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When Optimus Prime was still just Orion Pax, a determined and more hopelessly optimistic mech than he was now, Grimlock had pitied him. Seeing him in the pits, not realizing all the things that Megatronus never said about his plans, and yet never exactly hid, either. It was kind of pathetic.
Grimlock never had much cause to interact with Orion back then, he was firmly in Megatronus’ sights, and Grimlock had no desire to have more to do with that mess than necessary. Megatronus might have had a point, but he was also very dangerous, and was collecting dangerous mechs to him. He was ruthless in getting what he wanted.
Cybertron was a ghost on borrowed time, the core was rotten and Megatronus was going to take full advantage of the festering resentment. If anything happened to his family, his Dynobots, that dumb little mentee of his that got himself stuck in Slaughter City’s pits, he’d be crushed. It wasn’t an option. Still, he’d felt a little obligated to warn the sheltered little Iaconian.
“You realize, there are almost no lengths that Megatonus isn’t willing to go too to destroy the council. He talks a good game, about rising up and freeing the lower castes, but you can’t tell me you don’t see the darkness.” Grimlock remembers saying one time Orion was unsupervised in the pits.
Orion had looked at him steadily, helm tilted, thinking. “I know that Megatonus is passionate, and sometimes his anger gets the better of him, but I believe that he truly wants what is best for cybertron. He says the things that no one else is willing to, he brings the dark things about our home into the light. I have faith in Megatronus, and I will support him as much as I can.”
Gimlock grunted and rose from his seat to loom over the archivist, “Your funeral.”
That was the first and only time they talked before things went to shit.
⋆✶⋆
As far as leaders went, choosing the Autobots was the obvious choice, the Dynobots wouldn’t trade one tyranny for another. The biggest obstacle was actually being able to respect Optimus Prime and his priorities. It was one thing to want to show mercy, but there was a point at which you had to admit taking the high road wasn’t doing you any good.
It was all well and good to have a policy of avoiding killing where possible, but this was war. Their enemies didn’t have the same compunctions, and they wouldn’t make any progress. Grimlock was actually on his way to confront Optimus about that right now. Again. He knew he was on unstable ground, but he wouldn’t keep quiet if he legitimately thought there was a problem.
Optimus’ office was unlocked and he was alone doing datawork when Grimlock arrived, he locked the door behind himself. They didn’t need to be interrupted. When the door had closed again Optimus looked up at him, expression flat, but optics focused.
“Grimlock, what brings you here?”
Stupid question, “You know what brings me here. You need to start pushing back harder, we can’t keep playing defense like this. Megatron isn’t squeamish, he’ll do whatever he thinks will get him a total victory. The Autobots need to start fighting back just as hard.”
“...Grimlock, what makes you think we aren’t fighting hard? After Praxus, and Vos, we’ve managed to hold long enough to evacuate a significant number of mechs off planet safely. The Decepticons are gaining, but our losses are minimal, and the results of our tactics optimal. We’ve stopped most of the worst of Megatron’s plans, and what we couldn’t stop we’ve mitigated.”
“That’s the problem!! We have Jazz, Prowl, the science corps, the Wreckers , we should be crushing the Decepticon forces with every resource we can manage! We aren’t losing, but we aren’t winning either! This is nothing but a purgatory where Cybertron and all of us die by inches instead of trying for a decisive victory!”
“Do you not think that saving as many as we can is not a worthwhile pursuit? We are doing good, and what about the Decpeticons who question? Is it not better to convince them to lay down their arms by showing them that they do have other options? By showing, rather than speaking pretty words, that our mercy and principles are genuine?”
“ That is not the point! Megatron won’t stop! Can’t you see that? He needs to be put down by any means necessary .”
Optimus was quiet a moment, and his expression was tight, but determined when he spoke.
“I will not stop them by any means necessary. What do you think would happen, if we compromised on ourselves like that? It’s not just about the high road, Grimlock. If you always fall to the level of your enemies, you will end up no better than them in the end. Didn’t you also just say that Megatron will never stop? Then what use is there in escalating conflicts any more than absolutely necessary? Won’t that just encourage more despicable actions on his part?”
Grimlock growled, any other mech would have cowered, but he had to grudgingly admit, Optimus wasn’t just any mech. He was so tired. Grimlock pulled out the chair in front of Optimus’ desk and dropped into the seat. It groaned in protest, but held.
“...I know that too. But I don’t like it. You’re still too soft, you give them too many chances. It’s going to come back to bite you in the aft one day. And when it bites you it’ll bite the rest of us too.” Grimlock said.
Optimus’s smile was a wan thing, “It won’t come to that. How can it? I have Jazz, Prowl, the science corps, and the Wreckers.” The wan smile turned a little sharper, “Not to mention the Dynobots and their fearless leader, Grimlock. I am not just one mech fighting alone, I have many mechs with many talents, and together, we’ll succeed.”
“Ha. Everytime I forget, you remind me why I chose the Autobots, even though I think your optimism is foolish. You have a spine, and I can respect you, even if I don’t always agree.”
Optimus didn’t say anything else, just continued smiling and went back to his datawork. Grimlock hated that he thought it was kind of charming. Well, he was done and didn’t have anything else to say, he should leave.
“You got anything in that stack of datawork I can help with?”
Optimus didn’t even look up as he pushed a stack of several pads over to Grimlock to work on.
⋆✶⋆
Optimus got the worst of it in their last battle. Of course the mission objective was completed, they’d stopped the Decpeticons from acquiring the Allspark. Even if it was at the cost of losing it and the Well themselves. For now it was safer away from the war. If it ever ended, they could find it then.
Now Grimlock was sitting beside Optimus in the medibay. Sure, he could have gone back to his quarters, checked in with his Dynobots in the metal. He didn’t want to though, he was restless and the only thing that calmed him down was sitting here. Optimus had burrowed himself under Grimlock’s plating lately, and didn’t want to come out.
Ratchet had said that Optimus would be out for a while, to make sure he didn’t disturb any of the repairs setting. He looked peaceful lying there like he didn’t when he was conscious. Grimlock hoped he would rest well.
He must have fallen into recharge sitting there at some point, because he was woken to dim lights and Optimus’ quiet, deep voice calling his designation.
“Grimlock? Grimlock, are you awake? Why didn’t you go recharge in your berth? You know you’re just going to get crimped cables doing it in a chair.”
Grunting, Grimlock replied with static in his vocalizer, “Wanted to be here when you woke up. You feeling okay? Need me to call Ratchet?”
“I am fine, Ratchet needs his rest too, I’m sure he could barely be convinced to leave after everyone was stable. How is everyone else?”
“Allspark got sent off successfully. We did pretty good, not many offlined, and some of the injuries were pretty extensive, but Ratchet and his crew got everyone patched up or in medical stasis until they’re ready to work on ‘em.”
They were quiet for a little after that, both lost in their own thoughts. Grimlock looked up and without thinking much, reached out to take Optimus’ nearest hand in his own. Optimus looked over and gave Grimlock such a tender smile it should have been illegal, and squeezed the hand holding his.
This was nice, and Grimlock closed his optics behind his visor, it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy this for a little while longer.
⋆✶⋆
Cybertron was a husk now, a real ghost. All its citizens mostly gone, all its cities empty and ravaged, shadows and evidence of devastation around every corner. Grimlock clenched his jaw. It could have been worse he supposed, but he didn’t like it.
They’d only barely been able to save the planet, and now it was an empty husk with barely any energon left and they were being forced to leave. Optimus said it wasn’t forever, and Gimlock really wanted to believe that, but it was hard.
It was easy to doubt and lose hope, Optimus still was too hopeful in Grimlock’s opinion. Mostly. He would never say it out loud, but that hope, that real belief that things would be okay, as foolish as it was, it was a relief. That someone could see light at the end of the journey, that made it easier to keep fighting.
Grimlock hadn’t seen Optimus since the Ark’s successful launch, and was looking for him now. He had a couple cubes and a few treats he’d been saving in subspace, since he knew Optimus hadn’t fueled since their desperate escape.
It took a while, but eventually, he found him in a dark corner of the viewing deck, sitting on the floor, one knee drawn up and an arm resting on it while he watched the stars fly by.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you, and you haven’t been answering your comms. Brought you a cube.” Grimlock said as he approached and sat down beside Optimus.
Optimus looked over at him, “Thank you, Grimlock.”
After Grimlock handed over a cube, and had his own in hand, he felt Optimus lean into his side and lay his helm against Grimlock’s shoulder. It was nice, and they drank their cubes, making small talk about the recent gossip among the crew.
Apparently the twins were currently in a bit of trouble, because they had decided to throw a launch party without getting approval. Prowl wanted them written up and on punishment duty, but unfortunately Jazz was SIC, and was happy to give them a slap on the wrist and join the festivities. Jazz was probably going to be in the proverbial turbo-hound hab for a while.
Optimus fondly said, “They should have asked, it would have made planning to include as many mechs as possible while keeping the ship adequately staffed easier to plan. However, I think we could all use the boost in morale. Having to leave, even if it’s been a long time coming is hard on us all. Having a distraction is not a bad thing.”
“You don’t want to join the festivities? I’m sure everyone would be happy to see you there.” Grimlock asked.
“No, many of them may be good friends, but I am still their commanding officer, and I am not the same as Jazz. I want them to enjoy themselves, besides, I never was much for parties.”
“Ha. Primes don’t party, I guess.”
“Well, there’s nothing stopping me, besides my personal preference. So it’s more like this Prime doesn’t party.”
“Now, now, don’t say that, I’ve seen you dance with Jazz, you don’t give yourself enough credit.”
Optimus laughed brightly, “That doesn’t count, Jazz is Jazz , he’s my amica, it’s different to enjoy spending time with him. Jazz loves people, and music, and learning about culture wherever he goes. He just thinks it’s best to do that where the party’s at.”
“Hmm, well, I can’t complain, that just means I get you all to myself for the night, right? Just think of all the fun we can get up to, just the two of us.” Grimmlock said with a teasing tone.
“I can’t think of any place I’d rather be in that case.”
Neither of them actually made a move to get up, or to do more than lean into each other and enjoy the proximity.
“...Do you know, I’m glad that I have you, Grimlock.”
“I’m glad that you have me too. And I'm glad that I have you, as well. Who knew that a too hopeful fool like you would manage to snare my spark so thoroughly.” Grimlock said tenderly.
“You’re such a sap, just a big soft touch at spark. No wonder my spark is as caught by you as it is, then.”
Yeah, Grimlock may not have been impressed by Optimus in the past, but he couldn’t be happier that he’d gotten to know him beyond that. Now, he didn’t know what he’d do without the mech.
The future was still uncertain, but he’d learned that hope was infectious and powerful. The road may not be clear right now, but he was sure they could pull a good ending out of all this mess somehow.
For now, he had Optimus beside him and couldn’t be happier. They could worry about the future later.