Maximal Base, 3rd POV
Jack sighed as he sat in the training area, waiting for Vukova.
The Prime had, a few minutes before, sent the teen into the training room to wait for him so that they could meditate and work again on helping heal Jack's mind.
Jack held his fathers knife in his hands, fingers stroking the flat side of the blade. He stared down at it with eyes that reflected sadness.
He missed his father many times. His dad had been the only one who ever seemed to understand him, understand that Jack couldn't help but act differently then others.
His father had always been there for him. He would tell Jack stories about his adventures when he was Jack's age and traveling the world with his own parents, and had shown him how to protect himself with the knife and with his own two hands.
Jack smiled softly to himself, but his eyes still held sadness.
His dad had been truely wonderful. But then he became ill and just wouldn't get better...
Jack shut his eyes, head bowed as a memory rose to the front of his mind.
Little Jack grasped his father's hand tightly, tears on his face.
"Daddy, please get better?" The little one begged, staring up at his dad.
The man chuckled softly, hand closing around Jacks.
"I don't think I'm going to get better, Jay. Come up here, I want you to promise me something." The man said, patting the spot next to him on the hospital bed.
Little Jack did as told, climbing up and sitting next to his dad.
"I want you to take care of your mom, alright? Be very good for her, and keep her safe, yeah?" Jack nodded, still clutching his dad's hand.
The man smiled weakly, freeing his hand from Jack's for a moment. he reached over to the bedside table, rumaging in the bag there. He then pulled out his knife that was in it's sheath.
The young man pressed it into his son's palm.
"I want you to have this, alright? Make sure you don't let anyone else get their hands on it, okay?"
Little Jack nodded, fresh tears streaming down his face as his little hands closed around the knife.
"But daddy, can't you stay with me and mama?" Jack begged.
His dad shook his head.
"I really wish I could, Jay. But trust me, I'm not leaving. 'Cause I'll always be right...Here."
The man gently touched two fingers to Jack's chest, right over the child's heart. The man then smiled again.
"I promise, I'm never going to leave you completely. Trust me."
Jack continued to cry, but nodded.
His father smiled softly.
"Love you, Jay."
His eyes shut...
"DADDY!"
"JACK!"
The teen jumped, surprised.
Vukova was in front of him, concern gleaming in his optics.
Jack realized he must have been lost in thought and didn't notice his guardian.
"Oh, sorry Vukova. Spaced out there for a second."
The robotic wolf sat down.
"May I ask why?"
Jack shrugged.
"Just thinking about stuff, nothing to worry about. Are you ready to get started?"
Vukova sighed, but nodded. He laid down, but kept his head up, staring at the teen evenly.
"Just as we have done before. Close your eyes and clear your mind."
Jack nodded before doing as told.
He winced slightly as he felt a now familiar prick of pain within his mind, but he was able to ignore it easily. Instead, he simply breathed deeply, keeping himself calm.
Vukova watched the teen with glowing optics.
Jack was so different from other humans, that was well known by now. But it still shocked the Prime at how Jack had become so adapt at putting up a mask. It took Vukova years to achieve the same ability himself, yet Jack did it in a hand full of years.
"Vukova...Is something wrong?"
The Prime blinked in surprise. Jack's voice was soft, slowed by the peace he was experiencing.
"Yes?"
"You seem...Distracted." Jack looked at the Prime, breaking both of their concentrations.
Vukova slowly nodded.
"Yes, I suppose I am."
Jack tilted his head.
"Why?"
Vukova considered how to answer, then sat up. Jack took this as a sign and relaxed, changing the position in which he sat.
"I have only realized recently, that while you have been learning much about myself and my fellow Cybertronians, I have yet to know more about you. Perhaps today we may skip the healing and you could tell me more about yourself?"
Jack blinked, shocked. Seeing this, Vukova gave him a look of question.
"Would that be alright?"
Jack looked down.
"I don't see why my past is important. I'm a human. I was born, and have lived sixteen, nearly seventeen years. That's it."
Vukova inspected him.
"Do you know exactly why other humans fear you?"
Jack looked away, continuing to avoid the Prime's optics.
"Yeah, 'course I do." The teen muttered.
Vukova was silent for a moment.
"Tell me."
Jack raised his eyes, mild surprise showing on his features.
"Tell me why they fear you." Vukova clarrified.
Jack's hands clentched into fists as he looked away again.
"It doesn't matter."
"Jack. Please tell me. I have tried to understand why all other humans, even those who don't live within Jasper, are scared of you. But I cannot see reason as to why." Vukova explained, optics reflecting sadness as he remembered how terribly his charge was treated.
Jack's hands slowly relaxed, and an emotion of mixed sadness and bitterness reflected in his eyes.
"...Because I'm different."
Vukova looked at the raven youth in confusion.
"Different?"
Jack nodded shortly.
"My eyes have always looked wild, like an animals. It scares people to no end. I've always been able to know when I wasn't alone, even if the other person was well hidden. I'm seen as a crazy person, as little more than an animal."
Jack fell silent, his bitter words hanging in the stale air.
Vukova felt shock, though he didn't show it. Jack...Had always been treated like this? Even as a child?
The Prime stood, moving closer and pressing his nose under Jack's chin.
Jack looked at the robotic wolf in surprise, but admited that it felt nice, just like when his father would hug him...
Vukova gently nusled the underside of the teen's chin with his long muzzle, silently convaying a message.
'You will never be alone, not anymore.'
Jack slowly lifted a hand to the side of the Cybertronians neck, fingers hesitantly weaving within the soft, metal fur. An unvoiced question.
'Really?'
The Prime moved away, answering with a lick to the teen's cheek.
'Really.'
Jack smiled ever so slightly, burying his face in the cobalt blue hide, breathing in the Prime's scent. The smell calmed the teen, and he smiled softly.
"Hey...Vukova?"
"Yes?"
Jack hesitated, but then gathered his courage.
"Are you glad I'm a part of the clan?"
Vukova was surprised. Pulling back, he shifted into his humanoid form. Carefully, the Prime lifted the teen in his hand.
"Jack. If I did not wish for you to be a part of this clan, I would have told you. You are a valuable allie, but more importantly, a good friend to us all. I, personally, am honored that you are a part of this clan."
Jack smiled slightly.
"So...You aren't worried that I'm so...different?"
Vukova chuckled.
"Different? If anything, you relate to Cybertronians more than any other has."
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, but that's why every other human hates me and fear me."
Vukova smiled softly.
"Then they sadly will never get to know the real you."
Jack grimaced.
"Problem is the real me, in someways, really is terrifying."
Later
Jack sighed as he watched his mother converse with Stragle Tooth.
The raven teen sat in one of the alcoves, on knee pulled to his chest, the other hanging over the edge of the alcove.
The voices were painfully loud for him, and he suffered from a spliting headache.
"Jack, what're you doing up here?"
The teen looked over to his left.
Fire Claw was standing there in her Primal mode, looking at him in curiousity and concern.
"Fire Claw." He said in greeting, nodding his head.
The femme nodded as well, padding over and sitting next to him.
"So are you going to answer my question?"
Jack shrugged with a sigh.
"Not use to socializing." He replied simply, resting his chin on his knee.
"Why not? We're a clan, like family. So in other words, you don't like to hang out with your family?"
Jack raised a brow.
"Now you're just twisting my words."
The feline 'bot smirked.
"So?"
Jack grinned ruefully.
"Truthfully? I'm scared."
"Scared?" Fire Claw repeated, confused.
Jack nodded.
"Yeah. I mean, all my life, everyone has been scared of me. Now, for the first time, I've actually been accepted. I'm scared that if I make a wrong move, I'll lose that."
Fire Claw was silent for a long moment, then licked the teen's mess of raven hair. The youth flushed.
"It takes a lot to scare Miko and Raf, and even more to scare them away forever. Trust me when I saw, you've got nothing to worry about. Now c'mon, Vukova wants to talk to you."
She nudged Jack with a metal paw.
Jack raised a brow.
"Really? Why?"
Fire Claw smirked.
"You really think I know?"
Jack paused, then,
"Good point. I'm going."
Fire Claw laughed, nodding.
"That would probably be a good idea."
Jack quickly climbed down, going to his guardian.
"Fire Claw said you wanted to speak with me?"
Vukova nodded, allowing the teen to climb up onto his back. The Cybertronian then took him back into the training area.
After the teen slid down to the floor, Vukova shifted into his humanoid form.
"Jack, I wish for you to only listen to what I have to say before you give me an answer."
Jack's brow furrowed, but he nodded all the same.
"It is rare for a Cybertronian to hear the voices, and the fact that you are able to hear them aided me in clearly seeing. You are far from acting as other humans do, you have a fire within you that only Prime's have ever had. You hold no fear of battle, and can taste the scent of each animal and being.
"That is why...Why I believe you are to be the next Prime. Never before have I seen such potential before in any other. I wish to train you, if you will accept to being the next Prime. If I were to be offlined, this would mean you would lead the other Maximals in this war.
"I understand if you wish to not take this duty upon yourself, and will accept that if you wish to not take on the title. But if you choose to become the next of the Primes, I will teach you our ways. The choice is yours in the end, Jack."
Vukova looked down at the raven teen. Jack had listened patiently, and it was obvious to see that he was carefully processing what Vukova asked.
The Prime waited quietly, waiting for the teen to decide.
"When you say you'll teach me, what does that mean?" Jack finally asked slowly.
"I would teach you our traditions, our history. I would teach you to fight, and also aid you in honing your skills."
Jack's brow furrowed in confusion.
"My skills?"
Vukova nodded, kneeling down.
"Yes. You are already a gifted hunter, and with practice you can easily become a good tracker as well."
Jack was silent a few moments longer, then turned, taking a few steps away. He then stopped, and turned, looking over his shoulder at the Prime with his unblinded eye.
"...Are...Are you sure you want that? I'm a human who's seen as a monster. Do you really want a monster as the next Prime?"
Vukova stared at him, in slight shock.
The teen, so used to the words that others said, now thought of himself as they did.
"Do you truely believe you are a monster?"
Jack looked at his guardian in surprise, but then looked away.
"I know I am. I mean, look at me! I hear voices that almost no one else can hear! People look at me, and they run. Hell, I've had stones thrown at me by other teens because they thought I was a demon child!"
The raven youth began to pace as though her were an animal in a cage.
"I can't understand why people dislike the wild, I can smell a single rabbit from over twelve feet away! Even I have to admit I'm far from normal!"
Jack made a sound of surprise when he was carefully lifted in a large metal hand. He looked up at Vukova.
"Jack, you are far from being a monster. You have a kind soul and a pure heart. You are not a monster. You are a savior."
The ebon haired youth looked at the Prime with shock. He'd never been called anything besides a monster or demon.
Jack looked down.
"I...I don't know if I'll make a good Prime. But I'll try."
Vukova smiled softly, nodding.
"You will make an amazing Prime, Jack. All you must do is trust in yourself and in your abilities, and others will believe in you as well."
Jack nodded lifting his gaze again, smiling ever so slightly.
"I...Thanks, for believing in me, Vukova."