Pairing: Cyberverse Slipstream/Optimus Prime

Rating: General

Details/Themes: Enemies to lovers, flirting

Slipstream didn't dwell on unimportant things. She focused on priority, mostly what the Decepticon cause needed her to do. Fight, fly, retrieve, and obey. Nothing simpler than that. But fighting Prime, if anything, was far from simple. She didn't like it.

Optimus was quick to counter her, and she was stunned. Not many bots could stop her techniques by servo, and the Prime was certainly a worthy adversary to prove her wrong. Then she got the high ground by jetting over the mech's head and placing a blaster against his spine. One shot and Prime would lose his motor functions. Optimus put his servos up in defeat, not that the gesture would fool her one second into letting her guard down as she learned with Windblade.

"That was quite impressive, Slipstream," Optimus said. "It's been a while since any bot has successfully bested me in combat."

"Save the talk for a willing partner, Prime."

"I can't compliment an opponent?"

She pressed the blaster harder into his back in warning, "Not if it's a means to distract me, no."

The Prime peered back, "And who said anything about distracting? I always thought you were beautiful, but I didn't know you were that skilled in combat. I have to appreciate your skills for what they are even if it's the last thing I do."

Slipstream backed up, easing the blaster on her arm away from Prime but kept it up for defense. "You think I'm beautiful?"

Optimus turned around unafraid and didn't activate any weapon for the sake of keeping the peace. He gave his honesty as intended. "Yes, more than any bot I've ever encountered. I don't mean to be outward in my opinion or make you uncomfortable. If you wish for me to stop, I will."

"No, no, no, it's fine! Really, I appreciate the compliment," she instantly replied. She lowered her weapon and Prime lowered his arms. "It's just I've never heard it much is all."

Optimus was about to say more when he saw a flock of Seekers heading their way. Slipstream recognized this too and looked to the Prime.

"I'm afraid I must make my leave, Slipstream. I hope we can meet again under different circumstances," he said before transforming and speeding away.

Some Seekers followed him while Slipstream just stood there flabbergasted. Starscream and Thundercracker landed beside her and chastised her hesitation, not that she really heard a word they said.

The next time they met, it was her calling to him through a secure signal. The fact that he came astounded her. She was a bit too excited, and the Prime took notice of that. She wouldn't call their meeting a date per say...but she did want to know all about him to mostly see if he was just playing her for a fool or not.

After a few exchanged stories and compliments, her opinion of him drastically changed. He wasn't there to get her into trouble, wasn't there to arrest her or anything. He was there for her. He wanted to be with her. Autobot or no, Optimus Prime wasn't a coward or an idiot as Megatron always claimed. He was charming and nice, always put her interests above his own. No Decepticons ever did that for her.

And this didn't happen during just that one meeting either. They went through more and more under the radar to the point where Slipstream herself began to believe that these meetings of theirs were truly dates, and she didn't want anything less.

She showed off her flight skills for him. He showed her his driving skills in return. She could feel his optics on her each time she took to the skies. What he thought of her when she was above the clouds, she could only guess, but one thing was for certain, he admired her. He wasn't afraid to show it as she swopped down to him.

Optimus caught her and twirled her around before holding her form close to his chassis. She laughed and leaned down to nuzzle her nose against his. He didn't drop her in surprise, but his expression certainly told her he didn't expect it. But he welcomed her advances.

"You are magnificent, Slipstream," he purred.

"I never thought I'd hear that from you of all bots," she giggled. She smiled even more when the wheels of alt mode rotated in response to the sounds she made.

Optimus leaned in closer which she allowed and was about to kiss her when his comm line summoned him. The one called Bumblebee had gotten in trouble again. He sighed, "I'm afraid I must go, dear Slipstream."

He set her down as she pouted playfully, "Aw, and here I was hoping to find out if romance was a skill too."

"Perhaps some time I'll show you," he winked.

Slipstream blushed, "Until next time?"

"Unfortunately, yes, but I'll make sure the wait is worth it."

She let him drive off again, this time with no Seekers clawing down her back or chasing him. As much as she loved him, she knew the war would keep them apart. She would be there to wait for him among sky and land until then. Perhaps one day, she would gain the courage to ask a little more, to leave this war behind both of them and fly away from it all.

AN: Just a fun little quip. Slipstream deserves some love and I think a good match might be Optimus. He would respect her, hug her, and love her like she needs.