Author's Note: Hope you are all still with me on this... thanks for continued support. Please fav or follow if you are enjoying my story and better yet, post a review! They really do keep these fingers typing! Thanks MM :-)
This chapter takes place several days after Olivia hands Prime that note and Orianna realised just how much she still feels for Optimus. Prime has deliberately kept away from Orianna following her reaction to Olivia, to stir the pot as it were. He eventually seeks her out to put Ironhide's theory to the test deliberately. But does it go to plan?
Chapter 85: I was hoping to find you here…
Prime P.O.V
It had been the better part of a week since I had last seen Orianna at a N.E.S.T training session. The existence of my holoform had only recently been divulged to the enlisted soldiers and, despite the explanation and images shown to them, that had been the first physical time I had appeared before them.
And they had handled it well.
I smiled to myself as I continued towards our beach. /Some more than others!/. I recalled the young blonde-haired woman, Olivia Winters, and the way she had confidently approached me after the session to formally introduce herself to me in my human form. My initial thought had been to politely greet her and then make my excuses to leave, but I noticed the way Orianna was intently observing our interaction. My sensors and scanners detected her keen interest in and physical reactions to our conversation. So, I made a decision.
Having already concluded that Orianna wasn't technically bonded as both her and Major Lennox had yet to enter the human equivalent of spark bonding – the rite of marriage - I had re-evaluated and somewhat relaxed my moral stance on the issue of indirect ''interference''. I also recalled Ironhide's recent advice to me to use Orianna's own tactics against her to ascertain her true feelings towards me. The tree line loomed ahead, and my smile reached my dermas. Based on those two factors, I had decided to intimate mutual interest and enthusiasm while discoursing with Miss Winters.
A decision that proved most effective.
Though a small part of me felt guilty for manipulating an innocent woman for my own selfish purposes, I had not lied to her, hurt her, or promised her anything I did not intend to deliver on. Within those parameters, I deemed my course of action acceptable.
I brushed the branches aside as I stepped through the foliage and onto the small beach that had become so meaningful to me. Sitting halfway down the ribbon of sand on a coloured towel, sat the individual I sought. She was wearing a navy, one-piece swimsuit that clung to her tanned skin and feminine curves in a very pleasing manner. Orianna sat with her legs stretched out before her, her arms propping her up. Her head was tilted back so she could enjoy the last of the sun's rays for the day. She looked peaceful.
Until she heard me approaching.
In that moment her whole body tensed, and she sat upright. Removing her sunglasses, she pushed them back in her hair, effectively pinning those damp, troublesome locks back from her face. Rising to her feet, she grabbed a white shirt of some description to cover herself before she began brushing the sand from her legs.
A small part of me felt hurt by the sudden change in her demeanor. /Then again,/ I remined myself, /the last time she saw you, you were conversing suggestively with another woman/. I ex-vented slowly and resumed my path. /It was time to put Ironhide's theory to the test/.
Orianna looked nervously from me, out to the waters before her and back to me once more. She folded her arms guardedly across her chest.
I smiled down at her as I neared, coming to stop a short distance from her. ''Hello Orianna.'' I rumbled cordially in greeting to her.
She sent a quick smile back to me. ''Hey Optimus.'' She shifted awkwardly on her feet as her gaze travelled along my form.
I placed my servos on my hips. ''I was hoping I might find you here.''
''Oh? Really?'' mock surprise ringing in her tone. ''I thought you may have been busy doing something else.'' She looked away and muttered under her breath as she pulled her shirt around her. ''Or someone else.''
/Interesting comment/. Choosing to ignore her last comment, I tilted my helm and moved to kneel down before to be closer to her. ''Well, I am busy Orianna. As you yourself can attest to. Though mercifully, no more than I usually am.'' I smiled at her.
''I see,'' came the clipped reply as she shrugged her shoulders. ''Anyway, why were you hoping to find me here?'' She eyed me carefully.
''Well, I was hoping I might spend some time with you as we used to,'' my smile faded somewhat. ''That night I drove you home, we had said we would try to catch up again some time.''
Orianna flinched at mention of the night in question before she smiled softly up at me. ''Yeah. I guess we did, didn't we?''
Without warning, I activated my holoform and strode towards her, my eyes focused firmly on her. ''Well, I decided now was ''some time''. Her mouth flew open in shock and her eyes widened dramatically as she watched me approach. Coming to a stop a metre away from her, I placed my hands on the waistband of my beige cargo shorts. My black buttoned shirt flapped gently in the breeze that had begun to pick up and I relished the feel of my bare feet in the cool sand. Orianna stood speechless before me, her brown and gold flecked eyes darting over my figure, silently observing every detail. ''If that is acceptable to you of course Orianna?'' I raised a brow at her, attempting to gain her attention.
She nodded silently, her eyes flicking from my face, down my chest and back again. ''Um, yeah. Sure. I guess so.'' Orianna moved to brush some strands of wind-tossed hair back, her shirt falling open as she did so. She did not move to cover herself again.
A large, genuine smile spread across my lips, and I almost reached out to touch her. Stopping myself at the last minute, I disguised the action by clapping my hands together enthusiastically. ''Wonderful!'' For a moment she eyed me cautiously. That had been an unusual reaction, especially from me, and I could sense her suspicion mounting. I gestured to the ground. ''Why don't we sit down as we used to and have a chat?''
Orianna nodded and gracefully tucked her legs up underneath her sinking slowly to the sand. I followed suit, bringing my legs up before me, resting my arms upon my knees casually. I turned to smile at her and found myself almost drawing breath. This was as close as I had been to her since that night. My smile faded as I studied her face intensely. Every detail of that beautiful face haunted my recharge. I reveled in the proximity of her.
I watched as her manicured brow arched in confusion and the corners of her full lips curved into a shy smile under my intense scrutiny. ''Um, what is it you would like to talk about Optimus? Anything in particular?''
I internally chastised myself for my lack of control and shrugged my shoulders. ''Anything at all Orianna.'' I raised a brow at her, deciding to put my plan into action. ''Is there anything you would like to discuss?''
Though it was a seemingly innocuous comment, she shifted uncomfortably and averted my gaze for a moment. ''I don't know. How about we start with the usual pleasantries like, 'how have you been?'' She turned back to look at me, crossing her legs before her and placing her hands in her lap. ''For instance, since I last saw you at training the other day.'' She eyed me carefully. ''What have you been up to since then?''
I chuckled as I released my knees and languidly stretched my legs out before me, leaning back casually on my elbows. ''I have been very well Orianna. Thank you for asking. And as for what I have been up to,'' I paused for a moment trying not to notice the way Orianna leaned forward anxiously, ''nothing noteworthy I assure you.''
She flopped back relieved and nodded. ''Well, that's good to hear.'' As soon as the words were out of her lips, her eyes bulged and she sputtered, ''Not that it's good that you've been bored. I mean it's not good you have no one to do…'' She closed her eyes and laughed nervously,'' I mean NOTHING to do..''
As much as I could have prolonged her discomfort, I took pity on her. ''I understand your meaning Orianna.'' She exhaled and smiled gratefully at me. ''And you? How have you been?'' I tilted my head in silent enquiry as I lay there regarding her. ''As I recall, you left quite abruptly that day.'' Orianna drew a deep breath and squirmed once more. ''I had hoped to come and speak with you, but you both departed before I had the…''
She scoffed and tore her gaze away from me, focusing on the rolling waves before her. ''Yeah, well.'' She interjected in a clipped tone. ''You were a little preoccupied if I recall Optimus.'' I could feel the irritation and hurt rolling off her. I tried not to smile fondly at her.
''If by preoccupied you mean I was conversing with Miss Winters, then yes Orianna. I was.'' I began to sit up, turning to face her. ''I had intended to come over to you after my conversation with Miss Winters concluded.''
''HA!'' Orianna burst out. A strange laugh erupted from her lips as she drew her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms tightly around them. ''I could tell speaking to me was a high priority of yours that day.'' She turned to face me, the corner of her lips curved as if she were unsure if she should snarl at me or burst into tears.
I held her gaze. ''Orianna, whether you chose to believe me or not, you are always a priority to me.'' The corner of her lip softened, and her bottom lip quivered as she huffed and turned back to face the darkening waters. I wanted to reach out and brush my thumb down her cheek, over those alluring, pouting lips of hers, before pulling her to me and kissing her soundly, putting an end to her seeming brattish behaviour.
Yet I refrained. /Just/.
I sighed out loud and lowered my gaze to the sand, biting back an accusatory tone of my own. ''Besides, you and Major Lennox seemed engrossed in your own conversation.'' Orianna worried her lower lip and bowed her head. ''I did not want to intrude in case it was a private conversation.''
Relaxing her shoulders and nodding her head she replied in a brighter tone. ''Fair point Optimus.'' She turned back to face me again. ''Though it was far from private.'' She tilted her head, mimicking my oft used gesture. ''Certainly not as private as the conversation between you Olivia appeared to be.'' Her eyes held a silent accusation to them as she regarded me. ''You and Olivia Winters both looked awfully friendly.'' I found her reaction somewhat endearing and certainly encouraging.
I smiled warmly at mention of the woman in question, an action which only seemed to annoy Orianna more. ''Miss Winters is a fine young soldier and indeed very affable,'' I turned to face her, ''as you just rightly pointed out Orianna.'' I exhaled softly as I tilted my head in measured consideration. ''I confess, to my chagrin, that was the first conversation of any great length I have had with her…''
''Well, it's the first time you were wearing your human suit!'' Orianna burst out gesturing her hand towards me and then turning away from me, back towards the ebb and flow of the waves. ''Of COURSE she'd want to have a conversation with you!'' She squirmed on the spot, rolling her shoulders and eyes as she snorted almost disdainfully.
/I really must thank Ironhide when I next see him/.
I ignored the interesting imagery she had used in reference to my holoform and tilted my head thoughtfully in the opposite direction. I furrowed my brow at her, seeking to look as perplexed as possible. ''My apologies Orianna, but what do you mean by that comment?'' I almost smiled. ''Are you suggesting the physical aesthetics of my holoform had something to do with Miss Winters desiring to approach me and initiate a conversation?''
She stared back at me blankly for a moment as her brown and gold flecked eyes narrowed dangerously. She shook her head as she scooted away from me slightly, muttering darkly to herself, ''Ha! Bloody desire.. he used the word desire…''
Waving her hand dismissively once more she barreled on. ''Anyway!'' Orianna brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them as umber galaxies peered into azure blue depths. ''Looked to me like she wanted to do more than just talk with you Optimus!'' Her words were acidic.
I blinked my eyes and draped an arm casually over a knee as I stretched out languidly. I was enjoying this far too much. ''I am not entirely sure what you mean by that comment Orianna?'' I feigned ignorance. ''I found Miss Winters to be very congenial.''
''Congenial?'' Orianna's eyebrows almost reached her hair line and her voice rose in frustration. She held a hand up towards me dismissively, ''Yeah! Sure. Whatever!'' She chuckled derisively as she rose to her feet, brushing sand off her tanned legs and wrapping a towel around her waist. The low-cut swimsuit accentuated the swell of her breasts as she bent over, and I tried to remain focused on her face. ''I noticed just how congenial she was to you Prime.'' She spat the words out angrily.
/Perhaps I was pushing this too far?/. The last thing I wanted to do was cause some sort of rift between Orianna and her friend. I looked out into the choppy waters of the bay and followed suit, rising to my feet. I shook my head sadly as I brushed sand from my legs too. Looking down at her, my expression became neutral. ''Orianna. I do not know what you are referring to, but I am sorry if..''
Orianna was staring out into the darkening water of the bay. ''The piece of paper Optimus. I saw her hand it to you,'' She had wrapped her arms around herself in that all too familiar gesture of comfort. My sensors indicated a dramatic increase in adrenaline levels and her heartrate was considerably elevated. Her face seemed to lose all expression. ''It was her phone number, wasn't it? She gave you her phone number.''
I looked down at her and she turned to look up at me. For a moment we simply stared at each other as a palpable silence grew. ''No. She did not.'' My voice was strangely low and calm as it rumbled in reply, shattering the silence.
It was a lie.
I watched as her shoulders visibly slumped in relief and she closed her eyes, nodding her head. I exhaled as I placed my servos on my hips. ''It was the name of a restaurant she suggested I try dining at one day.''
Orianna's whole body went rigid, and she closed her eyes as she hugged herself tightly. ''With you?'' The question was exhaled on a tremulous breath. She did not look at me. Her next breath hitched somewhere in her throat as she awaited my reply.
I folded my arms across my chest, my optics flicking rapidly over her form, noting every minute detail of her body language and reaction. ''Yes.''