The base looked completely different that night. The metal walls, usually cold and gloomy, shimmered with the soft light of the garlands. You and Optimus hung the lights along the aisles - he carefully held the spool, and you pointed out where they would look best.

"It's strange," — he said thoughtfully, raising the garland higher, "to decorate a place intended for battles. And yet.."

He looked at you, warmth flashing in his optics... — "It gives us something more."

Meanwhile, Bumblebee was fiddling with the tree: he turned on the radio and joyfully placed a bright star on top to the music, although he accidentally dropped the toys twice, causing Tessa to laugh.

"Be careful, Bee!" — she laughed, picking up the balls from the floor.

Meanwhile, Cade was trying to screw the glowing garland onto Hound's chest plate.

"GET THAT FASHIONED WIRE OUT!" — Hound was indignant, shaking his head. — "AND THIS HUMAN SWEATER WON'T FIT ME AT ALL!!!"

He was holding a huge red Christmas sweater that was clearly designed to fit on a smaller truck at most, and it looked absolutely ridiculous.

“You’re just gorgeous!” — Shade laughed, filming with his phone.

“The next miracle of the year is coming Hound in the style of ‘grumpy Santa’!”

You had just hung the last ball at that moment, and turning to Optimus, you noticed that he was watching all this fuss silently, but his expression had softened. He said quietly.

“Maybe this is the true strength of humanity… the ability to create warmth even where there is cold.”

Hound after Cade and Tessa finally convinced him to at least wear a New Year's hat with a white pompom, he went to help in the kitchen... and five minutes later almost burned down the entire room because he decided to "fry" a turkey with a plasma cutter. Cade grabbed the tool from him in a panic, and Tessa screamed.

"Hound, this is not a weapon, this is dinner!"

Bumblebee all evening he was spinning around the Christmas tree, but not only with toys. He picked up guests and spun them around in a dance to his music. At some point, he turned on a Christmas hit at full volume, but instead accidentally turned on heavy rock - so that the decorations on the tree shook, and Cade, shouting "B, turn it down!" almost knocked over a mug of cocoa.

Drift decided to decorate the festive table, but did it so seriously, as if he was preparing for a diplomatic reception. He carefully placed the cutlery, checking the millimeters, but stumbled on the rug near the table and dropped a stack of plates with a crash. In response, Shade burst out laughing.

"Samurai and rugs - an eternal battle!"

Crosshairs initially did not want to participate at all, but then, grumbling, agreed to hang the garlands higher. At the same time, he constantly grumbled.

"Well, of course, I have to risk my wires for the sake of your... shiny snot."

But at the same time, he secretly winked at you when he secured the brightest garland right above the table.

In the end, everyone gathered at the long table: Drift was getting a mug of energy drink from the kitchen table with his katana, Crosshair was looking at the garlands that Optimus and you had hung up, Hound was sitting a little to the side and smoking a cigarette, looking unusually dissatisfied, it seemed like the light was really pressing on him, but he couldn't do anything about it. Cade and Tessa poured hot chocolate, Shade told jokes, Bumblebee played Christmas tunes, and you sat next to Optimus. He placed his hand on the table next to yours, and even though his fingers were steel, the warmth radiated from the moment itself.

“Thank you,” — he said quietly. — “For showing me… what it’s like to be part of a celebration.”