Arcee's optics sparkled with admiration as she watched the mech assigned to be her caretaker.
The femmling could feel his once-mattering nobility despite not being able to understand the term's meaning yet. Dark-blue deep coloured armor, silver protoform and a straight yet gentle look... Right posture, gestures thought through. For Arcee Mirage was a caretaker she had been waiting for.
Mech finished the short talk through the comm and turned his attention back at his waiting charges - his figure tall and straight.
The moment of Arcee's admiration was broken by her brother's impatience.
"So, can we go? I'm so hungry."
"Yes, Smokescreen, we may. Young lady?"
Smokescreen jumped from the chair and Mirage offered his servo to Arcee, who took it without hesitation and a warm smile responding to the older mech's kind attitude.
The three were in the hall and almost reached the rec room when WhealJack met them on the way.
"Hey, Mirage!" The scientist cheered seeing the mech with sparklings by his side. The noble-born with a polite smile accepted WheelJack's light-hearted attitude.
"Good orn, WhealJack."
"Taking kids for some fuel."
"Yeh, and I'm so hungry!" Smokescreen complained again and that made Arcee through him a look.
"That's the only topic you talk about."
"But I am hungry."
White mech grinned at the comment and look at Mirage,"Have you told her yet?"
That took sparklings' attention.
"I was planning to do so today."
"Told what?"
The mechs stopped and the noble kneeled to face the young femme with a warm smile. Despite some mechs' belief in her possible excitement, Mirage feared opposite reaction and hoped that Arcee won't be too scared by the news.
"I can see that you liked Iacon so far... It is also a highly- protected center but so it is a target for Decepticons. There is a better place, well-protected and further from enemy territories. We have sent a request to Tiger Pax. They have some highly-qualified bots who can prove a very good education and care... A correct way to raise a lovely femmeling. They have the resources and agreed to accept you..."
"Tiger pax?"
"Yes. You will be going soon. I know it might sound scary but believe me-"
"Y-you are sending us?"
"Honestly, it was only about you, Arcee. And, femmeling, you are not being sent away. It's providing you with-"
"But I though- But-" As Mirage predicted the idea of departure wasn't accepted well. Arcee's looked lost. The sparkling had been under Mirage's care for such a short period of time and yet they already got attached to him. He should have known better and now Arcee looked at him with these innocent and hurt optics. Mirage, proud and self-confident mech, felt guilt as if he was actually betraying her.
"You can't!"
Smokescreen was, of coursec, less delicate. His shouting echoed the corridor.
"Younglings, it's not something bad."
"No! You can't send her! She's my sister!"
"Sister?"
That was new. They had noticed that sparklings would address each other as if they were related and mechs had assumed that this was a result of their strong relationship. But this time it was definitely different. WheelJack was surprised as well but Mirage ignored his questioning look trying to phrase a question or an excuse of his lack of knowledge.
"But- We thought-"
"You can't separate us!"
"I don't want to." in contrast to her brother Arcee's voice was hardly heard and it cracked, her sad look scratching Mirage's spark. If the mech was more attentive he would have been surprised by the affect a small femmling caused.
"Arcee-"
"No-" She flinched away and was surprised by her own action but then she ran, again not knowing why.
"Arcee!"

Young spark was beating fast, lost in the emotions Arcee could not understand. And as this confusion came from her guardian's words, Arcee's mind led her towards the other one who had long become a source of protection. Femmeling blindly rushed into the rec room and ran, throwing herself in her 'brother's' servos as Jazz startled but quickly griped the smaler frame.
"'Cee- Wha's wrong?!"
"I don't want to leave."
"Leave?!" Jazz gasped and looked at FirstAid, other sparklings watching them with worry. Red optics blazed bright as Jazz's suspicion of trouble turned his defense mode on.
"Leave where?!"
"They're sending her!" Smokescreen, having arrived just after his sister, shouted and Arcee pulled away slightly lifting her optics at Jazz,"To Tiger Pax. Said that it's safer there."
"But they can't separate us." Bluestreak said worriedly as 'Bee added with a number of nod,"Yes, they promised."
Younglings' caretakers, also present and currently ignored by their charges, were already on alert. They knew what Arcee and Smokescreen were talking about and it seemed that from the kids' perspective the news promised nothing optimistic.
Mirage ran into the room being followed by WheelJack and both were met by Jazz's blazing optics as the youngling hissed, "No one is sending her."
Prowl stepped to his charge's side,"Jazz..."
"No!" The answer was growled,"She's our sister."
"It's ridiculous, youngling. You are not related-" Ratchet tried to influence but his words were cut by Smokescreen.
"We are! Arcee and I are siblings!"
"What-". Mechs looked between femmling's caretaker and Ratchet,"Ratchet told me nothing about it." Mirage explained and niw the attention turned to the medic. "What- How- Kids said nothing about it and the scans don't show these things, deeper tests do!" The med bot defended himself ashamed by a mistake. How could he not questioned the matter deeper! But no. These medicine-is-not-our-field-how-should-we-know mechs were not going to dare blaming him!
"Why have you not told me that you two were sibling by spark?!"
"We thought you knew..."
There was a dead silence for a moment and Ratchet almost slapped himself. True that he was not used to working with sparklings but based on all his knowledge he should have guessed. The truth was that the medic was so enthusiastic about the newly found young ones he might have forgot asking the most simple question... Again, embarrassing it was...
"She ain't leavening. Not even with Smokescreen."
Jazz's look was heavy, his grip unreasonably tie on Arcee's servo.
"Jazz, listen to me." optics fell on Prowl when the tactician's firm voice was addressee at his charge,"No one is taking Arcee by force. Additionally, you must think first and act after."
Mechling's sight did not change, his voice did neither.
"She ain't leaving."
"Prime will be against sibling separation and I doubt that Tiger Pax is able to accept two sparklings, especially this age. Mirage." Praxian looked at the noble-born, "You were within the ranks of high class - their education both cultural and scientific was on a high level. Do you find yourself qualified to bring up a femmeling?"
Mirage smilled at the idea and his warm look met Arcee's hopeful optics.
"Yes, I do. I am sure I am able to take both Arcee and Scmokescreen."
"Very well. I will talk to Prime."
"So I'm not leaving?" The femmling raised her optics in hope.
"If you still wish me to be your guardian, young lady-"
"YES!-"
She gasped causing her guardian and Blaster a chuckle, while Prowl's optics fell on his charge again.
"Jazz, you may let go of Arcee's servo."
Throwing a short glance at Praxian, the mechling released his hold and Arcee, not having minded Jazz's protective grip, stepped and hugged her guardian, now happy again by his side. All was a misunderstanding, though quite unpleasing. Fortunately, now the matter was solved and sparklings calmed down again. All except Jazz, whose mistrustful sight left Mirage's figure but his expression stayed dark, proving to Prowl that the mechling was far from used to his new surrounding, far from letting his guard down.
---
"You are still on alert..."
FirstAid asked his oldest friend when they managed to get some privacy, other sparklings taken by their game. The lessons Autobots insisted the younglings would have had not been organized yet and so the group found themselves having fun time outside.
"They won't separate us, Jazz."
The red-opticed youngling sat on the ground his optics directed at the young ones' play but mind full of thought.
"Yeh... seems so..."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
FirstAid frowned.
"Listen, I know it's new for you. Well, new for us too but, based on what you told us before... Is it really that bad here?"
"It's fine, Aid."
"But you have this look which tells me it is not..."
FirstAid met Jazz's optics. He wanted to help making his friend feel better. Jazz deserved at least that after everything he'd done for them. But older youngling seemed to have other ideas on the matter of getting used to the new place.
"If everything's fine it doesn't mean I shouldn't think."
"I know it's hard but we should learn how to trust or it will be harder. You know much more than us, I'm not the one to teach you but can't we let older bots look after us. We are kids, you know... And Autobots are not that bad."
"I know how to trust. I trust you..."
FirstAid narrowed his optics at Jazz's smirk.
"You know what I mean."
"Aid, I'm not telling you not to trust. I'm glad you guys are happy. It's just differently with me-"
"I know it is. I am not stupid. But you do act different from us too."
FirstAid was't sure if he was saying a right thing or not and upsetting Jazz was the last thing he wished to do...
"I don't want to push you and I know we owe you after everything you did but won't it be easier if you stop being so..."
"Me?"
"No."
"Reckless?"
"Jazz-"
"Hard-helmed?"
"That's the last thing I'd say!"
Jazz smirked.
"Okay, okay, I got it. Yeh, I know. I'm like a sand in a joint. Can't help myself..."
"You can, we both know it." FirstAid expression saddened,"You don't want to."
"Yeh... It's just... These mechs are testing me or at least they will. Don't wanna play by their rules. I'm gonna test them too. I have that right."
"Just try to keep out of trouble. Please."
"I'll do my best."
That was something and so FirstAid eyed him a bit longer. It was true: mechs would test a Kaoninan mechling... But that was not the only reason of his friend's attitude. Jazz was watching out not only for himself but also for his friend. Even though FirstAid was sure that it was needless, he was still thankful for everything Jazz did.
"Jazz... Thanks for always watching our backs."
Jazz looked at him with surprise but then smiled.
"Thanks for watching mine, Aid."
The were silent for a while and then Jazz spoke.
"So... how do you like that medic?"
"Ratchet?"
"Yeh."
"He's good, I guess. I think he is the best medic you can find."
"So much for a medic. He didn't even notice that 'Cee and Smokey were related."
"I think he was just too exited by our presence."
"Think so? He looks grumpy and his face is stuck in this expression as if he just drank from a rusted cube."
"Cubes' material doesn't rust... oh- Jazz!"
"Come on, can't you see that!"
"He isn't bad. He's actually good, very good..."
"Heard he has a temper."
"Well, yeh... You know, he almost slapped a wreckers twice of his size because he was complaining about some stuff too loudly."
"Almost?"
"Mech fell down before Ratchet could get him."
"A wrecker scared of a medic... should we be worried?"Jazz raised his optic ridge but Aid only rolled his optics.
"It was more of a joke, Jazz. And it worked. Medbay silenced in a click and then he winked at me saying that's if some mech ever bothers me tell him that Ratchet got a new wrench."
"What?"
"I have no idea..." Aid shrugged, "He was very good. Not overly good or weirdly good, you know. Natural. He will teach me. I said that I wanted to be a medic. He seemed surprised and asked me why. I said cause I didn't want to fight but wanted to help. I also mentioned my previous caretaker."
"The one who was planing to make you apprentice just cause all others annoyed him."
"He wasn't that bad either. Honestly, I didn't get to know him yet when the 'Cons came..."
"You miss him?"
"I didn't know him. We barely talked on our way. It's as if he never happened..."
"It is for the best then." Jazz decided to move on with another topic, "So, 'Doc's teaching you."
"Yes and he seemed exited."
"Just don't become teacher's pet."
"Jazz." Aid through him a look.
"Just saying. And if he annoys you tell him Jazz got his new wrench."
FirstAid laughed at the comment and Jazz shared that laughter, younger mechling playfully pushing him to the ground.
"Okay and how's your guardian?"
"Prowler? Same as I told you before."
"His room is still tidy? Or have you started your destruction?"
"Hah! I'm telling you I haven't seen a place cleaner than that. It's so neat I feel I might get blinded. But nah, not worth my time yet. By the way... When are we going to investigate the in-wall spaces of Iacon?"
FirstAid wasn't sure about the idea.
"But.. Won't we get in trouble?"
"Mech, Prowler let me sneak out of the room that night and then did nothing. And that was me- the red-opticed one. Trust me, Aid, the worst you might get is 'the talk'."
"I'd rather avoid that one too.. Will we take others?"
"Just lets see some places first. Once we know around, we can lead them."
---
Ratchet signed watching his charge. FirstAid had returned to the medbay and Ratchet gave the mechling a datapod to keep youngling busy before his guardian finished his last report and they both could go to their shared room.
FirstAid during his short stay had already showed a great interest in learning... Once Ratchet finished his work and looked at the youngling the datapod was put away and a saddened look of youngling momently told the med-bot that something troubled his charge.
"FirstAid, what's the matter?"
"Huh?" FirstAid looked up,"Nothing."
"You don't have that expression when it's all right."
"It is fine, sir."
Ratchet signed. He knew that the short time he had been with this mechling was not enough for forming a close relationship yet. But it felt as if FirstAid was keeping his distance on purpose. He had never yet annoyed Ratchet with anything and that was a rare thing to happen.
"Listen, FirstAid, I am your guardian. No matter how busy I am... Now tell me, what's troubling you?"
By the youngling's look it was obviously he wasn't sure whether to talk or not.
"It's Jazz..."
Ratchet frowned, "Has he done something?"
"Nothing! I mean.. That's the thing. He is good... He helped us all this time and he's like a brother to me. It's just..." FirstAid hesitated trying to find the right words," Ratchet... his optics are red and mechs here.. they will not do anything, will they?"
"You are afraid for his well being?" The older bot asked with a hint of surprise.
"No. Well, yes, but not only that. He is a Kaonian, how badly might it affect him?"
The question said caused a surprise and admiration the medic decided to conceal for now. Not having expected a worry towards another coming from such a young bot, Ratchet felt a pride in his spark for a mechling he had now as his own. He walked and seated by FirstAid's side, youngling watching his calm look.
"Do you know why Kaonians are disliked or feared?"
"The revolution started there."
"Yes. But not only that. Kaon is a unique city. The mechs living there all had once arrived from other cities. And usually these mechs were not the best bots, FirstAid, that is the main reason. No mech was created in Kaon. Red optics are a feature of other cities too."
"Really?"
"Yes, mechling. By a matter of luck Kaon just happened to have a lot mechs who have red ones and as the Decepticons started in Kaon it was logical that their simbolic optic colour became red. It is a stereotype that 'red' is a 'Con."
"But I've never seen mechs with red optics that were not Decepticons."
"It is rare and as I said stereotypical. A bot would prefer hiding them under a visor or changing the colour if possible. Same with 'Cons - they will get red or purple."
"But you said that no mech was created in Kaon. Jazz was."
"Yes. He is probably more Kaonian than any other Decepticon."
"But he is not like them!"
"I never said he is. Unfortunately, our origin can greatly affect us. So do the mechs around us. That is why bots might not like your friend, FirstAid They fear that he had been affected and is like Decepticons. They just don't want to risk. You can't blame them either, they have reason too..."
"Yeh... but, sir, Jazz is good. A bit reckless sometimes but good. Really."
"Now do you understand why we are trying to treat him same as we do you? We want to try showing you all things you haven't seen yet."
"But even if he changes, mechs still might not like him..."
"You can't force someone to like. But he can at least try proving them wrong."
"He won't." FirstAid stated with a sign.
"Why do you think so?"
"He doesn't want to change just because other tell him... If you ask me," the mechling straightened," he should not change. He should just be less...'spiky'."
Ratchet gave a small laugh,"May be you can help him with that."
"Can't you just change his optic colour?"
"He is too young for that."
"Oh, right... He won't want that anyway..."
Ratchet studied mechling's features with a warm look.
"You really care for him, don't you?"
"He is like a brother. And he saved us then."
"Are you still not willing to tell me what exactly happened?" At the question mechling hunched,"... sorry, no. I'm really sorry, sir, but we promised..."
"Alright, you don't have to. But if you ever want to talk to me about anything, FirstAid, feel free to do so. And don't call me 'sir'. I'm your guardian, mechling not a superior officer."
"But you said you would train me."
"Yes. I'm going to do both raise you and teach you and the 'guardian' part comes first here. You don't know me well enough yet but I hope that in the future we'll get to know each other. How do you like it?"
"I love it."
FirstAid gave him a shy yet warm smile and Ratchet smiled back satisfied. There was a warmth in his spark, a calming yet energy brining something he did not want to question. And he accepted whatever it was with gladness.