#the problem with rarepairs is that their tags are basically nonexistent

[sturthepotofmadness]

TFRarePairingFest2023 Day 1: The Matrix

Will also be on my Ao3 at some point after this post goes up, check my pinned post for a link to my Ao3.

Continuity: G1

Pairing: Astrotrain/Optimus Prime

(Also I write Astrotrain as if he uses his WFC: Siege toy appearance/design since that's still technically G1. K? K.)

@tfrarepairing

Astrotrain came to a stop, his earthen alt mode screeching as it did so. He promptly transformed and stepped out of the rail into the formerly abandoned station, his wings automatically fluttering. He paused the moment he saw the red and blue prime sitting at the only table not covered in dust with his helm on the table and arms hiding it away.

The tripler changer walked over and, instead of sitting down on the other side of the table, sat down next to him. Astrotrain put a servo on Optimus’s shoulder, causing him to look up at the other.

“Any reason you look down?” Astrotrain started, resting his other servo on the table.

The prime grumbled slightly, moving his helm to hide his face again. “Matrix,” he barely heard from Optimus.

Astrotrain tilted his helm slightly. That… wasn’t what he expected. “That relic?” the triple changer realized. Optimus made a small noise in confirmation. He blinked. “How can an endless storage of knowledge cause this?”

Optimus shifted slightly, lifting up his helm above his arms to deadpan at Astrotrain. He felt awkward under that blank look. The prime placed his helm on his arms this time, looking towards the blank, tannish grey wall of the station.

“Why do mecha always make that mistake…” Optimus muttered, seemingly unbothered Astrotrain could overhear him.

“So it’s more than that,” Astrotrain guessed. Optimus nodded.

“An eternal mix of every wielder, its creator, and the siblings of the creator, all wrapped up with the dreams of Primus,” Optimus described. “And Primus does not dream of this. And it is upset at our current state of war, that we strayed so far from Primus’s dream.”

Astrotrain moved his servo across the prime’s back to the other shoulder, then carefully pulled him into an one-armed hug. Optimus didn’t move for a moment before leaning into it.

“If it can’t be happy about everything, at least there’s one it can be about,” Astrotrain stated.

Optimus released a sad-sounding chuckle. “I… I guess so.”