I saw that the request is open, so I thought. How about a first contact au with rotb optimus? I've always liked that old bot haha
Hell yeah I rewatched the movie for this. Sorry it took longer for me to actually write this than I anticipated 😅
Some Things Are More Important
CW: Unintentional fearplay, calling a person “it” (also unintentionally)
Ah, the junkyard. A beautiful array of scrap metal glinting under the sun day after day, perfect for welding and crafting. For the longest time the atmosphere of the place put you off, but your drive to create overtook your fear and replaced it with passion.
The day your life changed was no different than any other. You took your time packing your things, preparing to scavenge once again, though the evening sun was already threatening to advance further down the sky. You didn’t need much, it wasn’t a far trip and certainly not a difficult one. You left in good time, pushing down the uneasy feeling you got when you stepped outside the house.
There was a specific piece of metal you were looking for, one you saw a couple days ago but wouldn’t fit in your cart due to how full it had been. It was the perfect size and shape for what you needed, of course you had to leave behind the one thing you needed now, though it couldn’t hurt to pick up some other materials while you were at it. Masterfully navigating your way through the junk was a special talent of yours, one you were quite proud of, so it struck you as odd when a random truck showed up in the middle of the yard.
It was red and blue, one of those trucks that carried huge cargo boxes and were scary to drive next to. It was pretty beat up, though you can’t imagine why someone would leave it here of all places rather than a used car lot or something. Well, you thought, it wasn’t your problem, so you didn’t treat it as such. You simply continued your search. There were so many great pieces of metal, you ended up staying there until dusk, yet you still couldn’t find the one you were looking for.
Now that you think about it, it must’ve been where that truck was now. Maybe somebody moved it, or worse, took it. It would be a huge bummer to lose such a perfect piece to your puzzle, so you figured staying out to look near the truck wouldn’t hurt anybody.
After around ten minutes of picking through trash, you heard a sound. It wasn’t particularly loud, but it was unnerving to say the least. It sounded like metal scraping together so you brushed it off as the wind blowing on some light metal or something. Five minutes later it happened again, this time louder. Not long after it happened again, and by now you were getting pretty freaked out.
Taking metal from the scrapyard wasn’t particularly illegal, after all you’d learned how to do it properly from your law-abiding friends, however it came with a certain set of risks. Getting cut by rusty metal, stepping on a stray nail, or even getting robbed by someone who preys on scrap pickers like yourself. You didn’t want to know what the sound was and you weren’t about to find out, perfect piece be dammed. It was time to cut your losses.
You didn’t take two steps before it happened.
A strange, mechanical, alien sound rattled from behind you. You whipped your head around despite your survival instincts telling you to run immediately. Before your very eyes the red and blue truck started pulling itself part, little pieces forming a much, much larger figure. It looked nearly human really, if not for being impossibly large and also a robot truck.
A gobsmacked look etched itself on your face, not that you noticed it. You were a little preoccupied at the time, with the giant robot reaching a giant robot hand at you. Just then you realized there was a giant robot hand reaching at you, and you screamed louder than any horror movie victim ever could. The hand froze for a second, taken aback by your sudden noise, but when you remained frozen it continued its pursuit.
It was already too late by the time your body agreed to let you move. Incomprehensibly large fingers wrapped around your comparatively small form, gripping you tight enough to stop any struggles you tried to make. The thing held you up to its face, bright blue eyes shining like headlights in your vision. There were plenty of words that came from your mouth at the time, none of which were at any point comprehendible. To your utter shock, the robot seemed to notice this.
“Perhaps I have downloaded the wrong language pack… or I have found the wrong species…” It said to itself in a distinctly human voice.
“Wh- what the- what are- what are you?” Hooray! You got a sentence out. Your heart was not as excited though, as it felt more like it was going to pound out of your chest.
“So you can speak.” The voice boomed, knocking any hope you had of replying out of your throat.
“What?? What???” You rasped out, two words was better than none, you supposed.
“Did I… break you?”
“Did you- no, no you… didn’t. Please don’t.”
“I do not intend to bring you any harm, little one.“
“Then… stop squeezing… me” The grip immediately loosened. You took in a deep breath of air. “Thank you…”
“My sincerest apologies, I did not mean to hurt you.”
“That’s good to know… but, um, what exactly are you? I asked it before but… you know.” The robot nodded with you, a thoughtful motion but a generally unwelcome one because even the smallest moments it made caused you a bout nausea.
“Yes, introductions. My name is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.” Optimus Prime… a strange name. Though it’s not like your current situation was any more normal.
“…I’m Whyen, nice to meet you. Could you… put me down, by any chance?” Optimus nodded, gently setting you down. He stood up again, but realized how much you had to crane your neck up to see him, so he resolved to a kneel.
“What are you.” However tough he looked on the outside, you would feel the sheer curiosity oozing off his voice.
“Uh, I’m a human.”
“Human… and you’re the dominant species on this planet?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“I see. I was lucky to find a vehicle mode with your language on it.”
“I… don’t really know what that means but ok. So, what are you?”
“I am Cybertronian, from the planet Cybertron.”
“Huh. Another planet.” You kicked by the oncoming existential crisis in hopes of more answers. “Right… so, if you’re from space, why are you here?” His face suddenly shifted from curiosity to a grim look of remembrance.
“There is a war on my planet. Me and my team have ended up here on accident, I’m afraid.”
“Oh… well, I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be, I have no intention of staying here longer than we have to, doing so could endanger this entire planet.”
“Wait, what? The- all- the whole planet?”
“Yes,” He responded in a low, distant voice. “Our enemies, unlike us, would not hesitate to destroy any planet if it meant winning the war.” You started at him in shock. In an attempt to avoid further panic, you decided to take a different route on questioning.
“Who’s ‘us’?”
“The Autobots, my friends.”
“So you’re saying… you’re leading your side of the war? Like a general?”
“Yes, to put it simply.”
“Wow… this is… a lot. How are you going to find your friends?”
“I… do not know. I was attempting to contact them before I noticed you.“
“Oh…”
“Do not worry. If the Deceptions attack this planet, we will protect it with our very sparks. A young species such as yourselves do not deserve to be punished for our mistakes.” Your expression softened. As this metal titan spoke to you, in gentle, deep tones, you felt strangely at peace. You felt silly for ever being afraid of him, like you’d known this alien for ages. He didn’t even know you, yet he was willing to risk his life for your home.
“…Thank you.”
“Do not thank me now, young human, I have yet to get your people out of harms way.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you going to be okay?” Optimus’s eyes widened for just a second before his face broke into a warm smile.
“…I will be just fine.”
“Well, if it’s my planet at stake… I want to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Yeah. I know more about this planet than you do, so I can show you how things work around here. It’s the least I can do.”
“That is very kind of you, you have my thanks.”
“Well, first I have to get home and sleep- my house isn’t too far from here, and I live alone so you don’t have to worry about anyone else freaking out. Not many people live around here.”
“That is good. I… apologies if I am too bold, is it okay if I carry you back to your home? It would be in our best interest to get to your home as fast as possible.”
“Ah, true. Well, I guess so.” He laid out his hand. It took you a second to climb on a stabilize yourself, nodding when you were ready for him to move. And he did, and you guided him all the way home. You hardly even noticed the junkyard and forgotten scrap metal you’d spent the night collecting.
Some things are more important.
