I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS
"For the last time, the bolt goes there," Bulkhead instructed as Lumina looked at his latest artwork.
It was a scale model of who-knows-what and she was helping. Not doing to good of a job apparently.
"Geez Bulkhead, I just don't get this whole art thing. Maybe Prowl should help you instead..." She trailed as Optimus walked in.
Locking optics with him, Lumina mouthed 'Help me' and she received a hearty chuckle as he came over.
"Hey Bulkhead, do you mind if I borrow Lumina for a moment? I need her help with something."
"Uh, sure boss bot..."
"Thanks" The two left the living room and went outside.
"I owe you one Optimus. I thought I was gonna go berserk."
"Yeah..." As Optimuse hesitated, Lumina stopped suddenly, noticing. It wasn't like him to act like this unless there was something big on his processor.
"Optimus, is there something you want to talk about or maybe ask?"
"W-what?! What would make you say that?" he answered rather defensively.
Lumina fidgeted slightly at his abrupt response. "I don't know, you just seem...stressed, that's all."
She watched Prime's nervous mannerisms as she could tell he was thinking about something. But what? Lumina was concerned now and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Optimus-" She stopped as Prime turned slightly looking behind her.
"Oh, what now?" Lumina thought as she turned.
It was Prowl sitting with Lightrunner near the old water tower. They seemed to be watching with silent amusement while Optimus frowned in discomfort.
Lightrunner laughed and called, "Go on!!! Say it already!!!"
Lumina felt confused by her friend's words.
"Say what?" she murmured.
The sun yellow mech looked at Optimus and said again, "If you don't I'll tell her myself." The response she got was a panicked look which she couldn't help but laugh.
"Tell me what?" Lumina questioned angrily.
"N-nothing. Nothing at all. I, uh, gotta go take care of something, I'll see ya around Lumina," Optimus jabbered and turned and slipped away.
"Optimus!!!!....wait..."
Sighing in frustration, Prime punched the wall and broke through the cement.
"I can't believe I froze up like that! Some brave leader I am...I can face down decepticons and not freeze, but when I try to tell her how I feel...I-I just...*sigh*. What do I do? What could I even say?"
Sitting down at his makeshift desk, the young red and blue mech thought about different ways. The only thing that came to mind were three simple words. So easy to say when you didn't mean it and so hard when you did. Even as he thought them, Optimus felt numb, the words refusing to come out even when he tried without Lumina there.
"Ugh, this is going to be so much harder than I thought it would be..."
Lumina, still standing where she was, crossed her arms and replayed the scene in her mind. It didn't make sense, other than Optimus supposedly wanting to tell her something, something important. What was it though? Heading in, she sought out Ratchet. Maybe he knew something since he talked with Optimus about things.
Seeing that the medbay was open, she went in and approached from behind.
"What do you want kid?" The old medabot turned around, running another self diagnostic. "I'm busy so make it quick."
"Um, Ratchet, do you know what's wrong with Optimus? He's been acting 'funny' and I'm worried."
Ratchet nearly gave away what he had been thinking about when she said this.
"No...She couldn't have caught on this early...did she?" he thought.