Chapter 8: Unexpected Visitor

Orianna P.O.V

I had been sitting on the lounge in my comfy old navy tracksuit pants and faded grey top, absentmindedly watching some stupid soap opera, more for background noise than for interest. I was sat in darkness, the t.v the only source of light, as I munched away on some buttered popcorn.

As I was licking the excess buttery goodness off my fingers, I heard what could only be the sound of a large semi-truck rumbling down the street and slowing out the front of my building. I almost choked on the handful of popcorn I was about to swallow. A flash of adrenaline tore through me. ''Holy shit! That's not..'' I shot to my feet, almost spilling the remaining contents of my bowl onto the floor as I darted over to the curtains and peeled them back cautiously.

There, sat out the front of my apartment in the street, was a very large red and blue flame decaled truck that shone magnificently under the streetlights. Its powerful engine rumbling away as if it seemed to be waiting for something. /Well why don't you just open the sliding door and find out why he is here you idiot!?/, I mentally chided myself as my fingers worked to unlock the door and slide it open.

Stepping out into the evening air I leant on the railing of my balcony and called out to the figure below. ''Optimus?'' Apart from his engine cutting out, he gave no indication he had heard me. ''What are you doing here?'' He likely picked up on the surprise and shock in my voice. A split second later, the panels on his form began to shift and fold to reveal his bipedal robot form kneeling in the kerb.

He rose to his pedes and turned about to step over and kneel under my balcony. I felt my hands subconsciously move to cover as much of my daggy old clothes as possible. /Sure. NOW he makes house calls when I am in my comfy old sweats!/. A pair of brilliant azure optics fixed themselves on me and a voice that resonated deep within me rumbled to life. ''Hello Orianna. I decided to take your advice. My apologies if I startled you.'' If he was curious about my somewhat disheveled appearance, he refrained from saying anything.

I blinked rapidly at him. ''My advice? What are you talking about Prime?''

The corners of his metal dermas curved up into a small smile. ''You appear to have forgotten that over a year ago you warned me of the dangers of failing to live by a work-life balance,'' comprehension slowly dawned on me as the conversation flashed through my mind. The impressive mech before me shuttered his optics as he tilted his helm in amusement. ''You suggested I try to strike more of a work-life balance by partaking in things that bring me enjoyment and are fun, as opposed to working all the time.''

I raised a brow at him. ''Oh really? And what would be things that bring you enjoyment and fun Optimus? You never did get a chance to tell me.''

Prime's smile broadened as he regarded me. ''Well, there are several things that come to mind Orianna, but I had thought my presence at your domicile just now might indicate that spending time in your company might rate as one such thing.''

I felt my heart constrict and all the air in my lungs was pushed out. My eyes blinked rapidly as I worked my mouth silently. My cheeks must have looked an interesting shade of red as I reached out to the railing for extra support. ''Oh,'' was all I managed to say. /This is NOT helping me get over him and move on when he says shit like that!/. Internally I was screaming in frustration. /The worst thing is he doesn't even know what he is doing to me when he says things like that/. I closed my eyes and ex-haled quietly in a bid to centre myself. Though the action was not lost on Prime.

''Perhaps I should not have turned up unannounced? You seem - unhappy - to see me.'' Prime shuttered his optics as his smile faded slightly, something akin to disappointment permeating his voice.

''NO!'' I bolted upright from the rail, a hand reaching out imploringly towards him. ''It's not that at all Prime. It's just, I wasn't expecting to see you here, tonight – right now.'' I grabbed hold of my track suit pants and top, ''As you can tell by my attire.'' My voice held some deprecation to it.

''Orianna I do not care what clothes you are wearing,'' his optics shone with mirth as he gently reprimanded me. ''I have not come to spend time with your outfit.''

I found myself laughing. ''Well, that is a good thing, or you would be sorely disappointed.'' I sighed out loud. ''Prime I am very happy to see you, and I'm sorry if I gave you the impression otherwise.'' His smile returned. I moved closer towards him, leaning forward conspiratorially. ''So, you mean to tell me that you willingly stopped work, work that had not been finished, to do something fun and spontaneous?''

Prime nodded his regal helm, the smile on his dermas somehow reaching his optics. ''As hard as it may be to believe, yes Orianna, that is affirmative.''

I shook my head in disbelief. ''Well, there is one for the record books! See Prime. I told you first time for everything!'' I clapped my hands together. ''Well, what would you like to do?''

Prime tilted his helm in the opposite direction. ''What is it you were doing before I arrived?''

/Daydreaming about how wonderful it would be to be wrapped up in your arms watching tv as you placed kisses../, is what ran through my mind. Out loud I replied, ''Ah nothing really. Just eating some popcorn and watching a stupid soap opera on tv.''

''I see. Is that something you like to do for fun Orianna?'' He sounded genuinely interested in what it was I did to relax and have fun.

I shrugged my shoulders. ''Sometimes. I enjoy watching movies and tv. Especially if it is raining and miserable weather.''

Prime looked thoughtful for a moment. ''Perhaps we can watch a movie together. I have never watched a movie, or tv for that matter. I might enjoy it.''

I looked at him perplexed for a moment. ''Ahh, I'm not sure you will fit in here on my sofa Prime. That would be..''

He shook his helm, an interesting smirk on his dermas. ''No Orianna. As much as I would love to be able to enter your domicile and sit with you on your sofa, I was thinking more the open-air movie theatre they have here on the island.''

For a moment the image of Prime cuddling into me on my sofa teasingly darted through my mind and I physically shook my head to banish the idea. ''Ahh, yeah, Of course. I totally forgot about that.'' I furrowed my brow. ''I don't even know what is on, but I think if we hurried, we might make the 8pm showing of whatever is on.''

''Sounds good Orianna. Let's go,'' Prime started to rise to his pedes.

I snorted and called out to him, ''Hang on a sec Prime! You gotta give me a chance to change into something a little more respectable than this.'' I once again pointed accusingly to my sweats. I shook my head at him, ''It's easy for you Transformers. You can get away with wearing the same ''outfit'' all the time. We humans are kind of expected to switch things up a little. If only for hygienic purposes.''

Prime e-vented softly, his voice dropping to a low rumble. ''My apologies Orianna. I had forgotten that necessity amongst humans.''

I smiled at him, ''No worries Prime. Just give me a few minutes to get ready and I'll be down.'' I didn't wait for him to reply. Turning on my heels, I headed inside, a multitude of butterflies winging their way silently around my stomach.

Moments later I emerged from my apartment dressed in a floral print, knee length summery dress and a pair of nude peep toe sandals. I had managed to slap some make up on but decided not to over do it. /You're not a bloody date for fuck's sake OC!/. Besides, I doubted Prime would even notice the effort given he was a sentient robot from another planet.

As I walked towards the patiently waiting semi-truck, clutching my purse and a cardigan, I felt nervous anticipation welling up inside me. I found myself taking a deep breath as I reached for the driver's side door, which automatically popped open for me. /Right. Forgot about that/. For a brief second, I regretted my choice in attire as I began to hoist myself up into the rig carefully.

''I was beginning to think you had changed your mind Orianna,'' the smooth, deep voice teased me.

As I settled into the cabin, I tapped the dashboard. ''It is a woman's prerogative Prime to take her time when getting ready to go out. It is indeed also a woman's prerogative to change her mind.'' I smirked to the disembodied presence that surrounded me. ''Something I may still do if you insist on teasing me.''

There was a light chuckle in reply. ''Understood.'' My stomach knotted tightly at the the way his voice rolled over me, surrounded me. ''You look lovely Orianna.''

The temperature within the cabin suddenly increased ten-fold and I found myself ducking my head in both embarrassment and in a vain attempt to hide the massive grin that spread across my face. /I stand corrected/. ''Thanks Prime. That's very kind of you to say.'' I chuckled out loud as an amused thought crossed my mind. ''You know, you would earn extra brownie points if you were on a date for such a compliment Optimus.'' The moment the words left my lips, I felt myself sink down into the brown leather seat slightly. /Why. The. Fuck. Did. You. Just. Say. That?/.

''I was simply stating a fact Orianna,'' there was a brief pause as the powerful engine rumbled to life and we pulled away from the kerb. Just as I began to relax a little thinking Prime had either ignored my comment or not understood it, his voice tentatively asked a question that caused my heart to cease functioning and my hand to almost fly to the door handle of its own volition. ''What is a date exactly Orianna and does this classify as one?''