By the late afternoon, the storm was in full swing over the city. Saphira couldn't help but watch in glee as storms were a favorite weather event to her. She loved watching the lightning, listening to the thunder and hearing the rain fall on the roof. Though as she had lived in apartment, hearing the rain itself was very hard at times, so she settled to listening to the thunder whenever that was a storm. But she wasn't able to enjoy the storm, as Transit held her away from the window. It was a little annoying, but Saphira wasn't going to argue with the decepticon. She was strapped down, and unable to move. The only exception was when she needed to use the bathroom, that was it.
Though as it was late afternoon, there would be a few hours before Transit would be driven to the parking lot where the buses were parked. The buses were simply changed over for another bus to run during the day or night. Regardless, while Saphira knew where the buses were parked now, Optimus did not. Or at least, he might know now. She didn't know what he had done when he moved behind Transit. It didn't seem like that Optimus was following him, or Transit would have said and done something. She hoped that Optimus was following from a distance at least.
Saphira was starting to drift off at this point too. She had nothing else to do, and she unlikely to have Transit force her to shower in a public bathroom as well, but he might still wake her back up. He didn't try to stop her from falling asleep, and she was simply fighting her heavy eyelids at this point anyway. She wasn't necessarily asleep yet, but she was well on her way. But she decided that she didn't want to be bored, so she gave in.
But as soon as she fell asleep, she was startled awake, as she felt a loud shudder around her. She blinked and looked around before spotting the time. It was after ten. She flinched as she heard a clap of thunder, and she guessed that was probably what had woken her up. She yawned a little and rubbed her eyes, knowing she's slept about five hours. She did consider going back to sleep, but she was curious about what was happening now.
This is about the time that the drive brings the bus to the parking lot. His shift should be ending soon, so I guess it will just be me and the decepticon again…hopefully not for long though.
Saphira stretched her limbs and she jumped when she heard Transit chuckling by her ear. She frowned as she knew he was making fun of her. He thought it was stupid how humans stretch after waking up. She did try to explain why, but he didn't care to hear about it. So she didn't bother trying again. And she simply decided to ignore him as she knew what he was laughing at her about.
But now that she was awake, Saphira felt the need to use the bathroom again. She sighed and rolled her eyes in irritation. "Um…I need to use the bathroom…again…" It felt awkward to inform the decepticon of what she needed, but she had no choice. It took a moment as she heard sounds as Transit was shifting the bathroom at the moment before she saw the door open and he released the clamps around her. "Thanks…"
"I don't think I will ever understand you thanking me for this. I just don't want you to make a mess," Transit said to her bluntly as she walked over to the bathroom to use the toilet. "If only you waited a little bit longer, you could have used a public toilet. Oh well, guess this storm is a bit wild and loud."
Saphira did not respond. She didn't think there was any reason to. She felt awkward when she had to use the toilet. Especially knowing the bus she was inside of was a decepticon. It made her feel weird about it. But she just tried to remind herself that this was a bus, and it would be okay. She sat on the toilet to use it while thinking of what might happen tonight. It seemed that Transit did want her to have a shower tonight, making her already not look forward to it.
Still, she couldn't help but hope that Optimus would come. She knew he saw her, and she held out a lot of hope that he would come tonight. That was when she thought of asking a question. "So…um…I am not sure if you hate being here, but…did you have a ship that brought you here?"
She jumped as Transit chuckled in amusement at her question. "Why do you want to know?"
Saphira shrugged. "Well…if you have no ship, there's no reason to care about it…"
"There was a ship that brought me and some other decepticons here. But those other decepticons have all been killed already." Saphira guessed that Optimus and the other autobots had killed them. "The ship we came in is in pieces now. We crash landed and there was no way to repair it. Your planet is too primitive to salvage materials from as well. So I'm stuck here, just like your precious Optimus Prime."
Saphira felt sadness fill her heart knowing that Optimus really was stuck here. But she also felt happy, because he couldn't leave her. She hated feeling both happy and sad for him. "I guess you just have to live here and deal with it…like they do…"
Transit chuckled softly. "Don't feel pity for me. I actually like it here. Your planet is pretty, and you humans are kind of cute. It's actually nice to not fight everyday sometimes, but I do sorely miss ripping autobots apart. Hopefully, Optimus will show up and he will give me that opportunity to do it again."
Saphira did not really have any response to that. It was clear that Transit was really just looking for a fight when it came to keeping her hostage. While he was doing it to hurt Optimus, he also did it just for the fight itself. Saphira was not sure if that was even a good idea, given that Optimus was strong. But Saphira had really yet to see just how stronger Optimus was. She knew that he was a leader, and he had the strength to be one, and not just physically.
"I wasn't trying to pity, just sympathize."
"You can save it. I don't need it," Transit responded bluntly to her. "Save it for the autobots when I tear their leader apart."
Saphira decided it was best to remain quiet now. Now that she knew that there was no ship, she couldn't help but feel bad for Optimus and the other autobots. This world wasn't their home, but they had no choice but to make it their home. Even if a part of her was glad that the autobots would remain on this planet. She would actually have people to look up to and lean on what she needed it.
Saphira didn't really know what else to do at the moment anyway. She really could only finish using the toilet. Once she was done and had flushed the toilet, she walked back to the chair and sat down, fully expecting Transit to strap her tightly to keep a hold of her. But he doesn't. She waited until she crawled over to the window to look out. She smiled as she saw the droplets of water running down the glass and looked up at the dark sky.
She also noticed that the bus was driving away from the center of the city, which mean that the driver was on his way to park the bus. Saphira sighed as she wished she could see Optimus right now. At least she would know that he was coming, and that would give her a lot of comfort. But she had some hope that he would come for her tonight. He might be keeping his distance since he would know that Transit would see him, and the decepticon might do something to her.
Lightning flashed brightly in the sky and Saphira squinted slightly, only to gasp with a start as Transit drove past a street. And in that street, Saphira swore she saw the shadow of a freightliner facing her direction as the bus drove by. Saphira rubbed her eyes as she thought she might have been seeing things, because that almost felt like something out of a horror movie. But if she had just seen Optimus, then she couldn't help but feel excited.
I really hope that was him. I could really use some good news. Hopefully Transit did not see him, but I have little hope that it was Optimus.
Even though it could have been Optimus, Saphira knew that she could have also imagined it. Regardless, Saphira didn't know how far the bus was from the bus transportation parking lot. She knew that it overlooked the harbor, but that was it. She didn't really know what it was to be exact. But she did know it actually was not far from the wharf and warehouse where she and the autobots would comfortably spend time at. So it was possible that Transportation already knew where the autobots gathered.
Saphira kept her eye on the sky as watching the lighting as it thundered and rained outside. It was kind of ironic that it had been calm earlier during the same and it became thunderous at night. And if Optimus was following Transit right now, it was fitting. After all, it has been calm for him so far. And it might become quite the tussle soon if Optimus does find them. The weather was simply reflecting the situation it would seem.
Even though she was amused by how the weather was playing out, Saphira couldn't really relax at the moment. She knew that things can change at anytime, and Transit has shown how little he cares about her. Saphira really just had to wait until something would happen, and she could only hope that it would be a good thing. She really didn't want to do anything that will make him hurt her, as he has yet to do that. But she knew that he would not hesitate.
She kept watching out the window and she soon saw the bus driving past the gates of the premises. Saphira at least knew that things would be quiet for a little bit, but a lot can still happen during that time, and she knew it. Saphira looked at the other buses that had already been parked here, and she wondered if Optimus would have much trouble finding Transit. He might not, since Optimus would likely bait him to come out, but that would remain to be seen.
She yelped as she suddenly grabbed and pulled back from the waist. She grimaced as her back hit the wall hard and straps slammed around her waist and stomach to hold her tightly against the wall. She grimaced as because it was hurting her. "This is a bit tight…"
"Shut up!" Transit hissed at her, making her jump as she heard his voice by her ear. "You did something, didn't you?" Saphira frowned in confusion at first as she didn't know what he was talking about. "I know you did something when Optimus pulled up beside me earlier. Did you somehow tell him you are here?" Saphira shook her, even though she now knew what he was talking about. "Are you certain?"
His voice deepens with a hiss, making her feel even more terrified because of what he might do. "I'm certain…you would have known if I had. He never saw me…"
"He's worked it out!" Transit hissed at her, forming his holoform in front of her and grabbing her cheeks roughly, digging his thumb and fingers into her skin. "And I think he saw you. But I guess I should have pulled you away." Saphira whimpered softly as she had nothing to say to him, and he just chuckled. "Hmmph, no matter. I have looked forward to a fight." He pulled his hand away, causing scratches in her cheeks and making her shudder from pain. Transit smirked as he saw he had drawn blood as the scratches were bleeding. "This will be fun."
Meanwhile…
Driving slowly into the bus parking lot, Optimus observed where Transit was driving to so he could keep a close eye on where he was going, and what he was doing. So far, Transit remained hidden as the driver of the bus had no idea what he was driving. Optimus had no choice but to wait as patiently as he could knowing that Saphira was still trapped. He knew that exposing himself too soon would bring destruction to him and the other autobots, but he was in the right place. And Transit would know he is here. He only hoped that Saphira is unharmed. Though he feared the alternative.
He rolled by some buses and came to a stop, turning his headlights off as he observed the driver leaving the bus and running over to his car with a jacket over his head to keep as dry as possible. Optimus eyed the human closely as the man got into his car and drove through the parking lot to leave. Optimus was relieved, and just as the man drove away, Optimus rolled down between the buses slowly. He had not seen where the man had parked the bus, so now Optimus had to ensure that Transit could not leave.
All of his being was filled with anger, and a bit of hope as well. He hoped that Transit would give up the information, though Optimus has dealt with way too many decepticons to know it wouldn't be easy. As the droplets of rain pelted on the hood of the cab, Optimus's engine rumbled as the thunder rumbled overhead. Lightning flashed and danced in the sky, though Optimus could not stop to admire the nature at work above him. Not while he had something else more important to do.
After a few moments of driving between the buses, Optimus knew that there would be no humans. He transformed slowly and rose to his feet, glancing at the buses he walked by with narrowed optics. He could not see the right number plate yet, but he could sense Transit. The decepticon had lowered his cloak, and clearly did not care about hiding anymore. After all, Optimus had tracked him here, and the decepticon knew it.
"You cannot hide any longer, decepticon," Optimus spoke sternly, clenching his fists lightly as he continued to walk. "You might have managed to slip through our fingers over many months on this planet, but your wit has come to an end. I came for your ship, and the human you have taken hostage. Return the girl unharmed, and you will get to keep your life, and we can return to Cybertron. That is my only offer."
There was no response that he could hear. But he stopped as the alarms of the buses began to go off all at the same time, and their headlights flashed, making Optimus tense and ready his body for the incoming assault. He knew Transit had already left his position, and was likely making his way towards him. Optimus glanced around in front of him before he turned around, closing his face plate in preparation. But he did not see Transit yet.
"Give it up, Transit. I will not destroy your life if you comply, decepticon." Again no response, except he heard a chuckle echoing around him and Optimus narrowed his optics. "Show yourself, Transit. You are nearby, and you no longer have anywhere to run and hide. I will find you. The longer it takes, the less patience I will have…"
He turned his head when he heard the sound of a bus rev and an airbrake behind him. He narrowed his optics as he saw Transit speeding towards him at a higher speed than a regular bus would drive. Optimus held out his hands as the bus rammed into his abdomen, making him grunt loudly and press his feet deep into the mud of the ground while he used all his strength to slowly the decepticon down. Luckily, being a heavier decepticon, it made it easier for him to slow Transit down.
When he managed to stop Transit, Optimus reached down to the front tyres and began to lift him up. "Ah, uh, uh, uhhhh…" Optimus glanced at the front of the bus before flinching in surprise as he saw Saphira suddenly being thrown against the front window with a loud thump, she grimaced as the force clearly hurt her, and Optimus saw Transit's holoform holding her against the glass. "I would be very careful if I were you, Prime. You wouldn't want your human pet to…well…" Optimus's optics and Saphira's eyes lock onto each other, and he noticed the fresh, bleeding scratches on her cheeks that were staining the glass. "I can do so much to your precious human. And it will be so much fun to tear you down to your knees, where Megatron has failed to do so."
Optimus stared at Saphira as he saw that she's changed. She's lost weight again, and her clothes were tattered. He didn't know what other injuries she might have been inflicted, but he could see she was silently pleading at him. He at first was too focused on her, before he felt the bus lurch forward and Optimus attempted to punch in the doors of the bus, making Saphira fall to the side onto the driver seat before Optimus threw Transit back. Optimus then realized he might have unintentionally caused more harm, only to see Transit begin to transform.
He watched with narrow optics as Transit transformed slowly in front of him. Optimus watched for any sign of Saphira, knowing that Transit could easily keep the girl within his chassis. Though once he fully transformed, and Optimus could see the decepticon's red optics, he saw that Transit was holding the girl in his hand. "Hello, Optimus." He lifts the girl up slowly, watching as Saphira squirmed nervously in his grasp. "It would seem that you have found quite the specimen since you and your autobots have been on this planet. A pretty, young, human with green eyes that sparkle like the stars." He lifts his hand to grab her cheeks, making her whimper as the large, sharp tips pressed against her skin. "But such a fragile, little thing. One wrong step, Prime, and I promise that I will make suffering the last thing she experiences."
Optimus narrowed his optics even further at Transit. Saphira let out a sob and he softened his optics slightly as he could see her discomfort. He exhaled loudly and glared at Transit. "Are you that much of a coward that you would use a lowly being as a shield, decepticon?" Transit growled lightly as he listened to Optimus. "You claim that you have done something that Megatron has failed to do, and yet all I see is a decepticon using a pathetic shield. That doesn't make you better than him, Transit. It just makes you pathetic."
Transit growled and pulled his hand away from Saphira and armed himself with his canon. He fired at Optimus and, Optimus spun his body to the right to avoid the blast. He lowered himself to the ground and jumped behind one of the buses as Transit walked towards him slowly and continuously fired at him. Optimus growled and pushed on the bus, sliding it forward very quickly. This caught both Transit and Saphira off guard, as they hadn't really realized how strong Optimus was. Well, Saphira didn't realize, Transit was just too focused on shooting at Optimus to realize what he had been doing at this time.
When Optimus was able to give enough moment to the bus as he pushed it along the muddy ground, he stood up and kicked it, launching the bus and causing it to roll right at Transit. Though while Optimus was hoping that the bus would hit Transit, the decepticon just grinned and jumped on top of it, and jumped again, shooting at Optimus as he landed heavily on the ground, skidding slightly due to the slick mud underneath him.
Saphira could not help but grasp the metal fingers around her as she was terrified at the moment. Transit might have a very good grip on her right now, but that didn't mean she was terrified. She looked at Optimus and saw him running at Transit with his fists clenched. He obviously was not going to waste time, and while she was happy that he was going to fight the decepticon, she hated that she was going to be right in the middle of it.
Optimus glanced at Saphira, noticing how terrified she was as he ran at Transit. He raised his fists, and Transit was about to swing at him, when Optimus slams his fist into Transit's face, making him stumble back. Optimus punched the decepticon's face again before punching Transit's arm, making him grunt and suddenly loosen his grip on Saphira. She let out a shriek of surprise as the metal hand around her opened and she began to fall. Optimus quickly pulled Transit away, slamming him face first into a bus before he was able to reach under Saphira, feeling her land on his palm for a moment before sliding onto the ground.
Transit chuckled as he stood up and slammed into Optimus, running him back into the buses behind him. "I see she easily distracts you, Prime!" Transit mocked as Optimus grunts from feeling the bus behind him snap in two from Transit slamming him into it. "She claims there is nothing more than a friendly bond between you, but I think I disagree…"
Optimus uppercuts Transit's jaw, making the decepticon stumble back and allowed Optimus to punch him against in the neck, making Transit stumble further back in shock from the impact. Optimus huffed with a light growl at Transit. "You know nothing of the friendship we autobots have built with the human. Your assumptions of anything more are only from foolishness and wanting to find a weakness that is not there."
As for Saphira, when she had slid out of Optimus's hand before, she landed on the ground without any harm. She scrambled to her feet, and she ran away from the fight. She needed to find somewhere to hide so she could stay out of the fighting. She could hear the loud slams as the two fought against each other. And she could just faintly hear a conversation. She ran between the buses to try and find somewhere to hide.
She jumped with a light shriek as she heard them throwing fists again, and it sounded like they were closer to her, and that was not good. She jumped as she heard Transit's voice suddenly. "And yet, your mind is not even focused on fighting me. I can see, Optimus. But if you care for her deeply as a friend, that is still a distraction!"
She froze for a moment as she heard buses being kicked or rammed suddenly, and she moved when the bus to her right moved suddenly. She covered her heard when the glass of the windows shattered from another impact and she screamed as she noticed the bus rolling and she ducked, fully expecting feel the impact of the bus falling on top of her. But she was lucky when she felt the brush of a bus seat by her. It took her a moment to realize that with the broken bus window, she had simply went through the frame of the bus. She shuddered as she could have easily been crushed by the bus, but she wasn't. However, she yelped as she was pushed roughly as the overturned bus as forced to the side, and she felt the frame of the mirror pressing the side of her foot with shattered glass. She grabbed the side to try and pull herself up and looked up to the other side as she knew she would have to climb out.
Optimus had heard Saphira screaming, but he couldn't see what had happened to her. But he had noticed the overturned bus, and it hoped to Primus she wasn't underneath it. He refocused on Transit as the deception as more than happy to throw fists with Optimus as the two had been doing that for the last minute, and neither one of them were backing down. Though Optimus's punches were landing a lot heavier on Transit's body than the punches Transit was throwing at Optimus.
As Optimus threw another punch, Transit avoided it as he raised both fists to slam down of the back of Optimus's shoulders, forcing him to lean slightly and Transit picked up Optimus to throw him backwards onto the ground, but Optimus's weight had caused Transit to fall backwards as well, making the decepticon feel a little stupid for the decision. Especially as Optimus had got back to his feet quicker than him, and kicked him in the face.
Transit huffed and shot at Optimus point blank, making Prime growl in irritation as he covered his face with his arm and backed away from the close-range blasting. Transit stood up and picked up a bus and threw it at Optimus. Optimus caught the bus and threw it to the side, widening his optics as Transit had run up close to him and slammed his fist into his face. He felt the face plate groan under the force, but the impact did not do any damage to Optimus, and he punched Transit's face. He was only briefly distracted as he saw Saphira climbing out of a window of the overturned bus. He saw she was unharmed, and her eyes locked with his optics briefly before she jumped off the bus to keep running.
Transit had seen her too unfortunately, and he chuckled as he had realized that both he and Optimus could have caused her death before, and that would have made Transit's day to see Optimus's reaction upon finding the girl's body. "Ah, so close…" Transit chuckled as Optimus glared at him. "She was almost flattened, and you would have also been responsible. I hope you realize that, Optimus. At least you would no longer have to deal with a human pet among you all…"
"ENOUGH!" Optimus's voice boomed as thunder cracked loudly above them. Optimus ran at Transit and tackled him, forcing him into another set of buses, and punched his face. Transit was amused and kicked with both feet at Optimus's abdomen, causing Optimus to grimace and stumble back. "Your mockery is nothing more than mere words, Transit!"
"And yet, my words are adding fuel to this fight!" Transit stated gleefully as he swung his fist at Optimus's face again. "And I am loving it! Ha, ha, ha!"
Optimus just glared at Transit as he felt the impacts of Transit's punches to his chassis and side of his face. Optimus leaned to the left to avoid a punch before he grabbed Transit by the shoulders and threw him into the ground, making the decepticon hit the ground face first. He picked up a large, empty, metal, gas tank and slammed it into Transit's face as the decepticon was trying to get up from the ground, and as the tank shattered across the decepticon's face, Optimus grabbed the back of Transit's head and slammed it into a nearby bus.
Transit growled lightly and glared at Optimus as the autobot leader lifts him back. "Where is your ship, Transit?!" He demanded angrily. Transit just grinned at him, and Optimus slammed his face back into the roof of the bus, and dragged his face against the roof of the bus, making him hit the frames roughly and causing the metal to scratch against the decepticon's face. "Where is it?!"
Transit grunts as his face slammed through the front window of the bus as he was thrown to the ground. He shook his head and was about to get up when he spotted Saphira. She was a fair distance from him and Optimus, but he saw her. He huffed in amusement and armed his canon to aim. Optimus widened his optics and looked in the direction Transit was aiming before he ran at Transit to stop him, just as Transit first his blaster several times.
"SAPHIRA!" Saphira jumped and turned on her heels, only to shriek when she saw the blaster fire flying towards. "Get out of the way!" Optimus's voice boomed loudly and Saphira ran to the right and forced her feet to skid along the ground, causing her to fall and slide underneath a bus with a shallow, sink hole beneath it. She covered her ears as the blaster fire hit the bus beside it, causing the bus above her to shift slightly, and block her way back out.
Optimus turned his head to Transit who was grinning at him. "Are you sure you are just friends?"
Optimus raised his fist as Transit snapped a light pole from the ground and swung it at Optimus to hit him in the face. Optimus felt the light hitting the side of his face, though he grabbed it and slammed his fist into Transit's face, making the decepticon drop the light pole and Optimus slammed his fist into the right side of Transit's chassis. The force of his punch shattered a small amount of metal from the decepticon's chassis, making the decepticon grunt in surprise and swing his fist to slam against Optimus.
Saphira, though she couldn't get out, was able to crawl up a little to peer out from under the hole. She could see the fight unfolding before her very eyes right now. She grimaced as she saw Transit's fist slamming into the left side of Optimus's chassis, though Optimus had also swung his fist and the two hit each other at the same time. Each time their fists made contact with the other, Saphira heard how loud the hits were. They were extremely loud and strong, and she could feel the vibrations, even with the thunder still rumbling ahead.
Transit was getting frustrated as well, even though he was enjoying the fight that Optimus was giving him. He growled as he punched Optimus in the right shoulder, and as Optimus stumbled a little, Transit forced him to turn and dragged him backwards before throwing him into a nearby bus. Transit picked up the pole and walked towards him as Optimus landed and lifts the pole in an attempt to impale him. He lunged it into the lower part of Optimus's chassis, and managed to stab him.
Optimus grunts loudly before arming himself with his sword. He glared at Transit and forced the pole from his body, swinging it upward and hitting Transit in the face before he swiped his sword at Transit. The decepticon managed to duck, but Optimus punching him in the back to cause him to stumble into the bus Optimus had landed in before, and grunts as he turned himself to face Optimus while leaning back against the bus.
Optimus growled and ran at Transit before leaping with forward momentum, unsheathing his sword from his wrist while aiming it for Transit's chassis, and impaling the sword straight through Transit's chassis with a loud crunch, as his sword cut through the middle of Transit's chassis straight into the bus behind him. Transit roared loudly from the pain and tried to push Optimus away as he felt his strength already starting to strain.
"This is your last chance," Optimus warned Transit coldly, glaring directly into the decepticon's optics. "Where is your ship? You didn't come here by accident, and we know that. Yet, you have chosen to stay hidden in this world like we have. Where is your ship?!"
Transit grimaced and looked at Optimus in amusement. "It is destroyed…" Optimus twists his sword slightly, making the decepticon huff in pain. "To leave you with no possible escape from this world!" Optimus grabbed Transit by the wrist to pull him up and threw him again, smashing him through several buses behind him until he came to a rest and twitched as he sat against the bus behind him, coughing and sputtering energon as he looked at Optimus with glee. "You'll never see Cybertron again. But at least, you have a little human to care for." Optimus pushed the pieces of a bus aside as he stepped forward angrily. Transit chuckled and coughed again, glancing towards the bus Saphira was underneath. Neither Optimus and Transit had seen her after Optimus told her to hide, but Transit had a hunch she was under there. "Or never again." He raised his arm slowly as he armed his canon again. "As you will die here on this planet alone, just like me!"
Optimus quickly armed his canon and shot at Transit's open chassis before the decepticon had a chance to fire. The single blast hit Transit's spark and caused it to shatter immediately upon impact, and Transit's body goes limp, and his arm falls to his side. Optimus stared at Transit, wondering if the decepticon had been honest about his ship being destroyed, but as Transit was about to likely kill Saphira, he had no choice but to stop him.
But the possibility of never going to Cybertron filled his spark with pain. His optics soften from the glare he had for Transit and stepped back, unarming his canon and relaxing slightly as he pondered on what to do now. If Transit was being honest, then they were stuck here on this planet. A planet that was not their home. And they may never have another way to get home. Optimus closed his optics and intakes heavily as he now would have to deliver the heavy news to the other autobots.
But he had to find Saphira. He opened his optics and looked in the direction he had seen Saphira last. "Saphira?" He called as he walked towards the bus. "Where are you? Are you safe?"
At that moment, he saw her hand waving from under a bus. "I'm under here, Optimus. I'm okay…but I can't get out of here."
Optimus could not help but feel concern upon seeing where she was. He walked over to the bus quickly. Saphira herself was extremely relieved that Optimus had saved her from Transit. And she was very happy to see him. She moved herself deeper into the hole to give Optimus room as he reached the bus and leaned down to lift it up. Saphira was shivering as she was drenched and very cold, but she was so happy to see him as she began to climb out of the hole.
Optimus lowered the bus down by the hole and crouched down as he watched Saphira climb out of the hole. Optimus could see there was no further damage to her body, and he could not help but feel extremely relieved. He leaned down so that his face was closer to the ground as he observed her. "Are you okay, Saphira? Did Transit do anything to…" Optimus didn't finish his question as Saphira managed to jump to her feet and ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck, or the best that she could as she sobbed and trembled against him. Optimus had not expected that, especially as she rests her cheek against his. "You are freezing, Saphira. Allow me."
Saphira knew she was freezing, and that was why she had hugged him. She gasped as she felt him lift her gently with his hands and her arms slipped from his neck as he cupped her in his palms, closed his palms slightly to give her a warm bubble essentially. She smiled and looked up at him. "Thank you, Optimus…I knew you would come for me as soon as I saw you had seen me. I…I…um…I am sorry that you can't get home."
Optimus glanced away from her for a moment and looked back at her with soft optics. He was surprised she thought about him before herself. "It is not your fault, Saphira. I am the one who should be sorry." She blinked in surprise and raised an eyebrow. "I am deeply sorry for…the way we met. I now know that you wouldn't do anything to us, but…I allowed my grief for not being able to get home to cloud my judgement. I hope you can forgive me."
She nodded quickly with a smile. "Of course, I can. I was never holding it against you." Optimus smiled at her before that smile quickly faded. "And, well, Transit didn't really physically hurt me…but…I am sure you can tell I am skinnier again…and…" She tugged on her clothes for a moment with a slightly fearful expression. "He…he made sure I showered…"
Optimus was curious by what she meant by that, but as she seemed to tug on her clothes like she feared someone was going to take them off. But as he observed her, it took him a moment to realize what she meant. "He took your dignity, didn't he?" Saphira nodded and looked away from him. "He won't be able to do that anymore." She knew that. She smiled at him for a moment before she sneezed suddenly, surprising Optimus. "We had better leave. You need to get warm and dry. This might worry you, but I will bring you to a public shower to use so you can warm up."
Saphira smiled as she fully appreciated that. But she knew the quickest way to warm us was to take her clothes off. And as Optimus turned and walked towards the gate before he began transform, making her jump in surprise as he transformed, her cheeks turned red at the very idea. Once she was inside the toasty cab, she almost wanted to kiss the seats in front of her. She has never felt so happy to see the seats inside a truck. But here she was. She shifted to look at the backseat, and she saw all of her stuck still here. She was happy that he kept it for her.
Shivered and took a deep breath while she looked at the dash. "Well…until we get to a shower…this is going to get a little awkward, Optimus." Optimus did not respond as he listened to her. "There is a way for me to warm up quicker, but…as long as you do not look…uh…" She bit the tip of her right index finger as she was flustered, nervous and excited at the same time. "It will be okay. I just need to get out of these drenched clothes right now."
She felt a light rumble around her as Optimus was surprised. He would have thought she would be too afraid, but she did trust him. And Optimus also felt a sense of curiosity, though he would honour her request. "I understand, Saphira. I will give you the privacy needed, and focus on the road and getting you to a public shower. You need to be warm, and not get sick. That's more important than worrying about me seeing your natural body."
"Right…" Saphira's heart was racing right now as she really felt like she was going crazy. Transit had taken her dignity, sure, but…she trusted Optimus…but…she wasn't really sure what she was feeling if she was honest. She figured if she covered herself with a blanket while she changed clothes, that would be okay. Right?