Sunlight shinned onto his optic lids, waking Optimus from his slumber. Yawning, he stretched his arms above his helm, groaning in pain as he felt a kink in his neck joints. Onlining his optics, he gazed out to the white sand and blue ocean, both glinting in the light. Finishing stretching his cramped body, he glanced over to Prime, who still rested comfortably against the cave wall. To Optimus's surprise his counterpart still wore his battle mask.
"Why continue to wear it? Is he afraid we might get jumped or something?" It was extremely rare to meet a bot who wore a mask during battle and rarer still off the battlefield. Scenarios for why Prime wore the mask flew through his mind from paranoia to disfiguration. He stared at Prime for a long time before he cycled air through his vents. Standing up he made his way over to Prime silently. Once he was above the sleeping mech he paused. Once he was positive Prime was still in recharge, he reached out his hand.
As soon as his servos grazed Prime's face his optics onlined and grabbed the younger Primes wrist in a vice grip. With practice ease he rose and threw Optimus's back into the cave wall before trapping him with his own, bulkier body. Optimus stared dazedly up at Prime who seemed surprised at his own actions. Releasing Optimus's wrist he began to scan the other Prime's body for any damage.
"Are you alright? I apologies if I have caused you any harm, I was startled. My actions are inexcusable." Optimus shook his head.
"No, don't be sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn't have tried to wake you up at all. I kind of deserved it too." Prime stared at him questioningly.
"And why, pray tell, would you think that?" Prime continued to watch the younger lot whose faceplates heated up as he looked away.
"Uh, well, I, sorta, tried to..." and he mumbled the rest incoherently. Prime dipped his head closer.
"I'm sorry, could not hear you. Would you please repeat yourself?" Optimus glanced away uncomfortably.
"I said I, tried to take off your battle mask." Glancing up he watched as Prime's optics widened in surprise. "I know I shouldn't have but, I was curious, and-." he was cut off by Prime's deep laughter filling the air of the cave. Prime continued to laugh for a few moments before he turned his attention back to Optimus, optics alight with amusement.
"Now if you wanted to see my face young one, all you had to do was ask." with that he brought a hand up to his face and pressed a button on the side of his helm, retracting his battle mask into his helmet.
Optimus felt his breath hitch as he stared at the gorgeous face before him. Sleek gray metal formed high cheekbones and curved into a strong jaw. Perfect lips curved into a small smile under an arrow straight nose. Prime smiled to himself as he saw the expression of pure fascination form on the younger's face, optics drinking in the details of Prime's face. Slowly Optimus brought up a hand to touch Prime's face, but paused. He glanced into the elder's optics questioningly. Prime nodded and Optimus traced the other's features with his fingers, touch feather light as he stored every curve and plane of Prime's face to memory.
Suddenly, both seemed to realize Prime still had Optimus pinned to the cave wall. A deep tension filled the cave as Optimus rested his fingers against Prime's lips. A loud caw from outside shattered the moment and Optimus instantly drew himself back, placing his hands at his sides and looked away. Prime gazed down at the flustered mech before stepping back, the younger slipping out from under his bulk, heading for the cave entrance.
Prime replaced his face mask before he followed and found Optimus with his helm thrown back, enjoying the warmth his plating. Prime's optics drank in the sight of the sun glinting off of Optimus, accenting his curves and highlighting his paint. Optimus turned to him before asking a very important question.
"What was the last think you remember?" Prime could have slapped himself for not wondering that himself.
"We were sending supplies to Cybertron when the Decepticons attacked. During the course of the battle the control console was damaged and the space bridge began to malfunction. As far as I know I was the only one pulled through before I found myself in the forest behind us." he explained. Optimus nodded.
"My crew and I had been trying to build a space bride so the Elite Guard could reach Earth quicker. An All spark fragment had been stuck in the transporter and I was sucked in."
"So it seems the connection is the space bridges." Optimus nodded.
"That means there's another one around here somewhere." Prime looked at him in confusion.
"What makes you say that?"
"Space bridges naturally transport to other space bridges even when they can pick random locations. (I know that's not true but work with me here people!) If we can find the space bridge we can try to contact our teams so we can get home." Optimus looked around at the surrounding tree line. "Where did you wake up?" Prime looked around before pointing towards the left of their position facing the forest.
"Shall we?" Prime asked Optimus who nodded before they headed off. They shared more stories and conversed as they travelled. Once they found the spot Prime had awoken, Optimus found it was not far from where he had been dropped on the cliff. Both Prime's agreed to split up in their search for the space bridge and stayed in contact via comm. Once Optimus had separated from his elder counterpart he cursed at himself.
"What is wrong with you Prime? You're acting like a sparkling. Pull yourself together and act like the leader you are!" Once he was finished his inner rant he continued his search. After a couple of hours their efforts proved fruitless.
"Got anything?"
"I have found nothing, you?"
"Nah, you know, I didn't think the space bridge would have thrown us this far. We should have found it by no-BAM!" Optimus was cut off as he hit the ground. The Earth trembled and birds from neighboring trees took off into the sky. Optimus groaned as Prime spoke frantically into his comm.
"Optimus. Optimus answer me, are you all right? Optimus!"
"I'm here." he moaned rolling over onto his back, "What did I trip over?" looking down at his feet he found a metal pipe. Picking it up he examined it, optics widening in realization. Looking behind him he groaned. "Hey Prime, you better get over here. I found it."
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Prime hurried towards Optimus's position. He took the time to process what had just happened. He had nearly had a spark attack when Optmus had cut off. Had he not responded he had no doubt he would have torn up the entire forest to find his younger counterpart. His actions were beginning to worry him. When he finally saw Optimus his spark nearly leapt out of his chasis. Hurrying over to him he grabbed the younger by the shoulders.
"Are you alright?" he demanded, optics drinking in the younger mech. Optimus nodded, placing his servos over Prime's.
"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry. I just tripped over a piece of the space bridge. It's my fault for not paying attention." Prime shook his head in amusement.
"Just as long as your alright." he said, optics filled with warmth as he gazed at Optimus's smiling face plates. Again a silence fell over the two and a tension began to build. Heat began to build where Prime's hands rested on his shoulders. He felt his face plating heat up and he felt as though Prime's optics were cutting into his very spark.
"I-I found the space bridge. It's, it's pretty damaged but we might be able to fix it." he said looking away. He felt the hands slip away from his armor.
"Excellent. Lead the way young one." Optimus nodded before he pulled back a thick curtain of pine needles. A rusty space bridge hid between the tree branches. Chunks of metal were missing and ivy gripped into the cracks and crevices of the metal.
Prime stepped towards the ruins before walking to the console buried under dead leaves and twigs. Typing in a few commands he read off his findings.
"It has power but it will need to be repaired before it is in any working order." he called over to Optimus who was examining the bridge, and nodded.
"Most of the damage is cosmetic anyway. I'm not Bulkhead but I'm pretty sure I can fix this." he said, picking up a bolt. Prime nodded before walking towards Optimus.
"Shall we begin then?" Optimus nodded, still gazing at the bridge, lost in thought.
"Yes, yes we shall."
