good in the other side.

Still, Ironhide will stand with him. His hand tightens on Prime's arm, as if to cement that.

"I understand completely, Ironhide. By all accounts, he should have been executed already." And he says that with certainty. There's no doubt that Megatron got a better deal than he deserved. "But he played by the law and won."

He swung a trial in his favour, and Optimus had to settle for compromise. He didn't have to, of course. No one on the Autobot side would have cared.

But Optimus did what was right. Not what his side wanted. Sometimes you have to choose between being a hero and being a leader.

And he hoped he made the right call.

"I'm gonna have to take your word for it, Prime."

It was hard to believe this. Believe they didn't have to go in punching Megatron anymore. Hard to believe Megatron was anything other than a rampaging, genocidal tyrant.

His weight shifts, and he leans a shoulder against Optimus.

"But I do. Y'know?" And he looks up. "I'm takin' your word. Cross my spark and everythin'."

For the normal Cybertronian, it was. But Optimus had known Megatron before that. Known what the system had done to him, despite how hard Megatron had tried to not succumb to it.

His eyes sadden at the thought of his friend being lost, of their battles that took four million years to finish. Megatron could possibly be redeemed by finding the Knights of Cybertron.

But were they redeemable as species?

He feels the weight on his shoulder, leaning ever so slightly back. "I wouldn't hold it against you if you felt otherwise."

"I kinda do," he admits.

He doesn't really want to. He doesn't want to admit to anything that feels like it goes against what Prime really wants. Something about it feels wrong.

But... Optimus deserves honesty. Above everything else. And Ironhide was never good at hiding his feelings, besides.

"I mean, last I checked, the guy was killin' us left and right. It... ain't easy to accept that's over." He shrugs. "Gonna try to, though. Just don't hold it too much against me if I can't switch over quick-like."

"I appreciate the honesty, Ironhide." He didn't expect it to go over too well with the bot either, especially since he's missed out on so much. His eyes sadden as he looks off again, contemplating everything Ironhide's said. About Megatron's actions, about how it's all just...over.

"Not many disagree with you on that, either. Prowl...certainly said his piece on the matter."

More like he wouldn't shut up for three days. However you want to look at it.

"But I hope you have faith in me, at the very least."

Because he needs hope in himself, too.

"Yeah, and how long'd that take?"

He knows Prowl -- or he did. If the guy said his piece, it probably went on for a lot longer than it needed to. Even if it's a little reassuring to hear he's not the only one with reservations.

For a while, he just studies Prime. The way his expression changes. Then he slaps the taller bot's arm. Not too hard. Just enough to get his attention back.

"Don't give me that," he grumbles. "'Course I do. Lost my memories, not my Spark."

"The whole trip back from Luna 2, to be honest."

It was a long ride and when you don't need to breathe, you can have a lot to say. Prowl certainly did. But he feels Ironhide's fist bump against his arm, and a small sliver of hope re-enters his spark.

"Something I'll make sure to never happen."

"What, you didn't weld his mouth closed? How'd you have that much restraint?"

He probably wouldn't have. He'd probably have slapped a hand down on Prowl's mouth about halfway through. And then dragged him off.

He keeps his hand where it is on Optimus' arm, still looking up at him.

"I trust you, Prime. I believe in you. Always have. We're gonna be fine."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What the hecky happened

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject