This ended up being a longass bloody chapter but whoop its finally done weheeeeee

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"When I heard that sound
When the walls came down
I was thinking about you
About you."
(Skin - Rag N Bone Man)

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"Mom?.." Was all Venus' nervous self could manage to get out as the foreboding rumbles sounded beneath her feet.

But Venus' mother barely could utter an answer of her own before the earthquake's impact reached her daughter and cut the contact off with alarming static.

The quake launched her into the side of the phone box with brutal force, her back erupting in pain as the impact shattered the glass into ice like shards.

She wasn't sure if she'd hit her head or if it was shock that caused her vision to distort with black blurs. Thought was near impossible. As she found herself falling forward to the pounding ground with a yelp and a thump, in the daze all she could do was squeeze her eyes shut and try not to be afraid. It wasn't exactly a good survival move. She rarely had good survival instinct. Fear was paralysing for her. Bravery to do much else in that moment was absent.

The quakes vibrated through her palms pressed against the dirt. Shakes so powerful it turned her stomach and threatened to bring back up the free pink donut from earlier. Her head was spinning and she wasn't sure if she was crying out or not. She couldn't hear.

However, she did notice when the shakes subside, after how long she wasn't sure. The sickness sat in her gut with subtle threat to not move too fast.

A groan passed her lips in sync as she lifted her head carefully from the ground to find herself still within the remains of the phone box's metal shell. Though as she looked around her stiffly she found all the window glass scattered around her. Feeling some scratching against her head as it sat in her thick hair, and quite a bit stuck in the back of her jacket.

Putting a hand to her head, attempting to will the dizzy, sick feeling away. Cyan eyes blinked lazily at the scene around her. Silhouettes moved in the distance. And the screams that for now were not deafened by nature hit her ears, it prompted her to pull herself up. She had to move.

Every contraction of her muscles that got Venus stumbling outside of that box was met with an aching groan and her body protesting, like when it tried to convince her to stay in bed most mornings.

She could feel the glass shards in the jacket fabric as it scratched uncomfortably against her back, and so simply slipped it off and discarded it on the road as she moved forwards with caution. Taking in the scene of the town.

Complete and utter carnage was a fitting description that came to her mind with the sights of the previously rustic high street reduced to crumbling structures that threatened to collapse from their weakened structures. Cars were left stranded in the street as their owners had made attempts to flee the chaos that from what she could see stretched for most of the town - presumably all of it.

The people all around seemed as shaken as her, trying to work out the best course of action.

Reacting should have been instinctive. But fear inhibited it.

Murmuring incoherently to herself under her breath, her eyes fluttered shut as she attempted to force herself to calm down. Pushing that anxiety that felt like a crushing sensation within her chest down where it couldn't keep its hold. Her mind filtered for anything calming.

Then she heard the memory that spiked her adrenaline.

"Calm yourself Venus." Optimus' gentle and yet strong vocals reassured so clearly in her head.

Her eyes snapped open in realization as the earth rumbled threateningly once more, the locals erupting into a panicked frenzy.

OPTIMUS.

As the quakes began once more, Venus was already tearing down the cobbled street back in the direction where she'd left him. Without thought of her fears that moments ago wouldn't even let her try to save herself, let alone him.

They were trapped in the middle of what was descending into hell.

She should never have left him alone.

--

Optimus couldn't stop scolding himself for leaving her! How could he have let his emotions coax him into retreat?!

Her honest confession to Ben had provoked something strong within his digital mind, but not just that. His Spark felt... heavy. Locked at the negative end of his emotional spectrum. But now as he tore back into the town, truck tyres burning with the sensation of his speed, something else replaced that heaviness.

Something that felt deep rooted but yet unfamiliar. Something new that right now filled him with this crippling anxiety that commanded him to locate Venus. All other Protocols and directives were forsaken including the 'Consoling Protocols' that he'd programmed specifically for her.

She didn't need consoling right now. She needed protecting. He had to protect her.

The chaos he approached only had him moving faster. The smoke billowing up from the buildings and the worrying glow of scattered fires. Distant cries that had his audio receptors in overdrive trying to determine if her voice was among them based on voice samples he had saved.

She couldn't be hurt. He couldn't allow that!

His voice filtration yielded no sign of her, fueling his desperation. Humans were so small and from what he'd seen so delicate! Seismic activity like this could undoubtedly be harmful. Perhaps fatal. Even he was struggling to stay on course as the event threatened to throw him off.

The scene before him was like the final hours of Cybertron. The cataclysm before him brought back uncomfortable memories that forced him onwards as the thought of Venus caught up in such danger urged him to bellow to the heavens for her.

Usually he was so in control of his emotions. So calm and collected. Now though, even despite her warnings to her of how her fellow people would not accept him, Prime transformed into his robot mode in plain sight of onlookers and stood tall amongst the flames.

There was no restraining the instinct to roar pleadingly into the dark.

"VENUS!"

And then came the distant call of her own, carried with the wind with just as much urgency.

"OPTIMUS!"

Hope welled up and filled his Spark as he spun to determine her direction. It only took a split second to burst off in what he assumed was the correct way.

The shrieks and gasps he heard around him rose with each leap as he changed. He almost winced at them, these humans were already frightened and the sight of him probably didn't help.

In a usual mood he would stop to reassure them. To help them if needed. He didn't stop. He couldn't stop, not until he had her back at his side where she would be safe.

When it came to Venus and her welfare, Optimus knew he was losing his self control.

Across the burning townscape, the latest jaunt sent Venus falling from atop the car she was using to try to get a better view. Optimus was large enough to spot of course amongst most things, but not through this chaos.

The girl collided with the stone road with a thud mixed with a howl of pain as her left shoulder took the scraping force of the fall.

Gritting her teeth as she clutched the affected shoulder tightly to try to subdue the throbbing sensation, she didn't resist when she was carefully though insistently pulled up by her arm.

Coming face to face with Ben as he steadied her on her feet was a mild relief, his stormy eyes glistening with equal relief and concern.

"I was looking for you, are you okay?" The young man was quick to ask, noticing the crimson scratches formed on Venus' shoulder.

"Yeah I'm fine." Came a brisk reply, though her attention was only half on him and half searching still. Though she did notice he didn't have the company she'd left him in when he'd offered to go ahead and buy drinks at the nearby bar.

"Where's the dog?"

The young man paused, sheepishly looking around his person and seemingly hadn't noticed it's absence. The animal had gotten lost in the commotion it seemed. His hand went for hers in a moment's change of subject.

"We've set up a shelter in the town hall, come on it'll be safe there." He pleaded with her, blonde furrowed brows expressing his urgency. As tempting as the idea of getting somewhere safe was...

"I... I can't. Not yet--look I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole story before." Venus refused with a step back, hand slipping from his with apology evident for the slight deception. For leaving the biggest part of her story out.

"I'm not travelling on my own... I'm with my friend and I left him before and he doesn't understand how things work here and I really need to find him!" Was her confession, and she felt an odd lightness in her heart when she said it.

She'd called him her friend. Yes, they were friends. There was no part of her that would question that. Right now she was the only friend he had. And he the only one who knew the truth of their journey.

Ben didn't seem bothered by the white lie. In fact he seemed concerned at the idea of someone apparently vulnerable stuck out there alone in such danger. He saw the worry in those cyan eyes that held the depth of tropical pools.

Instead he just gave a small, reassuring nod and gazes of glistening shallows met the darker depths of blues.

"Well you won't have to look alone."

Elation and gratitude filled Venus' expression and lifted it, and there was no time to waste as the duo charged off in search. The quakes weren't taking breaks now and it wasn't hard to sense the intensity growing with duration. It was enough to throw people off and damage buildings at the beginning. With its escalation the danger would only grow.

The night sky was setting in fast, though daylight would make little difference in their quest as the smoke from the fires and unsettled desert dust was too thrown into the air, creating the beginnings of a hazy fog.

But still, Venus persisted despite her understandable fears, that for once felt oddly indifferent to the current situation. Running and calling out as Ben would stop to help anyone who was still out in the open or incapacitated and make sure someone else could help them to the shelter downtown.

They searched for what felt like hours when in fact it didn't take that long to run the length of the little town's main roads, and the lack of sight of the red Semi left Venus deeply anxious. There she stood amongst the ash and dim atmosphere. She didn't reliaze how worried she felt before.

The notion of how she'd grown to care for him so much in the space of mere days was sobering. It had taken now to work that out as the idea of him facing this nightmare alone subdued her own fears.

"We have to go around again, we have to keep looking--" Said blonde told Ben, who then very nearly fell into her as the seismic shifts flared aggressively and this time they would not calm or yield.

Ben recognised the danger and shook his head pleadingly as they both struggled to stay standing. "We've looked, I'm sorry its getting too dangerous now, we have to go."

Venus was not in the headspace to stop and argue. Shaking her head sincerely in retaliation, her gaze of apology before she broke into a brisk sprint away from him. "I can't just leave him out here!"

"Venus no!" Ben implored, and with a whispered curse ran after her. She could get herself killed!

She knew that. Her legs rattled with the force of the earthquake that felt like it could shatter her bones but still she ran. Right now she felt different. Hardly restrained by her usual fear or the instincts that would tell her to take Ben's hand and run for her own life.

Her only thoughts were of the kind hearted Prime she was helping.

Run, Venus, run. He needs you!

"Venus stop!" Ben's voice implored and she sensed him catching up, but still she ran, not stopping.

Not until a near hit from a car capsized into her path sent her skidding to the ground and gave her well meaning persuer a chance to reach her. Ben had his arms locked around her upper waist in seconds to secure her and didn't ask permission as he forced her backwards into retreat.

"No Ben wait!--"

"I'm sorry but we have to go, these buildings are going to come crashing down!" His logic expressed rather reasonably, not having much trouble moving her due to his build and advantageous position at her rear.

"Please!" Venus protested with desperation, attempting to stall him by digging the heels of her ankle boots into the pavement to make it harder to drag her. The unbearable quivers of the ground made those efforts void.

It took almost no time at all to have her safely in the downtown shelter despite her squirming protests. Through the thick oak doors, into the candlelit hall filled with the town's inhabitants and deposited gently to the floor at the front of the crowd. It wasn't just Ben who wouldn't let her back out now, the designated 'door guards' taking their job quite seriously and their burly build meant Venus had no chance of trying to escape past them.

Ben himself felt and looked extremely ungentlemanly for his actions, but he did not regret them when he saw the pavements outside splinter and fracture with mass crackles that had the sheltering refugees synchronising in a flurry of whimpers and yells.

"Don't worry, we're safe in here!" Ben bellowed across the crowd in an attempt of reassurance. The distressed noises ceased momentarily, but only flared into more commotion when dust from the stone roof snowed down onto them all as a warning.

Then the splinters in the stone roof crackled into existence to meet the screams.

Venus slinked closer to the floor, as that all familiar tightness in her chest crept it's way back from restraint.

"I don't think we are that safe..."

One last large crack verified that fear. Then dust and smoke consumed the room as the stone fell.

--

"VENUS WHERE ARE YOU!" Optimus' calls were close to cracking into cries. Standing solitary, the dust clouds didn't do much to obstruct his digital vision. But it did cause his form to appear more menacing to any unfortunate people who were still running about outside. To them he was a looming dark silhouette with a booming baritone voice. Monstrous.

Even when he in Primely fashion offered to help them stay safe, reaching out for them clearly wasn't the best idea since when he did, he discovered just how horrifically the human race could scream.

His promises to aid them if they'd allow him fell on deaf, panic stricken ears. They all ran from him like ants would flee a descending boot.

Now he saw what Venus meant about his kind not being accepted there. They were so afraid. It seemed that his vehicle mode in public was more needed than he'd first considered. This however was not a time for hiding and refusing action.

Where could Venus and all these humans possibly be sheltering?!

He even resorted to trying to summon her attention by blasting his radio in the hopes she'd hear.

Right now Elton John was the soundtrack of the apocalyptic town.

Fortunately, the music managed to attract someone familiar.

Barks that demanded recognition caught the Prime's attention. Eyes glistening with immediate realization, he knelt in greeting with relief as the Great Dane that Ben had managed to lose emerged from the fog and bounded up to the Autobot as the only being that hadn't feared him that night.

They seemed unharmed which was of course excellent, but the thing that caught his attention like lightning was the jacket clamped in the dogs' somewhat slobbery jaws.

Venus' glass impaled jacket.

Even half shredded and dusty Optimus recognised it instantly.

"Where did you find this, my friend?" His lifted tone demanded urgently, gesturing to the fabric with a point of an index finger.

Emitting a bark that was almost as commanding as one of Optimus' speeches, the dog spun before sprinting back in the direction that they'd come from. Leading the way. Optimus did not hesitate to follow.

Together they charged the streets, Optimus without worry of his steps damaging the road anymore than it already was. All the way to the town hall that's entrance had collapsed into a pile of rubble and ash.

The Dane skidded to a stop, pacing erratically before it dropped the jacket and howled in the rubble's direction. As if to give direction. Leaping up the chipped steps, their front paws were in seconds clawing away at the stone in an attempt to shift it.

Even an idiot would get the hint. Their Great Dane friend was indeed a good tracker.

On the other side of the blockage, the crowd had retreated as far back as they could get. The entrance itself had fallen in but the roof was just about holding on thanks to the metal rafters.

Venus and Ben were closest to the damage, clutching each other's hands without thinking much about it, both needing that wordless reassurance.

The way out was blocked and things were looking bleak, until they heard noise from outside that wasn't part of the quakes.

Surprising noises that caught everyone's attention and made the entire group go quiet.

"Is that... can anyone else hear Elton John?" Ben queried in puzzlement, leaning closer slowly to the rhythmic chords.

Venus knew that song. And she knew who else knew it too thanks to her.

"Please, please come on..." She whispered to herself in prayer as she watched and listened. Who else could it be? Please be him...

Rocks and lumps of debris shifted slowly. The only sounds were the inquisitive and hopeful murmurs of the people, and the music that became more and more clear with every shift.

Until the majority was pulled away with one massive pull and crumble. Venus winced and shielded her eyes from the blinding light that purged the smokey darkness. A harsh but hopeful light that was quickly toned down based on everyone's blinded reactions. Allowing the comforting sight of starlit eyes staring down at them all. At her in particular.

Her delighted laugh through the brightest smile couldn't be contained, breaking away from Ben's hold and moving towards him. The crowd was divided between gasps of awe and admiration and unsure shrieks.

Ben was shell-shocked, scrambling to pull her back with wide eyes.

Relief could only be briefly lived. The rafters that served as the last of the support creaked before shifting. Breaking away to collapse.

Venus' and Optimus' equally apprehensive gazes met. Base Protocols of the Autobots sparked him into action. The instinct to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. The Prime threw himself into the structure remains, arms straining as he took position holding up the rafters to keep them up.

That was all the prompting Ben needed to start moving everyone out as fast as they could run around and under Optimus' trembling legs. Nobody needed telling twice as they began retreating into the street like a stampede.

All except his human who wasn't moving without him this time.

"Venus go!" Optimus implored through struggling grunts, his feet sliding from place, back arching from the sheer effort of trying to prevent the collapse.

Venus could so easily follow the path out. The others were shouting for her to go.

There was that strange sense of bravery again.

"Not without you!" She announced stubbornly with a step closer that she quickly retracted when Optimus shifted, the weight overpowering.

A severed rafter from his right split and fell with force, the edges sharp enough to puncture the cabling between his neck and shoulder.

The sound of his pained yell was something truly able to instill dread in anyone. She herself felt a panicked pain shock her body.

"Venus, please, I cannot hold this!" His plea was laced with burning pain, injured arm failing to keep hold as green liquid bled from the wounds.

Seeing the last of the others make it out, she turned back to him, bouncing on her feet practically.

"We'll move on three. Everyone's out come on!" Now was her turn to plead, the sight of the stone crumbling and hitting his head like hail an excellent motivator. "One..."

"... Two..." Optimus continued through a groan to conceed, readying himself.

"THREE!" The two yelled in unison as Venus broke into a sprint, and Optimus let go of the roof before diving for escape.

The deafening crash behind them sent a flurry of ash and smoke that pretty much shoved them away. Venus was caught by it and went tumbling down the steps with a yelp. The locals had to back up to avoid being crushed accidentally by Optimus as he rather ungratefully half stumbled, half fell to rest kneeling over his blonde.

For minutes there was silence. While the dust settled and the fog cleared the only one who dared to move into it was the dog.

So when the dust finally cleared, the entire town gazed upon Optimus, on his knees and pressing a hand to his bleeding wound and hunched over Venus. She slumped sitting on the ground, unharmed thankfully and panting in relief. And their dog ally who was woofing in celebration as it jumped into her arms and licked the ash off her face in delight.

Silence reigned as the stares got uncomfortable, as if the people were debating how was appropriate to react.

Then the people smiled. They started to clap and cheer. They whooped and whistled in chorus with such thankfulness. Such admiration.

Venus blinked in surprise, having expected screams or for them to form a mob of sorts.

Optimus Prime was used to public attention, but the cheers and applause he was receiving here was so unexpected he froze up. No idea how to react. Though you could see the elation in his eyes.

--

Venus was actually the last one to get to see Optimus in the aftermath, once they were sure the earthquake was well and truly over.

That was because literally everyone who lived in the town had made it their business to go and shake the hand of their robotic saviour and give their thanks. It was much like the scene of fans admiring a celebrity. Optimus did his best to interact with them all as he sat slumped against an undamaged building, where the local mechanic was kind enough to patch his wounds the best he could.

Venus had been checked over by the medic and was amazingly fairly unharmed, which she put down a lot to Ben, whom couldn't stop staring at the titan across the way with a mix of unsurity and the longing to greet him.

Chuckling softly, she took the man's hand and returned his actions from before as she pulled him to do just that.

Optimus noticeably perked up at the sight of his companion. The blue in his eyes got more vibrant.

"Venus.." His tone was like releasing a breath of intense relief and was so soft, leaning down despite his shoulder to be closer.

His gaze almost ignored the male with her, his attention fully hers. That longing that was destroying him all through the disaster naturally subdued into bliss the longer he just looked at her.

Venus frowned when his gaze fell at the sight of her scraped up shoulder that she'd fallen on. It was hardly comparable to the puncture he'd suffered to save her and the townsfolk, but as he reached carefully to touch it with caution, he looked like he was crippled by failure.

Those unknown instincts flared with unkind emotion in his processor.

"I failed to protect you... I do not expect your forgiveness." His tone was like that of an apologetic child who looked on the way to tears.

Almost instantly he sensed her warm touch on his hand. Her smile burned away those harsh internal criticisms.

"You didn't fail. Look around you, Optimus. We're all alive thanks to you." The sound of her murmurs were enough to warm him. If Ben hadn't been present chances are he'd have scooped her up to cradle her.

"I must thank you, Ben Knight, for protecting Venus." Prime spoke sincerely with an added nod of gratitude that had its recipient almost stumble, starstruck was a good way to put it.

"You're welcome, Sir--how do you know my name?"

"I..." Optimus stalled awkwardly, his gaze adverting them momentarily. "Heard your introductions while performing surveillance on your activities."

Venus stiffened in mortification. "Wait you followed us?!"

"... Indeed."

"Optimus!" She facepalmed.

"It was no trouble, really." Ben smiled somewhat shyly, scratching the back of his dusty head. "But we've never had a 'quake this bad. Not in the time I've lived here."

"This was not normal?" Prime picked up on and queried with evident concern.

"Definitely not. Anything normal here would just be soft shakes, maybe a few rumbles. Nothing that intense. This is Indiana, earthquakes like this just don't happen here." Ben explained to them, Venus looking to her guardian to see his expression furrowed in suspicion.

"What is it?"

Optimus didn't answer, but his systems did start up an analysis of the earthquake data recorded in his memories when he thought of a worrying possibility for it's cause.

"Huh-hey again, buddy! I'm sorry for losing you before!" Ben chuckled when the dog once again appeared to shower them with affection.

Venus too smiled and crouched, and disregarding her previous negative opinion of the pooch, she stroked him thankfully.

"I swear whenever Elton John plays you just show up, don't you?" She mused giggling, then paused with an idea.

"What about that for a name?"

"What?" Ben frowned curiously.

"Elton John!" Venus laughed, already loving the idea as she looked to her other friend for approval.

He was just still. Eyes flickering rhythmically with no response.

Placing a hand on his leg, his human was of course concerned.

"Optimus?.."

Another moment of nothing increased her worry and caused her to be even more startled when he suddenly jolted back to life.

"We must leave immediately." He stated sternly, no lighthearted nature about it. "Gather what you need Venus."

Of course the girl in question was confused. Taking a step back to look him in the eyes with question. "Why what is it?"

"I ran an analysis of the disaster to attempt to determine its cause." He explained with seriousness, implying it was hardly good news. "The results indicated its patterns greatly match seismic activity found on my homeworld. Particularly those that were not natural."

Venus' breath hitched in her throat.

"Wait, you're saying this wasn't an accident?" Ben prompted, gaze flickering between both others. "Someone meant for this to happen."

"Indeed, Ben Knight." Optimus warned gravely. "Venus is aiding me in locating a comrade I sent ahead here, before enemies from our World follow. But if this incident was indeed induced deliberately to cause catastrophe, it can only mean one thing."

Ben was quick to ask what exactly that meant. Venus however did not need to ask. Like while in transit before, when he'd calmed and told her not to worry about them. He wasn't telling her not to worry now.

Optimus' Decepticon enemies had reached Earth. And they were already ahead. 

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Elton John is a good boi and so is Ben XD

Next chapter will be cute and fluffy <3