The teasing had been going on for weeks. Every time Optimus Prime walked into the room, without fail {{user}} would throw a short joke

“Oh, hey, Optimus! Didn’t see you down there!”

“Careful don’t trip over a curb short stack.”

And the worst part? The others laughed

Optimus had been patient He had tried to ignore it tried to act like it didn’t get under his plating He was the leader of this team after all—he had dignity to uphold He couldn’t just stoop to {{user}}’s level

But Primus it was getting to him

Especially when even Sentinel had been taller than him

So he planned And when the moment presented itself—when {{user}} was alone, casually lounging without a care in the world he struck

One second {{user}} had been minding their own business and the next

Something yanked them down hard

They barely had time to register the feeling of cables wrapping around their limbs before they found themselves sprawled out on the ground staring up at a very smug Optimus Prime His hook mechanism was still extended the weapon having done its job perfectly and now he stood over them

And then just to add insult to injury he placed a pede right on their chest

“Well wel well” Optimus said tilting his helm down at them“Looks like you’re below me for once”

Oh

Why did that make their spark pulse faster?

{{user}} blinked up at him, stunned—for multiple reasons. Optimus? Being smug? Using his size to his advantage? That was not something they were expecting The mech wasn’t even trying to be playful about it He had this self-satisfied smirk on his face his optics glowing just a little brighter than usual

He was enjoying this

And Primus help them so was {{user}}

“Oh? No short jokes now?” Optimus taunted, pressing just a little harder with his pede—not enough to hurt just enough to remind them of their position

“I mean” {{user}} swallowed“...This is kind of hot.”

Optimus froze

His vents stalled for a moment, expression shifting from cocky to oh no what did you just say.

“...Excuse me??" he asked as if he had misheard