The thing with Cybertronian couples, was when the relationship started to decline, they knew exactly what the cause was. Optimus and Arcee hadn't touched each other since Airachnid arrived.

So now the Prime and his second were bathing each other, the Prime kissing at her neck and audio while she purred and washed his armor. The water spiralled black down the drain.

"I missed this," she whispered as she turned around and raised her arms. While Optimus focused his attention on washing her belly and hips, she reached back and wrapped her arms around his neck so she could lean back.

"Touching is a vital part of relationships," he said as his servos went over her chestplates. She shivered in delight, but they weren't ready to climb into the berth just yet.

Arcee turned off the water and she patted her mate dry as he did the same to her. Optimus closed his optics as he slowly moved to his knees. He wrapped his arms around her smaller body and he pressed his face into her belly.

She flinched.

It was a sensitive part of any being. You did not want to open up your belly to anyone or anything, so to be able to surrender yourself, to show your belly to a possible enemy was a sign of respect and trust.

Optimus pulled away from her. He felt better, but not great. He would never feel great, he thought, and he stroked his purring mate's cheek. "I will be in my office if you need me. Go take a nap if you wish. There will be no patrol for you today unless you request it." He couldn't have Airachnid and Arcee cross paths today. He didn't want the stress.

The mates went their separate ways, Arcee to the main room and Optimus to his office.

But surprise surprise, Airachnid as waiting for him.

"Airachnid?" Optimus frowned.

She hopped off his desk. "Hello, Prime..." She stroked her digits over his chest, which made him curl his lip over his denta in a warning. "I came to apologize for my behavior."

"You should take that apology to Arcee. I am not offended."

"But I know you are. You like to hide it, but I know you are offended." She stood on her tip-toes and she planted a kiss on his cheek.

Optimus shook her off and he sat down in his chair as if nothing had happened. "Now I am offended. You leave me for eons, then come back and act like I did not move on."

Airachnid pouted. "I know you still love me..."

"Well, I apologize if I am leading you on, but if you have not noticed, Arcee and I are a couple now, and we will be until one of our sparks shorts out permenantly."

The purple femme's talons clicked together at the last worked and Optimus regretted his word choice.

"My dear, dear Prime..." She came around to his desk and she leaned over it, pushing her lower lip out in a pout as her optics dimmed.

Optimus anticipated a kiss and his battle mask slid over his mouth, but he was jumping to conclusions. He had just given Airachnid the satisfaction of making him squirm. He cursed internally.

"You of all bots should know that love never dies," she cooed and she stroked his mask with her digits. She watched his optics dim and roll back in his helm and she knew she found a sensitive spot on him. She stood straight just as the door opened and she dropped a report in his lap. Optimus glanced over at Bulkhead, who watched silently.

"Thank you for your report, Airachnid...you are dismissed."

She shoved past Bulkhead and walked down the halls to the RecRoom.

The former Wrecker looked at him. "What was that about?"

Optimus retracted his battle mask and he growled lowly. "I have never been so popular," he said as he stood. "Perhaps taking Airachnid into the team was a bad idea?"

Bulkhead snorted. "And ruin your streak of allowing anyone into the ranks? Come on, Prime. You said it yourself. Everyone has the capability of change. Why go back on it now, especially since you've been right so far?"
Optimus stood with the warrior. It was good to vent, he found. It hurt to bottle it all up inside. To give voice to his feelings...he liked the feeling. And Bulkhead wasn't in search of gossip. He knew that the Wrecker would be silent.

"I feel as if something will happen...something that will drive me and Arcee apart."

Bulkhead shrugged. "You have a difficult choice, Prime. Do you go with your new love, or the femme you loved as Orion Pax?"

He looked at him silently, then he nodded a bit. "You are very wise, Bulkhead."

"Yeah, don't expect much more wisdom to me, sir."

The Prime had to smile now. "I will keep that in mind."