(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Anwen and my other OC's.)
(Authors Note: Hello again dearest readers, fellow writers, fangirls, fanboys, and TF fans of every genera! Wow! Can you believe we're now at chapter 55?! That's crazy! As I've said before, I didn't think this story would get as much attention as it did, nor did I think I'd be able to keep adding more content to it, but here we are :D Now, on a side note, I'd like to thank you all for your continued support and patience. I know the time between chapters has varied here and there, but as I've mentioned, life has been keeping me busy. Right now I'm recovering from a rather nasty respiratory infection (no, not covid, RSV, or consumption/TB) which knocked me back for nearly a month. I'm still feeling its effects, so I haven't been overly motivated to write or do much of anything enjoyable. Thankfully, I'm on the mend and am hoping to update my stories. For those of you who enjoy my other works, thank you for taking the time to read them :) Also, I really appreciate the reviews and draw further inspiration from them, so if you'd like, please feel free to drop a comment/review as it helps with morale. Thank you. Anyways, thanks again for taking the time to read this story and until I post again, stay safe, stay hydrated, stay sane, stay positive, and stay awesome!)
"English/French"
'Mental thoughts'
"Flashbacks"
'Sarcasm' (or emphasis)
{Cybertronian}
::Sparkbonds::
:Speaker talk:
::Comm. Link::
*:Phone calls:*
Notes (English/Common/French, ect.)
{Cybertronian Notes}
Chapter 55
Although she wanted to go home and forget about her stalker situation, Anwen knew she needed to file a report as soon as possible. That being said, she had Ratchet drive her (and Kenobi) back to base so she could speak with Prowl and provide him with a description of the man who stalked her.
Upon entering the SIC and TIC's shared office, they were met with Prowl's (small-scale) holoform as he sat behind a human-sized desk. Having been told to expect them, he figured Anwen would feel more comfortable talking to him at her own level as opposed to his. Not that she minded, but in this particular circumstance, it was easier.
"Greetings, Miss Bleu. Please, have a seat," he gestured towards the chair across from him, to which she sat down while Ratchet remained off to the side with Kenobi. "Now, I understand you recently experienced a rather unnerving ordeal involving a man."
"Correct."
"Do you remember what he looked like?"
"Oui. He was tall, Caucasian in appearance, and had light brown hair and brown eyes. He had a square-shaped face, broad shoulders and a sleeve of tattoos across his right arm. I believe he's military as he drove off base with one of the jeep's."
As she spoke, Prowl imputed the information on his data pad and immediately came up with several possible candidates: "Do any of these men look familiar to you," he asked while presenting her with the tablet.
Glancing at the images before her, Anwen narrowed her eyes and pointed to the fourth picture. "That's him."
"LCpl (Lance Corporal) Damon A. Ozron? Are you sure?"
"Oui, I am 100% positive that is the man who followed me from the pool."
Marking the picture on the screen, Prowl then asked, "Now that you've identified your stalker/would-be assailant, would you mind telling me exactly what had transpired between yourself and the suspect? Every detail must be accounted for in order for me to make an accurate report."
"I understand," she curtly nodded before telling her story: "I was exercising in the pool around 1645 when the man first approached me and started complimenting me, saying I was really beautiful and that he'd like to take me out sometime. I showed him my ring, hoping he'd take the hint and realize that I wasn't available, but he asked if I was married and if my husband was stationed here, to which I just nodded as I wasn't looking to make conversation. He then had the nerve to ask me if my marriage was an open one because he still wanted to take me out. Of course, I told him off and promptly exited the pool as I wasn't comfortable around him."
Hearing her statement, Ratchet couldn't help but emit a growl at the thought of anyone asking her if she'd be okay with an open relationship. The nerve of that fragger!
Emitting a sigh, Anwen continued with her recollection. "After I stepped out of the water, I rinsed off and headed into the locker room to gather my gear and adorn my rollerblades; however, when I exited, he was waiting for me beside the men's locker room. I didn't want to stick around, so Kenobi and I left the building and exited the base. About halfway to the apartment, I decided to call Ratchet, but as I did, I noticed one of the jeep's coming up the road. I didn't think much of it at first, but then I saw that the driver was the same guy from the pool. Staying on the line with Ratchet, he advised me to find some place to lay low until he could arrive at my location, to which I slipped into the nearby petrol station and informed the lady behind the counter what was happening. She ushered me behind the counter and I sat there with Kenobi while she kept watch. Unfortunately, the man came inside looking for me and he asked the lady if she had seen me. She lied and said I was heading in the direction of the grocery store, which he then left. Afterwards, Ratchet came in and escorted me here."
"I see. I'll need to pay that woman a visit to confirm your story. I have no doubt that you're telling me the truth, but her testimony would further benefit your case," he noted before adding, "I will also request the security footage from her as it's now considered evidence. Also, I'll head over to the security office and request the footage from the pool and main gate, as they too will provide evidence."
"Merci, Prowl."
"Of course. Now, I suggest you have Ratchet take you home and walk you up to your apartment. I don't believe that LCpl Ozron knows which unit you live in, but I'd rather play it safe."
"I understand," she curtly nodded in agreement before her stomach emitted a loud growling sound, indicating her need for sustenance.
"Sounds like I better let you go for the time being. Now, if you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to give me a call."
"I will. Merci, Prowl."
"You're welcome, Miss Bleu."
XXXXX
Upon leaving the base with Ratchet, Anwen emitted a sigh as she stared out the passenger window and idly stroked Kenobi's soft fur. She just wanted today to be over with. Granted, it wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good either. While she was still ecstatic for Liam and Maggie's engagement, she couldn't help but feel a bit crummy at how life was treating her right now: First, her sparkmates were deployed to Russia at the last minute. Then the printer jammed at work. The adjuster on her swivel chair somehow broke and is now stuck on the lowest seating height. She accidentally spilled milk on herself at lunch. And now, this LCpl Ozron is stalking her. Engagement news aside, it had overall been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
:Are you alright, youngling,: Ratchet's voice spoke through the speakers, prompting her to glance over at the dashboard.
*sigh* "I'm just ready for today to be over with."
:I can't say I blame you, given the experience you had.:
"..It's not just that: I was already having a shitty day before my whole stalker incident. Sure, there were some amazingly good bits here and there, but overall, today has been complete and utter connerie (shit)." She continued to gently stroke Kenoi's fur as she continued, "I miss Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, and it's just now fully sinking in that they may be gone for weeks or even months."
:I see.:
Rubbing her eyes, Anwen suppressed the urge to cry, "I'm sorry..I must sound like a wine bag.."
:You don't,: he reassured in a fatherly way. :You're experiencing what every sparkmate endures at some point or another. The bond we share with our partners is so strong that it literally pains us to be apart from them for long periods of time. Of course, the feeling gradually lessens, but it's still an unpleasant experience nonetheless..More so for newly bonded couples,: he added, to which Anwen frowned as she glanced back out the window.
Pulling up to the apartment, Ratchet activated his holoform and escorted the young ginger over to the elevator and up to her unit. Upon entering, she removed her blades and set them aside before asking, "Can I get you anything to drink? I've got tea, orange juice and I think there's some whiskey in the cupboard."
He gave her a kind smile and shook his head, "I'm alright for the time being, but thank you for offering."
"You're welcome. Merci for escorting me home."
"Of course. Now, if you'd like, I can pick you up in the morning if you'd rather not take the bus to work."
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll be okay. I don't want to take up more of your time than I already have."
"You haven't, but I will respect your decision if that is what you choose."
"Merci, Ratchet."
"Of course," he then gave her a fatherly hug, to which she happily returned the loving gesture before he bid her a temporary farewell and phased out of her apartment, leaving her to strip out of her (still somewhat damp) swimsuit and shower.
XXXXX
After nearly fifteen minutes of shampooing, shaving, scrubbing and rinsing, Anwen stepped out of the shower completely refreshed and rejuvenated. Slipping into her bedroom and rummaging through her dresser drawers, she adorned a pair of plum panties and her Captain Planet t-shirt before tossing her swimsuit, beach towel and work clothes in the washer along with the rest of her laundry.
Moving over to the kitchen, she then fixed and served Kenobi his dinner before preparing her own evening meal. Opting for something simple, she went with boxed mac & cheese as she wasn't in the mood to cook something elaborate.
No.
Tonight was one of those nights where she didn't have the motivation to spoil herself to anything fancy…well, maybe some ice cream later. Assuming she had any.
Checking the freezer, Anwen emitted a small sigh of relief upon seeing an unopened pint of Ben & Jerry's, peanut butter half baked ice cream. 'Good. At least that's something to look forward to,' she mentally noted before closing her freezer and retrieving one of her cook pots from the storage space beneath her counter, to which she then filled it with water and placed it on the stove to boil.
While waiting, she decided to water her succulents before sitting on the floor, against the fridge. Could she have picked a better spot? Yes. Did she want to at this time? No. bringing her knees up to her chest, Anwen sent her sparkmates a wave of longing as she mentally wished they were beside her. Of course, both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe returned her affections tenfold and sent her loving vibes alongside their own feelings of longing and desire. While she wanted to reach through the bond and tell them what had happened earlier, she refused to compromise their mission and safety. If they knew she had been stalked and potentially assaulted, they'd lose their focus.
No! She refused to jeopardize their safety.
Speaking of safety: Anwen suddenly felt a shiver of paranoia tickle her spine as she got up from the floor and rushed over to her door to make sure it was locked. Thankfully, it was.
(Another Authors Note: Hello again everyone! I'd just like to make a quick note about stalking, be it physical or digital: No one likes having a complete stranger (or even someone they may know to a degree) randomly following them on their commutes, or shamelessly ogling them in the gym, or anonymously sending them creepy texts/random gifts, or touching them. It's not cute, nor is it flattering. It's harmful and utterly shameful. Now, on a side note, yes, Anwen has dealt/deals with creeps, but she's never actually experienced a situation in which she was deliberately followed after standing up for herself. While she can handle herself, she didn't want to confront the man again because for one, she didn't know what his intentions were, and two, she was concerned for Kenobi's safety. On another note, I'm sorry our shiny boys weren't featured in this chapter, but that was intentional as I wanted the focus to be on Anwen. But don't worry, they'll make an appearance in the next chapter ;) Until next time, stay safe and stay awesome!)