Hi everyone! Again, so many of you faved, followed and reviewed, and again, it made me so happy! Thank you everyone!
So, here's the new chapter! Sorry if it seem's a little short, I just don't want to be putting to much in one chap, y'know?
Also, please keep reviewing! I want to know what you all think of the story! If you have any ideas for the story, you're more than free to share them! Also, I want some more people's opinions on whether this story should be friendship or yaoi, because I'm kinda on the wall about it, and can't decide! So please help and tell me what you all think!
Now, on with the story!
Enjoy!
Holotech was something he was luckily proficient in, so creating a solid holoform was no real trouble. It was getting his hands on the food and clothing his new pet required that was the hard part.
That was why Lockdown's holoform was now peering curiously at the clothing Jack needed. No one dared to approach, his holoform rather terrifying with a six-foot-seven height, large muscled form and tattooed face.
With a grunt, he finally shrugged, picking out the human 'plating' that he thought would suit Jack. Then, sending a silent command that shorted out the stores camera's, snuck out through the back door.
After the clothing was tucked away in his backseat, Lockdown drove off to his next destination. Just what food should he get for Jack? What did humans even need to live?
Jack carefully climbed down the side of a shelving unit.
For the past hour or so, he had been slowly making his way down from the workbench, using the nearby shelves as a ladder system.
He cheered quietly when his foot finally touched the floor. But his celebration was short, and he was quick to run into cover in case Lockdown returned. He peered around from behind the discarded pile of scrap metal. How to get the door open..?
His eyes scanned the walls for the door's control panel. He found it quickly, beside the large console in the room.
Running over, Jack clambered up, careful to not fall. One atop the console, he ran to the panel. He began to fiddle with the exposed wires, musing for only a moment that Lockdown was probably repairing it (evidence being the missing cover).
"Almost there..." Jack mumbled to himself. "Just a little more..."
The door slid open.
But it wasn't Jack's doing.
Lockdown stood there, and he looked just as surprised as Jack when his optics landed on the teen. There was then a long, tense moment of silence.
Lockdown's face then darkened. The expression terrified Jack.
The teen shuffled back a few steps.
"U-Uh...hi..?"
Lockdown set something aside, then advanced forward. At the moment, the bounty hunter was scarier than Megatron and Airachnid combined.
Jack yelped when he was grabbed in a large hand, then gasped in pain when the mech squeezed. All of the air left the teen, and he struggled to breathe.
"I. Told. Ya. T'. Stay. Put." The mech said slowly, voice dangerous as he watched Jack. The teen's mouth was gaping open as he tried desperately to drag air into his lungs.
Jack could just about hear his ribs creek, and his lungs were on fire.
"P...P...Please..." Jack whispered, voice breathy and strained.
Lockdown's optics were hard and unforgiving as he continued to hold the teen tightly.
"I was gone fer 'n hour, an' I gave ya one, simple, little thing t' do. T' stay put. So, kid. Care t' explain why ya didn'?"
The grip tightened even more, and Jack felt his bones threaten to snap any moment.
"Well?" Lockdown demanded, voice dark.
"C-Can't...b-breathe...!" Jack managed.
A long moment, then Lockdown gave a small, humorless 'heh'. He then turned, going over to the workbench. Jack gave a yell of pain as he was slammed down on it, head cracking smartly against the metal table. Lockdown's hand pressed down on him heavily, and the bounty hunter bent down, head a mere couple of feet from Jack.
"I'm gonna make this clear fer ya, so there won' be any more 'misunderstandings'. Yer gonna stay away from th' door, an' the ship controls. I tell ya t' stay put? Ya stay. Put. I tell ya t' do somethin', whether it be somethin' like, I dunno." He gave a shrug. "Changin' yer clothes, 'r standin' still. Even if I tall ya t' scrub th' whole fraggin' ship on yer hands an' knees, then ya better damn well do it. Got it?"
Jack didn't reply, and the hand bore down on him. There was a pop, and Jack cried out in pain. His shoulder had been dislocated.
"Got it?" Lockdown hissed.
Jack hurriedly nodded, and the hand lifted, letting Jack breathe. The teen gasped for air, sitting up. He cradled his shoulder, trying to shake off the pain.
Lockdown straightened.
"Good."
Then, as quick as the flip of a coin, Lockdown seemed to be as calm and smug as he normally was.
"I brought ya some clothin' and food. I think you'll have t' keep yer shoulder like tha' fer now. I don' know how t' exactly fix it. I'll look it up in a couple days. 'Sides, it'll be yer punishment fer tryin' t' get away."
Jack gulped, nodding. For once, he didn't feel brave. For the first time in awhile...he was scared of a Cybertronian.
Arcee was worried. She wasn't afraid to admit it. She hadn't seen Jack all day, and June was in a panic now, because he hadn't returned home the night before.
Ratchet was now scanning the area around Jasper, searching for the teen's life signature. For once, he was showing genuine worry for one of their human allies. His metal brow was furrowed, and his optics locked on the screen.
The base was, for what seemed like the first time, silent. Even Miko, the rambunctious little fireball she was, was quiet, sitting with Raf on the couch. Both looked pale, and sick with worry.
Optimus' face showed rare anxiousness. The Prime cared deeply for the humans under their guardianship, and one of them going missing...
Ratchet sighed.
"Nothing. His signal isn't anywhere. I've scanned Jasper, the roads, all of Nevada! It's like he just...vanished. I can't even explain why."
Arcee buried her head in her hands.
"C'mon partner. Where are you?" She whispered.
But there was no reply.
Lockdown was sitting at the main console in his ship, amusing himself with the human internet, when he suddenly noticed how quiet Jack was.
He turned in his seat, peering over at the human who was still on the work bench.
He was curled up on the pile of blankets that served as his makeshift bed, hugging the simple pillow that had been brought as well, and the thickest blanket over him.
Maybe...he'd been to harsh, Lockdown mused. He'd forgotten how delicate humans were, with their squishy skin, brittle bones and thin organs. And even the bravest of mech's always trembled at the sight of Lockdown, he was surprised that the teen hadn't broken down.
Lockdown sighed as he made up his mind, then grunted as he stood. Lumbering over to the pile of blankets that hid Jack, he carefully tapped it with his hook.
"'Ey. Kid."
The human twitched, but said nothing. Lockdown poked him again through the blankets.
"'Ey."
Still nothing.
There was a long moment, in which Lockdown seemed to be thinking, then hesitating. Finally, the mech sighed.
Jack gasped, struggling when he was suddenly picked up, blankets and all. But Lockdown held onto him easily. The mech then walked back to his seat, sitting down once more. He set the teen down on the arm of the metal seat.
Jack peeked out cautiously, and Lockdown used a finger to pet the mess of raven hair on the human's head. The mech didn't look at Jack, his optics instead on the screen before him.
What was this? Was it supposed to be soothing, him petting Jack's head as though he were an animal? Jack felt so degraded. But...there wasn't really anything he could do. His shoulder was in bad shape, he could barely lay down, let alone get away.
So, slowly, the youth lay his head down, giving up on any thoughts of moving away from the mech. Soon, he was fast asleep.
When Jack woke, he was surprised to find himself back on the workbench, bags of many assorted foods waiting off to the side.
The teen looked around warily, and his eyes soon landed on Lockdown. The mech was recharging, seeming to have fallen asleep at the main console.
Assured that for now, at least, he was technically 'alone', he carefully got up. His shoulder stung in protest, much to his ire, but he managed to ignore it. His hunger was much more prominent at the moment.
Cradling his shoulder, Jack moved over to the bags of food, rummaging through them. Finding a box of cereal, he plopped down, legs dangling off the edge of the workbench. And there he stayed, for a good half hour, eating the plain cereal and trying to keep his dislocated shoulder in a comfortable position.
Jack still couldn't believe all this was happening. He'd showed kindness to the mech, even though his red optics meant he could very well be a 'con. He hadn't even told the 'bots, just in case that was what the mech was! And how had the mech repaid him?
He'd kidnapped him.
Now what would he do? Jack couldn't escape, not for now at least, with his shoulder as it was. And what if Lockdown caught him again? Next time the mech might kill him!
Jack scowled, fingers curling around the metal that encircled his neck. It was warm, having been pressed against his skin. Jack gave it an experimental tug, but it didn't budge at all.
With a sigh, the teen set aside the box of cereal in his lap, expression one of concentration as he continued to think.
There was the scrape of metal and shifting, then a short laugh.
"Yer gonna hurt yerself thinkin' so hard."
Jack pointedly ignored the now awake Lockdown, instead, staring at the shelves lined with the bounty hunter's 'trophies' with fake interest.
Lockdown stretched, then eased back in his seat. A smirk was on his faceplates, red optics locked on the teen.
"Ya know ignorin' me won't do anythin', righ'?"
Still no reply from the young human. Silence fell over the room for a few, dragging minutes. Jack could feel the bounty hunter's optics still on him, but he refused to meet the gaze. Finally, after a good five minutes, Lockdown spoke.
"Yer still in yer old clothes. Ya realize you've got slag all over yer coverin's?"
Jack steeled his nerves and turned his head, glaring at the mech silently.
Lockdown's grin widened.
"Jus' sayin', I brought'cha some clothes fer a reason. So ya could wear 'em."
Jack looked away again with a huff, returning to ignoring him.
Lockdown rolled his optics and stood, moving over. He nudged the teen with a finger.
"C'mon, kid. Get inta some clean clothes, 'fore ya start stinkin' up the ship."
Jack growled, swatting at the finger with his good arm.
"Frag off!"
Lockdown raised a brow, amused.
"Ya remember wha' we 'discussed', yesterday?"
Jack's form tensed, a shudder running through his spine. His shoulder ached, and he rubbed at it. Lockdown chuckled.
"Tha's righ'. Now, I'm tellin' ya, go change inta some clean clothes."
Jack sighed, standing and shuffling over to the pile of clothes that had so far remained untouched.
Satisfied, Lockdown returned to the console, beginning to look for energon signals.
Jack, ensuring the mech wasn't looking, quickly changed. As he folded up his old clothes, Lockdown glanced over.
The teen now wore a short sleeved, slightly V-necked shirt that was a dark navy blue. It was paired with dark wash jeans, and his normal shoes. Lockdown felt rather proud that he'd picked good human clothes, despite only being on Earth a week or so.
Jack rubbed at his dislocated shoulder. Changing had been an utterly painful process, and one he wasn't eager to experience again anytime soon.
He jumped in surprise when Lockdown stood, and the mech moved over, carefully lifting him in a hand.
"Kid, ya know how t' untangle wirin'?"
Jack hesitantly nodded.
"Yeah..?"
Lockdown gave grunt, nodding in approval.
"Good."
The mech left the room with Jack in tow, and for the first time, Jack saw more of the ship. The halls were just as dimly lit as the room he'd been staying in, the floor a dark metal. Soon, Lockdown turned into another room, going through a rusty door.
The room as simple. A berth against the back wall, some discarded empty energon cubes here and there, an open doorway to the left showing a small room that Jack recognized as a washing rack room.
Lockdown moved to the berth, laying down. He then set the teen on his chasis.
"I've got some nasty knots in my wires. Get 'em out fer me, yeah?" The bounty hunter said simply, ignoring the incredulous look.
"I...what?" Jack sputtered. "But my...my shoulder! I can't-!"
"Ah, trus' me. You'll find a way. 'Cause ya know what happens if ya don' listen." A dark gleam came to the mech's optics, voice dropping as well. "Now don'cha?"
Jack bit the inside of his cheek, forcing down a smart remark.
'Just go along with it for now, Jack.' He thought to himself. 'It's only for now, until the 'bots find you or you escape. Just do it, Jack.'
Jack carefully sat, and after Lockdown shifted the plating away from his wiring, Jack got to work.
And so he got into a pattern. Pull the wires close, hold them in his bad arm's hand (it was simple enough, and he didn't have to move his shoulder to do it), use his good hand to carefully undo the knots, then brush them back into place under the plating.
The whole time, neither he nor Lockdown spoke, the teen solely focused on his work (and trying to ward off the ever tempting idea of making the knots worse instead of better), and the mech simply relaxing under Jack's small, gentle touch.
After two hours, when Jack finished, Lockdown grinned.
"Jeez. Yer pretty good a' tha'." He stated, picking up the teen, who was at his shin plating, and placing him back on his chasis. Jack yelped as the hand pressed on him, making him lay down on the warm plating. His shoulder protested violently, and the human bit his lip, resisting the urge to scream in pain.
Lockdown absently pet the teen's hair with his thumb, starting to doze on and off into recharge.
Jack sighed. Great. He was stuck.