Chapter 28: As it Should Be….

Prime P.O.V

''Don't forget to breathe!''

The feel of her hand moving down my back, those soft, warm lips of hers brushed against my ear before I felt them on my cheek as Orianna kissed me. To say I had not been expecting it would be an understatement. It had both shocked, annoyed, disconcerted and excited me in equal measure and I had found myself floundering in how best to respond - and that in and of itself, concerned me.

Though brief in its duration, I had not experienced such a display of physical contact since Elita and certainly not from a human female. I did not know what course of action to take and so I decided it was prudent to make some sort of excuse and retreat. Regrouping until I had better control of my emotions, was able to analyse the situation, how I felt about it and how best to proceed without hurting Orianna.

I ex-vented softly as I recalled that moment between us. At first, I had been shocked as I had been so intensely focused on hitting my target and proving to Orianna the importance of ignoring extraneous distractions. However, as soon as I heard her voice whisper in my ear and felt her lips on my cheek, I lost all focus as strange sensations flooded my systems. Intense pleasure and intense shock fought within me. In that moment, I knew my last few shots had strayed from their mark and the final bullet had missed the target entirely.

I had rounded on her, anger and annoyance seeming to jostle for attention within me. Such a personal infringement on my space seemed an underhanded thing to do in that situation given the nature of our challenge. But when I looked at her face, her eyes as they stared so intensely into mine, those lips and when I recalled how they had felt against my cheek, I found myself wanting to feel it again. An excitement, an almost need to have her touch me like that again tore through me and yet, it was the realisation of this need that gave me pause.

Even though I was in my holo form, that of a human male, and in that state, I was disposed to the normal physiological responses of a male, I should not want to kiss Orianna! /She was a human female. It was not a logical reaction to have given I was a Transformer/. The fact I had even thought to do this, the strength of my desire to do so in that moment, was very disconcerting indeed, and I found myself trying desperately to remove myself from the situation. /From her/.

A feeling of shame washed over me yet again as I recalled the manner in which I departed. Orianna had looked so confused, hurt, and lost at my reaction. /Or perhaps I had frightened her?/. I wanted to say so many things to her in that moment and yet I could not seem to form a coherent though in my processor as I stood wordlessly before her.

As I drove away from her, I debated heading to the Med Bay to speak with Rachet and inform him of what had happened between us and my subsequent reaction and seek his counsel. But as I drew nearer, I decided against that course of action. Rachet would likely admonish me for how I behaved and for my illogical reaction and thoughts. He might also reproach Orianna for having taken the action in the first place, despite the fact it had only been to distract me and help her win her bet. I was certain she had not meant anything by it, and I did not want her to experience Rachet's ire because of her innocent choice.

In the end I had found my way to our beach. I had retreated to the relative comfort it provided as I sought to make sense of what had just happened. I had sat that day watching the eddies and swirls of the current crash into the rocks before the wave washed up on the shore and sank silently and peacefully into the sand. At first, it appeared there was turbulent motion, an almost violent attempt on the wave's behalf to stop its course, before its energy petered out and it almost calmly accepted its fate on the shore.

I had smiled to myself then as I had made a startling comparison between the waves and my own present state of mind. My reaction to Orianna's innocent kiss had been much like the wave crashing into the rock. I fought it, it created turbulence and a chaotic reaction within me for a variety of reasons. Yet once I accepted it for what it was, an innocent action of a friend to win a bet, I began to feel somewhat calmer and accepting. Although it had been wholly unexpected, it was not something to shun nor was it unforgivable or distasteful. It was simply a moment, and one not likely to be repeated.

I had come to the realisation there was no reason for me to avoid Orianna or take her to task for what she did. While I was still unsure as to why I felt the desire to return it, I simply decided it was a purely physical response to a stimuli I had not experienced in an exceptional amount of time and nothing more. /I would definitely have to be more guarded when in my holoform/.

I felt a smile spread across my dermas as my thoughts drifted back to the present moment and I focused on the woman in question, as she stood smiling and laughing on the beach before me. There had been an awkward day or two immediately following the incident, during which time we both seemed to be avoiding each other as we thought of what to say. In the end we had both attempted to apologise to the other at the same time and had ended up laughing about it. We seemed to have reached a mutual, silent agreement to just continue as we had before.

''That was clearly a foul!'' Orianna's voice drew my attention back to the scene and the people before me. ''Open your damn eyes Lennox, or better yet, get them checked!''

''After you OC! Epps, keep your teammate in check!'' Lennox had taunted her across the net.

''Hey man, she calls it as she sees it and I tend ta agree with her. No point.'' Epps had smiled broadly back at his friend as he collected the ball.

''Prime!'' Lennox had shouted out to me. ''What do you say? Was it a foul or not?''

I tilted my helm at him as they all looked in my direction. ''Forgive me Major Lennox. I did not happen to see the shot. I was - distracted.'' Orianna had smirked at me and my choice of words. Folding her arms across her chest, she cast me a pointed ''look'', which I ignored.

Lennox groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. ''Fine. Whatever!'' he turned his attention back to his teammate. ''Come on Liv! They are up by two points we gotta shut 'em down. Bring the rain!''

I shuttered my optics as I watched Major Lennox, Orianna, Epps and another female from N.E.S.T, Olivia Winters, resume playing volleyball on our beach. Orianna had invited me down here as part of a work-life balance break and I had accepted thinking it would be just her and I. However, shortly after arriving I discovered that was not to be the case.

I had felt a flash of annoyance at the intrusion of the others on my time with Orianna, but had decided to stay and watch their game, mainly at the instance of Orianna. She had suggested I use my holoform to show them all up, but I had simply laughed and declined, citing I did not have the clearance to activate my holoform for a volleyball match in front of personnel not prepped for its existence.

I narrowed my optics as I watched Orianna and Lennox continue to tease each other through the net. I had noticed that over the past few months ever since Orianna had seemingly gotten over whatever had been causing her to avoid us, Lennox and Orianna seemed to be spending more time with each other. They seemed to be growing closer and I noticed how Lennox would look at her when she wasn't aware he was watching. /Perhaps it had something to do with her attire?/. Orianna was wearing something she referred to as swimmers, articles of clothing people wore when engaging in water activities. I noted with interest that swimmers tended to reveal more flesh than most people, especially Orianna, usually had on display. Given how different Orianna's appearance was in her midnight blue swimmers, it was understandable how Lennox may have been distracted by such a change.

I once again cast my optics out at the swirling waters around the rocks as I felt a sudden change in my emotions. I had felt almost angry and annoyed at Lennox in that moment and I was at a loss as to why. He was simply spending time with his friend as I often did.

''Yeeesssss! We win!'' Orianna's triumphant and jubilant shout once again snapped me back to the moment. She was pumping the air with her fist and gave Epps a high five. ''Better luck next time Liv!'' She waved across the net. ''Suck on that Lennox!'' She flipped him the middle finger as she grinned at him.

All at once Lennox exploded across the sand, ducking under the net, and charging towards Orianna. ''Oh, you've done it now OC! Look out!'' Olivia called out as she laughed out loud.

I furrowed my brow as I watched Orianna scream in apparent fear and excitement as she laughed and tried to run towards me. ''Prime! Help me!''

''Oh no you don't!'' Lennox had grabbed hold of her around the waist and hoisted her onto his shoulders. ''Prime can't help you now OC,'' I rose to my pedes and took a step towards them, preparing to intervene if I needed to. ''You brought this on yourself being a smart arse.'' He marched towards the water as Orianna screamed and flailed about in his grasp.

''PRIME!'' Orianna screamed once more imploringly as she felt the water splash up about her face, her arm stretched out towards me. ''HEEELL…''

Her voice was silenced as Lennox threw her bodily into the water and she disappeared beneath the waves.

Lennox threw his head back and howled in laughter and I stood there, silently observing. Seconds later, Orianna erupted to the surface, gasping loudly, and running her hands through her long black hair, flicking it back and out of her face. Despite what had just taken place, she did not look angry. She was smiling and laughing as she waded towards Lennox with her hands up. ''Truce!'' she laughed as he reached out and pulled her into his bare chest, embracing her before wrangling her into a playful head lock as they walked back up the beach.

I tilted my helm towards them, confused by what I had come to know about Orianna and how she reacted to certain situations. Lennox's actions just now should have made her angry, would have ordinarily made her angry. And yet….

In that moment it occurred to me as I stood watching them. /Lennox had been right about it being a love thing! Orianna had indeed been in love with someone. Turns out it was him!/. I ex-vented deeply as I nodded my helm to myself and turned to walk away. It was a good match. Lennox had many fine qualities, they cared for each other and were good friends, despite their constant ribbing. A strong friendship was always the best basis for a good and lasting relationship. /At least I found that to be the case/, the ghost of a smile played on my dermas as memories of my Elita flitted through my processor.

''Hey Prime?'' Orianna's voice halted my retreat. I turned to face her. ''Where are you going? We're about to have a picnic of sorts,'' she reached her hand up and wrung the water out of her long hair as Lennox came to stand beside her. ''Don't you wanna stay and join us?''

''Yeah Prime. Surely you have some energon rations stashed away you can have? How about it Big Guy?'' Lennox smiled up at me.

I shook my helm. ''Negative Lennox. Which reminds me I need to replenish my personal rations of energon.'' I shuttered my optics as I looked at them both. ''I appreciate the invitation Orianna, but I feel I must return to my work. I have taken a long enough break and there are things I must see to.'' I smiled down at them both. ''Please, stay and enjoy your picnic together.''

''Suit yourself Big Guy, but you're missing out!'' Lennox nodded towards me before he turned to head back towards Epps and Olivia. ''Come on OC. I'll save you a spot near me.'' He had winked at her before he continued down the beach to where Epps and Olivia were setting up some sort of cloth on the ground.

Orianna had remained standing before me, regarding me quietly, an almost sad expression on her face. ''Is… is it because of what happened that day? You don't want to be arou…''

''No Orianna!'' I interrupted her abruptly. I shook my helm earnestly as I knelt before her. ''It has nothing to do with - that,'' she seemed to relax somewhat. ''I simply have work I need to attend to and you,'' I nodded towards the small group on the beach, ''have a ''life'' to attend to. Part of the balance, isn't it?'' I smiled down at her.

She smiled weakly back up at me. ''I guess so Prime.'' She bit her lip as she looked between the group and back at me. ''Maybe I'll see you later?''

I nodded my helm as I rose to my pedes once more. ''Maybe. Go. Enjoy your picnic with your friends Orianna, they are waiting.'' I smiled once more down at her before I turned on my pedes and began walking back up the beach towards the tree line and the small road that led to Hanger 1.

And yet, as I walked away to find Jazz and Ironhide to go over reports, my spark felt different. It didn't hurt, but it didn't feel like it normally did. It simply - ached. A dull, throbbing ache. I raised a servo to rub at my chest, trying to soothe the ache as I pushed through the tree line. ''How strange'' I murmured to myself as I followed the small gravel road, the ache subsiding with each step I took. /I shall have to schedule a medical exam with Rachet/, I thought to myself, /I am clearly in need of some maintenance/.