A/N: I know, I know. I've been neglectful of my story. I'm sorry. I wish I had a decent excuse, but I was just being lazy. Last week was pretty rough at both jobs and whenever I was home, I just wanted to sleep. XD I hope uploading a couple of drabbles today makes up for it. R&R. Enjoy!

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Cartoons

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"Cade, I do not understand, Optimus said while he looked down at the TV in Cade's barn. "Why is the purple dog screaming?"

"Huh?" Cade asked, looking up from his latest robotic invention to stare at his robotic alien boyfriend. Optimus pointed one large mechanical finger at the TV screen.

"Oh. You talkin' about Courage?" Cade said, stepping around his table and watching as Courage, the Cowardly Dog ran throughout the Katz Hotel.

"Is that his name? Courage?" Optimus asked. Cade couldn't help but grin. Optimus seemed so fascinated by the old cartoon show and that was just plain adorable.

"Yeah, that's Courage, the Cowardly Dog," Cade told him. "He's always of afraid of something, but he always ends up saving Eustace and Muriel from some monster or something like that."

"Hm. It does not sound as though he is cowardly," Optimus said, his voice soft and somewhat puzzled. That only made Cade's grin bigger.

"He's always running away or screaming or something," Cade said. "But he usually saves the day in the end."

"Then he must be excellent at strategy if he is able to do so every time the farmer and his wife get into trouble," Optimus commented, his bright blue optics fixated on the screen. "He would make a fine warrior, if he could endure the proper training."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Cade laughed and smiled up at the Autobot leader. "I should get back to work, big guy."

Optimus hummed softly in response and Cade went back to working on his invention. While he worked, he would occasionally hear Optimus mumbling softly to himself or making surprised noises and sounds at whatever monster or creature popped up on the TV screen. When he got bored of Courage and his antics, Optimus changed the channel, surfing for a little bit until he would find something that managed to pique his interest. After an hour or so passed by, Cade heard Optimus call his name out again. Stopping, he took off his glasses, slipped off of his stool, and made his way over to Optimus.

"What's up, Optimus?" Cade asked, staring up at him. Optimus tilted his head towards the TV once more.

"I do not mean to interrupt your work, Cade, however, I…I am unfamiliar with this program," Optimus admitted. Cade turned and saw what he had been watching.

"Adventure Time?" Cade couldn't help but laugh out loud and smile broadly at that. It was simply hilarious that even Optimus Prime, the big, badass leader of the Autobots, had been enraptured by Adventure Time.

"Yes, Adventure Time," Optimus confirmed.

"What don't you understand?" Cade asked, leaning against Optimus' leg as he watched Finn and Jake talk while they sat on the train. He would admit that he hadn't watched much of this show, but he did like this episode very much. It freaked him out the first time he saw it, what with Jake being turned into a skeleton, but he liked being freaked out and frightened.

"Well…for one, how is Jake able to stretch his limbs to various lengths? I did not believe that was physically possible for many vertebrates on this planet. And how can Marceline be a vampire? Vampires are mythical creatures," Optimus fired off question after question. "Humans cannot be made of fire or flames, and yet the Flame Princess is covered in fire. How? And why? Also, why are the inhabitants of the Candy Kingdom candy? Candy is not alive; it is a food source for humans. Their princess is made of bubblegum; why had no one tried to chew her yet?" Optimus sighed and shifted his eyes from the TV screen to Cade. "These questions…puzzle me, Cade. Help me to understand."

Cade scratched the back of his head while he thought. Truth be told, he didn't understand the overall premise of Adventure Time, and he probably never would. He had only watched a hand full of episodes and that had been because Tessa had been watching them and as he didn't usually use the TV much in their old house, he let her have free reign. Usually, Cade would be working on research or notes when he'd be watching TV, but there were times when he would actually sit down and watch TV. On those rare occasions, Adventure Time had somehow managed to squeeze itself in there and Cade had liked what he had seen.

While it was a cartoon and therefore a 'kids' show, it was pretty funny. Its random moments and strange outbursts from characters never failed to make him laugh. And some of the sets and characters themselves were just funny. But that didn't mean that Cade knew a lot about it. The only person in the house who did was Tessa.

"Honestly, Optimus, I don't know much about the show," Cade admitted. "But Tessa does. Why not ask her about it? She's in the house."

"Very well. I shall ask Tessa then," Optimus said with a nod. He stood up and Cade was grateful that Joshua had designed the barn and the hanger attached to it to be big enough to fit all of the Autobots in their robotic forms. "Thank you, Cade." He extended one finger down and ever so gently stroked Cade's back with it. His touch sent shivers down Cade's spine and he smiled at his lover as he watched him leave the barn.

Later on that evening, Cade was still in his barn, his research lab, finishing up his work when Optimus returned. He crouched down near his human and watched as he worked. Cade smiled up at him and started wrapping things up.

"So, did Tessa tell you everything you wanted to know?" Cade asked him. He took of his glasses and his apron, placing both of them on the table.

"Yes, she did. Her insight was most helpful and has allowed me to enjoy the program thoroughly," Optimus replied, giving Cade his same small smile. He held out a gigantic hand for Cade to step onto, as he usually did. "However, there are a few other cartoon programs that I am interested in."

"Oh? Like what?" Cade asked as he stepped onto the open mechanical palm Optimus had offered. He liked having a tall boyfriend who could give him a ride right up to his bedroom window. Literally.

"Tessa has told me about several, such as CatDog, which has a mutated cat and dog joined together, and Ren and Stimpy, and Beavis and Butthead. There are others, but those sounded most intriguing. I wish to watch them with you someday soon," Optimus said as he carried his human out of the barn and towards the house, and ultimately to his bedroom window.

"Did she give you a whole list?" Cade joked, chuckling softly.

"Yes, she did," Optimus said. "How did you know?" Cade had been joking, but apparently, Tessa had, indeed, given her…uh…stepfather a list.

"Call it a hunch," Cade said. When Optimus stopped in front of his bedroom window, he slid inside and turned to him. "I'm gonna take a shower. See you in a bit?"

"Yes, Cade, you will," Optimus said, smiling at him. "I shall check on my Autobots before I head inside. Enjoy your shower."

"I will," Cade said. "Oh, and Optimus?"

"Cade?" Optimus answered.

"I'm free tomorrow if you wanna have a cartoon marathon," Cade said and smiled at him. "I'm free for you any time."

"That is nice to know, Cade. We shall commence with our marathon tomorrow then," Optimus replied, his voice warming and softening. It made Cade's heart thump in his chest and caused butterflies to flutter about rambunctiously in his stomach.

"It's a date," Cade said. Then he turned and rummaged through his dresser for a fresh pair of boxers and a t-shirt before he headed to his bathroom.

As he got into the shower, he wondered why Optimus was so intrigued by cartoons, but he just laughed and shook it off. It was just too damn funny and adorable to knock it, and he couldn't lie, he liked them too. Not that that mattered though; he'd do anything and be up for anything as long as he was with Optimus. Even if that meant hours and hours of cartoons.