Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 2
"T-Ai-"
"Optimus we're not blind. You're worse than Sideburn was about this. At least he listened when Koji told him that it wasn't his fault and he didn't blame him. It's been four years and you still feel like you let him down somehow," she said, scowling.
"I do not-"
"Yes you do! We've all seen it. You've overcompensated for it too."
"I have not!"
"Then why has Koji always had at least five Autobots watching him at all times?"
"We know he's been targeted by Scourge before and it's well know that I consider him my son. I do have a lot of enemies. Why do you think it was so hard to convince the humans to let me adopt him?"
T-Ai sighed. "Just don't start being too overprotective again. You've tried that before and he fought you every step of the way." They both shuddered at that disastrous incident. Koji had gotten tired of not being able to do anything on his own and decided to vanish for a few days. Everyone who could be spared had combed not only the facilities Koji was authorised to be in but also every inch of Cybertron that was under Autobot control. After four days they finally found him in the restricted zone Primus liked to call home. Optimus had been both mad and worried when he found out. Primus rarely liked visitors trespassing in his domain. Of course Primus hadn't been mad about Koji staying there, he'd enjoyed the company and the chance to get to know Optimus Prime's 'son'.
So Optimus hadn't been able to punish Koji for it since Primus had known and had told anyone even though Optimus had asked him.
"I'm going to give him more freedom on earth. He knows more about the dangers of earth than he does about those of Cybertron," Optimus said.
"So you're not assigning anyone to guard him round the clock?" she said hopefully. No one wanted to have to drop what they were doing to search for the boy because he needed space Optimus wasn't willing to give him. Especially Ultra Magnus who hadn't rested the entire four days Koji had been with Primus. He'd been pissed afterwards and had vowed to never speak to Koji again. A vow he'd kept a grand total of three minutes after Koji had asked him to help plan their next prank on Optimus, something they did on a bi-weekly basis.
"Of course I'm assigning a guard. I don't trust Scourge or Megatron not to find away to get to Koji." Actually Megatron had pretty much left Koji alone since Koji had sent him a nice bumbersticker for Christmas that said 'The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves'.
"Are you sure Koji won't be um … upset about this. Having someone following him all over the base and town isn't exactly something he's really ever enjoyed. Plus, he was only ever really comfortable sharing a barrack with the Autobot brothers or having his own," she said, wondering how long Koji would disappear this time. Probably more than four days, he'd grown up on Earth and knew it better than any of them.
"He's not going to have a barrack. I want him to have a somewhat normal human life here. I've reopened his house," Optimus said.
"Huh?"
"Koji wants some freedom, right?"
"Yeah."
"What more freedom could he ask for than living away from the base?"
"So you're going to let him live alone?"
"No."
"But Koji's house was desiged for humans. How is an Autobot going to… Oh no you're not… You can't… him?" she finished miserably.
"Yes him. Who else can stay inside a human building?" Optimus asked, slightly amused.
"But-"
"No buts T-Ai. It's already been decided."
She was going to say something else but the mainframe contacted her.
"The ship is about to land," she said and then disappeared.
He looked back to his paperwork. "Damnit I haven't even put a dent in this. What am I going to do?"
"The same thing you always do. Ignore it until you can't see your desk anymore then have me do it," a feminine voice said from the door.
Optimus smiled under his faceplate. "I guess so Elita."
Optimus and Elita watched the ship their 'son' was traveling on land. Once Koji had arrived on Cybertron and Elita found out about his stepmother she'd taken it upon herself to act as mother to him. She'd done a fairly good job too.
Koji and Sideburn were the first two off the ship soon followed by X-brawn, Prowl and Ultra Magnus.
"Koji you've grown a little I think," Elita said trying to determine if he had actually grown. It was hard to tell since humans were so much shorter than transformers.
"Only three inches."
"Hmm. Isn't it about time for you to get a hair cut," she said looking at his braid.
"I like it this way. Plus it's not like I'm going to one of those schools that require military approved hair length," he said.
"So how was the trip?" Optimus said, changing the subject.
"Long."
"Well you can rest after we get you your security detail," Optimus said.
The Autobot brothers and Ultra Magnus flinched at the mention of a security detail. When security detail was mentioned in reference to Koji bad things usually followed.
Koji himself just shrugged, already planning escape routes and disappearing tricks.
"Lets go then," Koji said.
As they walked away Optimus leaned over to Elita and whispered, "When we get back to the base could you-"
"I'll get T-Ai to transfer Koji to a public High school," she whispered back.
"Thanks."
AN: R&R. I put in Koji's list of Christmas presents for his friends down below because I need to do something to keep from going insane.
List of Christmas Presents
Optimus: Universal peace or bigger office
Ultra Magnus: Blackmail pictures of Optimus or keep Sideburn from bothering him for a week or bumpersticker that says "Everyday I Think People Can't Get Stupider And Everyday I'm Proven Horribly Wrong"
Megatron: Universal domination or Prime's head on a silver platter(Thinking about it if the security detail thing doesn't stop) , maybe a bumpersticker that says 'I Just Want Revenge. Is That So Wrong?'
Prowl: season 1 of COPS on DVD or bumpersticker that says 'Twenty things You Never Say ToA Cop"
X-brawn: John Wayne movie, trip to ATV park, or tickets to see Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy Live
Sideburn: date with Kelly's car or distract Prowl while Sideburn chases red cars
T-Ai: week vacation at virtual spa while Sideburn is on said date and retelling said date
Sky-byte: Book of Haikus or Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson the complete works
Kelly: week free of Sideburn chasing her or pay her therapist bill, maybe buy her a ticket on a singles cruise in the Caribbean far away from Sideburn