Jasper Rain ((TFP ULTRA MAGNUS X OC))

6

Watching Ailani working so intently on something other than cars was like watching a pig fly.

Magnus stood off to the side, arms cross over his chassis with his back leaning against the wall. He noticed rather quickly that Ailani was the boss around here, and couldn't help the sense of pride that he felt whenever a techie approached her with a report. She had a perpetual look of concentration as she walked the lines of computers, sights set on the screens, with her finger tapping on her crossed arms.

It had been a few hours since the call with Optimus, and Fowler had already made a return to the Pentagon. He walked straight through the tunnel as if it was routine, and waved in spite of Ailani's scowl as he walked right passed her. She tailed him with her eyes for a few moments before shaking it off, and averted her attention back to what she had previously been doing.

Fowler, on the other hand, strutted right up to the metal stairs beside the monitor of which Magnus was standing beside, and looked right up to the mech in question. Magnus returned it with a curious tilt of his helm, and awaited whatever it was that he was about to tell him.

"Where in God's name have you been all this time?" Was his first inquiry. Magnus felt his optic ridge twitch.

"My ship crashed on an excursion," the mech replied curtly. "I was stranded for a month and a half before I was able to depart again."

Fowler made a grumbling humming noise as his fingers wedged to his hips. He seemed to be determining whether or not he believed Magnus, and let out a sigh as he shifted his attention toward Ailani. She now had a smile on her face as Silica conversed with her, and laughed at something the head of surveillance said. The agent couldn't help but smile, for he was secretly happy to see her so suddenly full of life; like she had been back when the Autobots were on Earth.

"She's a special girl," Fowler spoke up again, not averting his eyes from the silver-haired oracle. "She deserves the world and then some. You know that, right?"

Magnus followed Fowler's gaze silently as he spoke, his spark revving and humming in content bliss as he looked at Ailani.

"She means everything to me," Magnus decided to say. He met Fowler's gaze as the agent shifted to look at him. "Molly, as well."

"So I take it you're sticking around, then?" Was Fowler's next question. He sounded hopeful.

"Yes, Agent Fowler," the mech confirmed with a nod of his helm. "I never should have left in the first place."

A smirk cracked across Fowler's face at Magnus' confirmation, and chuckled as he looked down to his slick black shoes.

"Tell me something, Commander," he went on, pointing his lopsided smile Magnus' way. "Are you going to tie the knot with her?"

Magnus blinked, his confusion written clear as day across his faceplate. Fowler rolled his eyes.

"Tie the knot?"

"For Pete's sake," the agent shook his head. "You know, get hitched, taking the plunge, buying the cow. Are you gonna ask her to marry you one of these days?"

Magnus again blinked his optics as he registered what Fowler was asking him. He wasn't exactly familiar with the concept of marriage, but he did remember Jack explaining it to Arcee at one point during his previous time on Earth. As he dwelled on it, he smiled.

"I don't see anything wrong with that," he nodded again. "What does one need to 'tie the knot'?"

Fowler couldn't help but laugh at the question.

"Nothing at all, my friend. All you need to do is ask."

__________

Magnus spent the remainder of that day thinking about his conversation with Fowler. What was he going to do? How was he going to ask her? Did he really not need anything at all?