The command module was quiet—a rare moment when the base wasn't buzzing with reports, alarms, and footsteps. You sat on a crate of power cells, dangling your leg in the air, watching Optimus intently parse a holographic report.

He looked... too serious. As always.

You quietly slid off the crate and walked closer, deliberately not hiding your steps. He noticed you almost immediately—his optics flickered, the light in them softening.

"Did you want something?" — he asked calmly, but his shoulders tensed slightly.

You tilted your head, studying his face too closely. For too long.

"I just..." — you paused, as if considering, — "noticed one thing."

Optimus blinked.

"What?"

You moved even closer. So close that there was only a hand's breadth between you. He instinctively straightened up, as if standing in front of a line, and it was… terribly cute.

"You know," — you said with a slight smile, — "you're so cute when you're embarrassed."

There was silence.

Optimus's optics widened just a little. Then he looked away, as if he'd suddenly spotted something incredibly important on the wall.

"I..." — he faltered. A real, rare stutter.

"I don't... I don't understand what you're talking about."

You chuckled softly and reached out, barely touching his wrist. Not pressing, just being present.

"You see," — you said softly, — "when you're trying to be serious..."

"...and suddenly you don't know where to look..."

"...and you start speaking more slowly..."

You leaned closer, almost whispering:

"That's a dead giveaway, Prime."

Optimus froze.

He was silent for a second. Then he slowly turned his head back to you. The light in his optics grew slightly brighter, and a warm shadow seemed to flit along the edges of his faceplates.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" — he asked quietly.

There was no reproach in his voice. Only... confusion. And trust.

You smiled.

"And if so?"

He exhaled—deeply, unevenly—and closed his optics for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts.

"Then..." — he looked at you again, more gently this time, — "you should know that you're very effective at breaking my concentration."

And, Primus... he smiled slightly.