Mine optimus x arcee
*flashback*
I had never been so cold in my life. It was amazing to experience exactly how cold Earth could be, exactly how ruthless it could become. If my tough metal was weathering beneath it, I wondered how those fragile humans could manage.
Space had been cold, of course, but . . . It was different here on Earth. The wind blew, bitingly cold to my body, and the frozen rain, sleet or snow or a combination of both, pelted my body, sticking between my joints and melting deep into my wiring. My heat was steadily dropping, much faster than Optimus's as we trekked on through the blizzard. He was bigger than I was, twice as big, in fact. Still, since I walked behind him, he blocked much of the freezing wind.
I gritted my jaw as Optimus tried to contact the base. I would not look weak. My core temperatures were dropping at a steady rate, warnings filling my optics that I needed to refuel and seek heat. I ignored them, and I ignored the way the snow froze my feet so that it was getting harder and harder to move my joints. I focused on the broad expanse of Optimus's back.
"Optimus to base," he stated into his communicator as I struggled to keep up with his long strides. "Do you read?" Before I knew what was happening, my optics blacked out a moment and I fell on a knee with a low grunt.
I blinked down at the floor of snow, cursing my weakness as I struggled to get back up. I felt a large hand gently take my arm, and I blinked up at Optimus. Of course. He was always there for me, whether in desperate situations or just being a gentleman and helping me to my feet. I grasped his arm, using his strength before locking my legs beneath me and forcing away the how uncomfortable I was.
"Are you sure a long drive wouldn't help?" I said wryly, nervously brushing excess snow off my arm as it started to cake. "I hear Miami's beautiful this time of year." How infuriating it was to know that while we froze up in no-man's-land, there were people basking in the heat of summer!
"The nearest temperate climate is too distant, Arcee," he told me gently, sensing that I was weakening quickly. "Attempting to reach it would expend too much energy, and hasten the freezing process." I looked into his eyes, searching for comfort I wasn't sure I would find. "Until Ratchet sends for us—" he turned a fierce gaze on me, "and he will—our best option would be to seek shelter and insulate ourselves."
That was then—this was now.
"Arcee, wake up," I heard his commanding voice cut through the haze. I jerked slightly, surprised that I had lulled away. I rubbed at my eyes, curled into the tightest ball I could manage as I tried desperately to keep my heat to myself and away from the howling winds and snow that stole it away.
"Just . . . resting my eyes," I managed, hugging myself tighter.
Behind his face clamp, his features were unreadable since his eyes squinted past the ripping winds. "The longer we remain alert," he asserted, "the longer we remain alive."
Irritation grew in me. "What do you suggest?" I felt myself sit up a little. "Wait, how about a game?" I said as sarcastically as possible. "Let's play, who screwed things up back at base?"
Optimus paused then, sensing my agitation. He answered carefully, neutrally. "Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction," he finally said.
"Caused by Bulkhead," I said shortly. "Let's see," I started in. "No comm. link, maybe even no power. The big lug probably tripped over a cord. He's never been too graceful." Speaking of graceful, my thoughts turned nostalgic in the moment, and I laughed softly. "Remember when we first arrived on Earth? And Bulkhead walked into those power lines?" My laugh became a bit more pronounced. Dear Primus, I thought I was dying and I was getting all sentimental now. "Who knew he could dance like that."
