A/N: So, story time. A few weeks ago, my friend and I were at Dairy Queen and we starting throwing movie quotes at each other because, well, that's just what we do. We tend to get into mock arguments with these quotes. And the very last quote in our witty banter throw down was mine and it was, 'Why can't we make what we wanna make the way we wanna make it?!'. The entire place got quiet and then my friend started laughing his butt off. I just thought you guys would find that somewhat amusing. Anyway, here's the next drabble. R&R. Enjoy!

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Books

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Cade wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked into the house. He had been working in his lab since five this morning and he was tired, sweaty, and in need of a shower and some relaxation. His latest invention still had a lot of kinks and he had been trying to work them for the past few days. Needless to say, he was pretty frustrated and he needed time to calm down. A shower was what he really needed and wanted right now, and then some food.

The trek up the stairs damn near did him in. His legs already felt stiff and sore from all of the standing and crouching he had been doing, and walking up the stairs wasn't making them feel any better. Cade couldn't help but sigh in relief once he made it up to the second floor. He couldn't deny it anymore: he was no longer a spring chicken.

Rubbing his right eye with the palm of his hand – how long had it been since he had slept? – Cade started his slow trek to his bedroom and ultimately his bathroom. But he stopped once he heard a noise. It sounded like something falling on the floor. Weird. Tessa was off at college and the Autobots were outside, so who could be in the house?

Cade turned and gently pushed open the door on the left that lead into a room he rarely used. It was like an office and a library turned into one and he had no idea why Joshua had added it to the blueprints of the house considering Cade never needed or used an office. He did read and he loved having books on robotics and technology, but he kept most of those in his lab. And like he said before, Tessa was a college, so she couldn't be in the room doing homework, research, or just plain reading for the hell of it. While it was possible that one of the Autobots could be inside, Cade knew that if they ever needed to look anything up or anything like that, they could easily access the internet and download it themselves, one of the perks of being robot aliens from Cybertron.

So, when he gently pushed open the door further and found Optimus lounging comfortably on the couch in his holoform, Cade was more than a bit surprised. It wasn't often that he got to see Optimus relax so freely. There were still a lot of former CIA agents out there willing to kill them all if they ever got the chance. And who knows when Galvatron or some other threat – either terrestrial or from outer space – would come to hunt them down, so Optimus was always going on patrols – once a day at least – and observing the premises, keeping his eye on things, and all of that meant that he rarely allowed himself time to just relax and not worry about anything.

Yet there he was, his long legs taking up the expanse of the couch, with a book in his hands. Cade couldn't help but smile endearingly at the sight. Optimus looked so calm and peaceful; it wasn't a look he often wore. And the clothes he was wearing, his usual blue and red camouflage cargo pants and his black shirt – he had ditched his jacket apparently – made him look so comfy. Suddenly, Cade just wanted to curl up beside him and fall asleep. He would too. Not that he didn't like reading, but he doubted he'd be able to focus. Hell, he was barely able to focus his eyes on Optimus. Damn, he needed sleep.

"Cade, you do not have to stand in the doorway," Optimus said. Cade blinked a couple of times and saw that his significant other's bright, blue eyes were focused on him. "You can come and join me."

"Nah, I really need to get a shower. I've been working in the lab for a while," Cade replied with a tired smile.

"Yes, I was beginning to worry," Optimus said, his expression morphing into one of concern.

"Sorry. I know you told me to check up once in a while, but I just got lost in working out the kinks in my newest bot," Cade said, feeling a pang of guilt. Optimus had enough to worry about; it's not like he had the time to constantly check on Cade, who is a grown ass man.

"I know. Bumblebee told me that you never noticed him whenever he would enter the lab," Optimus said.

"Oh, I had no idea he was even in there," Cade said with a laugh. "I'm taking a shower. I'll be right back."

"Take your time, Cade. I will still be here," Optimus reassured him, giving him a small smile.

Cade forced himself away from the door frame and turned towards his bedroom. Once inside, he stripped down to nothing, grabbed some clothes, and hopped into the shower. When the warm water hit his tired and stiff body, he let out a loud, relieved sigh and just stood underneath the water's spray for a while before he started washing himself. After he was finished, he got out, dried himself off, and got dressed, wearing his boxers, a pair of sweatpants, and an old t-shirt.

Leaving his room, he padded softly down the hallway to the office/library. Optimus was still on the couch, this time lying on his side with a copy of The Hitchhker's Guide to the Galaxy. It made him chuckle to himself and he stepped into the room.

"How are you feeling, Cade?" Optimus asked him as he curled up beside Optimus on the couch. He sighed in relief and inhaled Optimus' familiar smell.

"Much better now. Thanks," he said. He felt Optimus kiss his head and he relaxed against his lover's warm, solid, hard body.

Silence fell upon them as Optimus continued reading. Cade closed his eyes and just enjoyed the peace and quiet and relaxation. He had never been glad to have books that didn't specify in robotics, mechanics, or technology before now, but if they allowed Optimus to relax and get away from the almost constant threat of being attacked and forced from their home, then he was glad for it. Before too long, Cade was soundly asleep with Optimus' arms stretched out with a book in his hands, glad that he wasn't the only one who was able to relax.