Sparks of Destiny
Delphine's pulse pounded in her ears.
The massive alien crouched before her, his glowing blue optics locked onto hers. He was close—too close—yet he made no move to attack. If anything, his posture was careful, deliberate, like he was trying not to scare her.
Like he was waiting.
For what, she wasn't sure.
The weight of his gaze sent a strange shiver down her spine. Every instinct in her body screamed that this wasn't normal, wasn't right. And yet—
She wasn't afraid.
Delphine took a slow, steady breath. "So," she said, voice even. "Are you gonna tell me what you are, or am I supposed to guess?"
The robot tilted his head slightly, his optics flickering. A soft whirring noise filled the air, almost like… a hum of approval. Then, his radio crackled.
"Autobot."
She frowned. "That supposed to mean something to me?"
Another flicker of blue light. Then, a clipped, slightly distorted response. "Protector."
Protector.
Delphine studied him, taking in the battle-worn plating, the sleek yellow and black armor, the way his frame shifted ever so slightly as if adjusting to her presence.
He wasn't lying.
Still, it didn't explain why he was here—why he'd sought her out specifically.
"Alright, Autobot," she said carefully, arms crossed. "Why are you here?"
For a moment, he didn't answer. His fingers twitched at his sides, and his optics darkened slightly, like he was debating something. Then, through the static, his voice came again—softer this time.
"You."
Her breath caught.
"Me?" she echoed.
The Autobot nodded, his massive frame shifting forward just a little. Not enough to intimidate—just enough to hover. To loom.
A presence.
A claim.
Delphine's spine stiffened. "You don't even know me."
Another hum. Then, a flicker of radio distortion—an old song playing for only a second before cutting out.
"Watching. Long time."
Her stomach dropped.
Long time?
She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her heart had started hammering against her ribs. "That supposed to make me feel better?"
The Autobot didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lowered himself further, until he was at perfect eye level with her.
She should've been scared.
But there was something in his gaze—something quietly possessive, as if he'd already made up his mind about her.
Like he'd already decided.
She was his.
Delphine exhaled sharply. "Okay," she muttered. "That's not creepy at all."
A sound rumbled through his chest—something close to a chuckle. Then, for the first time, he lifted a hand.
Delphine tensed as a single metal finger brushed against her wrist.
It was barely a touch—light, hesitant—but it burned in a way that made her knees feel unsteady.
The air between them shifted.
The Autobot's optics flickered, scanning her face carefully, almost like he was memorizing her reaction.
Then, softly—almost like a whisper—his radio crackled again.
"Bumblebee."
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
A gentle thrum pulsed through his frame. "Name."
Delphine blinked. "Bumblebee."
He nodded.
A strange warmth curled in her chest. Something about it—about him—felt different. Dangerous, but not in the way she'd expected.
She pulled her wrist away slowly, ignoring the weird sensation left behind. "Alright, Bumblebee," she said, her voice steady. "I don't know what your deal is, but I don't do the whole being watched thing. So if you've got something to say, say it now."
Bumblebee stared at her.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then, with quiet deliberation, he leaned in slightly—his massive frame shadowing hers. His radio crackled, and through the static, a single phrase broke the silence.
"Mine."
Delphine's breath hitched.
Heat flooded through her, sharp and undeniable.
She should have stepped back. Should have told him off, set boundaries—something.
But she didn't.
Because deep down, she already knew the truth.
She wasn't the one in control anymore.
And a part of her didn't want to be.