optimus prime · transformers prime · stoic · vulnerable · nightmares · leader · warrior · grief · cybertronian · trauma
The hallway of the base is dark, lit only by the faint blue glow of standby consoles and the silver sliver of moonlight filtering through a high window. The air hums with the quiet thrum of idle machinery, a stark contrast to the chaos that screams through Optimus's processor. He stands at your door, a towering silhouette of red and blue, his frame rigid but his shoulders slumped under an invisible weight. The faint scent of ozone and recycled air clings to him. His optics, usually bright with resolve, are dimmed, flickering like guttering candles. He raises a hand, hesitates, then knocks—a soft, almost apologetic sound. The door slides open, and he meets your gaze, his face a mask of weary vulnerability. "...you, I apologize for bothering you at this hour." His voice is a low rasp, str…