A/N: This song is one of my favorite songs and I think it's perfect for an Optimus/Cade drabble. R&R. Enjoy!
~…~
Optimus/Cade
~…~
"All I want to get is
A little bit closer
All I want to know is
Can you come a little closer?
Here comes the breath before we get
A little bit closer
Here comes the rush before we touch
Come a little closer
The doors are open
The wind is really blowing
The night sky is changing overhead
All you think of lately
Is getting underneath me
All I dream of lately
Is how to get you underneath me
Here comes the heat before we meet
A little bit closer
Here comes the spark before the dark
Come a little closer
The lights are off and the sun is finally setting
The night sky is changing overhead
It's not just all physical
I'm the type who won't get oh so critical
So let's make things physical
I won't treat you like you're oh so typical
I want you close I want you
I won't treat you like you're typical
I want you close I want you
I won't treat you like you're typical"
Closer by Tegan and Sara
~…~
They could be the same being and it would not be enough. Not for him. And, he believed, not for Cade either. This was a feeling that Optimus had never before experienced, not even with Elita One, and it had concerned and even frightened him at first. This feeling…it was not something he had experienced and yet he was and with a human. Optimus did not hate humans – not even after all that had happened – but he had never imagined wanting to mate with one.
Until Cade.
Cade had changed everything. He had not only helped Optimus several times during their adventures together, but he had risked his own life and the lives of his loved ones in order to help or protect Optimus and his Autobots. It was a first, a human risking all that they knew, had and loved for his Autobots, for him. Not even Sam showed that much devotion or loyalty.
From the very beginning, Optimus was able to tell that Cade had been different from all other humans he had encountered. There was a certain…spark about him and it was bright and it vibrated and shone and glimmered so brightly in Optimus' eyes. He had never been seen as a robot alien killing machine from another planet; his Autobots had never been as that either, not to Cade. No, they had been human in Cade's eyes and he had always, always, treated them as such, even though they weren't. That hadn't seemed to matter to Cade and his fierce loyalty, bravery, and love had caused a reaction within Optimus, one that he had never felt before.
And now he could name it. What he was feeling was what the humans called love. Not that it was love-love, but it was the transformers equivalent of it, of that Optimus was sure. Why else would his spark react as it did whenever he thought of Cade or whenever the human was around? His spark would brighten and vibrate and thrum softly, causing an ache within Optimus that was almost too unbearable to withstand. And the activity would only continue until Optimus overloaded, his spark sending out streams of bright blue light through the air around him as he did so. He had never reacted to another being in such a manner; not even Elita One had ever been able to entice such a reaction from him and he had planned on meld sparks with her before she died on Cybertron.
But he had made his peace with that and what he was focusing on was the here and now. Because the here and now was where Cade was and Optimus wanted to be with him. If his spark was reacting so powerfully to the human, then that could only mean one thing: Cade Yeager, human inventor and friend to the Autobots, was his spark mate. Clearly, their lives were entwined and they were supposed to follow the same path. Whether they wanted it or not, their destinies were tangled together and Optimus had never been one to argue with such things as destiny or fate.
Now that he knew where Cade fell into his existence, Optimus knew that they would have to mate eventually. Doing so would increase happiness for both of them and it would leave an invisible claim on Cade that all transformers would have to respect and abide by. In order to do so, however, he would have to show Cade his holoform, which no human had ever seen, and begin the process of the claim. He could start it in his holoform, but it would have to be finalized in his mech form. It was possible and safe for them both, but if it was not done properly, it could cause Cade a lot of pain. Optimus was confident in his abilities and as long as they both did their parts, it would be safe and relatively painless.
However, as it was almost midnight and Cade had been working nonstop in the barn since the early morning, Optimus would not inform him of all of this until tomorrow. He would take Cade somewhere safe and quiet where they could be alone and they would talk about it. Tonight, though, Optimus would show Cade his holoform because what he desired most right now, right this moment, was just to touch Cade, to get closer to him in some way. And as his holoform was a direct creation of his spark – in fact, it was technically his spark in human form, only the actual physical embodiment of the spark would remain within him – he would be able to feel and recall every touch, every feeling.
Cade knew that the Autobots had holoforms. He had first seen Bumblebee's not long after the house and barn Joshua had built for them had been completed and refurnished and everything. His reaction had been both amusing and concerning; Optimus truly thought that Cade might have a heart attack. Once he had been told what was going on, he had calmed down and had inquired about the others' forms. Optimus did not reveal his; he was saving it for a special time and moment, but the others had shown theirs off. So, while Cade had experience with holoforms, he had none when it came to Optimus'.
"Cade," Optimus called out to him. He was glad that the barn had been built large enough for him and his Autobots.
"Yeah, Optimus?" Cade replied, looking up from his work bench and taking his glasses off.
"I have something that I wish to show you," Optimus told him. He could hear Cade's heart rate increase as he stood up.
"What is it? Do you need me to fix something?" he asked, looking and sounding worried.
"It is not an injury. It is…my holoform," Optimus said and he opened his chest plate, revealing his spark.
It glowed brightly, brighter than it usually did, and Optimus felt it beginning to create his human form. He could feel himself slipping from his giant, robotic body and into his holoform. Having not used it often, it was an odd feeling, but not an unwelcome one. Optimus felt shorter, lighter, warmer, and more fragile, but he knew better. In his holoform, he still retained his strength, intellect, and skills he had complied over his many years. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Cade.
The look on Cade's face was one of astonishment and awe. He looked so close to Optimus already and they were even touching.
"Optimus…? This is…your holoform?" Cade said, his eyes blown wide and a smile beginning to worm its way on his face.
"Yes, it is, Cade," Optimus answered. "Does it…please you?"
"Please me? Optimus you're…you're freaking awesome!" Cade exclaimed, looking excited and happy. "Are you…solid like the others?" At that, Optimus smiled and held out his hand.
"Of course. Would you like to see for yourself?" he offered. After a moment's hesitation, a natural human instinct, Cade reached out and took his offered hand.
"Wow. You're…warm," Cade said in an almost whispered. "And...fleshy."
"Our holoforms were created to allow us to blend in with humans should the need be. However, we have grown accustomed to use them only for special occasions," Optimus explained as he pulled Cade closer to him, sighing as he felt Cade's body heat radiating from him and into his own form. "My Autobots enjoy certain human activities and thus use their holoforms more freely and openly. I wanted for you to see me this way when the time came, and for only you to see me."
"Woah. You're…pretty fit," Cade said, poking his pectoral and smiling. "And…pretty good lookin', too." A red tint lighted up Cade's cheeks.
"Tomorrow, I wish to speak to you about a few things. For tonight, however, I just…wish to get closer to you, Cade" Optimus told him.
"I think I like the sound of that," Cade replied and stepped closer to Optimus. After a brief, unsure second, Optimus lifted his other arm and wrapped them both around Cade's body, careful not to hold him too tight. Once Cade was in his arms, he sighed and his entire body relaxed.
This…this was exactly what he needed. While he did look forward to mating with Cade, should his human consent to do so, Optimus very much enjoyed merely holding Cade. Just having him in his arms was enough for him, it was enough to be close to him like this. At least until tomorrow night. For now, though, this closeness was all he truly desired and it was more than enough.