I've decided to make a place to dump Transformers one-shots in hopes of quenching plot bunnies until I've finished my other Transformers stories. If I don't do this, I'll fall into my old habits and I don't want that to happen. So, a little back story on this first one-shot. It's a possible story idea I'm not sure I'll turn into a full story, but I want it written down here in case I never write it. The premise is that Miko and Jack are actually twins in the Witness Protection Program who haven't seen each other since they were eight years old. Their parents are well-known criminals referred to as the Crimson Blade and the Crimson Bullet, who are both mass murderers. Miko was sent to live in Japan, her past erased and a new name assigned while her care takers, a pair of agents, were given special make-up kits to make themselves look like her biological parents. The same happened to Jack, only he was given to a single caretaker, June, and was sent to live in Jasper, Nevada. Miko coming to Jasper is her chance to see her twin again, but they have to put on an act for the world to see.

Secrets

They hadn't seen each other since that fateful day all those years ago, when their parents were finally apprehended for a short time. It was the first time anyone besides their parents had been aware the twins existed, the first time they had ever learned what their parents had never told them. The government had torn the twins apart, told them it was unsafe to stay together. They had hated the government for it, but had to play the role they'd been given.

On that fateful day, Jackson Darby and Miko Nakadai were "born."

He was sent to Jasper, Nevada and given to one June Darby, his back story simple. He had lived with his father until he was eight years old, when he was sent to live with his mother. The two had never been married and June had not wanted Jack at first, but was now ready to be his mother. He was raised on organic tofu and raised to be the exact opposite of his birth parents. Even so, their escape from authorities haunted his dreams, tormenting him with the idea they would find him over the years.

She was sent to live in Tokyo, Japan to be raised opposite to Jack, but still nothing like her birth parents. She was handed over to Haru and Hikari Nakadai, was rarely disciplined, and was given the back story of a generic, well-off girl. She, like her brother, was happy, even if she missed her twin. Like him, the threat of her parents finding her was nightmare inducing.

Then came the Autobots, the biggest risk of their life. An excuse to stay together, a reason for her to never return to Japan. It hurt, to continue the charade, the lie when it came to the Autobots and Raf. It hurt them to never be able to shed the fake lives they had built, to never be true to who they were around them. There were times that they wondered if Agent Fowler knew of the truth, of who they were.

He knew that no one suspected, as Optimus would have never given him the Key if he knew who Jack's parents were. The Crimson Blade and the Crimson Bullet had become even bigger threats in the U.S. now, the two killers still evading authority. They were mainly around the big, bustling cities like Chicago and New York. They had yet to move south, had yet to suggest they knew where Jack and Miko were.

Sometimes, the two would meet under the cover of darkness, would speak as freely as they dared. Other times, they would speak openly in front of the others in the form of banters before and after she did something "dangerous," something to distraction. Their words were carefully worded, carefully coded. No one, not even Raf, had picked up on their careful code.

It couldn't last, she knew, as she couldn't continue to lie to them. It hurt too much, especially when she had to lie to Bulkhead. She knew Jack struggled to lie to Optimus, struggled to not beg the leader to help them. The two knew that they had chosen two separate Cybertronians to look to as the parent they could have had, the parent they never got.

It was then that it happened, shortly after the whole Unicron/Orion Pax debacle. The Crimsons had been on the move, were heading south then. Fowler knew, but he didn't say a word. He often looked at them and they could see the fear, the distrust, the blame. He hated the twins and they could not blame him.

They hated themselves for their lies, their parentage, their past soaked in the blood of innocents.

It was why, in the night, they met once more. They were alone, on the edge of Jasper and their guardians were in recharge, their host families asleep. They stared silently at each other, neither of them wearing the disguises they grew up wearing. For the first time in forever, they were allowed to see each other as they once always had. Bright blue eyes met bright blue eyes, two heads of black hair gently flowing in the very slight wind. Her hair was still dyed with pink.

"I missed you."

Neither was sure which of them whispered the words, but the others eyes conveyed they felt the same.

"I can't keep lying, not to him."

A sentiment shared and again neither was sure who had spoken.

"It hurts, lying to them and being away from you."

"I want to go home."

The statements were small, insignificant and yet held so much impact. They were in pain and were forced to hide it by a world that just didn't know or understand. Finally, they embraced, finally they wept and sobbed. Finally, they felt the facades fade away, leaving a pair of scarred and scared sixteen-year-old kids. Why did they have to be apart to be safe? Why did they have to lie to those closest to them?

They both spoke, but neither took note of who said what because they shared the same thoughts. They were twins through and through, they always could tell just by the other's eyes what they were thinking. Their skin was currently paler than it usually was, for they wore a special type of body make-up to make it look like they weren't who they really were. It also exposed the scars upon them, the scars they had carefully hidden for years.

As they held each other close and cried, lamenting a past they wished they didn't have, neither was aware of the semi truck parked not too far off, keeping watch over them as they cried.

This one felt a little weird to write and I, personally, felt my heart going out to these two. Don't know how this will be received, don't really expect much. Still, I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into the AU where Jack and Miko are twin children of a pair of murderers.