Simple Misperceptions

In Another’s Arms

“So, you’re going out tonight?” Optimus asked as he watched his room mate checking herself over for scuff marks.

She nodded, “Would you mind checking my aft sections?”

Keeping his emotions under wraps, Prime nodded and stood up. Running his fingers lightly over the backs of her wings, he scanned her fuselage for any scratches. Finding a few, he grabbed the rag from her hand and began to buff them out. Although he enjoyed the feel of her carbide skin under his fingertips, a sense of sadness came over him, for this was the only way she’d ever actually ask for his touch. To help her prepare for a date with another! Grinding his jaws together, he forced himself to accept the situation – since there was no way he could ever force her to have interest in him that way.

“So where are you two going?” he politely asked.

She shrugged, “He’s keeping it a surprise. So your guess is as good as mine.”

“Do you really like him?” Prime knew he might be digging a little too deep with that question. But hell, he was family wasn’t he? And he knew her daughters would be asking her the same thing tomorrow.

She chuckled, “I’m just getting to know the mech. But he seems like a fairly likeable character.”

“You’re avoiding answering the question.”

Turning, she rapped him lightly on his helm. “And you’re starting to sound as nosy as those daughters of yours!”

“Point taken, so when can I expect you in?” he set the rag back on the shelf it went on.

Grinning, she shrugged, “Don’t bother waiting up for me – DAD.”

He grinned at her teasing, “Just don’t forget to meet me for lunch. We’ve got a lot of projects to discuss.”

She snickered as she walked towards the door. “Yes, sir! Great Cybertronian Commander! I would never dare miss a working lunch date with you!”

“Smart aft!” he shouted after her as the door closed.

Sitting down on the couch, Optimus glumly picked up the remote. At least Jaguar’d be home soon, so he’d have someone to hang out with. He still wished that Raptor would show any interest in him at all, just a tiny wink or something! But, obviously there was absolutely no romantic interest in him on her part, regardless of how well they got along as room mates. For a brief second, he contemplated having Red Alert rebuild him into a Seeker chassis. Then he could catch her interest! But that would be so blatantly pathetic on his part; that the femme would probably just find him hysterically funny afterward.

No, he was stuck being a bulky ground mech, who sat at home wishing he was something he wasn’t. Just so he could catch the optic of his room mate. Yep, pretty pathetic! Perhaps he should start seriously looking at some of the other single mechs? True, none of them matched her intelligence or maturity – but since he was never going to get her – he needed to start looking..

He sighed, he guessed he should start looking around tomorrow…..

--

The sound of the front door opening caught Prime’s audios. He had lain in the bed they shared, unable to drift off in defrag while Raptor was out. He kept thinking about what they were doing. About Thundercracker’s lips on hers, about his hands roving over her air frame. He wanted to kick the Seeker’s aft so badly! But he knew it was pointless, for Raptor’d just get pissed at him. After all, Optimus was merely her friend and room mate – period.

He heard low murmurs between the two Seekers, then the unmistakable sound of passionate kissing. Forcing himself to stay still, he pushed his jealous instincts down. As he listened, he imagined that he was Thundercracker.

Her sweet lips pressed against his. The intertwine of his glossa with hers. The feel of her lithe air frame pressed against the door frame as he pressed his into her. The shuddering of her intakes as her desire mounted. Her wings shivered in response to his touch. Her light fingers danced over his frame, slipping between the seams, caressing his sensory nets with their knowledgeable touch.

Shaking his helm, he brought himself out of his fantasy. It was ridiculous for him to continue pining after a Seeker who had no interest in him that way! He berated himself for his continual weakness!

Yes, tomorrow afternoon – he’d find someone he was at least half-aft attracted to. And that seemed to be attracted to him as well. And he’d ask the slogger out!

The sound of muffled ‘goodbyes’ caught his audios. Deactivating his optics, he pretended to be in defrag as he heard her enter their shared bedroom. With his back turned to her, she’d never know anyways.

He heard her wings retract, the soft sound of those hydraulics sending a shiver through his core. He felt her lay down next to him, curling her air frame against his aft side. She casually draped one of her arms over him, pressing herself tighter against him. The warmth of her plasma engines flowed into him, and he could tell from her higher temperature that her little make-out session with her date had gotten her mildly aroused.

As she went limp in defrag, Prime couldn’t stop himself. Touching her hand that lay across his chest, he caressed her fingers as he accessed his memory files.

Yes, a few times those thin fingers had danced over his chassis while her fiery spark had pulsed within him. One time, he had taken those soft lips with his. Made her mouth one with his. He remembered the feel of her air frame pressed to the ground beneath his bulk. Those brilliant ruby optics looking into his with desire as she begged for a full circuit. The shock of her incredible power cores as they shot through him upon that complete circuit. Their hips pressed together, forcing the bared circuits so deeply within one another; the sweet ecstasy of the joint overload.

Yes, he’d been with her in that way twice. Three times if you counted the first. But he really never counted that one, for only he had felt the incredible pleasure of it. But all three times she had joined with him not out of romantic inclinations, but to integrate their systems so that hers could act as life support for him. Even the last two times, she had only felt desire after they were already connected by the first set of bonding cables. A situation where a mech couldn’t help but feel desire, regardless of if they even liked the mech they were connected to!

True, she had passionately and eagerly sought that full circuit on those last two occasions, but Prime knew it wasn’t because she had been truly attracted to him. It was merely an automatic system reaction, that’s all.

He sighed sadly as he rubbed her fingers. In a sense, he was actually sad that the war still wasn’t raging. For if he could get heavily damaged again then - …. Shaking his helm he forced that thought from his Meta! It was a pathetic way to get her to join with him like that!

In disgust with himself, he snorted quietly. He should be happy for his room mate to finally be dating again! It had been years since she dated Starscream, and she deserved to find someone she was attracted to! He was just lucky to get to spend this time with her. To feel her air frame pressed against his at night these last few weeks. For that, he should be thankful. For what other mech would have the heart to take a depressed wreck like him into their home, let him stay for months on end, and help him get over Jetfire? Much less offer to share their own bunk when his daughter had moved back in.

Yes, Primus had blessed him with this time with her like this. But it was just not meant to turn into anything more. She would never look at him that way – and he knew it!

Thinking about the various single mechs he knew, he was determined to ask one of them out.. After his lunch date with Raptor that is….

---

Skipping Work

Raptor slowly activated her optics. Stretching with her normal feline grace, she noticed that she was alone on the bunk. Turning over, she checked her internal clock and realized she had overslept. So her conscientious room mate had obviously woken up on time and decided not to wake her.

Well, considering how late she’d been out, she didn’t blame him. She wouldn’t have been in a very good mood only half-way defragmented!

Lying on her back, she put her hands behind her helm and thought about her date. It hadn’t been the most interesting of dates, but at least Thundercracker had tried. But like most Cybertronians, he just didn’t have a clue about her interests. He wasn’t the most intelligent either. Granted, Raptor had a bad habit of comparing them to her room mate. And few if any, compared to Optimus in the least.

On the other hand, she considered how the date had ended. She had to admit the Seeker was a pretty good kisser! Her whole frame warmed at the remembrance of his firm lips against hers, his glossa toying with hers. Yes, it’d been a very long time since she kissed a mech, and damned was he good at it!

Then her memories slipped back to the lips of another mech. As he trapped her beneath his bulk, desire coursing through him as he took command of her lips with his. Demanding, invading her very spark with his power, his strength. His fingers as they slid ever-so-slowly over her sensitive wings. The combined tremors as they pressed their bared circuits together. The feel of his circuits penetrating her deeper and deeper, until they seemed to become one entity!

Raptor shook her helm, forcing herself out of her childish fantasy. For the only reason Optimus had even done that, was because they’d already had the first bonding cable connected between them when he regained full consciousness. Under those circumstances any mech would be overcome with passion and seek the release of a full circuit! Regardless of who they were connected with. Heck, he’d been in love with his bond mate when those occasions had occurred – hadn’t he? So his reaction to her had been nothing more than an automatic reaction to his sensory nets – that was it - period.

After all, he’d been single now for months. And even though they shared quarters and even a bunk – he’d not made one single advance towards her! Not even a dirty joke and a wink! So obviously he didn’t find her attractive in the least; Nothing more than a friend.

She sighed in resignation as she stood up – it really did suck to be this attracted to a gay mech!

--

Wandering out, she decided she’d just freagin’ skip work. Maybe she’d go find Thundercracker? Let his lips wipe the memories of Prime’s lips from her Meta.

Yes, that was a rather nice idea! She thought. Fixing Thundercracker’s image in her mind she teleported.

Coming out of the cool plasma, she spied Thundercracker walking with a group of his Seeker buddies, joking and laughing. Thinking she’d have a little fun and surprise him, Raptor engaged her cloaking and silently snuck up to the group. As she was preparing to decloak and give them all a good scare, what they were joking about caused her to stop in total shock!

--

Skywarp elbowed his old friend. “So you think you’re going to catch her?” he snickered.

Ramjet joined in with a chuckle. “Ya, you catch her and you’ll be the most influential Decepticon around!”

“Ya, just don’t forget your old buddies when you’re dishing out ‘Earth Mech’ favors – ok?” Dirge joked as he slapped Thundercracker’s shoulder.

Thundercracker grinned, “Hell of a lot easier doin’ a femme than ‘ol Megatron!”

This led to even more snickering amongst the group.

“So, does she at least kiss half-aft?” Skywarp teased.

“Hope so, cus she ain’t much to look at and too sloggin’ odd to understand!” Dirge added.

Thundercracker grinned, “She’s Ok, I’ve had better..”

This led to even more wails of laughter and teasing.

“So you think you’ll convince her to bond with you?” Skywarp asked as he winked at Thundercracker.

“Ya, she’s gonna be easy to convince. She’s a real pushover!” Thundercracker joked.

The searing flame of rage burning within the unseen femme; blew into a fire storm at that last statement. Decloaking, the furious femme grabbed Thundercracker by his throat and threw the surprised Seeker across the road. “So I’m a freagin’ ‘pushover’? You mother fuckin’ Seekers! I’ll show you a sloggin’ ‘pushover’!” she screamed as she went after the next Seeker….

Violent Femme

“Um, sir, there’s a major disturbance in the south quadrant!” Hotshot stammered to Prime as he ran into his office.

Optimus looked up, not understanding why the bot was so upset. “Send security forces to handle it, that’s their job.”

Scavenger came up behind Hotshot. “We can’t send security. They can’t touch the disrupter.”

Standing up, Prime was a little perturbed by the whole thing. “And why can’t they touch this mech?” he demanded to know.

Hotshot shifted nervously, “Um, because it’s Raptor.”

“What in Vector Sigma!?” Optimus cursed as he flew out of his office. The femme was supposed to meet him for a ‘working lunch’ today, and now she was causing a ‘disturbance’!? Marching out of the Command Center, he transformed and headed toward the south quadrant.

Soon, he could hear the commotion of several Seekers going at it. Transforming, he strolled around the corner, intending to fully stop whatever was going on.

He staggered backwards as he was hit with the chassis of a flying Seeker. And the Seeker wasn’t flying because he wanted to either! Mumbling to himself, Optimus tossed the Seeker off of him and continued toward the angry voice of his roommate.

She had her back to him as she went after Thundercracker. From all intensive purposes, she was aiming to really hurt the Seeker! Optimus lunged and grabbed her, wrapping his powerful arms around her.

“Get the freagin’ off of me Prime! This prick needs realignment!” she cussed, twisting in his arms.

Prime nodded to the Seekers she’d gotten into it with. “Go back to your quarters, and we will straighten this out later – that’s an order!” he ordered them.

Knowing better than to argue with the imposing ground mech; the four male Seekers turned tail and disappeared.

“All of you Cybertronians are pieces of slag!” Raptor half-cussed half-sobbed.

Releasing her, Optimus looked at her in total confusion. He’d never once seen her lose control like this! So something serious must have occurred. “What happened?”

She looked up at him in dismay, then turned and looked glumly at the now deserted street. “The same thing that always freagin’ happens! Everyone wants me as an advantage to them! No one ever wants me – for just me!” She punched the nearest wall in total disgust. “And the good ones are all gay!”

With that final statement, she transformed and roared vertically into the sky. Optimus just stared after her in complete disbelief. He knew what the Earth mech slang term ‘gay’ meant. It meant a male whom only bonded with other males. His mouth fell open in shock! Did she really think he was gay?!

He didn’t know where she’d gone, but he knew he needed to find her before she did something rash. Transforming he headed toward one of his daughter’s quarters, for he knew that IceOwl could find her.

--

“She did what?” Wasp said, looking from Prime to IceOwl with wide optics.

“Apparently, she overheard the Decepticon Seekers discussing the value of pursuing her. And it set her off,” Optimus explained. He was actually quite pleased that Raptor had caught those Seekers saying that; for if she hadn't - he would've never known that she might be attracted to HIM.

IceOwl sighed, “Sounds like something mom would do.” She could just picture the gray/green femme going after a bunch of males, and she'd try and damage them as much as possible. Granted, she really didn't like Thundercracker, so it wouldn't bother her in the least if Raptor off-lined his aft.

“So can you find her?” Optimus asked the dull blue/gray femme. He was counting on it, for he just had to find the Seeker right now. He needed to straighten this mess out - now!

“Are you really sure you want to find her right now? Perhaps it’d be better after she’s had time to cool off?” Wasp commented. She had seen her mother like this, on several occasions; and a mech's best bet - was to stay away from her.

Prime sighed; he hadn’t really wanted to tell these two why he really needed to talk to Raptor right now. But it looked like he was going to have to. “There’s also the problem of a little misperception that needs to be straightened out immediately.”

“A misperception?” IceOwl asked, her voice filled with concern.

Actually feeling a tad embarrassed to say this to his daughter, Prime nodded. Taking a deep breath he said it, “Raptor’s got the notion that I’m gay.”

Wasp’s optics got very big as she and IceOwl exchanged glances. “And you’re not?” they asked, almost in perfect unison.

He realized that these two had thought the same thing, “You two thought so too?” He couldn't believe so many of the freagin' Earth mechs seemed to think this! Did they just assume that if you dated one 'sex' - that that was the only type a mech was ever interested in?

“Well, dad, you’ve only ever willingly bonded with Jetfire. So what did you think we would believe?” Wasp explained. Granted, Prime wasn’t really her father, but he had kind’ve adopted her along with her half-sisters, which were his.

Optimus sighed; they did have a logical point. “Well, I’m not. And I need you to take me to Raptor to straighten this mess out.” He had to straighten it out.. Now.. Today.. Had to know if Raptor was indeed attracted to a 'gay ground mech' as she had insinuated with her angry statement.. For if she was.. Optimus knew that it was him she'd referred to. His core warmed as he knew he had a shot at getting her to date him..

IceOwl nodded and transformed. Settling himself between her canted fins, Optimus wrapped his fingers around the leading edges of her wings and nodded his readiness. In a blink of an optic, they were gone in teleport.

Wasp just shook her head in disbelief; she’d been so certain he was gay. It just blew her away that he was bi, and seemed to actually be interested in mom! Jacket was going to be preening like a rooster when she found out!

--

They came out of teleport on Cybertron’s moon. IceOwl motioned towards a ridge, and then she quietly whispered ‘good luck’ to her dad and left him.

Optimus could hear the sounds of quiet sobs coming from that direction. Following the sound, he picked his way through the rough terrain of the lunar surface. Raptor’s silhouette slowly came into view.

“You know, it just figures. It just always seems to go this way,” she muttered as he came up.

Knowing that she’d been aware of his presence the second IceOwl had landed; Optimus wasn’t terribly surprised by her comment. Walking up to her, he put his arm around her as they both stared at the planet of Cybertron.

“Once I tried to understand why God kept me alive after I became this atrocity!” she held her hand up, touching her metal fingers together. “I’ve done everything that he’s asked of me, and yet he still forces me to live as an outsider; with no one of my own.” She hated what she was. Hated the fact that no one wanted her for the human-spark that was her. All she had ever been, was a way for mechs and Seekers to get ahead in life. Just a means to an end, nothing more.

Her wings shook with her sobs.

“Why can’t you have some mech of your own?” Prime asked softly. He knew a mech she could 'have', for he was standing right next to her. Warmth spread through him, for he'd finally figured out the entire problem that had come between them for all these months. It was kind've ironic in a sense. That two older, mature mechs like themselves had never once spotted the attraction that the other had for them.

She actually snorted, “Because all the Seekers want me for is my position, and all the quality ground mechs are gay!” Disgust filled her core. Disgust that she was so attracted to a freagin' gay mech, and all that the available straight mechs wanted her for - was her position.

“No I’m not,” he responded, his voice so soft she barely picked up his words. He felt elation course through him as he said it. The misperception that had kept them apart was now out in the open as a false belief. He hoped it meant that she'd now consider dating him.

She stiffened, and slowly turned towards him, shock in her optics. “You’re not?!” she stammered in total disbelief. Her entire world was now turned upside down! All those nights of controlling her desire. Afraid that if she'd shown it, he'd leave her home in a huff - was all a mistake?!

“I guess I’m what you Earth mechs refer to as ‘bi’," he said. A grin spreading under his mask as he saw that she had truly believed that he'd never be interested in a femme.

She was almost speechless, for this was one thing she had not anticipated in the least! “But then why -?” she asked haltingly, not really knowing how to phrase the question. All those nights.. All those times she'd wanted to jump him - in more ways than just getting the remote back.. She'd never once seen any hint that he was interested in her.

He took off his mask and faced her. “Because I assumed you were only into Seekers, that you’d never be interested in a bulky ground mech like me.” Looking into her crimson optics, he had to ask the question he’d been wanting to for months. “Would you consider going on a date with me?”

The sudden press of her air frame, and arms wrapping around him; was answer enough.

---