Unspoken

Chapter 10: Teasing, Loyalty, and Unyielding Decisions

The early morning light filtered gently through the windows of their quarters, casting a soft glow over the room. Skifira stirred under the sheets, her body protesting with every slight movement. The soreness from the previous night's intensity lingered in her muscles, leaving her utterly exhausted. She couldn't even manage to get out of bed, much less move without a groan escaping her lips.

"What did he do to me?" she muttered to herself, a small smirk pulling at the corners of her lips despite her exhaustion.

Across the quarters, in his private office, Optimus was already awake, working on paperwork that required his attention. His towering frame looked surprisingly relaxed, despite the numerous datapads and reports that littered the desk in front of him. His personal office, set apart from the rest of their living space, gave him a place to handle his duties without intruding on the more intimate parts of their home. And thankfully, Skifira thought, it kept him from seeing her right now—too sore and too tired to move.

She lay still, the softness of the bed pulling her deeper into comfort, but her mind raced with memories from the night before. The teasing, the closeness, the connection between them—all of it came rushing back, making her blush despite herself.

Did I tease him? she wondered, vaguely remembering something Optimus had said. She could hardly recall any teasing on her part, but with Optimus, teasing came in many forms—most of which she didn't even realize she was doing.

As she lay there, still trying to shake off the grogginess, she felt a faint tug through the bond they shared. Optimus's presence lingered in the back of her mind, a comforting and constant connection that warmed her even from across the quarters. It was subtle, but it reminded her that he was always close, always attuned to her thoughts and emotions, especially since the engagement bond had strengthened between them.

In his office, Optimus's focus shifted momentarily as he received a knock on the door. One of his trusted aides entered, carrying a note from the council. Optimus took it, his optics scanning the contents quickly. The message inside made him pause, his expression hardening.

Someone had leaked information to the council that Skifira was already on Cybertron. The letter was polite, but its implications were clear: they wanted her to leave the planet until they made their final decision on her future here. The council believed they still held authority over this matter, expecting Optimus to comply with their request.

Optimus's grip tightened on the paper, a spark of frustration flickering in his optics. They have no right, he thought. Skifira's presence was no longer theirs to control—she was his bondmate, and her place was by his side.

Without hesitation, he penned a quick but firm response, reminding the council that he was the king of Cybertron and that no decision could be made without his explicit consent. The letter made it clear that Skifira would not be leaving the planet, and there would be no further debate on the matter.

Once the message was sent, Optimus's thoughts returned to Skifira. He had finished the bulk of his work, and the idea of spending the rest of the day with her was far more appealing than dealing with more council politics. He made his way back to the bedroom, where he found her still lounging, looking far too comfortable to move.

Skifira heard the familiar, heavy footsteps of Optimus approaching, and she groaned softly. She wasn't ready to deal with his teasing just yet, but she knew he wouldn't be able to resist making some kind of remark.

As the door opened and Optimus stepped inside, Skifira gave him a tired but amused smile. "Back so soon?" she asked, her voice still raspy with exhaustion.

Optimus chuckled, crossing the room and sitting beside her on the bed. "I thought I'd spend some time with you. You seem a little... stuck," he teased, his optics gleaming with affection.