Chapter 90 - Dates
(MPOV)
"Is it official yet!?" Flareup demanded, catching me in an enormous hug near the end of the day. Her timing was perfect, actually, too perfect, I'd just finished the jeep.
"Which one what now?" I asked with a laugh as the girls holoform's wound themselves around me.
"Do we get to take you out or not!?" Chromia demanded with a broad grin.
"For Primus sake Chromia!" I laughed.
"What? You're not in hiding anymore," Arcee laughed. "Come on, I don't give a damn if you're doing the wedding thing for the sake of politics, anyone with half a processor could figure out that that ring on your finger was there before you announced." she grinned down at me unrepentantly. "And as such, it's a proper wedding."
"Yes yes, point stands, if you three want to go out clubbing, don't try to fool everyone saying it's a staggette," I snorted.
"But you need to celebrate the last of your single hood! Come on girl, you have next to no conquests!" Flare pouted.
"True, but I have no need of conquests, I have the bot of my dreams," I stated placidly.
"You dreamt of marrying an auto-bot," Chromia snorted, staring at me with a smirk. I promptly began whistling and turned back toward my service.
"NO! NOW you gotta spill!" Arcee trilled, winding her arms around my waist.
"Alright fine, but if you rat me out I am going to kick your assplates, the lot of you," I snorted, turning and leaning against the jeep. "I used to dream about marrying a truck."
The girls stared at me and began laughing.
"Shut up!" I laughed, "given the options that I had for conquests, at least the bloody truck is reliable!"
"Oh so reliability!" Chromia grinned.
"That's Optimus, definitely," Arcee murmured, nodding.
"Oh come on Kae!" Flareup wheedled at me. "You're a Femme! I know you are! Don't lie I've seen you naked. Gush!"
"Gods fuck," I murmured, leaning against the jeep and thinking of my Optimus as he walked, his optics... I snapped myself back to the present and glared at Flare. "Come off it, you've known Optimus for several vorn longer than I've been alive."
"Yeah, so?" Chromia asked cheerfully.
"And in fairness, we do have to make sure that you really do love him," Arcee added quietly. I looked at her with a smile.
"I will follow him through this life, and the next to the end of days," I stated with quiet dignity. "There is no other way, his is the spark that sustains my own."
"Duh, why," Flare grinned.
"It's in the way he moves," I murmured finally, leaning against the jeep. "The graceful, sure steps of a predator. And his eyes, his optics, they're so gentle, so beautiful and kind..."
"Oh wow, she's got it bad," Chromia snorted.
"Yep, definitely need to get her out on the town if she's freezing in memories." Flareup laughed, lightly whacking me in the side.
"Oh, you mean the way you do over Sides?" I shot back at her with a grin.
"That's different," Flareup stated in a mockingly snippy tone. "Sides and I are just having a bit of fun."
"Oh? Then why were you having me tutor you on catching his optic?" I grinned.
"You tell on me-" Flare started indignantly.
"And what? You'll kick my assplates?" I laughed. "Side note Flare, I don't got none!" I promptly pulled my pants halfway down my arse and shook it at her as Arcee and Chromia hooted with laughter.
Flareup snorted in amusement then shrugged.
"Anyway, I thought he'd be the one, he is one, but not The one," she shrugged.
Immediately I reached for her holoform.
"What's this for?" She looked down at me curiously.
"Uh... out of line? He's not the one?" I asked in a confused tone.
"So? He's a nice conquest, he knows he's not the one, and I'm not his one either," Flare shrugged genially. "Doesn't mean we can't have fun in the meantime," she added, winding herself seductively around me. I lightly gripped her arse for a moment.
"Should I be jealous?" Optimus rumbled placidly behind me, a second before the two of us were due to burst out laughing. I looked over my shoulder at him with a grin.
"That the femmes are trying to convince me to have a staggette?" I asked cheerfully.
"Are you trying to steal my fiancee again?" he rumbled with a snort, onlining his holoform among the femmes'.
"Little bit," Chromia grinned, "Fine, how about the stipulation that we go out once we've convinced the menfolk to go out?" she shot at me.
"Now that I can do," I smirked, hitching my pants back up and walking to his holoform.
"Club night!" Chromia sang, dancing around.
"Yes yes, but what is the purpose of a 'staggette'?" Optimus rumbled with a snort, winding me deeply into his arms.
"Stag for males, staggette for females," I grinned. "It's to send out the last of one's bachelorhood with a final hurrah. And traditionally arranged by your best man and the bride's maid of honour. What's the news on Galloway?"
"He is lobbying against us for all he is worth, which is not really all that much at this point," Optimus snorted. "The fact that your father did in fact give me his blessing seems to have cut a great deal of the ground from beneath his feet."
I hummed softly and cuddled against him.
"Hey Kae!" Ratchet called out.
"Yeah Ratch?" I called back, turning in Optimus' arms.
"Have you seen where I put that Primus damned ah hah! Found it!" Ratchet corrected himself, picking up a finger and beginning to re-attach it to a servo.
"You have an eidetic memory," Optimus rumbled with a frown.
"Are you telling me you've never misplaced something?" I asked with a snort, looking up at him.
"Well, this morning I woke and could not find my fiancee..." Optimus rumbled musingly.
I began laughing and squirmed around in his arms, reaching up to kiss his jaw.
"What does she look like?" Chromia piped up cheerfully.
"Well, she has these incredible eyes," Optimus rumbled, "the sort of eyes that can offer in turn the fury of a Valkyrie and the love of a lifetime. Her body is lithe and muscular beneath satiny skin..."
"Flatterer," I murmured.
"Truth," he rumbled down at me with a gentle smirk.
"He's got it bad," Arcee murmured with a gentle smile.
"Optimus! Ratchet!" Ironhide bellowed from down the corridor.
"Med-bay," Optimus rumbled, poking his head out the door. "Why are you yelling?"
"Cause he's got human passengers!" Will bellowed from Ironhide's shoulder.
"You could just put the primary on speaker," Optimus snorted, looking at the weapons master with amusement in his optics.
"Yeah, but are you actually listening to the primary?" Ratchet snorted. I dove for my iPod and plugged it into one ear, laughing the next minute.
Jolt, Bee, Sides and the twins were deeply involved in a truly, hair-raisingly bawdry debate, which required a great deal of laughter. Optimus' holoform's face blanked slightly for a moment before he snorted back his own laughter. The twins seemed to recognize that he could hear them, shutting up a second later.
::. Are you still concentrating a processor on your duties?.:: he sent to them in amusement.
::. Yes Sir.:: Bee sent cheerfully.
::. Then you might take into account the perspective of Chromia when she is in the mood for making conquests.:: Optimus sent to them with a snort.
The primary promptly began howling again as the Femmes added their voices to the debate. I hugged his holoform tightly, laughing with Ironhide.
"Anyway!" Will called out with a broad grin. "Bachelor party!"
"You know technically you're supposed to wait for a date for the wedding before you plan the bachelor party," I called up to him with a laugh.
"Five days!" Ironhide called out with a smirk.
"Tonight," Optimus rumbled with a small smile, reaching with his holoform's hands to cup my face.
"Optimus!" Arcee stated indignantly.
"What?" he rumbled, looking at the Femme in confusion.
"You're rushing things even by human standards," she stated patiently.
"But it's still sweet," I murmured, reaching up to kiss his jaw again.
"Besides," Chromia added with a smirk, "She's going to be a bot soon, running both traditions she has yet to get a few conquests under her armour."
"Ugh!" I groaned, "Fine!" I wriggled out of Optimus' arms and stalked toward Chromia. She stared at me in confusion until I spun her into my arms.
"Ha wha oohh..." she moaned as I began whispering sweet nothings in her ear, pressing delicate kisses along the line of her neck. I glanced up to see Ironhide watching me intently.
"Now considering that I have found a bot whom I love to distraction, and who loves me in return, why would I wish to return to my hunting grounds of shallow and empty imbecilles?" I murmured in her ear softly. "I know my skills, I can make you moan, beautiful creature that you are, you are a proud auto-bot and far pickier of your targets. Did you consider the fact that you have spoiled me, goddess?"
Chromia hummed as I slid my hands along her stomach. One gliding toward her spark, the other lower. I could hear her spark humming, the soft, deep tones of lustful interest.
"Oh and Chrome?" I murmured in her ear.
"Hmm?" she sighed.
"Conquest, NOW can I marry my Optimus?" I grinned, lightly balancing her on her feet again. I still held her hand gently as she sorted her holoform's balance again.
"What!? Oh you little shit!" Chromia squawked, laughing the next second.
"You're teaching me that," Ironhide rumbled firmly.
"Make you a deal then, Hide," I smirked, he stood with crossed arms and narrowed eyes, staring me down.
"Name it," he drawled sternly. I matched his stance and held his eyes.
"You teach me the fine points of shootin', I help you refine your seduction skills," I drawled back at him. I knew I looked a ridiculous figure, tiny human barely making it to his ankle; it was all I could do to keep my face straight.
He stared at me for a second and burst out laughing, his holoform winking online and dragging me into a hug.
"Alright fine," he rumbled cheerfully, "Just for that you can add me to your conquest list."
"Yay!" I laughed, "that brings my list to..." I frowned, thinking for a moment.
"What is your number?" Chromia asked curiously.
"Thirteen? No..." I muttered, I crossed my arms, frowning.
"What?" Arcee murmured curiously.
"What are the conquest rules?" I asked curiously.
"What now?" Flare asked cheerfully.
"Well, I mean the first eight who claim to have slept with me were friggen easy pickings," I stated with a frown, "So was Trent, Sam chased after me like a madman..."
"So your total is two, both auto-bot," Arcee chuckled. "You don't make conquests, you allow yourself to be a conquest."
"No wonder it took you two so bloody long to interface," Ironhide snorted, whacking at Optimus.
"It only took two years," Optimus murmured with a snort. "We met, did not see each other alone for two years-"
"Then you came to my rescue," I murmured, winding my arms around the holoform's waist. "My very own knight in shining armour."
"My lady," he rumbled, pulling back and lightly taking my hand, kissing my palm.
"Sickeningly adorable," Ironhide snorted.
"Thank you," Optimus rumbled blandly, he shot a quick wink at me before scooping me into the holoform's arms. "Now where were we, my damsel?" he rumbled softly.
"Oh, your damsel in grease stained coveralls?" I snorted.
"Perhaps my damsel in distress?" Optimus rumbled with a broad grin, carrying me back toward himself.
"Sir knight I am in your arms, what is there to be distressed about?" I lilted sweetly.
"My damsel in dangerous orns?" he rumbled placidly.
"Your damsel in arms?" I stated with an absolutely straight face.
Ratchet snorted back a laugh as Optimus froze, staring down at me.
"If that is so, where is your gun?" Optimus shot back at me with a grin. With an absolutely straight face, I threaded my arm down and grabbed the holoform's crotch.
"Right here." I murmured, dropping my voice into a sultry tone. The holoform promptly blinked out and I landed on my arse.
I stared up at Optimus incredulously and laid down, laughing as Ironhide quickly got beneath him, keeping him on his feet.
"Victory!" I crowed, stretching out on the floor.
Optimus immediately brought his holoform online to lay over top of me.
"You are on your back, that constitutes victory?" he rumbled silkily. I smirked up at him and flipped him to his back.
"I do believe it is," I murmured, grinding my hips into his and stretching to press a gentle kiss to the side of his throat.
"Yeah we definitely have to call it hers," Ironhide snorted. "Now come off of him Kae, before you kill your fiancee."
"But it would be the absolute best way to die," Optimus rumbled with a deep, contented sigh. I laughed softly and swung myself upward, supporting my weight on my arms and leaning down to catch his lips with my own.
"So when do I get to lay absolute claim on you?" he rumbled cheerfully, his hands reached up to grasp my arse.
"You already have," I murmured, smiling gently before flexing to my feet, pulling him to his own.
"In the meantime, I now desperately need you in my berth," Ironhide rumbled, lightly picking Chromia up.
"Oh thank Primus," Chromia sighed, cuddling into her lover.
"I still kinda need a date," Will stated, still blushing furiously. "For the politics."
"We still need to figure out which tradition you wish to follow," Optimus rumbled with a grin, winding his holoform around me.
"Why do I have to choose the tradition?" I laughed softly.
"Because I truly do not care which one we follow, only that I get to keep you," he murmured, his face pressed gently into my hair.
"You're talking to a femme who never expected to live long enough to marry," I laughed, "make Chromia decide."
"White wedding!" Chromia sang. "With all the trimmings!"
"I thought you were my friend," I stated with a snort. "Bad luck to wear white when you're not a virgin."
"Then you can wear this one," Arcee sang, beginning to shift her clothing.
"NO!" Will bellowed, immediately running to stand in front of Arcee, shielding her.
"Major!?" Flare asked incredulously.
"Ridiculously bad luck for the groom to see the bridal gown before the wedding." Will grinned. Arcee squealed and caught him in a bear hug.
"Oh well if you're in on it too, can Anabelle be flowergirl?" I asked with a grin.
"Oh Sarah's going to die when she finds out!" Will laughed.
"Then don't tell her!" Ironhide rumbled immediately.
"No, she's going to be incredibly happy about it," Will explained quickly.
"So white wedding, we need time and date," Ironhide smirked at me.
"That's all Optimus," I grinned, looking up at him. His optics dimmed slightly.
"June, if you are amenable, I should like to be bound to you at precisely eight sixteen in the evening of the twenty fifth," he rumbled a second later, my treacherous eyes began to water slightly.
"Kae?" Ratchet rumbled gently.
"You'll go to stand at the alter at seven thirty-eight," I whispered. "The first time I laid eyes on you, as you entered the atmosphere."
"You remember," he rumbled softly, the holoform caressing a tear from my cheek.
"Always," I whispered, I turned to look at Ratchet. "Will you escort me down the aisle, ∂Father?∂
His holoform winked online the next second, enfolding the both of us.
"Yes I will, ∂Daughter of my spark,∂ he choked.
"Will you stand with me, Will?" Optimus rumbled suddenly.
"Yeah, yeah I will," Will nodded, grinning at him. "Kae, seeing as you're Buddhist and marrying an Auto-bot, maybe you should ask General Moreshower to officiate."
"Brilliant Will!" I laughed, I turned to look at the Femmes. They were all biting their lips and bouncing.
"Well you're all standing with me, but I have no idea how to choose between the three of you to be my maid of honour," I stated with a low laugh. "And we need to go dress shopping, stat!"
"We'll just have to trade off maid of honour," Arcee grinned. "Flare you're mine."
"Chrome you're mine," Flare grinned.
"Kae you're mine," Chromia grinned.
"'Cee you're mine!" I sang, extracting myself from Optimus and Ratchet to throw myself on her.
"Which means I'm in charge of your staggette night," Arcee grinned, enveloping me in a tight hug.
"Sorted Will," I beamed at him.
"June twenty five," Will grinned, "I'm going to go tell Moreshower."
"Ooh ooh, lemme come with! I gotta ask him!" I grinned. Optimus leaned down and lightly scooped me into his palm.
"Ask me what?" Chris asked curiously, walking in in the nick of time. "Optimus, I'm sorry, politics wise I need to know when you two are getting hitched."
"Why would I put a hitch on my Kae?" Optimus rumbled curiously, looking down at me in his palm.
"Slang for married," I laughed.
"The twenty fifth of June," Optimus rumbled immediately, smirking.
"Would you care to join us for dinner?" I asked with a broad grin.
"I can't," Chris stated apologetically.
"What, got a hot date tonight?" Will grinned.
"Oddly enough I do," Chris snorted.
"Well I'll drag you to dinner later and ask you now, will you marry us, Chris?" I asked with a gentle smile as I sat comfortably in Optimus' hand.
"Yes I will, who's walking you?" Chris grinned.
"That would be me," Ratchet smirked.
"Well then that makes my life a bit easier, Cole Westfield of all people has been riding my ass," Chris snorted.
"He wants to draw up the guest list?" I asked curiously.
"Yes he does," Chris snorted. "I think he wants to try to make it up to you for getting you shot during the parade. The President gave him permission to make it the wedding of the century."
"I'll have to call Old Wolf," I stated calmly. "I know he'll want to come, and Mary, Jean..." I began mentally comprising the list. "Of course the seating arrangements are going to have to be non-traditional, and I need to sort out the menus, which means I need to talk to Cole and figure out what all dignitaries are going to be there if he's hammering in the political angle... Oh gods and the seating arrangements at the reception need to be sorted out with absolute precision!" I stated in a horrified tone, feeling the beginnings of a monumental headache.
Optimus smiled down at me, cradling me close to his spark.
"Cold feet already, my Kae?" he rumbled softly in a deeply amused tone.
"Too bad we can't simply elope," I snorted, crawling up to his shoulder and cuddling against his cheek.
"You are not eloping!" Chromia squawked indignantly. "And you are not allowed to stress out over all this either! That's our job!"
"It's your job to get stressed out over my wedding?" I snorted.
"We are your sisters," Flareup stated with immense dignity.
"And I am your maid of honour," Arcee added proudly. "It is therefore my job to keep you from stressing, your job to think about where you want to be bound, and Optimus' job to take you to his quarters post haste to remind you precisely why you're marrying him in the first place."
"Done," Optimus rumbled cheerfully, turning toward the door as I began laughing.
"I already know why I'm marrying you," I murmured, climbing across his chest to plant a gentle kiss to his jaw. "You are my Optimus, and I am your Kae."
"So cute," Chromia giggled from Ironhide's arms as Optimus vented a deep, contented sigh, reaching his hand up and gently touching my back.
ΩMy Kae,Ω he murmured softly. I felt my spark flare in response to his, our souls reaching through the ether toward each other.
"What's that flash?" Chris asked curiously.
"Spark flare," Arcee stated with a small smile.
"Which means?" Will asked wide eyed.
"You know how when you look at Sarah, your chest fills with warmth, and you can feel your heart beating?" Ironhide rumbled with a small smile. Optimus and I smiled as his spark flared, a soft glow emerging from his chest as he looked at his Chromia. "It is the same thing," he rumbled gently, caressing her cheek.
"However among our race, you can see your lover's soul as it reaches for you," Chromia added in soft counterpart, craning her neck slightly to press a gentle kiss to her lover's jaw. Ironhide turned his head with a smile and caught her lips with a tender, featherlight kiss.
"At the risk of disintegration, it needs to be said," Will stated with a small smile. "That. Is absolutely adorable."
"Mmn, optics off," Chromia murmured in a sultry tone. "I lay claim to this one."
"I am honoured," Ironhide rumbled, smiling at his femme. "Shall we?"
"We shall," she smirked at him. "Good evening," she added, nodding to humans and Auto-bots as Ironhide carried her out of the med-bay.
I smiled as the present humans watched them with raised eyebrows.
"Translation?" Ratchet rumbled congenially.
"Please?" Will asked with a grin.
"Chromia has marked her territory, Ironhide," Arcee smiled. "Which means that if hypothetically, another bot or femme wished to catch his optic, she will challenge them."
"Hand to hand, to surrender or death," Flareup added with a smile.
"So the women fight for the men?" Chris asked curiously.
"It is considered more..." Optimus began thoughtfully, he looked at me.
"Decorous, in better taste," I put in calmly. "Of course I highly doubt a challenge would be necessary, it would be nullified the second Ironhide indicated a lack of interest in the opposing femme."
"However there is no strict ruling on the gender of challenges," Optimus added calmly.
"How's that work?" Will prompted him. Optimus looked at him and rumbled a low laugh.
"Would you care to adjourn to the central?" he rumbled with a smile. "If you wish to hear every spoken and unspoken law and tradition dictating our courtship and bonding practices, it is going to be a very long night."
"Cybertronian night or Earth night?" Will grinned up at us.
"Depends how in depth you prompt Optimus," Ratchet snorted.
"Can I beg you to take up the conversation tomorrow night?" Chris asked with a broad grin. "At the moment I'm now torn between my date and learning."
"You up for a good long night of chatting tomorrow?" Will grinned up at us. "I know Jerry, Jacobs, Epps and Chance are going to be fuming that they've missed out on this much already."
"After the evening repast?" Optimus rumbled in amusement.
"Done!" Chris crowed. "See you tomorrow boys bots and femmes."
"Good evening, General," Optimus rumbled, smiling.
"I'm gonna go spread the word around then," Will grinned. "Good recharge you lot," he waved and made a beeline for the door.
Optimus turned and began striding toward our quarters.
(OPOV)
"It is considered more..." Optimus began thoughtfully, he wanted the right translation. He looked at his Kae.
"Decorous, in better taste," Mikaela stated calmly. "Of course I highly doubt a challenge would be necessary, it would be nullified the second Ironhide indicated a lack of interest in the opposing femme."
He loved it when she understood what he wanted to say.
"However there is no strict ruling on the gender of challenges," Optimus added calmly.
"How's that work?" Will prompted him. Optimus looked at him and rumbled a low laugh.
"Would you care to adjourn to the central?" he rumbled with a smile. "If you wish to hear every spoken and unspoken law and tradition dictating our courtship and bonding practices, it is going to be a very long night."
"Cybertronian night or Earth night?" Will grinned up at us.
"Depends how in depth you prompt Optimus," Ratchet snorted.
"Can I beg you to take up the conversation tomorrow night?" Chris asked with a broad grin. "At the moment I'm now torn between my date and learning."
"You up for a good long night of chatting tomorrow?" Will grinned up at them. "I know Jerry, Jacobs, Epps and Chance are going to be fuming that they've missed out on this much already."
"After the evening repast?" Optimus rumbled in amusement.
"Done!" Chris crowed. "See you tomorrow boys bots and femmes."
"Good evening, General," Optimus rumbled, smiling.
"I'm gonna go spread the word around then," Will grinned. "Good recharge you lot," he waved and made a beeline for the door.
Optimus turned and began striding toward their quarters.
He had a femme to attend to.
Mikaela was looking at him in amusement.
"What?" he chuckled, glancing at her. Just a glance, proximity sensors or not, he still had to watch where he was walking. But his Kae understood that.
"I love it when you sound like that," Mikaela murmured, running a gentle hand across his cheek.
Which felt incredible. She had such gentle hands.
Optimus hummed contentedly, and Mikaela smiled a bit more.
"When I sound like what?" he rumbled teasingly.
"When you sound so happy," she murmured, scooting to rest her cheek to his temple.
And that felt even better.
(RPOV)
Ratchet watched the dispersal of people from his med-bay with a small smirk. Except Arcee then chose that moment to shoot one of those wicked, practically carnally commanding glances at him.
He froze in place for a moment, staring back and forth between his spark-daughter's body, and the femme whom he truly intended to bond the second he had the courage to ask.
Arcee smiled and wheeled toward him, reaching up to his shoulders.
Ratchet obediently lifted her to his chest and smiled as she pressed a kiss to his jaw.
"Don't spend all night working, beloved consort." she commanded with a smile.
"As my beloved wishes," Ratchet smiled at her, kissing her gently. His spark flared toward her's and a thought occurred. "Will you help me with our Kae's body?" he asked. It was a shock for him, he hadn't sent the command for the request to be spoken.
Arcee looked at him wide-eyed and nodded, evidently understanding that he hadn't sent the command.
"Who?" she whispered.
"Whomever it is that desires our Kae to be reborn," Ratchet murmured in an awed tone. "Whether the All-spark or Primus I don't know, Optimus is capable of such an override, but I have never seen him employ it."
"We already know his signature," Arcee nodded, wide eyed. She smiled. "Well, shall we continue on?"
Ratchet grinned and set Arcee down, the two of them striding to the berth and kneeling down, sending up a prayer together before beginning work on their daughter-sister's body.
Arcee was smiling as she surveyed the body, instantly wheeling to her abdomen and beginning on a circuit that Ratchet couldn't help but admire. Complex and simple. He returned to his work on her hands, making them strong, and precise enough to be perfectly gentle.