Hello, all, Kd Zeal here. This is a collection of interrelated one-shots based around my character Shadow. It's mostly about various firsts in his life, hence the title, and should explain why he joined the Autobots.

I'm very bad at chatty author's notes... Xobit checked my time terms, and no-one really beta'ed, so I hope this is good. Transformers belongs to... um, Hasboro, I think. Not to me, anyway.

Shadowsinger slipped around a corner, glad of his small size. There shouldn't be anyone around, but if there was, they wouldn't immediately notice the half-sized mech. Theoretically, he'd be able to hide again before he was noticed.

Theoretically, of course, didn't take into account Soundwave's cassettes. Shadowsinger sighed as he saw the quadruped, even smaller than he. Red optics met blue, and Shadowsinger forced a laugh. "Ah, hey there, Ravage... I wasn't doing anything, I mean, just... out for a stroll..." Slag, he'd been so close, too, the door was right there, just a little past Ravage.

Ravage chuckled, as much as he could, and silently walked to the wall, away from Shadowsinger. The ivory and purple mech stared hard at the four-legged cassette, not sure he understood what was happening. Ravage looked back, unruffled, before giving a deliberate yawn.

Shadowsinger didn't waste any more time, sprinting past Ravage and opening the door. The harsh lights of Kaon broke the darkness, and a grin started to form on Shadowsinger's face. The grin lasted approximately two seconds, long enough for Ravage to follow him out and nudge him in the leg.

"Hey, what..." Shadowsinger looked down, but Ravage was already past him, walking down the street with a very clear 'follow me' air about him. "Figures I got a watcher..." he muttered, following.

The two small mechs easily threaded their way through the streets. Ravage stayed to the back ways until they came to a club with bright neon signs. Shadowsinger read the signs and smiled to himself, slightly surprised Ravage had led him here. He wasn't completely sure how it happened, but before he knew it he and Ravage were let into the club.

The sound hit Shadowsinger like a physical presence, the music's strong beat almost drowning out the surprisingly delicate melody. The light was next, overall dim but with colors that flashed in time to the beat, shining off the mechs and femmes who were dancing. Dancing... Shadowsinger wasn't even surprised that Ravage knew of his secret hobby.

Looking for the quadruped, Shadowsinger wasn't surprised to find that Ravage had already melted into some dark corner of the club. A smirk graced his features as he walked passed a couple of tables and onto the dance floor. Light spilled across him, coloring the ivory with each pulse and turning the purple trim into apparent blackness. He let music take him, and he danced.

Shadowsinger's reverie was broken by a larger femme lightly touching his shoulder. Dazed, he looked at the bronze femme curiously. "Did ya want somethin', or what?" he asked after a little while.

"My friends and I," the femme answered, motioning vaguely at a table, "We saw your dancing."

"Y'like it?" Shadowsinger asked, glancing at the table. Three others were sitting there, two mechs and a femme, all easily twice Shadowsinger's hight.

"Oh, yes!" the femme answered enthusiastically. "We were wondering... That is, I mean..." Shadowsinger waited as the femme got over her sudden embarrassment, wondering just what request she had in mind. She finally did so, with a bright smile, saying, "Well, we were wondering if you'd be willing to dance for us a little."

"Dance... for you?" Shadowsinger repeated, a tremor of nervousness tracing down his back. "I'm... not sure I understand..."

The femme pulled out some credits as she explained. "On the table, so we can all see you, and you won't have to worry about being knocked over or anything. We're going to be here for half an joor or so, and if you wouldn't mind..."

Shadowsinger looked at the credits in bemusement, slowly catching on to what was going on. He didn't think his dancing was that good, but it wasn't that long, and if they were willing to pay him... He reached for the credits, almost surprised when the femme let him have them. "No, I wouldn't mind at all. I'd... very much enjoy it."

Another bright smile rewarded his acceptance, and the femme led Shadowsinger over to the table. The others watched as he climbed up, feeling uncomfortably like an exhibit. He smiled to hide his feelings, paused a little as the music changed, and then forced himself to follow it. A short while later, he realized his... patrons were barely paying attention, talking and laughing among themselves. Shadowsinger relaxed then, giving himself to the music once again.

Music... he didn't care about the music as anything more than a vehicle for his dancing. He would dance to anything, or to nothing, it didn't matter. Dance was his message to the world, the release of emotions his creator forbade him to voice. And yet, very few actually saw him dance, for Senator Ratbat's household was not a place where useless imaginings were tolerated.

Shadowsinger shook himself out of his depressing musings, focusing on the joy of being allowed to express himself. It worked, as the people at the table smiled. He wondered idly how long he'd been here.

"Hey. Hey, ah... you, dancer," the bronze femme said.

"Yes?" Shadowsinger asked, stopping and facing her.

She spilled more credits at his feet. "Here. We have to go now, but we'd love to see you again sometime."

Did they think he worked here, he wondered, shaking his head gently. "I fear 'twill not be possible, to my regret. I enjoyed our meeting," Shadowsinger answered, aware he was slipping into a more formal accent.

The femme gave a disappointed frown. "Ah, I see... Well, we enjoyed you tonight, at least." She gave a small wave and turned away, leaving Shadowsinger to gather up the credits alone.

When he had subspaced the last of the credits, Shadowsinger wasn't surprised to see Ravage looking up at him. "Time t'go, I assume then?" he asked, jumping off the table to land next to the quadruped. Ravage answered by walking away, toward the door. "Can't I even get a quick drink?" Shadowsinger asked, peeved. That suggestion earned him a very dirty look and offended snort from Ravage.

The trip back home was as quiet and uneventful as the trip out. Entering his creator's home, Shadowsinger had just begun to think that maybe, just maybe, there would be no ill repercussions from his night out. That, of course, was when he noticed Soundwave standing in the hall. He looked up at the far taller mech, trying to keep an innocent expression.

"Expedition enjoyable?" Soundwave broke the silence.

Shadowsinger was surprised by the question, but nodded warily. "It was. And now I think I'll go recharge," he answered. Soundwave was in Ratbat's employ, but had never been more than an observer in Shadowsinger's life. They got along, in so far as Soundwave had tolerated Shadowsinger's chatter vorns ago, but that was about it.

"Your income," Soundwave said. "It is mine."

"What?" Shadowsinger yelped, looking angrily at the taller mech. From behind, Ravage gave a displeased growl, and Shadowsinger had to repress a shiver. "It's mine, I earned it!" he protested, unwilling to fold.

"If kept, Senator Ratbat may learn of this," Soundwave answered, completely unfazed.

"You wouldn't tell him," Shadowsinger gasped pleadingly. He had planned everything perfectly, there was no way his creator could know he'd been out if he wasn't told.

Soundwave didn't react to the accusing plea, repeating his order, "If you keep the income, Senator Ratbat will learn of this."

Shadowsinger didn't miss the escalated threat. Shaking, he glared at Soundwave while obediently pulling out the credits. "There, are you satisfied now, Soundwave? Creator isn't going to learn of this now?" he asked, working hard to keep his speech free of the curses he was thinking. Putting the pile on the ground, he backed up until he practically tripped over Ravage.

"You never left your room," Soundwave agreed, as emotionless as ever. Shadowsinger stalked away, needing to leave before he did something foolish. Behind him, Soundwave picked up the first credits Shadowsinger had ever earned.