Hello all! Thank you once again for reading my next chapter of Difficulty! It's been hard these past few weeks because I'm starting a new job, so I have to balance that and figuring out Fall Semester's classes, plus writing this beautiful Arc! Thank you all for being so patient with me, and I appreciate all of your feedback. Thank you for reviewing, messaging (brought me to tears [Happy tears of course]), following, and favoriting this story, or me! I am very grateful for you all, I know everyone says this but I believe the fans are the heart to the story, they truly bring everything to life - whether it's a fanfiction or full length novel! Well, this is kind of a touchy feely chapter and HOPEFULLY nothing will happen that will be less than satisfactory!
Enjoy~
I stood alone in a shadowed room, the only light from a spotlight shone directly onto me. The light spilled out a few feet in a perfect circle surrounding me, but beyond that lay an inky darkness that I dared not venture out into.
Delyia I heard my name whispered in the nothingness, and my head snapped to attention.
Delyia I heard it again and curiosity got the better of me.
I ventured into the black, not knowing how I would come back to this spot should I get lost. Taking a few steps out of the light, I felt an immediate sense of fear overcome me. But as my name rang through the darkness once more, I felt the fear recede and courage smother my doubts. I strode into the dark for what seemed like hours until I reached a small lush field. The field was dotted with different flowers, and butterflies danced along the blades of grass. A baby deer grazed just on the edge of the forest, its mother not far ahead and as I watched, a sense of peace washed over me. Then, from my peripheral vision, I saw a figure materialize from the dark wood. I turned and felt my heart shudder as I took in the figure before me. She had the same long black hair, and mossy green eyes as I did. A warm smiled graced her features as she came close to me, and wrapped me into her arms. The tears pricked the backs of my eyes as I held the woman close to me.
Mom I cried into her chest as she stroked my hair.
It's alright, I'm here. She cooed and soothed me until my crying slowed.
I've brought someone with me, my love. My mother smiled and moved aside, motioning someone to come forward.
A mess of short dark hair emerged, and my eyes met with a clear blue. His pale skin glowed against the rays of a setting sun, and his stubble had grown in the same way as I remembered. He looked to me with a beautifully radiant smile, his hands tucked away in jean pockets. In disbelief, I walked up to him and laid my hands on his chest, he was solidly built and I felt his muscles tense from underneath the jacket he had on.
Optimus. I looked up into his eyes, and the smile remained as he nodded.
I'm here Delyia, and I'm here is where I will remain – with you. He cupped my face as he leaned in an-
"Delyia! Delyia wake up!" I felt someone shaking me as I snapped open my eyes and shot up.
A crack of pain shot through my cranium as Sam's forehead with mine. We both rolled around on the ground, groaning in pain. When the pain subsided Sam and I met each other's eyes and tackled one another into a tight hug.
"I didn't know when I'd see you again." I sighed as we held each other.
After a minute we let each other go and I gave Mikaela an equal force of a hug. She shed a few tears and gently nudged my shoulder. I heard a whirr and turned to see Bee dancing around.
"I can't believe – you found me! – I'm so happy, happy! – " Bee's radio sung as he tapped my head and tackled Jazz.
The twins came up and poked me from both sides,
"Nice to see ya girlie." Sides grinned.
"Yeah! Nice to see that Megatron didn't eat yo ass for breakfast!" Mudflap agreed.
"It's great to see the both of you." I sighed with content.
Leo came out from behind Skids and patted me on the shoulder.
"Seriously – so happy they didn't eat you. Sometimes I wonder if they're just hiding their human cravings." He whispered the last part in my ear.
"Better watch out pussy." Skids snickered.
"Or you'll be the first human we try." Mudflap towered over Leo and he scuttled away to Sam.
"Sam I think I know a guy who can help us out with the symbols in your head problem."
"You're seeing symbols?" I asked Sam.
"Well I guess it did happen right after you disappeared. Yeah, I started seeing all of these crazy symbols – like the one our grandfather saw when he went crazy." Sam explained.
"You're shitting me!" I gasped, Sam chuckled and shook his head.
"Nah, I wish I was though. I had a few meltdowns, and no one seems to be able to tell me what they say. Leo – however – seems to think differently." Sam replied and looked at Leo.
"Well, his name is Robowarrior. And I know exactly where to find him." Leo smiled.
"Let's get going then, no time to loose." I announced.
~*~ On the Way to 'RoboWarrior' ~*~
It was silent in the Autobot, no one even looked at each other. All four of us were looking out our respective windows, not muttering a single word. I watched the scenery laid out before me as my mind began to wander. Eventually my mind stepped into my last dream, and for a moment I felt my heart begin to wither away. I thought of his face, his true face that hadn't shown itself in my dream. Why didn't it, why did he appear in his holoform? Confusion washed over me as I pondered over everything that happened. Minutes passed before I finally shook it off, it was just a dream and it didn't mean anything. I then felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to face Sam.
"What's up Sam?" I asked, trying to shake off my heart's despair.
"Do you want to talk about – you know – O P?" He whispered to me, mouthing 'O and P' to me.
I cocked my head in confusion, and whispered back to him.
"Why are we whispering?"
"Well, I didn't know if you wanted to whole car to know.." Sam replied.
"Well, the cat's kind of out of the bag now Sammy. Everyone found out in the worst way possible, and Megatron made sure we were all put on a lavish stage for all to see." I glowered.
"I understand you're hurting, but –"
"Sam." I stopped him, "I'm not just hurting. I'm in an enormous amount of agonizing pain." I felt my voice crack toward the end, and the tears begin to push against the barriers of my eyes.
"I am at a loss of what to do, what's the point now? I just can't push myself past this feeling I get in the pit of my stomach. Like there's something unfinished – I don't know. Maybe it's because I didn't realize – or could face – that I loved him until he was, well gone. What kind of fucked up situation is that? I had so long to confess to him, so many months, and I was too hard-headed to ever push through the unnecessary hurt to see that I care so much for him. Now, I'll never see him again. Maybe I'll get over this, maybe I wont. But right now, I don't want to get over it, because then that'll mean I have forgotten him. That is the last thing I want to do right now."
By now a few tears had shed and fallen on my still dirty jeans. I quickly wiped away the streaks and drew a quick breath, attempting to calm myself.
"And even though he's been dead less than four days, I've been hiding my feelings because I can't afford to wallow in sorrow – no matter how much I want to. If I did that I wouldn't be helping you now, trying to find a way to stop the Decepticons. All because of this fucked up war with fucked up Decepticons and their serious who's stick is bigger problem they have with the Autobots. Now –" my voice began to waver again, " – Now the only person, or sentient being, I've managed to have real feelings for is gone and I'll never be able to speak with them again. So, this begs to question: What's the point?" I stopped myself from continuing on in the rant, and wiped the new hot tears from my eyes.
" If it's any – consolation – I don't think he – could've found – a better – spark – mate – on any planet out there. " Bee chirped from his radio.
A small smile planted itself on my face as I soaked in what Bee had said.
"Not to be insensitive, but how would you guys have – ya know – hanky panky time?" Leo timidly asked from the front seat.
I glared at him, "Relationships aren't built around sexual contact, at least not all of them."
Leo threw his hands up in defeat, "Hey now I was just wondering is all."
Sam snorted and Mikaela rolled her eyes.
"If you live your life dwelling on things that could have been, you'll never get to the future you were meant to have." Sam rustled my hair and I leaned in for a hug.
"That was actually really wise Sam. Where'd you come up with that?" Mikaela asked him.
"Well, it was actually right on this –" Sam pulled out a small strip of paper and I nearly smacked myself in the face, "fortune cookie paper I got a week ago. I kept it cause I knew I'd need to say this some day soon." Sam flashed us all a goofy grin as he continued to return my hug.
"And to think that I almost thought that Sam could be that insightful." Mikaela sighed.
"I seriously want whatever drugs you're on – if you think Sam could be insightful." Leo snickered.