To be a better leader

The shuttle had fallen into recharge as he was lounging on the sofa, the now empty energon cube had fallen to the floor. If he was awake, the shuttle would have jumped at the others presence and expected a huge argument to happen. It was only fair after all, Jetfire caused murder when Optimus left.

But for now, the SIC was resting peacefully on the large sofa, it was the right size for him but to everyone else it was huge, finding large enough items for his home had been difficult.

There was a snort from the flier as his name was called, an arm covering his helm as he wasn’t ready to online just yet.

“Five more minutes, I’ll do it then.”

Do what he wasn’t exactly sure but being the SIC meant someone always wanted something from you. It had yet to dawn on him that he was back home and might have been missed.

Optimus stood aghast after his old friend spoke. So it wasn't a hallucination or anything. He was really there. It felt like his spark stopped for a moment, just start beating again even more restlessly. His mind was filled with questions, but all of them could wait. For now he was relieved that Jetfire was safe.

Silently he stepped back into the office and took the large blanket he used to make himself more comfortable in Jetfire large chair. Just after that he returned to his friend and carefully he covered him, making sure he won't wake up, yet he couldn't resist patting his large shoulder affectionately and whispering just one thing.

"Welcome home, friend."

Good things come in small packages

Optimus looked at him dumbfounded. While it was true that Jetfire got smaller he would never call him tiny. In fact he was just about Prime’s usual size. So it seems neither of them grew up or shrunk down - they swapped their sizes?

"J-Jetfire, calm down. You are not tiny, I can assure you." He tried his best to keep his friend at bay. The shock was understandable, but Jetfire was prone to overreacting things, be it big or small. "It appears we just swapped our sizes. You are as tall as I usually am and vice versa. There is surely a way to undo this."“I’m tiny compared to what I was! How am I meant to do anything in my apartment now? You better hope it’s reversible! I just spent ages doing your work and the one day I have off, this happens!”

The shuttle was fuming as he paced the apartment, trying to figure out a solution to this mess. Science wasn’t his strong point but problem solving was.

He needed a drink.

Moving to the kitchen, Optimus would hear a very loud curse.

“Optimus! Get in here! I can’t reach the energon!”

While the shuttle could fly, the kitchen was too small for such activities.

"I am sure if we contact Red alert he will find a way to change us back."

Jetfire was pretty much deaf to his pleads, once he got frustrated it was hard to calm him down. He quickly followed his friend to the kitchen and still puzzled he looked down at him. If Jetfire wasn't so angry (and Optimus worried for him) the Prime would find this scene quite amusing. Smaller than usual shuttle was standing at the tip of his pedes trying to reach one of the higher shelves where some of the stronger energon was stored.

"Jetfire please." He asked once again reaching for one of the cubes and placing it down on the counter. "The situation doesn't seem as bad as you think it is."

It had been a long flight home, the shuttle was tired and slightly dented as he landed on the balcony of his large apartment. It was still dark out, so he would have to be silent and not wake everyone up as he made his way indoors.

Surprisingly silent for a mech so big, all those nights of sneaking out had paid off, Jetfire entered the living room and stretched. In the corner of his optics he could see the kittens sleeping peacefully, guess Optimus stayed. Which meant, Jetfire was on the sofa.

Shrugging, the shuttle moved to the kitchen and helped himself to some energon. Jetfire had brought his own supply with him for his departure so he wasn’t too low, it was only that damn meteor shower that caught him off guard, hence the minor dents. Luckily Jetfire was a skilled flier and escaped without too much damage.

Cleaning up his mess, the shuttle returned to the living room. He could check on Optimus but sometimes that mech was such a light sleeper and he really didn’t want an argument at this hour. It would be best to rest on the sofa until morning, then he and Optimus could talk and he could get some well-earned recharge.

Lounging on the sofa the shuttle relaxed his optics.

Little did Jetfire know Prime wasn't in the flat when he came back. The meeting at the Autobot HQ lasted way longer than everyone wanted, because of the difficulties connected with the recent Decepticon problem. Everyone in the gathering had their own ideas how to solve the existing difficulty and the lack of understanding between them dragged the meeting forever. Optimus did his best to try and solve the conflict, but he wasn't a very skilled diplomat, at least not as skilled as everyone wanted him to be.

He sighed resigned opening the doors to Jetfire's apartment. At last a bit of peace. Tired he went into the office to leave the datapads on the desk to look through them again in the morning, but for now he needed rest. It was just so hard to be a wise leader without the help of his most trusted advisers like...

"....Jetfire?"

Prime froze in the office's doors, staring into the familiar shape resting on the sofa. He didn't noticed it at first, being too absorbed in his own thoughts but now he was staring just straight at it. He rubbed his optics quickly. Was he imagining things? Or was he really there?

thiswasallmychoice-deactivated2

Good things come in small packages

He quickly let the other go and looked at himself, following Jetfire’s example. Nothing really changed about them except their size. The shuttle was now exactly the same size as Optimus was and vice versa.

"I didn’t do anything!" He yelped surprised. “It just… happened? Are you feeling okay?"

He asked immediately concerned. Noone knew what the side effects of this size change could be.

"Maybe we should call for Red Alert."

“No! No one can see me like this! Look at Me! I’m tiny!”

Jetfire’s apartment was huge, so he could move around easily, other mechs not so much. So now the shuttle felt smaller than he actually was and while it would be nice to fix into any room now, he missed being tall.

Glaring at the now giant Optimus, the shuttle huffed. “This isn’t fair! Why am I tiny? I can’t reach anything in my apartment now!”

Even worse, now it would be more difficult to stop Optimus from leaving again. Jetfire knew he would, slagging selfish aft.

“Great. Just great. I waste all my time doing your job and now, I probably won’t be able to reach my desk!”

The shuttle was fuming and over reacting at the current situation.

#[jetfire]#[size swap event]

Optimus looked at him dumbfounded. While it was true that Jetfire got smaller he would never call him tiny. In fact he was just about Prime's usual size. So it seems neither of them grew up or shrunk down - they swapped their sizes?

First I’ve ever heard of this.

#Something you wanna explain Prime

Well? Explain yourself.

#[jetfire]#They didn't teach us about that in Academy in the Regulation and Law classes...

I am truly sorry for not knowing about the existence of such holiday. In the midst of war we lose the track of time... and dates, I'm afraid.

First I’ve ever heard of this.

#[jetfire]#I-#I didn't knew we had a holiday like that...

#Something you wanna explain Prime

siorca

((Episode source: Transformers Armada “Palace"))

Good things come in small packages

Jetfire had shut his optics and planned on hugging his best friend for hours if needed. Optimus was not leaving again.

“I’m not letting go.” Jetfire huffed, opening his optics and finding himself staring into someone’s chest. That was not something he had experienced in a while. Looking up he noticed that Optimus was…taller than him?

Pulling back he looked down at himself, then at Optimus and finally to his apartment. Everything was bigger. Not by much but he was…

“Why am I smaller than you now? What did you do?”

This had to be some Matrix thing or something. Had to be.

#[jetfire]#[size swap event]

He quickly let the other go and looked at himself, following Jetfire's example. Nothing really changed about them except their size. The shuttle was now exactly the same size as Optimus was and vice versa.

"I didn't do anything!" He yelped surprised. "It just... happened? Are you feeling okay?"

He asked immediately concerned. Noone knew what the side effects of this size change could be.

"Maybe we should call for Red Alert."

“Sorry? After all that you say sorry?”

It took a lot of willpower not to beat his friend senseless. How could Optimus be so selfish? So stupid? So..So fragging adorable when scared.

Jetfire sighed, his friend looked so scared and hurt. Maybe he was overreacting about the whole leaving thing, after all Optimus came back.

Loosening his grip slowly, he pulled his Commander into a crushing hug.

“I missed you, you aft.”

The SIC wasn’t going to apologise for overreacting or dragging Optimus into the apartment, he missed him fraggit.

#[jetfire]#[size swap event]

Optimus didn't even budge when suddenly the other pulled him into a hug. At first he feels embarrassed, after all he did what it came down to was a crushing hug that will most likely leave a few dents on his armour; but then he feels relieved. He could understand that Jetfire missed him, he obviously missed him too.

"I... me too, Jetfire."

He stutters out and returns the hug and offlining his optics for a moment to relish in the warmth of the big shuttle, but surprisingly, after a while something is... different.

"Jetfire?"

When he onlined back his optics his friend was nowhere to be found, or at least not on the line of his eyes. He still felt the crushing hug but... lower? Looking down doubtfully he discovers that his friend didn't vanish just... shrunk?

Optimus would quickly find himself inside Jetfires apartment. The shuttle had left his apartment to get some fresh air when he saw the cause of all his current problems. Grabbing the other by the scruff of his neck, he dragged the Prime inside and slammed him against a wall.

“You fragging left, you selfish, ungrateful aft!”

Jetfire had his faceplates only inches away from the others, his frame was tense and he was furious. After all that searching to find Optimus, then bringing him back and giving him a home and he leaves again.

“I had to run Cybertron on my own. I had to look after two kittens. And I spent my entire time worrying about you because I couldn’t leave. You selfish aft! Do you have any idea what I have been through?!”

It was no secret Jetfire didn’t handle mechs leaving very well, it was his brothers fault. Overcast had to leave and never call. Same with Optimus, he just left.

Or died.

Prime stared back at the shuttle with his optics wide open, not quite sure what to say. What could he say? Any explanation would just make Jetfire angrier. He clenched his fist preparing himself for any incoming hit. Because he was pretty sure there was one incoming.

"I-I'm sorry." he stuttered out. "I had my reasons I cannot explain and I do not ask for your forgiveness. I know it must have been hard and it is nothing I can fix, but... I am just sorry."

He looked to the side, trying to at least for a moment escape that gaze full of fury and hate. He almost felt as if his spark shrunk inside his chest at the thought that his oldest friend could hate him.

I swear to Primus, Optimus If I wasn’t buried wing deep in paperwork right now, I would murder you dead for that little stunt.

Jetfire, please. Calm down. I apologize for what happened but I had my reasons. I am really sorry, but I had to leave. Just… let’s not start this again.

“Calm down?

Calm. Down.

I slagging put you down! You left! Again! You better run, Optimus because when I catch you. I argh-“

With that the SIC shut the com link before he got really angry.

Prime sighs deeply looking at the sky. He better look for a place to stay over for the night until Jetfire settles down. When his friend was angry he was really scary. He wasn't planning on running away or hiding either. If the shuttle wanted to find him - he would, even if it meant chasing him to the other side of the galaxy.

"I'm sorry, Jetfire..."

I swear to Primus, Optimus If I wasn’t buried wing deep in paperwork right now, I would murder you dead for that little stunt.

Jetfire, please. Calm down. I apologize for what happened but I had my reasons. I am really sorry, but I had to leave. Just... let's not start this again.