Diana woke with a grumble, her body protesting being scrunched into a ball all night. She opened her eyes, looking about blearily. She was still inside Knock Out, bent to her left with her arms folded over the center console so she could use them as a pillow for her head. Her legs were still curled on the seat, feet numb from being sat on all night.
She didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but Knock Out had gotten them home.
He didn't seem to be awake yet, his form dark and quiet.
"Knocks?" she sat up, reaching out to poke at the steering wheel.
"Wha?" his voice was groggy. "Too early..."
"It's five in the morning." Diana smiled, sitting up and stretching. "Why didn't you wake me when we got back?"
"I didn't want to bother you." he yawned.
"Well, thank you." she reached for the door handle, letting herself out and standing once her feet hit the cement floor. "Ugh, and you're right, it is too early." She leaned back inside him, pulling her bag out.
He transformed lazily, the process slow, ending with him stretching his arms over his head.
Diana yawned, putting one heavy foot in front of the other as she headed for her bedroom. She belly flopped onto her bed, her head tipped to the side so she could still see Knock Out. "I don't think you've ever stayed this long."
"Is that a complaint?" he smirked.
"Not at all."
The Medic grinned, reaching a hand out to her and gently sliding a finger along her back. "I'll be back later."
"I'll be waiting."
It had been late afternoon when Diana finally dragged her butt out of bed, deciding to do something productive with her day. She had finished up on one car, deciding to take it out on a test drive to see how it handled. It had run just fine, until a bang and wobble signaled a flat tire.
"Fan-fucking-tastic." the blonde sighed, stepping out of the car and walking to inspect the right rear tire. At least it was just the tire, that was easy to fix. She went to the trunk of the car, popping it open and pulling the jack and spare from the rear of the car.
She had just gotten the car lifted and the flat tire off when she heard a sound in the distance, another vehicle on the lonely road. Honestly she hadn't expected anyone else to be out on the deserted strip. She glanced to her left, squinting her eyes at the oncoming vehicle, her heart dropped as she made out the vehicle, a yellow Camaro.
"No no no." she muttered, turning her attention to the tire, hoping it wasn't who she thought it was, and if it was, hoping he wouldn't recognize her.
She kept her eyes locked on the tire, even as the car slowed and rolled to a stop behind her. A series of chirps from the car confirmed her suspicions, it was Bumblebee.
"Do you need something?" she stood slowly, turning to face the Camaro, tire iron in hand.
The bot chirped again, the sounds seeming curious.
"I, I'm sorry, I don't understand." Diana frowned a tad, looking the car over.
Bumblebee was quiet a moment, eventually transforming. He knelt forwards onto one knee, peering at her. Diana blinked as snippets from songs sang from the yellow bot. "In need of assistance ma'am?"
She studied him, noting the similarities and differences between him and Knock Out. "You're Bumblebee, right?"
He nodded happily, a cheerful beep emanating from him.
She couldn't help but smile at him, offering her hand. "I'm Diana."
Bumblebee extended a finger to her, touching her hand gently in the best handshake he could manage.
"Are you, why are you out here?" she gestured about the emptiness of the desert road.
"Oh you know, the usual - on guard, protecting our borders."
"Mmm, patrol, so this is coincidence?" she gestured between himself and her with the tire iron. "You're not following me?"
"Heavens no!" he blinked at her.
"Well, given the last time we, met." she scowled, waving the iron at him. "You shot Knock Out!"
He lifted his hands, a low and sad sound coming from him.
Diana had to sigh, his expression making her feel like she'd kicked a puppy. "Before we ran, Arcee said to call Optimus, he's your leader, right?"
Bumblebee tilted his head to the side. "Told ya 'bout that, did he?"
"If it's not a bother, could I speak to him?" her hand was holding tightly to the iron, her knuckles going white.
The yellow bot blinked a little, eventually lifting his hand to the side of his head, beeping and chirping as he spoke through what Diana assumed was a comm system. When he had finished, he rose onto his feet. "Hang onto your britches."
A few seconds passed before a mass of green appeared near the pair, the Autobot's ground bridge delivering an impressive looking Peterbilt truck.
Diana watched as the truck shifted, her eyes scrutinizing the tallest bot she'd ever seen when the process was finished. "You're Optimus Prime?"
The tall mech nodded, stepping close to her. "You are Diana."
"I am." she looked between the two Autobots, unsure of where to begin.
"May I inquire?" Optimus spoke, peering down at her. "Why have you affiliated yourself with Knock Out, are you safe?"
"Of course I'm safe, he wouldn't hurt me." she replied.
The Leader considered her reply a moment. "Why is he with you?"
"Because, we're, friends I guess."
"Why did he take you through the Decepticon ground bridge?"
Diana rolled her eyes. "Oh I dunno, maybe because Bumblebee and his friend were attacking us."
Optimus glanced to Bumblebee before speaking. "Knock Out is an incredibly skilled mech, and given he has engaged in battle with us every time we've encountered him."
"Yeah, he told me about that, about you guys." he turned back to her car, crouching to set the new tire in it's place. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry about Cybertron, your home, the war."
Both Autobots blinked.
"He told you about that?" Optimus queried.
"Knocks tells me lots of things, I get why he acts the way he does whenever he meets you guys. But I don't think, he's really bad." she pursed her lips, ensuring the tire was on right before replacing the lug nuts. "He seems to regret a lot of things, and I think he only does what he has to now to keep Megatard from torching his ass."
Bumblebee snickered at her last words, amused by her name for the Decepticon Leader.
Diana glanced to the yellow bot, smirking at him. "Knock Out told me that he was a doctor before the war, not just during it. He said he didn't really have a side when the war began, but when the 'cons found out he was a medic he was kind of, recruited. I don't think he wants to fight anymore."
"Megatron is as skilled a speaker as he is a warrior, he was able to draw many to his side through words alone, it is believable that Knock Out would have been swayed by Megatrons promises." Optimus spoke, still watching Diana as she tightened the tire on her car.
"That's what I figured too." she mumbled, rising once she was satisfied with her work and turning to look to each mech. "I just, he doesn't know what he wants." she glanced to her feet.
"Little lady, may I ask - why do you - run for the hills - when - we've been spotted?" Bumblebee asked, his head tipped to the side.
"He thinks you're going to take me away from him." Diana said, still looking at her boots.
"What are you to him? And what is he to you?" Optimus leaned forwards.
"I care for him, a lot." Diana lifted her eyes, looking Optimus in the optics. "I love him."
The red and blue mech was quiet a moment, eventually nodding as he straightened. "While I am understandably wary of Knock Out and his motives, I cannot tell you what to do, nor do I think you would listen to me if I were to try."
Diana smirked. "Hell no."
"I only ask two things." he continued as Diana cocked a brow at him. "One, be cautious. While you may have faith in Knock Out, do not forget those he serves, the Decepticons are not to be trusted. And two, if you should ever need assistance."
Her phone chimed from her pocket, the woman pulling it free to inspect the number that had appeared on it's screen.
"You may reach us at that number." Optimus finished.
Diana stared at her phone, a smile forming on her lips. "Thank you, I won't forget."
Optimus nodded, the ground bridge appearing behind he and Bumblebee on some silent cue. "Be careful."
Without another word he and the yellow bot turned, walking through the bridge.
Diana watched as the portal flickered and faded, leaving her alone again. She looked to her phone again, finger hovering over the delete message option. A sigh escaped her as she hit save instead, tucking the phone away again. "This should be interesting."
Now, does she tell Knockout about this chat... or not? *evil laugh*