Sensors. Sticky. Squelched. Submerged. Scuffle. Story. Stuck. Slipping Out. Skeptical. Sure. Scram. Scheme. Science. Superpowers. Sad. Shock. Scare. SNAFU. Scents. Sleuthing and Syrup.

Chapter 21

Solved

Chromia watched the retreating Prime with a sense of relief as well as satisfaction. He wasn't going to mess up her revenge, and that was satisfying. He obviously wasn't going to look for her anymore, so that was a relief.

Then, to her dismay, Optimus slowed and stopped. Then he turned. "Chromia," he called.

'He couldn't have seen me...'

He walked back towards the scene of the crime. "Chromia, I know you are somewhere near." He said firmly. "I just need to ask a question."

Chromia hoped he was bluffing and pretended that she hadn't heard him.

"Chromia," he still sounded pretty certain that she was out there.

"The matter is this," he said, apparently deciding that she was within hearing-range. "The vinegar we used to clean Ironhide smelled bad, and Elita didn't like the smell. So I went and washed with soap, and now my hands smell just a little bit too soapy. You know Elita does not especially care for the smell of soap. Perceptor said a little sweet oil would mask the smell of the soap, but I couldn't find any in the twins' shop, and you stun-gunned them before they could answer me. I just need a little help."

Chromia thought for a couple moments. She could come out and help him, but she wasn't sure it would be entirely a good idea. He could take her to task for taking revenge out on the twins.

"Oh… kay…" Optimus sounded a little embarrassed. "I guess I will have to online a twin…" he muttered, stepping closer to the twins, taking care to not get syrup on his feet.

::Optimus!:: Chromia hailed him on the intercom.

::Greetings, Chromia.:: he replied.

Chromia, from her hiding place, saw him grin. 'Oh! That mech..!' He'd known she was watching and had only acted like he thought she wasn't there! He'd known she'd show herself some way if he moved to online a twin.

::Faker!:: She accused over the intercom.

::It worked.:: He replied.

::Grrr.::

::Will you help me out?::

::Well… I do have a warm place in my spark for poor helpless mechs, so I guess I will. Meet me at the nearest paved intersection, and I'll have some sweet oil for you.::

::Thank-you. Optimus out.::

::Chromia signing off.:: She replied. She watched him walk away. Once he was gone from view, she quickly came out of hiding and hurried after him. She didn't really have to meet him at the nearest paved intersection; she just wanted him away from the crime scene before she came out of hiding.

He slowed when he heard her coming and looked over his shoulder.

"Greetings, Prime." She said, grinning as she caught up with him.

"Greetings yourself." He said, glancing over her form briefly as she fell into step beside him.

"What was that for?" she asked, raising an optic-ridge.

"I was wondering if there was any organic evidence on you that would tell where you had been hiding." He said.

"Does that line work on all the femmes?" she teased.

"Usually." He said.

Chromia chuckled. "Here," she tossed him a small cube. He caught it easily and looked at it. She smiled at his face, the careful calculating face of a Prime. "Trust me enough to use it?" she asked. She was teasing, but she asked in fairly serious tone.

His optics widened in surprise as he stopped, and Chromia chuckled at his reaction.

"Well…" he said slowly, "I did…" Then he smiled, letting her know that he was teasing as well. He dipped his fingertips in the cube then handed it back to her. He rubbed the oil well over his hands then buffed it quickly with the cloth Chromia offered him.

"Thank-you very, very much." He told her was he was done, handing the cloth back.

"You're welcome, you silly helpless mech-being. Now, let me smell."

He held out his hands for inspection. Chromia sniffed.

"Mm, very good." She said with evident approval. "Now, behave yourself and don't be late for dinner."

"I'm past youngling age; I'll behave how I please and be late for dinner if I like." He said, chuckling, then he initiated his transform sequence dropped down into truck mode.

He revved his engine and drove off, pleased that his problem was solved. Well, at least that problem was solved. There were other problems still left. Like the problem of Ironhide. And the double problem of the twins. Oh, yes, and Prowl would be a problem sooner or later.

Optimus pulled up to his quarters and transformed at the door before opening it and going in.

Elita looked absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, leaning there on the table. He grinned the second he set optics on her.

She straightened and put her fists on her hips. "Bad mech." She said, her twinkling optics and playful lips belying her words. "You broke your word and took a long time. You're in for punishment." She motioned to the couch. "Get over there and bend over. You're in for a spanking, hard."

Optimus tucked his chin, running his optics to those hips her hands were on. "Aw…"

"I mean it." She said, coming over to make him obey her. He gently resisted when she put her hands on him and playfully allowed her to wrestle him to the couch. "There." She said when he was in the desired location, "Now, over." She said, pushing him to sit.

He shook his head gently, smiling invitingly up at her. Elita smiled, and a little more wrestling followed until her mech was prone over the couch. Then she smacked him firmly, lovingly on the behind.

"Ow, how much?" he asked.

"Hush." Elita ordered, smiling with delight at having him all to herself. She gave his behind a few more smacks and then a final one.

He endured his "punishment" with pleasure then rolled over when it was over and gently pulled the punisher on top of himself.

"You gonna be good now?" she asked, smiling in a kissable a way as she cuddled on him.

"Absolutely not." He said with conviction. Then he stole a kiss, a thorough one.

"Mmm…" Elita liked this kind of thief. "Hey," she said after the kiss, "Did you get your hands clean?"

"Yes…" he ran them up her back then slipped it up in front for her to sniff.

She sniffed. With her lying on him, he felt her form tighten a little when she repressed laughter.

"Oh, now what?" he asked, amused because she was trying to not laugh.

"I'm not telling," she teased.

"I'm good at interrogating,"

"I know something you're better at," she hinted.

"But, I want to know," he insisted softly, nuzzling her cheek.

"You got sweet oil from Chromia." She said, chuckling softly.

"And what makes you think that?" he murmured... her neck smelled good...

"Uh-uh. No, I already gave you the information you wanted."

"Mm-hm, but I want more…" his whispered, shifting so he could cuddle her better.

"Mm, persistent mech, huh?"

"I always get my way in the end…"

"That so…?"

"Uh… huh…" he purred, caressing her.

"Well… I… might consider making a bargain with you, then."

"I'm very, very good at those," he purred, kissing her some more between phrases. "Very, very generous…"

"Okay... I guessed because your hands now smell like Ironhide's."

Optimus groaned.

"Happy now that your mystery is solved?" Elita teased.

Optimus chuckled ruefully. "I was happier before. –Elita. It's just sweet oil, how can it smell like Ironhide?"

Elita smiled, chuckling fondly at his curiosity. "The scent is very, very slight. It just barely smells like him."

"Ah…" He said, relaxing now.

"Mm-hm."

Then he chuckled. "This would explain why Chromia was so very approving of how my hands smelled."

Elita was amused. "It would. No wonder… A femme loves her mech's smell."

"-Just not when he smells like vinegar."

"Silly Prime…" she murmured, putting her fingertips lightly on his face. The teasing faded away, and a sincere look of unmitigated tenderness replaced it as he gazed up at her.

"I love you." he said gently. "More than anything, I love you."

Elita smiled at him. "I love you, too." She replied. Then she gave him a kiss.

"Forgive me for failing at the hand-scent?" he asked, rubbing her back.

She chuckled softly. "Yes." She replied, nuzzling him. "And forgive you for being so late, too."

"Can't win, can I?"

"Oh, but, yes, you can…" she whispered, "I'll show you…"

She rose, and he smiled as she took his hand to pull him up and lead him away. Poor Ironhide… Some bots weren't lucky that day, and some bots were.