THIS IS FRIENDLY. FRIENDLY LOVE. S.S. FRIENDSHIP. OKAY? OKAY.
The house was...quiet. And new. Cade figured he was being a little irrational, but he was allowed to be. He didn't think this could be considered taking the government's offer to rebuild his house and workshop. No. He just missed his daughter.
It was a new house and only Cade was occupying it. There wasn't an ounce of Tessa in it. Tessa was off in another state attending college with another generous donation paying for the vast majority of her classes.
And all he needed to do was aide the leader of the Autobots and save the world from itself. Huh. Who knew college could be so pricey?
Cade hung his head.
Maybe he was just bored?
"Cade?"
The man yelped and damn near fell from the roof, stopped only by a gentle metal hand. The man gave a strained chuckle as he regarded the leader of the autobots with a warm smile.
"Haven't you given me enough of those...ah…"
"Aoritc infarctions?" Optimus guessed with a hint of amusement. "I'm not sure those are what you think they are, Cade."
The man shrugged, "It's sounds close enough."
The leader rumbled his mirth, his engine almost purring in his chest. "I see."
Cade almost didn't know what to say. "So, you're going after these...creators here soon, aren't you?"
The mech nodded, "I am. I cannot say I feel...optimistic in regards to the result."
Cade nodded. What could you say to something like that?
"Cade." Optimus spoke, sounding oddly curious, "Are you feeling alright?"
"Sure, just ignore the growing depression and years of frayed nerves." He joked...kinda.
Well...not really. Optimus frowned at that. "Cade…"
"No really," Cade waved off the Autobot's worry, "All parents go through this."
"Go through what, exactly?"
"The empty nest." Cade murmured, voice dropping and smile slipping, "See...my only daughter, apple of my eye, is off to college. I'm so proud of her. I've spent so long raising her on my own, it's almost...unnatural feeling to just BAM, alone all the time."
A wave of loneliness ate at the man. "It should pass...I think."
To the man's surprise, Optimus cupped his back and rumbled thoughtfully. "My carrier, mother in earth terms, once told me that girls will always need their fathers just like fathers need their daughters."
Cade raised a brow. "Why would she tell you that, aside from it being great advice?"
Optimus cleared his ventilation, his plates shifting uncomfortably. "I was...uh, trying to comfort a femme I liked who was missing her home. I was not sure what to tell her, so I contacted my carrier."
Cade couldn't stop the rush of laughter, eliciting a huff from the mech. "We all have those moments don't we?" he chuckled.
Optimus smiled, "I would like to think so."
The man nodded and shuffled his way off the roof. "Thanks big mech."
"You are welcome, Cade Yeager."