AN – Okay, round 2! So, I forgot to mention in the first chapter that the lyrics at the beginning are just random phrases I threw in. Looking back, the ideas are a bit rushed and, er, yeah… I'm a little embarrassed by it. I'll get over it.

If you haven't noticed, Stryker's a bit shy. He's just too cute, all nervous and innocent like. He has to be one of my favourite OCs I've ever created. So, just to clarify, I've made it so that those below the age of "maturity" are forbidden from entering battle due to development of essential systems and armour. Kinda like how you can't (legally) purchase alcohol or cigarettes, or have a credit card until the age of majority.

Constructive criticism is appreciated, flames give me the impression you don't know the first thing about writing as an art, and as the saying goes, 'Don't like, don't read'.

I own nothing, except for my OC and that's the way it is.

Enjoy

Chapter 2

"Tell him!" Bluestreak smacked me on the helm, his optics flashing in frustration. "Can't you see he likes you? He is always hanging around you; he's just too respectful to make the first move."

"That-that's not true! Blue, he's just looking out for me," I stared at my energon cube as my faceplates heated up. "I'm not – he couldn't possibly… Blue, he could have any mech on the Ark. Why would he want me?"

"Stop." SMACK "Doubting." SMACK "Yourself." SMACK "Idiot!" SMACK

"Oww…" I whined. "Blue, stop it!" I covered my helm to protect it from any more abuse.

"I swear, if you don't tell him I will."

"You wouldn't dare," I gasped. "Blue, you can't!"

"I know you're scared," He placed his servo on mine, patting it comfortingly. "But he will never hurt you,"

"I'm not scared… I just- I'm not ready for anything like that." I met his gaze and his expression softened. "I love you, Blue. Please understand."

"Of course, Stryke," He smiled. "I love you, too. I just worry sometimes. You know, I was younger than you when my seals were broken. The one over your spike doesn't really hurt, but the one over your valve… It feels like your insides are being torn apart, like you're going to die," I tensed. "But then there is the most intense pleasure, pleasure beyond anything you have ever felt. Trust me, Stryke, it's the most amazing feeling. You feel so full, so complete. Oh, Primus, Stryker, if you find the one that makes your spark sing," He gripped my servo, his optics glowing. "You will never need another. And even if you don't find your sparkmate, you can have many wonderful night cycles with others."

"Blue…" He had never been so open about interfacing before, but he must have sensed just how unsure I was. "Thank you,"

"You're my brother," He stood and leaned over to wrap his arms around me. "I will always be here to be, and do, whatever you need. I'm lookin' out for you, and so is Jazz." He squeezed me before letting go and righting himself. "I've got patrol, but I'll see you later."

I watched him leave the room before returning my gaze to my nearly untouched cube of energon. I needed to top my levels up, but I just didn't feel like my tanks could handle it at the moment. My mind kept wandering back to Jazz. He was gorgeous and caring, and so witty. To me he was perfect, and only he could make my spark flutter and warm.

"Hey, Stryker?" I started, caught off guard by the voice. I snapped my gaze to the twins standing before me, unsure whether to bolt or not. "We wanted to apologize for the way we acted."

"We tried to take advantage of you, and that wasn't right."

"We're really sorry, and it will never happen again."

"We promise."

"O-okay…" I nodded my helm, clutching my cube tightly.

"We'll leave you alone," They turned to leave. "Hopefully you can find it in you to trust us again." They left and I was, once again, left alone at the table.

¿?

I was wandering the halls of the Ark aimlessly when I realized I had managed to end up outside Prowl's office. The door was open and I could hear voices inside. Being bored and rather curious, I got close enough to make out what was being said.

"'m worried 'bout 'im, Prowl," Jazz's voice met my audials. "Ah know 'e's still a younglin', but 'is armour's so thin an' 'e ain't very big. Th' only place Ah think 'e'll do well in is Special Ops. 'e's not built fer frontline combat,"

"Yes, I feel the same. What makes you believe he will do well in Special Ops?" Prowl responded.

"Ah've seen 'im around th' Ark. 'e 'as a small frame an' is naturally quiet. 'e 'as a remarkable sense of hearing and 'e has a visor Ah designed m'self. With th' proper trainin' 'e'd make an excellent Spec-O agent."

"Very well, but he is to be fully trained before entering the field. Understood?"

"Sure thing, Prowler," I could hear the grin in Jazz's voice. Figuring their conversation was drawing to a close, I headed off before I could be caught eavesdropping.

I had gone a ways before my visor suddenly shorted out. Blind, I leaned against the wall and cycled my intakes to calm my sudden panic.

:Ratchet?: I commed, unable to think of anything else.

:Yes, Stryker?:

:My visor shorted. I can't see anything.:

:Do you know where you are?: He knew my habits of aimless wandering all too well.

:No… I think I might be near some storage rooms.: I heard him sigh through the comm before responding.

:I will alert the officers so that they can bring you here. Stay where you are.:

:Thank you, Ratchet.: My comm system wasn't as sophisticated as the others' yet, but it would develop over time and use. Unlike Ratchet, I couldn't comm more than one mech at a time.

:Of course, Stryker. If anyone finds you, do not go with them until they identify themselves. I heard about the twins.:

:Okay, Ratch, I will.: With that he cut the link and I remained where I was, waiting for someone to find me. I hated being blind; it brought back so many terrible memories that I felt myself sinking to the floor as the sensations of those few cycles began to overwhelm me.

I wasn't sure how long I had been there, but a familiar voice pulled me from the past and alit hope in my spark once more.

"There you are, Stryker," Prowl's controlled voice met my audials. "Ratchet has been worrying about you. You've been missing for quite some time."

"I-I have?" I faced in the direction his voice was coming from, but did not move until he gently grasped my arm.

"Yes, now, let's get you to the med bay so Ratchet can fix your visor." He led me along the hallways, remaining silent as we went. Apparently I had wandered quite a ways.

"I'm sorry…" I hung my helm in shame.

"What for?"

"For being such a burden all the time. You probably have better things to do than waste your time looking for me…" He stopped, causing me to stop as well.

"You are not a burden, Stryker," He pulled me in close and poked my chevron. "We were all younglings once. You are still growing and learning, and you are not a waste of my time." He patted my shoulder and ushered me on.

"When will I be able to fight?" I knew the answer, but the silence was getting a bit awkward.

"A few more quartex," He replied. "Once you have become a mech."

"Can't I help now?"

"No. Your armour is still forming. It is too dangerous to send you into battle while your systems are still changing and maturing. Once you are old enough, I will be assigning you to Special Ops under Jazz. Your frame-set and attributes find you more suitable to covert operations."

"Sp-Special Ops? But I have had no training."

"You will not be in the field until you have been fully trained by Jazz. You must work hard if you are to succeed there. You will be subject to extreme danger and will have a higher probability of capture and interrogation. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, sir," I nodded. "I understand."

"Good. We are here," He led me along until I felt a med berth next to me. "I will leave you in Ratchet's care."

"Thank you, sir."

"Stryker!" Ratchet bellowed, stomping over to me. "Do you know how long you've been missing?!" I gulped.

"A while…?"

"Yes, a very long while." He pushed me down on the berth and immediately began working on my visor. "I was worried you had gotten yourself into trouble. I may not be your Sire or Carrier, but I have raised you as my own, taken care of you since you lost your sight… I consider you my own, and I worry."

"I know, Ratchet," I relaxed as he continued working on my visor. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Stryker," My vision came back as my visor onlined. "Just… try to be careful, will you?"

"Anything for you, Ratchet." I smiled, seeing a side of Ratch not many ever witnessed.

¿?

"When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are

And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause mech you're amazing
Just the way you are"

"Bruno Mars," I twitched. Did the mech not know how to knock? "Didn' peg ya fer th' type."

"Jazz," I immediately felt my faceplates heat up. "Wh-what brings you here?"

"Thought Ah'd keep ya comp'ny. Ya been hidin' out in 'ere fer a while now." He entered and approached me. "Now, why don'cha tell ol' Jazz what's been botherin' ya."

"Um… Well…" I stared at my pedes, embarrassed beyond belief.

"C'mon, 'ave a seat." He motioned to my berth and sat on the edge, patting the spot next to him. "'at's it." He placed his servo on my shoulder and looked down at me. "Now, what's botherin' ya?"

"Uh, well, it's, um…" His servo soothed between my doorwings, making them flutter.

"Ahm not goin' ta judge ya, Stryke." I straightened a bit at the use of my nickname.

"It's just… There are a lot of mechs trying to get me into their berth and…" His soothing caresses continued, not straying from professional touches. "And I'm not sure I'm ready for-for…"

"Fer yer seals ta be broken." He finished. I nodded, fiddling my servos in my lap.

"Blue said it would hurt…and I-I don't know if I'm ready yet." I couldn't meet his gaze; I felt so pathetic. "I-I'm scared."

"If yer that worried, ya can always have Ratch surgically remove 'em." His servo paused, resting on my back. "Ya don' hafta do anythin' ya don' wanna. If ya want'em ta stop Ah can have a li'l chat with th' others."

I shook my helm. "It's okay… You don't have to do that." His motions resumed, as I grew nervous again. The Porsche shifted next to me and his free servo lifted my chin so I would meet his gaze.

"All ya need do is ask, Stryke," His visor dimmed slightly. "But don' be hidin' yerself away like this. A mech worries, ya know."

"I'm sorry." I sighed. "Jazz, what happens if Ratchet removes my seals?"

"Ya won' hafta worry 'bout the pain of breaking them, but ya also won' be able ta experience yer firs' time. 's a choice ya hafta make."

"And the others?" I held Jazz's gaze, afraid to break it.

"They'll leave ya alone. When yer seal is surgically removed yer valve does not retain the tight elasticity of a virgin mech." I blushed harder at the explanation. "Ya won' be able ta interface as often, 'less ya find a partner tha' likes ta be spiked. But Ah warn ya, Praxians 're known ta be valve mechs an' ya'll be hard pressed ta find a mech wantin' ta be spiked by one." I understood where he was coming from, but it still hurt hearing it.

"Then… I will have to-to—" I trembled, fearing the pain and fearing being alone for the rest of my existence. I wasn't even a mech yet and I was already facing hard decisions.

"Hey, hey, ya don' hafta do anythin'." Jazz cooed, his servo wandering along a trembling doorwing. "Ya don' hafta touch yer seal. Ya can leave it fer as long as ya wish. Some mechs don' break'em until they're as old as ol' Hatchet."

"R-really?"

"Really." He pulled me into an embrace and patted my helm. "Now, why don'cha come outta here an' refuel." He stood, offering a servo, and helped me up. I noted how my helm only came up to his shoulders as I stood in front of him. I wasn't a minibot, but I was certainly small. "If ya need ta talk ta someone, ya can always come ta me, Stryke."

"Thank you, Jazz," I nodded. "I will."

¿?

AN – And there you have it: chapter 2. I'm still not satisfied with the quality of writing, but there's been a weeny bit of development, yeah? Here's hoping my brain doesn't die. Also, I was a little iffy on the rating, given some of the topics in this chapter. The rating will most likely change to M in the next chappie, so heads up to those of you who are uncomfortable with sexual occurrences; however, you can always skip those parts, as the story will not be based on smut.

BTW, you can find me on DeviantArt under the user Sagi376. I use this user for essentially everything.