Sunstreaker hummed merrily to himself as he sped along the sand covered highway. He beeped his horn, swerving around the slower, more cautious traffic, gloating that he could go as fast as he pleased even amidst the slush. Snow tires were a beautiful Earth invention indeed. He hated that rock salt the human plows dumped all along the streets to melt the snow. It caused nasty stains to his flawless paintjob and were completely unnecessary. Well, for him anyway. Ah well, he'd have Leiana scrub him clean later. Perhaps in her…maid outfit.
He sizzled at the thought and remembered that said spark partner was lying across his backseat. Leiana had stayed up practically all night playing a card game called poker with Sam, Miles and Michaela and had gotten very little sleep. He chuckled at the memory of Miles suggesting they play strip poker, to which Leiana punched him in the arm. She probably hit him harder than intended though perhaps not, still, a black and blue bruise had formed, a reminder to him to keep his perverted thoughts to himself.
Well. Sunstreaker thought smugly to himself. I don't have to keep my thoughts to myself. There's nothing she could do to hurt me!
"Oh I'd find a way Sunny boy, I promise you that." Leiana yawned sleepily, rubbing her eyes and brushing a strand of dark curly hair away from her freckled cheek. "Keep your thoughts to yourself and let me sleep!"
Sunstreaker winced, not having meant to wake up his sleeping beauty. He was, after all, taking her out for a surprise. He wanted to her be well rested so that she could fully enjoy the time with him and be able to thank him properly for his generosity. Sometimes, he was just too nice for his own good. Sigh
Leiana stirred slightly in the backseat, seeking warmth and comfort from his soft, leather cushioned back. She cradled her head against the crook of her arm and leaned her face against the back side of the seat. He felt the heat of her body and the small quiet breathes she took. Primus she was beautiful. And so peaceful when she slept. It was nice to catch her during a quiet, tranquil moment.
Sunstreaker tried to focus straight ahead. He took the next exit on the right and headed off the paved road and onto a dirt path. The warrior winced as dirt and slushy snow began coating his once clean and gleaming paintjob. He'd have to ask Leiana to work extra hard in her scrubbing and maybe finish it off with a wax job. After his surprise of course. Slag, after his surprise she would be begging to do it!
"Sunny…are we almost there?" Leiana asked, yawning again and stretching out across his seat. Apparently, she hadn't been able to slip back into blissful unconsciousness. Hopefully, this wouldn't affect her mood, though Sunstreaker knew, it probably would make her cranky.
"Almost, just sit tight." Sunstreaker told her truthfully. "But keep your head down! I don't want to you to see where we are and ruin the surprise!" Right now he needed to concentrate on the tricky terrain or they'd get stuck in the snow and mud. It was hard though, when all he thought about doing was activating his holoform and pressing his human lips against hers. To hold her hot body in his arms and to feel her hands along his neck, craving his touch, and wanting him all the same as he wanted her.
Leiana frowned, sticking out her tongue at the steering wheel, where she imagined he watched her from. "Fine fine." she grumbled. Leiana turned back over and laid on her back, staring at the ceiling of the golden Lamborghini. She folded her arms behind her head, making a pillow and tried once again to drift off into sleep.
"You've no idea how tempted I am to just stop and lie with you." Sunstreaker admitted, narrowly avoiding a rather large snow bank. "Instead of traipsing through this muck and mess. It's getting my paintjob all dirty."
Leiana waved him off with one hand, rolling her eyes. He was always so paranoid about his paintjob that one little scratch would send him howling into a fit and straight to the med bay for Ratchet to fix him up. "You know we can just go to Michaela's car wash right after." She pointed out. "Hose you off and scrub you clean and you'll be right back to your old conceited self absorbed self in no time."
Sunstreaker chuckled at her. "You know you love me."
Leiana didn't answer, only turned bright red and tried to turn and bury her crimson blush against the side of his back seat, but he'd already seen her. She frowned as he laughed again, gloating at his truimph. She hated it when he did that, made her blush and feel all embarrassed. Yet he was absolutely right. She did love him with all her heart. "Yeah, well, I guess your right." Leiana murmured. "I do love you, though I have no idea why."
"Of course you do!" Sunstreaker cried out indignantly. "I'm everything a femme could ever want in a mate! Not to mention my gloriously outstanding good looks."
"Which you HAVE mentioned already. And quite frequently." Lieana reminded him.
"Who wouldn't brag if they had a body like mine." She could hear the smirk in his voice. "Who wouldn't feel lucky to have me by their side?"
Leiana was tempted to grumble about her bad luck at just that but bit her tongue. He would only continue on this way if she said more.
"See, you understand." Sunstreaker assured her. "Though, I myself am lucky to have such a beautiful and outstanding girl such as yourself by my side as well." he added slyly, pouring on the honey. "No other femme I've ever seen could ever be so beautiful."
Lieana cursed him silently in her head. "Damnit Sunny, stop making me blush like that!" She half joked, hitting the side of the seat.
"Whoa, whoa! Careful of the leather!" He warned. The tree's were getting thicker now, they were really heading into the wilderness, near the mountain regions of California. He had to really pay attention now, or risk getting trapped and spoiling the surprise by transforming.
"You're such a baby Sunny." Leiana laughed, patting the part of the seat she hit gently. "But I love you for it."
Sunstreaker glowed with pride and didn't answer, for they had come to their destination, a little later than intended, but better than nothing!
"Were here!" Sunstreaker announced happily, opening his doors suddenly and letting the freezing air come in.
Leiana snapped to attention immediately and huddled in a small ball. She quickly adorned her thick winter coat, hat and scarf and looked around the area. It was in the wilderness, that much she could gather. No signs of life, human or animal appeared anywhere. Well, it was the dead of winter. She mused. Right after Christmas and it just snowed. "Sunny, why did you take me out here?" She asked, irritation slowly making its way into her voice. What could possibly be so special about this place?
"Oh you'll see." Sunstreaker replied and she turned to see him transforming in the snow behind her.
Lieana approached the cave with caution, as if some ravenous bears might come to the entrance and attack her upon site. Knowing Sunstreaker, he was too thoughtless to check for any. "It's safe inside right?" She asked, looking up to him and watching her breath float into tiny wisps into the air.
"Of course it is, your with me!" Sunstreaker replied indignantly. "Anything and anyone would cower before my awesome presence and I will always protect you!" Leieana didn't know whether to thank him, or roll her eyes at his self absorbed attitude.
She was skeptical, stepping into the dim cave until she saw with a smile, that it wasn't so dim as she walked onward inside it. Sunstreaker had strung sparkling battery powered Christmas lights all along the walls of the cave. They blinked in and out, casting fairy shadows along the darkened walls, dancing in their own warming glow. There were shimmering silver and gold garland adorned with shining round ornaments of every shade and color. Sunstreaker had mentioned that back on Cybertron he'd been an artist, and it was clear by all this hard work that it was true.
A table had been set up in the center with a fancy tablecloth, two candles and a set up of plates, silverware and whine glasses. In the center were a collection of the crimson red poinsettia Christmas flower, dusted with snow and scenting the cave with their fragrant aroma. "Oh Sunny." She smiled, admiring the lights and all the decorations he'd gone to the trouble to put up. "It's beautiful."
She gasped as she felt his holoforms strong muscular arms enfold around her waist from behind. He laid his chin against her neck and nibbled on her earlobe mischievously. He chuckled at her shiver of pleasure and whispered, "Not as beautiful as you, or me of course." Sunstreaker told her. He planted a stream of soft gentle kisses up along her neckline. "But I thought I'd make this romantic."
Leiana grinned sheepishly, feeling the blush creep to her cheek as Sunstreaker slid his hand into hers and led her over to the table. He pulled out her chair for her like a real gentleman and it made her wonder if he'd downloaded proper etiquette techniques and was putting them into practice now. He grabbed a cooler from underneath the table and began setting the plate for her. "Madam Lala's sushi appetizer." He chuckled, setting chopsticks, soy sauce in a little dish and the California rolled sushi on her plate.
Leiana poked suspiciously at the sushi upon her plate and sniffed it. It seemed fresh but she'd never tasted Sunstreaker's cooking before. She would absolutely kill him if he ended up giving her food poisoning.
"You wound me dear spark partner." Sunstreaker sighed dramatically but with a smile curled across his lips in amusement. "I've downloaded the way to prepare sushi just the way you like it. And I've had a taste tester. Sam hasn't been sick after consuming any of my culinary delights as of yet."
"Yet." Leiana repeated, narrowing her eyes as she picked up a sushi piece with her chopsticks and dipped it into the soy sauce. She tentatively put it in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. She smiled, her freckled cheeks dimpling adorably at the taste. It was better than she'd ever had before!
"This is really good Sunny." She beamed, reaching for another bite and dipping it into the brown syrupy soy sauce. "I never really pegged you for the cooking type."
Sunstreaker winked an impossibly deep blue eye at her and gave her his award winning movie star smile. "I am a bot of many talents." He bragged, smoothing his slicked back platinum blonde hair over with a comb. "Just wait till you try the main course." He disappeared deeper into the cave and came out carrying a silver dish in one hand and a bottle of amber liquid in the other. "Madam's favorite drink." He drolled, causing her to giggle as he poured it. "Arizona ice tea fresh from the gas station."
She rolled her eyes and took a swig of her favorite drink. "This is all really thoughtful of you Sunny." She said after she'd put the glass down. "But aren't you going to have anything? I feel bad eating in front of you. Didn't you bring any energon or oil?"
"As a matter of fact." Sunstreaker smirked. "I have the finest poached high grade energon courteous of our friend the Hatchet." He sat down across from her in the chair, struck a match and lit both candles. "But I'll attend to that later. The view's too enjoyable right." He took one of her tanned, mocha colored hands into his pale ones and began massaging it with his thumbs.
She cursed him under her breath for making her blush so badly. She turned her head to look at the dish he'd laid upon the table. "So what's the main course?" She practically squeaked, still reeling from his compliments. "And I'll bet Ratchet will get really mad at you when we get back and he finds that gone."
Sunstreaker chuckled and nodded. "That my dear Leiana. Is exactly the point." He told her and untangled one of his hands from hers to lift up the lid of the dish. "May I present to you, your very favorite dish. Eel teriyaki with a side of steamed rice and vegetables." He put the plate in front of her, watching with approval as her eyes widened in shock and a hungry smile spread across her face in delight.
Leiana began to dig in with more than enough enthusiasm to knock over the entire plate! Her chocolate brown eyes lit up with absolute excitement as she tasted her very favorite foods. "Sunny this is amazing!" She cried out in between bites. She accidentally sprayed a bit of food at him, which he dodged, chuckling warmly. He watched as she downed her entire drink and he poured another cup for her.
"I take it you no longer doubt my cooking abilities." Sunstreaker smirked triumphantly when she was finished completely. "Time for the dessert my dear." Leiana smiled eagerly, even though she felt almost completely full.
"I'm such a fatty." She pouted. "But I love desserts!"
Sunstreaker raised a lightly colored eyebrow at his spark partner as he journeyed to the back of the cave once more and procured an ice cream dish with a hot fudge sundea within it. "You are not a fatty." He said, delicately placing the cold confection in front of her and placing the spoon against her nose. "You're absolutely adorable and irresistible. If anyone deserves to lose a few pounds…" He trailed off and put a hand to his mouth and whispered to her. "It's Ironhide."
Lieana dipped her spoon into the cool whipped cream, scooping up the cherry and putting it to her mouth quickly. She chewed on the red, sweetened fruit thoughtfully before raising an eyebrow to Sunstreaker. "Are you calling my fada figure and secondary guardian fat?" She said this, a hint of a giggle threatening to escape her mouth. She dipped her spoon into the swirling chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, shoveling it into her mouth to stop them.
Sunstreaker laughed and nodded, confirming his opinion. "As a matter of fact I do. Ironhide needs to start running on this thing you humans call a treadmill." He laughed again and shook his head. Leiana frowned but had a glint of mischief in her brown eyes. She dipped her finger into the whipped cream, pulled it out and smeared the white creamy substance along the bridge of Sunstreakers nose. "Don't be mean Sunny." She told him, smirking and taking another spoonful of ice cream.
"Mean eh?" Sunstreaker countered, rubbing the dripping whipped cream off of the bridge of his nose. He slyly pulled out the spray bottle of cool whip from under the table and aimed it at her. "How about sweet?"
"Don't you dare…" Leian narrowed her eyes dangerously. "Sunny seriously, don't even think of…" He wouldn't…he wouldn't dare.
Oh he totally would. Sunstreaker pressed downward on the applicator and sent a spray of sweet iced topping straight at Lieana's face. She squeeked in shock and betrayal, ducking under the table to get away from the assault. "Stop spraying me glitchhead!" She shouted as Sunstreaker joined her under the table and continued his assault, this time spraying it all over her hair! "I mean it!" She cried, reaching out to smash his foot with her fist!
Her action, though not really hurting him, caused him to yell out in surprise and drop the can of whipped cream. Leiana snatched it up immediately and began spraying him back! "Ha ha! Take that!" She jeered, spraying her beloved full in the face.
"Not the face! Not in my hair!" Sunstreaker cried out with very real fear. He scrambled his holoform away from the table and Leiana quickly followed, brandishing the bottle like a weapon.
She grinned as he cowered, trying to remove the dripping cream from his face. "That's right." She taunted, pointing the nozzle at Sunstreaker. "Cower in fear of my bitchiness!" She pressed a finger to the applicator, preparing to shoot it at him once again. Nothing. She looked down at the bottle and shook it. Not a sound.
Sunstreaker looked up from where he was crouched and grinned smugly. "Looks like you've run out." He pointed out, stood up and began to advance on her.
"Oh no, what are you going to do now?" She said, a bit alarmed as she dropped the can on the cave floor. She didn't like the lustful look in his eyes as he approached her. She knew he would never hurt her, but what was he planning?
"Why I'm going to clean you up of course. What kind of gentle bot would I be if I let my date sit in cream and then smell like spoiled milk later?" He smiled and politely took a napkin from the table and began whipping her skin clean. She wasn't entirely convinced but still, it was better than staying sticky!
Suddenly she felt his arms slide around her waist again and his tongue caress the nape of her neck. "Mmm your tasty Leiana." he crooned to her, smiling as he kissed up and down her neck. "I could just eat you up."
She shivered and closed her eyes, furrowing her brow. "Knew you had an ulterior motive." She grumbled as he continued to wipe and clean the cream off of her with his tongue. "Your such a pervert Sunstreaker!"
"But that's why you love me!" he protested.
Leiana rolled her eyes and nodded, feeling her legs becoming jelly. "Yes, I love you, even when your being a pig!" She giggled as he moved his hand under her shirt and lightly caressed her flat toned stomach. She turned around and found his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as she wrapped her own around his neck. "Merry Christmas Sunstreaker. And thank you." She said hugging him tightly.
Sunstreaker crushed her to his chest and lovingly ran a hand through her curly dark brown hair. "And I love you my sweet queen bitch." he chuckled. He took her face in his hands delicately and drew her closer to his own. The holoform pressed his lips against her full red ones and kissed her passionately, holding her close.
There were no interruptions this time. Nothing to stop their expression of love under the lights of Christmas. Sunstreaker grinned and pulled away from her slightly, sticking his finger in the air, indicating a direction that she should look.
Leiana raised a bemused eyebrow and followed the direction of his pointed finger until she came to rest on a single hanging plant. It's rounded leaves and white berries she recognized immediately and a smile spread widely across her face. Mistletoe, the traditional Christmas plant one kisses their lover under. "You planned this." She accused, pointing a finger at his chest.
Sunstreaker nodded sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yep." He agreed. "I'm devious by design. I couldn't help but fulfill this most interesting Earth tradition." He again pulled her close and planted his mouth against hers. She swooned in his arms, grateful that he was holding her up lest she fall. His lips caressed hers, his tongue exploring her mouth as hers brushed against his. It felt so divine, she didn't want this moment of happiness to ever end.
But it did, but that didn't disappoint her as much as she'd thought. Perhaps it was the fact that he released her, but took her hand in his, leading her to the back of the cave. "This Christmas isn't over yet my dear." He winked his azure blue optics at her. "I have a present for you."
Leiana squealed girlishly before regaining her composure. "What is it what is it?" She cried out, childlike glee filling her every being. This was already the best Christmas she'd ever had and now he was adding more to it by giving her a present?
"Close your eyes and find out." he whispered, gently brushing his hand over her face and sliding her eyelids downward. She obeyed wordlessly, filling to the bring with excitement as she heard a rustling noise. She held our her hands expectantly and received two packages in them. One was square and long and incredibly flat. The other was much smaller, a box that she shook very lightly. They were both wrapped in pretty green and red Christmas wrapping paper tied with delicate strings and topped with bright golden bows.
"Wow! Thank you Sunny!" She cried out, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at her presents greedily. "I have one for you too but its back at the base. It's too big to haul it around."
"Well, if your inclined to wait." Sunstreaker offered, visibly perking up at the idea of a present waiting for him. "We can go back to the base and open them together?"
Leiana frowned, looking down at the packages and weighing them both in her hands. "Can't I open one now?" She pleaded, curling her lower lip downward into the standard puppy dog expression. "Please Sunny please!"
Sunstreaker rolled his eyes and nodded. "Though hurry." He told her. "I'm anxious to get back to the base to wash off this accursed dirt and to see what you have so kindly gotten me for Christmas." He smiled warmly at her as she handed him the smaller present to hold. She tore into the large flat one eagerly, wondering what on Earth it could be.
She stared blankly at the thing she held in her hands, letting the pretty paper float idly to the floor. It was the most tacky, gaudy thing she'd ever laid eyes on. The long flat object was an enormous picture frame with Sunstreaker in his robotic form's picture inside it. The frame was an awful bright yellow, much brighter than his own paintjob and it stung her eyes to look at it. A bunch of costume jewelry looked as if they were super glued on and just barely sticking to the frame. She didn't mind getting pictures from her friends and even had a bunch of frames around her room to show her love for them….but this was just too much.
"Really Sunny…you shouldn't have." She said dryly, holding up the picture and wrinkling her nose. It wasn't even a good photo inside. It was a close-up of his face that didn't even fit the entirety of it. Though she did smile at her favorite crooked grin she saw upon it.
"Oh I know aren't I so thoughtful and wonderful?" Sunstreaker sighed happily to himself, completely missing her sarcasm. "Now lets get to the base so you can open your second present and I can see this too big to move one!"
Leiana half heartedly smiled as she was pulled along back to his stationary form by her spark partner. She glanced at the gift in his hand, hoping against hope that it wasn't as "thoughtful" as the one she'd just received. What could it be?" She wondered, wishing she could open it now after the disappointment of the last present. Leiana had no worries that he wouldn't like the present she got for him. There was no way he wouldn't, it involved him, his favorite subject.
She looked over her shoulder back at the cave as they exited it. "Aren't you going to pick up all that stuff back there?" She asked.
"Oh I'll go back for that stuff later." The holoform scoffed, probably intending no such thing. Leiana sighed and rolled her chocolate brown eyes. At least she'd had the common sense to blow the candles out, lest a fire break loose. The holoform disappeared and soon his true form had reverted back to its golden Lamborghini mode. The car door opened and Leiana stepped inside, glancing over at the next seat where he'd teasingly placed her second present. What could it be? Her curiosity was beginning to get the better of her.
Leiana gasped as she held up the object in the light. It dazzled, sparkling with a pure beauty and craftsmanship she'd never thought possibly. Especially not after the blinged out picture frame she'd just received a little while ago. Sunstreaker's second gift had been a hair ornament made entirely out of crystal. It was light pink and had a cherry blossom center ornament with smaller white flowers and pearls on white threads. It looked so detailed and intricate as she let it trail along her fingers. "Did you make this Sunny?" She asked incredulously. There was no way. He had to have bought it or something. It was just too beautiful.
Sunstreaker nodded, folding his enormous arms across his lanky metallic chest. "I took a while, but I know you like the Japanese culture and style of things so I made this for you. It's supposed to be like what you would call a Geisha wears in her hair. He sat down gently on the floor of his room and activated his holoform. "Allow me." He smiled warmly and gently took the hair ornament in his hand. He pulled back her hair and set the comb ornament along its side to hold it up. The curls stayed in place as he adjusted the other side of her hair into an an oriental looking bun. He playfully stroked her freckled cheek with his thumb. "You look absolutely stunning." he winked at her. "Now how about my present?"
Lieana blushed and then kissed his nose playfully. "Alright. I got mine so help me get yours. I wasn't lying when I said it was too big to move by myself." She wrinkled her nose at the greedy searching look in his eyes and she held her hand over them. "I'll lead you there." She said, smiling warmly. "But no peaking till I say understand?"
"Yes ma'm." Sunstreaker chuckled, taking her hand off of his eyes to reveal that they were indeed closed. He held her hand as she led him to the human quarters and into her room.
This was it, the moment of truth. She let go of Sunstreaker's holoform hand for an instant, telling him to wait just a moment as she wheeled it out. Leiana had worked forever on this project with her sister's Rose and Jade's help. Ironhide had helped too but she hadn't told him who this was for. She figured her father figure wouldn't have lifted a servo if it was a present for someone who pranked him mercilessly and called him names like fatso.
She grinned nervously, biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering as she wheeled in the enormous rectangular object covered in the white sheet. She took his hand in hers again and squeezed tenderly. "Ok, you can do the honors and uncover this masterpiece." She giggled nervously. Sunstreaker opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. His long, lean fingers grabbed at the sheet hesitantly and pulled, letting the silky white material slide to the floor and reveal his special Christmas surprise.
It was an enormous mirror 20 feet tall 10 feet wide, carved carefully out of wood and painted with a flawless brushstroke. It was a golden sheen with new age suns with faces carved at each corner, their rays swirling tendrils connecting with vines curling up along the sides. Roses carved meticulously into the wood. Glittering jewels, much better looking than the ones on her frame, were painstakingly glued onto the inner outline of the mirror. Sunstreaker gazed into the mirror's reflection, lost in appreciating its expert craftsmanship.
"I take it you like it then?" Leiana smirked, her hands going to her hips. Sunstreaker didn't answer, only gazed at his own reflection in pure shock. "Hello! Earth to Sunstreaker!" She shouted impatiently. She sighed and again, rolled her eyes to the ceiling. She loved Sunstreaker with all her heart, but sometimes she really wondered how she had the patience to put up with him. He was, after all, selfish, boastful, cocky and self absorbed. "But he's mine." She suddenly grinned to herself and blushed when he placed an arm around her waist.
"That's right." He purred to her, wrapping her up tightly in his embrace. "Thank you so much for this wonderful gift Leiana. I love it! I adore it! It's…its me! Now I'll be able to admire myself and know you helped me do it! I now know just how much you appreciate my good looks! You went to that much trouble for me and It's the best Christmas gift a bot could ever receive!" he planted a passionate kiss upon her lips.
She suppressed the urge to smack him across the back of the head. And just settled for melting into his arms, where she belonged always. They kissed again, not under the mistletoe, but under the eyes of love as their heart and sparks blazed fiercely for each other. This had indeed, been the best Christmas ever.
