Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Coffee runs everyday, what did she get a degree for if she was making coffee runs everyday for the biggest secret government she apply to? A degree in criminology, sciences with the biggest study on different chemicals, law and yet she was making Prowl didn't have any sugar in his coffee. She planted the last coffee on the desk and walked off to her own, reluctantly turning on her computer.

No emails.

No requests.

Nothing.

She looked up at the wall of pictures, each one a profile of some sadistic criminal in the city, and there were so many. 

Starscream and his brothers, known for stealing goods from the docks and then selling them again for a bigger profit and most selling to the Decepticon mafia for protection; a hundred and five known kills. 

Megatron, son of one of the second most powerful mafia boss Unicron, a freelancer who always shot to kill, unless he wanted information from some poor bastard who got in the way. He courted a few women who were either missing or dead, but one he kept alive. Nightbird, hired help, one of the best gunman in the city.

She was on the board, but never enough evidence to arrest her.

And then smack dab in the middle, was the biggest mafia family in the city of Iacon. Primus Prime, the longest reining mafia boss, inheriting the money and the power from his father, who got it from his farther, passed down sixteen generations. It would have been passed to his oldest son, if he had not been killed by their organisation, or the four oldest after him. He had two more sons, that they couldn’t get arrested or killed.

They couldn’t get his second youngest, Megatronus, he had been off the grid for a while since he married his wife and there were rumours about a baby in the mix. A girl apparently. And then his youngest, Optimus. 

Elita stared at his picture on the board, his list of potential crimes, he had become his father’s second since his older brother focused on his family more. Optimus was cocky, and practically laughed at the police when they try to arrest him. He always made bail, and he was never put in jail for more than a night. She was convinced he had eyes everywhere, she was sure he had someone working for him here. 

She sighed softly as she flicked her empty notebook open and closed. Her computer beeped with an email about a meeting, regarding the Prime family. She didn’t bother taking her notebook to the meeting, she sat in the back of the room, seeing her director talk about Optimus like he was some prize to be taken. She watched him talk to the others sifting through photos of him across the city.

”His father has some big party planned, it’s his tri-annual party with the heads of other organisations, to keep the peace between their territories.” Elita saw pictures of different criminal leaders coming and going from this party throughout the years. Primus was nothing but a business man of course. “Now, we’re not sure if Megatronus will be there as no one has seen him entering the city or even the country, but we know Optimus will be there. If he is to take over his father’s empire then he needs to look good, but over the years at each one he’s more or less just flirting with anything that smiles at him.”

She noted that before, Optimus was the youngest so he got away with murder, literally, but under his father’s room he got away with being a playboy, different women all the time, not all of them alive. 

“If we can get someone to infiltrate into the party, and somehow get close to Optimus we could slip him something than Primus will have one less heir to his empire, and we will have a greater chance of knocking down his power.”

”Well, why haven’t we?”

”We got sent a letter with pictures of all our female agents, and we can’t risk putting one of them at risk.”

”From Optimus?”

”We can only assume, so we don’t want to risk their lives anymore.”

”Was that the plan?”

”Yeah, but now we need a new plan, by this weekend, anyone have any plans come see me in my office.” The director dismissed everyone to think of a plan, Elita stayed behind to look at the photos, reading over the case files and information they had. She bit her lip, mulling over the stupid and crazy plan she thought of it, it was suicide, but it would give her a place at the table.

She sighed deeply as she knocked on his office door and stepped inside. “Sir?”

He looked up at her. “What is it, Lily?”

”Elita,” she corrected. “I was thinking about the mission about Optimus Prime, I think you should send me in.”

”What? No, out of the question, you’ve never been on a mission as serious as this-“

“All the more reason to send me, I have never been seen by them as an agent, to any of the Mafia families, I have the training, I will a wig, disguise, no one will know my real name.”

”And that‘s your reasoning for me to put an untrained agent in the field, Leah-“

”Elita,” she corrected again. “I do not have a target on my back, all I need is some poison, a wig, a nice dress and I’m sure I can… get close to Optimus,” she suggested as confidently as she could, brushing one of curly locks behind her ear.

”And you think that’ll work?” He was unconvinced.

”You got a better plan?” She countered. 

“And if you do succeed, what then? You live with a target on your back your entire life?”

”Like every other agent here. All I ask in return is for future missions, I considered and I am no longer the girl who picks up people’s coffee,” she looked him dead in the eye, determined, and not scared of what Optimus could do to her if she was caught. But if she succeeded it meant big things for her future in this organisation, nothing that could ever be published, nothing that would bring her fame, but a personal victory nonetheless.

”Fine, but once you enter that party, you are on your own.”

”Deal. Now all I need is a dress.”

Chapter Text

Elita fumbled with her fake press-on nails, anxiety starting to rise as the tech explained what weapons she would be given to protect herself and where she could hide them on her person. She was hardly listening, it was more muffled, like she was going through a tunnel. She focused again when she saw the small vile of clear liquid set on the table in front of her.

”Slip it in his drink, and he will die within the hour,” he explained as he handed it over. She looked at the small vile in her hand, before looking at the rest of her tech. A necklace that could track where she was while she was in the party, a small pocket knife to attach to a holster on her thigh.

”Your name will be Carla, you’re a small time crook working your way up in gang under Jetfire, you are to slip this poison in his drink and then leave, you are to be invisible, only make contact if necessary,” her boss told her. He was serious. She could tell by the look on his face. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

No.

She wasn’t sure, it was starting to hit her now. She was going into a den of killers, and dealers, and criminals. If she was caught, they would not be kind, they would probably hand her over to Optimus, or worse his father. She felt goosebumps slowly rise on her skin as she clipped the necklace around her neck, trying to calm herself.

”I can do this,” she said, more to herself than her boss. She was risking everything, her own life, the people she worked with, but she was desperate for respect, to prove herself. She was more than just the girl who collected the coffee, and the lunch orders, she trained her ass off to get to this point. “What’s the plan?”

”You’ll get dressed, and you’ll be dropped off at the hotel, from the moment you step through those doors you’re on your own,” he told her seriously. She nodded, understanding the risks as she picked up her tech, trying not to shake too much. She kind of thought there would be more to the plan.

“Will no one else be there?” She asked, slightly concerned that she would be in there alone. 

“No. We do not have enough agents to look after you when you’re in there. You are by yourself.”

~

The moment she walked through the doors, the world seemed to go silent to her.

She looked around the room, everyone was dressed up in suits and dresses, exquisite and possible stolen jewels gleamed as women moved between men. She could feel stares brushing over her skin, but she wasn't going to blame any of them to be wary. She was surrounded by criminals, and just a quick glance of the room told her that they were all packing.

Despite being on a mission, her first thought was to get to the bar and down a drink.

Optimus looked up from the beautiful woman playfully flirting with him, ignoring the other one as he picked up his glass of scotch, watered down from the ice.

He hated this party, his father threw one every three years to ensure that the criminals in this city would learn to be civil, a night just for peace. As if! Optimus never believed him, it was so his father could stay on top, ensuring his heirs would have allies and lackies at their beck and call. But Optimus would admit, he missed his older brothers... His oldest brother, Prima, would have taken over and let Primus retire, but he was one of the first to go.

He wished Megatronus would come back so he wouldn't have his father constantly watching over him and making sure he would be fine taking over in case something happened.

But Megatronus wanted some time with his wife and kid. Something optimus would never hear the end of. Megatronus having an heir for himself, and better yet a granddaughter at that. 

Optimus looked up from the rim of his glass, his eyes catching a glint of pink as he saw the most beautiful figure in his life. Stunning! He put his glass down for a moment to watch her move through the crowd.

"Who is that?" He asked watching. Like a mouse in a maze.

"Not a clue. Why?"

"She's a sight," he mumbled still gripping his glass to his mouth.

"Her dress is cheap," the brunette beside him spoke in a snide tone. "Are we not pretty enough for you, darling?" She pouted.

Optimus looked back at her, his eyes raking up and down her form before he raised a brow as if she was really asking. She let out an outraged scoff before storming off, knowing any lashing out she made would cause great consequence.

No one dared touch him.

The blonde on his other slipped her hand off his knee in time for him to stand. He downed the last of his drink before he slowly moved from the booth he was sitting in, following the woman in the pink dress carefully. 

She leaned against the bar, patiently waiting for the bartender to pour her a drink. He came up behind her, seeing her fiddling with the rings on her fingers as she waited. The bartender would have walked past had it not been for Optimus standing behind her.

"Same for me, scotch on the rocks," he ordered, leaning on the bar beside her, "and whatever the lady wants. Red wine?"

Elita turned to see who it was, her eyes widening in fear and triumphant. Optimus was use to seeing fear in people's eyes when he approached, his guards, his friends, his enemies. She brushed a curl behind her ear and optimus noted the blue of her eyes. So bright, so pretty. 

"Uh," she started, blinking at him. Flustered, nervous, scared. She looked back at the bartender who had quickly pulled out a bottle of red wine. "No- I'll have the same as him, um... Iaconian sixty-five." The bartender put the bottle down and quickly rushed off to get it.

Optimus was impressed, usually the woman get a glass of wine, or a cocktail, but she went with a scotch. Interesting. He leaned on the bar next to her, seeing how she almost straightened up. 

"Uncomfortable?" He questioned grinning at her as the bartender put two glasses of golden liquid down. "My name is Optimus."

"I know who you are," she answered before she even realised what she just said. But everyone knew who he was. He smirked a little, quietly thanking the bartender who placed two fancy glasses down filled with golden liquid. She picked one up and took a quick sip of her drink, if she was going to poison him she would have to be quick about it. 

“And how do you know about me?” He asked leaning on the bar with his elbow, his drink in his hand. 

“Everyone knows who you are, you are Optimus Prime, the son of Primus… and everyone knows who he is,” she tried to explain without revealing too much. 

“Are you with one of my father’s guest?”

They didn’t discuss this at her meeting! They didn’t give her this much backstory, she nearly panicked. “Oh, Jetfire, I’m part of his group, but I’m just a lackey.”

“Then how did you get in? My father usually invites the higher ups surrounding him and then their own higher ups, how did you get a ticket?”

She leaned, whispering. ”I stole it, someone left his bag unattended.” Now that would either get her kicked out and reported as a liar and a thief, or he would impressed by her boldness. And judging by his smile he was impressed?

”I have to admit, I admire your boldness, why did you come?”

”Why not? Maybe I want to have fun, or just needed a few drinks,” she shrugged at him. He chuckled softly, his head dipping a little. “Besides, you must have fun at these parties, especially when everyone practically bowing to you.”

He scoffed softly, taking another sip of his drink. “Not really, these parties are just a chance for people to grovel to my father in the hopes they could keep the peace. I’ve hated coming to these things since I was eleven.”

”What? How come?”

”I am the youngest of my brothers, and ever since my mother passed away, my father has trussed me and my brothers up as heirs and made us make friendly talk with his so-called allies so they could fear us before we even took the power.”

She was unaware his mother passed away, the way he spoke about it, it sounded like it still hurt him. She knew about his brothers, she joined the agency when they took out his fourth brother. And the way he took a gulp at his scotch meant it was hurting him.

”But this one really takes the cake,” he muttered looking at the glass float around.

”May I ask why?”

”If you haven’t heard, my older brother had a child just over a year ago, he and his wife stepped away from his duties.” He started.

”So, you’re upset that your brother left you with his duties as well as his own?”

”Well, yes, but the main reason is that my father is constantly pushing me for a wife and child of my own, and I… would rather not,” he told her, putting his glass down and signaling for another drink. "My father is constantly putting in me in difficult situations or I'm at his side for eighteen hours of the day." 

“Why does he do that?”

”He wants me to take over his role of his empire… because I don’t have my older brothers to do that instead,” he quickly grabbed his fresh drink and took a gulp.

Elita looked at him sadly, gripping her own glass as he watched the ice slowly melt in his drink. She knew that four of his older brothers were dead, she just didn’t realise that it affected him so much. “You miss them?”

”Of course I do, they were my older brothers, they helped take care of me. My oldest brother was supposed to take over first so my father can retire, and then all of a sudden he was in the morgue,” he put his glass down, unable to stomach anymore of his drink as he turned away from her for a moment.

Elita suddenly felt like the poisonous vial in her dress was about to set her skirts alight, a heavy weight holding her in place. She never realised that her agencies had an adapted way of killing off the criminals on their lists. She looked at his drink, while he was looking away she could do it, she could place it in there now. Her hand slipped down her side and gripped it through the fabric, it felt heavier than it should’ve been. She could do it. She probably should do it, than she could leave, she could leave and gain all the respect she wanted. 

Something unknown held her back.

He picked it up and downed the rest. "Come with me," he ordered putting his glass down on the bar. Elita felt contradicted, she was supposed to be killing him not following him around, she had a job to do, her bosses would not like this.

But she downed her glass and followed him, picking up her shirt to make sure she didn't trip as they weaved through the crowd. He slipped a keycard from his pocket, guiding her to the elevator. He allowed her in first, she didn't think he could be such a gentlemen. Then again most women he met slept with him and were never seen again. The elevator fell uncomfortably stuffy as he swiped the keycard and the doors closed. 

The vial of poison felt like a weight hidden in her dress, she should’ve just gained the confidence to flirt so close he couldn’t see her poison him. But no! He had to be cute and flirtatious with her, making her flustered. She could only hope that no one from the agency could see her right now, they might kill her on the spot instead. Unless she could convince them this was part of her plan, to get him away from anyone… if someone would believe her.

Oh Gods, he somehow knew, and was going to end her? Maybe he'd make it quick and just shoot her, but what if he pushes her off the balcony? She could feel the sweat rolling down her forehead as they got higher and higher up.

28th floor...

29th floor...

30th floor...

Higher and higher, and higher. It felt like she couldnt breathe, she was done for. And no one would remember her, or what she tried to do, she would just end up being a victim of an unknown murder on the ten o'clock news, and unsolved case pushed back on the shelves of an evidence lock up room.

Her heart stopped at the ding, the elevator doors sliding open. His hand pressed against the small of her back as he guided her inside. She obediently followed, allowing him to move her.

"Holy scrap..." she whispered softly as she followed him to the balcony doors. She stepped into the cold night air, as she looked over the horizon of the city. The city lights mixed with the starry sky made her breathless. She pressed against the balcony rails and stared over the city of Iacon. Forgetting about the fear of her death. She hesitated to turn her head and looked to him, seeing him look over the city. 

It was so strange. Most of the pictures he was so serious, and labelled as a monster. But in that moment, staring in the city lights, and almost exotic glow of yellows and blues coloured his face... made him hauntingly beautiful. 

He felt her stare and caught her gaze, smiling, "what is it?"

"Just... why are treating me like this?" She asked. "Surely you show every woman you meet this view or... something in order to get them to bed?"

He laughed, leaning on the railing, running his hands through his hair. "Oh... oh gods...! No, no, no, that's-" he cleared his throat. "You treat me differently."

"What?"

"I approached you, and in the beginning you looked at me with fear, like most people. But when I started talking to you, you didn't flirt with me, you didn't cuddle up with me, or try to get money out of me."

"People do that?" She didn't know if she should shocked or not. She knew his family was extremely wealthy, and he had a plethora of women at his beck and call. She guessed some women would want his money, but didn't think all of them.

"I know, shocking, huh?” He smiled at her shocked expression. “But you treat me like a human being, like I’m just some guy who brought you a drink.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at him, her pink curls shaking in the light. “I’m being serious, and you have great taste in drinks by the way.”

“Good scotch gives a good burn,” she explained smiling back at him, almost smugly. 

Optimus smiled softly at her, leaning on his elbow to take her in; the dress, the curls, the jewellery, the way her skin seemed to have this glow n the light as she looked over the city. Something about her… made him have this need to make her his.

He reached over and carefully brushed a pink curl behind her ear, he noticed her diamond earrings, hidden by curls.

She giggled nervously as he leaned in, and he just smiled even more. Her breathing hitched as he pressed his lips to her, she couldn't do this. She had a mission... and if she kissed him she wouldn't be able to stop.

He pulled away for a moment, feeling her hands gripping his suit jacket, weight on his shoulders. He looked up at her, her eyes still closed, waiting for her approval, her consent. 

And she leaned in again.