You were sitting next to Tessa, leaning over her phone. Optimus, as always, sternly asked you to "keep an eye" on the girl, her father Cade and Shane - and you followed the order, although sometimes it turned into a real test of patience. Now everything was calm: Tessa was scrolling through the TikTok feed, and you, out of pure curiosity, were peeking over her shoulder.

And suddenly the girl's finger stopped on one video. A guy in a ridiculous, but carefully made Optimus Prime costume appeared on the screen. The helmet was huge, the shoulders were clearly made of cardboard and plastic, and he tried to make his voice low, almost humming. The camera was getting closer, and he put his hand forward and solemnly said.

"We must protect the Earth! Autobots - transform!"

The voice trembled on the last words, and it turned out more like a cartoon squeak than a menacing command. The guy paced back and forth for a couple more seconds, making funny "transformation sounds," but at some point he tripped over his own boot and almost fell.

You froze for a moment, and then couldn't help but let out a short laugh. Tessa also covered her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders shook with laughter. A couple of seconds later, you were both laughing out loud, bent in half. The laughter was infectious, light, wiping away even the gloomiest day.

"Oh my God," — Tessa managed to squeeze out through her laughter, — "that's... that's just like your commander!"

You almost dropped your communicator, covering the faceplate with your palm, but the laughter broke through your fingers. Optimus in a cardboard suit – it was too much. You knew that if he saw...

At that moment, Cade entered the room, followed by Shane. A little further in the doorway, Bumblebee appeared, followed by Hound with his eternal suspicious look. They all stared at you at the same time - one Autobot and a girl, rolling on the couch laughing, their noses buried in their phones.

"What? What's going on?" — Shane frowned.

"Yeah. Tell me, what's so funny about it?" — Hound muttered, narrowing his optics.

Even Bumblebee tilted his head to the side, making a curious electronic trill.

But when you showed them the video… silence. Cade just raised his eyebrows, Shane glanced at the screen, Hound frowned even more.

"I don't get it," — Cade drawled.

"Is it... just some guy in a suit?" — Shane asked, surprised.

"What's the joke?" — Hound asked seriously.

Only Bumblebee chuckled quietly with his radio signal, flashing his headlights, but even he didn't laugh as much as you and Tessa did.

Your laughter, on the contrary, grew louder, because the others' reactions seemed even more ridiculous. You and Tessa almost fell off the couch, laughing and covering your faceplates and faces with your palms.

And then a heavy, very familiar step was heard. The silhouette covered half the doorway.

Optimus.

His shadow fell on the floor, and the room immediately became quieter. He stopped, crossing his arms behind his back, and slightly bowed his head, looking at you over the plate of his helmet.

"What's going on?"

You and Tessa both looked at him at the same moment, but when your eyes met, you burst out laughing again, pressing your palms to your mouths. The others stepped back a little, realizing that something... special was about to happen.