And here we are, another Miri/Optimus drabble. Though it isn't really a drabble, because it's like 7,000 words HOLY HANNAH.
This is a companion fic to my ongoing story, Shifting Gears, which features an OC/OP pairing. It's a lot of fun, so maybe you wanna check it out. This was loosely based on a dream I had featuring Prime at a county fair, though I SWEAR it didn't end the way it did. I'm a fangirl, but I'm not crazy, lol!
Enjoy! Leave a review and maybe I'll see you over in Miri's actual story. Errors are Megatron's fault because I can say that. xoxoxo
"Would you just park this thing? No one is going to care we came in a semi! For God sakes, there was a tractor parked back there!"
Miri Otten tried to drop the exasperation from her tone, but wasn't able to. She tried to keep a stern face, though her brows were seemingly unable to stay knitted together in frustration at the radio. Said machinery hadn't spoken more than two words to her the entirety of their trip across town - which, for Optimus Prime was not particularly unusual, though the brevity of his statements this morning lended to the idea that he was anything but prepared for the afternoon currently awaiting them.
It was baffling. He led an army across the stars to a foreign world, battled an enemy as fierce as any warrior she'd ever seen; gone toe-to-toe with military intelligence, and had shared words with the United States President and Department of Defense teams the world over. She was pretty sure he wouldn't bat an optic if she asked him to bring her the sun - and yet, he was nervous about a county fair.
She fell back into the seat of the Peterbilt roughly, lifting her hand to rest along the door. The cool glass of the window was pleasant against her arm, and she gently rubbed circles into the leather upholstery, her acrylic nails gently skipping along the stitching as she stared down at the radio, looking for any type of response. Popping the seatbelt, she angled to rest against the door, draping one leg over the other. She bobbed her foot impatiently, one brow rose over her eye.
The Autobot around her was silent, unmoving. Something is off.
"Optimus," she addressed the Autobot Commander coolly, "Why are you so worried about this? It's just a fair." She shrugged her shoulders, throwing her hands mildly into the air to convey her confusion. "I'm telling you, the Peterbilt doesn't matter. No one is monitoring vehicles at this thing." Pushing off the door, she leaned closer to the radio, putting a gentle hand on the dash, curling her fingers to rest her nails against it lightly. "What are you worried about?" She applied pressure to the dashboard with her index finger, tracing a circle gently.
He'd been concerned that the presence of a semi truck at a county fair would not only be unusual, but would also be frowned upon among common citizens. Miri had dismissed his concerns almost immediately when she'd purchased advanced tickets for the event in a bold moment of confidence, assuring him that the public wouldn't even notice. While he hadn't been entirely convinced, Prime had dropped the subject, focusing on more bureaucratic tasks - and that had been the end of the issue. Or so she perceived - he'd been quiet since he picked her up this morning, ever punctual and aware of their scheduled "date."
At her reassurance, she could feel the semi relax, a quiet hiss releasing from the brake system. She heard him sigh, the cab trembling only minutely as she gently tapped her nail against the radio dial, a small smile painting her lips. Without breaking eye contact, her other hand lifted to the rearview mirror, and she angled it as far down as it would allow, her gaze upturning to offer it a half smile. She could practically feel the vehicle stiffen at the brazen action.
Pleased at her reflection in the mirror, she let her fingers fall across the face of the radio as she straightened. "Don't worry so much, Prime - no one is going to suspect anything. I promise." Lifting her hands from the semi, she sat up in the bench seat, letting her arm drape across the back as she glanced out the windshield, finding a young couple - not much younger than herself - moving past them.
The man had an arm draped over the woman's shoulders, her pressed in close as she gazed up to him, looking young and beautiful with life brimming in a bold smile. Her one arm was wrapped around his waist, the other reaching up to play with his fingers, with brushed her shoulder gently. The girl was laughing as she passed by the semi, Miri able to tear the click of her shoes on the pavement of the street. Glancing to the driver's side mirror, she seen the young man reach to press a kiss to her temple, and he must've whispered something, because the girl doubled over in genuine laughter, before they moved across the street to the sidewalk.
She was lost in her own thoughts before she felt movement behind her, which spurred her to turn around in the seat. A smile tickled her lips as Prime's holoform materialized in the seat beside her, fingers dusting the door's latch as he watched her. Miri could see he was contemplating the venture of actually exiting the cab and endeavoring on their afternoon outing. Visibly his jaw set, as if he were steeling himself for a fight - then a wave of uncertainty passed across his face, stabbing her in the heart.
Carefully scooting across the seat, she leaned in close to him, her nose mere inches from his lips as he stared down at her. Tipping her head back and to the side, she found the holoform's gaze with a lidded look, a smile pulling the corner of her lips upward. Brushing aside a curl from her face, she reached out and softly dusted the pad of her thumb across his chin, her eyes scanning the finer features of his face. While Optimus was not only an attractive Autobot in both alternation and bipedal forms, he was an Adonis in holoform - practically cut from marble. Every ounce of him was chiseled hard with muscle and strength, his face etched with experience. His cool eyes studied her intensely, and she could feel him trying to pull confidence from her.
He sighed, his warmth skipping over her skin. "If you are certain, Miri," the heaviness of his baritone engraved into her very bones, and for a minute she was certain the world was spinning as he reached up to brush one of her curls behind her ears.
"Why wouldn't I be certain?" she asked quietly, her skin aflame despite the coolness of his light touch. She gently curled her nails into the leather seat beneath her, a slight tremble passing through the frame as Prime hitched a quick breath through his nose. He released it, and Miri watched him visibly coil with tension as he weighed his next statement. Instantly, she was concerned.
Prime's eyes locked onto her as his hand found the curve of her face. "I will not be the cause of any...uneasiness for you, Miri. And regardless of your claim, this form is not...subtle." He seemed to strain for the right word, and Miri felt her stomach leap into her throat. He wasn't afraid of people's perceptions - heavens never - but he feared people's perception of her with him.
For a moment her features suddenly dropped in confusion. Embarrassed of him?She could hardly believe the Prime had dropped his stalwart shield of leadership to expose an vulnerable part of himself - a part of himself that was vulnerable for her. For a moment she was mortified that he even felt remotely insecure, but then she felt a crushing sense of sorrow - Optimus, from the beginning of the friendship, had only wanted for her to be happy and self-assured, her own confidence lacking more often than not. And, as their relationship had started to...develop into something beyond platonic professionalism, he'd wanted the best for her - for her to feel normal. A crippling grief crushed her chest, and she reached up to take his face in her hands.
She didn't want normal. She wanted him, regardless of perception.
Her mouth was suddenly dry, and her heart was hammering against her ribs as her eyes locked with the holoform's. "Trust me," she said quietly, her words filling the space between them. "I could never be embarrassed of you, Optimus. You are beautiful, in this form and all others." Then, she lowered his face only slightly, reaching across to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. She felt him stiffen out of surprise, a light rattle passing through the semi's frame as her stomach stirred.
A bolt of heat chased the length of her spinal column. She wrinkled her nose teasingly at him, the look of dark uncertainty filtering out of his expression. Optimus said nothing, only gave her a nod as confidence straightened his frame, the stunning blue presence of his eyes seeming to shimmer even more than they always did. Prime studied her features one more time before he then turned, popped the door's latch, and lithely moved to drop out of the cab. Miri heard his booted feet collide with the pavement fully.
She slid across the seat, and accepted the hand that he'd offered to help her from the cab. Dropping out of it, her boots hit the pavement solidly, and he effortlessly batted the door closed. For a moment she would've sworn she heard tension leave the semi, as it seemed to sink lower on its shocks, parked perfectly snug against the curb as it was. Ignoring the holoform, she moved to the real Prime, and pressed her hand against the fender, gently drumming her fingertips along the paint before offering it a smile.
She winked at the side mirror, which was angled to consider the commotion of the fair's activity out of genuine curiosity. Pressing a quick kiss to the semi's chassis, she turned on her heel to find the holoform waiting on the sidewalk, watching her with a perturbed look on his face, one brow raised over his eye. Moving to him, Miri reached for his massive arm, slinging hers through his while wrapping her hand around his bicep, bringing her head to rest against his shoulder as he stared down at her.
They moved from the semi, in the direction of the carnival, which was down a few blocks from where they'd managed to park the semi. Despite all her bluster to bolden Prime's confidence, the truck had been difficult to park amidst neighborhood traffic - they'd managed to wedge it into a spot, only because of Optimus' superb parking ability, which would've put any big-rig trucker to shame. She could feel him study every vehicle they passed as they walked, and in the back of her head she knew he was scanning out of concern. She smiled, and squeezed his arm reassuringly, looking up to him.
"Would you relax?" She chided him playfully, her tone unfolding beneath a chuckle. "This is supposed to be fun, Prime. If anyone says anything, I'll be sure to kick their butts so hard they won't sit for a week." Resting her head back against his arm, she felt his muscle retract as he dropped her arm from his, instead lowering his hand to take hers within his own. She watched him interlace their fingers tightly, and he gave her hand the smallest squeeze.
She looked to the gesture, her eyes floating back up to him, only to find him smiling at her with a glint of humor in his eyes. "While I have full confidence in your ability to defend my honor," he was actually teasing her, "I believe it is customary for the male to fight on behalf of the female, not the other way around."
Miri snorted, her face splitting into a grin. "And what about any of this is customary, Optimus Prime?" She questioned him, moving out in front to turn and take both of his hands, guiding him towards the approaching entrance while walking backwards. Her brow lifted, as if she expected a rebuttal, though instead Optimus rushed her, grabbed her around the waist and drew her to him, Miri squeaking as she collided fully with his chest.
Surprised, she looked up to him with a gobsmacked expression, though she found his gaze focused behind her. One look over her shoulder explained why - she'd almost barreled into a mother bent over a stroller, handing out snacks to two toddlers and completely oblivious to her presence. Her heart settled back into its normal rhythm from its scattered state, and she felt Prime tighten his grip, lacing his hands together at the small of her back, a slight smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Miri felt the chuckle rise in his chest. "You never cease to amaze me, Miriana," he used her full name, it rolling deliciously off his tongue. "I have stood in the presence of stars and have not experienced such speechlessness." Her mouth fell open in mock offense, though she was genuinely surprised he'd compared her to constellations, though she refused to be made fun of.
Attempting to push away from him, she pressed a hand against this chest, which was futile. Optimus was as immovable as an oak. He just laughed and shook his head at her, tightening his grip as his brow wrinkled in a teasingly confused way. "And where do you think you're going?" His chuckle fell away beneath the jibe and she felt a burst of heat race down the length of her backbone, settling at the base of her spine.
She nodded with her head in the direction of the entrance. "I'm going inside," she reiterated with a stern, though teasing, tone. "Come on, Speechless, let's get in there - I'm practically ready to murder for a pretzel and beer." Easing back out of his arms, she turned and moved toward the entrance, his hand unwilling to part with hers as she produced their tickets, being waved inside swiftly.
It was a weekday, which meant the carnival grounds were not overly busy, though there were a fair amount of patrons milling about. However, the sounds of the carnival were more than loud enough, they were almost overbearing. Bells, music, the commotion of people, screaming children, the distant bay of animals from the barns; vehicles and neighborhood traffic, and the mechanical knocking of rides and attractions seemed to pound every sense that Miri had, though her eyes scanned the sea of activity with one goal in mind: food. Food first, then she'd torture Optimus with games before they milled around the livestock barns and rides.
One look at Prime told Miri that he was calculating the myriad of activity, his eyes scanning the crowd of people mercilessly, battle-honed instincts fully engaged. Briefly Miri had been worried the crush of activity would overwhelm the Autobot, but when she'd relayed her fears to Ratchet, the Autobot's CMO and Science Officer, he'd explained that not only would Optimus be able to handle the flurry of activity, but it would give him something else to mull over that wasn't government-and-Autobot-related affairs.
Looping her arm through his again, she gently nudged him away from the entrance, offering him a slow smile. "This way," she said, an air of leadership steeling her voice as she pointed onward. "I need food, and you, good sir, need a beer." Aware that the Autobots couldn't actually consume food that couldn't be broken down into fuel for their alternation modes, she'd checked with Ratchet that alcohol and water would be greenlit for Prime's consumption. A roll of his optics and a barking order to leave him alone had confirmed her suspicions.
Meandering their way down the midway and managing to ignore the calls of vendors and pestering carnival workers' plea for interaction, Miri had pulled Prime into the food court of the fair, which was buzzing with clientele - children were screaming and racing around after one another, while infants cried out for food, mothers and fathers attempting to ignore their offspring and consume a prepared meal in peace. With Optimus providing a formidlbe tower behind her, she'd ordered herself a pretzel and a water, before moving to the general direction of the beer gardens, plopping herself at a table.
Gesturing to her items, she nodded for Prime to sit. "You hold the table, I'll get booze," was her parting order, leaving Optimus to seat himself at the outdoor table in wait as she playfully saluted him and strolled off. He glanced around the area, noticing the perimeter of the fairgrounds had mostly been sectioned off from the rest of the neighborhood with temporary fencing, the carnival-employee quarters set up within walking distance of the grounds.
Prime was busy calculating the direction and distance of every viable exit before he snapped to attention, the body materializing across from him effortlessly and without warning. A rod may has well have been run through the back of the holoform, because he bolted to attention, studying the form across from him with a slightly narrowed, perturbed gaze. Suspicion raced through him, sending a bolt of alarm throughout the Peterbilt's frame. Prime channeled his focus into the holoform, as the woman smiled back at him, looking brazenly like something off the cover of a magazine - in a less...respectable manner.
It didn't pass his attention that she was beautiful; platinum blonde hair practically glistening down her form, hanging just past her breasts in a way that was almost hypnotic. She had the same type of eye wear that Miri always carried with her propped on the top of her head, and Optimus immediately noticed the darkness of her skin - sunkissed was the term that surfaced as he scanned the internet. He felt his spark hitch, almost unmoving as she smiled at him, lowering her lashes in a way that seemed sheepish, though intentional.
The woman's frame was slight and her face was chiseled beautifully, high cheekbones exaggerating eyes the color of emerald stones. Her lips were painted a interesting shade of blush that made them look wet, and her eyes were singing with applied cosmetics, giving her an awake, almost enchanting look about her. The low-cut nature of her threadbare shirt was immodest at best, if not alarming - but the way she was looking at him. Optimus had never before felt so inspected. She was so starkly different from the other femme humans he'd met - she was Miri's opposite, but in a unpleasant kind of way.
He was speechless when she opened her mouth, a small pink bubble exploding from between her lips. He blinked, uncertain of what to say. "Hi there," she spoke, a smile spreading across her features as her eyes flecked over him, considering his full presence. "You're much too cute to be sittin' over here by yourself, sugar."
Optimus immediately surmised the purpose of her presence, matching the slight accent of her voice with those around the area. She was a southern native, obviously, though the bejeweled, Confederate flag on the front her shirt was not the giveaway. The holoform straightened even more, if possible, and Optimus willed the heated Energon from his features at her direct address - he was a Prime. He didn't get flustered like this, especially under pressure. Miri was the only one who ever made his face warm with the presence of Energon, and she never did it intentionally.
He rested his hands on the table, folding them around themselves and willing himself to scan over the blonde's shoulder, in search of Miri. She was exchanging a smile with a carnival employee, laughing at something the individual had said, two absolutely massive stein's in either hand. The brunette was practically glowing with contentedness, and Prime couldn't withhold the smile that pulled at the corner of his mouth. She looked fulfilled, crisp...alive. It was stunning what just the sight of her did to his spark.
The woman across from him glanced over her shoulder, following his gaze. "Your girlfriend, hm?" Her tone was low and slow as she turned back to face him, something devious passing through her eyes. A darkness fell over her features, and her gaze fell over him again, lingering far longer than he would've appreciated. Even from across the table Optimus was able to identify a significant quantity of alcoholic indulgence on her breath, and he guessed she was beyond her senses - he leveled a stone look at her, giving her a wry smirk.
"She's..." He began, the thought drifting incompletely. It took him a moment to find the right terminology, though something in his core told him it wasn't entirely the right word to describe his relations with the Otten daughter. "Well, there's really no label for what we are, at present." He looked over the woman's shoulder again, his spark warming at the sight Miri dodging a pair of children racing across the court, yelling after one another.
Since the beginning of her working with the Autobots there had been something about her presence that had engrossed him; had pulled his spark in her direction more than once. He'd never felt as deeply as he had with anyone else, even on Cybertron, and that wasn't something a Cybertronian dismissed - the intentions of a spark were true and pure, and his had told him from the beginning that Miri was different. Something about her was right; right for him. He didn't fully understand it, but he knew that he trusted his spark - and his spark had been right about her from the beginning. While he wasn't certain what it meant at a complete scale, he would wait to see - his spark, and the Matrix, would reveal all in time.
He started to speak again when the woman reached across the table, resting her hand over his. She gently snaked it up his arm, her fingers curling against the holoform's skin, her gaze practically adhered to the formation of the holoform's musculature. Optimus had not ever before witnessed such blatant lust written across the face of a femme, and he never had expected to - though he suspected lust was not the only thing skipping through the woman's mind as her eyes lifted to find his, a telling smile pulling her lips slightly apart, her tongue lightly tracing her bottom lip.
"Well," her tone was low, slow, and ever so slightly chuckled, "maybe I can help you figure out what you aren't." It took the Prime a moment to fully ascertain what the blonde female had meant, though it did hit home in the core of his processor - and left him beyond speechless. Without words, unmoving, and mortified for her direct display of intention after his revelation of a working relationship, Optimus wasn't certain how to respond, much less if he was actually required to.
A declaration of interest in another sentient, on Cybertron, came with and understanding. On his home world, if two bots were engaged in the process of courtship, it was evident by the transferring of scent marking - a unique scent signature easily detected among others of their planet. If a couple carried each other's signature, it meant one of two things - either they were engaged in courtship, or the exchange of mutual data and the conjoining of their sparks, sparkbonding they called it, had occurred. One was easily discernible over the other - sparkbonding was a life-long commitment of bonding two sparks as one, until the death of both bots.
While bots could call off courtships at any time after determining compatible data was impossible, or for other extenuating circumstances, unfaithfulness was next to unheard of. Mechs and femmes simply didn't engage in interfacing or signature exchanges with multiple partners - it was more than taboo. One simply didn't "jump" partners while engaged in courtship processes with another - it was...reprehensible. Disloyal. Hurtful. Cybertronians felt and loved deeply as a race, and many pledged their lives to one singular individual. Entertaining disloyalty, even while in the beginning stages...he couldn't fathom it.
He didn't understand this. Is this how it is, on this planet? Despite my declarations, this femme is still making advances. Does she not understand...? It was such a foreign concept, this irreverence to the covenant of courtship. A sinking feeling dispelled in the core of his sparkchamber, and Optimus felt a speck of angered heat engaged in the depths of his fueling tanks at her dismissal of his involvement with Miri. He looked to her hand on his arm, and slipped his hands out from beneath hers, a serious look shadowing his face.
Her smile disappeared almost immediately. Prime's gaze moved passed her again to Miri, who came upon their table quickly, stein's proudly displayed in her hands. She made their table in three strides, her look of contenedness slowly ebbing away beneath a wrinkled and distressed look of confusion as she acknowledged the woman seated across from him. Flecking her eyes to him for the briefest second, she looked back to the blonde, the stein's finding the table less than gracefully - the contents sloshed over the sides and plopped onto the table, the alcohol swirling in a small tempest within the thick glass.
Miri leaned forward, putting her hands on the table, studying the space between the two of them. She'd noticed something was wrong as soon as the blonde woman had sat down, because Optimus never looked that composed around strangers unless something was awry. Even from across the courtyard she could feel a sinking feeling in the atmosphere, a sense of urgency boiling at the base of her spine - she'd wanted nothing more than to pitch both her steins at the newcomer and tell her to get lost, though she didn't imagine Optimus would find that very diplomatic.
Bronzed to the heavens and wearing enough foundation that would've rivaled God's firmaments in the ocean, she was every inch of the California golden girl Miri had suspected her to be. She couldn't help but notice the perfect S-curve of her body, or her toned legs and arms - the blonde was a beautiful specimen of female humanity, and it was written all over her expression as her eyes flecked over Miri's form, looking surprised while trying to save face.
Miri had seen the look before, when she'd been dating her ex-boyfriend, Erik. It was always the same: how-did-you-end-up-with-him?
The rival slowly, with practiced ease, draped one leg over the other and rested an arm on the table, bobbing her foot effortlessly. Miri noticed the expensive western boots right away, which extended straight up her leg and cut off just below the knee - engraved a spectacular white, they were accented in turquoise leather, with tassels that danced with ever flex of her leg. That, coupled with the belt buckle told Miri absolutely everything she needed to know about the entire situation - and she offered a slow smile to the girl seated next to her.
Buckle bunny, realization sang through her brain, I know exactly what you're after. And you won't get it. She could practically feel the glint of wickedness pass through her own eyes as she leveled a look over to Prime, who was completely oblivious to what was happening between the two females. Poor Prime. Always on the outside looking in, she suddenly had the image of a puppy dog, and she had to contain the pang of empathy she felt for him.
One look at his arms practically bulging out of the tactical t-shirt made her mouth go dry, and snatched away any picture of innocence. She was after the same thing the blonde woman was. Thankfully, she was on the upswing of the situation, and was about to send the woman into a burning frenzy of embarrassment. Revenge is oh so sweet - just how to exact said revenge.
The undercurrent of lusty heat was almost almost tangible, stirring poison beneath the brunette's tongue. She ran the muscle along the inside of her mouth and passed one of the stein's to Optimus, who intercepted it with an ease born from years of battle experience.
Swinging a leg over the table's bench seat, she lowered to straddle it, offering the woman the fakest smile she could muster. "Hi." Was all she offered, her tone light and crisp, dripping with animated, though entire masqueraded, sweetness. Another once over had the woman smiling back at her, lifting her hand to wiggle her fingers innocently, her chin lifting a fraction of an inch to peer down at the brunette.
Miri felt her bones rattle with something akin to irritation, though it was much deeper as it crashed with the anger in her gut. "Hi," was all the stranger offered back, her eyes moving back to study the holoform with an appreciative, half-lidded look. "You must be a friend," she commented coolly, deliberately ignoring the air of possession swirling about the situation.
Miri wasn't expecting the outright dismissal of her presence. Her brows popped to attention for only a moment as her spine snapped to attention, her chest flaring with jealous rage. Oh that's right...I'm not nearly as beautiful as you so of course I'm the 'friend.' What a cunt. She set her jaw, realizing the statement would not only fly in the face of her southern, Christian upbringing, but also render the mech, of whose attention she was desperately trying to maintain, utterly beside himself. Miri couldn't live with Prime being disappointed in her, so she swallowed the bitter comment.
Miri reached for her beer and took a long gulp of liquid courage, the cool drink stinging the words on her tongue. The alcohol hit her heated stomach immediately, tempering the rage that threatened to boil into her ribs. "Well, I guess you could say that," she set the stein back down, lifting her finger to trace around the rim of the heavy glass lazily, "but that doesn't explain why you're coming on to my friend here like a bitch in heat."
The air snapped to a thin attention, the woman bristling to her direct address of the elephant in the room. Her gaze dropped, and Optimus leveled a frown at Miri, then the blonde female. Obviously confused, he opened his mouth to speak, but Miri put up a hand, shook her head no, and gave the woman another cool, lidded look.
The blonde's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"
"Miriana," Prime's tone was dangerously warning, his baritone dropped into a rasping low that sent a chilled spike down her Miri's spine. She eyed him from corner of her eye, a teasing smile pulling at the corner of her mouth before she shot the woman a smirk.
Miri shrugged a shoulder. "You're excused," was her comment, before she lifted the drink again to take another chug. However, she paused mid-drink when the woman snapped up from the bench, glaring at her with a red hue blossoming across her dainty nose. Hands on her hips, she looked to Prime, thumbed over to Miri, and lifted a brow.
"What gives, honey?" the woman gestured to her with a hand. She pinned Optimus with a stern look. "You said you were friends."
Miri's brows snapped to attention, looking over the holoform, her mouth threatening to fall open. Friends? Is that what we are? Just...friends? Every fiber of her being seemed to come to a screeching halt, her blood freezing within her very veins. A sudden sense of fear paralyzed her as her brain began to manifest panic in its core - had she been wrong? About everything? Every advance, conversation? Had she fabricated this?
Something crashed into her ribcage that felt terribly similar to her heart, before it fell into the cavern of her stomach. Angry heat threatened to flare through her blood, but instead, a spread of cold fell over her so abruptly that Miri was certain her skin had developed goosebumps. A hundred different emotions emblazoned themselves in the back of brain, sending spiking messages down her spine that made her breath catch in her throat. A ball of energy staked itself a the base of her spine, threatening to explode through her bones.
The mere thought of a year's worth of feelings being nothing snatched any reason from inside her head. Inhaling sharply, her eyes darted over to Prime's form, who was looking so stunned and gobsmacked that it wasn't even hilarious, even for an Autobot. Drumming her fingers on the table top, her eyes zeroed in, for only a moment, on the soft curve of the holoform's upper lip stoking something deep within the pit of her gut. Suddenly she had an ache to taste him, her gaze not lifting from his mouth, her ovaries giving a strong clench of appreciation as her bottom lip curled inward.
Without thinking, and with a burst of speed born from desperation, she propelled herself across the table, dug her fingers into the holoform's tactical shirt, and crashed her mouth against Prime's. For a moment she saw stars, as a surge of relief chased down her spine, tingling every bone she could possibly fathom deep within her frame. Releasing a strong breath from her nose, she felt Optimus bristle, the coolness of his skin refreshing against the heat searing every pore on her body.
She pulled him closer, her fingers kneeding his shirt possessively to prove a point. Core trembling with trepidation, she curled her other hand against the table's top, the rough texture biting her skin unforgivingly. Her toes curled as he released a moan of something, the thrum of his spark almost heaving against her breastbone as Miri pressed closer to him. Her chest churned nervously, her jaw almost trembling.
While she'd kissed the Autobot on a number of occasions, she'd never so possessively, especially in front of anyone. Applying desperate pressure against his upper lip, seeking his consent, the holoform hesitated for a mere count, his breath low and slow as it fanned over her face. Prime's form pulled into a stiff pillar as if she'd shoved a rod through his spine, Optimus unmoving for the briefest moment. Her brow furrowed at his hesitation, sensing embarrassment for only a moment, and she did the only thing she could think - she curled her fingers against his bicep, releasing his shirt, and mustered up the courage to slip her tongue past his teeth, and into the chasm of his mouth.
He released a muffled gasp of surprise, which was more of a pleased rumble from his chest. Instantly he relaxed and grabbed at her elbow gently, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her farther against him. Her heart kicked into another gear, and for a moment she feared it would fall out of her body.
He was delectable. Tasting of smoke, grinding sparks, and something bitter that she'd never before experienced, Miri didn't care as she released a small sigh of appreciation as tip of his tongue gently teased her bottom lip. Heat curled in the pit of her stomach when he leaned dominantly forward, in the slightest of ways, his jaw firmly setting as he pulled at her upper lip. She released a gasp of surprise, the sensation sending a bolt of pleasurable heat through her bones. She could kiss him forever like this, and not feel an ounce of regret.
Then, his fingertips dipped beneath the hem of her t-shirt, ghosting the flesh at the small of her back. She squeaked in surprise, the sensation so overwhelming that she staggered. Her arm wobbled and she toppled, sucking in a sharp breath as goosebumps stormed over her frame, Optimus catching her around the waist with a thick arm. Effortless, he pulled her from across the table to his lap, her shaky arm snaking around his neck as she brushed her hair from her face, hoping that the blushed heat across her nose wasn't as evident as it felt.
Optimus was smiling at her with a lidded look, his gaze unmoving from her as she looked away, embarrassed at her display. Her breathing came in uneven gulps as she shook her hair over her shoulder, lifting her hand to clasp her wrist, her eyes attaching to his gaze. He held her attention fully a few moments, his expression nothing but genuine. He wasn't embarrassed, or nervous - he hadn't even been phased. They'd just made out in a public venue and the Autobot Commander, ever the picture of sobriety, hadn't even flinched.
Miri, for a moment, forgot the blonde was there staring at them, her mouth slack jawed open just enough to look slightly ridiculous. Prime must've felt the weight of her stare because his eyes flecked from Miri's to the woman, a sober though pleased look on his face. She could feel his spark thrumming solidly against her ribcage as she rested against him. A sigh of contentedness fell through her chest, and she looked to the woman, her nose wrinkling playfully.
"Does that answer your question?" she giggled, Prime's laugh resonating solidly in her ear.
The blonde rolled her eyes and spun on her heel, dismissing the pair as she talked off, her blonde waves bobbing behind her as she retreated into the crowd. Miri watched her go only momentarily, before Prime shifted slightly beneath her, drawing her attention back to him. Looking down to the lack of space between them, she bit the inside of her cheek and gestured to the spot next to him.
"My point has been made. You can put me down now, Optimus." Another veil of color dusted her nose, feeling ridiculous that Optimus had been holding her so long. However, a low chuckle erupted from within his chest as he tightened his hold around her middle, giving her a lazy shrug of his shoulder as his gaze lowered into a cool, lidded look.
"I've taken it under advisement," he paused purposefully, glanced to the sky, and shook his head dismissively. "But upon further consideration, I've decided this proximity suits the moment just fine." Her brows popped to attention and she nodded slowly, noticing that his eyes flecked back down to her mouth, which curled into a half smile. He gave her middle a squeeze, and Miri found herself wishing, momentarily, that he'd never stop.
"Is that right?" she teased him, nodding to the beer discarded to the side. Lifting it, she pulled a drink before setting it back to the furniture's surface."Do I get any say in this, or do I just surrender any form of resistance?"
He hummed appreciatively into her ear, his lips dusting the cartilage as his nose buried into her hair. "While full surrender is advised," this produced a snort from her, which made his entire frame shake as he chuckled into her ear once more, "I will accept a show of truce." He reached up and took her chin between his fingers, angling her face toward his.
Then, he released her middle and lifted his free hand to pull at the hair tie at the finish of her braid, releasing it fully to toss it on the table. His fingers delicately entwined within the strands, separating the twists gently with purpose before he pulled his fingers fully through the mass, fingering them gently at the ends. Then, he pulled them forward over her shoulder, his fingertips brushing against the exposed skin where her off-the-shoulder t-shirt had fallen, a rush of goosebumps dancing across her frame.
"Optimus Prime," she giggled, her lips a mere breath from his own, "you are a tease if there ever was one." Before he could draw her into another kiss, she leaned in, quickly kissed the corner of his mouth, and swung herself off of his lap, her boots planting in the dirt swiftly as her hands lingered over his chest. She scrambled to stand behind, pressing against the strength of his back with her middle.
Lifting her fingers to his hair, she ran them through his ebony locks, and he tipped his head back to stare at her. She tipped her head to the side, her hair falling back over her shoulder as she stared into his glowing eyes, which were dark with an appreciated possessiveness she'd never seen before. His gaze studied every plane of her face as she smiled down at him, before she reached for her formerly abandoned pretzel, taking an exaggerated bite of it. Miri waggled her brows at him teasingly, Prime's face splitting into a grin before he released a gruff laugh.
"You still think I'm embarrassed to be seen with you?" she sang, teasing him entirely. However, the sober look on his face indicated he'd taken the statement seriously, and she froze. She opened her mouth mouth to stumble for a recovery, but he beat her to it.
He righted, spun on the bench, and with a speed born from battle, reached out and placed his hands on her hips, steadying her as she took another bite of the pastry. She squeaked, threw her shoulders back in surprised, and her brows popped to attention as he stared down into her face with all the seriousness she knew the Autobot leader possessed. Holding her steadily, his grip tightened on her waist and he pulled ever so closer, her chest brushing against his.
"Never," he said sternly, his voice stalwart with strength. "How could I be, after your gross display of affection?" He was serious only for a moment, though his lips twisted into a grin that made her frown playfully at him.
She watched him, mystified for only a second. The jibe solidified in her brain and she finished off the snack, and was about to wipe the lingering butter and grease from her lips with the pad of her thumb when Optimus lowered his head, and pressed his mouth against her upper lip, fully surprising her. She almost staggered, but his grip was steadying, and in a breath his tongue dusted her top lip, and he withdrew. A soft groan emulated in his chest, shaking her ribs as he pressed her close.
She blinked at him, stunned. He was grinning again, a smug look of victory on his face. She smacked at his bicep, which was like steel, and stepped away from him. "You are a bold one, aren't you?" She said to him, her voice lifting an octave in mock suspicion. "But, tell me, this, traveler of the stars - are you brave enough to take on a Ferris wheel?"
His face sudden contorted into a confused twist. "A what?"
She threw her head back, laughed, and moved by him to retrieve both the steins of beer. Handing him the untouched one, she nodded with her head in the direction of the midway, sidling up to him to snake an arm through his once again. Pulling him into the crowd of people, she felt him lift his hand slightly to find hers, again interlacing his fingers amidst her own in a gesture of intimacy that almost killed her.
"Come on, Prime," she stood on her toes and whispered into his ear. "Let me show what the fair is really all about."