At the reception, Ratchet had been introduced to many who knew Optimus, and Optimus had been introduced to many who knew Ratchet. The latter was particularly funny mainly because of the etiquette difference between the castes.

His favorite of the instances was when Wheeljack had walked up to Optimus, shook his servo firmly, introduced himself, made an awful sexual innuendo, plopped a large bag of pricey coffee beans in front of him, congradulated him, and walked off with a glass of Champaign. The thing that had made him laugh the hardest though, was Optimus turning to Ratchet and asking, "why did he do that?"

Evidently, ceremony gifts were not a part of higher caste etiquette, because it was only Ratchet's family and friends that came by and dropped them off. He was frantically doing his best to remember who had given them what, muttering something about thank you cards.

Ratchet knew better than to let Optimus open the gifts that were wrapped at the table, for fear it was an 'intimate' gift. Outside of Aid and his parents, no one else knew that this was arranged.

Megatronus had come by their table, and sat down on the other side of Optimus, quite tipsy already. Optimus did well to remind him that they were in public and they could do whatever later. He hadn't stayed long.

After a while Optimus and Ratchet excused themselves quietly, back to the manor to complete the ceremony in privacy.

The entire car ride there, Ratchet's plating tingled in anticipation and anxiety. Optimus felt similar if the edge in his field was anything to go by.

Red dropped them off, and had taken off back to the party to give them privacy.

Optimus guided Ratchet inside carefully. Both of them were a little buzzed. They closed the door behind them.

Optimus turned to Ratchet with a deep breath in. "So… I suppose we ought to do this."

"Yes…" Ratchet replied softly. "Let's get this over with…"

"Your room or mine?" Optimus asked slowly.

"Yours. It has a bigger berth and your berth has a canopy…" he said slowly.

Optimus nodded and began to lead him there. Ratchet continued to suffer at the expense of his spark. Now this was something that made him nervous. Even if he and Optimus were good friends, typically, amica bonds were many between friends that have been friends for many many years.

Optimus opened his berthroom door, allowing Ratchet inside. He watched the prime carefully take the crown off and set it on the dresser. He took the cape off as well, undoing the clasp and hanging it up neatly in the closet. Ratchet attempted to do the same, but found himself to be struggling to undo the clasp.

"May I?' Optimus asked in a soft rumble, nearly a whisper.

He hesitated before lowering his servos and nodding. Optimus carefully undid the clasp, gently taking the cape from around his shoulders, and hanging it up neatly too.

Ratchet stepped back, having a seat on the edge of the berth. Optimus looked over his shoulder, and turned to face Ratchet.

"Would you like a cube before we start?"

"No…" Ratchet replied softly.

Optimus walked, sitting beside him. "We can take this as slow as we need."

"I know…" he said softly.

His emotions ran wildly in his chest. His spark continued to make it difficult to think clearly. It kept bringing him back to that kiss. That rush inside him that had happened, that floating feeling that had tingled through his limbs. It was on replay.

He tried taking deeper breaths to calm his racing spark.

"Are you alright?" Optimus asked softly.

Ratchet sighed. "I think so…." He replied after a moment, climbing a little deeper into the berth, and pulling the curtain around it closed.

Optimus watched him carefully. Ratchet wasn't quite sure how to read his expression. Ratchet situated himself in front of Optimus, closer to the foot of the berth that Optimus was.

After a moment, he felt the edge of Optimus's field touch his. He looked up slowly to find his face. A small understanding smile, the field giving him the soothing touch of calm.

"Like I said, we don't have to rush. We aren't in any hurry. It's a shallow bond, an amica one. I won't see any memories, and your thoughts are still your own. Emotion is the only thing I'll get, and after a little while you'll be able to wall me off from that too," he assured him. "We don't ever have to do this again, if we don't want to."

Ratchet could almost feel the ground beneath him spinning. It took him a while to answer. "…Sorry…" he muttered.

"Nothing to be sorry for. We'll start when you're ready, and no sooner," he replied.

This was for the best. This bond was essential, he reminded himself. It was a shallow Amica bond, nothing more. No sharing thoughts, no sharing memories, no interfacing, no cuddling. They would get this over with, and they would go to bed. Ratchet would forget all about those feelings he had and the single kiss they shared, and he would sleep those memories away, chalk it up to an oddly placed memory file.

He sighed softly, scooting a little closer. "Alright… let's do this…"

Optimus gave him a gentle smile, moving a little bit closer to Ratchet and allowing his chest to transform aside. Ratchet watched the plating retreat onto itself, the chamber sliding open carefully and quietly, revealing Optimus's spark.

He let go of the breath he had been holding onto. He admired the deep cerulean color as it pulsed a steady yet quick pace. He was nervous too.

"It's alright, take your time," he said softly,

Ratchet continued forcing himself to take deep, long breaths to ventilate the heat of anxiety out of his systems. He dug around a little bit, finding the code to open his chassis, and the one to open his chamber. One by one, he engaged them, his own spark pulsing wildly. Optimus kept his optics on him, offering his servos to Ratchet.

He took them without a second thought, and allowed him to carefully be pulled closer. He could feel the soft warmth of Optimus's spark radiating onto his plating.

"Ready?" He asked.

Ratchet swallowed before croaking out a soft, "yes…"

He carefully scooted another few inches closer, Optimus doing the same. All they had to do was touch them together. Let the outer Coronas mingle until there was a little bit of Ratchet in Optimus, and vice versa.

Ratchet slowly moved the rest of the way that was needed, slipping himself into Optimus's lap, servos on his shoulders.

"I'm going to put my hands around your waist, is that okay?" He heard him ask.

Ratchet slowly nodded glancing up at him.

He felt two warm servos settle just above his hips. At least Optimus really was a gentle and kind mech.

He leaned forwards a little bit, his bared spark gently caressing the outer edge of Optimus's. He felt Optimus gasp softly. He focused on matching their breathing, sitting in silence. Soft pangs of pleasure were shared between the two sparks. He could feel both of their plating heating up with unintended arousal. Ratchet tightened his grip on his shoulders a little bit.

With their proximity, both of their sparks synchronized in their rhythms in no time. Both of them did their best to ride out the small waves of all too pleasant feelings without displaying it physically.

Ratchet found it hard to focus, his breath beginning to quicken against his will. Feelings that weren't his began to surface. A combination of guilt, thrill, and longing flooded his chamber. The servos on him were shaking, he realized. More than likely a result of his own anxieties along with arousal flooding Optimus.

Ratchet bit his lip fighting to keep silent. Just a little longer…

The pangs of pleasure continued to roll over them. Embarrassment leaked into both of them. The light between them grew slightly brighter, and flickered into a brilliant white flash. Ratchet gasped the sharp hot feeling shooting through him. He quickly shut his spark back in his chest and let himself fall away, panting. His plating was crawling with charge. Optimus fell the opposite way, leaning against the berth head for support, and resealing his spark back within it's chamber. He was in a similar state to Ratchet.

He was just happy that it was over.

Ratchet slowly opened his optics again. He wasn't quite sure when he had closed them, but when he opened them again, Optimus had recovered just fine and was reading a book.

"What…" he muttered.

"You knocked yourself offline," he replied softly. "It's only been 10 minutes."

"Ah… right…"

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, soft tendrils of worry coming from him. Ratchet blinked slowly, glancing down at his spark chamber.

"Yes, I'm alright… Just tired…" he murmured, slowly sitting up and rubbing gently over his chamber.

"You're anxious…" Optimus said after a moment. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Ratchet nodded. "It just feels… different," he murmured, a small tint of embarrassment washing over him.

Optimus set the book down and nodded slowly.

Ratchet slowly scooted to the edge of the berth, before pulling the curtain aside. "It's been a long day… I'm going to bed…"

"Alright, goodnight Ratchet," Optimus replied softly. "Let me know if you need anything." He said softly

"Goodnight," he replied quickly and quietly, making his way out the door, shutting it behind him, and heading to his room.

A few weeks passed and it was morning again. Sun shone through the window, hitting Ratchet's face with it's warm glow. He glanced over at it. His dreams had yet again been filled with replays of the ceremony, the bond, and the kiss…

It jolted him awake a total of 4 times through the night. It left him embarrassingly charged and wide awake with an array of feelings.

This hadn't been the first sleepless night since the ceremony. He sighed, slowly sitting up.

Ratchet felt awkward around Optimus for a little while, but after the initial embarrassment wore off, he felt comfortable again. He had learned how to mute the bond to keep his privacy.

Megatronus could be seen occasionally, but he seemed a little colder towards Ratchet than normal. Ratchet brushed it off as simple jealousy. He didn't blame him.

He pulled the blanket a little closer to him, as he slowly checked the bond. It was no longer as sensitive as it was when it was newly forged. It was easier to control when it was open and shut.

Both of them had tried to keep a distance from it, but curiosity was too tempting, sometimes. They found that they could achieve somewhat of a telepathic communication. They couldn't convey words to each other, but they could give snippets of emotion, sense where the other was, and they could tell when the other was watching if they were paying attention. Like a field extension, but it was constantly available and inside of them.

Typically, he found Optimus feeling content or happy in the mornings, but today he found distress. He frowned deeply. Optimus didn't seem to notice his presence, too distracted with something. He closed the bond again, carefully getting up with the blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He knew Optimus was in his room. It could be a bad memory flux… or maybe he wasn't feeling well.

As he drew nearer to the door, he could hear voices. As he got closer he could hear Megatronus and Optimus.

"…unreasonable."

"Unreasonable! I think it's a very reasonable thing to ask of my supposedly loving partner!" He heard Megatronus reply sharply.

"Megs…please… you know it isn't anyone's fault. I had a duty to fulfill."

"Ah, so your duties come before me?"

A beat of silence passed.

"Answer me, Orion…"

"Mega… we've been arguing all night. Can we please just take a break from this? We can talk some more about it later…"

"So you do think your duties are more important than me."

"I didn't say that!"

"Your silence answers for you!"

"Please, Mega, I just want to rest for a little bit…I'm exhausted and you're upsetting me. Please."

"You're making this about you," he growled.

"I'm trying to listen to you, but you won't listen to reason! I want to understand, but you aren't letting me… You know Ratchet and I are just Amicas, you knew Ratchet and I were going to become Amicas. I understand that you're going through something right now, but I can't reassure you if you aren't going to listen…"

"You're the one that needs to listen- don't you dare walk away from me!"

"Mega, let go-you're hurting me…" he heard.

"You're going to be silent unless you want me to actually hurt you. You'll do well to remember that I'm a gladiator of the pits," he hissed. "You ought to be grateful that I'm speaking to you, where I come from, you pummel your problems. Right now, you're being a problem, do you understand me?"

Ratchet frowned deeply, moving forward and opening the door.

Megatronus looked towards Ratchet with glowering optics, his denta gritted. His large servo was wrapped around Optimus's wrist, squeezing rather tightly.

Ratchet stared at him. "Let go."

"Get out," he snarled at Ratchet.

"Let. Go. He said that you're hurting him," he replied, his optics flaring back at the larger mech. "Let. Go. Now. Or I have you escorted off the property."

He looked like he wanted to say something more but he seemed to decide against it. He let go of Optimus, who pulled himself away from Megatronus. "Fine…" he growled, walking towards Ratchet with a menacing field.

He stood his ground, staring into his optics. He thought briefly about how he could defend himself. He was sure that pepper spray was still in his bag in his room. He was smaller than Megatronus, and knew the hallways better. He might be able to beat him there, if he gave chase…

He stooped down to be face to face with Ratchet. "I have a meeting to attend anyway. Optimus can rest until I get back. Then we will continue our discussion. You'll do well to remain out of the way, medic," he growled.

"You should get going. Wouldn't want you to be late," Ratchet replied, his voice low.

He glanced back at Optimus, who stood back, his plating flattened against his form, cradling his wrist. "I'll be back," he said before walking out the door, and slamming it behind him.

Ratchet rushed forward, as soon as the pedsteps disappeared down the stairwell.

"Let me see," he said.

"I'm fine… really…" Optimus replied softly, letting Ratchet examine his wrist.

He scanned over it with a frown. "Does it hurt to move?" He asked.

He carefully tried to move it around only to wince and nod.

"These are some serious dents…your protoform is bruised…" he said. "What was he so damned upset about?" He asked.

"It was nothing… we just had an argument…" Optimus replied with a sigh, taking his wrist away.

"Optimus, that was out of line. We need to call the police."

"No!" He replied, his field spiking with fear. "No we can't! We'll be discovered!"

"Orion… this is serious…" Ratchet replied gently. "Your safety is being compromised…"

"I'm fine. It was just a disagreement and he got a little too rough. It was my fault anyway!" He replied shakily.

"Optimus, he hurt you!"

"I pushed him too far! He wouldn't ever do it again," He shot back.

"Optimus…" Ratchet sighed, taking a few steps forwards. "He's not good for you…"

"No! I don't want to hear another word on it!" He replied, turning around. "Just leave me alone…get out…"

"Orion… please listen. This isn't right…"

"I SAID GET OUT!" He snapped turning back around, tears forming in his optics. "You don't understand, so just go…"

Ratchet felt as if he had been stabbed. He bit his lip. "I know this is painful to hear, but I'm trying to help you… Don't push me away…"

"The only thing you're doing is making it worse…" he snapped, looking away. "You think you understand everything, but you don't. I suggest you stop talking about it… We had a disagreement, and he didn't know his own strength. I'm fine."

"He knew exactly what he was doing… He threatened you, Orion… This isn't healthy, this isn't safe!"

"If you suggest that I leave him, then you go frag off. You don't know what you're talking about," he snapped.

"I care about you too much to let this lie!"

"You don't care about me. Not like he does…" Optimus snapped. "Not like my real partner does."

Ratchet narrowed his optics. "You don't mean that."

Optimus stared back at Ratchet, his optics piercing and cold. Ratchet shook his helm, "I don't believe you… I can't watch you do this to yourself…"

"Then why don't you leave," he replied simply, not missing a beat.

Ratchet felt his optics begin to burn at that. "You want me to leave…fine… I think I'll pack a bag and go home for a while…"

"I think that's an excellent idea," Optimus replied coldly. "I think you should stay there for a while… While I sort this out. With my real partner…"

Ratchet sighed, shaking his helm, and walking back to his room. He felt himself go blind with the flurry of emotions. He threw a thick block over the Amica bond. If he wanted to be an idiot, be his guest.

A small part of Ratchet wanted Optimus to come and stop him, or say goodbye, but he didn't.

He walked out the door, hailing a cab to take him to the nearest shuttle station, he waited. And waited.

And waited.

Optimus didn't reach out to him. Didn't even open a curtain to watch him leave.

He bit his lip, opening the comm. message between them. /I called a cab. I'll message you when I get there./

The message registered as delivered, and then read. He waited for another moment, hoping for a reply, but it didn't come. The cab arrived at the front of the drive. He sighed, looking back at the manor. A part of him was tempted to go back, chicken out of this stupid charade, but that feeling was still pounding through him like adrenaline.

Time away might be good for both of them…

He tossed his bag into the back seat, and followed it, sitting down. "Shuttle station, please." He said.

"You got it!" The driver replied, pulling away from the curb and turning around back towards the city.

He looked back at the manor again from the window of the car. He sighed, typing out one more message.

/Call me if you need me. Anytime. I mean it./ he sent, watching it remain labeled as delivered for a moment, before it changed to read, and for no reply to be sent back.