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Cole was excited to spend time with Mirage. Despite having only met the mech once before, he could tell that Mirage was a good person. He had an earnest voice.

He was even more excited that Mirage had decided to take him to one of the local Chinese food restaurants to hang out. Cole had been unable to pack a lunch, he'd had to leave so quickly that morning, and he'd had no money to pay for a school lunch so he was starving. And while he'd only had Chinese food once (he'd snuck it from a takeout container his father had brought home for himself when Cole had been nine) Cole knew it was the best food ever. At least in his opinion.

Upon reaching the restaurant and stepping out of Mirage's alt, Cole found he could smell the food already. The spicy-salty scent washed over him like a wave, making Cole's mouth water. He jumped when the human hand of Mirage's holoform took his arm, but Cole relaxed quickly, and Mirage led the teen across the parking lot. Entering the building, they were led to a table by a waitress and, after feeling around a bit, Cole managed to slide into the booth. He felt the feet of Mirage's holoform lightly bump into his own as the holoform slid into the booth across from him. Once Cole ordered a drink, the waitress left and Cole and Mirage were alone.

Cole set his folded cane beside him on the seat and rested his elbows on the table. Placing his hands on the table, fingers spread wide, Cole marveled at the smooth, cold texture of the table surface. Polished marble...

"Would you like me to read the menu for you?" Mirage offered. He sounded hesitant, probably worried his question might offend him, and Cole smiled.

"I'd really appreciate it. Menus generally don't have any braille, so..."

Cole heard the holoform shift a bit, and the teen himself relaxed in his seat, listening quietly as the mech began to read out the choices on the menu, his warm voice providing Cole with a feeling of safety. After a few minutes, Cole decided what he wanted, and the two males were left sitting in silence for a moment. Cole scrambled for something to say.

"So, how have you been? Anything interesting happen to you in the past couple of days?"

A chuckle.

"I've been well, thank you for asking. Nothing all too interesting has happened. Despite being a large robotic alien, you would be surprised by how often I find myself bored with nothing to do."

Cole ducked his head to hide a smile, coughing to disguise a laugh.

"That's a shame." Cole replied, though his smile defied the sympathy in his voice. Mirage gently knocked a foot against Cole's leg in playful retaliation.

"What about you?" Mirage asked, turning the boy's question back at him. "Have you been alright? Anything eventful?"

Cole planted his chin in his hand.

"Things have been fine, but aside from school, everything's been really boring."

Mirage chuckled at the childish dislike of boredom.

The waitress returned to their table, setting down a drink by Cole's hand. Ordering his meal, Cole thanked the woman, who accepted his thanks and left Mirage and Cole alone once more. The two, with the ice having been broken, began to converse about the Autobot base just outside of town.


Mirage watched as Cole carefully picked at his food with a fork, using the utensil in question to find the steaming pile of rice on his plate. It was quite the sight, seeing Cole go about eating. The boy expertly using the utensils supplied to find each separate food, poking and prodding to examine the texture of each food as a means to identify it. All-in-all, Mirage was quite impressed by the boy's independence.

"So if you fought in the Battle of Las Vegas, then you're a war hero. Doesn't the government pay for housing if you want to move out of the base and get a house of your own? Why do you still live in the base?"

Sightless eyes turned up in his direction, making Mirage pause. It was still strange, to have one who couldn't see just look at you...

Quickly regaining his bearings, Mirage answered.

"Like many other Autobots, I prefer the base because there are so few other Cybertronians around that it is reassuring to live around one another. It makes one feel...Less alone."

Mirage watched, intrigued as Cole's face melted into an expression of longing.

"That...That sounds so nice..."

"Cole?" Mirage piped up hesitantly. "Are you alright?"

Cole jolted slightly, pale cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Oh, y-yeah! I'm fine! Just thinking, thats all." The boy scooped up rice on his fork and ate. Once he swallowed, the boy commented, "So you must have some friends there. I mean, with you living on the base and all..."

Mirage understood the unvoiced question: can you tell me about your friends?

Smiling, Mirage rested his folded hands on the table. When he saw Cole feeling around for his drink, Mirage gently pushed the glass into his hand. As the boy took a drink, he offered a reply.

"I have a few, though I prefer to keep to myself. There's Jazz, he's a very good friend. He is, technically, my boss: head of special ops. He's a very...Relaxed sort of mech. Perhaps a little too lax at times. But he's very much kind and friendly, I think you both would get along, you both share some common ground." Seeing Cole perk up at this, Mirage continued, "He was...Blind, just as you are, when he was a youngling. He has a visor now that helps him, but I believe you and him could understand one another very well."

Cole didn't even blink at the mention of his blindness, nor did he miss a beat.

"He must be a great guy, for you to talk so highly about him."

Mirage, relieved that he hadn't offended the teen or made things awkward, nodded.

"He's a very good friend. There are others on base who I consider friends as well. Prowl, First Aid, Drift and a few others."

Cole's expression became distant, the teen playing with his fork absentmindedly.

"That...Sure is a lot of friends..."

Mirage's face fell at the boy's soft, saddened tone. What in the world was wrong, he wondered...

"Cole?"

The boy jolted and quickly shook his head to himself, forcing a smile and digging into his meal once more.

"C'mon, tell me more about the other 'bots you live with." He implored.

Mirage nodded hesitantly, despite the fact Cole couldn't see him. Even as he complied and told Cole about the other Autobots, he couldn't help but wonder just why he felt like something was wrong...


Mirage grinned as Cole laughed.

"No way, that really happened?!" The young teen demanded, milky white eyes shinning with mirth. Mirage nodded, continuing to push the swing the boy was seated upon.

After the Chinese restaurant, Cole had suggested they go back to the street where both the High school and Elementary school to swing on the swing set (which apparently was one of Cole's favorite things to do). Mirage, seeing the excitement the boy showed at the prospect of going to the park, had agreed.

And so now, with Cole sitting on the swing, Mirage retold some of the funny stories of happenings among the Autobot ranks as he pushed the swing.

"It did." He replied to the boy's incredulous question. "The speeding driver was drunk, brushed his car up against Sunstreaker's side, and scraped off a large streak of his paint. After that, Sunstreaker chased the driver down, threw him out of his car and crushed the car under his pede. He got quite a long lecture from not only Optimus but Prowl as well."

Cole laughed, swinging his legs slightly to help get himself higher.

"Sounds like he's got a temper, this Sunstreaker guy."

"He does." Mirage agreed, moving to stand in front of the swing. His sharp optics (well, eyes, considering this was his holoform) caught the bruise that stained Cole's cheek. Looking closer, Mirage was surprised to see similar purple-blue marks peeking out from Cole's left sleeve. And now that he thought about it, he'd seen Cole limping whenever he walked, favoring his leg.

The boy was hurt, but when had it occurred? During the run in with the bullies earlier? Before that? Mirage felt worry twist in his chassis. He had a sinking feeling of dread...

In that moment, as he watched the young human swing back and forth with an expression of pure elation, Mirage promised himself that he would keep an optic on the boy, just in case.

Cole canted his head slightly, listening for something. Or rather, someone.

"Mirage? Are you still there?"

"Right here." Mirage replied shortly, reaching out as the boy swung forward and gently tapping his foot so the teen could know where he was.

Cole jumped slightly, surprised that the mech was now in front of him, but then he smiled.

"You suddenly got all quiet. What're you thinking about?"

"Nothing important." Mirage replied.

Cole snorted.

"Liar. I can smell the smoke you're thinking so hard."

Mirage chuckled at the joke. Cole laughed as well, and soon there was a companionable silence. For a few minutes, there was nothing but the creak of the rusted chains of the swing and the rustle of trees in the gentle breeze.

Finally, Cole spoke, voice hesitant.

"Do you...Do you think we can meet up again in a few days?" Mirage blinked, taken aback by the question. Cole continued quickly, "I-its just I really like hanging out with you! You're...You're probably the closest thing I've ever had to a friend. The first person who's treated me like I'm...Like I'm normal."

Mirage's face fell. When the swing swung forward, the mech took hold of either side of the swing seat, effectively stopping the swing in the air. Cole's knees were gently pressed against the holoform's chest.

"You are normal, Cole." He stated firmly, staring up into glazed, blank eyes. He felt he had to meet the boy's gaze for some reason, despite Cole being unable to see. "Never allow yourself to think that you are not."

Cole averted his eyes, fingers tightening around the swing chains. His expression was vulnerable.

"That's nice of you to say, Mirage, but-"

"No. No but's. Cole, you may be blind, but that does not make you strange. Everyone has something unique about them: a talent, a disability... But that does not mean you are abnormal or should be treated differently than anyone else."

Cole didn't seem to quite believe him, eyes still averted and the boy now biting the inside of cheek. Slowly, he nodded.

"Alright." He wiggled a bit, knees pressing into the holoform's collarbone. "Can, uh...Can you let go? Its a little weird- y'know, being midair..."

Mirage hummed in acknowledgement, gently lowering the swing until Cole's feet touched the ground. After a moment of silence, Mirage spoke.

"As for whether or not we can "hang out" again in a few days...I'd be honored." A smile lit Cole's face, and Mirage felt his spark warm at the sight. "You're a good youngling, and I enjoy your company." He added.

Mirage couldn't remember the last time he'd seen a child so excited, and the mech was already mentally planing his next together with Cole, much to his own surprise.