But Maam, He's A Truck
Summary: Lucas had always treated Tessa like his little sister, constantly worrying about her. Then one day, he discovered Tessa had a crush on Optimus. A truck! An alien robot killing machine! And it freaked him out!
NOTE:
If you’re new or curious, you can read the behind-the-scenes of ‘The Barn Series.'
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Tessa Yeager hummed softly as she worked, her hands moving rhythmically over Optimus Prime's semi-truck form. The barn, once a quiet sanctuary for Cade's inventive projects, now temporarily housed one of the most important and powerful beings in the universe—Optimus Prime, every time he visited Earth.
Cade and Lucas were busy with their own tasks, though Cade occasionally glanced over at his daughter with a proud smile. Tessa had always been hardworking, but today, there was an unmistakable sparkle in her eyes, a brightness that seemed to shine through her every movement.
“You’re really getting into this, Tess,” Cade remarked, wiping grease from his hands as he approached. “Are you sure you’re okay spending your afternoon cleaning up a truck?”
Tessa looked up, beaming at her father. “I’m fine, Dad. Besides, it’s not just a truck.” She gave Optimus a gentle pat, her hand lingering on the cool metal. “Optimus deserves to look his best.”
Lucas, who had been fiddling with a wrench nearby, raised an eyebrow at Tessa’s words. He’d noticed something strange in the way she interacted with Optimus, the way she seemed almost… enamored.
At first, he dismissed it as admiration—who wouldn't be impressed by an alien robot who could transform into a semi-truck? But the more he watched her, the more he couldn't shake the feeling that it was something...
...something more.
As they worked, Tessa became increasingly talkative, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Optimus, what was Cybertron like? I mean, before everything happened?"
Optimus’ deep and resonant voice emanated from the truck’s speaker, filling the barn. "Cybertron was once a thriving world, full of life and beauty. But war changed everything. My people, the Autobots and Decepticons, fought for control, and in the end, we lost our home."
Tessa listened intently, her eyes wide with fascination. "It must have been so hard, losing everything like that."
"It was," Optimus replied, a note of sorrow in his voice. "But we fight to protect others from the same fate. It is our duty, our purpose."
Cade, who had been listening in, nodded in agreement. "And we're grateful for it. I don’t know where we’d be without you, Optimus."
Tessa smiled, her heart swelling with admiration for the Autobot leader. "Yeah, you've done more for us than we can ever repay."
Lucas, meanwhile, couldn’t help but notice the way Tessa’s voice softened when she spoke to Optimus, the way she looked at him with a kind of reverence that bordered on affection. He tried to shake off the unsettling thoughts, but they lingered, nagging at the back of his mind.
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Lucas had been observing Tessa for days, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He noticed how she seemed unusually cheerful whenever she was near Optimus, how she lingered in the barn longer than necessary, and how her eyes seemed to light up at the mere sight of the Autobot leader. It was time to address the elephant—or rather, the giant robot—in the room.
One afternoon, Tessa was busy preparing a special pizza, Lucas saw his chance. He waited until she set the pizza down on the picnic table outside the Yeager house before casually leaning in, his tone playful but edged with concern.
"So, Tessa," Lucas began, trying to sound nonchalant, "you’ve been spending a lot of time with our big metal buddy lately."
Tessa paused, her hands hovering over the pizza slices. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Lucas smirked, but his eyes were serious. "Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I mean. You’re acting all giggly around Optimus, like he’s some guy you’ve got a crush on."
Tessa felt her face flush. "That’s ridiculous."
“Is it?” Lucas leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a teasing whisper. He added a sarcastic remark, “But ma’am, he’s a truck. Are you simping for trucks now instead of humans?”
Tessa's eyes narrowed, and she set her jaw. "Lucas, stop it."
“Seriously, Tessa, you’re acting like a teenage girl with her first crush. Except instead of a boy, it’s a freaking alien metal! A robot! You know how weird that is, right?" Lucas's tone softened when he saw the defensive look on her face. He wasn’t trying to be harsh...or to hurt her, but he couldn’t just ignore what he was seeing.
Tessa responded with a classic silent treatment—her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. But the way she avoided eye contact? It was a dead giveaway. Lucas’s eyes widened as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks: His suspicions were true.
Tessa really had feelings for a giant alien robot. For a truck!
“Jesus, Tess! What is wrong with you? He’s not just an alien robot—he’s a truck! Like, an actual semi with gears and exhaust pipes!” Lucas’s voice cracked in disbelief, his hands dramatically gripping the sides of his head. He was so shocked and disturbed by the revelation because Optimus is not just a truck, but an alien robot and a powerful warrior—a non-human, powerful entity!
Tessa felt her cheeks flush, unsure whether to laugh or cringe at Lucas’s outburst. She knew it was a delicate situation, and while she didn’t want to admit it, Lucas wasn’t completely wrong. But there was something about Optimus—something more than just his towering metal frame and powerful presence. He had saved her, watched over her, and his calm, commanding voice had a way of making her feel... safe. Still, she played it off.
“Lucas, relax. It’s just a simple crush. An admiration. I just admire Optimus because he’s great. That’s all.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes, arms crossed, and leaned in. “A simple crush? Are you kidding me? You seriously think this is just you being impressed by his leadership or whatever? No way. This isn’t like some guy on the football team you’ve got a thing for, Tess. Optimus is—he’s literally a truck!” He let out a half-laugh, shaking his head. “I mean, does he even have a heart in there or just a bunch of spark plugs?”
Tessa shifted uncomfortably. She had no idea how to respond. Sure, it was weird—at least, she knew Lucas thought so—but it wasn’t like she was writing love poems about Optimus in her diary. Okay, maybe she thought about him more often than she'd like to admit, but it wasn’t like she was in love with him. Right?
Lucas pressed on, his disbelief morphing into an exaggerated rant. “Are you sure that’s how you feel for him? I know you, Tess. You’ve always been like this—one minute, you’re crushing hard, and the next, you’re storming off because someone didn’t text back fast enough. What’s going to happen if Optimus doesn’t? I don’t know, beep at you or whatever it is alien trucks do when they’re into someone?” His voice dipped into a mock-serious tone, eyes wide with fake concern. “I mean, we don’t even know if he’s conscious about romantic love or otherwise!"
Tessa bit her lip, unable to argue. And Lucas was right: Optimus probably didn’t even understand the concept of love the way humans did. But that didn’t stop her from feeling drawn to him.
Lucas continued, unable to stop himself. “A massive, metal, transforming, alien-killing machine! And look at you—what are you, 5’4”? 5’6” in those ridiculous boots? Optimus is so huge, he has to bend himself in half just to squeeze into the barn, and he looks like he’s trying to pull off some awkward yoga pose!”
Lucas flailed his arms around, mimicking Optimus awkwardly ducking into the barn. His exaggerated gestures causing Tessa to roll her eyes in annoyance.
Tessa crossed her arms, her embarrassment shifting to full-blown defensiveness. "Optimus isn’t just an alien metal—or a truck. He’s… he’s different. He has a soul. A heart. He’s kind Lucas...kinder than any guy I’ve ever met. And he actually listens to me."
Lucas couldn’t help himself. He snorted. “Oh, really? So, what’s next? You two gonna roll off into the sunset together? Call Optimus‘ baby’ when you want to go on a date? I can see it now—romantic weekends at the nearest mechanic shop. What is this? Some twisted version of Beauty and the Beast? Except, I guess, this one runs on diesel?”
“It’s not funny, Lucas,” Tessa muttered, but she could barely hide her frustration. She knew Lucas would freak out, but his reaction was way over the top.
“Oh, I’m sorry, should I take it more seriously?” Lucas said, raising his voice slightly. “Maybe we should start planning your future together! How about Optimus Prime Junior? I mean, who knows? With today’s technology, you and Optimus might even have a little hybrid baby one day. Can you imagine that? A half-human, half-Cybertronian kid! I bet you’d name him Primo! He’ll have blue eyes, waiting for his ‘daddy’—who, by the way, happens to be an alien robot-slash-Western Star-semi-truck. I mean, come on, Tess! That’s like a Saturday morning cartoon waiting to happen!"
Tessa stared at him in shock, her jaw dropping at the absurdity of it all. "Lucas, stop! You're going way too far."
"Oh no, I’m just getting started!” Lucas grinned, clearly enjoying this more than he should. “You’ll be introducing your son little Primo to his mighty dad, explaining how his father Optimus is not exactly from around here—‘Oh, sweetie, your daddy might be made of ten tons of metal and transform into a truck, but I swear he’s got a great personality!"
Tessa sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Lucas, please. Calm down. You’re going to give yourself an aneurysm. And lower your voice—Dad might hear you."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh right, because having this conversation at full volume is the real issue here. Not the fact that you’re crushing on a giant truck!"
“I’m not trying to date him!” Tessa huffed, exasperated. "It’s not like that."
"Then what is it, Tess?" Lucas pressed, his tone shifting to one of genuine concern. "I’m worried about you. What if your dad finds out? How do you think he’s going to react?"
Tessa shook her head, her voice firm. "Dad’s not going to find out, okay? Unless you tell him."
Lucas hesitated, clearly torn. "I’m not going to rat you out, but this whole thing… it’s just NOT normal. I mean, what’s your endgame here?"
Tessa softened a bit, looking down at her hands. "There’s no endgame, Lucas. I just… I feel safe around him. He’s someone I can trust."
Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get that, Tessa, I do. But you’ve got to be careful. This isn’t like crushing on some guy at school. Optimus is—"
"Optimus is a hero," Tessa cut him off, her voice fierce. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. “Look, I know what you’re saying. I get it. But it’s not like I’m expecting anything. I know my limits, Lucas. I know how to take care of my heart.”
Lucas couldn’t help but smile a little, despite his worry. "Good, because otherwise, you’d need a lot more than a Band-Aid if Optimus breaks it. Just promise me you’ll keep your feet on the ground, okay?"
Tessa nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I promise."
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As the days passed, life on the Yeager farm returned to a semblance of normalcy. Cade continued his work on various projects, oblivious to the deeper emotions brewing within his daughter. Lucas, true to his word, kept Tessa’s secret, though his concern never wavered.
Tessa, meanwhile, found herself spending more and more time with Optimus. They talked about everything and nothing, sharing stories of their respective worlds, discussing philosophy, and reflecting on the nature of existence. The more they spoke, the more Tessa realized how much she had come to rely on his presence, his wisdom, and his quiet strength.
One evening, Tessa sat with Optimus in his robotic form outside the barn, soaking in the tranquil beauty of twilight. His presence both protective and comforting, though his metal frame appeared somewhat out of place against the rural backdrop. Yet, in this quiet moment, they both fit perfectly into the peaceful scene, a strange harmony between human and an Autobot.
“It’s so peaceful here,” Tessa remarked, leaning back against the barn wall as she gazed up at the sky. “Sometimes, I wish it could stay like this forever.”
Optimus’ large, metal body shifted slightly, his gaze unwavering as he responded. “Peace is indeed a precious gift. But it is often fleeting. The universe is filled with challenges, and we must remain prepared to face them when they arise.”
Tessa sighed, her thoughts drifting toward the uncertainty of the future, a quiet fear of the unknown. “Do you think there will ever come a time when the fighting stops? When you can finally rest?”
Optimus remained silent for a moment, his glowing blue optics reflecting the stars that now blanketed the sky. His tone was calm but thoughtful when he finally spoke.
“I cannot say for certain,” he admitted, his words carrying the weight of eons of conflict. “The path of a warrior demands constant vigilance. But I hold onto hope that one day, peace will be more than just a brief reprieve. Until then, I will continue to fight for what is right—for what must be protected.”
Tessa smiled softly, her heart swelling with quiet admiration. Who wouldn’t be impressed by someone like Optimus? He wasn’t just an alien robot or a truck, as Lucas liked to joke. In so many ways, he felt more human than most people she knew. And she loved him for it.
Sometimes, Tessa couldn’t help but laugh whenever she remembered what Lucas had said about her having a child with Optimus—Primo, as he had jokingly named him. It was ridiculous, yet oddly funny that Lucas had even gone so far as to give their imaginary child a name.
She knew it was impossible, of course.
But still, she found herself wondering—if it somehow did come true, maybe Optimus wouldn’t leave to join the other Autobots. And even if he did, he would always have a reason to return to Earth.
“You really are a hero, Optimus,” Tessa said softly. She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”
Optimus turned his gaze toward her, his expression thoughtful yet unreadable. “It is not heroism that drives me. It is duty—and the desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That includes you.”
Warmth blossomed in Tessa’s chest at his words. If she was crazy, then so be it! Deep down, she knew her feelings for Optimus went beyond admiration. It was a quiet, unspoken affection that she harbored in secret. And for now, that was enough.
She reached out, her fingers lightly brushing the cool metal surface of Optimus. “And I’m grateful for that. I really am.”
For a while, they sat in companionable silence, the world around them slowly enveloped by the night. As the first stars began to twinkle in the deepening sky, Tessa felt an unexpected sense of contentment. Whatever the future held, she knew she would always cherish this connection she shared with Optimus.
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Lucas watched from a distance, content to let Tessa be with Optimus. He still didn’t understand her feelings for him, but he had come to accept them in his own way. He observed their interactions, noting the way Tessa communicated with Optimus, her tone respectful and her demeanor calm.
Lucas had always been protective of Tessa, treating her like a little sister. He couldn’t quite understand how she could connect so deeply with a being so different from them. However, over time, he recognized the mutual respect and understanding that had developed between them.
He saw how Optimus valued Tessa’s insights and how she, in turn, relied on his wisdom and strength. It was a partnership built on trust and shared experiences, something Lucas had to acknowledge, even if he didn’t fully understand it.
Standing back, Lucas allowed himself a moment of reflection. He realized that sometimes, acceptance meant stepping aside and letting others find their own paths. He was content to support Tessa from the sidelines, knowing that she was in good hands with Optimus.
