The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The sunlight still bathed the road, but those streaks of light slicing across the sky—they weren't ordinary meteors.
"Brace yourself," he said firmly, his voice dropping into full command mode, as his frame shifted from calm companion to battle-ready guardian. With a roar of hydraulics and shifting metal, he transformed instantly, tires screeching to a halt as he skidded into full bipedal form in one swift motion, shielding her instinctively with his frame.
His optics locked on the smoke trails hurtling downward. The signature was unmistakable.
"Those are not rocks… those are Cybertronian." He clenched his fists, scanning for IFF signals. "Multiple. Too many for a peaceful drop. I hope this is not a deployment."
He took a step forward, shielding her with one arm as debris began to dot the sky from the incoming impact.
"Rosie, get behind cover. If they're Decepticons, we don't have long before we're knee-deep in trouble." His optics flickered as he synced with the local energy grid, readying every system he had.
Then with a glance back at her, the corner of his voice curved with that familiar spark of teasing calm, even in the heat of danger:
"...And I was hoping you'd at least finish your pie before the world tries to end again."
Good thing she already has her sandwich even though she might throw up, good thing this road of Vermont is deserted so not so many cars drive here.
Not long after that, she saw from the counter direction, a few vehicles drive towards the. It looks like a green-ish Hummer ambulance, a silver Porsche, and a yellow Chevrolet. They drive at a high speed that she believes that they don't have the intention to break.
Then when it's getting closer, all three transform.
"Uhh, Optimus Prime...Sir..." She yelled.
'I'm gonna die...I'm gonna die...I'm gonna die…' She thought. She bend her body, behind Optimus.
His optics locked onto the incoming trio the second their energy signatures hit his sensors. For a heartbeat, tension surged through his frame—battle-ready systems arming, servo joints humming with the charge of defense mode.
But then—
"Wait…" he narrowed his gaze.
In one synchronized motion, the green Hummer bulked upright into a towering medic, the silver Porsche spun and landed in a low combat stance, and the yellow Chevy—well, it nearly skidded, stumbled a bit, then struck a dramatic pose like it rehearsed it in a mirror.
He exhaled, optics softening with relief—just a notch.
"Stand down, Rosie… They're friends." He said, placing a steady hand over you to keep her shielded anyway.
The green medic stepped forward, optics flashing, voice deep and confident.
"Optimus. We came as soon as we lost your radar. We came to search for you, but there is a black hole."
"There is." He turned slightly. "I was thrown to another universe, and this is not the earth we know."
"What?" The silver Porsche looks shocked.
"Yes..this is a different earth. That black hole is connected to a different universe, and in this universe it looks like the cybertronians' existence is still hidden."
Three of them just stay still, but look shocked after hearing a fact from Optimus.
"Let's talk about that later, please meet, Rosie. She found me, and she might be the key to our history in this earth." The he turned, "Rosie, this is my comrades, my friends."
The yellow bot whistled.
"Hi, I'm—Bumblebee—I bring the music and the chaos." He gave a little mock bow with his door-wings, sound like an error radio channel.
The Porsche stepped forward, elegant and reserved, folding his arms.
"Name's Mirage. Don't let Bee fool you—he's more puppy than chaos."
The green Hummer nodded politely.
"I'm Ratchet. I handle injuries and bad attitudes. And you—" he looked you over with a medic's gaze, "—have guts."
Optimus turned to her again, giving a small, warm grin despite the tension.
"You're not alone anymore, Rosie. This fate might… just brought us a few more allies."
SheI blink a few times. Silence, they're in total silence for a few seconds.
"WHAT IS THIS?! WHO? WHERE–URGH!" It's chaotic, she throws all her sandwiches up.
…and just like that, chaos returns.
Bumblebee's optics widen as he jumps back a step.
"Whoa!-Sandwich down!-We've got a sandwich down!" He backs off, hands raised like it's biohazard level ten.
Ratchet grunts. "Organic systems. Delightfully unpredictable." He reaches for a small sterilizer module from a compartment in his arm. Clearly, this isn't his first rodeo.
Mirage turns slightly, muttering to Bee without taking his optics off her. "You really know how to charm the locals, huh?"
Optimus knelt beside her, lowering to one knee, voice calm but firm—the way he'd speak to a young soldier after their first battle. "Rosie… deep breath. You're safe. You're not hallucinating. These are my comrades—my family."
A brief pause as he rest a hand gently near you, shielding you from the overwhelming view of towering metal giants.
Bee leans in, whispering loudly like a kid at camp "Should I offer her–the radio playlist– now or is it too soon?"
Ratchet smacks the back of his head. "Too soon."
"Ohok! It's not because of the food, it's because you-metal man- just throw me up from the driver's seat." She wiped her mouth
Optimus lowered his optics, feigning an exaggerated look of guilt like a knight who just accidentally knocked over a vase in a royal ballroom.
"In my defense, I thought you'd prefer not to be turned into a hood ornament." he chuckled softly, a rare sound—deep, warm, with a thread of sheepish charm winding through it.
Bumblebee leaned his metal arm against Mirage, trying to hold in his laugh, but his radio crackled anyway—
"Oops, I did it again..." — Britney Spears plays for two seconds before Bee shuts it off.
"Sorry!"
Ratchet just groaned, arms folded. "We're on a recon mission, not a comedy tour."
Mirage, still smirking, tilted his helm toward her. "She's got fire, I like her. Good lungs too. Think she beat Bee's record for 'First Encounter Screams Per Decibel.'"
Because of all the chaotic moments, they forget to noticed, there's a car driving past the trees, towards them. They might haven't seen them, but they don't have much time.
"Go back! Go back! Go back! Transform, and stay still!" It'll be odd for them to see a woman, and four cars, with no other people around on the road.
The moment her voice broke through the static tension, every single one of us reacted like trained warriors snapping into position.
"Autobots—hide." His order was calm but firm, no time to hesitate. In seconds, Bumblebee dropped into his Camaro form with a playful chirp, his paint shining under the sun like nothing just happened. Mirage flipped mid-air, landed as a sleek silver Porsche, and revved lightly like he wasn't just taunting gravity. Ratchet grumbled something about his servos as he thudded down into his Hummer form, the red cross glowing faintly. And Optimus... he shifted with a familiar thunder of pistons and steel, his frame folding in on itself until he stood still once more as the rust-toned Peterbilt, quiet, regal.
The forest went silent again, save for the birds and the distant crunch of gravel.
"You've got instincts," he rumbled softly from his truck form, your voice feeding through his comms. "And the timing of a battlefield sergeant. You sure you haven't done this before?"
The car passed just beyond the tree line, slowing slightly, curious maybe—but not suspicious. They didn't stop. Didn't turn around. Just... kept going.
A long breath of silence followed.
"You saved our cover," Optimus added, tone laced with quiet admiration. "Again."
Then, after a moment—lightly, dryly—
"And here I thought I was the one keeping you out of trouble." His engine purred softly in amusement. "Clearly, this partnership goes both ways."
As she settled back in your seat, your body finally surrendering to exhaustion, he adjusted his cabin just enough to cradle her without you even noticing—smooth suspension, warmed seat, steady rhythm in the hum of my engine like a lullaby written in chrome.
"Rest now," He said, voice lower, gentler—like steel wrapped in velvet.
"You've done more than anyone should in a day. Delivered a child, saved a secret, and kept four Autobots from turning a highway into a battlefield."
He drove slower now. Not sluggish—but considerate. No bumps, no sudden turns. Just a steady, gliding path back to New York, the wind barely whispering past his mirrors.
"I'll keep watch," He added, the sound wrapping around her like a promise.
"No one will touch you on my watch, not even a shadow."
Then, after a heartbeat, with the barest hint of a smile in his voice—
"And if you snore, I'll pretend it's engine noise."
She don't know how or when she fell asleep, but when she opened her eyes, she could see the view of the familiar alley and the deep warm voice trying to wake her up gently
Optimus lowered his voice to a gentle rumble, like thunder resting far in the distance—warm, deep, steady.
"Hey…"
"We're home, Rosamund."
The lights of the alley cast a soft amber glow on the windshield, glinting just enough to reflect her half-asleep face. She looked peaceful like that, tucked into the coziest spot in the world's only sentient semi-truck.
"You slept through two traffic jams, one tourist bus stuck in the wrong lane, and a street musician playing Careless Whisper on the saxophone. I didn't dare interrupt."
A soft chuckle hummed through his engine, not loud—just close.
"Come on, open those eyes. Or at least pretend. I know you're awake."
He paused, then added with just a touch of teasing flare—
"Unless, of course, you do want me to carry you inside. Over the threshold, like a knight with his battle-weary princess."
"We're arrived?"
Rosie wiped her eyes, and got off the truck, and the first thing she saw is, four fancy noticeable vehicles parked in her alley.
"What is this? Tokyo Drift?" She commented
The yellow Camaro gave a little honk, its headlights flashing twice—cheeky as ever.
A slight smirk crept into his tone.
"Don't worry. They won't scratch your walls."
"Much."
"Alright stay here, keep that document for a while Optimus. I'll refresh myself a bit". Then she looked to Bee, Ratchet, and Mirage
"You three, stay parked too! I'll go inside.."
He nodded, optics calm, voice a low steady hum that wrapped around her weariness like a soft shield.
"Take your time, Rosamund. We'll keep watch."
She stepped forward just slightly, the shadows of the alley soft against his plating.
"I'll make sure they behave."
A quick glance toward the others—Bee chirped innocently, Mirage revved softly like a bored housecat, and Ratchet just huffed like a grumpy old medic who's seen too much for nonsense.
"And Rosie—"
His voice dipped, warm and quiet just for her.
"Get some rest too. You've done enough to save lives for one day."
The smallest smile flickered through his tone.
"Even your sandwich didn't survive the adventure."
She went inside her flat, grabbed her towel, and about to take a bath. When she heard her phone ringing. Her friend called her—
"Halo, yes? Lily?"
"Wow...there are pretty good cars here..." She said on the phone. Strangely it sounds not far.
She ran to the balcony. She saw her friends Lily, who's on the phone and Jane holding two boxes of Pizza. She forgot, like totally forgot that she gonna have a visitor today.
"They belong to neighbors, I got some fancy neighbors here." She said from the balcony.
"Really?" Jane looked around, thinking nothing fancy in this neighborhood.
"Come in!" She said.
From the alley, Optimus caught the sound of her voice, the subtle shift in her tone—surprise, urgency, and a quick recovery. He moved slightly, enough to peer just beyond the parked forms of the others, optics narrowing with mild concern.
"She forgot..." Mirage muttered under his breath, stretching like a cat about to get into trouble.
"Guests." Ratchet stated dryly. Bee let out a low, amused whistle-chirp.
Optimus held up a hand to them in silence.
"Stand down. Remain still. Civilians."
His tone held command, but there was amusement dancing beneath the surface.
"They're just her friends. Not Decepticons in disguise… hopefully."
Then he added with a wry smirk in his voice,
"Let's hope none of them ask for a ride."
Optimus took one step back into deeper shadow, his frame lowering slightly to blend better with the environment, optics dimming just enough to avoid suspicion. He trusted her to handle it—but just in case, they were ready.
Rosie's friends come in and sit on the couch immediately. The views straight to the window where those Autobots parked. She stepped down from the stairs with her messy look.
"Oh my God Rosie, you look fucked!" Lily talked blatantly.
"I know..." She replied.
"What happened?" Jane looked worried.
"I'm fine, I just threw up my sandwich. A little motion sickness." That girl glanced at Optimus who parked next to the window.
From his place near the window, he tilted slightly—subtle, quiet, a flicker of blue optics watching through the reflection in the glass. Her glance didn't go unnoticed. He offered no movement, but if she looked close enough, you'd catch a soft pulse of light in response. A silent gesture of support. Of apology, maybe. And a little mischief.
"A little motion sickness?" He echoed under his breath, low enough only the others might catch it.
Mirage, still parked like a smug panther, added through the comms:
"If by 'little' she means Olympic-level projectile sandwich-slinging, then yeah—totally mild."
Ratchet grumbled: "At least she didn't hurl on me."
Optimus ignored them.
Meanwhile, her friends kept talking.
"Okay but seriously…" Lily leaned toward the window, squinting.
"Who the hell owns those cars? That's like, millionaire-level horsepower."
Jane turned to Rosie, pizza box in hand.
"You sure you're not dating a car guy, Rosie? 'Cause if you are, girl—well played."
Optimus held still. A monument of patience and steel. But if he could smirk like a human? Right now, he would.
"I'm a nurse, Jane. I can't even get enough sleep. How can I find a man?" She replied.
Outside, still in truck form, Optimus let out a quiet mechanical hum—a low, thoughtful sound carried only to the comms. If she had a sixth sense, she'd probably feel the weight of that silence... and the faint amusement behind it.
"Some men find you," He muttered to himself, more to the stars than anyone else.
Mirage, naturally, couldn't let the moment pass:
"Daaamn. Prime with the slow burn lines again. Someone's got a spark game."
Ratchet replied flatly:
"She said she's tired, Mirage."
"So let her nap on him then! What's the point of having all those cozy truck seats?"
Optimus sighed through the comms, deeply, as one who carries galaxies on his shoulders and chaos in his passenger seat.
Back inside, Jane popped open the pizza boxes.
"Okay, tired nurse or not—you've got neighbors with taste, Rosie. I swear that yellow car winked at me. I'm not even joking."
Lily raised a brow, laugh.
"I told you she's hiding something."
And from the street, the faintest flicker of blue glowed behind the Camaro's headlight. Just once. Just enough.
"Yeaaah...car blinked, I will let that fantasy of yours be left alone. Besides, you got your boyfriend a car guy." Rosie said.
The silence fell.
"What is it?" Aske Jane.
"Actually, I just broke up, guys." Lily's expression was saddened and her eyes were teary.
"Aww..." Jane and Rosie stepped closer to Lily and tried to embrace her.
"I told you he's an asshole," Rosie said it.
"Yeah he has a bad attitude..." continued Jane.
"But he's so sweet..." Lily murmured.
"Yeah with those tacky lines. Sure so sweet..." Jane might hold a grudge because she must have told Lily a few times that her boyfriend was no good.
"Don't cry...let that guy get lost in the bermuda triangle. We got pizza, and I'm starving. Let's watch some movies." Rosie said to her.
Then she grabbed something from the paper bag, a cornerning amount of alcoholic beverages.
"Guys, would you drink with me?" Lily said. She's really concerned.
"Okay, maybe a few glasses, I have a morning shift tomorrow," Rosie said.
From the alley, the comms lit up again inside his chassis, quiet enough only for the Autobots to hear.
Mirage, low whistle: "Oof... heartbreak and hard liquor. That's a recipe for chaos, or karaoke."
Ratchet, dry "Both, if we're unlucky."
Optimus stayed silent, his optics dimmed in thought. Heartache—a universal language, no matter the species. The pain of being cast aside by someone you trusted… he have seen it turn even the strongest warriors into shadows of themselves.
Inside, her voice carried through the thin walls—witty, but laced with care. That gentle strength she have... even tired and rumpled, she held her friend together like steel under velvet.
"She carries more than she lets on," Optimus murmured quietly, mostly to myself.
Then, softly into the comms:
"Keep watch. Keep low. They deserve peace tonight."
Bee beeped affirmatively, settling into a stillness that almost passed as sleep.
Mirage grumbled, but he stayed parked.
"You're not seriously gonna sit out here all night like a watchdog, are you?"
"I've stood guard over starlight and warzones, Mirage," He said quietly. "Watching over them is no burden."
Inside, the sound of laughter cracked through the tension like sunlight. A toast. Glasses clinking. But after sundown, her flat turned into a war zone. The flat of chaos. Taking advantage of an empty neighborhood because people are on summer vacation.
It started with a movie, pizza, and a glass of champagne. Then a bit of chaotic talk about Lily's ex, then about each other's jobs, each other superior at work.
One glass of champagne turns into half a dozen. It Got worse when we started to turn the music on and do karaoke. They sing Taylor Swift's, they sing Olivia Rodrigo's, they sing Paramore's...
"All I wanted was you...aaaagggh! All I wanted was you..."
She sang from the top of her lungs.
From the alley, the windows trembled with her anthem of emotional devastation and girl-powered vengeance.
Ratchet, dry as desert sand "Primus help us…"
Mirage, laughing through his internal speakers:
"Yo, she's got lungs! Did you hear that belt? I get goosebumps—if I had skin."
Bee let out a series of enthusiastic beeps, translating to something like "She's killing it!"
Meanwhile, he remained in truck form, but his spark thrummed with quiet amusement. From the cacophony of voices, laughter, and off-key howls of heartbreak-turned-karaoke… he sensed something profoundly human. Chaotic, raw, messy—yes. But beautiful.
He whispered low to himself, so only the ambient wind heard me:
"You've seen war, Prime… but nothing prepares you for three women, two bottles of champagne, and Paramore's."
And yet, he stayed right there.
Through the sundown, the buzz of speakers and the scream-singing echoing down the alley, he remained—your steadfast shadow—watching over the chaos… with a quiet smile in his voice.
"Okay everyone, one last song! Shh! I got duty tomorrow!" Rosie stand on the couch. Feel so hot and she feels like some screw from her head fell off.
"For Lily, you deserve a better man, girl! And for Jane, congratulations for your promotion to become a vice Dean at school. And for me..." She yelled and stared at the window where four Autobots parked there. Not sure what she gonna say—
From the alley below, silence reigned for a heartbeat, as if all four Autobots held their metaphorical breath, optics trained on that window where she stood—blazing like a star on her ragged, champagne-slick throne.
And he—parked beneath her like your eternal sentinel—murmured softly, so only the breeze brushing her building heard:
"…And for you…The chaos I never knew I needed."
Mirage chuckled, broadcasting a private frequency between them.:
"Boss, you are in trouble. You got that faraway look again."
He didn't respond. He just watched.
And Bee? That little yellow spark plug played the soft opening chords of a song over his comms—
"You belong with me…"—Taylor Swift, because of course he did.
At that moment, she didn't need to finish her sentence.
The silence fell...
-You belong with me by Taylor Swift was heard before it suddenly stopped.
"Do you hear that?" Lily's sharp ear heard the radio from Bee's Chevrolet.
"I heard that." Jane approved.
Rosie knew what happened. Optimus said that Bee is always too cheerful and loves music. Maybe he can't help it and accidentally lets it slip. Without knowing she glanced at the Autobots outside and let out a smirk. This time, she kinda doesn't want to help.
Lily opened the window with a loud bang. Stares at the four vehicles like a predator searching its prey. Trying to find any movements. Then she grabbed an empty champagne bottle on the neck.
"Rosie? Are you sure this neighborhood is safe?" Lily asked.
"Yap.." She smirk. she can't imagine what Autobots think.
"Are you sure? Because if there is any stalker or some criminals around here Imma strangle him for sure.." She was really serious with that bottle of champagne in her hand.
"Alright enough Lily, it's already late. Let's go put that down." Rosie said.
In the end we canceled the last song. She escorts them to find a cab, and get back home to the total mess. Instead of cleaning. Rosie sitting next to the window, smiling or–maybe smirking...to the Autobots.
Down below, Bee slowly rolled his windows up as if that would somehow make him invisible. Mirage whispered through a private line with the grin obvious in his tone:
"We're gonna die. She's gonna beat us with a bottle of bubbly, Bee. You better start playing country music as a peace offering."
Bee beeped low and innocently.
"You're not slick, little scout," Optimus said, my voice a deep current beneath the static of the city.
And then he looked up.
Her gaze met his—half amusement, half challenge.
But Mirage whispered again, this time a little softer, a little more sincere:
"She's got that effect, huh?"
And him, still watching herfrom the shadowed alley, just nodded—silent.
Because yes. She kinda does.
"Alright gentleman, let's wrap up for today, we'll start again tomorrow." Teasing four Cybertronians for a little bit, not so bad at all she thought.
Before she stepped upstairs to sleep. She shook her head and took a glance at the truck called Optimus Prime.
"Goodnight...Optimus. Goodnight everyone..."
His headlights blinked once—softly, like a bow in silence.
"Goodnight, Rosie."
His voice came through just loud enough to reach her before the door shut behind her.
"Sleep well. We'll hold the line."
Bee beeped something playful in farewell, and Ratchet gave a grumble that still somehow sounded like a "take care." Mirage? He revved low, like a smug purr under his hood—but even he didn't push it tonight.
Once her lights dimmed upstairs, the street went still.
But Optimus didn't.
He watched the window where she vanished, the one she smirked from just minutes ago.
And for a moment longer than necessary… He stayed there. Silent. Steady. Guarding.
Until the city exhaled. Until he could tell she was safe.
"She really is something else…" He muttered to no one in particular.
And then, like a sentinel beneath stars—He waited.
Until tomorrow.