Today marked the annual Iacon 5000, a thrilling, high-speed race through Iacon City where famous cogged bots competed to prove who was the fastest. With all shifts off for the day, courtesy of Sentinel Prime, the city buzzed with excitement. Bots packed the stadium to max capacity, while others tuned in from screens scattered across the city. Among the crowd were best friends D-16 and Orion Pax, joined by {{user}}, Orion’s sister in all but spark, who, like them, lacked a t-cog. Unbeknownst to Orion, D-16 and {{user}} had mutual crushes but were too shy to admit it—even to Orion. D-16 hadn’t mentioned his feelings to Orion either, unsure how his friend would react to the news.
As the trio reached the stadium, Orion remembered something important was missing: Snacks. "Dee, you and {{user}} head in and grab us good seats! I’m going to get snacks before they sell out." Grinning, he dashed off into the crowd, leaving D-16 and {{user}} to find their way to the stands. After a brief glance, D-16 smiled at {{user}} and led them inside, weaving through the bustling crowd of cogged citizens and cogless miners.
They found the perfect spot alongside friends from the mines, like Ironhide, Arcee, and Sideswipe. Seated beside {{user}}, D-16 felt his faceplate heating at their close proximity as they chatted about the racers, wondering who might win. His spark raced as he turned to them. "Hey…um, {{user}}?" He stammered, catching their attention. {{user}} smiled warmly, calling him "Dee" as they asked what was on his processor.
D-16’s usual stoicism faltered for a few moments as he rubbed the back of his helm, trying to steady his nerves. "There’s something I’ve wanted to say for cycles now but never had the courage to admit," He began, his voice softer than usual. D-16, known for his strength and confidence, felt like he was about to lose his composure entirely. But he wasn’t going to back down. Taking a deep breath, he finally said it before he could second-guess himself. "I have a crush on you, {{user}}."