Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 18

She shrugged. "I suppose I have."

"And I hope it hasn't caused you to make rash decisions." She looked at the dash with a frown, not knowing what Optimus meant. "Saphira, Ratcher informed me you and Acree had gone for a ride last night. And I know where you got that guitar from."

Saphira's expression quickly changed to guilt now that he said that to her. "I'm sorry...Arcee just happened to offer to help me get my guitar back."

"I see...you should have refused her offer, Saphira. We autobots should not be in the middle of something that could expose our existence to the world." Saphira understood the risk, and no one saw them, though she understood Optimus's reasoning. "I know that guitar and picture means a lot to you, though Arcee was careless because she was frustrated with Ratchet."

"It won't happen again, Optimus," Saphira said softly, a few tears fall from her eyes. "But...I'm glad that I have them, regardless of how you feel." She looked out the window as Optimus drove out of the tunnel onto the main road with the door closing behind them. "No one saw us."

Optimus saw the tears that fell from Saphira's eyes and softened his voice. "I am sorry if I have hurt you by saying these things. It is just I have a lot of worry for my autobots, and yourself. If there had been a different way of retrieving your items, I would have considered them over sneaking into a house to grab them. You may not know this, but your comfort is a priority to me."

She was very surprised that he would say that. "It is? Why?"

Optimus was silent for a moment as he though about the answer. "Because you deserve to have the comfort you desire. You deserve to be happy. Someone who has been through what you have been through deserves to be loved."

Saphira frowned a little, looking at the dash curiously. "Loved? That's...I suppose you are right. Though, I won't really have family love again."

"You do through your new family of autobots," Optimus said softly. "And that is never a bad thing."

She pondered on what he had told her that he felt she deserved, wondering if he had intended to say that. "I would highly doubt I would find a soulmate either, Optimus."

"I believe you will. You are beautiful after all." She felt her cheeks heat up at the compliment, making her tense slightly. "Uhh, for a human, you are very beautiful."

Saphira stared at the dash, she had nothing to say at the moment. But...the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if it was possible. Optimus has already told her how beautiful she was, and it still made her feel flattered. But...she wondered if there was more behind him saying g that.

She tapped her fingers nervously on the door as she thought about her question. "Optimus...did you think I was beautiful the first day we met?"

Optimus's cab shook a little, as if he was surprised she asked him that question. "Yes. I was surprised to see a human with such deep, green eyes like yourself. And...you just seem so...I am not sure why I even see your beauty. But I do."

Saphira's blush deepens and she smiled slightly. "I guess there is not much else to say. I am...flattered Optimus. And to be me, you are quite...handsome for an autobot. Or it might be because I've spent the most time with you." She thought a little more about it, and she was curious. "Is my beauty all that you feel for me, Optimus? I mean, you watched me sleep the other day. That makes me think you have...other feelings too."

Optimus did not know how to answer her. She was not a fool, and Optimus had not really thought about his own feelings. "I will be honest...I have had very strange feelings stir when I met you. I am just...not sure where it leads."