Chapter Text
Ratchet watched as Skyfire's contrails finally came into view. The Valkyrie shuttle had been entering earth's atmosphere for the past few hours, working off speed and cooling his shields. His nose was pointed towards the Autobot base, aiming for the runway that had been set up for the large aircraft. Most non-essential Autobots were waiting outside to watch as the shuttle landed down with their friends and Prime. It was a time of celebration. The mission had been a success, no one was injured, and they managed to find a new source of energon for their troubles. It was a mission accomplished and one of the greatest they could have ever hoped for.
As Skyfire continued to draw closer, everyone looked on with excitement. They watched as his landing gear extended, his body angling to give him the best possible landing position.
Thunderous engines roared as he came closer into range. With a thud and a skid, he managed to touch down. Skyfire worked at slowing down, killing the thrusters, applying brakes, and then deployed the parachutes to aid him. He finally started to slow down at the half point of the runway. With only a hundred feet left on his runway, Skyfire managed to stop before turning himself around to move closer to base.
The crowd cheered as their comrade approached, thanking Primus for the safe decent from space. The large shuttle positioned himself so his cargo doors faced the welcoming party. As they opened, Optimus Prime stepped down from inside. His hands waved to his friends as Jazz and Bumblebee exit behind him. Ratchet could feel his spark warm and spiral faster as his sparkmate met his eye.
:It’s good to see you home,” Ratchet commed to his mate, a small smile creeping up on his faceplates.
:It’s good to be home, old friend,: Optimus replied, his own smile barely contained as he tried to fulfil his duties as Prime before his personal ones.
The celebration was soon moved inside to the rec room. Tables and chairs had been cleared to make room for everyone as soon as the ETA for Optimus was given earlier that day. Most of the base’s crew were already inside, conversing with friends and toasting to a safe trip home. Music was booming from loud speakers — courtesy of Blaster. The mech was currently doing security detail but had made sure the entertainment for the evening was well taken care of.
A yellow mini-bot moved through the crowd, greeting everyone he knew cheerfully until he came to the area where the humans were on a raised platform. He placed sealed bottles of punch on the table they had set up for their human friends before adding two or three boxes of donuts.
“I don’t know what human parties are like but ours usually include drinks and sweets so I made sure to bring an assortment of donuts.” Bee told his friends.
Spike rushed over to where his friend had placed the donuts and took out his favorite, maple log. “Hey, donuts are just fine with me, Bee! Not like human parties are all the same.”
Bumblebee chuckled before leaning on the secured platform. “That’s true at least. I’m just glad all of you were able to make it.”
Raoul piped in from the corner of the platform from where he was talking to Tracks. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world, friend. The ark is our second home, and you guys are our family. Even if you all are a bit strange.” Raoul chuckled at his last remark before Tracks joined in.
“Strange? I beg to differ. Your human systems are inefficient and waste precious resources,” Tracks said indignantly, folding his arms over his chest.
Raoul simply rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, man. You guys still baffle me.”
Spike glanced over at Bee and rolled his eyes, motioning to the two others. Bee gave a mischievous smile and shook his head, not understanding how those two got along either.
Outside and down the hall from the rec room, Jazz had cornered both of the twins. It was a celebration for their safe journey home and it deserved something special.
“So I was thinking and I had this thought. ‘You know what this party needs? Some good pizzazz.’ Just the perfect thing to liven up this party.”
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker looked between themselves, not sure if Jazz was seriously asking them to break a rule. One of Prowl’s rules, of all things. “Jazz, you know you’re our TIC. You co-” Sideswiped started before Jazz interrupted.
“I’m simply saying, if you two mechs get any ideas and certain things appear on tables. Well, then, I certainly would be pleasantly surprised.” With that, the TIC walked off and back into the rec room to enjoy the celebration.
As the party progressed, mechs and femmes alike were moving to the music. Spike and Carly danced together on their own platform. Spike twirled around with his girlfriend until they were both dizzy, laughing between themselves as they clung together for support. Raoul remained with Tracks, a stray hand resting on the vain mech’s arm. Every so often, a peal of laughter coming from either one of the two friends. Bumblebee had moved off to socialize with the other mechs, sharing a drink with Smokescreen and Wheeljack. Sometime during the festivities, large barrels of high-grade had appeared in the room. Mechs were drinking it up, especially after Jazz had managed to talk Prowl into letting it slide.
In his own corner of the room, Ratchet nursed his cube of highgrade and watched as the others danced. It was several hours into the party and Ratchet had yet to have a moment with Optimus. With him coming home, Red Alert had needed him to approve several new security measures. It was an unfortunate but needed chore.
It didn’t mean, though,he couldn’t be sore about it.
Besides the short exchange when Optimus landed, they haven’t had a moment to talk since. There was the occasional ping that his lover sent him, telling him he was remembered. It wasn’t until the red and blue mech actually entered the room did Ratchet feel at ease. Optimus’ optics scanned the room before quickly landing on his old friend. Even with the large mech’s size, he weaved his way through the crowd with ease. The gap was soon closed as Optimus took Ratchet into his arms, careful to not jostle the medic’s drink.
As soon as Ratchet was in his arms, Optimus let his field wrap around his medic until the glyphs of comfort, love, and relief mixed with Ratchet’s own. His faceplate retracted enough so he could lean forward and press his forehead to his lover’s. The intimate moment was brief but enough to satisfy both of them until they were able to be alone. Ratchet was the first to pull away, the medic having always been shyer about affection.
:I’m so happy to see you again, Optimus,: Ratchet commed, giving a small smile.
:I am too, old friend. I am too,: he commed back, raising a servo to cup Ratchet’s helm. :We should go join the party, I’m sure everyone will want to see us.:
Moving back into the midst of the other mechs, everyone congratulated their leader on completing a successful mission. Many of them tried prying for information, curious on what the mission had been about. Optimus would only shake his head and say he couldn’t tell quite yet. The paperwork had to be finished and approved by Prowl before he could declare when the information was no longer highly sensitive. It went on like that for a while until the shifts were changed to allow the mechs on duty the chance to join in. Those not overcharged were sent to replace them. Thus, the questions began anew.
Sometime in the early hour, Optimus and Ratchet returned to their quarters. The party had worn them out. Partially stumbling, they leaned against each other until they managed to arrive at Optimus’s quarters. The Prime put in his code before walking in with his mate. He moved forward and crawled on top of the berth first. With some hoisting of his weight, he managed to move over enough for Ratchet to lay down beside him. The medic was soon after him, crawling over until an arm moved to wrap around Optimus’s chassis.
Ratchet nuzzled his faceplates up against Optimus’s chassis, having moved the Prime’s large arm to rest on his shoulder. “I missed this.” The medic mumbled, too tired to raise his audial levels.
Optimus smiled peacefully as he laid on his back, glancing down at the other beside him. “I missed it more, old friend.” The medic was pulled up into his arms and was given a loving kiss. He knew how much Ratchet had missed him, he could feel it in his field and see it in the way his optics glowed. It was a long mission and one he hoped was over and done with. The one good thing he had in this war was Ratchet and there was no one else for him. Now though was the time for recharge. There was more work to be done in the morning, and more catching up to do between each other.
Listening to his mate's spark pulse, Ratchet felt his struts start to relax. Prime had already fallen into recharge, leaving just him awake in the dark room. He shuttered his optics and exhaled through his vents, calming his processor and shutting down subroutines. When he finally managed to fall into recharge himself, Ratchet was plagued with a recurring dream
Megatron's glowering face and raspy voice.
It seems only Optimus will have a peaceful recharge that night.