Over the two week, Ratchet slowly began moving his things in. He decorated his room, set his office up, and had even started organizing his library's worth of books. He had also gone on somewhat of a cleaning spree, wiping down counters, dusting, etc. Now he was helping set up for the pre-engagement announcement to the in-laws. They had set up a long table enough for 12 out in the backyard.
He had grown to tolerate Optimus so far. One thing he liked about the Prime was he seemed to have a clear respect for Ratchet's space. He let him have a large personal bubble and he never entered a space that Ratchet claimed before he did and asked Ratchet consistently if it was okay if he was there. In the beginning he had said no and told him to get lost several times and he had done so.
He didn't say anything about him watching him either. Of course it wasn't obsessive. If anything, Ratchet had been just observing him from a distance and watching how he interacted with people and what he did in his free time… Mainly he was trying to gauge if Optimus was being genuine or if he was putting on a ruse and trying to lure him into a false sense of security. If he abused anyone…
He saw Optimus doing a multitude of things on the daily. So far in the running list of Optimus and his many, many hobbies he had seen him gardening, reading, sketching, doing puzzles, cooking, baking, and on the weekend he had seen him with another mech outside in the backyard sparring with swords. He presumed it was some kind of self defense lesson. He also saw him watching the occasional show on the large holoscreen in the den area. He would flip to the news for a little bit before growing bored or annoyed and going to do something else.
He cooked meals regularly and seemed to enjoy it greatly, but he did hire someone else to shop for groceries. They typically had wine or scotch or something else with dinner 3 times a week and they usually made small talk while they ate before having something for dessert and parting for the night to their respective rooms. At least Optimus would try and make small talk while Ratchet tossed sarcasm and sass back in his face.
Red Alert was a constant presence through the home during the weekdays from mid morning until supper. He wore that face mask occasionally when someone else that wasn't the security guard or the secretary was around but the second it was just the two of them he dropped it. There was a few other mechs that he saw Optimus talking to as he hid in the shadows from them. He was still hard to read. He had this cool, calm, and collected demeanor that bordered on cold sometimes but whenever he spoke to Ratchet he was shown someone who was inquisitive, witty, and warm. He couldn't tell which one was the act and it irked him.
That comment that he had made… it still rang in the back of Ratchet's head. 'You intrigue me.' Hmf.
He sighed, taking four bottles of Champagne out into the backyard where Red Alert was laying out a few platters of hore' dervs and finger foods. A mix of some fancier things with peasant dishes for the sake of letting Ratchet's family have some form of familiarity. They had gotten out some lawn games, and ensured there was plenty of seating.
It was imperative that engagement remain a secret until the planned date. In order to protect this, Ratchet had given his family minimal details. Optimus's name was not even on the invitation and it said nothing of an engagement. The invitation was a plain letter written in Ratchet's handwriting that he was inviting them to a small event and he was wanting them to meet someone named Orion, that it would be a kind of casual party setting, and that if they wanted any more information at this time they had to attend by following the escort when they showed up that morning so that they would be there by 1pm. They were told to expect to stay the night and return home the following morning since it was a ways away.
He was already up in arms about his family showing up. His parents and a handful of extended family, plus a few old friends. It was going to be nice to see Aid again at least, but he wasn't ready for the awful questions he was about to face. And then there was the whole mix of feelings he had about meeting the rest of Optimus's family. What was THAT going to be like…?
"Nervous?" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked up seeing Red Alert looking at him with a small smile.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Something like that," he scoffed.
"What about in particular?" He asked.
"Everything about this party makes me nervous. This situation makes me nervous. I haven't seen my family or any of my friends in a long time and suddenly I'm engaged to a mech that I met a few weeks ago. And then there's just something about thinking of the dramatic difference between my upbringing and Optimus's upbringing that makes me a little dizzy," he replied.
"Well. If it's any reassurance, Optimus seems more frazzled about meeting your family than he was about negotiating the conditions for the Krodian Trade Route, and he had to go into that meeting wearing a blast vest," he chuckled.
He stared at the mech for a long time. "And you know that because he told you?" He asked slowly.
"About his nerves? Well, yes and no. I've been around him for years and you pick up a few things," he chuckled. "Optimus has been raised to be constantly aware of those he's in the company of. He's been taught to anticipate every need and process every mannerism and what it could I dictate. He's so in tune with his surroundings that I think he's still trying to figure out how to become his own person." he sighed. "He's trying to appease everyone involved as much as he can."
"But why does he think it's important that he please my family?" He asked.
"He thinks it's important for you and your family to be comfortable. He's putting himself in their peds. I mean, I know that I wouldn't want to come to this secretive event hungry with no idea what anything was even called." He chuckled.
"Well it's nice that he thinks of that," he replied in a monotone. "Have you met his creators?" He asked.
Aid nodded. "His carrier is an absolute gem but his sire? I'm convinced that he's totally evil. I don't like him and those who have met him can say the same. It's going to be interesting. This will be the first time Optimus and the old Prime have seen each other since he stepped down."
"Why is it going to be interesting?"
"Because now technically, Optimus is just a little higher than him. His sire is the only person I've seen him openly despise," he replied. "Of course he doesn't say anything to the press but in the company of colleagues he isn't shy about it," he replied.
Just then Optimus walked out of the back door walking alongside another mech. Ratchet turned to look. He recognized him as the security guard that Optimus sparred with on occasion.
"Ratchet, this is Ironhide. He works as a security guard for me and he's a good friend of mine," Optimus said.
"It's nice to finally meet ya! You never seem to be around when I am," said Ironhide. He was a similar build to himself with Red armor and a small accent that made his vowels a little more pronounced. Probably from Tarn. Like Optimus, he also looked very strong.
"Likewise," he responded softly. "Are you here for the party?"
"I sure am!" He chuckled before adding, "don't worry, I've been informed."
Optimus chuckled. He had that mask off. Maybe he only wore it in the presence of strangers? "Red, do you think you could greet the guests, they're starting to arrive."
"Right away," he chirped before rushing off.
He turned to him, grabbing a cube of regular energon from the cooler and giving it to him. He accepted it slowly before opening it and taking a sip. "Thank you…"
The guests began to trickle in, all of Optimus's side at first. They walked up and greeted him in a variety of ways and then Ratchet's family was shown into the backyard by Red Alert.
He sighed before he took a few steps towards them. He gave them a small smile.
"Ratchet!" His carrier exclaimed before darting towards him in a mint green and white blur and wrapping him up in a hug and burying his face in his chest. "You ought to come visit more. I haven't seen you in forever!" He chastised.
He hugged back with one arm while trying not to spill his cube. "Yes, I know…" he chuckled.
His carrier was a smaller mech that went by the name of Gale. He was thin and bordered on appearing sickly but physically he was fine. His sire, on the other hand, was a mech built for physical labor. He was brawny and sturdy under the Red and black armor. His name was Chromeway.
"Your carrier has a point, son." He chuckled. "At least send a friendly, not vague and cryptic letter occasionally," he said walking over. "We want to hear from you!"
"I know, I know. It's just been a little hectic these past few years…" he chuckled letting his carrier go.
"Not an excuse. Drop by the restaurant occasionally if you're ever in town for crying out loud. People are starting to think we're crazy when we claim we raised you!" His aunt Beta chuckled, smacking him on the back of the head. "If ya won't settle down it's the least you can do to pop by."
"You could also come by the clinic… people ask about you," Aid added.
"Ow… fine, fine I promise when I can I'll come by. I swear. I need to catch all of you up on a few things anyway…"
"Yeah no kidding, care to explain the mansion we walked through??" Beta huffed. "Like, is it yours, or is it your friend's? And what are we doing here? Who's this Orion fellow?"
"I promise, everything is going to make sense in a little bit. Why don't you all grab some food and have a seat. It's a nice day, it would be a shame to spend it standing around," he chuckled.
"Well… I'm not gonna complain about being fed…" he sighed.
He watched his family go through the other table in a line picking and choosing. He couldn't find himself to be very hungry at all, so he picked up a few stuffed rolls before going and taking his seat next to Optimus.
He must have been spacing off because he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Ratchet?" Optimus asked. "Are you doing alright?"
He looked over at him. He seemed worried and unsure. "I'm fine. I just don't have an appetite right now," he assured him.
His carrier came over and sat on the other side of Ratchet. "Hello there, I'm Gale. Is this your home?" He asked, gesturing towards the estate.
"It is." Optimus chuckled.
"Ah, you must be Orion then. It's good to see Ratchet meeting people," he chuckled with a smirk, elbowing Ratchet. "What do you do?" He asked.
"What do I do..?" He asked.
"He's asking about your job and caste rank," Ratchet replied bluntly, translating.
"Ratchet.." he huffed at him.
"Ah. Well I'm mostly tasked with peacekeeping. Negotiating contracts, entertaining delegates and such," he replied.
"That sounds interesting! My mate and I run a family business, we're just a humble rank 4 family. The entire family helps. I run finances and Chrome cooks. Ratchet used to be an excellent server before he went and became a doctor. His memory is just so impressive. He certainly didn't get it from me," he chuckled.
Optimus chuckled along. "If I knew your family worked with food I would have tried a little harder."
"Ah so you made the food?" He asked. "It all looks excellent, I wouldn't be too worried."
"Yessir, you've outdone yourself yet again, my friend," Ironhide chuckled, taking a seat a little ways down the table. "It's always a treat coming for a meal."
"I'm flattered," Optimus chuckled.
"Oh don't be," a new voice joined the conversation. Everyone turned their helms to see a pink femme along with a tall blue dexter. "Anyone can tell you're freakishly good at cooking."
Optimus smiled watching the femme walk up to him. "Lita, you made it!"
"Of course I did. My quiet big brother threw a party? I couldn't miss it! I had to see what the fuss was about," she grinned, giving him a hug.
"Well I'm glad you did. Congratulations by the way. I got your letter," he chuckled, hugging back.
"Yes, we were thrilled about the news," the mech standing with her nodded. "It's been a struggle to get her to take it easy for the sparkling."
"Magnus, I've known her for all of her life and I still have yet to see the day where she sits still without incentive," he chuckled watching as then walked over and took the two seats between him and Ironhide.
"Ah well, maybe I can come up with something," he chuckled, setting his servo on her shoulder.
"In your dreams," she chuffed. "I'm not due for over a cycle. But anywho, I couldn't help but notice you've invited Senator Ratchet," she smiled. "It's an honor to meet you, I'm a big fan of your work; both the books and the work you've put into deconstructing the medical industry and raising awareness of caste discrimination. I try to donate anonymously when sire isn't monitoring the family finances obsessively," she smiled.
"Oh, well thank you it means a lot," he chuckled. "We pull a lot of unused medicine from hospitals. With the clinic present, hospitals are slowly being forced into lowering the prices of treatment and stop asking for caste information in order to compete with us."
"That's wonderful! Do you have further plans to combat the rising pricing of medicine?"
"Well once everything settles down, I plan on trying to establish a few more clinics and I hope to continue campaigning for non discriminatory laws for lower caste people."
"That sounds fantastic. If there is any way you think I can help you be sure to let me know," she smiled. "Hmm I hate to ask but is sire coming?" Elita asked, tilting her helm towards Optimus.
"Unfortunately we will be graced with his presence today. It's just that kind of announcement, Lita. I wouldn't have asked him to join if I didn't think it was necessary," he sighed.
"Something tells me that you don't plan on playing nice with sire."
"This is my house. If the old mech wants to pick a fight then I'm not going to back down. I'm not going to let him walk over me." Optimus replied.
"Ah well at least it'll be entertaining," Magnus chuckled. "Speak of the devil…" he sighed looking towards the back door where a shuttle had screeched to a halt.
With the sound of the door opening the former Prime walked out, followed by another femme. Both held a great sense of regality to them. Ratchet's parents both held a sense of recognition for the older Prime. Unlike Optimus, he had never worn a mask in public and had been serving Cybertron for the better part of a thousand orbital cycles, vs Optimus having only held the title for less than half a cycle and had yet to appear on holo.
He watched his family freeze up a little making a few confused glances his way.
"Hmf. Call me away from the palace in my retirement and I'm not even greeted at the door by my only son?" He growled in a condescending tone.
"Yes. Hello to you too, sire. Welcome. There's food and energon and you're welcome to come and sit," Optimus replied with a small optic roll.
"Where's your caterer?" He asked, looking around.
"I don't employ servants for things that I am fully capable of doing myself. You're more than welcome to serve yourself, however. That is unless you aren't capable."
The two gave each other long hard stares, while the silence swallowed everyone before the femme standing next to him merely smiled. "Why don't you sit Sentinel. I know what you like."
The older mech huffed faintly before sitting at the other head of the table. He looked down at the silverware. "Did a peasant set the table?"
"No. I did," he replied with a small smile. "I figured that it would be easier to clean up without everyone using 9 different utensils to feed themselves and I'm sure Ratchet's family would feel uncomfortable and unwelcome."
More silence followed. The air grew more and more tense until the femme set two plates down in front of the remaining two spots.
"Well, now that everyone is here I believe that now would be the opportune time to make an announcement. I'm sure there's a lot of questions about how vague the invites were. I apologize for that as we didn't want the information to get into the wrong hands," he let the silence fall once again. "Everything has been correctly arranged and filed and at the end of the week we will be publicly announcing Ratchet and I's engagement."
The silence was deafening. Ratchet could feel his spark spinning in his throat.
"I'm sorry.. I'm very lost. How long have you known each other?" Gale asked.
"We met a few weeks ago," Ratchet replied, picking up his energon. "It's an arranged bond."
"A-arranged???" He asked.
"Yes. Arranged," he replied.
"But-but why??"
"There are actually several reasons. I'm well liked by the people, so Optimus will gain a better connection to his subjects, and Optimus has a lot of influence that could be very beneficial for the kinds of things I'm trying to do for Cybertron. Since it was given that I would be moving in with him, I can pour even more of my available finances into investing in my career."
"You're doing this for politics??? But.. but what about love?" His carrier asked.
"If I may," the femme that sat next to the former Prime spoke up. "Arranged bonds may not meet romantically, but if they don't already despise each other then it's already likely that they'll at least grow to be good companions. If they don't, then they're free to work something out that will allow them to seek out other people to see behind the scenes. It won't be perfect but it's certainly doable."
"My carrier's correct. Ratchet is than welcome to seek out something or someone that will make him happy if he is inclined. That is something I will consent to," he tried to assure him.
"But why even arrange a bond in the first place?" Beta interjected. "Obviously Ratchet got pinned into it, but with all respect, aren't you the Prime? If you don't want a bond…"
Optimus sighed, setting down his fork that he had been fiddling with absent mindedly.
"Well, typically yes, but an arranged bond is a long standing tradition that my sire wishes me to follow through with. He didn't find me a suitable suitor while I was still under his guardianship because he mistakenly assumed that I would be following tradition willingly when I became of age. After he learned that I had no such intentions and didn't seek out a mate immediately, I was already legally an adult and you can't arrange a bond for another adult without their consent. To get around this, he wrote a requirement clause for the inheritance of the Matrix that specified that I must find a mate before my first cycle as Prime is up or the Matrix must be passed to my sister. He then stepped down suddenly in order to enact this clause and set the timer," He glanced over to his sister. "Elita, being the second born, was not raised preparing for PrimeHood, and she found other things she wanted to do with her life, and has already established those things. If I were to choose not to arrange a bond, then my remaining option would be to relinquish the Matrix to her and force her to drop everything to move back to Iacon to be the Prime. I know my sister and that is not something that would make her remotely happy. And a single cycle is not nearly enough time to try and kindle any stable and long lasting bond. So my sire effectively backed me into an arranged bond by threatening to destroy my little sister's happiness and livelihood if I didn't. In case you didn't catcher that, I would like to repeat that my sire used his other child to force his son into marriage," he said, staring at the older mech across the table.
"When you say it like that, you make me seem like I'm crazy," he scoffed with a small shrug.
"That's because you are, sire," Elita said with a small forced chuckle. "You're absolutely insane about tradition. Don't act like holding my life over my older brother's head is not a psychotic move to make, even for you."
"A sire does what he feels is necessary to guide his children in the correct direction," he replied, taking a sip of his energon.
Optimus stared at his sire for a moment longer, his face twitching faintly.
Magnus cleared his throat before trying to change the subject. "So… have any plans for the ceremony yet? We'd love to hear them."
Optimus turned his attention to Magnus with a small smile. "We've talked it over and the ceremony will be held on the solstice in the warm season, next cycle…"
Ratchet looked down at his energon beginning to feel a small tinge of regret seeping into his spark. He had made several assumptions about Optimus and most of them had been proven wrong right before his optics. He had assumed that he had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth and that his life had been fairly easy going. Now that he sat in front of the dominant presence that was likely consistent in Optimus's life, he saw nothing but turbulence and tension.
Not only that but he had assumed that Optimus was the main beneficiary when he had too been forced into this.
He could see it now as he watched Optimus speaking on their current ceremony plans. His shoulders were drawn taught and his neck was stiff. His hands were tightened around each other and he wasn't using them as he spoke. His back was pressed flat against the back of the chair. He didn't look like he was relaxed at all by just his body.
Ratchet was snapped back into the conversation with the former Prime snapping at Optimus. "You can't be serious about this nonsense."
"I don't understand what could possibly be upsetting you now, sire… We're having a lovely ceremony." He sighed.
"You're leaving out all of the important components of a traditional royal ceremony. Honestly have I taught you nothing? I've overlooked several details, but the ceremony must be perfect," he replied.
"I don't recall asking your opinion. '' he sighed. "We don't want to hold the ceremony in the citadel. It will be extremely crowded and having royal ceremonies at the citadel has a history of creating hazardous traffic. Did you forget what happened at Elita's ceremony? Several were hospitalized trying to attend. It will be safer to pay for a larger open space, minimize crowd, and broadcast the ceremony."
"And how do you expect to decorate a garden for a royal ceremony? Hmm? There won't be a ceiling to hang anything from."
"We were actually wanting to use mainly floral decoration from organic planets with the garden's permission."
"Organic? That's simply grotesque…."
"Organic flowers can actually be quite beautiful…" Elita said. "I think it's a lovely idea."
"There isn't any glamor in living tissues," he shuddered.
"I mean… we plan to have it at sunset and we're wanting to hang some lights but otherwise we don't want a whole lot of glamour. We're not even having a giant oil cake. Ratchet and I will share a smaller cake and there will be plenty of other sweets for the guests. It's more sanitary that way and less goes to waste," he replied.
"Blasphemy! It's outrageous, why can't you just stick to tradition?? A ceremony like this is supposed to be a beautiful grand moment that the entire planet shares in!"
"But that's why we're wanting to broadcast instead. To allow for everyone wanting to see the ceremony, to see it and not have to leave the comfort of their own homes. It will decrease the need for seating, eliminate traffic concerns, the garden will be more spacious for the guests we do invite and it will make Ratchet and I far more comfortable."
"Broadcast! Are you- hmf… How is a camera suppose to capture the brilliance of a sparkmerge?"
"We're not having a public merge either," Optimus replied.
Sentinel seemed to recoil as if he had been called some kind of slur. "Are you daft?? Of course there will be a public merge, how do you expect your bond to be valid in The optics of Primus and the public?"
Optimus frowned. "They take our word for it, just like they do with everyone else?"
"Preposterous!" He spat.
"Ratchet and I both feel that a sparkmerge should be a private moment between the two of us and ONLY the two of us. It is that simple. You aren't changing our minds. Instead we'll have a symbolic hand fasting and exchange vows for show."
"What the ever living hell is that." He deadpanned.
"A handfasting? The officiator will wrap our servos in a ribbon as we say our vows to represent the intertwining of our lives. It's simple, meaningful, and a lot less invasive of our privacy. It's quite common with the lower and middle caste in Crystal City and it will be a meaningful nod to where Ratchet grew up."
"This ceremony is going to be the equivalent to a commoner's festival…. This is absolutely dreadful…" Sentinel fretted, putting his head in his hands.
"If this upsets you so greatly, then you're welcome to not attend," Optimus replied, his tone growing slightly irritated.
"No, I must attend, if I do not it will only make it worse!"
"Okay, then just stop it!" Elita snapped across the table at him. "You're constantly like this and Optimus has far more patience with you than I ever will. Why can't you just allow us to have some happiness without your endless angry complaining! You've already forced them to bond, what more do you want! Nothing anyone does is good enough for you anyway so why don't you just leave them alone!"
"I will not have my daughter raise her voice at me! You will be silent and still when I speak to someone who is not you, like a proper femme! Optimus you ought to be ashamed of yourself, turning away from the path of your family. It's unbecoming! The both of you are disappointments!" He spat, bringing his hands down on the table and standing.
"Enough!" Optimus snapped standing to go against him. His voice cut through like an icy boom. "You've tested my patience and I've run out! You will not sit at my table, in my home, speak down to me to preach about meaningless tradition in front of my guests, and you certainly will not lash out against my sister! You will be still and respectful or you will show yourself out!"
"This is unbecoming. You'll soften your tone towards your father-" he snarled before Optimus cut him off, speaking over him.
"You will soften your tone towards your Prime! Now be still!"
Optimus's optic burned with cold fire. His entire frame was still and stiff. Every cable was pulled tight.
Sentinel seemed taken back with this display of willpower before he steeled himself. He took his seat again, silently, surely seething within himself. He tilted his helm forwards, a small forced sign of respect and submission. Optimus took a few breaths before he took his seat again. He still sat rigid and alert, his back flush with the chair.
Red got up, bringing over the bottles of champagne and some glasses. "I propose a toast!" He smiled. "It's high time we drink this anyway, it's just going to get warm."
"Good idea," Gale said standing to help him out.
Ratchet watched as his carrier and Red worked to serve everyone something, and get Elita a different drink.
Ratchet looked over to Optimus who had fallen silent. He felt bad. He wanted to try to comfort him, even if he was still a stranger. That kind of tension was just not good to have around constantly, he couldn't imagine how much of it had gathered in his form… He probably hadn't been helping by being so defensive constantly.
A glass was placed in front of him, and he gingerly picked it up.
Red stood raising his glass. "To the future," he said. "We may not know how it will go, but it's waiting there for us."
"To the future," echoed across the table in a disharmonic clash. Broken tension was shattered everywhere. Everyone pretended that it was not there, Optimus most of all. It left Ratchet wondering if he should try to pick up a few pieces.