A/N

So Chapter 2 was like a post-prologue intro... Thank you for continuing to read even if it was kinda meh. I wasn't entirely sure what direction I wanted to go in, since I came up with so many.

Anyway, have a fluffy relationship chapter. Inspired by my own randomly imagined prompt: Went car shopping with a semi.

Chapter 3

Car Shopping

"Why are we here?"

"Park around the corner and get your holoform out. We're going car shopping."

"'Car shopping'?"

"Yeah."

"I do not understand why."

He slows to a stop and releases her seatbelt, opening the door to let her down from the driver's seat. She walks around to his grill, where he's already materialized his holoform, a projected representation of himself currently in the form of a human.

"Come on, I'll tell you on the way back. And make some cash, too. About six thousand in hundreds."

"Humans do not usually-"

"I'm not usual."

"Granted," he vents, following when she turns around and walks down the street.

Parking at the entrance to a construction zone makes his current alternate form less suspicious, as it fits with the half-torn-down building.

She leads him down the road and around a corner, stopping on the sidewalk to look across the street at a Porsche dealership.

He looks at her eyes for a moment before looking at the dealership.

"You are going to need more than six thousand in hundreds."

"Nope."

No cars coming, they cross the street and she leads him through the dealership parking lot, crossing over another road to a used car lot.

"Hm..."

"What?"

He looks at her with wide eyes, as if surprised she acknowledged his presence.

"Nothing."

"If you say so..."

They stop in front of the cars parked under the overhang of the building of the dirt lot, him scanning as she simply looks around. The door of the building, obviously a rundown gas station, opens and slams shut, catching both of their attention.

"Hey! What you guys want, huh? You must be lookin' for a new car!"

That man. His scent is too strong and Optimus raises his helm, narrowing his optics at him.

Aimi smiles, however, and greets him with a friendly handshake.

Optimus pushes down the growl threatening to emerge, but he still watches closely.

"Aimi! Who's yer new friend?"

"Friend of Dad's."

"Orion," comes the correction, and Aimi manages to keep from showing any surprise.

"Yes. Orion, this is Mr. Bolivia. He owns this place, and we're very good friends."

It still makes "Orion" uneasy when he looks at him while patting Aimi's shoulder.

"Well, I only let 'er call me that 'cause she Japanese. Customs, y'know. But you can just call me Bobby."

"No."

Aimi slaps the back of her hand against his shoulder.

"'Mr. Bolivia' is the correct way to address you, as we are only acquaintances."

To her relief, Bolivia gives a thoughtful expression and nods.

"Alright, then, I allow it. Now, I know you didn't come here just to see me. What d'you need?"

"Show us your latest treasure," Aimi throws out before Optimus can say anything else offensive.

"Right this way!"

He starts off towards the back and Aimi moves to follow him, only for Optimus to pull her back and turn her towards him.

"What?"

"He smells of mech."

"Well, he is a dude."

"No, Aimi, a mech." He used her real name. He's serious. "I am aware of human scents, and his is ridden with an inhuman scent."

"What're you afraid of?"

"It could be a Decepticon."

"Can you find any signature?"

"...negative."

"Then until one of these pieces of slag turns into a giant robot and attacks someone, please try to be nice."

With that, she runs over to Bolivia, who waits until the Prime is there as well to pull the car cover off of the automobile hidden behind the gas station building.

"What is that?" Aimi points at it.

"You like it?"

"It's hideous. Absolutely hideous. I thought you were looking for a newer, smashed-up Camaro to restore."

"But it looks like a Camaro, runs like a Camaro. Ain't that enough?"

Aimi crosses her arms and sighs.

"We've been over this, like, four times now. Just because it looks like a Camaro doesn't mean it runs like a Camaro, or even remotely as well. This," she points at it again, "is a horse. A beast. I don't want a beast. I want a monster. Tell me you have a monster."

He grins and puts on a show of a laugh, nearly annoying enough to coax a muttered swear out of Optimus. She can see it on his face.

"Oh, it's a good thing I do! I was just messin' with ya, didn't know you'd get so passionate about it! Right over here."

Behind the car is another, also under a cover, which he pulls off. She puts a hand over her spark and vents heavily.

"Bolivia, I love you so much."

"Yeah, you know ya do."

She walks around the car, tracing a finger over the smooth, sparkly, very dark purple paint as she goes.

"Hello, Z/28." She pauses. "Wait. How'd you even restore this so well?"

"Honestly, I got no idea."

Optimus quits listening and instead scans the vehicle. He's shocked and drawn to it at the same time, needing to get a closer look.

"This vehicle has a spark..."

"Has a what?"

He looks up, mentally chastising himself for processing out loud.

"I mean it has great power." He looks at Aimi, hoping she'll understand. "I can envision a vehicle's health without lifting the hood, and this one is fit."

The other one leans over to Aimi as Optimus walks around the car.

"Your father got any more odd duck friends?"

"No, just this one."

"Hm."

The mech looks over at them from the rear of the vehicle.

"I hear everything."

"But seriously, you think you can buy this? I'm lookin' for someone payin' nine grand on it."

"You can have eight."

What?

"You got eight thousand on you?"

"Affirmative," and Optimus takes three rolls out of his jacket, tossing them to Bolivia and holding his hand out to him. "The keys, Mr. Bolivia."

"So that was fun. Wasn't it?"

"Quite."

She can almost see him frowning.

"You don't sound amused."

"You have taught me sarcasm. I have not yet mastered the tone of sarcasm."

"Right..."

She looks out the window and in the mirror back at the "new" car, which they managed to hook to the trailer-pulling device at the back of his vehicular form.

"You sure you got it hooked all the way?"

"I am certain."

She looks back out the front windshield before looking at the dashboard.

"You don't think it's actually a 'Con, do you? 'Cause, I mean, it could be a 'Bot, right?"

"I found no insignia. He could be a rogue or a bounty hunter, or worse."

"You sure it's a mech?"

"I am certain of that as well. ... May I ask a personal question?"

"Sure."

"Why are you so adamant about specifically not driving a Mustang?"

"Well, let's just say that any Ford my family ever had didn't last very long and was a total piece of slag from day one. As for the Mustang thing, I believe they look so similar to Camaros for two reasons. One, Ford wanted a Camaro of its own, and two, they weren't creative enough to make their own frame style."

"I have compared images of every generation of both Mustangs and Camaros, taking release years into consideration. You very well may have a valid argument."

"Well, thank you. My family certainly didn't support my opinions enough to listen to my logic..."

They drive in silence for a few moments.

"I am sorry for your past familial circumstances."

"I know you are. Thanks."

She spots a semi approaching on the opposite road.

"You see that?"

"I do."

"Go ahead. I've been wanting to see this ever since you told me about it."

A/N

Ha ha, I'm leaving you there. Chapter Three is going to be fun, then it's back to serious matters.

Question 2.1: Which Bayverse Optimus Prime do you favor, Peterbilt 379 or Western Star 5700xe? (*this is NOT a vote*)

Question 2.2: Would you like to see characters not (currently) in Bayverse introduced in this story? If so, who would like to see? (voting ends May 31)

Question 2.3: Do you think the Z/28 should be an Autobot or a Decepticon? Or maybe a rogue or bounty hunter as mentioned? (voting ends June 6)