Chapter 5: The First Step

Prowl arrived early to ensure he would get there before her. He was a little nervous, but excited at the same time. He tried rehearsing some lines in his mind, anything that might get the conversation going if it happened to need a little pick-up, but he was too anxious to focus. He was going on a date!

The day after his talk with Ratchet, he asked Aileron if she wanted to join him for an evening at the Sky Café in downtown Iacon, and she happily said yes. Aileron…what a beautiful name! From the moment she said it to him, he could not resist repeating it in his mind… Aileron. He was sure she would love the Sky Café as much as he did. It was a quiet place where one could go to relax, and Prowl usually found himself picking one of the many intriguing antique data books off the shelves to read. The ancient stories of their ancestors and the creation of Cybertron entertained him and took his mind off of more serious things, such as the battle plans he and Commander Optimus Prime had been working on for the past few weeks. The tantalizing scent of warm, exotic flavored energon flowed throughout the large room as he waited at a table with a clear view of the entrance.

Prowl was so caught up in his own anxiousness that he almost didn't see his date as she walked into the room and glanced around, looking for him. He saw her just as she saw him, and she walked quickly over to the table he was at.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Aileron smiled at him as he rushed behind her to pull out the chair for her. "Oh, thank you," she said modestly as he gently pushed it in behind her.

"You didn't keep me waiting at all. How are you?" Prowl replied, returning to his own seat.

"I'm doing well, although a bit tired. Perceptor had me help him analyze samples of various chemical bonds for a new weapon casing today. It wasn't difficult work, but rather long and monotonous."

"…I imagine so," Prowl replied in an almost daze-like state. Nervousness was biting at the back of his processor like a turbo fox en chase with a petro rabbit. Aileron was so beautiful, so mesmerizing, even when she was just sitting and talking to him.

"So how was your day?"

Luckily he was not in such a daze that he was not listening, and her question brought him back to words. "Very productive. The senior officers and I finished collaborating on some new emergency battle plans, and we'll be distributing them to everyone within the next few days. Just as a heads up, we'll be having an unannounced drill soon after, so be prepared." Not wanting to let a hesitation turn into an awkward silence, Prowl was speaking a mile a minute. He knew the instant he told her about the unannounced drill he shouldn't have, but it just slipped out.

You're more tactful than this Prowl, lighten up, he thought to himself.

"I'll be sure to read the plans extensively," Aileron said absentmindedly, glancing around the room they were in. "This is a beautiful place," she commented.

And it certainly was. Tables were strewn throughout, each decorated modestly with a tiny crystal centerpiece. Reflecting soft light in all directions, the crystals shown like tiny white stars. The room décor consisted of warm and inviting tones, dark reds and soft browns, encouraging one to settle on one of the many couches or lounge chairs and read a data book from a nearby shelf. Tall shelves of newer data pads labeled "philosophy," "science," "regions," "fiction," and other diverse genres were spaced throughout the entire room, creating comfy nooks for more tables or lounge chairs. The hum of subdued conversations could be heard as mechs and femmes alike chose spots to relax and enjoy the early evening sky, as the main source of light emanated from the large beautiful dome skylight in the ceiling.

A short, lean mech with polished red armor and a distinguished face approached their table and asked if they would like a sample of a flavored energon concoction. Both accepted and took a small cube, Prowl's filled with a light green concoction, Aileron's a deep indigo. The red mech grinned graciously and went on to the next table.

Mech and femme both quietly sipped their energon for a moment, savoring the unique flavor, stealing gazes at one another timidly. Eventually Prowl began to relax. The silence wasn't so bad – they were both enjoying themselves. There wasn't need for constant talking, although he did want to learn even more about her.

Prowl found himself wondering what to say next, but Aileron spoke up instead.

"Prowl, why… why did you really ask me here tonight?" She leaned her elbows on the table, rested her head on her hands and looked up at Prowl with questioning optics. Her question was genuinely inquisitive, not accusational by any means, but it made Prowl freeze mid thought.

"…What do you mean? I enjoy spending time with you, so…"

"Yes, I enjoy spending time with you too – at the base during refueling hours. But,"

Prowl became scared of what was coming. Was he about to be rejected by the femme that he loved and finally got the courage to ask out?

"…But it's not really typical of such a high ranking officer like yourself to… well, enjoy spending time with a rookie like me outside the base. I mean; I just need some clarification. What's this about?"

Prowl stared into those deep azure optics, so curious, so wide, so desperate to know what was going on inside his processor. She probably already knows, she's not daft by any means…what if I tell her the truth? I don't think she would have came here tonight if she didn't feel the same. What if…

Prowl spoke softly and with feeling, "I want to get to know you better. I want to know everything about you. You," he paused to choose the right words, "You mean more to me than I ever thought you would." He looked her in the optics, wanting to say more but stopped by the fear that he had already said too much.

Her expression shifted to a bashful smile, and she closed her optics for just a moment.

"Then tell me; what do you want to know?"