The humans were coming soon. The Autobots had rolled out to retrieve them while Optimus lingered behind to make sure Bruce's lab worked, to make sure the humans had everything in their size (clothes, tables, showers, chairs, books, bookcases, beds, rugs, closets, dressers, toothbrushes, sinks, toothpaste, brushes...) Optimus felt as though he was stocking a doll house. Who knew humans were so particular about sizes and things of that nature? Not Optimus, not until he had to make sure the humans could get into bed without asking to be lifted onto it.

He heard his Autobots before he saw them. They waited while the Avengers dropped onto the base floor and he let them look around while Optimus scanned each one. They were all there and accounted for.

"Welcome," he greeted as he knelt and put his face by theirs. "I know that you have all met your guardians, and have read our files just as we have read your own."

Arcee shifted her weight the same time Natasha did and they had their arms crossed. Optimus watched them for a long time, just marveling the similarities. Then he looked down in time to see his charge, Steve, had taken the time to step up to him.

"What are we going to do now that you have us here?"

"Tours of the base are in order, and stocking the RecRoom. We have only the essentials for now: water, bread, cereal, bowls, plates, utensils, cooking objects like pots, pans, and a steamer set. Then we will allow you to investigate your rooms, which for now have general information and pleasure books, bookcases, beds, closets, and dressers."

Tony intervened. "Pleasure books?"

"For recreational reading, of course."

"I'm liking the sound of that," he replied and he walked immediately down a hall, apparently to his room to investigate the stock of promised books.

Ratchet snorted in amusement. "That hallway will take you to the MedBay!"
Tony came back and clapped his hands. "Alright, tour-time! Pair up, Avengers!"

They already were. The Autobots frowned. Optimus looked down at his charge. "Is he not the leader of your group? Should he not know you are already prepped for a tour?"

"Tony's...special."

"That's putting in lightly."

"In the terms you would understand."

Optimus nodded a bit stood up straight. He led the team around the base, explaining what each room was when he came to it and its purpose. "The RecRoom, for refueling and eating, the computer lab, where Ratchet and myself do our own recreational reading. The Autobot quarters on your left-hand side, humans straight across."

Bruce opened his door (labeled with a plaque) and peeked in. "How long did this take you?"

"Days. Everything your size requires a gentle servo, one we do not possess often."

"Servo?"

Optimus raised his servos. "Servo."

"Ah," Bruce said and he closed the door. "I would be interested in learning your anatomy."

"And Ratchet would be intrigued to learn yours."

"Science class is later, guys."

"Yes," Optimus said. "Rest now. When you are ready, follow the red tape on the floor to the main room. Blue to the RecRoom if you desire a small snack, yellow to the wash racks, green to the computer lab... You will catch on quickly," Optimus finished when he saw the confused looks on the humans' faces. "Rest now," he repeated, then he guided his team away and down the hall (following the red tape).

Tony walked into his room first and immediately checked out the bookcase. "If I Stay? Harry Potter? The Bible? What kind of pleasurable reading is this!?"

Steve was leaning in the doorway to Tony's room, thumbing through the bible. "Ah...Psalms..."

"Stop right there. I've had enough."

"I have not begun to read."

"And already I have a ache of the head," Tony said, mocking Steve. He rolled his eyes.

"I've got pamphlets in Cybertronian here, Tony. Some nice pictures, too." Natasha appeared in his room, walking out of the closet. "Oh, and by the way, the rooms are connected via the closets."

Thor frowned and walked through the closet to see for himself. "I wonder why that is."

"They are encouraging us to sneak into each other's rooms?" Tony tried to shove the hammer off his bed, but it didn't budge. He pointed an accusing finger at it, then lifted the pamphlets out of Natasha's hand.

When all the excitement died down, they walked to their own rooms to settle down. After they had changed out of formal clothing, they shifted into jeans and shirts and sneakers. Tony and Steve followed the red tape, Natasha followed the yellow, Bruce followed the green and was quickly followed by a comment from Tony. Thor remained in his room for a moment longer before he followed Tony.

Optimus greeted the humans first, then Bumblebee chirped softly and pointed to the catwalk where they could stand and be optic-level to the bots. Tony went there immediately.

"Once Bruce and Natasha comes back, we should be already to hear the activities list."

Steve leaned against the railing.

Optimus watched his charge for a moment, somewhat possessively in Tony's opinion, then he looked back at the human that had spoken. "We will wait with patience. If they do not reveal themselves soon, I will send a search party. It is easy to get lost in this base of ours."

"With all the tape? Don't think so, big guy." Tony walked to see what Ratchet was doing. "What's that?"

Optimus followed the human's pointed finger. "That is our GroundBridge. It has the ability to send us anywhere we desire on your planet with the input of coordinates."

Thor made an impressed sound. "It does not amount to our technology, but it is still very impressive for your kind."

Optimus looked at him. "We are not done impressing your kind with our accomplishments."

Tony came back to stand in front of Optimus when Ratchet snapped at him. "Optimus, now would be a great time to tell everyone what spike means."

Steve groaned and watched as Optimus prepared himself to reply.

"Don't," Natasha said as she walked in with Bruce on her heels. "He will just embarrass you, Optimus."

"Our kind is not easily embarrassed. Only those we Click with can get us to blush."

"Click?"

He frowned at the humans, then realization flooded his optics. "Ah. You humans do not Click, which explains the divorce rate. Once you Click with someone, there is no turning back. Living without them is impossible."

"Have you ever Clicked, Optimus?"

The Prime's dentas clicked together audibly. "Shall we get back to your activities list?"

Steve glared at Tony, mouthed sensitive topic, but Tony had a different label on that: Things to Discuss.

Optimus began speaking once everyone was on the catwalk. "We know a lot about you humans. We know your languages, your customs, your traditions. But you know little to nothing about us. The words denta, digit, helm, processor, slag, pede, and spike," at that word he looked at Tony meaningfully, "mean nothing to you. Yet. Before you begin training with us, you will be treated like us. You will start from the bottom, a scout, and work your way up, hopefully to a Second or Third in my command, temporary, of course." He looked back at Arcee and Ratchet. The former nodded while the latter sighed his displeasure.

"Wait, wait, wait, we're not fighting yet?"

"No. You will learn our customs and traditions before you learn our fighting."

"Why?"

"It will make it easier on all of you, and I know most of you would enjoy that."

Tony still wasn't done arguing. "But Fury said-"

"If your Fury was here, he would agree. In order to learn to fight, you must walk, yes? I am prepared to teach you to walk like us, which means you will be asked to step out of comfort zones."

Tony sighed and his shoulders dropped as his head tipped back.

"Until you learn us from the inside out, you will not fight. Sparklings are taught as soon as they can process words. It takes years to learn to fight like us, but you only have days or weeks."

"Until what?" Natasha shifted her weight. Optimus heard Arcee do the same and he again marveled the two.

"Until the Decepticons discover you are here."

"Who are the Decepticons?"

Optimus was silent and his optics fogged as he checked his internal clock. "Our enemies. That is all you need to know for now. It is late, and you have classes starting early. Rest, dream, and be ready to learn."

Tony led the Avengers down the catwalk and to their rooms.

Ratchet walked up behind Optimus. "Keeping them here is a bad idea."

"Your opinion is noted."