courtship of o and e 1

The Courtship of O & E  Part 1:  

Another thought on Orion and Ariel before they were commanders.</P>

*This means bond link  

[This means closed com link] "This is standard vocalization"*</P>

Cybertron, Iacon current pre-war:

Orion enjoyed his responsibilities at Iacon's hall of records.  Jazz didn't get it, but cared about his friend.  As did Dion.  Tonight Dion and Jazz had decided to take matters into their own hands concerning Orion and the femmes.  Orion had always shrugged it off as no big deal.  He had his (basketball- like) games he followed and his time with Jazz and Dion.  But Dion and Jazz knew the serious side of Orion needed someone deeper he could talk to.  </P>

Jazz sniggered, "I just want to see if the Bot can flirt."

Dion shook his head, "You know deep down that just not him.  But I agree, we need to nudge him.  Here he comes."

Dion and Jazz wave from a corner table.  They already have his drink waiting for him.  Now he knows something is up.  He takes a seat but waits on lifting the drink eyeing it curiously.  "What's up?"

Jazz tries to look innocent, "What ever could you mean?"

Orion narrows his gaze and looks at Dion.  But he is much better at poker faces.  He just sips his drink silently.  So Orion starts by looking under the table and then around at the other tables.

"Loose something, Orion?"  Jazz tries again.

"Yeah, reality.  This isn't one of our regular tables.  It's larger and in the corner.  It's not my activation day, so what is up?"  Jazz says nothing.  Orion sniffs the drink carefully.

Jazz looks hurt, "Oh come on, you don't seriously think-"  Dion chuckles lightly.  Jazz smacks him lightly on the shoulder, "One time.  Just once and you never let it down again.  Jeepers."

And then, a set of soft blue-green femme arms slip over Jazz's shoulders and a lovely helm rest beside his audio receptor, "Hello handsome.  Care to buy a femme a drink?"

Orion suddenly gets nervous seeing the other two femmes behind her. One is vibrant red and white, the other is stunning pink and white, looking a little out of sorts… like him.  She must have been dragged along, just like he has been roped into this meeting.  Orion drops his optics to meet Jazz. Jazz looks to Orion who is now shooting fierce scowls from his optics.  Dion instead turns and stands.  Orion does the same giving the ladies silent but warm gazes.  Dion welcomes them over while Orion gets a couple more chairs, "Hello Moonracer, Firestar and Ariel.  Glad you could make it.  What can I get you to drink?"

The ladies take their seats, Ariel directly next to Firestar beside Dion.  Moonracer next to Jazz leaving the other side of Ariel open for Orion.  The ladies give their drink orders, light weight vintages.  Orion looks into his still untouched Visco to avoid the ladies.  

Jazz is wrapped up in a soft and giggling conversation with Moonracer, therefore leaving Firestar and Dion to break the ice.  Dion looks and sees Firestar rubbing her left hand.  Dion gleams, "Did he finally ask?"

She nearly blushes, "You aren't mad are you, Dion?"

Dion smiles, "Let me see."  She pushes over her hand seeing the engraved mark of a single white flame shooting off a gold band.  He shrugs, "He could have done better.  Platinum  would have been nicer."  

She pulls her hand back offended, "It think it's beautiful.  He did it himself."

Dion smiles, "Oh, in that case, he should have splurged on the metal!"  She shakes her head with a smile.  He reaches back and gives her hand a squeeze, "Good for him.  He won't be sorry."

She squeezes back, "Thanks Dion."

Dion then turns to Ariel, "Do you know Inferno?"

She nods after taking a sip from her drink.  "Yeah, he came to the school to remind the youngsters not to mess around with certain chemicals and the dangers it could do to themselves and to the buildings."

Dion thumbs to Ariel while looking at Orion, "Ariel is our superintendent of schools for Iacon."

Orion's optic brows raise in admiration for her duties.  He knows being in charge of those twenty schools is no easy job.  Not with that many thousand young bots and sparklings plus all the adults to take care of them.  That is a huge challenge.  He raises his glass to her, "Congratulations on the victory over Crystal City in (basketball)."

She smiles proudly, "Thank you.  It wasn't easy, but we did it."

Dion smiles, "Orion here is a big fan.  Iacon is his al mater."  

She smiles a wicked smirk, "I came from Crystal City."

Orion leans in curious, "And so how does yesterday's victory feel?"

Ariel proudly states, "Real good!  I'm so proud of my schools.  They fought and worked so hard for that victory.  They deserved it."  Orion is impressed at her support for those under her guidance.  Then she leans in with a real wicked smirk, "Besides, it's not like they were playing against me."  At that Firestar and Moonracer laugh at her cockiness.

Jazz smirks, "Oh really?  You think you are that good?"

Ariel downs her drink and leans into him, "Yeah, I do.  I'll go one on one with you any day, loud mouth."

Jazz raises his hands, "Oh no, not me.  I know I'm not that good.  My bot Orion over there is the one you want to take on."

Ariel turns to him.  Blushing Orion lowers his head to his drink.  She looks back to Jazz scoffing the big shy red and blue bot beside her, "Him?  Really?"

Dion softly answers knowing what is coming next, "Uh, yeah.  Orion's pretty good."  Orion kicks him under the table.  Dion grimaces but pushes.  He knows Ariel is just what Orion needs.  "MVP,"  kick, "All District Captain," kick, "All State Hero," hard kick, "OW!"  Orion still doesn't look up.

Ariel dips her head down trying to see his face, "Really? I think you two are making this up."

Dion opens his subspace and pulls out a ball placing it on the table between them, "First one to five points.  Looser pays the drinks."

Orion takes the ball and pushes it back into Dion's hands, silently saying he won't play.  Dion shoves it back.  Orion starts to get up.  Ariel knows he is going to try running from the set up his friends put him into.  She takes the ball and sets it on the floor, "Maybe another day.  So Jazz, how is work?"

She swiftly glances back to Orion and finds a grateful glimpse of reply from him as he dips back into his drink.  Orion carefully avoids answering anything else brought up and Ariel does her best not to let his friends embarrass him any further.  

After awhile,  she can see Orion is getting nervous.  So she stretches, "This has been fun, but I really need to go recharge.  The records hall will want my district test scores in on time."  She cant help but tease, "You know how grumpy those data pad pushers can be when stuff isn't in on time."

Orion smirks back, "Wouldn't know.  Grid streaming is my area."

She leans in, "So you do you have your bets on for the Bowl?"

He smiles, "The Wingnuts.  You?"

"Blasters." Smirking back the challenge is cast.

He sticks his hand out at the challenge, "Three to one."

She takes his hand, "You're on."

~~ The next weekend, the friends, adding Inferno on Firstar's arm, meet back at the bar for the Bowl game.  Orion doesn't show.  Dion scowls when Ariel asks, "He got stuck working.  Apparently one of the other bots got hurt in his off time and so Orion got stuck covering his shift."

Ariel cringes.  Then she smiles, "Do you think he will let me in?"

Dion shakes his head,  "You can ask, but Orion's a stickler for the rules."  She gives him a pleading look.  He smiles, "Alright, I'll walk you over.  Worst he would say is no."

At the door, Ariel gets buzzed into the entry way.  To her surprise, an older wiser bot is standing at the balcony of the entryway under the elegant glassed domed ceiling, not Orion.  "Ah, Superintendent Ariel.  So you have come for your tour of our facility.  You came on a good day."  He waves a hand to Dion, "You may go, Dion."

Dion is very confused about what just happened.  Ariel knows, for some reason, she can trust this dignified older bot.  Dion nods to him and leaves.  The older bot holds his hand out to her and she climbs the curved staircase.  "I am Alpha Trion, Orion Pax's superior.  It is good to finally see you face to face."

She carefully asks, "You know me?"

He lightly laughs, "My dear, I know everybody.  Come, Orion is this way."

"He doesn't know I'm coming."  

He takes her elbow warmly into his (grandfatherly), "Ah yes, but I do."  Through the gleaming marbled hall, Alpha Trion leads her past their history and to an upper level.  From there, he takes her to the data stream entry area.  Ariel can see the glassed wall ahead and the twinkling lights of the city below.  A small sigh of delight escapes her at the beauty.  Trion pats her hand and smiles.  "Yes, this is one of his favorite places, too."

She stops and turns to him, "Why are you doing this?"

Alpha Trion holds both of her hands tightly, "Changes are coming.  Some have already begun.  Have you felt it?"  She nods with worry.  He turns his head to Orion sitting at his station completely focused on his task.  "He is going to need you.  You are going to need him."

"I don't understand."

Trion squeezes her hand, "In time, you will.  Be there for each other."  With that, Trion leads Ariel over to the only bot working today.  Placing a hand on his shoulder, Orion jumps turning around.  

"Sir! I'm sorry, I didn't-" Orion stumbles.

Alpha Trion cuts him off softly, "Orion Pax.  This is Superintendent Ariel.  She has come for a demonstration of our facilities.  I think a demonstration of sports media stream would be a good example and unclassified. Don't you?"

With a wink only to Orion, Alpha Trion turns his back and walks away.  Ariel and Orion are left staring at each other.  Shocked that they have been set up again.  Trion pipes up just before he disappears into his room, "The Bowl, Pax.  Don't be obtuse!"

Orion pulls a chair out for Ariel and quickly pulls up the Bowl game on the large screen beside the window.  But Ariel strides towards the window more interested in the view and Trion's words than the current Bowl game.  

Nearly silent, Orion comes to her side.  Softly she nearly breathes the words,  "This is beautiful."

He sighs, "I know.  I can get lost just looking at this."

"What do you see?"  She asks deeply.

"Potential and yet war."  He lays a hand on the glass sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"There's a wave of unrest that ripples through the people.  Something has to change or we will start dying.  We already have."

"I know," she says softly.  He turns to her and looks at her sad face looking down at her own people.  Iacon's future she leads.  "The young are angry too.  The parents are mad.  What can we do?"  

He looks back to the window and rubs the back of his neck.  His silence causes her to look up to him.  She narrows her gaze "Orion, what aren't you telling me?"

He takes a deep breath and then carefully answers, "There are some who are starting to talk about change.  Trying to change the way the counsel thinks."

"Yeah, good luck with that!"  But he doesn't move.  She moves herself directly between his body and the window, "Orion, what is it?"  

He looks down at her, studying her.  She knows it.  He is hiding something big.  How much can he tell her?  How much does she want to know?  What was it Alpha Trion had told her?

"Orion, what have you done?"  Ariel asks carefully.  He doesn't move.  He doesn't stop studying her.  "Oh Primus, it's you," she nearly gasps.  "Do the others know?"

"Who?"  He asks more of who will she tell than who already knows.

Instead, she steps even closer.  Now her body is touching his.  She grasps his upper arms, "Why?  I have twenty schools, I have a why.  What do you have?  Why are your doing this?"

Dead serious he answers, "One day, I hope to have someone in one of those twenty schools.  Free.  They all deserve to be free."

"How can I help?"

He shakes his head and pulls away, "No.  Not yet.  This is dangerous."  He turns his back on her and begins to stride away.

Ariel puts a hand out and hooks a finger into the belt of his waist.  He stops at the tug but doesn't turn, "That's what he meant."  Still he doesn't move.  So she steps forward, keeping her fingers hooked into his belt.  She steps in front of him and looks directly up into his optics, "You need me."  He doesn't move.  "Think about it.  I have contact with our youth.  I have contact with their parents.  I have contact with the educators.  I have contacts with other districts.  You need me."

"I don't want you getting hurt.  This is going to be dangerous.  Deadly.  There have already been accidents."

"Dodge, weave, pass and evade.  Right?"  She smiles.

He grabs her arms firmly and a leader's tone of fierce warning, "Ariel, this isn't a game!"

She scowls back, "You're right!  It isn't.  This is our future.  Everyone's.  Cybertron's!  I have a right to fight for my future, too.  Our future!"

His eyes widen at our.  Him and her, a future?  He swallows and steps back.  "You should go."

She shakes her head and steps closer to him slipping both arms around his waist, "Someone promised me a tour and a game.  I'm staying."  She waits a moment to see if her drilling gaze will change him.  It doesn't.  So, she goes over to the chair and punks down to watch the game even though she has no interest in it any longer.  She's going to be stubborn and support him weather he likes it or not.  He's left staring at her.  She is so strong.  Already a warrior to the cause.  His spark shutters in awe.  

Orion leaves the room.  When he returns, he hands her a cube of Energon.  "It's not a game without something to drink."  Silently he takes the seat next to her.

A few passes and fowls later she slips her hand over his, "Are you scared?"

"Absolutely," he softly admits.

"Are you hopeful?" she squeezes.

He sighs heavily, "I have to be.  Other wise, what the Pit are we fighting for?"

She moves her chair closer to his and leans her head on his shoulder.  He brings his arm around hers.  "I can still beat you at this game."  

He chuckles, "In your dreams, Ariel.  In your dreams."

"Tomorrow, you put your Visco where your mouth is."  He roars with laugher at the challenge.  He is so happy.  Maybe she is just what he needs if there is going to be a war.  Maybe she is what he needs to keep himself focused when it gets tough.  Maybe…. Just maybe… there is a hope for their future.

~~ Sure enough, a few days later, Orion and Ariel go one on one at the school court.  Dion and Jazz cheer on Orion.  Whereas Moonracer and a couple kids are cheering on Ariel.  And then Ariel decides to play dirty.  Orion shakes his head and her using him as a launch board to make the goal.  In turn, when she goes to make the next move, he rushes her in a football move (not an authorized move in this game).  Dipping as he charges, he grasps her by the knees, knocking her belly onto his shoulder and lifting her off the ground.  She pounds on the small of his back while he spins her in the opposite direction planning to stuff her into the goal.  One of the kids runs up with his cold drink and hands it to Ariel.  Giggling, Ariel pours in into the crevices of Orion's hip and aft panels. He nearly drops her trying to wiggle the ice out now wedged against his under armor.  Dion and Jazz hadn't heard him laugh so hard in months.  Nor did they know he could make those high pitched squeals.

Ariel and the kids are giggling and madly falling over.  Dion and Jazz shake their heads and chortle, "You going to take that, Orion?"

Orion gives her a wicked smirk of his own and reaches over for the hose used to clean off the court.  "Wash down, Ariel?  Teach you to play dirty!"

She shakes her head and backs away.  He still turns it on and then they are in a hand to hand fight trying to get it away from the other.  She's good, and matches or beats his every move.  Dion's officer training at hand to hand combat is even impresses.  When the hose slips and hits the ground,  they are left panting and dripping.  He has her nearly pinned against the wall with his elbow and body.  Her hands press against his chest and then the tips curl into his armor.  His smiles slowly fades to a different tone.  He finds himself leaning closer to her.  She finds herself pulling the armor, lifting her chin ready for him.

In an instant, he knows what he was ready to do.  Closing his optics, he turns away afraid of himself.  Ariel grasps his arm before he can completely flee, "Hey, Orion…"

He turns back.  She reaches a hand up and tenderly slips a palm to his cheek.  She strokes it warmly, "What are you fighting for?"

He whispers, "Freedom."

She steps closer, "To do what?"

"To choose."  He finds himself watching her move even closer lining her body up directly in front and loving the feel of her palm against his face.

She brings her face closer to him, "I choose you, Orion Pax."

That was all he needed.  Cupping her cheek with his own palm, he lightly grasps her lips with his.  She presses closer, grasping his lips back, not letting him move. She moves even closer pressing her body against his.  A moan escapes him as he wraps an arm around her waist securing his answer.  He readjusts his mouth to get a better hold, only to find her waiting for him and diving deeper herself. He looses himself in the feel of her mouth molding, tasting his while his chest begins to heat.

Jazz and Dion ruin it by send out the cat-calls.  Optimus pulls back instantly and drops his forehelm to her shoulder, "Primus, I'm sorry."

Ariel pulls back and lifts his chin to face her, "What do you mean?"

He is blushing, "I didn't mean to ravage you here on your campus.  I'm sorry to dishonor you in -"

"Shut up and kiss me again," she whispers and digs her finger tips into his chin.  It's her mouth that ravages him this time.  The moan this time is more of a growl as he yanks away panting before his hands begin to wander on their own.

"Oh, Primus."  This time he steps even further back from her and reaches for the cold water hose.  Crouching down, he turns it on his head and face.  Then he lets it runs down his neck, trying to wash away all his heated desires.

Jazz calls, "That's not going to help you, Orion."

Ariel comes to Orion and lays a hand on his shoulder while whispering in his audio, "Call me when you are alone."

He hands her the hose seeing her own face flushed.  She smiles gratefully and he strides away.  Tapping the ball just right with the toe of his ped, he flicks the ball to his hand and the pops it up to one finger letting it spin.  One of the youngsters gasps.  So he kneels down and shows him how to do it.  The other pleads to learn.  Orion teaches him, too.

Ariel, now that the hose is put away, walks by behind Dion and Jazz.  Orion lifts his optics and catches her signal to him.  Jazz and Dion are still softly razing Orion about Ariel.  Orion gets a smirk and turns back to the youth, "Now if you really want to see some cool tricks, you should see the magic tricks Jazz can do.  And Dion is a master of acrobatics."

Jazz and Dion lift their heads at their names.  "Us?"

Orion smiles, "Oh yeah.  You don't want me upstaging your talents, now do you?"

Jazz and Dion hop at the chance to show off to the youth.  Orion slips away behind the building out of their sight.  A hand slips into his and tugs him into an open door.  And then the door closes behind him. Ariel tugs him further into her office. She smiles, "Nice move with those two clowns."

Orion smiles and looks around the office.  "So this is your world?"  He wanders around looking at what holds her interest.  A few drawings made by particular students.  Trophies for her district.  None of these awards are for her.  Except the hand drawn one by a young student declaring her the prettiest teacher ever.  He lightly laughs and holds that one up.  She comes to his side, "That one is my favorite."

Turning to her he softly smiles, "Well, I have to agree.  He has a good sense of beauty."

Ariel lightly scoffs, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Orion turns to her and possessively wraps an arm around her waist.  He wanted so badly to say, "I behold you."  But instead he just stares at her dumbfounded.  Then he blushes and lets go relinquishing the award to her.  He turns away from her.  "I'm sorry, I don't know what has suddenly come over me.  I'm not like this.  I…"

"Orion, look at me."  He doesn't.  She comes around and stands directly in front of him.  He lowers his head to avoid her optics.  "Look at me."  She's using that teacher-you're-in-trouble-voice.  He closes his optics as she grasps his chin again.  This time she brings her face nose to nose with him.  This time her tone is a whisper on the wind, "Orion…"  She can feel his body relax.  "Let me see those beautiful optics."  His optics flash open in shock.  She smiles against his lips.  "I'm no fast bot, but nor am I a fool."

"Ariel…" he tries to warn.

"Shut up Orion.  Listen to me."  She lets him pull back only enough to see her face more clearly.  "I know trouble is ahead.  I have a feeling you and I both know you will be at the center of all this."

"I already am."

"Your spark is brave and proud.  Your spark is pure."

He counters, "You are so devoted and a strong leader.  And supported by so many.  I don't want you hurt."

"I know how many out here support your cause.  Our cause.  You need me."

He nods, "Yes, I will need all the leaders I can find."

She smiles and lightly pounds his armor covered spark with her fist, "That's not what I meant.  And you know it."

"I'm afraid.  Look, it's only been a week! And I'm acting like-"

"A young bot in love?"  She giggles.  His scowl asks is she is teasing him.  But then he sees, it's not he she is teasing.  It's herself.

He looks down to his toe twisting on the floor.  "Yeah, like a young bot in love thinking I can change the world for just you."  He looks up, "Slag, I would love to make you my mate and raise our sparklings in a world of peace where they could do anything they wanted.  Be anything they wanted."

Ariel steps forward and grasps his upper arms, "I know that.  You know what makes that so attractive?"  He looks back to her.  "You wanted that before you met me.  You wanted that for Firestar and Inferno's hope.  You did that for all my students.  And yourself."  He gives her a tug of a smile.  "And now you want that for us too?"  He nods.  "After only a week?"  He shyly nods.  "I want that too.  Let me stand by your side.  Let me help you lead with Dion and Jazz."

He pans a hand out to her accomplishments marked on the wall, "You're more than qualified."

She point to the awards, "They don't mean scrap."  She taps his spark, "That's what matters to me.  You have faith in me.  You feel I can help.  Will you allow me?  Do not hinder me just because we share a spark."

He gasps, "You're ready to bond with me?  Already?"

She smiles and teases him, "Let's give it a few weeks.  But if I still feel this way, yeah, I want to be your sparkmate Orion Pax."

He crushed her in his embrace, "I thought I was loosing my processor.  With all this talk with Megatronous, I thought for sure I was just plain crazy."

"Yeah well welcome to the club."  She snuggles into his arms.

"Will you come to the Goren Fields with me and watch the moon rise,"  he buries his face in her neck holding onto her scent.  She only nods and holds him tighter.

~~ That night he tucks her close to his frame afraid to let go or let reality  take their moment of time away.  She entwines her fingers with his.  Kisses are warm and exploring, arms are tender and holding, finger tips are caressing and curious.  Sparks are afraid to move too fast and break the tenderness they share.

A chirp brings their heated kisses back to a snuggle.  Orion has Ariel tucked between his bent thighs with his back reclined on a rock.  Ariel has his arms wrapped around her upper torso holding his arms tightly to her.  The chirp calls again.  Ariel repeats the chirp.  A different, delight, chirp responds and then a little six wheeled drone with a long antenna comes zipping across the grass to Ariel's side.

"Hey there Roller.  What did you find?"  The drone chirps back something she can't understand, but he sure is happy.  

Orion's chest rumbles in delight against her back. He reaches down and pulls a bit of grass from the drone's bumper.  "He's cute."

Ariel lifts Roller where they both can examine him.  Roller spins his wheels in delight nearly squealing.  "Roller is more than that.  He's my companion.  One of my students, terminally ill, made him for me.  She didn't want me to be sad when she passed over.  I so miss Lilly.  Such a sweet smart girl, but her spark just wasn't strong enough to support her growing frame."  Ariel sighs heavily.  Orion leans down pressing his face between the nubs on the top of her helm.  Ariel leans into his comfort.  "I like to think of Lilly's warm and cheerful spirit runs through Roller.  He goes to work with me and assists me with anything I ask.  So brave to even head into an assembly of first year bots or even the adolescent ones.  You should see how fast he can go."  Roller spins his wheels to show off.  Orion laughs with Ariel.  Then he rubs the little guy with affection.

"Lilly, I like that name."  Orion smiles softly.  Ariel looks up to him softly.  He closes his eyes knowing he probably is jumping ahead.  "Forget I said anything."

Ariel sets Roller down and turns fully into his arms.  She pulls his face down to hers by his antenna nubs, "No, I won't forget you said that.  In fact, I'm delighted you did."

"We're moving too fast, Ariel.  It frightens me," he tries to pull out of her grasp.

She smiles, "Have you ever….?"  He closes his optics and nearly blushes.  She stretches up and kisses him warmly, "Good, you'll be my first and only, too."

He coughs pulling his head up to look at the sky.  She kisses his throat letting her tongue taste his sensitive circuit.  "Ariel, stop," he moans a plea.  Instead she buries her head into his chest nudging her nose to the crevice above his spark letting his cheek rest on her helm top.  He takes a deep sigh and caresses her neck.  He doesn't want to move from this moment of time.  "Please Dear Primus, help us.  I need guidance.  I need you to light my way, it seems so dark right now."  

Ariel's grasp on his lower back tightens, and lets her own prayer slip out, "Yes Primus.  Help us guide Cybertron to a successful bright future for our children.  Your children."

The rest of the night, the couple holds tightly to each other with their prayers to Primus and stronger bond growing for each other.  All too soon, their chrometers are beeping a warning to head of to their assigned duties.  The sparks are reluctant to let the limbs disengage from each other.  At the path that will separate them, Orion strokes her face, "I need to see you again, but it's getting dangerous.  I don't want you to be a pawn."

"Who knows it's you?"

"I don't know.  That's the problem.  Otherwise I could warn you."  He takes a deep sigh.  "How about we meet thirty minutes later on even days and forty minutes earlier on odd days."

She nods understanding he doesn't want to use the grid he monitors.  "And on even days, six clicks to the east.  Odd, four to the north."  He nods in agreement.  She starts to walk away but he doesn't let go of her hand, "I should be walking you home.  I feel guilty."

She flashes him a smile, "Look it you gentlebot, I maybe a lady, but I can still kick your can.  I did, and will do it again if you treat me like a sparkling or a helium headed bimbot."

He flushes a smile at her strength.  Yeah, she did show him up.  If he didn't know better, he would swear she had a bit of soldier programming in her.  She smirks back with that teacher-scowl look, "Now you better get going or face detention and demerits."  He chuckles, and lets her hand slip from his palm, then she turns the corner.  He has no choice, but to head to his duty station.

~~~ Over the next few weeks and months Orion and Ariel found their system worked.  Except for the rare occasions that he met with Megatronous.  On those times, he sent Dion to meet Ariel so she wouldn't worry and also he knew she was safe.  Things were getting more dangerous.  More explosions and "accidents" were happening.  Sentinel Prime had been kidnapped.  It was getting ugly fast.

Alpha Trion called him to his office and closed the door.  "It's time, Orion.  You will meet with the counsel tonight.  I have made arrangements for Megatronous to be heard as well.  Go, get prepared."

Orion was shocked.  The counsel?  He and Megatronous were finally going to be facing the delegates of their planet and speak for the grumblings of the regular citizens.  A voice of the people.  He felt the weight of the whole planet coming onto his shoulders.  "I… I can't do this."

Alpha Trion smirks, "Orion, time to put up or shut up.  You and Megatronous are right, there has to be a change.  Do you agree with how Megatronous wants to do it?"  

"Not fully.  But I don't have a perfect answer either."

"Exactly.  You have the smarts to know there has to be a better plan.  You must let the counsel know this or you will be stuck with two choices:  His or theirs."  Orion sighs but can't say anything else.  Alpha Trion puts his hands on Orion's shoulders, "Go talk to Ariel and your friends.  They have been a good sounding boards.  That is what makes a good advisory panel.  Go."

Orion nods.  Then he smiles, "I want to bond with her.  I know the counsel won't permit it, though, due to our classifications.  I'm not considered worthy of her."

Trion smirks again, "Hum, who knows, there maybe a new counsel in charge by the end of tonight."  Orion shutters at what he is implying.  "Just go."  With that he gives Orion a gentle shove towards the door.

Orion meets Ariel in the park.  Clasping her tighter than normal, she knows something is up, "Orion, talk to me."

He doesn't move but keeps her head clasped over his spark, caressing her neck, "I face the counsel tonight with Megatronous."

"And?"

At that he does pull back to look at her.  He's very confused by her question, "You know I can't do this."

She leans into his face and counters with force, "I know you can.  I have faith in you Orion Pax. You can do what ever it takes."  Then she drops her voice to a whisper and lets her fingers slip under his chest panel inching towards his spark, "Let your spark lead you."

He watches her beautiful optics begin to soften.  "Let my spark lead me?"  She nods.  Those are not the optics of a leader boring into him right now.  They are the optics of a lover.  A mate.  He strokes her face so tenderly and stutters, "I.. I didn't.. want… want to do it this way.  You deserve a proper ceremony.  A proper courtship."

Her smiles lifts, "Proper according to whom?  The slagging counsel we are trying to oppose who wouldn't approve?  Or the guidance of our beloved Primus.  Even he loved.  He gave us our sparks and told us to use them with wisely with love."

Orion smiles and takes her hand.  He eases the chest panels loose and slips their entwined hands under it directly over his warming racing spark, "Ariel, will you accept my spark as your own?"

He can feel her fingertips prick his underarmor, "Only if you will accept mine."

He smiles, "I will cherish it."

She leans in closer, "And I would be honored."  

With that said, Orion kisses her warmly, tenderly but yet possessively.  With his arm supporting her lower back, he brings them to their knees before each other.  Slowly he pulls back and releases her so he can remove his upper armor.  He doesn't part it, he removes it, exposing his naked underarmor to her.  Ariel understands quickly, he isn't just going to bond with her, he's going to make love to her.  Swiftly following his moves, she removes her own outer armor.

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Yep Part 2 they will seal the bond.

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