Ramblers in the wilderness we can't find what we need
Get a little restless from the searching
Get a little worn down in between
Like a bull chasing the matador is the man left to his own schemes
Everybody needs someone beside 'em shining like a lighthouse from the sea
Optimus ran, screaming for Megatron. He could see the mech, bound up and gagged as they guided him through the streets. "NO!"
They were chanting, the people on the sides of the streets, chanting and cheering as they watched Megatron, all upgraded and shiny and new, being led by the new officers of Cybertron in cuffs, chains, and collars.
"NO!"
Brother, let me be your shelter
I'll never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you're low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Megatron turned and gazed at Optimus with wide, scared red optics. He whistled then, and he dug his heels into the streets. The officers balked, then tugged the former warlord to the ground. He fell, distracted by Optimus and whimpering for the mech. He paddled his pedes, searching for traction as he struggled and twisted in his bounds.
The bystanders continued to chant: Death to the Decepticons! Kill them all! Death to the Decepticons! Kill them all!
Face down in the desert now there's a cage locked around my heart
I found a way to drop the keys where my failures were
Now my hands can't reach that far
I ain't made for a rivalry I could never take the world alone
I know that in my weakness I am strong, but
It's your love that brings me home
Megatron blinked at Optimus, who was so far out of reach, yet only held back by a row of bystanders.
"MEGATRON!"
The officers kicked the former warlord to his pedes and drug him along. One of them produced a whip, and that struck the mech across the face. Megatron howled in pain, and that drove the mechs and femmes wild.
But among the smiling and cheering faces, Optimus could pick out the shocked and near-to-tears Decepticons, their servos against their faces, their optics squeezed tight to deny tears.
Brother, let me be your shelter
I'll never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you're low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Optimus shoved through the crowd, throwing mechs into others and running to the warlord that had fallen. He shoved the officers down and broke the mech's collars, his cuffs, his chains...he wrapped his arms around the mech, trembling. Megatron made a strangled sound and did the same, their tremblings united.
And when you call and need me near
Sayin' where'd you go?
Brother, I'm right here
And on those days when the sky begins to fall
You're the blood of my blood
We can get through it all
Their optics closed and Optimus stroked his brother's helm. "Brother..."
"Brother, I cannot see you," Megatron whispered and he moved his helm so Optimus could see his bleeding face.
His optics had been damaged.
"NO!"
Brother, let me be your shelter
I'll never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you're feelin' low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
It was as though his outburst had cued something, because more officers were there and the watching Decepticons were bound up and collared.
Death to the Decepticons!
Optimus was being pulled, kicked, hit, punched. He was blocking their access to Megatron, and that was making them mad. He could hear his armor aching and he knew he wouldn't be able to resist this pain much longer. He spun on his heel and backservoed the mechs away from him and his brother. He was unable to help the others.
He looked back at Megatron. He was being drug away from him from when he stood, and he ran after him. They were lining up the other Decepticons.
Bang!
Soundwave fell limp into a trench.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Starscream, Knock Out, and Shockwave fell beside him, their optics wide and dim.
Megatron was next, set on the place Starscream once stood. Optimus tore off running, and time...
...slowed...
...down...
Bang.
Megatron fell in slow motion, and Optimus fell to his knees, unable to get him. He sobbed and scrambled down to the body, trembling as he touched his brother's face and touched the wound on his chest.
"Brother...?"
Megatron was breathing heavily, his optics blind but still searching. "You're here..."
"Brother..." Optimus pressed his face into his chest, gripping him and shaking. "Brother, it is okay."
Gradually, the warlord stopped breathing. Starscream as still spasming, choking on his Energon, but with another shot, he fell limp.
The cheering became a roar and people congratulated each other.
"Oh, one more..."
The shot struck Optimus in the back of the helm and he fell over Megatron.
A sign was posted.
The Decepticons and Their Sympathizers.
Brother, let me be your shelter
I'll never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you're low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Optimus opened his optics, touching his helm where he had been shot. No wound.
Megatron was standing in front of him as he was, scarless and with bright blue optics. He smiled, flashing pearly white dente that were not sharp. His digits opened and he offered his servo to him.
Optimus took it, finding he was his original self as well, the form he had when he was the Thirteenth. He clung to the mech.
They stood like that, in Primus' Realm, tears rolling down their faces as they held each other and soothed each other.
"We are home," Megatron said softly, and he looked up to where the Twelve stood. "We are both home."