That was that, but now this is this, shall we return to a little bit of plot? Millions of thanks to my dear betas and readers. Once again, anything you recognize I do not own, nor do I get paid for it. It's just for a bit of fun.
Chapter 84 - Tradition
(OPOV)
Optimus roused his sleeping spark-mate with a gentle kiss. December 31st. Without even opening her eyes, she reached up and caressed his face with gentle hands.
"New year's eve morning," she murmured softly.
"Don't open your eyes," Optimus whispered, carefully picking her up out of the hammock and walking through the screens to the bathroom. Mikaela buried her face in his shoulder, wrapping gentle arms around his neck
"What are we doing?" she murmured with a smile.
"It is a new-year's eve tradition. To cast out the old year, we fight out the challenge, it is done with ceremony, and on occasion is used to decide our places in leadership."
"For the love of all that is holy don't put me in a cold shower," she groaned.
Optimus laughed softly and sat down lightly on the low, cushioned vinyl table.
(MPOV)
"No, not cold," he rumbled softly in my ear. A fine mist began to fall as the room warmed slightly. "It is tradition for a guardian to bathe with their spark-mate, to be purified together. Open your eyes."
I opened my eyes to look at him. He leaned down and caught my lips with his, lightly running his hand down my side.
"And this is tradition too?" I asked in a soft, wry tone as he pulled back.
"Why did you think we were so pleased to have a proper wash racks again?" he grinned down at me, I lifted up to straddle his lap.
"Something like this?" I murmured in his ear as he groaned, his hands clutching my arse. He smirked and leaned forward, picking up a bowl and pouring a small amount of the warm liquid over my back. He began massaging the musky, green smelling oils across my skin. I retrieved the bowl from his hand and poured some over his back, smiling up at him as he hummed. I stroked and massaged his back, leaning forward and lightly nibbling my way up his neck. He leaned back suddenly and gently pushed me to lay down on his outstretched legs. One hand rested gently on my thigh, as more of the oil was poured over my stomach. His hands skimmed gently up, cupping my breasts and lightly toying with my nipples.
(OPOV)
"Optimus," she whispered, arching into his touch, the gentle movement rubbing her coupling along the length of his spike. He hummed at the feeling and watched as she sat up slightly, reaching forward to run a strong, gentle hand up his spike. He moaned softly and ran a hand down her abdomen, loving the slick, slippery feel of the oil and massaging it into the folds of her core. She gasped softly, bucking slightly into his hand and rubbing his spike. She brought one hand up to steady his for a second before looking him in the eye.
Oh her eyes, Optimus thought with a groan, those mischievous, loving, piercing eyes that gazed into his soul. Who looked at him with love, and trust.
"Mikaela," he murmured, her free hand slid up his spike and gently, oh so tenderly guided him to her coupling. She arched slowly as his free hand slowly slid from her breast, sliding him slowly, torturously slowly into her perfection. She reached the limit she could from her prone position and suddenly sat up, driving him deep into her belly.
Optimus almost overloaded that second.
"Mikaela," he groaned, "Oh Primus Mikaela you feel so good."
She grinned down at him and slowly began to gyrate her hips, approaching, teasing at the rhythm that would bring him to overload. He pulled her face to his and pressed a tender kiss to her lips before nuzzling his way to her ear.
"Tell me what you like," he rumbled softly, and felt her spasm around his spike, he flicked his thumb slightly, grazing the neural knot of her sex, she moaned.
"You like it when I murmur in your ear," he rumbled with a grin, "talk to you while I touch you and you're stretched on my spike. Do you want me to tease you while I'm pounding my spike into your valve?"
"Optimus yes," she whimpered.
"Tell me what you want," he whispered. She moaned and pressed herself tightly against him.
"I want to feel you overload," she whispered in his ear, "I want to pound and grind myself onto you as you moan and roar in overload."
Optimus clutched at her arse as she began riding him, her arms resting lightly on his shoulders
(MPOV)
Optimus dragged me to his face, pressing a powerful kiss to my lips as I ground myself into him. I could feel his moans, the resonation of his spark carried through to his holoform. A clear, pure tone singing beneath my hands, becoming complex as he approached overload. The heat and friction driving me mad. His hands grasped at my arse again, inexorable strength quickening my pace on his spike. I broke the kiss first, arching back in a scream of pleasure as he roared. He pushed me down onto the table, pounding himself into me just this edge of pain. I throbbed around him, gasping and writhing as the orgasm was extended. His movements grew ragged, until a final, powerful thrust buried his spike deep into my body. He writhed above me, grasping my hands and pressing another kiss to my lips as he twitched.
"Beautiful," he gasped, "My exquisite, disorienting, stunning Mikaela."
"Optimus," I whispered, sliding my hands up his arms to run gently along his body and up his back. "My incredible, powerful, gentle loving Optimus."
He rolled to the side and dragged me to lay tightly pressed against his chest as the gentle misting rain rinsed away the last possible tension in our bodies.
Optimus stroked my skin gently, my neck pillowed on his bicep as we dozed in the perfect warmth and peace.
The water finally cooled a couple of degrees, I took a deep, relaxed breath and smiled up at the perfectly contented smile on Optimus' face. I squirmed up slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
"The perfect way to be woken," he murmured, leaning forward to return the kiss. He rolled me to my back and hovered overtop of me.
"And infinitely better than a cold shower," I smiled up at him mischievously. He rumbled a gentle laugh, kissing my collar bone before rolling to his feet, I followed him, shutting off the mist and listening to the quiet hum of the purifier as it recycled the last of the water draining from the room. He stopped in my common room, turning to lightly cup my face.
"I will see you on the mats," he rumbled gently, leaning down to press a final kiss to my lips before his holoform winked out.
I hummed and stretched, lazily brushing my hair before there was a knock on the door.
"Kae! It's just us!" Chromia stated with a grin, walking through the door into my common-room with Arcee, Flare, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe and Bumblebee in tow. "Good, you aren't dressed yet!"
"Thank you for knocking," I said gravely, I stood naked in my living room and began laughing quietly. Chromia giggled and offered me a beautiful silver silk bra. I stared at in shock before slipping my arms into it. She hugged me as she did up the clasp and offered me a pair of panties, which I slipped into quickly.
"They're gorgeous Chrome," I murmured.
"They're your colours," she said with a smile, I looked up at her with raised eyebrows and took in her clothing. Pants and pink tunic, perfect for fighting. Sideswipe had a Katana slung naturally across his back. I looked at Bee's outfit and grinned at the yellow tunic and black pants. Ratchet was a surprise, he was wearing green.
"Paint job's going to match, finally," he rumbled with a broad grin. I glanced around and noted the styles of their clothing. Ironhide was in black and grey, loose fitting trousers and tank.
"Is..." I whispered uncertainly.
"Is it correct to wear your own colours?" Sideswipe grinned, "Absolutely, and wear your blades, we won't use them, but it is proper to wear them today."
I took a deep breath and smiled, Optimus had already bathed me. I walked to the beautifully carved cedar chest and knelt in front of it, bowing gracefully for a long moment before opening it.
I pulled out my master's tunic, unwrapping it gently and standing again.
First were the wraps, deep blue on my calves and ankles, holding two delicately sheathed throwing knives. Brilliant red crisscrossed my back, lightly binding my chest and holding another knife.
I gathered my hair up and clipped it back with the combs Paddy had made for me with their beautiful glass beads, slipped into silvery blue trousers and tied them delicately before wrapping the tunic carefully around my shoulders. It snugged into my waist, showcasing my figure but still allowing me to move.
I picked up the wide, exquisitely embroidered black belt and tied it around my waist before my katana settled across my back, sitting firmly in it's sheath. I stood straight for a long second before turning to the holoforms standing in my common-room.
"Wow," Bumblebee whispered. I smiled at him.
"That about sums it up, yep," Ironhide rumbled with a broad grin.
"You look incredible, Kae," Ratchet murmured, walking forward and enveloping me in a warm hug. I took a deep, shuddering breath and held my spark-father tightly for a long moment. I turned to Bumblebee with a smile, reaching for the holoform with open arms.
He grinned and caught me in a strong hug.
"So you gonna teach me some new moves sis?" he asked with a broad grin.
"You lot are absolutely incorrigible, you know that right?" I asked with a laugh.
"The new year is a time for learning, for teaching and for understanding," Ratchet stated in a quiet, learned murmur.
"Now are you gonna teach us how to defend ourselves or what?" Sideswipe's holo grinned at me mischievously.
I looked at him reproachfully for a second before burying my face in my hands.
"Fine!" I grumbled, "Fine! I have no idea what I could possibly teach you, but fine!"
Chromia laughed and glanced at my feet.
"Where are your shoes?" she asked curiously.
"I never wear shoes on the mats," I said calmly, walking toward the door. I slid on a light pair of sandals and looked over my shoulder at the grinning holoforms.
"Are you walking with or am I meeting you there?" I asked with a low laugh.
Chromia, Arcee and Flare immediately flocked around me, laughing and leading me to the mats as the male holoforms winked out.
(OPOV)
"Here she comes here she comes!" Bumblebee stated with a broad grin, his holoform winking into his usual place, the rest of the male holoforms winked into being. Optimus looked around at his unit with raised eyebrows. Bumblebee shot him a mischievous grin and pointed. Optimus turned and felt his spark pound against it's chamber.
Mikaela was pacing toward him, no longer fighting to hide the sure, graceful, prowling steps of a predator. He saw her and couldn't stop staring. His colours winked out of silver, she stood battle ready. Exquisite.
She looked at him then. Not simply his holoform, but him. She smiled at him, that beautiful, loving smile that belonged to the Femme who guarded his spark.
"Mikaela?" Optimus whispered as she walked up to his holoform.
"Optimus," she smiled. His name on her lips the sweetest sound.
"Okay fleshbag, I challenge you!" Skids called out with a grin.
"Same goes Bumblebee!" Mudflap added.
Mikaela looked at the holoform with raised eyebrows.
"Choose the style sis!" Bumblebee grinned, pointing to a row of dummy weapons.
"Hand to hand?" Mikaela said with a small smile, delicately unbuckling the sword from her back.
Bee rubbed his hands together with a grin, walking onto the mats and facing Mudflap. Mikaela paced into the spot across from Skids and executed a patient bow, her eyes never leaving his face. She turned slightly and stood calm, watching Skids' holoform as he stared at her.
"Go!" Optimus barked. Skids charged toward Mikaela. He was on his back in seconds with her fist hovering over his face.
"Holy mother!" Skids called out as Bee and Mudflap grappled each other for a moment before Bee got him into submission.
Mikaela bent down and pecked a playful kiss on Skids' forehead before flexing to her feet. Skids stayed on his back for a long second before looking at Optimus.
"Cave man, I cave, holy crap!"
Optimus nodded, giving the holoform an approving grin as his twin tried the same tactic with Mikaela. He was down in a second, staring up at her incredulously before howling with laughter.
"I gotta try that!" Bee grinned. "Challenge you sis!"
Mikaela laughed and faced Bee, bowing quickly before Optimus started them.
They fought back and forth for a second.
"From the shoulder, Bee," Mikaela said suddenly, darting around her brother's swings and tapping his body lightly with open hands, encouraging him. "It doesn't matter if it brings you lower, punch with your body, not your arm. It gives you force." She deflected a few of his blows and nodded. "Good." she smiled at him before dropping down, sweeping his legs out from under him and pinning him in submission. She bent down and kissed his cheek as he laughed.
"That's my big sister!" he grinned, rolling and catching her in a hug.
Mikaela rose with a grin and pulled her little brother to his feet. They walked toward the group with broad grins.
"I challenge you," Ratchet stated suddenly, walking toward Mikaela.
Mikaela nodded.
"Choose the style," she said calmly.
"Balance." Ratchet stated with a grin, grabbing a quarter stave and walking to stand on a narrow beam.
Optimus watched with pride as Mikaela walked calmly along the beam toward the grinning medical officer.
"Bets!" Ironhide rumbled softly.
"Ratchet," Arcee said quietly.
"I don't know," Lennox stated with a frown, "Kae's not wearing shoes, and she walks around in four inch heels without even thinking about it."
"Go!" Optimus shouted.
What followed was a display of acrobatics that almost left the bots in the room moaning. Kae's stave whistled through the air, holding a defensive position so quickly she was almost on the offence.
And she and Ratchet carried on a cheerful conversation the entire while.
Optimus watched with raised eyebrows as Ratchet began on a signature sequence that always left his opponent on the floor. The only thing that kept him balanced was knowing the sequence himself. Three moves in Kae did the impossible, somehow kicking at Ratchet's face with a foot firmly on the beam and sweeping his ankles out from under him with the staff.
Ratchet fell off the beam. Kae stood on her hands for a second before dismounting lightly, Ratchet howled with laughter as she reached down and pulled him to his feet.
"How in Primus name did you do that?" Ironhide demanded.
Kae turned with a surprised look in her eyes.
"Slow it down, I'll explain it," Ratchet chuckled, "I've been trying to get these glitches to try something like it for vorn."
Mikaela laughed and faced Ratchet's holoform, she took a deep breath and nodded.
"That's it? There was some sort of..."
"It's harder to do it slowly," Kae chuckled, hopping back a step and bending slowly forward. One leg came up behind her, overextending into a split near Ratchet's head.
"Now this is distractionary," Ratchet stated with a broad grin, catching her ankle gently and bouncing her back and forth for a moment as she giggled.
"Which distracts away from the fact that I'm still active down here," Kae laughed, spinning her quarter stave and lightly bumping Ratchet's ankles.
"Can you imagine what that would be like to..." Arcee murmured to Optimus. Optimus crossed his arms, watching his Kae. "Oh right," she grinned up at him as he smirked, "You already have haven't you?"
Mikaela was laughing, still standing split in the air as Ratchet told her precisely where her muscles should be for optimum force, her pant leg finally fell down her leg to show a brilliant blue wrap and gorgeous dagger. And beneath that, a long, tapered, smooth leg.
"How do you plan on getting out of this now?" Ratchet asked with a laugh, holding onto her ankle.
"You mean in real life or right now?" Kae asked cheerfully.
"Both," Ratchet grinned. In a moment, Kae had somehow spun, bent back, caught Ratchet's ankles and taken him straight onto his back. Kae went down with him, landing with one calf resting lightly beside his head. Her hand slapped her calf before two fingers touched Ratchet's throat.
"Aand you're dead," she grinned down at him. "Sorry Ratch, I still love you though. Can I be your assistant?"
Optimus couldn't have stopped the grin that emerged on his face as he watched his spark-mate tease the laughing medical officer if he'd wanted to. She bent down and pressed a kiss to his chin before flexing to her feet and pulling him to his own again.
She walked off the mats and stood beside Arcee as they watched the holoforms challenge each other. Sideswipe ruled on the mats, going down only to Ironhide and Ratchet.
"Little sister! Challenge you." Sides grinned, looking at Kae.
She laughed and quickly disarmed herself, laying three daggers and sword down gently on the edge of the mats. She walked forward and bowed to Sides.
"Choose," she said with a smile.
"Swords," Sideswipe grinned, tossing her a wooden dummy. She hefted it for a second before spinning it about and sinking into a crouch.