#optimus prime x woodrow burns

[archester-creations]

Rated: G

Pairing: Optimus Prime & Woodrow Burns; Optimus/Woodrow

Word Count: ~1k

A/N: Day four of @heartsandsparksshipweek homesickness and history

It was a surprise to Woodrow when he ran into Optimus. Though he'd gotten the impression that Optimus moved around a lot, for one reason or another. He was excited. There were so many questions he had for Optimus that he just didn't have the time to ask when they met the first time. Nor did he think to ask for a way to contact him. If there is even a way to contact Optimus. The other bots probably have one, just like his family always has some form of way to contact him and vice versa. But could it translate to humans or would it be some mental link…?

"Optimus?" Woodrow called out and the big bot startled. "What are you doing out here?"

Optimus' helm turned to him carefully. "Chief Burns' brother," –"Woodrow," Woodrow said with a smile– "why are you out here?"

"I asked you that first," Woodrow chuckled. "I live here."

"You live out here?" Optimus asked, helm tilted to the side.

"Yep! For now at least. Can I sit with you?" Optimus gestured at the empty spot on the log next to him, so Woodrow walked over and sat down. This close to Optimus he could feel the bot's heat. Could hear him breathe (and wasn't that interesting?). Woodrow leaned to the side so he could look up at Optimus. Blue optics were already looking down at him. "So? What're you doing out here?"

Optimus sighed. It seemed a small thing, for a mighty bot. The action didn't even ruffle his hair. "Thinking."

Woodrow nodded. "Sometimes the best thinking can only be done in a remote forest in the middle of nowhere."

"Do you do it often?" Optimus asked.

"Sure!" Woodrow said. "Ever since Charlie and I were kids, though the forest wasn't so remote then."

They sat in silence, the two of them. The rest of the forest juxtaposed them in its movement. Birds called to one another, deers jumped over bushes and fallen logs; the smaller creatures scurried along the underbrush and the insects went about their daily rituals.

"What are you thinking about?" Woodrow asked.

"Home." Optimus looked up. He sounded tired. Not physically tired, but spiritually tired. Run down. Woodrow lifted his eyes to the skies as well. Some blue penetrated the leaf cover, and with it came the idea of the sun. "Cybertron."

Woodrow looked back over at Optimus. "Tell me about it."

"What do you wish to know?" Optimus looked down at him and Woodrow shrugged.

"Whatever, I'm not picky. Honestly, any information would be pretty cool to have."

"Very well," Optimus hummed. For a time, he went silent again, optics back on the tree tops.

"We don't have weather," Optimus eventually spoke without looking back down. "Not really. Nor do we have your seasons."

"Do you have plants? Forests?" Woodrow asked.

"We have something approximating your forests, yes," Optimus said. "Though ours are more crystalline than yours."

And Optimus continued to tell him about Cybertron, about the planets closest to it, about life, until the forest darkened around them. Not once did Optimus mention why he was on earth, or why he couldn't go back. (He didn't actually mention that, either. But Woodrow didn't think someone talked like that about a place unless they had no way to return.)

"It is getting dark," Optimus said. "Perhaps I can return you to wherever it is you are staying."

Woodrow smiled up at him. "Nah, I've gotten pretty good at navigating in places like this even with my eyes closed. Thanks for offering, though." Optimus inclined his helm. "Maybe you could find me again and tell me more about Cybertron instead?"

"... I don't think I would mind that," Optimus said and Woodrow cheered internally.

"Though I move around a lot," Woodrow said apologetically. He never had much of a plan when he moved, either. He just followed the adventure.

"Don't worry, I will return tomorrow with something for you so I can locate you. If that is what you wish," Optimus said.

"Yeah! That sounds perfect," Woodrow said.

"Until tomorrow, then, Woodrow Burns," Optimus said. Then, to someone else, "Ratchet, the ground bridge please."

A portal of swirling blues opened a few feet away from where they stood. Woodrow felt his eyes widen at it. Real alien tech. Optimus nodded at him, then stepped through. The next second both bot and portal were gone. He absolutely had to ask about this tomorrow.