primus-why:

I like TFA Optimus the Bounty Hunter

I have seen bounty hunter AUs before, so please bear with me and my not-so-original idea. But I just want even more excuses for megop, soooo *shrugs*

So in this AU after the disappearance of Elita-1 Optimus is expelled from the academy. He’s not a Prime. He barely has a credit to his name. And it was only because Ultra Magnus was able to pull a few favors that he got himself a ship. It’s not a great one, but it works fine. Of course, it comes at a price.

Basically the Autobots are all “since you don’t have the training/programming for civilian occupations (and you most certainly cannot be something other than what you are), you shall take on various tasks of the state and its law enforcement, should you choose.”

And they basically explain the terms of the bounty hunting, only it had a twist where if OP doesn’t meet his quota, he will be labelled a traitor and get himself put on the list. And they basically say it’s either this or an exile situation where you’ll die slowly from acid rain exposure. Wow, stellar options.

So now Optimus has this shitty ship, a shitty life, and a shitty– no, near impossible– assignment. How is he supposed to make that quota? How is he gonna fight Decepticons? Sentinel threw him under the bus, and is now the right hand mech of the Magnus. Maybe one day Optimus will look back and forgive him of being young and cowardly but today is NOT that day!!

So instead of OP and his team, it’s Rodimus Prime and his crew who trails Megatron all the way to Earth. Only Sumdac doesn’t find Megatron… Optimus does.

He was following a lead of some super secret Decepticon activity, as well as a large energy reading. ‘They’ve gotta be connected.’ He had thought to himself. And he could really use some confiscated fuel.

Just… gimme a barely-functioning Megatron who is trying to talk his way into distracting Optimus, but Optimus is like… just giving him the cold shoulder. Doesn’t engage. Stays very observant of his high-profile captive and doesn’t let him weasel his way out if this.

After a while, Megatron grows silent, and is mildly impressed by this Autobot. It’s a long ride back to the nearest space bridge to Cybertron… so Megatron decides to pick his hunter’s processor…

“You have a designation, Autobot?”

“Not important. What did I say about the talking?”

“You could always up the stasis cuff energy, to prevent all of my function.”

“Yeah, well I’m not cruel. I know that if I do that, your helm will explode, because you won’t be able to contain your insatiable need to pester me.”

“Hn. Well, I…”

“I also know that if I do that they’re more likely to short-circuit. Nice goad, you reeeeaally had me going there.”

“… Hmph. You’re a clever one.”

“Silenzio. There’s something to process: a word I just picked up on Earth. It’s got a nice ring to it, maybe you should figure out what it means.”

“… I am fairly certain I can infer it’s meaning…”

“Silenzio.”