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With one soft click, a door opens, Jack, Miko and Raf practically spilling out of Prime's alt. mode. Miko grabs both boys' arms, dragging them towards the park entrance.
Fowler raises an eyebrow at the sight, leaning back in his seat. He expects the door to close, but it remains open in a silent invitation. He glances at the steering wheel. "Letting fresh air in, Prime?"
"I had assumed you would wish to enjoy this 'trip' as well," Optimus answers.
The door stays open. Fowler glances out, just in time to see Miko point to the first roller coaster by the entrance and run off towards it. He chuckles. "I'm too old for that, Big Guy. Don't know what I'd even do there."
"Is there some sort of an age restriction I am not aware of?" Optimus questions.
"Nah, I'm just… not too sure what I'd do alone in an amusement park. A cart that goes around in a circle is not exactly the same when you're my age and going there alone."
"What if I were to accompany you?"
Fowler's eyes, which have up until now been taking in the bright colors all around, snap back towards the steering wheel. He raises both eyebrows. "Your… holo-thing isn't working though, is it? I can't imagine people would ignore it if you just strolled in there looking like TV static."
"That is why I am not using my holomatter avatar."
He fnally catches on. Then, he sighs, running a hand down his face. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"There have been very few times in my life where I have been more certain than I am now."
Fowler glances back outside, then at the dashboard, and nods. "Let's give those three little menaces some time to enjoy the rides before you go stomping around."
Fowler decides to indulge in some cotton candy. It's just as awfully sweet and sticky as he remembers, eating it while staying clean is literally impossible, but he'll be damned if it doesn't feel amazing.
The slow, heavy footsteps behind him shake the ground with a familiar metal cling beneath it all.
"May I inquire as to the nature of this… meal?" Optimus asks.
Fowler looks around his shoulder, holding the half-eaten snack in one hand. "It's just pure sugar. I'm surprised eating so much of this stuff when I was a kid didn't give me a heart attack, if I'm being honest."
Optimus' expression turns baffled, and then some of the curiosity seeps back through. "Does it… taste nice?"
"It's sweet, which is honestly the only thing I care about right now."
He makes it another few steps before he notices the distinct lack of small, localized earthquakes coming from directly behind him. Fowler turns around, pausing at the sight of Optimus kneeling by a stand. Fowler walks back over.
"What is the purpose of this specific attraction?" Optimus asks, large optics scanning the dozens of stuffed animals put on display. The presumed owner of the stand is frozen still directly in front of Optimus, as though afraid to make a move. When Optimus notices them, he offers a small nod. "Good evening."
Fowler huffs out a short laugh. "You've gotta shoot those targets. If you win, you get to pick a prize."
"What would this 'prize' entail?"
The owner finally decides to speak up. They clear their throat, taking a deep breath once both Fowler's and Prime's attention is on them. "If you win, you get to, ah, pick one of these plushies, right here," they nervously gesture to the stuffed animals.
Maybe he imagines it, but Fowler can swear Optimus' optics shine a bit brighter, and it's a beautiful sight. The agent smiles. "You got a favourite one, Prime?"
Optimus once again gives the prizes a long look, before humming softly. "In the corner, at the very top. I believe that is a… ah, a worm?"
Fowler follows his gaze to what looks like a worm on a string, scaled up enough to be more than half his height. Then, he looks at the owner. "How much is one try gonna cost?"
"That would be $4, uh, sir," they answer quickly.
Fowler nods, pulling the money out of his wallet and handing it to them, only to be given a rifle made of light plastic seconds later.
"This seems highly dangerous," Optimus says, watching Fowler take aim.
"Not when you know what you're doing," he answers, looking around briefly. A small crowd seems to have gathered there, and though some are clearly waiting for him to take the shot, most have their gazes turned towards Optimus, who regards them with a slow look.
Fowler presses the trigger. Immediately, a tower of cans falls to the ground, and Fowler readjusts. Another perfect shot, and then one more, before he's handing the rifle back to the owner.
"You wanted the worm?" The owner asks, wide eyes still looking between Fowler and Optimus. Both nod, and the stuffed animal is given to Fowler, who wraps it around his shoulders.
Optimus smiles, his optics lighting up. "It suits you well."
Fowler gently punches Optimus' servo where it's placed on the ground to help him balance. "Even if I have a giant worm sitting on me?"
The corners of Optimus' optics narrow slightly in amusement. It adds onto his smile, making the already rare sight all the more memorable. "Of course."
Optimus stands up to his full height after thanking the stand owner, who seems about ready to pass out, and the two of them begin walking through the loud and bright world of amusement parks.
As Fowler looks around, he spots a few familiar faces. There's the waitress from Jasper's (only) diner, and some ways off is Miko's Math teacher, whom Fowler had to convince to not let her fail the year due to her 'absurdly high absence'.
Quite a few people are also looking up at Optimus with awe in their eyes, though others act as though it's just a normal day. And, to the people of Jasper, it sort of is.
After a particularly newsworthy incident that basically made it impossible for the town residents to ignore the Autobots, Fowler and Optimus had agreed to 'let it slip'. And the townsfolk took it well. So well, in fact, that the Autobots could just walk down the main road in their root forms, and very few humans would bat an eye.
Still, that doesn't stop all the children present at the park from looking at Optimus with wide eyes and tugging at their parents' clothes to show them 'the cool robot'- a sight that makes Fowler chuckle.
Jack, Miko and Raf find them at one point. Something about the ground shaking like there's an earthquake and people talking about a giant robot apparently tipped them off, and so, Optimus lets them ramble on about all the rides they've gone to.
Fowler sits back on a bench, watching the four talk, and a warm feeling floods his chest as he watches Optimus' stern faceplate slip into that small, yet all the more genuine smile of his as he listens to Raf explain how roller coasters are designed.
He wishes the smile would stay there forever. He wishes he could keep it there forever.
Something in the distance catches his attention, and an idea quickly forms in his head. "Did the three of you try the ferris wheel already?" He asks, looking at the teens.
"We haven't, actually-"
"It's super boring, trust me," Miko cuts Jack off, making a disgusted face.
Fowler hums, getting up. "Prime? Would you walk with me?"
Optimus considers the answer very briefly, before nodding and sending one more look towards the children. "We will be in the area, should you need us."
"Duh, we can hear you walking around!" Miko laughs.
Fowler simply shakes his head and begins walking away, Optimus following closely.
Weaving his way through the busy, though not crowded path, Fowler pulls out his wallet, eyes set on the ticket booth next to the ferris wheel, which he reaches rather quickly. The tickets are cheap enough, and soon, he's sitting down in a small passenger car, hands on the steel barrier in front of him. He watches as the contraption begins moving, drawing further away from the ground.
The evening has begun to set it, the sky a mix of baby blue and bright orange clouds. The faintest edge of the Sun still looks back from above the horizon, and Fowler smiles as the sunbeams hit his face. Light breeze hits his skin, and for a moment, he closes his eyes and lets the sounds all around him fade away.
The ferris wheel moves once again, and only once he feels something block out the Sun does he open his eyes, now face to face with Optimus. The large, beautiful optics burrow into his eyes like searchlights, and Fowler studies them as though he hasn't gazed at them the same way a million times before. He knows all the details, all the little components behind the pupil, the way it zooms in and out, the way its center is almost white, and it takes his breath away all the same.
They're almost at the top, and so Optimus straightens his back and steps back slightly in order to remain at eye level with Fowler.
The cart stops. Now, right here and now, Fowler feels like he's on top of the world, and everything that matters is right there with him. Looking right at him.
"Beautiful view, huh?" He says quietly, and though he tries, he can't tear his eyes away from the Prime.
Yet Optimus looks up, optics scanning the sky with wonder, before looking back at Fowler. "It is quite nice."
" Sweet Lady Liberty - I wasn't talking about the sky," Fowler says, amused. In a single moment, without even examining the thought that just popped into his head, he leans forward, grabs onto the blue metal lining Optimus' face, and kisses his faceplate, right below his left optic.
He expects the metal to be cold. It doesn't make sense, and he knows how warm the Autobots' hands are from being carried around, but he didn't really think about that until now. Now, he discovers- to his delight- that it's warm, maybe slightly more so than a human's face would be. The surface is smooth, for once devoid of any scratches or scars.
When he leans away, their gazes meet once more, and though Optimus seems surprised and even a bit uncertain, Fowler detects no disgust behind it.
Prime blinks. "I… thank you, Agent Fowler."
Fowler smiles. "I told you to call me Will."
Optimus mirrors his expression. "Thank you, William."
And the ferris wheel goes on.
When all three of the children finally gather back in Optimus' alt. mode, it's around 9PM. While Raf simply rests in his seat, eyes closed, and Jack works his way through what remains of his french fries, Miko sits behind the steering wheel, leaning against the window.
Optimus assumes she will fall asleep soon, but after a few minutes, she looks at his dashboard. "Congrats, by the way. To you and Fowler."
This makes Optimus pause. "I… do not understand. Is there something I am not aware of?"
At this, Raf stirs, looking up. Him and Miko exchange a glance, before he speaks up. "At the ferris wheel, we kinda… saw you? Including the part where you kissed. So, we just- well, we're all… happy for you, I guess."
When Optimus doesn't respond for a bit, Raf's face falls. "We're sorry! I know we shouldn't have been watching, you guys probably wanted to just have a moment to yourself, and… I'm sorry."
"The sunset suited you, though. Pretty romantic." Miko says.
"I… fear I still do not understand, Miko," Optimus admits. "I am aware that a 'kiss' between humans signals affection, though I was under the impression that everyone has already realized that Agent Fowler and I have been… friends, for several months now."
And Raf and Miko stare at him. Behind their seats, Jack sits on the floor, mouth stuffed full of fries and looking at Optimus' dashboard with wide eyes.
" Oh my god ," Miko whispers. "You don't- dude, Fowler doesn't strike me as the sort of guy to just kiss his friends ."
"Then perhaps I am an exception?" Optimus questions. "I am certain that William cares about his friends very much."
Miko buries her face in her hands, while Raf just looks lost and Jack seems very uncomfortable.
"I feel as though I am missing something."
"Just… talk to him about it, when you have time," Jack offers.
"And there he is," Miko announces, watching Fowler walk towards the truck. Miko scoots over to Raf, leaving the seat empty for Fowler, who quickly jumps into it. The door closes behind him.
It doesn't take long for Fowler to notice the strange atmosphere in the cab, but when he looks around with a questioning glance, no answer is offered. "Alright," he mumbles, letting the seat belt slide around him on its own while he stuffs his phone into the pocket of his pants.
They pull out of the parking lot, and Optimus takes the time to think what he should say.
In the end, he settles for driving all three children to their respective houses, before heading towards Fowler's apartment. There, he stops, and, when Fowler steps out, transforms.
It's dark by now, so the only lights around are the dim yellow if the streetlamp nearby, and Optimus' optics. He kneels, studying Fowler's face for a while as he attempts to say something. It seems worn, tired, yet underneath it all, there's a sense of joy. Optimus wonders if such a small thing as today's trip can make one so happy.
Fowler raises an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
"Yes, I am fine. I… do, however, think we need to have a discussion."
Fowler's expression drops, and for a second, something almost guilty passes over it before it's gone once more. "Of course."
Optimus frowns, sighing deeply. "I… am aware humans use 'kissing' to express their feelings towards one another. And… I assume that is what you had intended?"
Fowler stares blankly for a bit before recovering. "... Yeah?"
"I fear I fail to understand the exact meaning behind the gesture. The children seem to have understood it perfectly, but I feel as though I am missing something."
"Oh," Fowler mutters, looking up at him with a baffled expression. "I didn't… hm." He sighs, and points to a wall nearby, about three meters tall, leading into the garden of Fowler's apartment building. "Would you help me up there?"
Optimus, albeit slightly confused, does as he is asked, and when Fowler reaches the top, he sits down, legs dangling over the edge. Optimus sits down next to him. When he does so, it brings Fowler's head on the same level as Optimus' chin.
The two stare ahead for a bit, before Fowler sighs. "I wasn't exactly sure how I should tell you, but I saw the opportunity, and just… took it. Probably should have been more clear about my intentions and all that. I apologize."
Optimus looks down at the human, doing his best to make it clear he is not upset. "You needn't apologize, as you have done nothing wrong. I simply ask you to help me understand the situation."
"I'll do my best," Fowler smiles. The massive plush animal is still draped around his shoulders, and Fowler reaches up a hand to tug at the synthetic fur. "The thing is, kissing can mean a lot of things, based on the context. Parents kiss their children, friends kiss each other sometimes, and kissing someone's hand is a sign of… respect, I suppose?"
Optimus nods slowly. "I understand. I am simply having trouble understanding which of those categories you and I fall into."
"Well, we also like to kiss people we love… romantically. Partners."
"Are you suggesting we-" Optimus pauses, staring at the human, who suddenly seems to have deflated.
Fowler studies his face, his own expression saddened. "I'm sorry, Big Guy. I overstepped. I should have asked you first."
Optimus realizes his expression looks harsher than he'd intended, and lets it soften into a slight smile. "William, I am… honored. Truly."
This makes the agent look up again, surprised. "You are?"
Optimus nods. "I do think I understand now, and I… reciprocate your feelings."
Fowler is beaming up at him now, smiling wider than Optimus has ever seen him do before. "That's… that's great to hear, Prime," he says softly.
"May I ask…? What has changed? I had never imagined this would happen."
Fowler laughs, and it's a beautiful sound. He picks the plush animal from his shoulders, and hands it over to Optimus, who carefully takes it into his servo.
"This is for you," Fowler explains. "I suppose you've just sort of… wormed your way into my heart."
"I do not- ah. That was a joke."
"Yep."
They stay silent for a bit, simply enjoying the night air and the dark, clouded sky. Fowler's skin turns a beautiful shade of blue in the moonlight.
"May I?" Fowler asks, reaching up and stopping when his hand just barely touches Optimus' chin.
He nods, and relishes the feeling of a small, gentle and warm hand holding his cheek. He leans into the touch, before bending forward, and pressing his intake against the top of Fowler's head. When he leans away, it is to find the human looking up at him with utter amazement.
"Did I do that correctly?"
Fowler smiles, and leans against the side of his helm, muttering a soft 'yes'.