Simple Misperceptions

The Inner Mech

“So how’re ya gonna top that?!” Yellow Jacket asked, after hearing the details of the dream weekend that Prime had taken Raptor on. Everything had been perfect; everything had been just what her mother was interested in.

Wasp grinned, thinking the very thing her twin was; there was no way for their mom to match it. “But according to the unwritten rules of mech dating – you’ve got to come up with a date based on his interests now.”

Raptor sighed; burying her head in her hands, for this was her dilemma. “He’s such a damned workaholic, god only knows WHAT his interests are – outside of work;” she grumbled.

“Well, I asked Red Alert last night. He said that Prime really didn’t have any hobbies that he was aware of. Even before the war.” Jacket mentioned, shrugging her shoulders.

Wasp leaned forward; “I managed to get Scavenger reminiscing. He mentioned that before Prime was given the matrix; he did a lot of volunteer work outside of work. Seemed to really like maken’ unfortunate mechs happy; and we know he’s a sucker for a charity event.”

Jacket snickered as Wasp shot her ‘the look’. Yep, they’d been busted pretty hard for that prank they’d pulled on Optimus and Raptor – but it’d been worth it to see the two Commanders dancing at that charity! A rap on the top of her helm brought her mind back into the conversation. She looked up to see her mother’s optics on her.

“Red said that Prime always did what Jetfire wanted; he never saw the shuttle ever worry about what his bond mate wanted to do.” Jacket added; her crimson optics gleaming in disgust at the thought of the cocky, self centered shuttle.

Grinning, Wasp nodded; “Maybe it was a good thing that Jetfire left his aft. Optimus should have a mech that actually thinks about HIS needs – not their own.”

“Both of you stop it!” Raptor ordered, glaring at her two opinionated daughters. “Don’t ever say that out loud again. Prime still loves the shuttle, regardless of what Jetfire did.”

“An that don’t bother ya?” Jacket asked. Her expression one of shock.

Raptor shook her head, “No more than the fact that my deceased human husband will always be in my heart – bothers Prime.” Sighing, she put her chin on her hands and looked at the twins. “When you two are older, like us, you realize that everyone has a history. You either accept that; or keep searching.”

“Hmmm,” Wasp mused, seeing the logic. “So we’ve got a workaholic mech, who’s only hobby, seemed to be volunteering, huh?” She brought the group back to their original discussion.

“An he’s so used to doin’ what everyone else wants to do – he’s never had time to have hobbies;” Jacket added.

Raptor leaned back, thinking about what her room mate tended to do after work. “He comes home and watches the news to keep up on current events.” Then her optics brightened a little. “He does like watching movies like Rainman and such.”

“Now that could give us somethin’ to work with..” Jacket began.

Lending a Helping Hand

Hoist slapped the loaded flatbed as he finished hooking up the air hoses; “Well, you’re ready to roll, Sir. This should be enough for that Habitat house you’re helping to build.”

“All secured?” the red mech asked; wanting to be sure, before he hit the interstate.

“You bet! Hope you enjoy your weekend away from the Earth Command Center.”

“It’ll be a refreshing change of pace. Hold down the fort, Hoist,” Prime told him as he pulled away.

--

A few hours later, he pulled into the small neighborhood. Each house had been built by the Habitat for Humanity organization; giving needy families their first true homes. The waves that the current neighborhood residents gave him as he passed, filled the mech with that warm feeling he used to get all those years before the war. Back when he had had time to volunteer on his own planet, helping those less fortunate than himself.

A small crowd of humans sporting hardhats approached him as he stopped in front of the empty lot. “We really appreciate you volunteering on this project,” the team leader told him.

Prime unhitched from the flatbed and transformed, a big smile hidden behind his mask. “Well, when I heard some mechs from Earth Command mentioning this project, I was highly interested in helping.”

The human volunteers nodded, all smiling in gratitude to the big mech. Enthusiastically he began to unload the lumber, stacking it where they directed him too.

--

Unbeknownst to Prime, unseen crimson optics watched his actions. Keeping herself cloaked, Raptor was very pleased that she had guessed correctly on his eagerness to start volunteering again. For it had been a conversation between herself and Wasp, which he had overheard – a conversation they had planned for him to overhear. And this particular project - they had planned for him to work on.

Smiling to herself, Raptor teleported back to pick up her load of materials for this same project.

--

A few hours later, Prime was handing the plywood to the workers on the roof of the house that they had framed up that morning. He joked and talked as if he was just another human on the job, his manner one of relaxed enjoyment of the entire project.

The sound of muffled jet engines filled the air. Looking up in surprise, the mech saw a familiar dull gray/green Seeker coming down vertically in jet mode. She stopped her descent, hovering thirty feet above the ground. For power lines were blocking her access.

“Hey roomy, are you going to just stand there staring, or are you going to help me unload?” she asked him, as she opened her side bays.

Bemused, since he hadn’t expected any other mechs to be here, Prime closed his open mouth. He walked over to her and carefully reached into her port bay. As his fingers curled around something, he pulled it out in surprise – it was some young trees tied together in a bundle!

“Well, the new residents need some landscaping, don’t you think?” Raptor’s voice asked him. “Would you please set those down, and catch the rest of the shrubs as I open my belly bays?”

Shaking his head in surprise, Prime did as she requested. After he’d finished catching and putting the rest of the plants on the ground, Raptor transformed and landed lightly next to him. Grinning up at her room mate, she nodded to the house he’d been helping with. “Project’s looking good guys!” She hollered to the human volunteers, as she winked at the big mech.

The two took a break while the humans finished putting siding and shingles on the house, Raptor offering Prime some energon while they waited. Although the femme was known for her Commands’ work with the human EMS during natural disasters; he was still a little surprised that she showed up to work on this Habitat project. But, it was nice having his good friend here, working at his side.

“Time to make this a beautiful landscape,” Raptor joked. For the outside of the house was now complete; and with the humans finishing up the interior, she and Prime could plant the trees.

He looked at her in confusion, for he had never planted vegetation in his life, and didn’t have any idea how to go about it. Kneeling, Raptor explained that all they had to do was to scoop out a hole with their hands, stick the tree in, wait for a human to cut off the sack surrounding its roots, and then gently pack the soil back around its base. She showed him, by doing the first one, and then giggled as she flicked some dirt onto his face. “And if you’re not covered in dirt afterwards, then you haven’t been landscaping properly!” she joked.

Laughing at her, he copied her technique, down to tossing dirt at her.

In less time than the humans had ever seen two dozen trees and shrubs planted, the two Transformers were done. Both now completely covered in dirt, and grinning at each other in amusement.

Soon, the humans had covered the new yard in grass seed, and the mechs stood quietly on the road, behind the human volunteers – as the new family came and entered their first house. As the family thanked the volunteers, Prime beamed in happy satisfaction behind his mask.

“Well, we’re a mess now. Why don’t you meet me at this address, and we’ll get cleaned up.” Raptor said and gave him the address. With a peck on his cheek, she was gone in teleport.

Shrugging, Prime transformed and hooked up to the flatbed. Downloading directions from Mapquest to the address she’d given him.

-----

Night at the Movies

He pulled up to the car wash, seeing the Seeker sitting there waiting for him. Transforming, he walked up to his grinning room mate. “You do realize that you look like a football player with that mud on your face?” he asked, as he wiped some of it off with his finger.

She shrugged, “Perhaps I’ll start wearing a mask like you?”

“Then everyone will wonder what you’re up to,” he responded. “They gave up wondering what I was up to – years ago.”

Laughing, she agreed with him. Then they proceeded to coat each other in suds, and power sprayed the grime off each other.

--

“Well, now you’re back to your handsome self again.” Raptor joked as she finished rinsing the suds off her friend.

If a mech could blush, he would’ve; for he was not used to straight forward compliments about his looks. Spraying her wings, he merely nodded, not sure of how to respond. “So what would you like to do this evening?” he asked her.

She grinned, “I hear one of your favorite movies is playing tonight, want to go see it?”

He looked at her steadily; there was no way either one of them could physically fit into a movie theatre – so obviously she was up to something. Smiling behind his mask, he figured it’d be safer if he just humored her. “So where do you want me to meet you?”

Cocking her head, she eyed the empty flatbed. “You mind if I ride with you? I’ll tell you which turns to take.”

Transforming, he hitched back up to the trailer. Patiently, he waited as she fully retracted her wings, and laid belly down on the trailer. Putting her chin on her crossed arms, she settled herself for the ride.

After an hour of driving, and several turns; Prime found himself waiting in a line of automobiles on the side of the road. This line went all the way around a curve, the final destination - hidden from his view. “Would you mind telling me why we are waiting in this line, when the left lane is clear for travel?” he asked Raptor.

She shrugged, “You do want to see the movie, don’t you?”

He still wasn’t understanding her; for they were simply too big to go into a movie theatre! “Would you mind telling me just how we are going to get inside the theatre?”

“Oh that? It’s a drive-in you silly!” she quipped, a grin spreading from audio-to-audio as she sensed his surprise, and then growing excitement.

He’d gotten to where he enjoyed some of the human TV shows and movies, watching them after shift on the huge flat screen that Raptor had in the main living quarters of their apartment. Now that the war was over, he actually had time to channel surf. With his room mate sitting next to him and drinking her energon, he had watched many movies – realizing that he preferred those movies where the characters overcame major life obstacles.

He had begun to wish that he could see some of these movies on the true ‘big screens’ – but he’d always thought that this was simply impossible. But now Raptor had found one of the few remaining Drive-in theatres still functioning! The perfect way for a big mech to watch one of these movies!

“So what is playing?” he asked, praying it wasn’t one of those action movies that the femme seemed to prefer.

She smiled, “It’s called Castaway. Something about a guy who gets stranded on an island for a few years, and makes it back. Tom Hanks is in it.”

Prime recognized the name of the actor who was in quite a few of the movies he was fond of. Yes, he’d probably like this one too.

--

They were seated in the very back of the parking area. Prime positioned the flatbed trailer perpendicular to the direction everyone was parked in. Then he and Raptor used the trailer to lean their backs against. As the movie began, he shifted closer to her, so that their legs pressed against each other. Glancing over at her, he nodded, thanking her for finding this theatre.

As the movie continued, Prime was drawn into the plot. That human actor made it so – believable!

Glancing at some of the humans parked in front of them, he noticed how many of the couples sat. Deciding he’d emulate them, he put his arm around Raptor’s intakes and pressed her tighter to his side. He felt her relax, and put one of her hands on his leg, absentmindedly rubbing her fingers on his armor as she watched the movie.

A feeling of satisfaction rolled over him. Satisfaction at making peoples’ lives better earlier in the day; Satisfaction of having a room mate who enjoyed working next to his side; and satisfaction of having a friend to watch his first movie with.

With a start, he realized that Raptor had planned this entire day! For it had been her conversation he had overheard. She had planned for him to volunteer! How else had she known to show up at that particular project? She had also found this theatre, found out which night they were showing a movie he’d like.

This was in fact, a date she had planned for him! And so unlike Jetfire, she was trying to plan things that Prime liked to do. Reaching down, he put his hand on top of hers, curling his fingers around hers. A sense of wonder rolled through him, for he was not used to mechs who tried to make HIM happy – he had always tried to make others happy.

But, it did feel good – to be appreciated.

----

To Become One

As the movie ended and the humans drove out, a semi tractor pulled up. “Um, you must be Raptor. Guess this is the trailer I’m supposed to take back?” the driver asked.

Winking at Optimus, Raptor nodded at the man. “Thanks for being perfectly on time; I will put a good word for you with your company.”

The driver grinned as he connected his tractor to the trailer. To have someone in her position, give him a good review – meant a likely raise!

Optimus turned to Raptor. “Guess I won’t be giving you a lift back to Earth Command?” he joked.

Putting her arm around him, she hugged her friend. Her fingers deftly unlatching his facemask even before he was aware she was doing it. “No, we’re not going back to base yet my friend. So why don’t I give you a lift?” she purred. Before he could say anything, her lips took his in a passionate kiss.

The sound of hocking and cheering could be heard as the humans whom were leaving the drive-in, saw the two Transformers lip-locked. Prime turned a deeper shade of blue, since he was self-conscious about others seeing him without his mask on, much less being seen in a passionate kiss! He tried to pull away so that he could latch his mask on, but Raptor simply wrapped her arms tightly around him and refused to release his lips. She didn’t care who watched, it wasn’t like they were bonding or anything. A kiss was just a kiss, even the humans understood that.

Realizing that he was trapped in this public display, Prime resigned himself to it and forced himself to relax. After all, he was dating a femme who didn’t seem to be self-conscious in the least, so he’d have to try to ignore his own shyness sometimes. Focusing his optics on hers, he ignored the sounds of the human onlookers as he let himself sink into her embrace… Her soft lips sending waves of electrical impulses through his chassis.. Their glossas dancing in perfect time with each other.. He found himself enjoying the continual surprises of this unexpected date. So different from his courtship with Jetfire those eons ago! But then, Raptor was far different than any Cybertronian mech. “So where’s our next stop?” he asked when she finally released his captive lips.

She chuckled as she gave him a final squeeze, her optics promising to continue that kiss later on in the night. Pulling away from him, she transformed to jet mode. “Ah, that’s for me to know – and you to find out,” she joked in a seductive tone.

Grinning as he relatched his mask, the big ground mech settled himself across her top line. Curling his fingers along her wings’ leading edges he made himself as secure as he could for flight. Suddenly, he felt metal straps going over his calves, thighs and mid-drift. “What is this?!” he asked in shock, for there were no minicons around to secure him like this.

Raptor chuckled again. “Red Alert helped modify me, to make you more secure during our teleports,” she explained.

Realizing that his shoulders and arms were still free to move, Optimus crossed his arms under his chin. He was highly intrigued by the Seeker’s thoughtfulness towards him. To modify herself; just to make carrying him around safer – was amazing! It truly showed just how much she cared about him. “So what else have you and Red Alert been up to?” he asked, his voice showing his amusement.

“Have you ever wanted to be the Seeker, Prime?” she asked.

Prime was thoughtful, trying to figure out where she was going with this. Red Alert had been the one to modify he and Jetfire, so that they could link together to become Jet Optimus. So just what in the sloggers had the medic done to Raptor? “Sometimes, why?” he answered her. But it was true, like most ground mechs he’d always been slightly jealous of the freedom that they had. Problem was, was that he was one of the larger ground mechs, so finding a Seeker that could truly handle his mass had been impossible. Well, at least until Raptor had come around. Her strange carbon-fiber chassis had modified itself in response to his extra mass; had increased its tensile strength in order to compensate.

“Open your abdominal access panels my friend’;” she ordered. The sly smile on her hidden face could be felt.

Intrigued to see just what the medic had done with the Seeker’s permission, Prime’s abdominal panels slid to the side as he opened them. He could feel panels sliding open underneath him on her fuselage – but the metal straps holding him securely to her – would not allow him to shift in order to look. Suddenly, he felt the sensation of power links connecting to his primary sensor net and primary power system. A sensation so like when he and Jetfire had used to combine, a sensation he never thought he’d feel again! They integrated systems instantaneously; even more thoroughly than when they had bonded in full circuit.

His meta was overwhelmed by her massive sensory grid; his ground mech programming not formatted for the use of multiple radar, infrared and night vision spectrum sensory arrays. Her spark was there, flowing into his meta and Battle processors; downloading and installing copies of her programming to allow him full use of her sensory data.

At the same time, the energy flow from their cores combined. Just like with the minicon power links, this boosted both of their power levels.

‘Are you ready to fly?’ her voice asked in his head.

As she felt his agreement and excitement, she directed her engine flow vertically, beginning a vertical takeoff. Prime felt her engines as if they were his, feeling his mass across her air frame, learning as she adjusted thrust to compensate.

Then she redirected again, throwing on her afterburners, to build the immense speed she needed. He felt the lift increase as they gained speed, their nose lifting as they increased altitude. Then the afterburners shut off, the dizzying speed maintained through super cruise. ‘This is amazing’ he said within her. For even though he’d been able to ‘fly’ when combined with Jetfire, that’d been in robot mode – which was nowhere close to doing it in jet mode!

She reached the upper atmosphere and set her course, enjoying the ground mech’s pleasure at truly feeling flight like this. His power coursed through her systems, boosting her in ways that were unexpected. His spark melded with hers, becoming one. Their battle processors integrated fully: with his copying and downloading all necessary data for their functioning in this mode together.

‘So we are going to the North Pole,’ he stated in her mind; His integration now so complete that her navigation was now a part of his reality as well.

She grinned inside, Prime feeling her emotion clearly. Allowing him into a particular memory file, she allowed him to see and feel – her first flight in the dancing lights; all those long eons ago. She hoped that he would appreciate and understand the beauty of the spectacle.

Feeling his spark glow with interest, she knew that her guess had been right – he would enjoy the experience.

Reaching the pole, they danced in the upper atmosphere. The Northern Lights curling around them, dancing through them, and filling them both with a sensation like no other. After a while, Raptor allowed Prime to take full control of her. The ground mech truly enjoyed his first real flight as the Seeker himself.

Cold Warmth

‘Let me take control, landing is tricky – especially on ice!’ Raptor said within his head.

Almost grudgingly, the ground mech relinquished control of her Seeker body. It had been so invigorating to actually experience flight as one of them! He still couldn’t believe all that she had had done to her chassis in order for him to experience it. The date he’d taken her on was nothing compared to what she had given him! She’d given him true flight.. The power to feel the lift under his/her wings, the incredible thrust of his/her engines.. The escape of gravity as they had danced in the highest reaches of the atmosphere… He couldn’t wait to fly again.. To feel true freedom as he controlled her wings..

She chuckled in his head, ‘there will be plenty of other flights for us, Prime. I will teach you how to do it all.’

‘You’ve given me an amazing experience, Raptor. Which I never expected,’ he replied. Feeling her engines as they shifted in power, nose coming up as she used her flaps to lower their altitude. ‘It is far more complicated to fly, than to drive;’ he commented.

Her emotion of agreement spread through him. She released some of her memories of her earliest days as a Seeker through their link… Bouncing down runways… Forgetting to pull up landing gear… Of not knowing she had afterburners as she shot straight up toward the cosmos…

He chuckled as he remembered her mistakes as if they had been his own.

Landing on the ice runway, Raptor taxied towards a large hangar. The door opened as they approached, warm lights streaked across the crystalline ground, beckoning them in. As they entered, Prime looked around in amazement – for she had had mech-style quarters put into the hangar.

Disengaging the Power Link, Prime slid off her air frame. Transforming, she grinned at him and nodded at the hard bunk. “You should be ashamed of yourself, for you’re covered in scuffs,” she accused in a humorous tone. She winked at him as she pushed him towards it; “perhaps we should have a talk with whoever is doing your daily maintenance?”

Optimus chuckled as he lay down. Taking his mask off, he grinned in amusement at his room mate. “Yes, perhaps she needs a lecture?” he joked; as he stared up at the very Seeker who did that maintenance.

Sitting down next to him, Raptor began to buff the scuffs off of his frame. She enjoyed the sensation of the big ground mech relaxing under her gentle touch. For she was giving him more than just a simple maintenance buff – she was trying to give him what the humans termed ‘a massage’.

Optimus felt the sensations of her light touch flowing through his sensory grids. The pleasurable waves of data input caused him to relax fully. He wanted to melt into her gentle touch. As she worked her way down his chassis, his meta drifted. She was so different than any mech he’d ever dated. She actually thought about what he liked to do. She tried to please him with her thoughtful surprises! And considering he was a notorious workaholic, she’d actually managed to hit his interests right on the mark with her surprise ‘date’. Everything she had planned, had been perfect! And even if she hadn’t realized it fully, the fact that she’d worked by his side to make the less fortunate have a little better lives – had blown him away. He’d always dreamed of having a mech that would do that. That would help him help others – without boasting or bragging about it. And the gleam of pride in her optics as she had looked at him and given him all of the credit….It just blew him away. He felt her pat him to flip over.. Slowly he did, his amber optics scanning her face briefly, noting that she seemed to be finding just as much pleasure in pleasuring him – as he was under her fingertips…

As he turned over, she began to work on his backside. Still amazed at the sheer power she knew that her gentle friend had within his chassis. Moving along his broad shoulders, she slowly worked her way down his back.

Prime smiled as the pleasurable sensations continued to wash over him. The warmth of true love pulsed within his core. He was certain that she was the one. She was even more perfect for him than Jetfire could even dream of being. With her, they’d have a relationship of equal partnership.. Equal respect.. Equal love.. Just as he tried to understand her, she’d so obviously been trying to understand him. To find those interests that he’d hidden so deeply inside because of the long war.. Yes, he was certain that she was the one he wanted to stand beside for the rest of his functioning life.

“Raptor, I need to ask you something,” he said, breaking into her silent enjoyment of touching him.

“Hmmm?” she replied as she was working her way down the backs of his arms. His armor glistening as she buffed it to a high gloss.

He chewed on his lower lip a bit. He was sure of what her answer would be, but the nervous anxiety rose up within his core. For he was going to ask her tonight.. Now.. to agree to be his bond mate for the rest of his functioning life… Even though he was pretty sure she was the one, he was a little nervous. “If we were to become bond mates – would you swear an oath to me, never to touch another?” he asked.

She stopped her work, pushing him to turn over so she could see his face. He was asking her for her oaths! For he was considering asking for her hand! Although she’d known this was coming, it was still surprising.. She felt butterflies flutter through her core.. But she had to be practical.. Think of all possible future scenarios. She didn’t want to give an oath that she might not keep. That wouldn’t be fair to him.

Knowing how much Jetfire’s infidelity had hurt Optimus, she didn’t blame the mech for wanting this oath from any potential bond mate. But then again, she had touched Prime himself – while she had been with Starscream. Granted, it’d not been due to romantic interest – but simply saving the red mech’s aft because of his numerous injuries in battle. “That depends; what about situations such as when we did our first bondings?” she asked, her tone serious.

He nodded, understanding her reasoning. He appreciated the fact she wanted to be that specific. He’d hate to force a heavily damaged mech to off line, simply because he’d forced Raptor to give her oath not to bond at all with another mech. Considering that she’d saved his own aft a few times by emergency bonding with him and using her own systems as life support for his…Would he be jealous if she shared herself like that with another – in that particular life-or-death situation?? He thought about it.. No, he wouldn’t feel betrayed or jealous if she emergency bonded with another mech in order to save his life. He could accept that concession. She wouldn’t love that mech.. She’d love him.. “I meant ‘romantically touch’ another;” he clarified his statement.

She thought for a moment, and then a warm smile lit up her face. “Yes, I could make that oath – on the condition that you do the same.”

A look of relief crossed his face. Yes, that type of concession on his part was more than reasonable. But he had one more important oath to ask of her, and he knew this one would not be so easy for her to agree to. “Another thing, would you give your oath to fight at my side – if it was absolutely necessary?”

She bit her lip. He knew she had sworn never to join a war again; granted they weren’t at war anymore – but was this still the same? Could she agree to fight again, in order to have a bond mate? Would she even want to not be at his side in a fight – if they were bond mates? Her emotions were conflicting. For Sideways had gotten her to fight, and she had almost destroyed Cybertron because of her blind love – but she looked in Optimus’s optics, knowing he’d never fight unless it was necessary. Knowing he’d truly prefer to keep those he cared about, on the sidelines. But he wanted to know if she’d swear an oath – to fight!

Prime could see the indecision in her face. He knew he’d asked her for the one oath that would truly be the hardest for her to give. But if she gave it, he knew she was the one. The one he’d bond with for the rest of his life. For through all of her peculiar, zany, human-sparked ways – he knew for certain – she’d always put him first on her list, she’d always be loyal, and she’d never let him down.

No, it wasn’t the overwhelming, highly charged, feelings of love and lust he felt for her – like he’d felt for Jetfire those eons ago. She was his best friend, and he felt the subtle warmth of love and total acceptance building over time within him - for her. A feeling he knew would stay with him.

A look of decision finally came over her face, as she met his optics. “Yes, I think I could give that oath – only to you;” she said softly.

Smiling, he sat up, looking at her seriously. “I have one more oath I would ask you to give.”

She cocked her head curiously, for he had already asked her to give the hardest oath she could give. “What would that be?”

“To only paint yourself in team colors – when I’m not accompanying you to the game;” he asked, barely managing to keep his composure.

“Hey, I thought you liked the way I looked that day?” she exclaimed.

He broke down and chuckled, “you know, I was warned about human-sparked sports fanatics – but I didn’t believe them.”

She cuffed him, causing him to slide off the other side of the hard bunk. Then she sprang and pounced on him, rolling with him in a light-hearted wrestling match. As they laughed and struggling with each other, they ended up rolling into one of the spotlights that was lighting the interior of the hangar – it came crashing down on the two of them.

Laughing together, they carefully extricated themselves from under the spotlight. Prime standing it back up. “Ok, I guess I won’t get your oath on that last one – but could I just give Jacket my ticket instead?”

“So you thought I looked that bad?”

“Not bad, you just looked like you had suffered a major logic glitch in your Meta,” he shrugged.

She lay down on the hard bunk, putting her helm on a hand and looking at him with a rather bemused grin. “But the human press really liked it.”

Sitting down next to her, he stroked one of her wings. “Humans are notoriously strange creatures.”

“So you honestly think you could deal with a human-sparked Seeker, on an indefinite basis? After all, you already seem to think I’m a nut-case.” She cocked her head and arched one of her optic ridges as she studied him. She was proud to be slightly illogical. To her, it was the one thing she still had left of her humanity.

Laying down facing her, he put his arm over her. “Well, you know I’m a closet romantic, who gets emotionally traumatized very easily over his bond mate, and is too stubborn to openly ask for help. So can you deal with that?”

Their kiss, gave the other their answers.

----