(Please see all previous disclaimers)
The next morning, at the Autobot base, Optimus woke and was a bit stunned to find himself snuggling next to Lancex. Optimus liked the snuggling, but he also felt like this was inappropriate. This bot was a new soldier and Optimus felt he took advantage of the bot a bit, though Optimus was grateful. And, in being grateful, and possibly a bit more, Optimus leaned over and kissed Lancex on the lips before leaving. Optimus could only hope no one saw this, as he needed to maintain order.
Luck, however, was not on Optimus' side. As he slowly emerged, he was spotted by the nosy medic, Ratchet. Optimus' injuries appeared healed, but that was not what drew the medics attention. What peaked the medics attention was that Optimus was leaving his room later than usual. Ratchet did allow Optimus to go to the rec room for energon before the medic approached.
Once inside the rec room, Optimus was alone towards the back, enjoying his energon. Ratchet quickly approached, though he kept his voice low. "You're up late. Did you recharge well with Lancex?" Ratchet asked.
Optimus shot the medic a blank look, as his mask was up. "It went well, my injuries are completely healed. I am fully ready for our next encounter with the cons."
Ratchet would have rolled his optics if he could have. Optimus was just too duty focused to get what Ratchet was getting at. "Oh, come off it, Optimus. I know you better than that, and you seem to be drawn to claiming Lancex as your mate."
Optimus groaned. He was sick of the war and sick of fighting, but he kept going. He wasn't sure why exactly, but he did. "Honestly, Ratchet, Lancex is a new soldier with weapons we know little to nothing about, we don't know his background or his abilities. And besides, why would a bot like that want an old warrior like me? He probably isn't even interested in getting a mate."
Ratchet shook his head, same old Optimus. "That May or may not be true, but you do deserve to be happy."
"I will only be happy once the cons about longer a threat to us and other life forms. Only then will I seek anything else out" Optimus replied as the two talked further about the war, the fighting, and the soldiers they remembered that had been lost in this infernal war, anything but Lancex other than wondering how well he would work as an additional soldier.
Meanwhile, back in the room, Lancex woke. He felt a bit cold as he was alone. It was strange, as he had felt so warm and such when that other bot -Optimus he finally remembered- had been there. Lancex was a bit confused, as he had been sent here to help and he would be rewarded once that mission was accomplished, but it seemed it would be more complicated than he realized. Lancex felt a coolness to his lips, as if he had been kissed not that long ago. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out. But for now, he got up in a hurry as an alarm was going off. What could that be? He had to find out, and so out he went, ready to meet head on with whatever was coming.