Author's note: Well, college isn't so bad so I got to submit a new chapter early! :D Again, gracias for all the reviews my friends! Umm... I don't have much to comment on about this particular section. Enjoy! :)
Love is a Lake
(A 'TFA' fan fic romance)
Chapter 13 Deadly Suspicions
(A few months later: August 1st – 9:30pm)
Megatron sat on his throne. He sat there and when one looked at him, he seemed to be quite bored and lethargic. In reality, the Decepticon overlord was actually deep in thought. This time, he wasn't thinking about how he could rid himself of the accursed Autobots who were hounding him and constantly aborting his plans. Rather, his mind was focused on something that he didn't really want to be thinking about in the first place.
There was just something about Blitzwing he noticed that seemed a bit more peculiar than usual. What it was, Megatron didn't know exactly know. He really didn't care but he felt it was something. Not only that, it captured his attention and he could sense it was something more than a simple twinge of curiosity.
Of course, he had told no one else of his suspicions and he kept this matter fairly confidential. He felt the compulsion to disclose this matter to his most devoted acolyte, Lugnut, but Megatron deemed it inappropriate for now.
For the past few months, he took notice that Blitzwing was absent frequently from the base, especially at night. In late June, he hadn't seen him for two days. There were no suspicions that the triple changer defaulted to the Autobots and he was acting as their new spy. Not Blitzwing. Megatron told himself numerous times that he was merely going on solo scouting missions for Allspark fragments. Yet he found it odd that he never notified his leader that he was going out on said journeys.
"He was always… different," he thought to himself. "That unstable bot never really was like-minded. I've never really paid attention to him just for the simple fact that he poses no real problems within my ranks. He's harmless, unless if he's with Autobots of course. But I merely wonder. I have noticed that Blitzwing has been behaving a bit more unusual than usual."
Megatron's gaze shifted to the corridor emptying into the underground throne room. He heard someone approaching. His optics narrowed in curiosity when he saw who it was.
The minion curtsied to his leader. He then stood back up, rearing himself up to his full height before him.
"Blitzwing," Megatron acknowledged, "what brings you out here?"
"Nozhing special, sir," Icy replied. "I vas just valking around to see if everyzhing vas alright. Zhat's all."
"Have your reconnaissance missions been fruitful?"
Blitzwing knew that Megatron might possibly notice his nightly absences. Because of that, he was prepared to defend himself and lie to his faceplate about this. If he wasn't in love, he wouldn't even dare to think about doing such a dangerous thing. He and Cynthia had exercised special care with their meetings and only saw each other two or three times a week rather than all the time. At times, all three personalities felt that they were pushing their luck. But they were caught up in their belief all would be well.
"Yes, Megatron," Blitzwing answered coolly. "But my past efforts have been unfruitful as zhou can tell. Zhose Allspark fragments are becoming very bozhersome to find."
"Indeed," Megatron rubbed his chin, "it seems that way, doesn't it? Are you going to possibly go off again tonight by any chance? If you are, why don't you allow Lugnut to accompany you?"
He decided to suggest that to see his reaction. The blue-faced personality dared not to betray his inner feelings to the suspicious Decepticon leader. He was determined to remain unwavering and strong in his presence. Blitzwing feared the worst if he had found out the truth between him and Cynthia. There was the fear he'd be killed. But there was also a second fear: Megatron might kill Cynthia if he wanted to. He had only known her nearly four months but the triple changer loved her dearly.
"Of course!" Random half-sang. "Zhe more zhe merrier!"
Hothead wanted to rebel against Megatron's suggestion but at the same time he knew it was the best. He only bit back his words and remained silent inside his helmet. Actually, he was quite surprised with how well he restrained himself on that part.
"Vell, actually, I vas zhinking about not going out tonight," Icy said. "But if zhou zhink it is necessary for me to go out, zhen I vill do it unquestioningly, Lord Megatron."
He had already seen Cyndi last night. Instead, he was going to call her before she went to sleep.
The larger mech was silent for a few seconds. As far as he could tell visually, nothing seemed to be out of place with Blitzwing. Icy and Random seemed as normal as ever. However, Megatron did take note that Hothead didn't make a comment of some sort. For now, he wasn't so concerned about that little thing yet he silently reminded himself to remember this just in case if things did start to get more interesting with Blitzwing.
"To be honest, I was just curious regarding your nocturnal whereabouts for the past few months," he confessed. Megatron had an idea to lure his subordinate into a false sense of security to see if he would reveal anything carelessly. "No need to worry, Blitzwing. I'm fairly confident that you weren't engaging in anything suspicious or noteworthy behind my back. I know you are a loyal solider. Might I say you are far more trustworthy and helpful than that treacherous Starscream."
Blitzwing was well aware of his comrade's (and temporary leader's) fate. Personally, he believed his dirty little secret was less grievous than Starscream's very public stabs and plots against Megatron so he hoped that he would be treated somewhat leniently if the worst did occur. He didn't want to die nor did he want the same fate for Cynthia. He did feel very prideful and momentarily, very arrogant, about the praise he showered on him. Yet Blitzwing was careful not to let his guard down.
"Starscream vas a fool!" Hothead emerged at last. "His persistence vas ridiculous! I vas vondering how many times I vas going to zhrow his scrap heap of a corpse into zhe river!"
"Then I can trust you and acclaim you, Blitzwing," Megatron flattered. "So I am assured you are not Starscream's treacherous sympathizer and successor?"
"Yes, sir! I am not like him! Zhou can trust me!"
His leader smirked. He folded his hands together and leaned back into his chair of power.
"Good," he said, "very good. Don't disappoint me now, my loyal minion."
(The Preston's apartment- 11:00pm)
The dried yellow lily slipped out from the pages of the notebook. Cynthia caught it before it fell to the carpeted floor. It was now almost as flat as the paper it was sandwiched in between. Its color still remained quite vibrant even though it dulled as it shriveled up. She sniffed the air and she could've sworn she could still smell it as it was months before.
The brunette looked at a clean-looking page that she was writing on yesterday. It was her latest poem. Surprisingly, this was the first work she orchestrated since she wrote 'Fear' after she first met Blitzwing. And for the first time in six years, she wrote a heartwarming and fuzzy love poem. Cyndi couldn't wait to show it to him the next time she saw him. It was called 'Love is a Lake'.
So far, the past few months had been a complete and fantastic dream for Cynthia. She practically slept through the day and stayed awake at night because she had readjusted her sleep schedule in order to see her love. Amanda teased her sister about this and claimed that she was becoming a vampire now.
Their month long stay in New York went along rather smoothly and Helen never did cross paths with the three-faced Decepticon. On Mandy's birthday, he had called to wish her a happy birthday. Her eardrums almost ruptured when Random sang 'Happy Birthday' severely off-key but she was touched and her tiny crush on the jack-o-lantern further solidified. But she kept her feelings in check, determined not to rip apart Cynthia and Blitzwing's relationship with her miniscule and fleeting infatuations. The girls' mother actually heard the singing and wondered who it was. Her daughters replied by saying it was one of Amanda's coworkers who was back in Detroit. Twice a week, Blitzwing would arrive at the Swim Hole to meet with Cynthia. Wes didn't show up when they were there and Cyndi was relieved that she actually hurt him that badly to not see him. Meanwhile, Blitzwing did want him to see him again for only one reason: to kill him. That's why the Human girl was happy not to see Wes prowling around.
After Amanda's birthday, the girls flew back to Detroit to resume their lives abroad from the comforts of New York. Cynthia got the results from her final exams: she had excelled. That was a huge relief lifted up from her shoulders and she felt she had lesser cares now. Amanda had gotten a raise at her job and to her relief Damon gave up on trying to woo her. It was the start of an excellent summer vacation.
Now that it was August, Cyndi became mildly depressed. Within the next four weeks, she was to start her second year with the hopes of getting an associate's degree. Her sleeping schedule would have to be altered and there was the possibility she would be spending less time with her beloved. It was a revelation that saddened her but she knew it was all necessary whether she wanted to admit it or not.
"I'm bored," Cyndi said out loud.
Amanda walked into her sister's room. Her headphones were over her ears but she did manage to her Cynthia's statement. She pressed the 'pause' button on her iPod.
"Get a life," she smirked.
"I so have a life!" Cyndi snapped back. "I have a romantic and academic life. I'm happy with that. I could care less about a social life."
"You know what I just remembered: your anniversary is coming up!"
"Oh, that's right! August 4th is our third month anniversary. I'll be the happiest girl on the planet when we hit our first year! I'll consider it such an awesome achievement…"
"I'm curious."
Mandy sat down beside Cynthia. She set aside her headphones and iPod, signaling she wanted to engage in a meaningful conversation and not idle chit-chat. The eldest of the two crossed her legs and waited for her little sister to resume.
"You're curious…" Cynthia said, wanting her to continue.
"Yeah," Mandy picked up, "do you have any idea what you're going to do in the future with him? I mean, I don't mean to be a party crasher or life destroyer but I don't think you can just get married to him."
The warm summer nights often kept her awake and the long hours she spent lying in bed, Cynthia pondered over her life with Blitzwing. She was completely enamored with the accented mech but she did unhappily see that she couldn't really have a normal relationship with him. Whenever she kissed him, she wanted to marry him right on the spot. The thought of her being his wife (or spark-mate in Cybertronian terms) was a very beautiful and fulfilling dream. There was certainly no way someone was going to marry them or let alone would anyone approve of the union in the first place. As glorious and as perfect as she envisioned it to be, Cyndi knew it might just all crash and burn.
She tried to think optimistically about a possible yet highly idealistic life with him. After they'd marry, she'd love to get a lakeside home where they'd reside. Then the question of how he would fit in the house with her reared its ugly head. And what could she say to people when she bore a diamond encrusted band on her left ring finger. Cynthia couldn't just say: 'my husband is a thirty foot tall robot from outer space'. The possible comments and expressions of horror and disbelief ran through her head.
"Yes, I see this," she sighed mournfully. "I love him passionately, Amanda! I've never felt so happy and peaceful around anyone else before. I want him and only him to be mine. It just kills me to think that we love each other but there are so many obstacles that we must face in order to have a normal relationship due to the fact we are very different species…"
"Don't get me wrong: I think you two are a lovely couple," Mandy assured. "You know I wish he could turn into a Human. Then you wouldn't have to hide the relationship at all."
"I love him the way he is and for who he is. I wouldn't be loving him less or love him more if he could do that. That's why we're together now. I've only known him for a little over three months but I feel like we've connected much more deeply and swiftly than other newly formed couples…"
Mandy frowned. Genuinely, she wished she could somehow remedy the situation. All she wanted for Cynthia was for her to be happy, healthy and enjoy a long life with the man of her dreams. When she saw her downcast and concerned, she felt the same way. To her, Blitzwing seemed to be a bittersweet blessing bestowed upon Cynthia.
Before she could say anything else to bolster her family member's spirits and help eliminate any misery, both Amanda and Cyndi heard a tapping noise.
It wasn't coming from the bedroom window a few feet away from them so they immediately ruled out Blitzwing as their visitor. Cyndi stood up and slowly walked out of her room, trying to locate the source of the noise. Amanda followed silently, careful not to drown out the noise with her racket if it sounded again.
"What is that?" Cynthia said. "Do you have any idea where that came from?"
This time, the tapping, turned out to be a knocking. Specifically, it came from their front door. Initially, they became a little fearful as they wondered who it could be at this hour at their door.
"Who is it?" Amanda called from the other side of their locked door.
"This is Captain Fanzone of the Detroit police department," said the visitor. "May I please speak to the residents of this apartment?"
In unison, the Preston ladies looked at each other. Neither of them were guilty of any lawbreaking or any other kind of civil wrongdoing. Their anxiety magnified. But they couldn't let their fear control them and make them seem as if they actually did something.
"Yes," Amanda answered, "my sister and I will be right out, officer."
She unlocked the door. Cyndi kept close to her side as the door inched open.
Captain Fanzone stood before the two girls, as stern looking and seemingly austere as ever. His arms were folded across his chest.
"What's the problem, Captain?" Cynthia asked courteously. "How can we be of help?"
"It's just a simple matter of questions, ladies," he replied. "May I ask who you two are?"
"I'm Cynthia Preston and this is my sister, Amanda."
"Okay, Cynthia and Amanda, would you mind following me, please?"
Fanzone turned his back on them and walked down the stairwell that connected the apartment's entrance to a door that led to the outside. Without saying another word or giving each other wary glances, Cyndi and Mandy followed the police officer. Cyndi clutched the banister as she walked down the steps, wondering just what the issue was. Her heart began to beat faster but externally, she remained suave and at ease.
A few moments later, the three of them were standing outside in the hot August evening. The girls spotted a single police car which Fanzone arrived in. It was quite dark outside because there was no moon out and they could only make out the car because of the flashing blue and red lights on the roof.
"Hey, Autobots," Fanzone said nonchalantly, "we got some residents of the complex to talk to. Just don't keep them out too long, okay? It is pretty late."
They both gasped in shock. This was one of the last things they'd ever expect. Instinctively, Cynthia and Amanda clustered together and leaned against the hood of the police car.
From the shadows emerged two large silhouetted objects. They took a few steps closer to the girls. As they got closer to them, Cyndi and Mandy got a perfect look at them.
The biggest out of the two bots had blue, red and white paint on his armor. The other one donned black and gold on his metallic skin. On the smaller mech's chest, there was the Autobot insignia which was proudly worn. The same symbol graced the other one on the front his shoulders.
Both of the girls had seen these alien robots on the news before and were obviously more than aware of their presence within the city. However, they weren't expecting a visit from this sort of Cybertronian lifeform. Both were much more accustomed to a candidate of the other kind.
"I'm so sorry to bother you two so late in the evening," the red and blue being said. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am Optimus Prime."
"And I am Prowl," said Optimus' companion. He smiled faintly at them. "If you could kindly set aside some time for us, it would be greatly appreciated."
"Of course," Cyndi nodded. "What can we possibly help you with?"
"All we want to do is ask some questions," said the Prime. "Uh, actually, may I ask your names?"
"I'm Cynthia."
"And I'm Amanda," she spoke up.
"Thank you," Optimus grinned. "Alright, back to business. Have you ladies noticed anything unusual flying around this area of Detroit at night for the past few months?"
Cyndi felt like she was being entwined by anxiety and guilt immediately after he asked this question. Right away, she knew the reason why the two Autobots were here. There was no choice but to lie to protect Blitzwing. And there was no way Optimus and Prowl would even suspect her deadly yet romantic secret.
"Like what?" Cynthia inquired.
"Have you witnessed any peculiarly painted fighter jets flying in the direction towards the park?" Prowl said. "The jet is painted purple, black and beige."
"No."
"I haven't noticed anything either," Mandy added. "We would've heard a fighter jet before we'd see it and I don't ever remember hearing one."
"When did people begin to notice these sightings?" said Cynthia. "Did you say it's been flying around here for the past few months?"
"Yes," said Optimus. "I believe that this jet is none other than one of our Decepticon foes. His name is Blitzwing. He's been spotted flying around a few times a week at night in this area and we're attempting to get down to the bottom of this. This is for the safety and best interest of the inhabitants of the city and those residing in the outskirts."
"Blitzwing…" Amanda said, playing along with Cyndi in the game to fool the Autobots. "Doesn't he have three faces?"
"He does."
"Well, my sister and I will be on the lookout for him. He can't be that hard to miss!"
"Yes, now that you brought this matter to us, we will be especially vigilant," Cynthia remarked. "Thank you for even letting us know about this! We certainly don't want any Decepticons travelling around here."
Internally, she laughed within herself. Even though Cynthia had nothing personal against the Autobots, her love and devotion to Blitzwing enough for her to lie to them. To betray his visitations and risk his capture by them was unspeakable and heinous. As soon as she was finished being interrogated, she was going to call him to let him know his foes were onto him. She was also extremely thankful that Amanda was helping her out in this situation by consolidating the lies and making them into "truths".
"It would mean a lot to us if you would notify us or the police as soon as possible if you do see him flying around here by any chance," Prowl said. "I'm sure you ladies are aware that he is considered extremely dangerous and unstable."
"Sure, we can do that," said Mandy.
"That's all we have to ask," Optimus finalized. "Cynthia and Amanda, it was a pleasure to have met you both. Thank you for your time. You may go back to your business."
"You're welcome," they both smiled.
(Ten minutes later…)
"That was too close!" Mandy huffed. "You guys have to be more careful about meeting or something. The Autobots are onto him and it's gonna get ugly real quick!"
"We are being careful!" Cynthia asserted. "Yet now I see we have to mix up our meeting places… Mandy, thanks for helping out with the charade. I feel like I owe you big time."
"In order to repay me, all I want you to do is to be more careful. I'll tell you one thing, I sure wasn't expecting those Autobots to pay a visit. I swear, we must be getting popular with these giant robots… That Optimus Prime guy seemed really nice and sweet."
Cyndi grabbed her cellphone out of her purse. Mandy looked out the tiny kitchen window situated above the sink. She spied upon Optimus and Prime interviewing the girls' neighbors in the apartment complex. Captain Fanzone was leaning against the police car, waiting for them to wrap it up.
"You know when Blitzwing used to come to your window, I'm surprised our neighbors never did notice him," Amanda picked up.
"Well, everyone below us are senior citizens and they go to bed at nine," Cyndi explained. "And we're on the top floor." She cradled her phone in her hand. "I just hope those bots aren't onto us."
Just then her phone rang. Cynthia looked at the caller id: it was Blitzwing. Before it could ring a second time, she answered it.
"Blitzwing," she said seriously, "we need to have a discussion."
"Exactly," said his Icy persona. "I have been zhinking zhe same zhing."
"Mandy and I got interrogated by two Autobots ten minutes ago…"
"Vhat vere zhey doing zhere?" Hothead nearly yelled. "How dare zhey approach zhou! I vish I vas zhere to pulverize zhem!"
"They're onto you… You've been spotted flying up to the park where we meet before we fly to the peninsula. I think we need to find a new rendezvous point. We can't afford to take any more chances."
"I have a reason to believe Megatron is becoming suspicious as vell," Icy revealed. "He is curious about vhat I have been doing for zhe past few months at night."
Cynthia never did tell him her dream she had back in May. However, she never did forget it and it always hovered at the back of her mind, reminding her of its existence every once in awhile. She had never personally met Megatron in the first place but she was determined to never cross paths with him.
"Well, that's not good either," Cyndi exhaled sharply. "What do you think we should do?"
"I'm still going to see zhou no matter vhat!" Random decided. "I'm too crazy for zhou to drop everyzhing as if nozhing happened!"
"I zhink ve should keep zhings more secretive zhan zhey already are," said the calm face. "How about ve meet tomorrow evening at zhe meadow? It'll be just zhe two of us."
"I understand. I'm not afraid. We'll get through this little crisis. Whenever we see each other tomorrow, we'll figure out how to do this. Is ten o'clock good for you? On second thought, you call the time. I do not want your boss in on this. As soon as you think it's safe, go. Let me know before tomorrow night, okay?"
"I have zhis completely under control!" Hothead said boastingly. "Don't vorry about a zhing, Cynthia. I vill let zhou know vhat's going on later. Just stay avay from zhose Autobots. Zhou better call me zhe next time zhey approach zhou! Zhe very zhought of zhem around zhou sickens me!"
"Just please be careful, Blitzwing. I will never forgive myself if the Autobots get a hold of you because of my carelessness. Please… I love you so much more than you think."