You know who I own. The song used is 'Mississippi' by Train. It is a beautiful song to me.
Prepare for warm fuzzies!
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"You need to get evidence hun."
"What kind?"
"Anything you can get. Do you need any help getting it?"
"I have a lot on this guy."
"Okay. Call me when your done."
That was what Angel had said. 'Get Evidence.' This meant that Roxy had to go back to the house in Phoenix. And Optimus was going to go with her. He didn't want her to go alone,-not that she would be alone with any Autobot- so he went with her. He knew the way, and he didn't want her out of sight.
Optimus had modified his hologram a bit. He still had the scar, tank top, the boots and the pants. But he had added about ten inches to his height, making him a brawny 6'7. He also had a clean mustache and a more pronounced tattoo. They had left shortly after the phone call ended. Roxy sat in the passengers seat, and had put the seatbelt on herself. She wasn't showing it, but her bio-signature showed she was anxious. Her temperature was low, and she was tired. She would refuse to sleep when Optimus would tell her too. She would tap her foot or finger to stay up. It was troubling to say the least.
Optimus couldn't help but worry about her. He loved that girl. He hadn't told her yet, seeing as she wouldn't be eighteen for a month or two. He didn't want to wait, but he had to. True, he had said he didn't care about the laws, but Roxy was friends with a lawyer. He didn't want to risk anything. That, and, Roxy may not be interested in any type of relationship at the moment.
So, he would have to wait. As he pulled into the gravel driveway, he looked at her. She had this look on her face that made his spark ache. She looked tired and angry. No, not angry, more like...hell-bent. Her eyes were red from staying awake so long. It was a day's ride to get there, and she hadn't slept a bit. 'You were never meant to have red eyes Roxy. ' He put himself into park, and idled in the driveway.
"Are you ready Roxy?" he asked with the holo.
She looked at him, unbuckling herself. "Are you?" The doors opened, and the two stepped out. Roxy looked around her, a frown on her face. She looked up at the holo, who looked down at her. She walked up the gravel walkway, and kicked over a rock. She then walked up to the door, and felt around the porch light. She bent down, and reached under the door mat, and Optimus tilted his head.
"Roxy, what are you doing?" He asked from behind her. She looked at him, and then pulled out a grimy key. She put it in the key hole in the door, and opened it.
"Key Prime." She stepped inside, looking around the dark house. "Well, come in." He did, a bit uncertain. What if Susan was home? He looked around in the dark, his holo giving of a very light glow. His eyes glowed brighter than the rest of him, so a dark room gave him a rather ghostly look. If Susan saw him, she may panic. He didn't like Susan, but he didn't want to frighten her.
Roxy held her arm out, and the holo bumped it. "Prime, can your holo smell?" It could, but it didn't need to. He could smell the awful stench of liquor. Not far from the smell was a woman with strawberry blond hair, pale skin, and freckles. It was Susan. Optimus backed up a bit, And Roxy turned to look at him. Roxy put her hands out in front of her, and quickly brought them together in a loud clap. Susan didn't budge. Roxy frowned at her mother, and looked at the coffee table. She gave an irritated sigh.
"Don't worry, she's out of it." Roxy said, picking up the empty tequila bottle and showing it to him. His eyes narrowed. As if to prove her point, she grabbed Susan's arm, lifted it in the air, and let it drop with a rather nasty smack. She turned back to Prime, a frown on her face. "And she thought I needed help." She kept walking, and the holo followed.
"Roxy, I understand your anger toward your mother. No one should be locked up." He watched the back of her head as they went up the stairs. "But you can forgive her."
"But I can't forget." she turned to him, giving him a rather familiar look. He couldn't place it right away... he remembered that look. It was the look she gave him on new years eve. "I can't forget what she did to me. And if you were locked in a tiny room and fed when your captor remembered, would you forgive them?" The holo blinked. "Of course, look who I'm talking to. Mister humanitarian." He frowned.
"You aren't mad at me, and we both know it. Your venting." She kept walking, not looking back at him. He followed, and soon they came upon a rather banged up door. Prime looked at the latch, and saw something that angered him in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. A padlock. Why would there be a padlock on a bedroom door?
"Want to see my home for the last four years?" Roxy said darkly. She pushed open the door, and stepped inside. A twin bed and a closet. That was it. That was her room.
"..." Prime had seen her room from the outside, but seeing it at a human angle was different. It was no wonder she hated it. The paint was faded from white to a dull gray. The ceiling was cracked. Everything about it screamed 'This Is Hell' to him, and the holo clenched it's fists, anger evident on it's features. He had to stay calm.
Roxy leaned down and reached under the bed. She pulled out a lock box, a deadbolt keeping it closed tight. She set it on the bed, and walked to the closet. Roxy stood on her toes and felt with the tips of her fingers the top of the molding. She took down a key, and placed it in the lock, but didn't unlock it.
"Everything we need is in here." She said, tucking the box under one arm. "Lets go." She went past the holo, and he stared after her. How could the contents of of simple, and small, lock box be the things to take down that man?
They walked past Roxy's mother, who was still out of it, and exited the house. They walked back to his body, and Roxy opened the passenger door and tossed the box inside. It bounced a bit as it hit the seat. The holo was still behind her, but it didn't shut down right away. He stepped behind her, and she turned around to look at him. Optimus placed the holo's hands on her shoulders, Roxy looking up at him.
He pulled her into a hug. True, the holo couldn't do much, but it could move things, see things, say things. It was limited though. The holo had a very limited range when it came to touch and feeling. The more it did, the less distance it could travel. The closer it was to the body, the more it could do. It was an amazing thing, and Roxy seemed to appreciate the hug. He wasn't expecting her to hug back. He was only a yard from his body, so he was as solid as an actual human.
"You look tired Roxy. Why don't you take a rest." He pulled back and looked at her, she looked so tired. She climbed into him, and set the box on the floor. He closed the door, and he got in. She was still sitting up. 'I think I know something that'll help her sleep...' He searched the airwaves, and played a song he remembered her saying she loved a long time ago.
They call her Mississippi
But she don't flow to me
Spends her light on the Bayou
But she don't come to see
She laid down across the seat, her head on the leather. He looked at her, a smile spreading across his mouth. He turned the volume down a bit, and he drove off.
She's the one that makes my dreams
They call her Mississippi
But she don't flow to me
'I hope you sleep well Roxy.' He thought to himself, looking back at the road. The sun had gone down long ago, and he was happy she was finally resting.
The shape of her horizon
Makes the morning sun
When she puts her eyes on
Each and anyone
She's the one that makes me fall
Midnight moon shines through it all
He felt something touch his leg, and he looked down in pure surprise. Roxy had moved her head to rest on his thigh. He felt his spark heat, his smile growing at such an unexpected movement. He had thought that with human anatomy and such, she wouldn't do something so...bold. But then again, his holo wasn't human.
She's the one that makes me fall
Midnight moon shines through it all
She's the one that makes my dreams
They call her Mississippi
But she don't flow to me
He carefully placed his arm over her shoulder, and let his fingers fiddle with the ends of her hair. She snuggled into his waist, and fell asleep. Maybe Roxy was more ready than he had thought. Maybe, more likely, she wanted a pillow.
They call her Mississippi
But she don't flow to me
Lesson: The law can be a bitch.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Ok, the next few chapters will take a bit to get ready, so be a little patient, k?
Kale is in the next chapter!