[Cue the fluff/kind of adultish stuff! Seriously, I just felt like giving this story some feels. Let's see what my twisted mind comes up with, yeah?]
"William,"
The Major turned around from the railing to find Optimus with a curious expression on his haloform's face.
"Hey, Optimus. What's up?" Will wondered as he pushed away from the edge he'd just been glaring at.
"I wanted to ask you something about human relationships. I would have assumed that Azrael already told you of our status," the Prime explained.
"Yeah. Congrats, by the way! I was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen," Will teased, "Anyways, what about human relationships?"
"How would you make up for something?" Optimus asked, "When Azrael and I first intended to meet for our date, she was attacked. I would like to make up for the missed opportunity."
"Keep going on like that and she's going to want to marry you," Will laughed, "Optimus, I can assure you that anything you do for Ace, she's gonna love it. The kid's not picky, and all she wants is to be with you. But, I usually take Shara out to an empty field and just lay there. That way, it's just the two of us. No one there us interrupt the perfect moment, nothing to get in the way of what you're trying to do or say, nothing. You could give that a shot."
The Prime gave it a shot alright. With a small basket packed with some of Azrael's favorite treats tucked away in his cabin, Optimus had set out to find the human femme. Since that moment when he'd finally touched her lips, she'd been all he could think about. Azrael had changed as of recently around Optimus. Her soft side was showing, this side of her where she was gentle. This was the side where she hid all of her cracks and scratches, slowly letting the Prime discover them in their own time. Each time he found a new one, he would tenderly begin to heal it. He'd ask easy questions at first and show her unending love and comfort. Then, he'd pusher her harder, encouraging Azrael to speak to him and trust him. The one subject she outright refused to talk about any more was her father. Optimus himself didn't want to know much of the horrid man, but tonight, he knew that he had to begin the healing process to that one.
He knocked on the door to Azrael's barracks in a pattern that only they knew. Inside, he heard shuffling before the door was pulled open. There stood a softly smiling Azrael with her dark hair pulled back into a messy bun. She was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a red wife beater with a grey jacket on over. Optimus recalled her saying that she hated the name 'wife beater', so she usually just called them 'tank tops'. She grinned at the haloform. She shut her door behind her and grabbed onto his out-stretched hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked in a hushed whisper as they tried to make it through the soldiers without gaining too much attention.
"Somewhere quiet, and where it can be just the two of us," Optimus replied. He himself had an excited, boyish grin.
Azrael squealed quietly. They broke hands as they approached Optimus' true body. The doors popped open and Azrael was more than happy to fling herself into a seat. Since Optimus had proposed the idea of a date earlier that week, Azrael hadn't been able to think of anything else. When the doors shut and Optimus' engine turned over, his haloform fizzled out of sight. Azrael giggled with child-like excitement as she slid down onto the floorboards so she wasn't spotted. They hadn't vented their plans with any official, they hadn't told anyone on the team where they were going, and they were sure to avoid Director Galloway. Optimus wanted to do everything he could to keep Azrael from meeting that goblin of a man.
Soldiers saluted the Prime as he began to drive out of the base, Azrael carefully stashed away down below. When she saw the lights beginning to fade, she crawled up and flopped herself onto one of the seats with a girly giggle. Optimus' haloform fizzled into existence in the driver's seat with his own chuckle. Azrael peered over his outfit, a white undershirt with a white and blue flannel on over, and a pair of dark blue jeans with his usual action boots. His midnight blue hair was swept back in an undercut, neatly combed and glossy looking.
"So, where are we going?" she asked again.
"I told you, somewhere quiet, and just the two of us," Optimus answered.
"But... it's quiet right now, and we're alone..." Azrael tested the boundaries of how far he was willing to go to keep this 'secret' from her, "Why not just tell me where we're going?"
Her fingertips danced over the leather seat below her, tracing the seams sewn into it. She grinned as she saw Optimus' hands tighten on the steering wheel.
"I can feel that," he muttered.
"I figured as much," Azrael giggled, "That's why you don't like me touching the gear shifter too much. It's ticklish to you. At least, that's how Ratchet explained it."
Optimus mumbled something under his breath before saying: "Must you torture me?"
"I do it out of love," Azrael cackled as she watched his nose scrunch up in disbelief. She reeled her hand back, "You know I love you, Optimus."
She got up from her seat, catching the haloform's attention as she walked back to the cabin where a bed was set up. It had come with the vehicle Optimus scanned not long before he and Azrael met. He watched her plop down onto it and begin to kick off her shoes. He raised a brow in question.
"I hate shoes," Azrael explained, "I've never liked them and I only wear them when I have to. Seeing as it's just me and you, I don't have to."
She stuck out her tongue as a final declaration. Optimus chuckled and shook his head as he stood from his own seat. The light at the front of Optimus' real body shut off, suddenly, leaving but the moon to light up the dark cabin. Azrael grinned as she watched the haloform walk back toward her. She kicked her shoes into a corner and leaned back on the bed. She stretched out, her joints popping satisfyingly. She let out a small groan of pleasure from the sensation. Optimus sat next to her, his own shoes fizzled off of his haloform. Azrael smiled in amusement, but stared at the Prime curiously. She brought her hand up to run along the realistic feeling skin next to his bright, glowing eyes.
"How are you driving?" she wondered, "If you're looking at me, how are you able to drive?"
"That is difficult to explain," Optimus admitted as he leaned closer to Azrael. A simper fell onto her lips as a thoughtful look fell upon Optimus' features, "It's as if I can see many things at once. I can see the rode ahead and I can feel the wind from outside, all the while I am able to be here, with my eyes on you."
He leaned down to catch her lips against his briefly. Azrael giggled again.
"You're a dork," she whispered against his lips.
"I happen to have rather good social skills," he chuckled.
"Uh huh, yeah, okay," she snickered, "Shut up and kiss me again."
It was black as coal, the canopy of the trees making it even darker. They sat perfectly in the center of a small opening in that dark overcoat of thick leaves where the stars gleamed and the moon was barely peeking over the crescent of trees. All around her, she could hear the noises that during the day she was deprived of. Croaking and chirping frogs, deep ones and the kinds that make that whirring whizzing sound that gets louder and then stops leaving a sudden silence. Chirping crickets, many different kinds, from all sides seem to be closing in, she could hear them everywhere around them. She heard a faint howell in the distance, pained and hungry. What could that be? A wolf, perhaps a coyote? What is out here in the deep dark forest? Everything felt wetter here, in the dark forest, but she couldn't have cared less. She sighed in content as his arms were wrapped tightly around her body. His arms were around her waist, making sure to keep her back pressed against his warm, thumping chest. She was sat between his legs on the top of the black and blue blanket he had brought. The sweet flavor of blueberry muffins coated her tongue as she continued to munch on the pastry.
She'd been wondering why he wanted to bring her out here from the start. Perhaps it was just for the sake of taking her on a date, but something told her that there was more to it than coming out to watch the stars. She craned her head back to peer up at the haloform that looked up at the night sky. He looked down at her when he felt her head brush against his chest.
"Is something wrong?" he asked softly as one of his hands came from her waist to brush a few locks of her dark hair from her bright, startling blue eyes.
"No," she whispered softly, tiredly, "I was just wondering why we were here. Why did you want to bring me out here tonight?"
He chuckled at her spiel of questions. She was always the curious one, always in search of knowledge or understanding - always in need of an explanation.
"I wanted to make up for our missed date when we'd first met," he said. He pressed his lips to her forehead in a soft, prolonged kiss. He softly murmured against her skin, "But I also wanted to talk to you about something else."
"About what?" she wondered.
"Your sire," he said, "I realize that you don't wish to speak of him if you can avoid it, but this is not something that that will fade away."
"Optimus, please," she pleaded softly. She knew that if he pushed her hard enough, she would break.
"I'm not going to force you, Azrael. But as my beloved, my Destined Conjunx Endura, I have to take care of you. This is part of how I will take care of you," he stated, "Please, Azrael. Trust me with this. I will love you all the same."
"I... Optimus, it's harder to talk about than you think," she sat up from his warm embrace. She immediately regretted moving from his body, but being able to look into his eyes and speak was all the more empowering, "He hurt me, Optimus. Since I was little, he's hurt me by chasing after something normal when I was far from it. I have nightmares, PTSD, trauma that's never going to be healed -!"
She was cut off by a firm kiss pressed against her lips. Her body turned to mush as she felt his arms wrap around her, dragging her in again and holding her there. Her mind went blank as bliss engulfed her. She felt nothing but his heat wrapping around her. His lips felt soft and warm and hungry. Azrael gasped as she felt his hand take a firm hold of the back of her neck. Upon her lips parting but a small way, he deepened the kiss to a depth that humanly shouldn't have been possible. Then again, he wasn't human, and she wanted nothing more than him. It seemed as if the kiss held everything, every ounce of love and devotion and adoration. It possessed everything but one common factor that Azrael took notice of.
Lust.
She felt the palms of his hands pressing into her soft flesh, his fingers grazing over what was already exposed, but he didn't dare make any other move. He devoted the moment to giving her everything he could. Amusement flashed through him for a moment as he tasted something reminiscent of blueberries. His hands tangled in her hair. He pulled her head up more as if it would bring them closer. It seemed impossible for their bodies to get any closer. Slowly, he began to pull away, going back for more each time, pecking her lips over and over until he managed to stay away long enough to notice her eyes lighting up. He noticed the beginnings of tears in the corner of her eyes as she looked up at him. How innocent she looked was enduring, almost amusing. He brought one of his hands up to her face, cupping her cheek, while the other held him up.
"I will never force you to speak to me, Azrael, but I will push you to trust me," he said softly to the woman laying below him, "I will protect you, and I swear to Primus that I will do everything within my power to help you heal."
"Optimus," she cooed, "Let's go home."
He nodded in agreement. He registered the fact that she had called the base 'home', as in her new home. It didn't seem right for her to be calling the base her home when, in fact, her home was turned to rubble. He quickly shook this thought from his processor. He had to get Azrael home.
Optimus rolled off of her, the woman sitting up and shaking out her head of thick, dark hair. Her brilliant blue eyes gleamed up at the night sky, glinting back at the twinkling stars. Optimus chuckled at the struck look on her face, her features bathed in pale moonlight. It was endearing. The Prime got to his feet and held out his hand to Azrael who took it. She hopped up onto her feet and picked up the basket. She picked out a small green apple. Taking a bite out of it, she wondered how Optimus knew what to get her. A topic of favorite foods hadn't exactly come up between them seeing as his haloform could only accept liquids.
"How do you know my favorite snack food?" she wondered, "You didn't go snooping around through my past records, did you?"
Optimus chuckled from her inquiry, but it was a valid question.
"I'm not sure," he admitted as he picked up the now folded blanket, "I simply... guessed. I thought of you and what I saw you eating most often, but... well, I've never seen you eat a 'Pop-Tart' before. It was as if I already knew."
"Yeah? And you knew that I liked strawberry the most?" Azrael teased as they began their light trek back to Optimus' body.
"That, I cannot explain. Perhaps Ratchet can -"
.:Ironhide to Optimus:.
The Prime stopped in his tracks as he listened to the urgency in the weapon specialist's tone.
.:I read you, Ironhide. What seems to be the issue?:.
.:There was a second attack. This one isn't like the first one. It's... it's worse, Optimus. You have to get down here ASAP:.
.:Understood. Send the coordinates. Azrael and I will be there shortly:.
.:Hurry, Prime. There are wounded. Some are... some are dead:.
Optimus' eyes fell onto the wide ones of Azrael.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"It was Ironhide. There's been another attack," Optimus said, "We have to leave."
Azrael nodded long with him. She tucked the basket further up her arm as she began to walk faster up the rocky incline.
"I apologize, Azrael. I hadn't excepted -"
"Never mind that!" she shook her head rapidly to disregard his apology, "Those people need help! We've got to hurry."
Ace jumped out of the Peterbuilt Semi-truck with an expression that everyone recognized all too well. This was her 'analytical expression', when she was all work and no play. She ran over to Lennox and Epps who were speaking to wounded soldiers Ratchet was tending to along with a few human medics. Optimus activated his haloform to join Ironhide, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and Acree. Ace's eyes narrowed in on the familiar collapsed building. She crossed her arms as she took a stance next to Lennox.
"First my apartment, how my childhood home?" she muttered, "What's next? My mother's grave?"
"This is where you grew up?" Epps asked. Ratchet looked up at the woman curiously as well.
"More like this is where I broke down," Ace stated, "I hated this house since I was five and I left nine years later."
"You were fourteen," Ratchet noted, "Why did you leave?"
Ace didn't reply, only staring at the ruble.
"I always wanted to come back here and burn it down. Looks like it was done for me,"
She began to walk toward the broken down house, stepping over piles of broken down and burnt bricks. The toxic scent of alcohol poured out of every crack there was. Ace kept a stoic expression as she peered over the rubble. She pushed at some with her foot, revealing a long, thin metal hatch going to the basement. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she drew in a long, deep breath. She knelt down, pulling on the handle to the metal door. She lifted it up and tossed it over to the side. The familiar clanging of the hinges rang through her ears.
Maybe it's time for you to have another lesson.
Why can't you ever learn anything?!
Why can't you be normal?!
A hand landed on her shoulder. Ace looked back to find Optimus' haloform watching her with concern woven into his eyes. She let out a soft sigh and turned her head away from him. She felt his hand slip from her shoulder as she took the first few creaking steps down into the dark. The scent of cigars and blood added to the booze. She took in another long breath and braved down the rest of the stairs. The room was dark and damp as it had always been. Her fingers grazed over the warn down walls, smoothed down from years of use. She found the lightswitch, hesitating to turn it on.
"Azrael," Optimus' gentle voice whispered behind her. She felt his felt is hand slide into her own and squeeze, "It's alright."
She let out a sigh before she flicked on the light. Before her was an array of different tools and weapons. Whips hung from chains on the walls, blades were laid out neatly along a black wooden bench. Drills were displayed along the smoothed stone walls with hammers and chisels. In the center of it all was a chair similar to a dentist chair with straps fitted to the sides of it. She could hear her young self screaming in agony as her father drove object into her skin and muscle and the point where he'd broken bones. She felt Optimus' hand tighten around her own. Ace tried to breathe, only taking in a ragged breath. Hurried steps came down the stairs as several people came into the basement. Ace gripped onto Optimus' hand tightly.
"You wanted to know about what my father did to me," she said with a wavering voice, "This is it."
"Ace... we had no idea -" Lennox began.
"Because I didn't want you to," Ace murmured, "This is my past. I wanted to leave it there. But it seems that my past always comes back... no matter how far I run..."
"Who the hell would do this to anyone?" Hide growled lowly.
"A broken man," was her weak response, "His bloodline has nothing but pain. His father hurt him, and his father's father hurt his father, and so on. It's a chain that can almost never be broken... Not until me..."
"Why?" Acree demanded, "Why would he want to hurt you at all? You're his daughter, his blood. Shouldn't he have protected you?"
"He thought he was. He was in the pursuit of normality, a chance to live a life without uncommon factors. But I was different. I didn't follow his path of falsehoods or in his quest to become average," Ace spoke hardly above a whisper, "I wanted to run when others walked. I wanted to shout when others would whisper. I wanted to see color in a world of grey... he tried to take that from me, but... I wouldn't let him."
"Is he still alive?" Sideswipe asked gingerly.
"I don't know. I ran away when I was fourteen and I didn't look back," Ace said, "But it looks clean enough. It wouldn't surprise me if he was still kicking."
"I'm gonna kick his ass!" Bee shouted angrily.
"No," Ace said. She turned her head enough to look back at the team that watched her with protectiveness in their eyes, "We're going home."