Summary: Tessa had never been more terrified in her life when Optimus Prime failed to wake after her father installed new components into his body. She unconsciously kissed Optimus. Then, an unexpected things happened.
NOTE:
If you’re new or curious, you can read the behind-the-scenes of ‘The Barn Series.'
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The morning sun streamed through the barn's dusty windows, creating long shadows on the rustic wooden floors. Tessa Yeager entered the barn, her phone still clutched tightly in her hand after hanging up with her dad. Cade had called her in a frenzy, his voice tense with worry, asking her to come quickly. Now, as she stepped into the space, she instantly understood why.
Lying still and unmoving in his robotic form was Optimus Prime. His massive metal frame seemed lifeless, his blue eyes dull and inactive. Cade was pacing frantically around the Autobot leader's head, wiping his greasy hands on a rag while muttering under his breath.
"Dad, what happened?" Tessa asked, her heart already thudding in her chest. She could sense something was wrong—terribly wrong.
Cade glanced up at her, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I don't know, Tess. I was working on Optimus last night—just some routine upgrades, you know, a few new components to help stabilize his power supply. But this morning... he wouldn't wake up."
Tessa's stomach dropped. "What do you mean he's not waking up?"
Cade rubbed his face and groaned. "I've tried everything—reconnecting wires, restarting his systems—but it's not working." His voice trembled with desperation. "He's just... not responding. I don't know what else to do."
Tessa's eyes widened with concern. She had never seen her father this stressed. Cade was usually the one who fixed everything, the one who stayed calm in a crisis. If he couldn't figure out how to help Optimus, then how bad was the situation?
She swallowed hard as she looked at Optimus's unmoving body. She had grown attached to him over the years since their first encounter with the Autobots.
He was more than just a machine to her! He was a protector, a friend, and perhaps something even deeper she couldn't quite put into words. The idea of losing him felt like losing a part of herself...
"I'll try again," Cade said, more to himself than to her. He climbed up a ladder to reach Optimus's chest level, carefully attaching wires to a portable battery. "This should give him a jolt," Cade muttered. He flipped a switch, and the battery hummed to life.
Tessa held her breath, praying for something—anything—to happen.
A weak, static-filled voice echoed through the barn:
"Calling all..."
Optimus's voice faded as quickly as it came, leaving them in a heavy silence.
Cade cursed under his breath and climbed down, shaking his head in frustration.
"I'll call Lucas for help and let the other Autobots know. Maybe one of them can figure out what's going on. Optimus might be in serious trouble." He grabbed his jacket and ran toward the truck.
As the sound of her father's truck faded into the distance, Tessa found herself standing alone in the barn with Optimus. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared up at his silent form. She had to do something. She couldn't just let Optimus stay like this—not after everything he had done for her and her family. Not after everything he had come to mean to her.
Determined, she climbed up onto a metal ladder until she was level with Optimus's chest. She reached for the wires her dad had used earlier and reattached them to the battery. Taking a deep breath, she powered the battery on, hoping that this time something would work.
"Calling all... Auto... bots..."
Optimus's voice echoed weakly again.
Tessa's shoulders slumped. His eyes remained dark, and the weight of the situation began to press down on her. What if he didn't wake up? What if this was the end for Optimus?
"No... no, please," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. She had to try again. She couldn't just give up.
Desperate, she grabbed her father's metal hammer from the workbench and climbed back up, striking Optimus's chest plate with all her strength. The loud clang echoed through the barn, but Optimus still didn't stir. Tears of frustration welled up in Tessa's eyes. She had never felt so helpless.
She climbed higher, finally reaching his face. She had never been this close to him before—this close to seeing the details of his metal features without his battle mask. Her heart clenched. He had protected her, saved her life countless times. How could she repay him by standing here, useless?
"Optimus..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please wake up... I can't lose you."
A tear slid down her cheek as she continued to speak to him, her voice growing softer, more vulnerable with each word.
"You're always there... you've always been there for me and my dad. I don't know why, but... I always think about you. It's stupid, I know... but it's true." She wiped her face with the back of her hand, still speaking. "I used to hate the barn, hate coming in here, but now... I find myself wanting to be here...so I can be close to you."
Tessa had never allowed herself to think about her feelings for him before, not in any real, concrete way. It seemed impossible, illogical even. He was a machine—a magnificent, sentient machine—but still a machine.
And yet, her heart didn't care about the rules...
Every time she saw him, every time she heard his calm, deep voice, she felt something stir inside her that she couldn't explain. She had pushed it away for so long, but now, standing here, staring into his still face, she couldn't deny it anymore.
The more she spoke, the more the words came pouring out—things she had never dared to admit, even to herself.
Her voice caught in her throat as she remembered all the quiet moments they'd shared. "I never liked science either. I used to think it was...it was boring, but now I want to learn everything I can about technology so I can help you in any way possible in the future. I want to be able to fix you if you ever need it, Optimus."
Her gaze lingered on his face for what felt like an eternity. She knew it was foolish, but the ache in her heart drove her forward. Her eyes drifted down to his mouth, noting how different it looked without the protective metal mask that usually concealed it.
"So this is what he looks like up close..." Tessa thought, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at the lip part of Optimus.
Her heart raced, her lips trembling as she felt herself drawn closer. She didn't fully register her actions—only the pull of an unspoken desire that refused to be ignored. Before she could stop herself, she leaned in, pressing a soft, tentative kiss to the cool metal of his lips.
The sensation was fleeting, yet it surged through her like a forbidden thrill. She knew she wasn't supposed to feel this way. It was irrational, even dangerous. But in that moment, she didn't care about rules or logic. All that mattered was that she was close to him, even if it had to remain a secret.
A faint flicker of blue light shimmered behind Optimus's optics. Tessa gasped, pulling back as his eyes slowly began to glow brighter. The soft hum of his systems coming back online filled the barn, and with a slow, deliberate movement, Optimus began to rise. His massive frame shifted, and Tessa lost her balance, tumbling backward. Before she could hit the ground, a large metal hand reached out, catching her and gently lowering her to the floor.
"Tessa..." Optimus's voice was deep and soft, and she couldn't believe she was hearing it again. "Are you all right?"
Standing back on solid ground, Tessa wiped her eyes, still trembling from the shock of the kiss and his sudden reawakening, she nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah... I'm fine. You... you're back?"
Optimus' optics scanning her to ensure she wasn't hurt. "There was a malfunction in the components your father installed," Optimus explained, sitting up fully now. "It caused a system-wide glitch, preventing me from properly rebooting. But I am functional now, thanks to your efforts."
Tessa exhaled deeply, relief flooding her body. She tried to calm herself, focusing on what Optimus was saying.
"I'm so glad you're okay." She fidgeted, suddenly embarrassed by her earlier actions. "I... I should go call my dad and let him know you're alright."
She turned to leave, but before she could step outside, Optimus's voice stopped her.
"Tessa..."
She froze, her pulse quickening. Embarrassment washed over her as she stood still, wishing the barn floor would swallow her up. She didn't want to face him, but she had no choice. Slowly, she turned toward his massive form.
"Yes?" she whispered.
"I... remember everything," Optimus said, his voice both gentle and steady. "Everything you said and did while I was half-conscious."
Tessa's heart plummeted. Half-conscious? That meant he remembered everything—including the kiss. Her impulsive, reckless kiss. Oh no, she was dead. This was it. Optimus knew.
Her stomach twisted into knots, and she swallowed hard. "Y-You do?"
Optimus's optics dimmed slightly, as if in deep contemplation. "Yes. And I want to thank you... for the last thing you did to wake me. It was the first time I've experienced... something like that in all the years I have lived."
Tessa's face turned bright red, heat flooding her cheeks as her shame and guilt gnawed at her. She wasn't naive—she knew exactly what Optimus was referring to. He was talking about the kiss! How could she explain that? Her mind scrambled for any excuse, but nothing sounded remotely convincing.
"Oh, um... that was... uh... just one way we wake people who are unconscious or... half-conscious. You know, here on Earth," she stammered, the words tumbling out awkwardly. She could feel herself cringing inside, knowing how ridiculous her explanation sounded.
Optimus tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his optics. "Is it common?" he asked, his tone innocent—almost childlike in its sincerity.
Tessa's heart raced faster. Oh no, this was even worse. He was curious now! What had she done? She fumbled with her words, trying desperately to smooth over the awkwardness. "I-I mean... in some situations... maybe?"
Optimus seemed to consider this for a moment, as though trying to piece together the customs of her world. "That is... a unique method. I appreciate your help. You saved me."
Tessa couldn't bear to look him in the eye anymore, her guilt weighing heavy on her. He was so innocent—so pure in his understanding of what had happened. And she... she had kissed him without thinking. A part of her couldn't believe she had done it, and the other part couldn't stop feeling the crushing guilt of crossing a line she never should have.
She bit her lip, eyes dropping to the ground. "I-It wasn't a big deal... I just wanted to help. You've done so much for us—for me. It felt like the least I could do." Her voice was quieter now, almost guilty. If only he knew how conflicted she felt about that moment.
Optimus watched her, his optics flickering thoughtfully. "You are... very compassionate. Humans possess a depth of emotion that continues to surprise me."
"Well," Tessa replied, she looked up at him, laughing nervously, "we're pretty good at being emotional. Sometimes... too good."
Optimus looked past her for a moment as if reflecting. "I have fought many battles... faced countless enemies. Yet, in these moments of stillness, when I see your concern for me... it makes me think that perhaps I still have much to learn."
Tessa blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. "Learn? You? But you're... I mean, you're Optimus Prime. You've been through so much more than any of us."
Optimus's voice softened. "In some ways, yes. But in others... I am still a student of your world. Your ways, your emotions... they are complex, and I find myself constantly trying to understand them."
She nodded slowly, feeling a strange connection forming between them, one that went beyond their roles as leader and ally. "Emotions can be... tricky. Sometimes we don't even understand them ourselves."
Optimus's gaze softened as he seemed to focus on her again. "What you did for me today... it wasn't just an action, was it? It was born from something deeper."
Tessa's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing even more. What could she possibly say to that? There was no easy way to explain herself, not when Optimus was being so perceptive. Panic stirred in her chest, and she instinctively felt the need to defend herself—anything to avoid showing just how much she was actually drawn to him.
"O-Optimus..." She stammered, trying to find the right words, her voice betraying her flustered state. "I... I guess I just—"
"You don't need to explain," Optimus interrupted gently, his tone steady and kind. "I only wish to understand. Your kindness... your affection... I do not take it for granted."
Tessa's heart raced, but she couldn't let him see how much this was affecting her. "It wasn't anything special," she replied quickly, almost too quickly, as if trying to brush it off. "I just wanted to help. You've always been there for me and my dad, so... I guess it's normal to care about you, right?"
Optimus seemed to process her words carefully, his voice remaining calm and respectful. "To have earned your care and trust... it is an honor. I will always protect you. Just as you have protected me."
His words were so sincere, so genuine, that it made her defenses waver. Tessa offered a small smile, feeling her embarrassment soften just a little.
"Thank you. I just... hope things won't be weird between us now." she said, her tone slightly awkward as she tried to laugh off her own discomfort.
Optimus straightened slightly, the light in his optics brightening as if in reassurance. "No. If anything, I believe we have grown closer in understanding. I will not forget what you did for me today."
Tessa let out a soft, relieved laugh, her tension slowly melting away. "Well, I guess that's one way to look at it." She composed herself, forcing herself to meet his gaze, though she still felt a little vulnerable. Then, a thought hit her, and her eyes widened slightly with urgency. "Can you... do me a favor? Could you, uh, maybe not mention this to my dad? Or Lucas?" she added quickly, trying not to sound too desperate.
Optimus was silent for a moment, his optics studying her carefully before he responded, his voice gentle and filled with understanding.
"You have my word. I will speak of this to no one. It will remain between us."
Her heart swelled with gratitude. "Thank you, Optimus. I really appreciate it." She gave him a more genuine smile this time, feeling a strange comfort in knowing that he respected her privacy.
As Tessa turned to leave, she paused at the doorway, glancing back at him one more time. He stood there, strong and imposing as always, but there was a gentleness in his presence now—a connection she hadn't fully recognized before.
She hurried out of the barn, her heart racing as she tried to process what had just happened. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would experience a moment like this with Optimus Prime.
And deep down, despite the confusion, the embarrassment, and the lingering questions, she couldn't help but smile. The warmth in her chest was undeniable—despite everything, despite how impossible it seemed—she had never felt more alive.
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Later that day, Tessa sat in her room, staring out the window at the barn. Her thoughts drifted back to that moment in the barn with Optimus.
She couldn't deny the truth anymore. Whatever this was between them, it was real—complicated, yes, but real. She had no idea what the future held, but for now, she was content with the knowledge that Optimus was alive and well. And perhaps, just perhaps, there was more to their connection than she had ever allowed herself to believe.
Somewhere deep inside her, Tessa felt a flicker of hope...