~In Love and War~
::Chapter nine::
Optimus was waiting at the fence-line for her when she pulled to a stop, sinking on her shocks. Her engine purred quietly under the hood, spark-pace rising slightly. He released the air from his alternation shocks and the massive engine of her alternation mode revved heartily. Was he showing off, or was that just wishful thinking? Andromeda reminded herself to breathe.
She remembered her holoform and clicked it on, it appearing in the driver's seat. She rolled down her power windows and took a breath, quickly glancing at herself in the driver's side mirror. With a quick access to the internet, she downloaded some eye-protectors and a small smile crept onto her lips. Her arms developed small bumps as he called to her over her communicator.
"Are you sure you're up to this?"
She pressed the clutch and shifted into first, creeping foreword. "Yes. I can always make my way back if I get tired," she shrugged. "Lead on. You know the area better than I do."
The semi beside her released more air from its shocks and lurched foreword. "Alright. Just tell me when you start to feel tired," once they were rumbling down the dusty road, he added, "And you're holoform looks beautiful, Andromeda."
Fifteen minutes later
Andromeda followed Optimus for fifteen minutes until they reached they city. He stopped at a red and white octogan, with the words 'STOP' printed on it. Confused, she stopped behind him. She didn't know the driving customs on Earth, and her only bet would be to follow him and do what he did. But how in the galaxy did he get his back-end light to blink periodically like that?
"Optimus," she commed him. "I'm not sure how this works."
"Driving?" he chuckled. "It's not hard. On the steering mechanism there are black levers with white print on them," he continued. "Do you see them?"
"Yes."
"The one on the left should have two arrows, pointing right and left. Click it up, and it tells the driver behind you that you're turning to the right. When you click it down, it indicates a left turn. Do you follow?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Simple enough."
He chuckled. "Just follow me. When my lights flash," the two, red back ends lights flashed a solid red. "That means I'm going to stop. You can figure the rest out on the internet."
"Alright."
They turned right, Andromeda following close behind him. They made their way slowly through traffic, stopping when required and turning two lefts and then a right. Optimus instructed her on speed signs, and she followed them when they indicated the appropriate speed. Pretty soon they were at the edge of the city. Optimus pulled onto the shoulder of the road and stopped. His holoform got out and approached her alt mode. She gasped, making sure her communcator was off.
Andromeda estimated that he was about 6'2'', 200 and some pounds. Optimus' holographic shoulders were broad, matched with well-muscled arms and chest. His optics (which were actually eyes) were a deep blue color that made her spark skip two beats in her chest. His deep black hair was short, and he had black, unshaven stubble littering his face. He had dark skin, kissed by the sun and a shocking smile. Clothed in jeans and a white t-shirt with black cowboy boots, Andromeda had to keep herself from gawking. She'd never seen a more handsome human!
"You're doing great," he leaned onto her window. "Better than I had imagined."
"Thanks," she looked away awkwardly. "So...Wheeljack told me these things were required by the government," she gestured to the holoforms. "He also said we cannot intake human substances. So what exactly do we do on a Saturday night? Other than drive?"
He smiled brightly, eyes laughing. "Good question. Usually the Major takes the humans into what they call a bar," he shrugged. "Not really my atmosphere, but everyone else seems to enjoy it. It's purely a matter of persepective I guess."
She nodded a few times. "What exactly is your atmosphere? I wouldn't feel right-"
"Don't worry about it," he added sharply. "Is there anything imparticular you're curious about? I've done about everything there is to do in this town."
"I don't know exactly," she sighed.
He shifted his weight. "Why don't I take you to one of my favorite places on this island?" he asked. She pushed up her sunglasses. "It's not much, but I enjoy it."
Her smile was small. "That sounds perfect."
"Alright then. Just follow me,"
His holoform disappeared.
Andromeda's alternation mode burned.
Optimus Prime
He couldn't help it. Her holoform was prettier than he had imagined, and her smile...well, it was far more beautiful than any constellation he had ever seen. Optimus had partaken in many beautiful things; a spark-bond with his mate, watching earth sunsets. He had seen in person the beauty of a newborn child, life springing from the quiet of the morning. Dew on flowers. The unfolding of a rose in the early dawn of a new day. He had seen beauty. Optimus knew it well. But never before had he witnessed such beauty in a smile.
He pulled to a stop a few moments later. He knew this bay well. Optimus had spent many hours gazing into the setting sun, watching the sky paint beautiful colors behind the clouds. He enjoyed the sparkling waters. He knew the sea air on his filters well, and he knew the coolness of the waves as if they wer a part of him. He'd grieved here, spark-bonded here. Optimus had won his greatest battle at this place, watching the expand of water sparkle before his optics. And he would love again. Here.
Andromeda stopped beside him. Her beauty sparkled in the light of the day, her presence even more beautiful than the bay itself. Optimus had to activate his cooling systems to keep from running hot. As he gazed upon her, Elita flashed into his memory. He saw her smile, and felt her touch. How he longed to touch Andromeda the same way he'd touched his sweet Elita...
His transformation was quick and natural. She followed him, both ending their transformation at the same time. Their holoforms disappeared, and Andromeda seemed lost in the vast expanse of water and sky. Around them a wall of rock envelopted the two Autobots like a room, the soft sand shifting under their massive weight. Niether noticed the cool water running against their servos.
"How did you find this place? It's gorgeous," she breathed.
Optimus shrugged. "As I said before, I have done many things in this area. This is my favorite place to come. Most of the time I think. Other times I just watch."
"I can see why. It's captivating."
"You should see it at night. The sky lights up with stars. It's almost like being back on Cybertron."
She looked up. "I bet. I could see Orion's belt from my quarters window," she chuckled. "Sometimes I thought I could touch it if I tried hard enough. Reminded me of freedom and power sometimes," she shrugged. "But that was a long time ago."
Optimus was quiet for a long time. She didn't seem to notice his optics on her, tracing the outline of her face, or watching her every move. As her armor flexed, his spark leapt, and when her optics closed he shivered. He hadn't felt so captivated by someone since Elita, and frankly it was wonderful. Every inch of him wanted to hold her, to tell her he wanted a relationship. His spark had even began to pulsate when she was close. That never happened unless destined. It made his armor cold. He lost all control of his processor and his mouth at that moment when the waning sunlight silhouetted her outline.
"You are extremely beautiful," he blurted.
Andromeda whipped her helm to look at him, shocked. "What?"
He mentally kicked himself. Multiple times. 'What are you processing? She's a comrade...not your spark-mate. You can be so stupid, Orion...'
She laughed at him. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why?"
She laughed harder. "You must've glitched...you just told me that I was beautiful."
"Is there a problem?"
Andromeda laughed harder this time, head tilted back as she began to settle. "I haven't had that for a long time. If ever."
"Hard to believe,"
She gave him a blank stare. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Of course. Why?"
Andromeda turned. "If I were anything like I was you'd be court-martialed. And probably offlined for treason,"
"You aren't who you were anymore. I can see the difference."
"You never knew me," she sighed. "I'm not so different."
Optimus stepped towards her.
"If you truly knew who I was, Optimus, you'd be surprised..." her voice trailed when he grabbed her hand. She turned on her heel and gave him a confused look. "What're you doing?"
"I really don't know how to put this, Andromeda..."
She stepped back, hand still in his. "No...you're not...are you?"
Andromeda Axellis
She was frightened, alarmed, surprised and thankful, but she didn't know why. This was Optimus, she knew him, and he wasn't going to hurt her. But something inside her told her to run. Run far and fast and not look back. She wasn't who he thought she was. But she was falling faster and faster in a love for him he obviously knew about, and she didn't want him playing her. She'd been hardened by time and mechs, and his games weren't going to help.
'Please don't be a game...don't be like the rest of my suitors, Optimus, please...'
"Listen to me, Andromeda, please,"
She swallowed hard and fast. "You don't understand..."
"Yes, I understand."
She shook her helm back and forth. "No...you don't understand how I feel! No one does, and I don't expect you too either!"
"Listen to me," he grabbed her hand and gripped it hard. "I've loved before, Andromeda. I know love well. I can tell you honestly that I don't know how this happened, and I can't explain it, but it has happened. We can't change it. Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
Optimus Prime
"My fate is not to spark-bonded," she spat at him.
"No one knows fate, Andromeda. I don't, and as much as you would, you don't."
She tried to pull her arm back, but he held tightly to it. "I never asked for this...for you..."
"Niether did I," he said firmly.
Andromeda narrowed her optics at him. "I don't want this. Niether do you. You don't want me, Optimus, because I'm a...a...mistake. My entire life-cycle I have tried to correct my mistakes, make it right, be who my father wanted me to be! And I won't anymore. I'm not going to drag you into this and then try and fix it too. It's not going to happen," she tried once more to released herself from his hold. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing,"
"No you don't." he said sharply. "You have no familiararity with love. I do, Andromeda...just let me teach you. I can and I will. I did the same thing with Elita, and I will with you. No matter how long it takes, Andromeda, I will love you."
"No! Don't say it! You don't love me-"
He seized her other hand in his and pulled her toward him roughly. "How are you one to judge me? I must say the truth, Andromeda. I have to."
"No, please, don't say it!" she begged, almost crying. The pain through her spark was so unbearable mixed with the passion she had for him. She wanted to run from him, wanted to claw his optics out, and wanted to kiss him all in one. She just couldn't force herself to take in his love. She'd blocked her spark from love for so many years, she didn't know if she could ever let it back in. "Please! Don't say something you'll regret later. Don't..."
"I promise you I will not regret it,"
"You can't promise that." she whimpered.
Optimus pulled her closer again. She resisted him, but couldn't escape those blue optics. She swallowed and tried not to cry, but it was impossible. Tears leaked from her optics, and her head hung between them. "Yes I can. Tell me, Andromeda, tell me how you feel. I won't let you go until you do."
"No...I can't tell you...it's...it's forbidden."
"Love is not forbidden," he said quietly, more gently. "No one is here that can judge you for your emotion."
"Listen to yourself!"
"I am listening," his optics searched hers. "Don't cry my sweet Andromeda...don't."
"Stop, please,"
He shook his head. "I'll never stop. I will never stop loving you. Not until the spark is gone from my chest will I stop loving you. Never."
She sobbed, knees weak. Finally they gave out beneath her, and she slumped foreword, crying hard. He held her wrists tightly, supporting her with strong arms. Years of pain fell to the ground through her tears, and finally he let her fall to the sand. He fell with her cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look into his optics.
"I love you."
"You can't," she shook her helm as best she could. "You don't know me."
He smiled. "I don't have to. All I have to do is love you."
Andromeda closed her optics. Optimus touched his forehead with hers and let out a deep sigh. His hands fell down her back and pressed her close to him. She faught in resistance, but he did not let her win. He closed his optics and sighed heavily again. His spark sped up and jumped out to meet hers, colliding with his protective armor.
"Tell me something, Andromeda," he whispered into her audio receptor. "Tell me something about you. Anything. Tell me anything."
She sobbed again. "I don't know what to tell you..."
"Something, anything. Tell me..." he looked up at the sky, which was beginning to dot with traces of stars. He remembered the first question he asked Elita. Optimus looked down to the femme he was holding and tilted her chin up. "Tell me your favorite constellation." Her eyes averted his in thoughts, her crying dwindling down into sniffles. Finally, her lip-plates parted and her eyes sparkled for an instant. His spark again leapt out to meet hers. He tried to settle it, but couldn't. "Tell me, Andromeda."
"Orion,"
He answered. "Yes?"
She looked slightly confused. "Orion. Orion is my favorite."
His lip-plates curved into a smile he knew was devilish, but he didn't stop it. 'That's it. I have my answer.'
They said nothing for a few minutes, until she stopped crying.
"We are destined, my dear. We are destined."
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your won understandingl in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your pathes straight.
~Proverbs 3:5-6
