Elita-One strode into the dark room, optics alight as she caught sight of the mech she was searching for. He was hunched over his work, one optic staring intensly at his projects, clawed servos occasionally twitching as if he was already getting ready for his next experiment.
"Shockwave," she greeted as she strode toward him, steps deliberate as she stopped in front of his desk. "It is a pleasure to see you."
"Commander Elita-One," he said simply.
Elita-One let it slide simply as she held out the carefully wrapped object in her servo. "I have a delivery for you," she said. "From a mutual friend we both share."
"Odd that you and I would associate with the same folk," he commented emotionlessly, gingerly taking the object she had to offer.
"Not odd," she said. "Just rare." She nodded politely. "I am extending this to you on behalf of my friend; is there anything you would like me to deliver to her?"
Shockwave was oddly silent for a moment as his one optic focused on the wrapped object. "No," he said, his tone not changing. "There is nothing else that I can send."
She nodded. "Very well." She cocked her helm. "Good day, Shockwave."
"Good day, Commander," he said, though she was almost out of the room that she had barely heard it, but it was enough to make her pause.
Yes, there were many things she would do for her friend, even when she herself retained some misgivings on the situation. She had presented her case to Red Alert, made her worries known. Now, she would step back and remain by her friend's side and offer support. But, she would be standing with a blaster in her servo if she needed to end a certain scientists life.
The ledge was very simple and overlooked the large valley below with jagged rocks poking out of the grounds surface. A little path could be seen carved from the jagged rocks, allowing civilians to stroll and admire the eerie, yet enticing landscape. If one squinted, one could see another building not too far ahead. The two buildings situated in the valley had nothing in common, aside from the thin metal wire connecting the two from the balcony. It was that thin, metal wire that was specifically designed for sports such as mountain climbing, or ziplining. While the wire looked dainty and fragile, experts in such an activity could say that it was sturdy and safe if one knew what they were doing.
Bumblebee was no such expert.
"This is your idea of fun?" Bumblebee demanded, aghast.
Arcee couldn't help but smirk. "Why? Don't tell me you're afraid of heights! Do you know how long it took me to set this up?"
He blinked. "You didn't have to set it up for me," he said.
"Oh, I didn't," she assured him. "I've always had this set up. But someone keeps taking it down."
He hummed thoughtfully. "So you enjoy ziplining?"
"Always have," she answered. "But I used to get in trouble a lot when I was a sparkling. My guardians hated it all the time."
Interest sparked in Bumblebee's optics as he cocked his helm. "Interesting," he murmured. "So, where are the safety harnesses?"
She smirked. "No safety harness," she said. She laughed at Bumblebee's startled look. "Relax Bee," she said, holding up two harnesses. "I'm not careless."
"Uh huh," he muttered, looking down. "And you've done this before?"
"Yes," she sighed. "What? You've never done anything like this?"
"I have done plenty of crazy things," he defended. "But ziplining over jagged rocks with an amaturs touch is not my idea of fun."
She smirked. "Shut up and let me hook you up."
Bumblebee tried not to notice how her servos felt on his armor when she helped hook him up with the safety, and he cursed his shaky servos as he clenched them at his side. However, Arcee noticed. "You alright?" she asked, frowning in concern.
"Just excited," he confessed quickly. "So, where does this zipline take us?" he asked.
She smiled, leaping onto the balcony. "You will have to wait and see." With that, she smirked at him and zipped off.
Bumblebee swallowed, before a thrill of excitement surged through him. He grabbed the zipline before zooming after her, the sudden drop causing him to let out a yell of excitement. The wind tugged on him as he increased speed. A smile bloomed on his face as he let out a happy whoop of joy, laughing all the way as the exhilaration hit him hard.
The zipline kept going, maintaining speed. It barely registered in his mind that Arcee had been the one to set this up, that she had been ziplining since she was a sparkling.
Who else did he know who liked ziplining as a sparkling? It was in the back of his mind, yet he could not remember for the life of him.
His thoughts came to an abrupt stop when he noticed that he was coming up on the landing platform. He grinned, touching down right next to Arcee who was smiling brightly, her entire face lighting up with the thrill of sharing this with someone.
"How was that?" she asked, breathless.
He laughed. "Amazing! I just might stick around a bit longer."
She rolled her optics playfully. "That was the point," she said. "Wait till you see the next one," she said.
He blinked. "Wait, there's a next one?"
She laughed. "You didn't think we were going to have to climb down the platform right?"
He glanced down, realizing that there would be no getting down the platform anyway. He closed his optic and tried to not think about how high up he was, and that it was just him and Arcee. A quick glance at her proved to be his mistake, as he noticed how focused she was in working on the harness of the zipline. Her optics were narrowed in concentration and her servos worked with practiced ease. She was in her element, ruthlessly attending to what she enjoyed.
Moonracer was willing to step out of the Selection for a mech she truly loved. She was not willing to miss out on such an amazing chance of love. She was willing to reach out for her love.
He imagined a life with her, a life with the femme standing right in front of him. He thought of how he felt when she laughed or smiled his way, and how his spark was filled with warmth at the thought of bringing her joy.
It was by chance that he had met her, a pure and simple chance that they had crossed paths at the Hut. But he had found her, even when he wasn't looking. When he looked at her, she broke through his confusion and frantic thoughts Falling in love was something he would never have imagined happening.
He had long accepted the fact that he had feelings for her, for this talented, amazing femme who made his spark pick up speed. It was the constant, tiring debate on how and if he should make his feelings known to her. What if she did not feel the same as he? What if he ruined what they had because he misinterpreted anything?
"You seem to be attracted to danger," he commented.
"I'm attracted to many things," she said simply, optics alright with that familiar spark that made him smile. "The unknown, the forbidden," she listed off. "It's all so alluring. I know what I want, and I know how to obtain it."
He hummed thoughtfully, rocking back and forth on his pedes as he got ready for the next zipline. "I am not surprised," he said.
"Oh?" she asked, glancing at him. "Why not?"
He shrugged. "Uncertainty does not seem to suit you. You're always so driven, so clear headed. You know what to do, and you set yourself on straight paths." He risked another glance at her. "It's one of the things I like about you."
Because he was so focused on working the zipline, he did not see Arcee staring at him with open thoughtfulness. "Bee," she said suddenly. "What do you think of the Decepticon Heir?"
He paused, finally looking at her. "The Decepticon Heir?" he frowned. "Well, not much is known about her. We know she's involved with Megatron, and works behind the scenes of the Council. I know for a fact that Optimus Prime and Elita-One have met her, and that they approve of her. If she's got their approval, then she can't be as bad as some make her out to be." Which was entirely different with him. He was unsure what Megatron thought of him as the Autobot Heir. Half the time, he didn't know if Megatron approved or disapproved of him. It made him wonder what kind of femme the Decepticon warlord had raised.
"But what do you think of her?" Arcee asked.
Bumblebee hesitated. "I kind of worked her out in my mind as this levelheaded femme who doesn't take scrap from others: a tough, stern femme who is headstrong, and would lead Cybertron with a firm servo." He shrugged. "There's not much to go on, as there isn't enough solid information." He grinned. "But, there are rumors that she's as tall as Megatron with the deep, jagged armor and crimson optics."
Arcee raised a dubious optic ridge. "Crimson optics?"
"With the energon coated fangs," he quipped teasingly.
She groaned suddenly, banging her helm against the pole. "Ridiculous," she muttered. "Utterly ridiculous."
He shrugged as he gripped the zipline, testing it out. "Well," he said, glancing down. "I used to wonder about her, she has been on my mind a lot." He looked up. "But recently, the Decepticon Heir hasn't crossed my mind at all."
Arcee cocked her helm. "Oh?"
"I've been thinking about someone else," he said quietly. "Someone who has taken up my thoughts." He looked away with a deep breath. "Anyway," he said quickly with a smirk. "The rumors of the Decepticon Heir does make you wonder about her. Just like the rumors of the Autobot Heir."
Arcee smirked and approached him, causing him to look into her optics, his servos still held tightly on the zipline. His smirk did not leave his face as he wondered what kind of verbal comeback she had prepared for him.
Instead, she lightly placed her servo over his spark chamber, the warmth of his spark reaching out as it suddenly picked up speed at her close proximity. He could not step back, as there was an open ledge behind him. He was forced to stand still as she leaned in closer, his optics wide as his spark picked up speed.
"Yes," she whispered deeply, optics intense as she stared into his. "One has to wonder." Then she pushed him off the ledge and he was forced to hold onto the zipline as he zipped away.
Arcee breathed in deeply, shocked at how bold she had acted. She stared at her servo where it had only just recently rested over Bumblebee's spark chamber. She had felt its warmth, felt her own spark reach out to his. She had not known what had possessed her to do such a thing. Yes, she often reacted without thinking when her emotions were running high. But didn't everyone? Still, this act left her shaken, and she knew why.
A partner. She wanted a partner in a mate, not some stranger who did not understand her. She wanted a selfless mech, one who was loyal and who already had her trust.
Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness; those were the few of many traits that could easily describe Bumblebee. He was also funny, energetic, loyal, and confident. She suddenly thought about meeting her future mate, and she saw Bumblebee. She saw him smiling at her, his honest optics wide as he gazed at her. She remembered when they had danced, and how he had apologized for his actions as he tried to make amends.
Her spark felt like it was going to burst at the very thought of him. She quickly grabbed the zipline and leaped off the ledge, zooming after Bumblebee. Her thoughts and feelings flew faster than her as her resolve grew steely.
Yes, she was a Decepticon, and Megatron had compared her to a predacon who went after its treasure. At that moment, flying freely with the sudden revelation of what she was going to do, she truly felt like a predacon.
He was still smiling when she landed on the ground, the zipline finally coming to an end on a path. She knew fairly well that this path would lead to the middle of the city, and she planned on showing him his way around. But all she could focus on was his smile.
She could only stare as he spoke of the zipline and how he was never doing such a death-defying feat if his life depended on it. Such words brought a small smile to her face, because despite what he said, she knew he was joking and aching to try it again.
They were silent as they removed and carried the harnesses up the path. She noticed how Bumblebee's joyful smile seemed to fade and grow more thoughtful. She took in a deep breath, wondering what she should do. She gave a small start when she felt Bumblebee's servo slip into hers, and she looked down at their joined servos, then back up into Bumblebee's optics as they walked.
"Arcee," he started. "I know you have...plans for the Selection; plans for a future, and a stable one at that. You have dreams that you want to achieve." He hesitated. "But would you consider a different life? A life outside of the Selection? Would you consider the future we talked about; the pilot and the teacher?"
Out of nervousness, she felt Bumblebee's grip on her servo tighten. She pulled away, turning her helm away to hide her expression from him.
"I've been questioning a lot of things," he said. "Mainly with the Selection. I have developed...new feelings that I could not identify until...later. I thought I was confused," he said. "I thought it was all in my helm, and that I would hurt you and ruin everything if I let this...these feelings go on. I thought ignoring what I felt would make it go away." He shook his helm. "But, in reality, it only grew stronger when I wasn't paying attention."
He swallowed, unsure what to do as her back remained turned to him, her servos shaking. "Arcee," he said helplessly, hating himself for not knowing what to do. "Arcee," he repeated, her name precious to him as he said it.
He never got to finish. He noticed the change in her stance and how she went rigged. She swung around with sudden speed that took him by surprise as he stumbled back. She grabbed him roughly before pulling him closer to her. She placed a servo on the back of his helm before bringing him into a kiss.
His optics widened as she stiffened up, but she did not end the kiss. His servos found their way to her waist, and he closed his optics as he returned her kiss. They both relaxed, Arcee's grip loosening, but still refusing to let go of him.
He did not want her to let go anyway.
Finally, they broke apart, but his servos were still on her waist, and she had her servos on his shoulder. They rested their foreheads against each other, breathing deeply as one action spoke a thousand words to the both of them.
"Bee," she said, optics clear where fear and uncertainty had resided before.
He just smiled at her, feeling a sense of relief. "Hey Arcee." He then kissed her again, catching her by surprise.
Yes, he knew what he wanted, and he was already planning on how to make his future happen.
She had been fueled by a sudden surge of emotion. The thought of losing Bumblebee to someone else, all because she did not react in time had scared her more than anything else. She refused to let him slip away without letting him know how she felt first. She had to let him know, she could not carry this unsaid feeling around forever.
She hadn't thought it through. Kissing him had only been an impulse. But it had been the right impulse, one she had feared she would regret.
But she didn't, she found that she did not regret it at all.