Chapter 11:
"Speaking"
Rarely did Optimus indulge in high grade but he had to admit, he might have overdone it as he staggered down the halls, trying to keep his balance as his internal stabilizers seemed to short circuit due to the high grade running through his system.
Leaning against the wall for a moment to get steady, Optimus headed to the med bay to maybe get something that would help ease his overcharged systems.
Once inside, Optimus blearily looked around the dim med bay, surprised in all honesty to find that Ratchet had already settled in for recharge for the night, either that or it was a lot later than he had thought.
Spotting Tempest's recharging frame, Optimus smiled before stumbling over to her side.
Tempest jerked out of recharge feeling her frame being jostled and looked over to see Optimus who according to her scan was clearly overcharged which was why she didn't complain as he wrapped his arms around her waist, his helm resting against her shoulder as he tangled his around hers.
Shaking her helm as Optimus shut down into recharge, Tempest reached down where the thermablanket had been tossed to the side so that Optimus could lay next to her frame to frame, she pulled it over them both.
Venting a sigh, Tempest wrapped an arm around Optimus's back, hoping that he wouldn't fall off the berth before she slid back into recharge.
Snickering brought Optimus online, his helm aching before he blearily onlined an optic to see the older twins looking down at him and for a moment wondered how they had managed to get into his quarters.
At least until he recognized the outlay of the med bay and wondered how he had gotten there before he felt a frame shift against his own,
"Alright, you two have had your fun. Out before I set Ratchet on you two."
"Aw come on, Tempest. This is great. I've never seen Optimus so clingy."
"Out mechs."
"Yeah, yeah."
While they had wanted to refuse, Tempest was in fact a Prime and definitely outranked them and while she had been human she was quite laid-back, they weren't going to push their luck.
Especially seeing as Ratchet would be coming into the med bay from his own quarters in mere minutes.
Knowing that he was practically resting against Tempest didn't rouse Optimus from his daze, the processor ache forming in his helm making it difficult to form a thought process.
That and Tempest didn't seem to be complaining as she pulled the thermablanket over his shoulder once more.
Pausing in surprise at the sight of Tempest pulling the thermablanket up onto Optimus's shoulder as he rested against her side, practically curled around her, Ratchet shook his helm.
He had known that Optimus had dipped into the high grade the night before but apparently he had overdone it a bit.
Ratchet wouldn't complain seeing as he had made it to the med bay safely, even if he had bunked down with Tempest, she hadn't complained either which was why he merely grabbed something to ease Optimus's processor ache and settle the overcharged internal systems.
Carefully injecting the contents into Optimus's main energon line, Ratchet could see his expression ease out of its pained grimace.
Optimus was absolutely mortified to find that he had climbed into Tempest's berth and wrapped around her to sleep as if she were a frame pillow.
It had been a long time since he had such a lapse in his controls and functions but Tempest had merely waved his apologies off as she had carefully stood.
Swaying slightly, Tempest waited for her internal stabilizers to kick in, noting Optimus's servos resting at her sides as she gained her balance.
"Optimus, walk her to the mess hall for her morning energon."
"Of course Ratchet."
Following after Optimus, Tempest made sure to follow rather close behind him before her vents hitched as she tripped over her pedes.
However before she could fall too far, Optimus had twisted, easily catching her frame before helping her back to her pedes, resting his servos against her torso,
"Steady?"
Swaying slightly, Tempest waited as her arms rested on Optimus's until she stabilized her balance and nodded to Optimus who released her slowly and began to walk again but this time at a slower pace and stayed directly beside her.