A/N: This one completely ran away with me.
Also, let's just pretend that Hocus Pocus and Casper has been in existence since the dawn of time and thus would be perfectly logical to watch in the eighties.


Optimus found Sunstreaker just where Sideswipe said he would be. Standing outside the labyrinth, a little bit away from it, glancing at it every few minutes and pretending not to.

"Hello, Sunstreaker," he said pleasantly. "Considering the maze of horrors?"

Sunstreaker startled at his words, which told Optimus quite a lot about the golden twin's mental state. It seemed Sideswipe was right.

He's going to be on edge, Sideswipe had said. He doesn't like this holiday much, there are too many things out to scare and startle and stuff. Not that he's scared – Sunny doesn't get scared like that – but it triggers his battle reflexes real bad, and then mecha will shout at him for overreacting.

"Wasn't really planning on going in there," Sunstreaker muttered. "Not my gig."

"I'm inclined to agree." Optimus made sure to keep his tone light. "Especially not considering its creators. It has been a while since Wheeljack made anything blow up by accident, but judging by the smoke and fog coming out of it, and considering Jazz is a contributor, I'd rather leave it to those with a will to get… what's that term Spike used?"

Sunstreaker smirked, relaxing a bit. "'Freaked out of their skin'?"

Optimus chuckled. "That's the one." He relaxed his stance, turning to watch as Slingshot taunted Brawn into the maze. It didn't really take long for the screaming to start.

Next to him, Sunstreaker tensed.

He doesn't trust himself when he gets like that. He thinks he'll seriously hurt someone. And then you – or, well, probably not you, probably Prowl or Red Alert or someone – will throw him out of the Autobots or something.

"As fun as it is to stand here and observe the victims-to-be," Optimus said softly, "there was something else I wanted to do tonight. I have a stack of movies waiting for me in my quarters. Would you like to come watch them with me?"

Sunstreaker hid behind a sneer. "What, are you freaked already?"

"Quite sufficiently freaked, yes," Optimus replied with a laugh. He touched Sunstreaker's elbow lightly. "Come with me?"

Sunstreaker looked at him, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, why not. Anything's better than standing around here."

Don't let his act throw you off. He'll be happy you came over. Just give him a chance to relax and lower those ridiculously thick walls of his.

Optimus smiled and touched Sunstreaker's elbow again. "Let's go back inside."

He led the way back to the Ark entrance, past Hoist and Huffer who had volunteered for guard duty. Optimus offered them a smile, noting their curious glances at his companion. Sunstreaker, in return, tensed further, straightened, and pretty much stalked past them.

He didn't get too far ahead. Optimus had longer legs and knew how to use them.

"Before we get to the movies," Optimus said, "would you show me your pumpkin?"

"From earlier today? Sure." Sunstreaker shrugged. "It's in the rec room."

Optimus frowned. "Not put outside with the others?"

Sunstreaker shook his head. "No. It wasn't fit for showing off, apparently."

He's used to mecha treating him differently, you see. Like he's dangerous. Which he is, of course he is, but no more than the rest of us. It's not like he's really going to snap and attack someone. He's got too much steely self-control for that. He only ever lets that go when there's a battle. But then his battle protocols will activate because of the screaming and the running and the costumes and stuff, and mecha will look at him like he's going to kill someone any moment or a wrong word can set him off or stuff like that… It's unfair, Prime. He gets angry, but he's not evil. He's no worse than the rest of us. His instincts are just closer to the surface, that's all.

"Why not?"

Sunstreaker shrugged. "I'll show you."

He walked in front of Optimus until they came to the rec room, where Sunstreaker stopped and threw out his arm in a dramatic gesture. "Behold the abomination."

Optimus stared.

Sunstreaker had chosen a fairly large pumpkin, one that was also smoother and more even-surfaced than some of the others. He'd clearly carved it, just like everyone else had. But the similarity to what the others have done ended there.

In front of Optimus, silhouetted in orange, a mech was dying. He was on his knees, screaming in agony, hands trying in vain to shield vulnerable optics and circuitry, while the fluid falling on him dissolved his plating and protoform. There was such emotion in it, it looked so real with that flickering candlelight behind it, that it gave Optimus the chills.

Slowly, Optimus knelt in front of the masterpiece Sunstreaker had created. "Is this… Which battle is this?"

"Simfur," Sunstreaker replied simply. He walked up to stand behind Optimus. "The first battle where the Rainmakers used that skill of theirs. On top of the rain that was already falling…" He touched the side of the pumpkin carefully. "Suffice it to say that that one didn't survive. Most of them didn't."

Optimus shivered. "I remember. The death toll was almost absolute. It killed every one of the Neutrals we were trying to protect."

"All of the Neutrals, a lot of the Autobots and even most of the Decepticons." Sunstreaker sat down on the floor next to him. "Which is probably why that trine hasn't been used like that since. Megatron may be insane, but he doesn't throw his troops away." He turned, smiled grimly at Optimus. "So you see now why they didn't want to show it off? It's too scary. It seriously freaked out First Aid." He sighed. "Made me feel bad. I didn't mean to scare the kid."

"This is magnificent, though," Optimus murmured. "How did you manage?"

Sunstreaker shrugged. "It's all carved at different depths. I didn't really cut all the way through a lot. The light does the rest."

"It's very impressive work." Optimus stood, extending a hand to Sunstreaker. "And I can see why it's hidden from the public eye. But please don't mistake that for anyone thinking it's not good work. It's just disturbing." He chuckled lightly. "Perfectly in the spirit of the celebration, really."

Sunstreaker eyed his hand skeptically before taking it, letting Optimus pull him to his feet. "Fair enough. I'll take your word for that."

"Good." Optimus smiled. "Now come on."

He trusts you, sir. Cares for you. But he's never going to show that. It took him ages to try to muster up the courage to approach you, but when he tried it kind of failed on him and now he's convinced he's not worthy of anything. Sideswipe's optics had been sharp. Don't toy with him, sir. If you don't want to spend time with him, then let him down. But I'd like for you to be nice about it. Don't make it about him. You're good with words, you can manage that, can't you?

"So what kind of movies did you have in mind anyway?"

Optimus smiled. Sunstreaker was relaxing again, if he felt brave enough to ask questions. "I have a stack of human movies I wanted to see. No one wanted to watch them with me." He chuckled. "Apparently, they're not scary enough."

"You want to watch non-scary movies on Halloween?" Sunstreaker smirked at him.

"They are Halloween-movies," Optimus defended himself. "Just… not the overly scary kind." He smiled. "So, can I tempt you to watch with me? I have energon goodies?"

Sunstreaker's smirk melted into a genuine smile. "Sure. Since you have goodies."


Sunstreaker snickered. "So, the cat just reanimates?"

"It can't die," Optimus replied, picking up another candy and offering the box to Sunstreaker. "So yes, it reanimates."

"That's just weird." Sunstreaker popped a candy into his mouth.

"It is." Optimus sank back into the couch. "That's the fun of it." He looked at Sunstreaker, making sure to catch the other's optic. "Hey. Thank you for watching these with me."

Sunstreaker hesitated for a moment, then leaned back next to him. They were almost plating to plating. "Sure. Thanks for asking." He smiled a bit. "It beats hovering outside that labyrinth, fighting back my instincts every time someone screeched."

"That doesn't sound like it would have been a pleasant evening."

"No," Sunstreaker sighed. "No, it wouldn't have been." He smiled. "Thanks for rescuing me."

That smile brought another aspect of loveliness to Sunstreaker's face. The golden mech was beautiful even on his worst, but this was new. Optimus had a feeling that there weren't many who got to witness that smile.

"You should smile more often," he blurted.

Sunstreaker actually blushed. "Well, you should take your mask off more often," he muttered, ducking his head.

"I'll make you a deal, then," Optimus replied. Slowly, cautiously, he reached out to let his hand cover Sunstreaker's. "I'll bare my face more often if you smile at me when I do."

"That's sappy," Sunstreaker commented, but he was still smiling. "You're the only one I know who could get away with that level of sap."

Optimus laughed. "So am I getting away with it?"

"Yeah, you are," Sunstreaker replied. "It's a deal. Now watch the movie."

The words were dismissive, but the tone wasn't. Most likely, Sunstreaker was uncomfortable to have all of Optimus' attention focused on him and needed an out for a little while.

Optimus could understand that. So he leaned back and tried to watch the movie.

'Try' was the key word. He didn't really succeed. His optics kept drifting to the golden mech next to him. Sunstreaker was relaxed, peaceful – there was no trace anywhere of the normal sneer and standoffishness.

Good thing that the movie had a simple plot. Because Optimus wasn't getting much of it.

He did notice when the movie ended, mainly because Sunstreaker got up and put on another DVD. When the golden mech sat down next to him again, Optimus reached out and took his hand.

It wasn't a conscious decision. He was as surprised as Sunstreaker looked at the action.

"Sorry," he said, embarrassed. "I didn't mean to do that." He tried to let go, but Sunstreaker's fingers tightened around his.

"It's okay." That shy smile again, and Optimus pretty much melted. "I kind of – I kind of like it."

There was no way Optimus could focus on the screen after that. He caught enough of it to get that it was about a ghost and some more ghosts and a human girl and her father, and that it was a movie that was both funny and sad.

He knew it was both because he was watching Sunstreaker's facial expressions.

He'd thought that Sunstreaker was – not cold, not exactly, but indifferent, maybe. He never gave the impression that he cared about anything but himself and his brother. But that just wasn't true. The mech next to him clearly felt deeply; it was right there for Optimus to see, now that Sunstreaker had let his walls drop a bit.

It was in the narrowing of Sunstreaker's eyes when the main antagonists were being cruel. In the way he bit his lower lip during the sad parts. He chuckled at the funny bits, true, but the sad bits seemed to hit him harder. Those parts actually upset him.

"There's something about this film that resonates with you," Optimus commented softly. His thumb was stroking the back of Sunstreaker's hand.

"It's the way Casper's stuck outside everything," Sunstreaker replied, more honest and forthcoming than Optimus had expected. "And how that'll never change, because he is the ghost of a twelve year old kid and he'll never be anything else."

Optimus couldn't help it. He let go of Sunstreaker's hand and put that arm around his shoulders instead, pulling him close.

Sunstreaker stiffened at first, but then he let himself relax against Optimus' side.

Sunstreaker… smelled nice. Not that Optimus was actively leaning in and sniffing him. But it was hard not to notice, when they were this close, how smooth the golden plating was, how he smelled of expensive waxes and clean metal, how warm he was against Optimus' frame.

Optimus didn't notice when the movie ended and the credits began. He was too focused on Sunstreaker.

"This music is haunting," Sunstreaker said softly. He straightened a bit, pulling away just enough to access his subspace, and pulled out an oversized human sketchbook and graphite pencil. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Optimus replied. He watched, fascinated, as Sunstreaker's pencil began moving.

It was vague, at first. The outline of mecha moving in a bright-lit room. There were no faces, but here and there Optimus could see a hint at a speedster alt-mode or doorwings or sensor horns or visors.

In front of the crowd of Autobots, because of course it was the Autobots, there was a racing frame holding a sensor-horned youngling by the hand. They were walking towards the mecha in the background.

In the very front of the picture, at the edge of the light, another youngling was leaning around the edge of a doorway. One hand was slightly raised, as if to call the other youngling back or wanting to come with him, but the other hand was tightened on the doorjamb.

That youngling had a hint of elegant helm vents.

The meaning was clear. And it was spark-shattering.

After adding another few touches, Sunstreaker put his pencil away and looked at his work critically. Then he sighed. "Want it? I can't bring this home to Sides, it's too sad. He'll feel guilty."

"I'd be honored to keep it," Optimus replied truthfully. "It's exquisite."

Sunstreaker flashed him a smile. "Thanks." Gently, extremely carefully, he pulled the thick sheet of paper loose and handed Optimus the drawing.

"Why would Sideswipe feel guilty?" Optimus stood and walked over to put the small piece of art somewhere safe.

"Because he thinks he needs to take care of me," Sunstreaker sighed. "He's always done that. I'm - not too good with other mecha, so he has to intervene so I can make friends. And now that he's with Mirage, he has less time to spend with me than he did before." He snorted. "I'm not upset with him for that. They're disgustingly adorable together, and he totally deserves all that happiness, but for some reason he thinks I'll mind. And so he'll feel guilty for me being alone while he's not."

"He cares for you." Optimus sat back down by Sunstreaker's side. "That's not a bad thing."

"My happiness is not his responsibility," Sunstreaker said bluntly. "It's not on him whether I have friends or not. Whether I'm alone or not."

"He just wants to help," Optimus protested softly. "And in that respect… I have a confession to make. I didn't come to talk to you tonight of my own accord."

Sunstreaker turned sharply, stared at him. Then he sighed. "He told you to come find me, didn't he? Figures." He stood. "I should go. You don't need to spend your evening with me out of pity."

"It's not pity." Optimus stood as well, reaching for Sunstreaker's hand. He couldn't let Sunstreaker leave now. Not just because it would be wrong to let the mech leave when he was clearly upset, but because Optimus didn't want him to leave.

He wanted the golden mech to stay with him. At least until he'd figured out what this was between them. Because there was something there, he was sure of it, and it had been too long since he'd felt anything like that.

"It's not, I promise," he continued. "Yes, at first, I felt bad that you would be upset and alone like that. Sideswipe told me that he'd be spending the evening with Mirage, and that you would need company. He told me where to find you and how you would be feeling." He tugged at Sunstreaker's hand, hoping the other mech would turn around and look at him. "I came to talk to you because I would have done as much for any Autobot. But somehow you're not just any Autobot to me anymore."

With clear reluctance, Sunstreaker let himself be pulled back down on the couch. He was pointedly not looking at Optimus. "Did Sideswipe tell you… about how I feel?"

Dangerous territory, this. Sunstreaker was still really tense – he was what Jazz would have designated a 'flight risk'. Optimus would have to be careful with his words.

"He told me you care about me," he said softly. "That you have for a while."

"That slagger," Sunstreaker said, but there was no real feeling in it. "You don't owe me anything, no matter how I feel. You don't have to cater to me."

"I'm not here with you because I have to be," Optimus replied. "I may have come to find you because of Sideswipe, but that's not why we're here. That's not why I've been holding your hand all night." He smiled slightly. "And definitely not why I've been too taken with looking at you to know what either movie was about. I couldn't tell you about the plot if you paid me to."

Sunstreaker turned to stare at him again, this time incredulously. "Are you… flirting with me now?"

Optimus chuckled, partially in real relief and partially in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I'm doing my best to flirt with you, yes. I'm… not very good at it. Ironhide always says that it'll take a bonding request from me before someone will understand I'm interested in them." He squeezed Sunstreaker's hand. "I'm terribly out of practice, too," he admitted. "Orion Pax never had much cause to flirt, and with the Matrix and the Primacy and the war I haven't had much chance or reason to either."

"You're not half bad." Sunstreaker grinned. "Could do with some practice."

"Really?" Optimus smiled back. "Care to be my test subject? Maybe while we stay here and watch another movie?"

"Depends." Sunstreaker finally relaxed, and Optimus put his arm back around those shoulders. "Are you going to actually watch the movie this time?"

"I make no promises," Optimus crooned. He leaned in slowly, bravely, and nuzzled the top of Sunstreaker's helm. "But I can try."

"Good enough," Sunstreaker decided. "Put the film on already."

Optimus smiled. "Of course." He got up to switch movies, probably breaking some form of speed record in the process, before sitting back down. Then he pulled Sunstreaker closer, and the golden mech let himself be pulled.

This could be something good. Maybe he owed thanks to Sideswipe.

But that was for another day. For now, he was watching movies with an incredibly handsome and fascinating mech in his arms. And he aimed to enjoy every minute of it.