A Need For Contact
Chapter One
Optimus did not have long to wait. He was contacted by Ironhide two hours later.
"He's back, Sir, parked almost out of sight." Ironhide told him.
Optimus knew that Barricade would run off if he approached too closely. He had the information (and some of the data that provided proof, for example, a copy of the message that Starscream had composed and sent out before he had ceased to function) stored in a form that he could databurst to the Decepticon: even if he was to run off, he had a right to know. Also included on the databurst was an invitation to approach the Autobot base, with a possibility of being allowed in and allowed to stay if he promised not to attack or harm anyone else inside.
Starscream had left the planet a few days after the Mission City incident, presumably taking Scorponok with him: it seemed that Barricade had been alone for almost as full Earth year. That was not an extreme amount of time for beings as long-lived as they were, but it was one thing to survive a protracted wait without company when you were expecting someone to turn up, but what Barricade was facing was a protracted wait with little or no chance of anyone else coming to him at all. Optimus could not leave Barricade so alone like that, hence the invitation to come to the Base.
Optimus was certain that Barricade would not immediately take him up on his offer, and might not ever, but the invitation was there, and Optimus had made it quite clear within that there was no time limit or expiry date on the invitation: Barricade could turn up a day later or a few millennia later, and if the Autobots were still there on Earth, they would accept his arrival. Optimus just hoped that Barricade would not despair and heads out into space, choosing to die rather than face life either alone or living amongst Autobots.
He slowly exited the Base, the information ready to send. He could see Barricade, and kept a careful watch for the slightest sign that Barricade was going to bolt. He kept his pace slow and his hands in sight as he approached, hoping Barricade would realise that his pace and openness meant that he intended Barricade no harm.
He got closer than he thought he might before Barricade's engine started: Optimus immediately stopped and took a step backwards. Barricade's engine did not stop, but he also did not immediately leave. An aggressive query was databurst to him.
'What do you want?'
Optimus responded with a databurst of his own.
'I come, regretfully, as the bearer of bad news. It is not news you will want to hear, but it is your right to know what we have discovered." With that, he sent the carefully put-together databurst to Barricade.
For a few seconds, there was no reaction, then Barricade's engine purr increased to a roar, and Barricade, with a squeal of tires and no regard for the speed limit, accelerated away. Optimus turned and headed back into the base. The invitation had been issued: now all they could do was wait.
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It was two weeks later that Barricade turned up again, very close to the spot where he had last encountered him, but with one major difference: he was in robot form.
Upon being told, Optimus went out, hoping that the Decepticon had decided to accept his offer. Again, as before, he approached slowly, and with no weapons out or ready to be brought out, and this time Barricade allowed him to approach until they were barely ten feet apart. This was where Optimus stopped, not wanting to seem threatening by approaching closer.
Barricade was the first to speak
"My Spark does not ache for the loss of Starscream. He despised me, just as I despised him." Barricade said. "I never really got to know Scorponok, so I do not grieve over his loss either."
"I am sorry to have been the bearer of such bad news." Optimus said. "Have you given my invitation any thought? We have recharging berths that would be at your disposal, and Ratchet brews very good energon. The organic fuels of this planet give it a unique, and not at all unpleasant, taste."
Barricade looked up at Optimus.
"You expect me to come here and beg to you Autobots to be taken in? That will never happen!" The stinging tone of his voice was not at all unexpected, neither was the defiant announcement, but Optimus could see the longing in those bright optics that locked with his, and he fully understood what was going on here: Barricade wanted to accept the invitation, longed to, but his pride would not allow him to accept.
Well, there was an answer to that one.
Optimus leaned forwards from the waist as he took one large, swift step, closing the distance between them, the advantage of surprise allowing him to grab Barricade's wrists and push them behind his back, transferring both wrists into one of his own large hands. His other arm then crossed over Barricade's back diagonally, the other hand grabbing Barricade's opposite leg, acting as both restraint and support as he straightened, lifting Barricade up so he could hold him up against his chest. He spoke.
"Decepticon Barricade, I am taking you as a prisoner. We Autobots are signatories to the Treaty of Iacon, and as set out in Protocol Three, you will not be mistreated or abused, and will be given free access to fuel, recharging facilities, and will be kept in conditions that will not be detrimental to your health or function. As is also stated in Protocol three, any repairs you require or medical needs will also be provided."
Optimus strode back towards the base with his now-struggling captive, convinced that pride had been satisfied, and equally convinced that Barricade was not struggling as hard as he might have done had he really wanted to escape from Optimus' grip.
As he entered the base he saw Prowl. The tactician was surprised to see Optimus carrying Barricade in, but did not query it, merely accompanied Optimus to his office, opening the door for him.
"I am going to tell this prisoner his full rights under Protocol Three of the Treaty of Iacon, give him some fuel, and then take him to Ratchet to have his health assessed and any repairs needed can be carried out." Optimus told Prowl. "Inform everybody that I am not to be disturbed except for matters that arise that cannot wait a few hours. There is nothing currently requiring my immediate attention, and I cannot see anything else being likely to come up."
"Yes, Leader Prime, I shall see to it immediately." Said Prowl, standing aside so Optimus could go in his office. As the door slid shut, Prowl went off to carry out Optimus' instructions.
Optimus set Barricade down once he was in the room, locking the door, and went over to the energon dispenser on the wall. He filled a mug and handed it to Barricade.
"As promised, some fuel. There are also standard earthly fuels, and this will also be available to you as and when you need it. Now, as I promised, I will tell you your full rights as a prisoner under the Treaty. I hope that perhaps we can change your status to 'guest', but that decision will be yours to make, or not make, in your own time."
Optimus explained Barricade's rights under Protocol Three, but Barricade paid only cursory attention, Optimus noticed. Barricade obviously knew that the Autobots did not mistreat their prisoners, just as he obviously knew the whole 'prisoner' label was only there to satisfy his pride.
When Optimus had finished, Barricade took a mouthful of energon, and gave a small chuckle.
"You remind me of Megatron." He stated.
Optimus almost dropped his own mug of energon, blinking rapidly.
That had been an unexpected comparison.
"Explain." Optimus said. "I do not see how I could remind you of Megatron. My brother and I were opposites, even in peacetime. We rarely ever agreed about anything."
"If there is one thing I knew about when serving under Megatron, it was that I knew where I stood. Now I am here, in your Base, and again, in relation to you, I know where I stand. There is no uncertainty, no doubt." He said.
He moved over towards Optimus, putting down his energon. He raised a hand to Optimus' chest, trailing it down his grillework lightly.
"You started that under the Treaty, my emotional and physical needs will be catered to." He said.
Optimus nodded: he knew what Barricade felt the need for: contact, but once again his pride was stopping him from asking, so Optimus merely dropped into one of the assorted seats that would take a mech of his size so that he would be optic-to-optic with the standing Decepticon, drawing him over with him. He reached his arms around Barricade, drawing him to his chest, opening his legs so that Barricade could stand between them and not be held in an awkward position. If Barricade wished to pull away, Optimus wanted him to be able to.
Barricade did not pull away: on the contrary, he pressed closer in to Optimus' chest, raising a hand which he carefully pressed against and drew down one of Optimus' doors, the claws very delicately trailing down, making Optimus' hide tingle and his Spark flicker.
'Primus! Does Barricade know the effect his touch is having on me?' Optimus wondered, surprised at his reactions. 'No.' Optimus thought. 'He doesn't. He needs the contact, he won't be thinking of anything else.'
He reacted by holding Barricade close with one arm, and using the other to stroke one of Barricade's arms. One of Barricade's hands continued caressing Optimus' door, up and down, and the other suddenly snaked around and began rubbing Optimus' back in what was unmistakeably a sensuous manner. Like all mechs, Optimus' back was sensitive, and he could not suppress a moan of pleasure as he threw his head back and his optics began to shutter. His own hands moved to caress Barricade's back, and Barricade, too was soon twitching and gasping in pleasure under Optimus' experienced hands.
Time ceased to matter to the two intertwined mechs, minutes or hours could have passed as they ran hands over each other, not just over the back but along exposed joints and wires, down each other's limbs and over each other's heads. Fingers glided along antennae and teased dorsal data ports, traced around optics and over mouths, lightly caressed cheek plating and the juncture of neck and torso.
It was when Barricade pulled away slightly, moving his hand to loosen his own chest catches that Optimus realised that this had to stop. Barricade had been without touch too long, and was confusing his need for touch with a desire for Spark-merge. This was too quick, and Optimus did not want Barricade to feel used. He himself would have certainly been willing to continue, but he knew that to do so would be to take advantage of Barricade's overwhelming need for company, for contact with other Cybertronians, for his own selfish reasons. Optimus was not about to take advantage of Barricade in this way, no matter what his own needs were.
He put one hand out, taking Barricade's own, stopping him loosening his own catches.
"No, Barricade, now is not the time. This is not what you need." Optimus said.
"Yes, it is." Barricade whispered. "Please." The begging only served to confirm to Optimus that Barricade was not really ready for what he thought he was. Where was the proud Decepticon whom he'd had to take as a prisoner to get him in this Base?
"I don't think it is." Optimus said. "This is too sudden, too quick, too soon. We don't have to stop touching, but it is not the right time to enter Spark-merge." he said.
The smaller mech began to whimper, and Optimus pulled him close, allowing his own chest plating to spread apart just enough that Barricade could feel the warmth of his Spark: Barricade quieted.
"If you still want to Spark-merge a little later, I would be happy to, I am not denying you forever, Barricade, but I would prefer to know that it is not just the loneliness that is driving you." Barricade looked up, and Optimus saw understanding in his eyes: he realised what Optimus was saying and saw the sense it made. Optimus continued talking, while still holding Barricade close and slowly stroking his arms, the motion calming rather than sensual.
"For me to Spark-merge with you now, when you are vulnerable, would be against the Treaty: it would be abuse, which I promised you would not happen under the terms of Protocol Three." Optimus stated.
Barricade nodded.
"I understand." He said. "If I come to you another time, when my loneliness has been vanquished, would you allow us to try again?"
Optimus nodded, smiling gently at the Decepticon.
"Of course." He said.
Barricade relaxed, allowing his tension to drain away, and looked up at Optimus.
"Thank you." He said.
(A/N: I fully intended the stroking to lead to Spark-merge, but then realised that in that situation under those conditions, it would be abuse. I cannot see Optimus not realising this or allowing it to continue, so that's why it ends that way: Optimus is WAY too noble to go down that road.
If you want some consensual, hot, smutty, Optimus/Barricade mechsex, let me know and I'll write an epilogue.)