Chapter 24: Back to normal?

Prime P.O.V

''Remind me again why I chose to come and live on a tropical island?'' Orianna panted out loud as she hefted the last of the crates of supplies from the pallet into the storage facility.

I smiled down at my dear friend. ''Because you were an orphan who had no other living arrangements and you found a sense of connection with Major Lennox, Epps and my Autobots.'' Orianna wiped the glistening beads of perspiration from her forehead and face as she leaned heavily against the doorway. I folded my arms across my chest as I leant casually, and carefully, against the building. ''As I recall, you practically begged Lennox to allow you to accompany us to Diego Garcia so you could take up a position here as an unofficial Autobot Liaison.'' The corners of my dermas curved up into a teasing smile.

''Ah hunh,'' Orianna nodded as she stared up at me and shrugged her shoulders. ''Well, maybe I should have Googled where Diego Garcia was before I decided to tag along.'' She scrunched her face up in mild distaste. ''And would we use the word ''beg'' Optimus?''

I grinned down at her as I nodded my helm. ''I believe the word is appropriate Orianna given how strongly you advocated to..''

Orianna snorted at me and waved her hand dismissively. ''Puh! Yeah, yeah Big Guy. I think we have established how pathetic I am.'' She began to close the door behind her.

I pushed off the wall and knelt, leaning towards her. Orianna turned about and gasped as she came face to face with me. ''Not pathetic Orianna,'' I blinked my optics. ''Lonely perhaps, but there is nothing pathetic in seeking companionship and family. And certainly nothing pathetic in being so open and honest with those you care about.''

Orianna's eyes seemed to sweep over my face before she nodded and smiled. Dipping her head, she worried her lower lip. ''Optimus before, when you said I had a sense of connection with Lennox, Epps and your Autobots, you didn't mention yourself.'' She swept her long, damp, black locks of hair into a tight bunch in one hand, deftly tying it up with some sort of elastic band into what she called a ''pony tail.'' Her appearance seemed to change when she did this, her cheeks seemed more defined and her neck seemed longer when the entire expanse of her shoulders were exposed. Orianna rarely did this with her hair, preferring to let it fall casually about her face. She looked up at me as she once again bit her lower lip, her voice was almost hesitant when she spoke. ''Did… or do you not think we have a connection like the others?'' She looked down at her feet as she shuffled awkwardly awaiting my response.

/How could she even think that! Have my actions these past few months not shown her how much I care for her?/. I reached a digit out to place under her chin and urged her to look at me. /I guess sometimes everyone needs reassurance/. ''Orianna,'' I shook my helm, ''No, I do not.'' She gasped out loud and a look of utter shock and pain flickered across her face as she closed her eyes tightly. I chuckled. ''I believe our connection is far stronger.'' Her eyes flew open and she beamed brightly up at me as I smiled fondly down at her.

Orianna shoved my digit with her hand. ''Bloody hell Prime! You sure know how to give a woman a heart attack.'' She shook her head as a strange expression settled on her face. ''I'm glad you said that.''

''Orianna…'' I ran my digit gently down the side of her face as she reached out to grasp it in her hand.

''There you are!'' Lennox's voice erupted off to my right and I turned my helm towards him as he and Jazz came striding towards us, massive grins on their respective faces.

Orianna released my digit and took a step or two back from me, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. ''Hey Lennox. Jazz. What's up?'' She seemed to ground the greeting out in annoyance.

Lennox paused as he seemed to notice Orianna's flushed face and appearance. ''Well,'' he had a teasing tone in his voice, ''someone looks all hot and bothered! What have you been up to with Prime here?'' Jazz chuckled beside him, his visor flashing in amusement.

Orianna's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at Major Lennox and Jazz. Her cheeks appeared to turn a deeper shade of crimson as she glared at them, though she refrained from speaking. I shuttered my optics. ''Orianna has just finished unloading the last of the crates of supplies into the storage facility Major Lennox. I assisted where possible but I am afraid most of the work fell to Orianna to complete and it is a rather warm day today and Ori..''

''He's just teasing Prime,'' Orianna spoke up, a dismissive tone in her voice. ''As hard as it can be, you just have to learn to ignore people like him sometimes. Whadda ya want Lennox, Jazz?'' She folded her arms across her chest and eyed them carefully. I felt my optical ridge crinkle in confusion at the unusual exchange unfolding before me.

Lennox held his hands up before him and chuckled. ''Guilty as charged OC and nothing's up. Just came to see if you had finished with your task and to see if I could interest you in a trip to that beach by the Med Bay?'' Lennox came to stand beside OC, placing an arm around her shoulder as he leaned in conspiratorially. ''You know, the one where you and I had that moment..''

Orianna's mood changed swiftly as she rolled her eyes and punched Lennox playfully in the shoulder as she scoffed at him. ''What? The moment where I succeeded in dunking your arse in the water when you were being a dick?''

I shuttered my optics as I processed this information, and the interesting interaction between Orianna and Lennox. It had been wonderful that over the past several weeks things had seemingly gone back to normal with Orianna once again hanging out as she used to. The only difference now was that Lennox seemed to spend more time with her than before. /I guess it stands to reason, they have always gotten along, and he was the one she ended up confiding in/. A small flash of irritation washed over me, and I pushed it aside, focusing on the exchange before me.

''I was being the dick? I wasn't the one using their feminine wiles and flirting big time to distract me….''

''Hey guys!'' Jazz called out, ''while whatcha talkin' about sounds pretty interestin', how about ya finish it down at tha beach? I gotta steal Prime away for a moment ta go over tha duty rosters for tha comin' week.''

I groaned internally.

Lennox looked down at Orianna, squeezed her shoulders tight. ''How about it OC? Shall we continue this conversation at the beach?''

Orianna nodded, a large grin on her face as Lennox released her shoulders and started to walk off. ''As long as you're prepared to be out argued – again Lennox!''

''Bring it OC!'' Lennox looked up at me, ''See ya Prime! Sucks ta be you right now, but hey, maybe you can come and join us afterwards. Surely Jazz won't detain you that long? Right Jazz?'' Lennox threw my 2IC a quick glance.

''Nah man, I'll make sure I don't take too much a Prime's valuable time an' send him right on after ya!'' Jazz smiled down at Lennox.

''Great!'' Lennox continued to walk away in the direction of his car. He stopped and looked back at Orianna, ''Oh and OC, bring your swimmers, you might need to go for a swim,'' he quickly glanced her up and down and winked at her. ''You look hot.''

Orianna rolled her eyes and extended her middle finger at him, though she was laughing at him. Lennox grinned up at me and nodded. ''Prime.''

I nodded my helm in reply, ''Major.'' My optics narrowed as I watched him disappear in the direction he came. /How odd?/. I had never seen the Major act in such an informal and bold manner around Orianna.

Beside me Orianna sighed out loud as she clapped her hands together. 'Well Prime, I better get going. Thanks for, ya know hanging out.'' She smiled hopefully up at me. ''I hope you can come and join us down at the beach when you're finished looking at the duty roster. It'd be nice to just chill with you and Lennox and hey, Jazz, why don't you come too?''

Jazz laughed and shook his head. ''While that sounds nice hangin' with ya lil' lady, an' Lennox too, tha thought a sand in ma gears doesn't sound too appealin'. I think I'll pass.''

Orianna shrugged her shoulders. ''Ah well, suit yourself Jazz, but you're missing out? Right Optimus? Our beach is beautiful.''

I stared at her for a moment, ''Yes Orianna. It is indeed.''

''Well, I'm off. I'll see ya round Jazz. And Prime?'' She pinned me with a serious gaze.

''Yes Orianna?'' I replied, still somewhat puzzled by this turn of events.

''I'll see you later?'' She arched an eyebrow at me.

''Perhaps Orianna. Enjoy your time with Major Lennox,'' I rose to my pedes again and nodded my helm at her as I turned to Jazz who seemed to look past me towards Orianna and he smiled. /Definitely odd/.

''See ya!'' and with that, Orianna walked off towards her beloved Relda and headed in the direction of our beach.

Jazz ex-vented softly and produced said duty roster. ''Sorry Prime. But necessary evil. I'll be as quick as possible. I promise.''

I nodded my helm in understanding. ''Jazz?''

''Yeah Prime? Whas up?'' He lowered the roster as he gave me his full attention.

''Did any of that interaction seem well - odd - to you?'' I furrowed my brow in consternation.

Jazz shrugged his shoulders, ''Well, apart from the fact you were noticeably quiet during the conversation, nah. Not really. Why?'' He fixed his visored face on mine intently.

I shifted on my pedes and shuttered my optics as I recalled snippets of the conversation. ''Lennox. He seemed, not himself and overly demonstrative to Orianna and she…'' I shook my helm as I took a step towards my 2IC, tapping his shoulder strut. ''Forget it, Jazz. Perhaps I misinterpreted something. Please,'' I gestured, indicating we should walk and talk. ''Now. Let's look at the roster.''