Contains: Optimus x fem-human!reader, more unrealized pining from Optimus, he’s been out of the game for far too long
A great, foreboding mech stands outside of your balcony, stark against the evening background and skies. Optimus Prime regards you with a tucked chin and pinched metallic features, as if hesitant. It appears he’d been in the midst of leaving before you opened the upper level doors to receive him.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he says by way of greeting. The Prime presses closer, his right digital servos moving to rest upon the house siding gently, whilst his left places on the roof edge. There is a distinct, but slight, level of privacy assumed based on his stance: Optimus has effectively created the impression of a closed space. He can hear the distant commentary from his subordinates, so he speaks quietly with you.
You smile, polite and surprised; this is the first time the mech has sought you out, and it worries you. “No, you’re not. Is there something you wanted to discuss?”
Optimus makes to speak, pausing before he does so to peer irritatedly to his left. You cannot hear them, but Optimus can, audials rotating and adjusting in annoyance.
‘—Caging in the poor woman. You think she’s scared? I’d be scared.’
‘What’s he saying? Can you hear anything?’
‘No, not with your big ass mouth going.’
‘Whatever.’
He sighs, vapor pluming from alar slits. “I wanted to thank you, properly, for helping them—and myself. I also wanted to ask...What benefit do you gain from aiding us?” The question isn't accusatory, rather cautious. “We're fugitives on your Earth. Should we be discovered, you will reap punishment much the same.”
“I'm returning a favor. Your...” You rifle around internally for the right descriptor. “Your comrades saved many people some time ago. They saved me, too. A little bit of hospitality is owed.”
“You owe us nothing, but your care and graciousness aren’t in vain.” Optimus holds your curious stare; where you cannot see, his servos tighten along the roof and siding at his subordinates' continued remarks that have turned inappropriate.
'All that fighting and no way to blow off some steam for—What?—ages? No wonder he's always so—What's that word again? It starts with a 'R'?'
'Resolute? Righteous? Rigid?'
'Rigid!'
His derma press together and twitch infinitesimally.
You hum at his response and Optimus is brought back to the conversation. “You know, they told me stories about you before you joined us here. So many stories.” Gentle, tired laughter carries from your throat.
Optimus stills, an amalgamation of past events are recalled from memory processors; warfronts, past allies, adolescent times, accidental mishaps, comrades' deaths, his death. He deigns to ask what you've been told. Optimus will speak with his subordinates later.
“Hopefully, they did not bore you,” he says.
“No,” you sigh, bracing your hands on the guardrail. This is closest you’ve been to the mech, and, even still, the distance is polite. “No, they didn’t. They were very entertaining.”
“My comrades, or my stories?”
You peer upwards. This great autonomous creation before you has just made a joke, evident in the slight tilt of his mouth. It’s jarring for some reason, as if you believed the concept of humor was beyond him. And you are reminded in that moment of a statement made to you by Ratchet.
‘Relatively speaking, Optimus may be the last Prime, but he’s young.’ Ratchet had said. ‘And he insists on carrying burdens that aren’t his. He carries all of our burdens, too—it’s what makes him a leader you’d just die for.’
And you see this youthfulness now, brief as it may be, beyond the scarred metal and collected demeanor. “Both, I’d say.”
Optimus Prime looks upon you with an expression not meant for your understanding. “Then perhaps you can tell me some of your stories as well.”
‘I mean, I get it, she’s a pretty little human. I’d want a bite of that, too.’ A wolf-whistle follows shortly after this statement.
The Autobot Leader bids you goodnight, and steps away to handle the other matters at hand.
Jack once got a school assignment to write a report on how social injustices lead to weaponized conflicts, revolutions, or wars. Due to the general chaos in the base and the importance of the project to his grade. Optimus offered Jack his quarters to work, interested in the education of another species.
Optimus took interest in Jacks assignment. Once Jack explained his project, Optimus offered advice and found himself in discussions about social structures, politics and their impact on personal lives. Both Jack and Optimus grew unknowingly closer.
When the day of his project’s presentation came Optimus cleared his entire day to pick up Jack and wait by the school as moral support.
Jack was the only one to get an A on his assignment. In his excitement he ran out to Optimus and told him “You won’t believe it I got an A. Thank you so much for the help, Dad.” Jack was so happy he didn’t even realise he called Optimus Dad, but Optimus did and it made him internally very happy that Jack saw him as a father figure.
Since then, Optimus had made it a priority to be more around the children especially Jack. Subconsciously he extends his EMP field around the kids whenever he is near them.
Notice: This is a comfort fic for people with a uterus, suffering through their menstrual cycle. Meaning blood, function and structure of the uterus will be mentioned/explained.
I use Bloody Mary a lot in this fic not cause I am ashamed of having a period but more so because I found it funny to give it a name. Also not everyone’s period goes the same way so your period experience may differ from person to person.
This was a request from @theemoteam5994, that I was more than happy to write.
It was a pretty standard Friday evening I was sitting on the couch next to Miko reading a new book, I just got. Ratchet was working on the control panels recalibrating the ground bridge, Optimus stood at his control panel writing the report of the last mission for agent Fowler meanwhile Bulkhead repaired the lob ball. Jack had work, Raphael was out of country visiting family, which led Bumblebee and Arcee to drive patrol today. Resulting in Miko and me to hanging out alone. Which was fine it was a nice to not do anything for once.
Unexpected I started to feel something damp my pants, or to be precise my underwear. Oh, you gotta be kidding me. Mentally counting the days back since the last time, it happened and concluding that it had been indeed a month now, a defeated sigh escaped my lips. Which in turn made Miko turned to me in confusion.
“Whoa you good, what’s with the defeated sigh you sound like me when we are about to write a test.”
“Miko please just shut up and let me suffer in silence and desperation.”
“Yeesh since when are you so grumpy.”
“Since the high and mighty royal majesty, the bloody Mary decided to show up.”
“Ah Dave decided to visit.”
That caused me to raise a brow at Miko, to which she gave me a smile.
“Dave? Do I want to know.”
“You know that one sound “God, fucking damnit Dave, there goes the last shit I ever gave.”
“Omg, that’s genius.”
“Yes, it’s hilarious when you’re having period pain and just scream fucking Dave.”
“Oh man, Miko you’re a genius. By the way do you have tampons or a pad? I forgot my period bag.”
“Oh, shit did you just get it?”
“Yeah, and I would like to not have to explain to gigantic alien why my pants are red and what the menstrual cycle is.”
“Haha, understandable, I really wouldn’t want to explain what’s going on down there to Bulky.”
Giggling to each other, I’m forced to double over as a sharp pain shoot through my lower abdomen, causing a hiss of pain to escape me.
“Man, is your period always like that? It looks really painful. I mean my crams hurt to, but they are at least somewhat manageable.”
“Unfortunately, yes the problem with these I have to physically double over and can’t ignore them like the others.”
“That sucks. How about you go put on a pad or tampon or both and I call June if she can bring painkillers for you..”
“Oh my god Miko you’re a saint thanks.”
“No prob. The bag is in my front pocket underneath my slash monkey cd.”
Gratefully I go over to her bag as Miko makes her way to the medbay to find June. Finding the small cotton bag I take it out, zip Mikos bag back up and move hurriedly to the washrooms. Oh my god there is nothing more uncomfortable than sitting in a puddle of your own blood.
Coming back into the main hangar I moved towards the designated “human area” as Ratchet so lovingly nicknamed it. Miko was the first to notice my return and waved, as I climbed the stairs up. She intercepted me as I reached the stairs, I wordlessly gave her the little bag back, before she bend over and started whispering.
“Hey I called June and she said she bring some Aspirins and a few heating pads.”
“God I love that women, and you, bless you.”
“Yeah try to remember that the next time I go through the ground bridge.”
“Different issue Miko.”
“Ugh, well whatever, June said she bring the supplies when she picks up Jack after his shift.”
“Why does Nurse Darby have to bring painkillers and heating pads, and would you be so kind as to tell me why you didn’t think to inform me that you are unwell.”
Simultaneous Miko and I froze up as the very distinct sarcastic and very much unamused voice of the resident medic, rang from behind us. Turning around we were confronted with a very pissed of looking Ratchet.
“Ok you look like you can handle this right well my part is done, HEY BULKY LET’S GO DUNE BASHING.”
Miko didn’t hesitate to leave me alone and run up to the railing jumping onto her guardians servo as he immediately transformed around her and proceeded to race out of the base. Sharing his charges unwillingness to become a target of Ratchets anger. Left alone under Ratchets piercing gaze, I do my best to avoid eye contact.
“So, are you inclined to tell me now why you didn’t think it necessary to come to me for medical attention.”
“Oh uhm it’s really not that big of a deal.”
“If I didn’t treat every one that said “oh, that’s not that big of a deal” this entire team would be dead by now. So unless you miraculously became doctor you com to me with any kind of medical issue. Did I make myself clear?”
“Ratchet, it’s really none of your concern, I am fine.”
Quiet. It was deadly quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. Ah shit, I fucked up, I fucked up big time. I did the one thing you don’t do, ever. I broke the one rule on the base, crossed the one line even Optimus doesn’t cross. Don’t backtalk Ratchet when it’s about medical decision. Well it was a good life.
“Oh it’s none of my concern is it? My how interesting would you care to elaborate on why that is?”
“I...I I am sorry Ratchet, I didn’t mean it like th-ughnn.”
A sharp pain went trough my lower abdomen forcing me to hug myself as I doubled over. As the pain subsided and I was able to stand upright again, a green light beam went over my body. Looking up I was met with the sight of a very concerned Ratchet and an equally worried Optimus. When did he come over here, weird? I was ripped out of my train of thoughts as a sharp exhale escaped Ratchets vents.
“YOU ARE LOSING BLOOD AS WELL AS PART OF YOUR INNER LINING IS DETIRIOURATING AND YOU RUN AROUND HERE ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING IS FINE.”
“Because it is?”
Apparently, that was not the right or more like best thing to say. I could already see the oncoming triage, Ratchet was going to put me through. Just as he prepared to chew me out and preach his speech on taking proper care of oneself, a big servo landed on his shoulder plate. Optimus gently pulled Ratchet back before coming closer, bending down to my level.
“We are worried about you. Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed about.”
“Hmpf, especially if you lose essential organic fluids.”
“Ah, shit that’s not it’s, aww geez uh scrap how do I explain it.”
“While we both would appreciate an explanation, please don’t feel cornered or forced to please us. Though I do have to ask you to use a different manner of speech.”
“Huh, oh yeah sorry about that big guy. Just give me a minute”
Seeing Optimus giving a nod and even Ratchet, though begrudgingly, give me some space, I take a deep breath. Ok first me being a nervous wreck is not going to help anyone. So deep breaths, everything is fine. It’s not like you are going to have to explain how and what the menstrual cycle is, to gigantic aliens. Man, I sometimes hate my life so much. Letting out a deep sigh I turn around I make my way to the two bots.
“Ok, so first of all, I am ok, I will not bleed out or am sick with a terminal disease. What’s happening to me is a natural process that happens every month for more or less than a week depending on the person. Every person with a uterus goes through this with some exceptions. Yes, that includes June and Miko as well.”
Optimus and Ratchets frames slightly relax, tough confusion is still visible on their faceplates. Well, more on Ratchets than Optimus, though the leader frame is less rigid than before.
“But you are bleeding, isn’t the leaking of blood indication of an injury, do you mean it is natural for humans to injure their uterus every month?”
“What no we aren’t injured.”
“Perhaps it would help us understand better, if you were to explain on how this “menstrual cycle works.”
“OH, uhm sure. First of all the uterus is one of the reproductive organ’s humans have to reproduce. Each month, blood and tissue build up in the uterus to prepare for a fertilized egg in case a woman becomes pregnant. Important humans give live birth to their young not like other animals in eggs. Eggs is simply what we call the cell. If the egg isn't fertilized, that lining leaves the body through the vagina and that is what is called the period.”
Trough the explanation my eyes had driven away from the bots not wanting to see their faces of disgust.
“But then what is the menstrual cylcle? And that still doesn’t understand why you were in pain.”
Confused I look back up at Ratchet as he looked at me expectantly. Switching my point of view to Optimus he carries a similar expression though way more subtle than Ratchets.
“You, you aren’t disgusted?”
“Why would we I mean, its obvious a bit strange due to our different biologys. But so is your entire race.”
“As you explained, your period is a natural occurrence, there is no fault in that.”
“Oh ok.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah there are a lot of names for the period, like menstrual cycle, strawberry week.”
“I thank you for the explanation but there is still concern on your earlier episode of pain.”
“Oh yeah uhm, so basically to flush everything out, the uterus contracts itself which can lead to pain. How much pain someone experience is different for everyone. And well mine is sometimes so bad I double over.”
Both bots fall into back into silence, exchanging glances like they were silently communicating. Feeling slightly Causing me to shuffle my feet on the ground. Until Ratchets open servo comes up to me, an invitation to step into it. Confused I look at both Ratchet and Optimus. Sensing my confusion Ratchet responds.
“It is unreasonable to let someone alone when they are in pain, so get on.”
“What, no I am fine, I have dealt with this for the past 6 years on my own.”
“You should be resting.”
“No, I still have things to do I don’t need to rest.”
“Please do understand that we are just worried.”
Damn you Optimus, for making me feel bad about refusing help. Reluctantly I carefully climb onto Ratchets servo. Letting out a satisfied hum, he lifts me up to his chest, curling his digits gently around me. Carefully moving across the base, we go through a corridor I haven’t been in yet, only to land in front of a humongous door trough which Ratchet and Optimus can walk without any problems. Ratchet crosses the room and gently lays me down on the gigantic bed. Before turning around and walking around the bed to the other side before laying down himself.
Meanwhile, Optimus was closing a drawer, holding something I couldn’t make out and moved to join us. He deposited the content of his servo onto the berth near Ratchet. Before I could ask what and why they brought those things, my feet yet again left the ground.
Warmth surrounded me and weirdly a lot of red. Wiggling around I finally found the end of the blanket and looked up, only to be met, with two pairs of kind optics looking down at me.
“What’s all that?”
“We researched that warmth and comfort in the form of affection, food and a comforting environment prove, helpful when dealing with period pains.”
“Wait, you guys searched the internet to help me? Aww that’s so sweet.”
“Hmpf, well we can’t leave you alone in this time of you err, month.”
A smile starts forming, I snuggle back into the blankets happy about being so well cared for. My eyes are starting to feel heavy as a yawn escapes me, exhausted from the day’s events, I don’t fight the sleepiness taking over my body. Safe, warm, and protected by the two gentle guardians on each side of me.
