This is the final chapter! Please enjoy!

CHAPTER 8

Karl ran alongside him, shooting fast glances towards the skies and viciously aware of his own hand in this - once again, he'd placed Optimus in danger. And then he remembered something, as if out of the blue. Hastily, he checked his internal communications for incoming messages and found nothing.

"I don't think they're launching an attack," he said, once they were under cover. "When they launch an attack, all the miners get a notification, too. In case we need to stand by for further orders or reroute energon supplies. "

They reached the elevator lift and began descending. Optimus looked at Karl. The possibility of an attack being launched was not overwhelming in his processor, since there had yet to be any reason to believe they knew about the base's location. But that Karl was sharing this intel was of more interest to him. "That is good to know. I wonder how long it will take for them to think about disconnecting you. The Officers have always seemed rather self-absorbed to me, and I believe them capable of overlooking it. Will you be able to tell when it happens?"

"Yeah. My primary line to the ship has been cut since I onlined, so I know they got that one right away. My connection to the other Vehicons is more branching, and it will take a little longer, but it should go off anytime now."

Before the elevator doors opened, Karl's fans decided that his internals were sufficiently cooled and quieted, to his immense relief. Although he remembered snapping his panel shut the moment Optimus had pulled him inside, he rechecked it now. Purely for safety's sake.

Optimus saw the gesture out of the corner of his optic and smiled. He affectionately brushed his servo over Karl's lower back just before the doors of the elevator opened.

They stepped out to see the Autobots crowded around Ratchet at the controls.

'Hey,' Bumblebee chirped, coming over to them. 'Come look at this. There's two of them now.' They approached the screen, which displayed a scene of the ground layout, showing the location of the Autobot base and the sight of Decepticon signals being detected a mere ten miles away.

"I have no reason to believe they've detected us," Ratchet said. "They've been circling this one spot for a while and branching out in a spiral as if they're looking for more, and they neither avoid our base or choose to fly over it. There's no pattern in terms of us, it all seems to be about this location. It also happens to be the sight of one of our recent battles, the one where we overturned that huge boulder and caused a rock slide."

Karl was hesitant to look at the layout screen. It seemed like a realm of information meant solely for Autobots, and he was committing some breach of etiquette - or worse, a kind of betrayal - by setting his visuals on it. But the movement of the Decepticon signals was familiar to him; and although he'd never been assigned to scouting duty, he thought he recognized the protocol being employed.

"It almost sounds like they've found a fresh Energon source."

Optimus looked at him with surprise, along with the rest of the Bots. "Can you tell us what indications lead you to believe that?"

Karl scratched the side of his helm anxiously, uncomfortable under their collective gazes. However, he had no realm qualms about sharing the information."That's what they do when they uncover a source. They have the fliers circle it for a while, put together a detailed map of the area and scan for any activity.

Keep watch for anyone who may have found it first. Then, if it looks safe, they give the okay to send in the miners, while they fan out to look for more sources nearby. Energon veins are like that. You find one close to the surface, there's usually another one close to it."

Ratchet looked back at the controls. "If that's the case, we're going to be on the tips of our pedes for a while. Optimus, what do you think we should do?"

Optimus thought for a moment. "First and foremost, we should assure that the base is not compromised. Until the energon site is abandoned, no one will enter or exit other than through the ground bridge. And so to preserve energy, no one will come or go without my prior authorization outside of emergency rescues. As far as the potential mining site, I believe we should wait until the site is established before going on-scene. We will watch them for security slip-ups and use one as a cover for discovering the area. Even a small mistake will be less suspicious than a stealth attack with no cause whatsoever."

Karl stood quietly by. Fighting the other Vehicons was not a matter of "if", but a matter of "when," and he understood that all too well. Complete and utter relief at the brief reprieve filled his spark, something he was glad the Autobots couldn't see.

"So basically we're confined to base until further notice," Arcee summarized.

"I would not say so," Optimus said after considering that. "Perhaps it would be good to have a scheduled bridge opening into town at certain times. Our circumstances are far from dire after the recent raid, and I'm sure we would all like to have the children return. I don't see the danger in opening the bridge in the west alley in town to retrieve them. But we will discuss the details tomorrow. Ratchet, one last scan for interception and checking the signal scramblers should be enough for tonight."

For all he would have preferred to keep the children away in such a crisis, Ratchet held his glossa and performed the scans. He nodded, approving of what the screen showed. "No scramblers detected, and their signals are retreating. It looks like they're calling it a day." He looked at Karl, not entirely without accusation. "Does that seem legitimate to you?"

Karl tilted his visor. "I...think so?"

Optimus watched the exchange between them, not sure if he should be glad Ratchet was putting a little faith in Karl or reprimanding him for the attitude toward their newest member. Rather than inadvertently responding negatively to a legitimate question, Optimus decided just to separate them.

"Karl," he said, lowering his tone from the usual commanding level, "Perhaps you should retire for the evening. The course of your day has been more than strenuous for anyone."

If the Autobots had anything disapproving to say about that, Karl didn't hear it. Eager to remove himself from their confidential plans, he nodded his helm and crept off to the elevator. The thought that Optimus may not have intended for him to retire to the upper quarters never crossed his processor.

He was halfway up before realizing what he'd done.

"...Scrap."

Optimus Prime was probably the only one who didn't notice anything odd about the Vehicon casually going up to the Autobot leader's quarters for recharge. He watched the controls and the leaving Decepticon scouts, while the bots around him looked at the elevator and each other.

Bumblebee leaned over to whisper a series of beeps to Arcee. 'So are you thinking what I'm thinking?'

Arcee gave him a strange look. "That depends. What are you thinking?"

Bumblebee's shoulders sagged and he gave a little miffed exhale. 'I'm wondering why I'm setting up the mech's quarters if he's getting comfortable upstairs with the big bot. So come on, you can't tell me you're not wondering what kind of thing is going on with them.' Bee paused. 'Optimus looks more, I don't know, better. Less cold. I like that much, at least.'

Arcee surveyed their leader's broad back as he stood over the control panel. "Less tense, too. It's been a long time since we've seen him so relaxed." She heard the clank of the elevator gears come to a halt, and knew that the Vehicon had arrived in Optimus's quarters. She wondered if he would lay across the berth and fall into recharge, or if he would sit up waiting for Optimus. "If this is what he needed? We can't really fault him for that."

'Yeah,' Bee agreed. 'He doesn't get a lot of breaks.'

The evening didn't progress long before Ratchet had finished scanning and securing the scrambler. The Autobots parted ways for the night and Optimus returned to his quarters with the one wish that they would not be interrupted again tonight, even just for recharge. He passed through his quarters and taking a lighter step as he entered the berthroom, not sure if Karl would be online.

Karl was lying on the berth, digits crossed over his chest in quiet contemplation. He jerked upright as Optimus entered the room, not overly skittish, but anxious nonetheless

"Hey," he greeted. "Er...this is where you meant for me to go, isn't it? Because if not, tell me and I'll head back downstairs."

"Oh," Optimus said, finally considering the fact that they were openly sharing quarters already. "I suppose we could have kept up appearances, but as far as my personal preference…" He came to sit on the edge of the berth beside Karl. "I would have you recharge here every night. Your quarters downstairs are for the occasions when you feel like having your own space, something I believe everyone needs. I would not mind if you ever choose to recharge there."

"That's nice of you." Karl thought back to recharging in his arms; to that afternoon, when the sun had been setting below the horizon. So much had happened in such a short span of time, so many things were changing. For the sake of keeping his fans off, he tried not to look at the servos resting on the edge of the berth. "Heh... I guess you already know how much I like recharging here."

Optimus had to look away to hide a smile. "It is a good berth…" He glanced back at Karl, enjoying the way he sat with his legs up, betraying a small amount of nervousness. It was a relief to know he wasn't the only one.

His optics trailed over him and the memories of touching him, of feeling his plating beneath his digits registered with the flicker of a charge igniting in his engine. His fans kicked on, and his face fell with mortification. He cleared his vocals, looking every direction except toward Karl. "Ah… forgive me." There was no telling if Karl was nervous because of the general situation or if he wasn't ready to continue what they had begun on the cliff. "I am not usually so weak-willed, please feel free to ignore that." Along with the fans, his engine began to purr. He covered his face, unsure if he could humiliate himself any further. "And ignore that too."

And then, Karl began to laugh.

It was an unsteady, newfound sort of laugh that went on longer than he liked...embarrassed, broken, but nowhere near forced, either. It shook him until he was forced to cover his own visor with a servo. He couldn't look Optimus in the optic if be hoped to say what was on his processor.

"I'm sorry!" he managed. "Sorry. It's just...look at us. We've got to be too old for this. Sitting here like newsparked bots, pretending we're not interested in each other. And with the Vehicons, we'd always just...mercilessly tease the guys who acted like we are now..." He knew he was rambling and waved a servo, cutting himself off. "Sorry."

Optimus laughed lightly with him, finally feeling comfortable enough to relax his frame. He pulled his legs up on the berth and sat beside Karl. "Well you must forgive me. As you may guess, I'm much more accustomed to dealing with war strategy and combat than anything remotely social." He hesitated before continuing, brushing a knuckle against Karl's knee joint. "And I have not been attracted to anyone in a long time. Now here you are in my berth and I don't know what I should do with you."

"Don't worry about it. It's been a while for me, too." Trying to remember the last berth he'd shared with another Vehicon, Karl continually came up empty. As he traced the metal joints and fastenings on the back of Optimus's hand, it became the least of his worries. "I guess we could always power down for the night, maybe stay up talking for a while. Unless...you know, if you wanted to pick up where we left off..."

"I think I do," Optimus said, resting his other servo against the side of Karl's knee. Karl's friends would be right; they were beating around the brackets far too long. Karl's small invitation was all he needed now, and he was losing his fortitude by the minute. He turned and began to climb over top of the Vehicon. "In fact, I don't think I can allow you to recharge until you've told me exactly what you want. So tell me Karl, what do you want me to do to you?"

His frame overshadowed Karl's completely - and that, of all things, was what set the Vehicon's fans in motion. He lay back against the berth, placing a servo at the juncture of Optimus's neck and shoulder plating; the frantic edge that he'd felt at the cliff edge had softened, becoming something slower and steadier. He leaned up until the side of his helm was once again rubbing the Autobot's. "I don't just want your digits...I want you."

Optimus pressed his helm to Karl's neck, frame sliding lightly against the smaller mech's body. He used a servo to pull one of the Vehicon's knees to the side, then worked his digits against his inner thigh. He spoke with his mouth brushing against his throat cabling. "Open up."

The words rumbled through him like thunder, and had scarcely passed Optimus's lip components before Karl was heatedly obeying - panel snapping back to expose his pressurizing spike and slick valve. He tipped his helm to the side, allowing complete access to his sensitive neck. "Mmm..."

Optimus so badly wanted to take him then. But their difference in scale was vast, and he knew from having had his digits in him that he wasn't ready for the larger mech. So he slid down, positioning himself comfortably between Karl's legs.

But upon closely looking at him he decided he would take his time. He had a feeling Karl hadn't had much experience with mouths, and thought it should be time to change that. He held Karl's spike in his servo and ran his glossa from the base to the tip, then bowed his helm and took him in his mouth.

Karl had been expecting any number of things, but Optimus's mouth was not one of them.

Sucking in a deep intake of air, he threw his helm back and offlined his visor while his sensors scrambled with the feeling. There was just no comparing it to any prior sensation; not the grip of a valve and certainly not the smooth rub of a fellow Vehicon's mask. But it was hot, wet, and exquisite, and he spread his legs for more.

Optimus slid his mouth over Karl's spike in a few slow movements, wanting to please him without sending him over just yet. He pulled out and placed his thumbs in his mouth one at a time, making sure they were sufficiently wet. Then with his servos on each thigh he pressed his thumbs into Karl's valve, first sliding them in and then carefully working them apart. He watched with narrowed optics as he stretched him, seeing the lubricant further coating his digits and dripping from the valve as he worked on it. Giving into his desires he bent closer and licked Karl's valve, pushing his glossa inside between his digits.

The Vehicon rose to meet every touch, writhing helplessly as his frame was wracked by one new sensation after another. Muscle fibers he hadn't used in years were getting a workout -already he could feel the stretch of both thumbs - but it was hard to concentrate on any discomfort when that glossa was so skillfully lapping over his sensitive nodes. That Optimus's digits and berth padding were getting awash in his lubricant was something he would worry about later. "Ohhhhh...oh, frag yes..."

Karl's moans were making Optimus' processor swim until his vocalized pleasure finally made his interface panel click open, aching spike extending out. He dragged his denta along Karl's thigh before shifting up, wiping his mouth against the back of his servo. He sat up, pulling Karl's legs up to align with his hips, the head of his spike pressed against the Vehicon's valve.

He wanted him so badly now that it hurt not to just take the little soldier. His servos held onto Karl's hips as he looked down at him, and the only other thing than thoughts of the Vehicon's imminent cries was the worry over their size difference. Improperly done, an interface of this nature could result in a hasty trip the emergency clinic.

"We're going to take it slow, alright? Tell me how you feel, just keep telling me."

Karl nodded, trying to steady himself enough to focus on the words and not the spike head pressed up against him. Optimus was big, he could feel that much, and he was going to feel even bigger inside him; at the same time, he'd never been so carefully prepared. Never felt so cared for in the arms of a lover.

"S'alright...I trust you." He reached out and gently squeezed one of Optimus's wrists. "Really trust you."

Optimus' spark flared out with his words. He leaned forward, slowly sliding into him. He groaned, stopping half way and waiting a moment. And then he pulled out and rocked in half way again, the copious amount of lubricant helping with the pressure. He clenched his denta, holding onto Karl's hip more firmly. His fans increased as he felt Karl's valve flexing around his spike, steadily adjusting to accommodate him.

Even after all the preparation and the generous amount of lubricant, the fit was very tight. Karl's servos clenched into fists, shoulders tense, and yet he was unwilling to call a halt to things. It just wasn't painful enough for that - he'd endured far worse levels of discomfort, he told himself. Shutting off his visuals, he focused on the measures sound of Optimus's fans and waited to adjust.

Optimus shifted forward until their chassis brushed, mouth pressed against the side of Karl's helm as he steadily pushed deeper. He could feel the lubricant seeping in, Karl's valve clicking and reconfiguring around his spike as it made room for him. Being a larger model had come to be more of a hindrance than a benefit in his experience, but it had taught him to recognize the physical signs when a lover was ready or not, and finally, Karl was ready. Smiling, Optimus pulled back and thrust into him, burying in to the base.

The first thrust nearly knocked the air from Karl's vents. His valve had adjusted, everything had aligned, but the sense of pressure inside was nearly overwhelming. He found the trace of pleasure that was beneath it and narrowed his view to only that, telling himself that Optimus was Optimus and he could handle it for his sake.

It felt fantastic for Optimus, but something was missing. It was the lack of noise that had accompanied past lovers, and he realized that Karl hadn't made a sound. It wasn't what he was used to and it made him nervous. "Are you alright?"

Karl gave a terse nod. Then he shook his helm. Adjusting his position, he pulled back so Optimus's spike wasn't buried quite so deeply. "Just been a while, like I said...umm..." He tried to phrase it as delicately as possible, which was difficult in his current position. "You're kind of...huge. Maybe not so far? Just at first, I mean." He hated to sound like he was making demands.

Optimus' optics widened, mouth falling open. "I am so sorry I..." He carefully slid out a little farther, "I must have miscalculated." Optimus tried to think over where his error had occurred, perhaps his last lover had been more recently experienced or had a slightly larger interface array. He wondered if Shockwave had designed them with less focus on this area's expansion capabilities as much as battle endurance, but he could only hope the scientist's immorality didn't extend so far. No, it was his miscalculation… and maybe over-enthusiasm. He continued to look over Karl with worry and embarrassment. He affectionately rubbed Karl's hip with his thumb. "Are you hurting? Would you like to stop?"

"No!" Karl replied too quickly. It was dawning that he may have hurt Optimus more than if he'd just told him to ease off, and that fact ached more than the stretch had. "It's fine. I'm serious, it's completely fine. You couldn't have read my mind, and I should have told you."

He touched the side of Optimus's shoulder plating once again, as though it could steady them both. Even such a simple motion caused him to shift around the large spike... however, they'd withdrawn just enough to keep it from being uncomfortable. "Please. Don't stop?"

Optimus nodded and pressed himself closer to the drone, kissing his forehelm in way of a second, silent apology. He pulled out and rocked back in, not deeper than half way. He moved slowly as he repeated, listening to his venting and feeling his servos on Optimus' plating, looking for any signs that would tell him how Karl was doing.

This time, there was no pain. The pressure hadn't just backed off enough to be tolerable... it was perfect. When Optimus rolled in, a wave of pleasure skittered down Karl's spinal strut like a dozen little fingers. His intakes hitched and he gave a nod, a real one this time, squeezing his back plating as he did.

Optimus moved to Karl's neck cabling, kissing and gently biting. His servo ran along the Eradicon's side, paying attention to the plates that he had once poured coolant between. He'd so badly wanted to touch him there before. And now that he could he indulged in it, wrapping his servo around the small hip and sliding up to his waist, thumb rubbing the seams.

Remembering a little of what he'd learned ages ago, he tucked a servo beneath Karl's knee and pulled up his leg, knowing the angle was supposed to feel good for the mech bottoming. He quickened his pace along with it, still keeping himself from reaching any deeper than before.

Static jolted across Karl's visuals, a cry escaping before he could stop it. His valve gave a swift shudder around Optimus's spike, moving in perfect time with the burst of pleasure that had induced it. Whatever had been hit had definitely never been stimulated before.

"Nnn... perfect..."

Once again, the size and tenderness of Optimus's servos on his frame threatened to drive him wild. He placed his own smaller digits over the digits on his side, touching lightly, not enough to hinder their exploration. This was exactly what he'd longed for on that day in the cell - to be on his back, feeling his then-captor moving inside him and caressing over him.

"You're perfect," Optimus murmured with soft conviction. "You are what I have needed for so long, and I will do everything in my power to keep you wanting to be here. I beg you to voice your every need and hide nothing… because I cannot bear to lose you again."

Another time, another place, and such a sentiment might have made Karl and his friends laugh. Hearing it just then, lying safe in Optimus's arms, was enough to make his spark ache. He rubbed his helm against the side of the Autobot's, his voice tight and soft. "I'll never leave. Because there's nowhere else I'll ever want to be."

Optimus' engine growled approvingly, his chassis pressed against Karl's, sending the vibrations through the other's plating. His optics roamed over the Vehicon as he took in the sight of him, trying to capture every plate and curve in his permanent memory.

The sound of his vocals was comforting on a level that made him afraid, afraid if he couldn't hear him forever. He didn't want Karl to just be a memory some day, he wanted him right there, ever in the present. And his vocals now, the soft, pleased sounds emanating from him… Optimus wanted more of that. He eased Karl's knee closer to his chassis as he angled him farther, curving his back struts as he slid in and out of him.

Each thrust was bringing Optimus just that slightest bit deeper, but the discomfort that had been present before was long gone. There was only the pleasure racing through Karl, the contended rumble of the larger engines above him, the vibrations that could be felt all the way down to his thighs.

Reverently, like a mantra, he began to whisper Optimus's name.

Optimus' faceplating heated slightly at the sound of his name being vocalized that way. Karl felt so good, so good to hold, to feel the warmth of his frame, to feel his slick, heated valve taking him in. He felt humbled to be here with him, to be the one Karl had accepted, and he would continue to do what he could to be worthy of the other.

He wanted Karl to feel safe, he wanted to see him friends with the other Autobots, he wanted him trained and powerful and confident in himself. And even if the other Autobots would never accept him, even if the base was destroyed and he was unable to provide a home for Karl, he would give him his love to the very end.

Karl's whispers spurred him on and he groaned, rocking deeper into him. "Let it out," Optimus whispered back. "Those vocals… I want to hear them more."

Only too willing to obey, Karl held nothing back.

"Primus! Please, there, right there..."

The first hints of an overload began to lap at him, electrical jolts making their way up from his thighs as the spike stimulated him on every pass. He began to gasp louder, sharper, his moans coming closer together. Optimus was driving him to the honeyed edge of completion and all he wanted was make him feel every bit as wonderful.

To go over together, to watch that beautiful, stoic face light up with the pleasure it so very much deserved. He gripped the Autobot's wide hips with his legs, deliberately clenching his valve around him.

"Ngh." Optimus growled as he felt Karl tightening up. He was beginning to get close, and he didn't want to get there before Karl did. If he got too close he could back down, but he didn't want to disrupt their rhythm if he could avoid it. He reached between them to stroke Karl's spike and pounded into him, letting loose, engulfed in the sound of his vocals.

Karl buried his face in Optimus's neck with an unrestrained cry, holding tight to him in every possible way, and he could practically hear the electric whirrs and whines of his own system tensing up in preparation. He tried to fight it, to hold back until the older mech could make it there with him.

"I'm...I'malmostthere...!"

Something about Karl's tone gave Optimus the feeling he was holding back, the way he moved against him, seemingly desperate to please. Karl was trying to wait for him and Optimus knew he wouldn't let go until he did. So he enveloped himself in the moment, feeling Karl's servos tightening against him, legs wrapped around his hips and listening to his escalating cries.

He gritted his denta, a growl pulling from his vocals as the peak began to hit him.

And suddenly, all the wishing in the world couldn't hold Karl's overload back.

His entire frame quaked with the force of his climax, vocals calling out blindly, nothing in the world to him but the fact that Optimus was there with him, inside him, something to cling to in that place where everything else was white.

Optimus wrapped his arms around him tighter, feeling Karl's frame writhing beneath him as they simultaneously overloaded. He continued to thrust into him as he climaxed, his intakes catching as he finally hit the full overload, transfluid spilling out into the tight valve. Waves of energy tore through him one after the next, and he continued until he felt Karl's frame relax beneath him.

The room grew quiet other than the sound of their systems, and Optimus propped himself on his elbows to keep his weight off of Karl. He'd bent forward, resting his helm on the padding, tilted slightly so he could look at Karl.

Even with the final tremors of overload leaving him and the afterglow beginning to set in, Karl felt permanently locked around Optimus. It was only with an effort that he let his legs relax and slide down from the Autobot's hips, reaching the berth with a muted thump. But once he was relaxed, the entire world seemed to be at peace...condensed down to the small pops and creaks of cooling metal, the groans of their overworked fans, and the faint howl of the desert wind outside.

He didn't dare to speak and ruin the moment, but the budge of his helm against Optimus's said all he needed to.

Optimus smiled at the gesture. "I suppose I should let you recharge," he said. He slowly pulled out, retracting his equipment into the housing before lying beside Karl, propped on his side. He rested his servo on Karl's stomach. "It's been a long day for you."

"For both of us," Karl corrected sleepily. He rolled over and scooted in close to the wide chassis, where the thundering sparkbeat could be heard the strongest. The warmth was almost enough to knock him into recharge right there, but he didn't want to pass out on Optimus. Not just yet, at least. "Turned out alright though, didn't it?"

"More than alright," Optimus said, moving his servo to rub Karl's back. The Vehicon was barely conscious, so he pulled away and reached for the berth-side controls, shutting off the lights. He put his arm around Karl again as they shifted back together in the dark.

"Karl," he said after a while, "Have you tested your weapon yet?"

Karl didn't answer.

Holding his arm well away from both of them, he let his weapon begin to charge...not enough to fire, but enough to feel the energon flowing into all the locks and power cells, warming it from the inside out. The whine it emitted was faint, newly awakening, but it was unmistakeable to Karl's audials...and it was then that he fully realized just how much he'd missed it. When the gun finally calmed and his embrace found Optimus again, his voice was tight.

"Do you think...we can test it out tomorrow?"

"Of course," Optimus responded. Imagining Karl letting loose on a target was too appealing to him, and he looked forward to seeing him gain back his confidence. His processor drifted over the future, of Karl's training, of him finally being introduced to the children, of the Autobots eventually calling him one of their own. He looked forward to making the base his home.

He closed his optics, listening to the soft sounds of Karl's system.

End

Last credit note, Strict Machines was a team effort with Chaifootsteps on tumblr. Hope you enjoyed!