Chapter 82: Claimed

Prime P.O.V

I tilted my helm as I regarded her carefully. Her long black and red locks hung loosely about her tanned shoulders. She wore a flowing, short sleeved, pale blue dress covered in small floral patterns that grazed her mid-calf and clung to her curves in a way that was very pleasing to the optics. She looked beautiful.

/And she was with someone else/.

I only just refrained from groaning out loud at the thought. Instead, I smiled down at her warmly and nodded. ''I am glad I could help salvage some of your evening Orianna.'' Without another word, I initiated my transformation sequence and popped my passenger side door open for her.

I felt Orianna's hand grasp my doorhandle as she hauled herself up and into my cabin with a surprising amount of grace given her attire. As she settled herself into the seat, I activated my holoform. ''Where would you like me to take you Orianna?'' I asked as I placed my hands upon my own steering wheel.

Orianna started slightly at the unexpected appearance of my holoform. ''Whoa! Isn't that kind a weird,'' she nodded at my hands, eyeing them and then me with a cautious glance.

I laughed out loud as I shifted the gears, and my cabin began to slowly reverse out of the hanger. ''Well, not to me Orianna, but I can understand how you might be perturbed by the image.'' My engine rumbled loudly as I came to a stop and shifted the gears again, moving forward and out of sight of the hanger – and Major Lennox. I turned to look at her, an eyebrow raised. ''Would you prefer I deactivated my holoform?''

''NO!'' She burst out abruptly and shook her head. ''I mean, you can you if want, but I don't mind looking at you.''

I gave her a sideways glance as I grasped the wheel tightly. Her blood pressure began to climb rapidly, and her pulse quickened as she closed her eyes and bit her lip. Lowering her voice, she chuckled nervously at me. ''What I meant Optimus, is I guess I am used to seeing you like that now,'' she gestured at me, ''So, ya know,'' she waved her hand and looked out the window. ''continue if ya want.''

I laughed as I shifted gears and my engine roared throatily in response. ''Yes Ma'am,'' my voice rumbled in reply.

Orianna snapped her attention back at me, her mouth slightly agape. I could feel her eyes boring into me. ''You've never called me that before.''

I pursed my lips in reflection. ''I believe you are correct.'' I looked at her, the hint of a smile playing on my lips. ''Would you prefer I didn't use that term?''

Orianna's own full lips curved into an answering smile as she shook her head and leaned her right elbow on the door. ''Actually, I don't mind it.'' Her fingers drummed against the leather paneling, and she lowered her voice, so she was almost muttering. ''Especially the way you say it.''

For a moment we both just sat there surrounded by silence and, presumably, memories. The last time Orianna had sat in my cabin with me we had been much closer than we were now. I chanced glancing across to her, my eyes flicking over her figure. I recalled those lips of hers on mine, her hands on my body, her legs…

I shifted on my seat and cleared my throat. ''So, Orianna.'' I thought it prudent to redirect the conversation – and my thoughts. ''You have yet to answer my question. Where would you like me to take you?''

She sighed out loud and dropped her hand to her lap, nonchalantly tracing the outline of some flowers on her dress with her index finger. ''Home, I guess Optimus.''

A sharp stab of disappointment rushed through me. ''You do not want me to take you for a drive or for refreshments of some sort?'' Though I was trying to keep my tone neutral, I suspect she heard the pleading tone in my voice. I had not seen much of her this past week – for obvious reasons – and I was hoping to spend some time with her. /As we once did/.

Orianna crossed one leg over the other, folding her arms as she stared interrogatively at me. ''What? Like the movies Prime?'' Her eyes shone with mischief.

I slowed to negotiate a corner. I had no idea where we were going, I was just driving. I snorted wryly at her as I glanced quickly across to her and shifted back up the gears again. ''Perhaps not. Though, I'm game if you are Orianna.'' I winked at her from across the cabin.

She burst out laughing, reaching out to gently tap my right arm in reproach. ''Oh Optimus! I don't think we're quite ready to tackle the movies again just yet.'' She squeezed my arm gently and I relished the contact. All too quickly her touch faded as she withdrew her hand and I found myself almost leaning towards her.

''Understood. Would you like to go for a drive somewhere?'' I asked hopefully. ''We could visit Turtle Cove..'' she cleared her throat loudly and the suggestion died on my lips as I remembered that evening. I smiled. ''Okay. Not there either.'' /Was there anywhere on this island that didn't hold memories for us?/.

''Best not Optimus, no.'' Her fingers traced the stiches in my door panel lightly and I almost physically shivered from pleasure at the sensation before she withdrew her hand, placing them upon her lap in a tight ball. ''Shit! Sorry Optimus. I forgot you could feel that.''

I chuckled softly even as I wished she had forgotten that fact and continued with her ministrations. ''Indeed I can Orianna. Thank you for your consideration.''

Across from me, Orianna pursed her lips as she considered her options. ''Don't really feel like going to the Brit Club and that's also possibly not a good idea given what…'' Orianna sighed out loud as she made some sort of noise. ''Little inappropriately dressed for the firing range..''

''And I wager you do not possess your firearm this evening either Orianna?'' I raised a brow at her.

She snorted, fidgeting with her fingers in her lap. ''Yeah. That would be in my other dress Prime.''

''Well,'' I hated to admit it, but it was looking like my evening with Orianna was going to be very brief indeed. ''I guess perhaps taking you home is the best course of action tonight Orianna.''

''I guess so Optimus.'' I could hear the underlying frustration in her voice, which helped soothe my disappointment somewhat. ''Sorry. Perhaps another time?'' A small apologetic smile spread across her lips as she looked back to me.

I turned in the direction of her dwelling. ''Perhaps.'' I sent her a quick smile before I turned back towards the road ahead. ''Though I am not sure when such an opportunity shall present itself.''

Her smile faded as her voice dropped. ''Yeah. Guess so.'' Orianna turned her attention to the gathering darkness outside the window. Suddenly engrossed in the shadows and shapes as they whipped by.

We were still five minutes from her domicile, and I did not wish the evening to end on such a note, so I decided to begin another topic of conversation. ''So Orianna. You did not get to tell me what the cause of that scar on your left arm was.'' I looked at her briefly across the cabin. She had brought her arm close by her side, covering the scar. /Perhaps I should have just sat in silence?/.

''I told you, it's nothing Prime.'' Her voice had taken on a hard quality to it, and I detected a slight fluctuation in her serotonin levels. ''Please, just let it go.''

I could most definitely tell it was not nothing and I wanted to push her for an answer as I was now even more concerned as to how she acquired such a wound. I knew it had happened at some point following my death as I don't recall her having a scar there prior to that.

I furrowed my brow and clenched my teeth, riding out the annoyance that prickled my sensors. Rolling my shoulders to release the tension, I indicated to turn down her street. ''I did not mean to upset you Orianna. But one day I would very much like for you to tell me what happened to you.'' I fixed her with a very serious stare. ''I want to know.''

She seemed to shrink in about herself protectively. ''Maybe - one day.''

Her apartment block loomed ahead of us, and I could not help feeling both relieved and saddened to be ending the evening so soon. I pulled up out the front by the kerb, the engine idling. ''Well Ma'am. Home safe and sound as promised.''

Orianna snorted softly at the use of the term once more, lowering her gaze to unbuckle the seatbelt, I took my opportunity. ''Thanks Optimus.'' I watched her look about the cabin in confusion.

I had disengaged my holoform, re-engaging it outside the cabin to open the door and help her down from within. I did not tell her of my intention as she would have likely dismissed the idea.

Orianna gasped out loud and jumped as the door opened beside her. I smiled up at her. ''Though you managed to climb into my cabin with little effort Orianna, I thought I might assist you in getting down.'' I held out my hand towards her. ''If I may, that is?''

She had a strange expression on her face as she stared at my proffered hand for a moment. Slowly she reached her hand down, placing it gently in mine. I wrapped my fingers around her hand as I held her gaze. Her skin was soft and warm, and her eyes widened slightly at the feel of my hand on hers. ''Thanks Optimus.'' She rose from her seat and began to carefully negotiate the exit, all the while her hand grasped mine firmly.

''My pleasure Orianna.'' And it was. Very much so.

She was about to lift her foot off the sidestep when her footwear caught on the lip of the step, and she stumbled forward giving a loud yelp of shock. Without a sound, I moved to catch her, my arms wrapping around her waist, holding her firmly to me as I spun her about away from the cabin.

As I stepped back from the cabin, she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I could feel her heart beating rapidly from the sudden scare she had been given. ''Orianna?'' I looked up questioningly into her face.

She looked down at me, a look of shock etched on her features. ''Y.. yeah?''

''Are you okay?'' She was still pressed firmly against me, though I had begun to slowly lower her to the ground. Her body sliding against mine, I felt that once familiar heat between us ignite, flaring to life.

She nodded silently as her hands slid from around my neck, down over my shoulders and rested on my chest. She looked from her hands to my eyes, biting her lower lip as she studied my face. ''Never better…'' she whispered to herself.

Her feet had reached the ground, but I was loathe to release her. I ached to feel her, to hold her. It felt so right. My hands remained on her waist. I did not step back from her. My eyes continued to search hers as I felt myself leaning towards her, drawn to her. ''Orianna,'' I whispered as I raised a hand to brush her long locks from her face.

''Yes Optimus?'' She whispered back, her eyes never leaving mine as my fingers ran through her hair. /How I loved the feel of those silky strands entwined in my fingers/.

''You really should be more careful,'' I breathed slowly as I swept her hair back over her shoulder, exposing the curve of her neck. I continued my path towards her, ''you could end up hurting..''

I froze.

Several angry looking bruises, purplish red in colour, glared back at me from the contour of her neck and shoulder. Her hair had hidden them from my sight. /Until now/.

Orianna frowned at me. ''Optimus?'' I barely registered the confusion in her voice as I processed what it was, I was looking at. All at once, her eyes widened and her hand darted out to grab at her hair, pulling it back down around her neck and shoulders. Stepping back from me, she averted her gaze and fussed with her hair and the delicate folds of her dress.

I drew my lips together in a hard line as I stepped back from her, nodding my head slowly in painful understanding as to what those marks meant. I was familiar with the act of passionately marking your bonded, your partner. /I had done so with Elita…/. I closed my eyes as I let the memory and the present moment wash over me concurrently in all their pain.

''Optimus,'' Orianna's soft, sorrowful voice interrupted my thoughts, begging my attention, but I could not bring myself to look at her just yet. If I did, all I would see were those reminders that Orianna was with someone else, that she had been claimed by another. ''I'm sorry.'' She stepped towards me. ''Say something. Please.''

I waved at her dismissively and backed up, forcing a smile to my face as I made my retreat. ''Orianna, you do not owe me an apology.'' I took a deep, steadying ''breath'' and looked at her. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears, her face was pale. ''You're not…'' I tore my gaze away from her again, focusing on the balcony of her apartment instead. I could not risk letting her see how painful it was for me to say these next words. ''Not mine. I have no claim over you.''

She drew a shaky breath and halted in her tracks.

I exhaled roughly as I once again forced myself to look at the woman before me. She was simply looking at me, a haunted, sorrowful expression on her face. I nodded abruptly at her and smiled quickly. ''Well, I had best be going Orianna.''

I backed up several paces, feeling my barriers slam firmly into place with each step. /You promised her you would stay around. That you would not shut her out/. I smiled more brightly at her as I felt my control slowly returning. ''I hope you and Major Lennox can salvage what remains of the evening.'' I nodded once more, preparing to disengage my holoform and retreat. ''Good night Orianna.'' I did not wait for her reply as I disengaged my holoform and my engine rumbled angrily to life.

/''Can you think of any reason why Lennox and I should not be together?''/. Her words haunted me yet again as I rolled away from the small figure standing forlornly on the side of the road.

Truth was I could. Problem was I had kept it to myself.

I growled in utter frustration and anger. Had I just been selfish this once and said what I had really wanted to say, then it might be my marks upon her neck! /I might have been the one to claim her heart as my own/.

/Why then did you let her go?/ the thought mocked me as my engine roared in protest and I travelled further away from the one I wanted to be near. In the depths of my spark and processor, the tiniest whisper echoed unbidden through my dark thoughts. /And why don't you just claim her back?/.

The idea both repulsed and excited me in equal measure.