"You wished to see me?" a voice asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Hot Rod, come in." Prime beckoned to him. Hot
Rod stepped over to the bed, unsure of what to do. The sight
of his leader looking so worn twisted at his soul. He sat down
in a nearby chair and leaned forward.
"I suppose you need me to lead again," Hot Rod spoke.
Prime gazed up at him solemnly. "You are correct. This
will only be temporary, of course. Alita will need help settling
in and adjusting to our chain of command, and Magnus will need
help in preparation for his transfer. I'll be back on my feet
again soon, and--" He broke off in surprise as Hot Rod reached
out with his hand, pushing him gently back down on the bed.
"Don't you worry about it, Prime," Hot Rod told him.
"Just take your time in getting well. You need a break
from all the stress."
Prime scrutinized the youth in front of him. Although he was
physically the same, Hot Rod had matured since his stint as leader
of the Autobots. That maturity had remained, although the Matrix
had been removed from him. Prime felt like he was seeing the
youth with new eyes.
"I'm ready to accept my duties," Hot Rod said solemnly.
Prime nodded, his hands reaching for his chest. The panels there
swung open at his mental command, allowing him to reach in and
withdraw the Matrix. The room was bathed in a soft blue glow.
"Lead well, Rodimus Prime." Rodimus reached out cautiously,
taking hold of the Matrix and drawing it close to his chest.
His chest panel opened, and he placed the Matrix inside. Both
robots' chest panels closed with a sense of finality.
Prime watched in astonishment as Hot Rod's body expanded, maturing
before his eyes. He instinctively knew, though, that the change
was only physical. Inside, Hot Rod had always remained Rodimus
Prime, despite his return to his smaller form after Prime had
returned.
Rodimus gazed down at his former leader. He could understand
all too well what had happened to Prime. Rodimus had felt the
incredible pressures of leadership, too. While Prime had become
accustomed to them, it was true, the pressure had probably built
for many years and, without any means of relief, overwhelmed him.
Rodimus realized that he may be the only one to truly realize
what Prime had gone through. Not even Alita had felt this pressure.
It was this unique understanding that prompted him to speak.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
Prime looked up at him in surprise. Rodimus had been among those
that regarded him as perfect. The fact that he was now providing
Prime with a sympathetic ear showed that he understood the burdens
of leadership, and that Prime was only mortal and could not bear
the strain by himself. Hot Rod had certainly come a long way.
Prime now regarded Rodimus as an equal, someone who could truly
understand him. He spoke the words that he could not bring himself
to say to anyone after waking up in the med bay, not even to Ratchet
or Alita. "Yes, Rodimus, I need to talk about it."
Rodimus nodded. "I thought so. I would have sold my soul
to Unicron to have someone to really talk to when I was leading."
He knew what Prime really needed, what would help him even more
than a heart-to-heart talk. He leaned forward and placed his
hand on his leader's shoulder.
Prime was frozen for a moment, almost in shock that what he truly
needed was being freely offered by one so young, yet who had become
so wise. His shock dissolved, and he slowly opened a mental link
between them.
Rodimus held onto Prime's shoulder tightly, reeling slightly
as he felt the tension and stress that had built up within his
friend. "Let it out," he whispered, knowing how badly
Prime needed to release the pressure within and cleanse his spirit.
They stayed like that for a long time, Rodimus giving his friend
comfort, and Optimus gratefully receiving it.
Finally Prime stirred and broke the mental link. He said with
some embarrassment, "I'm sorry to have dumped that on you."
"Nonsense," Rodimus reassured him. "That outburst
was long overdue. Don't worry, I understand. I'm just glad I
could be here for you."
"You're a true friend, Rodimus," Optimus murmured.
In a spontaneous human gesture he reached out to Rodimus, hugging
him gratefully.
A giggle came from the doorway. "I didn't know your tastes
ran that way, Prime. Kinky."
Prime sat up and felt heat rising to his face at the implication.
"Alita, we were just--"
"I know," she laughed. "It's too bad, though.
I would have liked to see what happened. Rodimus would have
kept me on my toes."
Rodimus grinned at her. "You better hold on to him tight,
or I may steal him away from you."
Prime looked absolutely bewildered. "I don't believe you
two!" he exclaimed. They started laughing at his comical
expression. After a moment, he gave in and laughed too.
"It feels so good to laugh," Prime remarked as Alita
approached the bed. Rodimus stood and let her have his seat.
He smiled as they held hands.
"I have decided on my first command," he announced.
"As soon as you are well, Prime, I order you and Alita to
take a vacation together." He grinned at their astonished
expression. "Don't disobey me now."
"Thanks, Rodimus," Prime whispered.
Alita leaned over with a mischievous look on her face. "We
can start enjoying ourselves right now." She ran her hand
suggestively up the top half of Prime's leg.
"Alita! I don't believe you!" Prime gasped. He had
to laugh at her persistence.
Alita grinned knowingly at Rodimus, who grinned back. "Please
excuse us, Rodimus," Alita said. "We need our privacy
now."
"Wait, Rodimus!" Prime protested as he turned to leave.
"You don't really have to go! She's just kidding! Aren't
you, Alita?" She smiled and bent down to give him a passionate
kiss.
As Rodimus' chuckle drifted back to him, Prime knew that everything
was going to turn out just fine.
The End
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