Rian: So, this is a new fic, between me and my friend Toaxabineh! It'll be a collection of oneshots between us, though there may be the occasion where I might post a oneshot that I've done on my or, or vice versa! It all depends really. Besides, I love having someone else to write with! It's more fun, since I have someone to talk to as I write c:

Toaxabineh: XD So, like Rian said, this will have oneshots, and it might also have the occasional arc! Really depends on what we decide on XD Please review and tell us if you have any ideas! All these little stories will have Jack in them, because he's our fav character!

Disclaimer: We don't own Transformers in any way shape or form! If we did, Rian would keep all the deep voiced Decepticons to herself -_-"

Enjoy!

Jack couldn't believe this. The others were looking at him with such disappointment, as if he'd committed a crime...

He'd only gone to make sure Smokescreen could get back up if he needed some, he hadn't gone to cause trouble, he hadn't even meant to be seen by that Insecticon! And yet here he stood, Arcee looking furious, with Optimus not even sending a glance his way, as though he were some big disappointment!

Jack turned to his partner, feeling suddenly so very numb.

"A-Arcee...?"

A flash of angry optics.

"I don't even want to think about that stunt you pulled today. We'll discuss this tomorrow." She said, giving him a hard, cold look. "Ratchet, send Jack home."

And that was when it happened. That was when years of anger towards his mother, towards his friends, towards everything finally bubbled up and exploded.

"WILL YOU SHUT THE FRAG UP AND LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE?!"

Smokescreen, who was about to apologize for his actions, jumped at the volume the teen voice's had reached, jerking around to look at him, mouth agape in shock. The other Autobots had all but frozen, staring at Jack all optics wide with shock. Even Optimus looked taken aback by the usually calm human's outburst.

The teen in question was livid, his dark eyes sharp as he glared up defiantly at Arcee.

"You guys always put everything on me! Why doesn't Miko ever get lectured, huh?! She's the one who's always running off and getting into trouble!"

"Jack-"

"No! For once, I'm going to talk, and you're going to actually listen, partner!" He spat, making Arcee flinch in surprise. "I get it wasn't a good idea to follow Smokescreen, but believe it or not, I did it to make sure I could get him backup if he needed it! And those stupid little pranks? That was me finally, FINALLY sticking up for myself against Vince and my fragger of a boss!"

He paused, taking in a deep, haggard breath, a vein throbbing in his forehead.

"I had fun for the first time in years, and when I do, you're all jumping on me for it! I know you expect a lot from me, I get that! But why does that mean I can't still be a teenager, huh? I'm not perfect!"

"Jackson," Optimus tried this time, a concerned frown gracing his faceplates. "I-"

"No, Optimus, I'm not going to let you or anyone else try to make me feel guilty this time!" The boy turned back to Arcee. "I'm sixteen! Miko's only a few months younger than me, and when she runs out into a battlefield, you all don't yell at her about 'responsibility'! But then there's me." The boy ran a hand through his hair, frustrated that the bots still weren't listening to him. "Frag it, Miko can play her music as loud as she wants, Raf gets to race his remote cars around even when they get under foot, yet the second I even try to relax and have fun, you know what happens?"

No bot replied, and Ratchet at least had the grace to look guilty.

Jack crossed his arms, scowl on his face.

"I get reprimanded. 'Be responsible, Jack', 'you need to set an example, Jack'." The teen's hands balled into fists, something akin to sadness flickering through the boy's expressive eyes. "Even mom does it. 'Don't be like your dad, Jack'."

Anger once again took over the boy's features.

"Is it so bad that I want to act my age? You know what?! Smokescreen's the only one I've met aside from Miko and Raf who don't expect me to act like I'm an adult!"

"You're sixteen, Jack!" Arcee interjected. "At your age-"

"At my age, most other teens don't have to work a job, while juggling school grades and hiding the fact that they're friends with giant robots! I already get enough dumped on my shoulders at home, trying to help mom make sure we don't lose the house or car! I know what I did today was dangerous, but Miko does it all the time, this was only once!"

You're not Miko!" Arcee exclaimed. "She's irresponsible and careless, while you're supposed to lead and example!"

"When did I ever ask to be an example?!" Jack demanded, his whole body trembling with rage.

"Do you expect Raf to? He's suited for tech support, not field work!"

"I never said he had to take the role! Look at me Arcee, and tell me, what do you see? Do you even see me as a sixteen year old kid?"

"Of course I do-"

Jack shook his head.

"No, Arcee. You look at me all the time with this expression, like...Like you wish I was someone other than me, and you know what? I'm sick of trying to be whoever you all want me to be!"

He waved a hand at Arcee pointedly.

"You expect me to be like Tailgate and Cliffjumper!" A gesture towards Optimus. "He expects me to play guardian to Raf and Miko when you all aren't around! My mom wants to see a person who's responsible and does as told, at school I have to be the giant loser, then with Miko and Raf I have to act like an adult," He grabbed at his head. "I'm sick of it! Of everything! I'm sorry to tell you all this, but deep down, like it or not, I'm still just a teenager! I might have had to give up my childhood, but..." The boy's face suddenly softened, and he looked so...so vulnerable. "But I wish sometimes I had it...But I can't, I guess. Even here, I'm stuck playing the adult."

Everyone jumped when Jack turned on his heel, quickly heading for the nearby hallway. When Arcee made to run after Jack, a hand clasped her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. She turned to see Optimus staring at her with a stern expression.

"Optimus, Jack-"

"He needs time. We must give it to him."

"But-"

"We've all be through much today." Optimus cut in to say. "It would be wise for us all to rest and cool off."

"But...but is he right, Optimus?" Arcee asked, afraid of the answer.

Optimus grimaced.

"I believe that our young friend makes a valid point." He said in his ever grim tone. "Jackson needs time to collect his thoughts and emotions. We all would do well to remember, sooner rather than later, that he is only a youngling."

Arcee buried her helm in her servos. This was such a mess.

Jack had fallen asleep in the storage room, his head buried in his arms that were folded atop his knees, hiding from his friends. He couldn't track through the desert to get home after all.

The door to the room opened with a hiss, and a tall figure entered. The automatic lights reacted to the movement and flickered on, but Jack continued to sleep on.

"Jack?" The mech called out, hoping the teen would stir. Jack's fingers twitched, but otherwise didn't wake, only groaning and curling up tighter. Optimus moved to the teen, carefully scooping him up into his hand. The boy frowned in his sleep, nose wrinkling as he squirmed a bit before settling once more.

The tiniest of smiles tugging on his lips, Optimus left the storage room to search for a spare berth for the teen. A few cloths should suffice as his bedding for the night, since it was too late for him to return home.

As he walked along, Optimus stared down at Jack, deep in thought. He was ashamed to admit that the boy had been right about many things. Optimus expected him to behave, and when Miko caused any trouble she got away with it, but Jack didn't, because when the bots looked at him, they saw a man, not a boy only a few months older than the trouble causing Miko. And unlike Miko, who ran into trouble for the fun of it, Jack had followed Smokescreen with the intention to call for help, not run into the battle. Jack should have been praised for facing such dangers with only a hot-headed rookie to protect him- one that had left him behind to foolishly engage an army of Decepticons.

But instead, the boy had been berated...

And what Jack had said about having to be whoever others wanted him to be...the poor boy probably didn't know who he really was by now, likely having buried it deep down long ago. He should have known better than to force such weight onto the child's shoulder, he should've seen...

Prime material Jack may have been, but he was far too young to carry the burden of the title. He was only a boy, a boy who had been forced into a role he never wanted. It was shocking he hadn't exploded before now.

So deep in thought was he, that Optimus gave a slight start when Jack hummed, and dark blue eyes cracked open to stare up at the Prime tiredly.

And for once...Optimus didn't see Jack a responsible young man, but instead for what he was. A child.

"Mm...Optimus..?"

"I am here Jackson." He said, thumb gently petting the teen's head, mussing the mess of black hair.

"Am I 'n trouble..?" The teen asked, voice slurred with exhaustion. Optimus shook his helm, offering a kind smile.

"No. I am merely taking you to a suitable place to rest."

A pause, in which Jack blinked at him sleepily, processing the Prime's words. Then,

"Oh..."

Jack yawned, curling up again.

"Okay."

Optimus frowned briefly, then, making up his mind, decided to ask the youth a question.

"Do you wish to remain with the Autobots Jackson?"

Jack frowned, blinking at him tiredly.

"Hm? Wha' you mean? 'Course I do..." The boy then smiled, the expression making him look all the more youthful. "You guys're my family. Why would I leave when I love you all?"

Optimus fell silent as the teen dozed back off to sleep, observing him closely.

They would all need to come to terms with the situation. Jackson was not a soldier under his command, that he knew. And he neither Tailgate nor Cliffjumper, and could not be treated as such. Jack had said it best, this was a family, one he was part of.

It was concerning, that he had to prove to his mother that he wasn't his father. A curiosity grew in him, one that could only be satiated by the boy, but now was not the time to persist with his questions. For now, the boy deserved some well-earned rest.

Smiling softly as he entered one of the spare rooms, the Prime gently set the boy down on a pile of soft polishing rags. Ensuring the boy wouldn't fall off the pile in his sleep, he left the room, leaving the door open so that Jack could leave when he woke.